SabrinaFan
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Post by SabrinaFan on Feb 21, 2020 10:44:40 GMT -5
13. Bad Time
Album: Singular Act I (2018) Standout lyric: “Let's talk about it, talk about it, yeah / I've been dying to use the line”
Sabrina obviously channeled her inner Swiftie for this one, because the beginning of this sounds nearly identical to the intro of “Delicate.” Seriously, listen to them side by side, their voices sound nearly the same! “Bad Time” lyrically discusses a relationship where a partner was always too busy to pay attention and put care into the relationship, so now, Sabrina uses the same line on him. It’s a perfect, sassy and empowering way to show someone the error of their ways, and Sabrina’s unstructured confidence in this song’s lyrics really compliments the vocals and production of it. And holy crap, I just now realized this, but “Let's talk about it, talk about it, yeah / I've been dying to use the line” is a clever 2-way reference to a phone line, and “using the line” on him that he always uses on her. Never realized that before looking up the lyrics to check while writing this, and that’s amazingly clever. She sounds amazingly close to a Taylor Swift level of voice and songwriting on this song, which shows her finesse as a songwriter.
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Post by SabrinaFan on Feb 22, 2020 10:53:57 GMT -5
12. In My Bed
Album: Singular Act II (2019) Standout lyric: “Cause I wanna turn a page, wanna rearrange / Swing the doors wide open in my mind, no”
“In My Bed” is not a sexual song like many fans presumed before the song came out. Rather, it’s a very upbeat tune about being in your head, trapped by emotions. It’s about admitting your own emotions and that you are struggling, but that’s okay. Sabrina’s vulnerability is portrayed through both her lyrics and and her vocals in this catchy bop, which is the first single from Singular Act II. The three-dimensionality and surrealness of the song, lyrically and musically, is a masterpiece that’s not only fun to listen to, but also relatable. Sabrina’s vulnerability is contagious in this song about needing to be alone, but you can’t because your emotions won’t leave you alone, and leaves making you feel empowered that it’s okay to be stuck in your head sometimes because you will get through this.
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Post by SabrinaFan on Feb 23, 2020 10:15:36 GMT -5
11. Feels Like Loneliness
Album: EVOLution (2016) Standout lyric: “Whoops, didn’t mean to make you love me / Didn't mean to be charming / Such a beautiful darling”
This song is so sassy! Sabrina shows her edgy side with “Feels Like Loneliness,” an electro-pop bop about being uncertain about a potential relationship with someone, but remaining empowered by simply telling him that love feels like loneliness sometimes, and that it’s not all glamorous. This is sassier than any of Brina’s previous singles at this point, and lyrics like “Whoops, didn’t mean to make you love me!” sound so fake-innocent and badass. The jazzy production works well with Sabrina’s snarky coldness towards her potential love, almost sounding like she’s intentionally teasing him in a way. She’s also commented it’s inspired by “Fever” by Peggy Lee, which I’m not familiar with, but nonetheless it’s a great song that’s really helped to establish her brand, and arguably set her up to be sassy in future songs like “Sue Me.”
Looks like we're ready to dive into the top 10 then! To preview what's ahead, Eyes Wide Open has no songs remaining, while EVOLution has an amazing 6/10 songs in the top 10. Singular Act I has 2 songs that will chart somewhere in the top 10, and Singular Act II has 1. The remaining song is a single that did not make it onto any of Sabrina's albums, however, it is a collab. We also still have two bonus covers remaining.
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Post by SabrinaFan on Feb 24, 2020 10:04:48 GMT -5
BONUS: Safe And Sound (2012)
This is a cover of “Safe and Sound” by Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars, which was featured in the first Hunger Games film. Sabrina does an excellent job with this cover, and the production of it genuinely makes it seem dark and depressing. Once again (we are talking about Sabrina after all!), Sabrina displays an excellent vocal range in this cover.
