Tracy Chapman Online
@tracychapmanonline.bsky.social
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Verified news, exclusive finds, and deep archival dives into Tracy Chapman’s life and music
https://tracychapmanonline.substack.com/
Verified news, exclusive finds, and deep archival dives into Tracy Chapman’s life and music
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Order your copy of Tracy's debut album reissue if you haven't already amzn.to/4idbD1Q
Jimmy Cliff’s music carried hope, resistance, and joy across generations. From « The Harder They Come » to « Many Rivers to Cross », he changed music, not only reggae forever. His songs will keep guiding us for many rivers to come. 🕊️💚💛❤️
Photo KMazur / WireImage file
Photo KMazur / WireImage file
November 24, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Jimmy Cliff’s music carried hope, resistance, and joy across generations. From « The Harder They Come » to « Many Rivers to Cross », he changed music, not only reggae forever. His songs will keep guiding us for many rivers to come. 🕊️💚💛❤️
Photo KMazur / WireImage file
Photo KMazur / WireImage file
🌻 Celebrating 30 years since the release of the "New Beginning" album
We'd love to hear your favourite track or memory of this era.
We'd love to hear your favourite track or memory of this era.
November 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
🌻 Celebrating 30 years since the release of the "New Beginning" album
We'd love to hear your favourite track or memory of this era.
We'd love to hear your favourite track or memory of this era.
This dog's name caught our attention. Tracy Chapman is a beautiful two-year-old German shepherd who is in danger of being euthanized on September 24 if she is not rescued.
Please, somebody save her!
She's in Contra Costa County, California. Call Contra Costa Animal Services 925-608-8400
Please, somebody save her!
She's in Contra Costa County, California. Call Contra Costa Animal Services 925-608-8400
September 22, 2025 at 9:02 AM
This dog's name caught our attention. Tracy Chapman is a beautiful two-year-old German shepherd who is in danger of being euthanized on September 24 if she is not rescued.
Please, somebody save her!
She's in Contra Costa County, California. Call Contra Costa Animal Services 925-608-8400
Please, somebody save her!
She's in Contra Costa County, California. Call Contra Costa Animal Services 925-608-8400
When people say they wore out an album, they literally did! How is your original copy? 😉
#tracychapman #debutalbum #fastcar
#tracychapman #debutalbum #fastcar
August 25, 2025 at 1:19 PM
When people say they wore out an album, they literally did! How is your original copy? 😉
#tracychapman #debutalbum #fastcar
#tracychapman #debutalbum #fastcar
When Tracy Chapman got her first big paycheck, she didn’t buy a car.
Or jewelry.
Or a vacation.
She bought her mom a house.
Paid off her student loans.
Helped her sister Aneta go to school.
That’s what success looks like when your roots run deep.
Or jewelry.
Or a vacation.
She bought her mom a house.
Paid off her student loans.
Helped her sister Aneta go to school.
That’s what success looks like when your roots run deep.
More Than a Sister: Aneta’s Quiet Role in Tracy Chapman’s Story
The untold story of Aneta Chapman, Tracy Chapman's sister, who nurtured, guided, and inspired her. A rare glimpse into the bond that shaped her timeless career.
tracychapmanonline.substack.com
August 12, 2025 at 12:20 PM
When Tracy Chapman got her first big paycheck, she didn’t buy a car.
Or jewelry.
Or a vacation.
She bought her mom a house.
Paid off her student loans.
Helped her sister Aneta go to school.
That’s what success looks like when your roots run deep.
Or jewelry.
Or a vacation.
She bought her mom a house.
Paid off her student loans.
Helped her sister Aneta go to school.
That’s what success looks like when your roots run deep.
(1/2) Everyone knows Tracy Chapman’s voice.
Few know the voice that shaped it.
Her sister Aneta was the first to hear every song Tracy ever wrote, starting when she was eight. She was also the first to say, “That one’s not good” or “Keep going.”
Aneta wasn’t just a sister...
Few know the voice that shaped it.
Her sister Aneta was the first to hear every song Tracy ever wrote, starting when she was eight. She was also the first to say, “That one’s not good” or “Keep going.”
Aneta wasn’t just a sister...
August 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM
(1/2) Everyone knows Tracy Chapman’s voice.
Few know the voice that shaped it.
Her sister Aneta was the first to hear every song Tracy ever wrote, starting when she was eight. She was also the first to say, “That one’s not good” or “Keep going.”
Aneta wasn’t just a sister...
Few know the voice that shaped it.
