"Say Yes" is a song recorded by American recording artist
Michelle Williams, taken from her fourth studio album ''
Journey to Freedom
''Journey to Freedom'' is a 1957 American film. The story follows a Bulgarian who escapes from behind the Iron Curtain through Istanbul, Paris and Toronto to seek freedom in Los Angeles, California, but is doggedly pursued by Communist agents ...
'' (2014). It features Williams' former
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final line-up comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. After years of limited ...
groupmates
Beyoncé
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
and
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene Rowland (born February 11, 1981) is an American singer, actress, and television personality. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of Destiny's Child, one of the world's List of best-selling girl groups, best-selling girl ...
. The song was written by Williams,
Carmen Reece
Helen Culver, known by her stage name Carmen Reece, is an English singer, songwriter, musician and producer based in Los Angeles, California. An accomplished pianist and flautist from childhood, Carmen penned her first song aged 11 and has sinc ...
, Al Sherrod Lambert and
Harmony Samuels
Harmony David Samuels (born 16 May 1980), also known as H-Money, is an English record producer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. He has produced a multitude of hits for artists such as Brandy, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande, ...
who also produced it.
E1 Music
MNRK Music Group (pronounced "monarch", formerly known as Koch Records and eOne Music) is a New York City-based independent record label and music management company. It was formed in 2009 from the music assets of Koch Entertainment, which had b ...
released "Say Yes" as the album's third single on June 2, 2014. "Say Yes" marks the third time the trio collaborated as solo artists following the disbandment of
their group in 2006.
Musically, "Say Yes" is an uptempo
gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...
and
pop song, which takes influence from
dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement. In terms of performance, the major categories are live dance music and recorded danc ...
. It copies a popular Nigerian gospel tune originally titled "When Jesus Says Yes", believed to be originally sung by artist Agatha Moses. Upon release, "Say Yes" received universal acclaim from
contemporary music critics who called the song infectious and praised its catchiness. Commercially the song performed well on the gospel charts in the US, peaking at number one for seven non-consecutive weeks on the ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
''
Hot Gospel Songs
The ''Billboard'' charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in '' Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' biz, the online extension of the ''Billboard'' charts, p ...
. It also appeared on charts in the UK, France and Belgium across Europe. "Say Yes" appeared seventh on the 2014 year-end Hot Gospel Songs chart and twenty-three on the 2015 year-end chart.
In 2019, ''Billboard'' ranked "Say Yes" number fifty on the decade-end (2010-2019) Hot Gospel Songs chart.
An accompanying
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
for "Say Yes" was directed by
Matthew A. Cherry
Matthew A. Cherry (born December 14, 1981) is an American film director, writer, producer, and former American football player. He wrote and directed two independent films, ''The Last Fall'' (2012), and ''9 Rides'' (2016). He is best known for th ...
. It was released on June 18, 2014 when Williams appeared on ''
Good Morning America
''Good Morning America'' (often abbreviated as ''GMA'') is an American morning television program that is broadcast on ABC. It debuted on November 3, 1975, and first expanded to weekends with the debut of a Sunday edition on January 3, 1993. Th ...
''. The clip depicts the three singers at a street party, dancing and singing with a crowd; along with solo appearances of each singer in a forest, wearing white clothes during their respective verses. It received generally positive reviews from critics who accredited it as a reunion of Destiny's Child and praised its feel-good nature. In 2015, the video won a
Stellar Award
A Stellar Award is an award presented by SAGMA to recognize achievements in the gospel music industry.[Sagma](_blank)
The Stell ...
for Music Video of the Year.
Background
"Say Yes" was written by Williams,
Carmen Reece
Helen Culver, known by her stage name Carmen Reece, is an English singer, songwriter, musician and producer based in Los Angeles, California. An accomplished pianist and flautist from childhood, Carmen penned her first song aged 11 and has sinc ...
, Al Sherrod Lambert and
Harmony Samuels
Harmony David Samuels (born 16 May 1980), also known as H-Money, is an English record producer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. He has produced a multitude of hits for artists such as Brandy, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande, ...
who also served as its
producer. The song marked the third collaboration of the trio consisting of Williams,
Beyoncé
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
and
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene Rowland (born February 11, 1981) is an American singer, actress, and television personality. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of Destiny's Child, one of the world's List of best-selling girl groups, best-selling girl ...
