Wyclef and Paul Simon Bro Down

WHO: Wyclef Jean [ft. Paul Simon]
WHAT: "Fast Car"
WHY: This pairing may seem odd on paper, but it makes sense: Wyclef has a soft spot for acoustic ballads rooted in the classic-rock mold and Paul Simon's interest in Caribbean groove is well documented. And the two meet at a friendly — if thematically unsettling — middle ground on "Fast Car." Possibly sponsored by MADD, the song chronicles the dangers of quick, dangerous automobiles — everyone knows somebody who's been affected by a car accident, right? Though Wyclef tries to emphasize the universal nature of the song, he also describes several celebrity car-related incidents involving Kanye West, Biggie Smalls and Left Eye. Big stars are just like us, apparently. (Also, we're intrigued by Wyclef's moon-based idea of heaven: "You don't gotta be no billionaire to get a ticket up to the moon/ We all know somebody up there.") Simon is in fine voice and sounds eerily at home in the middle of the song's circular guitars and featherweight beat — he easily trumps Wyclef here. We predict the video will feature Clef and Paul looking serious in the backseats of (different) luxury vehicles — and we will not turn it off when it pops up on VH1.
WHERE: Listen to the track here or here.