Fast Car

"Fast Car"
Single by Tracy Chapman
from the album Tracy Chapman
B-side	"For You"
Released	April 1, 1988
Format	7" 12"
Recorded	1987
Genre	Folk pop adult contemporary
Length	4:56 (Album version) 4:26 (Single edit)
Label	Elektra
Writer(s)	Tracy Chapman
Producer(s)	David Kershenbaum
Tracy Chapman singles chronology
"Fast Car" (1988) "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" (1988)
Music sample "Fast Car"

"Fast Car" is a song by American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman. It was released in April 1988 as the lead single from her self-titled debut album. Her appearance on the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute was the catalyst for the song's becoming a top 10 hit in the United States, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and a top 10 hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 4 on the charts.

Critical reception

Rolling Stone ranked the song number 167 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.^[1] It is Chapman's only song on the list (and the highest ranking song both written and performed by a female artist). Pitchfork Media placed the song at number 86 on their list of the 200 Best Songs of the 1980s.

Chart performance

In April 2011 the track also hit the UK top ten at number 4 after Michael Collings performed it on Britain's Got Talent.^[2] The single was certified Platinum in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in 2014, based on digital downloads and streaming. The song has sold 661,500 copies in the UK, as of January 2016.^[3]

Charts and certifications

Charts Chart (1988) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[4] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 1 Canada (RPM)[6] 1 Germany (Official German Charts)[7] 81 Ireland (IRMA)[8] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] 21 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 9 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[12] 5 US Billboard Hot 100[13][14] 6 US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[13] 7 US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks[13] 19 Chart (2011) Peak position UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[12] 4 Chart (2013) Peak position Denmark (Tracklisten)[15] 29

Certifications Region Certification Sales/shipments United Kingdom (BPI)[16] Platinum 661,500[3] sales/streaming figures based on certification alone

Chart successions

Jonas Blue version

"Fast Car"
Single by Jonas Blue featuring Dakota
Released	December 4, 2015[17]
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2015
Genre	Tropical house
Length	3:32
Label	Positiva Virgin EMI
Writer(s)	Tracy Chapman
Producer(s)	Jonas Blue

In 2015, a tropical house cover of "Fast Car" was released by British producer Jonas Blue. It is Blue's debut single and features vocals by Dakota.^[18] The Jonas Blue version peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, behind Zayn Malik's "Pillowtalk".^[19] Its UK peak meant it charted higher than Chapman's original, which peaked at number five on the chart in May 1988 and a position higher upon a re-release in April 2011.^[20]

Outside the UK, the Jonas Blue version reached number one in Australia^[21] and Hungary, whilst also peaking within the top ten in Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden. In the US, the Jonas Blue version went to number one on the Dance Club Songs chart.

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2015–16)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[22]	1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[23]	3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[24]	3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[25]	7
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[26] [27]	27
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[28]	15
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[29]	4
Denmark (Tracklisten)[30] [31]	6
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[32]	10
France (SNEP)[33]	14
Germany (Official German Charts)[34]	2
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[35]	10
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[36]	1
Hungary (Single Top 40)[37]	1
Ireland (IRMA)[38]	2
Italy (FIMI)[39]	5
Latvia (Latvijas Top 40)[40]	1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[41]	3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42]	3
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[43]	2
Norway (VG-lista)[44] [45]	9
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[46]	30
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[47]	1
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[48]	7
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[49]	3
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[50]	18
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[51]	2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[52]	4
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[53]	2
UK Dance (Official Charts Company)[54]	1
US Billboard Hot 100[55] [56]	98
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[57] [58]	7
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[59] [60]	1
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[61]	17

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[62]	2× Platinum	140,000
Italy (FIMI)[63]	Platinum	50,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[64]	2× Platinum	30,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[65]	Platinum	600,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales/streaming figures based on certification alone

Tobtok version

"Fast Car"
Single by Tobtok featuring River
Released	December 4, 2015[66]
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2015
Genre	Tropical house
Length	3:27
Label	disco:wax
Writer(s)	Tracy Chapman
Producer(s)	Tobtok

In 2015, another tropical house version was released by Swedish producer Tobtok, featuring vocals by British vocalist River. Tobtok also released an accompanying music video. The Tobtok version also charted in a number of charts, notably the Australia ARIA Chart, reaching number 19.^[67] The Tobtok version also charted in the Norwegian VG-lista, Irish IRMA and Danish Tracklistan official charts.

