Sabrina Carpenter: star on the rise and the songs to prove it.
The Blonde Girl with the Bangs yeah Sabrina/Have you heard her music, well you need ta’/Here’s a list of songs that’ll please ya’.
artwork by Charlotte Littlefield.
Whether you’ve seen her strutting on stage as one of the iconic openers of Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour, heard her catchy “Nonsense” outros at her very own Emails I Can’t Send Tour (I tried my best in the blurb), or watched her plethora of YouTube covers from 2010, Sabrina Carpenter has been booked, busy, and blossoming as a pop star. Her most recent summer bop, "Espresso," reached #7 on the Billboard Top 10, making it her first top 10 hit, but certainly not her last. “Espresso” made its stage debut at this year’s Coachella, and after witnessing Sabrina dominate her performance, two thoughts came to mind: when will she release her Coachella mashup of “Feather” and the Cardigans’ “Lovefool”? Secondly, Carpenter is no longer just known as the witty, bad-girl best friend on Disney’s Girl Meets World, but is steadily ascending the pop star ladder. For those interested in joining the Carpenter Craze, I thought it’d be fitting to look back at Sabrina’s discography, highlighting hidden gems and well-known bangers you should add to your playlist.
From her 2016 album EVOlution, “Thumbs” explores themes of independence, self-assurance, and breaking free from societal norms. Everyone re-lives their same boring days and “twiddles with their thumbs,” wasting their lives away. Carpenter encourages listeners to not “march to the beat of other’s” drums and be your own person. What I find catchy from the song are the rhythmic snaps, playful vocals, tongue-twisting lyrics, and the scat singing heard in the chorus. I recommend listening to “Thumbs” when you’re feeling existential and need the push to try something new in your life.
On Singular Act I from 2018, “Sue Me” acts as the perfect track for anyone who has ever had a toxic ex-partner or friend who keeps your name in their mouth. This classic is a perfect party anthem to chant with your friends as you celebrate your newly found confidence having left someone who was holding you back. Lyrics from the chorus,
So sue me
For looking too pretty tonight
Wearing your favorite color under the lights
For moving on, doing everything right…
For being something you can’t forget
represent the period after a harsh end of a relationship when you feel carefree and realize how better off you are without them. The song is filled with lively percussions, infectious hooks, and impressive high notes from Carpenter, which delivers an empowering and vibrant song everyone should cheer along to.
“Tell Em” from 2019’s Singular Act II has an intoxicating R&B quality that makes you feel like you’re floating on a relaxing rhythm of Carpenter’s vocals, until the chorus brings the song to life with its bursts of synths and vibrant echoes of “tell-em.” This song is about keeping an intimate relationship private to preserve the intimacy and passion between those involved. Why face the judgment and scrutiny of the outside world when all you and your partner need are each other? As Carpenter sings,
And you could be my everything I'm needing
And you could be my dirty little secret (Oh)
Nobody has to know (Shh)
We ain't gotta tell ‘em
she captures the romantic thrill of being the only ones who know about your hidden relationship.
A personal favorite of mine, “Fast Times” from Carpenter’s 2022 album Emails I Can’t Send, is the perfect song for a long drive where you roll the windows down and embrace life to the fullest. Carpenter vividly captures the rush of falling fast into a new relationship and the accompanying anxiety with lyrics like, “Ahead of myself's an understatement/Sky looks so purple, I can taste it/Couple days in, I call you, ‘Baby.’” While it's natural to have our guard up when a relationship feels too good to be true, why not live in the moment and be swayed by the possibility of a fun fling? Beyond its romantic undertones, lines such as, “These are fast times and fast nights, yeah” suggest that life itself moves swiftly, reminding us to let loose once in a while and not take it too seriously. The seamless blend of violins, drums, and a killer guitar solo perfectly complement Carpenter’s smooth voice throughout the track. “Fast Times” is all about seizing life's fleeting moments with open arms.
Taking on a more lounge-pop vibe, “Already Over,” another banger from Emails I Can’t Send, delves into the awkward back-and-forth that follows the “end” of a relationship—when it’s “over,” but you find yourself falling back into their arms, time and time again. Many of the lyrics present a dichotomy: suggesting a cute relationship but, actually, portraying an indefinable “situationship.” For instance, lines like “We've been talking for hours/'Bout how we shouldn't talk for hours on end” and “Same time here next weekend/ ay, ‘We won't do this again’” illustrate Carpenter's awareness of her repeated return to this person without a clear resolution in sight. Adding onto this theme of falling into a pattern, the beat of the kick drum accentuates the rhythmic and continuous lull of going back-and-forth with an old lover. Although the song depicts a seemingly melancholic friends-with-benefits scenario, Carpenter holds onto the belief that eventually, this person will return to her, as implied by the lyrics “After the aftermath, I know you'll be coming back/To the back bedroom, and it won't be the last time.” “Already Over” ultimately portrays the struggle between a desire for closure and the pull of lingering emotions, leaving listeners captivated by the relatable nuances of love and longing.
To wrap up, I can’t help but talk a little more about “Espresso,” a tune that’s been on constant repeat for me since it’s release. In this track, Carpenter charmingly portrays herself as equally sweet and addictive, likening her allure to that of an espresso. She humorously depicts her suitors as being “wrapped around her finger,” laughing at her jokes, and even “losing sleep” thinking about her all night, cleverly playing on the effects of coffee. Alongside the endearing lyrics, Carpenter's elongated vocal delivery, in lines such as “I can’t relate to desperation” and “I’m working late ‘cause I’m a singer,” is irresistible, leaving listeners hanging onto every finishing note. Other standout moments include her soft “yes’s” interjected throughout, the accompanying guitar riffs during the line "Soft skin and I perfumed it for ya," and the overall groovy vibe of the song that had me immediately swaying along.
Clearly, Sabrina Carpenter’s come a long way since the 2010s. With her immense growth, vocally and sonically, I think it’s about time we deem her one of 2024’s pop princesses.
edited by Nicole Millan Ortiz.
artwork by Charlotte Littlefield.