Parton’s “Please Please Please”

Nora Geoghegan

Staff Writer

On February 14, Sabrina Carpenter released the deluxe version of her grammy winning album, Short n’ Sweet. Each song contains catchy lyrics, rhythmic guitar melodies, and luscious lyrics.

Deluxe tracks include, “15 Minutes,” “Please Please Please” (feat. Dolly Parton), “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder,” “Busy Woman,” and “Bad Reviews”. Each track extends on the themes of love, dating and heartbreak.

The first track of the deluxe version of the album is “15 Minutes”. “15 Minutes” discusses the growth Carpenter has experienced through her rise to fame. The title is also a play on the saying “15 minutes of fame”, and is alluded through lyrics such as, “But I can do a lot in fifteen minutes,” “But gosh, I hope I make it through the night” and “The clock is tickin’ lately.”

The next track is “Please Please Please” (feat. Dolly Parton). This track aims to conclude the story line involving actor Barry Keoghan, as the two have split since the initial release of the song. The music video that accompanies the remix, follows a plot like “Thelma and Louise”, where Parton and Carpenter kill off Keoghan’s character, and drive off together.

“Couldn’t Make It Any Harder” explores the complex dynamic of Carpenter and her partner’s relationship. Her partner is more immature, leading her to feel more emotionally detached from him. She’s also pleading for her partner to change his ways, or else she will continue to grow more and more distant from him.

“Busy Woman” expresses Carpenter’s desire for a fulfilling relationship, but given her busy life as an artist, it creates complications as to how to achieve her romantic needs and stay focused on her career. She also poses a warning to the man she’s pursuing by warning him about what happens if he rejects her. This is seen in the lyric, “I’m so mature, collected and sensible/Except when I get hit with rejection.”

“Bad Reviews” is the final track on the deluxe album and it discusses her choice to ignore mainstream opinions and critiques of her relationship. Verse two says, “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.” This expresses her deep desire to ignore the public’s comments about her relationship and stay devoted to her partner.

Moreover, Short n’ Sweet expands more on Sabrina Carpenter’s views on love and her experiences in past relationships.