Written by Emily Carmela Nelson and Olivia Brandon
On Valentine’s Day 2025, pop lovers received what may be the greatest gift of all — Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe)”. The new extended album, announced only ten days before its release, boasts four new glittery tracks and a remix of “Please Please Please”, featuring the one and only Dolly Parton.
“Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe)” picks up after closer “Don’t Smile” with “15 Minutes”, in which Carpenter playfully knocks down the fourth wall to dissect her newfound “fifteen minutes of fame”. The track begins with a theatrical build-up, complimented by electronic synths and a quick beat.
“The clock is tickin’ lately / Guess that means I’m doin’ somethin’ right / Been here a long time baby / But gosh, I hope I make it through the night.”
Throughout the track, Carpenter is as skeptical of her new surroundings as she is in awe.
“Where did all these parties come from? When did all you b*tches get so nice?” she sings.
During the bridge, Carpenter promises that when her career comes to an end, she’ll lean into the drama.
“When my time’s up baby / I’ll leak some pictures maybe / Say somethin’ batsh*t crazy / I’ll do it, don’t you make me.”
With quick, witty lyricism and a beat that feels like getting ready for a night out with your girls, “15 Minutes” is without a doubt the superstar of this deluxe release. And of course — it wouldn’t be a “Short n’ Sweet” track without a good innuendo.
“I can do a lot with fifteen minutes / Only gonna take two to make you finish / Piss some people off / Show ‘em what they’re missing / You, you, you know I can.”
“Please Please Please (feat. Dolly Parton)” was underwhelming, to say the least. The country-pop remix shines with Parton’s heartful ad-libs and twangy harmonies with Carpenter, but falls incredibly short in production and replay value.
WIth “Slim Pickins” already having a country feel, with it’s twangy guitar and a bouncing rhythm, it seemed odd that Carpenter would pair up with country legend Parton on a pop-pilled track like “Please Please Please”.
When Parton’s solo verse begins, (“I have a fun idea babe, maybe just stay inside / I know you’re craving some fresh air, but the ceiling fan is so nice”) her voice is pitched significantly lower and quieter than Carpenter’s, leading to an uncanny mesh between the vocalists.
The music video, on the other hand, was the star of the show. The video for the remix features Dolly Parton and Sabrina Carpenter singing to each other in a vintage truck. The classic Americana feel of the cinematography paired with the campy plot of Carpenter and Parton kidnapping someone who happened to look a lot like Barry Keoghan (Carpenter’s most recent ex boyfriend) provided a freshness to the summer smash hit.
Despite being an almost painfully obvious innuendo, “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder” features some of the most vulnerable lyrics of the entire album. With melodic piano and fingerpicked guitar, this tongue-in-cheek track feels akin to a modern-day “Hopelessly Devoted To You”.
“F**k boys you’ll never meet / Well, you can thank them for why I’m 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.”
With references to “throbbing” hearts and pent up … “frustration” what could’ve been a lyrically rich and emotionally telling song fell flat in perhaps what was an attempt to match the rest of the album thematically.
“Busy Woman” is, unironically, the new “girl boss” anthem. It’s the perfect track to throw on before a big job interview or to sing along with while getting homework done.
“Yeah, I’m a busy woman / I wouldn’t let you come into my calendar any night / But if you want my kisses, I’ll be your perfect Mrs. / ‘Til the day that one of us dies.”
On the deluxe editions closer, “Bad Reviews”, Carpenter is no longer begging her unruly partner to stop embarrassing her. With a new sense of self awareness, Carpenter cuts her friends loose and refuses to be wrong again in the hope of love.
“Short fuse and long baths like you’re fresh out of rehab / And I’m fresh out of any good judgment / I’m intentionally careless, at least I’ve got self awareness / Just want someone to love me who doesn’t.”
These lyrics are parallel to those of “Please Please Please”, in which she hasn’t yet come to terms with her partner’s destructive antics.
“I know I have good judgment, I know I have good taste / It’s funny and it’s ironic that only I feel that way / I promise them you’re different and everyone makes mistakes / But just don’t.”
Fans can’t seem to get enough of this pint-sized pop star and her addictively catchy hits — Carpenter’s five new deluxe tracks are as sweet as they come.
