Fantasy (Earth, Wind & Fire song)
Encyclopedia
"Fantasy" is a single by Earth, Wind & Fire
from their album All 'N All
, released as a single in 1978. The selection was written and composed by Maurice White
, Verdine White
, and Eddie del Barrio, and it reached #32 on the pop chart and #12 on the R&B singles chart in the United States, and #14 on the UK singles chart. "Fantasy" received a Grammy Award
nomination for Best R&B Song. After its release in Japan as a digital single to cellphones in 2009, it was certified gold for 100,000 downloads in May 2011.
and gained inspiration from the film.
on the song "Angels with Dirty Faces" featuring Bizzy Bone
, which was included on Puff Daddy's album Forever
. It has also been sampled on "Live Now" by Nas
from his album Street's Disciple
, on "Shawty," by Plies, from the album The Real Testament
, and on "To Me You're Everything," by 98 Degrees
, from the album 98 Degrees and Rising
.
In late 2007, Latin hip hop trio The D.E.Y.
sampled "Fantasy" on their single "Give You the World
," released in late December 2007. Just Blaze sampled "Fantasy" for Jay-Z
's "As One" which appeared on his Blueprint 2 album. Also in 2007, with the release of American Gangster, a song by Jay-Z and Lil' Wayne sampled the beginning of "Fantasy" throughout the song. Pedro "Pete" Escovedo
, father of Sheila E. and biological father of Lionel B. Richie Jr.
's adopted daughter Nicole Richie
, covered "Fantasy" on his 1997 album E Street. "Fantasy" has also been recorded by the Fifth Dimension.
, starring John Travolta
, in the film Private Lessons, whose producers included Jack Barry
and Dan Enright
, and on the Everybody Hates Chris
episode "Everybody Hates Keisha".
The song was featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
.
It was also the main theme song for the Japanese television drama
Love Shuffle
, and it likewise appears in another J-drama, Densha Otoko
.
The song was featured in an episode of The Bernie Mac Show
when Bernie crashed his motorcycle.
Dancing with the Stars Season 12
eventual winner Hines Ward and his partner Kym Johnson danced their samba
in week 3 of the competition to this song. They reprised their performance on the final show of the season earning perfect scores.
The song was featured in Brazilian Movie's Bruno Barreto
Amor Bandido (1979).
remade the song for their debut studio album Dreamland in 1990. Their version featured Martha Wash
on lead vocals, but their music producers initially failed to credit her. Black Box's version of the song charted at #5 in the UK, #16 in Germany, and #3 in Australia.
7" single
12" maxi
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
from their album All 'N All
All 'N All
All 'N All is the eighth studio album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in 1977 on Columbia Records. The album features songs such as "I'll Write A Song For You", "Serpentine Fire", "Love's Holiday", and the pop hit "Fantasy". A remastered version of the LP was issued in 2002...
, released as a single in 1978. The selection was written and composed by Maurice White
Maurice White
Maurice White is a Grammy Award–winning American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, arranger. He is the older brother of Verdine White and Fred White and the leader and founder of the band Earth, Wind & Fire...
, Verdine White
Verdine White
Verdine White is the bassist for Earth, Wind & Fire and the younger brother of fellow band member Maurice White. White is known for his high energy and dancing while playing his bass guitar during Earth, Wind & Fire concerts.-Early life:...
, and Eddie del Barrio, and it reached #32 on the pop chart and #12 on the R&B singles chart in the United States, and #14 on the UK singles chart. "Fantasy" received a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination for Best R&B Song. After its release in Japan as a digital single to cellphones in 2009, it was certified gold for 100,000 downloads in May 2011.
Background
"Fantasy" took a period of three months to be written and composed, and it was only finally finished after Maurice White saw the film Close Encounters of the Third KindClose Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 science fiction film written and directed by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, and Cary Guffey...
and gained inspiration from the film.
Samples and covers
"Fantasy" was covered by Maynard Ferguson on his 1978 album Carnival and has been sampled by Puff DaddySean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
on the song "Angels with Dirty Faces" featuring Bizzy Bone
Bizzy Bone
Bryon Anthony McCane II , better known by his stage name Bizzy Bone, is an American rapper and a member of the Cleveland rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.- Solo career :Bizzy Bone started his solo career in 1998...
