Tracy Chapman Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1988

"Tracy Chapman" was released on April 5, 1988 by Elektra Records. The album peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200 and came in at 21 on the year-end album chart. It also reached the top ten on album charts in Canada, Australia, Germany, Sweden, and the UK.

Answer: Nelson Mandela

The music concert tribute was held on June 11, 1988 at Wembley Stadium in London and broadcast to over sixty countries. At the time, the anti-apartheid revolutionary was in prison. He was released on February 11, 1990.

Answer: the convenience store

"You got a fast car
I got a plan to get us out of here
I been working at the convenience store
Managed to save just a little bit of money
Won't have to drive too far
Just 'cross the border and into the city
You and I can both get jobs
And finally see what it means to be living."

The song "Fast Car" peaked at number six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and at number five on the UK singles chart. A cover of the song was released in 2015 by British record producer Jonas Blue featuring the vocals of Dakota.

Answer: whisper

"Don't you know
They're talking about a revolution?
It sounds like a whisper."

These are the opening lines to the second single, ""Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution" released from Tracy Chapman's debut album. While popular, it did not peak as high as "Fast Car" and only made it to number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: armies of salvation

"While they're standing in the welfare lines
Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation
Wasting time in the unemployment lines
Sitting around waiting for a promotion."

"Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution" was certified silver by BPI in the UK. The song was covered by Living Colour and included on their 1995 compilation album "What's Your Favorite Color?"

Answer: Eric Clapton

The live song performed with Eric Clapton was included on the 1999 compilation album "A Very Special Christmas Live." Chapman's version, released in 1995 as a single from "New Beginning" with "The Rape of the World" on the B-side, peaked at number one on the Adult Top 40 chart and at number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: Crossroads

The song continues, "I'm standing at the crossroads..." While the song only made it to number ninety on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, it reached number seven on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song was released as a single from the album "Crossroads" with "Born to Fight" on the B-side.

Answer: Best Rhythm and Blues Song

In 1989, at the 31st Annual Grammy Awards, Tracy Chapman won Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Fast Car," and Best Contemporary Album for "Tracy Chapman." In 1997 she won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song for "Give Me One Reason." She has also been nominated for Grammies in the categories of Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Album, and Album of the Year.

Answer: Nobody Left to Crown

"Matters of the Heart" was released in 1992, "Let It Rain" in 2002, and "Our Bright Future" in 2008. Her other albums include "Tracy Chapman" (1988), "New Beginning" (1995), and "Where You Live" (2005). "Nobody Left to Crown" is a 2008 Richie Havens album.

Answer: Bang, Bang, Bang

"But one fine day
All our problems will be solved
'Cause bang, bang, bang
We'll shoot him down."

The song comes from Tracy Chapman's 1992 album "Matters of the Heart." It was released as one of the two singles from the album, along with "Dreaming on a World."

Answer: apple

"All That You Have Is Your Soul" begins:

"Oh my mama told me
'Cause she says she learned the hard way
She say she wanna spare the children
She say don't give or sell your soul away
'Cause all that you have is your soul.
So don't be tempted by the shiny apple
Don't you eat of a bitter fruit..."

It was released as a single in 1989 from Chapman's album "Crossroads." Chapman played stagecoach guitar for the track.

Answer: truth

"Hunger only for a taste of justice
Hunger only for a world of truth
'Cause all that you have is your soul."

The "Crossroads" album from which this song comes peaked at number one on the UK Albums chart and at number nine on the U.S. Billboard 200. It also contained the song "Freedom Now," which was dedicated to Nelson Mandela.

Answer: stories

These lyrics kick off the song "Telling Stroies" from Tracy Champman's fifth album of the same name. The album was released in 2000 and peaked at number 33 on the US Billboard 200. The song continues:

"There is fiction in the space between
You and reality
You will do and say anything
To make your everyday life seem less mundane
There is fiction in the space between
You and me"

Answer: Subcity

"Subcity" was recorded on the 1989 album "Crossroads" and recounts the struggle experienced by the poor in the inner cities:

"They say we've fallen through the cracks
They say the system works but we won't let it
Help!
I guess they never stop to think
We might not just want handouts
But a way to make an honest living
Living, this ain't living."

Chapman has produced an educational music video about African-American history for Cleveland elementary schools and sponsored a "Crossroads in Black History" high school essay contest.

Answer: The Promise

The song continues:

"If you think of me
If you miss me once in a while
Then I'll return to you
I'll return and fill that space in your heart."

"The Promise" first appeared on Chapman's fourth album, "New Beginning," which was released November 14, 1995. "The Promise" was released as a single from the album in 1996. "The Promise" has been covered by the Pitchforks, the oldest acapella group at Duke University.