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Post by SabrinaFan on Feb 25, 2020 9:21:02 GMT -5
10. Shadows
Album: EVOLution (2016) Standout lyric: “And listen to me, it's okay to be afraid / Just walk like you're never alone”
This song is very emotional, so much that Sabrina has apparently cried on stage multiple times whilst trying to sing it. This is about embracing someone’s darkest demons, and even relating them to your own issues that you’re going through. It’s also about dealing with unrealistic expectations that others have for you, and looking for someone to confide in and to help you bear your burden of everyday living. It’s very raw and emotional, and Sabrina’s vocal performance is perfect. In general, the song sounds very depressing, which fits the tone perfectly. This is such a deep, mature issue to delve into, and furthermore implies that we accept someone’s “shadows ”because we have our own past that we’d like to forget about ourselves. I love how deep this song goes, though it’s so emotional I can’t listen too often otherwise I might cry too haha.
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Post by SabrinaFan on Feb 26, 2020 11:08:41 GMT -5
9. Mirage
Album: EVOLution (2016) Standout lyric: “And every face is a hologram / We're all caught in a dream”
“Mirage” is a questioning of the environment in Hollywood, and if it’s even real. Over a tropical house beat, Sabrina grapples with the growing realization that everyone in Hollywood acts fake for the publicity, and don’t reveal their real selves to the broader public. She argues that everyone is wearing a mask, and aren’t allowed to show any of their real emotions. The way Sabrina lyrically frames this song is amazing, as if she is an outsider attempting to get into Hollywood (“They said you can’t wear Giamba / Baby you gotta pay”) but is ousted because she is being herself. The production of the song is almost haunting at times, as she compares the masks people wear in Hollywood to holograms that show a fake innocence.
The delving into moral issues and tackling big issues like toxicity of the Hollywood environment and media attention, while also being able to talk about her own personal issues is what makes EVOLution, in my opinion, Sabrina’s best album to date.
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nick64
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Post by nick64 on Feb 26, 2020 23:40:53 GMT -5
^My first exposure to Sabrina ❤️
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SabrinaFan
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Post by SabrinaFan on Feb 27, 2020 8:55:25 GMT -5
^My first exposure to Sabrina ❤️ "Mirage" was? That's so cool! ❤️
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Post by SabrinaFan on Feb 27, 2020 8:58:12 GMT -5
8. On My Way (with Alan Walker & Farruko)
Album: Non-album single (2019) Standout lyric: “May have a point, everybody keep me safe” & “Can’t be everybody’s favorite girl”
This is prime Brina material right here! (I was going to end that sentence with “bitches” because Sabrina says it in the song for the first time in her discography, but I’m sure y’all are lovely people so I won’t). This is such an empowering song! Lyrically, Sabrina talks about needing a moment before she continues “on her way” with her life, and letting herself take that breath of fresh air because it’s okay. In this reflection, she thinks about everybody keeping her safe and how she doesn’t need them to, and does so in an awesome distortion of her vocals (“May have a point, everybody keep me safe”) Alan’s production of this is awesome, and Farruko’s rap is really cool as well. Sabrina’s vocals are among the best they’ve ever been, especially with the line “I draw the blinds / They don’t need to see my cry.” She sounds almost angelic in that line in particular, and it’s breathtaking! I also love the line about “Can’t be everybody’s favorite girl,” because I think there’s a lot of pervasive pressure in our society about having everybody like you, but in reality that’s not possible and it’s empowering to have that stated (Sometimes you just need to hear things said out loud!) I also like the line “Even if they understand, they don’t understand,” as it gets across the point that no one understands what someone is going through unless they are personally going through it themselves. An excellent vocal performance, one of Sabrina’s best, in addition to superb production from Alan Walker, and a solid rap from Farruko makes this an amazing song and must-listen.
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nick64
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Post by nick64 on Feb 27, 2020 13:30:24 GMT -5
^My first exposure to Sabrina ❤️ "Mirage" was? That's so cool! ❤️ Yep, it was featured in Apple Music’s Best of the Week when EVOLution was released.
