Talkin' 'bout a Revolution
| "Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Tracy Chapman | ||||
| from the album Tracy Chapman | ||||
| Released | August 1988 | |||
| Genre | Contemporary folk | |||
| Length | 2:39 | |||
| Label | Elektra/Asylum Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Tracy Chapman | |||
| Tracy Chapman singles chronology | ||||
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"Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution" is the second single from African American contemporary folk artist Tracy Chapman. 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]
The song is in the key of G major. The chord progression is: G, C, Em, D. It has a relatively simple strumming pattern which plays unbroken throughout the entire song, making it fairly easy for a novice or learner to play on guitar.
The song 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 Napolean 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".[4]
[edit] Charts
| Chart (1988)[5] | 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 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 29 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 48 |
| France Singles Chart | 22 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 18 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 32 |
[edit] 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. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-tunisia-act-of-one-fruit-vendor-sparks-wave-of-revolution-through-arab-world/2011/03/16/AFjfsueB_singlePage.html.
- ^ Talking about an arab revolution on YouTube
- ^ Artist Chart History: Billboard.com
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