| "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 Bob's Burgers episode, "Bad Tina" (2012) and at the end of the 2020 Disney+ movie, 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 an 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 musical group. Their style and sound span 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.
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 reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top 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 singer, band leader, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was 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.
Raise! is the eleventh studio album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on November 14, 1981, by ARC/Columbia Records. The album spent 11 weeks atop the Billboard Top R&B albums chart and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart. Raise! has been certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA, Gold in the UK by the BPI and Gold in Canada by Music Canada.
Philip James Bailey is an American R&B, soul, gospel and funk 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.
"Boogie Wonderland" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions, released in April 1979 on Columbia Records as the first single from their ninth album, I Am (1979). The song peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard dance chart, number six on the Billboard Hot 100, and number two on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. It was certified gold in the US and platinum in the UK. "Boogie Wonderland" was Grammy nominated in the categories of Best R&B Instrumental Performance and Best Disco Recording.
Martha Elaine Wash is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and producer. Known for her distinctive and powerful voice, Wash first achieved fame as half of the Two Tons O' Fun, who sang backing vocals for the disco singer Sylvester including on his signature hit "You Make Me Feel ". After gaining their own record deal, they released three consecutive commercially successful songs which all peaked at number two in the dance charts. The duo was renamed The Weather Girls in 1982 after they released the top-selling single "It's Raining Men", which brought them to mainstream pop attention. The Weather Girls released five albums and were heavily featured on Sylvester's albums.
"The Way You Move" is a hip-hop and soul song performed by Big Boi of American hip hop duo OutKast. 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.
"Get Ready for This" is a song recorded by Belgian/Dutch music group 2 Unlimited. It was released in 1991 as the lead single from their debut album, Get Ready! (1992). Originally, the single was produced as an instrumental, titled the "Orchestral Mix". It became a hit and conscious of their popularity, Wilde & De Coster wanted a more accessible, formatted formula for their project to grow. Ray was then asked to write lyrics and add a rap to the track. On Ray Slijngaard's suggestion, Anita Doth joined as the female vocalist.
"September" is a song by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire released as a single in 1978 on 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. The album is mostly remembered today for the song "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 which 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 group Black Box, with uncredited vocals by American singer Martha Wash, from their debut studio album, Dreamland (1990). Wash was replaced by French model Katrin Quinol as the credited vocalist who made several appearances with Black Box, which led Wash to file a lawsuit against the group. 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. It 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 5 and number 10. It entered the UK Singles Chart on 17 February 1990 and remained for eight weeks.
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