Sabrina Carpenter's Daring Deluxe, Ranked

Short, sweet, Sabrina.

As a short and sweet Valentine’s Day surprise to fans, Sabrina Carpenter released 5 new tracks – “15 Minutes,” “Please Please Please (ft. Dolly Parton),” “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder,” “Busy Woman,” and “Bad Reviews.” Transforming her Short n’ Sweet album into a not-so-short but even sweeter set of songs, Carpenter’s daring deluxe tracks might be some of the best of the album.

Now Grammy-winner for Short n’ Sweet, and as a thank you for that win, Carpenter took the album to another level. With not-so-shy lyrics, hidden innuendos, and playful production, all 5 songs on the deluxe are beyond delightful. 

1. “Busy Woman”

“Busy Woman,” track 16, grabs your attention from the jump. “Oh hey!” the song starts out. Candidly recounting how many feel when dealt the rejection card, Carpenter is as relatable as she is risque. “So much to shave and lipstick to reapply,” Carpenter sings. Verses later, Carpenter hints that openings, on a calendar or otherwise, can have many meanings – “My openings are super tight.” “Busy Woman” shows those who criticize her comfort in her sexuality that she simply doesn't care. Fun, flirty, and fierce, “Busy Woman” is one of Carpenter’s best. 

2. “15 Minutes” 

Possibly the realest song of the five, “15 Minutes” laughs at what those in the music industry try to keep to hushed whispers – she calls out the ingenuity that is often the foundation of the media industries. Making a mockery of critics who claim Carpenter won’t make it through the gruelling night that is the fame and fortune, she combines humor, confidence and creativity to show those that she can do a lot with those 15 minutes. 

3. “Bad Reviews”

We’ve all been there, we’ve all heard the voices and had the gut feelings, heard the bad news and the bad reviews. With a more country-esque sound, closely resembling the production of Carpenter’s “Slim Pickins,” “Bad Reviews” sings about how when you fall in love, you often just fall, fall flat on your face in embarrassment. And instead of someone catching you, you just crash into the overwhelming amount of love you have for the wrong person. 

4. “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder” 

One of Carpenter’s more heartfelt, somber ballads, “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder” showcases her vocal range just as much as it does her darkest thoughts about love and loss. Carpenter doesn’t put herself in a box – she can sing with southern twang or an opera-like inflection. Still just as relatable, “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder” pulls on heartstrings and puts them back together. 

5. “Please Please Please (ft. Dolly Parton)”

While one of Carpenter’s classics, the new version of “Please Please Please” does not excite as much as Carpenter’s other deluxe tracks. A humorous, hit-song at heart, but the new version is not my favorite. 

Carpenter’s deluxe tracks on Short n’ Sweet show us that she can, in fact, do a lot with 15 minutes. She’s just getting started.