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Sue Me
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"Sue Me"
Single by Sabrina Carpenter
from the album Singular: Act I
ReleasedNovember 9, 2018 (2018-11-09)
RecordedSeptember 2017
StudioSuCasa Recording (Los Angeles, California)
Genre
Length2:59
LabelHollywood
Songwriters
ProducerOak Felder
Sabrina Carpenter singles chronology
"Almost Love"
(2018)
"Sue Me"
(2018)
"On My Way"
(2019)
Music video
"Sue Me" on YouTube

"Sue Me" is a song recorded by American singer Sabrina Carpenter from her third studio album Singular: Act I (2018), serving as the fourth track of the album. The track was written by Sabrina Carpenter and Steph Jones and was produced by Warren "Oak" Felder with its co-producers, Trevor Brown, William Zaire Simmons. The song was released by Hollywood Records as the second single from Singular: Act I on November 9, 2018 and was released to contemporary hit radio on January 8, 2019. Lyrically, "Sue Me" is about the relief of being out of a bad relationship and challenging someone to stop them for living their best life.[3]

It was accompanied by a music video directed by Lauren Dunn premiered on her Vevo channel on November 16, 2018. The music video features Carpenter's friend and actress Joey King and Sergio D'arcy Lane and it was shot at Pepperdine University. Carpenter promoted "Sue Me" with several live performances in the release day, on The Today Show and on Live with Kelly and Ryan.

Background and recording

[edit]

Carpenter wrote the song after she was sued by her ex music managers Stan Rogow and Elliot Lurie for allegedly not paying them commissions after she fired them in August 2014. They claimed that they should have some of the revenue from Carpenter's previous two albums Evolution and Eyes Wide Open. Carpenter has confirmed this is the background, but has not commented on the situation.[4] On May 23, 2018, the ruling was filed in favour of Carpenter and allowed recovery of legal costs from Rogow and Lurie.[5]

Carpenter also stated this song as representing pure confidence.[6] Carpenter said that "Sue Me" was the first track that was giving a direction to the album because it was in a different lane than the other songs that she had written before.[7]

The song was written in September 2017, after Carpenter concluded the De Tour, by Sabrina Carpenter, Warren "Oak" Felder, Steph Jones, Trevor Brown and William Zaire Simmons.[7][8][9] It was produced by Felder with Brown and Zaire Koalo as co-producers.[8] Felder, Brown and Koalo did the background vocals while Felder programmed the track and Koalo handled the drum programming.[8] Felder engineered the track at SuCasa Recording in Los Angeles with Keith "Daquan" Sorrells serving as an assistant engineer.[8] The song was mixed by Eric J Dubowsky at Hercules St. Studios in Sydney and Tim Watt served as a mix assistant.[8] The song was mastered at Sterling Sound in New York City by Chris Gehringer.[8]

Music video

[edit]

Carpenter first premiered a snippet of the music video on November 9, 2018, on TRL. The music video was released through Vevo and YouTube on November 16, 2018. It was directed by Lauren Dunn and Carpenter's friends Joey King and Sergio D'arcy Lane feature in the music video.[10] The music video was shot in one day at the Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, the same campus that Zoey 101 was shot.[7][11] According to the video's hair stylist, Scott King's Instagram story, the video was shot on August 17, 2018.[12] It is said that this video is based on Legally Blonde as it has very similar storylines, characters and features, but Carpenter has not yet confirmed if this is the background.[13] On December 14, 2024, the music video was deleted and re-uploaded. Within hours, the re-upload was taken down and the original upload of the video was put back up on December 16, 2024.[14]

Live performances

[edit]

Carpenter first performed the song on November 9, 2018, on The Today Show[15] and Live with Kelly and Ryan.[16] It was fourteenth to be performed on the Singular Tour. Additionally, she performed the song on Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series.[17]

Track listing

[edit]
Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Sue Me"2:59
Digital EP – remixes[18]
No.TitleLength
1."Sue Me"2:59
2."Sue Me" (KC Lights remix)3:22
3."Sue Me" (6am Remix)2:54
4."Sue Me" (Marian Hill remix)3:37
5."Sue Me" (Dave Audé remix)3:50
Digital download – a cappella[19]
No.TitleLength
1."Sue Me" (a cappella)3:22

