“You’ve got a fast car. I want a ticket to anywhere.”
This is the infamous intro line to Tracy Chapman’s 1988 chart-topping song Fast Car, which has now made her the first Black woman to have a sole credit on a country song.
On Monday, the song topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. Furthermore, Rolling Stone noted that the 59-year-old Cleveland native was only the fourth Black woman to hold a writing credit of any kind on a hit country song.
Meanwhile, Billboard reported that Chapman had become the second Black songwriter to have a sole writing credit on a Country Airplay since 1990.
Sam Cooke was the first to snag the feat after his 1964 song Good Times peaked at the top spot, albeit it was covered by Dan Seals in 1990.
“The way Chapman sings about a genderless couple leaving town to find a home in a city nearby is something all queer people can relate to,” wrote journalist Trish Bendix for Into in 2018.
“Fast Car loses all of its depth and meaning being covered by a white male HOWEVER, she’s likely laughing all the way to the bank,” wrote another fan on Twitter.
And Canadian legislator Janis Irwin wrote: “Anyone who knows me knows that Fast Car by Tracy Chapman is one of my favorite songs of all time. You can always hope that it exposes more folks to her genius.”
Meanwhile Chapman said that she is happy her songs have remained relevant decades after its release.
“I love that a new generation gets to experience her music,” she said.
Chapman was signed to Elektra Records in 1987 and released her debut album the following year. She has since become an international sensation, specifically after her appearance at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert. She was certified 6× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and has received numerous Grammy Award nominations, including one for Album of the Year for her album Tracy Chapman. She won three of the six nominations: Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her single Fast Car and Best Contemporary Folk Album.
