Talkin' 'bout a Revolution
| "Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Tracy Chapman | ||||
| from the album Tracy Chapman | ||||
| Released | August 1988 | |||
| Format | CD | |||
| Genre | Contemporary folk | |||
| Length | 2:39 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Writer(s) | Tracy Chapman | |||
| Tracy Chapman singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution" is the second single from singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman's self-titled debut album. The politically aware song failed to replicate the success of its predecessor, "Fast Car", and peaked at #75 in the United States. However, it also managed to chart on four other charts maintained by Billboard (which brings out the weekly US chart) and reached the top forty in two of them.[1]
Internationally, this single was a big hit, reaching the Top 40 in several countries, including France and New Zealand, becoming a classic in Chapman's song repertoire.[2] The song received heavy radio play in Tunisia in 2011 during the Tunisian revolution.[3][4]
The song was first covered by the group Living Colour, who not only performed the song on occasion on various tours but released a live version in the compilation album "What's Your Favorite Color" (1995) (Sony Music Distribution). English punk band Leatherface released their cover version of the song on their EP "Compact and Bijou" in 1992. It was subsequently covered by singer Ben Jelen on the Russell Simmons/Babyface-produced all-star compilation Wake Up Everybody in 2004. This song was also covered by Reel Big Fish on their 2005 album We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy and Chamberlain as a B Side to "Five Year Diary". In 2010, this song was translated into Cree and covered by Art Napoleon on his album Creeland Covers. In February 2011, Israeli band Shmemel covered the song and added a verse inspired by the Arab Spring revolutions, with the new song being given the title "Talking About an Arab Revolution".[5]
Charts
| Chart (1988)[6] | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 75 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 45 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 24 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 22 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 78 |
| Australia (ARIA Singles Chart)[7] | 66 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 29 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 48 |
| France Singles Chart | 22 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 18 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 32 |
References
- ↑ Artist Chart History: Billboard.com
- ↑ "Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution" in several charts
- ↑ Fisher, Marc (Mar 26, 2011). "In Tunisia, act of one fruit vendor unleashes wave of revolution through Arab world". Washington Post.
- ↑ Caroline Kulsum and Noor Al Khatib (25 June 2011). "Minstrels of the Arab Revolution". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
In 1964, Dylan released The Times Are a-Changin' to support the US 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.
- ↑ Talking about an arab revolution on YouTube
- ↑ Artist Chart History: Billboard.com
- ↑ "25 Years Ago This Week: August 28, 1988". chartbeat.blogspot.com.au. Retrieved 22 September 2015.