, which was included on Puff Daddy's album Forever
Forever (Puff Daddy album)
Forever is the debut solo studio album by American rapper and producer Puff Daddy released on August 24, 1999 in North America by Bad Boy Entertainment, with a release in the United Kingdom the following day on August 25, 1999...
. It has also been sampled on "Live Now" by Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
from his album Street's Disciple
Street's Disciple
Street's Disciple is the seventh studio album by American rapper Nas, released November 30, 2004 on Columbia Records in the United States. It is a double album entitled after one of his rhymes from "Live at the Barbeque" by Main Source, which was the song marking his musical debut...
, on "Shawty," by Plies, from the album The Real Testament
The Real Testament
-Chart positions:...
, and on "To Me You're Everything," by 98 Degrees
98 Degrees
98 Degrees is an American adult contemporary boy band consisting of four vocalists: brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, and Jeff Timmons. The group was formed by Timmons in Los Angeles, California....
, from the album 98 Degrees and Rising
98 Degrees and Rising
-Holland Edition:-Singles:*True to Your Heart – July 21, 1998*Because of You – September 15, 1998*Hardest Thing – June 8, 1999*I Do – July 24, 1999-Chart positions:...
.
In late 2007, Latin hip hop trio The D.E.Y.
The D.E.Y.
The D.E.Y. is a Latin Hip hop group that debuted in 2007, following in the footsteps of the Fugees and The Black Eyed Peas. The group is composed of members Divine, Élan, and Yeyo. The trio's name is also meant to symbolize a new day in music.-Early years:...
sampled "Fantasy" on their single "Give You the World
Give You the World
"Give You the World" is a song from The D.E.Y. from their EP The DEY Has Come EP. It is produced by J.R. Rotem, co-written by Evan "Kidd" Bogart and Jasmine Lopez and samples Earth Wind and Fire's "Fantasy".There are two versions of the song...
," released in late December 2007. Just Blaze sampled "Fantasy" for Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
's "As One" which appeared on his Blueprint 2 album. Also in 2007, with the release of American Gangster, a song by Jay-Z and Lil' Wayne sampled the beginning of "Fantasy" throughout the song. Pedro "Pete" Escovedo
Pete Escovedo
Peter "Pete" Michael Escovedo is a Mexican-American musician percussionist.-Biography:With his two brothers, Pete formed Escovedo Bros Latin Jazz Sextet, before Santana hired Pete and Coke Escovedo for his group.He led the 14-24 piece Latin Big band Azteca.Father to musician Sheila Escovedo, aka...
, father of Sheila E. and biological father of Lionel B. Richie Jr.
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
's adopted daughter Nicole Richie
Nicole Richie
Nicole Camille Richie is an American fashion designer, author, actress, singer and television personality. Her father was Peter Michael Escovedo, a musician who played for a brief time with Lionel Richie, and her mother Karen was the executive assistant for Sheila Escovedo...
, covered "Fantasy" on his 1997 album E Street. "Fantasy" has also been recorded by the Fifth Dimension.
Appearances in other media
"Fantasy" is featured in the film Be CoolBe Cool
Be Cool is a 2005 crime-comedy film adapted from Elmore Leonard's 1999 novel of the same name and the sequel to Leonard's 1990 novel Get Shorty about mobster Chili Palmer's entrance into the film industry.The film adaptation of Be Cool began production in 2003. It was directed by F...
, starring John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
, in the film Private Lessons, whose producers included Jack Barry
Jack Barry
Jack Barry may refer to:* Jack Barry * Jack Barry , television host and producer* Jack Barry , 1930s radio singer* Jack Berry , an Irish sportsperson-See also:...
and Dan Enright
Dan Enright
Daniel "Dan" Enright was one of the most successful game show producers in American television. Enright worked with Jack Barry from the 1940s until Barry's death in 1984. They were partners in creating programs for radio and television...
