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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=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. [/quote]

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.[/quote]

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.

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

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. [/quote]

Ok- I didn’t realize people thought she was Dylan. Had no clue anyone thought of her in that way. But I agree that she doesn’t want to be. She wanted creative freedom, not Beyoncé, Taylor, madonna level of stardom.

I personally respect that a whole lot more than if a song is catchy and a ‘hit.” Because she stood for something and took her own risks, not the record labels determined steps.

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/tracy-chapman-being-in-the-public-eye-is-uncomfortable-for-me-1.2433200[/quote]

Nobody thinks she is Dylan.

Rather, she seemingly tried to be Dylan. Her catalog is heavy on politics and social justice. But her songs just don’t resonate. Go listen to Subcity and read the lyrics. She’s trying really hard to make a political statement, but she falls short.

Sure, her overnight success afforded her the freedom to do whatever she wanted to do. And her legacy is Fast Car and Talkin Bout a Revolution. Those two songs earned her perpetual invites to any and all social justice gigs.

She went to a private prep school and graduated from Tufts. Her father connected her to Elektra Records and her first single made her a global star. Quick and easy success followed by what, exactly?

I’m actually going to listen to her entire catalog of music this weekend. [b]I’ll see if there are any hidden gems.[/b] The songs I’ve listened to for the last 30 minutes are completely forgettable. [/quote]

Ok- enjoy it if you can.  ;) Honestly, I don’t care about her fame or what you think of her as a singer.

Her songs spoke to me when I was deciding on a career, and helped me shape what I decided to do.  Because of her I was aware of social (particularly racial) injustices even though I grew up in an all white area.

I also had a rough childhood so the idea that you can call the police, have them do nothing when your dad is hitting you was my lived experience. That other people had that experience and that Tracy sang about that was comforting to me. No, I didn’t die/disappear as the person did in her song, but it made me feel a little less alone.

It is okay if you can’t find any hidden gems for you, I play the ones I like. If she was born with the same privilege as Taylor Swift and she became Tracy Chapman instead of Taylor/Beyoncé more power to her. Maybe you grew up like Taylor Swift and she resonates with you, but Tracy resonated with me because I grew up in a messy messy household.  To each her own. [/quote]

I’m not denigrating you, your lived experience, or your musical taste…so please extend me the same courtesy.

You might be surprised to know that I enjoyed her music when I was young (her eponymous album). I went to law school and did street outreach on my path to a career in social justice. And ftr, I’m not a big fan of Taylor Swift…or Beyoncé. Having said that, they each have made an impressive impact in music that can’t be disregarded.

If you are the person hating on Luke Combs and country music and country music fans, I encourage you to open your mind instead of attributing stereotypes. If Tracy appreciates Luke and his cover, then it’s silly to be outraged on her behalf. Plus, that’s not being a good feminist. [/quote]

DP to this PP: Such a measured and thoughtful response. I would guess you are very good at your job in social justice. It's responses like this (on any subject) that gives me faith that we all can do better.[/quote]

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