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Sabrina Carpenter in her \"Espresso\" music video
Sabrina Carpenter in her \"Espresso\" music video
@sabrinacarpenter via Instagram
Culture > Entertainment

Fans Think Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” Video Included Nods To *These* DCOM Classics

Eileen Flaherty

Y’all, Sabrina Carpenter dropped the music video for her latest single “Espresso” on April 12, and it’s honestly so OG Disney Channel-coded. “Espresso” is clearly Carpenter’s entrance into a new era, and it’s one that I am so here for. The MV, directed by Dave Meyers (ICYMI, Meyers is an icon when it comes to music videos, directing for artists like Harry Styles and Taylor Swift), is giving vintage 1960s beach babe, which reminds fans a lot of Teen Beach Movie. 

The MV begins in black and white with Carpenter steering a boat with a man sitting in the back. As he gets closer to her, Carpenter steers the boat and he flies off into the water. Bye bye! The MV then turns to color, and Carpenter makes her way onto a beach. The coloring of the MV looks almost like it was shot on a film camera, adding to its vintage aesthetic. 

Carpenter is then seen lounging in a beach chair with some other ladies, while men pamper them. This reminded me of the scene in High School Musical 2 when Sharpay Evans is lounging by the pool as she sings “Fabulous.” Following in the footsteps of my favorite Disney Channel “It Girl,” the “Espresso” MV definitely has some similarities to the iconic HSM character. The choreography even seems a little similar!

During the chorus, Carpenter is seen lying on a beach towel in an adorable brown (or espresso) colored bikini. Fast forward to verse 2, where Carpenter and her posse are all wearing “Espresso” visors. TBH, where’s the link to purchase one of these? 

But when she sings the lyric “My honeybee, come and get this pollen,” things start to get really OG Disney Channel-coded. During the pre-chorus, Carpenter sings on top of a surfboard while the men hold it up. Everything about this screams Teen Beach Movie, but it also gives Sharpay vibes.

Specifically, this moment reminded me a lot of the “Surf Crazy” scene from Teen Beach Movie. The surfboards, coloring, outfits, and more from the “Espresso” music video closely mirror that of “Surf Crazy,” and I just love seeing Carpenter paying homage to her Disney days! 

And I’m not the only one who’s thinking this.

I’m already claiming “Espresso” as the song of the summer. 

Eileen is a senior at Fairfield University who is studying Communications with minors in English, Professional Writing, and Women’s Gender & Sexuality Studies. She has a passion for magazine writing and hopes to pursue a career in the field. Eileen is the Entertainment & Culture Intern at Her Campus where she covers all things pop culture, entertainment, and internet trends. Eileen was formerly a National Writer for Her Campus from April 2023 - January 2024. Eileen is one of the Campus Correspondents (CCs) at Her Campus' Fairfield University chapter. She oversees the entire chapter and works with her other CC to curate ideas and events for HCFU. She also mentors and trains the editorial team and helps create content and boost engagement alongside the social media team. In her free time, you can find Eileen creating new Spotify playlists, getting a sweet treat with friends, or obsessing over Taylor Swift. If she isn’t doing that, you’ll likely find Eileen with her six best friends from school talking about their “Big Three”: "Normal People," their favorite "Dancing With The Stars" performances, and Greta Gerwig's "Little Women."