Track listing

1. "Fast Car" – 3:27
2. "Fast Car" (L'Tric Remix Radio Edit) – 2:57

Charts

Chart (2015–16)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[68]	19
Denmark (Tracklisten)[69]	29
Ireland (IRMA)[70]	25
Norway (VG-lista)[71]	32
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[72]	15

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[73]	Gold	35,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Other cover versions

The song has been covered many times including by The Flying Pickets, Hundred Reasons, Xiu Xiu, Vertical Horizon, Darwin's Waiting Room, Amazing Transparent Man, MYMP, The Wilkinsons, Mutya Buena, Kristian Leontiou, Wayne Wonder, David Usher, Linda Pritchard, Boyce Avenue (featuring Kina Grannis), Christian Kane, Mark Wilkinson, Elizabeth Gillies and Hitomi Yaida.

In 2010, Kelly Clarkson and Daughtry performed a duet of the song in concert. It was also sampled by the rap group Nice & Smooth in their hit song "Sometimes I Rhyme Slow", making it a hit within the hip-hop community as well. British rapper Example also samples the song in his "I Need a Fast Car", which appeared on his mixtape We Didn't Invent the Remix.

In 1991, British soul singer Gabrielle recorded a demo of her song "Dreams" that featured a sample of "Fast Car". When it was released commercially in 1993 the sample was removed because of legal issues, but the version with the sample was still being played in nightclubs and DJ sets. Los Angeles-based turntablist DJ Quixotic is known to perform a cover of "Fast Car" by manipulating a tone record on a turntable to imitate the notes of the opening guitar riffs. In 1991, Hong Kong Band Soft Hard covered this song in Cantonese.

The song was parodied as "I Write a Fast Song" in the In Living Color sketch "Making of a Tracy Chapman Song", in which Chapman (portrayed by Kim Wayans) writes a song by looking out her window and witnessing events such as an old man getting hit by a bus and a domestic dispute.

The song was featured in an episode of Jake and Amir, however the words are changed to "I got a fast Jake".

In mid-2008, Swimming With Dolphins released a recording of the song as a B-side track to their EP, Ambient Blue.^[74]

In December 2010, Boyce Avenue^[75] and Kina Grannis did an acoustic arrangement; as of October 2014 it had over 25 million views on YouTube and remains one of their most popular songs on iTunes.^[76]

In April 2011, Michael Collings auditioned on Britain's Got Talent by singing his version of "Fast Car". As a result, the song peaked on number four in the UK Singles Chart in the United Kingdom, a position higher than its original peak in the country 23 years prior.^[77]

In September 2014, Sam Smith covered the song on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge.^[78]

British singer Jasmine Thompson released a cover of the song in a tropical style in January 2016.

See also

• List of number-one singles of 2016 (Australia)
• List of number-one dance singles of 2016 (U.S.)

