For my third blog post I will be analyzing the song Fast Car in its original form by Tracy Chapman and the 2016 cover version of the song by Jonas Blue.  I would like to start this blog post by saying, although very different, both versions of the song are so great and I honestly can’t decide which one I like most!

The original version was written by Tracy Chapman in 1986 and launched her debut album ¹. The song is classified in the singer/songwriter genre but personally I feel it has a soft folk feel to it. I feel that the beauty in this song comes from the simple instrumentation, focusing on the chords of a single guitar. Tracy Chapman’s version of Fast Car is not elaborate or complex, it is more stripped back, putting on emphasis on the vocals.  I suppose that’s why it is considered singer/songwriter.  The track hit number 6 on the Billboard music charts and also won Chapman a Grammy ², its no wonder why so many artists choose to cover this song.

The recent cover done by Jonas Blue in 2016 also made the Billboard charts, peaking at spot 13 ³. Although this cover has the same lyrics to it, it has a completely different feel to it. This version would be considered in the dance or pop genre of music. It is also classified as “tropical house” ⁴ which is a genre I’d personally never heard of before.  Upon further research I discovered that tropical house can be defined as “a mix of catchy, melodic chimes and good vibes”⁵, which I would have to agree does sum up Blue’s version of Fast Car.

These two versions of the same song have so many differences I don’t even know where to begin analyzing.  As mentioned before, the lyrics of both theses songs are the same but I feel the message, the intended demographic and the overall feel of these songs could not be more opposite. One obvious difference is that the original song was released 32 years ago, so naturally this song is more popular to an older age demographic. For those super cool adolescents who do know the original version, it would be considered a classic to them. The Jonas Blue cover however was only released 2 years ago, attracting a younger age group of listeners. I bet a huge majority of people who have heard the Jonas Blue cover aren’t even aware that it is a cover song. With that being said, he made this song accessible to a whole new group of people by essentially bringing it back on to the charts so many years later. Another reason why the two version of this song resonates with such different audiences is due to their very different styles.  The original version is a slower more laid back tempo, the sound is simple. This is the kind of song I like to listen to when I am studying or winding down for the day. The cover version is the complete opposite. It is upbeat and complex and makes you want to dance, so much so that it is often played at the bars on a night out.  After listening to both, could you ever imagine Chapman’s version being played in a nightclub? Ya, me neither! So naturally, the two different sounds reach different people, not just due to age but also do to personal preferences in sound. One of my closest friends is a music enthusiast, who really appreciates the classics. When I asked him, he had never even heard of the new Jonas Blue version of Fast Car but at the same time he loves the original song.  On the other hand, my best friend and myself always sing the cover version when we are driving around together but she had no clue that it was a cover song from way back when.  They are both the same age, these differences were based solely on music preferences.

Lastly I think it is super cool how a song can have very different meanings even when there are no change in words. What I take away from both versions of this song is a feeling of reminiscing and wanting to escape your life for something different.  Chapman’s version feels almost sad, like she is remembering a time that left her heartbroken. When she says “I remember when we were driving in your car”it sounds like a blue memory that left her hurting. When she says “I want a ticket to anywhere” she sounds like she is unhappy with her life.  The cover version on the other hand makes you feel less like they want to run away and more like they want an adventure. When Jonas Blue says “I remember when we were driving in your car” he sounds like hes thinking back on a crazy fun adventure. Again, when he sings “I want a ticket to anywhere” it sounds more like he wants to go explore the world. The performance of these two songs in their music videos captures theses feelings as well. In Chapman’s music video she is portrayed alone, always being filmed in dark lighting with a slight shadow and her face looks sad, never showing a smile. In Blue’s video it shows two people taking an adventure around amazing scenery, living like wild adolescents. Overall the songs have a similar meaning behind them but the original comes off as a pessimistic view whereas the cover is more optimistic.  Now that is just what I take away from the songs. When I looked into it though Chapman does in fact state “It’s not really about a car at all… basically it’s about a relationship that doesn’t work out because it’s starting from the wrong place.”⁶ This statement would imply that I am not completely off track.

To conclude, I would just like to  reiterate that although I describe the original version as more dark and sad and the cover version as upbeat and happy, I do love them both equally. I have both songs on my phone and listen to them equally, just in different settings!

