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What her fans got, however, was a much slicker, more mature and more diverse package than they expected. Songs like "Mad about you" (whose intro sounds exactly like the Go-Go's "This old feeling", by the way !), "I feel the magic", "Gotta get to you", "Shot in the dark" and "I need a disguise" did fall into the more predictable category of what was expected of Carlisle at the time; and not surprisingly, she handled them exceptionnally well, especially the uplifting and spirited "I feel the magic". However, there was much more to this album; the attentive listener will admit that the real showstoppers on this album are its ballads. From the heartbreaking "Since you've gone" right to the beautiful and serene "Stuff and nonsense" (the latter possibly featuring Belinda's most expressive vocals ever), the slower-paced numbers proved that Carlisle was a gifted pop vocalist. A mid-tempo number like "I never wanted a rich man", with its lovely melody and fine vocal harmonies, is also one of the album's many highlights. Perhaps it's because nobody expected her to perform that kind of material, but it worked magic - and it still does, twenty years later.

The album had much success in North America and was certified gold; "Mad About You" became a top 5 smash single, and "I feel the magic" and "Band of gold" were released afterwards (with considerably less impact on the charts). Of course, Belinda hit the jackpot with the meatier, harder-edged sound of "Belinda"'s follow-up (the worldwide smash "Heaven on earth", another gem worth checking out); but "Belinda" is a fantastic debut nonetheless, proving that she had grown into a credible artist.