Tracy Chapman wins CMA “song of the year” for “Fast Car”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved that song so much. Hated the cover. All wrong.

+1. Why mess up with a good thing.

Because fatboy combs brings music to the masses

True

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't she win the prize? His cover sounds very much like her version. Seems like she should have won. Doesn't seem fair. Yes, at least she gets some money, but her name isn't on the prize. I feel like it would be similar to a situation where I did all of the work for a project, and a colleague took all of the credit and everyone knew it and they patted me on the head.

She did win a prize - Song of the Year which is the songwriting prize. Similar to how the Grammys have Song of the Year for the songwriter(s) and Record of the Year for the performer(s), the CMAs have Song of the Year and Single of the Year. Chapman was nominated for Grammys in both those categories BITD and won the CMA award last night - Combs also won but for the different award.

Did she attend to accept the award?

No but this is the statement she sent:
“I’m sorry I couldn’t join you all tonight. It’s truly an honor for my song to be newly recognized after 35 years of its debut. Wow. Thank you to the CMAs and a special thanks to Luke (Combs) and to all of the fans of ‘Fast Car.’”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good song, and good for Tracy Chapman, but Luke Combs adds nothing to the song at all. Just sings it the same way but with a male voice.

I completely agree. He even keeps the “checkout girl” line. Like. Zero changes. Except more bass I guess

I thought it was better he didn't change it, like a tribute to the original. The back story is nice in that it's the first song his dad taught him to play on the guitar and he used to always play it at concerts. I don't know why people are mad about this. Tracy Chapman isn't upset and has said she's happy a new genre was introduced to her song. The enormous pot of money probably doesn't hurt either.

No I agree I guess- I am not necessarily knocking his version (maybe a little) but just pointing out that he didn’t make it his own in any way. He just did a carbon copy of her- in my opinion- much deeper performance of it. What he did add- the increased instrumentals/ bass/ etc- I thought made it sound less soulful and more poppy which I think contrasts with how I personally feel the song speaks to me.

But my kids love the country version so I’m having to get used to hearing it in the car

Her performance sounds far more “pop” like to me. Almost like a Broadway showtune in certain parts.

[Anonymous]

Chapman’s one album was a huge hit because of that one song. Had she not released Give Me One Reason, she would have been a one hit wonder (albeit a big one).

Her net worth is $8M.

She isn’t the musical genius everyone thinks she is. She made one fabulous song that transcends age and race…and another so-so song that you sometimes hear in the grocery store.

I’m sure she’s thrilled that Combs covered her song and she’s getting money and relevance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good song, and good for Tracy Chapman, but Luke Combs adds nothing to the song at all. Just sings it the same way but with a male voice.

I completely agree. He even keeps the “checkout girl” line. Like. Zero changes. Except more bass I guess

I thought it was better he didn't change it, like a tribute to the original. The back story is nice in that it's the first song his dad taught him to play on the guitar and he used to always play it at concerts. I don't know why people are mad about this. Tracy Chapman isn't upset and has said she's happy a new genre was introduced to her song. The enormous pot of money probably doesn't hurt either.

No I agree I guess- I am not necessarily knocking his version (maybe a little) but just pointing out that he didn’t make it his own in any way. He just did a carbon copy of her- in my opinion- much deeper performance of it. What he did add- the increased instrumentals/ bass/ etc- I thought made it sound less soulful and more poppy which I think contrasts with how I personally feel the song speaks to me.

But my kids love the country version so I’m having to get used to hearing it in the car

Her performance sounds far more “pop” like to me. Almost like a Broadway showtune in certain parts.

You think Chapman singing "Fast Car" sounds like a show tune? What? No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm thrilled for Tracy Chapman that this won Song of the Year but sort of nuts that Combs won single of the year for it. I agree that he did nothing to add to a previously great song (except introduce the song to a new generation of listeners and country radio?)

His version is way way better. I liked the song when it came out but his version works better.

[Anonymous]

Tracy Chapman's voice is much richer. I prefer her, but appreciate that her wonderful song has had a resurgence.

As for 11:38's post about her almost being a one-hit wonder, what about "Talkin' About a Revolution" and her gorgeous rendition of "Stand By Me"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XL6C3vY0jM

Show tunes these are not!

[Anonymous]

I don't get this how do you win an award in 2023 for an older non-country song? What am I missing here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get this how do you win an award in 2023 for an older non-country song? What am I missing here?

