Mika in Italy again friday Jan 25th, 2013 on TV and on Radio!

The dubbing is so loud

It's online:

 

http://www.radio.rai.it/podcast/A42566200.mp3

http://www.radio.rai.it/podcast/A42566201.mp3

 

Edit: Too slow

 

The dubbing is so loud

it is

we posted at exactly the same time, we are synchronized

The dubbing is so loud

 

I could try and translate it, or just try and hear what the heck Mika's saying and transcribe it.

But maybe it's better to leave that to Italian people...

I could try and translate it, or just try and hear what the heck Mika's saying and transcribe it.

But maybe it's better to leave that to Italian people...

 

Oh yes please, I would love to get a proper translation or transcribtion

Oh yes please, I would love to get a proper translation or transcribtion

 

Yes, please!

 

What did he said about his father and Little Richard? That they are from the same region?

Yes, please!

 

What did he said about his father and Little Richard? That they are from the same region?

 

Ooh yes I want to hear about that. Little Richard's last name is Penniman so I've always been curious about the connection. It would sure make sense if his father's family was from Georgia.

Yes, please!

 

What did he said about his father and Little Richard? That they are from the same region?

 

Yep, he said that his father's family is from the same town. Which-I suppose- is somewhere in Georgia (?).

 

I'll see what I can do for the tranlation. Good pretext for practicing my Italian.

Just be patient with me.

Ooh yes I want to hear about that. Little Richard's last name is Penniman so I've always been curious about the connection. It would sure make sense if his father's family was from Georgia.

 

Yes, when I discovered the last name of LR I was greatly surprised! And flattered a bit, because I (even if I know only several songs) totally like his energy!

 

Yep, he said that his father's family is from the same town. Which-I suppose- is somewhere in Georgia (?).

 

I'll see what I can do for the tranlation. Good pretext for practicing my Italian.

Thank you!

here's the podcast in 3 parts:

 

http://www.radio.rai.it/podcast/A42566199.mp3

http://www.radio.rai.it/podcast/A42566200.mp3

http://www.radio.rai.it/podcast/A42566201.mp3

 

feed://www.radio.rai.it/radio1/podcast/rssradio1.jsp?id=9105

 

Mika is in part 2 and 3

 

Marina,thank you very much for your works as always !!

Here's a rough translation for the first part (so part 2). I have to apoligize in advance for any spelling mistake. It is quite late now.

 

So, they're basically talking about the Future of Music, and new ways of listening to it.

 

The presenter introduces Mika as an original, eclectic and creative artist with amazing vocal range. Mika in joined by an Italian journalist, Carlo Massarini) who's a music connoisseur.

 

Q. What kind of music did you like as a teenager?

 

M. Oh boy, I listened to everything. I never had posters up on my wall. Never really had a "visual" icon, I just listened to the music. So, Nina Simone, Serge Gainzburg, Shabba Ranks, although now I have a very different opinion on him, (...)next to Frank Sinatra, (another French singer whose name I didn't quite get) and Mina (legendary Italian singer), Gipsy Kings. I was never a snob when it came to music, there wasn't a “fashionable” or “unfashionable” in music and I was very open. When I got older, around sixteen, or even fourteen, I realized that your musical choices could make you a looser or a cool kid. And maybe that was one of the most depressing things I had to learn in my adolescence, that is, something that should be pure, could become a very sad thing. I always had the idea that music shouldn't depend on marketing.

 

Q. And when did you decide that music was going to be your life? (read: the job you wanted to do)

 

M. Oh, it wasn't a decision. It was a disaster. (CUE Mika explaining that he was kicked out of school because he was dyslexic and he couldn't read or write, so his mother realised that she had a son that was different from the other ones and got him a music teacher and that he got jobs from a very early age. He said that writing is still very hard for him, and that he writes the words by phonetics, not orthography. So he chose that one lifestyle where he wouldn't be considered an idiot- his words!)

 

(The presenter and Massarini praise Mika's mum)

 

M. I think parents are important. Not necessarily parents, it could be a teacher. But everyone need someone that could be somewhat of a guide for you, someone that helps you find your way.

 

Q. Can you tell me about your stage name (yes, I know...). Did you choose it yourself?

 

M. My real name is Micheal Holbrook Penniman jr. And it's not suitable for pop music.

 

Massarini: Penniman, like Richard Penniman?

