I love Valentine’s Day. Pink, hearts, and flowers are some of my favorite things, regardless of the official romantic meaning of the holiday. This year, I loved it a little extra—thanks to Sabrina Carpenter’s release of Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe).
While I didn’t think I could love Short n’ Sweet any more than I already do, Carpenter has gifted her fans five more tracks to obsess over, bringing me full circle to the way the original 12 tracks consumed me as this school year began.
15 Minutes
One of, if not the, largest recurring theme throughout the album is Carpenter’s clever innuendos. This element is carried throughout the deluxe edition, predominantly in this track. Using the phrase “15 minutes of fame,” Carpenter acknowledges her current, extreme virality, expressing that she will make the most of it, singing, “I can do a lot with 15 minutes.” Her career is arguably different from many other artists who experience bursts of popularity via TikTok; because she has been making music for years, she has that knowledge and understanding of how to market herself and stay at the top. Additionally, Carpenter breaks the fourth wall, considering the combined runtime of all of the deluxe tracks is 15 minutes. The entire song is essentially a double entendre, and while that is as in-depth as I will go, her signature cheek and grand pop production have earned the hit a place on several of my playlists.
Couldn’t Make It Any Harder
Of all the tracks on the original Short n’ Sweet, “Lie to Girls” has remained ever present on my playlists. Sonically, “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder” did not remind me of that one, but as I cinematically stared out my window soundtracked by the beautiful vocals of this song, the emotional aspect of the song brought me full circle to August. Describing the effects of her romantic past on her current relationships, Carpenter depicts the all-too-relatable feeling of becoming more reserved, in a way, as one grows older. The opening lines of the song, “Oh, what I’d give to be / Meeting you as the glass-half-full version of me,” convey this exactly; losing the optimism that accompanies youth impacts relationships. Not only are Carpenter’s vocals stunning, the production can only be described as extravagant. Also, I would not be doing this review justice if I didn’t mention the comparison made immediately by a majority of listeners: while no sample is listed, this track sounds eerily similar to “Hopelessly Devoted To You” by Olivia Newton-John, which Carpenter covered a year ago while opening for Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour. Let me be clear, I am not complaining.
Busy Woman
Initially released as a bonus track on a digital download of the album, “Busy Woman” has been gracing my ears since August through an unsanctioned “podcast episode” on Spotify. Of all the new songs, I think this one most deserved to be included on the original tracklist. It fits perfectly with the other upbeat, pop melodies, combining confidence and risqué lines to emanate the energy of the assured image she has given herself. It feels like it was made to be on a hype “getting ready” playlist.
Bad Reviews
Reminiscent of “Slim Pickins,” Carpenter wraps up the Short n’ Sweet era by bringing back the country twang she is known to experiment with in her music—specifically, in her instrumentation. Despite the title, I have no bad reviews to give this song. I was enamored with her vocals, particularly at the end of the song when the music swells and she sings, “Still I choose to be in love with you.” Her stunning voice serves as the end of the track and the entire album, and it perfectly encapsulates of beauty and success of Short n’ Sweet.
Looking forward, I am bittersweet about leaving this era of Sabrina Carpenter behind. It feels like Carpenter’s music has been the score to my junior year, and parallel to my life, I have no clue what she will do next with her music. The expectations are high after hits like “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” and as a longtime fan, I am confident that her next era will be just as iconic as this one.
