It’s been well over a year since Sabrina Carpenter took the world by storm with her song of the summer “Espresso.” Since then, Sabrina has topped charts with numerous other singles you may have heard such as “Taste” or “Bed Chem.” Her newest, highly anticipated album, “Man’s Best Friend,” has been out for over a month, and continues to break records. She hit Number 1 for the second time on the Billboard 200 and broke the record for the most streamed album on Spotify in a single by a female artist this year. Most recently, she won a VMA for her hit single “Manchild,” which came out earlier this summer, and performed another one of her newest songs, “Tears,” at the 2025 Video Music Awards. It is therefore clear that this album is very popular and loved by fans–videos have gone viral on TikTok of people dancing to these catchy new songs.
If you haven’t listened to “Man’s Best Friend” yet, you’re in for a treat. The album is rumored to be about Sabrina’s most recent breakup with actor Barry Keoghan. It deals with themes of heartbreak, disappointment from relationships, and self realization. The opening song “Manchild,” the lead single off the album that earned her a VMA and is one of her most streamed songs, discusses her disappointment of what seems to be her incompetent and immature boyfriend. Despite the breakup theme, the rest of the album is a combination of fun dance pop and country that will get you on your feet! Her witty sense of humor is embedded into most of her songs along with relatable lyrics and catchy tunes that will stay in your head. Another fan favorite, “Nobody’s Son,” is a combination of an upbeat tempo with somber lyrics that deal with situations that many of us have probably been in before. Although the album is mainly targeted towards a female demographic with lyrics like “He used to be literally obsessed with me, suddenly I’m the least sought after girl in the land,” the album can still be enjoyed by everyone.
While the songs are beloved by fans, the cover however faced serious backlash from them well before the album was even released. If you haven’t seen it yet, the cover features Sabrina on her hands and knees in front of a man, while said man is pulling her hair. Fans called this cover “misogynistic” or “degrading to women” because it looks like she is being controlled by a man. Other fans argue that there is nothing wrong with the image and that it’s “on brand for her” or “satire.” While fans debated over whether this cover was considered sexist, Sabrina was busy making alternative covers for the album, working to please all the fans.
Despite all this controversy, “Man’s Best Friend” continues to be streamed and enjoyed by not only Sabrina’s longtime fans, but also people who are just now getting into her music. The album is definitely one of Sabrina most streamed albums and, if its success continues, may win some awards in the future. But for now, we will continue to listen and dance to her one of a kind heartbreak album. If you’re looking for something to help you get over your last breakup, but don’t feel like crying, this album is for you!