, after their group
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final line-up comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. After years of limited ...
disbanded in 2006.
Originally it was planned to feature
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene Rowland (born February 11, 1981) is an American singer, actress, and television personality. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of Destiny's Child, one of the world's List of best-selling girl groups, best-selling girl ...
and
Beyoncé
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
on "
Believe In Me", but they decided to feature on "Say Yes" instead. Williams' executive producer Phil Thornton spoke about the feature in a 2016
Centric documentary: "We were in the final stages of recording 'Journey To Freedom' and Michelle and I talked about having Kelly and Beyoncé join her on a track. And we narrowed it down to two songs on the album. One of the songs was 'Believe In Me' and the other one was 'Say Yes'.". Michelle added: "And I actually wanted Beyoncé and Kelly to be on another song on my album, but when they heard 'When Jesus Say Yes' they were like 'Michelle this sounds something like we could rock.'".
Williams sent an advanced
demo
Demo, usually short for demonstration, may refer to:
Music and film
*Demo (music), a song typically recorded for reference rather than release
* ''Demo'' (Behind Crimson Eyes), a 2004 recording by the band Behind Crimson Eyes
* ''Demo'' (Deafhea ...
of the album ''
Journey to Freedom
''Journey to Freedom'' is a 1957 American film. The story follows a Bulgarian who escapes from behind the Iron Curtain through Istanbul, Paris and Toronto to seek freedom in Los Angeles, California, but is doggedly pursued by Communist agents ...
'' to her former bandmates Beyoncé and Rowland which contained the song as a solo track titled "When Jesus Says Yes". Later, Williams received a call from Rowland who said, "We love 'When Jesus Says Yes'... there has to be a Destiny's Child mix of the song." Both Rowland and Beyoncé recorded their respective verses in a studio afterwards. Williams stated she wanted to keep the project in secrecy "until it was time" to reveal it.
During an interview with ''
Rap-Up
''Rap-Up'' is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the ...
'', Beyoncé spoke about her decision to be a featured artist on the song, stating, "This song is so inspiring and... not enough music out there like this and I'm proud to be a part of it."
Williams talked about "Say Yes" with
Fuse
Fuse or FUSE may refer to:
Devices
* Fuse (electrical), a device used in electrical systems to protect against excessive current
** Fuse (automotive), a class of fuses for vehicles
* Fuse (hydraulic), a device used in hydraulic systems to protect ...
, saying,
"It's an inspirational song, so I wasn't sure how people would take to it. But it kind of reminds me of praying nthat it continues to have the impact, and does have the impact, of when Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
did 'Jesus Walks
Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, names and titles), was ...
.' I think I got one here."
"Say Yes" was
leaked onto the Internet on May 21, 2014.
Williams revealed on her
Twitter
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
account the same day that the leaked track was an unmixed and unmastered version of "Say Yes".
In an interview with ''
The Hollywood Reporter
''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...
'', she said that she "hated" the fact that an unfinished version was released although noted that she was not angry and felt "overwhelmed" by the positive support.
Prior to the song's debut, several publications reported that Beyoncé's sister,
Solange Knowles
Solange Piaget Knowles (; born June 24, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, performance artist, and actress. Expressing an interest in music from an early age, Knowles had several temporary stints as a backup dancer for Destiny's Child, wh ...
, also appeared as a featured artist in "Say Yes"; however, the claims were later proved to be wrong.
A final official version of the song premiered on June 2, 2014 and was released to radio and made available for
digital download the same day. On the German web show ''MalcolmMusic'', Williams performed a German version of the song with host and journalist Malcolm Ohanwe.
Composition
"Say Yes" is an uptempo
gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...
song with elements of
pop music
Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ''pop music'' are often used interchangeably, although the former describe ...
.
The song was also noted for exploring elements of
Contemporary Christian
Contemporary history, in English-language historiography, is a subset of modern history that describes the historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. Contemporary history is either a subset of the late modern period, or it is o ...
as well as electronic dance music.
Jeff Benjamin of Fuse felt that the song contained a "zippy",
reggae
Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...
-dance beat.
Its instrumentation includes
percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Exc ...
s,
synths
A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and f ...
and
horn stabs along with African beats.
