| "Fantasy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Earth, Wind & Fire | ||||
| from the album All 'N All | ||||
| B-side | "Be Ever Wonderful (UK) Runnin' (US)" | |||
| Released | January 1978 (UK) February 1978 (US) | |||
| Recorded | 1977 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:46(7-inch version) 4:38(album version) | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Maurice White | |||
| Earth, Wind & Fire singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Fantasy" on YouTube | ||||
"Fantasy" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, which was issued as a single in 1978 by Columbia Records. [1]
"Fantasy" was produced by Maurice White, who also composed the song with Eddie Del Barrio and Verdine White. [1] The song took three months to compose, and was only finally finished after Maurice White saw and was inspired by the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind . [2]
The US B-side of the single was a song called "Be Ever Wonderful", while the UK B-side was a song called "Runnin'". "Fantasy", "Be Ever Wonderful", and "Runnin'" were all featured on EWF's 1977 studio album All 'n All . [1]
Blues and Soul declared that "Play it loud and it'll fill any dance floor". [3] Joe McEwen of Rolling Stone wrote "The lyrics of 'Fantasy' (“Come to see, victory, in the land called fantasy”) may be hard to swallow, but the music is as close to elegance as any funk song has come. Voices and a light touch of strings suddenly appear over a choppy, propulsive track, swell and swoop, only to disappear at the snap of a finger and pop up moments later for an exciting, powerful finale. White also utilizes an odd instrumental mix that gives equal emphasis to percussion (except the bass drum, which is usually played down), bass, rhythm guitars and stabbing, staccato horn bursts. The result is light but substantial, and it’s become a model for many other bands." [4] Barry Cain of Record Mirror placed "Fantasy" as one of his four Records of the Week saying "Decontaminated warp factor three faar out felony with a smack of glossy metallic reverence, EW&F transcend the oft restricted peaks of disco into the realms of elaborate, effortless slices of electromania fused into chocolate box acceptance. They sure soar these boys, soaring on the soprano solitude of Maurice White, Mastermind, Mother and Despot." [5] Alex Henderson of AllMusic also called "Fantasy" "dreamy". [6] Record World said that "the horn arrangement and soaring vocals are the chief hook." [7]
"Fantasy" was nominated for a Grammy award in the category of Best R&B Song. [8]
Fantasy appeared on the soundtrack of the 1981 feature film Private Lessons , the 1997 feature film The Sixth Man , the 2005 feature film Be Cool and the 2006 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories . It also appears in the second season of the Bob's Burgers episode "Bad Tina" (2012) and at the end of the 2020 Disney+ film, Godmothered . [9] [10] [11]
The single reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart, No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart. [12] [13] [14]
After its release in Japan as a digital single to cellphones in 2009, it was certified gold for 100,000 downloads in May 2011. [15]
| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) [16] | 25 |
| Belgium (Ultratop) [17] | 13 |
| Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [18] | 37 |
| France (IFOP) [19] | 13 |
| Ireland (IRMA) [20] | 4 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Single Top 100) [21] | 7 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ) [22] | 14 |
| South Africa (Springbok) [23] | 7 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [24] | 8 |
| UK Singles (OCC) [25] | 14 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 [26] | 32 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) | 12 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI) [27] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
| "Fantasy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Black Box featuring Martha Wash | ||||
| from the album Dreamland | ||||
| B-side | "Get Down" | |||
| Released | October 22, 1990 [28] | |||
| Genre | House | |||
| Length | 5:14 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Black Box featuring Martha Wash singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Fantasy" on YouTube | ||||
In 1990, Italian group Black Box recorded a cover of "Fantasy" for their debut studio album, Dreamland (1990). Their version featured Martha Wash on lead vocals, but their music producers initially failed to credit her. It also contains a sample from the drum pattern of Grace Jones' rendition of "La Vie en rose" (1977). [29] Black Box's version of the song charted at number five in the UK Singles Chart, [30] number 16 in Germany, and number three in Australia. [31] [32] In 2013, Australian music channel Max included Black Box' version of the song in their list of "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time". [33]
In a retrospective review, Matthew Hocter from Albumism stated that the song is "sung to perfection" by Martha Wash, remarking that it "put the band into a different lane. Doing the original version immense justice". [34] Upon the single release, Bill Coleman from Billboard named it one of the "highlights" from the album. [35] Another editor, Larry Flick, described it as a "sleaze-speed house rendition" and an "ethereal remix emphasizing plush strings and Martha Wash's unmistakable voice." [36] Ernest Hardy from Cashbox also named the song a "standout" from the album. [37]
On the single review, Henderson and DeVaney said it is "an example of dance music as it should be—moving, inspired, richly expressive. A belter, the big-voiced Martha Wash brings a great deal of emotion, depth and soul to this inspired remake." [38] The Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith felt that it "sounds like a television theme song that you can't get out of your head." [39] Andrew Smith from Melody Maker called it a "nauseous version". [40] Chris Heath from Smash Hits declared it as a "fairly faithful version" of Earth, Wind & Fire's disco classic. [41]
The accompanying music video for "Fantasy" was directed by Neil Thompson. [42]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) [61] | Gold | 35,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) [62] | Silver | 200,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American music band formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1969. Their music spans multiple genres, including jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide.
Black Box is an Italian house music group popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The group is currently made up of DJ Daniele Davoli, classically trained clarinet teacher Valerio Semplici, keyboardist and electronic musician Mirko Limoni, and vocalist Celestine Walcott-Gordon. French fashion model Katrin Quinol joined the act in 1989 and became the official face of Black Box, appearing on the cover of their single and album releases as well as in music videos, including the hit "Ride on Time", which was the highest-selling single of 1989 in the UK. The following year, it was revealed that Quinol was lip-syncing and had not performed on the recording. American singer Martha Wash performed the majority of the songs on the group's debut album, Dreamland, while being uncredited.
