 " Fantasy " achieved strong commercial success around the world . The song became Carey 's ninth number one single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart . It became the first single by a female artist to debut atop the chart , and only the second single to do so after " You Are Not Alone " by Michael Jackson . It debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 due to the strong sales , which were expected to exceed 229 @,@ 000 copies . It spent eight weeks at the top of the chart , from September 24 to November 18 , 1995 , Carey 's longest stay at the time alongside " Dreamlover " ( 1993 ) . It replaced " Gangsta 's Paradise " by Coolio , and was replaced by Whitney Houston 's " Exhale ( Shoop Shoop ) " . " Fantasy " spent 23 weeks in the top 40 and was successful on other Billboard formats , including the R & B and dance charts . Its strong sales led it to be certified double @-@ platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) , Carey 's first single to do so . " Fantasy " was the second best @-@ selling single of 1995 in the US , with sales of 1 @,@ 500 @,@ 000 . It was ranked seventh on the Hot 100 year @-@ end charts for 1995 and 49th on the 1996 year @-@ end charts . " Fantasy " ranked at number 15 on the Hot 100 decade @-@ end chart for the 1990s . 
