 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2021) |
| "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Tracy Chapman | ||||
| from the album Tracy Chapman | ||||
| B-side |
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| Released | July 1988 | |||
| Length | 2:39 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Tracy Chapman | |||
| Producer(s) | David Kershenbaum | |||
| Tracy Chapman singles chronology | ||||
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| Official audio | ||||
| "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" on YouTube | ||||
"Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" is the second single from American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman's self-titled debut album. The politically aware song peaked at No. 75 in the United States as opposed to its predecessor, "Fast Car" which reached No. 6. It also charted in several other countries, reaching the top 40 in Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
This song was in Chapman's repertoire while she was studying at Tufts University, before the start of her professional music career, and was among several demos of her songs she had recorded for her college radio station WMFO for copyright purposes, in exchange for the station's right to play her songs. Fellow Tufts student Brian Koppelman showed his father Charles Koppelman, who ran SBK Publishing, a tape of this song that he had smuggled from the station, leading Chapman to sign with the record company.[1]
The song received heavy radio play in Tunisia in 2011 during the Tunisian Revolution.[2][3] The song was also used as an unofficial theme for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign, played before speeches at his campaign rallies.[4]
After 5 years with no public appearances, Chapman recorded a performance of the song to air on Late Night with Seth Meyers on the eve of the 2020 United States elections. She changed the lyrics at the end to "Talkin' 'bout a revolution, Go Vote"[5][6][7][8]
- ^ "100 Best Albums of the Eighties: Tracy Chapman, 'Tracy Chapman'". Rolling Stone. November 16, 1989. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ Fisher, Marc (March 26, 2011). "In Tunisia, act of one fruit vendor sparks wave of revolution through Arab world". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
- ^ Kulsum, Caroline; Al Khatib, Noor (June 25, 2011). "Minstrels of the Arab Revolution". Gulf News. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
In 1964, Dylan released The Times Are a-Changin' to support the American civil rights movement. Tracy Chapman sang Talkin' 'bout a Revolution in 1988, which has also been played repeatedly on Tunisian radio stations in the recent months.
- ^ Wagner, John (February 8, 2016). "Songs of 'revolution' and others that make Bernie Sanders's playlist". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
- ^ "Watch Tracy Chapman Sing "Go Vote" in Rare TV Performance on Seth Meyers". Pitchfork. November 3, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ Tracy Chapman Makes Rare TV Appearance With Performance of 'Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution' | 11/3/20, November 3, 2020, retrieved February 9, 2024
- ^ Watch Late Night with Seth Meyers Clip: Tracy Chapman: Talkin' 'Bout A Revolution - NBC.com, retrieved February 9, 2024
- ^ Sisario, Ben; Knight, Heather (February 6, 2024). "Where Has Tracy Chapman Been?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 9, 2024.