Dance diva Pepper MaShay‘s output has been wildly uneven over the years.

On the one hand are giant floor-fillers like “Dive In The Pool,” “I Got My Pride,” “(You And Me) Feels So Good,” and “Lost Yo Mind,” while the other hand counts clear-the-club moments like “I Pledge” (as in the Pledge of Allegiance) and “Little Drummer Drama” (a tribal tweak on “Little Drummer Boy”). I assume her heart was in the right place on the former (expanding upon the classroom recitation), and hope the paycheck was fat enough for the latter. Oh, and let’s not forget “Manhunt” (yep, inspired by that site.) It’s really on these novelty tracks that the material never quite measures up to MaShay’s talent.

MaShay has turned out club covers of others’ songs too, also with varying results. Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” (with Colton Ford) was decent enough, though the re-do of Reel Life’s “Send Me An Angel” wasn’t so heaven sent. Setting off on Aretha Franklin’s “Freeway Of Love” could have been a total wreck, but MaShay sounds quite comfortable taking the wheel from the Queen of Soul. It’s a total joyride.

Thankfully, MaShay’s latest trip to the dancefloor, a cover of Kings Of Leon’s “Use Somebody” is a keeper too. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that I’ve got major love for the original, and the numerous takes that followed in its successful wake. I’d probably find it hard to turn off a Kidz Bop version. (I just checked, and oh dear Jeebus, it exists. Scratch that.)

MaShay’s soulful voice is a good match for the desire at the heart of “Use Somebody,” and I appreciate producer Carlyle Barriteau’s nod to the song’s rock roots by the inclusion of prominent guitar in his Original Mix. I also love the “I’m ready!” bits in the bridge at the 3:20 mark:

Purchase Pepper MaShay – “Use Somebody” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.