Can't Blame a Girl for Trying is the debut extended play (EP) by American singer Sabrina Carpenter. It was released by Hollywood Records on April 8, 2014. The EP produced two singles, "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying" and "The Middle of Starting Over" and peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Heatseekers charts.
Background and release Prior to 2012, Carpenter began releasing various independent promotional singles. She became heavily involved with The Walt Disney Company in 2012, starring in the Disney Channel series Girl Meets World, and making various appearances on Disney soundtracks, including that for Disney Fairies: Faith, Trust And Pixie Dust and the soundtrack to Sofia the First. In 2013, Carpenter signed a five album record deal with Disney-owned Hollywood Records.
On March 14, 2014, Carpenter released her debut single "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying". The song was co-written by American singer Meghan Trainor who had previously recorded the song for her album Title (2015) and performed it at the Durango Songwriter's Expo in 2012.
Content and music
The EP begins with the title track, described by Carpenter as a song about being foolishly in love that "perfectly described being a 13-year-old girl and being a teenage girl". The song is followed by "The Middle of Starting Over", which was compared to Taylor Swift's work.
Promotion "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying" was released as the lead single from the EP on March 14, 2014. The song premiered a day earlier on Radio Disney. The music video premiered on March 28 and won a Radio Disney Music Award for Best Crush Song.
"The Middle of Starting Over" was released as the EP's second single in July of the same year, and available on August 19, 2014. The music video premiered on September 21. A lyric video was also released on August 19 and featured various scenes of her playing with her sister, Sarah Carpenter.
Carpenter performed both songs at the 2014 Radio Disney Music Awards. She also performed acoustic versions of both songs on Perez TV in September 2014.
Critical reception Upon release, the EP garnered generally positive responses. Dolph Malone of Headline Planet praised the EP "from a marketing standpoint", praising the song "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying" which was co-written by Meghan Trainor, calling it "even more valuable from a musical standpoint". She added that the song Trainor wrote "possesses the same self-awareness and same intimate, conversational approach that fuels Trainor's own hits". Billboard writer Monique Melendez praised the lyrical content of the EP and their relatability to Carpenter's generation. A Kid's Point of You writer Anna Marie praised Carpenter's "flawless" vocals, opining that the EP has an "undeniably sophisticated edge, and an effortless ability to inspire listeners".
Accolades Award Recipient Year Category Result Radio Disney Music Awards "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying" 2015"XOXO – Best Crush Song"
Commercial performance Upon release, the EP peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Heatseekers charts, earning 12,000 album-equivalent units.
Track listing
Notes signifies a co-producer signifies an additional producer signifies a vocal producer
Credits and personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of Can't Blame a Girl for Trying.Can't Blame a Girl for Trying liner notes [CD] Hollywood Records (2014)
Studios
Sherman Oaks, California Los Angeles, California Gordon Studio DK Bernie Grundman Mastering
Production
Sabrina Carpenter – vocals Brian Gardner – mastering Brian Malouf – drum programming ; production, mixing, keyboards Chris Thompson – engineering Jim McGorman – glockenspiel, hand percurssion ; acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass ; co-production, piano, keyboards Robb Valler – co-production, backing vocals Marc Slutsky – drums Daniel Kalisher – mandolin Michelle Moyer – backing vocals Matt Squire – production, mixing, all instruments Steve Tippeconic – additional production, all instruments Scott Harris – additional production Larry Goetz – all instruments, engineering John Gordon – production, mixing, programming, guitars, piano, additional instruments Sune Haansbaek – mixing, additional guitar Julie Frost – vocal production Kim Thomsen – drums Mikkel Riber – bass
Design
Rebecca Miller – photography Anabel Sinn – art direction, design Enny Joo – art direction Dave Snow - creative director
Charts Chart (2014–2015) Peakposition US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) 16
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)LabelUnited StatesApril 8, 2014Hollywood
References