Why are U.S. music fans so skeptical of every Next Big Thing from England? Is it because of the hype generated by the British press? England's quirky tastes? Too many one-hit wonders? Too many acts that just don't translate here?

It was easy to be skeptical Thursday night about the Twin Cities debut of Duffy, 24, whose "Rockferry" is the biggest-selling album in England this year. She had no history of performing in clubs after being discovered on Wales' version of "American Idol" in 2003. Earlier this year, she received mixed reviews for her U.S. performances at Coachella, South By Southwest and the Apollo Theater. And there's been quite a bit of backlash in Britain.

The first night of her first formal U.S. tour at First Avenue left this first impression: intriguing voice, cool retro sound and striking presence, but unnatural, affected performing style and too many midtempo tunes.

The 65-minute, '60s-flavored performance would have been more effective in grainy black-and-white, but Duffy was all red, white and blond. She had glossy red high heels, lips and earrings to go with her short, poufy white sundress (think Marilyn Monroe in "Seven-Year Itch") and long blond hair in a ponytail (think a leggy Kristen Chenoweth). Her songs mostly sounded like 1960s soul and girl-group pieces, her echoey, girlish but potent voice enveloped in a wall of sound (think Dusty Springfield with Lulu's voice).

Duffy (born Aimee Ann Duffy) received an enthusiastic reception from the full house at First Avenue, but her flirty performance was very mannered. She was a mixture of fetching wholesomeness and coy coquette. She paraded around the stage like a burlesque dancer, acting out her songs, twirling her microphone cord more like a take-it-off stripper than the Who's Roger Daltrey. Then she would strike a pose at song's end: Side to the audience, head cocked back and hands frozen in a fanciful dance. Everything she did onstage seemed calculated and self-conscious.

Musically, Duffy's songs seemed geared more for the radio than the stage. "Warwick Avenue," her second hit in England, was a seductively retro Southern ballad, defined by its lazy bass line. It was one of the few times when she sang a song instead of acted it out; same thing happened with her rendition of the '60s soul chestnut "Cry to Me." The night's big payoff, of course, was the U.S. and U.K. hit "Mercy," a foot-stomping '60s soul workout and the only truly uptempo tune in her set.

However, one terrific song does not the Next Big Thing make -- even if the singer is from England.

For set list and fan comments, go to www.startribune.com/poplife. Jon Bream • 612-673-1719