Fantasia (Fantasia Barrino album)
Fantasia is the eponymous second studio album by American recording artist Fantasia Barrino, released by J Records on December 12, 2006. In its first week of sales, Fantasia entered the US Billboard 200 chart at number nineteen, with 133,000 copies sold.[1] In June 2007, Fantasia was certified Gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 copies.[2]
Fantasia | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | December 12, 2006 | |||
Recorded | 2006 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 50:08 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
| |||
Fantasia Barrino chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Fantasia | ||||
|
Background and recording
Missy Elliott returned as one of the writers on the album, joining Big Boi of Outkast and Diane Warren as contributors. Production duo Midi Mafia, best known for their 50 Cent hit "21 Questions", also contributed five tracks to the project.[3]
The beat for "Baby Makin' Hips" was created by Don Cheegro and Dirty Harry, new producers working under the guidance of Dre & Vidal, producers of Ludacris' song "War with God". Her second single "When I See U" peaked at number thirty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number-one for eight weeks on the Urban charts. The music video for When I See U was shot by Lenny Bass on March 26, in Brooklyn.
Critical response
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Entertainment Weekly | B+[5] |
PopMatters | (7/10)[6] |
Rolling Stone | |
Slant | |
Stylus | B+[9] |
Critical response to Fantasia was largely positive, as reviewers praised her vocals and charisma as well as the album's production; she drew multiple comparisons to Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and Patti LaBelle.[10][11][12] Rolling Stone magazine said the album "expands her range, adds some attitude and comes up with some genuine R&B gems."[10] Allmusic found it "a bolder, better album than Free Yourself," adding that it "breaks Barrino free of her American Idol persona, giving her a sound and style that she can build a career upon."[12] PopMatters.com said that "Fantasia is a solid second effort, made above average by that gem of a voice."[13] Many critics also commented that the album's decidedly R&B nature (which translates to a reduced audience) was inevitable due to the lack of crossover success from Barrino's debut.[11][12] Thomas Inskeep with Stylus magazine praised Fantasia's "rather astounding, multi-octave...voice, capable of the smoothest singing but also heavy on the grit," while at the same time lamenting that she will never be "America’s pop star...She’s too black." He then declared, "Fantasia wasn't meant to be America's pop star, anyway."[11] Sal Cinquemani with Slant Magazine said that "Fantasia's sophomore effort isn't exactly her Breakaway [Kelly Clarkson's hugely successful second album], but it's certainly a more unified artistic statement than 2004's Free Yourself."[14]
On December 6, 2007, Fantasia garnered three 50th Annual Grammy Award nominations: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “When I See U”, Best Contemporary R&B Album for Fantasia, and Best R&B Song for "When I See U".
Commercial performance
Fantasia peaked at number nineteen on US Billboard 200 albums chart.[15] It sold 133,000 copies in its first week and sold a total of 530,000 copies in the United States.[16] It was certified Gold by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[17] It also peaked at number two on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[18]
The first single from the album, "Hood Boy", peaked at number three on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles and number twenty-one on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The second single, "When I See U", peaked at number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The third single, "Only One U", peaked at number nineteen on the US Adult R&B Airplay chart and number thirty-six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Hood Boy" (featuring Big Boi) |
| Tone Mason | 3:34 |
2. | "When I See U" |
|
| 3:37 |
3. | "I Nominate U" |
| Dre & Vidal | 4:34 |
4. | "Baby Makin' Hips" |
|
| 3:21 |
5. | "Not the Way I Do" | Sean Garrett | 3:35 | |
6. | "Only One U" |
| Cox | 4:00 |
7. | "I Feel Beautiful" | Diane Warren | Babyface | 3:33 |
8. | "I'm Not That Type" | Missy Elliott |
| 4:07 |
9. | "Uneligible" |
| Danja | 3:00 |
10. | "Two Weeks Notice" |
|
| 4:42 |
11. | "Surround U" |
| Swizz Beatz | 3:19 |
12. | "Bore Me (Yawn)" (featuring Ricco Barrino) |
| Danja | 2:55 |
13. | "Sunshine" | Harold Lilly |
| 3:47 |
14. | "Bump What Ya Friends Say" (featuring Missy Elliott) |
|
| 4:44 |
Total length: | 50:08 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
15. | "Girl like Me" |
| Dre & Vidal | 4:20 |
Total length: | 54:28 |
Notes
- ^[a] signifies co-producer
Sample credits
- "Hood Boy" interpolates "Happening" by American pop band The Supremes.
- "Surround U" contains a sample from "Cross The Track (We Better Go Back)" by Maceo and the Macks, and "Christmas Rappin'" by Kurtis Blow.
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[23] | Gold | 500,000^ |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
Unreleased tracks
- "Turn This Party Up" (featuring Missy Elliott)
- "Clap Ya Hands" (featuring Missy Elliott)
- "Broke"
- "Solo (So Low)"
- "Said I Wouldn't (No More)"
- "No Stoppin'" (produced by Missy Elliott, also recorded by Monica)
- "Let It Go" (featuring Missy Elliott, re-recorded by Keyshia Cole and Lil' Kim)
References
- Jonathan Cohen, "Young Jeezy, Hicks Enter Atop The Billboard 200", Billboard.com, December 20, 2006.
- RIAA Archived 2011-05-21 at the Wayback Machine
- Fantasia First Listen – AOL Music
- https://www.allmusic.com/album/r938935
- link at the Wayback Machine (archived October 13, 2007)
- link
- Serpick, Evan (December 7, 2006). "Fantasia" RollingStone.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007
- Inskeep, Thomas (2007-01-02). "Fantasia" StylusMagazine.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2006). "Fantasia" AllMusic.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007
- Joseph, Mike (January 5, 2007). "Fantasia" PopMatters.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007
- Cinquemani, Sal (2006). "Fantasia" SlantMagazine.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007
- http://www.billboard.com/artist/1496871/Fantasia/chart?f=305
- http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/956754/fantasia-moves-forward-despite-personal-challenges
- https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=fantasia#search_section
- http://www.billboard.com/artist/1496871/Fantasia/chart?f=333
- "Fantasia Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- "Fantasia Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
- "2007 Year-End Charts – Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
- "2007 Year-End Charts – Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
- "American album certifications – Fantasia – Fantasia". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 23, 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.