"Don't Smile" by Sabrina Carpenter // Song Review

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"Don't Smile" closes out Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet on a lush, understated note, which beautifully contrasts some of the more playful energy that made up so much of the rest of the album. It's a glittery, jazzy slow burn that is so full of emotion. This is such a refreshing sound for Sabrina to be experimenting with, especially as it allows her vocal range to shine so effortlessly. 

I often think of it as if it were the song rolling at the ending credits of this album, fading out as the metaphorical party ends. On this song she takes the common phrase "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" and reverses it to "Don't smile because it happened, baby, cry because it's over". 

In an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, she opened up about the inspiration behind the song; "That title is so... it's on every Pinterest board, on every sewn pillow, but the opposite; don't cry because it's over but smile because it happened, and I was like 'fuck that'." 

In many ways "Don't Smile" goes in tandem with the previous track on the album called "Lie To Girls". Both mark an unexpected tonal shift for the end of the record, but are equally evocative in the lyricism and the way they deepen story she's been building throughout the rest of Short n' Sweet. Sabrina worked on the song with some of her frequent collaborators; Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, Amy Allen and Steph Jones - who co-wrote and produced much of Short n' Sweet and her previous album emails i can't send. 

"Pour my feelings in the microphone, I stay in, and when the girls come home I want one of them to take my phone, take my phone and lose your number, I don't wanna be tempted," she sings in the second verse. "Pick up when you wanna fall back in, you can fake it, but you know I know, know I know". 

Much of the song draws from the same emotions of track one of Short n' Sweet with "Taste", but doesn't necessarily resolve any of the complicated emotions surrounding the situation she was looped into and doesn't outwardly forgive them either. Instead, she opens up about how these feelings she has been so vulnerable about still linger from time to time and that's just the reality of it. "Don't Smile" is among the most emotional and heartfelt moments of the record, and beautifully closes the chapter on this part of her life.



Thanks for reading! Check out my review of Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet, plus the deluxe version of the album - many more are linked below and coming soon!💋



Photo Credit: Sabrina Carpenter, Island Records


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