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Recording and management

  • Recorded at SuCasa Recording (Los Angeles, California)
  • Mixed at Hercules St. Studios (Sydney, Australia)
  • Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)
  • Seven Summits Music (BMI) obo Itself and Pink Mic Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Songs LLC/Crew's Tree Publishing (BMI), Vistaville Music (ASCAP) obo Itself, Not That Steph Jones (ASCAP) and Big Deal Hits (ASCAP), Reservoir Media Music obo Itself & The Orphanage LLC/Quest Da Stars (ASCAP), Reservoir Media Music obo Itself & The Orphanage LLC/Downtown Trevor Brown (ASCAP)

Personnel

Credits adapted from Singular: Act I liner notes.[8]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[23] Platinum 70,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[24] 2× Platinum 80,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[25] Gold 15,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[27] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various November 9, 2018 Digital download Original Hollywood [6]
Australia Contemporary hit radio [28]
United States January 8, 2019 Hollywood [29]
Various January 18, 2019 Digital download Remixes [30]
Italy January 25, 2019 Contemporary hit radio Original Universal [31]
Various March 22, 2019 Digital download A cappella Hollywood [32]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
"Sue Me" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter for her third studio album, Singular: Act I (2018). Released on November 9, 2018, through as the album's second promotional single, the track serves as its fourth song and blends pop and R&B elements in an uptempo, empowering narrative about post-breakup confidence. A directed by Lauren Dunn premiered on November 16, 2018, depicting Carpenter in a stylized courtroom scenario where she exudes unapologetic sass and independence, reminiscent of Legally Blonde's . The song was co-written by Carpenter alongside Steph Jones, Warren "Oak" Felder, Trevor Brown, and Zaire Koalo, with production handled by Felder (known as ), Brown, and Koalo. Lyrically, "Sue Me" confronts a former partner with bold defiance, highlighting themes of self- and moving on from , as Carpenter sings lines like "Sue me for being the girl you used to be" to underscore her refusal to dwell on regret. Critics praised its anthemic mid-tempo vibe and Carpenter's vocal delivery, noting it as a standout moment of poised closure on the album, though some observed its similarities to contemporary empowerment tracks like Demi Lovato's "Sorry Not Sorry."

Background and development

Concept and songwriting

"Sue Me" was inspired by a real-life filed against in September 2017 by her former music managers, and , who alleged she owed them commissions after terminating their services. The case was eventually dismissed, but the experience prompted Carpenter to channel her frustration into an empowering pop-R&B track about post-breakup confidence and defiance, though framed in a broader narrative of moving on from toxicity. Carpenter co-wrote the song with Steph Jones, Warren "Oak" Felder, Trevor Brown, and Zaire Koalo during sessions for her third studio album, Singular: Act I, in 2017–2018. In a 2018 AMA, she explained that writing "Sue Me" helped clarify the album's direction, emphasizing themes of self-empowerment and unapologetic independence. The lyrics blend sass and humor, drawing from personal experiences to create an anthemic statement of resilience.

Recording process

Recording for "Sue Me" took place at SuCasa Recording in , , as part of the broader production for Singular: Act I in 2018. Production was handled by Felder (credited as ), , and Koalo, who crafted the uptempo pop-R&B sound with layered vocals and rhythmic elements to match the song's bold energy. Carpenter's vocal performance was recorded to highlight her confident delivery, with mixing and mastering completed to ensure a polished, radio-ready finish. The track's development focused on balancing its empowering message with accessibility, resulting in a runtime of 2:59 that captures the song's confrontational yet playful vibe.

Composition and lyrics

Musical elements

"Sue Me" is a pop and R&B song with trap influences, characterized by an uptempo rhythm and anthemic production. The track follows a standard pop structure of verses, pre-choruses, choruses, a bridge, and an outro, running at 157 beats per minute (BPM) in the key of F♯ major, which contributes to its confident and energetic mood. The instrumentation features lush synths, crisp percussion, and subtle trap beats that drive the , with a soaring in the chorus amplified by choir-like echoes. Produced by Warren "Oak" Felder, Trevor Brown, and Zaire Koalo, the arrangement emphasizes Carpenter's , from playful verses to bold, brassy escalations in the chorus, creating a dynamic and empowering sound.

