Back to Me (Fantasia album) explained

Back to Me
Type:studio
Artist:Fantasia
Cover:Fantasia backtome cover.jpg
Released:August 24, 2010
Genre:
Length:47:20
Label:J
Producer:
Prev Title:Fantasia
Prev Year:2006
Next Title:Side Effects of You
Next Year:2013

Back to Me is the third studio album by American singer Fantasia. It was released by J Records on August 24, 2010. Her first project in four years, much of the album was conceived after Fantasia had ventured into musical acting, starring as Celie in the Broadway musical The Color Purple, with production provided by Chuck Harmony, Jim Jonsin, Los Da Mystro, Pop & Oak and others. The album's title was suggested to her by comedian Steve Harvey, when Barrino visited his morning radio program.[1]

The album earned largely positive reviews from music critics who declared it a strong comeback. Back to Me sold 117,000 in its first week, debuting at number two on the US Billboard 200 and at number one on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, becoming her highest-charting album by then. The album received a Best R&B Album nod at the Grammy Awards, while lead single "Bittersweet" won in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category. To promote the album, Barrino embarked on her first solo concert tour, Back to Me Tour in the fall of 2010.[2]

Background

Fantasia received two Grammy Award nominations for her self titled sophomore release (2006).[3] In 2008, she began work on her then-untitled third studio album. In June 2008, Bruce Waynne and Kevin Risto from production duo Midi Mafia announced that they would produce the majority of the project.[4] Also, duo Rock City and songwriter-producers Rich King, Eric Hudson and Raphael Saadiq became involved on the project. Fantasia confirmed that about 75 percent of the album was complete by mid-2009, and that fans should've expected a new single by the fall of 2009, with the album due to be released in early 2010.[5]

This was later delayed, and while recording additional material, Fantasia decided to do a great deal of it the "old fashioned way," inviting a live orchestra to record in the studio with her.[6] In addition, J Records recruited Claude Kelly to add a more contemporary, commercial sound to the album.[7] In May 2010, the album was announced to be released on July 27, 2010. It was later again pushed back to August 10, 2010,[8] and finally to August 24, 2010. To promote the album, Barrino embarked on her first solo concert tour, Back to Me Tour in the fall of 2010.[9]

Promotion

"Even Angels", produced by The Stereotypes and first performed on The Oprah Winfrey Show on February 3, 2010,[10] was issued as the album's first single,[11] though it was later demoted and replaced by "Bittersweet" as the album's leading single. "Bittersweet Bittersweet," released on May 11, 2010, and then performed the next day on American Idol,[12] became Fantasia's third chart topper on the US Adult R&B Songs chart,[13] [14] It spent five weeks at number-one and also reached number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[15]

"I'm Doin' Me, produced by Chuck Harmony, was released as Back to Mes second single.[16] [17] It peaked at number 11 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[15] The song also reached the top three on the Adult R&B Songs chart.[14] "Collard Greens & Cornbread," produced by Pop & Oak, served as the album's third single. Fantasia performed the song on American Idols result night on March 31, 2011,[18] [19] and it was officially released as a radio single on April 11, 2011.[20] It peaked at number nine on the Adult R&B Songs chart.[14]

Critical response

Upon its release, Back to Me received generally positive reviews from most music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, it has so far received an average score of 70 based on 7 reviews.[21] Boston Globe critic Ken Capobianco declared the record "a strong comeback" and went on to say that "Fantasia has matured [and] appears to be an artist reborn."[22] Jim Farber with The New York Daily News called it "a wail of a comeback". He found that it "outperforms the singer's first two works, with meatier hooks, firmer melodies, and a more shrewdly focused point of view."[23] Mariel Concepcion, writing for Billboard, called it the project a "soulful, laid-back album with tinges of gospel" and noted that "her distinct voice is most enjoyable when singing heartfelt ballads."[24]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic called Back to Me Fantasia's "most interesting album" which had her "reconnecting with her roots." He found that "everybody expands upon the cool stainless sheen of 2006's Fantasia, keeping the surfaces smooth and giving Barrino plenty of room to emote, smudging all the slickness with her throaty growl, grabbing attention even as the music drifts toward the generic."[25] Exclaim!s Matt Bauer described Back to Me as a "commercial, mainstream, admittedly slick album that doesn't suck. In fact, this is a pretty damn good album showcasing a more refined, yet vocally uninhibited, Barrino [...] Back to Me is a definite step forward."[26] Los Angeles Times critic Margaret Wappler felt that "there is nothing here that hasn't been heard or seen before, but it's done with integrity and focus [...] At 26, she sounds like she's learning what to let go of and what to keep, a long journey to be sure; on Back to Me, she sounds up for the task."

