Taste

Album

Short n' Sweet

Label

Island Records

Genre

Slacker Rock

Composer(s)

Sabrina Carpenter;Julia Michaels;Amy Allen;John Ryan;Ian Kirkpatrick

Entered Chart

Sep 7, 2024

Peak Date

Sep 7, 2024

Released

August 23, 2024

"Taste" is an '80s-styled disco-infused anthem about the lingering impact Sabrina Carpenter had on her ex-boyfriend. With cheeky innuendo and a playful attitude, she explains how even though he may have moved on to a new girlfriend, he's still haunted by the lingering taste of Sabrina on his lips. Carpenter wrote "Taste" with former One Direction hitmaker John Ryan, singer-songwriter Julia Michaels (Justin Bieber's "Sorry," Selena Gomez's "Lose You to Love Me"), Amy Allen (co-writer of "Espresso" and "Please Please Please") and Ian Kirkpatrick (Dua Lipa's "Don't Start Now," Selena Gomez' "Look at Her Now") with Ryan, Kirkpatrick, and Julian Bunetta handling production. In the first verse, Carpenter introduces herself as a petite powerhouse, packing plenty of punch despite her modest height: Oh, I leave quite an impression Five feet to be exact You're wonderin' why half his clothes went missin' My body's where they're at The song is the opening track from Carpenter's sixth album, Short n' Sweet. Now, don't be misled by the album's title - it's not a nod to Carpenter's stature, but rather a playful reference to the brief yet impactful romances that have shaped her most. These fleeting affairs may have been short in duration, but their effects were anything but sweet, providing Carpenter with ample material for her sharp lyrical observations. In the bridge of "Taste," Carpenter makes it crystal clear that she's not looking to rekindle any old flames. She's moved on and is simply sifting through her past for the sake of pop artistry: You can have him if you like I've been there, done that once or twice And singin' 'bout it don't mean I care Yeah, I know I've been known to share Carpenter is candid about the messy realities of relationships, both in her lyrics and in interviews. As she told Paper, "I will write any song. It doesn't mean I'll put it out, but I'll write it. I think the series of unfortunate events I've encountered in relationships are no secret to people who know me - or think they know me." The song is accompanied by a delightfully over-the-top music video directed by Dave Meyers, featuring actress Jenna Ortega. The video is a riot of cartoonish ultraviolence as Carpenter and Ortega engage in a series of increasingly creative attempts to kill each other. The two ultimately join forces to take down the man they both once dated. The video draws inspiration from the 1992 dark comedy Death Becomes Her, starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn. Some fans believe that "Taste" and its accompanying video is rooted in a love triangle between Carpenter, Shawn Mendes, and Camila Cabello. Carpenter and Mendes spent time together in February 2023, a year after the Canadian pop star parted ways with Cabello. Then, just two months later, Mendes and Cabello were spotted cozying up again at Coachella, fueling rumors of a rekindled romance. Was Jenna Ortega cast in the video to represent Cabello, given their similarities? They're both 5 foot 2 inch Latina brunettes.

Oh, I leave quite an impression
Five feet to be exact
You're wonderin' why half his clothes went missin'
My body's where they're at

Now I'm gone, but you're still layin'
Next to me, one degree of separation

I heard you're back together and if that's true
You'll just have to taste me when he's kissin' you
If you want forever, I bet you do
Just know you'll taste me too

Uh-huh

He pins you down on the carpet
Makes paintings with his tongue (la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
He's funny, now all his jokes hit different
Guess who he learned that from

Now I'm gone, but you're still layin'
Next to me, one degree of separation

I heard you're back together and if that's true
You'll just have to taste me when he's kissin' you
If you want forever, I bet you do (I bet you do)
Just know you'll taste me too

La-la-la-la-la-la-la

Every time you close your eyes
And feel his lips, you're feelin' mine
And every time you breathe his air
Just know I was already there
You can have him if you like
I've been there, done that once or twice
And singin' 'bout it don't mean I care
Yeah, I know I've been known to share

Well, I heard you're back together and if that's true
You'll just have to taste me when he's kissin' you
If you want forever, I bet you do (I bet you do)
Just know you'll taste me too

Taste me too (ow)
(La-la-la-la-la-la-la)
You'll just have to taste me when he's kissin' you
You, no, yeah, uh-uh
(La-la-la-la-la-la-la)
You'll just have to taste me when he's kissin' you