Artist: Andrea
Title: Ya-Ya
Genre(s): Electropop, EDM
Length: 2:40
Writer(s): A.Mason, B.Crewe, K.Nolan
Producer(s): BLOOM
Label: Five Pesky Kids
From The Album: Southern Belle
Ya-Ya is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Andrea. It serves as the new lead single from her long-awaited and oft-delayed second studio album, "Southern Belle". The track was released on August 2, 2024 through Five Pesky Kids Records with no prior announcement or promotion. Mason also posted the pre-save link for her forthcoming album alongside the track which revealed all previously released singles from the frequently postponed project have been cut from the album's track listing. "Ya-Ya" now supersedes past releases and stands as the new leading single. The track was written solely by Andrea while production was handled by BLOOM. The track was conceptualised in the summer of 2023 with the production being reworked by BLOOM several times over until being finalised in the spring of 2024. The chorus of the song references Labelle's 1974 hit "Lady Marmalade", resulting in its writers Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan earning writing credits.
"Ya-Ya" is an upbeat electropop and EDM track that runs for a total of two minutes and forty seconds. The song is noted for its "bizarre" and "brazen" production; heavily utilising an accordion throughout the beginning and prominent beat drops within the song. Andrea "talk-sings" the verses in a heavy Southern drawl, a style which she has become known for over the course of her second album's conception. While being rooted in more commercial genres, "Ya-Ya" earns its unique characteristics by borrowing from hyperpop and polka music. The track combines Andrea's natural vocals alongside modulated edits as well as a backing choir. Multiple sound effects such as car tires burning out and glass shattering are dotted throughout. Lyrically, "Ya-Ya" sees Andrea taking a swipe at the press and commentators on the internet. She portrays herself as a 'star', a 'doll', a vessel which is used for entertainment, discourse and economic gain. Andrea, however, doesn't mind if people continue to use her in order to "get their ya-ya's" as she has grown immune to it all and has learned to love herself regardless of all the outside noise surrounding her and her celebrity.
Andrea wrote:"This album has been so fucking long in getting off the ground, through no fault of my fucking own may I add, that I just wanted to come back with something FUN. I'm sitting on literally hundreds of songs that I've made for this damn record and whenever I'm allowed to actually drop one, I always fret over what people want to hear from me. It's usually so long between releases that I feel as if I need to prove myself time and time again, constantly relaunching with the 'perfect' song that I lose so much sleep over but I decided I'm not gonna do that. "Ya-Ya", you know, it's hardly fucking Shakespeare but it packs a punch and is just a whole lot of fun. I've been through a lot these past few years behind the scenes and if I'm going to break out back on to centre stage, I want to enjoy it and just feel like THAT bitch. All the sappy, darker, grittier shit can come later when we're ready for it. Right now, it's summer, it's been a fucking age and I'm just itching to give the gays and girlies what they want. Ms. Mason reporting for duty to serve KUNT."
"Some songs are architected to within an inch of their lives. I've got many tracks like that and I've lost the will to live several times in the studio because I have such a clear vision, emotion, story I want to capture perfectly. "Ya-Ya" on the other hand just fell out of my mouth. Cristian [BLOOM] played me this MAD synth beat that was super scatty and Deep House. The bassline just made you screw up your face, it was so sick. I kinda just freestyled the lyrics over it in the booth and aside from tidying some notes and cadence up, it practically remained untouched vocal and melody wise. The production, however, kinda lost some edge with all the vocals over it and because we loved the original track so much, we knew we had to do it justice and lift it back to life again. "Quirky" was our buzzword while rebuilding the track but it soon went from that to "clinically insane". We were throwing everything at it. Things that shouldn't be in a song for the clubs; an accordion, cars screeching, a gospel choir?! Throw that shit in! With the lyrics being so chaotic and basically just a middle finger up to everyone, I wanted it to sound as absurd and obnoxious as possible. I think we did that!"
