Sabrina Carpenter’s and Chapelle Roan’s sexy pop hits have roots in the bedroom ballads of Teddy Pendergrass and Philly soul

By: Jared Bahir Browsh, University of Colorado Boulder, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: December 9, 2025

Words: 1,583

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Jared Bahir Browsh, University of Colorado Boulder

When Sabrina Carpenter’s provocative 2024 pop single “Bed Chem” plays on the radio, and I hear the lyrics

“But I bet we’d have really good bed chem / How you pick me up, pull ‘em down, turn me 'round / Oh, it just makes sense / How you talk so sweet when you’re doing bad things”

it reminds me of a song released 45 years …

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