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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNearly 30 Years Later, Tracy Chapman’s ‘Fast Car’ Is Still Painfully Relevant
http://www.liberalamerica.org/2015/07/01/nearly-30-years-later-tracy-chapmans-fast-car-is-still-painfully-relevant/Chapman was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1964, and at a young age, she moved with her family to Connecticut, and later attended Tufts University where she studied anthropology and African studies. In 1987, following her happenstance with Charles Koppelman, Tracy signed with Elektra Records and released her eponymous debut album the following year.
From her albums single, Fast Car, Tracy would become a global sensation. She became most exposed by her performances at Nelson Mandelas 70th Tribute Concert, where she performed Fast Car in front a large crowd, and was broadcasted to roughly 600 Million watching the vastly televised event. Tracy would go on to receive immense praise, and won the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for Fast Car at the 1989 Grammy Awards. The song also made its way onto Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Songs f All time, coming in at #167.
The ballad is a gloomy reflection on the struggle of living with poverty. Chapmans voice is one of the most recognizable in the business because of her rich timbre, bluesy flexibility, and deeply honest presentation, according to vocal arts teacher Joanna Cazden.
We've got to make a decision, leave tonight or live and die this way...
bigwillq
(72,790 posts)Love Ms. Chapman. So many great songs.
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)Provokes tears
underpants
(183,043 posts)I'm just kidding! It was a good song ... the first 3,000 times I heard it that year.
Romeo.lima333
(1,127 posts)or better put all the music that is better music that gets ignored
JanMichael
(24,899 posts)Tracy Chapman was on the radio non-stop in the late 80's but since then while some may mean well there have been few popular lefty awesome songs played period.
A bunch of "ums" and "yeahs" (backing up Biggie and Tupac) does not make a Tracy Chapman type of song.
olddots
(10,237 posts)Yup ......
TeeYiYi
(8,028 posts)TYY
JanMichael
(24,899 posts)closeupready
(29,503 posts)Sen. Walter Sobchak
(8,692 posts)Yeah... I have a few opinions about the groom.
Puzzledtraveller
(5,937 posts)Solly Mack
(90,802 posts)mcar
(42,474 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)Wow.
JudyM
(29,294 posts)Onto the scene...suddenly there was such rich music, strong women's voices, it was exhilarating.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)that Melissa had her share of gray hair. Made me feel old (I keep mine buzzed at #3 so it isn't noticeable )
JudyM
(29,294 posts)Nice when women own it, happening more all the time. Seems to make aging a bit less of a social pariah problem, in the way that more people coming out has helped diminish homophobia.
PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)They have been ripped to so many peices so many times since adulthood. Every time I try to rebuild. Every time is more difficult than the last.
jtuck004
(15,882 posts)throw up their hands and work with people that are younger and weaker and less experienced. They teach them all the problems of the adults that went before them and then wring their hands when the kids turn out the exact same way.
Too many lazy people thinking we are gonna breed our way out of this. Ain't gonna happen.
abakan
(1,819 posts)We should hear it.
whathehell
(29,111 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Nevernose
(13,081 posts)As an example of good song writing.
fasttense
(17,301 posts)Not that Tracy Chapman isn't talented. But if Charles Koppleman had not heard her, would she have been so successful? Why are talented artists and others thrown to the wolves of the free market, when bankers and sperm club winners are given a free ride when they have NO talent?
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)places like Passim and the Nameless. So someone was bound to hear her eventually.
daleanime
(17,796 posts)everyone know some one who has/had great talent but was never in the 'right' place.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)MerryBlooms
(11,776 posts)Yeah, what you said.
My dad told me many times- 'The years go faster the older you get, enjoy every moment and stop rushing.'. Boy was he right.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Delphinus
(11,848 posts){chuckle}
zappaman
(20,606 posts)mountain grammy
(26,676 posts)whathehell
(29,111 posts)MH1
(17,635 posts)Her voice is beautiful and her songs are meaningful.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)KingCharlemagne
(7,908 posts)acts on SNL since look like juvenile posers. Chapman takes her place in a long, storied line of American songwriters, stretching back to Stephen Foster.
Facility Inspector
(615 posts)ALL of them look like juvenile poseurs?
That's quite a breathtaking statement.
KingCharlemagne
(7,908 posts)was pretty good. And Paul Simon and the South African ensemble were awesome. Oh yeah, and Prince (and the Artist Formerly Known As).
Also, please do note I said "all the other musical acts since," so really only about 25 years.
Sienna86
(2,150 posts)Still resonates with me today.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)malaise
(269,328 posts)Rec