She wins as the songwriter. The song is eligible based on his cover being released this year, but this particular award goes to the person who wrote the song. Like Willie Nelson's version of "You Were Always on My Mind" won the same award in the 80s and that award (and the analogous categories at the Grammys) went to the songwriters, even though that song has been recorded probably dozens of times before Willie got to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chapman’s one album was a huge hit because of that one song. Had she not released Give Me One Reason, she would have been a one hit wonder (albeit a big one).

Her net worth is $8M.

She isn’t the musical genius everyone thinks she is. She made one fabulous song that transcends age and race…and another so-so song that you sometimes hear in the grocery store.

I’m sure she’s thrilled that Combs covered her song and she’s getting money and relevance.

If you knew the album, you would also know that there is a song called Mountains o’ Things on it. It outlines the perils of using things as a marker of significance in life. Between that song, Fast Car and Talking bout a revolution which was written in response Regan’s portraying black women as welfare queens. It is fairly clear her motives for the entire record far transcend the money she is pulling in.

Shy many not be a musical genius, but her using her musical ability for political commentary is something that most singers don’t have these days.
Even the song going from being sung by and about black people to a country song with a majority white listening population is art following politics. More and more whites are feeling unemployed and displaced as our economy shifts to service based industries. It is still a politically charged song, even in its reuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get this how do you win an award in 2023 for an older non-country song? What am I missing here?

She wins as the songwriter. The song is eligible based on his cover being released this year, but this particular award goes to the person who wrote the song. Like Willie Nelson's version of "You Were Always on My Mind" won the same award in the 80s and that award (and the analogous categories at the Grammys) went to the songwriters, even though that song has been recorded probably dozens of times before Willie got to it.

Adding to this that the absolutely funniest version of this phenomenon to me is that T.S. Eliot got two posthumous Tony Awards for Cats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get this how do you win an award in 2023 for an older non-country song? What am I missing here?

She wins as the songwriter. The song is eligible based on his cover being released this year, but this particular award goes to the person who wrote the song. Like Willie Nelson's version of "You Were Always on My Mind" won the same award in the 80s and that award (and the analogous categories at the Grammys) went to the songwriters, even though that song has been recorded probably dozens of times before Willie got to it.

This is even more confusing. Who is "he?" What cover are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get this how do you win an award in 2023 for an older non-country song? What am I missing here?

She wins as the songwriter. The song is eligible based on his cover being released this year, but this particular award goes to the person who wrote the song. Like Willie Nelson's version of "You Were Always on My Mind" won the same award in the 80s and that award (and the analogous categories at the Grammys) went to the songwriters, even though that song has been recorded probably dozens of times before Willie got to it.

This is even more confusing. Who is "he?" What cover are you talking about?

Luke Combs's cover.

[Anonymous]

Why do people not like the OG song?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chapman’s one album was a huge hit because of that one song. Had she not released Give Me One Reason, she would have been a one hit wonder (albeit a big one).

Her net worth is $8M.

She isn’t the musical genius everyone thinks she is. She made one fabulous song that transcends age and race…and another so-so song that you sometimes hear in the grocery store.

I’m sure she’s thrilled that Combs covered her song and she’s getting money and relevance.

If you knew the album, you would also know that there is a song called Mountains o’ Things on it. It outlines the perils of using things as a marker of significance in life. Between that song, Fast Car and Talking bout a revolution which was written in response Regan’s portraying black women as welfare queens. It is fairly clear her motives for the entire record far transcend the money she is pulling in.

Shy many not be a musical genius, but her using her musical ability for political commentary is something that most singers don’t have these days.
Even the song going from being sung by and about black people to a country song with a majority white listening population is art following politics. More and more whites are feeling unemployed and displaced as our economy shifts to service based industries. It is still a politically charged song, even in its reuse.

I’m Gen X.

I know the album and the political climate at the time.

Talkin Bout a Revolution was played on repeat at the coffee houses back in the day.

It only made it to 75 on the music charts. It wasn’t a hit. Not even close.

And I also remember the backlash Chapman encountered when she bought herself a nice home and a fancy car after making money from the album. She was labeled a sellout and hypocrite. I don’t think that was fair, but it happened…and this was long before social media or TMZ.

What’s she been doing for the last 30 years? Made any great music?

She made one amazing song that transcends race and age. And she made another catchy song. Plus some other songs that were played in coffee houses and venues that hosted poetry slams. That’s not bad. In fact, it’s quite an accomplishment.

But she was never Dylan. I’m not sure she was really trying to be. I applaud her efforts to shine a light on issues in a positive way. I wish others would.