‘Espresso’: Intensity and Heat, in a Drink or a ‘Song of the Summer’ - WSJ


AI Summary Hide AI Generated Summary

Sabrina Carpenter's 'Espresso'

Sabrina Carpenter's dance-pop song, "Espresso," is a strong contender for the 2024 'song of the summer' title. Its popularity has led to widespread discussion and meme creation.

Linguistic Analysis of the Chorus

The song's chorus, "Say you can’t sleep, baby, I know / That’s that me espresso," has attracted significant linguistic analysis. The debated syntax focuses on the interpretation of "me espresso." Some interpret it as an implied comma between "me" and "espresso," while others suggest "me" acts as an adjective modifying "espresso."

Overall Reception and Impact

The song's unique chorus, along with its overall catchy tune, has led to its success on global charts, firmly establishing it within the current music landscape.

Sign in to unlock more AI features Sign in with Google
In the annual tradition of anointing a “song of the summer” that’s ubiquitous from late May to Labor Day, a front-runner for 2024 is an exhilarating shot of dance-pop: “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter. Since its release last month, the song has been topping charts around the world and has generated its fair share of memes.Many of those memes center on the unusual syntax of the song’s chorus: “Say you can’t sleep, baby, I know / That’s that me espresso.” Writers for online outlets such as Vulture and Them have analyzed the line, with linguistic experts weighing in on whether there is an implied comma between “me” and “espresso,” or whether “me” should be understood as an adjective modifying “espresso.” (I favor the latter interpretation: “that me espresso” is Carpenter’s slyly confident expression of her stimulating effect on the boy in the song.)

Copyright ©2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Was this article displayed correctly? Not happy with what you see?

Tabs Reminder: Tabs piling up in your browser? Set a reminder for them, close them and get notified at the right time.

Try our Chrome extension today!


Share this article with your
friends and colleagues.
Earn points from views and
referrals who sign up.
Learn more

Facebook

Save articles to reading lists
and access them on any device


Share this article with your
friends and colleagues.
Earn points from views and
referrals who sign up.
Learn more

Facebook

Save articles to reading lists
and access them on any device