I Made It (Fantasia song)

Last updated
"I Made It"
Song by Fantasia featuring Tye Tribbett
from the album The Definition Of...
ReleasedJuly 29, 2016 (2016-07-29)
Recorded2014–15
Studio LLC/Motown Gospel Studio
(Brentwood, Los Angeles, California)
Genre Gospel
Length5:40
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Tye Tribbett
  • David Outing
Producer(s)
  • Tye Tribbett
  • David Outing

"I Made It" is a song recorded by American singer Fantasia, featuring American singer-songwriter Tye Tribbett. It was written and produced by Tribbett and David Outing for Fantasia's fifth studio album, The Definition Of... (2016). Tribett developed it in collaboration with Fantasia, blending her personal testimony and his experiences with God into the lyrics. Fantasia described it as a highly personal song, explaining that it was about refusing to let people control her and moving forward from her past struggles. "I Made It" is an uptempo gospel record and its lyrics revolve around an appreciation for God and faith.

Fantasia Barrino American R&B singer, songwriter, actress

Fantasia Monique Barrino-Taylor, known professionally by her mononym Fantasia, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, actress and author. She rose to fame as the winner of the third season of the reality television series American Idol in 2004. Following her victory, she released her debut single, "I Believe," which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Subsequently, she released her debut album, Free Yourself, which went on to be certified Platinum by the RIAA and earned Barrino three Grammy nominations in 2006.

Americans Citizens, or natives, of the United States of America

Americans are nationals and citizens of the United States of America. Although nationals and citizens make up the majority of Americans, some dual citizens, expatriates, and permanent residents may also claim American nationality. The United States is home to people of many different ethnic origins. As a result, American culture and law does not equate nationality with race or ethnicity, but with citizenship and permanent allegiance.

Tyrone "Tye" Tribbett is an American gospel music singer, songwriter, keyboardist, choir director and founder of the Grammy-nominated and Stellar Award-winning gospel group Tye Tribbett & G.A.

Contents

"I Made It" received generally positive reviews from music critics who praised its composition and Fantasia's performance. The song was nominated for the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award in the BET Awards 2017, but lost Lecrae's 2016 song"Can't Stop Me Now (Destination)". It peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart. Fantasia promoted "I Made It" on Good Morning America and Tribbett's show Joyful Noise, and the performances were met with positive feedback.

BET Awards 2017

The 17th BET Awards was held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California on June 25, 2017. The ceremony celebrated achievements in entertainment and honors music, sports, television, and movies released between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017. The nominations were announced on May 15, 2017; Beyoncé led the nominees with 7, followed by Bruno Mars with 5. Beyoncé won the most awards with 5, including Album of the Year and Video of the Year.

Lecrae American Christian hip hop artist, entrepreneur, record producer, and actor

Lecrae Devaughn Moore, mononymously known as Lecrae, is an American Christian hip hop recording artist, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is the president, co-owner and co-founder of the independent record label Reach Records, and the co-founder and president of the now-defunct non-profit organization ReachLife Ministries. To date, he has released nine studio albums and three mixtapes as a solo artist, and has released three studio albums, a remix album, one EP, and numerous singles as the leader of the hip hop group 116 Clique. He produced much of his earlier material along with other early Reach Records releases. Lecrae, in reference to his label as a Christian rapper, has stated that his music is just hip hop, though it reflects his Christian faith. In May 2016, Lecrae signed to Columbia Records in a joint deal between his label and Columbia.

<i>Billboard</i> (magazine) American music magazine

Billboard is an American entertainment media brand owned by the Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group, a division of Eldridge Industries. It publishes pieces involving news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style, and is also known for its music charts, including the Hot 100 and Billboard 200, tracking the most popular songs and albums in different genres. It also hosts events, owns a publishing firm, and operates several TV shows.

