The Hit Album That Never Was: Ciara's 'Fantasy Ride'

The mishandling of Ciara's third album still befuddles me to this day. And yes, I did just say befuddle. While many say that it's Ciara worst album to date, those same people have probably never listened to it through to the end and based their opinion on the low record sales (which alot of music fans do today, unfortunately). The problem with the album wasn't the music, at all. In fact, some of the songs on Fantasy Ride were her strongest to this day.

First was the operatic club banger "High Price." Featuring Ludacris, "High Price" was slated to be the huge lead single from the project...until it leaked and got demoted to album track. Ciara then went on to release "Go Girl," which surprisingly underperformed. I honestly love that song, and the video is quite honestly one of the better R&B videos of the past 3 years. Then Jive stupidly released the lackluster "Never Ever." To make up for it, she quickly hit the studio with Justin Timberlake to get a guaranteed hit single, "Love Sex Magic." And a top 10 hit it was. But that honestly didn't help her much.





But after that single, Fantasy Ride kind of became, extinct. "Turntables" was slated to be a HUGE single, as it was a urban-dance smash and featured Chris Brown, who at the time was the "IT" guy in the music world. And seeing how Ciara & Chris are probably the best dancers we've had since the Jackson's, people would've went insane for the live performances and the video. But then, Chris decided he wanted beat the shit out of Rihanna, and all hope was lost for that song as a single.



Two other songs were announced as singles, but never were released. Two songs that should have been the two lead singles to begin with: "Work" feat. Missy Elliott, and "Like A Surgeon." "Work" was easily a top 5 hit waiting to happen. It was Ciara's sequel to "1 2 Step" and could've been equally as big. "Like A Surgeon" would have dominated R&B charts, much like "Ride" did in 2010. For me, "Like A Surgeon" is one of Ciara's best songs to date. If you don't agree, listen to it in your car with the bass turned up.



"Like A Surgeon"


The sexy Ginuwine "Pony" meets Janet Jackson vibe mixed with the crazy but super dope medical/hospital metaphors, genius! I really have to give Dream his props on this one. Tricky as well. Every time I hear this song, I start imagining the video and how epic this song could have been for her. Who the hell chose to release "Never Ever" when she had songs like "Work" & "Like A Surgeon" on the album? "Pucker Up" was another pop smash (it fit right in with Gaga's music at the time) that went to waste. It makes no sense.

Even the album songs are pretty dope. The album opener "Ciara To The Stage" is a sexy slow urban song that gets you in the mood right before the album explodes into uptempo land. "Keep Dancin On Me" is a Dream written, Tricky produced dance song: A slower dance record that would have been praised on a Rihanna album. Ci closes the album with the breezy, mid-tempo ode to being drunk, "I Don't Remember," which paints a vivid picture in your head as you listen. A big step away from her "Goodies" sound.

"I Don't Remember"


Jive's mishandling of Fantasy Ride was so insane, I still don't understand it. Ciara fed us the stories about how she needed to go back to her urban, hood sound, back to the "basics," but if L.A. Reid is smart, Ciara's debut Epic Records album will follow the format used for Fantasy Ride: an international pop album, but with heavy urban roots. There's no reason she can't be as big as Rihanna, especially seeing how she's much more talented. But can L.A. get people interested again? Will he play his cards right? There's rumors of a first single featuring Drake being released soon. If true, that's a promising start to a new chapter in her story.