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"Love you Clive Davis, thanks for being so gangsta!" So says Fantasia Barrino -- now simply billed as "Fantasia" since divas are, by law, not allowed to have more than one name -- in the liner notes for her 2004 debut album, Free Yourself. This indicates both Barrino's relative naïveté and the nature of Free Yourself itself. Fantasia was the winner of the third American Idol competition in 2004, and while Clive Davis has shepherded all of the previous AmIdol winners and runner-ups, it's possible that Barrino had spent so little time in the music biz that she didn't grasp the depths of either Davis' legacy or his savvy, the latter of which was clearly on display on each AmIdol record. Under Davis' direction, Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, Ruben Studdard, and Clay Aiken all made records tailored for a specific audience, which is the reason they all had great success (well, with one notable exception), so it should come as no surprise that Davis has steered Barrino straight to the streets to make an album that thrives on urban R&B inflections and style. Free Yourself is looser and hipper than any previous AmIdol album. Gone is Matthew Wilder, who contributed to Kelly's debut; gone are Neil Sedaka and Aldo Nova, who featured heavily on Clay's album. In their place are Missy Elliott, Jermaine Dupri, and Rodney Jerkins, hip-hop hitmakers who give a good indication that this album is striving to seem fresh and hip, something that no other American Idol album has even attempted. Of course, the show-biz trappings haven't been completely abandoned -- Fantasia's showstopping rendition of Gershwin's "Summertime" has been revived, and it's been given an overwrought treatment that's slicker and more mannered than either of her performances of it on the show. And that reveals Fantasia's biggest weakness, which is part of the inherent flaw of American Idol: it rewards contestants who put on a show of being a great singer instead of actually being a great singer. Of all the third-season contestants, Barrino trumped all her competitors in terms of sheer dramatics and histrionics, and that made her more memorable than equally talented singers such as Latoya London. While Fantasia's Macy Gray-meets-Mary J. Blige-and-goes-Broadway voice may have made for great television, where it sounded unique when delivered in two-to-three-minute bursts, it grates over the course of a 13-track record. There's no doubt that she has chops, but the problem is her thin timbre, which is an acquired taste. To doubters, she seems to squawk her songs as much as sing them, but to her fans, it's all part of her idiosyncratic style. That argument was easier to accept when she was only on TV, but like all AmIdol winners, she is less impressive on record than she is on the show. Fantasia is a compelling presence on television, and she has more charisma on record than any of her peers, but without the visuals, her vocals seem mannered and overly histrionic, which may suit her diva-in-waiting persona but doesn't necessarily make her a diva. Unfortunately, Free Yourself decides to play up that diva fantasy, mythologizing her downtrodden beginnings and status as a "Baby Mama" and throwing in several tracks that swagger as if she were already a rival to Mariah. This gives the enterprise a slightly distasteful undercurrent, but the album is well crafted, rarely sounding like a rush job -- only the covers of "Summertime" and "You Were Always on My Mind" sound chintzy, and Fantasia never sounds winded the way Ruben did on his record (however, it is inexcusable that the songs don't match the printed track listing on the initial pressings) -- and it gets by on its sound and style, both from the producers and Fantasia herself. If it delivers no knockout punches, at least it maintains the mood and groove from beginning to end and is considerably more fashionable than anything American Idol has yet produced.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Aaron Renner, 2nd Engineer - Antonio Dixon, Composer - Antonio Dixon, Lyricist - Dabling Harward, Recording Engineer - Damon Thomas, Composer - Damon Thomas, Lyricist - Durrell Babs, Composer - Durrell Babs, Lyricist - Eric Dawkins, Background Vocal - Fantasia, Performer - Harvey Mason, Jr., Composer - Harvey Mason, Jr., Lyricist - Lil' Steve, Background Vocal - Manny Marroquin, Mixing Engineer - Tank, Performer - The Underdogs, Performer - The Underdogs, Producer
