Dave Loved Tracy Chapman's Grammy Performance | Letterman

[@johnwohara]

"Fast Car" performed by Chapman and Combs was the whole Grammys show for me. Wow!

[@francesmartinez2708]

I agree 💯 AMAZING duet!! Tracy is just AMAZING

[@scottbaxendale323]

That & Joni Mitchell

[@damarisrodriguez5118]

💯

[@leahartlee29]

Me too! : )

[@stellabandante2727]

totally knocked it outta the park. just wonderful.

[@kbota97]

Tracy’s smile was positively infectious. Oh so good to see and hear her.

[@MISNM0]

Isn't it just?????❣❣❣ She is beautiful in ways that make you feel something.

[@someguy-k2h]

I saw Tracy back in 87 live. I've never seen a person sing with such emotion.

[@JeffreyGoddin]

I saw Sinead in 1996, not that we need a competition of superlatives, but she might be able to give Tracy a run for her money. Still, would love to have seen Tracy, especially with the extra dose of hometown pride, as I'm well familiar with Cleveland Heights.

[@someguy-k2h]

@@JeffreyGoddin I never got to see her except on TV. Then she did that Pope bit on SNL and fell off the face of the planet. I did love her music and the Pope bit. That woman had guts.

[@kwoylee5617]

​@PrometheusZandski Only in the US. Sinead remained popular and successful in the UK, Ireland, Australia etc.

[@ladydove5895]

At the grammy's, she was the only one not in a million dollar dress, yet she gave the best performance of the night. Kudos 👏🏽 to Tracy!

[@VtRD]

Exactly--pure musician and story teller--not a social media influencer. BEST performance in years.

[@lyndamarshall7655]

Simple elegant and timeless Tracey and her music

[@figmo397]

My reaction to Tracy Chapman was the same as Dave's. Not only does she have such a strong presence, but there's a sense of joy that she exudes when she performs.

[@1GrilledFoot]

Tracy Chapman's performance was my favorite part of the last week the Late Show back in 2015. She's so amazingly talented and you could tell how appreciative Dave was of her willingness to come and perform.

[@dhpbear2]

She really 'showed up' all those other cookie-cutter, slick artists!

[@thelettermanpodcast]

That was an iconic performance. An incredible cover.

[@janjohnson6414]

I totally agree about Tracy Chapman, who looked radiant, beautiful and happy, singing Fast Cars with Luke Combs. It took me right back and brought a few tears. I love that it was acoustic and understated, just so enjoyable and nostalgic.

[@melissaphillips3088]

Tracy was the moment at the Grammy’s ! Also Celine being there warmed my heart. Bless these legends. ♥️

[@MISNM0]

Hard agree

[@majkagrabowicz-kozak6026]

Tracy Chapman made me cry on GA 😢. I love her - the best performance on this event 😊😊😊😊

[@MissylovesTrouble]

Tracy is such an underrated singer/songwriter/musician. She is an icon.

[@ladydove5895]

For real!

[@ottomattix86]

Tracy was regularly played in my house growing up. Seeing her on Dave's last show was bittersweet. She was excellent that night.

[@thelettermanpodcast]

She wasn’t on Dave’s last show, but was on in the last month before finishing his Late Show run. Foo Fighters was on the last show. During those final shows there were a few very special musical performances including John Mayer singing American Pie.

[@dorisevans129]

I hope Tracy will do more live shows. They will all be sold out.

[@BuddhaBlurbs]

I came of age watching Letterman. In later years I kinda took him for granted . So great to see him still out and about..

[@RJHart1214]

"Manny, Moe, and Jack". Never change, Dave, never change!

[@directassault1662]

Regular sponsors of Paul Harvey...

[@waynej2608]

Lmao. Wasn't that last guy Pavarotti?

[@e-spy]

Tracy Chapman. She IS so great, and where has she been? The world is waiting, Trace! We absolutely love you!

[@robclarkson5356]

Great chat, thanks Barbara. Dave seems really happy.

[@lucky1u]

So true, it was like a time machine hearing that song... she was so sweet smiling at the Grammys.

[@mfwolfer]

Kudos to Luke & Tracy for making the Grammys memorable this year !

[@tom2698]

Thank you Dave, thank you.

[@82gmccaballero]

Tracy was my favorite part and cool seeing others love this song so much! Long live Tracy Chapman!❤

[@andygrenn680]

Nobody drives a Fast Car more smoothly than Tracy Chapman! Sound control…

[@diananunez7]

I agree with Dave, it was a stunning performance by Tracy Chapman...I got a lump in my throat. And I immediately looked up her performance on the Late show in 2015 and listened to it again. I hope she goes on tour again...she is on my bucket list!❤

[@hediannhaleem1708]

Tracy Chapman: Sublime perfection.