Thematic content

Lyrically, "Sue Me" centers on themes of self-empowerment and defiance following a , with Carpenter confronting a toxic ex-partner through sassy, unapologetic declarations. The song draws inspiration from a real 2017 lawsuit filed against her by former managers and over unpaid commissions, transforming personal adversity into an anthem of resilience and moving on. Key lyrics highlight this narrative, such as the chorus "Sue me for being the girl that got away / No, you can't sue me," which mocks the ex's and asserts . In the verses, lines like "I know you wish that we could rewind / But, baby, I'll be leaving you behind" underscore themes of closure and , positioning the track as a poised response to relational toxicity. Critics noted its similarities to empowerment pop tracks like Demi Lovato's "Sorry Not Sorry," praising the mid-tempo vibe and Carpenter's confident delivery as a standout on Singular: Act I.

Visuals and promotion

Music video production

The music video for "Sue Me" was directed by Lauren Dunn and filmed at . The concept features a stylized aesthetic, with Carpenter dressed in pink outfits reminiscent of Legally Blonde's , exuding sass and independence. It includes her friend and actress as a co-star, emphasizing themes of empowerment and defiance through dance sequences and confrontational scenes. The video premiered on and on November 16, 2018.

Live performances and choreography

"Sue Me" debuted live on on November 9, 2018, where Carpenter performed with confident vocals highlighting the song's empowering lyrics. She also appeared on the Today show on November 10, 2018, delivering an energetic rendition. The song has been a staple in Carpenter's concerts, including the Emails I Can't Send Tour in 2022, Chicago in 2023, and Hangout Fest in 2023, often featuring with sharp, sassy movements that match the track's uptempo pop-R&B vibe. Performances emphasize vocal delivery and audience interaction, adapting for festival and arena settings.

Commercial performance

Chart performance

"Sue Me" achieved moderate success on various Billboard charts in the United States following its release as a promotional single on November 9, 2018. The track debuted on the Dance Club Songs chart and steadily climbed, ultimately reaching number one for the week ending April 20, 2019, marking Sabrina Carpenter's first chart-topper on that ranking. It spent a total of 15 weeks on the chart, reflecting strong support from DJs and club play. Additionally, "Sue Me" entered the Pop Airplay chart at number 40 in early 2019 and peaked at number 31, maintaining a presence for 12 weeks and demonstrating radio airplay appeal among pop audiences. In the United States, the song was certified Platinum by the (RIAA) on July 7, 2025, for 1,000,000 units consumed (sales + streaming equivalents).
Chart (2019)Peak PositionWeeks on Chart
US Dance Club Songs ()115
US Pop Airplay ()3112
Overall, "Sue Me" maintained a chart presence for several months primarily through dance and pop formats, bolstered by Carpenter's promotional performances on shows like Live with Kelly and Ryan, which helped extend its visibility.

Certifications and sales

The official for "Sue Me" on has amassed over 65 million views as of November 2025.

Release and formats

Track listing

"Sue Me" was released for digital download and streaming as a promotional single on November 9, 2018, through Hollywood Records. The single features the standard version of the song with a duration of 3:25. It appears as the fourth track on Carpenter's third studio album, Singular: Act I, which was released on the same date in digital and physical CD formats. No standalone physical single was issued, but the song is included on the CD edition of the album. A remix EP, Sue Me (Remixes), featuring versions by KC Lights, Taska Here, and Whethan, was released digitally on January 18, 2019.

Release history and personnel

"Sue Me" was released digitally worldwide on November 9, 2018, coinciding with the album Singular: Act I, by , a label under . The physical CD version of the album followed on December 11, 2018, in the United States. The song was written by , Steph Jones, Warren "Oak" Felder, Trevor Brown, and Zaire Koalo. Production was handled by Felder (as OAK), Brown, and Koalo. Additional credits include:
  • – lead vocals, songwriter
  • Warren "Oak" Felder – songwriter, production, engineering
  • Trevor Brown – songwriter, production, background vocals
  • Zaire Koalo – songwriter, production, drums, background vocals
  • Steph Jones – songwriter
  • Eric J. Dubowsky – mixing
  • John Hanes – engineering for mix
No re-releases beyond the 2019 remix EP have occurred as of 2025.
FormatDateLabelRegionCatalog
Digital download, streaming 9, 2018WorldwideN/A
CD (album)December 11, 2018N/A
Digital download (remixes)January 18, WorldwideN/A

References

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