Season 3 American Idol winner Fantasia followed up her platinum-selling debut Free Yourself with her self-titled sophomore album in December 2006. The two big singles from Fantasia were “Hood Boy” and “When I See U.”
Like her first album, where she worked with Jermaine Dupri, Missy Elliott, Sean Garrett, Jazze Pha, and Darkchild, Fantasia’s second album was full of heavy hitters behind the boards. She had Babyface, Diane Warren, Kwamé, and Dre & Vidal this time. For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I decided to go with my favorite song from that album, “I Nominate U.”
Dre & Vidal produced this one and co-wrote the track with two members of the now defunct songwriting collective, The Clutch. “I Nominate U” is set in an organic and lush arrangement. The song finds Fantasia effectively setting up a night of intimacy. As Tasia sings her heart out to the lucky man she’s waiting to arrive, you can hear the sincerity in her voice.
“I been thinking bout this
All day long
Cant believe how I’m gone
And my minds blown off of you
I’m anticipating (oh)
When you’re coming home (oh)
See, tonight were bout to try out something new
I was thinking role play if you’re ready, boy, get ready
(Lets see you be Denzel)
Its your training day boy come and get me, are you with me
Lets keep the lights on cause tonight I wanna watch you perform
(Watch ya perform Let me see what cha got for yo girl now baby)
When I turn you on you steal the show boy you should get an award
(As a matter a fact boy ya’ know that I do)
I nominate u”
I was three months into my only Air Force deployment when this song arrived. At the time, I was single, but I knew that GOD was saving someone for me. Thus hearing songs like “I Nominate U” would reassure me that my queen was out there in the world. Surprisingly the track wasn’t a single, which is a shame as it would’ve been a colossal concert song for Fantasia.
Final Grade: B+
“I Nominate U” from Fantasia is available on all streaming platforms.
For the first Second Listen Sunday of 2025, I wanted to return to 2005 and highlight “Gemini,” the eighth album from iconic singer & balladeer Brian McKnight. The album hit stores on February 8th, 2005, and would serve as the singer’s last release on the legendary Motown label. The album’s title pays homage to the singer’s astrological sign.
When discussing families in R&B music, three names are usually at the top: Jackson, Debarge, and Isley. For the first Slow Jam Saturday of 2025, I wanted to show love to Isley Jasper Isley and their hit “Insatiable Woman” from their 1985 album “Caravan of Love.”
For their second single, the group presented a ballad entitled “Feels Like The First Time.” Once again, Greene handles the lyrics, while Neville Hodge is responsible for production duties. Greene begins the song with robust energy, proclaiming his love for the lady. Greene’s group members provide stellar work on the background vocals, and the songs eschew nineties R&B without going into crass vulgarity.