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Post by SabrinaFan on Feb 28, 2020 14:10:57 GMT -5
7. Prfct
Album: Singular Act I (2018) Standout lyric: “It’s not perfect, but maybe that’s what we need”
Yes, read that standout lyric like 10 more times, please. We put so much pressure on people in our society to be absolutely perfect, but it’s okay not to be! Sabrina lyrically explores this in the context of a relationship. She argues that things don’t need to be perfect, because genuine human connection is a much more needed thing than constantly being on-point. You are with that person romantically for the better and for the worse, and it’s okay to be awkward and quirky. This is the core of why I like Sabrina, and the production is just spot-on with this song. Her gentle vocals and the Earthy sound of the song make this an all around “prfct” Sabrina song.
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Post by SabrinaFan on Feb 29, 2020 17:11:18 GMT -5
6. All We Have Is Love
Album: EVOLution (2016) Standout lyric: “We could be royalty / King and queen of nowhere”
“All We Have Is Love” is an ode to positivity and love. Carpenter’s soft vocals work perfectly with the production, which starts off soft and slowly gets more upbeat as the song goes on. The imagery in this song is excellent, as Sabrina calls on storybook-like imagery to embody this idealism she is feeling from a new relationship. While this song is geared towards a romantic relationship, it could be technically applicable to any sort of relationship, or even a personal goal of spreading positivity and love into the world around you. This song is for sure a highlight of EVOLution, and the message Sabrina sent out via social media when she released it is one we all should embody, like the song tells us to. “In the end, the thing that we need to cherish the most is love. And it’s not just love for your significant other…it’s just loving everything you can possibly love with your whole heart.”
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Post by SabrinaFan on Mar 1, 2020 10:59:51 GMT -5
5. Sue Me
Album: Singular Act I (2018) Standout lyric: “That's my shape, I made the shadow / That's my name, don't wear it out though”
Did you know Sabrina was sued? A court case against her in 2017 inspired the making of this song, now reimagined to be about a relationship that failed, but keeping your self confidence in the presence of that other person. Carpenter’s confidence is infectious, and the cheerful celebratory beat shows she is fully embracing a new life without said person or situation. This is such an empowering message, and Sabrina’s vocals sound badass all throughout. Sabrina’s repurposing of this troubling real-life situation that happened to her and making it relatable to everybody else shows what a skilled songstress she is.
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Post by SabrinaFan on Mar 2, 2020 11:11:29 GMT -5
4. Space
Album: EVOLution (2016) Standout lyric: “I'm hiding from my shadows / Running inside my dreams / I know that you are watching / You're right there watching me”
Easily Sabrina's most underrated (and under-known) song out there. If you're a Sabrina fan and haven't heard this song yet, you have to check it out!
This is a super clever song about needing space, not from a lover but from the outside world and the media! Lyrically, she talks about feeling overwhelmed and unable to be herself when people are always looking at her 24/7. Surely as a young singer, she probably was ruthlessly harassed by the media constantly wanting to know what she’s doing at all times (I’ve sadly seen stories like “Sabrina walks down the street and gets a coffee with her bestie!”... who cares? Let the girl live her life!) She cleverly writes the lyrics so she doesn’t directly say “The paparazzi’s always chasing me, just leave me alone!” or anything so direct. Rather, she embeds it in clever lyrics like “I'm hiding from my shadows / Running inside my dreams / I know that you are watching / You're right there watching me” and “I tell them my story, it's never enough!” At that age especially, it’s tough to call out a higher power like that so I’m super proud of her for tackling such a mature topic. The production of the song is amazing, and Sabrina’s vocals are on-point all throughout. It kills me to give this such a low ranking as #4 (in my very biased opinion, I wanted it to be #2 or #1, but there two more vulnerable songs that top it lyrically).
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Post by SabrinaFan on Mar 3, 2020 11:04:31 GMT -5
3. Exhale
Album: Singular Act II (2019) Standout lyric: “Listen to the labels, listen to the man / Try to keep a sense of knowing who I am / I try to be an angel, but I don't think I can”
This is definitely the standout track from Singular Act II. Lyrically, the song delves into having anxiety and just needing to take a breath without everybody judging your every move. Her vocals sound like she is completely opening herself up and being vulnerable with her fans, which is incredibly challenging to do. The song also talks about doubting yourself, and listening to everybody else but yourself. Sabrina grapples with putting too much weight on situations and feeling self-conscious, listening to the labels that everybody else gives her, and putting too much pressure on herself to be who she thinks she is, and to be an angel. Sabrina’s delivery is so raw and passionate, and I too have felt these things (as I’m sure many others have), so this song is insanely relatable and Sabrina’s vulnerability makes the listener feel like it’s okay to be vulnerable too. This is an amazing track that the world would benefit from hearing.
