Among the onslaught of new releases in this past year, one artist has managed to reach fame that was almost unimaginable to her only a few months ago. With the release of two summer themed songs; Please Please Please and Espresso, Sabrina Carpenter has shot to global stardom in a matter of months. In this article, Tatler writers Nami G. and Matthew K. debate which hit single deserves the title of song of the summer.

Espresso

Nami G. ’28

When Sabrina Carpenter dropped her single “Espresso,” little did she know that this viral song would become her biggest hit, proving it to be just as addicting as the caffeinated drink it’s named after.

Sabrina Carpenter has been in the industry for almost nine years, with five underrated albums and even her best hits debuting low on the Billboard Hot 100. However, following the smashing release of “Espresso,” influencers around the world are now singing her lyrics and copying the cover’s iconic makeup look. Meanwhile, the song’s success has paved the way for her Olympic commercial, her second single, and her $80 espresso-flavored ice cream (apparently it was delicious and many claimed it was worth the price, but I’m still dubious).

Another example of “Espresso’s” lasting legacy is the music videos, where “Please Please Please’s” is merely a contingency of “Espresso’s.” In other words, the latter’s music video success was only due to Espresso leading the way. In fact, the “Espresso” music video garnered almost twice the number of streams “Please Please Please” has, showing that people prefer the summer concept of a beach island over a dark jail cell.

Specifically, listeners are drawn into the synthetic intro where “Espresso” sweeps them off to a beachy island before Sabrina seductively chants, “Say you can’t sleep, baby, I know, that’s that me espresso” followed by the rest of the chorus where she promises she’s sweet and unforgettable. After the second chorus, Sabrina confidently drawls, “I’m working late, ’cause I’m a singer.” This summer, millions around the world have been quoting this addictive lyric. However, this isn’t the only amazing sign of Sabrina’s lyrical genius that “Espresso” showcases; throughout the song, she slips in clever lines such as “I know I mountain dew it for you.”

Meanwhile, “Please Please Please” lacks an equally catchy punch line and rather settles for darker verses that don’t reflect the true meaning of summer.

For these reasons and more, when “Espresso” was released, it instantly became her first song on the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at #7. Throughout its time on the charts, it battled hits from Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Post Malone, and Kendrick Lamar. Even still, “Espresso” remained in the Top 10 for almost every week after its release. Conversely, “Please Please Please” was released at a time when comparatively few songs were published and was only able to debut so high because “Espresso” paved the way.

Though “Espresso” never reached the top spot on the charts, its consistency allowed it to surpass a billion streams — a dream Sabrina never achieved before recording this hit. Even the week before her album “Short N’ Sweet” dropped, Espresso was at #2 on the Global 200 with “Please Please Please” at #4. Overall, this infectious hit boosted Sabrina Carpenter’s career, encapsulating the true essence of summer. “Espresso” really is a “Short N’ Sweet” hit, making the question “Are you more of an ‘Espresso’ or ‘Please Please Please’ fan” an easy one to answer.

Please Please Please

Matthew K. ’28

In 2024 alone, Sabrina Carpenter earned her first #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. That hit was “Please Please Please.”

I’ll let the numbers speak for themselves, seeing as Espresso peaked at #3. But just in case some out there are a little bit more dubious, here’s why the Billboard-breaking song blows Espresso out of the water.

The initial release of “Please Please Please” on June 7 drew a mixed response with some critics praising its colorful and quirky nature while others labeled it a “flop” due to its departure from the upbeat style of her previous hit, “Espresso.” Many compared the track to songs by ABBA and other ’70s pop groups. Despite these minor criticisms, the song quickly gained traction as the track soared to Carpenter’s first number-one spot, receiving hundreds of covers in genres ranging from Latin dance to hardcore rock.

Throughout the song, Carpenter focuses on wanting to protect herself while navigating a complicated relationship, pleading, “Don’t bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice,” and “Please, please, please / Don’t prove I’m right” with a partner who continues to make questionable choices that often land him in handcuffs.

This partner, Barry Keoghan, a Hollywood star in a relationship with Carpenter, received high praise from both the music video’s director and Carpenter for his collaborative and supportive character. His appearance in the video elevated his profile, introducing him to Carpenter’s fanbase and a broader pop culture audience, who now view him favorably — this serves as yet another reason why “Please Please Please” is so impactful and memorable.

I’ll be honest, I’m not much of a pop person. When I do listen to pop, I usually don’t remember much other than the universal presence of drums. What I most definitely don’t do is notice the lyrics.

“If you wanna go and be stupid, don’t do it in front of me.”

I’ve definitely wanted to say this before — and I’ve also definitely heard this from a … few people I won’t name.

Anyways.

“Please Please Please” debuted at #2 on the Hot 100 before climbing to the top spot the following week, solidifying Carpenter’s star status in the music industry. The track garnered 50.9 million streams in its best week, received significant radio play, and captivated listeners. But most importantly it showcased a simultaneously new and “retro” style of the artist — which is part of the reason why the song got popular so fast. “Please Please Please” caught the eye of both those who were looking for a break from the repetitiveness of modern pop and those who wanted a step back in time.

Regardless, both songs and all of Carpenter’s other tracks show just how amazing an artist she is. Carpenter was the first solo artist, seconded only in history by The Beatles, to place two simultaneous top-three hits in the history of the Hot 100.

So I just have one last thing to ask you before you go — Please, Please, Please choose this song over Espresso.