is an unreleased outtake from Sabrina Carpenter ’s 2019 two-part album project, Singular . Recorded during the sessions for Singular: Act II , the track explores themes of public perception and the pressures of fame, drawing a direct parallel between Carpenter's own experiences and the iconic image of Marilyn Monroe . Background and Theme
While Singular: Act I focused on outward confidence and empowerment, Act II was designed to be "upside down," leaning into vulnerability and the "weaker side of yourself". "Marilyn" fits this shift, reportedly examining the "blonde bombshell" trope and the emotional toll of being "yanked around" by industry and relationship expectations. Singular: Act II (2019).
Monroe serves as a symbol of beauty mixed with tragic vulnerability, a recurring motif Carpenter later revisited for her Man's Best Friend album artwork, which explicitly referenced a 1957 photo of Monroe and Arthur Miller.