Mika in HUMO (belgian magazine)

I just started with reading the Humo and when i almost finished it I saw an interview with MIKA. There are some interesting things in that I didn't know yet.

I will upload the scan in a bit and then I will try to translate it

Update : Scan :

Bigger version : http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k101/Cassia_/IMG_0001.jpg

Bigger version : http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k101/Cassia_/IMG_0002.jpg

Translation by Droopsy, thanks a lot !!!

Translated it...

 

“A showcase for my new album?” Mika yells. “But it’s an acoustic gig! And I can’t play some of those songs acoustically!” The journalist before me told mika that she’s really looking forward to the showcase he’ll be doing tonight for his new album TBWKTM (to be seen on JIM at September 28th). Only after Mika’s told that ‘showcase’ is Belgian slang for an exclusive gig that’s organized due to a new album and that he can play whatever he wants, he can breath out again and waves me over to begin.

 

Your debut album LICM was inspired by your childhood, your new album by your adolescence. What kind of person was 16 year old Mika?

 

Creative but a coward. When I was alone, I made songs and lived in a fantasy world, but in regular life and especially in school, I was a scaredy cat. I hate that about myself. I still have it: on a busy party or in a crowded restaurant I mostly search for a spot in the shadows. I know it’s rude but I can’t help it. I’d much rather not be there at that moment. So I drink 6 glasses and stumble home feeling miserable. (laughs)

What I’m saying: music offered me protection as a child and it still does.

 

In the new song I see you, you sing: “conversation’s not me at all”

I was better at expressing myself through songs than with a conversation. Music was my only safety net. I had no idea how I could ever come close to telling someone: “I think you’re attractive, can I sleep with you?” But I also know: if I write songs and get on stage with them, to sum up, if I could do what I really wanted to do, then it would work eventually. And yup it did. (laughs)

That’s the irony as well: Someone who never talks about his private life yet now releases an entire album full of psychosexual melodramatic events. Wow!

I’ve gotta say tho: when you’re a teenager you’re supposed to blossom sexually. I was afraid of that and so I got in my shell. My life is a concatenation of extremes. A pity because it’s way more comfy in the middle.

 

But also less stimulating.

Yeah, but you get hurt less (laughs)

When I pissed off my mother one time, don’t remember how anymore, she told me: “or you’ll end up in jail, die young or you’ll be world famous!” And she added: “you decide which one!” After that she left the room. Awful to hear something like that at the age of 14…

 

A difficult woman, me thinks.

She was tough, but she was mainly concerned: she knew I didn’t feel right about myself and she was terrified that I’d do drugs. And she should be. I really was the kind of guy that searched for salvation in all kinds of ‘narcotics’ (the literal translated term, but we use this specific word as well for all things that you go nuts too…). And I’ve experimented with lots of things.

 

Such as?

(happily ignores the question)

But I don’t like drugs and I don’t use any either.

 

But you did try everything before?

I tried just everything in many different ways. Sorry but I don’t want to discuss it further, the point is, what I learned from experimenting was that I was in serious need of a useful way to enhance my self worth.

 

Is it a coincidence that in 4 songs of the album a mother image appears?

(thinking) Coincidence, yes, but probably very significant as well.

 

Does she have anything in common with the mother from toy boy?

No (laughs) But maybe I was afraid she’d turn into someone like that.

 

Did you play with dolls?

(excusing laugh)

 

That’s an answer as well.

(after thinking a long time) I didn’t have dolls. I was obsessed however with the Barbie dolls of my sisters: I wanted to decapitate them. Barbie sickens me. Ken does too by the way.

 

Growing up found a need to compromise, you sing in touches you. Did you have to compromise a lot?

 

Yeah, but not too much. Last couple of years I’ve found a good balance: I still make the music I love myself, even though there’s external pressure, and I succeeded to keep my private life out of the media. Only when it deals about my songs I’m an open book.

 

Rumour has it that you got some good advice from Pete Townshend. True?

Yup, he told me: “don’t wait until the inspiration overcomes you. Create circumstances where you only have to think about writing songs, and then the rest will follow.” I couldn’t say more than a shocked: “really?” But I listened to his advice: I traded my flat in for a recording studio and I surrounded myself with stuff that inspire me like illustrations from 50’s children’s books. And I worked and worked and worked and worked even more, every day from 11 am till 9 pm. And every day I lunched in the same restaurant. Discipline! At the end of every day I had to feel I accomplished something. I used to always think it’s fake to make music that way and it sounds anything but cool, it’s like you have a job. But believe me, it’s the perfect way to prevent yourself from being happy quickly.

 

I know you’re a fan of lots of Belgian things, like our comic books and our beer. If I’m not mistaken you love Blond Leffe…

(interrupts) I prefer Westmalle Tripel these days.

 

Noted, but I think I know at least one thing you don’t love in Belgium…

(interrupts again) The weather and some of the modern architecture here: totally depressing.

 

I was thinking about that other Mika (remember the story about Belgian Mika suing our Mika because of the name?)

Annoying case that was. I never asked her to pick a different name, so why should I change mine? We handled the case outside of the court: from now on we may both call ourselves Mika. It cost me a lot though….