Her sister Aneta was the first to hear every song Tracy ever wrote, starting when she was eight. She was also the first to say, “That one’s not good” or “Keep going.”
Aneta wasn’t just a sister...
Tracy Chapman’s first big break didn’t come from a record label. It came from @nataliemerchant.bsky.social who cried while listening to an advance tape of her debut album.
Natalie believed in Tracy’s music and made sure that others heard it, too. She even opened for Tracy at her own show.
Natalie believed in Tracy’s music and made sure that others heard it, too. She even opened for Tracy at her own show.
July 27, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Tracy Chapman’s first big break didn’t come from a record label. It came from @nataliemerchant.bsky.social who cried while listening to an advance tape of her debut album.
Natalie believed in Tracy’s music and made sure that others heard it, too. She even opened for Tracy at her own show.
Natalie believed in Tracy’s music and made sure that others heard it, too. She even opened for Tracy at her own show.
Reposted by Tracy Chapman Online
On this day in 1996, the Tracy Chapman single “Give Me One Reason” peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (July 20)
July 20, 2025 at 11:57 AM
On this day in 1996, the Tracy Chapman single “Give Me One Reason” peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (July 20)
Must read: Bringing Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” to Vinyl:
From analog tapes to lacquer cuts, this is how Tracy Chapman brought Fast Car back to vinyl with producer David Kershenbaum & mastering legend Bernie Grundman. The 35th anniversary edition was worth the wait.
www.mixonline.com/recording/mu...
From analog tapes to lacquer cuts, this is how Tracy Chapman brought Fast Car back to vinyl with producer David Kershenbaum & mastering legend Bernie Grundman. The 35th anniversary edition was worth the wait.
www.mixonline.com/recording/mu...
Bringing Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" to Vinyl - Mixonline
By Robyn Flans. Tracy Chapman and producer David Kershenbaum have long had discussions about celebrating the 35th anniversary of Chapman’s debut self-titled album.
www.mixonline.com
July 18, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Must read: Bringing Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” to Vinyl:
From analog tapes to lacquer cuts, this is how Tracy Chapman brought Fast Car back to vinyl with producer David Kershenbaum & mastering legend Bernie Grundman. The 35th anniversary edition was worth the wait.
www.mixonline.com/recording/mu...
From analog tapes to lacquer cuts, this is how Tracy Chapman brought Fast Car back to vinyl with producer David Kershenbaum & mastering legend Bernie Grundman. The 35th anniversary edition was worth the wait.
www.mixonline.com/recording/mu...
Tracy's final performance at the Lilith Fair 1997 in Camden was unforgettable.
She danced. She grooved.
She led a surprise performance of "Proud Mary."
Sarah McLachlan, Joan Osborne, and Victoria Williams joined her one by one.
There was ecstasy on stage 🕺
She danced. She grooved.
She led a surprise performance of "Proud Mary."
Sarah McLachlan, Joan Osborne, and Victoria Williams joined her one by one.
There was ecstasy on stage 🕺
July 17, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Tracy's final performance at the Lilith Fair 1997 in Camden was unforgettable.
She danced. She grooved.
She led a surprise performance of "Proud Mary."
Sarah McLachlan, Joan Osborne, and Victoria Williams joined her one by one.
There was ecstasy on stage 🕺
She danced. She grooved.
She led a surprise performance of "Proud Mary."
Sarah McLachlan, Joan Osborne, and Victoria Williams joined her one by one.
There was ecstasy on stage 🕺
Guess who’s #1 on The New York Times’ July 4th playlist?
Tracy Chapman’s “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” leads 10 powerful songs of rebellion and justice. 🔥
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/a...
Tracy Chapman’s “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” leads 10 powerful songs of rebellion and justice. 🔥
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/a...
July 4, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Guess who’s #1 on The New York Times’ July 4th playlist?
Tracy Chapman’s “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” leads 10 powerful songs of rebellion and justice. 🔥
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/a...
Tracy Chapman’s “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” leads 10 powerful songs of rebellion and justice. 🔥
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/a...
Before she sang for millions, she wrote for herself.
Chapman’s early songwriting came from a personal place, unfiltered, raw, and poetic.
On her fifth album, Telling Stories, she tried to return to that place.
It’s a reminder: Growth often means remembering who you were before the world watched.
Chapman’s early songwriting came from a personal place, unfiltered, raw, and poetic.
On her fifth album, Telling Stories, she tried to return to that place.
It’s a reminder: Growth often means remembering who you were before the world watched.
Tracy Chapman: Poet First, Songwriter Always
Her lyrics began as poetry, and maybe still are.
tracychapmanonline.substack.com
June 27, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Before she sang for millions, she wrote for herself.