[@zenseed75]

Dave, you have been a big influence on my music taste with your guests. Would love to hear you talk about music more. Barbara! ❤

[@sacredstonecards9051]

Dave, that song took me immediately back to a very happy time in my life with my younger sister. I burst into tears of joy, sadness and emotion...it felt holy. My sister died of Covid January 23, 2021...two weeks after my Father died of Covid. For some reason hearing Tracy Chapman's voice felt healing...almost like I could reach out and touch my sister. RIP Victoria. ❤️

[@troygates5723]

My condolences to you and your family 🙏🏾

[@sacredstonecards9051]

@@troygates5723 thank you.

[@user-xh1kz7rm4j]

This was one of the performances where 1 + 1 = 10. The song is brilliant, Ms. Chapman's voice and stage presence and Luke Combs performance and reverence was spectacular.

[@sonjalh]

Agree 100%. I thought Tracy Chapman was the best performance of the night. Loved that Swift was standing and singing along, showing her admiration and respect.

[@deborahsutton7203]

Just saw you for the first time here.. I loved Tracy Chapman at the Grammys.. just raw pure artistry .. no frills❤

[@brandontylerburt]

These clips are so endearing, I could watch Barbara and Dave all day just chatting about whatever is on their minds. I love Dave in his role as senior statesman emeritus. A lot of people in my generation didn't really have the benefit of a father figure, but Dave sets an example I value and look up to.

[@likespurple2261]

What Dave said about hearing a song and having it carry you back to that place and time when it was popular, well I feel that way about hearing Dave's voice. I feel young again, and hopeful again, comforted, and certain that the world is still full of possibilities . Thank-you, Dave.

[@Kllnmesmllz]

Dave, you are always phenomenal at putting into words how we/I feel. Music really is the universal language. Tracy (especially) and Luke deserve all the accolades. It was magical.

[@saulteanuts-vg8iu]

Tracy has always been fantabulous.

[@MurrayDecker]

And we wish to express our gratitude to the Saint Mumford Junior High tech club who handled the sound on this video. Scrappy kids who built the microphones themselves in shop class. Way to go lads.

[@bonniedrouillard3963]

I got to see Tracy open for Bob Dylan a three decades ago. Fantastic.

[@stellabandante2727]

Dave, it's so wonderful to see you now. You seem delighted by life.

[@ChloeLouiseTheRonnieRepublic]

Love, love, love Tracy Chapman. Thank you, Dave.

[@kitskivich]

I love that Dave has again shown his affection for Tracy and her music. For so many of us, I believe it's the purity of her performance with Combs that really hit us.

[@hinthegroove9740]

I must say that this Gaines Show is getting better every time 😊

[@gailtaylor1636]

I'm betting Dave is getting promoted to a regular next season.

[@nedinenatus6020]

Just a wow for me.tracey you are fenomanal ❤❤❤❤great job luke

[@frangordon2790]

Thanks for the new show!!! I have missed you both. Tracy was fantastic!

[@MsIncolor]

You made a good point about music bringing us back to different moments of our lives. Thanks for the love and laughs Dave!

[@Debby901]

Dave, could we possibly get a reunion with you and Cher on here? You two had the best chemistry 💕

[@lettiegrant9447]

It will probably be Tracy.👍

[@csweet207]

Holy moly...happy birthday Hal!

[@thebossfanman4900]

Thanks so much for straightening out my memory. I know I was definitely there for both shows. The old days were super special. And, of course, you're correct. Nothing like those concerts will ever happen again. Rock on!🎸🎹🎷🎼

[@thenostalgicpodblast]

Sincerely enjoying this excellent nostalgia. Thanks, Babs!

[@deborahhayes3548]

I grew up on Tracy Chapman really a treat to see her perform live again and she hasn't aged a day❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@martlet530]

Why has nobody in the media taken the musical torch that Dave carried so well for so long? The loss is noticeable. So many of today's little known artists (Muireann Bradley, Sierra Eagleson, Hannah Rarity, among so many) would have been a perfect fit for his show. Loved the comments on Ms Chapman. Hoping that more videos discussing music are to come. BTW - Americana Awards were also very good - did you notice? Thanks so very much for including Rodriguez on your show - I return to that rare broadcast performance so many times. Dave's complements on the man were so very accurate!!!

