Sabrina Carpenter’s Christmas EP, “Fruitcake” Song Review [OPINION]
By Ashley Oiler
December 27, 2023
Sabrina Carpenter released her first official Christmas EP on November 17, with six fun and festive songs just in time for the holiday season.
If you haven’t had time to listen or want to pick which song will work best for your holiday playlist, here is my review of the album and each track.
A Nonsense Christmas
The first track is a remix of Carpenter’s hit song, “Nonsense.” It’s got a fun pop rhythm with smooth, catchy lyrics. I think the song has a different vibe than most classic Christmas songs, with more seductive and flirty lyrics, but still enjoyable and PG enough that I would add it to my playlist, especially for a Christmas party.
The song has over 27 million streams on Spotify and Carpenter performed the song for the first time at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball on Dec. 1.
I think this was the perfect song to start the EP because it was poppy and upbeat, and showed that this was not going to be the basic Christmas album some people might expect.
buy me presents
This song is my favorite on the EP. It has the classic, bluesy feel holiday songs are known for and combines Carpenter’s distinct style with it. It features a saxophone solo halfway through the song to really emphasize that old-timey feel.
The song is also the only explicit track on the album. “Buy Me Presents” features Christmasy wordplay and gives a similar vibe to Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me.”
Overall, I enjoyed this song so much. It's witty and has a great rhythm that makes me want to decorate a Christmas tree and have a dance party at the same time.
santa doesn’t know you like i do
The first slower song of the album, “santa doesn’t know you like i do,” is at its core a holiday love song.
The song describes two lovers, one of whom is more in love than the other. Carpenter says in the song how Santa doesn't know their lover as they do, so the person Carpenter is fighting for should trust her and not ask for a different relationship. Throughout the song she's trying to prove that she wants this relationship to continue and that she knows the person so well, better than Santa, that's why they should be together.
I appreciate the storytelling of this song because I think it’s a common trend for Christmas songs to be fun and catchy, but at their core, not say anything. This song has real meaning and while it is slower and not a song I would add to my own Christmas playlist, I appreciate what Carpenter did.
cindy lou who
Now this is the saddest song on the album by far. Before my first listen I thought it might be fun because of the title, named after the famous little girl in the Grinch movies. Don’t be fooled like I was, this song is a sad, piano ballad about lost love.
The song is melancholy and shows Carpenter’s depth on a project even as short as this one, which I find impressive. IMDb posted a story saying that the song might be about Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, but I think there are many interpretations fans can take from this song and who it might be about.
Even though “cindy lou who” is slow and emotional, it doesn’t lose Carpenter’s catchy and strong lyrics that have shown through in every song on the album. If you’re looking for a good cry this holiday season, this is the song for you, but I wouldn’t add it to my holiday playlist because I don’t want to hurt the vibe.
Is it new years yet?
With complete whiplash from the last track, “is it new years yet?” is a funky, pop song that goes back to a similar vibe of the first few songs on the album.
The song is mostly about how the holidays make Carpenter feel single and how she wants the season to move faster and to new years quickly. The song is also where the title of the EP is mentioned, with Carpenter singing, “I’m a gift, look what God made me, never, never get what's on my list, fruitcake just makes me sick.”
“Is it new years yet?” is almost an anti-Christmas song, with many of the lyrics complaining about different parts of the holidays like, awkward conversations with relatives, bad food, feeling single, and overplayed songs.
Personally, I think this is one of my favorite songs on the album because it is a completely different type of holiday song. The complaining in the song makes it witty and unique with Carpenter’s light and airy singing.
white xmas
The last song on the EP is the only cover in the album. It is a remake of the song, “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby.
This song has a new style and organization of the original song that gives it a more modern feel that matches Carpenter’s distinctly pop voice. It feels classy but also matches the vibe of the “Fruitcake” EP with the musical arrangements and the way Carpenter sings.
I liked the “white xmas” arrangement a lot and I think it's a great addition to a holiday playlist because it changes up the melody to add some modern, pop vibes to a well-known Christmas song.
Overall, “Fruitcake” by Sabrina Carpenter was a well-rounded EP that surprised me in many ways. I thought the songs were catchy and had the right amount of holiday spirit without being too overbearing. If you’re looking for a few new Christmas songs to add to your playlist before the season is over I would check this EP out!
