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The Enduring Legacy of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car”

Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” is a timeless song that speaks to listeners across generations and genres. Just ask Luke Combs. 

Tracy Chapman
Rock, Folk

In November, Tracy Chapman made history as the first Black person to win Song of The Year at the Country Music Awards—for a song released 35 years ago.

Originally released in 1988, Chapman’s “Fast Car” stood out as a spare and stripped-down folk anthem, steeped in equal parts deep hurt and desperate hope, that cut through the noise of MTV and spoke to something quieter and darker in the final years of Reagan’s America. The song reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Chapman a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. 

Since then, “Fast Car” has never really gone away–and the self-titled album on which it appears has remained a perennially sought-after best-seller on Discogs. Every few years, Chapman’s enduring song gains new audiences thanks in part to cover versions by everyone from Justin Bieber to Khalid to Black Pumas. It’s also one of few songs in recent history to cross genres and generations of listeners without being completely reworked–a testament to the simple perfection of the original. The following timeline traces the many appearances “Fast Car” has made in the 35 years since its release, in genres from hip-hop to experimental to house to country.

Nice & Smooth (1991)

Ain’t A Damn Thing Changed
Nice & Smooth
1991
Hip Hop
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In 1991, hip-hop duo Nice & Smooth released Ain’t A Damn Thing Changed, featuring the song “Sometimes I Rhyme Slow,” which sampled the guitar from Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” The album peaked at number 141 on the US Billboard and number 29 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums. 

Gabrielle (1993)

Dreams
Gabrielle
1993
Electronic
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In 1993, English singer-songwriter Gabrielle released her debut single “Dreams.” The song originally included a sample of “Fast Car” but it was removed for copyright reasons. Eventually, this version was released on the single “If You Really Cared” in 1995. 

Xiu Xiu (2002)

A Promise
Xiu Xiu
2003
Electronic, Rock
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In 2002, experimental San Jose band Xiu Xiu released their second album, A Promise, featuring a painfully bare version of “Fast Car.” According to Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart, “That song really, very, very, very directly shaped how I wanted to write lyrics or what I wanted songs to be about.”

Michael Collings (2011)

Recover
Michael Collings
2016
Electronic, Rock, Pop
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In April 2011, “Fast Car” again found the UK spotlight when it was performed by Michael Collings on Britain’s Got Talent. The song re-entered the UK top ten at number four, one position higher than its initial appearance in 1988. Chapman’s self-titled album was also certified triple platinum in the UK in 2022.

Jonas Blue feat. Dakota (2015)

Fast Car
Jonas Blue (feat. Dakota)
2016
Electronic
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In 2016, British record producer Jonas Blue released a tropical house version of “Fast Car,” which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, beating both of the song’s previous chart placements.

Luke Combs (2023)

Gettin’ Old
Luke Combs
2023
Folk, World, & Country
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In March 2023, “Fast Car” crossed genres yet again via a new version by country singer-songwriter Luke Combs. “That song meant a lot to me since then—for my whole life. I always think about my dad when it comes on and us spending time together,” he said in a song intro from a concert posted to his Instagram. By April 2023, Combs’ cover had racked up 46 million streams worldwide and introduced Tracy Chapman’s music to a new generation of country fans.

Combs has called “Fast Car” a perfect song, and praises its universal relatability, which has helped the song find new audiences, including his own, for over 30 years now. Combs told Billboard, “I have played it in my live show now for six-plus years and everyone — I mean everyone — across all these stadiums relates to this song and sings along.”

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