Music Review: “Back to Me” by Fantasia

Released 2010, J Records

Reviewed by Hanna Thieme, 16
Massachusetts

Fantasia Burrino, a unique R&B artist commonly known from American Idol, bares a deeply emotional side of herself on her album Back to Me. On this album, Fantasia tells a story illustrating different emotions experienced during a relationship. Each of the songs has different beats and tempos, ranging from slow and peaceful to cheery and upbeat. In “I'm Doin' Me,” a medium-paced song, she expresses her opinion that in order for her to live happily, she needs to put herself first in her relationship. In “Trust Him,” a more upbeat song, she sings of a man she loves and trusts. Lastly, in “Bittersweet,” Fantasia sings of a relationship where she isn’t happy, but still loves the man when they are apart. What I especially like about these songs is that they aren't flooded with artificial beats and noticeable autotuning; Fantasia's unique voice is pure, and listening to her true voice addressing these songs simply furthers the personal and emotional experience of the album. I highly recommend Back to Me whether you are familiar with Fantasia or not. If you have ever been in a rocky relationship, this album may be a great narrative to your experience.