Luke Combs, Fast Car | COVERS

In the 31^st edition of COVERS (2023), Luke Combs delivers a compelling rendition of “Fast Car,” originally performed by Tracy Chapman.

Ah, it’s time to get cozy and totally cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers, as opposed to the original/most famous performer.  It is open to both established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 31st edition of COVERS (2023), 🎙 Luke Combs delivers a compelling rendition of 🎵 “Fast Car”, originally performed by 🎙 Tracy Chapman.   

“You got a fast car / And I want a ticket to anywhere / Maybe we can make a deal / Maybe together we can get anywhere.” 🎙 Luke Combs is among the most successful musicians in country music in the 2020s.  His original songs have paid dividends for him, earning multiple 🏆 Grammy nominations.  However, on his 2023 album, 💿 Gettin’ Old, Combs revisits a 1988 classic by 🏆 Grammy winner 🎙 Tracy Chapman, 🎵 “Fast Car”.  “Fast Car” was a top-10 hit for Chapman, peaking at no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Guess what? Mr. Combs has already surpassed Chapman’s peak, peaking at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Furthermore, Luke racked up a no. 1 on the Country Airplay charts. Given the fact that Chapman penned “Fast Car,” she made some history too, 35 years after “Fast Car” arrive, becoming the first black woman with the sole writing credit on a no. 1 country song. That, ladies and gentlemen, is big.

The accolades that Luke Combs is receiving, as well as Tracy Chapman, are remarkable. Most remarkable, however, in the case of this cover, is how well Combs executes it.  The original wasn’t too far removed from country music, given its folky, singer/songwriter leanings.  Countrifying it, with the perks of modern recording technology, works seamlessly (production by 🎛 Chip Matthews and Jonathan Singleton).  The guitars are idiomatic of modern country, while also retaining the sanctity of the original. The most dramatic difference, of course, is the shift from a female to a male vocalist.  Combs sounds incredibly natural on the lead, as if this could’ve been his song.  Via Apple Music, Combs asserts:

I really want to just do the original version of the song. It’s weird, because you’re doing a cover of it and you say, ‘I don’t want to make it my own, because I just really want to shine a light on the original version.’

Hearing him sing so expressively, it’s clear that this classic means something to him – it’s special.  Likely, the younger crowd will be convinced that 🎵 “Fast Car” belongs to Luke – he probably did even write it, right?  Those of us familiar with Chapman’s critically acclaimed original must applaud Combs for an impressive remake, one that you don’t have to be a die-hard country music fan to appreciate.

🎙 Luke Combs • 💿 Gettin’ Old • 🏷 River House Artists LLC / Sony Music Entertainment • 🗓 2023

Luke Combs, Fast Car: Covers No. 31 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; River House Artists LLC / Sony Music Entertainment; cottonbro studio, MART PRODUCTION, Ron Lach from Pexels; Paul Brennan from Pixabay]