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Fantastic Voyage (Coolio song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Fantastic Voyage
| cover = Coolio - Fantastic Voyage.jpeg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Coolio
| album = It Takes a Thief
| released =
| recorded = 1993
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = G-funk
| length = 5:32 (Main version)
4:08 (Radio version)
| label = Tommy Boy Records
| writer = Norman Beavers, Marvin Craig, Bryan Wino Dobbs, Artis Ivey Jr., Fred Alexander Jr., Mark Adam Wood Jr., Tiemeyer McCain, Thomas Oliver Shelby, Stephen Shockley, Otis Stokes
| producer = Bryan Wino Dobbs
| prev_title = I Remember
| prev_year = 1994
| next_title = Mama I'm in Love Wit a Gangsta
| next_year = 1994
| misc =
}}
'"Fantastic Voyage"' is a song by American rapper Coolio, released in March 1994 as the third single from his debut album, 'It Takes a Thief' (1994). It was later featured on the album 'Fantastic Voyage: The Greatest Hits' and heavily samples the 1981 song, "Fantastic Voyage" by Lakeside. In 2018, Chrysler released a music video featuring Coolio called "Vantastic Voyage" to promote the Chrysler Pacifica minivan.
Content
According to AllMusic's Jason Lymangrover, "With its infectious 'Slide, slide, slippity slide' chorus, it went unnoticed that his breakthrough single, 'Fantastic Voyage,' was actually a song about escapism."[ AllMusic ((( It Takes a Thief > Overview )))] AllMusic. Retrieved on 2008-10-05
Here, as in the artists Gangster's Paradise," Coolio laments the realities of urban black poverty. He writes "Tryin' to find a place... where my kids can play outside without livin' in fear of a drive by."
Critical reception
Dr. Bayyan from 'Cash Box' commented, "Phat, thumpin bass, funky groove and Coolios voice tellin the story of gangin, slingin and killin. This song makes successful use of the old Lakeside hit of the same name. Unlike many artists, Coolio hasnt jumped on the jazz tip. Hes just as funky as can be, especially on the Timber Mix and the QDIII Mix."
Music video
The accompanying music video for the song features Coolio napping on his front porch, when he gets a phone call from his friend Spoon that wakes him. Spoon asks about taking a trip to the beach, to which an annoyed Coolio responds "we ain't got no car" and hangs up on him. Suddenly a mysterious magician man with a '70s style suit, afro, and cane appears and turns the blue bicycle sitting upside down on Coolio's driveway into a blue 1965 Chevrolet Impala convertible car with hydraulics. Now with a means of transportation, Coolio and his crew head to the beach, while picking up people along the way by letting them ride inside the car's trunk. The rest of the video features Coolio at the beach helping the crowd of passengers out of the trunk of the car for a beach party, which includes people of all races and a mariachi band. B-Real of Cypress Hill has a cameo. At the end of the video, the car is transformed back into a bicycle on Coolio's driveway and Coolio is woken up again by a phone call from Spoon, showing that the trip was all just a dream. Coolio reminds him that they have no car, telling him to quit calling, and hangs up. Then Coolio looks at the bike to see the dream car's blue custom California license plate saying "FNTX VYG", based on the song's name, is hanging off the bike's front wheel hub. This leaves him wondering if the events were really a dream and dresses the stage for the video "I Remember."
Cast & credits
* Coolio and guest stars* Directed by: F. Gary Gray
* Cinematographer: Daniel Pearl
* Produced by: Craig Fanning
* Production Manager: Tina Lucarelli and Jack Sawyers
* First assistant director: Greg Webb
* Production coordinators: Frank Bruno, Tina Lucarelli
* Premiere: May 1994, 10:00 a.m.
Official versions
* "Fantastic Voyage" (Radio version) 4:08
* "Fantastic Voyage" (Timber radio edit) 4:01
* "Fantastic Voyage" (Timber mix) 5:32
* "Fantastic Voyage" (Dave Bellochio street mix) 4:20
* "Fantastic Voyage" (QD III remix) 4:30
* "Fantastic Voyage" (QD III bonus beats) 4:30
* "Fantastic Voyage" (Funk master flex remix) 4:04
* "Fantastic Voyage" (J-ski remix) 4:13
* "Fantastic Voyage" (Flex clean radio edit) 4:04
* "Fantastic Voyage" (Flex bonus beats) 2:06
* "Fantastic Voyage" (A cappella) 3:38
* "Fantastic Voyage" (Timber clean radio edit) 4:01
* "Fantastic Voyage" (J-ski clean radio edit) 4:13
* "Fantastic Voyage" (Flex instrumental) 4:54
Chart performance
"Fantastic Voyage" peaked at number 12 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, two on Hot Rap Singles[ AllMusic ((( It Takes a Thief > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))]. AllMusic. Accessed October 5, 2008. and three on the 'Billboard' Hot 100.[ Artist Chart History - Coolio] Billboard. Retrieved on 2008-10-05 The song sold one million copies domestically and received a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
Category:1994 singles
Category:Coolio songs
Category:Tommy Boy Records singles
Category:G-funk songs
Category:Gangsta rap songs
Category:1994 songs
Category:Songs written by Coolio
Category:Music videos directed by F. Gary Gray
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