Sabrina Carpenter’s Short N’ Sweet Tour: A Glimpse Into Pop Magic
Oh, she leaves quite an impression… doesn’t she? Sabrina Carpenter undoubtedly became one of pop’s favourite girlies in the past year. As a result, the Short N’ Sweet tour tickets came in high demand, and I, of course, knew when the arena tour was announced that I’d be doing my very best to see Sabrina Carpenter live for the second time in my life!
Before Sabrina became the global sensation she is now, serving hot hits like “Espresso”, “Taste”, and “Bed Chem”, I had the opportunity to see her perform live at a small venue in Birmingham in 2023. I remember it so vividly like it was yesterday – a typical summer grey English day, the giant LED-lit heart-shaped mirror on the stage and a cosy crowd singing sad songs from “Emails I Can’t Send”.
After the concert experience, I wrote, “…she certainly had the immense stage presence of someone who has mastered their craft in all the ways, and her many years of experience taking the stage were clearly on display…“. With that in mind, I was curious to see just how Sabrina would bring her critically acclaimed Short N’ Sweet era to life now that she’d be playing on a bigger scale – and stage.
So, what should you expect from the Short N’ Sweet tour? Here’s how my concert experience went:
The Opening Act At Short N’ Sweet.
Unlike last time, I didn’t have to travel too far to see Sabrina. My tickets were for the newly finished Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, the city where I already live. Coincidentally, the show fell on a day I already had off work which meant I could spend a day out and about before the concert.
The doors opened at 5:30 pm, and I was there fifteen minutes later, searching impatiently for my seat in section 105. As the seats began to fill up slowly with glammed-up fans doing their best to embody the Carpenter’s fashion spirit, my sister and I took the opportunity to grab some snacks and pick up Short N’ Sweet tour t-shirts from the merch store inside the venue.
An hour and a half later, the opening act for the UK leg of the Short N’ Sweet tour, Rachel Chinouriri, took the stage to warm up the crowd. Rachel Chinouriri is an Indie-pop Indie singer-songwriter to watch out for. I discovered her music through a random Spotify playlist a few weeks earlier and had already learned most of the words to “All I Ever Asked”. When I found out she would be opening for Sabrina Carpenter, I couldn’t have been more pleased. I have yearned to discover more black artists like her for a long time, so I was excited to see her perform live.
Through her set, Rachel Chinouriri was able to inject excitement into the arena. The perfect sweet treat before the main feast. I’m excited to discover and explore more of her music in the future. She controlled the audience effortlessly and moved around the stage like it wasn’t her first rodeo. Something tells me we’ll be seeing a lot more of her in the future…
Sabrina Carpenter’s Short N’ Sweet Tour Review.
The crowd roared as the curtains came up to reveal the main stage – a life-size dollhouse on two floors with a bedroom, bathroom and the most gorgeous staircase. Sabrina Carpenter took the stage hurriedly in a bedazzled towel that she unwrapped to reveal her glamorous corset dress. As she opened the first Act with songs like “Taste”, “Good Graces” and “Slim Pickins”, she prepared for a fun night with the help of her backup dancers.
The second act of the Short N’ Sweet tour, cleverly titled “Sabrina After Dark”, saw her perform some edgy tracks like “Feather”, “Fast Times”, and my personal favourite from the deluxe album “Busy Woman”.
This part of the concert had too many highlights. She sat on an actual toilet to sing her heart out on “Sharpest Tool”. Her sense of humour is just so unserious… Then, her dancers joined her as they sat around the heart in front of the stage. She played a game of Spin the Bottle to choose a surprise song. As fate would have it, the bottle landed on “Mama Mia”. In unison, the crowd sang every word that appeared on the screen. It felt like karaoke night at that point! With songs like “Coincidence” and “Nonsense”, she wrapped up the second Act of the Short N’ Sweet concert.
The third and last Act started with a gorgeous slowed-down moment. Sabrina gave an emotional and touching rendition of “Dumb & Poetic”. Truth be told, it wasn’t only her yellow top and skirt that sparkled during her performance. However, at that moment, it was easy to reconcile with the fact that Sabrina Carpenter’s vocal ability was the real star of the show. Like, she’s such a great singer… I knew that already, though!
Whilst it was clear the show was nearing its end, it couldn’t come to a close without some obvious fan favourites like “Please Please Please” and “Juno”. Finally, she closed the show with none other than the now iconic “Espresso”. We hung onto every word or melody, knowing full well it was a magical moment that could never be replicated again.
Final Thoughts on Sabrina Carpenter’s Short N’ Sweet Tour.
Playful. Fun. Nostalgic. Theatrical. These are the words that come to mind when I try to describe the Short N’ Sweet tour experience to anyone who hasn’t been. Sabrina Carpenter manages to put on the most heartfelt performances whilst not taking herself too seriously.
As someone who followed her slow rise over the past decade, I’m very happy she’s getting the acknowledgement she deserves as an artist and performer.
From her “Emails I Can’t Send” tour, it was already clear to me that Sabrina Carpenter is super impressive when it came to singing live. It’s no surprise she’s managed to captivate the world with her catchy hooks and witty personality.
If you’re looking for a fun evening to clear your mind or set your worries aside, and dance the night away, look no further than a room filled with Carpenters. After all, some of the best memories are indeed short and sweet.
Your restless romantic roamer
Will you be going to the Short N’ Sweet tour? What is your favourite song by Sabrina Carpenter?