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Post by SabrinaFan on Mar 4, 2020 8:17:16 GMT -5
BONUS: Make You Feel My Love (with Sarah Carpenter, Nathaniel Hawk and Cameron Hawk - 2011)
In this cover of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love,” it sounds like...well...four kids trying to sing “Make You Feel My Love” by Bob Dylan. There’s nothing vocally amazing here, but it is indeed a cute cover of the song and I’d recommend checking it out. Nothing too much to say here other than everyone did a good job given their very young age (Sabrina was 11 when this came out, I believe). Sabrina's sister, Sarah, also provides main vocals for this song, so that's another reason to check this one out!
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Post by SabrinaFan on Mar 5, 2020 9:18:38 GMT -5
2. Run And Hide
Album: EVOLution (2016) Standout lyric: “And when did we all start thinkin' that the world stopped spinning in a kiss goodnight? / And when did our heartbeat beating too fast stop meaning it was worth the while?”
This is definitely Sabrina’s darkest song to date, which was actually written alone in a dark hotel room according to her. Seems pretty fitting. Sabrina’s vocals are raw and filled with dark emotions about desperation for love and connection with another. She tackles so much in this song, beginning with how no one takes relationships seriously when they’re young, as if they were supposed to just fall apart. She adds onto this by saying it’s because people are afraid of falling in love (“Started thinkin’ love’s a loaded gun”). She goes even further to lyrically argue that online dating has replaced real, genuine connection between people (“Traded out our eyes to light a screen” & “Words got shorter and quiet got longer”). Dark lyrics (“Traded out holding hands to holding back everything”) complement this song’s already gritty production, showing the rawness of Sabrina’s emotions. She goes further into society’s fears in the pre-chorus, where she asks us, “And when did we all start thinkin' that the world stopped spinning in a kiss goodnight? / And when did our heartbeat beating too fast stop meaning it was worth the while?”
That chorus though, is one of the most raw things I’ve ever heard. The chorus is Sabrina crying out, “I wanna, I wanna be loved!” over and over, and it sounds like Sabrina’s releasing her deepest, darkest emotions in desperation, which is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Sabrina’s ability to go this deep into an issue and show such raw emotion cements her stardom as an artist, and genius as a lyricist. Sabrina’s depressing message of our fear of love, opening up to someone, and genuine human connection is a heart-wrenching message that we should all take to heart.
This one ranks as #2 not because I’m playing the song on repeat (I would literally be sobbing if I listened to this song more than once in a great while), but because of how raw and vulnerable her lyrics are.
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Post by SabrinaFan on Mar 6, 2020 13:40:26 GMT -5
42. Tricky (with Shoffy)
Album: Flash (2020) Standout lyric: “Tip toeing on a tightrope / A step away from a wrong note”
Remember that promise I made that I would stop the countdown for a day if a new Sabrina Carpenter song came out, and review the new song before moving on? So today was supposed to be the reveal of the #1 Sabrina song of the countdown, but Sabrina just released a new collab with Shoffy today, called “Tricky.” Of course, while I always love when new Sabrina material comes out, it unfortunately means that y’all will have to be left in suspense about which song is #1 until tomorrow!
As with “Honeymoon Fades” when it came out on Valentine’s Day, I’m ranking this song among all the other Sabrina songs at #42 (out of 60 songs). This means all songs previously #42 and above (beginning with “Take You Back”) are now pushed one spot back in the countdown (i.e. “Take You Back” is #43, “I’m Fakin’” is #44, all the way up to “I Can’t Stop Me” which is now #60). The countdown will now end with the reveal of the #1 song tomorrow, instead of today as originally planned.
