# Nonsense (song)

"Nonsense" is a song by American singer Sabrina Carpenter from her fifth studio album, Emails I Can't Send (2022). Carpenter wrote the track with Steph Jones and Julian Bunetta; the latter also handled its production. Originally released alongside the album as its ninth track, "Nonsense" became the album's fifth single after gaining traction on the video-sharing app TikTok. It became known as one of Carpenter's signature songs along with 2024's "Espresso".
The song drew associations with Ariana Grande's style. An accompanying music video for "Nonsense" was released on November 10, 2022. Additionally, a sped-up version and a holiday remix, entitled "A Nonsense Christmas", were released. The song peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Global 200 chart and reached the top 10 in various countries. A remix of the song with Coi Leray was released on March 23, 2023.

## Background and release

On June 30, 2022, Carpenter announced the release of her fifth studio album Emails I Can't Send and unveiled its tracklist on July 5 via her social media accounts, where "Nonsense" was to be the ninth track on the album. The song was released on July 15, 2022, alongside the rest of the album.
"Nonsense" has been described as a pop, bubblegum, and R&B song with a sound reminiscent of Ariana Grande. Carpenter released a Christmas version of the song, where she put a "more festive, flirty spin" on various lyrics from the original.
During her Emails I Can't Send Tour and various other live appearances, such as Saturday Night Live, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, Carpenter began altering the song's outro after the original last lyrics "How quickly can you take your clothes off pop quiz?" to reference the city or the event where she was performing. There are usually three sentences for the special outros in each city or concert. Performing in her hometown of Philadelphia, she sang:
This crowd is giving me all the endorphins.
I wish someone would rearrange my organs.
Philly is the city I was born in!
The various ad-libbed moments went viral on the video-sharing social media app TikTok. The song's virality, along with having become an immediate fan-favorite off Emails I Can't Send, led Carpenter to choose "Nonsense" as the album's next single.

## Accolades

Awards and nominations for "Nonsense" :
| Organization | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
| iHeartRadio Music Awards | 2024 | Best Lyrics | Nominated | |

## Commercial performance

"Nonsense" initially debuted at number 8 on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, an extension of the Billboard Hot 100, on the chart December 24, 2022, and spent 3 weeks on the chart. On the chart dated January 28, 2023, "Nonsense" debuted at number 75 on the Hot 100, becoming the album's first single to chart and earning Carpenter her second career entry after her 2021 single "Skin". The song debuted on the Mainstream Top 40 at number 35 on the chart January 28, 2023. It later entered the top 10 of the chart at number 10 on the week dated May 20, 2023, marking Carpenter's first top ten hit on the format. During the tracking week of its chart debut, the track received over 5.82 million on-demand streams in the United States alone, which was a 66% spike from its previous week in streaming data. Globally, "Nonsense" reached number 35 on the Global 200 chart.
"Nonsense" initially debuted at number 69 on the UK Singles Chart, on the chart January 26, 2023 (week ending), entering the top 40 a week later at number 32. This became Carpenter's second UK top 40 single following "Skin" which peaked at number 28 in February 2021.

## Music video

The music video for "Nonsense" was directed by Danica Kleinknecht and filmed on October 26, 2022. It premiered on Carpenter's Vevo channel via YouTube on November 10, 2022. The music video has Carpenter, as well as her friends, played by Paloma Sandoval and Whitney Peak, going to a party. There they meet a trio of boys, which are played by the actresses themselves. Carpenter is shown flirting with her male counterpart, who is wearing a "dipshit" hat.

## Track listing

* Digital download / streaming – Sped Up version
* "Nonsense" – 2:43
* "Nonsense" (Sped Up version) – 2:17
* Digital download / streaming – "A Nonsense Christmas"
* "A Nonsense Christmas" – 2:33
* "Nonsense" – 2:43
* Limited 7-inch single
* "Nonsense" – 2:43
* "A Nonsense Christmas" – 2:33

## Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Emails I Can't Send and single's 7" vinyl liner notes.
Recording and management
* Recorded at Enemy Dojo (Malibu, California)
* Mixed at Henson Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)
* Mastered at Sterling Sound (Edgewater, New Jersey)
* Sabalicious Songs (BMI), Music of Big Family/Dragon Bunny Music (BMI) administered by Hipgnosis Songs Group, Vistaville Music (ASCAP) obo itself and Steph Jones Who Music (ASCAP) and Hipgnosis Hits (ASCAP)
Personnel
* Sabrina Carpenter – lead vocals, songwriting
* Julian Bunetta – songwriting, production, recording, programming
* Steph Jones – songwriting, backing vocals
* Josh Gudwin – mixing
* Heidi Wang – mix engineer
* Will Quinnell – mastering

## Certifications

Certifications for "Nonsense" :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 3× Platinum | 210,000$^‡$ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) | Diamond | 160,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | 3× Platinum | 240,000$^‡$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 2× Platinum | 60,000$^‡$ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | Gold | 25,000$^‡$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Gold | 30,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Platinum | 600,000$^‡$ |
| United States (RIAA) | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000$^‡$ |
| Streaming |||
| Central America (CFC) | Gold | 3,500,000$^†$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. $^†$ Streaming-only figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

Release dates and formats for "Nonsense" :
| Region | Date | Format | Version | Label(s) |
| Various | November 14, 2022 | Digital downloadstreaming | Sped-up | Island |
| Various | December 7, 2022 | Digital downloadstreaming | Christmas remix | Island |
| Various | March 23, 2023 | Digital downloadstreaming | Coi Leray remix | Island |
| United States | December 19, 2022 | Contemporary hit radio | Original | IslandRepublic |
| United States | November 18, 2023 | 7-inch | Urban Outfitters Exclusive | Island |
| Italy | December 13, 2024 | Radio Airplay | Christmas remix | Island |