| Product: |
Tracy Chapman in general |
| Date: |
23/12/01 (145 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: beautifully distinctive voice, highly original songs
Disadvantages: none
Husband says I have no taste in music. Keep in mind that His only claim to musical fame was when he was asked to sing with a country and western group in the 70's. He declined - the group did not become famous - so he did not miss out on fame or fortune!
His tastes in music have changed somewhat - nowadays he enjoys listening to Eric Clapton, Elton John, Chris Rea, Simply Red, Mark Knopfler, Annie Lennox, Lighthouse Family etc. So I am writing my very first music review on another of his favourite singers - black American folksinger/songwriter Tracy Chapman.
But beware my next musical review could be on music that I listen too - so be prepared for Ricky Martin, The Beautiful South, Des O'Connor.....
So, as I sit at my computer on a crisp December morning looking out of the window at the snow that lies on the ground, I am listening to the warm, passionate and heartfelt songs of Tracy Chapman.
Tracy was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised by her mother. The family was very poor; her mother and sister bought Tracy her first guitar when she was 8 years old when she began to write stories and poetry. She achieved an academic scholarship and was sent to high school in Connecticut where she played in chapel services; a collection was made to purchase a new guitar for her. She went on to study anthropology at University in Massachusetts and joined the Boston folk music club, where she played her guitar and sang on the streets and in local coffeehouses.
She grew up listening to soul music and was influenced by songs with a social message. Her favourites included Bobby Womack, Stevie Wonder, Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes and Marvin Gaye.
Her debut album called 'Tracy Chapman' was released in early 1988 and announced the arrival of an extremely talented and highly original singer/songwriter. Her songs are simple and sincere - a black child growing up in poverty in a working class environment. The a
lbum met with commercial success.
In June of that year she was asked to perform at a concert at Wembley, London in honour of the 70th birthday of Nelson Mandela. They did not have a slot for her; they would fit her in in-between more famous performers. Stevie Wonder was due to perform in a prime time slot, but could not go on stage because his computerised programmes had gone missing and he could not appear without them. At very short notice, the Organisers asked Tracy to perform and she literally ran on stage with her acoustic guitar, with no time for last minute nerves.
Her performance brought her to the attention of a worldwide audience seen by millions on television around the world. Nelson Mandela is reportedly to have called her "a breath of fresh air..." The following week her album soared to the top of the charts in Great Britain and the United States. A debut album of basically acoustic songs went on to sell over 10 million copies and win three Grammy awards.
Her second album 'Crossroads' was released towards the end of 1989. She was now widely respected as a committed singer/songwriter dealing with issues such as violence against women, the American civil rights movement, racism, poverty and the welfare state. Tracy wrote the song 'Freedom Now' featured on 'Crossroads' for Nelson Mandela.
She played a 6-week Amnesty International Human Rights tour with Peter Gabriel, Sting, Bruce Springsteen and others. She has also supported many other fund-raising activities for worthy causes; although she sees herself as a musician and songwriter rather than a political activist.
'Matters of the Heart' her third album was released in May 1992. In the three years between her second and third albums she had been busy with a further Nelson Mandela concert in New York, and an appearance at a Martin Luther King celebration. This album includes many of the musicians she had perfo
rmed with on the Amnesty International Human Rights tour.
Her fourth album 'New Beginning' was released at the end of 1995. It was a commercial success selling three million copies in America alone within a year. It is a mature collection of songs with deep emotions. The theme of this album is change, growth and renewal. Approaching a new century Tracy has hope that new solutions can be found to the old problems of the previous century. So the songs are full of optimism for the future of mankind and it's problems.
After more than four years her fifth album 'Telling Stories' was released in early 2000. In the intervening years she had been busy playing at Tibetan Freedom concerts, performed in a Bob Marley tribute concert in Jamaica, and had participated in a benefit concert for the Special Olympics at the White House. According to Tracy, the songs included in 'Telling Stories' "touch on different perceptions of reality - how we define, change, manipulate and corrupt it".
Fast Car
........
This song was her first hit single and is probably her best known. It is a powerful and moving song: it tells of striving to move out of poverty, hoping for a better future with nothing to lose, nothing to prove, saving money to get away and find better jobs; needing a fast car to fly away. It is a song about the difficulties of breaking the cycle of poverty and deprivation.
Baby can I hold you
...................
More recently recorded by Boyzone; this is a beautiful love song written by Tracy when she was only 18 years old.
Talkin' Bout a Revolution
.........................
This was the opening track of her first album and introduced her as a songwriter with a passionate commitment to the causes of justice and truth who would speak her mind as a champion for the rights of people ensnared in the poverty trap. "Poor people gonna rise up and g
et their share" she sings with conviction.
She's got her ticket
....................
This song has a similar theme to 'Fast Car' with an attractive reggae beat but is full of optimism for the future; a wish that "hatred, corruption and greed" can be overcome.
Crossroads
..........
The title track on her second album is a personal song dealing with maintaining belief in herself and not compromising her beliefs for anyone; having the courage to stand firm in your own convictions.
Bang Bang Bang
..............
This song tells the story of giving a boy a gun "bang bang bang: shoot him down"; a powerful song about the social hypocrisy concerning gun violence in the USA.
There are many, many songs by Tracy Chapman that I have enjoyed listening too. I am not going to write about any others, I am going to leave it to you, the reader, to listen and enjoy the songs of Tracy Chapman.
I am converted. I am a fan. In my opinion she is a fine contemporary songwriter, with striking originality who sings with compassion and honesty in a beautiful and distinctive voice.
~ Factfile~
Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman - Telling Stories
Tracy Chapman - Collection
Available at £8.99 each (free postage) from www.cd-wow.com
Merry Christmas
Janna
23rd December
PS I am not really a Des O'Connor fan.........
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