SoulTracks editor Melody Charles called the album "a good place for her to dwell and, for the fans, an authentic, if not exciting, journey to endeavor."[27] Mikael Wood with Entertainment Weekly gave it a "B" rating, commenting "Fantasia's rough-hewn vocals shine best on "The Thrill Is Gone."[28] Michaelangelo Matos from Rolling Stone found that the "revelations are few on Back to Me and noted that "on her third album, she's more contained as a singer than the Idol norm, which fits the modestly scaled material." Melanie Sims from Associated Press felt that while Fanastia "shows off her bellowing, raspy vocals on the latest album, [...] the singer reveals nothing of herself. She wastes her golden vocals on tin-can pop songs."[29] In his review for Slant Magazine Jonathan Keefe stated "the material [Fantasia] has been saddled with has been extraordinarily awful" but still described her positively as an "uninhibited, intuitive soul singer with a truly distinctive sense of phrasing and boundless passion".[30]

Accolades

The album received a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Album. It marked Fantasia's third consecutive album to receive a nomination in the Best R&B Album or Best Contemporary R&B Album category.[31]

Commercial performance

Back to Me sold 117,000 copies in its debut week, earning Barrino a number two debut on the US Billboard 200 chart.[32] The album also topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, becoming Fantasia's first album to do so.[33] By April 2013, it had sold 490,000 copies in the United States.[34]

Track listing

Notes

Sample credits

Personnel

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2010)!scope="col"
Position
US Billboard 200[36] 105
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[37] 30
Chart (2010)!scope="col"
Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[38] 51

