Fantasia

Fantasia

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 12, 2006)
• Original Release Date: December 12, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: J-Records
• ASIN: B000IY04RW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (119 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,261 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

• This item is part of The American Idol Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Maybe the best thing about American Idol is that, once it launches its stars, it sets them free. Fantasia, the self-titled sophomore set by the up-from-the-bootstraps 2004 series winner, sends out song after song that Simon would recoil over and great swaths of America would likely vote down in a heartbeat. Ripped from real life, these tracks are produced with both gumption and vision--a combination potent enough to smoke you out of your seat (see "Two Weeks Notice" and "Bore Me") and settle you back into it gently ("When I See U," "Surround U," "Bump What Ya Friends Say"). Unlike Free Yourself, Fantasia's first outing and one that wanted to work the crowd that crowned her an Idol, Fantasia's focus is de facto, de-poppified R&B--the unpretty kind. Barrino (Fantasia's last name, for those who've forgotten) brings it with a glimmering, gut-busting voice that suggests she's never seen a teleprompter before; she keeps it about as real as real gets. "Uneligible" and the Mary J. Blige-reminiscent "I Feel Beautiful" are slow burners--they linger--but by far the hottest track here is "Hood Boy." With its skittering Supremes sample and Big Boi rap, it does for refried '70s soul what Fantasia did for Idol: it makes you want to pay attention. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantasia - 4.5 stars, March 24, 2007

By	Geminigirl (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

I fell in love with the possibility of FANTASIA, the artist during her American Idol days and have not been disappointed thus far. Her debut album was a very good introduction but her live performances have been electrifying - Fantasia is an old school performer who puts her whole soul into every performance, grabs the audience by the heart and makes every person FEEL something (a la the great Patti LaBelle)!

It sucks that people aren't willing to accept her music for what it is - unfortunately Fantasia (who lets not forget is only 22 years old) has to walk a fine line between putting out music that American Idol fans will like but also trying to establish herself as a force in the r&b/pop field and make music that'll appeal to a broad audience.

In today's music environment, there are very few true singers with the courage to put music out there that is not the standard cookie-cutter formula for a hit (ie singers who are basically "hook girls" on their own singles while rappers run the show).

The tracks that stand out to me are:

HOOD BOY - I loved the jumpy scatted beats and her powerful vocals on this one

BORE ME (YAWN) - has an old school '70s soul sound; this is a very original sound that is unlike anything else I've heard thus far from other r&b divas (I hope they take a chance and release it as a single)

NOT THE WAY I DO - features heavy beats and Fantasia's sassy lyrics perfomed in the now familiar staccato rap/sung vocals similar to Beyonce (when she was with DC)

WHEN I SEE YOU, BUMP WHAT YA FRIENDS SAY, 2 WEEKS NOTICE & I FEEL BEAUTIFUL - are all ballads that feature really pretty musical arrangements & production that accompany Fantasia's restrained vocals - she does not oversing or hit too many glory notes on these tracks

UNELIGIBLE, BABY MAKING HIPS & SUNSHINE - tracks where the music production kind of overshadows her vocal performance BUT each track has such interesting and varied sounds that they have grown on me (out of the 3, UNELIGIBLE is the most interesting since it sounds like nothing being played on today's r&b scene)

The tracks that seemed more on the "filler" side to me are: SURROUND U; I NOMINATE U AND I'M NOT THAT TYPE - although the production side of SURROUND U & I'M NOT THAT TYPE are excellent, they both have catchy musical arrangements but the lyrics are "meh".

I was also really surprised by the tracks that Missy Elliott produced because I am not a fan of hers but she was able to get beautifully subtle performances out of Fantasia on the ballads and not drown out her vocals on the uptempo tracks by overproducing.

From the beautiful cover shots to her growth as a vocalist, FANTASIA is a step up from her debut album and shows that if given time and the ability to work with more gifted songwriters in the future, Fantasia is an artist who I will continue to support and enjoy.

PS: I wish her all the success in the world with her upcoming Broadway debut in 'The Color Purple'!!

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hot Like Fire, December 12, 2006

By	Josh "JAC" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

I am very pleased with Fantasia's sophmore effort. In my opinion there seems to be more depth and personality on it then her debut CD. Her voice sounds great and there is the perfect blend of club ready tracks along with some smooth R&B slow jams as well. I liked it from the first listen and just cannot stop listening to it.
Here is a track by track breakdown:

1. "Hood Boy" - This is the first single and it features Outkast's Big Boi. A VERY catchy and infectious song. Makes you want to tap your feet and bob your head. Her voice is great in this song. 5/5

2. "When I See U" - A great midtempo song with an excellent melody to it. Love it! 5/5

3. "I Nominate U" - A very nice "love" slow jam. Fantasia sounds great on this track. A good song for that special someone. A good song with a lot of feeling and soul in it. 5/5

4. "Baby Makin' Hips" - A good beat that makes you want to dance but, as you can see by the title the lyrics are not that great. "She's got them baby makin' hips" Hmmmmmmmm...ok. lol 3/5

5. "Not The Way That I Do" - LOVE IT!!! An excellent song! THis is a club banger through and through. Makes you want to hit the nearest dance floor...QUICK!! The chours is so catchy and infectious you will be singing along in no time. 5/5

6. "Only One U" - A good slow jam. Really like the lyrics. Great melody. 5/5

7. "I Feel Beautiful" - Another great slow jam. A really good message. The lyrics standout the most here. A more lyrically tame song. 4/5

8. "I'm Not That Type" - A good bumper!!!! Another great club banger! Such great beats! VERY catchy!! 5/5

9. "Uneligible" - Not a huge fan of this song. I cannot pin point exactly what it is. Maybe it's the horns in it, I am not sure. Just not a strong song on this CD. 2/5

10. "Two Weeks Notice" - A good slow-mid tempo jam. Nothng major really stands out about this song. A bit on the bland side. 3/5

11. "Surround U" - Not too thrilled about this song. The beat and the piano sound a bit out of place with the vocals. I don't care for it. 2/5

12. "Bore Me (Yawn)" - LOVE IT!! SO good and SO original. Fantasia sounds so good. Sounds a bit like a throwback tune mixed with a current R&B/Hip Hop sound and it's great!! 5/5

13. "Sunshine" - GREAT track! Good beat and great vocals. A solid beat with great lyrics and vocals. I like to crank this jam up!! 5/5

14. "Bump What Ya Friends Say" - Very old school sounding (Aretha, Gladys Knight etc...). A soulful, slower jam. Top notch!! 5/5

I am so glad that I purchased this CD. HOMERUN!
In my opinion so much more creative and original then her debut effort.
A must have!!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Soulful, fun effort!, October 1, 2007

By	Preston (nc) - See all my reviews

I could play this album for days! Fantasia outdoes herself on her second album. I love the ultracatchy Hood Boy and Like the Way that I Do. She made most of this album surprisingly upbeat. I like the cool groove of When I See You and she chews up her man on Two Weeks Notice. Most songs she boasts that this is her man and nobody else can have him and she delivers on every track. Producers like Missy Elliott, Bryan Michael Cox, Harris/Davis, Tone Capone, Swizz Beatz and others give Fantasia some solid urban tracks that match with her vocal style. And Fantasia's raspy voice is far better on this album than her debut. I love this effort!