We’ve just reached a new chapter in the queer Sabrina Carpenter saga.
This year, the pop princess has had no shortage of She sang on a song with lesbian icon girl in red, covered Chappell Roan’s comphet anthem “Good Luck, Babe!”, worked a Grindr sound effect into her song “Slim Pickins,” and made out with both Jenna Ortega and a “transgender alien” for her song “Taste.”
Now, Carpenter has a new piece of queer lore, but it’s not thanks to her own music. This time, the source is the unlikeliest place of all: Kidz Bop.
For the uninitiated, Kidz Bop takes popular songs, changes any lyrics it deems too mature, and has them sung by a group of children. Given Carpenter’s smash success this year, it’s only natural the group would cover some of her music.
Entertainment with an edge
Whether you’re into indie comics, groundbreaking music, or queer cinema, we’re here to keep you in the loop twice a week.
RelatedAn unexpected but incredible developmentCarpenter’s alien girlfriend quickly became a meme. Now, the internet is obsessed with the human under all the makeup.
That includes Carpenter’s earworm “Espresso,” which is about staying on her lover’s mind all through the night. In an apparent attempt to make the song non-sexual, Kidz Bop swapped the track’s “he” pronouns with “they”s. For example, the first line in the chorus changes Carpenter’s “he’s thinking ‘bout me” to “they’re thinking ‘bout me.” It cuts out the romance — but in the right hands, it could also make for a love song to a nonbinary partner.
The song was released back in August, but the internet’s only just taking notice thanks to a viral TikTok. “Kidz Bop changing ‘he’ to ‘they’ because we all know heterosexuality is inappropriate for kids,” wrote TikTok user Beck (@thebeckening).
Kidz Bop also tackled Carpenter’s “Please, Please, Please,” changing the infamous line “don’t embarrass me, motherf*cker” to “don’t embarrass me or my mother” — which actually might be better than Carpenter’s official clean version of the song, which opts for “don’t embarrass me, little sucker.” Clearly, Kidz Bop is the pop supergroup we’ve been waiting for.
Sign up for the INTO newsletter and get your twice-weekly dose of stories that shape the queer experience, culture, and lifestyle.