Yes, And?

For the method of open dialogue, see Yes, and...

"Yes, And?"
A defocused picture of the left side of Grande's face Digital and physical single cover
Single by Ariana Grande
from the album Eternal Sunshine
Released	January 12, 2024 (2024-01-12)
Recorded	2023
Genre	House pop
Length	3:34
Label	Republic
Composer(s)	Ariana Grande Max Martin Ilya Salmanzadeh
Lyricist(s)	Ariana Grande
Producer(s)	Ariana Grande Max Martin Ilya Salmanzadeh
singles chronology
"Die for You" (2023) "Yes, And?" (2024)
Music video
"Yes, And?" on YouTube

"Yes, And?" is a song by American singer Ariana Grande and the lead single from her upcoming seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine. It was released on January 12, 2024, through Republic Records. Written and produced by Grande, Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh, the song is a house and pop track with ballroom elements. Lyrically, the song focuses on self-confidence and preservation, overcoming negativity, while also addressing a range of negative press Grande received between 2020 and 2023.

Music critics complimented the danceability and groove of "Yes, And?". They noted inspiration from Madonna's 1990 single "Vogue", while the accompanying music video drew inspiration from that of Paula Abdul's "Cold Hearted" (1989). Commercially, the single debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Grande's sixth number-one debut and eighth overall number-one single, as well as her 21st top-ten on the chart. It additionally earned Grande her third number-one single on the Billboard Global 200 chart. Elsewhere, it peaked at number one in Canada, Lithuania, Singapore, and Switzerland and within the top ten in Australia, Norway, France, Portugal, Philippines, Sweden, United Kingdom and Malaysia. It peak top twenty in Italy, Brazil, Taiwan and Spain and top thirty in Mexico.

Background and promotion

After the release of her sixth studio album, Positions (2020), Ariana Grande focused on managing her cosmetics brand, R.E.M. Beauty, and preparing for her role as Glinda in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked. She also served as a coach on the 21st season of The Voice in late 2021. In a question-and-answer segment of a R.E.M. Beauty YouTube video published in May 2022, she revealed that she would not be recording another album until filming for the Wicked films (2024–2025) was complete.

Between 2020 and 2023, Grande's personal life and physical health were the subject of rumors and speculation, especially her marriage to and divorce from Dalton Gomez, weight loss, split from manager Scooter Braun, and homewrecking allegations.

Grande teased the release of her seventh album in an October 2023 post on her Instagram account, joking that the album title was Goat Mother. Included in the post were pictures of Swedish producer and longtime collaborator Max Martin. On December 7 and 17, 2023, she shared photos and clips of herself and members of her team editing audio files in recording studios. Grande confirmed a 2024 album release via her social media on December 27.

On January 4, 2024, Grande was photographed in public wearing a custom sweatshirt that read "yes, and?" to tease the lead single's title, which she had previously done for her Sweetener lead single "No Tears Left to Cry" (2018). Grande later officially announced the song via her social media. Jem Aswad of Variety opined that the phrase "yes, and?" was a successor to "thank u, next", the title of her fifth studio album (2019) and its lead single (2018). Links to pre-save "Yes, And?" on streaming platforms and pre-order the vinyl and CD single were first shared on the Sweetener Instagram page.

Cover artwork

The cover artwork for "Yes, And?" was first teased in December 2023 with a defocused close-up shot of Grande's red lips in R.E.M. Beauty packages sent to fans alongside a note: "See you next year." Grande revealed the full artwork, a blurry shot of the left side of her face, via social media on January 7, 2024. Photographed by Katia Temkin, Grande wears the R.E.M. Beauty "On Your Collar" lipstick in the red shade "Attention." Refuting speculation that the album was titled Yes, And?, she clarified that the image released to promote the single was actually one of several album cover variants. Days after, it was confirmed as the main cover of Eternal Sunshine.

Composition

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Music critics associated "Yes, And?" to "Vogue" (1990) by Madonna (left) and "Break My Soul" (2022) by Beyoncé (right).