According to sheet music published on the website Musicnotes.com by
Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., "Say Yes" is written in the
key
Key or The Key may refer to:
Common meanings
* Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm
* Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock
* Key (map ...
of
D major
D major (or the key of D) is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature has two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor.
The D major scale is:
:
Ch ...
using
common time
The time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, or measure signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats (pulses) are contained in each measure (bar), and which note value ...
. It contains a moderately fast
tempo
In musical terminology, tempo (Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (often ...
with a metronome of 120
beats per minute
Beat, beats or beating may refer to:
Common uses
* Patrol, or beat, a group of personnel assigned to monitor a specific area
** Beat (police), the territory that a police officer patrols
** Gay beat, an area frequented by gay men
* Battery ( ...
and the singers' vocal elements range from the low note of
A3 to the high note of
F5. The song samples a popular Nigerian gospel tune originally titled "When Jesus Says Yes".
Chris Payne and Colin Stutz of ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' magazine described it as a modern
dance
Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
and contemporary electronic dance reworking of that song.
Stutz also found elements of an "upbeat swing" of West African gospel.
Regarding the composition of the song, Williams stated, "It is a song that came from Africa more than a hundred years ago. I don't think anyone knows who wrote it or who started singing that chorus. When the song leaked last week, so many people from Africa and Nigeria were trying to let me know where it came from."
Williams sings the
lead vocals
The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of t ...
while Beyoncé and Rowland sing their respective solo verses and serve as
background vocalists throughout the song.
Eric Corpus from ''
The Christian Post
''The Christian Post'' is an American nondenominational Christianity, non-denominational, Conservatism, conservative, Evangelicalism, evangelical Christian media, Christian online newspaper. Based in Washington, D.C., it was founded in March 200 ...
'' interpreted the song's lyrics as a praise of God's
sovereignty
Sovereignty is the defining authority within individual consciousness, social construct, or territory. Sovereignty entails hierarchy within the state, as well as external autonomy for states. In any state, sovereignty is assigned to the perso ...
and "magnetism" of Jesus' love. "Say Yes" opens with a message of
faith
Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as "belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion".
Religious people often ...
as Williams sings the first lines, "I'm not worried about a thing/'Cause I know you are guiding me / Where you lead me / Lord I will go / I have not fear / 'Cause I know who's in control."
The
chorus
Chorus may refer to:
Music
* Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse
* Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound
* Chorus form, song in which all verse ...
is constructed as a
call and response
Call and response is a form of interaction between a speaker and an audience in which the speaker's statements ("calls") are punctuated by responses from the listeners. This form is also used in music, where it falls under the general category of ...
with the trio repeatedly praising
Jesus
Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...
through the lines "When Jesus say yes, nobody can say no!" while being backed by a
choir
A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which ...
which repeats the verses.
Critical reception
"Say Yes" received critical acclaim. Colin Stutz of ''Billboard'' described "Say Yes" as a "peppy" number.
John Walker of
MTV News
MTV News is the news production division of MTV. The service is available in the US with localized versions on MTV's global network. In February 2016, MTV Networks confirmed it would refresh the MTV News brand in 2016, to compete with the likes ...
described the song's refrain as "infectious".
Mike Wass from
Idolator
An idolator is a practitioner of idolatry.
Idolater or Idolator may also refer to: Books
*''Os Idólatras'', 1968 Portuguese novel by Maria Judite de Carvalho Music
* Idolator (website), an American music blog
* ''Idolator'' (album), third album ...
praised the song's catchiness, describing it as an "infectious gospel club-banger" and an invitation to the dance floor for listeners. Further, he called it "possibly the first twerk-inducing song of praise".
He concluded his review, writing, "those harmonies remain unrivaled and the chorus is a monster. Trust me,
ts choruswill be stuck in your head after the first listen."
In another review he felt that the song managed to bridge the gap between gospel and popular music.
Describing the song as "kinetic", Marc Hogan of ''
Spin
Spin or spinning most often refers to:
* Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning
* Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis
* Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...
'' magazine called it "not only star-studded, but damn near impossible to get out of your head, too". ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' writer Jon Blistein described the horn stabs as "heavenly" and praised the trio's "always potent harmonies".
Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music was a brand under which Yahoo! provided a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming. Previously, users with Yahoo! accounts could gain access to hundreds of ...
writer Billy Johnson, Jr. found a "vibrant dance energy" in the song's music and further hailed its message as "uplifting".
