Review: Short and Sweet Deluxe

By Kathryn Taleporos | March 10, 2025

After the number one single “Espresso” went viral as the song of the summer, Sabrina Carpenter skyrocketed to fame. The release of her album, “Short and Sweet” was a stunning success, scoring two Grammys this year. Carpenter rewarded fans with four new songs, and a remix of her hit “Please Please Please.”

The first new song on the deluxe album is “15 minutes.” This song perfectly fits Carpenter’s pop style. The main line in the chorus is, “I can do a lot in 15 minutes.” On the surface, this song just seems like a fun song about being with a guy for 15 minutes. But the double entendre here is the idea that Carpenter is in her “15 minutes of fame.” The lyricism and double meaning gives this song more depth than some of the other songs on the album.

The most anticipated song on the deluxe album was not actually a new song. Carpenter had previously performed the song “Busy Woman” on tour, and it was supposed to be on the original album. Not including it on the original album was a mistake, “Busy Woman” is an upbeat song that matches perfectly with other singles on the album like “Espresso.”

“Busy Woman” was produced by Jack Anotonoff, a producer who’s also worked with other famous singers like Taylor Swift. Antonoff’s influence is evident on this song. Known for his pop song productions, this song fits both Antonoff and Carpenter’s brand perfectly..

The other two new songs “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder” and “Bad Reviews” follow similar tones and styles to other songs on the album like “Slim Pickins” and “Please Please Please.” “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder” sounds really similar to “Slim Pickins.” Both of these deluxe songs bring out a little bit of Carpenter’s country side, sounding more like country songs rather than traditional pop songs.

However, not all deluxe album additions were huge hits. The song “Please Please Please” was a huge success as the second single off the original album. The song has a little bit of a country twang to it, and that’s why Carpenter added country music icon Dolly Parton to the track. “Please Please Please (feat. Dolly Parton)” fell short though, Parton’s voice just did not match with the song or with Carpenter’s harmonies at all.

Overall, Carpenter has cemented herself as a pop princess. With “Short and Sweet” being her sixth studio album, Carpenter has truly found her niche and her voice in music. The deluxe album adds to what is arguably her strongest album yet.