(P) 2004 19 Recordings Limited
Carlos Bedoya, Mixing Engineer - Carlos Bedoya, Recording Engineer - Craig Brockman, Acoustic Bass - Craig Brockman, Co-Producer - Craig Brockman, Composer - Craig Brockman, Lyricist - Craig Brockman, Strings - Dave Heuer, 2nd Engineer - Fantasia, Performer - Fantasia featuring Missy Elliot, Performer - Jazmine Sullivan, Background Vocal - Missy Elliott, Background Vocal - Missy Elliott, Composer - Missy Elliott, Lyricist - Missy Elliott, Producer - Missy Elliott, Programmer - Nisan Stewart, Composer - Nisan Stewart, Drums - Nisan Stewart, Lyricist
(P) 2004 19 Recordings Limited
Bill Malina, Recording Engineer - Carsten Schack, Composer - Carsten Schack, Lyricist - Christopher Jasper, Composer - Christopher Jasper, Lyricist - Ernest Isley, Composer - Ernest Isley, Lyricist - Fantasia, Performer - J. Que, Composer - J. Que, Lyricist - Kenneth Karlin, Composer - Kenneth Karlin, Lyricist - Manny Marroquin, Mixing Engineer - Marvin Isley, Composer - Marvin Isley, Lyricist - O'Kelly Isley, Composer - O'Kelly Isley, Lyricist - Ronald Isley, Composer - Ronald Isley, Lyricist - Rudolph Isley, Composer - Rudolph Isley, Lyricist - Soulshock & Karlin, Arranger - Soulshock & Karlin, Performer - Soulshock & Karlin, Producer - Tab, Composer - Tab, Lyricist
(P) 2004 19 Recordings Limited
Cainon Lamb, Co-Producer - Cainon Lamb, Composer - Cainon Lamb, Lyricist - Carlos Bedoya, Recording Engineer - Corte Ellis, Composer - Corte Ellis, Lyricist - Craig Brockman, Composer - Craig Brockman, Lyricist - Fantasia featuring Missy Elliot, Performer - Jazmine Sullivan, Background Vocal - Missy Elliott, Background Vocal - Missy Elliott, Composer - Missy Elliott, Lyricist - Missy Elliott, Performer - Missy Elliott, Producer - Missy Elliott, Programmer - Scott Kieklak, Mixing Engineer - Vadim Chislov, 2nd Engineer
(P) 2004 19 Recordings Limited
Anne Skates, Arranger - Dubose Heyward, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Fantasia, Performer - Gabe Sganga, 2nd Engineer - George Gershwin, Composer - George Gershwin, Lyricist - Ira Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - Jeff Kanan, 2nd Engineer - Michael Parnin, Mixing Engineer - Nigel Wright, Conductor - Nigel Wright, Producer - Robin Sellars, Recording Engineer - Tom Ranier, Orchestrator - Yann McCullough, Engineer
(P) 2004 19 Recordings Limited
Allison Lilly, Background Vocal - Barbara Acklin, Composer - Barbara Acklin, Lyricist - Eugene Record, Composer - Eugene Record, Lyricist - Fantasia, Performer - Harold Lilly, Composer - Harold Lilly, Lyricist - Harold Lilly, Producer - Kamel Abdo, Mixing Engineer - Kamel Abdo, Recording Engineer - Neely Dinkins Jr., Composer - Neely Dinkins Jr., Lyricist - The Co-Stars, Producer - Vito Colapietro, Composer - Vito Colapietro, Lyricist
(P) 2004 19 Recordings Limited
Brian Frye, Recording Engineer - Bryan-Michael Cox, Co-Producer - Bryan-Michael Cox, Composer - Bryan-Michael Cox, Lyricist - Ciara, Composer - Ciara, Lyricist - Fantasia, Performer - Jermaine Dupri, Composer - Jermaine Dupri, Lyricist - Jermaine Dupri, Producer - John Horesco IV, Recording Engineer - Johnta Austin, Composer - Johnta Austin, Lyricist - Phil Tan, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2004 19 Recordings Limited
