You guys are too cool for spending some of your time with me! To support me and the channel, please use these links www.patreon.com/ShawnSalvadori or www.buymeacoffee.com/shawnsalvador or paypal.me/CriticalReactions Get a free 14 day trial with our sponsor Aura and see if your personal information has been leaked online: aura.com/salvadori Stay blessed and have a great one! See you soon!
Actually, at the end of the song, I think she's telling him that you've got a fast car, so you need to leave. She has a job that pays all the bills, so why would she leave? I feel that's the way she's breaking the cycle.
I saw her open for Sting, Peter Gabriel and U2 in front of 80,000. What I remember was this small woman with only a guitar on a huge stage with a huge crowd and she commanded everyone’s attention. It was impressive
She describes a cycle of poverty. She hopes to escape poverty with a friend who ends up leading her into poverty. These are some of the most hard hitting lyrics ever written in song with a great melody.
“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” - Bob Marley. Except, except, except… when it hits home and is completely relatable. 🥹
Tracy cut her teeth busking at Harvard Square while studying Anthropology at nearby Tufts. Tough, crowd, and stiff competition. There was one guy who owned the entrance to the Harvard Coop, whom I swear was Paganini. Smoking fiddle! Bonnie Raitt and Suzanne Vega also played there, although indoors, at Passim's where Tracy probably wound up, on her way to world venues. Your earbone is connected to your heartbone, and this makes all the difference. Especially since it doesn't bypass the brain bone. You drink these songs deeply, as do I. I could not do what you do. I cry at nearly every beautiful song, like this one. And that you can also visualize what you're listening to...even better still. You'll go far.
I love that songs are 3-4 minute stories, and the best ones create movie images of the story, in your head. This is one of the best ever written. And Tracy Chapman, is a national treasure. Great reaction. Take care.
I appreciate your reaction to this powerful song. Her voice is heavenly, her guitar playing is too. It was Great to see her on stage again after years of not performing ~ Luke Combs covered it last year ? He reintroduced it to the airwaves ~ ~ ~ to see them play together was wonderful.
I'm glad that this song has recently resurfaced but sad that it took a cover to do it. This song deserves to stand as Tracy wrote and performed it. If I were a musician, I'd have too much respect for the song and Tracy to try and cover it.
In the early 80's, I had the privilege of watching this wonderful artist play daily in the red line subway tunnels in Cambridge, Ma. before she got signed.👍Oh another tune by her that's killer is "Baby Can You Hold Me". You'll LOVE it!
Man, no explanation needed for me. I am impressed by you following the emotional tone of the song, really feeling it. That is what makes your videos so good! And it is not something you can fake or try harder and make it better. It flows when the obstacles disappear. IMAO. Just keep going. You are kicking ass brother. I am here for all of it. 61 years old and love sharing these songs with you. ❤❤❤
I have listened to this many, many times, and it makes me cry every single time, and think of so many poor young people feeling hopeless and abandoned by society.
Great song by this talented lady. There is no "Fast car." It's just an analogy to getting out of her bad circumstances in life. Taking care of a sick parent, while she had to put her life on hold, really struck a chord with me, as I did the same for my mother in her old age, as she suffered from Alzheimer's Dementia. God Bless you Shawn and thanks for all of the great musical memories for us, and the new musical discoveries for you. It works for everyone.
This is a great song, with heartfelt lyrics and wonderful vocals. I love it when music tells a story from the heart. Great choice and excellent, honest, empathetic commentary. No one does it better Brotherman.
Many songs have "great emotional stories". What is so sad is she's poor, working a job and is taking care of her 'drunk dad", then she has a boyfriend and driving in "a fast car" but then the pattern repeats itself, as the boyfriend turns into her father, "a drunk" not getting a job, yet she is working a job and taking care of the kids on her own, the pattern repeats itself...
