Sabrina Carpenter is on fire this year! With her VMA-winning hit “Espresso” and the chart-topping single “Please Please Please,” her newest single, “Taste,” is already causing a ripple in the charts. All three songs are but a ‘taste’ of her brilliant album “Short n’ Sweet,” which came out this summer. “Taste” sits strong in the charts and already holds 66 million views on YouTube.
The song, along with several others on the album, has led many to guess it could be about her rumored short fling with Shawn Mendes, considering his very public recent appearances with ex-girlfriend Camila Cabello.
“Taste” bursts out of the gate with an exceptional combination of old-school disco and new-school pop flavors. Elegant synths and a pulsing bassline imbue the track with infectious dance appeal, while Carpenter’s smooth vocals glide effortlessly atop the mix. Her tone oozes sharp confidence, matched by the lyrics, which seem to taunt a romantic rival. A pre-chorus builds up the dramatic tension before exploding into an unforgettable earworm of a refrain. Carpenter threatens: “You’ll just have to taste me when he’s kissin’ you.”
The song has been made with the help of three mega-hit makers – John Ryan, Ian Kirkpatrick, and Julian Bunetta – with quite an electrifying but polished sound design. Subtle guitar strokes and a driving beat do magic in the disco-injected groove. Its adherence to retro influences sounds refreshingly new instead of feeling dated, revealing pop-savvy melodic craft.
The pulsing bass line and shining synths carry the track along in a very lively and energetic way, with other touches popping up subtly, like the little bits of mute guitar, building into rising action to explode into a full-blown dance floor anthem. Production is superb on Carpenter’s vocals, letting the playful energy of the song show through, while showing some great range in her vocal delivery.
Carpenter delivers a smooth and captivating vocal delivery that comfortably rides the groove of disco-pop. Her voice carries huge power and goes through complex emotions with ease. These vocal runs and ad-libs just add more dynamic energy, making the overall song even stronger.
The music video is comically dark, visually arresting about jealousy, revenge, and finally the staying power of love—or at least, a very twisted take on love. The track features Sabrina, her ex, now with a new girlfriend played by Jenna Ortega, caught in the vicious circle of violence. The “kill each other” side of things is rendered campy and over-the-top to bring out the stupidity of it all in their noxious relationship. This opening sequence provides the backdrop for the song’s central theme: the ongoing presence of Sabrina in her ex’s life despite their breakup.
The video then takes a sharp right into the unexpected, having Sabrina and her ex’s new GF make out; it’s a humorous commentary on the dark humor that has seized their relationship, suggesting a shared sense of fascination.
The final scene of Sabrina and Jenna sipping coffee at their ex’s funeral is so campy and humorous. The aesthetic of this video is on purpose, over-the-top, with a vibe that visually pops. Color and symbolism play a strong role in it.
On “Taste,” Carpenter caps off a summer of back-to-back hits with ease. She’s one of the best at composing pop material that’s radio-friendly but reaches the masses. The single is an adrenaline-charged showcase of fiery songwriting, powerhouse vocals, and talent worth paying attention to as she further cements her growing reputation outside of her devoted fan base.
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