January 26, 2024/12 a.m.

Ariana Grande’s latest single is a cold-hearted response to the haters as she walks out of three scandalous years.

From the first impression, ‘Yes, And?’ appears as a renaissance of Madonna’s 1990 hit ‘Vogue.’ The similarity between the two seems evident, from the snapping synth beats to a series of bright, playful piano stabs and the spoken-word bridges. Madonna’s classic hit has inspired several artists and recently experienced a revival, including a remix version of Beyonce’s ‘Break My Soul.’ Despite leaning on the funky, liberated sounds of ‘Vogue,’ Grande might have wanted to present a different message with a different attitude.

In recent years, Grande’s relationships with her “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater, or her ‘unhealthy’ public appearances have become the topic of several tabloids. Put into this context, ‘Yes, And?’ seems to be a confident, cold-hearted response to the haters as well as the press. Grande does not hold her back as her lyrics go: “I’m so done with caring/ What you think, no, I won’t hide/ Underneath your own projections/ Or change my most authentic life.” On the canvas of ‘Vogue,’ Grande’s buttery vocal emerges with a solid message of self-affirmation.

The gifted singer also shares the spotlight with the queer community and queer expressions, as featured in her lyrics: “Boy, come on, put your lipstick on (No one can tell you nothing).” Although these lines could be interpreted as a tribute to the queer community and ballroom culture (or a reference to Madonna’s Vogue), the presented message seems superficial. Unlike Vogue, which presents a universal message about sexual and identity liberation, ‘Yes, And?’ is more like Grande’s personal backlash to the public. In this case, the mention of queerness seems to be nothing more than a mere decoration for Grande’s personal grudge, and it does not extend beyond two lines.

According to Billboard, the singer hopes to earn another No. 1 through the release of several versions, including edited, extended, sped-up, lowed-down, acapella, and instrumental mixes. The release of “Yes, And?” is the first step that paves the way for her upcoming album, Eternal Sunshine, which is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated drops of the year. Despite the not-so-memorable message, ‘Yes, And’ would definitely solidify Grande’s position as a solid hitmaker in the music industry.