Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter’s sixth studio album might just be the one to propel her to the Big Popstar League.
In the US, Short n’ Sweet debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Top 200 on its release week (August 23-29) with all 12 songs landing the Hot 100 including 3 in the top 5 and 11 in the Top 40 (Zellner, 2024). As indicated by the title, the album is rather short lasting only 36mins and is extremely sweet as it embodies bubblegum pop music. Whilst tracks like Coincidence, Dumb & Poetic, and Sharpest Tool scream bad boyfriend behavior, hits like Espresso, Please Please Please and Taste are just fun and extremely catchy.
What differentiates Short n’ Sweet from Emails I Can’t Send is the lightheartedness of the melodies and the musical similarity across all tracks. Although Emails I Can’t Send had very fun and flirty songs like the viral Nonsense and Feather, the main body of the album focused on rather sad and heavy topics. I mean the opener was a ballad about Sabrina’s dad cheating on her mom.
With Short n’ Sweet, Sabrina fully embraces what makes her stand out as a pop artist and songwriter, her delicate yet expressive vocals paired with lyrics that range from playful and flirtatious to bold, tongue-in-the-cheek humor and self-effacing.
Sabrina mentioned the transition from Emails I Can’t Send to Short n’ Sweet was effortless as it refers to the stage of healing when you start feeling like yourself again, finding humor and fun in life again. This explains the omnipresence of Sabrina’s sense of humor in Short n’ Sweet which expresses her real personality.
Let’s now dive in deeper into this grammy-nominated album, reviewing it one song at a time.
Taste is a sultry, self-assured track aimed at her lover’s on-and-off girlfriend. Although the song finds Sabrina post-breakup, she expresses the impact she made on her ex during their short-lived fling. In her Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe, Sabrina mentioned that Taste was about the mistakes she allowed herself to make, which here could be getting involved with someone who has a reputation of always going back to their one ex.
Taste immediately sets the tone for the album with seductive melodies and confident delivery. The production is smooth and intoxicating, blending electric guitar and drums from the start for a rich dynamic sound. Sabrina’s vocals glide effortlessly over this hypnotic beat which draws listeners in with a playfulness and sensuality.
The first lyrics set the witty, sensual, and funny atmosphere of the song: “Oh, I leave quite an impression / Five feet to be exact”. With this first line, the Grammy-nominated singer lets you know that this song is not to be taken too seriously. This theory is later confirmed by a particular line in the bridge “Singin’ ‘bout it don’t mean I care / Yeah I know I’ve been known to share”. This can seem contradicting to some listeners but just highlights how removed Sabrina is from the situation, as she now looks back on it with amusement.
I love the bridge as it feels like Sabrina is getting all of her anger, frustration, and feelings about the situation and injecting it into the bridge with a touch of self-deprecation to take the drama out of the situation. The addition of background laughs at the end of the bridge shows how little she cares about all of this and just finds it amusing.
The chorus is breezy and addictive. I love Sabrina’s use of back vocals on the “I” of the “I heard you’re back together” line as it is a way to emphasize her importance in this man’s new relationship even if she is not technically with him anymore. The next line explicitly explains the title of the track “You’ll just have to taste me when he’s kissing you”. She is almost warning the “other woman” that she will still haunt the relationship a little while longer due to the very rapid timing of everything.
Image Credits: Sabrina Carpenter via YouTube
In Please Please Please, Sabrina addresses an issue faced by nearly every female pop star: the intense media scrutiny of their public relationships, where every action of their partner is magnified and ultimately blamed on them. The song finds Sabrina practically begging her lover not to embarrass her so that in turn, the media does not write embarrassing stories on her.
The song carries a subtle country twang, with its rolling guitars and rhythmic storytelling, adding a playful yet dramatic flair. Lyrically, it’s one of the most interesting tracks on the album, as she flips the traditional love song narrative on its head—not asking for love or commitment, but simply for her partner to behave himself.
The delivery is both exasperated and knowing as if Sabrina is painfully aware that she’s fallen for someone who’s bound to let her down. In lines like “'If you wanna go and be stupid, don’t do it in front of me” and “Don’t bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice”, you can tell that Sabrina knows that her boyfriend is going to mess up, almost like she has given up on the idea of stopping him from doing so. At this point, she just wants to keep the damage to a minimum or just does not want to see it.
With the music video featuring Barry Keoghan playing himself, this song was Sabrina’s hardlaunch of their relationship. The lyrics are also full of play on words and funny little references to facts about Barry: “I heard that you’re an actor, so act like a stand-up guy”; “I tell them it’s just your culture and everyone rolls their eyes”.
The outro, where she repeats the title in an almost desperate whisper, is a standout moment, reinforcing the tension beneath the otherwise upbeat production. This track perfectly encapsulates the push-and-pull of modern dating, where attraction sometimes wins out over logic.
Image Credits: TikTok
Good Graces is probably my favorite song on the album. It is a dreamy, synth-driven track which sees Sabrina exploring the complexities of maintaining a good image while making choices that might raise eyebrows. The contrast between the airy, almost celestial production and her introspective lyrics makes for an intriguing listen.
The chorus, where she softly pleads, “Let me stay in your good graces,” carries an emotional weight that suggests a deeper self-awareness. She acknowledges that she’s not perfect but still craves approval—a relatable sentiment for anyone navigating personal relationships under scrutiny. There’s a hazy, nostalgic quality to the song, as if Sabrina is reflecting on past mistakes in real-time. It’s not as immediate as some of the other tracks on the album, but its subtle emotional depth and layered production make it one that grows on you with each listen.