All 'n All is the eighth studio album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in November 1977 by Columbia Records. The album peaked at No. 1 on the US BillboardTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. All 'n All has also been certified Triple Platinum in the US by the RIAA, Gold in Canada by Music Canada and Silver in the UK by the BPI.
Maurice White was an American musician, best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter and chief producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, also serving as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey.
Philip James Bailey is an American singer, songwriter and percussionist, best known as an early member and one of the two lead singers of the band Earth, Wind & Fire. Noted for his four-octave vocal range and distinctive falsetto register, Bailey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire. Bailey was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for his work with the band.
From October 26, 1974 until August 28, 1976, Billboard's Disco Action section published weekly single retail sales charts from various local regions along with Top Audience Response Records in their magazine. Billboard debuted its first national chart devoted exclusively to 12-inch Singles Sales in their issue dated March 16, 1985. This record type is most commonly used in disco and dance music genres where DJs use them to play in discos or dance clubs because of the exclusive extended remixes that are often only made available on this format, but Billboard's 12-inch Single Sales chart ranks releases by artists from all styles of music that release maxi-singles.
"The Way You Move" is a hip-hop and soul song by the American hip hop duo OutKast, performed by its member Big Boi. The song features OutKast mentor Sleepy Brown on guest vocals. Along with "Hey Ya!", recorded by OutKast's other member André 3000, "The Way You Move" is one of the two lead singles from Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, OutKast's double album project that includes a solo album from each member.
"After the Love Has Gone" is a song by Earth, Wind & Fire, released in 1979 as the second single from their ninth studio album I Am on ARC/Columbia Records. The song reached No. 2 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, No. 3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. "After the Love Has Gone" was certified gold in the US by the RIAA and silver in the UK by the BPI.
"Walk On By" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for singer Dionne Warwick in 1963. Warwick's recording of the song peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Cash Box Rhythm and Blues Chart In June 1964 and was nominated for a 1965 Grammy Award for the Best Rhythm and Blues Recording.
"September" is a song by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire released as a single on November 18, 1978, by ARC/Columbia Records. Initially included as a track for The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1, "September" was very successful commercially and reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. The song remains a staple of the band's body of work and has been sampled, covered, remixed, and re-recorded numerous times.
Dreamland is the debut studio album by the Italian music group Black Box. It was released on May 8, 1990 through RCA Records, and was preceded in 1989 by the international hit single "Ride on Time". The album was certified Gold in both the United States and the United Kingdom. It is noted for "Ride on Time" and the ensuing lawsuits by Loleatta Holloway and Martha Wash over their lack of proper credit and payment for their vocal contributions to the album.
"Getaway" is a single by R&B/funk band Earth, Wind & Fire released in 1976 on Columbia Records. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Getaway" also peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Dance Singles charts. A remixed version also appears on the soundtrack for Gran Turismo 4.
"Serpentine Fire" is a single by Earth, Wind & Fire that was issued in October 1977 by Columbia Records. The single rose to numbers 1 and 13 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs and Hot 100 charts, respectively.
"Everybody Everybody" is a song by the Italian house music group Black Box, from their debut studio album, Dreamland (1990). The song was written by Daniele Davoli, Mirko Limoni, and Valerio Semplici, while produced by Groove Groove Melody. It was released by RCA Records as the third single from the album. The house, pop and Eurodisco song consists of an organ, drums, horns, and strings. "Everybody Everybody" contains a sample of Larry Blackmon's vocals and a drum loop from Bobby Byrd's 1987 remix of James Brown's song "Hot Pants" (1971).
"I Don't Know Anybody Else" is a song by Italian music group Black Box. It was the second single from their debut album, Dreamland (1990), and was originally released in the United States in December 1989 by RCA. The single was released worldwide in the early months of 1990 and had a great success in record charts, including Ireland, Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom, where it reached the top 5. In other countries, it peaked between number five and number ten. It entered the UK Singles Chart on 17 February 1990 and remained for eight weeks.
"Strike It Up" is a song by Italian music group Black Box. It was the fifth single from their debut studio album, Dreamland (1990), and was released on 6 February 1991 in many countries worldwide by Polydor and Deconstruction. The single was a success on many charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, where it peaked at number eight. It also topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in June 1991 for one week. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. "Strike It Up" also was a top-10 hit in Denmark, Greece, Ireland, and the Netherlands. And on the Eurochart Hot 100, the track reached number 38. The accompanying music video was directed by Neil Thompson.
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American musical group. Their style and sound span over various music genres such as jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin, and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling music artists of all time, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide.
The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 is the first greatest hits album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire issued on November 23, 1978 by ARC/Columbia Records. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 6 on the Top LPs chart. The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 has been certified Quintuple Platinum in the US by the RIAA. As well Platinum in both the UK and Canada, by the BPI and Music Canada, respectively.
"Turn On (The Beat Box)" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in 1988 by Columbia Records as a single from their second greatest hits compilation, The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 2 (1988). The song reached No. 26 on the US Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, No. 12 on the Dutch Top 40 chart and No. 30 on the Dutch Single Top 100 chart.
"Heritage" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire featuring Suns of Light, released in February 1990 by Columbia Records as the first single from their fifteenth studio album. The single reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, No. 5 on the Cash Box Top R&B Singles chart, No. 4 on the Japanese Pop Singles (Oricon) chart and No. 23 on the Finland Suomen virallinen singlelista.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
