CORPORATE LINE: Chosen from some 70,000 contestants, the soulful singer was overwhelmed with emotion when host Ryan Seacrest announced Fantasia’s win. “I always had a dream, always wanted to sing, and it seemed I couldn’t get my foot in the door,” she declared backstage after the two-hour show was over. Fantasia delivered an emotion-filled rendition of the classic “Summertime” on May 25, the final night of the contest, bringing a packed audience at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood to its feet for a standing ovation.
THE GREAT:
“Truth Is” – The rare chance for Fantasia to take an emotion and work with it. When the lyrics are good it makes it easier for her to do what she does best–sing.
“You Were Always on My Mind” – A wonderful cover of the classic.
“I Believe” – A nice gift for fans who didn’t want to buy the single.
THE AVERAGE:
“Ain’t Gonna Beg” – Not on par with what Fantasia can be—great.
“Baby Mama” – The sentiment is fantastic however it never quite works up the emotion that the subject suggests it could.
THE BAD:
Nothing.
FRANKLY: J-Records is mismanaging Fantasia. Clive Davis is one of the legends of music but it was a mistake teaming Fantasia up with Missy Elliott. Elliott knows how to make hit R&B/pop singles but Fantasia is a different breed altogether. Tina Turner didn’t make songs like everyone else—Turner was a star because everyone wanted to be her and not vice versa. And to team Fantasia up with Jermaine Dupri should be a crime guilty of blacklisting.
It was Fantasia’s emotional performances that that captivated audiences and yet Free Yourself sounds strained and full of uncertainty. Fantasia on occasion sounds like she is shouting across bridges that aren’t well constructed and choruses that lack substance. It’s a shame that American Idol the show has found so many gems only to get mismanaged over and over again by record labels. We are Fantasia fans so its hard to admit that Free Yourself is forgettable.
+ Rae Gun
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