Bed Chem

"Bed Chem" is a song by American singerSabrina Carpenterfrom her sixth studio album,Short n' Sweet(2024). Carpenter wrote it with songwritersJulia MichaelsandAmy Allenand its producers,John Ryan,  andIan Kirkpatrick.Island Recordsreleased the song to UScontemporary hit radioon October 8, 2024, as the album's fourth single. Musically, “Bed Chem” is a synthesizer-backedpop,synth-pop,disco, andR&Bsong. The lyrics detail Carpenter's attraction to a man, which leads her to imagine satisfying sexual encounters with him.
Some music critics were positive about "Bed Chem", while others considered it unoriginal and criticized the sexual lyrics. In the United States, the song debuted at number 14 on theBillboardHot 100. It reached the top 10 in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The song wascertifiedplatinum in Canada and the United States. Carpenter included "Bed Chem" on theset listof her fifth concert tour, theShort n' Sweet Tour(2024–2025).
In January 2021,Sabrina Carpentersigned a recording contract withIsland Records.She announced that she was working on her sixth studio album in March 2024, exploring new genres and expecting that it would herald a new chapter in her life.In anticipation of her performance atCoachella, Carpenter announced that a single called "Espresso" would be released on April 11, 2024.The song was a surprise success, becoming her first number one single on theBillboardGlobal 200chart and her first song to enter the top 10 on theBillboardHot 100.She followed this with "Please Please Please" in June, which reached number one on theBillboardHot 100.
Preceding an official announcement, billboards bearing tweets about Carpenter's height began appearing throughout New York City.On June 3, 2024, she announced the album, titledShort n' Sweet, and revealed its cover artwork.The track list was revealed on July 9, 2024; "Bed Chem" appeared as the album's sixth track.It became available fordigital downloadandstreamingon August 23, 2024.Island Recordsreleased the track to UScontemporary hit radiostations as the album's fourth single on October 8, 2024.The song was also released on the7-inchvinyl format on January 10, 2025.
"Bed Chem" is 2 minutes and 51 seconds long.It was recorded at the Perch inCalabasas, California, Juicy Hill Studios inthe Bahamas, and the Playpen in Calabasas, California. Ryan and Kirkpatrick produced andprogrammedthe song. They played drums, guitar, keyboards,percussion, and bass, and theyengineeredit with Jeff Gunnell. Nathan Dantzlermasteredthe song with assistance from Harrison Tate, andSerban Gheneamixedit at MixStar Studios inVirginia Beachwith engineering from Bryce Bordone.Carpenter wrote the song "Bed Chem" with songwritersJulia MichaelsandAmy Allenand its producers,John RyanandIan Kirkpatrick.
"Bed Chem" is apop,synth-pop,disco,andR&Bsong. Critics viewed influences of music from the1980sand the2010sin the song.Its production incorporates aG-funk-influenced whistleand synthesizers, which were described as "sexy honeymoon synths" byPitchfork's Quinn Moreland and "sunshine synths" byThe Line of Best Fit's Tanatat Khuttapan.Carpenterdeadpansthe line "Come ride on me, I mean camaraderie".Paste's Grace Robins-Somerville summarized "Bed Chem" as containing "Future Nostalgia-eraDua Lipadisco pastiche, the riffs-over-diction sigh-singing popularized byAriana Grande, [and] aSwiftianpre-chorus".Billboard's Jason Lipshutz described the song as "a dreamy flirtation full of pinpoint vocals, personal touches, sexual innuendos and melodies".
Paper'sErica Campbell stated that she felt the song highlighted Carpenter's sultry side. Describing its conception, Carpenter jokingly stated that, "there was a lot of steam in the studio. It was real hot and heavy". Carpenter noted that she wanted to "write a song both sexy and lighthearted". She cited American singerChristina Aguileraas an inspiration for the song, stating that the song's retro vibe was influenced by Aguilera and other music she grew up listening to.
