Fantasia Barrino - Free Yourself
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Fantasia BarrinoBrand: Baker & Taylor
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2004-11-23
Music Label: J-Records
Product features:
- Condition: Used - Very Good
- Ain't Gonna Beg
- Free Yourself
- Truth Is
- Selfish
- Summertime
- Baby Mama
- Got Me Waiting
- It's All Good
- You Were Always On My Mind
- Good Lovin
- Don't Act Right
- This Is Me
- I Believe
Free Music Notes for Free Yourself
Free Music Review: A Unique Image, A Unique Voice
Hit: 5 Stars
American Idol has dispensed a surprising share of talent each time it has crowned a winner. From soulful/pop-turned rock power belter Kelly Clarkson to the soulful teddy bear of Ruben Studdard to even second season runner-up power vocalist, Clay Aiken, American Idol has truly seen some great talent. This only continues with the release of the winner of the third season of American Idol, Fantasia Barrino or Fantasia.
AIN'T GON' BEG You- Produced by the Underdogs, this slow R&B jam is a nice introduction to the CD as it prepares the listener for the vocalist that is Fantasia. As the song talks about not begging someone for their love, the production of the song matched with Fantasia's vocals builds the song up to a pleasing climax towards the end. The background vocals are arranged nicely. This is Fantasia's fourth single off the CD, and it is sure to blow up on Urban and Urban AC stations. A
FREE yOURSELF-Produced by Missy Elliott herself and Craig X. Brockman, this percolating slow jam is a mini-masterpiece. When I first heard the song, I was drawn to it not only because it is relatively original in this current landscape of R&B where the majority of the music is homogenized. The background vocals are on-point. Fantasia takes the song to new heights with her voice; although, I must admit that towards the end she lets loose a little too much where the power of the song is somewhat lost because of the screaming. Her scatting before the second verse is tight though. This was the third, official single off the CD, and it did well on Urban/Urban AC radio outlets. A
TRUTH IS-Produced by Soulshock and Karlin, the second, official off the CD. See, this is basically a regular R&B cut-the obligatory R&B song that almost any singer can handle. However, this is where Fantasia's talents come through. With her interpretive skills and her unique voice and even her phrasing, she turns this song into a mini-masterpeice. See, one has to understand music and appreciate music on a deeper level to witness the magic that is inherent in this song. Fantasia sounds "real"/authentic as she tells her ex-lover that the "truth is" that she wants him back and misses him even as he has moved on. Her adlibs are crazy...the song is tight. A+
SELFISH-Produced by Missy Elliott and Lamb, this uptempo has a lot of energy and sounds like a club banger, one of those songs to be played at a party. This kind of song is relatively rare on this CD which is comprised of slower jams. The title speaks for itself as Fantasia is saying that she wants him all to herself and does not want to share him with anyone else. Missy also raps towards the end of the song. A
SUMMERTIME-Produced by Nigel Wright, Summertime is the song that made Fantasia stand out during American Idol as she gave a very impassioned performance. That stellar performance does not translate as well into this very polished studio performance. However, her artistry is still evidenced as few, young singers could effectively pull this old showtune off so effortlessly. She sounds comfortable singing this song and she makes the song sound like something "really" from that time. A
BABY MAMA-Produced by Harold Lilly and the Co-Stars, this song got a lot of heat because some people criticized Fantasia for promoting single motherhood. Whatever one's opinion is, the basic message of the song is to give courage and acknowledgment to all the "baby mamas" everywhere. It is just a simple song of appreciation and empowerment for single mothers. Take it like you want to, but the song is rather unique and a breath of fresh air coming from a "baby mama" herself. A
GOT ME WAITING-Produced by Jermaine Dupri and Bryan Michael Cox, because of the two aforementioned producers, this cut sounds like Usher's BURN, Destiny's Child's BAD HABIT, Frankie J's HOW to DEAL and Faith Evans' TRU LOVE. I really do enjoy the trademark sound of these songs because it is very atmospheric and fits the words conveyed. Fantasia gives a very understated, quiet but mournful vocal as she adequately exemplifies the fact that her lover has her waiting for his complete devotion and respect. She is informing him that she won't keep waiting. This is probably my favorite song on the CD because Fantasia reads it well. She does not oversing and lets the all the parts work together cohesively. A+
