Sabrina Carpenter: Singular: Act I and II songs ranked

Photography by Mr Iozo

By Agnius Kazlauskas
​@AgniusKaz (Twitter)

American actress, singer and songwriter Sabrina Carpenter made a name for herself six years ago with her debut as Maya Hart in Disney’s Girl Meets World. Once Carpenter had matured from Disney, she had to find a way to transition into the real word and discover who she was as an artist. Though changing the public perception is no easy task, Carpenter’s latest two-piece project, Singular (split into two separate acts released in 2018 and 2019 respectively), is the perfect example of someone finding their true sound. 

As it’s been already almost two years since the start of the Singular era and a new project is, allegedly, in the works, it’s only fair to take a look back and try to rank the songs from Singular: Act I and Singular: Act II. 

Let’s make one thing clear – there are no bad songs on either one of the two acts of Sabrina Carpenter’s latest record, Singular. As the singer herself has said, every single track is supposed to feel different from each other, be different. 

17. Pushing 20 
Just because it ranks last, doesn’t mean that it’s not good. ‘Pushing 20’ is definitely an enjoyable track with sassy and cheeky lyrics that put you in the best mood possible. 

16. In My Bed 
This song is leaning towards the pop genre more than the others, which is not a bad thing by any means. It’s still fun and entertaining with a great music video to go with it. Unfortunately, ‘In My Bed’ is simply overshadowed by other tracks.

15. I Can’t Stop Me ft. Saweetie 
‘I Can’t Stop Me’ is quite a controversial one, dare I say. It’s one of those songs that you either love or hate, there’s no in between. And though it’s one of my absolute favourites, I can agree that this doesn’t belong at the top if we’re being fair. 

14. Tell Em 
‘Tell Em’ is the definition of sensuality. Carpenter wants to keep her affair in private, without any labelling or unwanted opinions. She chooses to love in silence. 

13. Almost Love 
Serving as the opening track of Singular: Act I, ‘Almost Love’ does what it needs to – introduces the listener to the theme of the record. It’s a fun track, exploring what it’s like trying to put your effort into something that simply isn’t working. 

12. prfct 
In ‘prfct’, Sabrina wants everyone to know that she doesn’t mind going through ups and downs. She can handle the truth, no matter how harsh it is. She wants real, she wants friction, because perfection is simply boring. 

11. I’m Fakin 
This is probably Carpenter’s most underrated track ever. She sings about owning up to her mistakes as much as putting the blame on the other person in a relationship – she’s a human being and she’s allowed to make mistakes, after all. She’s fighting a battle against her own emotions and logic, not knowing which one she should trust. 

10. Take Off All Your Cool 
Quite often forgotten, ‘Take Off All Your Cool’ is another great song from the second act of the album. It’s pretty laid-back and straightforward, which lets it successfully deliver the message that it was meant to. 

09. Looking at Me 
Continuing the theme of rediscovering one’s confidence, ‘Looking at Me’ is another up-beat track, which reminds you that you’re in control of everything – you’re the boss. Sabrina Carpenter is unapologetically herself in this song and it leaves you feeling the exact same way. 

08. Paris 
Another extremely dynamic track. “If you show me too much love, it makes me leave,” Carpenter opens up in ‘Paris’. Only once in a while do you find such a raw lyrical portrayal of one’s struggles with love. In addition to that, the French part elevates this song to another level. 

07. Bad Time 
Sabrina Carpenter is done getting played in ‘Bad Time’, she’s tired of it. She admits to having given way too many chances, but she also makes it clear that she won’t waste her time on someone who doesn’t deserve her. 

06. Sue Me 
‘Sue Me’ could definitely function as a follow-up for ‘Bad Time’. They’re both quite similar, telling the same story of healing and moving on. ‘Sue Me’ is explosive; it’s energetic. It helps you find the inner confidence that you thought you had lost forever. 

05. Take You Back 
‘Take You Back’ should’ve been one of the lead singles from this record. It’s got playful lyrical content yet it manages to stay serious in its own unique way. Nevertheless, this song has got one of the best bridges Carpenter’s ever written. 

04. Mona Lisa 
In terms of production, ‘Mona Lisa’ is one of the most dynamic songs from Singular: Act I. It flows nicely with Carpenter’s charismatic personality shining through the sonics. 

03. Exhale 
This song is probably one of Carpenter’s most vulnerable tracks. She gets honest, she opens up about her pain and anxiety. There’s also so much lyrical depth behind each line in this track and it makes ‘Exhale’ one of the top-tier songs. 

02. Diamonds Are Forever 
In addition to showcasing her incredible vocals, Carpenter’s ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ is the quintessential example of maturity. The singer knows her worth and won’t waste her time on anybody who simply doesn’t deserve it. 

01. Hold Tight ft. Uhmeer 
‘Hold Tight’ is one of Carpenter’s best songs, ever. It represents what Singular is about – Sabrina growing up and finding a whole new sound; she’s not the same innocent girl from Disney’s Girl Meets World anymore. ‘Hold Tight’ explores Carpenter’s journey in discovering sexual desire and passion; she’s not afraid of taking control and she wants everybody to know this.