Live Review: Sabrina Carpenter – 5th July 2025 – BST Hyde Park, London, UK

Sabrina Carpenter is quickly carving out her space in the modern pop sphere, propelled by chart-toppers like Espresso and a burgeoning online persona that straddles the line between bubblegum-pop sweetheart and tongue-in-cheek provocateur. Her latest appearance at London’s Hyde Park as part of the BST concert series was a hotly anticipated one – so much so that she sold out not just one but two nights. But while the show delivered plenty of glitz, humour and earworms, it also raised more than a few eyebrows along the way.

The setup was undeniably impressive: a towering stage wrapped in pristine white, spiral staircases, and a shimmering “SC” sign centre stage – all set to the theme of a mock television broadcast dubbed SC News London. This clever idea allowed for playful commercial breaks, tongue-in-cheek commentary and a TV-style structure that guided the setlist. But despite the polished concept and production value, the show often felt at odds with its audience which was predominantly made up of young kids and their parents.

Carpenter kicked things off with Busy Woman, emerging beneath the glowing white structure in a red one piece that sparkled and was embroidered with the singers first name. A surprise early performance of Taste had fans screaming at an era-deafening level through the park, with parents hoisting young children onto their shoulders to see the action. But this moment of sweetness soon gave way to a stark tonal shift.

Tracks like Good Riddance — complete with the blunt lyric “I don’t give a fuck about you” -offered up a confusing experience as six-and seven-year-olds around us sang along to every word. Later, Carpenter cheekily remarked, “There are a couple of you here, isn’t there?” while looking over the audience, which only highlighted the elephant in the room: the jarring disconnect between the highly sexualised material and the youthful demographic she’s known to attract.

The show’s more provocative moments escalated as the night went on. During Bed Chem, Carpenter performed on a bed that transformed into a red-light orgy scene with her dancers, blending into a mash-up with Ginuwine’s Pony. That was followed by Juno, during which the singer encouraged the crowd to join her in shouting “I’m so fucking horny” – complete with the word “HORNY” displayed in big bold letters across the main screen. While perhaps intended as cheeky, it came off as misjudged given the sea of families in attendance and parents looking quite awkward as their kids played along.

Musically, there were bright spots. The acoustic-leaning Slim Pickins provided a gentle moment, though there were noticeable hints of a backing track helping the singer perform on top of. Manchild, a new cut from Carpenter’s forthcoming album, was a standout in the set — her playful banter (“Damn, nobody showed up!”) proving her charisma is on top form. Meanwhile, her rendition of The Weather Girls hit It’s Raining Men added some nostalgic flair and gave her backing dancers a moment to shine during a retro-themed dance-off.

There were moments of genuine connection too: Don’t Smile saw Carpenter lifted high above the general admission crowd on a crane, capturing the sea of fans with a camera feed that fed live to the overhead screens. Closing with the inescapable hit Espresso, she toasted the crowd with an espresso martini before fireworks burst into the sky – a fittingly grand finale.

Yet beneath the glitter and charm, there’s a noticeable tension between style and substance. Sabrina Carpenter is undeniably growing into a more mature persona, but her live show sometimes leaned more on shock value than musical depth. Her charisma and stage presence are undeniable – she captivates an audience and knows how to put on a show, don’t get me wrong – but occasionally, the flashy production seemed designed to mask uneven vocals.

Last night’s BST Hyde Park show was a bit of a mixed bag. For die-hard fans, it was pure pop perfection, with Sabrina Carpenter shining like a true star. For some others – especially parents tagging along or bringing younger children along to their first concert – it might’ve made for a few awkward conversations afterwards. While a great star and showgirl, between this show, her Brit Award performance and the controversial cover of her upcoming album, I’d say it times to tone things down a little and take notice of the fans right in front of your eyes.

Setlist:
Busy Woman
Taste
Good Graces
Slim Pickins
Manchild
Coincidence
Sharpest Tool
because i liked a boy
It’s Raining Men (The Weather Girls cover)
Nonsense
Couldn’t Make It Any Harder
Feather
Bed Chem
Juno
Please Please Please
Don’t Smile
Espresso

Brendon Veevers

::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald.
Brendon manages and coordinates the amazing team of writers on RenownedForSound.com who are based in the UK, the U.S and Australia.