Before the newly minted pop star releases her long-awaited new album this Friday, a look back at the songs that helped her get to this point.
Sabrina Carpenter Attends Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 presented by Amazon Prime Video at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in Los Angeles, California. and aired on September 24, 2021.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 Presented by Amazon Prime Video
Sabrina Carpenter has arguably reached a new level of stardom in the last 12 months – thanks in part to her caffeinated summer single 'Espresso', her next Billboard Hot 100 single 'Please Please Please', her 'Feather' music video. (ruffling feathers in the Catholic Church while the song dominated pop radio) and opening for Taylor Swift on the Eras tour, among other accomplishments.
However, the pop singer/songwriter's music career spanned nearly a decade before her recent breakthrough — as Carpenter primarily began as a Disney Channel star on Girl meets worldand went on to release four albums under Disney-owned Hollywood Records. Her output from Hollywood Records is often associated with the image-conscious nature of the Disney machine in the 2010s, but that doesn't mean these projects didn't reflect the promise of the adult artist we see today. And in 2022, Carpenter fell Email I can't sendher first album with Island Records, and showed what she was capable of as a new-school pop star.
In a recent interview with VarietyCarpenter claimed it Short n' Sweetdue out this Friday (August 23), looks like her sophomore album. “It's my second album with “big girl”. he is a partner [to Emails] but it's not the same,” he explained. “When I'm going to have full creative control and be a full adult, I would consider it a second album.”
Fans of the still-rising star often lament that Carpenter is mistaken for an overnight success because her recent hits became her first Top 10 smashes. But before she became known for her edgy melodies, off-the-cuff lyricism and vintage-style music videos, Carpenter released several chart-topping tracks that hinted at a 2024 arena front-runner.
Before Short n' Sweet becomes available for streaming at midnight, here are 10 essential tracks from the older end of Carpenter's discography.
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“We'll Be the Stars” (Eyes wide open2015)
The production on this track from Carpenter's 2015 debut splits the difference between the nostalgic whimsy of Taylor Swift Fearless and the wide-eyed hope of fellow former Disney stars Aly & AJ. “We'll Be the Stars” was released in the middle of Carpenter's run as Maya Hart Boy meets world spinoff Girl meets worldand beautifully set the stage for a family musical career.
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“It feels like loneliness” (Development2016)
Carpenter's second album debuted a new songwriting voice: she co-wrote three of the 12 tracks on her debut, but had more of a writing role Developmentin which he has writing credits on almost every track. “Feels Like Loneliness” also stands out sonically, combining jazz influence with straightforward pop that allowed the singer to explore her vocal prowess.
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“Well done” (Development2016)
Also from her second album, “Thumbs” featured an early iteration of what would become Carpenter's bold stylistic choices. This track continued to explore the subtle jazz-pop fusion that was present throughout the album, with Carpenter actually almost playing on the chorus. It also reflects the inertia of falling into a daily routine and missing essential details in life.
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“Sue me” (Singular Act I2018)
“Sue Me” is a fan favorite, as Carpenter wrote the song about being sued by her former management team when she turned 18, equating the experience of breaking up with them to a breakup. This dynamic kiss still pops up occasionally in Carpenter's live set and sets the stage for more intense, funny lyricism to come.
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“Paris” (Singular Act I2018)
“Paris” has a moodier melody than most of Carpenter's early work, and the lyrics capture a fear of commitment, unlocking a new level of vulnerability for Carpenter as a songwriter. Listeners later learn why Carpenter feels she “can't love right” in the title track Email I can't sendstarting a thread of narrative continuity that would last for years to come.
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“I Can't Stop Me” (feat. Saweetie) (Singular Act II2019)
This rare collaboration on a Carpenter album stands out, as the singer's vocals pair well with Saweetie's rap verse. The track features a surprisingly effective hip-hop setup, paired with lyrics that depict a relationship that can get reckless – but the singer is fine with her hand in the mess.
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“Take You Back” (Singular Act II2019)
This song subverts its title through clever lyricism: instead of getting back together, Carpenter sings about an ex who wants to send him wherever he finds him. While the production still reflects 2010-era Hollywood Records, this track is an indicator of the brooding pop writing that would become paramount on Carpenter's next album.
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“Because I liked a boy” (Email I can't send2022)
One of the most viral ready tracks E-mailthis song swells sonically in response to the fallout from Carpenter's alleged affair with Joshua Bassett, shortly after his own alleged affair with Olivia Rodrigo. “Because I liked a boy” acted as a response to the often harsh public treatment of women in music and the anti-social nature of online bigotry, as the final punch is delivered to her detractors — all she did was boyish.
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“nonsense” (Email I can't send2022)
After becoming a sort of viral hit, “Nonsense” has remained a Carpenter crowd favorite: at each live performance, the singer improvises the last verse, including references to the tour stop she's playing. The internet-friendly quality of the outros is partly what drove its overall success E-mailbut the sumptuous track succeeds on its own, telling a story many listeners know all too well – having a crash that leaves them 'thinking nonsense'.
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“Feather” (Email I can't send: FWD2023)
The controversial The “Feather” music video. was partially filmed at Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Annunciation of the BVM in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and featured Carpenter attending her exes' funeral wearing a black minidress and veil. Funny that a lighter song landed Carpenter in some hot water: With lyrics describing flexibility after leaving a relationship that overstayed its welcome, “Feather” is a masterclass in 2020s pop music and the foundation of what it has now become Carpenter's signature sound.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/lists/sabrina-carpenter-best-songs-early-pre-short-n-sweet/