Finally - a non-reactionary, non-triggered, and non-emotional take on this. Sabrina is strategically playing with public perception and it works. I don’t believe she is an anti-feminist or that she is ruining feminism lol. Unpopular opinion but I do think people read far too deeply into things when in this case, it flew right over their heads. Like yeah, clearly this woman is self aware and smart in playing to both the male gaze and feminist critique. It’s called satire. She’s making fun of the male gaze while cashing in on it. It’s called performance art and people love to be outraged about any and everything…
Yeah it’s just to push people’s buttons. This seemed like the safest button to push at the moment, especially with Babygirl and kink generally being so pervasive.
you're right that she'll thrive on the controversy, but the lame 'couple who wear dog collars to walmart' vibe makes me even less interested in her music than i was before.
I agree with some of your statements I’ve never once saw Sabrina as a radical feminist let alone a feminist in general. So I was very confused on where or how the assumption of what she has done is inherently anti-feminist came from because umm… since when she made a stance for feminism to begin with? But to call the marketing strategy a genius one? I don’t know I think it’s just an overplayed strategic tactic that the PR teams of celebrities always accomplish since the public can be easily baited, but it doesn’t mean it’s genius.
It’s just the sheer amount of discussion surrounding this and how easily she knew what button to press, safely, to get people on board but not jumping ship is pretty genius. It appears to be a risk but like you said it’s overplayed, so it inherently has a safety net under it. I’ve always seen her music as pretty sweet and safe, and the new single is no exception (its a very good song but still, safe.) Yet this cover gives the younger audience and the media this false idea of danger and controversy that will make them want to check the record out more than they normally would.
I understand what you’re saying, it’s surface level, but sometimes genius could come in the form of something simple and overplayed. That’s what pop provocation is all about.
I'm not going to support her if she keeps on her problematic behaviour.
Sure, in 2026 or something, she'll win Grammy and whatnot. But respect from listeners? Being actually liked as a singer? Kiss that goodbye.
You gave example of Taylor Swift. Let me swiftly uncover that, nobody, other than “swiftie” like her, everyone else would agree she's overhyped.
Her music is not “unique” anymore. A few years back, she was one of the hidden gems that exclusively wrote about her lousy ex boyfriends, and that was still iconic, YEAH.
But now people are tired of her. If Sabrina Carpenter follows that "marketing strategy" of pressing people's buttons to stay on page 3 or whatever, sure, she'll earn a lot and even 2yo will recognise her, and that counts I guess, but being remembered? Being actually appreciated? Being an icon?
No, not gonna happen.
Since you gave us an example, I'll give you one too.
Almost nobody in real life has seen the movies of Wong Kar-Wai. But his style of filmmaking is like no other. You'll show Fallen Angels to anybody and they'll suddenly start perceiving you as a modern intellectual, they'll even start projecting some of the admiration onto you!
Because it's objectively good stuff. It's not "clickbait marketing". Fallen Angels may have some suggestive scenes, but the overall execution of the plot is beautiful, intense, it has what all great movies must have. Enjoyment. Pleasure. A plethora of emotions.
Sabrina may have that it factory but she's losing it by climbing ranks, by her drama schemes. Noody's gonna remember her
she has the talent and the songwriters behind her this is just an extra push. dd britney and madonna need to kiss? no. it’s a tale as old as modern pop as has existed. talent got nothing to do with it.
That is absolutely ridiculous. Adele is just pure talent and doesn’t need to get her clothes off writhing around on the floor to get attention to sell her album.
The thing about this is you're arguing whether or not she will continue to be popular. Nobody disputes that… Of course she will.
What's being argued is whether this is feminist or not. A conversation that Sabrina-stans, by and large, are explicitly refusing to engage with… They pretty much all are coming at it from the lens of: “Wow, this is content! Immaculate vibes girl, slay!”
And I say this as someone who fucking loves Sabrina Carpenter. I'm just not expecting her to ever risk losing a sponsor by making a clear political statement for or against a single thing.
