Grande teased the release of her seventh album in an October 2023 photo dump on her Instagram, jokingly saying the album title was Goat Mother. Also included in the photo dump were pictures of Swedish producer and longtime collaborator Max Martin. On December 7 and December 17, 2023, she shared several pictures and clips of herself and members of her team working in recording studios and editing audio files. Grande confirmed a 2024 album release via her social media on December 27, 2023.
On January 4, 2024, Grande went 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". The phrase was confirmed to be the name of the lead single when Grande officially announced the song via her social media. Jem Aswad of Variety commented that "yes, and?" was a successor to "thank u, next", the title of her fifth studio album and its lead single.
"yes, and?" is Grande's first solo musical output since Positions. Its pre-save and pre-order links for streaming services and its CD single were first shared via the Sweetener Instagram page. The artwork was partially revealed in December 2023 with a defocused close-up shot of Grande's red lips via R.E.M. Beauty packages that were sent to fans, with a note: "See you next year". Grande revealed its cover artwork via social media on January 7, 2024, which shows a blurry shot of the left side of her face. In it, she wears the "On Your Collar" classic lipstick of the red shade "Attention", which is a part of the R.E.M. Beauty collection. It was photographed by Katia Temkin. According to Grande, the single cover will also serve as one of the album's cover variants.
Directed by Christian Breslauer, the music video for "yes, and?" was released via Grande's Vevo channel on YouTube at 10:00 AM EST on January 12, ten hours after the song's release. The visual is inspired by Paula Abdul's "Cold Hearted" video and its "late-'80s energy".
yes and?
Ariana Grande Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, everybody's tired
And healin′ from somebody
Or somethin' we don't see just right
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
"Yes, and?"
Say that shit with your chest, and
Be your own fuckin′ best friend
Say that shit with your chest (keep moving)
Keep moving like, "What's next?"
"Yes, and?"
Now I′m so done with caring
What you think, no, I won't hide
Underneath your own projections
Or change my most authentic life
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
"Yes (yes), and?"
Say that shit with your chest (chest), and
Be your own fuckin′ best (best) friend
Say that shit with your chest (keep moving)
Keep moving like, "What′s next?"
"Yes, and?" (yeah)
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 (mine is mine)
What's mine is mine
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
Your business is yours and mine is mine
Why do you care so much whose - I ride?
Why?
"Yes (yes), and?" (yes, and?)
Say that shit with your chest, and (say that shit with your chest)
Be your own fuckin' best friend (oh, be your own, be your own)
Say that shit with your chest (say that shit with your chest, baby)
Keep moving like, "What′s next?"
"Yes, and?"
"Yes, and?" (ooh)
Say that shit with your chest (ooh, chest), and
Be your own fuckin' best (be your own) friend
Say that shit with your chest (keep moving)
Keep moving like, "What's next?"
"Yes, and?" (yeah)
The lyrics of Ariana Grande's song "yes and?" convey a message of empowerment and self-acceptance. The first verse highlights the exhaustion and emotional healing that people go through, often unnoticed by others. It suggests that despite external judgments or unseen struggles, individuals should embrace their true selves. The line "Boy, come on, put your lipstick on" represents an invitation to express oneself boldly and unapologetically. It urges individuals to ignore the opinions of others and walk confidently through challenges without worrying about what others think.
The chorus, with the repetition of "Yes, and?" emphasizes the importance of speaking up and owning one's truth. It encourages individuals to confidently assert themselves by saying what they believe with their whole being. By saying it "with your chest," it means expressing oneself boldly, without holding back or being afraid of judgment. The idea of being your "own fuckin' best friend" implies the importance of self-love and self-acceptance. It encourages individuals to embrace and support themselves instead of seeking validation from others.
In the second verse, Ariana Grande continues the theme of self-empowerment and refusing to conform to societal expectations. She states that she is done caring about what others think of her and will not hide behind their projections. She emphasizes the importance of living one's most authentic life without compromising for others' opinions.
The bridge emphasizes the value of personal boundaries and autonomy. It highlights that each individual has their own energy and should prioritize themselves. The line "My tongue is sacred, I speak upon what I like" represents the idea of owning one's voice and personal preferences. Ariana Grande asserts that she does not need to hide behind a disguise and discourages commenting on her body. She questions why others are so interested in her personal life and choices, indicating that it is ultimately none of their concern.