[@pika23]

Love Tracy.

[@gkennedy2998]

I saw Tracy Chapman at The Beacon Theater. She was sooo cool. She has, what I consider to be, the "Eric Clapton cool". She takes the stage and performs. None of the nonsense (HELLO, CLEVELAND! HOW IS EVERYONE? ARE YOU READY???) that musicians usually do.

[@glennhavinoviski8128]

And in fact Tracy grew up in Cleveland before high school and Tufts University. Truly gifted then and now. Didn't realize it had been 9 years since she had last performed on TV.

[@Sebastian_Dinwiddie]

Happy birthday Hal! Love you

[@celinadavies]

Hello 👋 to you Dave and Barbara!! Dave I still miss your voice on late-night, but so happy I subscribed to you ❤ and get to see you here 😊 Warmest regards 😀 from British Columbia Canada 🇨🇦 💖🦁

[@darlenemyles1155]

Outstanding Performance! Best part of the show!❤👍

[@johnfbickerdike2621]

Tracy Chapman's appearance on Dave's last show was definitely bittersweet and defined whom Letterman really was.

[@romstar]

Dave ,you look so good! 😅❤ And you've always had great taste in music 😉🎶🎶

[@racegrooves]

I still have the 2024 Grammy's on my DVR just so that I can watch/listen to the Tracy Chapman/Luke Combs performance every day 💙💙

[@davewestner]

Happy B-day Hal! The 2nd funniest person on the Late Show staff (from what one of the writers said about him)!

[@ct6852]

Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs sounded incredible together. That song really does lend itself to the country twang really well. Always had an inkling it would. They both looked at each other at one point in the performance and it was like 'hey, this actually kinda works'. And it did. Really memorable performance. Taylor playing hype man is always sweet, too. She's been doing that for a while. Award show cameras love her.

[@bobbyk9815]

Happy belated birthday, Hal Gurtner.

[@johnrock2022]

You mean Hal Garner. ;-)

[@allanjacquadro870]

Watch Gurnee share his reminiscences about the Late Show. They’re on KZbin. Great stuff.

[@gailtaylor1636]

107. wow!

[@francescadesmond8846]

"Nobody's 99!" LOL I miss this man's show but so happy to see him still participating in the game.

[@wmitty2166]

Wow. Dave full of kindness and praise and no snark. This schedule agrees with him.

[@glennhavinoviski8128]

Oh he still has that snark - just used more effectively.

[@ct6852]

He was on Seth Meyers not too long ago. Snark is absolutely still there. Lol. But used sparingly.

[@teeetta1991]

Best performance of any Grammy show

[@pika23]

Happy birthday hal gurney! 🎉🎉🎉 Good job staying off one!!

[@thenostalgicpodblast]

Ms. Gaines' audio is overpoweringly glorious in this edition.

[@rexertek]

Someone pressed the theatre surround sound button by mistake!

[@SESteve]

Her mic wasn't working. They most likely got her voice from Dave's mic turned way up. That's why there's so much room noise.

[@TheMattsterling]

Happy 99th to Hal Gurney! I hope he gets a free ride on Melman Bus Lines. This episode had some sound issues. While you appeared together on screen, it sounded like Barbara was calling in from a payphone in Dubuke. The tenors sounded beautiful, but also look like three guys who get drunk and sing loudly at their local Olive Garden. Also, belated congrats on Dave's People's Choice Award! I'm guessing given the number of years since it was announced, most academy members who made the selection are having tapioca with Hal in the party room.

[@glennhavinoviski8128]

You had me at "The tenors sounded beautiful, but also look like three guys who get drunk and sing loudly at their local Olive Garden." ROFLMAO

[@TheMattsterling]

@@glennhavinoviski8128 I'm glad someone is enjoying my nonsense:)

[@OaklandDB]

Yes, sounded like Barbara and Dave were in different rooms or something

[@HissingKitty2008]

Dave you’re a treasure! Tracy’s music has touched my heart since I was very young and continues to. The 3 tenors give me goose bumps.

[@keefriff99]

It’s awesome that Hal is 99…I looked him up after seeing him on one of the ‘80s clips (when he was around 60!) thinking he must have passed…imagine my surprise.

[@r1133rocco]

❤️Dave & Tracy!!

[@mhmrules]

Love Tracy Chapman! And Happy Belated Birthday Hal! :D

[@BoodlooderJeet]

This song means a lot to me and always has. This is unexpected, and I would have missed it if it weren't for Dave Letterman. Took some poking around but I finally found the whole thing.

