With the release of Sabrina Carpenter’s sixth studio album “Short n’ Sweet,” the stage was set for her career to jumpstart into the next tier of musician stardom.
This album marked a change in Carpenter’s style, humor and maturity that has been evolving since we knew her in her iconic role as Maya Hart in Disney Channel’s reboot of “Boy Meets World,” “Girl Meets World.”
Since the album’s release, Carpenter has received many accolades such as six nominations and two wins for “Short n’ Sweet” at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Espresso” according to her Grammy Awards “Artist” page.
The album’s success has been undeniable but with the release of “Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe),” it includes five new insatiable tracks and a feature from the legendary Dolly Parton.
“Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe)” starts with one of my new favorites from the album, “15 Minutes.”
In typical Sabrina Carpenter fashion, she infuses her songs with comedic innuendos that reflect familiar experiences women face in the dating world with an addictive synth-pop beat.
Throughout the song, Carpenter reflects on her rise to pop star and pokes fun at the idea of “15 minutes of fame” in Hollywood by comparing men’s fleeting interest to the reality of fleeting status in music.
“I can do a lot with fifteen minutes / Only gonna take two to make you finish,” Carpenter says in the chorus.
Not only is this a cheeky line in the suggestive context, but in the total duration of the song this line also lets the listener know that they have two minutes until they finish the song.
She follows this incredible song with a new version of one of the most popular songs on the original “Short n’ Sweet” album, “Please, Please, Please” with special guest Dolly Parton.
“Please, Please, Please” was the second single released leading up to the album and swiftly reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it her first top Hot 100 song in her career, according to a June 24, 2024 Billboard article.
Although “Please, Please, Please” is one of the best from the initial single launches, Dolly Parton’s addition left much to be desired by fans and myself.
The 80-inspired synth-pop song was changed to include more country elements to honor Parton’s voice and roots as a country singer but, in turn, changes the song's feeling.
Both women have incredible vocals, however, when listening to the song, it feels like something is missing. Their voices seem to compete with each other for the correct tone and feeling of the song.
The duo followed up the song with a music video that paid homage to Carpenter’s original music video for “Please, Please, Please” which featured her ex-boyfriend, Barry Keoghan.
In this version of the music video, Carpenter and Parton are driving a getaway truck with a man dressed like Barry Keoghan’s character who passed out in the bed of the truck.
This is another example of Sabrina Carpenter’s comedy and vulnerability in handling her recently ended relationship with a duet with one of the most famous country stars.
The next track shifts the upbeat vibes of the first two songs with a slow melancholy track titled, “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder.”
This ballad represents Carpenter’s strength in failed relationships by reflecting on her own mistakes and doubts that have her anticipating the worst of people.
“Couldn't Make It Any Harder,” acts as a tribute to one of Carpenter’s popular covers of the late Olivia Newton-John’s “Hopelessly Devoted To You” from the movie musical classic “Grease.”
Carpenter performed her cover during her time opening for Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” and again during her “Short n’ Sweet” tour.
This beautiful track is then followed by an anticipated unreleased song, “Busy Woman,” which was first available for a limited digital download when “Short n’ Sweet” was initially released.
Ever since the song came out, I religiously listened to SoundCloud snippets before the deluxe album was announced and eagerly awaited its release along with the four other new songs.
“Busy Woman” highlights her strength as a woman in pop and her independence in relationships. She doesn’t require men to validate herself or her accomplishments but rather reminds them of their place in her life.
The last song of the deluxe release, “Bad Reviews,” acts as a perfect finisher that blends her contrasting views of love between receiving and doubting it.
Similarly to “Please, Please, Please,” “Bad Reviews” has a similar Western flair to match the melodic storytelling of country singers.
Carpenter continues to use relatable feelings in relationships to make light of not feeling worthy of love through lines such as “And I can’t lose another boy that’s not even my boyfriend.”
With “Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe),” Carpenter has continued to establish herself as one of today's queens of pop through her unique style blended with mature hilarity and sensitive subjects.
Carpenter’s career so far as an artist marks the beginning of her future as a dominant force in the pop industry, as she continually pushes boundaries and defines herself through her music.
With each new release, she proves she is here to stay and I am genuinely excited to see how she will evolve in her music career.
