jemmalee

Caz those pics are fab!

Special shout out to my Fokkerz Iona, Sara, Dan and Caz and the lovely Jules and fabulous Deb. You have made my weekend very special. It was lovely to see Kev at the party too. Big love

Wow. Where to start. Like Caz, I had my reservations for last night's gig. Last October had taken the shine off of my Mika fandom experience and I felt that it would be my last. However, I had some of most favourite people coming, we had great tickets so I thought "#### it, I'm going to bloody well enjoy myself".

The party beforehand was absolutely lovely. Everyone was friendly and the atmosphere was great. I had a few gins and really got into the swing of it and met lots of new faces. Many thanks to Deb for arranging this. She really works so hard to make sure everyone has a good time. I loved our big picture and as I said at the time, I really don't get on my knees for everyone

We skipped the support act. I had listened to them on Spotify murdering Artic Monkeys and didn't think it was my kind of thing. We had fun with the MuMu girls and I had a couple more glasses of Dutch courage.

We got to our seats and there were people seating in them. I guess they thought they were free, I would have probably done the same if I thought no one was going to use them. The theatre is beautiful. The set looked really good and I was ready. I'm not sure if anyone has pointed out to Mika that the M on his throne looks exactly like the same font used for Morrisons supermarket here in the UK. I doubt that he shops their though, I reckon he is more of a sainsburys man.

Anyway, so after much anticipation the show started. I usually skip porcelain on the album but this rendition was good. Like really good. Mika's voice was on form. He looked confident, even with his eyes closed feeling the lyrics.

Then bang! Big girl. Memories came flooding back. I was sitting next to BlueEyes and we first met in 2007 on the shoot for the big girl video. When shooting the video we were taught dance moves to do and during the 'ahah' bit it was a hand wave across to the right. So BlueEyes and I in unison did the ahah bits together. Standing in front of me, the cheeky grin appeared and it could have been 2007 all over again. I got really emotional. Not for the only time I might add.

Talk about you and good wife were OK but you could tell that Mika and the crowd were enjoying themselves. I really liked Grace Kelly at the piano. I wish Mika would save this for his encore. I know he must be so fed up of playing it after ten years but it's Grace Kelly. Grace Kelly the number 1 hit. Just my 2 cents.

Rain was fantastic. I've always enjoyed it and was so glad he chose to sing last night. Again dance moves were involved including what my fellow Fokkerz call the Double Mana. Those who know know. I think this is why enjoyed the gig so much. It felt old Skool Classic Mika (ooh good name for an album).

Good guys and origin of love were good and I enjoyed singing along.

Relax felt special. I loved his introduction explaining about 7/7. This is the first song I heard from Mika back in 2006. He was on the Scott Mills show on Radio One explaining its meaning. This has always stuck with me. At the London gig I felt it touched a lot of hearts, especially the UKers. Bravo Mika! I was a very happy Jemma at this point.

Staring at the sun was a highlight, especially for the girls in the Royal Circle. I thought this was a really nice touch. I also admired the fabulous appliqué work in Mika's t-shirt. Isn't it funny what goes through your mind at a concert?

By this point I was desperate for the loo so during underwater (how appropriate) I had to go to the ladies. I've never really enjoyed this song, although I know it's some people's favourite. The pronunciation of water or WATer bugs me. It sounds funny to my ears. So I ran, shoeless there and back as quick as I could.

 

Lollipop and the introduction to it, I enjoyed. I must admit I miss the old band. I'm sure they are very pleasant and nice people but they don't have the interaction or stage presence of the old guys. I can't even tell you these guys names. I find this quite sad.

Loved Promiseland. I feel this is the new album's saving grace. I'm so pleased he did this. It really is a crowd pleaser.

Happy Ending was just fabulous. I liked the choir but their mics weren't loud enough to have impact. The crowd were louder. I've always enjoyed the interaction part. I think this is my favourite Mika song. By this stage I was totally back in love. The off mic but was a really nice touch. Mika's voice sounded powerful. He really is impressive live.

Over my shoulder was so emotional. I loved that Alex sang with him. Their voices together and the chemistry between them to hit the notes in the right places was spot on. You can tell they've known each other forever and it really worked. Such a powerful song, I love it so much. It felt like a special treat. I didn't think the gig was going to get any better but then bam! We Are Golden! Bloody hell. Amazing.

