Easiest way to bring tears to my eyes: Put me within 20 feet of a freshly sliced onion. A close runner-up: Show me a clip of Fantasia Barrino performing "I Believe" during American Idol’s third season performance finale. I start getting choked up at around the 2:39 mark, and reaching for the tissues at the Gospel-rific bridge.
To me, one of the great pop-culture mysteries of our time is, how in the name of all that’s holy has the global music-buying populace failed to turn ‘Tasia into a major superstar? I know, I know… our birthday gal’s post-Idol musical output has been somewhat spotty, but listen to "Hood Boy," her collaboration with Big Boi (Ellen performance embedded below) and tell me it’s not one of the catchiest singles in the last decade to not crack Billboard’s pop Top 40.
Also: Happy birthday, ‘Tasia! Haters are gonna hate, but to me, listening to your raspy, soul-on-the-floor holleration is one of life’s great joys.
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Well, her raspy voice is a lot more intelligable than Macy Gray’s but seriously, what happened on American Idol with that horrid Dairy Queen dipped red hair?
Slezak, I love that fact that you still love Tasia, because I love her just as much as you do.
Happy Birthday, Tasia!
She’s not a big star because 1) she isn’t attractive and that’s more important in music than ever; and 2) she’s a true soul artist in an era dominated by dance/pop fluff types. I think she should just keep doing what she’s been doing. The career longevity for singers like Fantasia can be measured in decades, whereas Rihanna will be forgotten once someone younger and cuter comes along.
Slezak, this is one subject on which we’ll have to agree to disagree. I find her screechy and unlistenable, and when she dances, it’s like she’s having seizure after seizure. I can’t understand how or why she won AI, and I can certainly understand why she’s not a big star. She is not appealing in any sense of the word. Happy Birthday, though, I guess.
Very possibly the worst AI winner of them all. And that is saying something (I’m talking to you, Taylor.) Slezak, you are more than entitled to your opinion, but sometimes your Tasia love comes off like a desperate plea for the rest to drink the kool aid. Sorry man, aint gonna happen.
I’m DJing my first wedding this summer, and Hood Boy is the lynchpin on which the entire thing rests. I don’t care if no one knows the song at all and it completely clears the dance floor and the bride and groom curse my name to the heavens; the entire 3:42 WILL be played.
Listening to Fantasia sing “I Believe” still gives me goosebumps- it’s one of my favorites from her first CD. I’m not sure why she’s not bigger- I thought her CDS were great. Maybe if she gets better management she’ll find that one huge breakthrough single she deserves. Oh, and stop dyeing her hair pink- yikes.
I’m sorry Slezak–I love your columns–but you’ve got it wrong. Fantasia is a horrific singer, and I can’t believe she made it to the end b/c of a bunch of tears and the single-mom card. She sounds like a helium-pumped cartoon character at times and a growling bear at others.
Happy Birthday, Chris Tucker!!! I mean, Fantasia… sorry, honest mistake.
Fantasia is brilliant– thanks for the link, Slezak. Her music isn’t really my thing, but I enjoyed it. I can’t deny, though, that she’s a star– definitely one of the best discoveries ever on AI; there’s something transcendent about her singing.
I can’t wait to see how she does in the upcoming The Color Purple movie musical version.
I am so not an Idol fan but I do think it is interesting that also all Idol winners (and runners-up) have had their record deals dropped. Kelly and Carrie are the only ones that have made it big. Maybe the show is way past it’s prime?
While I’m not nearly as dedicated to ‘Tasia as Slezak is (I mean, is that even possible), I get his love for her A LOT more that I get the whole Trenyce thing. I just don’t see anything there at all.
Nose, I LOVED the way you closed your post: “She’s not appealing in any sense of the word…Happy Birthday, though, I guess.” When my birthday comes around, I want at least one similarly backhanded/half-hearted birthday wish. Seriously though, that cracked me up.
Thanks to “artists” like Britney Spears and novelty rap that’s miles away from actual rap, America perceives good singers as people who just “scream.” It’s quite sad!
FYI, it’s “populace”, not “populous”. For my part, she did more pop songs rather than the hip-hop stuff, I’d buy her stuff cuz I do like her voice.
Oops…”if she did”, I meant.
Slezak, even though I am a big fan of your column ( and You!!) I can’t agree on this one. Her last performance eon Idol was out of control, it’s like somebody unleashed her form her room and she just went nuts!
