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Fruitcake (Sabrina Carpenter EP)

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Fruitcake
EP by
Sabrina Carpenter
ReleasedNovember 17, 2023 (2023-11-17)
Studio
Genre
Length15:46
LabelIsland
Producer
Sabrina Carpenter chronology
Emails I Can't Send
(2022) 		Fruitcake
(2023) 		Short n' Sweet
(2024)
Singles from Fruitcake
  1. "A Nonsense Christmas"
    Released: December 7, 2022
  2. "Santa Doesn't Know You Like I Do"
    Released: November 17, 2023

Fruitcake is the second extended play (EP) and first Christmas themed record by American singer Sabrina Carpenter. It was released by Island Records on November 17, 2023. It was produced by Julian Bunetta and John Ryan.

Background and release

[edit]

Prior to signing with Island Records in 2021, Carpenter released various Christmas songs including "Christmas the Whole Year Round" which reached number 17 on the US Holiday Digital Song Sales chart.[1][2] In December 2022, following the success of her fifth studio album Emails I Can't Send, Carpenter released a Christmas remix of her single "Nonsense", titled "A Nonsense Christmas".[3]

A year later, on November 8, 2023, Carpenter announced that she would be releasing her first Christmas-themed EP,[4] and revealed its track list through a post on her social media accounts.[5][6] The EP was released on November 17, 2023.[7][8] On her website, the announcement followed the same aesthetic of her album Emails I Can't Send (2022), being presented in a designed email-style.[8]

Music and lyrics

[edit]

The EP begins with "A Nonsense Christmas", a holiday remix of her viral single "Nonsense".[9][10] Throughout the song, Carpenter sings puns about Charles Dickens, Christmas Tree trimmings, and was described as "goofy and unserious".[10] Carpenter also changed the lyrics to the song to match the Christmas-theme with lyrics "Sounds like bleh-blah-blee" changed to "Sounds like ho ho ho".[11] [12] Carpenter also recorded a new outro for the song.[10] "Buy Me Presents" follows with similar Christmas-themed wordplay and was described as a "bright and bouncing tongue in cheek love song".[10][13] The song features a saxophone-solo against a "smooth atmospheric production" and is reminiscent of a Hallmark movie soundtrack.[13][14]

"Santa Doesn't Know You Like I Do" is a ballad and shifts the mood of the EP.[13] Described as a sad love song,[15] and featured a spoken word bridge which was described as a callback to Carpenter's 2022 single "Skinny Dipping".[13] The production of the song was called a "juxtaposition between the snare kicks and gentle production" which works towards creating a sombre atmosphere.[13] This is followed by "Cindy Lou Who" which is named after the How the Grinch Stole Christmas character of the same name.[10] The song tells the story of a heartbreak leading to the singer questioning her feelings about her ex-lover's new girlfriend.[10][9]

Carpenter follows this with a pop-infused song "Is It New Years Yet?" where she wants to "skip past Christmas because everyone has a partner to spend" it with.[15] The song was compared to "Dance the Night",[15] and sings that "Fruitcake just makes [her] sick".[13] The EP closes with a cover of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" titled "White Xmas".[13][8] Carpenter's vocals were called a highlight of the song, being described as an outro rather than a full-song.[13] The song also interpolates "Jingle Bells".[13]

Reception

[edit]

Comercial reception

[edit]

In its original chart run upon release, Fruitcake debuted at number 112 on the Billboard 200 chart.[16] Following the release of Carpenter’s holiday special A Nonsense Christmas the EP grew 27,326% in album activity and earned 54,000 equivalent units with 39,000 pure copies sold. 31,000 were vinyl sales.[17] Becoming the holiday album with the biggest week based on pure sales in four years since Carrie Underwood’s My Gift (2020) and the album with the biggest vinyl week sales since Luminate began to track in 1991.[citation needed]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[18]

Upon release, the EP was well received by critics. Alex Hopper of American Songwriter complimented Carpenter for not relying exclusively on traditional Christmas songs and for writing original material.[19] Amy Britton of The Indiependent wrote that the record is "a sugary sweet musical feast" and that, although it was full of the "usual Christmas song stereotypes", it kept the artist's essence.[20]

Sabrina Carpenter's holiday music has earned significant recognition from various publications. Her song "A Nonsense Christmas" was ranked by Billboard as the 14th best Christmas song of the 21st century.[21] Additionally, Cosmopolitan magazine ranked it 77th on their list of top Christmas songs.[22] Carpenter's song, "Santa Doesn't Know You Like I Do," was ranked by Parade magazine as the 203rd best Christmas song of all time.[23]

Track listing

[edit]
Fruitcake track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."A Nonsense Christmas"
  • Bunetta
  • Dylan McDougle[v]
2:33
2."Buy Me Presents"
Ryan2:57
3."Santa Doesn't Know You Like I Do"
Bunetta3:09
4."Cindy Lou Who"
  • Carpenter
  • Ryan
  • Allen
Ryan2:01
5."Is It New Years Yet?"
  • Carpenter
  • Ryan
  • Allen
Ryan2:38
6."White Xmas"Irving BerlinRyan2:26
Total length:15:46

Note

  • ^[v] signifies a vocal producer

Personnel

[edit]

Musicians

  • Sabrina Carpenter – lead vocals
  • Julian Bunetta – programming (tracks 1, 3), background vocals (1); bass, drums, keyboards, percussion (3)
  • Steph Jones – background vocals (track 1)
  • John Ryan – bass, guitar, keyboards, programming (tracks 2, 4–6); synthesizer (2, 4, 5), drums (2, 5, 6), percussion (5), organ (6)
  • Leon Silva – saxophone (track 2)
  • Rob Moose – viola, violin (tracks 4, 6)

