“Please, please, please” don’t skip past this album. On Aug. 23 of this year, Sabrina Carpenter released the sixth album of her career. Since its release, Short n’ Sweet has climbed to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts where it has stayed for over three weeks, second only to Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department for consecutive weeks at the top spot.
Carpenter’s new album has a charming mix of sweetness and sass, as Carpenter throws shade at old flames, new flings, and side pieces. The hit album perfectly encompasses the cheeky side of the up-and-coming pop princess. The former Disney star pulled no punches with several songs in her album that relate back to her real-life escapades. Carpenter, who was recently caught in a love triangle with Stitches star Shawn Mendes and his longtime on-and-off girlfriend Camila Cabello, didn’t hold back with her retelling of the story. Songs like Taste, Sharpest Tool, and Coincidence are all rumored to reference the skirmish between the stars.
Taste maintains an upbeat and ditsy beat while discussing the unforgettable mark Carpenter leaves in a relationship. Lines like “He’s funny now all his jokes hit different/guess who he learned that from” allude to the unshakable trace she’s left in Shawn Mendes’ life. The carefree music and cheeky lyrics truly represent Carpenter’s smart-alecky take on Mendes’ return to Cabello.
Sharpest Tool delivers a direct blow to the Canadian singer’s handling of affairs. But beyond the fun and frisky lyrics, the song’s overall flow is an addictive listen. The slow reflective tone which speeds up to a fast rambling pace contributes to the sense of exasperation and frustration within the singer. The use of anadiplosis, the repetition of the last word to the first word of the next line, makes for an addicting and catchy pre-chorus sure to get any listener to get up and dance.
The final nail in Mendes’ coffin is Coincidence. This song pulls no punches and dives into the fiery relationship troubles between the three singers. Lyrics like “Palm Springs looks nice/but who’s by your side” fire shots at the rekindled spark between Mendes and Cabello. The lyrics build on each other to not only reach a catchy beat but to tell a story, keeping the listener hooked. As far as the musicality goes, the beat seems to build on itself reaching the climax and trailing back down leaving the listener ready to dive in for more.
Carpenter made sure to cover all her bases, leaving no former lovers safe from the Short n’ Sweet limelight.
Barry Keoghan, Carpenter’s now ex-boyfriend, played her love interest in the Please Please Please music video. This song dives into the stress of worrying about your partner embarrassing you. The overall playful energy of the track makes the song irresistible. Her soft voice paired with her wide vocal range offers different sonic points of interest, highlighting her natural talent. Carpenter’s voice is the star of the show in this song, letting her vocal talents shine. The music acts as an aid, enabling her whimsy to speak for itself.
Short n’ Sweet has offered a welcome shift for listeners. Carpenter has honed her sound and embraced her cheeky side with her lively lyrics. Fans are embracing this new side of Carpenter, and loving the sass offered in this album. Carpenter was spot on: we are definitely thinking about her every night.
