it could have been Bobbie Gentry s version of it her song was the original I think Bobbie Gentry wrote it if I remember right . Thanks for request and reaction.
Fancy may have started out "being nice to the gentlemen" but she became an actress and singer according to the star-struck cab driver who said he and his wife had seen all her movies and had all her records. Her mother saved her from a life where there was no hope of ever escaping.
"Fancy" is, to me at least, one of the greatest stories ever told in Country Music. As other commenters pointed out, Bobbie Gentry wrote these incredible lyrics, however I much prefer Reba as a vocalist compared to Bobbie, so this is the version I always go to. A classic, simple as that.
Reba's hit is off a much older version, written and performed also quite wonderfully by Bobbie Gentry. Reba, as ever, does a superb job pushing the story along with words alone, but with the video...and what a fine job that young lady did, acting that part... it gives this song a much deeper and haunting quality. As I mentioned to Don, this is one of those cases where the video is right on the cusp of being almost a requirement...even though the song itself stands alone all on its own. And yes, as Don mentions (AND Reba, in the song), it leaves us with a moral dilemma, just as it did when it was written...and again when this video was produced, and produced a figurative firestorm of differing opinion across America. How far should a parent go, knowing they're at death's door, and have no other options? She spent "every last penny they had" to buy that dress. And tho her mother's prediction that the baby would starve didn't happen, it could have. Instead, the mother passed. I think the idea there was "real sick" was another way of saying "terminal" (like cancer). Remember, "The county came & took the baby, momma died..." So...she's left with her poor momma's voice ringin' in her ears. "Here's your one chance, Fancy. Don't let me down" And please keep in mind, for the single positive outcome that Fancy had, there are thousands of runaways that don't get as lucky as Fancy did.
This song and video always moves me, even though I've seen/heard it a million times. BTW I saw Reba live back when this was a hit. That was back in the early 90s; yeah I know, one of my favourite eras of Country Music. Anyway she came out onto the stage in one of those big taxi cabs. She basically re-enacted this video live on stage. Obviously I'll never forget that performance. Thanks you Scott for this excellent request and thanks Don for the terrific reaction.
In Canada and probably all over the USA, child welfare stops at 18, until 21 if a child goes to College and/or University (at least in Canada), then it stops. So, that is probably why the mother had to make a hard decision. There would be no more money coming in for Fancy and only the baby would the mother receive child welfare money but that was probably not enough to live on (besides the Mother was sick too).
That's the problem, and the crux of the controversy that ignited a firestorm that raged over this song and video for the last half-century +. How far should a parent be willing to go, when there's nothing else to do to ensure the survival of your child past your death? ...and there's nowhere else to turn, and even the "state" has nothing to help. It's divided "survivalists" and "moralists" on the topic for decades.
I, too, am very surprised you haven't done this one yet. It's one of Reba's top 5 famous songs. It is a song about prostitution. A lot of reactors edge around that, but it's clear in the song. She says it clearly. If you've heard the song before, it's possible you've heard the original and not a cover because even though it is one of the main songs she's known for, it is a cover of a Bobbie Gentry song.
@RN2Country Thank you for the Reaction/Gift! Quick question. I've been (slowly) working my way through your old catalog. If I leave a request/recommendation as a comment in one of those ancient videos, will you still see it?
I was happy to see this song come up on your channel because I really wanted to hear your thoughts on it. We usually agree on what you say in your reactions and I love to hear your thoughts. My thoughts on this song is that, no matter what, there is always a choice. I would have searched and searched for something, anything else really, besides turning my child to that. You are dealt a new hand every day. Yes, you may still have extreme poverty but it just seems there is something new with each day. Never would hand my child over to that lifestyle.
Being at death's door and only having enough left for that dress...leaves you limited options. ...hence the uproar both times this song charted, both with Bobbie, then an even bigger uproar with Reba because of the visuals.
@scottpowell5605 you said "limited options," which proves my point. Yes, options!! There had to be another choice. I refuse to believe she couldn't contact anyone else in the world, (ie friends, police, church, teachers)...