Technical

  • Nathan Dantzler – mastering
  • Julian Bunetta – mixing, engineering (track 1)
  • Rob Kinelski – mixing (tracks 2–6)
  • Jeff Gunnell – engineering (tracks 2–5)
  • Rob Moose – string arrangement (tracks 4, 6)
  • Eli Heisler – mixing assistance (tracks 2–6)

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Fruitcake
Chart (2023–2024) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[24] 14
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[25] 17
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[26] 6
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[27] 38
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[28] 2
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[29] 20
Irish Albums (OCC)[30] 17
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[31] 88
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[32] 31
Scottish Albums (OCC)[33] 2
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[34] 8
UK Albums (OCC)[35] 5
US Billboard 200[36] 10
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[37] 3

Release history

[edit]
Release history and formats for Fruitcake
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various November 17, 2023
Island [38]
Various December 6, 2024
[39][40]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Sabrina Carpenter Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  2. ^ Spence, Sade (December 21, 2019). "Here Are 10 Celebrities With Original Christmas Songs You Didn't Know Existed". Elite Daily. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  3. ^ "Sabrina Carpenter Celebrates the 'Hoelidays' With 'A Nonsense Christmas'". Billboard. December 7, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  4. ^ Martin, Annie (November 17, 2023). "Sabrina Carpenter releases Fruitcake holiday EP". UPI. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  5. ^ Pointer, Flisadam (November 13, 2023). "Sabrina Carpenter's Fruitcake EP's Sweet Tracklist Reveal Is Looking To Spice Up The Festive Holiday Season". Uproxx. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  6. ^ "Sabrina Carpenter Wants You to Buy Her Presents on Nostalgic Holiday EP Fruitcake". KS95. November 8, 2023. Archived from the original on November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "Sabrina Carpenter Wants You to Buy Her Presents on Nostalgic Holiday EP Fruitcake". Rolling Stone. November 17, 2023. Archived from the original on November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Boisvert, Lauren (November 9, 2023). "Sabrina Carpenter Announces Holiday EP Fruitcake: 'I Have a Sweet Treat for You'". American Songwriter. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Gruber, Becs (December 14, 2023). "Album Review: Sabrina Carpenter's fruitcake is certainly a "Chrismash"". Brig News. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Review: Sabrina Carpenter delivers evergreen holiday hits with 'fruitcake'". Washington Square News. November 21, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  11. ^ Tate, Sarah (December 9, 2023). "Sabrina Carpenter Turns One Of Her Biggest Songs Into A Fun Christmas Tune". Z100. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  12. ^ "Nonsense Lyrics (Genius)".
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i Healy, Millie Mae (November 21, 2023). "'Fruitcake' Review: Sabrina Carpenter Takes A Creative Bite of Christmas". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  14. ^ Ahad, Halima (December 13, 2023). "EP Review: Sabrina Carpenter – fruitcake". Redbrick. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c Kemppainen, Kiera (December 4, 2023). "Sabrina Carpenter brings originality to Christmas music with fruitcake". The Central Trend. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  16. ^ "Sabrina Carpenter's chart history in Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  17. ^ "Sabrina Carpenter's 'Fruitcake' Hits Top 10 on Billboard 200 With Record-Breaking Vinyl Sales". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  18. ^ Collar, Matt (November 17, 2023). "fruitcake – Sabrina Carpenter". AllMusic. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  19. ^ Hopper, Alex (November 17, 2023). "Review: Sabrina Carpenter Brings Her Own Kind of Holiday Spirit with fruitcake". American Songwriter. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  20. ^ Britton, Amy (November 17, 2023). "EP Review: fruitcake // Sabrina Carpenter". Indiependent.co.uk. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  21. ^ Dailey, Hannah (December 6, 2024). "The 25 Best Christmas Songs of the 21st Century (So Far): Staff Picks". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  22. ^ "These Are, Hands Down, the Best Christmas Songs of All Time". Cosmopolitan. November 18, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  23. ^ Sager, Jessica (December 21, 2023). "200+ Best Christmas Songs of All Time to Get You in the Holiday Spirit". Parade. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  24. ^ "Christmas creeps into the top 20". Australian Recording Industry Association. December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  25. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Sabrina Carpenter – Fruitcake" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  26. ^ "Ultratop.be – Sabrina Carpenter – Fruitcake" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  27. ^ "Ultratop.be – Sabrina Carpenter – Fruitcake" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  28. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Sabrina Carpenter – Fruitcake" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  29. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Sabrina Carpenter – Fruitcake" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  30. ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  31. ^ "2024 51-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  32. ^ "Official Top 40 Albums". Recorded Music NZ. December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  33. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  34. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – {{{artist}}} – {{{album}}}". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  35. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  36. ^ "Sabrina Carpenter Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  37. ^ "Sabrina Carpenter Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  38. ^ "FRUITCAKE / VINYL / PRE-ORDER". Sabrina Carpenter | Official Store. Archived from the original on December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  39. ^ "fruitcake CD - Sabrina Carpenter Official Store". Sabrina Carpenter | Official Store. Archived from the original on November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  40. ^ "fruitcake cassette - Sabrina Carpenter Official Store". Sabrina Carpenter | Official Store. Archived from the original on November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
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