Gemini Rising

Late 1980's Sounds - Tracy Chapman

Written For:

FORUM

The Soundtrack of Your Life  (18+) Every February, you're invited to chronicle the music that has influenced your life! #1970896 by Jeff

#18 - Late 1980's Sounds

The late 1980's was a unique period for music as it began to evolve and change. New Wave was still interesting with Depeche Mode and Echo and the Bunnymen. Another unique sound I enjoyed was Siouxsie Soux and the Banshees. Harder Rock consisted of Guns N Roses, Bon Jovi and Scorpions. Another Alt Wave was brewing with REM, Suzanne Vega, and Melissa Etheridge who was also kind of "folkie." Another Folkstyle type singer was Tracey Chapman. The Beastie Boys introduced Hip Hop to the audiences. There are a lot of artists I enjoyed listening to like Soft Cell, Tears for Fears, Bananarama, Thompson Twins, Simple Minds, Edie Brickell, Enya.

I left my first duty assignment in Munster/Handorf and went back to the states for a year to the 295th MP Company at the Seneca Army Depot in Romulus, New York in the Finger Lakes region of the states. It was close to home, a 4-5 hour drive to my aunt's house in Brattleboro and then my grandmothers house was just over the state line in Hinsdale, NH. At Seneca, I had the pleasure of spraining my knee. I didn't know you could do that, but I did. To this day, the knee aches in even the gentlest of cool weather. I would drive 3 hours south to Williamsport, PA to visit friends and 2 hours north to Ft. Drum to visit a re-kindled relationship.

My soundtrack shifts here as it does with the times and I became interested in Folk-pop.

Tracy Chapman's Fast Car was riveting. Her voice was haunting.
"You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere"

For me Fast Car was about making the change you wanted your life to go in. It wouldn't be neat or easy, but necessary. The music was slower, not uptempo or upbeat, introspective. Chapman's vocals were haunting. It was a time of change and I was in Tracy's car with her.

FAST CAR
Tracy Chapman