In early November 2024, a video of University of South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer appeared online. After South Carolina’s 44-20 victory over Texas A&M University, Coach Beamer decided to take this step have his players serenade his wife in the locker room on her birthday. And what song were his players shouting with enthusiasm at the highest of their lungs? None apart from singer Fantasia’s 2006 hit “When I See U,” a song that topped the R&B charts way back in 2007 but seems to be primary in the hearts and minds of individuals all over the world this 12 months of ours sir two thousand twenty 4.

To quote Kanye West: “Like SWAY?”

How did a song that was a hit before America had its first black president develop into wildly popular almost twenty years later? Well, the apparent answer is social media, especially TikTok. In fact, a straightforward seek for “Fantasia When I See You” on the platform brings up over 24 million videos. TWENTY-FOUR MILLION. There are videos of basketball players sing a song and folks join in their houses do covers. There they’re presenters AND dances. People have converted their very own versions. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Even though social media has decided that “When I See U” needs to get all its flowers and glory, what’s it about this song that makes adults, children, and perhaps even animals sing (and/or scream) the words on top of their lyrics? lungs?

Watch a video of the football team serenading the coach’s wife. The coach has heard this song enough times to know that his players find it irresistible. The coach knew they liked it a lot that if he played it out of nowhere, enough of his players wouldn’t only know the words, but would fully participate in sharing it with the world – and his wife. But have a look at this joy; as soon because the musicians heard those opening chords, they took flight. I do not know if Coach Beamer’s wife knows this song, however it doesn’t matter. Everyone in this room did it.

And everyone knows it, because “When I See U” is an undeniable hit. It’s jam. It’s sunny on your wedding day. He’s a cop who shows up in court to contest a speeding ticket. It’s finding an additional helping of fries in your bag if you only ordered one. This is gorgeous. It gets stuck and Fantasia gets stuck on it. “When I See U” is a song about nervously falling in love with someone. That’s lovable. It’s about infatuation. It’s a contemporary version of The Temptations “It’s Just My Imagination (Running With Me)” definitely certainly one of the best songs of all time. This is one other song whose opening chords make everyone who knows it lose their mind and switch into Temptations for a number of minutes.

When I hear Fantazja singing together with her incredibly beautiful, one-of-a-kind voice, I get excited. The song is an ideal mixture of beats, rhymes and life. It’s hip-hop in the shape of R&B with a beat that rappers like Fabolous used to turn into monster rap jams.

Also, let’s analyze this quickly: who DIDN’T feel like hearing the lyrics to this song? Who hasn’t caught your eye yet, that one who captures all of your attention and you would like to talk to them, but you are afraid to do it? For me, it was three out of 4 years of school. And true story, we’re all probably that person to another person too. We’ve been there and done that. That’s the plot of many romantic comedies in three minutes and thirty-six seconds, and who doesn’t love romantic comedies? (If someone doesn’t love them, tell me never to talk to these people again.) I’m married and I like the thought of ​​”new love” in moves I’ve watched 100 times.

Most importantly, “When I See U” is just incredibly fun to sing. There are some songs which can be perfect for karaoke. What comes to mind is “Return of The Mack”, anything by Luther Vandross, “We Are Never Getting Back Together” by Taylor Swift, the SWV catalog, etc. “When I See U” by Fantazja is unquestionably in the highest ten of this list. And because so many individuals know these words, it really works well for big Black gatherings like churches, live shows, family reunions, funerals, and cookouts.

There’s really no bad time to play this song. One evening, for some reason, a bunch of individuals visited me, and the music person put on “When I See U” and everybody, young and old, sang the words in unison and joyfully. (No matter if you read this sentence, it is going to be true; there are ALWAYS people in my house.)

I do not know who decided that the 2020s needed a hit Fantasia as much because the 2000s, but that person is a national hero. In a world filled with chaos, I’m glad we’ve got Fantazja, her voice and music, which make things somewhat higher.

“When I see you” today, “When I see you” tomorrow, “When I see you” ceaselessly.