I Love Tracy Chapman. She is a legendary Folk artist along with the greats Bob Dylan, Jackson Brown, and Joan Baez. She always tells these heart gripping stories in Life. React to: "Revolution " It is FIRE!!! Heart-gripping! This is gonna be your favorite artist like Jackson Brown. 🎉🎉🎉
Great reaction! There are millions of stories like Tracy's character in this song, a person with dreams and ambitions of a better life but with all these obstacles in the way. What makes it even more wrenching is that she has the sensibility to know there's a better life out there but others probably see her as "just" a checkout girl in the ghetto who'll never get anywhere, not realizing all it took for her to just be living the modest life she's living. That's the heartbreaking part. The uplifting part is that she still has a plan of escape at this point in her life.
thank you for discovering Tracy. An amazing artist who did not get the recognition she deserved. If you want another rabbit hole, check out Pink's new music. Will take you on a journey,
When I was in 6th grade, my two best friends and I also planned how we would run away together. We all lived in abusive homes. We never actually went through with it, but we had our bags packed with crucial essentials like a jar of peanut butter. Tracy Chapman's music has always appealed to me because of how true it is to the experience of growing up and living in poverty, or with abuse, in situations that I really relate to. God I love her voice and lyrics and tunes SO much.
You should check out Natalie Merchant. She has a similarity with Tracy with some heartbreaking songs and lyrics topped off with an amazing voice. Carnival, These Are the Days, and Miracle are her top songs. But as an aside, did you know that some people don’t have a “minds eye” (like if you listen to music or read a book and as you listen/read you are visualizing in your head). Some people just don’t have it or see anything. Which is absolutely bonkers to me. Even if I do math in my head I visualize if exactly as if I’m doing it on a piece of paper. Mentioned it in a convo with my dad and he’s like yeah, no I don’t see anything. Idk that surprised me, I thought everyone had that.
She has a classic duo with Eric Clapton of her song Give Me One Reason. And another Duo with the world famous opera singer Pavarotti of her song, "Baby Can I Hold You Tonight."😉👍
I once heard you say you listened to sad songs. I immediately thought of Tracy's song, "Behind the wall." If this song hit you hard, you might not try to hear that song. It's the toughest 1:48 minutes you ever heard.
Great reaction! Storytelling at it's absolute finest! Have loved this since it came out in '88. Heavy and heartbreaking indeed - but expertly detailed and sung. I love Tracy's voice. Luke Combs' cover version is excellent - and has introduced a whole new generation to her music - and it's a hit!! Good for him, but especially good for her (particularly as she gets all songwriting and publishing royalties!). Cheers.
Was I right? I don't know how personal this song was to Tracy, but clearly it cut through to be personal to all of us. As sad and depressing as this situation is and how the cycle repeats itself, I get a glimmer of hope at the end. As you say, maybe her hard comments shake him up and he straightens up; but regardless, it seems she has found the strength to push through and become what she had hoped she could become. She has found her power. And break the cycle.
Great reaction as usual. I love how thorough you are with each song. I love music and can't imagine not having it in my life, but I absolutely love lyrics and you take such care in dividing your first listening experience between both the music and lyrics. I can see right at 6:04 your complete comprehension of this great song and the devastating realization of the situation being sung about.
There's an absolutely amazing video I recommend. It's The Greatest Showman Greenlit. It has to be greenlit and it has to be the lady, not Hugh Jackman. It's the most sincere, powerful performance I've ever seen. Half the people who watch it cry. She brings a feeling we all relate to and the whole room gets into it. I've watched it over and over. Just an fyi, the guys on the piano and guitar are the songwriters and the pianist's reaction to his song being played this way is great. I watched it over and over to watch each person and how they reacted as she performed, and it's worth every rewatch. Her name is Kiala. The Hugh Jackman video is fine but the Kiala one is simply a performance of a lifetime.
No. She's the one with the job at the end of the song and 'has' a better life, but he's like her father. She's telling him to take his fast car and go, because she has the life she always wanted and won't let him mess it up. He has to make the decision to stay with her and help with the dream or to leave. She says that she has a job that pays all their bills, but she refuses to support his life drinking like she did her father.
Perhaps her best song is Talking 'bout a Revolution'. I admit, Fast Car is probably one of the greatest songs out of the last quarter of the 20th Century, but Revolution is better. The funny thing is, her songs seem to be having a greater impact the second time around.
I like this song, but Tracy has SO many other good songs. Seems like everyone just follows what "everyone else is reacting to" these days. C'mon man, don't fall into that trap...check out her other stuff...please.