Fantasia, Performer - Jeff Villaneuva, Engineer - Manny Marroquin, Mixing Engineer - Ricc Rude, Producer - Ricky Lewis, Composer - Ricky Lewis, Lyricist - Rodney Jerkins, Composer - Rodney Jerkins, Lyricist - Rodney Jerkins, Mixing Engineer - Rodney Jerkins, Producer - Sean Garrett, Co-Producer - Sean Garrett, Composer - Sean Garrett, Lyricist - Sean Garrett, Producer - Sean Garrett, Recording Engineer - The Scumfrog, Re-Mixer
(P) 2004 19 Recordings Limited
Aaron Renner, 2nd Engineer - Dabling Harward, Edited By - Dabling Harward, Recording Engineer - David Campbell, Arranger - Fantasia, Performer - Gerald Albright, Saxophone - Greg Phillinganes, Piano - John Christopher, Composer - John Christopher, Lyricist - Jon Gass, Mixing Engineer - Mark James, Composer - Mark James, Lyricist - Ricky Lawson, Drums - The Underdogs, Performer - The Underdogs, Producer - Wayne Thompson, Composer - Wayne Thompson, Lyricist
(P) 2004 19 Recordings Limited
Carlos Bedoya, Mixing Engineer - Carlos Bedoya, Recording Engineer - Craig Brockman, Co-Producer - Craig Brockman, Composer - Craig Brockman, Lyricist - Dave Heuer, 2nd Engineer - Fantasia, Performer - Jazmine Sullivan, Background Vocal - Missy Elliott, Background Vocal - Missy Elliott, Composer - Missy Elliott, Lyricist - Missy Elliott, Producer - Missy Elliott, Programmer - Nisan Stewart, Composer - Nisan Stewart, Drums - Nisan Stewart, Lyricist
(P) 2004 19 Recordings Limited
Charles Pettaway, Composer - Charles Pettaway, Guitar - Charles Pettaway, Lyricist - Fantasia featuring Jazze Pha, Performer - Jazze Phá, Producer - Johnta Austin, Composer - Johnta Austin, Lyricist - Leslie Brathwaite, Mixing Engineer - Nico Solis, 2nd Engineer - Nico Solis, Recording Engineer - Phalon Alexander, Composer - Phalon Alexander, Lyricist - Zachary Wallace, Composer - Zachary Wallace, Lyricist
(P) 2004 19 Recordings Limited
Aaron Renner, 2nd Engineer - Antonio Dixon, Co-Producer - Antonio Dixon, Composer - Antonio Dixon, Lyricist - Antonio Dixon, Performer - Dabling Harward, Edited By - Dabling Harward, Recording Engineer - Damon Thomas, Composer - Damon Thomas, Lyricist - Durrell Babs, Composer - Durrell Babs, Lyricist - Fantasia, Performer - Harvey Mason, Jr., Composer - Harvey Mason, Jr., Lyricist - The Underdogs, Mixing Engineer - The Underdogs, Performer - The Underdogs, Producer
(P) 2004 19 Recordings Limited
Alyssa Park, Violin - Angela Fisher, Vocal - Armen Garabedian, Violin - Berj Garabedian, Violin - Bob Peterson, Violin - Bobbi Page, Vocal - Brian Scheuble, Engineer - Byron Motley, Vocal - Dan Smith, Acoustic Cello - Darius Campo, Violin - Darlene Koldenhoven, Vocal - David Campbell, Arranger - David Campbell, Conductor - Deborah Sharpe-Taylor, Vocal - Debra Byrd, Vocal - Eric Butler, Vocal - Evan Wilson, Viola - Fantasia, Performer - Joel Derouin, Violin - John Wittenberg, Violin - Julian Hallmark, Violin - Jun Ishizeki, 2nd Engineer - Kevin Dorsey, Vocal - Larry Corbett, Acoustic Cello - Larry Greenfield, Violin - Louis Biancaniello, Arranger - Louis Biancaniello, Composer - Louis Biancaniello, Keyboards - Louis Biancaniello, Lyricist - Louis Biancaniello, Mixing Engineer - Louis Biancaniello, Producer - Louis Biancaniello, Programmer - Mario De Leon, Violin - Mark Kiczula, 2nd Engineer - Matt Funes, Viola - Maxi Anderson, Vocal - Melanie Taylor, Vocal - Natalie Leggett, Violin - Nick Cooper, Vocal - Ross Hogarth, Engineer - Sam Watters, Arranger - Sam Watters, Background Vocal - Sam Watters, Composer - Sam Watters, Lyricist - Sam Watters, Producer - Sara Parkins, Violin - Steve Churchyard, Engineer - Sybil Harris, Vocal - Tamyra Gray, Background Vocal - Tamyra Gray, Composer - Tamyra Gray, Lyricist - Terry Wood, Vocal - Tony Wilkins, Vocal - Yvonne Williams, Vocal
(P) 2004 19 Recordings Limited
Album review
