Martina McBride is following up her biggest hit in over five years with another big hit … for someone else, a year ago. Train‘s ‘Marry Me’ gathered significant airplay on adult contemporary stations in 2010 and 2011 and sold over a million singles. The ‘I’m Gonna Love You Through It’ singer adds nothing new to the arrangement.

Pat Monahan’s raw, nervous vocals are what made the original so appealing. His performance was vulnerable, and still is, though to a lesser degree. McBride’s voice is confident and quite perfect. Unfortunately, those emotions don’t match this story of falling in love from a table away.

Marry Me / Today and every day / Marry Me / If I ever get the nerve to say “Hello” in this cafe / Say you will,” each of them sing in the chorus.

The pairing is intriguing at best, but Monahan is overshadowed by the country songbird. Who wouldn’t be, really? To his credit, the Train lead singer has penned a beautiful love song that will surely find a place at many (more) wedding receptions.

Together can never be close enough for me / Feel like I am close enough to you / You wear white and I’ll wear out the words I love you / And you’re beautiful,” Monahan sings during the song’s second verse.

Country fans are smart enough to recognize a re-gift. There’s nothing wrong with releasing a cover song as a single, but it’d better come with a unique perspective and perhaps the advantage of nostalgia. ‘Marry Me’ has neither.

2.5 Stars
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Listen to Martina McBride, ‘Marry Me’

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