"Yes, And?" is three minutes and 34 seconds long, written and produced by Grande, Martin, and Ilya Salmanzadeh. Martin and Salmanzadeh programmed and provided background vocals, drums, keyboards, bass, and piano to the song. Sam Holland and Lou Carrao served as engineers with assistance from Eric Eylands and Rob Sellens. The song was mastered by Randy Merrill and mixed by Serban Ghenea, with assistance from Bryce Bordone.

"Yes, And?" was described as a house and pop song referencing ballroom culture and drawing inspiration from Madonna's 1990 single "Vogue". It has also been likened to Beyoncé's 2022 studio album Renaissance and Lady Gaga's 2020 song "Babylon". Lyrically, the song addresses the influence of others' opinions on one's own person. Grande uses profanity over the lyrics, which encourage listeners to overcome negativity. She also denounces criticisms of her personal life: "Don't comment on my body, do not reply / Your business is yours and mine is mine / Why do you care so much whose dick I ride?".

The song is written in the key of B♭ minor with a tempo of 119 beats per minute in common time. It mainly uses the chord progression E♭m7–A♭7, and Grande's vocals span from A♭₃ to D₅.

Critical reception

"Yes, And?" received positive reviews from music critics upon its release. In a review for NME, Sophie Williams described the song as "a melodic discourse that responds to a rumour mill in overdrive" and stated that it "presents Grande in her truest form: a flawed but honest human being, seeking to own her narrative and move forward". Writing for Pitchfork, Anna Gaca described the song as a "lightweight dance shuffle with a few barbed words for the critics", and suggested that the track's "theater catchphrase" title is a response to criticism of Grande's ongoing relationship with her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater.

Amrit Virdi of Clash stated that, "On 'yes, and?', her controlled harmonies and whistle tones lace through the dance breaks while layered production helps to add strong ad-libs towards the end of the track […] And the song's chorus is incredibly catchy – it's definitely something I can see being played and appreciated in the club." Helen Brown of The Independent wrote that the singer's voice "takes a sweet, light shimmery tone" and is "soft and glancing"; she also noted the "'Vogue' formula in the track's structure", with "a spoken word, bell tolling and handclap-backed section".

Some music critics likened the song to the ballroom atmosphere of Beyoncé's seventh studio album, Renaissance, particularly the lead single "Break My Soul". In a review for Vulture, Quinn Moreland wrote that "the track embraces a disco-lite groove punctuated by the occasional sparkly, cascading synth line that will likely dominate pop music post-Renaissance." Laura Snapes of The Guardian praised the "irresistibly effervescent and lithe" production, with "conscious echo of Madonna's 'Vogue' as delicious as an illicit donut", and "a sign, post-Renaissance, that mainstream pop is embracing house in its purest form".

Commercial performance

Worldwide

Following its release, "Yes, And?" earned over 11 million plays within its first 24 hours on Spotify globally, marking Grande's largest song debut on the platform. The song debuted at number one on both the Billboard Global 200 and the Global Excl. U.S. for the chart issue dated January 27, 2024. On the Global 200, it became Grande's third number-one single after "Positions" (2020) and "Save Your Tears" (2021), and achieved 94.4 million streams and 67,000 sold worldwide. On the Global Excl. U.S., it became Grande's second number-one single after "Positions", and earned 68 million streams and 26,000 sold outside the U.S..

North America

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With "Yes, And?", Grande tied Beyoncé (left) for the eighth-most number-one singles among women (eight) and Taylor Swift (right) as the female artist with the most number one debuts in history (six).

In the United States, industry personnel projected the song to debut atop the US Billboard Hot 100, displacing Jack Harlow's "Lovin on Me" (2023) at the top spot. However, Billboard noted a tight chart battle for the number-one position as despite remaining atop Spotify's daily top songs chart, streams for the song on other platforms were becoming unstable, while digital sales were expected to be particularly strong. "Yes, And?" officially debuted atop the Hot 100 chart for the issue dated January 27, 2024, marking Grande's eighth number-one single in the nation and third consecutive following "Save Your Tears" (2021) and "Die For You" (2023). With this feat, Grande tied Beyoncé for the eighth-most Hot 100 number one singles among solo women, while tying Taylor Swift as the female artist with the most number one debuts in history, with six. Grande also extended her record for being the first artist to debut within the opening ten positions of the Hot 100 chart with every lead single—"The Way", "Problem", "Dangerous Woman", "No Tears Left to Cry", "Thank U, Next", "Positions", and "Yes, And?"—of her first seven studio albums.

