"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 fourth single after gaining traction on the video-sharing app TikTok. The song became an early signature song in Carpenter's career.^[1][2]

The song drew associations with Ariana Grande's style.^[3][4] An accompanying music video for "Nonsense" was released on November 10, 2022.^[5] Additionally, a sped-up version and a holiday remix, entitled "A Nonsense Christmas", were released.^[6] As of March 2023, the song has reached the top 10 in the Philippines and Singapore, as well as number 36 on the Billboard Global 200 chart. A remix of the song with Coi Leray was released on March 23, 2023.

On June 30, 2022, Carpenter announced the release of her fifth studio album Emails I Can't Send (2022), and unveiled its tracklist on July 5 via her social media accounts, where "Nonsense" was to be the ninth track on the album.^[7] The song was released on July 15, 2022, alongside the rest of the album.

During her Emails I Can't Send Tour and various other live appearances, Carpenter began altering the song's outro while performing it to fit the city she was performing in.^[8] The various ad-libbed moments proceeded to go viral on the video-sharing social media app TikTok.^[9] 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.^[10]

Carpenter released a Christmas version of the song, where she put a "more festive, flirty spin" on various lyrics from the original.^[11]

"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.^[13] 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".^[14] 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.^[15] Globally, "Nonsense" has reached number 73 on the Global 200 chart.^[16]

"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.^[17]

The music video for "Nonsense", directed by Danica Kleinknecht, premiered on her Vevo channel via YouTube on Thursday, November 10, 2022.^[8] 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. Sabrina is shown flirting with her male counterpart, who is wearing a "dipshit" hat.

• Digital download / streaming – Sped Up version

1. "Nonsense" – 2:43
2. "Nonsense" (Sped Up version) – 2:17

• Digital download / streaming – "A Nonsense Christmas"

1. "A Nonsense Christmas" – 2:33
2. "Nonsense" – 2:43

• Limited 7-inch single

1. "Nonsense" – 2:43
2. "A Nonsense Christmas" – 2:33

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

Credits adapted from Emails I Can't Send and single's 7" vinyl liner notes.^[18][19]