@@linkcurry5235 The feeling I got from the lyric, and especially from the video (note the cab-driver's description of the neighborhood as "not the best of places" to leave her alone") was that she didn't have many options in the way of resources. But a woman in that situation (were it me) would have exhausted every possible avenue before even thinking of such a thing. And...often, that level of desperation can blind one to the solution that is staring you right in the face. But having no resources, no church, no relatives...and staring death in the face herself, she made a choice. One I imagine she took to her grave as a "mortal-sin", no matter how the world judged her. And this is what has divided moralists and survivalists on the topic of this song since 1970. Nearly 5.5 DECADES. There is no Right Answer until you're faced with that decision in the moment. And finally, before you say "I refuse to believe..." consider walking in the shoes of someone that desperate. ...consider instead choosing the term "I find it hard to believe..." I choose not to judge her at all, since I hope never to be in her shoes.
@RN2Country For another great video by Reba, consider Reba McEntire - Sweet Music Man (Official Music Video). While the video itself isn't strictly related to the music, the artistry and capturing of how they filmed her singing...and the opening few seconds explaining how the song came to be...make the video a "should watch" to experience fully. This is a song originally penned by Kenny Rogers, and he made his hit off of it way back in the day...but I always considered this to be a "Woman's song". ...Reba proved me right.
"To thine own self be true" is what is wrong with this world. To God and the rest of humanity be true, especially God. Too many people let self rule their lives and we all pay the price.
The great thing about music appreciation is that it's a purely subjective thing. There are no right or wrong answers, only what is right for you. Bobbie's version was stellar. I connect more to Reba's because my formative years were in the 80's. That doesn't mean your opinion is any less valid, though.
![Reba McEntire -- Is There Life Out There [REACTION/GIFT]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5kkRX5324qI/mqdefault.jpg)
![Reba McEntire -- Is There Life Out There [REACTION/GIFT]](/img/tr.png)
![Hank Williams, Jr. -- I've Got Rights [REACTION/RATING]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LkjWuOXo3Pw/mqdefault.jpg)
FYI, she sang "The summer I turned 18" (not 13).
Great reaction. Yes Reba's version was a cover of Bobbie Gentry's original. I like both ; each seems like a different style to the song. :)
it could have been Bobbie Gentry s version of it her song was the original I think Bobbie Gentry wrote it if I remember right . Thanks for request and reaction.
Yes I think jt was
1970. She wrote & recorded her own version.
Reba does great with the movie aspect
She turned 18 ❤
Fancy may have started out "being nice to the gentlemen" but she became an actress and singer according to the star-struck cab driver who said he and his wife had seen all her movies and had all her records. Her mother saved her from a life where there was no hope of ever escaping.
"Fancy" is, to me at least, one of the greatest stories ever told in Country Music.
As other commenters pointed out, Bobbie Gentry wrote these incredible lyrics, however I much prefer Reba as a vocalist compared to Bobbie, so this is the version I always go to.
A classic, simple as that.
Reba's hit is off a much older version, written and performed also quite wonderfully by Bobbie Gentry.
Reba, as ever, does a superb job pushing the story along with words alone, but with the video...and what a fine job that young lady did, acting that part... it gives this song a much deeper and haunting quality.
As I mentioned to Don, this is one of those cases where the video is right on the cusp of being almost a requirement...even though the song itself stands alone all on its own.
And yes, as Don mentions (AND Reba, in the song), it leaves us with a moral dilemma, just as it did when it was written...and again when this video was produced, and produced a figurative firestorm of differing opinion across America.
How far should a parent go, knowing they're at death's door, and have no other options? She spent "every last penny they had" to buy that dress.
And tho her mother's prediction that the baby would starve didn't happen, it could have. Instead, the mother passed. I think the idea there was "real sick" was another way of saying "terminal" (like cancer).
Remember, "The county came & took the baby, momma died..."
So...she's left with her poor momma's voice ringin' in her ears.
"Here's your one chance, Fancy. Don't let me down"
And please keep in mind, for the single positive outcome that Fancy had, there are thousands of runaways that don't get as lucky as Fancy did.
Great story. You do what has to be done to survive
And even more to make sure your child makes it when you know you're not long for this world
This song and video always moves me, even though I've seen/heard it a million times. BTW I saw Reba live back when this was a hit. That was back in the early 90s; yeah I know, one of my favourite eras of Country Music. Anyway she came out onto the stage in one of those big taxi cabs. She basically re-enacted this video live on stage. Obviously I'll never forget that performance. Thanks you Scott for this excellent request and thanks Don for the terrific reaction.