 

You’ve let people dressed up as animals dance on stage before. Sounds very innocent and childlike, but actually it had a sexual connotation to it, no?

(laughs) I found out about something strange on the internet: people who slept together dressed up like animals. Plushing, it’s called. Fun, but what they actually do is, recycle elements from their childhood in an adult context. In a way pop music does the same thing. I think it’s essential that the audience never really knows what’s childlike and what’s adult, what’s frivolous and what’s serious, what’s happy and what’s very painful. That constant confusion gives me as an artist the freedom to do stuff that would seem inappropriate in a different context.

 

That contrast can be found in your songs as well: sad lyrics wrapped in happy music.

That’s my Libanese blood. It makes sure I experience my emotions in an extreme way. When I’m sad, life’s black as it can be, when I’m happy I’m ecstatic and start to levitate spontaneously. That balance between light and darkness keeps me going.

 

That’s also the function of pop music: keeping life bearable. And that’s not escapism, because that causes a hangover and a feeling of guilt. You see that in a lot of R&B videos: spilling champagne, driving around in shiny cars, messing around with bimbo’s and the message is: “you can be like me, if you buy my record”. Good pop music doesn’t do that. Good pop music builds up your confidence: “if you feel like a freak, turn yourself into a beautiful freak” and I know by now that I’m not the only one.

 

You’ve released an acoustic EP earlier this year, you did an acoustic tour but there’s hardly a trace to be found of that on the new album.

Last year I had to play Salt Lake City, but the truck with all the equipment was caught in a snow blizzard. I thought: I’ll do an acoustic set. The organizer thought I was nuts, it was in a dance club, but I pulled through. We had to fetch instruments in music schools because all the rental stuff was reserved for the jonas brothers. Well, it was the best gig I ever did. Because there was nothing between me, my songs and the audience. I know this much already: I’ll vary between big shows and stripped down acoustic gigs during my entire career.

 

And a fully acoustic album, any chance that’ll happen?

(sighs deeply and thinks) Dunno, maybe.

 

Is it a coincidence that the new album starts with the wildest song: WAG?

No, that’s just the perfect way to grab everyone by the shoulders and give them a good wake up call. To come back without any apologies. (knocks hand on the table) “Here I am again!” It’s the most untamed song of the album but not the most commercial one.

 

But it is the single. Do you ever think whilst writing: time to do a commercial song?

No, it doesn’t work like that. That doesn’t turn out any good anyway. You gotta ask yourself: does this song make me happy? Does it make me dance? Does it make me want to act like a seven year old little girl that’s jumping up and down? Then it’s a good song.

gr. Inèz

I just started with reading the Humo and when i almost finished it I saw an interview with MIKA. There are some interesting things in that I didn't know yet (he did some experiments with drugs etc).

 

I will upload the scan in a bit and then I will try to translate it

 

gr. Inèz

SORRY?!

I just started with reading the Humo and when i almost finished it I saw an interview with MIKA. There are some interesting things in that I didn't know yet (he did some experiments with drugs etc).

 

I will upload the scan in a bit and then I will try to translate it

 

gr. Inèz

Whoa, sounds juicy! I eagerly await your translation.

MIKA =

Whoa, sounds juicy! I eagerly await your translation.

 

MIKA =

I just started with reading the Humo and when i almost finished it I saw an interview with MIKA. There are some interesting things in that I didn't know yet (he did some experiments with drugs etc).

 

I will upload the scan in a bit and then I will try to translate it

 

gr. Inèz

Im looking forward to read it....

I just started with reading the Humo and when i almost finished it I saw an interview with MIKA. There are some interesting things in that I didn't know yet (he did some experiments with drugs etc).

 

I will upload the scan in a bit and then I will try to translate it

 

gr. Inèz

:shocked:what????

Wait for scans...

I just started with reading the Humo and when i almost finished it I saw an interview with MIKA. There are some interesting things in that I didn't know yet (he did some experiments with drugs etc).

 

I will upload the scan in a bit and then I will try to translate it

 

gr. Inèz

Mika on drugs, that MUST be funny

Haha, not directly and he also didn't want to be questioned further about it.. I've deleted it, after asking other opinions and interpretations, it might be a wrong interpretation sorry!

Haha, not directly and he also didn't want to be questioned further about it..

as in...he's seen people around him do it but he didn't do it himself?

Haha, not directly and he also didn't want to be questioned further about it.. I've deleted it, after asking other opinions and interpretations, it might be a wrong interpretation sorry!

That's fine! Just post the scans and your translation, and we can have a few different native speakers try to interpret what he meant.

Half the time, it's hard to understand what he means even when he's speaking English.

Haha, not directly and he also didn't want to be questioned further about it.. I've deleted it, after asking other opinions and interpretations, it might be a wrong interpretation sorry!

I knew that could not be him... He's a good boy!

as in...he's seen people around him do it but he didn't do it himself?

Possible

Haha no, I'll quote :

Mika ,,...I was the type of boy that out of escapisme (don't know if it's right) refuge/safety seeked in narcotics''

Humo : Like?

