Fantasia: The First Two Albums | 4GEMZ 💎

1. Fantasia, “I Believe”

💿 Free Yourself • 🏷 19 Recordings Limited • 📅 2004

One of the greatest moments on 📺 American Idol arrived courtesy of its season three winner, 🎙 Fantasia.  While the 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B artist had already ‘put in work’ potentially securing the win, her awesome performance of 🎵 “I Believe” (💿 Free Yourself, 2004) sealed the deal, period. The night that she performed this 🎼✍ Tamyra Gray co-write, she poured every ounce of herself and spirit into the performance.

“I Believe” can best be described as an adult contemporary R&B song with gospel influence. Gospel, of course, is entrenched in Fantasia’s blood, making her an incredibly dynamic performer. Clearly, “I Believe” will be remembered among American Idol’s best original songs if not it’s very best. “Love DEFINITELY keeps lifting me higher.” Notably, this inspiring no. 1 hit would win two Billboard Music Awards in 2004.

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 11 Excellent Songs You’ll Totally Believe In

2. Fantasia, “Free Yourself”

Ft. Missy Elliott

💿 Free Yourself • 🏷 19 Recordings Limited • 📅 2004

“If you don’t want me, then don’t talk to me / Go ahead and free yourself.”  On 🎵 “Free Yourself,” another gem from her debut album, 💿 Free Yourself, 🎙 Fantasia has a simple message. Essentially, she tells this guy, ‘Don’t want me? GTFO!’

Of course, Fantasia is far more nuanced than my blunt breakdown on this classy, silky-smooth ballad, produced by 🎛 Craig Brockman and 🎛 Missy Elliott.  Besides writing and producing “Free Yourself,” Elliott also provides backing vocals alongside a then, unknown 🎙 Jazmine Sullivan.  The big takeaway are Fantasia’s gorgeous, soulful pipes as she not only encourages him to ‘free himself,’ but she also seems to be ‘freeing herself’ of utterly needless BS. She says it best, with the help of her backing vocals, asserting, “Time and time again I tried it over and over and over / But the love I had inside has died.”

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Free 🆓 3.0 : A Compendium of 30 Songs

3. Fantasia, “Two Weeks Notice”

💿 Fantasia • 🏷 19 Recordings Limited • 📅 2006

“This is my two-week notice / I resign my position because / You ain’t treating me right…”  Well, soulful 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer 🎙 Fantasia lays things out clearly on 🎵 “Two Week Notice,” a highlight from her sophomore album, 💿 Fantasia (2006)

As the excerpt from the chorus suggests, Fantasia is fed up with this man.  She’s no longer in love with him and must move on from her role as his girlfriend.  “The love that me and you shared expired,” she sings at the beginning of the first verse, continuing, “So there will be no renewing our contracts.” Oh snap! Love, love, love the lyrics – 🎼✍ 🎛 Missy Elliott, 🎼✍Corte Ellis, and 🎼✍ 🎛 Craig Brockman wrote this gem.  Adding to the gloriousness of the lyrics is the neo-soul, throwback vibes of the record, produced by Brockman and Elliott.  Continuing with the lyrics, Fantasia goes on to say she’d be foolish to take him back and that he has not right to be mad at her because he messed things up.  Of course, the best moments of the entire song occur on the chorus, which continues as follows:

“I been working on the job
Just busting my ass
Pleasing you every day and night
I get no raises or no benefits
To stay with this establishment
I’m gone, this is my two-week notice.”

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 13 Songs Where the Focus is TWO

4. Fantasia, “When I See U”

💿 Fantasia • 🏷 19 Recordings Limited • 📅 2006

“I put your picture on my mirror / Start to blush when somebody says your name…” Sounds like a boy crush! 💿 Fantasia could’ve been a total loss for the talented, 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer, but one of the set’s singles, 🎵 “When I See U,” caught on, peaking at no. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Furthermore, it peaked at no. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and no. 2 on the Adult R&B Songs chart.

“When I See U” checks off all boxes, period.  This is a sound, well-written, well-performed contemporary R&B record.  🎙 Fantasia sings superbly, whether highlighting the gorgeous melodic line or soulfully ad-libbing.  The production (🎛 Midi Mafia and 🎛 Mzmeriq) is nicely balanced – colorful and lush, but not overdone in the least.  The songwriting is catchy, relatable, and straightforward.  Fantasia has a crush – who can’t relate to that???  The chorus marks the crowning achievement:

“You’re always on my mind
When you come around, I get shy
When I see you, when I see you.
Never know when you might walk by
So, I gotta be right on time
When I see you, when I see you.”

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Songs That Require Sharp Sight to See, Vol. 1