Sabrina Carpenter’s Album is Short n’ Sweet

The recent release of Sabrina Carpenter’s sixth album, Short n’ Sweet, has dominated streaming platforms, earning adoration from new listeners and long-time fans following her since her Disney Channel beginnings. True to its title, this 12-track record is concise yet delightful, presenting a dreamy atmosphere and charming lyrical themes. 

Throughout the album’s promotional rollout, Carpenter has embraced the 50s and 60s Americana sweetheart aesthetic, donning babydoll dresses and curtain bangs that coordinate with the record's sound. The album opens with the pop ballad “Taste”, which many speculate draws inspiration from her brief romance with Canadian singer Shawn Mendes and his on-again and off-again partner, Camilla Cabello. The song reflects on an ex and his former girlfriend being able to “taste” her once they get back together. As Sabrina puts it, she “leaves quite an impression, five feet to be exact.” 

As the album progresses, the pace slows with heartfelt acoustic ballads like “Sharpest Tool” and “Lie to Girls”, reflecting upon the challenges of dating in your twenties. Despite the slight country twang noted by many since the release of “Please, Please, Please,” Carpenter continues to draw from various genres. In “Bed Chem,” one can hear hints of Tamia’s R&B hit “Into You.” Other songs like “Dumb and Poetic” and “Don't Smile” are more ethereal which allows the messages of the songs to stand out.

While Carpenter is finding her footing as a new pop girlie, she has taken a page out of Taylor Swift's songwriting book, while also adding her own voice with clever pop culture references and humorous tropes. In the song “Slim Pickins,” she laments not having a “gay awakening.” In the track “Juno,” she sings “I might let you make me Juno,” referencing the 2007 film. Short n’ Sweet presents an authentic voice that Sabrina Carpenter has honed through trial and error,  carving out a distinct niche for herself in the pop landscape.

Following the release of Short n’ Sweet, Stan Twitter has expressed its excitement over potential Grammy nominations. While every year seems to be a bloodbath, 2024 is no exception, given the abundance of high-profile releases. Debates are already heating up with stans arguing over the significance of “charts” versus “cultural impact.” While Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department has soared to the top of the charts, some argue that Charli xcx’s Brat had a more profound cultural impact due to the marketing of neon green and “Brat Summer.” 

This debate over what constitutes a Grammy-worthy win is nothing new. In 2016, many fans disapproved of the Recording Academy’s pick of Swift’s 1989 as the Album of the Year over Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly.

Tyler, The Creator also criticized the use of the term “Urban” for a category, stating,

“It sucks that whenever we — and I mean guys that look like me — do anything that’s genre-bending or that's anything they always put it in a rap or urban category.” 

As the Grammy nominations approach, all eyes will be on the major releases of the year, including Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft, as well as The Tortured Poets Department, and Brat. But will Short n’ Sweet leave a lasting impression on Grammy voters? Nominations will be announced on November 8th, and the spotlight is on Album of the Year.