Sabrina’s humor and razor-sharp wit shine on Sharpest Tool, a biting track about realizing an ex wasn’t as brilliant as he thought he was. The playful, almost taunting lyrics—“Not the sharpest tool in the shed, but you made your bed”—set the tone for a song that feels both cathartic and effortlessly fun.
The production is driven by punchy percussion and a slightly retro feel, making it stand out sonically. What makes this track so effective is the way Sabrina balances humor with genuine frustration, turning what could be a bitter breakup song into a lighthearted, empowering moment. The delivery is so casual and self-assured that you almost feel bad for the guy she’s singing about—almost.
In stark contrast to the sass of Sharpest Tool, Coincidence is one of the most introspective songs on the album. The delicate, acoustic-driven ballad questions whether love is written in the stars or just a random accident. Sabrina’s voice takes on a softer, more vulnerable tone as she unpacks the idea of fate versus coincidence in relationships.
The lyrics are some of the most poetic on the album, with lines like “Was it written in the sky, or was it just bad timing?” perfectly encapsulating the uncertainty of modern love. The production remains minimal, allowing her voice and the emotion behind it to take center stage. This is the kind of song that sneaks up on you—one that might not hit immediately but lingers in the back of your mind long after the album has ended.
Image Credits: Short n’ Sweet Tour via X
In Bed Chem, undeniable physical attraction takes the spotlight in this sultry, groove-infused track that drips with sensuality.
Sabrina plays with a jazzy, almost blues-like vocal delivery that makes the song feel both intimate and mischievous. The instrumentation is smooth and intoxicating, with warm basslines and delicate percussion that heighten the song’s late-night allure. Lyrically, it’s about the undeniable chemistry between two people, even when logic and emotions are in conflict. “I know it’s wrong, but it feels so right” is the essence of the track, capturing the tension between fleeting pleasure and deeper emotional entanglements. It’s effortlessly seductive without trying too hard—a testament to Sabrina’s ability to convey desire with nuance rather than cliché.
Image Credits: Team Sabrina via Instagram
Espresso is a playful, tongue-in-cheek anthem that immediately grabs the listener’s attention with its bouncy beat and flirtatious lyrics. It is in my opinion, 2024’s song of the summer. Espresso is refreshing as we haven’t had such a fun, lightbeat, bubblegum pop song like this in a while, and we needed it.
Sabrina exudes confidence as she compares herself to a shot of espresso—irresistible, addictive, and hard to forget. The song is drenched in attitude, with clever wordplay that balances between sultry and comedic. “I’m working late ‘cause I’m a singer” is a standout line, subtly poking fun at herself while maintaining her charm.
The production is crisp and dynamic, with an intoxicating rhythm that makes it a perfect summer anthem. The song leans into a more minimalist approach, relying on Sabrina’s charismatic delivery to carry the weight. It’s an effortless display of her ability to blend humor, confidence, and undeniable catchiness into a two-minute track that leaves you wanting more—just like a good shot of espresso.
Dumb & Poetic
This melancholic ballad reflects on the contradictions of love—how it makes us feel foolish yet deeply inspired. The production is haunting and atmospheric, with subtle strings and reverb-drenched guitars creating a dreamy, almost surreal backdrop. Sabrina’s vocals are particularly striking here, carrying a weight that feels raw and lived-in.
The lyrics paint a picture of someone grappling with the beauty and stupidity of falling for someone who probably isn’t good for them. “I know better, but I don’t care” sums up the emotional conflict at the heart of the song. There’s a quiet, aching resignation to it, making it one of the most emotionally potent moments on the album.
A tongue-in-cheek look at the frustrating dating scene, Slim Pickins is one of the album’s most playful tracks. Sabrina’s comedic timing shines through as she laments the lack of viable romantic options.
The bouncy, almost doo-wop-inspired production gives the song a vintage charm, while the lyrics are full of clever quips. “I guess I’ll take what I can get” is delivered with just the right amount of dramatic irony, making it clear that she’s both amused and exasperated by her situation. It’s refreshing to hear a pop song that leans so heavily into humor without losing its musical integrity.
Image Credits: Team Sabrina (Instagram)
Juno draws inspiration from the 2007 film of the same name, known for its themes of unexpected pregnancy and personal growth. Sabrina uses the metaphor of Juno to reflect on self-discovery and independence, channelling the film's spirit of navigating challenging transitions.
The song resonates with the film's quirky yet thoughtful tone, as Carpenter embraces vulnerability and empowerment, capturing a sense of transformation and coming into one's own. The cinematic production complements this narrative, adding depth to her introspective lyrics.
Lie to Girls is one of the album’s most thought-provoking tracks, as it examines the ways men manipulate women with false promises and empty words. The stripped-down production allows the weight of the lyrics to fully land, making it a standout moment of reflection. Sabrina’s delivery is weary but knowing, as if she’s been through this cycle one too many times. There’s a quiet rage beneath the surface, but it’s tempered with wisdom, making the song feel more like a conversation than an accusation.
Don’t Smile is a bold, rebellious close to the album. It that rejects the pressure for women to always appear pleasant and agreeable. The production is punchy, and Sabrina’s vocals carry a snarl that makes it clear she’s not here to conform. It’s a perfect closer, reinforcing the themes of self-assurance and unapologetic individuality that run throughout Short n' Sweet.