References:

¹ http://www.about-tracy-chapman.net/tracy-chapman-fast-car-meaning-fast-car-lyrics-fast-car-videos/
² https://www.billboard.com/music/tracy-chapman
³ https://www.billboard.com/music/jonas-blue/chart-history/hot-dance-airplay/song/961141
⁴ https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/fast-car-feat-dakota-radio-edit-single/1065675243
⁵ http://www.bassfeedsthesoul.com/tropical-house/
⁶ http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3603

Payola;

      (n.) a secret or private payment in return for the promotion of a product, service, etc., through the abuse of one’s position, influence, or facilities. ¹

That is the broad definition of payola. But how does it relate to music? In short payola in the music industry referred to labels paying disc jockeys under the table for extra radio time.  Payola was suspected to have existed for years before 1959, so why did it only become a household word in the 50’s? The uprising in payola practices was likely due to many factors, such as the emergence of better recording technology, the new popularity of “Top 40” music, and the fact that the number of american jockeys had increased x20 ². The investigation into radio practices, which led to the Payola Scandal of 1959, actually began in the game show industry when numerous popular game shows were accused of fraud.  After this discovery, the National Association of Broadcasters investigated 100s of disc jockeys across the country.  Jockeys were taking payments up to $22,000 and passing them off as “consulting fees”. Among the accused was Alan Freed, the man who coined the term “rock ‘n’roll”³.  Freed faced 26 counts of

commercial bribery but got away with only having to pay a fine. Dick Clark, one of the top djs in America at the time, was also among those who were suspected of payola. Clark ended up not being accused, but whether he was truly participating in the payola game, we’ll never know for sure.

“Protect your ass at all times”  ~ Dick Clark in a Rolling Stones interview

After the investigation was over, the government amended the Federal Communication Act of 1934. The act regulates telephone, telegraph, and radio communications in the United States. Payola was listed as a misdemeanor under the amended act to discourage illegal private payments. Under this act, jockeys must now disclose to listeners  if airplay has been purchased by labels. The penalty’s put in place for payola were fines up to $10,000 or one year in prison. ⁴

With that being said, even after the act was amended, payola continued and forms of payola still persist today. Companies have gotten smarten and found more innovative ways to hide their illegal activities, making the problem more sophisticated. Companies today have more resources and therefore further reach, going as far as to run fake promotional competitions and then rigging it so the djs always win.  This was the case in one of the more recent huge scandals involving Sony BMG in 2005⁵. As payola becomes more widespread in the music industry, it becomes more and more common because innocent labels will feel the need to get on board in order to stay competitive. That spiral effect is the reason payola continues to get more and more complicated.  It’s  so popular, bands make parody songs about it; as shown in the song  Hey, Mr.DJ, I Thought You Said We Had a Deal, by They Might be Giants.⁶

Payola influences the music we are exposed to because it allows larger more resourceful labels to get the upper hand.  Money and power outshine pure talent, therefore we are constantly exposed to the the music produced by the top dogs instead of what the public deems as pure talent. The “Top 40” playlist is no longer a representative of what the listeners like, but more so which label handed out the most cash. In a way we are being told what we like and what should be popular because our exposure is being filtered by the jockeys who are participating in payola. Of course this is a never ending cycle, big labels and artists continue to get stronger while small start up artists can’t get a break, meaning we as listeners don’t get exposure to new talent who cannot afford to pay off the djs. Radio stations that participate in illegal activity continue to grow while they run the good guys out of business.

After learning so much about the presence of payola in the world, my opinion is neither for nor against it.  While I feel payola is morally wrong, being realistic, I recognize the place for it in today’s very competitive business environment. Business thrives on the unspoken rules of engagement,  and once you know the unwritten rules being used, you can use them to climb the latter to success. The sad truth is in every industry these politics exist that our unfair to the underdog.  So while I do agree payola is a bad thing ethically, I see why it has become such a prominent scam in the radio industry.

References

¹ Dictionary.com. “Payola.” Accessed July 18, 2018. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/payola.

² Performing Songwriter. “Alan Freed and the Radio Payola Scandal”. Accessed July 18, 2018.  http://performingsongwriter.com/alan-freed-payola-scandal/.

³ Modesto Radio Museum. “Payola Scandal Rocks 50’s Radio”.  Accessed July 18, 2018. http://www.modestoradiomuseum.org/payola.html.

⁴ U.S. Department of Justice. “The Communication Act of 1934”. Accessed July 18, 2018. https://it.ojp.gov/PrivacyLiberty/authorities/statutes/1288.

⁵ The Balance Careers. “Payola: Influencing the Charts”. Accessed July 18, 2018. https://www.thebalancecareers.com/payola-influencing-the-charts-2460759.