Tracy Chapman performed her wildly popular song “Fast Car” at the Grammys with Luke Combs last month. Combs’ cover of the song earned him a nomination for Best Country Solo Performance at the 2024 Grammys.

“Fast Car” originally came out 35 years ago. Last year, Combs, a country musician, released his version of the 1988 Tracy Chapman track. The rendition began topping the charts and finally earned him a spot among the Grammy nominees. While he eventually lost out to Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse,” the duet rocked the crowd at Los Angeles’ Crypto Arena.

Tracy Chapman Today

Chapman and her music have long embodied the spirit of Black resistance. Her music recently resurfaced across social media platforms — just in time for Black History Month.

Her duet with Luke Combs at the Grammys has garnered more than 5.1 million views on YouTube. The video is making waves on Instagram, amassing numerous shares and views. This is not the first time her music has gone viral on social media. In April 2015, Chapman performed her rendition of Ben E. King’s hit “Stand By Me” on the Late Show with David Letterman. The performance racked up more than 1.3 million views on YouTube.

Tracy Chapman’s songs have forever echoed the spirit of revolution, one that can connect with audiences across time and space. It is perhaps why she became the first Black songwriter to win a CMA award in the 56 years since the award started. All thanks to “Fast Car.”

A Note on Her Life and History

Tracy Chapman stepped into the music scene in the eighties. Chapman was born and raised by her mother in Cleveland, Ohio. She began writing poetry and short stories from a very early age. Recognizing her affinity toward music, Chapman’s mother bought her a ukulele when she was but three years old. Unfortunately, her neighbor stole it.

Growing up, her family struggled financially. At the age of 16, Chapman secured a scholarship to a private boarding school in Connecticut. Her mother bought her a guitar so she wouldn’t have to perform with a borrowed one.

Chapman studied Anthropology at Tufts University, focused on West African culture. When not in classes, she played guitar and sang songs on the streets of Harvard Square. Eventually, she moved to the local coffeehouses and campus folk club. After graduating, Chapman signed a contract with Elektra Records, a label with a long history of its own.

Chapman received honorary doctorates from Saint Xavier University and her alma mater, Tufts University, for her social activism. In April 2023, she received a National Order from the South African presidency for her contributions to the fight for freedom. She has long participated in efforts to free Nelson Mandela and raised awareness of human rights violations globally.

Her Musical Journey

Chapman’s debut album, Tracy Chapman, came out in 1988. It was an instant hit, selling six million copies in the United States alone.

The singer-songwriter performed her song “Fast Car” at a televised event for Nelson Mandela’s 70th Birthday Tribute Concert in London in June 1988. She almost immediately shot to global fame following the performance.

Chapman wasn’t originally slated, but had to replace Stevie Wonder at the last minute when a misplaced computerized program kept him from performing. Recalling that event, she said, “I literally had to run to the stage, dragging my guitar cable. When I look back at the footage, I can see how unprepared I was. But I think it also meant I had no time to feel the pressure.”

Chapman has released several albums throughout her career — Crossroads (1989), Matters of Heart (1992), New Beginning (1995), Telling Stories (2000), Let It Rain (2002), Where You Live (2005), and Our Bright Future (2008). She has taken home four Grammys, including one for Best New Artist in 1989.

Tracy Chapman’s lyrics consistently address social issues: systemic inequalities, poverty, and sociocultural changes. Her song “Talking About A Revolution” covers racism, poverty, and economic disparity, promoting the need for collective action and unity among the oppressed.

In 2020, she performed that song on the eve of Election Day on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Through her lyrics, it was as if she was trying to convey that everyone is in this struggle together.

In another noteworthy song, “She’s Got Her Ticket,” she focuses on a woman’s determination to escape all the greed and hatred around her, to find freedom, and to leave behind her roots, even if some call her a failure. As a political and social activist, Chapman has performed in various concerts supporting human rights, AIDS awareness, and the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.
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Ananyaa Bhowmik | Wealth of Geeks

This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.