Chapman’s early songwriting came from a personal place, unfiltered, raw, and poetic.
On her fifth album, Telling Stories, she tried to return to that place.
It’s a reminder: Growth often means remembering who you were before the world watched.
Chapman’s early songwriting came from a personal place, unfiltered, raw, and poetic.
On her fifth album, Telling Stories, she tried to return to that place.
It’s a reminder: Growth often means remembering who you were before the world watched.
Songs are not poems. At least not to Tracy Chapman.
She made that distinction early on, in 1982, when she was only 18!
To her, songwriting and poetry serve different purposes.
Poetry, she once said, “calls for actual reading and attention.” Songs? You can hear them while driving, working, living.
She made that distinction early on, in 1982, when she was only 18!
To her, songwriting and poetry serve different purposes.
Poetry, she once said, “calls for actual reading and attention.” Songs? You can hear them while driving, working, living.
June 26, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Songs are not poems. At least not to Tracy Chapman.
She made that distinction early on, in 1982, when she was only 18!
To her, songwriting and poetry serve different purposes.
Poetry, she once said, “calls for actual reading and attention.” Songs? You can hear them while driving, working, living.
She made that distinction early on, in 1982, when she was only 18!
To her, songwriting and poetry serve different purposes.
Poetry, she once said, “calls for actual reading and attention.” Songs? You can hear them while driving, working, living.
Which Tracy Chapman lyric stays with you?
You know the one.
The line you whisper to yourself.
The one you quote when no one’s listening.
Share it.
Let someone else feel it too.
You know the one.
The line you whisper to yourself.
The one you quote when no one’s listening.
Share it.
Let someone else feel it too.
June 25, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Which Tracy Chapman lyric stays with you?
You know the one.
The line you whisper to yourself.
The one you quote when no one’s listening.
Share it.
Let someone else feel it too.
You know the one.
The line you whisper to yourself.
The one you quote when no one’s listening.
Share it.
Let someone else feel it too.
Stuff you learn when you hang out on Reddit: Ry Cooder enjoying Tracy Chapman? Wow!
June 24, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Stuff you learn when you hang out on Reddit: Ry Cooder enjoying Tracy Chapman? Wow!
“Across the Lines” is Tracy Chapman’s 9th most-streamed song of all time.
Despite never being a single.
Despite not appearing on either best-of album.
Why?
Because trauma doesn't need promotion.
It finds listeners who know.
Some songs rise to the top because truth floats.
Despite never being a single.
Despite not appearing on either best-of album.
Why?
Because trauma doesn't need promotion.
It finds listeners who know.
Some songs rise to the top because truth floats.
"Across The Lines" by Tracy Chapman: Meanings, Context, and the Story Behind the Song
Unpacking "Across The Lines": A Story of Racial Trauma and a Nation Divided.
tracychapmanonline.substack.com
June 23, 2025 at 7:05 PM
“Across the Lines” is Tracy Chapman’s 9th most-streamed song of all time.
Despite never being a single.
Despite not appearing on either best-of album.
Why?
Because trauma doesn't need promotion.
It finds listeners who know.
Some songs rise to the top because truth floats.
Despite never being a single.
Despite not appearing on either best-of album.
Why?
Because trauma doesn't need promotion.
It finds listeners who know.
Some songs rise to the top because truth floats.
“He told me to run or he'd shoot me. I didn't run. I stood my ground.”
It’s quiet. She doesn’t raise her voice. But what she says is earth-shattering.
It’s quiet. She doesn’t raise her voice. But what she says is earth-shattering.
June 22, 2025 at 5:28 PM
“He told me to run or he'd shoot me. I didn't run. I stood my ground.”
It’s quiet. She doesn’t raise her voice. But what she says is earth-shattering.
It’s quiet. She doesn’t raise her voice. But what she says is earth-shattering.
Not everyone stays the person they were raised to be.
This first comment, left on a YouTube video, is proof of that.
Racist upbringing.
Changed by one song, "Across the Lines"
From hate to humanity.
From blindness to grace.
They didn’t just hear Tracy’s voice.
They listened.
This first comment, left on a YouTube video, is proof of that.
Racist upbringing.
Changed by one song, "Across the Lines"
From hate to humanity.
From blindness to grace.
They didn’t just hear Tracy’s voice.
They listened.
June 21, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Not everyone stays the person they were raised to be.
This first comment, left on a YouTube video, is proof of that.
Racist upbringing.
Changed by one song, "Across the Lines"
From hate to humanity.