[@Norvo82]

The Barbara Gaines Show has budget for music clips now? Things are looking up!

[@Dr_Bombay]

look at Dave, spilling the tea on the People's Choice Awards! more "gloves off" Dave, please.

[@billcunningham8485]

Hal Gurnee! Inventor of the Chino and blue shirt ensemble.

[@janeltranmer2284]

Tracy had everyone rapt. I was at U of T and a friend in residence had an extra ticket. 1988 in Toronto. Amnesty International. Live Aid.

[@jamesroof6150]

Tracy Chapman was wonderful. Joni Mitchell was wonderful and touching as well.

[@Dystopiaworld]

" Fast Car " will win a country music award ! For best song .

[@curtislindsey1736]

Dave is really trying to get Taylor for a guest on "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction" 😂

[@pigmeatmarkham898]

The Securities and Exchange Commission is surely going to bring the hammer down on that People’s Choice nonsense 🏆😂

[@MedicinesMan]

“Closest I’ve come to opera is Oprah” 😂😂

[@jsizemo]

Letterman is surprisingly musically literate despite not being a musician himself.

[@glennhavinoviski8128]

He had the advantage of a bandleader in Paul Shaffer (former SNL bandleader at the time) who had wonderful connections in the music world.

[@gongqi67]

Bravissimo Davido! Opraho!

[@stephenmilton9998]

Happy Birthday Hal Gurtner🎉😂

[@DaisyVision15016]

Racing legend ...

[@maximehamelin156]

Probably the best episode of the BGS... Just for Dave's reaction hearing ' 99 '

[@tammy6992]

I love Barbra. I also love Tracy Chapman and David. I love you.

[@thelettermanpodcast]

Love fest ‘24

[@scottmansfield4038]

Please don't stop making these videos 😊

[@johnmckenzie4639]

Happy Birthday Hal Gurney! My guess is Dave sent him a blue shirt and a pair of tan Chinos.

[@Messonround]

Bless your ❤ David Letterman. Take care of your hand with that bandage. 😞

[@Lovejazz01]

IMO music has changed so much since the 90’s, young people are seemingly bored with people who can just sing and play musical instruments , they must be able to dance and have dancers on the floor and special effects and video screens. So I can imagine Tracy Chapmen feeling rather irrelevant the past 20 years since the Britney / Boy Band Era . So I think she felt the love from all of us while she was up there singing at the Grammys , and I wish I could tell her in person, “ No Tracy , we never forgot about you , and we love you, please keep singing and making music!” ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@tyronethomas4543]

😊😊 how do you not miss David Letterman? He's just terrific!

[@keymusic]

Glad Barbara got a new mic

[@patriciabaldwin8512]

I love Tracy Chapman and her music. On the same page, I also love Luke Combs and his music. The two together, priceless. I thought it was an amazing performance.

[@squiggy4339]

Holy Cow! Congratulations to Hal Gurnee! Hope all is well with him, that's a long life!

[@oz5798]

the echo is like listening to two barbaras at once, which makes the video nearly 1.98x as good

[@Coopsterish]

Miss you David!

[@sartoresartus]

Sound's lovely and homemade.

[@dylanzwick]

"The closest I come to Opera is Oprah." Dave, you should introduce Opera to Oprah, and Oprah to Opera. Comedy gold right there.

[@gailtaylor1636]

He introduced Oprah to Uma one time. Nobody got the joke...

[@MDoddio]

Yes! Taylor Swift was singing along to Fast Car with Kelsey Grammer! So touching. Also, are they filming in community center auditorium?

[@tomiossi8092]

Where did she go? Such a wonderful performer.

[@jjf609]

Taylor stands up for every performance

[@Jump-2-the-moon]

Audio going wild on this one lol

[@shemali5442]

Dave, simply, you’re too adorable 🥰

[@thebossfanman4900]

I was at Live Aid in Philly. Tracy performed Fast Car. What a wonderful song! I believe Bruce Springsteen helped to get Tracy onto the scene.

[@glennhavinoviski8128]

That wasn't Live Aid (which was 1985), but the Amnesty International concert series, I think, in 1988, which was on the heels of her debut. The concerts starred Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Youssou n'Dour and Tracy Chapman (whom I recall Bruce, or maybe his producer /manager Jon Landau, may have helped get onto this roster), with one or two additional artists depending on where they were performing. Truly an amazing lineup in that era as all were at their peak (and Tracy was just beginning). Tracy did her performances solo (her voice and guitar and no band, unlike the others).