Javier’s English Corner

 It seems this summer I’m going to be sharing with you some of those favourite songs of mine. I’m talking about those songs that for one reason or another take you back to some special moment or simply make you feel good. This time, I’d like to post some info on Tracy Chapman, whose lyrics are always meaningful and true.

To start with, let me give you some data on her biography and career from Wikipedia. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Tracy Chapman began playing guitar and writing songs as a child. She was accepted into A Better Chance, the national resource for identifying, recruiting and developing leaders among academically gifted students of color, which enabled her to attend Wooster School in Connecticut, and was eventually accepted to Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. In May 2004, her alma mater, Tufts University honored her with an honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, for her contributions as a socially conscious and artistically accomplished musician. Tracy often performs at and attends AIDS charities, amfAR and AIDS/LifeCycle.

During college, Chapman began street-performing and playing guitar in coffeehouses in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After waiting to graduate college, she signed to Elektra Records, releasing Tracy Chapman (1988). The album was critically acclaimed, and she began touring and building a fanbase. Soon after she performed it at the televised Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert in June 1988, Chapman’s “Fast Car” began its rise on the US charts, eventually becoming a Top 10 pop hit on the Billboard Hot 100. “Talkin’ About A Revolution,” the follow-up, charted at #75, and was followed by “Baby Can I Hold You,” which peaked at #48 The album sold well, going multi-platinum and winning four Grammy Awards, including an honour for Chapman as Best New Artist. Later in 1988, Chapman was a featured performer on the worldwide Amnesty International Human Rights Now! Tour. According to the VH1 website, “her album helped usher in the era of political correctness — along with 10,000 Maniacs and R.E.M., Chapman’s liberal politics proved enormously influential on American college campuses in the late ’80s”.

Her follow-up album Crossroads (1989) was less commercially successful. By 1992’s Matters of the Heart, Chapman was playing to a small and devoted audience. However, to the surprise of most industry-watchers, Chapman’s fourth 1995 album New Beginning proved successful, selling over 3 million copies just in the U.S. This album included the hit single “Give Me One Reason” which won the 1997 Grammy for Best Rock Song and became Chapman’s most successful single to date. The following album was 2000’s Telling Stories, which featured more of a rock sound than folk. Its hit single “Telling Stories” received heavy airplay on European radio stations, and on Adult Alternative and Hot AC stations in the United States. Her sixth album was Let It Rain (2002), in support of which she toured in Europe and the US in 2003.

Where You Live, Chapman’s seventh studio album, was released in September 2005. A brief supporting tour took place in major cities across the US in October and continued throughout Europe over the remainder of the year. The “Where You Live” tour was extended into 2006, the 28 date European tour featured summer concerts in Germany, Italy, France, Sweden, Finland, Norway, U.K, Russia and more. In addition, on the 5th June 2006, Tracy performed at the 5th Gala of Jazz in Lincoln Center, New York.

Now it’s time to enjoy one of her most popular songs, Talkin’ bout a revolution,  live on a concert. Her voice is so clear it’s hard to believe it’s not the CD version.

Don’t you know
They’re talkin’ about a revolution
It sounds like a whisper
Don’t you know
They’re talkin’ about a revolution
It sounds like a whisper
While they’re standing in the welfare lines
Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation
Wasting time in the unemployment lines
Sitting around waiting for a promotion
Don’t you know
They’re talkin’ about a revolution
It sounds like a whisper

Poor people gonna rise up
And get their share
Poor people gonna rise up
And take what’s theirs
Don’t you know
You better run, run, run…
Oh I said you better
Run, run, run…
‘Cause finally the tables are starting to turn
Talkin’ bout a revolution…
(some previous lines repeated)

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