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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

Posted by: In: Other 25 Jan 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

425-Tracy Chapman-Fast Car.

1988-Number 5 single. In 2011 the song re-entered the chart, and this time peaked at Number 4.

Best Bit-At 2.01. What about this for an accolade! ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine ranked the song at 167 on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, the highest ranking song both written and performed by a female artist.

Tracy Chapman was born on March 30th, 1964, in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, she has released eight studio Albums between 1988-2008. There have also been two greatest hits compilations, and a total of 22 singles, her only UK hit is ‘Fast Car,’ but in America on Billboard she has charted twice, with this song reaching Number 6, and her most successful track ‘Give Me One Reason’ making Number 3 in 1995.

Tracy Chapman was already signed to ‘Elektra’ records when she got her big breakthrough. On June 11th, 1988, at Wembley Stadium, London , England, Chapman was one of the many artists booked to play at the Nelson Mandela 70th birthday tribute, which was being broadcast to 67 countries, and an audience of 600 million. Chapman had duly played her afternoon spot, but when problems arose over Stevie Wonder’s backing track being lost, Chapman was asked to fill in at prime time, bringing her acclaimed exposure. The sales of her self titled debut Album rocketed, taking it to Number 1 on the Billboard Album chart, with the single ‘Fast Car’ going top 10 in the UK and America.

‘Fast Car’ was released as the debut single by Tracy Chapman from her 1988 self titled debut Album. The lyrics tell the story of someone trying to escape a life where there is very little prospect of them being able to better themselves, because circumstances are heavily weighted against them. The sting in the tail is that what the narrator is trying to escape, comes around full circle, and history repeats itself, and she ends up back at square one. I personally find myself thinking of the Mac Davis composition, ‘In the Ghetto’ sung by Elvis Presley from 1969 (see also best songs 442.)

In 2011 ‘Fast Car’ re-entered the UK top 40 after Michael Collings a contestant on the television show ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ sang his rendition. This time the song charted one place higher when reaching Number 4. In 2015 the ‘Dance Music’ producer Jonas Blue released a version of the song as his debut single, featuring the vocals of Sophie Elton, better known by her stage name ‘Dakota,’ and this version reached Number 2 in the UK.

‘You got a fast car, I got a job that pays all our bills. You stay out drinking late at the bar, see more of your friends than you do of your kids. I’d always hoped for better.’