Known for her witty lyrics, catchy pop music and bubblegum aesthetic, Sabrina Carpenter has recently obtained the title of a “pop princess”. Collaborating with popular producers such as Jack Antonoff and opening for Taylor Swift’s The Era’s Tour, Carpenter has made a firm name for herself in the music industry.
Many know Carpenter from the 2014 Disney sitcom, Girl Meets World, where she played Riley’s spunky best friend, Maya Hart. In 2014 Carpenter signed a deal with Hollywood Records and issued the single “Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying” in March of that year, which was followed by her debut EP of the same name a month later.
In a recent interview with Variety, Carpenter looked back on her discography and said she doesn’t feel connected to some of her earlier work, which includes her debut album, Eyes Wide Open, in 2015, 2016’s Evolution, 2018’s Singular: Act I and 2019’s Singular: Act II. While some fans think Carpenter is embarrassed of her Disney past, others have applauded her ability to grow and evolve as an artist and are loving this new era.
Her much anticipated sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet was released on Aug. 23, 2024. Her singles “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” played on repeat on pop radio stations and people’s playlists, with many fans on social media declaring them both “the songs of the summer”. “Please Please Please” debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, then rose to number one a week later, making it Carpenter’s first song to hit number one. The song was accompanied by a music video which features a Bonnie and Clyde narrative, starring her boyfriend, Barry Keoghan.
“Taste”, a song seemingly about betrayal and revenge after being cheated on, is the first song on the new album, and the third from the album to earn a music video, with a cameo from a fellow former Disney star, Jenna Ortega. The music video is full of references to classic women-led horror films such as Death Becomes Her and Kill Bill: Volume 1. In a fun behind the scenes video posted by Sabrina’s team, Carpenter comments “In the Sabrina Cinematic Universe, women never die. Men, unfortunately, suffer most of the loss.”
Fans have, once again, applauded Carpenter’s risque lyrics to get across her feelings. Her songs hint at former relationships, love triangles, and even her current relationship (Where we’ve quickly learned that it is not a good idea to embarrass her…!). Her radio hits are not the only songs that deserve recognition, however. It is rare for an artist to achieve such relatable, catchy, and humorous lyrics in each song on one album, but Carpenter’s songwriting capabilities and jokingly crude humor have done it once again.
