Alice Deejay: Better Off Alone

I get happy in my pants every time somebody beats Jay Lo to a music award, which is why, in the late 90’s early 00’s I couldn’t get enough of Amsterdam outfit ‘Alice Deejay.’

The time was one of lifeless 90’s post-synth. The battleground was Eurotrance. Their breakout single ‘Better Off Alone’ went all the way to #2 in the U.K. and #4 in Aus. They even managed a respectable follow up with the single ‘Back In My Life.’ Producers Pronti, Kalmani and DJ Jurgen who made up Alice Deejay took out Best Chart Act defeating (The) Vengaboys, Eiffel 65, DJ Sonik and of course, Jennifer Lopez.

The problem with these dace troop outfits is one of changing trends, rather like everyone having yo-yo’s at school, until I bought one. They burst into the mainstream under the pop umbrella, but seem to get binned after a few singles as just another ‘Doof, Doof.’ So next time you see a dance track has-been in the street, tell them that they’re still welcome on the radio.

Stars On 54: If You Could Read My Mind (Lightfoot)

For the 1998 Mike Myers/Ryan Phillippe movie Studio ’54, 90’s sensations Amber, Ultra Naté and Jocelyn Enriquez came together as the supergroup ‘Stars on 54,’ to thrash ‘If You Could Read My Mind’ by Lightfoot, one more time. I think there are about 100 covers of this particular song and it’s not hard to see why. What baffles me is how such a competent composition didn’t ensure a solid career for Whatsitsfoot. I’ve never hear of him, have you?

Johnny Cash recorded his own monotone rendition shortly before he began pushing up the daisies. Rather than digging it up, let’s spin the new-ish one. If you haven’t seen the movie, it smells a little bit like this.