References

1. "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2004-12-09. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
2. "Britain's Got Talent helps Fast Car speed into chart". BBC News. 24 April 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
3. Jones, Alan (January 29, 2016). "Official Charts Analysis: Bowie album chart domination continues". Music Week (Intent Media). Retrieved January 29, 2016. (subscription required (help)).
4. "Australian-charts.com – Tracy Chapman – Fast Car". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
5. "Ultratop.be – Tracy Chapman – Fast Car" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
6. Canada peak
7. "Musicline.de – Tracy Chapman Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Fast Car". Irish Singles Chart.
9. "Charts.org.nz – Tracy Chapman – Fast Car". Top 40 Singles.
10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Tracy Chapman search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
11. "Swedishcharts.com – Tracy Chapman – Fast Car". Singles Top 100.
12. "Tracy Chapman: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
13. "Fast Car: Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. 2004-12-09. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
14. "Tracy Chapman Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
15. "Danishcharts.com – Tracy Chapman – Fast Car". Tracklisten.
16. "British single certifications – Tracy Chapman – Fast Car". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Fast Car in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
17. "Fast Car (feat. Dakota) [Radio Edit] - Single by Jonas Blue". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
18. Deen, Khyle (25 January 2016). "Jonas Blue releases music video to global smash hit Fast Car feat. Dakota (VIDEO)". Purple Revolver. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
19. Gibsone, Harriet (February 5, 2016). "Zayn Malik's debut solo single Pillowtalk goes straight to No 1". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). Retrieved February 8, 2016.
20. Myers, Justin (1 February 2016). "12 cover versions that charted higher than the originals". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
21. Ryan, Gavin (30 January 2016). "ARIA Singles: Jonas Blue 'Fast Car' Is Australia's No 1". Noise11. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
22. "Australian-charts.com – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
23. "Austriancharts.at – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
24. "Ultratop.be – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
25. "Ultratop.be – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car" (in French). Ultratop 50.
26. Illegal name entered Jonas Blue/Jonas+Blue/chart?f=793 "Jonas Blue – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Jonas Blue.
27. http://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100. Missing or empty |title= (help)
28. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert {{{year}}}{{{week}}} into search.
29. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert {{{year}}}{{{week}}} into search.
30. "Danishcharts.com – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car". Tracklisten.
31. http://hitlisten.nu/default.asp?list=t40
32. "Jonas Blue: Fast Car (Feat. Dakota)" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
33. "Lescharts.com – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car" (in French). Les classement single.
34. "Musicline.de – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
35. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
36. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
37. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
38. "Chart Track: Week 8, 2016". Irish Singles Chart.
39. "Top Digital - Classifica settimanale WK 15 (dal 2016-04-08 al 2016-04-14)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
40. "Latvijas Top 40". Latvijas Radio. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
41. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Jonas Blue Featuring Dakota search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
42. "Dutchcharts.nl – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
43. "Charts.org.nz – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car". Top 40 Singles.
44. "Norwegiancharts.com – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car". VG-lista.
45. http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-20-single/1/dato/2016/uke/11
46. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
47. "Archive Chart: 2016-01-29". Scottish Singles Top 40.
48. "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert {{{year}}}{{{week}}} into search.
49. "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert {{{year}}}{{{week}}} into search.
50. "Spanishcharts.com – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car" Canciones Top 50.
51. "Swedishcharts.com – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car". Singles Top 100.
52. "Swisscharts.com – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car". Swiss Singles Chart.
53. "Archive Chart: 2016-02-05" UK Singles Chart.
54. "Archive Chart: 2016-02-05" UK Dance Chart.
55. Illegal name entered Jonas Blue/Jonas+Blue/chart?f=379 "Jonas Blue – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Jonas Blue.
56. http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100. Missing or empty |title= (help)
57. Illegal name entered Jonas Blue/Jonas+Blue/chart?f=1234 "Jonas Blue – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs for Jonas Blue.
58. http://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-electronic-songs. Missing or empty |title= (help)
59. Illegal name entered Jonas Blue feat. Dakota/Jonas+Blue+feat.+Dakota/chart?f=359 "Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Jonas Blue feat. Dakota.
60. http://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs/2016-04-09. Missing or empty |title= (help)
61. "Dance/Mix Show Airplay". Billboard. April 16, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
62. Ryan, Gavin (February 27, 2016). "ARIA Singles: Lukas Graham No 1 for Second Week". Noise11. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
63. "Italian single certifications – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved March 18, 2016. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Jonas Blue feat. Dakota in the field Filtra. Select 2016 in the field Anno. The certification will load automatically
64. "New Zealand single certifications – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
65. "British single certifications – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 12, 2016. Enter Fast Car in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
66. "Fast Car (feat. River) [Radio Edit] - Single by Tobtok". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
67. Wass, Mike (January 4, 2016). "Battle of the "Fast Car" Covers: Jonas Blue Ft. Dakota Vs. TobTok Ft. River". Idolator. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
68. "Australian-charts.com – Tobtok feat. River – Fast Car". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
69. "Danishcharts.com – Tobtok feat. River – Fast Car". Tracklisten.
70. "Chart Track: Week 3, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
71. "Norwegiancharts.com – Tobtok feat. River – Fast Car". VG-lista.
72. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
73. Ryan, Gavin (March 5, 2016). "ARIA Singles: Lukas Graham Is No 1 for Third Week". Noise11. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
74. ""Fast Car" (Swimming With Dolphins cover) on SoundCloud". SoundCloud. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
75. Fast Car. YouTube. May 18, 2013.
76. "Boyce Avenue", iTunes, May 18, 2013
77. "Britain's Got Talent helps Fast Car speed into chart". BBC News. 2011-04-24.
78. Blistein, Jon (September 4, 2014). "Sam Smith Offers Delicate Cover of Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 12, 2014.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics