One word: Fantasia! Listening to the highly anticipated (at least on my
end), long awaited, and refreshingly soulful fourth studio album from
Ms. Fantasia Barino. I must first say that I was skeptical, but still
anxious to hear the project. But (a big, huge but) the album is
everything! She sings about her failures, relationships, doubts,
insecurities (both hers and commentators). No one could've prepared me
for such a realistic point of view. And I was absolutely positive that
it wasn't going to be anywhere close in proximity of how honestly raw,
real, and catchy "Back To Me" was. That album in my eyes was like a
redemption because the self-titled album prior to was very mediocre.
Anyhow, this present-day work is close to a masterpiece. Some of my
favorites are "Ain't All Bad" where she croons about how falling in love
isn't all it's cracked up to be hence, falling out of love isn't all
that bad either. Basically saying that love is a beautiful thing when we
have it, but when it's gone and you get through that break up is even
more of a triumphant victory. Another song that I immediately
gravitated towards was "without me". In this hip hop bouncy produced
track she speaks to the trifling man who starts to smell himself a
little too much, gets brand new, and acts like he's been on all
coincidentally after you parted from him. She throws lots of shade his
way with some help from the beautiful Kelley Rowland and none other than
the mulch-faceted music veteran Missy Elliot. Love love love that
track, it's so relatable! Lastly (although its really cutting my
favorites list short) there's a song entitled "To The Heavens" where she
pays homage and respect to all the music legends that paved the way and
made music what it was. It's very touching and sincere. She shouts out
everyone from Michael Jackson and Jimi Hendrix to Whitney Houston and
Bob Marley. It was a heartfelt tribute that I'm sure everyone would
appreciate. She's had a little flirty fun with tracks like "Change Your
Mind" and "So Much To Prove". All in all, the entire album is a
straight through listen. She definitely took me on the journey with her
this time. And those vocals took me to church honey *snaps*. You GO
TASIA! Awesome work! -@Meangirl_ro
