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Our Top 10 Fantasia Songs list takes a look at a popular American Idol winner and r&b singer. She has sold over three million albums worldwide. It may not sound like a lot, but she has sold a lot considering she got her start from a reality show. Some of her hits include “I Believe,” “Free Yourself,” “Truth Is,” “When I See U,” “Lose to Win,” “Collard Greens & Cornbread,” “Bittersweet,” I’m Doin’ Me,” “Baby Mama” as well as other hits. Her single “I Believe” made her the second female artist to debut at number one on the charts. The song was also number one on the Canadian charts. She won three Billboard Awards for this track. She is also the first artist in the history of Billboard 100 to have her single debut at number one. In addition to singing, Fantasia has appeared in movies and television. She appeared on American Dreams (2004), The Simpsons (2005) and All of Us (2005). In 2006, she was in the movie based on her life called The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale. In 2007, she appeared in the musical The Color Purple. In 2013, she appeared in the Broadway musical After Midnight.
Fantasia was born Fantasia Monique Barrino on June 30, 1984. She comes from a musical family. She is the cousin of K-Ci and JoJo Hailey from Jodeci. Her uncles are the Barrino Brothers. They were in a 70s r&b band. She started singing when she was five. She got her start by singing in church. She appeared on the reality show American Idol in 2004. She went on to become the winner of the third season of the reality show. After she won the show, she released her first album.
Free Yourself was released in 2004. It peaked at number two on the r&b charts and number eight on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Truth Is,” “It’s All Good,” “Baby Mama,” “Free Yourself,” “Ain’t Gon’ Beg You” and “I Believe.” The album sold over one million copies. Fantasia was released in 2006. It peaked at number three on the r&b charts and number 19 on the Billboard 200. It features the singles “Hood Boy,” “When I See U,” “I Feel Beautiful” and “Only One U.” The album sold over 500,000 copies.
Back to Me was released in 2010. It peaked at number one on the r&b charts and number two on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Bittersweet,” “I’m Doin’ Me” and “Collard Greens & Cornbread.” It sold over 490,000 copies. Side Effects of You was released in 2013. It peaked at number one on the r&b charts and number two on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Lose to Win,” “Without Me” and “Side Effects of You.” The album sold over 300,000 copies
The Definition of… was released in 2016. It peaked at number two on the r&b charts and number six on the Billboard 200. It features the singles “No Time for It,” “Sleeping with the One I Love” and “When I Met You.” Sketchbook was released in 2019. It peaked at number five on the Independent charts, number 33 on r&b and 62 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Bad Girl,” “The Way” and “History.”
Fantasia may have gotten her start on a reality show, but she managed to find success in the music industry. She had to compete with other American Idol contestants such as Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson and Carrie Underwood. She may not have sold as many albums as them, but she does have a loyal fanbase. She didn’t have to rely on her famous cousins in order to achieve success. She is known for singing about real issues, which people can relate to. This Top 10 Fantasia Songs list will feature her best songs.
# 10 – Baby Mama
The first song on our Top 10 Fantasia Songs list is “Baby Mama” from the Free Yourself album. The song has an r&b beat. This anthemic song is an ode to single mothers. For those of you who don’t know, Fantasia was a single mother when she became a singer. People were shocked that she was a single mother. She was also a teen mother. This song wasn’t done to promote teenage sex. It is an anthem for young mothers who have children.
This song supports young mothers because of the struggles they go through trying to raise children. This track is definitely relatable to single mothers. It lets them know that they are not alone and are worth celebrating. You don’t have to be a mother to appreciate the song or to understand the message that she’s trying to convey. The music has an old school vibe to it. The song contains a sample of the Chi-Lites’ song “There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated at the Table). The sample help makes the music stand out. Fantasia sings the song with a lot of emotion.
You can tell the song hits close to home for her. It’s a surprise that she didn’t write the song since she can relate to the powerful lyrics. She sings the song as if she wrote it. Her gospel roots show throughout her singing. She belts throughout the chorus and towards the end of the song. Some of the screeching she does near the end is a bit much, but it doesn’t hurt the song.
# 9 – When I See U
The next song on our Top 10 Fantasia Songs list is “When I See U” from her self-titled album. The song has an r&b beat. This is an uplifting song about how she feels when she sees the man she loves. This is one of her biggest hit singles. The passionate jam was number one for nine weeks. This is a simple love song that is relatable to couples in love. You don’t have to have someone in your life to understand the emotion behind the lyrics. This is an indicator of the impact the song has that you can relate to it if you’re in a relationship or you can relate to it even if you’re not in a relationship. It’s a sweet song about the feeling you get when you love somebody.
