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).
"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."[3][4][5] It features lyrics that taunt a former acquaintance who could not handle the singer’s expectations.[6] It has been described as a "propulsive banger".[7] It sees Carey rejecting a lover despite what they had in the past.[8] The song has a "catchy" chorus, and features the singer rejecting a past lover who has "wronged [her] for the last time".[9] 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.[10]
Release and remixes
Stefflon Don(pictured) was featured on one of the remixes for the song.
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.[8][11][12] 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.[13][14] However, on March 15, 2019, a remix featuring Stefflon Don was released instead.[15] The remix was positively received by music critics. Billboard's Michael Saponara wrote "Steff fires off several warning shots at those speaking on her name throughout the explosive verse".[16] 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.[17] 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".[18]
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."[19][20]
Reception
"A No No" was positively received by 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.[21]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.[22] 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".[10] It was included at number 78 on The Fader's list of the 100 best songs of 2018, and at number 15 on Idolator's list of the 100 best singles of 2018.[23][24] In 2020, The Guardian ranked the song as the ninth greatest Mariah Carey single,[25] and Billboard ranked it as the 21st greatest song of her career, that same year.[26] "A No No" charted at number 17 on the US R&B Digital Songs chart.[27]
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.[28] Carey teased the music video two days prior to its premiere through her YouTube channel on March 8, 2019.[29][30] 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.[31][32][33] 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".[10]
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.[34] On April 4, 2019, another version of the video was released to support the Shawni remix.[19] In it, the "chicly dressed" duo transform a pedestrian subway commute into a "banging party".[20]
Live performances
"A No No" was included as the opening track in the setlist for the Caution World Tour (2019).[35] 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 Stone's 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".[36]
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