Best of 2024: Sabrina Carpenter - Short n' Sweet
by EllIe Polen
Sabrina Carpenter released her highly anticipated sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet, in August 2024, which captured attention worldwide. This milestone year also marked Carpenter’s debut as a Grammy-nominated artist, with six different nominations, including one for the prestigious "Album of the Year" category. Collaborating with acclaimed songwriter Amy Allen, who herself received her first Grammy nomination for "Songwriter of the Year," the pair created an album that masterfully blends heartfelt storytelling with addictive pop melodies.
Carpenter’s career began with her role on Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World, and she has since evolved into a global pop sensation, selling out arenas across the U.S. Just this December, she released her very own Netflix Christmas special, A Nonsense Christmas. Her growth as an artist shines through on Short n’ Sweet, a project that balances emotional depth with playful, tongue-in-cheek storytelling.
The album’s lead single, “Espresso,” quickly became a modern pop classic. In the song's lyrics, Carpenter compares herself to espresso, insinuating she keeps her partner awake late at night. With her dynamic vocal range, an infectious melody and witty lyrics like, “I’m working late ‘cause I’m a singer,” the song resonated with millions. It even sparked a viral TikTok trend, with fans and fellow artists alike sharing videos lip syncing to the line. Even Saturday Night Live cashed in on the song's popularity, featuring a bridesmaids-themed sketch with Ariana Grande performing a parody of the track.
Following the success of “Espresso,” Carpenter released her second single, “Please Please Please,” accompanied by a headline-grabbing music video featuring her then-boyfriend, Barry Keoghan. In the song, Carpenter humorously pleads with him not to embarrass her, poking fun at the stereotypes often associated with actors, and Keoghan himself.
Her third single, “Taste,” debuted alongside the release of the album and featured a music video starring Jenna Ortega, another Disney alum. The instrumentals of this track include a groovy baseline complemented with sharp guitar riffs. This track playfully references Carpenter’s tabloid reputation for being at the center of love triangles, as she acknowledges in the bridge: “And singin’ ‘bout it don’t mean I care / Yeah, I know I’ve been known to share.”
The album continues to surprise with tracks like “Bed Chem,” a cheeky ode to fleeting attraction. Carpenter shared on Amazon Music that the inspiration for this track came from a sleepover with a friend. The next morning, they joked about how well they slept together, noting that neither of them kicked or woke up the other throughout the night. From this, they playfully concluded that they had good "bed chem." In the track, Carpenter recounts meeting a “cute boy with the thick accent” and imagining their “bed chem,” even slipping in a nod to Shakespeare by saying, “Where art thou, why not uponeth me?” This track is steamy, captivating, and an undeniably fun pop anthem.
On “Slim Pickins,” Carpenter adds some country-inspired flair, delivering a stripped-down track that humorously acknowledges the lack of eligible bachelors in the world. With lines like, “A boy that’s nice that breathes / I swear he’s nowhere to be seen,” and “Since the Lord forgot my gay awakening / I’ll just be here in the kitchen serving up some moanin’ and bitchin,’” she captures the frustrations of modern dating with wit and relatability.
The album concludes with “Don’t Smile,” a moving yet sultry ballad that showcases Carpenter’s emotional vulnerability. Beginning with a delicate piano riff that builds into a melancholic beat, the song reflects on heartbreak and longing. In the chorus, she sings, “Don’t smile because it happened, baby, cry because it’s over.” Here, Carpenter delivers a bittersweet finale that perfectly encapsulates the end of a relationship—and the album itself.
Short n’ Sweet is a masterful blend of catchy pop anthems, heartfelt ballads, and sharp lyricism. From its standout moments of pop perfection to its slower, introspective tracks, Carpenter’s latest album has something for every listener.