Mariah started 1995 with several songs, but it would be another nine months before her fans got to hear them. The first thing they heard, at the end of September, was "Fantasy". If "Dreamlover" had seemed like a great single, this one was even better, with a slinky hip-hop groove, a sensuous vocal, and the kind of hook that just sank into the brain.

It was as close to absolutely perfect pop as Mariah had come. That seemed to be the overwhelming opinion all across the United States. On its release, "Fantasy" did what only one other single (Michael Jackson's "You are not alone") had ever done before: it entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 1. This made Mariah the first woman ever to accomplish this, and it meant that "Fantasy" was playing almost everywhere during the fall, as it stayed in the top position for eight straight weeks.

The single was coproduced with Dave Hall (who'd worked with Mariah on "Dreamlover"). "I had the melody idea for Fantasy and then I was listening to the radio and I heard Genius Of Love (the 1982 hit for the Tom Tom Club, a side project for members of Talking Heads), and I hadn't heard it in a long time," Mariah told Fred Bronson. "It reminded me of growing up and listening to the radio and the feeling that song gave me seemed to go along with the melody and the basic idea I had for Fantasy. I initially told Dave Hall about the idea and we did it."

Once the idea had clicked into place, and permission had been gained from the Tom Tom Club to sample the song, putting everything together was a snap. "Mariah brought me Genius Of Love and I laid some strings on it," Dave Hall recalled, "and put it to a groove that I felt would really fit her. And that song didn't take us but a minute to do, because she really busted that out within two days. We did a rough copy and let Tommy Mottola hear it and he loved it, so all we had to do was bring it back in and mix it down."

The song itself made a huge splash, but what went one better was the remix that was included on the single, by Sean ("Puffy") Combs, with a rap by O.D.B. (Ol' Dirty Bastard) of the Wu-Tang Clan. This giant step toward hip-hop was going to get noticed, although Mariah insisted that she'd "always been a fan of hip-hop music", and having grown up in New York, it was likely she had been.

The choice to use Puffy, who wasn't widely known outside hiphop circles then, seemed odd; Mariah could have had her pick of any name producer to do the remix. "He's so known in the street and he's one of the best people out there. We kind of did what we both do and having O.D.B. took it to another level. He was my ultimate choice, so I was really happy about the way it turned out."

If Puffy had seemed like an odd selection, O.D.B. was just plain weird. No one had thought of a collaboration between Mariah and Wu-Tang. "I've been a fan of his style since Wu-Tang first came out," she said. "I just think it's kind of unique about how he raps and kind of sings, too. I thought that because we were using the Tom Tom Club track that his voice was perfectly suited for it. We got a hold of him, and we did it. He basically went in and freestyled."

Even with this first single, it was obvious that Mariah had been very involved. She'd even directed the video for "Fantasy", which premiered September 7 on the MTV Music Video Awards. Set in one of Mariah's very favorite places, an amusement park - the same old park were scened from "Big" and "Fatal attraction" were shot - it showed Mariah roller-blading, and Mariah singing along on a roller-coaster ride. "The did not expect me to get that shot," she admitted. "They were saying, 'How she's going to sing on a roller coaster?' We put a little speaker in the bottom of the car, where my feet were. We built the rig in front of the roller coaster and the lens kept falling off."

The clip opened with O.D.B. on a boardwalk, rapping that Carey is "hot like fiy-ah". As he flashed his 24-karat grin and mugged for the camera, it's impossible not to watch him. "My idea for O.D.B. is that he kind of comes in and takes over the video and just steals the show," Mariah said. "He wore a wig at one point because he wanted to be a crazy kind of character, introducing himself. And at the end of the video, he does a singing part, and I really wanted to get that on film, because his style of rapping and then singing is really an important part of who he is, and I wanted to capture that, too."

Directing seemed a natural extension to Mariah, given that she'd been unhappy with some of the results in the past. "I just wanted to do it because it's my song and I really want it to come out the way I want it to be."

For a debut, it was very impressive, as professional as any other video out there. Taken all together, the pieces seemed to indicate that this was a new Mariah, taking herself and her music to new places, very much in control of what she was doing.

CD-SINGLES

5" CD-single from Australia (1087) 662370 2 collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Album Version) 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy Fantasy) 3. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix) 5. Fantasy (Def Club Mix)

5" CD-single from Australia (1029) 662505 2 collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Radio Mix) 2. Fantasy (MC Mix) 3. Fantasy (The Boss Mix) 4. Fantasy (Sweet Dub Mix) 5. Fantasy (Puffy's Club Mix)

5" CD-single from Australia (1079) 662505 5 collection Amanda Erickson Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (MC Mix) 2. Fantasy (Puffy's Mix) 3. Fantasy (Puffy's Club Mix) 4. Fantasy (The Boss Mix) 5. Fantasy (Sweet Dub Mix)

5" CD-single from Austria (0231) XPCD 728 promo collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Album Version)

5" CD-single from Austria (0226) 662461 1 collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.)

5" CD-single from Austria (0227) 662461 2 collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Album Version) 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy Fantasy) 3. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix) 5. Fantasy (Def Club Mix)

5" CD-single from Brazil (1286) 44.010/2-662461 collection Raphael Armand Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Album Version) 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy Fantasy) 3. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix) 5. Fantasy (Def Club Mix)

5" CD-single from Canada (1254) 38K 78043 collection Marcel Trupia Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.)