Now that we’ve got that business out of the way, let’s get to reviewing “Tricky.” I thought this was a catchy song that was sort of flirty, and both Shoffy and Sabrina sound really good. This was my first exposure to Shoffy, so I have nothing to compare this song against in his discography. I was happy Sabrina didn’t go for the super sultry vibe again, as I can’t say I really like the sultry R&B songs from her like “Take Off All Your Cool,” “I Can’t Stop Me,” “Hold Tight,” etc. While this song was cute, I didn’t feel it was a “Woah!!!” moment that blew it out of the park. I really have no complaint against this song whatsoever, and it’s definitely a decent song, but nothing in the message that justifies putting it above #42.
Lyrically, the song is about having a crush on someone who seems to notice everyone but you (“Oh it’s tricky 'cause I want her / But she’s always with another”), and the confusing and sometimes even contradictory feelings that go with it. (“And I know I should probably let her go / But I know if I do, she’ll be back at my door”). Sabrina and Shoffy do a good job explaining this feeling of confusion through the lyrics, and the roller coaster feeling that comes with it.
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Post by SabrinaFan on Mar 7, 2020 9:51:02 GMT -5
1. Thumbs
Album: EVOLution (2016) Standout lyric: “Don't believe everything that you hear / Let it go through your left and right ear / Don't just march to the beat of that drum / Don't be one of them people just twiddlin' them thumbs!”
We’ve made it to the best Sabrina Carpenter song! “Thumbs” is all about getting out of monotony and not being afraid to stand out from the crowd. Her first two verses highlight monotonous situations that occur in everyday life, the first about a family reproducing mindlessly, and the second being a metaphor for a dead-end job where you’re just “working for someone else,” in the form of a cop letting a robber go, because he’s just working for someone else and doesn’t care about his job.
Being still under Disney, Sabrina could never say this, but much of the song sounds like she’s taking on capitalism as a whole, with lyrics like “The bank robbed the people so the people robbed the bank.” Arguably, the first verse about the family reproducing could also be how capitalism thrives on the institution of family, and just reproducing to create more workers, and thus more money. It’s tough to work in throwing shade at capitalism in a song without directly saying it, so kudos to Brina for that!
The bridge is a call to action, to get out of this monotony and view the world with our “eyes wide open” (see what I did there?). She argues we shouldn’t just march to the beat of the drum, and be our own person who lives life intentionally to the fullest extent.
Sabrina’s vocals are exemplary throughout this song, even doing a jazz skat in the chorus. But, why is this song above more raw, passionate ones like “Run and Hide” and “Exhale”? The reason I put this one first is because it’s so relatable to everyone, and almost tells a story within the song, which demonstrates the lyrical finesse that Brina has, especially when she works in ideals like capitalism so flawlessly. This song shows what a great artist Sabrina Carpenter truly is.
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Post by SabrinaFan on Mar 7, 2020 9:52:38 GMT -5
Wow, I can’t believe this countdown is done! I’ve actually grown to enjoy posting these every day, so I’ll definitely miss it. I hope you all enjoyed watching this countdown as much as I did writing reviews each day! The good news is that the countdown isn’t officially “done.” As new Sabrina material comes out, be it her song or a collab with someone else, I will continue to review each song, and rank it among all the songs I’ve already ranked. Since you unfortunately can’t rearrange posts, I’ve posted the main order on the first post of this thread so it’s not super messy trying to figure out the order. And since a few people have requested it, I’ll share my ranking of Sabrina Carpenter songs. This is definitely not a 100% definitive list, because as with many people, my music tastes kind seem to ebb and flow a bit over time. My favorites basically change by the day, and yeah, I do like some of the old Sabrina stuff a lot (especially EVOLution...I would LOVE to see her go that direction again). This is a rough list that ranks where my favorites generally lie in Sabrina’s discography. I’m sure some of you will still think I ranked stuff too low (“Alien” didn’t move very much)...what are you gonna do, sue me? Happy to explain my rankings on any song if anyone