Violet Records

Release Date: January 24th 2024

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Rachel Platten– Mercy (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

1. Mercy

Rachel Platten has always been an artist I’ve admired since her debut breakout powerful radio single “Fight Song”. Since 2015, both my brother Jon and myself have been impressed, immersed in, and excited about every single release of hers- her album Wildfire was even the first ‘mainstream’ album we as a site reviewed (you can read it here), and we as a site went on to review Waves as well. I also dived deep into Rachel’s art and music as part of my own top 50 Up-and-Coming artists list (of which can be seen and read here). Jon reviewed Rachel’s debut independent single “Soldiers” in 2020; and all in all, this emotive and powerful singer has been a breath of fresh air, reminding us all that you don’t necessarily have to be as popular as Ed Sheeran or Taylor Swift or Justin Bieber, to make something that matters. Rachel’s fame and popularity will always come back to “Fight Song” rightly or wrongly. And unfortunately, or even fortunately, “Fight Song” will be the song that Rachel will be remembered for, at the end of the day. But after 2 and a half years of radio silence, Rachel is back. “Girls” released in 2023 (which we reviewed here, and we concluded that regardless of if this song is part of a bigger unreleased project or not, the song speaks volumes about the love Rachel has for her daughters in light of Mother’s Day. It’s a beautiful and emotional track, and one that is a standout in 2023 so far. But the song that has released since… blows “Girls” right out of the water!

I wrote ‘Mercy’ alone in my studio in the middle of the night, during the darkest part of a very painful battle with my mental health. I ran to my piano and banged on the lower register and let out a guttural cry, ‘oooh mercy,’ I can’t take anymore, please stop this pain. The darkness felt so big, but this almost joyful music was coming out of my voice and piano keys. The chords were triumphant, the wail of ‘oh mercy’ was so wounded and yet so raw and soulful, like the rock and roll I grew up loving: Janis Joplin, Elvis, Susan Tedeschi and Sheryl Crow were with me that night as I channeled this answer to my pain. It came all at once, so fast that I had to try to catch the words as they spilled out of me.

I wrote this song alone on my piano in the middle of one of the hardest nights of my life. Writing it was medicine for me, it healed me to just to sing the huge chorus over and over. It reminded me of the light in the dark and how both can exist at the same time.

The quasi-worship/inspirational/’spiritual’ song “Mercy” released this past January, and it has been a revitalising and reinvigorating track- with Rachel almost crying out to God to help her in her time of pain and suffering. A confessional type of prayer where I’m certain God wrote all of the words, and Rachel was just the vessel; this melody is extremely cathartic to Rachel, and no doubt will be healing for all of us who feel as if we’re at the end of our rope. And as Rachel cries out to ‘mercy’; can I encourage any and all of you to cry out to God, to the One who can comfort and the One who is our refuge and shelter?

Rachel has a new album releasing sometime this year or next year. One article claims that it is releasing this May. But whenever it releases, or even if it does get delayed, there’s still something special and beautiful about this song. “Mercy” is directed to anyone who feels stuck, and encourages us to pray to God and to trust Him for the answers to all of our questions. With Rachel Platten’s song being an advocate to actively making a difference in the world by being honest and vulnerable and reaching out to people and to God when we need to; “Mercy”, like “Girls”, is a must listen if you feel down in the dumps and need and a pick-me-up. Well done, Rachel. I don’t know what the future holds for you. But I’m so very eager to find out! Bring on the next album!

Score: 5/5

RIYL: Tori Kelly, Britt Nicole, Blanca, Cimorelli, Taylor Swift, Colbie Caillat