Sabrina Carpenter’s 'Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe)' is a Bold Blend of Cheeky Pop, Country Twang, and Irresistible New Hits
- Mikaila Storrs
- Feb 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 17
Stand-out tracks: "Bad Reviews" "Couldn't Make It Any Harder"
Our favorites: "Busy Woman" "15 Minutes"
Release date: February 14, 2025
Label: Island Records
For fans of: Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Ariana Grande
Right before jetting off to Europe for the Short N’ Sweet Tour, Sabrina Carpenter gave us a little Valentine’s Day gift—because she’s generous like that. Enter the deluxe version of her now GRAMMY-winning album, packed with even more confidence, clever innuendos, and lyrics that will have your mom side-eyeing your Spotify Wrapped.
The album still includes all our favorites—because let’s be real, we’re still not over “that me espresso.” But now, it comes with four brand-new tracks and a remix of "Please, Please, Please" featuring the legendary Dolly Parton.
In "15 Minutes", Sabrina playfully mocks the idea of her so-called “15 minutes of fame,” blending her signature cheeky innuendos—“I can do a lot in 15 minutes / Only gonna take two to make you finish”—with a touch of self-reflection. She turns the ticking clock into both a punchline and a nod to her career growth, proving that her time in the spotlight is far from over. But if it ever is? She jokes that she might “leak some pictures” or “say something bat-shit crazy” to stir up a little chaos—because if fame is fleeting, why not have some fun with it?
Sabrina's dream collab became a reality on the deluxe with “Please, Please, Please” featuring none other than Dolly Parton! Sabrina had mentioned in an interview that Dolly was a legend that she would love to work with, and spoiler alert—their harmonies are absolutely stunning.
In "Couldn’t Make It Any Harder", Carpenter delves into the emotional weariness left by past relationships, acknowledging she’s not in the right headspace to invest in this one. With lines like “F*ckboys you'll never meet / Well, you can thank them for a while / So goddamn reactionary / And for the graveyard in my stomach / Filled with pivotal formative comments / Meanwhile, you're just tryna tell me I look nice,” she paints a picture of how past heartbreaks have scarred her. She yearns for a version of herself that was more innocent, untouched by love's disappointments, but instead, she keeps him at arm’s length, too guarded to truly open up. By the song’s close, she resigns herself to the fact that he’ll eventually walk away, going for someone with a little less baggage.
If you’ve been patiently (or not-so-patiently) waiting for “Busy Woman” to be on streaming, the drought is officially over. From the hilariously blunt “If you don’t want me/ I’ll just deem you gay!” to the cheeky “I wouldn’t let you come into my calendar any night,” she’s serving playful, self-assured pop perfection. And she’s not kidding—2024 was definitely Sabrina’s year, and it doesn’t look like things are slowing down anytime soon. So if you’re lucky enough to make it into her packed schedule, consider it a privilege.
Closing the album with "Bad Reviews" is a clever move, especially considering the Short n' Sweet era kicked off with a new fling and seemingly wraps up with that relationship coming to an end. In earlier tracks like 'Please, Please, Please', Sabrina sings, “I know I have good judgment / I know I have good taste,” while ironically singing about how the person she's dating has a terrible reputation, with her friends warning her to steer clear. Fast forward to 'Bad Reviews', where she admits, “And I'm fresh out of any good judgment / I'm intentionally careless, least I got self-awareness.” In this track, she acknowledges that maybe her friends were right all along, but she chose to ignore the red flags because, let’s face it, who doesn’t crave love—even if it’s just for a fleeting moment?
With Short n Sweet Deluxe, Sabrina Carpenter has perfected her signature sound, effortlessly blending pop, a little country twang, and a whole lot of fun. Her bold lyrics, commanding stage presence, and passionate fan base make it clear she’s here to stay for a lot longer than 15 minutes.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SABRINA CARPENTER:
