Sabrina Carpenter has been gaining significant recognition as a pop artist due to her recent music. Carpenter was previously recognized by her role on Disney Channel’s “Girl Meets World” and the release of her debut single, “Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying,” in 2014.
Her fame has continued to rise with the release of six albums since 2015. Her latest album, “Short n’ Sweet,” dropped just days ago by Island Records on Aug. 23.
Carpenter began promoting the album earlier this year by releasing two singles: “Espresso” on April 13 and “Please, Please, Please” on June 6. Both tracks gained traction following Carpenter’s high-profile relationship with “Saltburn” star Barry Keoghan.
The couple’s public appearances drew attention from the press, granting Carpenter more listens to her two new singles. “Espresso” peaked at No. 3, and “Please, Please, Please” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Following the success of its first two singles, Carpenter’s new album, “Short n’ Sweet,” has captured widespread interest. The album is composed of 12 songs in many genres, including pop, R&B, country and rock. It touches upon themes of love, self-empowerment, relationships, joy and heartbreak.
The opening track, “Taste,” is bold, flirtatious and suggestive, creating speculations about who the song may be about. The teasing lyrics have led fans to believe Carpenter is referencing her short fling with Shawn Mendes in February 2023.
With this, Carpenter explores a love triangle and the effects of rebounds following a relationship. Carpenter definitely made the right decision by using this song to open her album as it sets a high-energy tone and leaves you wanting more.
The second track, “Please, Please, Please,” is Carpenter’s second released single from the album. Here, she pleads for her partner to avoid embarrassing her throughout their relationship, implying a direct message to her current boyfriend, Barry Keoghan, who starred in the music video for this song.
While very upbeat, the song demonstrates vulnerability as it is both a personal plea and a universal message about the importance of respect in romantic relationships.
Next, “Good Graces” refers to Carpenter navigating through a relationship with a confident nature. She claims that if a man were to disrespect her, she would “switch up” and leave immediately. This song empowers young women as it reminds us that we deserve to be treated with care and should always prioritize self-respect.
Unlike the first four tracks, “Sharpest Tool” has a slower melody, touching upon deeper emotions about learning from past mistakes in love regarding miscommunication and lies.
The slower ballad adds variety to Carpenter’s album, making it more versatile and able to reach a larger audience. By broadening the album’s appeal, listeners can connect on a more emotional level.
“Coincidence” explores themes of honesty as Carpenter speaks about a past partner telling her lies to cover up infidelity within the relationship.
Carpenter stands as a voice for those who have found themselves stuck in cycles of betrayal and deceit. With this, Carpenter offers a relatable song that can help her gain more loyalty and listens from fans.
“Bad Chem” is a sultry song that explores feelings of physical attraction in a relationship and how Carpenter wishes to approach that attraction. The suggestiveness in this song sets it apart from some of Carpenter’s past music, capitalizing on her ability to approach themes of intimacy confidently, which can further help her create a new image and persona for herself.
The hit “Espresso” epitomizes modern pop music with its catchy chorus and upbeat notes. The song reveals Carpenter’s confident nature by metaphorically comparing herself to espresso: small and energetic. The confidence and enthusiasm in this song is infectious, making it clear as to why it has been such a big hit.
“Dumb & Poetic” is another of the more melancholic tracks, addressing heartbreak and how a previous partner of hers has acted immaturely with little communication and persistent avoidance. It is an accurate portrayal of how one may feel during a toxic relationship, furthering her ability to relate with those in her audience who have suffered similar dilemmas.
Unlike her usual pop style, “Slim Pickins” shocked fans with its country twist and Carpenter’s southern accent. The beautiful lyrics discuss today’s generation’s lack of authentic, caring partners.
While the shift to country could be seen as a risky choice, the execution made up for it. Fans are gushing over this style of music from Carpenter and are requesting more. Furthermore, her versatility and professionalism are asserted.
The upbeat song “Juno” references a 2007 film of the same name in which the main character unexpectedly becomes pregnant. In reference to the film, Carpenter suggests in her song that if she finds the right partner, she will be open to starting a family. This wholesome theme opens up an aspirational message about future possibilities for many.
“Lie to Girls” is a powerful song about the self-deception that can accompany love. Carpenter sings about the tendency to overlook red flags in partners because one may love them.
This message is very crucial for many young women to understand, as we often find ourselves blinded by the idea of love and become willing to accept less than we deserve. Therefore, we must learn how to recognize when one is telling us what we want to hear, rather than showing us how they really feel through their actions.
Lastly, “Don’t Smile” is about the raw emotions that follow a breakup. Carpenter sings about her desire for her ex-partner to feel unhappy after ending a relationship with her. She explains that rather than smiling because the relationship happened, she wishes for her ex to cry because it is over due to the immense pain they caused her.
While it might come across as toxic, I’m sure plenty of us can relate to this specific feeling, which is why this track stands out for its candid portrayal of the less talked-about, more vindictive emotions that can arise after a breakup.
Overall, “Short n’ Sweet” has widened the range of Sabrina Carpenter’s music. By experimenting with new genres and melodies, Carpenter is on track to continue gaining more fans from across the globe.
The album has also helped her make a larger name for herself as a pop star, not a Disney Channel actress, regardless of competition with similar artists like Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams and Chappel Roan. Sabrina_Carpenter_2019
Fans have been gushing about her album, wardrobe, relationships, concerts and overall persona and cannot wait to see more. Quite frankly, I’m already ready for her to announce her next album drop!