Opening with sales of 53,000 sold in its first week of availability, 41,000 of which were digital downloads, the song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot Digital Songs earning Grande her ninth chart topper there, according to Luminate. "Yes, And?" additionally debuted at the top slot on the Streaming Songs chart with 27.2 million US streams, marking her fifth number-one there, while lodging 24.8 million radio audience impressions on the tracking week ending January 18, 2024, causing it to chart on Billboard's Radio Songs at number 28. It also debuted at number one on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, becoming her first solo entry to reach the summit of the chart and third overall following "Break Free" with Zedd in 2014 (nine weeks atop the chart), and "Rain on Me" with Lady Gaga in 2020 (two weeks). On the Billboard Mainstream Top 40, which monitors pop radio stations, "Yes, And?" debuted at number 18 as the highest entry of the week, as well as the strongest entrance of Grande's career on the chart, besting "Bang Bang" which started at No. 19 in August 2014. It debuted at number 17 on the Adult Top 40 airplay chart, which monitors hot adult contemporary radio formats.

Europe and Oceania

In the United Kingdom, "Yes, And?" debuted at the runner-up position of the UK Singles Chart on January 19, 2024, for the issue ending January 25, 2024, marking Grande's 21st top-ten and 32nd top-40 entry in Britain and her first top-three entry since "34+35" peaked at number three in 2021. The song was held off the top spot by Noah Kahan's "Stick Season" which boasted just 600 more overall chart units the same week, but was the most-streamed track in the UK of its debut week (with 8.2 million streams). Likewise, "Yes, And?" debuted at number two on the Irish Singles Chart for the chart issue dated January 19, 2024.

Elsewhere in Europe, "Yes, And?" reached the summit of the charts in Switzerland, and Lithuania, while peaking within the top-five of singles charts in the Portugal (number 2), France (number 4), Norway (number 4), and Luxembourg (number 5). It also charted in the top-ten in various other nations; Sweden (number 6), Iceland (number 7), Germany (number 8), and Slovakia (number 10).

In Australia, "Yes, And?" debuted at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart for the issue dated January 22, 2024, blocked from the top slot by Jack Harlow's "Lovin on Me". It marked Grande's 19th top-ten appearance in the country, and her first solo entry on the chart since "POV" reached the top-thirty in 2021. It also debuted at number ten on the Australia Airplay chart, as the weeks highest entry of the week. Similarly, "Yes, And?" debuted at number three on the New Zealand Singles Chart.

Music video

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The music video contains references to Grande's previous albums, including Yours Truly (2013), My Everything (2014), and Thank U, Next (2019).

On December 19, 2023, it was reported Grande had been spotted shooting the video for what at the time was assumed to be the first single on the album. Grande later shared a teaser trailer for the song's music video on January 11, 2024. It depicts the acronym "AG7"—a reference to her then-untitled seventh studio album. The geographical coordinates 41°03′59″N 71°95′45″W are displayed, which locate Montauk, New York, one of the key filming locations for the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Grande is a long-time fan of Jim Carrey, who played the lead in it. This was an easter egg to the title of the album, Eternal Sunshine.

Directed by Christian Breslauer and filmed in the Grand Hall of Powerhouse Arts in Brooklyn, New York City, the music video for "Yes, And?" was released via Grande's Vevo channel on YouTube at 10:00 AM EST (Eastern Standard Time) on January 12, ten hours after the song's release. The visuals were inspired by Paula Abdul's "Cold Hearted" (1989) and its "late-'80s energy". One scene in the video for "Yes, And?" features several statues of Grande, which Callie Ahlgrim and Lauren Edmonds of Business Insider observed referenced the cover artwork of her previous albums, including Yours Truly (2013), My Everything (2014), and Thank U, Next.