You guys are too cool for spending some of your time with me! To support me and the channel, please use these links www.patreon.com/ShawnSalvadori or www.buymeacoffee.com/shawnsalvador or paypal.me/CriticalReactions
Get a free 14 day trial with our sponsor Aura and see if your personal information has been leaked online: aura.com/salvadori
Stay blessed and have a great one! See you soon!
Actually, at the end of the song, I think she's telling him that you've got a fast car, so you need to leave. She has a job that pays all the bills, so why would she leave? I feel that's the way she's breaking the cycle.
Yep, she says "take your fast car and keep on driving."
And that's how people get stuck in that endless circle. They don't tell the other person to leave or "keep on driving"
She made the right choice.
I saw her open for Sting, Peter Gabriel and U2 in front of 80,000.
What I remember was this small woman with only a guitar on a huge stage with a huge crowd and she commanded everyone’s attention. It was impressive
Oh, to have been there then!
She describes a cycle of poverty. She hopes to escape poverty with a friend who ends up leading her into poverty.
These are some of the most hard hitting lyrics ever written in song with a great melody.
She is an INCREDIBLE artist. This song in particular gets at the cycle of poverty ... and how getting out of it is so hard. Great reaction.
This was the song that really catapulted her career. I remember listening to this album when it came out over and over and over for over a year.
“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” - Bob Marley. Except, except, except… when it hits home and is completely relatable. 🥹
❤❤❤
There is nothing wrong with showing.your feelings. It shows you have empathy.
Profound tune. Can still make me cry.
I thought this song was pure genius back when I first heard it and I still feel the same way.
Tracy cut her teeth busking at Harvard Square while studying Anthropology at nearby Tufts. Tough, crowd, and stiff competition. There was one guy who owned the entrance to the Harvard Coop, whom I swear was Paganini. Smoking fiddle! Bonnie Raitt and Suzanne Vega also played there, although indoors, at Passim's where Tracy probably wound up, on her way to world venues.
Your earbone is connected to your heartbone, and this makes all the difference. Especially since it doesn't bypass the brain bone. You drink these songs deeply, as do I. I could not do what you do. I cry at nearly every beautiful song, like this one. And that you can also visualize what you're listening to...even better still. You'll go far.
Never stop feeling it. That's what it's there for. That's what we're here for.
hear, hear!
It’s because great music like this is like poetic literature, you envision what she was dealt with and it reminds you of your own life experiences
Exactly why this is a Grammy award winning song...so powerful and so relatable.
From the times a Grammy meant something.
I love that songs are 3-4 minute stories, and the best ones create movie images of the story, in your head.
This is one of the best ever written. And Tracy Chapman, is a national treasure.
Great reaction. Take care.
I appreciate your reaction to this powerful song. Her voice is heavenly, her guitar playing is too. It was Great to see her on stage again after years of not performing ~ Luke Combs covered it last year ? He reintroduced it to the airwaves ~ ~ ~ to see them play together was wonderful.
I'm glad that this song has recently resurfaced but sad that it took a cover to do it. This song deserves to stand as Tracy wrote and performed it. If I were a musician, I'd have too much respect for the song and Tracy to try and cover it.
Tracy got a CMA award for best song this year
In the early 80's, I had the privilege of watching this wonderful artist play daily in the red line subway tunnels in Cambridge, Ma. before she got signed.👍Oh another tune by her that's killer is "Baby Can You Hold Me". You'll LOVE it!
'Fast Car' is one of my favorite tunes......top ten. Heavy lyrics. You will love it.
Spot on guy...most people misses the meaning of that song period...👍👍
Give Me One Reason
to stay here,
And I'll turn right back around
Makes me cry
So powerful, sad and hopeful at the same time. You can feel the desperation and anxiety. Great song, great reaction!
Man, no explanation needed for me. I am impressed by you following the emotional tone of the song, really feeling it. That is what makes your videos so good! And it is not something you can fake or try harder and make it better. It flows when the obstacles disappear. IMAO. Just keep going. You are kicking ass brother. I am here for all of it. 61 years old and love sharing these songs with you. ❤❤❤
I have listened to this many, many times, and it makes me cry every single time, and think of so many poor young people feeling hopeless and abandoned by society.
