A No No Explained

A No No
Cover:A No No Remix (featuring Stefflon Don) - Mariah Carey (Official Single Cover).png
Caption:Stefflon Don remix single cover
Alt:Mariah Carey wears a glittery gown and black jacket afront a neon pink and blue background
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Mariah Carey
Album:Caution
Recorded:2018
Studio:
  • Cha Cha (Beverly Hills, California)
  • Westlake (Los Angeles, California)
  • Callanwolde (Atlanta, Georgia)
Genre:
Label:Epic
Prev Title:With You
Prev Year:2018
Next Title:In the Mix
Next Year:2019

"A No No" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey from her fifteenth studio album, Caution (2018). The song was written by Carey, Robert "Shea" Taylor, Priscilla Hamilton, Mason Betha and Camron Giles. Since the track samples Lil' Kim's "Crush on You" (1997), songwriting credits were added for a total of nine. Digitally released as a promotional single in November 2018, Epic Records serviced it to rhythmic contemporary and urban contemporary radio as the second single from the album on March 4, 2019. The song failed to chart on the US Hot 100 or any major music chart internationally.

"A No No" is a hip hop and R&B song with a blithely dismissive chorus and frisky beat. The song features lyrics that taunt a former acquaintance who could not handle the singer's expectations. It was positively received by music critics. The music video was released on March 8, 2019. It starts with the singer riding a neon pink and blue train. As the video progresses, Carey is joined by other passengers in an impromptu party where she sings and they dance. "A No No" was supported by remixes featuring Stefflon Don and Shawni, each accompanied by a music video. The original version of the song charted at number 17 on the US R&B Digital Songs chart. It was included as the opening track in the setlist for the Caution World Tour (2019).

Background and composition

"A No No" was initially written by Mariah Carey, Robert "Shea" Taylor, Priscilla Hamilton, Mason Betha and Camron Giles, with production from Carey, Taylor and additional production from Jermaine Dupri. Since the song samples American rapper Lil' Kim's 1997 single "Crush on You", she received writing credits with Christopher Wallace and Andreao Heard. "Crush on You" had sampled "Rain Dance" by the Jeff Lorber Fusion (written by Jeff Lorber) from his 1979 album, Water Sign, so Lorber was added as a songwriter.[1]

"A No No" is a hip hop and R&B song with a blithely dismissive chorus and frisky beat, making use of a sped-up version of the instrumental and the Notorious B.I.G.'s refrain "He's a slut, he's a ho, he's a freak/ Got a different girl every day of the week."[2] [3] [4] It features lyrics that taunt a former acquaintance who could not handle the singer’s expectations.[5] It has been described as a "propulsive banger".[6] It sees Carey rejecting a lover despite what they had in the past.[7] The song has a "catchy" chorus, and features the singer rejecting a past lover who has "wronged [her] for the last time".[8] The lyrics include a shout out to Carey's lawyer Ed Shapiro, and a comparison between her and the character Gilligan from the 1960s American sitcom Gilligan's Island. She concludes the song by saying "no" in a variety of languages, including Spanish, French, Portuguese and Japanese.[9]

Release and remixes

Following its digital release as a promotional single on November 1, 2018, it was serviced to mainstream R&B/Hip-hop and rhythmic contemporary radio on March 4, 2019, as the second single from Caution.[7] During her appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in November 2018, Carey revealed that she hoped to remix "A No No" with Lil' Kim and Cardi B. Later that month, the song's producer Jermaine Dupri began teasing the remix and Missy Elliott's involvement on social media.[10] [11] However, on March 15, 2019, a remix featuring Stefflon Don was released instead.[12] The remix was positively received by music critics. Billboards Michael Saponara wrote "Steff fires off several warning shots at those speaking on her name throughout the explosive verse".[13] Writing for Vibe, a critic stated that Don "was the perfect addition to the track", and added that she "provides her infectious rhymes and flow" to it.[14] Chantilly Post of HotNewHipHop wrote "Stefflon makes her presence known at the top of the beat and then comes in for the second verse spitting her British/patois bars".[15]

On April 5, 2019, a second remix featuring Shawni was released. The rapper added two verses to the song, with an interpolation of Lauryn Hill's song "Ex-Factor" (1998) and lyrics including "So all my exes need to tell you that I'm sorry, That I didn't leave you sooner. I'm sorry I gave you more time than I shoulda."[16]

