Okay, “Mercy” immediately reminds me of Amy Winehouse which, in my humble opinion, is not a good thing. I understand Amy’s appeal, but I really don’t like her or her sound. However!–I actually do like the opening of “Mercy.” The 70s electric organ working in the background, Duffy’s strong vocals, and a good arrangement make the single immediately appealing.
The refrain itself gets my feet tapping and I’m drawn into the song by Duffy’s unique and likable voice. She has a polished, dry voice with a good range. A great stripdown of the song to just the drums and her voice provides a nice marcato before ending in a morendo (I’m exploring my music dynamics lingo so that I can add to my vocabulary and move beyond “it sounds cool because it gets quiet).
Grade: B+