Check on the Arianators in your life, y’all. On Jan. 12, Ariana Grande dropped a new single “Yes, And?” that seems to be her return to music. Paired up with a bouncy, Madonna-inspired house beat, the song has some empowering lyrics that really explain the meaning behind “Yes, And?” I think we have a new IDGAF anthem with this one.
It’s not out of pocket to say that Ariana Grande has been at the forefront of media outlets, publications, and social media memes — more than usual, might I add. In 2023, Grande made headlines after her split with Dalton Gomez, and generated even more buzz when news broke of a relationship between Grande and her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater. However, before the relationship drama, Grande became the topic of a (gross) conversation regarding her weight, which she replied to in both a TikTok video and, seemingly, in her newest bop “Yes, And?”
Now, my fellow ex-theater kids and improv comedy buffs know about the game “Yes, And?” And while Grande is a total theater kid (when you think about it that way, the whole Ethan Slater thing makes a lot of sense), the song isn’t about an improv comedy troupe warming up for a show — the “Yes, And?” lyrics mean a little more than that.
What do the “Yes, And?” lyrics mean?
Grande starts off her song with a powerful first verse: “In case you haven’t noticed / Well, everybody’s tired / And healin’ from somebody / Or somethin’ we don’t see just right.” If you’re asking me, these lyrics are a direct pushback to the media gossip machine that Grande and many other celebrities find themselves in. But it’s also acknowledging that even everyday folk like me and you can get beat down by unnecessary gossip and drama. I get it, girl.
Grande then goes on to pump up her fans with an empowering pre-chorus — “Boy, come on, put your lipstick on (No one can tell you nothin’) / Come on and walk this way through the fire (Don’t care what’s on their mind) / And if you find yourself in a dark situation / Just turn on your light and be like.” ‘Nough said. Pass me my lip oil, we’re going out tonight.
From there, Grande dives into a catchy AF chorus. “‘Yes, and?’ / Say that sh*t with your chest, and / Be your own f*ckin’ best friend / Say that shit with your chest / Keep moving like, ‘What’s next?’ / ‘Yes, and?'” Reading these lyrics, the chorus dives further into the song’s theme of empowerment.
As I mentioned before, “Yes, and…” is a popular improv game that requires someone to make a statement (“My ex is at this bar.”), while other improvisers expand upon that idea (“Yes, and they’re coming right toward us.”). By Grande saying that sh*t with her chest, it’s her way of owning up to all of the drama, and then asking “…And what about it?”
The bridge of “Yes, And?” is perhaps the most pointed part of the song: “My tongue is sacred, I speak upon what I like / Protected, sexy, discerning with my time (My time) / Your energy is yours and mine is mine (It’s mine, it’s mine) / What’s mine is mine.” This is Grande’s way of telling people that they need to stay in their own lane, and stop caring about what anyone else is doing.
She goes on to sing, “My face is sitting, I don’t need no disguise (I don’t need no disguise) / Don’t comment on my body, do not reply,” which is another direct reference to the media’s commentary on Grande’s weight.
Finally, Grande wraps up the bridge by singing, “Your business is yours and mine is mine / Why do you care so much whose **** I ride? / Why?” Did I even need to tell you that this part is probably about Grande’s relationship with Slater? Probably not.
Regardless of where you stand on Grande’s relationships, or how you feel about her, there’s no denying that “Yes, And?” is a total bop. Yes, Grande releasing her response in the form of a song is kind of badass. And, I can’t wait for the album.