Released: 2024
Welcome to Beyoncé’s rodeo, where she’s grafting the aesthetic of the cowgirl with the realities of Black American life in her track, “YA YA”. This song is a layered social commentary embroidered with playful sexiness and a potent call to action. The queen bee ain’t just about the groove, she’s about the movement!
Make no mistake, the recurring “ya-ya” isn’t just an engaging rhythmic hook — it’s a rallying call. The phrase echoes the tradition of African chants, and Beyoncé employs it as a symbol of unity, resilience and collective power throughout the song.
Between this catchy refrain, Queen B serves us unvarnished truths with lyrics like “My family lived and died in America…Whole lotta red in that white and blue, huh…History can’t be erased.” Here she notes the struggles and sacrifices of Black families throughout American history, along with the yet-to-be-erased racial injustices. Variation on the existing “Red, White, and Blue” motif, the “Whole lotta red” references the bloodshed due to racial conflicts.
She addresses the economic inequality with lines like “Are you tired workin’ time and a half for half the pay?“. There’s an undeniable critique of the American Dream’s broken promise here, where the hardest workers often see the least compensation. And yet, as with the constant undercurrent of faith in the lyrics, Beyoncé implies that change is possible and worth fighting for.
The verse, “She’s pickin’ up good vibrations…We shakin’…We swimmin’…We jerkin’…We twerkin’“, presents a vivid portrayal of unabashed joy and sensuality. Beyoncé encourages us to embrace our physicality and express ourselves freely — whether that’s shaking, swimming, jerking, or twerking. It’s not just about dance, it’s about defiance and liberation from societal norms.
This track also contains a distinctive southern influence with lines like “Baby, if you ain’t got no grits, get the fuck up out the South.” Here, Beyoncé asserts her own Southern identity and the cultural underpinnings that shape key aspects of her artistry.
Finally, Beyoncé issues an emphatic call to action: “Ah, vote.” With this simple command at the end of the track, she pushes her listeners to take control of their future. It’s a clear nod towards participating in political processes such as voting, ensuring that their voices are heard and count in decision-making spheres.
All in all, “YA YA” is more than just a song — it’s an anthem that celebrates individuality, acknowledges struggle, and demands action.