The majority of us have been in love so at some point so the lyrics have touched you. It is perfect for chilling out with the person you love. The production is smooth and simple. The song isn’t overproduced. The musicians didn’t have to do much in order to create the sound. The music features the keyboards and drums, which was all that were needed to create this r&b jam. She keeps her vocals simple. She doesn’t go overboard doing a lot of vocal gymnastics. Her signature screeching isn’t feature too much in the song. Her voice is full of soul and emotion. She is singing from the heart without going too far overboard.
# 8 – Lose To Win
This soulful song is from the Side Effects of You album. The song has an r&b beat. This metaphoric song is about the ups and downs of her career. Critics thought the song was about her relationship with her married lover. If you pay attention to the lyrics, it seems as if the song is about a relationship and not her career. It’s up to the listener to decide what they want to take from the song.
The song has a good message about knowing your self-worth. It teaches you that you should never be afraid to leave a bad relationship. This song is relatable to anyone who has lost anything. It can be a relationship, a job, your home or anything. The lyrics are priceless and timeless and are perfect during today’s tough times. This song will give you hope that things will get better. The song contains a sample of The Commodores’ hit single “Night Shift.” The sample helps give the song a retro and new school vibe. The music is refreshing. You can bop your head to the midtempo beat. The music is uplifting to match the theme of the song.
Fantasia’s voice is pretty good on this track. It blends very well with the beat. She sings the verses softly while she belts the chorus. Her signature screeching makes an appearance, but she doesn’t go overboard. She does runs throughout the song, which are pleasant on the ear. She takes you to church with this track. This song should be an anthem for everyone.
# 7 – Free Yourself
This introspective song is on the album of the same name. The song has an r&b and soul beat. This is a bittersweet song about her telling the man she is with that he can leave if he isn’t happy with her. The song is about choices. She is willing to be alone if he doesn’t want to be with her. This is an empowering song about not staying in a relationship if you aren’t happy. This song sends out a good message about her not wanting her man to stay if he’s miserable.
She wants him to be with someone else if she doesn’t make him happy. There aren’t too many songs about this particular theme. The singer is usually the one leaving in the relationship. It was a different perspective to hear it from this angle. It is a more empowering message to hear it from this angle. She is inspiring women and men to let go of an unhappy relationship. It makes you know that you deserve better than to be with someone who isn’t happy with you. The music is soft and soothing. It features the piano and drums. It is perfect for the theme of the track. Fantasia does a good job with the vocals. Her voice is raspy and soulful.
Her signature screeching is featured in the song. There are a couple of points when the screeching gets a little out of hand, but she reels it back in and does a good job. This song was co-written by Missy Elliott. This doesn’t sound like the songs she has done for other artists. It was also a surprise that Missy Elliott didn’t make an appearance in the song. She usually makes a cameo in the songs that she writes.
# 6 – Collard Green & Cornbread
This romantic song is from the Back to Me album. The song has an r&b and soul beat. This metaphoric song is about her comparing her love for her man to her mother’s cooking. When you think of the title of this song, you may not be sure what the song is going to be about. It could be about food. Once you listen to the lyrics, you will see that the song is about her relationship. It is an unusual title, but it works for her. The song contains a sample of “Your Precious Love” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.
The melody is also similar to “Giving Him Something He Can Feel” by Aretha Franklin and En Vogue. The music has a Motown feel to it. It pays tribute to Motown. It has a nice old school vibe that goes with the theme of the track. The song is passionate and contains sexy and sensual lyrics. It puts you in the mood for love. Fantasia’s vocals are pretty good in this song. She sings in time with the beat. There are beat changes throughout the song.
There are points when the music slows down as well as speeds up and she sings in time with all of the changes. Her voice is subdued in the song. She doesn’t do too much unnecessary screeching in the song. She keeps her vocals pure and simple which is all the song needs. Don’t let the title of the song mislead you. The song is soulful and beautiful.
# 5 – Bittersweet
The next song on our Top 10 Fantasia Songs list is “Bittersweet” from the Back to Me album. The song has an r&b and soul beat. This emotional song is about her reminiscing about a former love. Most people think about people they used to be in love with so the song can resonate with others. People usually sing about former lovers, but she managed to make the song sound fresh and new. This is the first single off of the album. This is from her third album. Some of the other American Idol contestants had trouble maintaining their careers by their third album.
She proved she wasn’t one of those contestants. She managed to score a hit song. In fact, this song was nominated for a Grammy Award. The music has soul stirring piano chords that shine throughout the song. The banging drumbeat also sells the music. Fantasia’s vocals are raw and powerful throughout the song. She sounds like she is from an old school era in this track. She makes you feel the pain behind the lyrics. She conveys all of the right emotions needed to pull off this song.
You can tell she was going through things when she sang this song. You can easily feel her pain as she sings the lyrics. She is telling a story that many people can relate to who has ever been in a good or bad relationship. She is right at home with this heartfelt song.
