Grammy-winning R&B gem Fantasia has always shone as an anomaly (in many ways) for the genre.
A fiery performer whose career-long stage shows boast one of the most consistent deliveries of any of her contemporaries (and beyond), Fannie’s commitment to her craft seemed to be only matched by the commitment of her fan base. Indeed, much like the failing music industry around her, each of her album’s numbers may have taken hits over time, but without fail, the figures associated with each of the songbird’s first week sales easily soared above the others in her lane (a testament to fan loyalty if you ask us).
Well, that was until 2016’s ‘The Definition Of…‘ – the latest addition to the soulstress’s self-coined ‘Rock-Soul’ movement.
Released July 2016, ‘Definition’ – Fannie’s fifth album – was executive produced by veteran record producer/songwriter/engineer Ron Fair and featured contributions from the likes of R&B royal R. Kelly, Brian Kennedy, Stacy Barthe, Neff-U, and more. Yet, while the production credits was lined with proven winners, their efforts seemed lost upon music lovers who generally ignored the set’s two official singles – ‘No Time (For It)’ and the Kelly-penned ‘Sleeping With the One I Love.’
Their failure on the singles chart and streaming front seemed to signal the worst for their parent album:
And, the worst is exactly what happened.
After receiving mixed reviews from critics and fans alike for its departure from the Urban soul songs that rose the songbird to fame, the album debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 to the tune of 32,000 sales equivalent shifted – a career low for Fannie.
Now, we come to you to ask: where was the ball dropped? Was the content that filled ‘Definition’ simply too far left for fans to get jiggy with? Or, did her lack of full on promo for the album hinder any chance of success it would’ve had?
In other words, please tell us:
Her album was ok. It was a far departure from what her fans are used to but I feel like as an artist you should be able to toy with different sounds. Let’s not kid ourselves, she wasn’t gonna do big numbers anyway.
It had bigger #’s than Jackie though. Btw, and so did JOJO’S album. Ciara stays being everyone’s lessor ?
But where is “FLOP Apologies” on the charts? Does it even have 100k views on YouTube? Ciara is more relevant and coined than both of them. When’s the last time either of them got a platinum plaque? Ciaras was last year broke b****. Stay pressed.
?Still feeling good about “I Bet” going platinum because of streams I see ? 4 albums in, and still no certification. Stay mad ugly ?
Let’s see how many certifications NoNo and Floptasia will get….. ⏱
19k honey
She had no obvious hits or classic Tasia r and b moments. It was somewhat experimental,but not in the best way.
NT and SWTOIL are BOTH top ten on the r&b charts. Girl rest yo kat lips.
Tbh its neither…its her, I bought her first 2 albums, watched her reality show, and tooned into most of her early performances but then…she spoke on things that she shouldnt have. Her life decisions overcast things she trying to do. When you give your opinion and cant arriculate without offending or confusing. You lose my interest and my money…. Like most people on Earth
Right I’m with you in that.
Sissies
fantasia didnt know mean what she said it was miss understood and some blogs added sound
It’s the promo/singles.. She doesn’t have a hit. R&b stations suck. The contemporary ones. They don’t even play r&b. She has a loyal following. But, her label didn’t set this project up properly.
Agreed
I’m sorry, but Fanny ain’t win me ova this time. I’m so disappointed in this album! SMH! I really thought judging by “Sleeping with the one I love” she was about to flame broil my wig with this album. She can SANG her GRASS off & she should’ve went completely INN on this album…..but unfortunately she didn’t….***sigh***. Well I still love her, but Imma need Fanny to go back in the studio & create that magic she’s known for.
She didn’t give me collard greens and cornbread nor did she give me man of the house tea’s. Then she said dumb stuff about political issues that she wasn’t educated on which is my biggest pet peeve when a person doesn’t know what the f*** they are talking about and then get emotional and spiritual to prove their point. What did jesus have to do with black lives matter I mean really what?
No Time for it is a bop but not a lead single. Its easy listening, it should have been the follow up to something that’s just good for performing. Sleeping… was good for a performance and video but she still needed something to make it pop; maybe more promo and a shortened version for radio or even a remix for spins.
