By Serafina Paolini
Last summer, Ariana Grande had the Internet in outrage when the news broke that she was dating her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater. At first, the new couple was predominately getting memed due to Slater’s appearance and leading role in the Spongebob musical. But the jokes quickly turned to anger as people realized that Slater was recently married to Lilly Jay, a woman with whom he has a baby. Grande was even photographed with the married pair and their baby, demonstrating her close relationship with the whole family. Jay spoke out on this, saying that her family was “collateral damage” in the situation and referring to Grande as “not a girl’s girl.” The public criticized Grande for being a homewrecker and accused her of behaving similarly in past relationships. But what should we expect when one of her songs is titled,“break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored.”
Six months later, she drops “yes, and?” And… the song is a bop. Love her or hate her, you can’t deny the power and talent in Grande’s voice nor the catchiness of her tracks. She’s served us countless bangers over the years, and this comeback single was nothing different. The song did very well, even with lyrics suggesting her general apathy toward the hate she receives, including lines like these:
“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”Grande doesn’t care if you think she steals other women’s men, and it seems as if she wants you to know that she doesn’t care. She’s beautiful, rich, and has got a great set of pipes. She has the luxury of knowing that as soon as her next album drops, people will be flocking to support her again. On that note, Grande’s seventh studio album, eternal sunshine came out early last month— and it absolutely slaps.
the paper 