In Appreciation of Tracy Chapman

The 2024 Grammy Awards took place on February 4th. One of the most talked about musical performances over the last number of years happened that night. During the show, Luke Combs performed “Fast Car” with the original singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman. It brought chills to me…And brought Tracy Chapman back into the minds of many.

Today, February 22nd, holds a special place in Chapman’s heart. It was on this day in 1989, Tracy Chapman won three Grammy Awards including Best New Artist.

It had been less than a year since the then 25-year old singer-songwriter released her debut album, Tracy Chapman, on Elektra Records. The album arrived without much fanfare, building upon the strength of radio and MTV playing the first single, “Fast Car”. The song shined the light on Chapman as a new storyteller with amazing insight into what was going on socially and was a big departure from so many top twenty songs in the late 80s.

Working with a veteran of the singer-songwriter explosion of the ‘70s, producer David Kershenbaum was a great choice to add just the right amount of pop to the intimacy of Chapman’s songs.

A voice can be powerful without being perfect. Chapman’s voice on her debut creaks and breaks, but fits into every song perfectly. Nowhere better than on “Behind the Wall” an a capella brutal look at domestic violence and the lack of police help. 

Immediately after comes “Baby Can I Hold You”. A gorgeous song about sustaining a relationship through difficult times. It’s a late night conversation between a couple that leaves the listener hopeful. 

It’s a heavy album full of big ideas and even bigger emotions on nearly every song: race riots on “Across the Lines”, greed and consumer culture on “Mountains O’ Things” and love between two women on “For My Lover”. 

I didn’t even get to the first song on the album, “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution”. It’s a vivid and poignant piece about real people trapped in the lower strata of the economic pyramid. Is it a rise up revolution against the Reagan revolution? Is it a song that sadly is relevant year after year? It’s a perfect folk-pop song.

Back to the Grammys in 1989…Chapman performed “Fast Car” in the most simple yet powerful way. With just her voice and her guitar, she captured the audience and silenced them for five minutes. As the final note rang out through the auditorium, nobody stayed in their seat.

Tracy Chapman has released a number of strong albums since her debut, but has remained mostly out of the spotlight. Seeing her on stage with Combs with a sly smile on her face, in appreciation of the love that the audience was giving her and the song, was heart-warming. The song and album have risen back on to the charts and hopefully gives so many people an opportunity to appreciate the strength of Chapman’s words and music.