There was only one good song, quite frankly I can’t remember the name… Something along the lines of “when I met you” or something. the whole album was very generic and bland. 🙁
When I Met You. It will b her next single
The album was Garbage!!! Point blank I WAS WAITING ON Tgj to do a post about how bad it flopped TO ME SHE HAS LOST TOUCH WITH HER CORE AUDIENCE THATS THAT’S WHY NOBODY BOUGHT IT!! Keyshia Fantasia And Mjb are know for heart break songs that ppl can relate to when they step out of that box they are taking a HUGGGGGGGGE RISK I mean look at “London sessions” now watch what “The Strength Of A Woman Do” when it drop in December!!
Moomoo still using prerecord records in concert??
I promise you don’t want to bring Mariah into this please leave now OR I WILL DRAG YOUR WEAK ASS OUTTA HERE… BEFORE YOU GO LET ME SAY THIS MIMI CAN SING TO A SESAME STREET TRACK IF SHE WANTS TO WE 200 MILLION SOLD OVER HERE BOOOO BOOOOO TASIA HAS SOLD WHAT 3 MILLION OVER 10 YRS DON’T come for us h** no one called UBER!!!
I think Fantasia had a great album.
I myself wouldn’t have come out the gate with No Time For It or Sleeping with the one I Love.
After hearing her album I could hear the entire album in a variety of radio/television/movie sectors.
The issue was the team chose the wrong song to come out the gate with. Come running or don’t come at all.
I love the Album. But specific songs resonate more with a variety of people. That is what you start with, along with great visuals.
Sam, the 2 singles she released both made rnb top 10. SWTOIL is sitting at the 10spot right now.
That is true I will give her that she has had 2 top 10 hits off of it so far!! But this album just aint it for me
I think it was clearly product (mostly). I wasn’t really feeling this album. They tried to promote it, but the chosen singles didn’t click.
.
The one area where they failed in terms of promo was in not giving When I Met You single treatment.
PREACH BIITCH PREEEEEACH!!!!! THAT song shud be a single!!!
I was disappointed, but I’m still a fan
i think it was promo and lack of radio if her country song would have been sent to country radio it would have been huge and if she had more radio for no time for it the album would have gotten bigger sales
When you listen to it the way it is layed out it does not flow right. Try this lineup
No time for it
So blue
Wait on you
When I met you
Stay up
Roller Coasters
I made it
Crazy
Lonely Legend
Ugly
Sleeping with the one I love
And I agree when I met you should be the single that will get her going and there are some that will perfect movie soundtracks. I will ride with her no matter what she still will touring long time after the rest are done cause she can sing the phonebook and make you cry.
I think it is a combination of both promotion and product. I think a lot of people do not realize that Fantasia’s numbers are pretty spot on with expectations and are quick to label an album a “flop” even though it met expectations. Fantasia stays in her lane and whenever she tries to go out of her lane it does not turn out well. For example, her “All Lives Matter” concert and stance was a huge mistake. I thought the two singles should have just been buzz songs and a better song like “I Made It”, “Rollercoasters”, or “When I Met You” should have been put out as a single.
Outside of that, Fantasia has always been missing crossover appeal. Maybe that is what she is unsuccessfully attempting to do (her ghetto-ness shines to loud for her to cross over or be looked at like a polished pop star). I think if Fantasia stayed in her land she could have exceeded expectations and maybe did 45K opening week.
I love Fantasia, and although this album had some hits it wasn’t a body of work that Fantasia usually offers. I saw in an interview after its release where she said that she had to change producer/songwriter because of issues and i think it shows in how mismatched this album seems.
If i’m honest, after The Side Effects of You the album would’ve had to had been really good because i still love that album, but its no biggie, she just needs to get back into the studio and make another album
I still think it is life in this cd I single will catch on a few performances on daytime and nighttime tv ,cause there is no one that can do what she can not even the big names . If you are being honest there is no one that can do what she do es.thatts why none of the big names will take her on the road as an opening act she would kill.
Product ! She’s never ever had great promo. She most def makes the wounds but usually only gets two singles before the album is forgotten but the album is usually a solid body of work! I have all her albums except this last one…same thing for JHud…have all of hers except the last one. They just weren’t good imo and just did nothing for me. JHud feud so bad til new outlets didn’t even drag her for it…it/she was totally dismissed. Smh It’s disappointing though because they both should be able to carry a little more, a little better.
Wow nice