Reception

The song failed to chart on the US Hot 100 or any major music chart internationally. Its parent album Caution would become Carey's lowest selling studio album, selling approximately 80,000 copies globally. Epic Records would depart ways with Carey after the release of this album. "A No No" was positively received by some music critics. The Fader writer Myles Tanzer called Carey's vocals on the song "undeniable", and the lyrics "quick as hell", but felt that the album version of the song left room for a rap feature.[17] Idolator's Mike Wass opined that "A No No" was the most instant track from its parent album, and speculated that it was an ode to her ex-manager Stella Bulochnikov.[18] Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone wrote that with the song, Carey shows "that she can translate her quick wit into pop gold", and "spells out extremely over this person she is, delivering insults in acrobatically sung runs".[9] It was included at number 78 on The Faders list of the 100 best songs of 2018, and at number 15 on Idolator's list of the 100 best singles of 2018.[19] [20] In 2020, The Guardian ranked the song as the ninth greatest Mariah Carey single,[21] and Billboard ranked it as the 21st greatest song of her career, that same year.[22] "A No No" charted at number 17 on the US R&B Digital Songs chart.

Music videos

A lyric video was released on December 4, 2018. It displays the lyrics in white, black and pink fonts, and features animated pictures of snakes, scissors, islands and jewelry.[23] Carey teased the music video two days prior to its premiere through her YouTube channel on March 8, 2019.[24] [25] The music video features cameos from Carey's children and boyfriend Bryan Tanaka. It starts with the singer riding a neon pink and blue train. As the video progresses, Carey is joined by other passengers in an impromptu party where she sings and they dance.[26] [27] [28] The music video features additional vocalizations which do not appear on the album version, sung by Carey in a whistle register. According to a critic, they "slap an exclamation point on her sentiment".

A revamped version of the original music video was released to support the Stefflon Don remix on March 22, 2019, with added scenes of Don rapping her verse on a subway platform.[29] On April 4, 2019, another version of the video was released to support the Shawni remix.[30] In it, the "chicly dressed" duo transform a pedestrian subway commute into a "banging party".[16]

Live performances

"A No No" was included as the opening track in the setlist for the Caution World Tour (2019).[31] Carey also performed the song as part of a medley, including "Always Be My Baby" (1995), "Emotions" (1991), "We Belong Together" (2005) and "Hero" (1993), at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards where she received the Icon Award. Rolling Stones Althea Legaspi and Daniel Kreps wrote that she "seemed to battle monitor and pitch issues at times", but "still showcased her astounding range during the elegant set, which featured backing from tux-clad dancers, gospel singers and an orchestra".[32] "A No No" was later performed as part of its "Car Ride" medley during the final leg of her concert residency The Butterfly Returns in 2020; it was also performed during her Merry Christmas One and All! holiday tour in 2023.

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Caution.[33]

Charts

Weekly charts

Release history

Single release

RegionDateFormatVersionLabelRef
United StatesMarch 4, 2019Rhythmic contemporaryOriginal[36]
VariousMarch 15, 2019Stefflon Don remixEpic
April 5, 2019Shawni remix

