Fast car -Tracy Chapman

Siguru's rioting African and Tracy Chapman's breakout single both serve to reinforce our view of the world in the respective spheres of race and class, however the latter does so in a very different manner, through a primary approach that argues its subject matter through a caricature that isn't entirely inaccurate.

The political and cultural contribution that Chapman's performance lends to the composite formation of our worldly perception is multi-faceted and just as powerful as our aforementioned rioter. In juxtaposition with the neolithic portraiture of an African caught in mad throes of protest, Chapman, clad in dark skin, nondescript garb, and impressive dreadlocks looks more befitting of a street corner than a stage. The guitar strapped to her shoulder has no inlay at the headstock proclaiming its make, and although it resembles a vintage Martin, it certainly looks the part of street equipment: vernacular, antiquated, a paintbrush for the art of survival. In every aspect of her appearance, she reinforces the inner city aesthetic that we have thus far ingrained. Everything seems to fit.

Beyond her physical adherence to our western view of poverty, the musical elements and lyrics of "Fast Car" also contribute to the construction of our stance on class by eliciting an emotional response in its audience and consequently reinforcing an ugly awareness that usually lies dormant and unacknowledged. The arrangement of accompaniment is sparse and repetitive, in fact the guitar's main phrase is one that permeates the entire song, mimicking the cyclical nature of poverty. Chapman's voice is husky, vernacular, lacking the classical frivolity of vibrato or other embellishment. She sounds like a heavy smoker, and through the words she sings, one can infer that she also drinks. Her lyrics paint a picture of the wishful hope that is so characteristic of the poor in America and the vicious entanglement of poverty and all of the ills that it entails. It makes perfect sense, if she looks poor and sings about being poor then she must represent the poor.

Upon hearing the song and witnessing her performance, my own personal reaction is one of sympathy. The song makes me sad and I can't help but feel bad for those stuck in situations similar to the one Chapman croons about. I listen to it over and over again, and I bring the ugly awareness I possess in the back of my mind to the forefront, which is perhaps exactly the kind of work that Chapman intended her music to make.