In 1988, Tracy Chapman released “Fast Car” on her debut album to critical acclaim. With beautiful instrumentals, melancholy but hopeful lyrics, and the richness of Tracy Chapman’s voice, it has transcended generations. While not at the forefront of mainstream music in recent history, “Fast Car” made a resurgence in April 2023 when Country artist Luke Combs covered the song on his album. Combs’ version won a Grammy nomination, with Chapman retaining writer and publisher rights, making her the first black woman in Country music history to be nominated for a Grammy as sole songwriter. Audiences were then delighted by the surprise performance by Luke Combs and Tracy Chapman at the 2024 Grammys, where they collaborated on a version of “Fast Car.”

In this episode of If I’m Honest, Julia Landauer discusses the cultural impact of the sublime resurgence of “Fast Car.” Julia shares how important the song was her her childhood, she discusses why she was offended that anyone would try to cover it, and acknowledges that she was wrong to be worried. Julia also touches on some of the undertones she noticed about this resurgence, as well as her appreciation for how Luke Combs has honored Tracy Chapman and her original art.

Watch the full Grammys performance here: https://www.grammy.com/videos/tracy-chapman-luke-combs-fast-car-2024-grammys-performance-66th-annual-grammy-awards

Learn more about Julia Landauer at www.julialandauer.com