4. “Bang Bang Bang” – Tracy Chapman
(From the album Matters Of The Heart)
1992
Tracy Chapman made some subtle changes to her formula for ther third record Matters Of The Heart. While not a radical departure from the sound and style that had made her a success, Matters Of The Heart is a quieter and more reflective record that draws on both a wider range of human experiences and on a more diverse set of musical influences; all filtered through Chapman’s style, of course. Still, Matters Of The Heart generally has less anger running through its songs and stories while Chapman’s traditional folk music finds more room for pop, blues, jazz, and reggae music to lend it a little color. On much of the record these changes work, giving Matters Of The Heart a distinct flavor in Chapman’s discography. However, not all the changes are completely positive. For one thing, on a few tracks the slicker, more radio-ready production undercuts the emotion and immediacy of the song. For another, while still a strong album, there are a few moments that are not quite up to Chapman’s usual high standard of songwriting. To that end, it may say something that one of Matters Of The Heart’s best songs is the album’s opening track and lead single “Bang Bang Bang”, a song whose simplicity, emotional honesty, and social messaging all strongly recall Chapman’s earlier work.
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