3" CD-single from Japan (0230) SRDS 8303 collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.)

3" CD-single from Japan (2655) SRDS 8303 promo collection Andy Ariyanto Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) This CD-Single is exactly the same as item 0230, but on the back cover is a sticker saying "not for sale" and on the single is a stamp saying "sample".

5" CD-single from Mexico (1077) PRCD 96518 promo collection Marcel Trupia Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy Fantasy) 3. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 5. Fantasy (Radio Mix)

5" CD-single from South-Africa (1993) CDSIN 72 I collection Marcel Trupia Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Album Version) 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy Fantasy) 3. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix) 5. Fantasy (Def Club Mix)

5" CD-single from South-Korea (0228) CPK-1629 (CSK 7321) collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Album Version) 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy Fantasy) 3. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix) 5. Fantasy (Def Club Mix)

5" CD-single from Spain (1994) 662461 1 collection Marcel Trupia Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.)

5" CD-single from Spain (3195) 662461 2 collection Marcel Trupia Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Album Version) 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy Fantasy) 3. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix) 5. Fantasy (Def Club Mix)

5" CD-single from the UK (1086) 662495 2 with lyrics collection Kerry Scrimshaw Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Album Version) 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy Fantasy) 3. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix) 5. Fantasy (Def Club Mix)

5" CD-single from the UK (1083) 662495 5 with lyrics collection Kerry Scrimshaw Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (MC Mix) 2. Fantasy (Puffy's Mix) 3. Fantasy (Puffy's Club Mix) 4. Fantasy (The Boss Mix) 5. Fantasy (Sweet Dub Mix)

5" CD-single from the USA (1920) 11-003042-20 promo collection Ben Constans Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Puffy's Club Mix) 2. Fantasy (Radio Mix)

5" CD-single from the USA (0229) CSK 7320 promo collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Album Version)

5" CD-single from the USA (3128) CSK 7320 promo collection Andy Hermawan Tjondrodihardjo Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Album Version) This promo is exactly the same as item 0229, but was meant for the Japanese market.

5" CD-single from the USA (1088) CSK 7321 promo Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Album Version) 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy Fantasy 3. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 5. Fantasy (Radio Mix)

5" CD-single from the USA (0224) 38K 78043 collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.)

5" CD-single from the USA (0225) 44K 78044 collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Album Version) 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy Fantasy) 3. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix) 5. Fantasy (Def Club Mix)

VINYL SINGLES

7" vinyl single from Holland (0235) 662461 7 collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.)

12" vinyl maxi-single from Holland (2238) SAMP 3042 promo collection Luc Baumgartner Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Puffy's Club Mix) 2. Fantasy (Radio Mix)

12" vinyl maxi-single from Holland (0233) XPR 2246 promo double pack collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Def Club Mix) 2. Fantasy (MC Mix) 3. Fantasy (Puffy's Mix) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 5. Fantasy (Album Version) 6. Fantasy (The Boss Mix) 7. Fantasy (Sweet Dub Mix) 8. Fantasy (Puffy's Club Mix) 9. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix)

12" vinyl maxi-single from Holland (1089) 662461 6 double pack Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Def Club Mix) 2. Fantasy (MC Mix) 3. Fantasy (Puffy's Mix) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 5. Fantasy (Album Version) 6. Fantasy (The Boss Mix) 7. Fantasy (Sweet Dub Mix) 8. Fantasy (Puffy's Club Mix) 9. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix)

7" vinyl single from Malaysia (1968) E 6073 special for juke-box, without picture sleeve collection Luc Baumgartner Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy - Mariah Carey 2. Can I touch you there - Michael Bolton

7" vinyl single from the USA (0234) 38-78043 without picture sleeve collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.)

12" vinyl maxi-single from the USA (0232) 44X 78044 double pack collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Def Club Mix) 2. Fantasy (MC Mix) 3. Fantasy (Puffy's Mix) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 5. Fantasy (Album Version) 6. Fantasy (The Boss Mix) 7. Fantasy (Sweet Dub Mix) 8. Fantasy (Puffy's Club Mix) 9. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix)

CASSETTE SINGLES

cassette single from Australia (1078) 662370 8 collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Album Version) 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy Fantasy) 3. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix) 5. Fantasy (Def Club Mix)

cassette single from Australia (1084) 662505 8 Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Radio Mix) 2. Fantasy (MC Mix) 3. Fantasy (The Boss Mix) 4. Fantasy (Sweet Dub Mix) 5. Fantasy (Puffy's Club Mix)

cassette single from Canada (2416) 38T 78043 collection Gunyakrit C. Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.)

cassette single from Holland (0223) 662495 4 collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (LP Version) 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.)

cassette single from Malaysia (0222) 38T 78043 tracks repeated on both sides collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Album Version) 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy Fantasy 3. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 5. Fantasy (Radio Mix)

cassette single from the USA (1085) 38T 78043 Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.)

cassette single from the USA (1454) 44T 78044 collection Pete Phanthavady Tracklisting: 1. Fantasy (Album Version) 2. Fantasy (Bad Boy Fantasy) 3. Fantasy (Bad Boy with O.D.B.) 4. Fantasy (Bad Boy Mix) 5. Fantasy (Def Club Mix)

SHEET MUSIC

sheet music from the USA (1834) HL00351207 Hal Leonard Corporation collection Sharon Zagame