Concept and development

Tye Tribbett and David Outing wrote and produced "I Made It" for Fantasia's fifth studio album, The Definition Of... (2016). [1] Prior to the album's release, Fantasia previewed the song on Periscope; in the video, she incorrectly reported that she handled the songwriting by herself. [2] Tribbett explained his collaboration with Fantasia to The Christian Post , saying: "We've been talking about working together for a minute. So when the opportunity came it was kind of like a no brainer". [3] He said that he instantly agreed to work with Fantasia after receiving a phone call to write a song for her album. [4] Fantasia had contacted Tribbett at the suggestion of music executive Ron Fair. [5]

<i>The Definition Of...</i> 2016 studio album by Fantasia

The Definition Of... is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Fantasia. It was released by RCA Records and 19 Recordings on July 29, 2016 in the United States and for online streaming worldwide on Apple Music a day earlier. Fantasia worked with producers Ron Fair, Brian Kennedy, Neff-U, Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon and GRADES on the album. The album featured two top ten singles on the US Billboard Adult R&B Songs airplay chart: "No Time for It", which peaked at number six, and "Sleeping with the One I Love" which peaked at number nine. In order to further promote the album, Fantasia embarked on a tour with Anthony Hamilton called Fantasia & Anthony Hamilton: Live in Concert. The Definition Of... received mixed to positive reviews from music critics. The album peaked at number six on the US Billboard 200. The album also topped that week's Billboard Top R&B Albums chart, and peaked at number two on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album was also promoted with a US twelve-show tour titled The Definition Of... Tour, which started on November 16, 2016 and ended on December 4, 2016. The third single "When I Met You" was released on January 17, 2017.

Periscope (app) mobile live video streaming application

Periscope is a live video streaming app for Android and iOS developed by Kayvon Beykpour and Joe Bernstein and acquired by Twitter before launch in 2015.

The Christian Post is an American nondenominational, Evangelical Christian newspaper. Based in Washington, D.C., it was founded in March 2004.

Prior to the writing process, Tribbett had requested to "do it on [his] terms" and "maintain the integrity of his message" by creating an inspirational gospel record. He used Fantasia's testimony, as well as his own experiences with God, as inspiration for the lyrics. He described "I Made It" as the result of a close connection between Fantasia and himself: "I basically just combined testimonies between her and myself when I wrote the song and it resonated so richly with her, her audience and with everybody." [3] Fantasia said that she "was able to release everything I was carrying" through the song. [2] She recorded "I Made It" at the Motown Gospel Studio in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Tribbett appeared on the song courtesy of Tye Tribbett Worldwide, LLC and Motown Gospel. Fantasia's vocals were arranged by Tribbett and Fair and engineered by Fair and Pat Thrall at the Record Plant in Los Angeles. Fair and Dan Higgins handled the horns and strings, where were engineered by Frank Wolf. [1]

Gospel music is a genre of Christian music. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is composed and performed for many purposes, including aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes, and as an entertainment product for the marketplace. Gospel music usually has dominant vocals with Christian lyrics. Gospel music can be traced to the early 17th century, with roots in the black oral tradition. Hymns and sacred songs were often repeated in a call and response fashion. Most of the churches relied on hand clapping and foot stomping as rhythmic accompaniment. Most of the singing was done a cappella. The first published use of the term "gospel song" probably appeared in 1874. The original gospel songs were written and composed by authors such as George F. Root, Philip Bliss, Charles H. Gabriel, William Howard Doane, and Fanny Crosby. Gospel music publishing houses emerged. The advent of radio in the 1920s greatly increased the audience for gospel music. Following World War II, gospel music moved into major auditoriums, and gospel music concerts became quite elaborate.

Brentwood, Los Angeles Neighborhood of Los Angeles in California, United States

Brentwood is a neighborhood in the Westside of Los Angeles, California. It is the location of seven private and two public schools.

Record Plant series of three famous recording studios

The Record Plant is a recording studio first established in New York City and later operating in Los Angeles, California, which hosts top level artists and musicians. It is mainly known for its role in innovating the recording artist's workspace, as well as being the site of many highly influential recordings over the decades, including notable albums such as The Eagles’ Hotel California, Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP, Guns N' Roses’ Appetite for Destruction and Kanye West’s The College Dropout. More recent albums with songs recorded at Record Plant include Lady Gaga’s ARTPOP, Justin Bieber's Purpose, Beyoncé’s Lemonade, and Ariana Grande’s Thank U, Next.