 

M. Yes, Little Richard. Actually my family from my father's side comes from the same place as him. But my father wanted me to be called Micheal like him, since I was the first son. My mother said she was willing to follow the family tradition under the condition that everyone would have called me Mica.

 

Presenter asks Mika about the reason why he decided to sing some fragment of a song from the new record in Italian, (She said that the song was Celebrate) and if he loves Italy.

 

M.The song is called Stardust. And I sang some parts in Italian, because I used to sing Opera in Italian, so I thought why not? I sang in French, because I speak French, so why not Italian?

 

They play Celebrate.

 

Presenter asks Mika if he thinks that the Internet is a valid way for newcomers to show their music to the public. (She mentions Mika's Myspace page)

 

M. I think it's the only way, right now. To tell you the full story...when I was signed by Island the Company chose Relax as a first single, which didn't do well in the UK, at first. So it was the Internet that decided that Grace Kelly was going to be the big hit, and that changed the course of my career. Facebook is today's MySpace.

 

I hate Twitter, I can't stand it. I'm on twitter, but I hate I feel like Twitter is so reactive. And that's good if you want to follow trends and this policy of reaction (?). But as a single person it's actally quite difficult to be involved in all these reactions. Writing songs- or writing anything, really is not reactive. It's the opposite of reaction, it's about closing ourselves in a bubble to work- for a very long time- on something that's going to last 3 minutes! So I have this sort of love-hate relationship with Twitter. And my followers hate me, because sometimes I don't tweet for a month and a half in the end.

 

The journalist talks about how we'll listen to music in the future and about the digitalization and globalization of music.

 

Q. What's the project you feel most proud of?

 

M. Oh, nothing! Maybe you should ask Carlo (Messeni, the journalist) this question, 'cause I feel like I've still got a long way to go. My biggest problem is that I don't really like most of the things I've done once I've done them, but I adore them when I'm doing them. I think it's a bit of a destructive tendency.

 

The journalist disagrees. He says he thinks Mika's is somewhat a really constructive inclination. Because his constant questioning his work pushes him to do better, or just move on.

 

M. I also think that, the way things (music) are consumed now, and the speed with which they are consumed, changes the whole process and even the way I look at my own work. I don't have a Vinyl (the journalist mentioned his love for vinyls earlier) for each one of my singles, no one does that anymore. I could do it, but then my fans wouldn't probably want to spent that much money for it. So what's the point? I think that in the future we won't even be downloading songs anymore. Tablets will be a sufficient way to streaming contents.How fast will that happen will depend only on how quickly the internet will grow. The idea of downloading, the concept of possessing a copy (of a record or a song) for eternity is something we have to get rid of. Of course, if we'll live in a world where internet connection will be perfect.

 

Journalist agrees. But remarks his love for CD s.

 

M. But I like them too. But material record are more like a jewel in which we invest.

 

Presenter plays Relax which she calls a “jewel”.

Edited January 30, 2013 by GinevraDahl

Part 3 coming up in a bit.

Second part. (Part 3)

 

Q. I'd like to talk a bit about your eclecticism. You have a very rich fantasy which you communicate in your shows, in the album artworks and in your videos. Is it all your doing or there are people who help you to achieve this?

 

M. I work with others. I've always worked with other people. I never know where an idea's going to come from, but I certainly surround myself with people who can make an idea happen. When I'm working on something that I think could be successful I'm never embarrassed about an idea. That's why when I watch some of my videos I think they're really embarrassing- others look beautiful -but that's why we have to take risks. Anyway, yes, it's me and a bunch of people, my sister Yasmine has done all the visuals with me. For this third album we were sitting on the floor retouching the pictures, literally painting on the floor, trying to respect the deadline. Sometime we create something that's original, sometime is more mainstream. We do what pleases us, what makes us feel good, even if it's a bit rough. Whether it's a video, a set or an artwork it has to feel home-made.

