LOS ANGELES – June 6, 2025 — Sabrina Carpenter released her new single Manchild on Thursday evening, drawing strong early reactions and positioning the track as a possible contender for this year’s Song of the Summer. While the official music video won’t debut until Friday morning, fans are already praising the song’s catchy beat and sharp lyrics — though its message might not sit well with every listener.
In an Instagram post, Carpenter shared that Manchild was written on what she called “the best random Tuesday” with longtime collaborators Jack Antonoff and Amy Allen. Antonoff also co-produced the track.
“Not only was it so fun to write,” Carpenter wrote, “but this song became something I can look back on that will score the mental montage to the very confusing and fun young adult years of life. It sounds like the song embodiment of a loving eye roll and feels like a never-ending road trip in the summer.”
She closed her message with gratitude to her fans — and a pointed jab at the song’s likely inspiration. “Thank you always and forever for listening,” she wrote, adding, “And thank you men for testing me!!”
Manchild follows the tone of Carpenter’s recent singles, including Please, Please, Please, with playful but cutting commentary on disappointing love interests. The song opens with a retro synth riff, then dives into humorous but biting lines:
“Manchild, why you always come a-runnin’ to me? / Fuck my life, won’t you let an innocent woman be? / Never heard of self-care / Half your brain just ain’t there…”
She adds with ironic flair, “I like my boys playin’ hard to get / And I like my men all incompetent.”
A teaser video and the song’s digital cover show Carpenter hitchhiking in the desert wearing high heels and short shorts, offering fans a glimpse of the full video, which premieres Friday at 10 a.m. ET.
While no formal announcement has been made about a new album, Manchild is widely believed to be the lead single from Carpenter’s upcoming seventh studio release. However, Carpenter’s post emphasized the song’s summer vibe rather than confirming any full-length project — a likely move to temper expectations, as the deluxe edition of her last album remains a Billboard 200 mainstay.
Carpenter is expected to debut the track live during her Primavera Sound set in Barcelona on Friday, echoing her surprise Espresso performance at Coachella last year.
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