Hail Country Music’s Chameleon! —Maren Morris Fits In The Halo And The Honky-tonk.
According to Google, Maren Morris stands five foot one. You wouldn’t have known it at the Minnesota State Fair last Friday night.
Morris commanded the stage in a blue dress and heels, and seemed larger than life working through a setlist with more range than a Model S Tesla. Not since the Pandora skit with Bruno Mars on Saturday Night Live,has one singer covered so much ground. And it’s this range that makes Morris so special.
For anyone arriving at the State Fair Grandstand hoping to channel all of the teenage angst of a young adult novel or singalong sleepover. Morris had them covered with “A Song for Everything,” and “Rich.” The former coming complete with a pop quiz, “what’s your time machine? Is it Springsteen or ‘Teenage Dream?’” and enough nostalgia to redecorate your 8th grade locker. The group of high school girls sitting in front of us at the show drinking Peppermint Schnapps out of water bottles appeared to agree as they danced wildly while posting to their socials.
Morris also proved she was more than capable of rocking the Grandstand starting with the searing guitar riff cutting straight across show opener “Girl.” And if that wasn’t enough snarl for the too-cool-for-school high fidelity music snobs in attendance, Morris even made time to mix in “Redesigning Women” from her band The Highwomen. Because let’s not forget that the 31-year old Morris is also the youngest member of an alt-country super group which includes Natalie Hemby, Brandi Carlile, and Amanda Shires. As far as outlaw street cred goes, that’s a purple heart. . . inside a ring of fire. . .with a side of bacon. . .and a Hamm’s chaser.
If you were longing for depth and lyrics, Morris hit those notes too. Morris saved the beautiful and poignant “Bones” for the end of the show, sharing how it had taken on a surprising new meaning with many of her fans during the pandemic. She also thanked her husband, songwriter Ryan Hurd, for “loving someone so messed up.” A sentiment showcased in the lovely “Hell and Back” complete with a chorus that could carve its way into the hardest of hearts:
You didn't save me
You didn't think I needed saving
You didn't change me
You didn't think I needed changing
My wings are frayed and what's
Left of my halo's black
Lucky for me
Your kind of heaven's
Been to hell and back
Morris’ lyrics are riddled with halo references, and throughout the evening it was hard not to be reminded of Beyoncé while watching Morris move mountains vocally on R&B infused songs like “Sugar,” “Takes Two,” and “RSVP.” One couldn’t help but wonder what all the cowboys and cowgirls in attendance were thinking as Morris added an extra helping of fire and brimstone to the intro of “My Church.” By the end of the night Morris had made it quite clear her sonic spectrum went all the way to the stained-glass shattering levels usually reserved for Alicia, Ariana, and Queen Beyoncé herself.
But perhaps Morris’ most convincing gear is the super-pop she’s capable of generating in the form of songs like “80s Mercedes” and “The Middle.” Throughout the show Morris consistently served up bubble gum pop as big and irresistible as Katy Perry riding a lion in a halftime show or Harry Styles eating watermelon and croissants on the beach. Morris had the entire crowd pointing and singing, “I’m a 90s baby in my 80s Mercedes.” It didn’t matter your demographic on Friday, everyone was defenseless against Morris’ “Billions Served” brand of Super Target super-pop. Not since Warhol forgot to recycle a soup can have we experienced commerce this irresistible. Don’t believe me, spend the next 4:55 watching Morris hold court on “80s Mercedes.” This is the sort of pop that moves units, and leaves grown men wondering what it would feel like to walk in heels (wait, what?!).
Yes, anyone that had a ticket to Maren Morris on Friday night, had moments where it felt more like they were at a Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, or Ariana Grande show. Things were genre fluid, as Morris’ set spanned outlaw country, bubblegum pop, and R&B. I left the show feeling like I had seen four or five concerts in one. And here’s the thing about Maren Morris, I liked them all.