would like me to. Here’s my list (“SabrinaFan’s Top Sabrina Songs sounds weird and repetitive, so I’m taking Sabrina’s “Brina” nickname and co-opting it for myself haha) Brina’s Top Sabrina Carpenter Songs60. I Can’t Stop Me (feat. Saweetie) 59. Hold Tight (feat. Uhmeer) 58. Fall Apart 57. Too Young 56. Darling I’m A Mess 55. Alone Together 54. Shadows 53. Run And Hide 52. Honeymoon Fades 51. Rescue Me 50. Two Young Hearts 49. Take Off All Your Cool 48. Tell ‘Em 47. Tricky (with Shoffy) 46. Exhale 45. Hands (with Mike Perry & Vamps) 44. No Words 43. Eyes Wide Open 42. Can’t Blame A Girl For Trying 41. The Middle Of Starting Over 40. Catch My Breath 39. Smile 38. We’ll Be The Stars 37. Seamless 36. On Purpose 35. Tomorrow Starts Today 34. Take On The World (with Rowan Blanchard) 33. First Love (with Lost Kings) 32. Right Now 31. I’m Fakin’ 30. Take You Back 29. Pushing 20 28. Mirage 27. Silver Nights 26. Lie For Love 25. Diamonds Are Forever 24. Looking At Me 23. Stand Out 22. Smoke And Fire 21. Alien (with Jonas Blue) 20. On My Way (with Alan Walker and Farruko) 19. It’s Finally Christmas 18. In My Bed 17. Mona Lisa 16. Prfct 15. Why 14. Paris 13. Christmas The Whole Year Round 12. Bad Time 11. All We Have Is Love 10. Almost Love 9. Don’t Want It Back 8. Best Thing I Got 7. Sue Me 6. White Flag 5. Your Love’s Like 4. Wildside (with Sofia Carson) 3. Feels Like Loneliness 2. Thumbs 1. Space Thank you so much to everyone who followed this countdown, and you all are welcome to reach out to me at any point if you want to talk Sabrina, cuz lawd knows I love her and her songs to pieces haha. Admittedly, my favorite Sabrina eras were EVOLution and Singular Act I. I can’t say I love the direction she’s going with songs like “I Can’t Stop Me,” “Take Off All Your Cool,” or even “Honeymoon Fades,” all of which have a sultry R&B vibe to them. I would love to see her go more clearly in that direction of social commentary and empowering lyrics once again, but either way I’m eager to review whatever may be coming next for Sabrina! - Brina <3
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Post by BB🌕 on Mar 7, 2020 16:56:30 GMT -5
Thumbs is a bop
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Post by SabrinaFan on Mar 7, 2020 19:16:27 GMT -5
Indeed it is! :) It was really hard to rank it below "Space" in my personal list (in the very last post), as I feel like those are both such amazing songs, but I've always like the message and production of "Space" like 0.000000001% better haha.
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Post by SabrinaFan on Jun 26, 2020 14:35:03 GMT -5
52. Your Name (with Morgan Kibby)
Album: Short History of the Long Road Soundtrack (2020) Standout lyric: None (I'd just be picking a random one since there are so few words and they're repeated)
Hey Carpenters! (Apparently this is our official name as fans, according to Sabrina) So not much has happened since I last posted, just, you know, a global pandemic. No biggie. Nothing to see here. I debated whether to cover this or not, but I've covered all other soundtrack songs thus far, so even though this hasn't been announced as an official single, I'm covering it. Besides, it's been fun to write these reviews and it's been a while since I've gotten to do one. If you haven't seen the film "Short History of the Long Road," the song probably seems very bizarre and/or too simplistic. It fits with the mood of the film super well, but out of context it probably just sounds odd and out of place in Sabrina's discography. I should also add that Morgan Kibby, who's also credited as a co-artist, does not provide any vocals in the song and simply is responsible for the creation of the instrumental score and background vocals.
In general, while Sabrina's vocals are angelic, I feel the song is too simplistic. There's maybe a minute of Sabrina singing if I'm generous, but the rest is just "ohhhh-oh, ohhhh-oh" repeated over and over. In addition, the lyrics of the first verse are just repeated in the second verse, which doesn't give the song a lot of substance. In context with the film, a shortened version of this song appears over the end credits of the film, and it feels very satisfying and like a peaceful end to the events of the movie. But I guess I wouldn't just listen to this outside of the film, despite Sabrina's angelic vocals, so this is going to rank at #52, right between "Best Thing I Got" and "Honeymoon Fades." My reason for placing it here is that there's nothing offensively bad about the song, like "Honeymoon Fades" IMO, it's just kinda there without contributing anything meaningful to Sabrina's discography.
