Don’t You Lose Your Halo

Maren Morris “Girl”

Maren Morris sings with a confident, bold voice that fits comfortably in a range of mainstream styles – country, EDM pop, rock – the way a good vanilla ice cream pairs well with most any dessert. There’s a little bit of twang in her voice, and a dash of soulfulness, and a trace of attitude. She doesn’t have a lot of character, but she can sell a big feeling. “Girl,” a country rock power ballad she wrote with the increasingly prolific producer Greg Kurstin, is a pep-talk anthem that makes the most of vocal gifts. The contours of the song show off different aspects of her voice – grit on the verses, warmth on the bridge, and a go-for-broke passion on the chorus. It would not be surprising if this was deliberately written as a vocal showcase, and as such, I’m pretty sure this will eventually be a karaoke hit. It’s got all the right dynamics, and the utility of lyrics that express a genuine love and concern for a woman who’s down on her luck.

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