Composition and lyrics

"I Made It" is a gospel song that lasts five-minute, 40-second. [4] [7] Instrumentation is provided by piano, organ, vibraphone, glockenspiel, harmonica, and a guitar. They were played by Tribbett, Fair, Paul Jackson, Jr., and Frank Brunot. [1]

Fantasia told Us Weekly that the lyrics revolve around "how I don't let people talk about me like they used to [and] I control how I feel". She said the song was based on her attempted suicide and demanding relationships with her family. [3] During an interview with Rolling Stone , Fantasia said the following about its message: "I wanted people to know that I've been through the rain, I've been broken into pieces, I had a daughter at such a young age. There were times people would say, 'That's it for her,' but that didn't happen." [8] Rito P. Asilo of the Philippine Daily Inquirer wrote that "I Made It" represents how Fantasia has reconciled with her feelings of "heartbreak, betrayal, and the character-forming pain of rejection and failure". [9]

<i>Us Weekly</i> American celebrity and entertainment magazine based in New York City

Us Weekly is a weekly celebrity and entertainment magazine based in New York City. Us Weekly was founded in 1977 by The New York Times Company, who sold it in 1980. It was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986, and sold to American Media Inc. in 2017. Shortly afterward, former editor James Heidenry stepped down, and was replaced by Jennifer Peros. The Chief Content Officer of American Media, Dylan Howard, oversees the publication.

<i>Rolling Stone</i> American magazine focusing on popular culture, based in New York City

Rolling Stone is an American monthly magazine that focuses on popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, who is still the magazine's publisher, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its musical coverage of rock music and for political reporting by Hunter S. Thompson. In the 1990s, the magazine broadened and shifted its focus to a younger readership interested in youth-oriented television shows, film actors, and popular music. It has returned to its traditional mix of content, including music, entertainment, and politics.

<i>Philippine Daily Inquirer</i> broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines

The Philippine Daily Inquirer, popularly known as the Inquirer, is an English-language newspaper in the Philippines. Founded in 1985, it is often regarded as the Philippines' newspaper of record.

"I Made It" opens with Fantasia's testimony: "Listen, I done made it through the storm and the rain / So much heartache, pressure, so much pain / I been broken in two pieces, maybe more / And some nights I made my bed right on the floor." [10] The lyrics contain direct references to Christianity, which includes Fantasia singing: "Thank you for never leaving me Lord Jesus!". [4] She expresses her gratitude through the lyrics: "You're the only one that never left me when everyone else just didn't care, you're the only one that really loved me. I made it. I made it through the storm." She describes having a close relationship with God and her faith by singing: "I got to say thank you Lord for keeping me, for grace and mercy. I thank you, because I made it!" [11] According to Devin Lazerine of Rap-Up , Fantasia "triumphantly" expresses the song's message through her vocals on lyrics such as "I made it I made it, y’all! Still standing." [12]

Reception

The critical response to "I Made It" was largely positive. It received a nomination for the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award in the BET Awards 2017, [13] losing to Lecrae's 2016 song "Can't Stop Me Now (Destination)". [14] The Boombox 's Amber McKynzie praised Fantasia for sharing her life experiences through the song, [6] and Christian Today 's Czarina Ong described "I Made It" as a "victory song" and a "song of success". [15] As part of their album review, an EEWMagazineOnline contributor wrote that the song represents how Fantasia has become: "[a] defiant and determined singer [who] is now playing by her own rules and refusing to be defined by the times, others' expectations, or genres". [4] Citing it as an album highlight, Chuck Arnold of Entertainment Weekly commended the track as a "spiritual turn-up". He wrote that it sounds like a closing number for the musical The Color Purple, and cited it as a reason Fantasia should further pursue gospel music. [16] On the other hand, AllMusic's Andy Kellman criticized "I Made It" as an example of the album's uneven sound. [7]

"I Made It" debuted at number 29 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart on September 10, 2016. It reached a peak position of number 15 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart, and remained on the charts for 24 consecutive weeks. [17]

