Sabrina Carpenter is a mastermind of intentionality. After attending the second leg of the Short n’ Sweet Tour this fall, one thing is exceedingly clear: she knows her audience, and she knows herself.
Her concert captures the essence of girlhood, wrapped in theatrics and celebrated with confidence. It’s the dreamy set design, from the intricate bedrooms of her real-life “House Tour,” down to the B-stage that’s carved into the shape of a heart. Then there are the glamorous costumes — flashy and iridescent, yet perfectly suited for an on-stage quick change. And the dancers — she’s selected a crew of the most dynamic talents, each fighting for my gaze throughout the night.
It’s evident that this tour was designed with precision and fueled by a pure love for the craft (as well as a seemingly unlimited budget). With subtle nods to song lyrics and callbacks to her previous tour traditions, she’s created the ultimate fan experience while staying true to herself and her current season of life. Carpenter’s presence is so sharp and defined that she had the stands of Madison Square Garden lined with baby-doll dresses, pastel hues, and platform boots. She’s known to be an outstanding performer, but she also deserves to be regarded as a creative genius.
The night began with the wonderful Olivia Dean, an English singer-songwriter who’s recently been nominated for two Grammys, including the highly coveted Best New Artist Award. Her recent album, The Art of Loving, has taken social media by storm, generating treasured hits including “Man I Need,” “So Easy (To Fall In Love),” and “I’ve Seen It.” Her stage presence was pure elegance. She’s an absolutely radiant human being, and the audience banded together to light up the crowd in her honor.
A highlight of Dean’s performance was her beautiful tribute to her grandmother — an ode to her immigration from Guyana to the United Kingdom in her young adult years. Dean describes the song “Carmen” as a love letter to the courage and self-discovery of her journey, and the weight of that adoration was not lost on anyone in the room. If you check out any of Dean’s songs, I recommend that it be this one. It’s a sentimental masterpiece that commends bravery, cherishes culture, and even features the voice of her grandmother speaking to her own experience.
I can say with confidence that Dean has found a new fan in me. When it comes to artistry, she is the entire package. She brings introspective and vulnerable lyricism, jazzy, soulful production, and incredible live vocals. If she hasn’t already taken over your feed, I’m sure she will very soon.
When Carpenter took the stage, her musical theater roots shone through. Although her Broadway career was cut short by the pandemic, its impact lives within her. Her choreography, set design, and overall atmosphere were larger than life, executing a fully immersive experience for the crowd. The goosebumps on my arms were nothing short of the reaction that the Theater District invokes in me. She’s achieved a level of vibrance that only a showgirl could accomplish. It’s true what they say: Hollywood really is full of theater kids.
One part of her tour that isn’t discussed enough is the humor that she brings to the stage. People buy tickets to hear the music, not knowing they’ll also enjoy a stand-up show for the price of one. Carpenter has truly perfected the wondrous skill of comedically timed dry humor. I’m even more envious of her ingenious wit than I am of her stunning vocals. If you’re someone who shares my love for satire, I can attest that her quips will have you laughing and awing at the same time.
She also accepts and incorporates her feedback and criticism into jokes, openly acknowledging that everyone is welcome to their own taste — no pun intended. Her gestures to artistic backlash don’t read as indignant, they show her thick skin. As a young woman, I found true empowerment amongst the playfulness.
Carpenter does a fantastic job of delivering a unique performance each night. We’ve all seen the “Juno” poses and heard the “Nonsense” outros, but my personal favorite tradition is her special rendition of spin the bottle. Her spinner consists of four song options, and she immediately jumps into performance of whichever one she lands on. This part of the show is a built-in karaoke segment; in case you hadn’t already been singing your heart out, she displays the lyrics in the arena to make sure that everyone joins in. Even if you don’t know the song, she leaves you with no excuse. And the crowd goes absolutely wild. In the past, she’s wowed audiences with covers of anything from “Mamma Mia,” to “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” to “Come On Eileen.” Tonight, she landed on one of her own hits, “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder.”
My personal favorites of the night came when she performed a few songs off of her new album, Man’s Best Friend. When Carpenter sang “Manchild,” “Tears,” and “House Tour,” the crowd reached a new level of passion: the electricity bounced off the walls. If I walked away from this concert learning anything, it’s that the eventual tour for her new album will not be one to miss. I can only hope that I rise victorious in the Ticketmaster war.
The feeling of leaving Madison Square Garden is one that will never get old. It’s a historic arena, and each person to perform there seeps with gratitude and pride. To top off an already show stopping concert, I walked away feeling genuinely inspired. What do you mean I just watched Maya Hart from Girl Meets World finish her fifth and final sold-out night at MSG? Nothing melts me like witnessing someone accomplish their dreams. But to see Carpenter do it with such confidence and recognition — that’s a memory that will stick with me. Women like Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Dean, who pour their souls into their work, are the reason why I’m where I am today, writing this article. I certainly don’t see a future where I end up onstage at MSG, but I’m touched by the work ethic of anyone who strives for greatness and is willing to chase after it for years. I came to the show for a fun, carefree evening, but I left with something greater.