From blindness to grace.
They didn’t just hear Tracy’s voice.
They listened.
This first comment, left on a YouTube video, is proof of that.
Racist upbringing.
Changed by one song, "Across the Lines"
From hate to humanity.
From blindness to grace.
They didn’t just hear Tracy’s voice.
They listened.
“Across the Lines” was one of only 5 songs Tracy performed at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert.
Let that sink in.
With all her repertoire, she chose this one.
Why?
Because freedom fighters recognize each other.
And pain respects pain.
Some songs are sung where change is born.
Let that sink in.
With all her repertoire, she chose this one.
Why?
Because freedom fighters recognize each other.
And pain respects pain.
Some songs are sung where change is born.
June 20, 2025 at 5:43 PM
“Across the Lines” was one of only 5 songs Tracy performed at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert.
Let that sink in.
With all her repertoire, she chose this one.
Why?
Because freedom fighters recognize each other.
And pain respects pain.
Some songs are sung where change is born.
Let that sink in.
With all her repertoire, she chose this one.
Why?
Because freedom fighters recognize each other.
And pain respects pain.
Some songs are sung where change is born.
“The little Black girl is me.”
Tracy Chapman didn’t just write “Across The Lines”—she lived it.
At 15, she was assaulted on her way home from school.
The attacker pulled a gun. She didn’t run.
That haunting line in the song?
"Choose sides or run for your life"
It wasn’t metaphor. It was memory.
Tracy Chapman didn’t just write “Across The Lines”—she lived it.
At 15, she was assaulted on her way home from school.
The attacker pulled a gun. She didn’t run.
That haunting line in the song?
"Choose sides or run for your life"
It wasn’t metaphor. It was memory.
June 19, 2025 at 4:20 PM
“The little Black girl is me.”
Tracy Chapman didn’t just write “Across The Lines”—she lived it.
At 15, she was assaulted on her way home from school.
The attacker pulled a gun. She didn’t run.
That haunting line in the song?
"Choose sides or run for your life"
It wasn’t metaphor. It was memory.
Tracy Chapman didn’t just write “Across The Lines”—she lived it.
At 15, she was assaulted on her way home from school.
The attacker pulled a gun. She didn’t run.
That haunting line in the song?
"Choose sides or run for your life"
It wasn’t metaphor. It was memory.
I'm writing tomorrow's newsletter, which will be about Tracy Chapman’s song “Across The Lines”. My research leads me to walk the streets of Cleveland via Google Street View. Is this the bridge?
"Across the lines
Who would dare to go
Under the bridge
Over the tracks
That separates whites from blacks"
"Across the lines
Who would dare to go
Under the bridge
Over the tracks
That separates whites from blacks"
June 17, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I'm writing tomorrow's newsletter, which will be about Tracy Chapman’s song “Across The Lines”. My research leads me to walk the streets of Cleveland via Google Street View. Is this the bridge?
"Across the lines
Who would dare to go
Under the bridge
Over the tracks
That separates whites from blacks"
"Across the lines
Who would dare to go
Under the bridge
Over the tracks
That separates whites from blacks"
While “Fast Car” is often considered Tracy Chapman’s most iconic track, it was “Give Me One Reason” that climbed highest on the Billboard Hot 100. On this day in 1996, it reached its peak position at #3.
June 15, 2025 at 6:19 PM
While “Fast Car” is often considered Tracy Chapman’s most iconic track, it was “Give Me One Reason” that climbed highest on the Billboard Hot 100. On this day in 1996, it reached its peak position at #3.
Reposted by Tracy Chapman Online
I just unwrapped and started playing the 35th Anniversary vinyl reissue of Tracy Chapman’s debut album and it is beyond sublime.
June 14, 2025 at 11:53 PM
I just unwrapped and started playing the 35th Anniversary vinyl reissue of Tracy Chapman’s debut album and it is beyond sublime.
Celebrating 37 years since Tracy Chapman’s iconic Nelson Mandela Birthday Concert performance that introduced her powerful voice to the world!
Subscribe now and watch your inbox later today for all the exclusive details! tracychapmanonline.substack.com
Subscribe now and watch your inbox later today for all the exclusive details! tracychapmanonline.substack.com
June 11, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Celebrating 37 years since Tracy Chapman’s iconic Nelson Mandela Birthday Concert performance that introduced her powerful voice to the world!
Subscribe now and watch your inbox later today for all the exclusive details! tracychapmanonline.substack.com
Subscribe now and watch your inbox later today for all the exclusive details! tracychapmanonline.substack.com