November 13, 2024
Olivia Rodrigo’s music resonates deeply with Gen-Z. Her songs—raw, fierce, and honest—are filled with fear, anger, and anxiety, emotions that define the reality of today’s teens. As much as we’d...
Read moreNovember 11, 2024
Taylor Swift’s success is no accident; it's built on an unmatched knack for songwriting. According to Toby Koenigsberg, Associate Professor and Chair of Popular Music, Swift’s songs are both...
Read moreNovember 11, 2024
In today’s music landscape, live concert broadcasts have grown increasingly predictable, packaged, and polished. But at this year’s Coachella, Frank Ocean shattered the mold with a performance that...
Read moreNovember 11, 2024
The Chicago rapper Lil Durk is out with his ninth studio album Deep Thoughts on 22nd November 2024. This album is a follow-up to his album Almost Healed (2023) and will have no shortage of eager...
Read moreNovember 11, 2024
Morgan Wallen's country music career has been one of hustle, raw talent, and the sort of sound that has changed the genre. Wallen began his career as a small-town visionary but his music never...
Read moreNovember 11, 2024
Pharrell Williams' journey from a McDonald's employee to a global music icon, fashion mogul, and cultural influencer is a testament to talent, resilience, and innovation. His story is not just...
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In a world where pop icons often aim for flawless personas, Charli XCX has taken a different route, embracing a new brand of "brattiness" that redefines what it means to be....
Read moreNovember 9, 2024
In a stunning display of theatrical flair and raw talent, Chappell Roan captivated audiences with her Saturday Night Live debut, performing her new country ballad, “The Giver.”...
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In a move that caught the music world by surprise, Addison Rae’s latest single, Diet Pepsi, has reshaped her image and proved she’s more than just a social media star....
Read moreNovember 8, 2024
Coldplay has been a cornerstone of the pop-rock scene for over two decades, with their sound evolving from melancholic, guitar-driven ballads to vibrant, arena-filling anthems that defy genre...
Read moreNovember 8, 2024
In the music industry, some of the most famous songs weren’t performed by the artists who wrote them. Think of classics like Dolly Parton’s "I Will Always Love You" or Sia’s "Diamonds."...
Read moreNovember 5, 2024
Quincy Jones, the legendary music titan, has left us at 91, but his spirit endures through every note, melody, and rhythm he touched. From his groundbreaking production on Michael Jackson’s Thriller..
Read moreIn the ever-evolving landscape of pop music, Sabrina Carpenter is a name that’s resonating louder with each passing day. This week, Billboard's Trending Up newsletter highlights Carpenter's extraordinary ascent, driven by the phenomenal success of her latest single, "Please Please Please." As the streams keep soaring, it's not just this track that's benefiting—her entire catalog is experiencing a significant lift.
Carpenter's new single "Please Please Please" is not just another release; it's a pivotal moment in her burgeoning career. The song, a breezy, country-inflected tune, has captivated listeners and collected over 25.6 million streams in its first four days, along with more than 4,000 digital downloads. This impressive performance underscores the track's instant appeal and the growing anticipation for her forthcoming album, Short n’ Sweet, set to drop on August 23.
"Please Please Please" builds on the momentum of her previous hit, "Espresso," which continues to enjoy a strong presence in the Billboard Hot 100’s top ten. But the Jack Antonoff-produced single isn't merely riding the coattails of "Espresso." It stands on its own with its cinematic music video, starring Carpenter's boyfriend, Oscar-nominated actor Barry Keoghan. Directed by Bardia Zeinali, the video serves as a sequel to "Espresso," featuring a Bonnie and Clyde-esque storyline that has garnered over 19 million views in less than a week.
The song's success is also fueled by its viral appeal. The lyric, "Heartbreak is one thing, my ego’s another/ I beg you, don’t embarrass me, motherf–ker," has resonated widely on social media. Users have creatively adopted this line as captions for iconic film characters, amplifying its reach. On TikTok, the official "Please Please Please" sound has been used in over 32,600 posts, with an unofficial sound contributing to an additional 32,200 clips. This viral traction was further boosted by Carpenter's live debut of the song during her set at New York’s Gov Ball festival, an event that generated considerable buzz.
The ripple effect of "Please Please Please" extends to Carpenter’s entire catalog. During the weekend of June 7-10, her other songs also saw a significant spike, pulling in an additional 38.5 million official on-demand U.S. streams—a 35% increase from the previous week. This surge is a testament to her growing influence and the anticipation surrounding her new music.
With her new LP due at the end of the summer, Sabrina Carpenter's pop supremacy seems to be just getting started. Her ability to create catchy, emotionally resonant music paired with a strong visual and viral component is setting her apart in the competitive pop landscape. As "Please Please Please" continues to dominate, it’s clear that Carpenter is not just having a moment; she's cementing her place as a significant force in music.