Sabrina Carpenter's "Taste" Aims for Summer Chart Domination
Can Sabrina Carpenter truly make this "the summer of Sabrina"? The singer-songwriter, known for hits like "Espresso" and "Please Please Please", has released her sixth studio album, "Short n' Sweet", alongside a music video for the album's opening track, "Taste", featuring "Wednesday" star Jenna Ortega.
"Taste" takes a playful, almost menacing jab at a former lover's new relationship. Carpenter sings about her lingering presence, warning the other woman: "I heard you're back together and if that's true / You'll just have to taste me when he's kissin' you."
The accompanying music video features Carpenter attempting to attack Ortega with a knife, only to be met with a shotgun-wielding Ortega, who blasts Carpenter over a balcony. The video concludes with Carpenter barging in on Ortega and her ex in the shower, creating a "Psycho"-esque scene.
With "Taste", Carpenter aims for her third consecutive hit following the success of her Billboard No. 1 single "Please" and top 10 single "Espresso". A successful chart run for "Taste" could solidify her summer domination, placing her alongside a handful of artists who have achieved this feat.
While the music video boasts over one million views within its first hour of release, it's a feat not easily achieved. The last artist to dominate a summer with multiple consecutive hits was Olivia Rodrigo in 2021 with "Good 4 U" and "Deja Vu", both of which held prominent positions on the Billboard Hot 100 chart throughout the summer.
Previous examples of summer chart dominance include Drake's 2018 three-peat with "God's Plan", "Nice For What", and "I'm Upset", and Justin Bieber's comeback in 2015 with "Where Are UÌ Now", "What Do You Mean?", and "Sorry", all of which reigned supreme on the charts.
Carpenter's "Taste" presents a compelling case for summer chart success, mirroring the sassy, confident tone that has defined her recent musical output. With her "Short n' Sweet" album and upcoming tour of the same name, Carpenter has positioned herself for a potentially landmark summer in music. Whether she can truly claim the summer as her own remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: "Taste" is a powerful contender for the coveted spot of summer's hottest track.
