Talkin' 'bout a Revolution

Last updated

"Talkin' 'bout a Revolution"
Chapman - Revolution.jpg
Single by Tracy Chapman
from the album Tracy Chapman
B-side
  • "If Not Now..."
  • "Behind the Wall" (live)
  • "She's Got Her Ticket"
ReleasedJuly 1988
Studio Powertrax Studios (Hollywood, CA) [1]
Genre
Length2:39
Label Elektra
Songwriter(s) Tracy Chapman
Producer(s) David Kershenbaum
Tracy Chapman singles chronology
"Fast Car"
(1988)		"Talkin' 'bout a Revolution"
(1988)		"Baby Can I Hold You"
(1988)
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. Released in 1988, the politically aware song peaked at No. 75 in the United States and reached the top 40 in Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.

Contents

Chapman wrote the song while she was studying at Tufts University; it was among several demos she recorded at WMFO, the college's radio station. Fellow Tufts student Brian Koppelman smuggled a tape from the station and played it for his father Charles Koppelman, who ran SBK Publishing. This led to Chapman's signing with Elektra Records in 1987. [4]

The song received heavy radio play in Tunisia in 2011 during the Tunisian Revolution. [5] [6] The song was also used as an unofficial theme for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign, played before speeches at his campaign rallies. [7]

After five years of 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" [8] [9] [10] [11]

Charts

Chart (1988)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[ citation needed ]66
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [12] 29
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [13] 36
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [14] 42
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [15] 78
France (SNEP) [16] 22
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [17] 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [18] 18
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [19] 32
UK Singles (OCC) [20] 85
US Billboard Hot 100 [21] 75
US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [22] 45
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [23] 24
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [24] 78
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [25] 22

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [26] Gold45,000‡
Italy (FIMI) [27] Gold50,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [28] Gold400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

The song was first covered by the group Living Colour, who released a live version as the B-side to the 1989 single "Open Letter (To a Landlord)" and on the compilation album What's Your Favorite Color (1995). Pliers of Chaka Demus & Pliers and the Firehouse Crew released a sampled and remixed version in 1989 [29] that was later re-released as "Revolution Sounds". [30]

German punk band Ausbruch recorded a cover version for their 1994 album Auf Alte Zeiten. English punk band Leatherface released a cover version on their EP "Compact and Bijou" in 1992.


In 2004, it was covered by singer Ben Jelen on the Russell Simmons/Babyface-produced all-star compilation Wake Up Everybody. The following year, Reel Big Fish covered it on their album We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy, while Chamberlain covered it 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". [31]

Clarence Bekker, of Playing for Change, sang a cover version to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 2017. [32]

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman". AllMusic . Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  2. ↑ Molanphy, Chris (August 30, 2024). "Building a Herstory Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate . Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Tracy Chapman – Talkin' Bout A Revolution". Discogs . Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  4. ↑ "100 Best Albums of the Eighties: Tracy Chapman, 'Tracy Chapman'". Rolling Stone. November 16, 1989. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ Wagner, John (February 8, 2016). "Songs of 'revolution' and others that make Bernie Sanders's playlist". The Washington Post . Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Watch Tracy Chapman Sing "Go Vote" in Rare TV Performance on Seth Meyers". Pitchfork. November 3, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  9. ↑ Tracy Chapman Makes Rare TV Appearance With Performance of 'Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution' | 11/3/20, November 3, 2020, retrieved February 9, 2024
  10. ↑ Watch Late Night with Seth Meyers Clip: Tracy Chapman: Talkin' 'Bout A Revolution - NBC.com , retrieved February 9, 2024
  11. ↑ Sisario, Ben; Knight, Heather (February 6, 2024). "Where Has Tracy Chapman Been?". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Tracy Chapman – Talkin' bout a Revolution" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Tracy Chapman – Talkin' bout a Revolution" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  14. ↑ "RPM 100 Singles". RPM . Vol. 49, no. 1. October 22, 1988. p. 6.
  15. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media . Vol. 5, no. 46. November 12, 1988. p. 18.
  16. ↑ "Tracy Chapman – Talkin' bout a Revolution" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Tracy Chapman – Talkin' bout a Revolution" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Tracy Chapman – Talkin' bout a Revolution". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Tracy Chapman – Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Tracy Chapman – Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  28. ↑ "British single certifications – Tracy Chapman – Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  29. ↑ "None".
  30. ↑ Revolution Sounds, December 31, 2014, retrieved February 9, 2024
  31. ↑ Talking About an Arab Revolution on YouTube
  32. ↑ Talkin' 'bout a Revolution | Clarence Bekker | Playing For Change on YouTube
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.