We first heard 21-year-old Margaret Durante on “Use Somebody,” a cover of Kings of Leon’s 2008 pop/rock mega-hit. Since then, she’s signed on with Emrose Records, an imprint of James Stroud’s Stroudavarious Records, where she’s gearing up for the release of a seven-song EP.
The first single from that EP is “Mississippi’s Cryin,” the Shelly Fairchild/Stephony Smith co-write that first appeared on Emily West’s self-titled 2007 EP.
Following in Emily West’s footsteps is no easy task. While West has yet to snag her big break, the “Rocks In Your Shoes”/”Blue Sky” singer has one of the finest voices—and is one of the greatest talents—to find its way to Nashville in a generation. So, it’s to Durante’s advantage that most of the world has never heard West’s version of this song, if only because West has a way of stamping everything she sings as her own.
In some ways, however, Durante’s take on “Mississippi’s Cryin’” is more effective than West’s, despite the fact that West has a more refined, more powerful and more expansive voice.
This is a relatively quiet song that explodes into a huge, soaring chorus, and Durante’s performance is controlled and focused where West’s was unwieldy. Durante smartly avoids trying to do too much with a chorus that tempts singers to go full-throttle, choosing instead to settle in and let her voice compliment the song. And while she doesn’t endow the lower tones with as much warmth or color as West, she shines when the song kicks into high gear—a smoky texture is still audible even when her voice climbs into its upper register.
From a production standpoint, however, Durante’s performance suffers from a relatively loose mix that does little to hide the fact that at times, her voice sounds a bit thin. It’s not, but parts of the recording fail to capture the full spectrum of her vocal character. Especially in the verses, her vocal sounds muddier than it should.
Although these problems are minor, they create a sense that this recording is a notch below its major label counterparts.
Still, there’s a lot to love here. Durante is a real talent, and her take on “Mississippi’s Cryin’” is quite an achievement.
I cannot believe a new start up label is banking on this gal to become successful on Top 40 AirHead Country Radio! He singing voice and style while quite competent don’t strike me as anything special, and most importantly she wasn’t a finalist on American Idol!
I personally prefer Emily West’s overwrought version (but then again I like some of Meatloaf’s songs as well) over Margaret’s more subdued approach. I like artists that tend to sound different and unique, and Emily fits that category a whole lot better than Margaret does. I prefer artists that get a bit “out there” as long as they don’t take it too far!
If there is only room for one new solo female at Top 40 country radio, I’d much rather it be a true country talent like Sunny Sweeney rather than Margaret Durante! Sorry Margie, them’s the breaks…
Um, Rick, Sunny Sweeney isn’t new. Just because she’s finally catching on in a few more mainstream areas doesn’t mean she hasn’t been around. Do a little research (not that she should need it, with all the videos she’s had and her amazing gem of a job on covering “16th Avenue” – on her FIRST album, which came out several years ago). Anyway, I think your comparing of the two is a little uncalled for – it’s not an either/or situation.
I prefer Emily’s version too – but that could be because I prefer Shelly’s version and Emily’s is closer to that than this one is. Still, decent job and this artist deserves credit for knowing a killer song when she finds one. I wish Shelly and Stephony would have success with it already!!! So if this is the version that does it then so I be it, I suppose.
Notice how Rick said that he liked Sunny. She’s “new” because she’s made little in-roads on country radio, which is exactly what he said. I can tell from his other comments at The9513 and this site that he knows a lot about Sunny.
Pretty much, there’s a lot to criticize about Rick, but this isn’t one of them.
I have really been getting into this song lately. I think it has great lyrics. While Margaret’s voice may not be the most distinctive, I still think she does a fine job of channeling the emotion in this song.
Not sure about all the comparisons but am sure that this girl can sing. Really like the song and especially dig her voice. Heard some of Margaret’s other work and that is very good as well. “Mississippi’s Crying” is a winner!