, and on the Everybody Hates Chris
Everybody Hates Chris
Everybody Hates Chris is an African American television period sitcom inspired by the teenage experiences of comedian Chris Rock , while growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York . The show is set from 1982 to 1987; however, Rock himself was a teenager during years...
episode "Everybody Hates Keisha".
The song was featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is a 2006 sandbox-style action video game developed by Rockstar Leeds in association with Rockstar North. It was published by Rockstar Games for the PlayStation Portable in late 2006 and later for the PlayStation 2 in March 2007. The game is the eighth...
.
It was also the main theme song for the Japanese television drama
Japanese television drama
, also called , are a staple of Japanese television and are broadcast daily. All major TV networks in Japan produce a variety of drama series including murder romance, comedy, detective stories, horror, and many others...
Love Shuffle
Love Shuffle
is a Japanese television drama series that aired on TBS from 16 January to 20 March 2009. The theme song of the series is Fantasy by Earth, Wind & Fire.-Cast:* Hiroshi Tamaki* Karina Nose* Shota Matsuda* Daigo* Yuriko Yoshitaka* Hijiri Kojima...
, and it likewise appears in another J-drama, Densha Otoko
Densha Otoko (drama)
is a Japanese television drama that aired on Fuji Television. It is based on the Densha Otoko story, which has also been portrayed in other media.The drama's 11 episodes were aired on Fuji TV from July 7 to September 22, 2005 . A two hour long TV special, Densha Otoko Deluxe, aired on September 23,...
.
The song was featured in an episode of The Bernie Mac Show
The Bernie Mac Show
The Bernie Mac Show is an American sitcom featuring comic actor Bernie Mac and his wife Wanda raising his sister's three kids: Jordan, Bryana and Vanessa. The show aired for five seasons , concluding with a half-hour series finale on Fox....
when Bernie crashed his motorcycle.
Dancing with the Stars Season 12
Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 12)
Dancing with the Stars returned for its twelfth season on March 21, 2011. Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Len Goodman returned to the show as judges, while Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke returned as hosts....
eventual winner Hines Ward and his partner Kym Johnson danced their samba
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
in week 3 of the competition to this song. They reprised their performance on the final show of the season earning perfect scores.
The song was featured in Brazilian Movie's Bruno Barreto
Bruno Barreto
Bruno Barreto is a Brazilian film director born in Rio de Janeiro. He has been making feature-length films ever since he was seventeen years old and remains one of Brazil’s most accomplished and popular directors to this day...
Amor Bandido (1979).
Charts
| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Swedish Singles Chart | 8 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
14 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
32 |
| US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
12 |
Black Box version
Black BoxBlack Box (band)
Black Box was an Italian house music group popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The members of the group included a trio made up of a club DJ , a classically trained clarinet teacher , and a keyboard and electronic music "wiz"...
remade the song for their debut studio album Dreamland in 1990. Their version featured Martha Wash
Martha Wash
Martha Wash is an American R&B, Pop, Soul, House singer/songwriter known for her distinctive and powerful voice.-Early career:...
on lead vocals, but their music producers initially failed to credit her. Black Box's version of the song charted at #5 in the UK, #16 in Germany, and #3 in Australia.
Track listings
CD maxi- "Fantasy" (club mix) — 7:20
- "Get Down" (rap mix) — 6:43
- "Get Down" Black Box featuring "Stepz" (rappapella) — 3:00
7" single
- "Fantasy" — 3:44
- "Get Down" Black Box featuring "Stepz" (rappapella) — 3:00
12" maxi
- "Fantasy" (big band remix) — 5:48
- "Get Down" (party remix) — 3:55
- "Get Down" (afro mix) — 4:15
Official Versions
- "Fantasy" — 3:44
- "Fantasy" (Original Version) - 5:12
- "Fantasy" (Big Band Remix) — 5:48
- "Fantasy" (Club Mix) — 7:20
Certifications
Charts
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 3 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 4 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 21 |
| German Singles Chart | 16 |
| Irish IRMA Singles Chart | 3 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 26 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
5 |
| End of year chart (1991) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 17 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 21 |