Recorded 1997 Label Qwest
Warner Bros. | Genre R&B
hip hop | |
Released February 8, 1998 (1998-02-08) Format CD single
maxi single
12" Writer(s) Jermaine Dupri
Berry Gordy
Alphonzo Mizell
Freddie Perren
Deke Richards
Manuel Seal | ||
"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.
Contents
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."
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Tamia.