Fantasy (Aldo Nova song)

"Fantasy"
Single by Aldo Nova
from the album Aldo Nova
B-side	"Under the Gun"
Released	1982
Genre	Arena rock [1] hard rock [2] pop metal [3]
Length	5:05 (album version) 6:14 (extended version) 3:58 (single version)
Label	Portrait
Songwriter	Aldo Nova
Producer	Aldo Nova
Aldo Nova singles chronology
"Fantasy" (1982) "Foolin' Yourself" (1982)
Music video
"Fantasy" on YouTube

"Fantasy" is the debut single by Canadian rock musician Aldo Nova, released in 1982 from his self-titled debut album. VH1 listed the song at number 78 on its countdown for the "100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s". It is his most popular work to date. The song is considered one of earliest examples of the hair metal or glam metal genre of rock music, which would rise to high popularity by the mid to late 1980s.

Music video

The video portrays Nova performing with his band for an audience. In its opening sequence, a man holding a Gibson Les Paul guitar and two bodyguards holding machine guns wait for someone. The men surround a landing helicopter, and the one with the guitar opens the door. Nova exits the helicopter, clad in a leopard-print jumpsuit and a pair of cowboy boots, and is escorted to the stage. When they encounter a locked door, Nova takes the guitar, holds it like a rifle, and fires a laser beam into the door, forcing it open. Once inside, Nova leaps on stage where he and his band perform the song. Notably, the version played in the music video is much lower quality than the actual track.

Charts

Chart (1982–1983)	Peak position
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [4]	14
US Billboard Hot 100 [5]	23
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [6]	3

Uses in Media

From 2009-2025, "Fantasy" was used as a secret song on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Its code was 109. ^[7]

References

1. "Aldo Nova | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2021-06-11. Nova melded the powerful thrust of arena rock with sharp pop hooks, thickening his music with layers of guitars while also embracing the futuristic textures of synths. This blend could be heard on "Fantasy,"
2. Gilstrap, Andrew. "Aldo Nova: self-titled, PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
3. Bosso, Joe (June 1, 2022). ""I Never Thought the Song Would Be A Hit": Aldo Nova Tells the Incredible Tale of His Breakthrough Single "Fantasy"". Guitar Player . Retrieved March 17, 2025.
4. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4285." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
5. "Aldo Nova Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
6. "Aldo Nova Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
7. "Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Complete Song List (Secret Songs They don't Tell you About) - ParkFrog". 2022-08-05. Retrieved 2025-10-30.