I didn’t know who Sabrina Carpenter was until I attended Radio 1’s Big Weekend this year, and she came on before Olly Alexander as the sky started to get cloudy. There was momentarily rain on that spring bank holiday. She would later return to do a song with the closing headliner, Coldplay (I bet all those fanatics were gutted as they missed that.). This is when I found out just how popular she was. The barrier was lined with young girls waiting for her set. When she eventually went onstage at about five in the afternoon, it was only what I would describe as being transported back to the 1960s, watching The Beatles perform as young girls screamed in your ear. Honestly, it was that mental. The young girls surrounding me and my friend went into a frenzy during the performance and knew all the words to every song while screaming at the introduction of each song. My ears were ringing after hearing the youngsters screaming in my ear. I thank god that modern PA systems are so powerful now that it doesn’t affect the artists onstage anymore.

I could still hear her songs regardless of all the pandemonium in the crowd. The biggest for ‘Espresso’- a song that had been number one for two months at the time. It’s funny that she has just started to get fame, considering she has been around for over a decade. It all began to fall into place after two tracks off her previous album, “Emails I Can’t Send”, the two being ‘Nonsense’ and ‘Feather’ went viral. Of course, the biggest breakout was the one already mentioned in this paragraph, and features on this record as it happens ‘Espresso’. After that track was met with international approval, everyone was on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the release of “Short n Sweet”. As I predicted in a previous review, I knew Sabrina would have no problem reaching the summit of the album chart in several countries. Enjoy my track-by-track review of her latest album:

Taste:

We begin with ’Taste’, which I am pretty certain she opened her Big Weekend set with. It is easy to understand why this song opens the album because it is utter earworm. This has become a fan’s favourite with her incredible vocals and uplifting instrumental backing her up. However, the subject is quite sinister. Sabrina is taunting her ex-boyfriend’s new flame (I say that. She is an ex-ex-girlfriend.) that even though they are no longer together, his lips still contain her taste. It isn’t all evil, though, as she plays around with metaphors and uses comical elements, which she is famed for. This gives her tracks of feeling retro and modern simultaneously.

Please Please Please:

It’s another fan favourite. It has also been featured heavily on social media. This one is about being in a relationship that sometimes you are not entirely proud of despite being in love with them. Sabrina is concerned that her significant other will cause her great embarrassment in a social setting and, therefore, could damage her reputation within her profession. Of course, once again, Sabrina’s lyrics are playful about the situation. This one has resonated with fans and regular folk as, at some point, we have all been in this scenario.

Good Graces:

I can already tell this record will be full of heavy subjects with light-hearted humour, and this one is no exception. An acoustic greets us at the intro accompanied by synthesisers and her mesmerising vocals, which are the perfect ingredients for a pop RnB track. Sabrina is heavily inspired by her idol, Ariana Grande, as she discusses her self-worth. Letting her lover know that if they cross the boundary, she will leave and hate them. If they don’t? She will remain loyal and want to spend the rest of her life with him. Although she may be popular among young fans, Sabrina uses swearing with a carefree nature. This song alone contains a hook that is “I won’t give a fuck about you”, which she repeats over and over. You can hear this in the intro. You have to admire her humour. I wonder if she would be any good at stand-up.

Sharpest Tool:

Pay close attention to this one. She cleverly starts a lyric with the previous lyric’s word , a testament to her songwriting prowess. It’s a clever bit of songwriting, possibly a subtle dig at her boyfriend’s intelligence. Even he , through her canny lyricism, should understand her dissatisfaction with the relationship.

Coincidence:

It is most certainly a crowd participation song, as the track has the classic “na-na-na” vocalisation. The instrumentation is also whimsical, adding a fun and entertaining element to the song. And let’s not forget her now infamous trait of pouring sarcasm into her lyrics, which adds a witty and humourous touch. Sabrina becomes suspicious of a woman who frequently visits her and her boyfriend despite him reassuring her nothing is happening. Unfortunately for him, Sabrina’s womanly instincts kick in, and she knows he is unfaithful with this frequent visitor. She also taunts her lover’s lack of brains to cover his tracks.

Bed Chem:

Wow! What a refreshing change in direction. For the first time, Sabrina steers away from the sarcastic-laden tracks to a more uplifting song. This new track is a breath of fresh air, with no sinister undertones. She explores the joy of being in a new relationship and feeling infatuated all over again,perfectly matching the RnB production and her astounding vocal range.

Espresso:

Now to the song of the moment, which changed Sabrina’s venture into music forever. Its whole uplifting nature , a rarity in recent times, is reminiscent of Pharrell’s ‘Happy’. It’s that kind of track. With no hint of misery and a chorus that’s impossible to resist, it’s a song that’s impossible to escape. Even if you’re not a fan of hers, you’ve undoubtedly heard it, whether you realise it or not. It’s a song that’s everywhere, and its appeal spans generations. This quintessential pop song is for all ages. Will it be the biggest hit of the year? Who knows?

Dumb & Poetic:

Sabrina returns to her trademark songwriting, sharing her perspective on a past relationship. She confronts an ex who mistreated her, seeing through his attempts to appear enigmatic. She takes pleasure in dismantling his ego, particularly relishing the reminder that he only pretended to be a man.

Slim Pickins:

Another signature song, this time set against classic country-folk instrumentation. The former Disney Kid also incorporates the twang we associate with country music. The title track is apt as it explores the theme of choosing a partner from a pool of ‘evil’ men, or remaining single. Is this change in musical direction surprising? Not at all. The artist’s ability to seamlessly transition between styles is a testament to their musical talent.

Juno:

I was unaware , this song is a tribute to the 2007 film ‘Juno ‘,  that addressed the issue of teenage pregnancy. Sabrina’s song, with its humourous take on the subject, adds a fresh perspective. The song’s structure revolves around Sabrina’s love for her man and her desire to have his children,hence the Juno reference. In terms of production, it’s a quintessentially pop track.

Lie to Girls:

The first ballad appears on the penultimate track. This is the first time that she gets serious on the record. This heart-wrenching ballad tells an ex that there is no need to lie because if they like him, they will be gaslighted and accept his behaviour towards them. She also takes aim at her father, who cheated on her mother—stressing that she will not be as forgiving as her mother if a man does the same to her. She also confesses that she is no different from other girls as she gets gaslighted sometimes, even though she knows the relationship is doomed deep down.

Don’t Smile:

The closer is a dream-pop track, a genre that Katy Perry has skillfully utilised. The production feels light and brings the listener a sense of relaxation, perfectly fitting the dream-pop style. The song itself reverses a common adage, encouraging you to cry that it’s over and not to smile because it happened. Again, this is directed at an ex, and she is basically saying that he should regret losing her and that he struggles to move on. It’s a unique twist in a dream-pop setting.

Song recommendations: ‘Sharpest Tool’, ‘Taste’, ‘Good Graces’

8/10