Rating: 7/10
Just a warning, I was obsessed with Sabrina Carpenter a few years back, so this review is going to have a lot of references to nostalgia.
Sabrina Carpenter’s debut album, while very sugary and girly, did a great job of showing her vocal ability and potential as an artist. This album is very accurate to what a teenage girl would put in an album, which makes sense, because Sabrina was a young teenage girl when she released this. While the innocence of the album may be unsuitable for critics, I don’t mind it, as I’m a teenage girl myself.
Without further ado, let’s get into the ranking! I’ll be ranking all of the songs from Sabrina Carpenter’s debut album Eyes Wide Open from worst to best. Enjoy!
12. We’ll Be The Stars (Track 4)
This song isn’t awful, but it’s just so cookie-cutter pop. Like, she really chose one the blandest songs off of the album for the lead single.
11. The Middle of Starting Over (Track 3)
It kind of pains me to rank this song as the worst, because it was one of my favorites when I first listened to this album years ago. However, upon re-listening, I have to say that this is probably one of the most generic and bland song on the record. It’s not particularly catchy, and the lyrics aren’t too memorable. Just like WBTS, it’s not bad, just not really that good.
10. Two Young Hearts (Track 5)
I like this song well enough. It is very bubbly and pop-oriented, but is has some nice vocals from Sabrina, so I can’t say it’s one of the worst songs on the record.
9. Seamless (Track 8)
I feel bad ranking this song pretty low on the list, because it’s very sweet and it was one of my favorites when I first listened to Eyes Wide Open. However, compared to some of the other songs, it’s just not as objectively good. I do like it though.
8. Too Young (Track 7)
I feel like this is objectively one of the best songs on the album. It’s one of the more serious (it’s not an incredibly meaningful song, but it is one of the more meaningful songs on the album) and sad songs, which makes me appreciate it. It’s not one of my absolute favorites to listen to though, so I’m gonna stick it here, rather than higher up. “Raindrops, deep thoughts. Pictures of you and me wherever I go. Laughing, running, to a place where nobody says no. And it’s gonna hurt sometimes, no matter what you do. But I’ve got to fall to fly…”
7. Your Love’s Like (Track 6)
I like this song because the hook is pretty good, and it has a different sound than most of the other songs. Sabrina’s vocals are good, and the lyrics are cute (though not relatable to me, as I am very single).
6. Best Thing I Got (Track 12)
This song marks the point on this list where all the songs from here on out are my favorites from the album. The closer for Eyes Wide Open, while not thematically unique, is definitely one of the more polished and catchy songs on the record. It’s a little less bubblegum-pop than the other pop songs on the album, and it has a bit of a, dare I say, jazzy feel to it. It’s not jazz, but something about it gives me jazz vibes. Also, for some reason it reminds me of the Full House theme song.
5. Darling I’m a Mess (Track 10)
“This might be wrong, but he’s all I know. He’s all I know. And most times I pretend he’s just a friend. He’s just a friend.” I like this song because of the ukulele, Sabrina’s voice, and the relatable lyrics. It’s pretty accurate for what it feels like to have a massive crush on someone, but being too nervous to tell them. I’d say this is a good song to listen to if you want a feel for the album. If you don’t like this song, Eyes Wide Open may not be for you.
4. Right Now (Track 9)
This was one of my favorites back when I first listened to this album, and it still is. Something about the sunny tone of the song, matched with Sabrina’s lovely voice and optimistic lyrics just makes me happy. “I have a way of getting stuck on yesterday. I tend to miss the little things that come my way. Always looking forward, always looking back. They seem so near, but they’re not here. ‘Cause time moves on so quickly, without or with me. I’ve got to take a breath…”
3. White Flag (Track 11)
The penultimate track is definitely one of the best from the album. Sabrina’s vocals are really good, and the lyrics do a good job of painting a picture. Something about the message and theme of this song is really effective for me, I don’t even know, man.
2. Can’t Blame a Girl For Trying (Track 2)
I’d say this is probably the song that I enjoy listening to the most, and it was definitely my favorite back when I first listened to the album. Something about is just so pleasant and joyful, without being annoying. This song is an anthem for teenage girls who can’t navigate the world of boys. Plus, the music video is super cute.
1. Eyes Wide Open (Track 1)
“Everybody loves to tell me I was born an old soul. Better keep my eyes wide open, there’s so much that I don’t know. Just another hotel room, never felt so all alone. I think about my granddad’s eyes, and he always sends me home. I can almost hear him now. I gotta make him proud.” The opening and titular track of this album is the best. I used to bop hard to this song as a youngling. Honestly, the background instrumental is so glamorous, and Sabrina’s vocals are awesome. The lyricism is also really interesting. This is probably the most mature song on the album. “I can’t see two steps ahead of me when the fog comes rolling in. I never thought I’d miss the rain, lord knows how long it’s been. This dream burns inside of me, and I can’t just let it go. There’s still so much that I don’t know.”
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