Overall, "yes and?" is a song that encourages self-empowerment, self-expression, and ignoring societal expectations. It reminds listeners to prioritize their own happiness, embrace their true selves, and confidently assert their desires and boundaries in the face of judgment and criticism.
Line by Line Meaning
In case you haven’t noticed
Just in case you haven't been paying attention
Well, everybody's tired
Everyone is exhausted
And healin′ from somebody
Recovering from someone
Or somethin' we don't see just right
Or something that we can't see clearly
Boy, come on, put your lipstick on (no one can tell you nothin′)
Hey, be confident and express yourself freely
Come on and walk this way through the fire (don′t care what's on their mind)
Keep moving forward despite others' opinions
And if you find yourself in a dark situation
And if you're faced with a difficult situation
Just turn on your light and be like
Just find your inner strength and face it bravely
"Yes, and?"
"So what?"
Say that shit with your chest, and
Speak your mind confidently and assertively
Be your own fuckin′ best friend
Love and support yourself above all
Keep moving like, "What's next?"
Keep progressing and focusing on the future
Now I'm so done with caring
Now I no longer care
What you think, no, I won't hide
I won't conceal myself to please others
Underneath your own projections
Beneath the expectations you impose
Or change my most authentic life
Or alter my truest self
My tongue is sacred, I speak upon what I like
My words are powerful; I express my preferences
Protected, sexy, discerning with my time
I prioritize my well-being and choose wisely how I spend my time
Your energy is yours and mine is mine
You have your own energy, and I have mine
What's mine is mine
What belongs to me remains mine
My face is sitting, I don't need no disguise
I am content with my appearance; no need for a mask
Don't comment on my body, do not reply
Don't criticize my body or respond to such comments
Your business is yours and mine is mine
Your matters are yours, and mine are mine
Why do you care so much whose - I ride?
Why are you so concerned about my relationships?
"Yes (yes), and?"
"So what?"
Say that shit with your chest (chest), and
Assertively express your thoughts and feelings
Be your own fuckin' best (best) friend
Be your own strongest supporter
Keep moving like, "What's next?"
Continuously progress and look ahead
"Yes, and?" (ooh)
"So what?"
Keep moving like, "What's next?"
Continue to move forward and focus on the future
Writer(s): Max Martin, Ariana Grande, Ilya Salmanzadeh
Contributed by Hunter L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@liying1124
In case you haven't noticed
Well, everybody's tired
And healin' from somebody
Or somethin' we don't see just right
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
"Yes, and?"
Say that shit with your chest, and
Be your own fuckin' best friend
Say that shit with your chest
Keep movin' like, "What's next?"
"Yes, and?"
Now I'm so done with caring
What you think, no, I won't hide
Underneath your own projections
Or change my most authentic life
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
"Yes, and?"
Say that shit with your chest, and
Be your own fuckin' best friend
Say that shit with your chest
Keep movin' like, "What's next?"
"Yes, and?"
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
What's mine is mine
My face is sitting, I don't need no disguise
Don't comment on my body, do not reply
Your business is yours and mine is mine
Why do you care so much whose - I ride?
Why?
"Yes, and?"
Say that shit with your chest, and
Be your own fuckin' best friend
Say that shit with your chest
Keep movin' like, "What's next?"
"Yes, and?"
"Yes, and?"
Say that shit with your chest and
Be your own fuckin' best friend
Say that shit with your chest
Keep movin' like, "What's next?"
"Yes, and?" (Yeah)
@7clouds
Who inspires you to be better?
@TheSjchill
Probably god, @cxkios and your songs! You share music with us all!
@eugenechale3265
Xxxtentacio
@sm_ghost_girl
my friends
@ankitamishra8746
Friends
@urbff2443
Friends family god and anyone I love ❤❤
@m.v.olaria5575
THIS SONG IS SOMETHING ELSE BRO THIS SONG IS SO GOOD
@getoutofmybioiquit
maybe not the case.. listen further into the lyrics
@ClubPuguin
The song can still hit even with the lyrics😶....
@HollyKol-n5q
Copies mariahs 90's remix