Oh, and apologies for linking a non-official video again. All I could find on YouTube was this audio that a fan posted, though it is available for download on Spotify, iTunes and Amazon Music.
I can't wait to review whatever the next Sabrina song is, but until then, you should absolutely check out her Sabrina's film, "Short History of the Long Road." It's such a beautiful film, in which she is the lead, about a young girl who has to make it on her own living off the grid, after her single father loses their house and then tragically passes away. Sabrina's performance in this is absolutely beautiful and it will make you genuinely feel grateful for everything you have in life!
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SabrinaFan
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Post by SabrinaFan on Jun 30, 2020 22:42:04 GMT -5
42. Perfect Song
Album: Royalties Season One Soundtrack (2020) Standout lyric: “Don’t know where to begin, don’t know where to end”
Hey Carpenters! It’s been, what, 4 days since Sabrina released a song? But she’s already got a new one...kind of! Sabrina is currently playing Bailey Rouge on the Quibi series, and Bailey is a famous singer who performs a full four minute song at a fake awards show in one episode of the television series. Today, this single was released separately on all major music platforms, so guess what, we’re counting it!
“Perfect Song” is sort of quirky, and it’s intended to be corny. I don’t intend to use this to be rough on the song, but it’s not as good lyrically as other Sabrina songs as it’s supposed to be satirical. I’m going to be far less hard on it than “Honeymoon Fades” and “Your Song,” so that’s a good thing I suppose? Using lyrics such as “A song I’d actually buy” and “Vinyl, tape, or CD, you’re too beautiful to stream!”, she satirically describes a lover using the metaphor of current music distribution trends, calling her beloved her “perfect song.” Regarding the lyric “a song I’d actually buy,” do people genuinely not buy most songs on iTunes and Amazon anymore? I’m imagining the #1 song on iTunes isn’t defined by a bunch of grandmas remembering the good old days of when you actually purchased music, but eh, what do I know about the trends of the youth these days? (I say this ironically, as I’m a 22-year-old female for those who don’t know)
Despite the dripping satire and humor present in the song, Sabrina’s vocals as Bailey are absolutely beautiful and heartfelt, making this song a must-listen absolutely and a concrete contribution to Sabrina’s discography, unlike “Your Song” from four days prior which was just kind of there without adding much. The ballad-like instrumental of this song fits perfectly with the song, but the satire (while funny) brings it down slightly for me and makes it not quite as good as other Sabrina songs that you could be listening to. Given this, I rank this #42, after “Lie for Love” and “Tricky.”
Will Sabrina drop another song in four days? Will I ever be "on fleek" with the youth? All these questions and more will be answered next time!
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SabrinaFan
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Post by SabrinaFan on Jul 24, 2020 20:02:20 GMT -5
28. Let Me Move You
Album: Work It Soundtrack (2020) Standout lyric: "Cause I've never known myself this good 'til now / And I hope you know it's changing me forever"
It's a good time to be a Sabrina fan! For the third time in a month, Sabrina has come out with a brand new single. This one is on the soundtrack to the film "Work It," which is released August 7 (which y'all should buy, we gotta support our Brina!) and features Sabrina as Quinn Ackerman, the main character. For those thinking I've been too harsh on the Sabrina songs this year, this type of song is exactly the type of direction I want Sabrina to go in. This is such a catchy bop, and almost sounds a little funk-inspired. Sabrina's vocals are amazingly powerful, and the chill-yet-danceworthy production makes this a perfect Sabrina song. I feel like this song shows the power that Sabrina's voice has, unlike when she does that whisper-singing voice that many of you on here have lovingly dubbed "R&Brina", which I hate. *waits for angry mob to ambush me for my unpopular opinions* Sabrina's has such a strong, empowered voice and "Let Me Move You" truly demonstrates the lyrical seamstress she is. I would love it if Sabrina continues to go in this direction, as it's very reminiscent of her EVOLution days (which is my favorite Sabrina era)!
