Fantasia Barrino - Free Yourself

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 Amazon.com

Dreadful

I bought this cd the day it came out because I was a huge Fantasia fan on AI. I gave it away the day after I heard it. The cd didn't come close to her performance on Idol. That Baby Mama song was dreadful. That whole pop/Beyonce-wannabe lyrics just didn't fit her voice or her style. She honestly should have stuck closer to the jass/blues genre. I wish her luck with her Broadway show and subsequent albums and performances, but honestly if this is an indicator than she's definitely off my playlist. I was highly disappointed with this dreadful cd. May 21, 2008

good condition

the cd was in great condition. and the case looked brand new. very nice. May 11, 2008

Total Garbage

This album and this artist should never be heard. There were sooo many more talented people on American Idol when she won. This album is a perfect example of that. All the studio effects in the world can't help this over-rated, so-called singer. You can't make chicken salad out of chicken s$%^. February 26, 2007

c'mon now

what happened to that voice we wanted to hear from American Idol? maybe it was the choice of songs but I really was disappointed. February 16, 2007

Nice little debut

When the three diva's Jennifer Hudson, Latoya London and Fantasia Barrino
were killing the competiion on Amercian Idol in 2004 it was almost a given that an female R&B singer would take the crown that year. Well Fantasia ended up taking the crown and lived up to her promise on her first CD. Her first single Truth Is was an excllent R&B single and the song Baby Mama was catchy and fun. January 2, 2007

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