When I was going through my Kylie Minogue fan phase in the late 1980s, my sister was listening a different kind of music, which I am very grateful for as it helped keep my music tastes wide open. I am trying to avoid using the phase my sister listened to cooler music then me, but you can take it any way you like.
Released in 1988, Fast Car was Chapman's lead single from her debut album named Tracy Chapman. It reached number 5 in the UK chart. The lyrics together with Chapman's unmistakeable voice speaks about the idea of an uncomplicated world of being able to jump in a car and keep on moving, and although it is clear that Chapman is taking about life in America, I think we all understand that urge of being able to jump in a car and run from the daily rountine of life.
Chapman performed Fast Car at the televised 70th birthday concert for Nelson Mandela in 1988. Mandela was still in prison at this point and the pressure was building on the South African Government to release him. He would be released in 1990 after 27 years in prison. I think I remember my sister having a recording on tape of Chapman performing at this concert. VH1 said of Tracy Chapman that she helped usher in a period of political correctness with bands like R.E.M and 10,000 Maniacs
When I heard this song on the radio today, it took back to a place of positivity and hope and no matter what happening in the world just now, we have to believe that somehow, somewhere, there will be a way through all this violence that keep happening around the world. But the first thing we need to make sure is that people feel they belong somewhere and feel as though they are going to listen to.
