Though Christmas is Mariah Carey‘s usual holiday of predilection, this year sees the premium diva serve as the Queen of Easter as she is celebrating her 46th birthday today.
For the occasion, From The Vault takes it all way back to the year 1995 when the songbird released what was to be one of her biggest singles to date. ‘Fantasy’ is our chosen pick of the day.
After four albums in as many years, Mariah clearly had no plan to slow down anytime soon. Seizing on her monstrous momentum, she released blockbuster effort ‘Daydream’ led by ‘Fantasy’ – which was produced by Carey alongside Dave Hall.
Keen on bridging the gap between R&B and Hip-Hop, an Urban remix was produced, masterminded by Puff Daddy and featuring guest vocals by Wu Tang Clan’s Old Dirty Bastard. Though the idea of having girl-next-door Mariah and gangsta rap king ODB on the same song puzzled many initially, it proved rather beneficial to both the artists’ catalogues and careers. More broadly has changed the music industry forever from a fusing genres standpoint.
To this day, ‘Fantasy’ is Mimi’s fifth biggest release in the US where it has reached the top of the Billboard chart – her ninth at the time – for 8 consecutive weeks. Elsewhere, it achieved commercial success too peaking at #1 in Canada and Australia and #5 in the UK.
Disappointed with the outcome of some of her previous videos, the diva added yet another title to her already impressive resume when she chose to direct the video for the single.
Set at an amusement park, the visual captures that care-free aura the song evokes and sees Mimi letting her hair down on a rollercoaster, roller-blading and partying. An alternate edit for the remix featured ODB interwoven.
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Though the world can be tough on her – sometimes justifiably – no one can diminish Mariah’s influence in Pop Culture as we know it. During her 26 years in the industry she has been through the highest of highs as well as lowest of lows but somehow has managed to consistently remind the masses why they fell for her. How? By way of her timeless talent and iconic hits such as this.
Two decades on, we’re still bopping to ‘Fantasy’ – which still sounds oh so sweet.
Happy Birthday Ms. Carey!