Article 1 Analysis

 Task 1: Analysing Article 1 

Tracy Chapman becomes the first Black person to win Song of the Year at the CMAs

November 9, 2023

Tracy Chapman becomes the first Black person to win Song of the Year at the CMAs : NPR



Research
The first article I choose to research is about Tracy Chapman's recent win at the Country Music Awards, specifically published by National Public Radio of America (NPR).

Over three decades of its debut (April 6, 2023), the single 'Fast Car' by Tracy Chapman wins Song Of The Year at the Country Music Award (CMAs). The highlight of this win for Chapman is that she has become the first black songwriter to win this award, since its creation in 1967. Following Luke Combs cover of the song, it hit a recent resurgence in the charts, after also placing at number 6, on the billboard hot 100, on August 27, 1988. 

Narrative Construction
The narrative here is intended to highlight the significance of Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car' and its win at the CMAs. after 35 years of its release. The way it is presented to us in this article is as follows; a statement about what the news is, the history of the song and what led to its win this year. The article also mentions Chapmans absence at the awards, as well as Chapman's and Luke Comb's statements after the win. 

Treatment
The tone seen throughout the article is that of celebration and praise as it highlights the recognition given to a classic song, and the cultural significance it holds as Chapman becomes the first black songwriter to win in this category. It acknowledges the positive and appreciative stance fans, new and old, have towards the song. The article also praises Luke Combs contribution with his cover of 'Fast Car' and the boost it gave to the original. 

Quality and Depth of The Subject Matter
The depth provided in the article is brief, focusing on the most important aspects of the story, such as providing a brief history and the songs lasting endurance. However, the main subject at hand being a significant win culturally makes the quality of the piece high, as it is deemed impactful to most of society. This is especially due to America's constant battle with racism. 

Role of The Presenter 
The role of the presenter is to offer the reader a brief telling of the news at hand. The presenter, in this case also serves as a mirror to the fans of the song, in order to share their appreciation of the song and what their reaction signifies.  

Characters in The Story
Chapman is the main subject of the story as she is the songwriter who has been honoured with the award. The report itself includes quotes from Chapman and Combs as they express their gratitude towards the fans and the CMAs. These quotes shed light on both their personality and place in the story. While Chapman is the most significant part, Combs also plays a major role as he acknowledges the impact 'Fast Car' had on his life and career over the years. 

Technical Elements
This report by NPR is solely formatted as written digital media. It is very straightforward and only serves the purpose of getting the news to their readers. It lacks any technical elements such as video, interviews or other materials typically seen in other recent multimedia reports. It heavily relies on the written quotes taken from that evening to convey the narrative. 

The Reports Cultural Context
The report acknowledges a historical moment for music and music artists, not only as a whole but especially to those of a darker skin colour. It also underlines the impact 'Fast Car' has had over its 35 year tenure and the influence it has had on culture of the past and present day. 

The Presenter's Intention in Telling The Story
In this case, the intentions of the presenter is to celebrate Tracy Chapmans recent success, while also acknowledging her past triumphs. Furthermore, it sheds light on how culturally significant this win is and why bringing it to the reader in order to create awareness on the subject is important.  


    


References

  •  Zellner, X. (2023) Tracy Chapman Tops a Billboard Chart for the First Time Since 2000, Driven by Luke Combs’ ‘Fast Car’, Billboard. Available at: https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/tracy-chapman-tops-billboard-chart-luke-combs-fast-car-1235354574/ (Accessed: 11 November 2023). 
  • Oladipo, G. (2023) Tracy Chapman’s fast car wins country song of the year – 35 years after its debutG, The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/nov/09/tracy-chapman-fast-car-cma-winner (Accessed: 11 November 2023). 
  • Network, A. (2023) Tracy Chapman Wins the 2023 CMA Award for Song of the Year - The CMA Awards. YouTube. 9 November. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niyJ7JgZOeE (Accessed: 11 November 2023).

  • CMA Awards Past Winners & Nominees (2022) CMA Awards. Available at: https://cmaawards.com/past-winners-and-nominees/?appSession=655O4DO79C7WO4298A3OZD65D3DW9L08UD69189F9XJQYLVSY6847DO87P8482D5D64MLQYD8665IC76XGS425NPR4V4U0AMZ5OW4MQGYT9X800EK91GEYEII9896596 (Accessed: 11 November 2023). 

  • About the CMA awards (2023) CMA Awards. Available at: https://cmaawards.com/about/ (Accessed: 11 November 2023).

  • Tracy Chapman’s song ‘Fast Car’ was named Song of the Year at the 2023 CMA Awards, 35 years after its release. (no date). NBC UNIVERSAL/GETTY. Available at: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/tracy-chapman-luke-combs-fast-car-song-of-the-year-2023-cmas-1234873495/ (Accessed: 16 November 2023).

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