Tracy Chapman performs "Fast Car" live at Wembley in 1988

The story behind this performance Stevie Wonder landed in England on the Saturday morning of the concert and went straight to Wembley Stadium, where a room was prepared for him and his band to warm up. He was to appear in the evening after UB40. His appearance had not been announced. UB40 were finishing their set on the main stage, and Wonder's equipment was set up, plugged in and ready to be rolled on after a 10-minute act on a side stage. He was about to walk up the ramp to the stage when it was discovered that the hard disc of his synclavier, carrying all 25 minutes of synthesised music for his act, was missing. He said he could not play without it, turned round, walked down the ramp crying, with his band and other members of his entourage following him, and out of the stadium. There was an urgent need to fill the gap he had left and Tracy Chapman, who had already performed her act, agreed to appear again. The two appearances shot her to stardom, with two songs from her recently-released first album, "Fast Car" and "Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution". Before the concert, she had sold about 250,000 albums. In the following two weeks, she was said to have sold two million. Here is the full clip

She aged beautifully

Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car' wins CMA Song of the Year, 35 years after release.

In October 2018, Tracy Chapman sued Nicki Minaj for copyright infringement. According to the complaint, Chapman repeatedly refused to permit Minaj to sample one of her 1988 songs "Baby Can I Hold You" but Minaj did it anyway. Minaj settled and agreed to pay Chapman $450K.

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Tracy Chapman’s version will always hold the soul of those who have lived the lyrics. 🖤 Keep pushing for better loves 💙

Tracy Chapman is pictured during a performance held while attending Tufts. This originally appeared in the Nov. 18, 1982, edition of The Tufts Daily.

Tracy Chapman’s live performance of “Fast Car” at Wembley in 1988 was epic. Part of the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert, it really put her on the map. Her heartfelt rendition of this hit song captivated the huge crowd and remains a standout moment in her career.