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Yeah! Let's all put on our SJW hats and create needless divisiveness: "Fast Car"

Shadow Wolf

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber & Business Owner
Guitar's Cry

Guitar's Cry

Disciple of Pan
icehorse said:
Summary: Luke Combs has successfully covered Tracy Chapman. Luke and Tracey have a public mutual admiration relationship.

But wait...

www.yahoo.com

Why Luke Combs' cover of Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car' is sparking controversy

Why are Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs connected? What is the controversy around the song Fast Car and the country music cover?
www.yahoo.com www.yahoo.com
Click to expand...

The article only quotes one person's criticism, and even that was kind of on the fence:

'“On one hand, Luke Combs is an amazing artist, and it’s great to see that someone in country music is influenced by a Black queer woman — that’s really exciting,” Holly G, founder of the Black country music organization Black Opry, told Yahr. “But at the same time, it’s hard to really lean into that excitement knowing that Tracy Chapman would not be celebrated in the industry without that kind of middleman being a white man.”'

It doesn't seem like anyone is making a huge stink about it, according to the article.
 
Stevicus

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
icehorse said:
Hmmm. The title of the article includes "controversy". So if there is none, then why publish the article?
Click to expand...

The article explains it to some extent:

So, what’s the controversy over 'Fast Car'?​

Though many celebrated the recognition for Chapman’s work, questions arose for some surrounding the roles of race, gender and sexuality in Combs’ success.

In a Washington Post article considered to be the genesis of the debate, Emily Yahr wrote, “Although many are thrilled to see ‘Fast Car’ back in the spotlight and a new generation discovering Chapman’s work, it’s clouded by the fact that, as a Black queer woman, Chapman, 59, would have almost zero chance of that achievement herself in country music.”

Yahr interviewed Black individuals working in the music industry, who expressed mixed feelings about the situation: They are glad to see Chapman’s music receiving recognition and exerting influence, but they also feel “uneasy” about Combs’ overwhelming success in light of his white male identity.
Click to expand...

So, apparently, some people are uneasy about his white male identity.
 
icehorse

icehorse

......unaffiliated...... anti-dogmatist
Premium Member
From the "controversy" section of the article:

Though many celebrated the recognition for Chapman’s work, questions arose for some surrounding the roles of race, gender and sexuality in Combs’ success.

In a Washington Post article considered to be the genesis of the debate, Emily Yahr wrote, “Although many are thrilled to see ‘Fast Car’ back in the spotlight and a new generation discovering Chapman’s work, it’s clouded by the fact that, as a Black queer woman, Chapman, 59, would have almost zero chance of that achievement herself in country music.”

Yahr interviewed Black individuals working in the music industry, who expressed mixed feelings about the situation: They are glad to see Chapman’s music receiving recognition and exerting influence, but they also feel “uneasy” about Combs’ overwhelming success in light of his white male identity.

“On one hand, Luke Combs is an amazing artist, and it’s great to see that someone in country music is influenced by a Black queer woman — that’s really exciting,” Holly G, founder of the Black country music organization Black Opry, told Yahr. “But at the same time, it’s hard to really lean into that excitement knowing that Tracy Chapman would not be celebrated in the industry without that kind of middleman being a white man.”
Click to expand...

The only way this sort of thinking gets published is if the publisher thinks it will resonate with some readers.
 
Orbit

Orbit

I'm a planet
Stevicus said:
The article explains it to some extent:



So, apparently, some people are uneasy about his white male identity.
Click to expand...

In terms of music history, there's a track record of white artists covering, re-interpreting, and sometimes outright ripping off black musical artists. I'm thinking of Elvis and Led Zeppelin in particular, though there are more. There is a larger context here.
 
Callisto

Callisto

Hellenismos, BTW
icehorse said:
Hmmm. The title of the article includes "controversy". So if there is none, then why publish the article?
Click to expand...
Because we live in an era where taking offense even when none is intended is the norm, because too many people live for drama.

The reality is there are black, gay, and female country artists. So the claim that Chapman could never break into the genre or get recognition because she's a black female queer musician feeds into the current social-political outrage for the sake of being outraged. Sadly, there is no shortage of people who are wholly uninformed and rail just because some hack writer stirred the pot.

And even if it was true and country music was void of anything other than straight white male musicians, then the cover should be seen as a good thing and possibly a teachable moment for country music fans to be introduced to other musicians and maybe open their world view a bit.
 
fantome profane

fantome profane

Anti-Woke = Anti-Justice
Premium Member
Callisto said:
And even if it was true and country music was void of anything other than straight white male musicians, then the cover should be seen as a good thing and possibly a teachable moment for country music fans to be introduced to other musicians and maybe open their world view a bit.
Click to expand...
It is a good thing. It is wonderful that this might introduce people to the work of Tracy Chapman.

But it is a little bit sad that it is still needed. This has been going on forever, or at least as long as we have had the ability to make and broadcast audio recordings.

It is sad that in 2023 music is still so segregated. And I don't think it is controversial or divisive to point that out.
 
Guitar's Cry

Guitar's Cry

Disciple of Pan
icehorse said:
Hmmm. The title of the article includes "controversy". So if there is none, then why publish the article?
Click to expand...

I suppose like others have said, to attract people to the article. There's nothing wrong with some criticism, obviously, and the article brought up some, but I don't see it rising to any extremist kind of level.
 
icehorse

icehorse

......unaffiliated...... anti-dogmatist
Premium Member
fantome profane said:
But it is a little bit sad that it is still needed. This has been going on forever, or at least as long as we have had the ability to make and broadcast audio recordings.

It is sad that in 2023 music is still so segregated. And I don't think it is controversial or divisive to point that out.
Click to expand...

I did a few internet searches. If anything I found out that "black and brown stories are highly valued in the music industry".

No doubt this hasn't always been the case, but in 2023?
 
Viker

Viker

Your beloved eccentric Auntie Cristal
Orbit said:
In terms of music history, there's a track record of white artists covering, re-interpreting, and sometimes outright ripping off black musical artists. I'm thinking of Elvis and Led Zeppelin in particular, though there are more. There is a larger context here.
Click to expand...
CCR.
 
Viker

Viker

Your beloved eccentric Auntie Cristal
icehorse said:
From the "controversy" section of the article:



The only way this sort of thinking gets published is if the publisher thinks it will resonate with some readers.
Click to expand...
The editor likely came up with the title. Click bait is designed to grab attention which may lead to increased revenue.
 
icehorse

icehorse

......unaffiliated...... anti-dogmatist
Premium Member
Viker said:
The editor likely came up with the title. Click bait is designed to grab attention which may lead to increased revenue.
Click to expand...
Yes, editors do that sometimes.

But the controversy is spelled out in the article.
 
Twilight Hue

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
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