Fantasia (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Fantasia
Type = Album
Artist = Fantasia Barrino


Released = December 12, 2006
Recorded = 2006
Genre = R&B
Length =
Label = J
Producer = Babyface, Bryan Michael Cox, Danja, Dre & Vidal, Missy Elliott, Kwamé, Harold Lilly, Midi Mafia, Tone Mason, Swizz Beatz
Reviews =
*"Allmusic" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0c6gtro8klmx link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/fantasia/albums/album/12743688/review/12755283/fantasia link]
*Slant Rating|3|5 [http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1030 link]
Last album = "Free Yourself"
(2004)
This album = "Fantasia"
(2006)
Next album = "TBA"
(2009)

"Fantasia" is the second studio album by American singer Fantasia Barrino, released by J Records on December 12 2006.

In its first week of sales, "Fantasia" entered the U.S. Billboard 200 chart at number nineteen, with 133,000 discs sold. [Jonathan Cohen, [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003523799 "Young Jeezy, Hicks Enter Atop The Billboard 200"] , Billboard.com, December 20 2006.] As of June, 2007, the album has been Certified Gold by the RIAA. [ [http://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?id=691381ED-73A8-ED48-8EB1-F323B95F3901 RIAA ] ]

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. [ [http://music.aol.com/franchise/firstlisten/fantasia-new-songs?icid=tues:dl2 Fantasia First Listen - AOL Music ] ]

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.Fact|date=May 2007. Fantasia herself recently confirmed that her next single is going to be "Only One U".

Critical response

Critical response to "Fantasia" was largely positive, as reviewers praised her vocals and charisma as well as the albums production; she drew multiple comparisons to Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and Patti LaBelle.Serpick, Evan (December 7, 2006). [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/12743688/review/12755283?utm_source=Rhapsody&utm_medium=CDreview "Fantasia"] RollingStone.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007] Inskeep, Thomas (2007-01-02). [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/fantasia/fantasia.htm "Fantasia"] StylusMagazine.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007] Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2006). [http://wc03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jzfexqurldte~T1 "Fantasia"] AllMusic.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007] "Rolling Stone" magazine said the album "expands her range, adds some attitude and comes up with some genuine R&B gems." "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." PopMatters.com said that "Fantasia" is a solid second effort, made above average by that gem of a voice." [Joseph, Mike (January 5, 2007). [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/9475/fantasia-fantasia/ "Fantasia"] PopMatters.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007] 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. 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." 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." [Cinquemani, Sal (2006). [http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1030 "Fantasia"] SlantMagazine.com. Retrived October 22, 2007]

On December 6, 2007, "Fantasia" garnered three 50th Annual Grammy Award nominations: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “When I See You”, Best Contemporary R&B Album for "Fantasia", and Best R&B Song for "When I See You".

Track listing

#"Hood Boy" (featuring Big Boi) –3:34
#"When I See U" –3:37
#"I Nominate U" –4:34
#"Baby Makin' Hips" –3:21
#"Not the Way That I Do" –3:35
#"Only One U" –4:00
#"I Feel Beautiful" –3:33
#"I'm Not That Type" –4:07
#"Uneligible" –3:00
#"Two Weeks Notice" –4:42
#"Surround U" –3:19
#"Bore Me (Yawn)" –2:55
#"Sunshine" –3:47
#"Bump What Your Friends Say" (featuring Missy Elliott) –4:44
#"Girl Like Me" (exclusive Wal-Mart bonus track) –4:20

ingles

*"Hood Boy"
*"When I See U"
*"Only One U"
*"Bore Me (Yawn)"
*"I Nominate U"

Charts

Unreleased tracks

* Turn This Party Up (Feat. Missy Elliott)
* Broke
* Solo (So Low)
* Said I Wouldn't (No More)
* No Stoppin' (produced by Missy Elliott) re-recorded by Monica
* Let It Go (Feat. Missy Elliott) re-recorded by Keyshia Cole & Lil' Kim

References

External links

* [http://www.fantasiabarrinoofficial.com Fantasia's Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/fantasiabarrino Fantasia's Official Myspace Page]