Ariana Grande teases new single, "yes, and?," coming on Friday
The expected song is Grande's first standalone single in roughly three years
It’s been a minute since Ariana Grande last released a straight-up, “Here’s what I’ve been working on in the studio,” non-remix, collaboration, or Christmas song single—roughly 1.5 million minutes, in fact, since she was regularly releasing tracks off her sixth studio album Positions in 2020 and 2021. Now, though, Grande has teased that she’s been back in the studio, posting on Instagram on Sunday to reveal that what we’re presuming is a new single, titled “yes, and?” will be arriving on Friday, January 12.
The post also featured a blurry photo of Grande, presumably the single’s release art—and, of course, the exciting promise of hearing Grande musically dig into one of the most fundamental rules of the art of improvisational comedy. (We can’t wait to hear follow-ups “Play To The Top Of Your Intelligence” and “That’s Not How You Mime Holding A Goddamn Telephone, Brad.”)
Anyway, the truth is that Grande, who turned 30 last year, has been pretty dang busy over the last few years, most notably with her starring role in the upcoming two-part adaptation of Wicked, where she’ll be playing Glinda The Good. She’s still managed to release the occasional feature verse or remix in that time, though, putting out a Christmas tune with Kelly Clarkson (“Santa Can’t You Hear Me”) in 2021, as well as a track with Kid Cudi for the soundtrack of Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up. Still, it’s been a light few years for Grande fans, who’ve been sorely deprived of both the artist’s considerable musical talents, as well as her penchant for song titles (“Thank U, Next,” “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored”) with commas in them.
It’s not clear yet whether “yes, and?” will serve as the lead-in to a 7th studio album; meanwhile, the first installment of Wicked arrives in theaters on November 27, hopefully sating fans’ desires for more material from the singer.