It’s sad. When you google Fancy it will tell that Reba released in 1990 with no mention of Bobbie Gentry. You have ask when Bobbie released but then after you see the info, as you scroll down it will go back to saying Reba. I love Reba but Bonnie deserves credit for it. She wrote it in 1969 and released it in 1970
Yes! My grandmama introduced me to ode to Billie Joe when I was little and pressed on the story of it. Lyrics mean so much to me now. I’m 33 and she’s still thriving💕
I feel the opposite. I think Bobbie is a great storyteller, but I thought Reba brought out way more emotion in this song. I think this version is just too pop-ish for the story.
Bobbie Gentry captured my imagination back in 1967 with Ode to Billie Joe so anything else she did was even better if that is possible. She was a genius.
And in 1967, at 7 years old in Vicksburg Ms...ALL I wanted for Christmas was a Bobby Gentry wig. I had short hair ,had been wearing my mother's half slips on my head for long hair, and when I got that wig from Santa, I was one happy little girl. Mama got her slip back and it's been one of most favorite memories of Christmas. I stayed in front of the mirror with that wig on, along with my hot pink nightie trimmed in feathers and matching slippers.😂
I spent the summer of 1999 trying to find her. I was a radio dj for years and was thoroughly convinced this was the perfect song. Perfect I admire her. She hit it all. Made that money...sold the records....and then......just walked right away from it ALL. Walked right out on fame. Who does that???? Her. She is perfection and she worked it and walked.
@@padraicotoole2972 he continued to do shows/concerts up until a couple months before he died. She, however, has not done anything in public in decades and no one even knows where she lives.
Know what I love about some of the Bobbie Gentry performances I've seen on RU-vid? She has natural rhythm and can dance so smooth when she moves. Not saying she could get outrageous with it - she probably could - but I would've loved to see her pop up on an episode of 'Soul Train' moving all silky like that. She's a great dancer, in my opinion. 😎
well i think not. these matters are addressed in all art form in all eras in all societies. the reason that it works is that it is self contextualized and the person addressing audience is a character or persona in a well crafted drama.
Fantastic to see this crisp vid of Bobby throwing in a little of her go go dancer beginnings. She blew up big but country wasn’t really ready for a women of such down home rawness and independence at that time. She got out quick once the record companies couldn’t sustain her success, but she left with the bag and lived a real happy and successful life outside of show biz, never bothered to update us or do interviews. That’s f...in CLASS.
I always think a song belongs to the writer not the singer but I really think Reba interprets better still gentry provided the blueprint and deserves most of the credit
Bobbie’s version was on Mainstream Pop Radio stations. That’s the way it was in the 70’s. Country was really down home twang back then. Some purists think that is better. I like it all. Good songwriting and good music transcends genre.
i've heard this song a hundred times and i still tear up every time she says "i mighta been born just plain white trash but fancy was my name" i have no idea why. but it gets me every single time
Ken's wife here. Now I know where my mom learned her dance moves. She danced just like Bobby Gentry. My cousin and his sister were awesome dancers too. Very similar moves. Mom was 15 when I was born so as a young child I was around a lot of people that was into 50s and 60s music. Bobby Gentry's first album.
This amazing talented singer Bobbie Gentry needs to be recognized for her talent and amazing music and writing she needs to be in the country and rock hall of fame
I knew that Reba didn't write this song but I never knew it was a cover song. After finding out Bobbie Gentry sang it first I understand the meaning behind the emotion of the song. Bobbie Gentry lived among that kind of lifestyle.
Time has been kind to Bobbie Gentry and her classic story songs. Fancy has sold 25 million records on over two dozen covers. The latest being Orville Peck's gender bending twist in 2020.
Arthur Serverio, she’s the original creator and performer of the songs lyrics and acoustics. She wrote all her music. Reba just got permission years after to sing Bobby’s song, which was actually Reba’s key break into stardom. Amazing how many people have no knowledge about Bobby Gentry., same as Tony Joe White the original artist who of the song Rainy Night in Georgia that another man gained fame from later performing Tony Joe’s song.
@@sonjajordan7512 I agree that it's amazing how few people realize the impact that Bobbie Gentry had. I also think it's amazing that people don't realize the impact Reba McEntire had. I won't say who I think performs this better because it's all just a matter of personal opinion. Bobbie Gentry was the original but Reba McEntire is for sure the more well-known version. They both did an amazing job. That being said, this song was not Reba's Big break into country music stardom. Reba had her first top 10 country song in 1980 and by the time she released fancy eleven years later in 1991, she had a total of 28 top 10 hits, 14 of those which went to number one. Do I think fancy helped raise her to another level? I can't say that it hurt, But it was only a top ten hit for her, number eight to be exact, so it wasn't this wildly successful number one that catapulted her into international stardom, she was already there
I'm not happy about Reba remaking this song and getting all the credit for it.Most people by that time, had no idea who BG was and had never heard her sing it! Her deep,sultry,southern voice is what made the song! Reba's twangy, country voice did this song no justice! And neither did her band! This song needed little music to send chills down your spine!Don't believe me, just watch her! She sell's herself!She wrote this song! And believe me, she knows how to sing it!
