35 years after its debut, “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman is once again making waves in the music industry. Follwing its initial release in 1988, the song earned Chapman a total of three Grammy nominations, and she took home the award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Over three decades later, “Fast Car” has gained newfound exposure due to country music superstar, Luke Combs, releasing his own rendition of the song.
Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs Perform “Fast Car” at the Grammy Awards
Luke Combs’ 2023 version of “Fast Car” was nominated for Country Solo Performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards, and Tracy Chapman joined him on the Grammy stage to celebrate the smash hit.
This was a significant appearance as Chapman had only given three televised performances since the conclusion of her last tour in 2009, according to Variety.
The crowd was captivated by the performance that seamlessly blended old and new. Many audience members rose to their feet to sing and dance along and the pair earned a well-deserved standing ovation for the duet. See a clip of the memorable performance below.
Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” Tops iTunes Charts
One day after the noteworthy Grammy performance, Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” climbed to the #1 spot on the U.S. iTunes chart, a first time feat for Chapman.
Chapman shared news of the achievement online, calling the occurrence “crazy.”
This is crazy!! https://t.co/H40DiwtLYF
— Tracy Chapman (@tchapmanonline) February 5, 2024
Sales of “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman Soar Following Grammy Performance
Now a few days later, the momentum behind “Fast Car” is showing in signs of slowing down. According to Billboard chart data, Tracy Chapman’s original track has seen an increase of 241% in on-demand streams and a 38,000% increase in US download sales.
Are you one of those who streamed ‘Fast Car’?
After Tracy Chapman’s duet with Luke Combs at the Grammys, the original track has seen a 241% rise in on-demand streams in the U.S., while Combs’ rendition of the song experienced a significant boost, with a 37% increase in streams. pic.twitter.com/a7N7kC3zL8
— Tracy Chapman (@tchapmanonline) February 8, 2024
The revitalized success of “Fast Car” goes to show the timeless nature of truly great music. Congrats, Tracy Chapman!