Ariana Grande fans break the internet over new video. But did they catch everything?

Ariana Grande is back and this time she has a few choice words for the haters.

The music video for Ari’s latest single “Yes, And?” premiered on Friday and “Arianators” are in love with this new era. The “Thank U Next” singer’s new song is the first solo release since 2021 and like “No Tears Left to Cry,” she’s encouraging her fans to be as unapologetic as she is.

Related:

Ariana Grande fans think her new single is coming for the haters

Ariana’s latest “yes, and” teaser all, but confirms it

Entertainment with an edge

Whether you’re into indie comics, groundbreaking music, or queer cinema, we’re here to keep you in the loop twice a week.

Ariana sings over a house beat “In case you haven’t noticed / Well, everybody’s tired / And healin’ from somebody / Or somethin’ we don’t see just right.” Then, encouragingly sings “Boy, come on, put your lipstick on / Come on and walk this way through the fire / And if you find yourself in a dark situation / Just turn on your light and be like / “Yes, and?”

While the song uplifts the fans, the music video comes for the critics. As previously seen in a teaser for the video, critics convene at a space called “The Loft” after gossiping about Ariana.

They’re then lucky enough to be treated to a performance by Ariana herself. After a collection of statues in the room crumble, Ariana and her cadre of dancers entertain her critics with vogue-inspired choreography that even gets a few critics to join in on the fun.

And fans are loving it.

Now that we’ve all seen the video, here are few famous folks Ariana seems to be channeling in “Yes, And?”

Madonna

First off is the house-inspired beat of “Yes, And?” Written and produced by Ariana, Max Martin, and Ilya Salmanzadeh, the song feels right out of Madonna’s discography. Fans may notice how Madge’s “Vogue” literally gave birth to this song, as “Yes, And?” interpolates Madonna’s famous track.

Paula Abdul

Another clear reference is the music video, where Ariana channels Paula Abdul. While many know Paula as an O.G. judge on American Idol, others will know her for her pop star career. Ariana’s latest visual, directed by Christian Breslauer, pays homage to Paula’s music video for “Cold Hearted,” scaffolding and critics included.

Janet Jackson

Many an artist pays tribute to Janet Jackson, including Ciara, Tinashe, and Beyoncé. So when Ariana showed up with a black beret before dropping some choreo, Janet fans clocked the reference immediately.

Beyoncé

Speaking of Beyoncé, looks like she’s not the only one who went down the house music route. Queen Bey’s Renaissance was one of the most talked about albums of 2022 and the subsequent tour pushed the conversation into 2023. Fans loved the house music-inspired album and the incredibly queer tour it produced. It seems that Ariana is taking a page out of her book and adding more house music flare to her brand of pop and we love to see it.

References aside, fans are living for “Yes, And?” and Ariana’s new era.

Related:

5 Times Ariana Grande Proved She Was a Gay Icon

Pop star Ariana Grande is celebrating her birthday today, which means it’s time to celebrate a gay icon.