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Can't Blame a Girl for Trying

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"Can't Blame a Girl for Trying (song)" redirects here. For a complete overview of her discography, see Sabrina Carpenter discography.
Can't Blame a Girl for Trying
EP by
Sabrina Carpenter
ReleasedApril 8, 2014 (2014-04-08)
Recorded2013–2014
Studio
GenreTeen pop
Length12:58
LabelHollywood
Producer
Sabrina Carpenter chronology
Can't Blame a Girl for Trying
(2014) 		Eyes Wide Open
(2015)
Singles from Can't Blame a Girl for Trying
  1. "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying"
    Released: March 14, 2014
  2. "The Middle of Starting Over"
    Released: August 19, 2014

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

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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.[1][2] In 2013, Carpenter signed a five album record deal with Disney-owned Hollywood Records.[3][4]

On March 14, 2014, Carpenter released her debut single "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying".[5] The song was co-written by American singer Meghan Trainor who had previously recorded the song for her album Title (2013) and performed it at the Durango Songwriter's Expo in 2012.[6]

Content and music

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"Can't Blame a Girl for Trying"
A 25-second sample of the chorus of "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying", an acoustic guitar-driven midtempo folk pop song with pop influences.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

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".[7] The song is followed by "The Middle of Starting Over", which was compared to Taylor Swift's work.[8] The songs are followed by the songs "White Flag" "Best Thing I Got".[citation needed]

Promotion

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Singles and live performances

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"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.[5] The music video premiered on March 28 and won a Radio Disney Music Award for Best Crush Song.[9]

"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.[10] The music video premiered on September 21.[11] A lyric video was also released on August 19 and featured various scenes of her playing with her sister, Sarah Carpenter.[12]

Carpenter performed both songs at the 2014 Radio Disney Music Awards.[13] She also performed acoustic versions of both songs on Perez TV in September 2014.[14]

Critical reception

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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".[15] She added that the song Trainor wrote "possesses the same self-awareness and same intimate, conversational approach that fuels Trainor's own hits".[15] Billboard writer Monique Melendez praised the lyrical content of the EP and their relatability to Carpenter's generation.[16] 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".[17]

Accolades

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Award Recipient Year Category Result Ref.
Radio Disney Music Awards "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying" 2015 "XOXO – Best Crush Song" Won [9]

Commercial performance

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Upon release, the EP peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Heatseekers charts,[18] earning 12,000 album-equivalent units.[19]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Can't Blame a Girl for Trying"
Brian Malouf2:49
2."The Middle of Starting Over"
3:32
3."White Flag"
  • Squire
  • Steve Tippeconic[b]
  • Harris[b]
3:18
4."Best Thing I Got"
3:19
Total length:12:58
Notes
  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer
  • ^[c] signifies a vocal producer

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Can't Blame a Girl for Trying.[20]

Studios

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  • Sherman Oaks, California (Cookie Jar Recording)
  • Los Angeles, California (SOMD Studio, The Lair)
  • Gordon Studio DK
  • Bernie Grundman Mastering

Production

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  • Sabrina Carpenter – vocals (all tracks)
  • Brian Gardner – mastering (all tracks)
  • Brian Malouf – drum programming (1); production, mixing, keyboards (1, 2)
  • Chris Thompson – engineering (1, 2)
  • Jim McGorman – glockenspiel, hand percurssion (1); acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass (1, 2); co-production, piano, keyboards (2)
  • Robb Valler – co-production, backing vocals (2)
  • Marc Slutsky – drums (2)
  • Daniel Kalisher – mandolin (2)
  • Michelle Moyer – backing vocals (2)
  • Matt Squire – production, mixing, all instruments (3)
  • Steve Tippeconic – additional production, all instruments (3)
  • Scott Harris – additional production (3)
  • Larry Goetz – all instruments, engineering (3)
  • John Gordon – production, mixing, programming, guitars, piano, additional instruments (4)
  • Sune Haansbaek – mixing, additional guitar (4)
  • Julie Frost – vocal production (4)
  • Kim Thomsen – drums (4)
  • Mikkel Riber – bass (4)

Design

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  • Rebecca Miller – photography
  • Anabel Sinn – art direction, design
  • Enny Joo – art direction
  • Dave Snow - creative director

Charts

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Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[18] 16

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label
United States April 8, 2014
Hollywood

References

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  1. ^ "Smile: Sabrina Carpenter: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
  2. ^ "Sofia The First Soundtrack Makes Its Royal Debut On Walt Disney Records". MarketWatch. February 12, 2013. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
  3. ^ Cullins, Ashley (August 2, 2017). "'Girl Meets World' Star Sabrina Carpenter Sued by Ex-Music Managers". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  4. ^ Hibberd, James (January 31, 2013). "'Boy Meets World' spin-off casts Riley's best friend". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 26, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Check Out Sabrina Carpenter's New Single "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying"". Fanlala.com. March 15, 2014. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  6. ^ "Meghan Trainor & Al Anderson "Can't Blame A Girl For Trying" 2012 DURANGO Songwriter's Expo/SB". YouTube. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  7. ^ "Sabrina in minute 1:45". YouTube. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  8. ^ Pike, Jade (April 4, 2025). "Sabrina Carpenter Released 5 Albums Before Short N' Sweet: Here Are All Of Them, Ranked". Screen Rant. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Radio Disney Music Awards Winners". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  10. ^ "Sabrina Carpenter Facts, Quotes, Pictures and Interview with teen.com". Teen.com. November 8, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  11. ^ "Sabrina Carpenter – The Middle of Starting Over (Official Video)". Vevo. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  12. ^ "Sabrina Carpenter – The Middle of Starting Over (Official Lyric Video)". YouTube. 19 August 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  13. ^ "Sabrina Carpenter performing "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying" at the Radio Disney Music Awards 2014". YouTube. April 27, 2014. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  14. ^ "Sabrina Carpenter – "Can't Blame A Girl For Trying" (Exclusive Perez Hilton Acoustic)". YouTube. September 15, 2014. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  15. ^ a b "Sabrina Carpenter is the Right Kind of Great on "Eyes Wide Open;" Review". Headline Planet. 14 April 2015. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  16. ^ "6 Songs You Didn't Know Meghan Trainor Wrote". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  17. ^ "Music Review: Can't Blame A Girl For Trying (EP)". YouTube. August 25, 2014. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  18. ^ a b "Sabrina Carpenter Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Heatseekers Albums for Sabrina Carpenter. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  19. ^ Caulfield, Keith (April 24, 2025). "Billboard 200 Chart Moves: Little Big Town Returns to Top 20 in 'Girl Crush' Rush". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023.
  20. ^ Can't Blame a Girl for Trying liner notes [CD] Hollywood Records (2014)
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