The videos are cool but honestly, she’s not that good! I save my love for Kelly and know for Cook.
Forgive me but I enjoy watching her perform. She’s a throwback to the 1960s, 1970s singers — Betty Wright/Dina Washington/Betty Lavette/even Aretha, and therein lies the problem. She’s “behind” her time…if she had been a performer in the 1960s/1970s she would be a major classic singer. I call Fantasia the black “Al Green”. All she needs is some memphis horns behind her….but she is like Jennifer Hudson — how and where do you slot them? Jennifer seems to have found her voice and acting chops, but not Fantasia. She’s darker than the other top-level singers, she’s bossomy and “rounded”, so she doesn’t fit the “grid”. She’s got attitude and she’s a hard worker. What more could you want? She needs to do a “Sharon Jones” and get a Dap Kings band.
Gave both videos a try-out. Sorry, don’t really care for the style of music. Didn’t really like the “pink hair” song she did either on AI this year. She is certainly very talented, though. Happy Birthday!
Thanks for catching the typo, BrandonK. A truly tragic one, too!
I totally agree with you on this one, Slezak. I love her and this clip gets me every time…It is hard to believe people don’t get such an authentic moment in music history. She is and will always be my American Idol….Happy B-Day,Tsia.
Fantasia is and always will be one of AI’s most talented contestants. Unfortunately,most of America is too caught up in image before substance.I agree that she will far outlast today’s pop sensations. Superior talent stands the test of time.
Fantasia is brilliant!! So many people are so hung up on looks. Just admit the girl is talented. Everybody don’t like weave all down their back. Fantasia is just being real and not fake.
I’m so glad someone finally said it. The music buying public has lost their mind not to mention the ability to hear and see. Fantasia Barrino is on of the best things to come out of American Idol but people are so closed minded and judgemental of what she offers. She works her butt off and she is very, very good at what she does. Her stupid management had no idea how to manage her. Give it some time they’ll wish they had made a different decision. Anyway, thank you for pointing out what her fans already know. Fantasia is an awesome talent. If you don’t belive me head on over to You Tube and watch her perform her peers under the table. I sure hope people wake up and hear the music. Good music coming from an awesome singer. That singers names is FANTASIA!!!
Hey, Ceballos, hopefully you don’t have as many detractors as Fantasia apparently does, so all of your birthday wishes will be full of good intentions!
Mr. Slezak as you said haters are going to hate as is evidenced by the remarks some made. What cracks me up is these people hate her “raspy” voice and other things about her yet they go specifically to internet sites with her music or come to articles such as this to comment. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for showing Fantasia love and say Happy Birthday to Fantasia. She must be doing something right because the haters keep hating and going to the sites with things about her to comment. Fantasia you are awesome. God bless you girl.
happy birthday fantasia!! i love how she imbues each of her songs w/ so much emotion and passion. her performances really are revelatory. and as much as i kinda like rihanna, sad to say, but the comment by ns is probably true. oh well.
She’s a niche singer/performer. Her style is seventy-ish old school and that style is no longer universally liked. She the next great thing since sliced white bread for those who like her, but just like Taylor Hicks she is as annoying as a fly buzzing around you and no matter how many time you swat at it, it just won’t go away. Don’t like her helium-pumped cartoon character voice (as someone earlier on this blog pointed out)and I wish she’d just go away.
Thank you Mr. Slezak for your wonderful comments! Fantasia truly sings from her heart. Thankfully their are still people who like real singers. I had the opportunity to see Fantasia live in The Color Purle which was my first time seeing her live and I’m still speechless. She was absolutely wonderful. She is a true performer. When she sings with her own band and vocal assistant singers its simply amazing. I anxiously wait her new album. I pray this year will be her year. I pray for those that continue to put her down because its not really that serious.
Wow, Michael, I think you love Fantasia as much as I love Mariah. Didn’t think that was possible. If she ever DOES make it big, she’d better thank you in the liner notes of her CD…..or however music is being sold in the next decade or so….Keep pushing dude. Happy Birthday, Fantasia…..
Preach it, Slezak! I’m right there with you. Nobody, nobody but Fantasia could make a cheesy AI coronation song sound heartfelt and powerful. Though for me the waterworks are even fiercer during her results-night performance. When she gets to “I’ve waited all my life/for this moment to arrive,” I’m telling you, there aren’t enough Kleenex in the house.