Sabrina Carpenter - Short N’ Sweet (Deluxe)
Ms. Carpenter has done it again! Sabrina Carpenter has officially released the Deluxe version of her most recent album Short N’ Sweet on Valentines Day. This is Sabrina's first deluxe release since her explosion into popularity after the release of emails i cant send in 2022. This album features four new songs, as well as a new take on the album's second track Please Please Please featuring Dolly Parton. Fans of the singer know that Carpenter has been putting out music for a decade now, and her talent and ability to entertain is nothing new. However, we have also gotten the privilege to grow up alongside Carpenter, and see her make her way out of Disney Channel and into a thriving music career.
While Carpenter’s fame began to skyrocket due to the release of her album emails i cant send, her new album Short N’ Sweet has been highly anticipated worldwide. The singer is getting ready to head out on the European leg of her Short N’ Sweet Tour, after a very successful, sold out leg of arena shows in 2024. This album carries powerful messages of feminism, love, heartbreak and sexuality, and Carpenter's relatable, ironic and honest lyrics are something that stands out in her performance.
Short N’ Sweet features many different sounds of many different genres. The album ranges from R&B, Pop, Country and even hints of Rock here and there. This record's connection to country seems to be what sparked the collaboration between Carpenter and the one and only, Dolly Parton. This track was something that fans certainly didn't know we needed, and it was much appreciated especially after Carpenters alleged messy breakup with Barry Keoghan. The track's release was accompanied by a music video featuring Sabrina and Dolly in a truck, and a tied up man in the back with a bag over his head. Coincidentally, wearing the same clothes that Keoghan wore in the original Please Please Please music video. Carpenter is one of the queens of subtle messages and allusions in her artistry, so this was no shock to fans, but it was definitely humorous. The collaboration also gave the track a new sound entirely, featuring a more acoustic melody with the inclusion of a fiddle. The chemistry between Parton and Carpenter on this song is phenomenal, and I am personally thrilled that this was the collaboration she chose for her deluxe release.
The deluxe version also includes the iconic track Busy Woman, which was available for a limited time for purchase on Carpenters website. Fans, including myself, absolutely fell in love with the track and hoped that one day it would be released, and our prayers were answered! This track is upbeat, “vibey”, and a style that is very reminiscent of an 80s pop track. Sabrina has a way of creating bitter sweet anthems that are great for screaming with your friends, but have a deeper, more relatable meaning behind them. Carpenter's music is a true testament to “coping with humor”.
Another new track Carpenter added to the record was a unique ballad titled Couldn’t Make It Any Harder. In true Sabrina fashion, this song was one big comical innuendo, with stunning vocals and lyricism. Without being an avid fan of Sabrina, this song would sound just like a beautiful, heartbroken ballad portraying one's insecurity. But fans, including myself, can definitely take from both the literal and figurative meanings of this song, which makes it perfect for any occasion. The track itself is one of the more mellow, slower tempoed tunes within the record, but the melody and style is very reminiscent of the timeless Hopelessly Devoted To You ballad from Grease. There is no song quite like this one on the rest of the record.
In keeping with the theme of the sad songs on the record, Bad Reviews was also released amongst the additional tracks. Bad Reviews keeps with the tone of the rest of Short N’ Sweets original tracklist, whereas Couldn’t Make It Any Harder ventures a bit outside of the theme we were anticipating (without disappointment). However, Bad Reviews does bring a lot to the table with regard to lyricism especially. The song has an acoustic melody with a hint of that country vibe we've gotten through other songs like Slim Pickins within the original record. The song follows a very typical and familiar story of a girl that is “fresh out of good judgement”. Despite knowing that she should not get involved with whoever she is singing to, she says “still I choose to be in love with you”. Carpenter's lyrics are unique in the sense that they are not difficult to understand or dissect, but that are also incredibly dynamic and create multiple ironic, comedical or real meanings for nearly every listener. Bad Reviews does this remarkably and was a fantastic addition to the record in its entirety.
The final track to cover is actually the first tune added to the record when listening in order. 15 Minutes is a confident, bouncy track with a similar 80s pop vibe to Busy Woman. The song carries a message of fun and romance, delivering a great synthesized beat with some funky guitars. All good things! This song balances out the new listens on the track with two slower songs and two upbeat pop tunes that make you want to get up and dance! This song also greatly contributes to the overall sound of the record, solidifying Carpenters “sound” in the pop industry. This track, along with all the other jams on the record differ greatly from Carpenters last album emails i can’t send, which would make sense given her newfound style and mainstream fame within the industry.
Short N’ Sweet Deluxe really gave us everything it had to give. It made us laugh, cry, sing, dance, and presented a great message about female confidence and romance along the way! Every album Sabrina Carpenter releases, fans are more and more shocked with how she is able to make a song for every occasion, that perfectly fits into chapters of their lives that they can look back on forever. Carpenter's style crosses all genres, and brings together so many different sounds that have been lost amongst the pop industry. The original album, now partnered with these bonus tracks, is something truly timeless that will remain a long-lasting staple in the evolution of modern pop music. Give Short N’ Sweet Deluxe a try!