“If you like it weird, I like it strange. It’s a fantasy, babe…”
JADE – Ms. Thirlwall, if you’re nasty – is building a remarkably solid case for Album of the Year consideration in 2025.
After making the solo debut of the year with “Angel of My Dreams” over the summer, as well as providing a bass-heavy snack between singles with the Ncuti Gatwa-assisted “Midnight Cowboy,” the Little Mix member-turned-solo star returned on Friday (October 18) with “Fantasy” – a track that once again puts JADE’s brilliance as a pop girl on full display, but in a completely different way.
As opposed to the “What You Waiting For?”-inspired chaos of her solo debut, JADE arrives with a more sleek, laser focused follow-up; a dreamy, funky, disco-inspired number with just the right amount of attitude and lyrical cheekiness and freakiness to make the shimmering song stand out above the usual disco revival fare.
Providing a nod to the legends who’ve paved the way like Donna Summer, Bee Gees, Chic, Nile Rodgers and Sylvester, JADE takes a euphoric disco dive into all things passion (and pain, and pleasure, no shame) alongside trusty collaborators Mike Sabath and Pablo Bowman, the same team behind “Angel of My Dreams.”
The point of the song? Release your inhibitions: JADE is that somebody that will match your freak.
Be it leather play, butch Black girls, skunkin’, pulling the blinds, poodleballing…whatever you got, she’ll eat it, snort it or ride it baby. (Get the reference? I bet she does.)
“Whatever floats your boat, I’ll help you sail away / What is your cup of tea? I’ll sip it, and I’ll add the sugar, babe / Release your fear, no judgement here / It could be loopy, it could be kinky, it could be hot, and that’s okay,” she assures. Now that’s true allyship. Break out the strap-on, babes!
“’Fantasy’ is a love song that I wrote with dream team Pablo Bowman and Mike Sabath about feeling safe enough with your partner to shamelessly explore your fantasies!” she explains in a release.
“We wrote this the day after ‘AOMD’ was written, and from then on I always knew it would be the second single. I can’t wait for my fans to experience more of my musical world.”
It must also be said: she sounds absolutely incredible throughout “Fantasy.” With all the heaven-sent crooning, her vocals really get a chance to shine. She should really consider entering a TV singing competition or something…
And then, there’s the music video.
If you didn’t already know before, she’s a pop girlie who thoroughly “gets it.” She also spent the bulk of her “Angel of My Dreams” promotional run proving her immaculate music taste in interviews, name-checking everyone from Cheryl to Stacie Orrico. As a result, it’s no surprise that she enlisted none other than the legendary David LaChapelle to direct the accompanying clip.
The visual starts out with JADE delivering her best disco diva TV performance, American Bandstand-style, in front an array of dancers. Seems normal enough, right?
That is, until we catch a glimpse of a jealous hater backstage reading a copy of Billboast Magazine, which features the (accurate) headline: “JADE: POP’S NEW IT GIRL,” as well as “That’s Showbiz, Baby!” (which we’ve since learned is another track heading our way), plus an ad for Filthy Paws Dog Grooming. And if you head to yourfilthypaws.com, you’ll see another JADE teaser. The layers to this campaign. The Easter eggs. Her mind!
But back to the music video: in a fit of rage, our backstage hater heads behind the stage and wraps their hands around a rope. And as a drop of blood splashes onto JADE’s face from above, it becomes clear what’s about to go down. That’s right: JADE goes full Carrie mode, getting doused in blood and promptly, well…cracking.
Campy telepathic carnage ensues, flinging dancers left and right as signs and pillars go crashing down. It’s the perfect, fucked up twist on an otherwise dreamy delight.
What more is there to say, really? She’s firing on all cylinders. Ticking every box. Between “Angel of My Dreams,” “Midnight Cowboy” and “Fantasy,” JADE is, quite simply, the one.
“Fantasy” is available in various formats, including a 7″ vinyl.
Check out the MuuTunes Spotify playlist. You can also subscribe on Apple Music.
Photo credit: Simon Jones PR
