Tracy Chapman, Luke Combs and the complicated response to ‘Fast Car’
Tracy Chapman, Luke Combs and the complicated response to ‘Fast Car’
Combs’s remake of Chapman’s 1988 hit now dominates the country charts, renewing difficult conversations about diversity in Nashville. Although many are thrilled to see “Fast Car” back in the spotlight and a new generation discovering Chapman’s work, it’s clouded by the fact that, as a Black queer woman, Chapman, 59, would have almost zero chance of that achievement herself in country music.
You're viewing a single thread.
How is this even an article? She did have success, in 1988 no less, with her song. So what is this, "She couldn't make it nowadays" Mumbo jumbo?
idk maybe I am missing the point here
The point is she would not have had this success as a black LGBTQ country artist in the last few decades. She found success in the past as a rock artist (who we all knew was folk) but notably not on the country charts:
Original Fast Car charts: US Billboard Hot 100 6 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 7 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard) 19 US Cash Box Top 100[29] 4
The article is about why she in particular was largely blacklisted from the country music community.
Could it be because she sang blues, rich, soul, folk, and not country?
Was she also blacklisted by the gangsta rap community?