Mika : *ignores the question*

But I don't like drugs and I don't use it

Humo : But did you try previously everything? (bad translation I know)

I tried just everything in many different ways (litteraly from the article, there it also was in English ) . Sorry, but I don't wanna react any deeper on it. What it is about, is what I have learned from the experiments : That I urgent needed a significant occupation to push up my self respect.

I don't really know what to conclude about that part...

Haha no, I'll quote :

 

Mika ,,...I was a boy that out of escapisme (don't know if it's right) refuge/safety seeked in narcotics''

Humo : Like?

Mika : *ignores the question*

But I don't like drugs and I don't use it

Humo : But did you try previously everything? (bad translation I know)

I tried just everything in many different ways (litteraly from the article, there it also was in English ) . Sorry, but I don't wanna react any deeper on it. What it is about, is what I have learned from the experiments : That I urgent needed a significant occupation to push up my self respect.

 

 

 

I don't really know what to conclude about that part...

Um...right

Thank you for the scans by the way!

Haha no, I'll quote :

 

Mika ,,...I was a boy that out of escapisme (don't know if it's right) refuge/safety seeked in narcotics''

Humo : Like?

Mika : *ignores the question*

But I don't like drugs and I don't use it

Humo : But did you try previously everything? (bad translation I know)

I tried just everything in many different ways (litteraly from the article, there it also was in English ) . Sorry, but I don't wanna react any deeper on it. What it is about, is what I have learned from the experiments : That I urgent needed a significant occupation to push up my self respect.

 

 

 

I don't really know what to conclude about that part...

naughty boy....

Straight from Wikipedia...

"Use of the word "narcotic" to refer to any illegal or unlawfully possessed drug including marijuana and cocaine is common worldwide, although these substances are not considered narcotics in a medical context. The central drug policy making body within the United Nations, for instance, is the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, although the United Nations officially defines a narcotic drug to be "any of the substances, natural or synthetic, in Schedules I and II of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, and that Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol Amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961"[4]

In U.S. legal context, the term "narcotic" specifically refers to opium, opium derivatives, and their semi-synthetic or fully synthetic substitutes as well as cocaine and coca leaves.

Because the term is often used so broadly or pejoratively outside of medical contexts, most medical professionals advocate the use of more precise terms such as "opioid" and "opioid analgesic" to refer to the natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic substances that behave pharmacologically like morphine and are used primarily for their pain-relieving qualities.[5] The use of the term "narcotic" in various nonclinical contexts is not of educational or of informative value. The decision to term all illegal drugs as narcotics is often used as a shorthand way to politicize and demonize any illegal drug."

Before we all panic in the streets about Mika falling from grace, let's take a moment to remember that whatever he may have dabbled in as a confused teenager is behind him, and is a lesson learned.

I really hope someone wants to translate the whole article. I can see it's a ton of work, but from the bits I can understand, it seems very interesting.

To be honest it doesn't really surprise me, he strikes me as the sort "I'll try anything once" just a bit surprised he admitted it really

At least he doesn't do it now...

Well everyone tries different things in life

Well, narcotic wasn't in the text but they use 'roesmiddelen'. I don't know the exact translation but the online translater (not always right, I know) .

NL: roesmiddelen, narcotica, verdovende middelen, psycholeptica, hypnotica

EN: narcotic, narcotic analgesics

Definitie: (Engels) Drug which produces several effects,primarily analgesia but also narcosis(state of stupor or sleep),addiction(physical dependence),and side effects.

So alcohol is also a narcotic (but other drugs also )...

Google simply translates it with 'drugs'...

Well, narcotic wasn't in the text but they use 'roesmiddelen'. I don't know the exact translation but the online translater (not always right, I know) .

 

NL: roesmiddelen, narcotica, verdovende middelen, psycholeptica, hypnotica

EN: narcotic, narcotic analgesics

Definitie: (Engels) Drug which produces several effects,primarily analgesia but also narcosis(state of stupor or sleep),addiction(physical dependence),and side effects.

 

So alcohol is also a narcotic (but other drugs also )...

Like marijuana (weed) lol, hence the pictures of them (or cigarettes?) on the front cover of the album.

Before we all panic in the streets about Mika falling from grace, let's take a moment to remember that whatever he may have dabbled in as a confused teenager is behind him, and is a lesson learned.

 

I really hope someone wants to translate the whole article. I can see it's a ton of work, but from the bits I can understand, it seems very interesting.

Haha I will do it, but actually I should make some German and math exercises... But that can wait

Or if another Dutchie wants to translate , i ofcourse don't make any problem of it, not at all

Thanks for posting!

Like marijuana (weed) lol, hence the pictures of them (or cigarettes?) on the front cover of the album.

Jap But I'm not really shocked about it, I mean, everybody was(or is ) young once and wants to do some experiments..

Jap But I'm not really shocked about it, I mean, everybody was(or is ) young once and wants to do some experiments..

To be honest it doesn't really surprise me, he strikes me as the sort "I'll try anything once" just a bit surprised he admitted it really

 

At least he doesn't do it now...

Not that I did any of that lol nor have I wanted to.

Wow, I don't get the drugs discussion, by reading the article I totally don't think he was talking about drugs perse