Synopsis

The video opens with a group of critics being invited to an event by Grande, the invitation being in the form of a card that includes the aforementioned acronym and coordinates. As they wait for the event, the critics discuss their negative opinions on Grande, claiming they prefer her past self more and criticizing her new choices. As the song starts, the critics enter a room, where some statues are placed around a structure with stairs – some of the statues referenced the aforementioned album artworks. The statues then break down as Grande and a group of dancers walk in, before they perform some choreography as the critics watch.

During the bridge, Grande tours the critics' seating area, while holding a tuning fork to "[cleanse] the energy among the critics". During the last chorus, Grande invites some critics to dance with her as the others watch and cheer them on enthusiastically. As the performance ends, Grande and the other dances revert back to statue form. The critics, now supportive of Ariana, gleefully leave the room as another group of critics enter, thus creating a cycle.

Track listing

Digital download and streaming

1. "Yes, And?" – 3:34

Digital download and streaming

1. "Yes, And?" – 3:34
2. "Yes, And?" (extended mix) – 5:08
3. "Yes, And?" (instrumental) – 3:34
4. "Yes, And?" (extended instrumental mix) – 5:08

Digital download and streaming

1. "Yes, And?" – 3:34
2. "Yes, And?" (edit) – 3:10
3. "Yes, And?" (extended mix) – 5:08
4. "Yes, And?" (sped up) – 3:13
5. "Yes, And?" (a cappella) – 3:16
6. "Yes, And?" (slowed) – 4:01
7. "Yes, And?" (instrumental) – 3:34
8. "Yes, And?" (extended instrumental mix) – 5:08

Credits

Credits are adapted from Qobuz and CD sleeve.

Recording and management

• Published by Universal Times (SESAC), MXM Music (adm. by Kobalt Music) (STIM), Wolf Cousins / Warner Chappell Music Scandinavia (STIM)
• Mixed at Mixstar Studios (Virginia Beach)
• Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)

Personnel

• Ariana Grande – vocals, composition, lyrics, production
• Max Martin – composition, production, drums, keyboards, bass, programming, background vocals
• Ilya Salmanzadeh – composition, production, drums, keyboards, piano, bass, programming, background vocals
• Sam Holland – engineering
• Lou Carrao – engineering
• Eric Eylands – engineering assistance
• Rob Sellens – engineering assistance
• Randy Merrill – mastering
• Serban Ghenea – mixing
• Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance

Charts

Chart performance for "Yes, And?"

Chart (2024)	Peak position
Argentina (Argentina Hot 100)	61
Australia (ARIA)	2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)	17
Brazil (Brasil Hot 100)	13
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)	1
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)	14
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)	29
182
Croatia (Billboard)	12
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)	17
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	20
France (SNEP)	4
Germany (Official German Charts)	8
1
Hong Kong (Billboard)	14
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)	7
India International Singles (IMI)	18
2
Italy (FIMI)	19
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)	10
Lithuania (AGATA)	1
Luxembourg (Billboard)	5
Malaysia (Billboard)	3
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	3
Norway (VG-lista)	4
Mexico (Billboard)	25
Peru (Billboard)	17
Philippines (Billboard)	2
Portugal (Billboard)	2
Romania (Billboard)	14
Singapore (RIAS)	1
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)	10
South Africa (Billboard)	17
South Korea BGM (Circle)	124
South Korea Download (Circle)	91
Spain (PROMUSICAE)	13
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	6
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	1
Taiwan (Billboard)	16
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	2
US Billboard Hot 100	1
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)	17
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)	1
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)	18

Release history

"Yes, And?" release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Version(s)	Label	Ref.
Various	January 12, 2024	Digital download streaming	Original	Republic
	January 15, 2024		Extended mix instrumental extended mix instrumental
United Kingdom		Cassette CD	Original	Island
United States		CD		Republic
	January 16, 2024	Contemporary hit radio hot adult contemporary radio
Various		Digital download streaming	Edit sped up a cappella slowed
United Kingdom	January 17, 2024	7-inch vinyl	Original	Island
Italy	January 18, 2024	Radio airplay		Universal
United States	February 9, 2024	7-inch vinyl		Republic