Mallary Hope – “Blossom In The Dust”
Songwriters: Mallary Hope, Joseph Doyle and Jon Henderson
In the shadows of current darlings Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood – and, of course, resurgent queen Reba McEntire – the bandwidth for new female country artists of late has proven extremely narrow. While recent debut efforts from Justin Moore and Easton Corbin have raced up the charts, women such as newcomer Mallary Hope struggle to make an impact.
In fact, the singer probably received more attention for a YouTube duet with Taylor Swift, where the pair performed a karaoke version of Lambert’s “Gunpowder and Lead” at a Nashville Christmas party, than her July 2009 radio debut “Love Lives On.” Though the video’s audio is shoddy, Hope emerges as the dynamic powerhouse voice to Swift’s pantomiming and slinky dance moves – an advantage that bears little weight in the genre’s current climate.
Despite these challenges, Hope makes a valiant second effort with new single “Blossom in the Dust.” From its starting verse, the MCA Nashville artist sets a lifelike scene by contrasting her protagonist’s shoddy upbringing with her hopeful, spring-like name: “There’s a single-wide trailer past the railroad tracks/Old car in the front, weeds in the back/Mama had her there when she was sixteen years old/Took one look at her and named her Rose.”
Unfortunately, however, comparisons to Martina McBride – which are warranted, as both can hit extended high notes and employ a patented girlfriend-to-girlfriend, conversational tone – also apply to their shared affinity for heavy-handed songs that ascribe to the frying pan to the head school of thought: Lyrics such as “Oh, sometimes the only way to overcome a circumstance/Is someone giving someone else a fighting chance” sag under their own weight, a contrast to the song’s upbeat, radio-friendly production.
While the flower metaphor doesn’t quite reach the heights of similarly themed songs such as Waylon Jennings’ (and, more recently, Willie Nelson and Chris Young) “Rose In Paradise,” Hope manages to elevate what could have been just a run-of-the-mill Girl Power tune with nice details that support its feel-good empowerment. If the brunette is meant to break through the genre’s current crop of blondes, “Blossom on the Dust” may be a seed in the right direction.
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April 11, 2010
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March 25, 2010 at 11:41 am
i really like her voice. got the song on itunes. hope she does well
March 25, 2010 at 1:24 pm
I can only agree with PLAIN_Jo. Her voice is great and I heard she also works a lot on it. I love the song which is up tempo and not quite as depressing as her last song.
March 25, 2010 at 1:35 pm
…after hearing this, i wouldn’t waste a minute to get her as an opening act, however, only if i was a headliner with truly excellent vocal abilities. combine this voice with decent material and you’d have to shoot her to prevent this young lady from becoming a star.
March 25, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Her voice is absolutely beautiful, refreshing and pure. She is going places and this single deserves its fighting chance on country radio. She’s going places.
March 25, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Mallary Hope has a beautiful voice, enjoyed the song,”Blossom in the Dust” just as I did her song “Love Lives On”.
March 25, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Excellent voice. sparkling personality. genuine and down to earth.. So much talent.. this girl is really going places.. God has blessed her with a beautiful voice and she has the right attitude to let it take her to wonderful degrees in life.
March 25, 2010 at 3:14 pm
I think this song is a testament to true song writing. Her songs touch on real emotions and real situations. I hope to see Mallary go far!
March 25, 2010 at 3:26 pm
I love to listen to her sing. She has a beautiful voice, sparkling personality,loves her family and helping people. I can’t wait for her to reach the top and take the Tiger by theTail!! Good Luck Mallary!!
March 25, 2010 at 3:29 pm
She has a great voice and is building a loyal fan base. It helps knowing her parents and what kind of people she and her family are. She definitely has my family’s support!
March 25, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Mallary is amazing! She is so talented and always positive…I wish her the best!!
