Talkin' 'bout a Revolution

"Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" is the second single from American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman's self-titled debut album. Released in 1988, the politically aware song peaked at No. 75 in the United States and reached the top 40 in Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.

"Talkin' 'bout a Revolution"
Single by Tracy Chapman
from the album Tracy Chapman
B-side	"If Not Now..." "Behind the Wall" (live) "She's Got Her Ticket"
Released	July 1988
Studio	Powertrax Studios (Hollywood, CA)[1]
Genre	Folk[2] folk rock[3]
Length	2:39
Label	Elektra
Songwriter(s)	Tracy Chapman
Producer(s)	David Kershenbaum
Tracy Chapman singles chronology
"Fast Car" (1988) "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" (1988) "Baby Can I Hold You" (1988)
Official audio
"Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" on YouTube

Chapman wrote the song while she was studying at Tufts University; it was among several demos she recorded at WMFO, the college's radio station. Fellow Tufts student Brian Koppelman smuggled a tape from the station and played it for his father Charles Koppelman, who ran SBK Publishing. This led to Chapman's signing with Elektra Records in 1987.^[4]

The song received heavy radio play in Tunisia in 2011 during the Tunisian Revolution.^[5][6] The song was also used as an unofficial theme for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign, played before speeches at his campaign rallies.^[7]

After five years of no public appearances, Chapman recorded a performance of the song to air on Late Night with Seth Meyers on the eve of the 2020 United States elections. She changed the lyrics at the end to "Talkin' 'bout a revolution, Go Vote"^{[8][9][10][11]}

Charts

Chart (1988)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[citation needed]	66
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12]	29
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13]	36
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14]	42
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15]	78
France (SNEP)[16]	22
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17]	21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18]	18
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19]	32
UK Singles (OCC)[20]	85
US Billboard Hot 100[21]	75
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[22]	45
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[23]	24
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[24]	78
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[25]	22

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[26]	Gold	45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[27]	Gold	50,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[28]	Gold	400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

The song was first covered by the group Living Colour, who released a live version as the B-side to the 1989 single "Open Letter (To a Landlord)" and on the compilation album What's Your Favorite Color (1995). Pliers of Chaka Demus & Pliers and the Firehouse Crew released a sampled and remixed version in 1989^[29] that was later re-released as "Revolution Sounds".^[30]

German punk band Ausbruch recorded a cover version for their 1994 album Auf Alte Zeiten. English punk band Leatherface released a cover version on their EP "Compact and Bijou" in 1992.

In 2004, it was covered by singer Ben Jelen on the Russell Simmons/Babyface-produced all-star compilation Wake Up Everybody. The following year, Reel Big Fish covered it on their album We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy, while Chamberlain covered it as a B-side to "Five Year Diary". In 2010, this song was translated into Cree and covered by Art Napoleon on his album Creeland Covers. In February 2011, Israeli band Shmemel covered the song and added a verse inspired by the Arab Spring revolutions, with the new song being given the title "Talking About an Arab Revolution".^[31]

Clarence Bekker, of Playing for Change, sang a cover version to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 2017.^[32]