# 4 – Truth Is
This regretful song is from the Free Yourself album. The song has an r&b and soul beat. This is a remorseful song about her wanting the guy she broke up with back in her life. Unfortunately it was too late for her to get him back because he has moved on with someone else. This is something people can definitely relate too. You think you are over someone, but you realize that you’re not. When you see the person again, it makes you realize that you made a mistake by letting him or her go.
Fantasia knows how to tell a story that can resonate with people. She commands your attention as she tells a simple story about having trouble moving on from a past love. She is speaking “the truth” as she explains how she wants the man back even though he is in another relationship. This track is from her debut album and it is quite a debut. The music is melodic and has sensual rhythms. It contains a sample of “Highways of My Life” by The Isley Brothers. The sample gives the song an old school vibe. It’s an added bonus for fans of The Isley Brothers to hear their song mixed with hers. Fantasia’s vocals are on point in this track.
She keeps her vocals subdued. She holds back from the belting, which was a good choice for this song. The music was soft so it didn’t require her to do massive screaming or screeching. She kept her vocals simple, which was pleasant on the ear. She does runs in the song, but she doesn’t overdo it.
# 3 – I’m Doin’ Me
This anthemic song is from the Back to Me album. The song has an r&b and soul beat. This passionate song is about different phases of love. It’s a motivating statement about self-worth. This is about her breaking up with someone and focusing on herself. There is nothing more beautiful than realizing she doesn’t need a man in order to be happy. The message is uplifting and empowering. This song is definitely a woman’s anthem. If you are going through a break up, this song will lift you up.
This song is for all the real women who want to focus on themselves instead of the drama of a relationship. The second you hear the piano intro, you will be hooked on the song. The music is the truth. It features the piano and drums, which blend to make an excellent song. You can definitely bop your head to this banger. The music is infectious. Fantasia’s vocals are excellent. They are stacked because she is using a double throughout the song. Her harmonies are on point in this track. She belts in the song, but she doesn’t go overboard. Her singing style is similar to her cousin K-Ci Hailey in this track. She doesn’t sound like him, but her singing style is similar. You can tell she is feeling the emotion in the song.
She is commanding you to sing along with her. This underrated song deserved to be a bigger hit. Everything about this song works. This is an earworm that will stay in your head long after it is done.
# 2 – I Feel Beautiful
This powerful song is from her self-titled album. This song has an r&b and pop beat. This is a touching song about her feeling beautiful. She is overcoming domestic and mental abuse in a relationship. She refuses to let him bring her down. She still feels beautiful despite everything he has said and done to her. This is an important message to anyone who is in an abusive relationship. She is telling you that you can still feel beautiful no matter what he says or does to you.
This message is meaningful for anyone who needs to hear uplifting lyrics like these. Diane Warren wrote this gut-wrenching track. Diane Warren picked the perfect person to sing this beautiful song. Fantasia has been through a lot so she was the perfect person to sing a song like this. The music is sensual and inspiring. It has the classic Babyface sound. It blends pop and r&b music nicely. Fantasia sings her heart out in this song. She is convincing as she lets the listener know that she feels beautiful. She sounds believable as she sings the lyrics. Diane Warren and Babyface brought out the best in her vocally. She does an excellent job in this song.
She doesn’t go overboard with her signature screeching. Her vocals are subdued in this track. She starts the song off softly and then vocally explodes towards the end. This underrated song should have been released as a single. The important message behind the song would have resonated with fans all over the world.
# 1 – I Believe
The number one song on our Top 10 Fantasia Songs list is “I Believe” from the Free Yourself album. The song has a gospel and soul sound. The inspiring song is about anything being possible if you believe in yourself. This is the song she sang when she won American Idol. It is about overcoming adversity. Fantasia has gone through a lot in her life so this was the best song for her to sing. It is relatable to her as well as others who have overcome obstacles.
The song has another connection to American Idol. Tamyra Gray from Season 1 co-wrote this song with her husband former Color Me Badd member Sam Walters. The music has orchestral swells. It features the piano, violin and drums. This song takes Fantasia back to her gospel roots. She starts the song off softly and then takes off. She takes you to church the second she sings the chorus. There is no way you can resist singing along with her. She does a great job reeling the audience in with her powerful vocals. This is one of her best vocal performances.
She could have gotten lost in the music when it gets louder, but she didn’t. Her vocals are reminiscent of her cousin K-Ci Hailey. She utilizes her gospel roots to the best of her ability. She even holds a note without her voice cracking. Her vocals will send chills up and down your spine. This song is flawless and deserves to be number one on our list.
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
Your list is garbage concerning Fantasia! Number 1 should have been #10 and Number 10 should have been #1. Your picks show you do not know Fantasia! And you show your bias you picked her songs with the pop flair to them! Her R&B mega hits were last on your list! You are not a True Fan of Fantasia! This article is garbage!