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Bed Chem

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"Bed Chem"
A pink-tinted image of Carpenter lying on a bed while holding a microphone, with the text "Parental Discretion Is Advised" at the bottom.
Single by Sabrina Carpenter
from the album Short n' Sweet
ReleasedOctober 8, 2024 (2024-10-08)
Studio
GenreDisco
Length2:51
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • John Ryan
  • Ian Kirkpatrick
Sabrina Carpenter singles chronology
"Taste"
(2024) 		"Bed Chem"
(2024)
Lyric video
"Bed Chem" on YouTube

"Bed Chem" is a song by American singer Sabrina Carpenter from her sixth studio album, Short n' Sweet (2024). Carpenter wrote it with songwriters Julia Michaels and Amy Allen and its producers, John Ryan and Ian Kirkpatrick. Island Records released the song to US contemporary hit radio on October 8, 2024, as the album's fourth single. Musically, it is a disco song set over an R&B-influenced musical bed and synthesizers. The lyrics detail Carpenter's attraction to a man, which leads her to imagine satisfying sexual encounters with him.

Some music critics were positive about "Bed Chem", while others considered it unoriginal and criticized the sexual lyrics. In the United States, the song debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached the top 10 in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The song was certified platinum in Canada and the United States. Carpenter included "Bed Chem" on the set list of her fifth concert tour, the Short n' Sweet Tour (2024–2025).

Background and release

[edit]

In January 2021, Sabrina Carpenter signed a recording contract with Island Records.[1][2] She announced that she was working on her sixth studio album in March 2024, exploring new genres and expecting that it would herald a new chapter in her life.[3][4] In anticipation of her performance at Coachella, Carpenter announced that a single called "Espresso" would be released on April 11, 2024.[5] The song was a surprise success, becoming her first number one single on the Billboard Global 200 chart and her first song to enter the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6][7] She followed this with "Please Please Please" in June, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.[8]

Carpenter wrote the song "Bed Chem" with songwriters Julia Michaels and Amy Allen and its producers, John Ryan and Ian Kirkpatrick.[9] Prior to its release, Paper's Erica Campbell stated that she felt it highlighted Carpenter's sultry side. Describing its conception, Carpenter jokingly stated that, "there was a lot of steam in the studio. It was real hot and heavy". Carpenter noted that she wanted to "write a song both sexy and lighthearted". She cited American singer Christina Aguilera as an inspiration for the song, stating that the song's retro vibe was influenced by Aguilera and other music she grew up listening to.[10] Preceding an official announcement, billboards bearing tweets about Carpenter's height began appearing throughout New York City.[11] On June 3, 2024, she announced the album, titled Short n' Sweet, and revealed its cover artwork.[12] The track list was revealed on July 9, 2024; "Bed Chem" appeared as the album's sixth track.[13] It became available for digital download and streaming on August 23, 2024.[14] Island Records released the track to US contemporary hit radio stations as the album's fourth single on October 8, 2024.[15] The song will also be released on the 7-inch vinyl format on January 10, 2025.[16]

Composition

[edit]
Barry Keoghan in 2024
Some journalists analyzed Irish actor Barry Keoghan as the potential subject of "Bed Chem".

"Bed Chem" is 2 minutes and 51 seconds long.[14] It was recorded at the Perch in Calabasas, California, Juicy Hill Studios in the Bahamas, and the Playpen in Calabasas, California. Ryan and Kirkpatrick produced and programmed the song. They played drums, guitar, keyboards, percussion, and bass, and they engineered it with Jeff Gunnell. Nathan Dantzler mastered the song with assistance from Harrison Tate, and Serban Ghenea mixed it at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach with engineering from Bryce Bordone.[9]

"Bed Chem" is a disco song set over an R&B-influenced musical bed.[17][18] Critics viewed influences of music from the 1980s and the 2010s in the song.[19][20] Its production incorporates a G-funk-influenced whistle[21] and synthesizers, which were described as "sexy honeymoon synths" by Pitchfork's Quinn Moreland and "sunshine synths" by The Line of Best Fit's Tanatat Khuttapan.[20][22] Carpenter deadpans the line "Come ride on me, I mean camaraderie".[22] Paste's Grace Robins-Somerville summarized "Bed Chem" as containing "Future Nostalgia-era Dua Lipa disco pastiche, the riffs-over-diction sigh-singing popularized by Ariana Grande, [and] a Swiftian pre-chorus".[23] Billboard's Jason Lipshutz described the song as "a dreamy flirtation full of pinpoint vocals, personal touches, sexual innuendos and melodies".[24]

The title of the song, "Bed Chem", is shorthand for "bedroom chemistry",[25] and its lyrics revolve around Carpenter feeling an intense attraction to a man, leading her to imagine satisfying sexual encounters with him.[26][25] Sputnikmusic's Sowing interpreted this as a potential pun where Carpenter may be asking the subject to "cum" (ejaculate) on her.[27] During the bridge, Carpenter fantasizes that the encounter would probably turn out to be even better than her imagination, describing that they would "arrive at the same time" and set the temperature of the thermostat to 69.[25] The song contains multiple euphemisms about penis sizes.[26]

