(Feb. 15) If Mariah Carey jumps on a song, it will never be a bleak feature, including Ariana Grande’s “yes, and?” remix. Announced earlier this week on social media, Grande said, “There truly are no words that suffice. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this dream come true and for sprinkling your brilliance and magic on my little song @mariahcarey.”
The two-time Billboard “Song Of The Decade” recipient responded enthusiastically, “Darling angel, I am so effing excited to be joining you on the yes, and? remix!! This is such a magical moment!! Love you.” Since the 1990s, Carey left an unbeatable mark on the pop/R&B landscape, full of melodrama, No.1 hits and diva behavior.
To celebrate her iconic singles catalog, Carey releases anniversary EPs, which unearth octave-spanning remixes with a dreamy gospel-house fusion. Amongst the most memorable efforts lie within 1994’s “Anytime You Need A Friend- C&C Club Version,” highlighting a previously silenced side of Carey’s artistry.
Between the harmonizing whistles and velvety adlibs, Carey’s contributions to “yes, and?” feel less like an Ariana Grande track in the best way possible. Carey’s mature tone adds a comforting weight to Ariana Grande’s first single from Eternal Sunshine. “Now, I’m so done with sharing / This hypocrisy with you,” Carey says in the second verse. “Baby, you have been rejected / Go back, no more pretending, bye.”
If there were any naysayers about Mariah Carey’s vocal versatility, maybe it’s time for a trip down her 30-year discography. Or, give Ariana Grande’s “yes, and?” (with Mariah Carey) a listen. With most songs listing an artist as a “feature” credit, this vocal duo’s production blend—hence the “with”—will be big shoes to fill. To put it in today’s terms, they ate and left no crumbs.