Similarly, ''
Complex
Complex commonly refers to:
* Complexity, the behaviour of a system whose components interact in multiple ways so possible interactions are difficult to describe
** Complex system, a system composed of many components which may interact with each ...
'' writer Zach Frydenlund echoed his statements, describing the song as "uplifting".
In a review for Fuse, Jeff Benjamin described "Say Yes" as a "gospel-island hybrid". He felt that it was interesting to hear Williams as the lead vocalist instead of Beyoncé, who had previously served as the lead vocalist of Destiny's Child. Benhamin finished his review, concluding, "It all sort of makes us want to twerk and throw our hands to heavens at the same time."
Brownie Marie of ''
Christian Today
''Christian Today'' is a non-denominational Christian news company with its international headquarters in London, England.Christian Today > Contact Us/ref>
History
The website was established in 2000 to report on news in the global church a ...
'' praised Williams' vocal performance during the song's
hook
A hook is a tool consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved or indented, such that it can be used to grab onto, connect, or otherwise attach itself onto another object. In a number of uses, one e ...
, along with the "well-controlled riffs". She also wrote that Beyoncé is "vocally subdued on the track, and truly lets Williams' voice receive the attention".
Hayen Manders from
Refinery29
Refinery29 (R29) is an American multinational digital media and entertainment website focused on young women. It is owned by Vice Media.
History
Justin Stefano, Philippe von Borries, Piera Gelardi, and Christene Barberich co-founded Refinery29 i ...
felt that the song was Williams' "turn to shine".
In a more mixed review,
Vulture
A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including Condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to North and ...
columnist Lindsey Weber wrote that the song is not "a total mess" and that listeners might sing the praises in the song along with it.
At the
2014 Soul Train Music Awards
The 2014 Soul Train Music Awards was held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Centric and BET on November 30, 2014. The ceremony, hosted by media personality Wendy Williams, honored artists in 12 different categories. The nominees were a ...
, "Say Yes" was nominated in the category for Best Gospel/Inspirational Song. "Say Yes" also received 3 nominations at the 2015
Stellar Awards
A Stellar Award is an award presented by SAGMA to recognize achievements in the Gospel music, gospel music industry.[Sagma< ...](_blank)
for Song of the Year, Urban/Inspirational/Instrumental Single/Performance of the Year and Music Video of the Year; where Williams was further nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year.
Chart performance
In the United States, following its premiere "Say Yes" peaked at number nineteen on the US
''Billboard'' Twitter Top Tracks chart.
Following its release, "Say Yes" entered the top ten of the ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
''
Hot Gospel Songs
The ''Billboard'' charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in '' Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' biz, the online extension of the ''Billboard'' charts, p ...
chart at number five in its second week of charting on the issue dated June 21, 2014 while also charting at numbers one and four on the Gospel Digital Songs and Gospel Streaming Songs charts respectively, the latter also being its debut position. On the issue dated July 5, the song jumped from the position of nine to the top of the Hot Gospel Songs chart, while also reaching the number one spot on the Gospel Streaming Songs and Gospel Digital Songs,
with 1.2 million streams for the week (placing just outside the 100 most-streamed songs among all formats). With that feat, it became Williams' first number-one single on the Hot Gospel Songs, spending 2 consecutive weeks at the top of the chart and 4 weeks at number-one on the Gospel Digital Songs chart.
In its twenty-fourth week of charting on Hot Gospel Songs, "Say Yes" returned to number one, on the issue dated November 22, 2014, remaining there for five consecutive weeks, giving it a total of seven non-consecutive weeks at number one.
In the ''Billboard'' issue dated April 18, 2015, "Say Yes" rose from number ten to number two on Gospel Digital Songs, with 3,000
sold in the week, a 233 percent sales gain, following the April 5th airing of the Stellar Awards.
On the
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (also known as Bubbling Under the Hot 100) is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The chart lists the top songs that have not yet charted on the main ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Chart ...
chart, which acts as a 25-song extension of the main
''Billboard'' Hot 100, "Say Yes" peaked at number nine.
It also peaked at number 14 on the ''Billboard'' component
Heatseekers Songs
Top Heatseekers are "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. The Heatseekers Albums and the Heatseekers Songs charts were introduced by ''Billboard'' in 1991 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new an ...
chart.
