Sabrina Carpenter expands on her 2024 ‘Short n’ Sweet’ album, with hints of country influences
By AALIYAH ESPAÑOL-RIVAS — arts@theaggie.org
On Feb. 14, singer Sabrina Carpenter released “Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe),” the extended version of her 2024 album. After the album won two Grammy awards for “Best Pop Vocal Album” and “Best Pop Solo Performance,” the deluxe version was announced two days later on Feb. 4 on Carpenter’s official Instagram page.
The album features five new songs, “15 Minutes,” “Please Please Please (Remix) (Ft. Dolly Parton),” “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder,” “Busy Woman” and “Bad Reviews.” While the original iteration had hints of country sound in songs such as “Please Please Please” and “Slim Pickins,” the deluxe version takes the country influence to a new level and showcases Carpenter’s unique pop sound with other strut-worthy beats, heart wrenching ballads and synth tracks.
In the opening song, “15 Minutes,” Carpenter juxtaposes sexual innuendos and the concept of “15 minutes of fame,” with lyrics such as, “But I can do a lot with fifteen minutes,” “Take a couple bucks, turn ‘em into millions” and “Only gonna take two to make you finish.” The song has an upbeat tempo with a prominent synth sound, especially heard in the bridge.
The following song is a remix of the single “Please Please Please” with a feature from legendary country singer Dolly Parton. While the original version of the song was more of a bubblegum pop song, the remix is a slower country song with acoustic guitar and violin in replacement of the original synthesized sound. While Parton’s solo vocals in the song are a great addition, the mix of Carpenter’s and Parton’s vocals is understated amongst the stronger instrumentals.
The next song, “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder” is reminiscent of Olivia Newton-John’s “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” which Carpenter covered during her 2024 “Short n’ Sweet” tour. The ballad discusses Carpenter’s difficult dating past, with lyrics such as “Your arms are reachin’,” “And your eager heart is throbbing” and “Would’ve folded, but I can’t now.” As a result, her current lover feels frustrated and detached from her. In response, Carpenter expresses her hesitancy to fall in love again throughout the song with beautiful soft vocals that showcase her range.
After, the album takes a tone shift to another fun pop synth song with “Busy Woman.” The song describes Carpenter’s busy life, though she’s willing to clear her schedule for one special person. Flirty and fun lyrics such as “Maybe for you, though, I could accommodate,” “I wouldn’t let you come into my calendar any night” and “I’m flexible, so just tell me what you like,” show her back and forth thought process between trying to seem busy for everything but one person.
The final song of the album, “Bad Reviews,” is a sultry, country-inspired song about Carpenter ignoring the criticisms of the public in regard to her lover. While she’s heard the naysayers, she chooses to still be in love with them. Lyrics such as, “If I close an eye, it’s almost like your red flags are blue,” “And I’m fresh out of any good judgment” and “I’ve heard all the bad news and all the bad reviews,” shows Carpenter’s self-awareness and ignorance. But then again, ignorance is bliss, right?
“Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe)” is a fun extension of the original album, with all the same components that made the original catchy and charming. While upon first listen many lyrics can raise an eyebrow or two, Carpenter’s sneaky insinuations masked under her angelic vocals whisk listeners into believing otherwise.
Written by: Aaliyah Español-Rivas — arts@theaggie.org
