Duffy may be a double chart-topper in the UK but she’s still completely unknown in the US. So much so that despite stamping her feet the pretty star was refused entry to R.E.M.’s tiny South By Southwest show in Texas.

The veteran rockers played to their smallest audience for more than a decade at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q in Austin, on Wednesday and the Welsh songbird was determined to see them. But unimpressed door staff didn’t recognise her and sent her packing despite her pleading to be let in.

In a bid to build her profile Stateside the soul star has re-shot the video to her No1 single Mercy. The original promo takes place in a 1970s northern soul club and record label bosses feared the US audience wouldn’t get the reference.

So they’ve shelled out thousands for a brand-spanking new video that should set her well on the way to stardom across the pond.