I lapped it up. I was feeling so spoiled by the set list. Absolutely fantastic.

It just got better and better. This was the gig I was waiting for. Last party was really moving, I like Mika's voice and felt fully absorbed.

The encore of Love Today was perfect. I jumped up and down like a loon. This had been such a good gig.

I'm now going to mention the elephant in the room. No French songs. Mika I could kiss you. This was the gig I was waiting for and needed. It was the booty call at 2 o'clock in the morning from an old lover. I have my Mika glow back. It has made all the crap I had gone through worth it. For that, I am truly thankful.

After the gig the world and his wife had gone to the stage door. There were so many people that they were standing in the road in the middle of a busy London street. It was mental. I saw a glimpse of him in his car and that was that. London is too popular to have meet and greets and for him to come out after. I actually feel that it would have put people's safety in danger. There are just too many people waiting, myself included.

I thought that Mika's Instagram videos were a really nice touch and the video of him receiving the year book was just lovely. It's nice to hear that you're appreciated. Although I haven't been involved in a year book since about 2010 it made me realise how much I love the mfc and how dear I hold my friends that I have made on this crazy journey.

Yesterday was probably one of the best days I've had for a very long time.

So if 80% of the audience don't really like it, and 20% do, how does that work? I'm just playing devils advocate here, I'm curious to how that would work.

It doesn't.

I am not hating on you.

Yeah but BBB's video is on youtube and is available to everyone. Despite this fact, I'm not saying that if they don't like French songs, they are bad fans. But if they are begging him NOT to sing ONE French song because they don't like it or don't know it, ignoring the fact that there're audiences in the room who happen to like it, that is just wrong.

As myself and others have tried to explain this to you and you still don't get it, then perhaps just leave this topic alone? I said one thing in jest for five seconds of my life and now have to pay sacrifices for 6 months later. I've said sorry to Mika so please just stop this now. I was wrong but Mika in how he has lied and reacted, in my opinion is much worse.

I do not think MIKA handle this issue very well, I mentioned this opinion in the beginning. But what happens now is not 100% his fault, I am very sure of that.

So it's not his fault that people have been calling me a xenophobic racist? The whole thing has been blown out of all proportion. Mika can sing what he wants, it's his show. How I've been treated for shouting out something said in jest is totally out of order. I have received abuse on social media from people who have never interacted with me or heard about me before Tuesday. I'm sure loads of you have come into this thread to read the drama and then pm each other the latest gossip. I'm totally sick of it.

I am not a xenophobe. I love France and my French friends. I'm not racist and if you knew me personally you would definitely know this. I am not a mean person. I'm not intolerant. I accidentally hurt the feelings of a pop star as I was hurt leading up to the moment.

This doesn't give Mika the right to slag me off at a concert in France saying that I need more sex in my life and then 6 months later say on television that I'm mean & intolerant. This also doesn't give the right for anyone to abuse me. The last couple of days have been complete hell for me and I'm sure it's not going to stop anytime soon. That is Mika's fault.

Your pictures are what I would call "kissing arse" or "brown nosing" which are harsh compared to suck up

Being a " suck up" really isn't that bad. It means agreeing to impress. People at work suck up to me if they want something done for example. I would suck up to my boss if I wanted some time off. I don't know where you are getting those visual representations from. It doesn't convey what it means at all.

The fact that Mika said I need Boum Boum Boum in my life to thousands of fans really upset me and was uncalled for. I wasn't being mean or malicious as I said before. The last 24 hours has been absolute hell for me.

When Mika said "not everyone will understand"when talking about BBB I shouted out "That's because it's in ####ing French". I meant it in jest, not malicious. Yes I was angry. Yes I had a couple of drinks before the show. Should I have not been so emotional about a subject we had been talking about since 2012? I wasn't abusive. I heckled him a bit. I've known him a long time. He knows what I'm like.

I wasn't intolerant. I wasn't bullying him.

I've given my side of the story in my video. What has really hurt me is the FANS (some of them from this fan club) on Twitter calling me a rude cow, bitch, ****, pig etc and the "Mika can sing what he wants campaign". If he had a Japanese song would you like to here that instead of WAG in Germany for example?

Now trolls leave me alone.