March 25, 2010 at 4:11 pm
I agree with most of your review except the part about the bridge. I think the bridge is the meat of the song and is place that we are reminded of the hope that can come from someone helping someone else out. I have heard her tell the story behind this song that it is about a girl she went to school with named Rose. She is a strong song writer and vocalist and this song should do well for her on Radio. If Radio does what it should then I think you will be hearing a lot more from this talented young lady.
March 25, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Reading her background info you find this young artist has been working on song writing,singing,performing,since childhood.She,when 9, announced she would be on the Grand ole Opry by the time she was 25,and made it there last fall,at 22.Drive, heart,talent,put here where she is today,on her way.Blossom in the Dust touches all who know someone in Roses’s situation.Loves Lives ON,her 1st single,was a true story about her sister and brother n law,who’s in the military.Most every family has someone they know serving, so that one hit home too thousands of military families.Can’t wait to see what she brings to the table next.We’ll keep comparing her to Martina,and she’ll keep showing us we’re so right.Good luck to this young talent,move over blondes, the brunette has arrived in Nashville
March 25, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Mallory has such a beautiful soothing voice! Look out Martina, you’ve got some serious competition!
March 25, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Mallary’s voice is so pure,and her talent brings out the emotional story in her songs.She sings from her heart and soul,like Elvis,with true feeling.Give her a chance country radio,she needs your support as the new kid on the block.She has support from family and friends,it shows,and radio needs to let the rest of the world hear her talent as an accomplished song writer, and singer.Good luck to a smalltown Georgia girl.Mallary get an album on the shelves!There’s quite a few of us waiting for it.
March 25, 2010 at 4:38 pm
If Easton Corbin could break the radio barrier by sounding like George Strait, why not Mallary by sounding like a less emotionally expressive Martina McBride? Mallary has a nice voice but its a vocal style I find totally disengaging. But then I’ve never cared for Martina McBride either….
March 25, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Mallary has a great voice and I love her new song. I think she is going to go far through her tallent and proven ability to work at what she loves.
March 25, 2010 at 6:05 pm
…the last thing i expected was finding myself in the middle of the lobby. which way to the elevators, please?
March 25, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Mallary Hope is a breath of fresh air! Absolutely love her voice! It is so refreshing to see someone write & sing honest and true songs that are reflective of her own life. If people are not touched by Mallary’s music and story, there must be something wrong with them. THIS is music!
March 25, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Mallary Hope is awesome!She makes you feel like she wrote each song just for you. She has the voice of an angel. God bless you!! You will be a big star one day! Keep up the good work…we all love you!!!
March 25, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Mallary has a strong, beautiful tone to her voice that just makes you want to roll down the windows and sing along! Her songwriting style has a way of making you feel connected to the story. Isn’t that what country music is all about?
March 25, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Saw Mallary last Sunday at a concert in Virginia. Seemed to be the first time she had performed at a larger venue, she did a great job. Hope her second single does well, I really liked the first one.
March 26, 2010 at 11:28 am
Love Mallary Hope, Been following her career for many years now. Saw her at the Grand Ole Opry this past October and at the Tivoli Theatre in March with Montgomery Gentry, Randy Houser, Luke Bryan and Kelly Lovelace, they were in awe of her vocals and she sang along with them all!! Mallary cares about people! and takes care of her fans!!!
There is no stopping this girl! She is a blessing to many, including myself~~ no stopping this girl!
March 26, 2010 at 12:56 pm
I like her voice. Checked out a few of her songs on youtube and liked them. If my radio station in Atlanta puts her songs on their playlist, I’ll request them for sure!
March 26, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Mallary’s voice is beautiful and she has a God given talent. She will go places and we will be watching it take place.
March 27, 2010 at 1:01 am
This is an AMAZING song! Wishing Mallary a great, well deserved career ahead. REMEMBER TO REQUEST!
March 27, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Excellent song, love her voice, can’t wait to see her live.
May 4, 2010 at 12:17 am
I wish songs like this and Blue Sky will dominate the charts. :)