For the first time in years, the Grammy Awards were relevant...for roughly 5 minutes. But that was all that was needed to temporarily ease the pain of an ailing nation.
I am not a person frequently brought to tears, but this performance had me crying. I have loved Fast Car since its release when I was a teenager. Watching Chapman’s obvious joy at performing it again was a beautiful thing. I also thought the simplicity of the performance made an impressive contrast to the over the top shows that seem to be required these days — especially of female singers.
I was never really into Tracy Chapman, but watching her now after years of performing I'm just blown away by how simple and transparent she is. Just a beautiful, beautiful presence.
There is a reason she won the 1989 Grammy for best Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and was nominated for Record of the Year. Everyone loved that song about a young couple trying to get ahead in the face of obstacles. It spoke to everyone about the human condition. Which is what real art is supposed to do.
Real art isn't supposed to tell you something specific about the artist's life. Art is supposed to illuminate something in your life. We seem to have forgotten that
I listened to the song multiple times and examined the lyrics in preparation for this piece, and teared up every time. At different places.
There is a unique power in the song, that works even beyond my capacity to understand why it has such an effect on me. That's how I know it's timeless, a true classic.
Gave me chills. I bought Tracy Chapman’s album when I was a kid and I always loved it. This was such a thrill to see them both doing it. I thought they played off each other very well.
Thank you for writing this. As someone who was in college when Fast Car was released, it has always been a favorite song (the album was one of my first CD purchases.) My husband listens to a lot of country music and we enjoyed Luke’s version, especially as it was completely true to the original. The media BS was so unsurprising - they can’t just let music be music. The Grammy performance brought me to tears. Tracy Chapman was radiant and Luke was dazzled. Let’s hope some of these feels can spread and start to heal the country.
I first heard Fast Car when the summer before 8th grade, in summer camp ( I think I wrote about this in the author's note to What the Night Sings). My counselor had a boom box with Tracy Chapman on one side, Edie Brickell on the other. Those two albums literally changed my life. It was through this music that I became...me. That I first realized I was an artist. I applied to the arts high school in NYC that year, auditioning for both visual art and vocal music. I learned how to play guitar a couple of years later and that was it for me. I have played Fast Car many, many times. Tracy is an incredibly important and sensitive artist and I'm so glad a new generation—and genre—gets to know her.
The resentment of a tiny but powerful and vocal class of privileged haters stands no chance against the love we have for each other as Americans and human beings. History will forget them but it won't forget this true expression of the sublime love that joins all of God's children.
I wholeheartedly believe in the power of art to heal the propaganda-induced divide. Authenticity, beauty, and human connection cut through the artificial programming the mind manipulators use to splinter us into controllable factions.
Your turn, Clifton :-) Let’s collaborate and spread some more healing together. You could read the next entry in the “Mistakes Were NOT Made” series, one of my other poems (https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/wake-up-toolkit#%C2%A7poems), or whichever of my pieces resonates with you most.
Here are a few candidates that seem like a good fit for you:
We can discuss via email if you’re game. If you join my mailing list, you can reply to the welcome email, or I’ll keep an eye out and follow up if I see your sign-up. Even if you don’t want to collaborate, I’d love to comp you a subscription to thank you for standing up for truth, freedom, and justice.
I am not a person frequently brought to tears, but this performance had me crying. I have loved Fast Car since its release when I was a teenager. Watching Chapman’s obvious joy at performing it again was a beautiful thing. I also thought the simplicity of the performance made an impressive contrast to the over the top shows that seem to be required these days — especially of female singers.
I was never really into Tracy Chapman, but watching her now after years of performing I'm just blown away by how simple and transparent she is. Just a beautiful, beautiful presence.
There is a reason she won the 1989 Grammy for best Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and was nominated for Record of the Year. Everyone loved that song about a young couple trying to get ahead in the face of obstacles. It spoke to everyone about the human condition. Which is what real art is supposed to do.
