Fantasia Barrino

Free Yourself

The most overrated "singer" in the world

Review Score:

(2/10)
When Fantasia won the title of American Idol, many viewers were perturbed, citing her as an underwhelming vocalist. However, the powers that caused Fantasia to win saw what was not immediately obvious. While technically not as superior vocally than some of her fellow finalists, she had more dimension and soul than all of them. Combined with compelling stage presence, she was without a doubt the most unique of her competitors. For all her talent, however, her debut album "Free Yourself" comes just short of letting it shine through.

From the onset, it is for certain that she is singing some material that does not mesh with her powerful, expressive voice. "Ain't Gon' Beg You," the opening track, is a generic r&b selection that makes Fantasia sound like many other singers that come and go on the charts faster than we can find out their names. "Got Me Waiting" is another fine example.

Nonetheless, her expressive voice allows her to rescue other songs from anonymity. Current single "Truth Is," is a biting example, with such crisp vocals they become almost tangible. The lugubrious twosome of the title track and "This Is Me" do the same, the latter bearing biographical lyrics.

"Southern girl with city dreams/Got a sack full of clothes and just a few ol' dollars/Bussin' tables while I'm tryna sing/Hope I hit it big so I can send for my daughter
Thought I found my way out then I'm back again/From the streets to the stage of Hollywood/Back to the blessings and the love in the hood."

Vivacious club-ready jams abound as well. Despite the fact that their production should have been turned down a notch, Fantasia propels her voice high above the clamor in tracks such as the lovable "Baby Mama" and "Selfish (I Want You to Myself)." The best such track, though, is "It's All Good," where she picks up the pieces and walks out the door with her head held high.

"It's all good/Didn't care that you broke my heart/It's all good/What you had but you hit and run/Its all good/You mistake my love for one/Boy you played the part just to get my heart/Damn it hurt but it's all good."

The set is rounded out by a cover of Willie Nelson's "You Were Always On My Mind," to which she adds her own flavor, her syrupy initial single "I Believe" and "Summertime," her most notorious performance on American Idol.

Notwithstanding patches of hazy production and a lack of selections that let Fantasia's voice reach its full potential, "Free Yourself" is a fine debut. While it leaves room for improvement on forthcoming releases, it is a surefire declaration that she is headed for a long, fruitful career.

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