Man’s Best Friend

Sabrina Carpenter

Tallulah Bacon

After the unveiling of her controversial album cover and title, I’m sure we were all anxious to see where the pop princess was going with this one. Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend” gave the first impression of going too far to cater to the male gaze, so I had to dig into the album to see if this was true.  

When I listened to the album, the contents were not what I expected (or perhaps exactly what I expected?). What I got was a lot of the same old Sabrina: witty, tongue-in-cheek lyrics with addictive pop sounds that are sure to inspire dozens of new dance trends. However, her usual bold takes on feminism, misogyny, or domestic violence were nowhere to be found among the 12 tracks. The closest we get is during the chorus of the album’s second single, “Tears”, where she brazenly says, “I get wet at the thought of you being a responsible guy, treating me how you’re supposed to do”. Go girl, give us nothing! We’re applauding the bare minimum! 

As a casual listener, I really enjoy the sound of this album. It’s fun, lighthearted, and relatable. But I can’t help but feel disappointed that Carpenter didn’t use her platform to say more. If you’re going to suggest through words and imagery that men treat women like dogs, I want you to say more than “[I] wish you a lifetime full of happiness and a forever of never getting laid.”

I fear this was a missed opportunity for Carpenter to grow and evolve as an artist. For now, she continues to fuel the best damn TikTok trends on your FYP.