If you haven’t had time to listen or want to pick which song will work best for your holiday playlist, here is my review of the album and each track.
A Nonsense Christmas
The first track is a remix of Carpenter’s hit song, “Nonsense.” It’s got a fun pop rhythm with smooth, catchy lyrics. I think the song has a different vibe than most classic Christmas songs, with more seductive and flirty lyrics, but still enjoyable and PG enough that I would add it to my playlist, especially for a Christmas party.
The song has over 27 million streams on Spotify and Carpenter performed the song for the first time at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball on Dec. 1.
I think this was the perfect song to start the EP because it was poppy and upbeat, and showed that this was not going to be the basic Christmas album some people might expect.
buy me presents
This song is my favorite on the EP. It has the classic, bluesy feel holiday songs are known for and combines Carpenter’s distinct style with it. It features a saxophone solo halfway through the song to really emphasize that old-timey feel.
The song is also the only explicit track on the album. “Buy Me Presents” features Christmasy wordplay and gives a similar vibe to Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me.”
Overall, I enjoyed this song so much. It's witty and has a great rhythm that makes me want to decorate a Christmas tree and have a dance party at the same time.
santa doesn’t know you like i do
The first slower song of the album, “santa doesn’t know you like i do,” is at its core a holiday love song.
The song describes two lovers, one of whom is more in love than the other. Carpenter says in the song how Santa doesn't know their lover as they do, so the person Carpenter is fighting for should trust her and not ask for a different relationship. Throughout the song she's trying to prove that she wants this relationship to continue and that she knows the person so well, better than Santa, that's why they should be together.
I appreciate the storytelling of this song because I think it’s a common trend for Christmas songs to be fun and catchy, but at their core, not say anything. This song has real meaning and while it is slower and not a song I would add to my own Christmas playlist, I appreciate what Carpenter did.
cindy lou who
Now this is the saddest song on the album by far. Before my first listen I thought it might be fun because of the title, named after the famous little girl in the Grinch movies. Don’t be fooled like I was, this song is a sad, piano ballad about lost love.
The song is melancholy and shows Carpenter’s depth on a project even as short as this one, which I find impressive. IMDb posted a story saying that the song might be about Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, but I think there are many interpretations fans can take from this song and who it might be about.
Even though “cindy lou who” is slow and emotional, it doesn’t lose Carpenter’s catchy and strong lyrics that have shown through in every song on the album. If you’re looking for a good cry this holiday season, this is the song for you, but I wouldn’t add it to my holiday playlist because I don’t want to hurt the vibe.
Is it new years yet?
With complete whiplash from the last track, “is it new years yet?” is a funky, pop song that goes back to a similar vibe of the first few songs on the album.
The song is mostly about how the holidays make Carpenter feel single and how she wants the season to move faster and to new years quickly. The song is also where the title of the EP is mentioned, with Carpenter singing, “I’m a gift, look what God made me, never, never get what's on my list, fruitcake just makes me sick.”
“Is it new years yet?” is almost an anti-Christmas song, with many of the lyrics complaining about different parts of the holidays like, awkward conversations with relatives, bad food, feeling single, and overplayed songs.
Personally, I think this is one of my favorite songs on the album because it is a completely different type of holiday song. The complaining in the song makes it witty and unique with Carpenter’s light and airy singing.
white xmas
The last song on the EP is the only cover in the album. It is a remake of the song, “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby.
This song has a new style and organization of the original song that gives it a more modern feel that matches Carpenter’s distinctly pop voice. It feels classy but also matches the vibe of the “Fruitcake” EP with the musical arrangements and the way Carpenter sings.
I liked the “white xmas” arrangement a lot and I think it's a great addition to a holiday playlist because it changes up the melody to add some modern, pop vibes to a well-known Christmas song.
Overall, “Fruitcake” by Sabrina Carpenter was a well-rounded EP that surprised me in many ways. I thought the songs were catchy and had the right amount of holiday spirit without being too overbearing. If you’re looking for a few new Christmas songs to add to your playlist before the season is over I would check this EP out!