Great song by this talented lady. There is no "Fast car." It's just an analogy to getting out of her bad circumstances in life. Taking care of a sick parent, while she had to put her life on hold, really struck a chord with me, as I did the same for my mother in her old age, as she suffered from Alzheimer's Dementia.
God Bless you Shawn and thanks for all of the great musical memories for us, and the new musical discoveries for you.
It works for everyone.
Songs like these remind us that we are all connected as humans. Your tears are a badge of honor. It shows you still care about others.
Her buttery voice telling this story is pure gold. Loved this in the 80s and so glad she was finally recognized for it, thanks to Luke Combs.
Beautiful reaction! Thank you
Only rock n roll speaks the truth of life with tenderness and honesty. Much love.
TC is such an amazing artist! Thanks for a great reaction!
Luke combs covered the song and performed it with tracey. She got her start in Boston
This is definitely a heavy song by Tracy. Give Me One Reason is a 90s song of hers that's pretty bluesy with a nice vibe.
This is a great song, with heartfelt lyrics and wonderful vocals. I love it when music tells a story from the heart. Great choice and excellent, honest, empathetic commentary. No one does it better Brotherman.
I love her songs since my high school days, when this album came out. She was one of the first big inspiration of mine in music along with The Boss.
❤❤❤ Love her singing this song. Others may do their version, but Tracy is the best.
Her voice just caresses this song. I don't know of her own personal circumstances, but she really believes the lyrics and it comes through.
This is the original song as written and performed solo by Tracy Chapman. A classic
Heartfelt reaction♥️😔 Love TC♥️🌷💖
Just a legitimate all time great song. Don't know where I'd place it, but it's up there. Hard to imagine writing too much better than this.
Many songs have "great emotional stories". What is so sad is she's poor, working a job and is taking care of her 'drunk dad", then she has a boyfriend and driving in "a fast car" but then the pattern repeats itself, as the boyfriend turns into her father, "a drunk" not getting a job, yet she is working a job and taking care of the kids on her own, the pattern repeats itself...
Keep reacting to these great songs!!
I Love Tracy Chapman. She is a legendary Folk artist along with the greats Bob Dylan, Jackson Brown, and Joan Baez. She always tells these heart gripping stories in Life. React to: "Revolution " It is FIRE!!! Heart-gripping! This is gonna be your favorite artist like Jackson Brown. 🎉🎉🎉
Great reaction! There are millions of stories like Tracy's character in this song, a person with dreams and ambitions of a better life but with all these obstacles in the way. What makes it even more wrenching is that she has the sensibility to know there's a better life out there but others probably see her as "just" a checkout girl in the ghetto who'll never get anywhere, not realizing all it took for her to just be living the modest life she's living. That's the heartbreaking part. The uplifting part is that she still has a plan of escape at this point in her life.
thank you for discovering Tracy. An amazing artist who did not get the recognition she deserved. If you want another rabbit hole, check out Pink's new music. Will take you on a journey,
Beautiful reaction.
When I was in 6th grade, my two best friends and I also planned how we would run away together. We all lived in abusive homes. We never actually went through with it, but we had our bags packed with crucial essentials like a jar of peanut butter. Tracy Chapman's music has always appealed to me because of how true it is to the experience of growing up and living in poverty, or with abuse, in situations that I really relate to. God I love her voice and lyrics and tunes SO much.
When I first heard this song I thought it was a man singing, but I loved it even more when I found out she was singing it.👍🥰
This song truly captures that feeling of riding in a fast car. It truly is freeing, and makes one feel like any and everthing is possible.
Matters of the heart is another great song in fact that whole album is killer.
I cry every time I hear it.
You should check out Natalie Merchant. She has a similarity with Tracy with some heartbreaking songs and lyrics topped off with an amazing voice. Carnival, These Are the Days, and Miracle are her top songs.
But as an aside, did you know that some people don’t have a “minds eye” (like if you listen to music or read a book and as you listen/read you are visualizing in your head). Some people just don’t have it or see anything. Which is absolutely bonkers to me. Even if I do math in my head I visualize if exactly as if I’m doing it on a piece of paper. Mentioned it in a convo with my dad and he’s like yeah, no I don’t see anything. Idk that surprised me, I thought everyone had that.
