For singer-songwriter Sabrina Carpenter, 2024 was a life-changing year. Skyrocketed into international fame and recognition after the success of her hit single, Espresso, Carpenter has continued to drop chart-topping tracks. Many of these have been from her recently released sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet. Little did her listeners know that Carpenter had a little more to share.
Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe) was dropped on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2025, and carries the same generally upbeat vibe as the original album. Similar to Short n’ Sweet, the new tracks are also very aesthetically different from all of Carpenter’s previous albums and extended plays (EPs), including the more recent emails I can’t send and Fruitcake. Each song is creative and well thought-out, with themes that fit well enough to be part of the same album, but are different enough in their sounds and lyrics to make each stand out.
The five new songs added to Carpenter’s discography with the release of the deluxe album are not all completely original. The second track is a remixed version of one of Carpenter’s most famous singles, Please Please Please, but this time featuring renowned country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton; the announcement of which sparked countless excited discussions on social media and in person. Other songs that have garnered widespread attention are Busy Woman and 15 Minutes, both upbeat earworms with catchy choruses. However, there are other songs on the album that deserve similar, if not more attention.
The first deluxe track, 15 Minutes, seems to reference the phrase “fifteen minutes of fame”, talking about what life is like at such a high level of fame as what Carpenter has managed to accomplish in the last year. Carpenter sings, “But I can do a lot with fifteen minutes / lot of pretty boys, lot of funny business / take a couple bucks, turn ’em into millions.” She accepts that she may not have a lot of time being as famous as she is now, but she can still make the best of the time she has. Carpenter muses over how things seem so different, questioning when certain people got so nice, leading listeners to infer that these are people who are only treating her better now that she is so well known.
Towards the end of the song, Carpenter decides that after her “fifteen minutes” are over, she will leak some pictures or say something controversial because it will no longer matter as much, throwing a dig at cancel culture and the high standards celebrities are held to. Carpenter manages to convey these often serious themes in a light-hearted way, a method that is not just reflected with her wording but in the background music, which is upbeat and catchy, albeit a little plain. All in all, this song is a good introduction to the deluxe tracks, but did have some wasted potential with its music.
Please Please Please (feat. Dolly Parton) faced the brunt of the criticism of the deluxe album, with social media users complaining about Parton’s vocals seeming rusty. Although Parton’s singing is undoubtedly not up to the standard it was when she was at her prime, I believe the song is not as bad as some are making it out to be. Carpenter has said that Parton is one of her biggest idols and inspiration, so the collaboration was exciting for both her and her fans. The biggest differences in the song seem to be the difference in the music style. Whereas the original song is more pop-themed, the remix, perhaps as a nod to Parton, sounds more country. This gives the track a unique flair although the song itself is still familiar.
The third deluxe track, Couldn’t Make It Any Harder, is a little break from the upbeat dance songs with a sadder, more ballad-y tone that reminds listeners of Carpenter’s last album, emails I can’t send. Throughout the song, Carpenter sings about how she has changed from when she was younger, from an optimistic, trusting person, to someone who is hard to love, revealing to the listener that although someone may want her badly, she is unwilling to let them love her.
She confesses that things would have been different if this person had met her earlier, when she was “the glass half-full version” of herself. The song tells the story of someone who has been taught by life to become colder and harder and not let people love them as easily as they once did, and is a theme many listeners can relate to. Overall, this song is my favorite of the deluxe tracks because of the touching lyrics and how they pair perfectly with Carpenter’s heartfelt vocals.
Busy Woman was perhaps the most successful song on the album, debuting at #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In this track, Carpenter returns to her upbeat, playful vibe, singing about how if someone wants her, she wants them equally as much, but when they do not want her, they better watch out. “I’m so mature, collected and sensible,” Carpenter sings. “Except when I get hit with rejection / To turn me down, well that’s just unethical / I’ll turn into someone you’re scared to know.” She tells listeners that if she is not wanted, they should know that she did not have time for them anyway, as she is a “busy woman”. Carpenter does a good job with layered vocals that separate the song from 15 Minutes, despite sharing similar humorous and catchy themes.
The fifth and final deluxe track, titled Bad Reviews, is a short n’ sweet end to the album. The song leans into a country-style, featuring Carpenter confessing that although the public and her friends have given her “bad reviews” on her current relationship, she ignores them for the sake of having someone who loves her. “Been alone for so long, I’ve got somethin’ to prove / If I close an eye, it’s almost like your red flags are blue / So still I choose to be in love with you,” Carpenter sings. The song is an honest revelation to her listeners, with Carpenter showing that although famous and portraying herself as a confident individual, she still ignores red flags and settles simply because she misses being in a relationship. This song is my second favorite on the album because of its funnily relatable theme conveyed through Carpenter’s smooth vocals backed by simple but fitting country music.
Overall, the five deluxe tracks were a worthy addition to the original album, featuring tracks, that in my opinion, are better than many of the original songs. For the most part, he variety of messages paired with unique background music made each song stand out. Released less than six months apart from Short n’ Sweet, Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe) showed Carpenter’s rapid growth in her humorous lyricism and her willingness to experiment with new genres. However, there is always room for improvement–for Carpenter, it may be her choice of melodies, as throughout certain songs, it felt a little repetitive or plain, with not enough flair. Still, for the most part, every song was its own fitting blend of lyrics, vocals, and music.
If you liked listening to Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe), you will likely enjoy So Close To What by Tate McRae, which also has catchy music with meaningful lyrics. On the other hand, if you liked the overall vibe of the album, you should take a listen to eternal sunshine by Ariana Grande.
8/10
