I Am So Popular: I'm Begging You For Mercy

Editor’s note: The views expressed in I Am So Popular are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the outlook or beliefs of anyone else in the IST network. “Well,” I asked Chris, upon the conclusion of the recent Austin City Limits taping of Duffy, “what did you think?” “I wanted to like her…” he said, trailing off. Bingo and ditto. Oh how I wanted to like the young Brit with the big pipes and the hit song Mercy. But oh how, during her short performance, did I find my mind drifting to the critical place. Now, there was a time in my life when being critical and sarcastic was high priority. It’s part of my grew-up-in-Jersey legacy—greet everyone with suspicion and resent others for success that you determine is truly undeserved while wondering how your own talents, which are far, far greater, have slipped... [read full story]