SABRINA CARPENTER – ‘TASTE’

BY JANIN AYALA FELIX | AUGUST 23, 2024 | POP | TRACKS

Sabrina Carpenter’s latest single, Taste, is a tantalizing pop confection with a sharp edge, making it the perfect opening track for her sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet. Released on August 23, 2024, as the third single from the album, the track delivers a seductive blend of slacker rock and disco-infused pop that showcases Carpenter’s growing confidence and songwriting prowess. Co-written with pop powerhouse Julia Michaels, Amy Allen, and produced by John Ryan, Ian Kirkpatrick, and Julian Bunetta, Taste rides the wave of Carpenter’s recent chart-topping success with ease.

Lyrically, Taste takes a bold and cheeky dive into the complexities of lingering relationships. Carpenter’s razor-sharp wit shines through with lines like, “You’ll just have to taste me when he’s kissin’ you,” adding a layer of audacity to the track’s simmering sensuality. It’s a song that doesn’t just suggest intimacy but flaunts the aftermath of it, with Carpenter’s ex’s new lover left haunted by the shadow of her presence. In the hands of a lesser artist, this could come off as bitter, but Carpenter delivers it with such a playful, self-assured swagger that it feels like a victory lap.

Musically, Taste perfectly marries shimmering synths with a throbbing bassline, a nod to its disco influences. Yet, the slacker rock vibes add a laid-back coolness, a breezy contrast to the song’s fiery lyrical content. The production is slick and polished, but it’s Carpenter’s sultry, velvety vocals that steal the show. The pre-chorus, where she muses, “Now I’m gone, but you’re still layin’ next to me, one degree of separation,” is hypnotic, a moment that perfectly captures the song’s theme of emotional and physical entanglement.

The track’s infectious groove is only amplified by the accompanying music video, directed by Dave Meyers and featuring Jenna Ortega. It’s a visual feast of color, attitude, and choreography that matches the song’s energy. Carpenter’s evolution as a visual and musical artist is on full display here, with the video pushing the narrative even further into bold territory.

Taste was an immediate commercial triumph, debuting at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbing to the top of the charts in Australia, Ireland, and the UK. It’s Carpenter’s third consecutive number-one single in those regions, solidifying her status as a global pop sensation. Following the success of Espresso and Please Please Please, Taste confirms what her fans already knew—Sabrina Carpenter is not just playing the pop game; she’s rewriting its rules.

With Taste, Sabrina Carpenter proves she’s here to stay, delivering a track that’s as confident as it is infectious. It’s a reminder that, in pop music, confidence and craftsmanship can taste just as sweet as the number-one spot.