I mean, obviously - you wrote this article to say exactly that (pretty much nothing besides "I love Sabrina Carpenter lol"). My point was you're being intentionally obtuse and misrepresenting what the "controversy" actually is, and your readers deserve better than a misrepresentation. You could have engaged on a deeper level, if you chose to, than "this is actually apolitical fun, lol". You made an explicit choice not to engage with it past the surface level - not discussing modern notions of "positive" vs "negative" feminism, a "girlboss aesthetic" vs a "socialist equality" one, for example. I'm not criticizing that choice, but I am pointing it out so others might not gloss over it, in case they may want to engage it on a deeper level than you did.
Well I’m just giving my perspective on it, if you want to write about all that stuff then go ahead. I don’t really think a pop provocation by the most downstream artist out right now deserves all that picking apart honestly. Her and her team are smart for baiting and switching, plain and simple. I don’t really care to discuss it much deeper than that and idt I owe my readers anything more than my opinion.
Yeah I guess there's nothing wrong with that - "it's really not that deep" and "it's smart" is certainly an opinion I can understand feeling is worth putting out there. I appreciate the conversation.
I didn’t misrepresent anything people are mad because she’s turning herself into an object of men’s affection literally for her album cover. It’s provocative. I just don’t find anything wrong with it and I feel like her lyrics give enough context to show she’s smarter than to just all the sudden unironically objectify herself with no wink or nod. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Finally - a non-reactionary, non-triggered, and non-emotional take on this. Sabrina is strategically playing with public perception and it works. I don’t believe she is an anti-feminist or that she is ruining feminism lol. Unpopular opinion but I do think people read far too deeply into things when in this case, it flew right over their heads. Like yeah, clearly this woman is self aware and smart in playing to both the male gaze and feminist critique. It’s called satire. She’s making fun of the male gaze while cashing in on it. It’s called performance art and people love to be outraged about any and everything…
Yeah it’s just to push people’s buttons. This seemed like the safest button to push at the moment, especially with Babygirl and kink generally being so pervasive.
you're right that she'll thrive on the controversy, but the lame 'couple who wear dog collars to walmart' vibe makes me even less interested in her music than i was before.
“and those in the know understand that she’s going to put a twist on it that’ll justify it.”
i had this at the back of my mind subconsciously, she kind of lives to subvert
Didn't Madonna do this like 40 years ago. 🥱
I’m saying. Even though people have seen it before they get tricked by the same tricks.
finally, a good take on this album rollout lol
exactly ✨
I agree with some of your statements I’ve never once saw Sabrina as a radical feminist let alone a feminist in general. So I was very confused on where or how the assumption of what she has done is inherently anti-feminist came from because umm… since when she made a stance for feminism to begin with? But to call the marketing strategy a genius one? I don’t know I think it’s just an overplayed strategic tactic that the PR teams of celebrities always accomplish since the public can be easily baited, but it doesn’t mean it’s genius.
It’s just the sheer amount of discussion surrounding this and how easily she knew what button to press, safely, to get people on board but not jumping ship is pretty genius. It appears to be a risk but like you said it’s overplayed, so it inherently has a safety net under it. I’ve always seen her music as pretty sweet and safe, and the new single is no exception (its a very good song but still, safe.) Yet this cover gives the younger audience and the media this false idea of danger and controversy that will make them want to check the record out more than they normally would.
I understand what you’re saying, it’s surface level, but sometimes genius could come in the form of something simple and overplayed. That’s what pop provocation is all about.
Haha wait you genuinely changed my mind !! Your breakdown makes so much sense.
this is the most productive comment discourse on the internet fr lol glad to chat
I'm not going to support her if she keeps on her problematic behaviour.
Sure, in 2026 or something, she'll win Grammy and whatnot. But respect from listeners? Being actually liked as a singer? Kiss that goodbye.
You gave example of Taylor Swift. Let me swiftly uncover that, nobody, other than “swiftie” like her, everyone else would agree she's overhyped.
Her music is not “unique” anymore. A few years back, she was one of the hidden gems that exclusively wrote about her lousy ex boyfriends, and that was still iconic, YEAH.
But now people are tired of her. If Sabrina Carpenter follows that "marketing strategy" of pressing people's buttons to stay on page 3 or whatever, sure, she'll earn a lot and even 2yo will recognise her, and that counts I guess, but being remembered? Being actually appreciated? Being an icon?
