Have Mercy

I am not sure what is in the water in the United Kingdom, but the Pond is churning out Soul (RnB) singers faster than Motown. You have:

• Corinne Bailey Rae
• Terri Walker
• Amy Winehouse
• Lemar
• James Morrison
• even Natasha Bedingfield.

Well, let me add Duffy to that list. She is a 23 year old* Welsh soul singer-songwriter. Duffy has been racking up number 1s on the UK charts. Many people are comparing her with Amy Winehouse, but they do not sound the same to me. (No one confuses Aretha Franklin with Mavis Staple!)

She sounds like she has been under the tutelage of Aretha Franklin (that is a lot of tutelage) and the Stax Records catalog. Her voice sounds like she has been honing the soul. She sings deeply, yet effortlessly.

It would be nice to see more young American artists singing in the Soul tradition. Unfortunately, these singers are not as popular as they should be. The music industry must realize the reason why sales are down because it keeps on pumping out mediocrity.

Anyway, check out Duffy, tell me what you think of her style and sound.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE2orthS3TQ%5D Mercy

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQNFzgdFfzA%5D Cover of The First Cut is the Deepest

* If she is 23, I am 21 and a half.

Listen Up,

Mix Maven