Critical reception of "Ya-Ya" has been relatively positive upon release. Carrie Moore of
Renowned for Sound called the song
"an assault to all senses in the best possible way" before concluding that
"Andrea is back on top form, sounding more confident and commanding as ever". Writing for
Vulture, Lana Piper stated that it's
"Ya-Ya Summer". She then when on to claim that
"Andrea has dropped the hottest track of the season without warning. Everything about the packaging even down to its blindsiding release strategy just packs an almighty punch.". Gary Kinsella of
The Guardian compared "Ya-Ya" to Andrea's past releases and commended her artistic growth, opining;
"Despite chart successes, Andrea has failed to find her footing outside of the country-pop market with her decade-long delayed second album. On "Ya-Ya", however, Andrea sounds more comfortable and convincing than ever before while dropping an irresistible earworm into the bargain." Kinsella rounded off his review by stating that
"Andrea no longer sounds as if she's trying on different hats to see what fits. "Ya-Ya" is the ultimate sweet spot between her authentic self and the market she oh so eagerly wishes to appease."BLOOM's production of the song also received acclaim in its own right. Allie Lavelle of PopMatters heavily praised the track and BLOOM's talents, writing
"Cristian Flores AKA 'BLOOM' is the mystery man behind many of the biggest pop hits in recent years. The production world's Christpher Hudson. "Ya-Ya", however, might be his best offering and breakout moment yet. From the minute those batshit accordions kick in, all those who are musically wired must surely be asking; "who is the mad genius who thought of this and where can I find them?!". Between BLOOM's kitchen-sink production and Andrea's wacky and coquettish lyricism, it's a bonkers match made in Heaven.". Aiden Little from
The Hollywood Reporter branded the production as
"incessantly catchy, instantly viral and meme-worthy. The material every big pop girl yearns for." Little then dubbed the song
"one for the gay clubs".
"YA-YA"Can I speak a little controversially?
Do I have to be loved universally?
Cameras flashin', Goddamn the sights you see
Eyes are rollin' when they all on me
Such a fucked up little twisted dichotomy
Hate my guts but baby, I am your economy
Come get yours, come get yours
Come get ya-ha-ha-ha-ha
Am I gonna quit? No! Thanks for askin'
Throw them a bone when the dawgs start yappin'
Have to stop the world 'fore the cheeks stop clappin'
Oh and honey, if the bass is slappin'
Bet I'm gonna stay a little bitch assassin
I down it straight, keep your straws for graspin'
Come get yours, come get yours
Come get ya-ha-ha-ha-ha
Dressed to the nines and serving tens
All across the boards and back again
Doesn't this mug drive you 'round the bend?
I don't give a fuck, don't excuse my French
Come get your ya-yas
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya-ayy!
Come get your ya-yas
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya-ayy!
Don't think I can't see through the subliminals
The power I hold, it should be criminal
Come get your ya-yas
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya-ayy!
Come get your ya-yas
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya-ayy!
Parasocial princess, nothing physical
Staring is free, come get your visualsHeard all those antics, try a different scope
Look good at all angles, that shit is dope
Hot doll, odd positions, let me drop the soap
I could play it dumb if you're into tropes
Or I could keep it hush, keep it on the low
Whatever you need for my starring role
Come get yours, come get yours
Come get ya-ha-ha-ha-ha
Knock me down nine, I'll rise up ten
All across the decades and back again
Doesn't this bitch drive you 'round the bend?
I don't give a fuck, don't excuse my French
Come get your ya-yas
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya-ayy!
Come get your ya-yas
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya-ayy!
Don't think I can't see through the subliminals
The power I hold, it should be criminal
Come get your ya-yas
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya-ayy!
Come get your ya-yas
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya-ayy!
Parasocial princess, nothing physical
Staring is free, come get your visualsCome getcha ya-ya
Come getcha ay-ay
Gitchie ya-ya
Gitchie, gitchie ay-ay
Come getcha ya-ya
Come getcha ay-ay
Gitchie ya-ya
Gitchie, gitchie ay-ay
Such a fucked up little twisted dichotomy
Hate my guts but baby, I am your economy
Come get your ya-yas
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya-ayy!
Come get your ya-yas
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya-ayy!
Don't think I can't see through the subliminals
The power I hold, it should be criminal
Come get your ya-yas
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya-ayy!
Come get your ya-yas
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya-ayy!
Parasocial princess, nothing physical
Staring is free, come get your visualsCan Be Compared To:
