The Way Inspiration behind Ariana Grande’s hit has been traced to Mariah Carey, with Grande herself acknowledging Carey as a key influence on the track. Critics consistently note how Grande channels Carey’s vocal confidence, the breathy upper tones, and a wide, dramatic range that carries through lines and melodies. This parallel is a frequent topic in reviews, where observers point out Grande’s ability to weave smooth runs with a pop and R&B sensibility that echoes Carey’s mid to late 90s legacy. In discussions across music journalism, the sense that Grande inherits a tradition of melodic bravura and studio craft from Carey surfaces again and again, linking two generations of vocal storytelling. The Way sits within a lineage that blends infectious pop immediacy with the textural depth that Carey helped popularize in the 1990s, and Grande’s execution—careful phrasing, precise dynamics, and expressive tone—adds a contemporary resonance that keeps the conversation alive. This ongoing dialogue underscores how Grande sustains a warmth in her performance that resonates with longtime fans and new listeners alike, while still staking out her own distinctive presence in today’s soundscape.
Visually the video channels a playful yet unmistakable nod to the 1990s, with a room filled with balloons and a mood that feels like a friendly homage to era aesthetics. The track itself blends R amp B textures with a rap cadence, a cross-genre approach that critics associate with Carey’s own era of crossovers. Ariana Grande delivers phrasing that glides through the melody with a light, airy color, a vocal habit many reviewers compare to Carey’s celebrated style from iconic hits in that decade. The collaboration with Mac Miller provides a steady rhythmic backbone that anchors the chorus while the melody remains catchy and radio-ready, a balance that reviewers describe as a deliberate nod to a period when melodic invention and glossy production dominated the charts. In reviews from Billboard and Rolling Stone, the fusion is seen as a bridge between past and present, a reminder of how a classic vocal sensibility can meet modern pop production without losing its emotional pull.
Fans frequently debate the degree of similarity between Carey’s and Grande’s voices, weighing Grande’s high register and expressive runs against the distinctive timbre Carey carved for herself. Some listeners hear unmistakable echoes in the upper registers, while others emphasize differences in era, texture, and how each artist shapes a phrase. This discussion mirrors a wider pattern in pop where younger artists honor past icons while building personal identities. The result is a lively exchange about influence, technique, and how two generations of singers can connect with audiences without sounding identical, a conversation that keeps evolving as new music arrives.
In time, The Way shows how a modern ear can pay homage to a legendary voice while still presenting a fresh, self-assured sound. Grande and Carey share a throughline in vocal craftsmanship, performance confidence, and the sense that a great vocal moment can define a song. The Way demonstrates how a contemporary track can acknowledge a classic without trading originality, offering listeners a sense of continuity that spans decades and continues to shape the way pop and R amp B are produced today.
In the end, the link between these two artists endures through craft, storytelling, and a shared instinct for timing. The Way stands as a reminder that great voices can honor the past while sounding current, inviting audiences to celebrate a lineage that remains vital in today’s music landscape.