Live performances

Fantasia promoted "I Made It" through live performances. [3] [18] [19] She first performed it during the first in a series of live concerts Broadcast by the cable TV channel BET on July 28. Billboard's Lauren Craddock praised Fantasia for "embrac[ing] her gospel background". [18] Fantasia sang "I Made It" on Good Morning America on July 25, 2016. [12] [19] Tribbett praised the performance on his Instagram account, writing: "What an honor to bring glory to GOD on such a platform." [19] Reviewers from Rap-Up and EEWMagazineOnline wrote that Fantasia was "powerful" and "outstanding". [4] [12] On October 16, 2016, Fantasia performed the song for the first time live with Tribbett on his BET gospel music show Joyful Noise. [3] A preview was released through BET four days prior to the broadcast. [20] Christine Thomasos of The Christian Post praised Fantasia and Tribbett's performance as a "powerful duet". [3]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Definition Of... , 19 Recordings, RCA. [1]

Management

Recording locations

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2016–2017)Peak
position
US Gospel Airplay ( Billboard ) [17] 15

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 The Definition Of... 19 Recordings, RCA (Inlay cover). Fantasia. July 29, 2016.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. 1 2 Thomasos, Christine (June 2, 2016). "Fantasia Barrino Made a Gospel Song With Tye Tribbett?". The Christian Post . Archived from the original on December 30, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Thomasos, Christine (October 17, 2016). "Tye Tribbett on Why He Wrote Gospel Song for Fantasia's Secular Album". The Christian Post . Archived from the original on December 30, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Fantasia sings powerful gospel song 'I Made It' co-written by Tye Tribbett on GMA". EEWMagazineOnline. July 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016.
  5. ↑ Thomasos, Christine (December 14, 2016). "Fantasia Barrino Says God Connected Her With Tye Tribbet to Create Gospel Song 'I Made It'". The Christian Post . Archived from the original on December 30, 2016.
  6. 1 2 McKynzie, Amber (July 29, 2016). "Top 5 Tracks on Fantasia's 'The Definition Of…'". The Boombox . Archived from the original on December 30, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Kellman, Andy. "AllMusic Review by Andy Kellman". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016.
  8. ↑ Grant, Sarah (August 10, 2016). "How R. Kelly Inspired Fantasia's Triumphant Rock-Soul Return". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on August 10, 2016.
  9. ↑ Asilo, Rito P. (August 23, 2016). "Prodigious singing buoys up Fantasia's uneven 'rock and soul' album". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Archived from the original on December 31, 2016.
  10. ↑ Butta (July 25, 2016). "Fantasia 'Made It' A Praise Party On 'Good Morning America'". SoulBounce.com. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016.
  11. ↑ Thomasos, Christine (July 29, 2016). "Fantasia Barrino Debuts New Gospel Song, 'I Made It'". The Christian Post . Archived from the original on December 30, 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 "Fantasia Debuts 'I Made It' On 'GMA'". Rap-Up . July 25, 2016. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016.
  13. ↑ "BET Awards 2017". BET Awards. Archived from the original on June 9, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award". BET Awards. Archived from the original on June 26, 2017.
  15. ↑ Ong, Czarina (August 1, 2016). "Fantasia Barrino says her new song 'I Made It' is her victory song after her 2010 suicide attempt". Christian Today . Archived from the original on December 30, 2016.
  16. ↑ Arnold, Chuck (July 27, 2016). "Fantasia's The Definition Of…: EW Review". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on July 28, 2016.
  17. 1 2 "Chart Search". Gospel Airplay for Fantasia. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013.
  18. 1 2 Craddock, Lauren (June 25, 2016). "Fantasia Delivers Career-Spanning Performance for BET Concert Special". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 30, 2016.
  19. 1 2 3 "Tye Tribbett Collaborates With American Idol Fantasia Barrino On New Music". Gospel Music Association. July 28, 2016. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Joyful Noise: Quick Preview – Fantasia and Tye Tribbett Perform 'I Made It'". BET. October 12, 2016. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016.

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