Editor’s be aware: The next article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the creator’s personal. Learn extra opinions on theGrio.
In early November 2024, a video of College of South Carolina soccer coach, Shane Beamer, went viral. After South Carolina’s 44-20 win over Texas A&M College, Coach Beamer determined to have his gamers serenade his spouse for her birthday within the locker room. And what track did his soccer gamers belt out enthusiastically on the prime of their lungs? None aside from singer Fantasia’s 2006 hit, “After I See U,” a track that hit the highest of the R&B charts method again yonder in 2007, however appears to be primary within the hearts and minds of individuals in all places on this, the yr of our lord, two-thousand and twenty-four.
To cite Kanye West, “HOW SWAY?”
How does a track that was a bop in a time earlier than America had its first Black president grow to be tremendous fashionable nearly twenty years later? Properly, the apparent reply is social media, and TikTok specifically. In truth, a easy search of “Fantasia After I See You” on the platform pulls over 24 million movies. TWENTY FOUR MILLION. There are movies of basketball gamers singing the track and folk of their properties doing covers. There are newscasters and dances. People have remade their very own variations. It’s the present that retains on giving.
Regardless of social media deciding “After I See U” wanted to get its full flowers and glory, what’s it about this track specifically that has adults, kids and possibly even animals singing (and/or screaming) the lyrics on the prime of their lungs?
Check out that video of the soccer workforce serenading the coach’s spouse. The coach has heard that track sufficient occasions to know that his gamers like it. The coach knew they cherished it a lot that if he performed it out of nowhere, sufficient of his gamers wouldn’t solely know the phrases however take part absolutely in sharing it with the world—and his spouse. However have a look at that pleasure; as quickly because the gamers heard these opening chords, they took flight. I do not know if Coach Beamer’s spouse is aware of that track nevertheless it issues not. Everyone else in that room did.
And so they all realize it as a result of “After I See U” is an simple bop. It’s a jam. It’s sunshine on a marriage day. It’s the cop not displaying up once you present up in court docket to contest a rushing ticket. It’s discovering an additional order of fries in your bag once you solely ordered one. It’s lovely. It jams and Fantasia jams on it. “After I See U” is a track about being nervously in love with any person. It’s cute. It’s a couple of crush. It’s the modern-era model of The Temptations “Simply My Creativeness (Operating Away With Me),” simply one of many biggest songs of all time. It’s one other track whose opening chords additionally trigger all who realize it to lose their thoughts and grow to be Temptations for a couple of minutes too.
After I hear Fantasia sing with that outstandingly lovely one-of-one voice of hers, I get excited. The track is the right mesh of beats, rhymes, and life. It’s hip-hop in R&B type over a beat that rappers like Fabolous used to show into monster rap jams.
Plus, let’s study this proper fast: who HASN’T felt just like the lyrics to this track? Who hasn’t been caught up on an individual who has your entire consideration and also you need to speak to them however you’re afraid to take action. For me, that was three of my 4 years in faculty. And true story, we’re all in all probability that individual for any person else, too. We’ve been there and achieved that. It’s the plot of so many romantic comedies in three minutes and thirty-six seconds, and who doesn’t love romantic comedies? (If somebody doesn’t love them, inform me so I can by no means communicate to these individuals once more.) I’m married and I like the concept of “new love” in strikes I’ve watched 100 occasions already.
Most significantly “After I See U” is simply so doggone enjoyable to sing. There are a couple of songs which can be completely good for karaoke. “Return of The Mack,” something by Luther Vandross, Taylor Swift’s “We Are By no means Getting Again Collectively,” SWV’s catalog, and so forth. all come to thoughts. Fantasia’s “After I See U” is totally top-10 on that checklist. And since so many individuals know the phrases, it really works for big gatherings of Black individuals like church, live shows, household reunions, funerals, and cookouts.
There actually isn’t any unhealthy time to play this track. Simply the opposite night time, I had a bunch of individuals over my home for some cause or one other, and the individual operating music placed on “After I See U” and each individual, younger and outdated, sang the phrases in unison and pleasure. (Regardless of once you learn that sentence, it will likely be true; there are ALWAYS individuals over at my home.)
I don’t know who determined that the 2020s wanted Fantasia’s hit as a lot because the 2000s did, however that individual is a nationwide hero. In a world with a lot chaos, I’m glad we now have Fantasia, her voice, and her music to make it just a bit bit higher.
“After I See U” right now, “After I See U” tomorrow, “After I See U” perpetually.
Panama Jackson is a columnist at theGrio and host of the award-winning podcast, “Pricey Tradition” on theGrio Black Podcast Community. He writes very Black issues, drinks very brown liquors, and is fairly fly for a light-weight man. His greatest accomplishment to this point coincides along with his Blackest accomplishment to this point in that he acquired a cellphone name from Oprah Winfrey after she learn certainly one of his items (greatest) however he didn’t reply the cellphone as a result of the caller ID mentioned “Unknown” (Blackest).
