‘Assess the nature & extent of Secularisarion in society today’

On a simple set that involved Tracy, her guitar and a microphone, she performed an acoustic set that even surprised me. Even though knowing Tracy has an amazing voice, listening her sing in person with nothing but a guitar, is something else. The purity of her voice and the strumming of her guitar had me and 5000 others sitting, staring and listening to every word in awe of this incredible lady. Whether A Capella or acoustic her brilliant voice filled the venue with a sound that had everyone blown away.

Behind a shy but charming lady there is a voice that is so pure and unique. Exposed to a room of 5000, she began her set by singing “behind the wall” to a backdrop of a sunrise, not a sound in the room but her voice and a few whispers amongst the audience. If that set the standard for the rest of the night we were in for something special, and special it was. On the simplest of the set, consisting of a backdrop canvas that saw the progression of the sun from sunrise through to sunset, her voice, her guitar and cups of tea, she covered a range of songs that have spanned the 20 years of her career thus far. She covered favourites such as “Fast Car”, “The Promise”, “Baby Can I Hold You”, and finished with “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” before her encore which included her covering “Stand By Me”.

A great artist to watch… forget the C.Ds and Mp3’s… she best live and acoustic I walked in knowing of Tracy Chapman, I walked out a fan of Tracy Chapman.

Unassuming, stripped of all pretence, and of all support, other than a 5,000 sell out crowd at the Hammersmith Apollo willing her to carry on singing to them. Watching Tracy Chapman perform live is an experience that is both humbling to witness as it is gratifying to listen to.

This was a solo tour in every sense of the word. No backing band, no gospel choir, nobody else. Just a musician, her guitar and an ocean of talent. In today’s age of over produced, over marketed X-Factor celebrity, here was a powerful reminder of raw talent that has spanned 3 decades and 9 albums.

From the opening notes of the acapella “Behind the Wall”, to the legendary “Fast Car”, she captivated a capacity audience, until they were on their feet pleading for her not to leave. It’s not until you close your eyes and listen to that pitch perfect, double cream coated voice, that you realise you are in front of one of the greatest talents of our generation. She was here partly to promote her latest album, the sarcastically titled “Our Bright Future”. But still paid tribute to the classics that have provided a fan base of millions around the world with a voice. Her hope inspired anthems “Talkin’ ‘bout a revolution”,
“She’s got a ticket” were mixed in with love songs that evoke a purity and longing that is rarely found within popular music. I defy anyone to listen to “The Promise” live, and not feel a lump rise in their throat.

You are unlikely to go to a Tracy Chapman concert and end up losing your voice, from having sung so much. You are unlikely to get out of your seat at all. I don’t think I did once during the gig. But for all of that, it doesn’t mean, you’re not touched by the presence of her voice, or you’re not anything but totally mesmerised for over 2 hours.

She did at one stage, ask the audience for requests to which she received a cacophony of noise, which she appeared a bit overwhelmed by. At times, she almost looked embarrassed by the level of applause she was getting, and you wish in a way that she had a bit more ego. But then, not being showy, is definitely part of her charm and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Tracy Chapman – A legend that doesn’t know it.

The full setlist, in order:

Behind The Wall
Baby Can I Hold You
Sing For You
The Promise
Mountains O’ Things
Save Us All
America
Across The Lines
I Did It All
Subcity
Fast Car
House of the Rising Sun
Give Me One Reason
She’s Got Her Ticket
Talkin’ ‘Bout A Revolution

Encore:
Bang Bang Bang
Hallelujah

The Promise and Mountains O’ Things.

She did nearly the whole of the first album.

She opened with Behind The Wall then went straight into Baby Can I Hold You, in no particular order she also sang

Sing For You
Talkin’ bout a Revolution
Fast Car
Across The Lines
Subcity
America
I Did it All
Give Me One Reason
She’s Got Her Ticket
The House of the Rising Sun

And she did 2 Encores
Bang Bang Bang
Say Hallelujah

Shw was so charming and humble the whole time, it was amazing, and really chatty. I also had center seats right up front in the 6th row, it was spectacular, one to remember!

Nik