Imagination (Tamia song)

"Imagination" is a song by Canadian recording artist Tamia, released on her self-titled debut album (1998). It was written and produced by Jermaine Dupri and protégé Manuel Seal and features additional vocals by the former. "Imagination" is a mid-tempo R&B song that contains a sample from The Jackson 5's 1969 song "I Want You Back", written and produced by Motown's The Corporation team consisting of Berry Gordy, Alphonzo Mizell, Freddie Perren, and Deke Richards.

The song was released as Tamia's solo debut single and first single from Tamia, following her appearances on mentor Quincy Jones's singles "You Put a Move on My Heart" and "Slow Jams" and "Missing You", a song she recorded with Brandy, Gladys Knight, and Chaka Khan for the soundtrack of the 1996 motion picture Set It Off, was later nominated for a Grammy Award. While not as commercially successful as the latter, it reached the top forty in New Zealand and on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Background
"Imagination" was among the last songs that Tamia recorded for her debut album. Commenting on its recording process, she elaborated: "When you work with Jermaine [Dupri], you party on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then you have like six hours left and then you have to go in the studio and work." The song was accompanied by a video directed by Paul Hunter and was inspired by Jean Cocteau's film Beauty and the Beast and Nine Inch Nails.

Track listings

Credits and personnel 
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Tamia.

Co-production, backing vocals – Manuel Seal
Lead vocals, backing vocals – Tamia Washington 
Mixing – Phil Tan
Production, rap – Jermaine Dupri

Charts

Weekly charts

References

External links
 

Category:1998 singles
Category:Music videos directed by Paul Hunter (director)
Category:Tamia songs
Category:Songs written by Jermaine Dupri
Category:Song recordings produced by Jermaine Dupri
Category:Songs written by Mario Winans
Category:Songs written by Berry Gordy
Category:Songs written by Alphonzo Mizell
Category:Songs written by Freddie Perren
Category:Songs written by Deke Richards
Category:Songs written by Manuel Seal
Category:1998 songs
Category:Canadian hip hop songs