IT'S ALL GOOD-Produced by Rodney Jerkins and Sean Garrett, this cut sounds similar to Destiny's Child's Lose My Breath, mainly because it is produced by the same producer, Rodney Jerkins. The drum beats and the haunting background vocalists lend this song a certain energy that is just crazy. Fantasia sings better on slower tunes, but she also knows how to handle the uptempos pretty well. The song was a potential single release, but for some reason, it has not been released. A+
You WERE ALWAYS ON MY MIND-Produced by the Underdogs, this Willie Nelson cover is the best version I have heard besides the original. Fantasia turns this into a soulful song that is not overdramatic or oversung about the true meaning of her lover. She aced the performance and does even better live. A+
GOOD LOVIN' Produced by Missy Elliott and Craig X. Brockman, this sounds like one of those old-school, 1970s R&B cuts and it works. The production on this slow mid-tempo is tight. Missy's background vocals are on-point as well. Fantasia sounds in her element as well here. A
DON'T ACT RIGHT-Produced by Jazze Pha, this is probably the worst song on the CD for me because it does not go anywhere. It is the typical Jazze Pha production, and it does not seem to really fit Fantasia's vocals as much. It has a boring and tired production to it and the incessant repetition of "don't act right" during the chorus is annoying. It is not a bad song, but compared to its predecessors, it does not work as well. Fantasia sings well on it though. B-
THIS IS ME-Produced by the Underdogs and Antonio Dixon, this is Fantasia's autobiographical song where she tells who she is. Surprisingly, she did not even write a word on the song, but it does fit her. The production on this mid-tempo are on-point. The vocals are good and not overblown. She sounds like Brandy at certain points on the song that it is scary. A
I BELIEVE-Produced by Louis Biancaniello and Sam Watters who produced Jessica Simpson's 1999 smash, I WANNA LOVE You FOREVER, this is the inspirational tune she sang upon being crowned Season 3's American Idol. This track is very inspirational and uplifting for anyone. It is almost too overblown but with Fantasia not singing the song in the same manner that many of the Whiteny Houston and Mariah Carey copycats would, the song works because she gives it a soulful and Gospelized read instead of the operatic way with the expected riffs and runs and bended notes. A+
Overall, the CD works because of Fantasia's unique vocals. Hearing the CD, it does not sound like it could be her debut because she sounds like she has been releasing CDs for years. Most of these songs are basic R&B cuts, but with Fantaisa's Gospel-training, heartfelt vocals, unique and mature intepretation and phrasing along with a needed restraint she turns these songs into mini-episodes where she makes you feel the words of the song instead of the notes and runs and high notes. Some people deem Fantasia as the next Patti LaBelle. While her on-stage energy does exemplify Patti LaBelle's as well as the tone of her vocals being similar to Patti's, Fantasia reminds of the old-school, soul divas like Patti, Gladys and Aretha who knew how to sing both on-stage and in the studio and who could give original readings of a song. Fantasia will definitely be around for a long time. The fact that her CD has sold over 1.5 million copies less than a year later when many people did not expect it to even go Gold is a testament to her talent and the support she has in the Urban communities. Here is to looking forward to her sophomre release.
Free Yourself Poster
Includes bonus track. J Records. 2005.Few would accuse Fantasia of a reluctance to abide by the wisdom that what you've got, you should flaunt, and the vocal gusto she slathers over her full-length debut gets partial credit for earning--and keeping--your attention. To a greater extent, though, the high-wattage help heaped over the Idol 3 champ and Patti LaBelle-sound-alike makes the disc dazzle. In addition to pitch-ins from Missy Elliott, who produced and co-wrote three tracks and busts out a two-snaps-up rhyme on "Selfish (I Want U 2 Myself)," Jazze Pha duets on the ultra-mod "Don't Act Right" and Jermaine Dupri wrote and produced the smolderer "Got Me Waiting." Surprisingly, though, it's not those tracks or even the Idol-propelled cover of the Gershwins' "Summertime" that will stick with listeners most. Instead, first single "Truth Is," a sweet, old-school R&B lament directed toward a lost love, and "Baby Mama," a spirited shout-out to hard-working single mothers, snare standout status with their from-the-gut authenticity. Keeping it real is what won Fantasia the hearts of millions on TV, and despite Free Yourself's likable slickness, it convinces that--hot commodity or no--she's not about to forget it. -Tammy La Gorce
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