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FANTASIA TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM, BACK TO ME, ON AUGUST 10TH . fantasiaofficial . June 16, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100715050554/http://www.fantasiaofficial.com/archives/31 . July 15, 2010 . dead .
  2. Web site: Fantasia Announces Back To Me Tour . September 28, 2010 . July 20, 2023 . Fantasia Barrino's Official Website . Sony Music Entertainment . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101231035028/http://www.fantasiaofficial.com/us/news/fantasia-announces-back-me-tour . December 31, 2010 .
  3. Web site: Grammy 2008 Winners List . https://web.archive.org/web/20220829140942/https://www.mtv.com/news/y2utwa/grammy-2008-winners-list . dead . August 29, 2022 . . February 10, 2008 . July 20, 2023.
  4. Web site: NEWS2440 . Gangstasparty.com . May 2, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090514040256/http://www.gangstasparty.com/usa/rap/news2440.html . May 14, 2009 .
  5. Web site: FANTASIA PREPS NEW ALBUM FOR 2010! . globalgrind.com . August 24, 2010.
  6. Web site: Fantasia Records Next Album With Live Backings . Soulofrnb.com . December 9, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20090816081539/http://www.soulofrnb.com/?p=1640. August 16, 2009. August 14, 2009.
  7. Web site: SongwriterUniverse – Claude Kelly Article . songwriteruniverse.com . August 24, 2010.
  8. Web site: Say What: Fantasia Shoots For August, Credits Steve Harvey . https://archive.today/20120708040942/http://blog.singersroom.com/celebs/index.php/2010/06/19/say-what-fantasia-shoots-for-august-credits-steve-harvey/ . dead . July 8, 2012 . blog.singersroom.com . August 24, 2010 .
  9. Web site: Fantasia Announces Back To Me Tour . September 28, 2010 . December 8, 2010 . Fantasia Barrino's Official Website . Sony Music Entertainment . https://web.archive.org/web/20101231035028/http://www.fantasiaofficial.com/us/news/fantasia-announces-back-me-tour . December 31, 2010 . dead . mdy-all .
  10. Web site: Fantasia Barrino's Comeback - Oprah.com . Oprah.com . August 24, 2010.
  11. Web site: Fantasia – Even Angels. . July 20, 2023.
  12. Web site: Fantasia Performs 'Bittersweet' On Idol . thatgrapejuice.net . August 24, 2010.
  13. Web site: Fantasia Moves Forward Despite Personal Challenges . Billboard . September 14, 2009 . January 15, 2012.
  14. Fantasia Chart History (Adult R&B Songs). Billboard. July 19, 2023.
  15. Fantasia Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs). Billboard. July 20, 2023.
  16. Web site: Fantasia Debuts Next Single, 'I'm Doin' Me' on Upcoming TV Appearances. September 1, 2010. MJ's Big Blog. September 2, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100904091331/http://mjsbigblog.com/fantasia-debuts-next-single-im-doin-me.htm. September 4, 2010 . live.
  17. Web site: Fantasia debuting new single 'I'm Doin' Me,' Asia'h Epperson to be charged with battery. Reiher. Andrea. September 2, 2010. Zap2it. September 2, 2010.
  18. Web site: Fantasia Back on American Idol Stage. April 1, 2010. Your Daily News Fix. April 1, 2010.
  19. Web site: Fantasia Barrino – Fantasia Barrino Wows In American Idol Return. April 1, 2010. Dime Wars. April 1, 2010.
  20. Web site: MJ. Santilli . March 30, 2011. Fantasia's "Collard Greens And Cornbread" Goes to Radio April 11.
  21. Web site: Back to Me (Reviews). Metacritic. July 20, 2023.
  22. Fantasia, 'Back to Me' . Capobianco . Ken . August 11, 2010 . . August 15, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100827220944/http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2010/08/23/fantasia_back_to_me/. August 27, 2010 . live.
  23. News: Fantasia Barrino 'Back to Me' review: 'American Idol' winner makes a wail of a comeback album. Farber. Jim. August 10, 2010. NY Daily News. August 15, 2010 . New York. https://web.archive.org/web/20100818004011/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2010/08/10/2010-08-10_fantasia_barrino_makes_a_strong_comeback_in_back_to_me.html. August 18, 2010 . live.
  24. Fantasia, "Back to Me" . . Mariel . Concepcion . August 13, 2010 . August 24, 2010.
  25. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1830845|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic (((Back to Me > Overview))) ]. . July 14, 2010.
  26. Web site: Fantasia – Back to Me . Matt . Bauer . . exclaim.ca . April 3, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101120182707/http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/SoulFunkAndWorld/fantasia-back_to_me/ . November 20, 2010 . live .
  27. Web site: Melody. Charles. Fantasia – Back to Me . SoulTracks. July 20, 2023.
  28. Back To Me (2010) . Wood . Mikael . August 11, 2010 . . August 15, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100815080247/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20409624,00.html . August 15, 2010 . dead . mdy-all .
  29. Web site: Music Review: Fantasia's 3rd album reveals little . Sims. Melanie. Associated Press. The San Diego Union-Tribune. August 24, 2010 . July 20, 2023.
  30. Web site: Fantasia: Back To Me. Keefe. Jonathan. August 23, 2010. Slant Magazine. August 24, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100826081551/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/back-to-me/2222. August 26, 2010 . live.
  31. Web site: 2010 GRAMMY WINNERS: 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards . Grammy.com. July 20, 2023.
  32. Katy Perry Doubles up No. 1s on Billboard 200, Digital Songs Charts. Billboard. September 2010.
  33. Web site: Katy Perry Doubles Up No. 1s on Billboard 200, Digital Songs Charts . . September 1, 2010 . September 1, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100831145303/http://www.billboard.com/. August 31, 2010 . live.
  34. News: Fantasia Talks 'Side Effects of You' Album & Confidence . July 3, 2013.
  35. Web site: RICHGIRL – MOVE ON ME (FEAT. FANTASIA) (CAN YOU AFFORD ME MIXTAPE 2012) . PBTube . April 1, 2012 . https://archive.today/20120707162144/http://agc.premiumblackhat.com/go-51CO0Kwi2Tg/richgirl-move-on-me-feat-fantasia-can-you-afford-me-mixtape-2012.html . July 7, 2012 . dead .
  36. 2010 Year-End Charts – Billboard 200 Albums . Billboard. January 2, 2013 . April 26, 2016.
  37. 2010 Year-End Charts – Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Billboard. April 26, 2016.
  38. 2011 Year-End Charts – Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Billboard. April 26, 2016.
  39. News: New Fantasia album due July 27 – Idol Chatter: American Idol News, Rumors, & Information . . August 24, 2010 . June 14, 2010 . Brian . Mansfield.
  40. Web site: ohnotheydidnt: Fantasia Barrino's Album Still Set for Release on August 24 . https://archive.today/20121209204711/http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/49825855.html . dead . December 9, 2012 . ohnotheydidnt.com . August 24, 2010 .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Back to Me (Fantasia album)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.