Just an Illusion by Imagination, a post-disco classic from 1982

"Just an Illusion" is a song by the British group Imagination, released in 1982 on the album In the Heat of the Night. It was produced by Jolley and Swain, who were responsible for many British pop and dance hits of the early 1980s.

It belongs to the post-disco and boogie style, with a strong foundation of funk bass, electronic drums, and analog synthesizers typical of the era. The lead vocals are by Leee John, using falsetto and a very emotional tone that became one of the group's trademarks.

It was a big hit on the charts, reaching number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and entering the Top 10 in countries like Germany, France, Italy, and Switzerland. In the United States, it was very popular in clubs and on R&B radio, although it didn't reach as high on the Hot 100.

The lyrics tell of a love story that seemed intense and real, but which in the end is revealed to have existed only in the protagonist's mind—an idealization that wasn't reciprocated. That's why the chorus repeats that it was all just an illusion, not a real experience, but a projection. emotional

The song became an 80s dance classic and has been sampled and covered many times in genres like house, hip hop, and modern funk, especially for its bassline and melancholic atmosphere mixed with a danceable rhythm.