Notes and References

  1. 1997. "Crush on You". Lil' Kim. Big Beat Records, Atlantic Records.
  2. Blistein . Jon . Hear Mariah Carey Reinvent Lil Kim Classic on New Song 'A No No' . . November 28, 2018 . November 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181103092119/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mariah-carey-new-song-a-no-no-750445/ . November 3, 2018 .
  3. Web site: Cook-Wilson . Winston . Mariah Carey Releases Lil-Kim-Sampling Single 'A No No,' Posts Caution Tracklist . . November 28, 2018 . November 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181102180919/https://www.spin.com/2018/11/mariah-carey-a-no-no-lil-kim-caution-tracklist-listen/ . November 2, 2018 .
  4. Unterberger . Andrew . Mariah Carey's 'Caution' Is the Perfect 2018 Mariah Carey Album . . November 28, 2018 . November 16, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181117032442/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8485473/mariah-carey-caution-album-review . November 17, 2018 .
  5. Web site: Jenkins . Craig . Mariah Carey's Caution Is an Invitation and a Warning . . November 28, 2018 . November 19, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181122083135/https://www.vulture.com/2018/11/mariah-carey-caution-album-review.html . November 22, 2018 .
  6. Kaufman . Gil . Mariah Carey Reveals 'Caution' Track List, Drops 'A No No' . Billboard . November 29, 2018 . November 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181129060012/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8482728/mariah-carey-reveals-caution-track-list-drops-a-no-no-listen . November 29, 2018 .
  7. Web site: Agbo . Njideka . Mariah Carey Is A Classic HipHop Star In 'A No No' . . November 28, 2018 . November 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181128100635/https://guardian.ng/life/music/mariah-carey-is-a-classic-hiphop-star-in-a-no-no/ . November 28, 2018 .
  8. Web site: Jahmal . Karlton . Mariah Carey Reinvents A Hip-Hop Classic For 'A No No' . HotNewHipHop . November 28, 2018 . November 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181101113003/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/mariah-carey-reinvents-a-hip-hop-classic-for-a-no-no-new-song.1980881.html . November 1, 2018 .
  9. Spanos . Brittany . Song You Need to Know: Mariah Carey, 'A No No' . Rolling Stone . March 13, 2019 . March 13, 2019 . March 17, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190317192740/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mariah-carey-a-no-no-caution-807115/ . live .
  10. Web site: Wass . Mike . Mariah Carey's 'A No No' Remix Is Coming Together Nicely . . November 28, 2018 . November 26, 2018 . November 28, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181128100636/https://www.idolator.com/7688662/mariah-carey-a-no-no-remix-is-coming-together-lil-kim-missy-elliott . live .
  11. Web site: Wass . Mike . Missy Elliott Joins Mariah Carey's Star-Studded 'A No No' Remix . Idolator . November 29, 2018 . November 28, 2018 . November 29, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181129060012/https://www.idolator.com/7688799/missy-elliott-joins-mariah-carey-a-no-no-remix . live .
  12. Web site: New Music: Mariah Carey feat. Stefflon Don — 'A No No (Remix)' . . March 13, 2019 . March 13, 2019 . March 17, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190317192740/https://www.rap-up.com/2019/03/13/new-music-mariah-carey-stefflon-don-a-no-no-remix/ . live .
  13. Saponara . Michael . Stefflon Don Hops on Mariah Carey's 'A No No (Remix)' . Billboard . March 18, 2019 . March 15, 2019 . March 27, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190327223045/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8502669/mariah-carey-a-no-no-remix-stefflon-don . live .
  14. Web site: Mariah Carey Releases 'A No No' Remix Featuring Stefflon Don . . March 17, 2019 . March 15, 2019 . March 17, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190317192740/https://www.vibe.com/2019/03/mariah-carey-stefflondon-a-no-no-remix . live .
  15. Web site: Post . Chantilly . Mariah Carey Grabs Stefflon Don For 'A No No' Remix . HotNewHipHop . March 18, 2019 . March 15, 2019 . March 17, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190317192740/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/mariah-carey-grabs-stefflon-don-for-a-no-no-remix-new-song.1982317.html . live .
  16. Web site: Nied . Mike . Promo! Mariah Carey Taps Shawni For Second 'A No No' Remix . Idolator . April 5, 2019 . April 5, 2019 . September 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230911112938/https://www.idolator.com/7740592/mariah-carey-a-no-no-remix-feat-shawni . live .
  17. Web site: Tanzer . Myles . Who should be on the remix to Mariah Carey's 'A No No'? . . November 28, 2018 . November 2, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181103113605/https://www.thefader.com/2018/11/02/mariah-careys-a-no-no-remix . November 3, 2018 .
  18. Web site: Wass . Mike . Mariah Carey Throws A Little Shade On Fiery Bop, 'A No No' . Idolator . November 28, 2018 . November 1, 2018 . November 2, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181102180154/http://www.idolator.com/7687652/mariah-carey-shade-new-song-a-no-no . live .