No, not gonna happen.
Since you gave us an example, I'll give you one too.
Almost nobody in real life has seen the movies of Wong Kar-Wai. But his style of filmmaking is like no other. You'll show Fallen Angels to anybody and they'll suddenly start perceiving you as a modern intellectual, they'll even start projecting some of the admiration onto you!
Because it's objectively good stuff. It's not "clickbait marketing". Fallen Angels may have some suggestive scenes, but the overall execution of the plot is beautiful, intense, it has what all great movies must have. Enjoyment. Pleasure. A plethora of emotions.
Sabrina may have that it factory but she's losing it by climbing ranks, by her drama schemes. Noody's gonna remember her
Yuuuup
Facts
If you have some time I’d appreciate feedback on my opinion piece about Sabrina Carpenter’s new artwork
https://mouthpiecephx.com/sabrina-carpenters-new-album-cover-is-submissive-smart-and-right-on-time-for-fathers-day/
Agreed
Genius ? A hell of a lot of female singers sexualise themselves for attention and money, how is this ‘genius’? 🤦🏻♀️ I despair…
Because she’s pushing people’s buttons and creating a whole separate convo that’s going to make her album super successful
So she has to rely on pushing buttons to make her album a success instead of pure talent? And that’s somehow seen as ‘genius’ ? Interesting.
she has the talent and the songwriters behind her this is just an extra push. dd britney and madonna need to kiss? no. it’s a tale as old as modern pop as has existed. talent got nothing to do with it.
nobody gets rich with just talent and hard work
That is absolutely ridiculous. Adele is just pure talent and doesn’t need to get her clothes off writhing around on the floor to get attention to sell her album.
Ok and that’s Adele. That’s one person. Different people do different things. If everyone was Adele pop culture would be way more boring.
To you probably.
Exactly. I can get 500 followers in a day on Instagram for just changing clothes in front of millions. It's called selling soft porn ffs
The thing about this is you're arguing whether or not she will continue to be popular. Nobody disputes that… Of course she will.
What's being argued is whether this is feminist or not. A conversation that Sabrina-stans, by and large, are explicitly refusing to engage with… They pretty much all are coming at it from the lens of: “Wow, this is content! Immaculate vibes girl, slay!”
And I say this as someone who fucking loves Sabrina Carpenter. I'm just not expecting her to ever risk losing a sponsor by making a clear political statement for or against a single thing.
I don’t think she needs to make a political statement, she’s just being satirical and provocative like many pop artists have for years.
I mean, obviously - you wrote this article to say exactly that (pretty much nothing besides "I love Sabrina Carpenter lol"). My point was you're being intentionally obtuse and misrepresenting what the "controversy" actually is, and your readers deserve better than a misrepresentation. You could have engaged on a deeper level, if you chose to, than "this is actually apolitical fun, lol". You made an explicit choice not to engage with it past the surface level - not discussing modern notions of "positive" vs "negative" feminism, a "girlboss aesthetic" vs a "socialist equality" one, for example. I'm not criticizing that choice, but I am pointing it out so others might not gloss over it, in case they may want to engage it on a deeper level than you did.
Well I’m just giving my perspective on it, if you want to write about all that stuff then go ahead. I don’t really think a pop provocation by the most downstream artist out right now deserves all that picking apart honestly. Her and her team are smart for baiting and switching, plain and simple. I don’t really care to discuss it much deeper than that and idt I owe my readers anything more than my opinion.
Yeah I guess there's nothing wrong with that - "it's really not that deep" and "it's smart" is certainly an opinion I can understand feeling is worth putting out there. I appreciate the conversation.
I didn’t misrepresent anything people are mad because she’s turning herself into an object of men’s affection literally for her album cover. It’s provocative. I just don’t find anything wrong with it and I feel like her lyrics give enough context to show she’s smarter than to just all the sudden unironically objectify herself with no wink or nod. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
She already is an object of men’s affection, and she knows it.
She IS beautiful. Her music IS good. But why is targeting minors for the sake of fame??
Targeting minors 🤣🤣🤣 what
https://open.substack.com/pub/gracebragdon/p/grown-men-want-to-date-teenagers?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=5jetkk
I’m not reading all that