"Love you Clive Davis, thanks for being so gangsta!" So says Fantasia Barrino -- now simply billed as "Fantasia" since divas are, by law, not allowed to have more than one name -- in the liner notes for her 2004 debut album, Free Yourself. This indicates both Barrino's relative naïveté and the nature of Free Yourself itself. Fantasia was the winner of the third American Idol competition in 2004, and while Clive Davis has shepherded all of the previous AmIdol winners and runner-ups, it's possible that Barrino had spent so little time in the music biz that she didn't grasp the depths of either Davis' legacy or his savvy, the latter of which was clearly on display on each AmIdol record. Under Davis' direction, Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, Ruben Studdard, and Clay Aiken all made records tailored for a specific audience, which is the reason they all had great success (well, with one notable exception), so it should come as no surprise that Davis has steered Barrino straight to the streets to make an album that thrives on urban R&B inflections and style. Free Yourself is looser and hipper than any previous AmIdol album. Gone is Matthew Wilder, who contributed to Kelly's debut; gone are Neil Sedaka and Aldo Nova, who featured heavily on Clay's album. In their place are Missy Elliott, Jermaine Dupri, and Rodney Jerkins, hip-hop hitmakers who give a good indication that this album is striving to seem fresh and hip, something that no other American Idol album has even attempted. Of course, the show-biz trappings haven't been completely abandoned -- Fantasia's showstopping rendition of Gershwin's "Summertime" has been revived, and it's been given an overwrought treatment that's slicker and more mannered than either of her performances of it on the show. And that reveals Fantasia's biggest weakness, which is part of the inherent flaw of American Idol: it rewards contestants who put on a show of being a great singer instead of actually being a great singer. Of all the third-season contestants, Barrino trumped all her competitors in terms of sheer dramatics and histrionics, and that made her more memorable than equally talented singers such as Latoya London. While Fantasia's Macy Gray-meets-Mary J. Blige-and-goes-Broadway voice may have made for great television, where it sounded unique when delivered in two-to-three-minute bursts, it grates over the course of a 13-track record. There's no doubt that she has chops, but the problem is her thin timbre, which is an acquired taste. To doubters, she seems to squawk her songs as much as sing them, but to her fans, it's all part of her idiosyncratic style. That argument was easier to accept when she was only on TV, but like all AmIdol winners, she is less impressive on record than she is on the show. Fantasia is a compelling presence on television, and she has more charisma on record than any of her peers, but without the visuals, her vocals seem mannered and overly histrionic, which may suit her diva-in-waiting persona but doesn't necessarily make her a diva. Unfortunately, Free Yourself decides to play up that diva fantasy, mythologizing her downtrodden beginnings and status as a "Baby Mama" and throwing in several tracks that swagger as if she were already a rival to Mariah. This gives the enterprise a slightly distasteful undercurrent, but the album is well crafted, rarely sounding like a rush job -- only the covers of "Summertime" and "You Were Always on My Mind" sound chintzy, and Fantasia never sounds winded the way Ruben did on his record (however, it is inexcusable that the songs don't match the printed track listing on the initial pressings) -- and it gets by on its sound and style, both from the producers and Fantasia herself. If it delivers no knockout punches, at least it maintains the mood and groove from beginning to end and is considerably more fashionable than anything American Idol has yet produced.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:50:50
- Main artists: Fantasia
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: J Records
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B
(P) 2004 19 Recordings Limited
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