"FOUR F*CKING ALBUMS AND HE SINGS THIS?" Did she actually say the F word to mika, in a serious not joking way??

The four albums thing I said to a friend behind me not to Mika. As BBB started playing Mika was explaining that not many people understand and I said "that's because it's in French!" I was not being nasty, just vocal.

Ok so i heard what Mika said about me today. It really hurts. I made this video to explain my feelings on it. I'm so upset.

http://youtu.be/2LJxr5siObs

So apparently according to Mika I need some BBB in my life. How insulting. I am so disappointed and upset by this. So low.

I am sure BBB will be long forgotten everywhere by the time he performs in the UK again. But I expect it will be replaced by yet another lame Doriand song. I now know that I can't go anywhere without having these songs I refuse to buy rammed down my throat and since I do not want to spend a gig in the toilets or heckling Mika I am just going to stay home.

 

I chose the heckling route

Of course. I went to see Carmen at the Royal Opera House the following night and it goes without saying that the music is absolutely spectacular. To be honest I enjoyed it more than Mika's gig. Because Boum Boum Boum is total rubbish in comparison. With the exception of EMD, Mika's French songs are not relevant contemporary pop like Stromae or Coeur de Pirate or Christine and the Queens. The fact that they do not do well as singles in France should be the first indication that pop music fans in English speaking markets are not going to like them as much as his UK singles either.

 

 

This gig isn't for MFCers, it was for 1500 British fans. And come on, no one in such an audience is going to be dissatisfied if he plays a single that they know versus one they've never heard of, cannot buy and do not understand. In New York the audience clearly did not have any familiarity with the song at all and it sucked all the energy out of the room whereas they went absolutely mad for Popular, WAG and even Last Party. To imagine that the audience could have gone away dissatisfied for not hearing a song they didn't know existed and they didn't connect with at all is ridiculous. Perhaps that was not the case in London, as I said I went to the toilets. But I tend to side with Jemma and everyone else who complained about it since I was standing sidestage in NYC and saw how BBB went over with an English audience versus the reception it received in Montreal where he got a deafening ovation instead of bored looks.

 

 

But the songs have already been withdrawn for the UK. They are not available on UK albums. Why would you remove popular songs from your setlist to add one that is inaccessible to the audience in every sense of the word? To "please himself"? If Mika is just there for that purpose he should give me my £48 back since he is having such a great time at my expense.

 

 

This is exactly my point. BBB wasn't released here. In 2012 at the Roundhouse he started his show off with that awful French song, as I was in the middle of the floor and not towards the front, I didn't even realise he had started the show. It really didn't go down well. He also played EMD, which again apart from the Hard Cores at the front didn't go down well. I would have told him this in 2012 but after waiting in the freezing cold for an hour after the show, I gave up.

I had really hoped that this show would be different and he had picked up on the vibes. He knows French songs don't go down well in the UK. I offered free tickets to my friends who declined as they wouldn't know any of his new songs. Can you imagine what they would have thought about French songs?

As an english fan, I wanted english songs not some french crap.

Now enough of BBB-Gate and on with the rest of the reviews.

I also wanted to say a massive Thank you to Deb for organising the party.

 

And finally, I can't believe anyone is moaning about him doing a song in French. Most people in non-English-speaking countries have to attend concerts by artists who speak English all the time, and I don't hear them complaining. It wasn't like he did the whole gig in French - just the one song!

 

That's not the point I was trying to make. Non-English speaking countries have a choice to listen to English artists & attend their concerts. They would expect them to sing in English because that's what they have invested in. If I was interested in a South American artist for example I wouldn't be annoyed if they sang in their native language, I would expect it.

Maybe I should have lowered my expectations.

I love Live Your Life. Would have much preferred that or something like Rain.

I didn't know what to expect tbh as I wanted it to be a surprise. I thought over my shoulder was fantastic. I've always loved that live.

Someone near me wasn't happy that he chose to perform a French song & was very vocal about her views.

  

Oh, that's a pity.