That would be cool
In Canada and probably all over the USA, child welfare stops at 18, until 21 if a child goes to College and/or University (at least in Canada), then it stops. So, that is probably why the mother had to make a hard decision. There would be no more money coming in for Fancy and only the baby would the mother receive child welfare money but that was probably not enough to live on (besides the Mother was sick too).
That's the problem, and the crux of the controversy that ignited a firestorm that raged over this song and video for the last half-century +.
How far should a parent be willing to go, when there's nothing else to do to ensure the survival of your child past your death?
...and there's nowhere else to turn, and even the "state" has nothing to help.
It's divided "survivalists" and "moralists" on the topic for decades.
This video does the song justice
This video actually makes the song come alive
I, too, am very surprised you haven't done this one yet. It's one of Reba's top 5 famous songs. It is a song about prostitution. A lot of reactors edge around that, but it's clear in the song. She says it clearly.
If you've heard the song before, it's possible you've heard the original and not a cover because even though it is one of the main songs she's known for, it is a cover of a Bobbie Gentry song.
Funny you are wearing the NYFD hat!!
@RN2Country Thank you for the Reaction/Gift!
Quick question. I've been (slowly) working my way through your old catalog. If I leave a request/recommendation as a comment in one of those ancient videos, will you still see it?
I was happy to see this song come up on your channel because I really wanted to hear your thoughts on it. We usually agree on what you say in your reactions and I love to hear your thoughts. My thoughts on this song is that, no matter what, there is always a choice. I would have searched and searched for something, anything else really, besides turning my child to that. You are dealt a new hand every day. Yes, you may still have extreme poverty but it just seems there is something new with each day. Never would hand my child over to that lifestyle.
Being at death's door and only having enough left for that dress...leaves you limited options.
...hence the uproar both times this song charted, both with Bobbie, then an even bigger uproar with Reba because of the visuals.
@scottpowell5605 you said "limited options," which proves my point. Yes, options!! There had to be another choice. I refuse to believe she couldn't contact anyone else in the world, (ie friends, police, church, teachers)...
@@linkcurry5235 The feeling I got from the lyric, and especially from the video (note the cab-driver's description of the neighborhood as "not the best of places" to leave her alone") was that she didn't have many options in the way of resources.
But a woman in that situation (were it me) would have exhausted every possible avenue before even thinking of such a thing.
And...often, that level of desperation can blind one to the solution that is staring you right in the face.
But having no resources, no church, no relatives...and staring death in the face herself, she made a choice. One I imagine she took to her grave as a "mortal-sin", no matter how the world judged her.
And this is what has divided moralists and survivalists on the topic of this song since 1970. Nearly 5.5 DECADES. There is no Right Answer until you're faced with that decision in the moment.
And finally, before you say "I refuse to believe..." consider walking in the shoes of someone that desperate.
...consider instead choosing the term "I find it hard to believe..."
I choose not to judge her at all, since I hope never to be in her shoes.
Another great Reba song is Somebody Should Leave
In the song Fancy says she remembers it well, it was the summer she turned 18, not 13.
Bobbie Gentry did this song originally back around 1970…. Reba covered it in the early 90’s.
@RN2Country For another great video by Reba, consider Reba McEntire - Sweet Music Man (Official Music Video). While the video itself isn't strictly related to the music, the artistry and capturing of how they filmed her singing...and the opening few seconds explaining how the song came to be...make the video a "should watch" to experience fully.
This is a song originally penned by Kenny Rogers, and he made his hit off of it way back in the day...but I always considered this to be a "Woman's song".
...Reba proved me right.
"To thine own self be true" is what is wrong with this world. To God and the rest of humanity be true, especially God. Too many people let self rule their lives and we all pay the price.
I prefer Bobby Gentry's original recording. I don't like the mini movie aspect that adds things that aren't part of the song.
The great thing about music appreciation is that it's a purely subjective thing. There are no right or wrong answers, only what is right for you.
Bobbie's version was stellar. I connect more to Reba's because my formative years were in the 80's. That doesn't mean your opinion is any less valid, though.