Sabrina Carpenters’ “Manchild”: the Chaotic Music Video We Never

Today, Sabrina Carpenter released her new MV Manchild.

Right from the announcement of the song name, I was intrigued. There are thousands of songs about relationship troubles like break ups, yet there’s a common problem I’ve never seen in a song. Too many people are in relationships where they almost have to ‘gentle parent’ someone into doing basic things like chores or communicating their feelings.

Even in the era of feminism where as women we are encouraged to know our worth, these types of relationships are surprisingly common. Often it’s one person making almost of the mistakes, and the other putting in most of the work to save the relationship.

To be fair, ‘Manchild’ does sound a little too similar to this viral TikTok which was a parody prediction of Sabrina’s next song… but I’ll let it slide. [https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdSa9kSV/]

The music video feels like a 70s action movie trailer. There’s so much packed it that you want to see it on the big screen! But what is actually going on?

These are my some of my favourite moments and some other things to look out for.

Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV from pexels

Hitch Hiking

The video shows Sabrina hitchhiking and finding her way into some pretty crazy situations.

Each car represents the relationships that she gets into. No two are alike- there are classy vintage rides to scrap-yard worthy trucks, even a moving arm chair! But one thing stays the same… at the end Sabrina has to leave.

It reminds me a lot of the saying “Boys are like Buses. Don’t run after them because another one will always come along.” The singer takes this literally, as she hops into vehicle after vehicle.

If you notice, every one has a unique flaw or funny characteristic, which could be interpreted as immature.

Credit: Laura Stanley from Pexels

Symbolism

At the very beginning, the theme of the music video is subtly foreshadowed. You may notice a bird travelling on top of the turtle. In this relationship, Sabrina is the Seagull.

She doesn’t need to ride on the back of the turtle, she can fly away whenever she wants. Yet, she still chooses to catch a ride on its shell.

At 0:45, Sabrina even grabs a ride by grabbing onto the back of a dumpster truck- while wearing roller boots! She struggles to get to the front and it makes you wonder why she’s putting in so much sweat for a vehicle that’s literally full of rubbish.

There are even more genius blink-and-you-miss-it metaphors. For example if you pause at 0:56, Sabrina is posing next to a reservoir with a lover who is painting. We think they are painting her, but a closer look and only her left hand is on the canvas.

This represents how oblivious they both are to each others feelings. She’s convinced she’s the main attraction but he is focused on bigger things.

At 1:59, one of the men’s hair catches fire for a brief second. Sabrina quickly taps the flame out and there is a look of genuine surprise on both their faces. Perhaps this is a credit to her acting skills, or maybe as some fans as theorising, his hair set alight by accident and it was kept in the Final Cut. Either way, it is a cool scene that you may miss on your first watch.

There are also a few moments where she is riding wild horses (2:58). This is an example of the many moments where we see she isn’t just going along for the ride, she is also causing absolute chaos. She knows what she is doing. She admits that she’s drawn to these wild and unpredictable relationships… and that’s a part of the problem.

Credit: Emir Anik from Pexels

Outfits and controversy

I’m sure I’m not the only one pausing just to see the outfits! While she is bungee jumping and even getting held at gunpoint, she stays stylishly dressed.

There is something that makes me devastated though…

Unfortunately, one of Sabrina’s controversies is her use of real animal fur. At the Met Gala, her $46,000 Louis Vuitton coat was made of fluffy foxes who likely spent their entire lives inside a metal cage.

She has also been photographed wearing shearling, which is made from baby sheep. It’s a hidden reality that these animals spend their lives in dirty, cramped conditions and are killed inhumanely. This isn’t fashion, it’s suffering.

Sabrina has never addressed any of these controversies. So, we’re not sure whether she has learned her lesson.

From the snapshots in the music video, we don’t know if these outfits are cute or cruel. For many fans, this lingering discomfort is making her art more sour than ‘short n’ sweet’.

Sabrina, we love your music but please leave these innocent animals alone! There are thousands of kinder alternatives.

Photo by Kat Smith by Pexels

Final Thoughts on Manchild

The ending is a little mysterious. She willingly chooses to get out of the car, to get into another one. It’s after sunset, and the aerial shot means we can’t see either of the drivers.

Is this the cycle repeating all over again? Or, is it time to finally going to focus on herself and get a taxi home?

Whatever your take on Sabrina’s personal choices, if we separate the art from the artist, I’m sure many people would agree that Manchild is set to be a classic.

Every shot is cinematic, complex and soaked in creativity. Despite only being four minutes long, it manages to tell dozens of stories at once. The entire thing feels like those few seconds after you wake up from a dream.

You’re trying to piece together all of these snapshots that made sense in the moment, but afterwards leave you stunned. I’m sure I’m not the only one who would be interested to see behind the scenes.

Cotton Bro Studios from Pexels

It looks like this is Sabrina’s most creative season yet… and I really hope it’s a more ethical one too.

What’s your thoughts on the music video? Let us know in the comments