‘Fast Car,’ ‘Fever’ & More Grammy Nominees for Song of the Year That Made the Top 10 Twice

When a song receives a Grammy nomination for song of the year, it’s as if the voting members of the Recording Academy are saying, “This song could have a long life, one that extends beyond just this one recording.”

Not all songs that have been nominated in that marquee category since the Grammys got underway in 1958 have met that test, but many have. “Fast Car” is the latest example. Luke Combs’ version of Tracy Chapman’s song motors from No. 11 to No. 9 in its eighth week on the Billboard Hot 100. Chapman’s original version, which brought her Grammy nominations for both record and song of the year and a win for best female pop vocal performance, reached No. 6 in 1988.

“Fast Car” is just the 11th song of the year nominee to have two versions that reached the top 10. (This doesn’t count songs that were sampled or interpolated in subsequent songs.)

For the record, voters aren’t asked to evaluate a song’s potential for having a long life, though many voters do just that. The rules for song of the year simply state: “Songs entered for consideration in this category should represent the best achievement in songwriting. Songs that contain samples or interpolations are eligible. A song must comprise melody and lyrics to be eligible in a songwriting category and must have been released on a recording for the first time, or achieved prominence for the first time, during the current eligibility year.”

Here are all 11 song of the year nominees that have had two versions make the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. All chart references are to the Hot 100.