"Bed Chem" contains descriptions of the first time Carpenter met the subject, with lyrics stating that she was in a "sheer dress" and he donned a white jacket. Carpenter also sings that he had "wide, blue eyes" and a "thick accent".[28] Some journalists analyzed Carpenter's then-boyfriend Irish actor Barry Keoghan as the potential subject.[28][29] Elle's Maya Ernest perceived several references to Keoghan,[28] and Dylan Kickham of Elite Daily opined that Carpenter "made the muse of [the song] incredibly clear", adding that the song is "all about her boyfriend Barry Keoghan's prowess in the bedroom."[30] Keoghan later stated that the song was his favorite from Short n' Sweet.[31]

Critical reception

[edit]

Some critics were positive about "Bed Chem". Campbell picked the song as a highlight on Short n' Sweet.[10] Lipshutz ranked it fourth among the twelve album tracks, stating that it has "melodies strong enough to be main hooks that then lead into even better melodies".[24] He and Slate's Carl Wilson both believed that the titular phrase would gain common usage as slang.[26][24] Others questioned if the song was too unoriginal. NME's Rhian Daly thought it was "moulded in Ariana Grande's image".[32] While Robins-Somerville praised Carpenter's vocal performance, he was negative about the song's resemblance to the work of other artists and believed the pre-chorus could have been copied from multiple Taylor Swift albums.[23]

The sexual nature of "Bed Chem" received critical commentary. Capital's Sam Prance thought that in the context of Carpenter "being unashamedly horny in her music", she had "outdone herself" with the song.[25] Wilson believed that it and the track "Juno" were some of the "horniest" ones on the album.[26] Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield praised the rhyme about camaraderie as "Shakespearean", while The Daily Telegraph's Neil McCormick considered the pun "too rude to print".[19][33] In a negative review, Sowing used it as an example while stating that the song is "overflowing with awkward puns".[27]

Nylon included "Bed Chem" in their list of the seven best songs of its release week, with Sofia Ante stating that Carpenter was "at her most charming — cheeky, seductive, and impossible to resist — that'll leave you blushing for three full minutes".[34] "Bed Chem" was placed on a critical list of the best songs of 2024 at number eight by The Independent.[35]

Commercial performance

[edit]

"Bed Chem" debuted at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 issued for September 7, 2024.[36] The song received a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.[37] In Canada, it entered at number 17 on the Canadian Hot 100 issued for the same date and was certified platinum by Music Canada.[38][39] "Bed Chem" debuted at number nine on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number six after four weeks.[40] The song received a silver certification in the United Kingdom from the British Phonographic Industry.[41]

In Australia, "Bed Chem" peaked at number 10 and became Carpenter's fourth top-10 song.[42] The song reached number nine in New Zealand and was certified gold by Recorded Music NZ.[43][44] It charted at number 14 on the Billboard Global 200.[45] Elsewhere, "Bed Chem" reached national record charts at number 5 in Ireland,[46] number 10 in Singapore,[47] number 30 in Portugal,[48] number 47 in Greece,[49] number 65 in Sweden,[50] and number 82 in Nigeria.[51] It received a gold certification in Portugal.[52]

Live performances

[edit]

Carpenter included "Bed Chem" on the set list of her fifth concert tour, the Short n' Sweet Tour (2024–2025).[53] The performance begins with the words "parental discretion is advised" being displayed on a screen,[54] and Carpenter sings the song on an onstage bed.[55] Towards the climax, a man from her entourage enters with a camcorder and they undress behind shutting curtains as the lights gradually fade to darkness. According to the Chicago Tribune's Bob Gendron, this is "a clichéd way to suggest maturation".[56] At the tour's stop in Charlottesville's John Paul Jones Arena, cameras captured Keoghan giving a dizzy expression and hiding his face with his pass during the "Bed Chem" performance, drawing media attention.[55][57]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Short n' Sweet.[9]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Bed Chem"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[39] Platinum 80,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[44] Gold 15,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[52] Gold 5,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[41] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[37] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release date and format for "Bed Chem"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States October 8, 2024 Contemporary hit radio Island [15]
Various January 10, 2025 7-inch vinyl [16]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Chan, Anna (January 26, 2021). "Sabrina Carpenter Signs with Island Records: 'It's the Perfect Place for Me'". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  2. ^ Aswad, Jem (January 26, 2021). "Sabrina Carpenter Signs with Island Records". Variety. Archived from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  3. ^ Hawke, Maya (February 8, 2024). "Sabrina Carpenter and Maya Hawke on Rethinking the Pop Star Playbook". Interview. Archived from the original on June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  4. ^ Frank Revees, Madeleine (March 27, 2024). "I Am Pleased to Inform You That Your Massive Crush on Sabrina Carpenter Is Justified". Cosmopolitan. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
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