  19. Web site: The 100 best songs of 2018 . The Fader . March 18, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190218010646/https://www.thefader.com/2018/12/12/best-songs-2018-apple-music-spotify-playlist . February 18, 2019 .
  20. Web site: Wass . Mike . Bangers, Ballads & Bops: The 100 Best Singles Of 2018 . Idolator . March 18, 2019 . January 8, 2019 . January 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230115123716/https://www.idolator.com/7690250/100-best-singles-of-2018 . live .
  21. Web site: December 3, 2020. Mariah Carey's 30 greatest singles – ranked!. September 17, 2021. the Guardian. en. September 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210917232830/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/dec/03/mariah-careys-30-greatest-singles-ranked. live.
  22. The 100 Greatest Mariah Carey Songs: Staff Picks. September 17, 2021. Billboard. en. September 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210917233054/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9457661/mariah-carey-best-songs-top-100. live.
  23. Bajgrowicz . Brooke . Mariah Carey Debuts Colorful 'A No No' Lyric Video . Billboard . December 5, 2018 . December 4, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181205212251/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8488602/mariah-carey-a-no-no-lyric-video . December 5, 2018 .
  24. Rowley . Glenn . Mariah Carey Slinks Around a Neon-Lit Subway Car in 'A No No' Video Teaser . Billboard . March 6, 2019 . March 6, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190307104716/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8501341/mariah-carey-teases-a-no-no-video . March 7, 2019 .
  25. Web site: Nied . Mike . A Yes Yes! Mariah Carey Confirms 'A No No' As Next 'Caution' Single . Idolator . March 6, 2019 . March 6, 2019 . March 7, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190307054030/https://www.idolator.com/7715984/mariah-carey-a-no-no-next-caution-single . live .
  26. Spanos . Brittany . Mariah Carey Takes a Vibrant Subway Ride in 'A No No' Video . Rolling Stone . March 8, 2019 . March 8, 2019 . March 17, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190317192740/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mariah-carey-a-no-no-music-video-caution-805184/ . live .
  27. Web site: Renshaw . David . Mariah Carey throws a party on the subway in her 'A No No' video . The Fader . March 8, 2019 . March 8, 2019 . March 17, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190317192740/https://www.thefader.com/2019/03/08/mariah-carey-a-no-no-video . live .
  28. Aniftos . Rania . Mariah Carey Takes a Glam Subway Ride in Flashy 'A No No' Video . Billboard . March 8, 2019 . March 8, 2019 . March 29, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190329231653/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8501608/mariah-carey-a-no-no-video . live .
  29. Web site: Post . Chantilly . Mariah Carey Drops Off Revamped 'A No No' Video Featuring Stefflon Don . HotNewHipHop . March 23, 2019 . March 22, 2019 . March 22, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190322201402/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/mariah-carey-drops-off-revamped-a-no-no-video-featuring-stefflon-don-new-video.45137.html . live .
  30. Shaffer . Claire . Mariah Carey, Shawni Party in the Subway in New 'A No No (Remix)' Video . Rolling Stone . April 5, 2019 . April 5, 2019 . April 6, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190406012649/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mariah-carey-shawni-a-no-no-remix-video-818236/ . live .
  31. Web site: Wass . Mike . Mariah Carey Kicks Off The 'Caution World Tour': Opening Night Setlist . Idolator . March 9, 2019 . February 27, 2019 . March 1, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190301134549/http://www.idolator.com/7710916/mariah-carey-caution-world-tour-opening-night-setlist . live .
  32. Legaspi . Althea . Kreps . Daniel . Billboard Music Awards 2019: Mariah Carey Performs Career-Spanning Set, Accepts Icon Award . Rolling Stone . April 23, 2020 . May 1, 2019 . August 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200814233234/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mariah-carey-billboard-music-awards-icon-award-medley-829966/ . live .
  33. 2018. Caution. Mariah Carey. Butterfly MC Records, Epic Records.
  34. Mariah Carey Chart History (R&B Digital Song Sales) . Billboard . April 25, 2020 . October 12, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191012050232/https://www.billboard.com/music/mariah-carey/chart-history/RDT . live .
  35. Web site: A No No: Mariah Carey. Amazon. November 1, 2018. April 26, 2020. January 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230115123634/https://www.amazon.com/music/player/browserWarning?0=%2Fplayer%2Falbums%2FB07JHPSDHB&1=player%2Falbums%2FB07JHPSDHB&subView=music&useHorizonte=true. live.
  36. Trust. Gary. February 4, 2019. Mariah Carey's 'With You' Becomes Her 23rd Top 10 on Adult Contemporary Chart. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190205012057/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8496466/mariah-carey-with-you-top-10-adult-contemporary-chart. February 5, 2019. February 5, 2019. Billboard.

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