Fantasia Gives Triumphant Performance In “SUPERPOWER (I)” Music Video

Fantasia Barrino has delivered a tour de force performance of The Color Purple track, “SUPERPOWER (I)” in a music video. The powerful single follows the film’s prior releases, “Lifeline” by Alicia Keys and “Risk It All,” with Usher and H.E.R.

In a room full of mirrors, the singer and actress, reflects on her shortcomings and triumphs as she sings to a photorealistic younger version of herself, created by AI company, Metaphysic.

Fantasia stuns in a sequin silver gown, tapered hairstyle and gleaming jewelry, as a less-glitzy view of herself wears a simple coral-colored dress, no makeup and pixie-cut.

Youtube/Fantasia screenshot, collage by VIBE

The 39-year-old sings the introspective lyrics: “It’s not about where I’ve been, it’s about where I’m trying to go/ By the time I’m gold and sand, I want the world to know/ Ooh, I was here, I was right here in the darkest hours/ You believed in me ’til I believed in you, all this time your love, my love, pulled me through.”

Fantasia bellows melodies that speak directly to her character, Celie, in the Blitz Balawule-directed adaptation of the 1985 film. She plays a character who is separated from her sister (Halle Bailey, and then Ciara) at a young age and forced into the marriage of an abusive, misogynist man, played by Colman Domingo.

Speaking of how near-and-dear the role is to her, the North Carolina sensation told Variety, “I carried her every day, all day, and I didn’t like that feeling. You get to see how she made it through some of this stuff.”

Fantasia Barrino-Taylor attends the World Premiere of Warner Bros.’ ‘The Color Purple’ at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 06, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

JC Olivera/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

She also shared how Celie’s story allowed her to face moments from her own past, including domestic violence. “I could let go of every man that’s ever put his hands on me. I freed myself from that,” she spoke of opting out of having a stunt double to perform the physical abuse scenes.

Speaking on Celie’s historic role (originally played by Whoopi Goldberg) signifying a derogatory staple for less attractive women, she added, “I realized Celie was not ugly. Celie was not crazy. Celie was not illiterate. Nothing about her was dumb.”

“She was the piece to the whole puzzle that kept everybody together. I’m grateful that I did not allow those voices in my head to hold me back from stepping into this woman’s shoes,” she continued.

THE COLOR PURPLE, Fantasia Barrino, 2023.

Everett Collection

Take a look at the music video for “SUPERWOMAN (I)” above and check out Fantasia as Celie in The Color Purple — playing in theaters now.

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