The title of the song, "Bed Chem", is shorthand for "bedroom chemistry",and its lyrics revolve around Carpenter feeling an intense attraction to a man, leading her to imagine satisfying sexual encounters with him.Sputnikmusic's Sowing interpreted this as a potential pun where Carpenter may be asking the subject to "cum" (ejaculate) on her.During the bridge, Carpenter fantasizes that the encounter would probably turn out to be even better than her imagination, describing that they would "arrive at the same time" and set the temperature of the thermostat to69.The song contains multipleeuphemismsabout penis sizes.
"Bed Chem" contains descriptions of the first time Carpenter met the subject, with lyrics stating that she was in a "sheer dress" and he donned a white jacket. Carpenter also sings that he had "wide, blue eyes" and a "thick accent".Some journalists analyzed Carpenter's then-boyfriend Irish actorBarry Keoghanas the potential subject.Elle's Maya Ernest perceived several references to Keoghan,and Dylan Kickham ofElite Dailyopined that Carpenter "made the muse of [the song] incredibly clear", adding that the song is "all about her boyfriend Barry Keoghan's prowess in the bedroom."Keoghan later stated that the song was his favorite fromShort n' Sweet.
Some critics were positive about "Bed Chem". Campbell picked the song as a highlight onShort n' Sweet.Lipshutz ranked it fourth among the twelve album tracks, stating that it has "melodies strong enough to be main hooks that then lead into even better melodies".He andSlate's Carl Wilson both believed that the titular phrase would gain common usage as slang.Others questioned if the song was too unoriginal.NME's Rhian Daly thought it was "moulded inAriana Grande's image".While Robins-Somerville praised Carpenter's vocal performance, he was negative about the song's resemblance to the work of other artists and believed the pre-chorus could have been copied from multiple Taylor Swift albums.
The sexual nature of "Bed Chem" received critical commentary.Capital's Sam Prance thought that in the context of Carpenter "being unashamedly horny in her music", she had "outdone herself" with the song.Wilson believed that it and the track "Juno" were some of the "horniest" ones on the album.Rolling Stone'sRob Sheffieldpraised the rhyme about camaraderie as "Shakespearean", whileThe Daily Telegraph's Neil McCormick considered the pun "too rude to print".In a negative review, Sowing used it as an example while stating that the song is "overflowing with awkward puns".
Nylonincluded "Bed Chem" in their list of the seven best songs of its release week, with Sofia Ante stating that Carpenter was "at her most charming — cheeky, seductive, and impossible to resist — that'll leave you blushing for three full minutes"."Bed Chem" was placed on a critical list of the best songs of 2024 at number eight byThe Independent.
"Bed Chem" debuted at number 14 on the USBillboardHot 100issued for September 7, 2024.The song received a platinumcertificationfrom theRecording Industry Association of America.In Canada, it entered at number 17 on theCanadian Hot 100issued for the same date and was certified platinum byMusic Canada."Bed Chem" debuted at number nine on theUK Singles Chartand peaked at number six after four weeks.The song received a silver certification in the United Kingdom from theBritish Phonographic Industry.
In Australia, "Bed Chem" peaked at number 10 and became Carpenter's fourth top-10 song.The song reached number nine in New Zealand and was certified gold byRecorded Music NZ.It charted at number 14 on theBillboardGlobal 200.Elsewhere, "Bed Chem" reached national record charts at number 5 in Ireland,number 10 in Singapore,number 30 in Portugal,number 47 in Greece,number 65 in Sweden,and number 82 in Nigeria.It received a gold certification in Portugal.
Carpenter included "Bed Chem" on theset listof her fifth concert tour, theShort n' Sweet Tour(2024–2025).The performance begins with the words "parental discretion is advised" being displayed on a screen,and Carpenter sings the song on an onstage bed.Towards the climax, a man from her entourage enters with a camcorder and they undress behind shutting curtains as the lights gradually fade to darkness. According to theChicago Tribune's Bob Gendron, this is "a clichéd way to suggest maturation".At the tour's stop inCharlottesville'sJohn Paul Jones Arena, cameras captured Keoghan giving a dizzy expression and hiding his face with his pass during the "Bed Chem" performance, drawing media attention.
Credits are adapted from theliner notesofShort n' Sweet.