Sabrina Carpenter and Steve Rogers aren’t two names we’d ever think to associate with each other. But that changed when Sabrina’s newest album, “Man’s Best Friend” came out. The album, which came out on Aug. 29, features 12 songs — including “Manchild” and her newest single, “Tears.” One song, in particular, has been deemed by the internet as Steve Rogers-coded, and they’re absolutely right.
“When Did You Get Hot?” by Sabrina Carpenter is the Ultimate Steve Rogers Song
My TikTok “For You Page” has been flooded with Steve Rogers edits to “When Did You Get Hot?” by Sabrina Carpenter since the album’s release. When I first saw one of the edits, I was both obsessed and upset — obsessed because of my longtime love for Steve and Sabrina, but upset because I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of “When Did You Get Hot?” as a Steve Rogers song!
In “When Did You Get Hot?” Sabrina sings about this realization of a guy she has known transforming from “an ugly kid” to “a sexy man.” Before, she had no romantic interest in the guy. She spends the song exploring this newfound sexual attraction to him. The general idea of the song applies well to Steve Rogers: a sickly, skinny man who transforms into this perfect Super Soldier of a man and becomes Captain America.
Pre-Serum Steve versus Super Soldier Steve
In “When Did You Get Hot?” Sabrina sings the line “You were an ugly kid, but you’re a sexy man.” It’s one of the most important lyrics in the two-and-a-half-minute song. But, to be clear, I’m not calling pre-Super Soldier Serum Steve Rogers ugly. He was just a scrawny guy, and that’s fine! But pre-Serum Steve isn’t considered conventionally attractive by society’s standards. It’s why Captain America: The First Avenger features the Stark Expo double date scene with Bucky Barnes and Steve. It’s why Steve, when told about the date, asks Bucky, “What’d you tell her about me?” He knows no woman is going to be sold on a date with him due to his physical attributes.
When Bucky reasons with Steve that he’s going to be “the most eligible bachelor in New York City,” it doesn’t matter to him. Women don’t find him attractive — especially if he’s next to Bucky. The young woman who’s meant to be on a date with Steve declines his offering of peanuts with disgust, as though she’s offended by the idea of sharing a snack with him. He has no reason to think he’s attractive or has a shot with any woman. That changes after the Super Soldier Serum.
During the “Star-Spangled Man” montage that highlights his USO shows, he shares a moment with a young blonde woman. She says hi and smiles at him, hoping to get his autograph. For a second, Steve is taken aback. Being approached by women is brand new to him, so the encounter literally makes him stop in his tracks. But there’s seemingly a mutual romantic interest between the two. Some fans have implied that Steve lost his virginity to that woman, as revealed in the first episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. The fun fact is telling of how women’s impression of him drastically changed after the Super Soldier Serum.
The Most-Fitting “When Did You Get Hot?” Lines for Steve Rogers
So many of the fun, cheeky lyrics Sabrina writes fit his narrative perfectly. “Congratulations on your new improvements” obviously suits Steve’s physical transformation as a Super Soldier. He’s taller, and his muscular figure is absolutely something to congratulate him for. But, in reference to Steve, it’s also about more than him being hot now.
This once-asthmatic guy can now run with pristine form at an absurdly quick speed. In a practical sense, the scientific feat of Steve’s transformation is a success worth praising, too. After all, Project Rebirth was a risky experiment. That’s partially why, in Captain America: The First Avenger, Colonel Chester Phillips was so critical of Dr. Abraham Erskine choosing Steve for the experiment.
“Can you lift my car with your hand?” is a silly line that holds little legitimacy for a normal person. Asking Steve Rogers that question, however, is valid. He never lifts a car in the MCU, but the helicopter scene in Captain America: Civil War is even better and more impressive! It’s certainly a scene that many fans (this writer included) linger on to admire Steve’s strength and physique.
Meanwhile, “It’s thickening the plot” is used in “When Did You Get Hot?” to describe the sexual potential she sees in Devin, the guy named in the track. He is viewed as a possible solution to her being “So long, untouched.” Interestingly enough, in the first Captain America movie, Steve’s transformation also thickens the plot. It’s the catalyst for the movie — and his life. The Super Soldier Serum changes everything. Steve is suddenly a fit, healthy, strong man, and the U.S. gains a Super Soldier to weaponize against Hydra in World War II.
The Best Steve Rogers “When Did You Get Hot?” Edits on TikTok
From good timing to aligning scenes to lyrics, this edit is an all-around great compilation that shows how well Sabrina Carpenter’s “When Did You Get Hot?” suits Steve Rogers.
Using Dr. Erskine for the “Thank the Lord” line is perfection.
The combination of well-done transitions, timing and graphics makes this Steve Rogers edit almost as much of a standout as Captain America himself!
Peggy Carter’s reaction to Steve after his transformation has always been such a mood, but who knew it could get better when used in reference to Sabrina Carpenter’s “When Did You Get Hot?”
The glazed doughnut. (If you know, you know.) That is all.
Most people can’t relate to the wealthy genius engineer Howard Stark, but his role in the following Steve Rogers edit is the exception.
Confused Bucky is hilariously fitting and makes this edit a hundred times better!
