In 2024, Ariana released yes, and? as the first comeback single to her hit smash album eternal sunshine. The song debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, also went #1 in Canada, Singapore, Greece, Switzerland, UAE, and Croatia. As well as being a top 10 and top 20 hit in many countries throughout Europe, Asia, South America, The Middle East and Oceania. As well as going top 5 in MENA, which is hard for an American artist to do. 

 

The song is nearing 700 million streams on Spotify but was controversial and had mixed reception with listeners upon release. It was divided by fans too. She was coming straight off of her massive viral hate train and many bored "girl's girl" millennial women and even some popular influencers were making viral negative tiktoks about her cause of the idgaf to the hate message of the song and especially the line "why do you care so much whose I ride?" line. I remember seeing so many negative tiktoks with millions of likes at the time. 
 

Lots of people were also hating on the song for it sounding like "H&M music" which a lot of people say anytime someone makes a House song. It makes me roll my eyes cause House is a respectful sub-genre of Dance music with a rich history. As a major House fan, I was GAGGED when she released a house song as her lead single. The instrumental goes hard, Max Martin (and Ilya Salmanzadeh) killed the production. It is pure House perfection. I feel like Max and Ilya's production alone doesn't get enough credit. I loved Be Alright and was shook that she released another House song and as a single no less.

 

This is still one of my fave lead singles from her and it reminded me a lot of Madonna's Vogue. 
 

Were people too harsh on this House bop? Did people mainly hate on this song cause it was trendy to do so at the time? Was it the right first single for ES? Discuss!

 

 

 

Also putting a link to the instrumental alone cause omg, Max and Ilya you did THAT. 

 

 

Edited September 3, 2025Sep 3 by Lethal

Well, yes! This is also one of my fave lead singles from her 

The Paula Abdul inspired video is my favourite part  The song is great too. 

is ok but it sticks like a sore thumb in an almost perfect album.

also it gave us one of the worst lipsyncs on drag race 

I always thought it was a bop, they could never make me hate it

Yes. Its excellent and the video is one if her best. Maybe you have to be a millennial yt gay to get it tho

 

H&M unfortunately ruined house music for a lot of people, a bit like how elevators ruined easy listening/jazz 

Yes 

 

I was not on atrl or gay twitter at that time and had no idea that it was hated. And i loved the song and mv 

It's the only song I liked on the album

It's a great song but the album had so much more to offer

Not harsh enough 

No. It sounds like a demo, the lyrics are terrible and her vocals are sleepy. It's not a bad song but it's an unacceptable lead, especially after a 3 years, for someone of her stature, abilities and budget to work exclusively with Max Martin. The lead should have been WCBF.

4 minutes ago, GaGathaChristie said:

I was not on atrl or gay twitter at that time and had no idea that it was hated. And i loved the song and mv 

I wasn't either in 2024, I was on Tiktok and there were soo many massive hate tiktoks about it. 80% of them were from women too cause of the Ethan/Lilly Jay situation.
 

I remembering typing in yes,and? on TT at the time and it was filled with so much hate TTs with million of likes.  I would click on the comments to these and they were either talking about "H&M music" or "homewrecker." 💀

 

The song & MV are flawless. 

19 minutes ago, tambora said:

is ok but it sticks like a sore thumb in an almost perfect album.

also it gave us one of the worst lipsyncs on drag race 

From who? I wanna see 👀

13 minutes ago, Harrier said:

Yes. Its excellent and the video is one if her best. Maybe you have to be a millennial yt gay to get it tho

 

H&M unfortunately ruined house music for a lot of people, a bit like how elevators ruined easy listening/jazz 

I'm a Gen Z gay and I loveeeeed this. Maybe it's cause I love both Ariana and House music in general though. 
 

Sadly H&M did for lots and I hate it. House deserves respect.

I think a lot of people didn't like it because it sounds like a house song made for Broadway.  It's weirdly theatrical in a way that sounds out of place and off-putting.  And yes, it DOES sound like H&M music due to the production sounding recycled.

Edited September 3, 2025Sep 3 by Archetype

the video kinda ate a cute lil ritz crackers snack in hindsight tbh. 
 

otherwise, it's the weakest song on the album and her weakest lead. 

8 minutes ago, Lethal said:

From who? I wanna see 👀

 

10 minutes ago, Archetype said:

I think a lot of people didn't like it because it sounds like a house song made for Broadway.  It's weirdly theatrical in a way that sounds out of place and off-putting.  And yes, it DOES sound like H&M music due to the production sounding recycled.

Imo it's more of a 90s inspired deep house/ballroom house style like Vogue by Madonna, Finally by CeCe Peniston, 100% Pure Love by Crystal Waters, etc. It sounds straight like this. 

Spoiler

I'm a House stan so don't mind me

 

Edited September 3, 2025Sep 3 by Lethal

The song, yes.

The user here, no

Yes, AND? 

6 minutes ago, AdamRiver96 said:

The song, yes.

The user here, no

Ariana or moi, Pika? 

the intro was iconic 

 

It's an okay-ish 6/7 out of 10 song that definitely feels greater (even essential) in the context of the album so to me that means it might have been better if kept as an album track, but some of the negative feedback was excessive. Truth is the best tracks weren't even released as singles.

MESS, PANNED… THROW THAT SHlT IN THE TRASH…. CAN……