TRACK BY TRACK: Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n' Sweet’

Sabrina Carpenter’s 6th studio album Short n’ Sweet was released on August 23, 2024, and produced by Jack Antonoff, Ian Kirkpatrick, John Ryan, and Julian Bunetta. Though considered a pop album, there are also some rock and country influences. The album features 12 tracks, 2 of which -- "Espresso" and "Please Please Please" -- have already topped the Billboard Global 200 chart.

Sabrina has saidShort n’ Sweet is “the hot older sister" of her previous album, Emails I Can’t Send. “It’s my second ‘big girl’ album; it’s a companion, but it’s not the same. When it comes to having full creative control and being a full-fledged adult, I would consider this a sophomore album.”

Let's break it down track-by-track!

1. "Taste"

The album starts with the third single off the album, "Taste". Its disco-infused and incredibly danceable sound layers daring innuendos with deception and retaliation, saying that, even if he cheats, she'll still put up with it since he can't stop thinking about her. The music video, which premiered the same day as the album, stars Sabrina alongside fellow former Disney starlet Jenna Ortega as they take inspiration from the classic cult movie Death Becomes Her, taking a dark satirical look at the pop hit!

Favorite Lyrics: "He’s funny now, all his jokes hit different / Guess who he learned that from?"

2. "Please Please Please"

The second single off the album, "Please Please Please", was the third-fastest song to reach a billion streams on Spotify on August 5th since being released in early June! It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart after fans related to the themes of complex relationships and being let down. The music video, which is said to be a sequel to the video for "Espresso" where Carpenter gets arrested at the end, brings the viewers along as Sabrina falls in love with another convict in jail. Co-starring her rumored boyfriend, Oscar-nominated Irish actor Barry Keoghan, the video takes inspiration from Bonnie and Clyde, Thelma & Louise, and Natural Born Killers.

Favorite Lyrics: "Whatever devil's inside you, don’t let him out tonight..."

3. "Good Graces"

Being a stark contrast to "Please Please Please", in this track Sabrina asserts herself, threatening to break up with her boyfriend if he doesn’t stay in her good graces. She sings, “You do somethin' sus, kiss my cute ass bye-bye”, showcasing that, although she has a capacity for kindness and affection, she won't put up with dishonesty. Taking inspiration from late-'90s tunes and R&B, the song also seems to draw from other artists such as Ariana Grande and Carly Rae Jepsen.

Favorite Lyrics: "‘Cause no one’s more amazing at turning loving into hatred..."

4. "Sharpest Tool"

Drawing directly from the phrase “he isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed”, "Sharpest Tool" starts slowly noting that Sabrina’s partner doesn’t seem to want to define the relationship and keeps it casual while she feels the opposite. The song has a fleeting tune over the lines “we don’t talk about it, we don’t talk about it”, possibly symbolizing how the relationship is on its way to an end after Sabrina caught her partner cheating on her.

Favorite Lyrics: "All the silence is just your strategy..."

5. "Coincidence"

Inspired by old country tunes, the 5th track "Coincidence" seems to tell the story of an out-of-the-blue love triangle. Carpenter finds out that her boyfriend's ex is still on his mind and goes on to imply that the ex being in the same city as them is not just a coincidence. As the story develops, the ex tries to get back into the picture: “Now shе’s sendin’ you some pictures wеarin’ less and less / Tryna turn the past into the present tense, huh...” Although her boyfriend assures her that they’re meant to be, he ends up returning to his ex. “What a coincidence. Oh, wow, you just broke up again. What a coincidence,” she sings.

Favorite Lyrics: "Tryna turn the past into present tense..."

6. "Bed Chem"

The most sensual song on the album, "Bed Chem" explores the chemistry Carpenter and her partner have in the bedroom. The song has synths reminiscent of the early-2000s as well as some R&B influences sprinkled in. She sings, “How you’re lookin’ at me, yeah, I know what that means. And I’m obsessed. Are you free next week?”

Favorite Lyrics: "How you talk so sweet when you’re doing bad things..."

7. "Espresso"

The first single off Short n’ Sweet, "Espresso" instantly rose to fame, becoming a radio hit after Carpenter performed it at Coachella. On August 7th, the song reached a billion streams on Spotify as fans are obsessed with Sabrina comparing herself to coffee and her partner’s addiction to it. The music video for the funky pop song features Sabrina on the beach, on a classic boat, getting pedicures with her friends, and dancing to her No. 1 hit!

Favorite Lyrics: "Walked in and dream-came-trued it for ya..."

8. "Dumb & Poetic"

The 8th song off the album is a slow, heartbreaking ballad reflecting on the hopes Sabrina had for her relationship before it came to an end. "Dumb & Poetic" is an anthem that resonates with anybody who has ever been duped by a partner's well-crafted façade, and the heartbreaking discovery that a partner's intact appearance might not be authentic.

Favorite Lyrics: "Cherry-pick lines like they’re words you invented..."

9. "Slim Pickins"

Played live at the Grammy Museum on August 2nd, before the release of the album, the song has a light airy country feel similar to "Coincidence". The title, "Slim Pickins", refers to having little success in something because there isn’t much of it left. Sabrina interprets this as there being slim pickins regarding partners, as she’s looking for someone intelligent, affectionate, and handsome, but unfortunately she can’t find anyone who ticks all those boxes.

Favorite Lyrics: "This boy doesn’t even know the difference between there, their, and they are..."

10. "Juno"

A very upbeat sensual pop song that cheekily mentions pregnancy, "Juno" refers to the 2007 movieof the same name where the protagonist becomes pregnant. Carpenter shares her desires for someone who wants a family with her, will treat her right, and will be adventurous with her. The infectious, danceable song doesn’t believe in subtle lyricism, so prepare for an innuendo-filled bop!

Favorite Lyrics: "One of me is cute, but two though..."

11. "Lie to Girls"

Another song that starts slower, "Lie to Girls" is the most searing song of the album, with lyrics like “All of your best excuses, No they don’t stand a chance” and “Against all the chances I give you, Isn’t ideal but damn...” While Sabrina shares that, while girls will cry, lie, and go crazy to stay in the relationship, so will the guy to hold up false expectations.

Favorite Lyrics: "We love to mistake butterflies for cardiac arrest..."

12. "Don’t Smile"

Starting off with a darker take on the classic line “don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened,” Carpenter sings “don’t smile because it happened, baby, cry because it’s over.” The song reflects on the bittersweet ending of a relationship but mainly focuses on her wanting her partner to feel regret and remorse, just like her.

Favorite Lyrics: "Pour my feelings in the microphone..."

Short 'n Sweet is available to stream everywhere. Make sure to get tickets to her tour starting in September!