"Fast Car" — Tracy Chapman & Luke Combs
official Grammy video
Hello, Subscribers,
Last night at the Grammys, Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs performed an astonishing duet on her classic song, “Fast Car.” A perfect blend of folk, soul, and country. This song hits me on an autobiographical level because, like the narrator of the song, I was once a convenience store worker looking for his fast car. This quickly became one of my favorite live performances of all time.
You can watch the full performance at this link.
My eyes filled with tears when I saw/heard Tracy Chapman play those first chords. It made it my favorite Grammys. I have listened to ‘Fast Car’ more times since Sunday eve than I did in the late 80s when it was my favorite album. Everything about it and how they all handled it - as Pollyanna-ish as it sounds; I felt like we might all be OK. It has been a very long time since I remembered that there is so much more that unites us as human beings than that we are told to believe, divides us. Or maybe better said, there is similarity IN our differences.
A brilliant piece of art can do that in an instant. Amazing.
I have loved Tracy Chapman to the moon and back for 30+ years. And Fast Car is quintessential Chapman. Finally, 36 years later, the Academy narcissists got to their feet, overcome by true genius, and in recognition of one of the great lyricists in American Pop history. I ignored the Grammys entirely but watched this 5 or 6 times. In tears. Truly moved by a song I’ve loved for decades, by the stunning woman she’s become, and by Luke’s generosity, sensitivity, and musical sensibility. White boy done her good. His cover brought her back into the spotlight and he let her have it. Fabulous!!!