Luis Gomez in an article for the ''
Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
'' opined that the song's religious message was the reason for its mild reception and performance on the mainstream charts.
In the United Kingdom, "Say Yes" debuted and peaked on the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
and the component
UK R&B Chart
The UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart and the UK Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart (also known as The Official UK Hip Hop and R&B Charts, the Top 40 Hip Hop and RnB Singles and the Top 40 Hip Hop and RnB Albums, or simply the UK Urban Chart) are 40-posi ...
at numbers 106 and 15 respectively on June 14, 2014.
The song performed better on the country's
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Singles Chart and UK Independent Albums Chart are charts of the best-selling independent singles and albums, respectively, in the United Kingdom. Originally published in January 1980, and widely known as the indie chart, the rele ...
where it peaked at the eighth position in its first week.
In France, Williams achieved her first solo single on the
French Singles Chart
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...
when the track debuted at number 161 in the first week of charting on June 14, 2014. The following week, it fell off the chart, but re-entered at its peak position of 90 on June 28. It fell down to the position of 155 the next week and completely dropped out afterwards. Elsewhere, it charted for five weeks on the Flanders version of the
Belgian Urban Singles Chart where it peaked at number 28 on June 14, 2014.
Music video
Background and synopsis
The
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
for "Say Yes" was filmed on May 20, 2014 and directed by Matthew A. Cherry. The clip was filmed in a house in Maplewood, New Jersey, where a crowd gathered the watch the trio on set.
Following that, filming was cordoned by local police. Several pictures of Beyoncé arriving on set were shared on social networks by fans.
Williams debuted the clip for "Say Yes" on her appearance at ''
Good Morning America
''Good Morning America'' (often abbreviated as ''GMA'') is an American morning television program that is broadcast on ABC. It debuted on November 3, 1975, and first expanded to weekends with the debut of a Sunday edition on January 3, 1993. Th ...
'' on June 18, 2014. Regarding the filming of the video, she stated, "Sometimes the director or production assistants had to say like, 'OK, girls, bring it back home. Bring it back together because when we were together, we go back to how we were when we were younger, just always laughing and talking about things. It's been a great moment." The video was released on Williams'
Vevo
Vevo ( , an abbreviation for "Video Evolution", stylized as VEVO until 2013) is an American multinational video hosting service, best known for providing music videos to YouTube. The service is also available as an app on selected smart TVs, di ...
account the same day. A
behind-the-scenes footage was also released featuring the trio on set and talking about the song and their reunion. In the clip, Williams said she felt excited that she had her "sisters" with her spreading a positive message for the world.
The video opens with Williams singing the opening verses and dancing on a street. Beyoncé, wearing an apostolic-like gown to fit the theme of the track,
appears at 90 seconds into the song to deliver her verse in a forest in front of a tree hung with paper lanterns.
Rowland appears soon after in the same forest wearing a white crop top, smiling.
The singers appear together in the video's last section when Williams, Beyoncé and Rowland sing and dance together at a street-party scene along with dancers who are shown waving their flags and playing drums.
The choreography present in the video was noted to be traditional African.
Reception
The video received generally favorable reviews. Daniel Kreps from ''Rolling Stone'' said that it managed to highlight the "'feel-good' vibes" without using "heavy-handed"
religious iconography
Iconography, as a branch of art history, studies the identification, description and interpretation of the content of images: the subjects depicted, the particular compositions and details used to do so, and other elements that are distinct fro ...
. He further praised the reunion of Destiny's Child.
Tom Breihan of
Stereogum
''Stereogum'' is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine.
''Stereogum'' was one of the first MP3 blogs and has received several award ...
said that each singer looked "seriously happy", further praising Beyoncé's style as reminiscent of the Destiny's Child-era.
Writing for ''
People
A person (plural, : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of pr ...
'', Zakiya Yamal opined that the traditional choreography and drums were inspired by Africa. Yamal further praised the singers' synchronized "formidable moves, reminding everyone they've still got it".
Chiderah Monde from the ''
New York Daily News
The New York ''Daily News'', officially titled the ''Daily News'', is an American newspaper based in Jersey City, NJ. It was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson as the ''Illustrated Daily News''. It was the first U.S. daily printed in ta ...
