Fancy (song)
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"Fancy" is a song originally written and performed by Bobbie Gentry in 1969. The Southern Gothic style-song tells the tale of an impoverished mother whose husband has recently abandoned the family. She buys her daughter a red "dancing dress" and encourages her to "be nice to the gentleman" (implying prostitution) as a means to gain financial independence. Told from the perspective of the eighteen-year-old girl (named Fancy), the song describes their poverty and her mother's predicament, and recalls her mother's parting words: "Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down." Soon after, Fancy's mother dies and her baby sibling becomes a ward of the state. In the song, the girl ends up using connections she makes to build a better life for herself, eventually making peace with her mother, and acknowledging the difficult decision she had to make.
A modest country and pop hit for Gentry in early 1970, the song was covered in 1990 by Reba McEntire, who took it to number seven on the Billboard Country charts. Reba also produced a popular music video for the song, expanding on the song's storyline. Despite not charting to number one, the song is Reba's biggest hit and is always a highlight as the encore for Reba's live shows. Kellie Pickler sang "Fancy" during Country Week on American Idol. The Geraldine Fibbers also covered "Fancy" on "What Part of Get Thee Gone Don't you Understand?".
Megan Mullally recorded a version of the song for her album Big As a Berry.
In 2006 Katie Melua also covered "Fancy (Live)" from a concert performance, avalaible on her "Download Only" single titled "Shy Boy".
Fancy was also covered by the southern post-hardcore band He Is Legend and released on the June 6, 2006 Split EP with Classic Case called Black Unicorn Split
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this is a wonderful song
