Sabrina Carpenter began her career on Disney Channel in 2012. This is what she was known for until she began making music in 2014. She has released seven studio albums, the newest being “Man’s Best Friend.” The album was announced on June 11 of this year, which stirred up some controversy. The album cover depicts Carpenter on her knees, with her hair being held by a faceless man. This album cover was not well-received by the public, and creators on TikTok made videos sharing their disgust with the insinuations of the cover art.
The album cover was taken at face value by many people. Individuals assumed that Carpenter was portraying herself as less than a man and setting feminism back. However, the album cover is a strategic play on gender roles. In most media where women are portrayed societally beneath men, the men are the focus, and the women are faceless or static characters. Meanwhile, in the cover art, Carpenter is the focus, and the man is faceless. She reclaims the narrative, making the men the faceless, static characters.
This is supported by the songs “Tears” and “My Man on Willpower.” “Tears” jokes that the reason Carpenter is attracted to men is their being responsible. Some of the lyrics the song contains include, “Offering to do anything, I’m like, Oh My God.” This line has a comical tone, and it shows how her standards are so low due to her history with men. The song “My Man on Willpower” is similar; it plays on the same theme but in a different way. Because she is so used to low standards in men, she does not understand a man being a decent person. For example, in the chorus she says, “He used to be literally obsessed with me/I’m suddenly the least sought after girl in the land.” Her use of hyperbole exemplifies her misunderstanding of a romantic relationship that has healthy boundaries.
Carpenter’s satirical intentions aside, the album is really enjoyable. The songs embody a 1970s and 1980s vibe, with a modern twist from the lyrics. One of these songs is “House Tour.” This song has hints of Paula Abdul’s music, with fun lyrics and silly allusions. Plus, the song is just generally catchy. “Goodbye” is the closing song of this album, and it reminds me so much of ABBA’s style. The background instrumentals and the layered vocals are put together incredibly well. Another note about this album is that it was produced by Jack Antonoff, who is well known for producing with Taylor Swift. There are most definitely some similarities between Swift’s “Midnights” and “Man’s Best Friend.”
Overall, this album is one of my favorites that Carpenter has created. It is not her best, but the fun vibe to the album and the satirical elements make it enjoyable. Although some people may believe that the album is overly naughty, a grown woman can publish songs about topics that she wants. Carpenter is often still viewed as just another girl from Disney Channel. It is her right to release songs that make her more dynamic than that, and find her own style in her music. Another exciting aspect of this album is her performances. Carpenter performed “Tears” at the 2025 Video Music Awards on Sept. 7, and the show was phenomenal. She advocated for minority rights and had an intricate dance break. I am excited to see what her tour for “Man’s Best Friend” looks like. This album is definitely worth listening to, especially if you enjoy ironic humor.