 

Q. Can you pinpoint the video you loved the most?

 

M. The one that I personally love the most, I think it's Zappa? (asks for help without getting it). The one with plasticine figures, plasticine blobs transforming, sometime into a man, sometime into a monster. It's taking something really cheap and making it look magical.( I think he's talking about City of Tiny Lights by Frank Zappa

) (Here the interpreter stumbles a bit, I tried to listen to what Mika was really saying). Bjiork videos are some of the best visual videos. And Madonna, who is an icon of POP culture, she can take something which has some level of artistic value and offer it in pop form. Beyond that...I like some (...) videos 'cause they're really bad!

 

The presenter reads one of the texts that are coming in: Mika writes with his heart, his songs are full of shades, as is life. An unusual popstar, thanks to his humility and his politeness. (From Nick)

Presenter and journalist agree.

Presenter encourages her audience to go and watch Underwater video (original, but beautiful)

 

 

Q. Whose phone call would you like to receive asking you for a collaboration?

 

M. (Laughs) I got a phone call once, telling me that I could potentially write for Barbra Straisand, because I write songs for others. And I though Oh, **** WOW (interpreter did not translate ******). There are some singers that are real artists, and legend and we think, Well it'd be nice to write for them, and Barbra Straisant is one of them. She's been one of the greatest female voice for decades. Writing is important for me. I don't know about a duet, 'cause that's I feel awkward. (then he tells about Gang Bang/ Bang Bang)

 

Journalist asks Mika if Madonna paid royalties to Mika's grandfather. Mika answers that he could take the money and bring it on his grave.

 

Presenter reads another text: I adore Mika. I've seen his show in Bologna(?) in october (wasn't it Padua or something?), amazing!! His songs are original, his look drives me crazy (that's a bit too literal maybe. I guess what she says is that she likes Mika's style a lot). Does he have a stylist or is it all his doing? From Nicoletta.

M.(laughs)Ehm, I think you just have to look at me. No...no I don't have a fashion advisor.

 

Apparently the journalist was really amazed by Mika's jacket.

 

M. Yes, my jacket is a bit short. I have this thing...

 

Massarini: Is your sister's, isn't it?

 

M.No, it's not my sister's jacket. It could be. Maybe it would be a bit small for her, as well. I just like everything small. Smaller than they should be. I don't mean tight, but just a bit shorter, sleeves or trousers. It gives you a cool, interesting look, it makes you look somewhat more compact, it intensifies your look. We have a designer, Tom Brown, who does that for everything really. It's very hip. I've had problems with my legs, because I used to wear shoes a size too small and I didn't realise. And I asked myself: why can't I walk? Because my muscles hurt! I got over my shoes' problems, but the jacket is still small.

 

Presenter reads another texts: Are you happy and in love? From Simona

 

Here's where Mika misunderstands the question (are you happy when you're in love?) and doesn't know how to answer. Journalist helps him.

 

M. Oh, I understand Italian, but not too much. Yes, yes, I am. But mind your ****ing business...(it sounds quite playful)

What he says about Twitter is so true... I understand why he hates it!

 

Thanks for the transcript:thumb_yello:

Big thanks for translating Ginevra ^^

Thank you Genevra.

MIKA and Lorella

 

Thank you so much for the translation!!!

 

I must have heard about this Little Richard thing, about the name, but I didn't remember it at all! Love it what he says about artwork etc and I guess he right about the future of downloading. I personally don't like that direction, I can't even use spotify, lol! My son and his friends are using it all the time though.

Part 3 coming up in a bit.

 

Thanks a lot for your detailed and good translation, interesting interview! - you did a really great job!!

 

Love,love

MB

Here's a rough translation for the first part (so part 2). I have to apoligize in advance for any spelling mistake. It is quite late now.

 

Thank you very much for translation Amazing interview

Thank you Ginevra! Amazing work of translation

 

I had missed a lot myself, trying to listen to his voice behind the interpreter, I was being distracted!

Edited January 30, 2013 by robertina

Thanks for translating Ginevra!

It is difficult to hear Mika's voice because of the interpreter.

Thank you very much for your translation

 

To read the whole thing he said about Twitter makes a completely different sence than only the fragment " I hate Twitter " . He explained it very well

so he's right! twitter is hateful indeed....people have assaulted him just for nothing

reactions are too quick and not considerate enough.

You're all most welcome. I enjoyed myself. (I can still understand Italian!)

The interview itself was very interesting, methinks. And the Zappa's video he mentioned is really quite amazing.

Also good to know he's still happy and good to know it's none of my bleeping business.