  

Just a few quick words from my mobile while sitting in Eurostar. Loved this London gig Loved loved loved it and think everything went as well as possible. It was the end of the tour and he must have been so tired already but gave such a good energy and included every possible song I was hoping for. OMS!! Hurts!! Love the dance version even I wasn't sure in advance because the album version is so incredibly beautiful. The best Promiseland so far and the whole crowd responded well (as the opposite to Paris where the big audience didn't seem to know the song yet). So happy he did Boum Boum Boum as it's one of fav gig songs and loved the London version (wasn't sure we will get any French songs). Amazing Last Party! And the arrangement for some older songs are so cool and welcome. The theater was lovely and small, much smaller than I expected. Great to see so many fans gathered. Will miss you all! Thanks Deb for organizing the pub meeting!

  

Actually there were quite a lot of people not happy that he did a French song ....

  

Mika knows that too... he once mentioned that UK ppl doesn't like French songs played on radio so... no wonder ppl don't like listening it in live.

  

Generally French songs don't go down too well in the UK, but there are exceptions (La Vie En Rose for one).  As far as Mika songs go, I think if he had done Elle Me Dit no-one would have minded.

 

  

Sorry, I wasn't trying to mislead anyone, I was just only aware of the one person objecting to Boum Boum Boum from where I was sat.

  

Before Boum Boum Boum he made a funny introduction - he said he'd teach us a few French words (coeur, philosophie and I guess something else I do t remember now) but he did it in such a cute and funny way, of course realising people don't like French songs here. He also promised it's the only French song in the show. I don't know why someone could still object to that, especially that the song is really cool and sounds amazing live.

Sorry for the long multi quote but wanted to include everything. I was the vocal one about Mika doing French songs in London.

Let me explain.

I first heard Mika back in 2006 when Relax was BBC Radio 1's record of the week. I instantly fell in love with it. I then fell in love with the rest of his music and Mika, the British pop star. All the UK albums have English tracks and has never released a French song here. I fell in love with his lyrical content, this is what I enjoy. His stories and how relatable they are to me. I think this what drew me to him.

Now I have no problem with Mika speaking French, in France or Canada (or Italian in Italy) and I have in fact seen him twice in France. Tbh I didn't enjoy the gigs as much as others as I don't understand French. Haven't got a ####ing clue. Now the main reason I enjoy the live shows is the interaction between Mika and the audience and in French it washes over me. I didn't realise that Mika had split his trousers at Parc du Prince until I watched the DVD 6 months later with subtitles I have no interest in the French songs. I can't invest as I don't understand. I enjoy a good melody and there are a few foreign language songs I enjoy, Strome for example. British radio really doesn't play foreign music and I would say that a lot of British people wouldn't go out of their way to find foreign music. Mika is a British artist IMO and I want English songs. The songs I can relate to. It has only been since 2012 that he started including French songs into his UK show and I didn't really enjoy that either. I fell in love with the British Mika and him singing French songs here feels like he's cheating on me (hypothetically before you think I'm weird).

Mika's back catalogue is now huge with 4 albums worth of non-French songs and the fact he chose to sing in French, I find a little insulting. Go and do that in France, not here.

I really enjoyed the show and loved the changed arrangements of the classics (wow that sounds weird). I love Mika. I think he's ####ing fantastic.

I love French people, I love France and I appreciate their culture. This is no way me hating on France. In London I want the London Mika. I hope you understand.

To be fair Mika can do what he likes, but I can't follow up every path and enjoy it.

Boo! What's the goss?

Don't get me started. I gig and a total fiasco with the tickets.

Hello Troops! New album same conversation haha

Well to me he has always been a British pop star. He grew up here, has a London accent & lives here. The only multicultural problem() is that he speaks fluent French. I can totally understand why Europe loves him so much. There are not many pop stars that speak French. They feel that they have something in common. Unfortunately for the British & American fans he has spent more time in Europe and neglected the market. He therefore hasn't done well and then blames the countries.

Mika is a flatterer but is also notorious for talking out of his arse. Harsh but true.

He never admitts to mistakes. Celebrate was a huge mistake and we told him what we thought. I read Sir Alex Ferguson's autobiography and he said that David Beckham never admitted to his mistakes always said he did nothing wrong, when he clearly did. I think Mika suffers from this too.

To say Britain isn't accepting of gay pop stars is ridiculous. Maybe if he was open from the beginning it may have been a different story. People like labels and if it's not clear they might be intrigued for a bit but will then lose interest. To think that your above labels or you are so different from others makes you unrelatable.

People need to relate and at the moment I can't relate to him at all.