Throughout her career she designed her own outfits, both for herself and for the other performers in her productions. She once had a jeans outfit made up, a Levis jean jacket and matching pants, and it had $1 million worth of diamonds sewn onto it. The outfit had to be stored in a vault between shows.
Wow, I haven't seen Bobbie in so long I forgot how beautiful she was. She was so sweet and had the prettiest clothes. I've still got my Mama`s dress she wore when they all went out one night. That's one thing about the singer's & celebrities from Mississippi that they had in common, they weren't chased by photographers and people when they were here so they were very friendly when you saw them. They have Bobbie`s name spelled wrong here though. She's living in Memphis now.
Really, in Memphis. Reba claims she has disappeared from the face of the earth. Interesting. That's right. Down to earth people from Mississippi. Good people.
I definitely didn't know it was a cover... This is lovely! Her voice is so nice. Look at me, a youth (not really, I'm 36) hearing a song that's 50 years+ and loving it as much as the "original" I grew up with from Reba. 😂 I wonder if Ms Gentry heard Reba's cover and what she thought.
I just showed this to a 23 year old girl at work today, she loves Reba's version but had never heard this, she flipped out and also went crazy over the outfit - Then busted her bubble again when I told her mama(VIcki Lawrence) sang "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" first lol
Lyrics I remember it all very well lookin' back It was the summer I turned eighteen We lived in a one-room, run down shack On the outskirts of New Orleans We didn't have money for food or rent To say the least we were hard-pressed Then Momma spent every last penny we had To buy me a dancin' dress Momma washed and combed and curled my hair And she painted my eyes and lips Then I stepped into the satin dancin' dress It was split in the side clean up to my hips It was red, velvet-trimmed And it fit me good And starin' back from the lookin' glass Was a woman where a half-grown kid had stood "Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down Lord, forgive me for what I do (Please) But if you want out, well it's up to you Now, don't let me down Your Momma's gonna help you move uptown" (Don't let me down, don't let me down) Momma dabbed a little bit of perfume on my neck And she kissed my cheek Then, I saw the tears well up in her troubled eyes When she started to speak She looked at our pitiful shack and then She looked at me and took a ragged breath "Your Pa's runned off, and I'm real sick And the baby's gonna starve to death" She handed me a heart-shaped locket that said "To thine own self be true" And I shivered as I watched a roach crawl across The toe of my high-heel shoe It sounded like somebody else that was talking Askin' "Momma what do I do?" "Just be nice to the gentlemen, Fancy And they'll be nice to you" "Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down Lord, forgive me for what I do (please) But if you want out, well it's up to you Now get on out, girl, you better start movin' uptown" Well, that was the last time I saw my Ma The night I left that rickety shack 'Cause welfare people came and took the baby Mom died and I ain't been back But the wheels of fate had started to turn And for me there was no way out And it wasn't very long 'til I knew exactly What my Momma been talkin' about I did what I had to do But I made myself this solemn vow That I was gonna to be a lady someday Though I didn't know when or how I couldn't see spendin' the rest of my life With my head hung down in shame I mighta been born just plain white trash But Fancy was my name "Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down" Wasn't long after a benevolent man Took me in off the street And one week later I was pourin' his tea In a five-room hotel suite (yes, she was) Well, I've charmed a king, a congressman And an occasional aristocrat And I got me a Georgia mansion And an elegant New York townhouse flat And I ain't done bad (she ain't done bad) Now, in this world there's a lot of self-righteous hypocrites That would call me bad And criticize my Momma for turnin' me out No matter how little we had And though I ain't had to worry about nothin' But now on fifteen years I can still hear the desperation In my poor Momma's voice ringin' in my ear "Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down Lord, forgive me for what I do (please) But if you want out, well it's up to you Now, don't let me down Your Momma's gonna help you move uptown" And I guess she did
Nodd, thank you for taking the time and care for typing the lyrics out. So many take for granted when people do that for us RU-vidrs. Bobby was a great songwriter! I loved to write all of my life, but with songwriting you need a heavy hook and have a melody along with it. I'm a dancer and an author. I'll stick with that.
I've been listening to Bobbie Gentry since 1967, when I was 2, when mom and dad were playing this record on their turntable, Fancy and Ode To Billy Joe...Classics!! Reba was good at singing Fancy but, this is the original and nothing beats the original!!
Funny, how people today try to imitate these amazing people of the past and the incredible vintage style it can ever be duplicated. You can do all the Christmas at Graceland specials you want but it’ll never be the real thing.
Went down to Greenwood, Mississippi three weeks ago. Visited a number of historical sites including where her plaque is near the elementary school she went to. Really cool!
She did a song called Mississippi Delta her voice is so soulful on that song it makes me cringe sometimes you can feel yourself being on the bank of the Mississippi and I've never been there but I still think I have been there thanks to her be safe be peaceful
Bobbie Gentry was brilliant! I guess I get it why she dropped out of sight however wishing she'd allowed us all to enjoy her songs/lyrics for many years after that! Over 50 years later and we're still listening to her talents! Loved her voice and talent!
OMG I've always loved this song. I had no idea that Bobbie sang this way back in the day. She left huge shoes for Reba macentire to fill. Both are and we're amazing entertainers.
