Jellybean Featuring Adele Bertei 'Just A Mirage'

Chart Peak: 13

YouTube

This is not the first time I've had to write about Jellybean, but I'm quite relieved that it's likely to be the last. It's not that his music is in any way unpleasant, it's just that at least now I'm hearing it outside its original context, it's very unengaging and I struggle for anything to say about it. In fact, almost immediately after playing it I was struggling to remember it.

From what I've heard, even fans of his previous hits thought 'Just A Mirage' a little bit of a disappointing follow-up. Even though Adele Bertei turns out to have been part of the New Wave underground in the late 1970s, this is a very mainstream-sounding record, almost drifting into Stock Aitken Waterman territory; mind you, I think even they would have baulked at that screechy guitar solo in the middle. You could dance to it, but it doesn't really sound that much like a dance record as I'd imagine it. It's starting to feel a bit like filler as we near the end of the album.

Also appearing on: Now 10 [Jellybean with Stephen Dante], 11 [Jellybean with Elisa Fiorello]

John "Jellybean" Benitez featuring Steven Dante 'The Real Thing'

Chart Peak: 13

YouTube [12" version]

Six tracks in and this is the first one I don't remember. Even when I watched the video it didn't sound especially familiar, although it is a fairly typical record of its type, a pre acid-house club anthem. As such it sounds well made and well performed, but not especially original and full of things I'd heard many many times before. It's the sort of thing I feel more positive towards than I would have a few years ago, but still find it hard to get excited over, because I'm not part of the scene it belongs to. Had I had this album when it was new, though, I doubt I'd have given this track a second thought.


Also appearing on: Now 11 [Jellybean with Elisa Fiorello], 12 [Jellybean with Adele Bertei]
Available on: Greatest Hits of the 80's