Friday, August 3, 2007

"I BELIEVE"



Have you ever had a plan and everything that could go wrong, did? I mean you took all the right steps, talked to all the right people. You got the degree and had good grades, made the Dean's List several times. Didn't party too hard and regularly visited the church of your choice. Tried not to intently hurt people, but your actions still weren't well received? Such is life, sometimes. Doing what's right doesn't always guarantee the best results. It's sad, but it's true. But, do you supposed to give up and give in? ABSOLUTELY NOT, you are supposed to dust off the seat of your pants and get up and try it again. Just like the little engine that could, give yourself hope and affirmations. "I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN, UNTIL YOU JUST KNOW YOU CAN"...That is paramount right there, whatever you think you are, YOU ARE. You have to BELIEVE that things can be better, and just don't take NO for an answer. If you don't think failure is an option, THEN IT'S NOT!!!!



Now, a person who has proved this over and over again is Fantasia Barrino. I LOVE ME SOME FANTASIA BARRINO. All my kids do too, when Idol 2004 was running, we would all sit together and critique the whole show...We especially couldn't wait for Fantasia's turn to sing. Just like in the video, when Fantasia won that night, we were crying harder than she was. We still have it on disc, and still watch it periodically. WE LOVE FANTASIA, FA REAL...When she first came out, she did a stop in Nashville, and you already know I was right there at the front of the stage holding her hand. Her brother, who is a big guy by the way, made her stop holding my hand and talk to the other people...I was scared of him so you know I didn't protest, at all...She is so real, and a wonder to meet in person. It was two little girls who were in town from High Point, who wanted to meet her and she was so sweet and took several pictures with them.



Here are a few tidbits about Fantasia, listed on IMDb website. She was born, Fantasia Monique Barrino, on June 30, 1984, in High Point, North Carolina. She has one daughter, Zion Quari Barrino, born on August 8, 2001. Fantasia was the 3rd Season American Idol Winner of 2004.



Fantasia's #1 hit song "I Believe" was co-written by another American Idol contestant,
Tamyra Gray from Season 1, who also contributed background vocals to "I Believe".



On May 28, 2005 she made Billboard chart history when she became the first female artist to place three songs in the top five of the Adult R&B Chart and then the very next week she became the first artist to have two of the top three songs on that chart with "Truth Is" at #2 and "Free Yourself" at #3.



Just two months after its release, her debut album (Free Yourself) sold over one million copies and went platinum.



Her signature version of "Summertime" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number one, the first female artist to do so with her first record.



Released autobiography and best selling book, "Life Is Not A Fairy Tale" in 2005.
Dropped out of high school after a sexual assault that left her feeling embarrassed and harassed.



The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale


In this
Lifetime Original Movie, Director Debbie Allen gives viewers a first hand look at the struggles Fantasia faced before her rise to fame. The movie begins with Fantasia's humble beginnings, growing up in a close knit God-fearing family that faced its own personal demons of struggling with their dreams. Fantasia faces problems with her self esteem, sexual abuse, teen pregnancy and her faith as she fights to overcome her mistakes at a young age. This movie depicted from her best selling Biopic of the same name, provides an emotional heart warming example of what you can achieve when believing in yourself.



The movie premiered on Saturday, August 19, 2006 at 9:00 PM. It was Lifetime's second most watched movie in its twenty-two year history, with more than nineteen million viewers tuning in during the August 19-20 weekend to watch. The movie was ranked the number one basic cable movie premiere in 2006 among women aged 18-49. Weekend online traffic to Lifetimetv.com rose by more than seventy percent during that weekend.
[2]
In 2007, the movie and its actors including Fantasia, Loretta Devine and Kadeem Hardison have been nominated for 4 NAACP Image Awards.



When the movie debuted my whole family got together, I cooked and we sat and watched Fantasia's debut on Lifetime. Fantasia is currently cast as Celie, in Oprah Winfrey's Broadway play, "The Color Purple." My plans are to go and take in the play and support her before her contract is up in January 2008.



Marinate on these lyrics, written by Tamyra Gray, but come to life with Fantasia's soulful voice. She sings with so much feeling, you know from her swagger that, "Life is not a Fairy Tale".

Have you ever reached a rainbow's end
And did you find your pot of gold
Ever catch a shooting star
And tell me how high did you soar
Ever felt like you were dreaming
Just to find that you're awake
And the magic that surrounds you
Can lift you up and guide you on your way
[Chorus:] I can see it in the stars across the sky
Dreamt a hundred thousand dreams before
Now I finally realize You see
I've waited all my life for this moment to arrive
And finally, I believe When you look out in the distance
You see it never was that far Ohhh No
Heaven knows your existance
And leads you to be everything you are Ohhh
There's a time for every soul to fly
It's in the eyes of every child
It's the hope, the love that saves the world
[I Believe Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com]
And, ohhh, we should never let it go [Chorus]
I believe in the impossible
If I reach deep within my heart
Overcome any obstacle
Won't let this dream fall apart
See I strive to be the very best
Shine my light for all to see
Cause anything is possible
When you believe yeah
[Chorus] Ohh Yeah Love keeps liftin me higher
Liftin me higher Love keeps liftin me higher
I said love keeps liften
Love keeps liften me
I said Love keeps liften
Love keeps liften me higher
Said love keeps liften me higher
I said love keeps liften me high

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