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Sylvia Cullen

Professor Skelly

ENG 1201

14 February 2021

Fast Car

Tracy Chapman’s timeless song “Fast Car” was released in 1988. The soft rock classic is

about growing up and making a whole new life. Jonas Blue made a remix of Fast Car, which was

released in 2016. This version transforms the classic rock masterpiece into an EDM summer fun

tune. Both versions of this song are generally about working towards a better life. However,

both artists represent the meaning of the song in a significantly different way.

In the original music video for “Fast Car”, Chapman is singing while playing her guitar,

barely visible, in a very dark room. The screen switches between her and multiple different

images. One of the images was a bottle with a liquid substance inside. I have reason to believe

that the substance inside the bottle is alcohol: Some of Chapman’s lyrics allude to alcoholism.

Some of the other images include a pair of hands holding another bottle, different landscapes,

and different houses. The original version of this song holds a way deeper meaning than just

leaving your hometown. It’s about leaving behind a life involving alcohol abuse and poverty. In

a particular part of the song, Chapman writes:

See, my old mans got a problem

He lives with the bottle that’s the way it is

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He says his bodys too old for working

His bodys too young to look like his

This line in the song is an example of why having a hard past can be hard to move on from.

There might be things that are difficult to leave behind. Chapman later sings:

My mama went off and left him

She wanted more from life than he could give

I said, somebody’s got to take care of him

So I quit school and that’s what I did

This verse is an example of why growing up and making a life of your own can be hard.

Sometimes leaving behind old responsibilities feels like leaving behind the ones that are

supposed to be taken care of. In another part of the song, Chapman sings about how leaving

her old life behind will help her “finally see what it means to be living” meaning she will be able

to survive in the world without constant challenges and worry.

The music video of Jonas Blue’s remix to “Fast Car” features 3 girls riding up and down

the street in a Cadillac. This version is very different from the original in regard to genre and

overall vibe. While the original is about growing up and moving on from a hard past onto

greater things, I find this version to be about living spontaneously and taking chances

throughout life. The remix doesn’t change any of the original lyrics, but they do leave out a few

parts from the original version. Replacing the organic acoustic rock backtrack and replacing it

with a more produced EDM backtrack helps the audience listen to Chapman’s lyrics from a new,
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fresh perspective. In this version, I believe the line “finally see what it means to be living”

means taking risks, trying new things, and taking advantage of whatever life has to offer.

In the original song, chapman uses pathos to appeal to peoples’ emotions not only

through her music video, but through her lyrics as well. Throughout the song, Chapman alludes

to the fact that the dad of whoever the song is about is an alcoholic and growing up certainly

wasn’t easy for them emotionally or financially. Growing up with a parent that suffers with

substance abuse is never easy but unfortunately it isn’t uncommon. I think that the main

audience is of course any fans or Tracy Chapman or soft rock, but also people who have made

or are trying to make a better life for themselves.

The remix of “Fast Car’ by Jonas Blue also uses pathos to appeal to the audience, but in

a different way. The EDM production gives the song a certain energy to make people long for

the feelings of an adventurous and euphoric summer night. I believe this remix is meant for the

younger generation. My reasoning behind this is because its upbeat of course, but also because

a lot of kids in younger generations haven’t had the freedom to go explore the world on their

own terms because they’re too young. This remix makes the lyrics feel more relatable to them

because they know what it’s like to want to grow up and see new things independently.

In conclusion, the song “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman is about ultimately about growing

up. However, if the genre of the song is changed, the meaning behind the lyrics change as well.

The slower rock version brings out the pain and pride of having to move on from your old life.

When all the production from the remix was put in the song, it showcased the excitement of

growing up and living life in the Fastlane.

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Work Cited

Stephanie Alexis. “Tracy Chapman - Fast Car (Jonas Blue Ft Dakota Remix) Video.” YouTube,

uploaded by Stephanie Alexis, 5 Sept. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?

v=bwhNmsQfNuQ. Accessed 18 February 2021

Tracy Chapman. “Tracy Chapman - Fast Car (Official Music Video).” YouTube, uploaded by Tracy

Chapman, 9 Nov. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?

v=AIOAlaACuv4&list=RDAIOAlaACuv4&start_radio=1. Accessed 18 February 2021