28 February 2008
The title and chorus lyric of ‘Mercy’ feel unfortunate since Duffy revealed the appalling ordeal she subsequently endured. (Content warning for that link: genuinely traumatic events.) Anyway, despite only topping the Irish charts for two non-consecutive weeks this was one of the biggest songs of 2008. A work client of mine even used it that summer as their hold music, which was unfunny then and feels even more so now. So, this will be a thought exercise of placing myself back in 2008 to consider this song without the subsequent context.
‘Mercy’ clearly pays homage to Northern soul, the name English people of a certain age give to obscure ’60s US uptempo soul-pop singles, imported and fetishised by ’70s nightclub DJs, that weren’t originally hits because they weren’t as good as prime Stax, Atlantic or Motown product but you’re not supposed to say that last bit out loud. The track’s excessive reverence is at the cost of any modern spark or invention; Duffy and collaborator Steve Booker do the job perfectly well but ultimately I’m reminded of the generic soundalike pop you hear piped in Tesco. Maybe I just don’t get the Northern soul thing.