She changed the script. She didn't leave her children to care for the drunk father.
She told him to get out.
She has a classic duo with Eric Clapton of her song Give Me One Reason. And another Duo with the world famous opera singer Pavarotti of her song, "Baby Can I Hold You Tonight."😉👍
I once heard you say you listened to sad songs. I immediately thought of Tracy's song, "Behind the wall." If this song hit you hard, you might not try to hear that song. It's the toughest 1:48 minutes you ever heard.
💙💙💙💙💙
Dude thanks for sharing that story.
Great reaction! Storytelling at it's absolute finest! Have loved this since it came out in '88.
Heavy and heartbreaking indeed - but expertly detailed and sung. I love Tracy's voice.
Luke Combs' cover version is excellent - and has introduced a whole new generation to her music - and it's a hit!! Good for him, but especially good for her (particularly as she gets all songwriting and publishing royalties!). Cheers.
And over 35 years later, it still causes the same emotion.
yeah, as if the rest of the song doesn't tear at your heart strings, that last bit nails it! 😥
I feel if you listened to Elvis Presley ghetto followed by Tracy's song you get a full picture of society right now
Or the 60s and 80s at least.
My grandpa once said it’s not your fault if you’re born poor but it is your fault if you die poor.
Was I right?
I don't know how personal this song was to Tracy, but clearly it cut through to be personal to all of us. As sad and depressing as this situation is and how the cycle repeats itself, I get a glimmer of hope at the end. As you say, maybe her hard comments shake him up and he straightens up; but regardless, it seems she has found the strength to push through and become what she had hoped she could become. She has found her power. And break the cycle.
Great reaction as usual. I love how thorough you are with each song. I love music and can't imagine not having it in my life, but I absolutely love lyrics and you take such care in dividing your first listening experience between both the music and lyrics. I can see right at 6:04 your complete comprehension of this great song and the devastating realization of the situation being sung about.
There's an absolutely amazing video I recommend. It's The Greatest Showman Greenlit. It has to be greenlit and it has to be the lady, not Hugh Jackman. It's the most sincere, powerful performance I've ever seen. Half the people who watch it cry. She brings a feeling we all relate to and the whole room gets into it. I've watched it over and over. Just an fyi, the guys on the piano and guitar are the songwriters and the pianist's reaction to his song being played this way is great. I watched it over and over to watch each person and how they reacted as she performed, and it's worth every rewatch. Her name is Kiala. The Hugh Jackman video is fine but the Kiala one is simply a performance of a lifetime.
Listen to behind the wall. So powerful. She is amazing
Any reaction that calls for intelligence and sensitivity I look for your channel!! Well done!!
♥
so Oscars are movies, Emmys are TV shows, & Grammys are music.😊
I do exactly the same thing as you do with music.
great song great album! great woman! she is very private so you will not get alot of stories!
I think, in the end, she finally decided to cut her losses like her mom had to.
Please react to:
1. Pink - Family Portrait
2. 10,000 Maniacs - What’s The Matter Here?
3. Gilbert O’Sullivan - Alone Again Naturally
4. Suzanne Vega - Luka
You are an amazing reactor. I love your channel. Thank you ❤
No. She's the one with the job at the end of the song and 'has' a better life, but he's like her father. She's telling him to take his fast car and go, because she has the life she always wanted and won't let him mess it up. He has to make the decision to stay with her and help with the dream or to leave. She says that she has a job that pays all their bills, but she refuses to support his life drinking like she did her father.
She took care of her drunken father... so she realizes she doesn't want to do that again with her boyfriend!
Perhaps her best song is Talking 'bout a Revolution'. I admit, Fast Car is probably one of the greatest songs out of the last quarter of the 20th Century, but Revolution is better. The funny thing is, her songs seem to be having a greater impact the second time around.
I like this song, but Tracy has SO many other good songs. Seems like everyone just follows what "everyone else is reacting to" these days. C'mon man, don't fall into that trap...check out her other stuff...please.