I'm ranking this #28 out of her 63 songs, before "Eyes Wide Open" and after "Christmas the Whole Year Round."
I can't wait for "Work It" and more great Sabrina music like this!
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SabrinaFan
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Post by SabrinaFan on Sept 25, 2020 14:00:04 GMT -5
47. Wow (with Zara Larsson)
Album: Non-album single (2020) Standout lyric: "Baby, I'm not even in a gown / I'm just in a T-shirt on the couch"
I'm sad to report that this remix did not make me say "wow" or make my jaw drop-drop, though I didn't completely hate it. Zara and Sabrina definitely sound great together, and while the lyrics didn't resonate with me a ton, I appreciated how empowering the lyrics were. The song also has a smooth vibe to it, sounding a bit calmer and less upbeat than her more recent "Let Me Move You." Sabrina's vocals are strong and powerful, almost as if to command attention from the listener. It's also worth noting that this is the first time that Sabrina has ever been included as a featured artist in a remix of a song. While I didn't love this, I can see it growing on me and it's a decent remix. I'm ranking this as #47, in between "I'm Fakin'" and "Two Young Hearts."
I really love the direction she was going with "Let Me Move You," so I'm hoping her future solo work will continue to follow that direction and truly make all of our jaws drop-drop!
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SabrinaFan
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Post by SabrinaFan on Oct 2, 2020 17:37:35 GMT -5
FYI y'all, I noticed two of the links for the videos were broken ("Tricky" and "Your Name") so I've just gone in and found new links for those. If any other links break for some reason, feel free to let me know and I can fix them!
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SabrinaFan
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Post by SabrinaFan on Dec 16, 2020 18:39:19 GMT -5
BONUS: Fix Me Up (with Fin Argus - 2020)
Hi everyone! I’ll admit I totally spaced the Clouds soundtrack being released and originally didn’t include any of the 4 Sabrina songs on that, thinking they were just in the film. That was totally my bad, so apologies for these reviews being like 2 months late now. I’m going to post one of these a day for the next few days.
All of these four songs are covers of A Firm Handshake by Sabrina Carpenter and Fin Argus from the movie Clouds. The film details the real-life story of Zach Sobiech, who went through a horrific battle with cancer as a teenager and eventually died at 18. The first of these, “Fix Me Up” is a very passionate song with some deep lyrics, but as someone who doesn’t really like super sad songs, I wasn’t a huge fan of this one. Sabrina’s vocal range is amazing as always, and Fin Argus sounds beautiful as well, but just because of how melancholy this one is, I don’t see myself ever going back and listening. I feel super bad saying that about the song, because it is super beautiful and absolutely worth checking out...it just wasn’t for me. The song is one of Sabrina’s most conversational songs and reminds me a little of a more depressing “Why.” The song is about as passionate as you can get, with one lover begging the other not to leave them, meaning through the one partner’s death (“One more moment, please / It's too late, I'm afraid I have to leave”). If you love raw, heartbreaking songs, this is absolutely for you.
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SabrinaFan
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Post by SabrinaFan on Dec 17, 2020 11:49:52 GMT -5
BONUS: How To Go To Confession (2020)
Another very sad cover from the movie Clouds. “How to Go to Confession” details how to confess the impending loss of someone close to you (in this case, through death), how to live in the moment, and how to let this person know you will always be there for them, even when they are gone. This is, again, too sad for me to listen to too often, but I can’t deny it’s a great song and I’d absolutely recommend you check it out if you love passionate songs like this.
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SabrinaFan
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Post by SabrinaFan on Dec 18, 2020 10:35:30 GMT -5
BONUS: Blueberries (2020)
Finally, a cover from Clouds that isn’t heartbreakingly sad! Sabrina does an amazing job with this song, and demonstrates how wide of a vocal range she has. She almost sounds a little bit country (reminiscent of her more folk-leaning Eyes Wide Open era), which I really liked despite not being a huge fan of country music usually. It’s such a silly and whimsical song (particularly in the line where there’s an implied f-bomb: “You're here once more to try your luck / Well, I'm done with you, you sneaky little…” This is my second favorite from Clouds and is a must-listen whenever you’re having a bad day.
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