'' felt that the dance sequence during the end of the video was similar to older videos by Destiny's Child. Alex Rees from ''
Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan may refer to:
Food and drink
* Cosmopolitan (cocktail), also known as a "Cosmo"
History
* Rootless cosmopolitan, a Soviet derogatory epithet during Joseph Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign of 1949–1953
Hotels and resorts
* Cosmopoli ...
'' stated that a reunion of the group was "always good fun". He also noted that the clip featured Williams dancing in the center spot between Beyoncé and Rowland for the first time. Mike Wass from Idolator described the video as "heavenly" and concluded that it was "heart-warming" to see Williams have her moment. Wass went on to describe the clip as a "visual extravaganza" and praised Beyoncé's look.
Mike Ayers of Fuse, described the visual as "uplifting", adding that it included numerous "sun-soaked" shots of the singers. John Walker of MTV News described the "glorious", fun clip as "the Destiny's Child reunion of your dreams".
Similarly, Zach Frydenlund from ''Complex'' wrote that he had a "great time" watching and remembering his "favorite Destiny's Child moments".
Samantha Grossman of ''
Time
Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, to ...
'' magazine praised the fact that the group reunited for a music video, linking it to the times when they were part of Destiny's Child. ''Billboard''s Chris Payne described the clip as "jubilant" and felt that when the singers are seen dancing on the set together, "
tis absolutely heartwarming".
Writing for ''
Essence
Essence ( la, essentia) is a polysemic term, used in philosophy and theology as a designation for the property or set of properties that make an entity or substance what it fundamentally is, and which it has by necessity, and without which it ...
'', Dominique Hobdy felt that the trio was "all smiles as they sing about who's really in charge". Chris Coplan from
Consequence of Sound
''Consequence'' (previously ''Consequence of Sound'') is an independently owned New York-based online magazine featuring news, editorials, and reviews of music, movies, and television. In addition, the website also features the Festival Outlook ...
praised the clip's positive energy as "
ight and shimmery" comparing it with "forget the world and just dance" clips from the early '90s. Brett Malec from
E! Online
E! (an initialism for Entertainment Television) is an American basic cable channel which primarily focuses on pop culture, celebrity focused reality shows, and movies, owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of NBCUniversa ...
described it as "
spirational".
Hayden Manders from Refinery29 praised Williams' look and stated that "the three women look like they're having a blast".
Mikael Wood from ''
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
'' found the choreography performed by the trio to be "light" and described the clip as "pretty festive".
The video was awarded Music Video of the Year at the 2015
Stellar Awards
A Stellar Award is an award presented by SAGMA to recognize achievements in the Gospel music, gospel music industry.[Sagma< ...](_blank)
.
Live performances
Williams performed an acoustic version of "Say Yes" at Yahoo! Music, which was released in 2014.
Williams also performed the single during her set at the 2014
Essence Music Festival
The Essence Festival, known as "the party with a purpose", is an annual music festival which started in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ''Essence'', a magazine aimed primarily towards African-American women. It becam ...
. Williams later performed the song together with Kelly Rowland and Beyoncé at the 2015 Stellar Awards.
The recording of their performance was released as a single on April 15, 2015. On April 14, 2015, Williams performed "Say Yes" at
The White House
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800. ...
before
President of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United Stat ...
,
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...
and
First Lady of the United States
The first lady of the United States (FLOTUS) is the title held by the hostess of the White House, usually the wife of the president of the United States, concurrent with the president's term in office. Although the first lady's role has never ...
,
Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She was the first African-American woman to serve in this position. She is married t ...
. The program titled, ''The Gospel Tradition: In Performance at the White House'' was broadcast on June 26, 2015, on
PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...
stations and simulcast on
TV One.
In 2022, Williams performed "Say Yes" in the Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom concert at the
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is an amphitheatre in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It was named one of the 10 best live music venues in America by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine in 2018.
The Hollywood Bowl is known for its distin ...
, which was broadcast on
CNN
CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by ...
.
Charts
Weekly charts
Monthly charts
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
References
Further reading
*
External links
*
*
{{Kelly Rowland
2014 songs
2014 singles
Michelle Williams (singer) songs
Beyoncé songs
Kelly Rowland songs
Songs written by Al Sherrod Lambert
Songs written by Carmen Reece
Songs written by Harmony Samuels
Songs written by Michelle Williams (singer)
MNRK Music Group singles
Songs about Jesus