Real art isn't supposed to tell you something specific about the artist's life. Art is supposed to illuminate something in your life. We seem to have forgotten that
I listened to the song multiple times and examined the lyrics in preparation for this piece, and teared up every time. At different places.
There is a unique power in the song, that works even beyond my capacity to understand why it has such an effect on me. That's how I know it's timeless, a true classic.
Gave me chills. I bought Tracy Chapman’s album when I was a kid and I always loved it. This was such a thrill to see them both doing it. I thought they played off each other very well.
You could tell they were both happy to be there. The energy was electric.
Thank you for writing this. As someone who was in college when Fast Car was released, it has always been a favorite song (the album was one of my first CD purchases.) My husband listens to a lot of country music and we enjoyed Luke’s version, especially as it was completely true to the original. The media BS was so unsurprising - they can’t just let music be music. The Grammy performance brought me to tears. Tracy Chapman was radiant and Luke was dazzled. Let’s hope some of these feels can spread and start to heal the country.
Here's to hoping!
Our way forward can only happen through the arts. I'm convinced.
It's past time for artists to heed the call and step up.
I first heard Fast Car when the summer before 8th grade, in summer camp ( I think I wrote about this in the author's note to What the Night Sings). My counselor had a boom box with Tracy Chapman on one side, Edie Brickell on the other. Those two albums literally changed my life. It was through this music that I became...me. That I first realized I was an artist. I applied to the arts high school in NYC that year, auditioning for both visual art and vocal music. I learned how to play guitar a couple of years later and that was it for me. I have played Fast Car many, many times. Tracy is an incredibly important and sensitive artist and I'm so glad a new generation—and genre—gets to know her.
What a great story.
And Tracy definitely has a new fan in me.
The resentment of a tiny but powerful and vocal class of privileged haters stands no chance against the love we have for each other as Americans and human beings. History will forget them but it won't forget this true expression of the sublime love that joins all of God's children.
Amen.
LOVE. IT.
I wholeheartedly believe in the power of art to heal the propaganda-induced divide. Authenticity, beauty, and human connection cut through the artificial programming the mind manipulators use to splinter us into controllable factions.
I witnessed that power when Tess Lawrie’s reading (https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/mistakes-were-not-made-an-anthem-57a) and Mike Yeadon’s reading (https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/mistakes-were-not-made-video-dr-mike) of “Mistakes Were NOT Made” reached millions. Four minutes of shattering truth spoken by passionately sincere voices can shake the world.
Your turn, Clifton :-) Let’s collaborate and spread some more healing together. You could read the next entry in the “Mistakes Were NOT Made” series, one of my other poems (https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/wake-up-toolkit#%C2%A7poems), or whichever of my pieces resonates with you most.
Here are a few candidates that seem like a good fit for you:
• “Mistakes Were NOT Made”: https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/mistakes-were-not-made-an-anthem
• “Eulogy for the COVID Kapos”: https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/eulogy-for-the-covid-kapos
• “You Cannot Break Us”: https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/you-cannot-break-us
• “You Can’t Cancel Me”: https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/with-thanks-to-you-you-magnificent#%C2%A7you-cant-cancel-me
• “Letter to the Amnesty-Demanders”: https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/letter-to-the-amnesty-demanders
• “Letter to a Mainstream Straddler”: https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/letter-to-a-mainstream-straddler
• “Letter to Klaus Schwab”: https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/letter-to-klaus-schwab
And there’s always “Letter to a Tyrant” per our previous discussion (I can see if the reader who offered to pay for a voice actor is still up for it):
• https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/letter-to-a-tyrant
We can discuss via email if you’re game. If you join my mailing list, you can reply to the welcome email, or I’ll keep an eye out and follow up if I see your sign-up. Even if you don’t want to collaborate, I’d love to comp you a subscription to thank you for standing up for truth, freedom, and justice.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zEqb6xbeuCo
Beautiful. I didn’t see it on TV, but will check it out on YouTube.