Music

Sabrina Carpenter’s career began with a cover of one of Taylor Swift's early hits. Notably, the song in question has become more controversial in recent years.

Published on June 26, 2024

Sabrina Carpenter’s songs don’t sound much like Taylor Swift‘s. Despite this, the “Please Please Please” singer began her career with a cover of one of Swift’s early hits. Notably, the song in question has become more controversial in recent years. These days, it’s a bit difficult to find the original version of the track.

Taylor Swift and Sinead O’Connor songs were part of Sabrina Carpenter’s early career

During a 2021 interview with Interview Magazine, the “Espresso” singer was asked how she found her way into the entertainment industry. “I was nine and I started posting covers on YouTube, which is where I started to build a fan base,” she recalled. “I signed with my first label when I was 12.” 

The “Nonsense” singer was asked if she could remember the first song she covered for her YouTube channel. “I think it was ‘Picture To Burn’ by Taylor Swift,” she recalled. “I told her that when I met her. She was like, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re a true fan.’ And then it was a lot of Sinead O’Connor, Patsy Cline, [and] Etta James.” Carpenter’s YouTube channel paved the way for her to appear in Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World, The Hate U Give, and the stage musical Mean Girls. Afterward, she became a pop star in her own right.

Sabrina Carpenter had some guilt about being on The Eras Tour

During a 2023 interview with Grammy.com, Carpenter was asked how she felt about opening for Swift on The Eras Tour. “It’s a really surreal thing,” she explained. “I covered one of her songs when I was nine years old and definitely, throughout my life, she was an artist and a songwriter and businesswoman who I’ve always admired. So to call her a friend and be a part of something as iconic as this tour, I still can’t process it.

“I’m still on the tour into next year and have been learning as much as I can along the way,” she added. Carpenter got to watch Swift’s show over and over. She felt bad about that because so many people who wanted to see the show couldn’t. Talk about luck! 

The controversy surrounding Taylor Swift’s ‘Picture to Burn’

“Picture to Burn” has a lot of sass, but the original version of the song is dated in some regards. The song initially had a line where Swift threatened to spread false rumors that a man was gay. Some listeners felt that line was humorous and unserious, while others felt it was homophobic. Subsequent versions of “Picture to Burn” removed the lyric, and it’s been censored from the music video. Versions of “Picture to Burn” with the controversial line are now a collector’s item.

“Picture to Burn” was a modest early hit for Swift. It peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 20 weeks. The song appeared on the album Taylor Swift. It reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and has spent 284 weeks on the chart so far. While Taylor Swift probably isn’t Swift’s defining album, it set her down the path to greatness.

“Picture to Burn” had some questionable word choices but, without the song, we might not have Carpenter’s incredible career.

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