On Friday, August 23rd, Sabrina Carpenter released her sixth studio album called Short n’ Sweet and it quickly started trending #1 on the billboards. Sabrina is very talented and had many hits but do you think this is her best album yet? After listening to all twelve songs in the album, here is our review.
Review of Short n’ Sweet
Espresso- Chill, calm, nonchalant, confident.“honey bee come and get this pollen.”Expresso has recently been announced the song of the year by the VMA’s and I can certainly see why. Carpenter compares the addictive nature of coffee to how boys are attracted to her. The rhythm of this song, the way she sings it in a deep playful voice, and the lyrics she chooses like “switch it up like nintendo” makes you addicted to the song. This song was a massive hit, though through that fame, hearing the song on repeat can be tiring for some but for me I enjoyed this song very much and agree that it is the song of the year.
Please Please Please- Sabrina received a lot of backlash when it was revealed she was dating actor Barry Keoghan. This song was her response to the backlash, asking her boyfriend to prove the third party viewers wrong. I felt this song was very catchy, the way she sang “please, please, please” was almost like she was begging which shows the desperation for her boyfriend to prove the rumors wrong. Overall this song was really enjoyable and I felt that it was very powerful and brave for Sabrina Carpenter to address the critiques and shoot them down. It’s really not that hard to ask for commitment in a relationship especially if you love that person like “please don’t bring me the tears when I just did my makeup so nice.”
Sharpest Tool- Complicated love life, don’t talk things through, unsure if it was casual or if it was serious, periods of silence, mistrust throughout relationship “always made sure phone was face down.” This song is very different from her more popular hits. Here she talks about an unreciprocated love where there’s no communication that leads to confusion and distrust surfacing. I love the catchy chorus “we don’t talk about it” which focuses on the distance between the two characters. This song can be really relatable for teenagers or really anyone who is in a one-sided relationship and the struggles and heartbreak that come along with it.
Don’t Smile- Revenge song after a breakup, girl is heartbroken and expects the guy to be the same, sings in a very deep cold tone, on and off relationship girl finally calls it off. Sabrina Carpenter writes a song about calling quits in an on and off relationship and the struggle and effort it takes to not fall back in. She sings this song with a deep cold tone, like she is serious but the lyrics show the pain she’s going through almost like she’s hiding her pain. Although I did like the song, it’s very gloomy and not really my cup of tea. The targeted audience would be those struggling to get over someone that didn’t fit their puzzle board. Sometimes this song hits differently because it’s hard going through the feelings of a breakup and picturing your person with someone else. If that someone was the person who made you smile it takes time getting to smile again without it having any meaning to them.
Juno- This song is talking about the euphoric feeling of love that you get for someone. Sabrina is expressing her feelings and emotions for deep desirable love and how it affects her. When she says “I might let you make me Juno” she is saying how she would let him marry her and start a family. She is very in love and this is the song you would listen to if you want to know what love feels like. She also talks about how she wants him to love her and give her affection in return. She wants to live with this person forever and be their one and only.
Lie To Girls- This is a very relatable and emotional song talking about lengths of what a girl would do when they like a guy, even though it’s harmful and toxic to them. Girls “lose their goddamn minds” when they have feelings for someone. Here she’s saying how men don’t have to manipulate girls because “they’ll just lie to themselves.” I like the lyrics that are placed in verse 2 “Against all the chances I give you Isn’t ideal, but damn You don’t even have to try, turn you into a good guy.” In this verse Sabrina continues to illustrate the idea that you don’t need to lie to girls.
Bed Chem- oh lo oooIn this song Sabrina is talking about the feeling of love and attraction. The thoughts about the future together and the compatibility and connection that one feels. Sometimes people feel so drawn to someone that they want it all. In that dream- like state they wonder “who’s that boy with the cute jacket and the thick accent?.” Sabrina wrote this song regarding the huge crush she had before she was together with her boyfriend Barry. The term “Bed chem” described her fascination and obsession with being together with him. I think the song is very upbeat and catchy. There is a flirtatious tone in her voice.
Good Graces- If you don’t treat me right then I’m leaving. The chorus and the beat of this song is amazing. This song is about setting boundaries and being confident in yourself. It’s the feeling of being sick of guys and the games that they’re playing. If you can’t respect me then there is no room for you in my life. She says how she can turn “lovin’ into hatred.” Be good to me and then you’ll always be in my good graces. I think this song has a good melody and it’s a fun song to listen to.
Taste- Taste is this mysterious revenge-like song. Did you really think that you can forget me after everything we’ve been through? In this song Sabrina talks about the guy getting back together with his ex. But she is saying that when you’re with her you’ll get deja vu and you’ll know that it’s not just her who you’re stuck on. Everything comes back to me, everything that he does he learned from me and when you’re with him “you’ll taste me too”. She emphasizes on the idea that you can’t forget me because a part of me belongs to you. This song is very upbeat and can easily catch the attention of the audience.
Coincidence- Un trust in relationships, past love comes back. Sabrina is emphasizing on the love betrayal that women face. How men just go back and forth between women and is that “a coincidence?”. Like everything that happens is happening for a reason and this is just a complicated love triangle. Her showing up again and her being by your side does not seem like a coincidence. Sabrina is using sarcasm on the word “coincidence” which implies that his reconnection with his ex is not as random as it seems. I like this song because honestly stuff like that is not a coincidence and when there’s a will there’s a way. A successful relationship builds on trust and effort, when one party fails to achieve this then the relationship is no more. A guy will only go back to his ex if she still holds meaning to him.
Dumb and Poetic- You’re so dumb and poetic It’s just what I fall for, I like the aesthetic “Every self-help book, you’ve already read it”. Sabrina Carpenter’s realization that her seemingly perfect partner is not so perfect after all. Actions speak louder than words in the scenario. Sabrina uses a sad deep tone to illustrate the betrayal and hurt she felt after realizing the man she thought she loved was a facade and not the real him. The song is very calm and it flows quite nicely.
Slim Pickins- Slim Pickins is talking about the idea of trying to find someone but there are very limited good options in the world. All “the good ones are deceased or taken” and she pounders on the idea of not finding love. It’s this idea that girls settle for someone less than they deserve because they can’t find the perfect one. The lyrics definitely hit to a deeper level explaining how tough it is to find good people nowadays. I like the central meaning behind this song, it is very relatable.
Aisha’s Rating- Tammy’s Rating-
1. Espresso 1. Espresso
2. Please Please Please 2. Sharpest Tool
3. Good Graces 3. Taste
4. Taste 4. Please Please Please
5. Juno 5. Good Graces
6.Sharpest Tool 6. Juno
7. Bed Chem 7. Don’t Smile
8. Don’t Smile 8. Bed Chem
9. Lie To Girls 9. Lie To Girls
10. Coincidence 10. Coincidence
11. Dumb and Poetic 11. Dumb and Poetic
12. Slim Pickins 12. Slim Pickins
