Cautionary Wife

Hi Strudel Is it still No 2, behind Bloc Party? Cheers CW.

Bravo! CW ---- ITV.COM Furious Queen Star Defends Mika Tue 6 Feb 07 Queen guitarist Brian May was so horrified when he read a bad review of chart-topped Mika's debut album, he has branded the writer “a w**ker” on his official website. The veteran rocker feels a strong affinity to the young star, who has frequently been compared vocally to late Queen icon Freddie Mercury. And when Brian read a scathing review of Life in Cartoon Motion, written by the Guardian's Alexis Petridis, he decided to vent his spleen. "Good lord, what a w**ker,” he writes. “I have a picture of Petridis. He looks like a nasty, grubby, spotty, unusually ignorant 15-year-old creep, writing a facile attempted artistic assassination as if he's trying to prove he has teeth in a sixth-form magazine." Mika, who clearly has friends in the right places, (if not in the journalistic profession) is currently at number one with his single, Grace Kelly. --- STARPULSE Brian Defends Mika Tue 6 Feb 07 Queen guitarist Brian May has leaped to the defense of Mika, after reading a scathing review of the British pop sensation's debut album. May was stunned to see the quirky singer's debut album Life In Cartoon Motion receive a one star rating in a British newspaper, and quickly launched a blistering verbal attack on the reviewer, Alexis Petridis. May fumes, "Good lord, what a w**ker. I have a picture of Petridis... he looks like a nasty, grubby, spotty, unusually ignorant 15-year-old creep... writing a facile attempted artistic assassination as it he's trying to prove he has teeth in a sixth-form magazine." Mika's debut single Grace Kelly is currently topping the UK singles chart for the third week running. (This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network) ----

QUEERTY.COM  Tue, Feb 6, 2007  Musical Notes: Mika To say that there’s buzz around Lebanon-born, London-based popster, Mika (born Mica Penniman) would be an understatement. Given the avalanche of praise, accolades and testimonials, one would think the release of his full-length debut, Life in Cartoon Motion, will change the course of music history forever, creating an aural aftershock heard all over the world. And, in some respects you’d be right: Mika’s album will most likely continue to be one of the most talked about albums of the year. And rightfully so. Whether it's history in the making - that remains to be seen. Nearly every review makes reference to a musical predecessor, such as George Michael, Madonna, Elton John and, of course, Scissor Sisters – a group many credit for paving the way for the 23-year Lebanon-born crooner. The American quintet’s influence can be heard throughout the album, most noticeably on “Love Todayâ€Â, the intro to which sounds suspiciously like the rift from the Sisters’ “Filthy Gorgeousâ€Â. Later in the song, Mika’s strained falsetto could have been recorded by Jake Shears himself, implanted in the album like some viral vocal marketing. This isn’t to say the influences aren’t entertaining, but they can be a bit of distraction. It’s well documented that Mika wrote the album’s first single - the at once infectious and tiresome “Grace Kelly†- in response to some pushy record execs who hoped to shape him in their own preconceived image. He croons: I try to be like Grace Kelly But all her looks were too sad So I try a little Freddie I’ve gone identity mad! I could be brown I could be blue I could be violet sky I could be hurtful I could be purple I could be anything you like Now that’s an understatement. He’s not only anything you like, he’s everything you've always liked. In fact, much of the album veers dangerously close to a somewhat obvious homage to twenty years of pop music. While certainly he’s got some catchy tunes, one can’t help but worry the young buck’s buried under too many other people’s sounds. It’s almost as if he’s simply testing the waters, throwing out some sugary bait before embarking on a more creative career. At least, that’s what one can only hope, for there’s no doubt Mika’s a natural talent. His skills as a natural musician - his fingers tickle those ivories with wit, while he picks the guitar with pluck - he's on target with some of his more original tunes. For example, the appropriately saccharine “Lollipop†or the snappy “Billy Brown†– sure to be a queer favorite for its sexually-confused title character. Neither compares to the longest track on the album, “Happy Endings/Over My Shoulder†on which the listener gets a taste of his background as a trained opera singer. It’s here that Mika deserves the title of musical messiah, infusing each high note and protracted syllable with true human emotion: exhilarated confusion and irrepressible sentiment. We’ve no doubt Mika has a career ahead of him. The trajectory of that career, however, depends largely on which influences he chooses to keep and which he throws to the tenacious jaws of history. (Mika, Life in Cartoon Motion, Island/Casablanca, 2007 --- CW.

Fabulous!! Glad you had such a good time. If it had been a different day, I could've been there. N'ere mind eh. Your review is much much better than any journo could manage. In fact they usually write their stuff before the event. CW..

Hmm... why discontinue it???? Was it available at any other download source? Try Tesco HMV Digital Wippit Virgin appears frozen (or might be just non-Mac) I did buy Dodgy Holiday for myself and some friends on 24 December from iTunes. CW.

Brilliant and lovely photos of T-Mobile Street Gigs Presents Mika February 5, 2007 - Big Top, Berkley Square London, United Kingdom at http://www.wireimage.com/gallerylisting.asp?navtyp=gls====258271&source=rss&nbc=1 CW.

Now if everyone goes and buys it on iTunes too, with the 3 extra acoustic tracks, maybe that would give the necessary extara little push - or buy it for a friend. CW.

I won tickets but had to decline. Just an inconvenient day. Drat it !! CW.

THIS IS LONDON By David Smyth, Evening Standard 06.02.07 Falsetto heaven: showman Mika launched his album in a big top with circus acts and catchy tunes ----- Album review: Mika Life in Cartoon Motion (Casablanca) **** Occupying the top spot in the singles chart with the gloriously camp romp that is Grace Kelly, Mika has so far justified his presence in all those "ones to watch out for in 2007" lists. But an album is the real test of an artist's viability - and it's one the Lebanon-born singer has passed with ease, delivering consistently well-crafted pop tunes that buzz with energy. Combining the richness of Robbie Williams's low notes with a falsetto, Mika's vocal range is best shown on the upbeat, retro-flavoured Love Today, one of many potential hits. By the time he gets to Big Girl (You Are Beautiful), a bouncy tribute to fuller-figured women, it's clear that in the face of Mika's irrepressible sense of fun, resistance is futile. Chris Elwell-Sutton ------ Who'll be the stars of the arts in 2007? He has been billed as pop's greatest new showman, so it was only fitting that 23-year-old Mika Penniman should launch his debut album in a specially-erected circus tent. Currently number one for the fourth week with his first single, Grace Kelly, he looks certain to repeat the feat with his album, Life In Cartoon Motion, and celebrated that fact in the most colourful way possible. The crowd of competition winners was dotted with transvestites, other pop stars including Sophie Ellis-Bextor and The Feeling, a bearded lady and several people in monkey costumes. Candy floss, toffee apples, popcorn and balloon hats were all freely distributed. Support acts included various acrobats, carnival dancers in towering head-dresses and three schoolchildren playing Fifties rockabilly. So when he finally arrived Mika had to work hard to attract the crowd's notice amid all that colour, but attention-seeking seems to be a particular skill. Skittering showtune Grace Kelly pleaded "Why don't you like me?" over and over. The galloping disco of Love Today saw him insisting "You've got to love, love me" while bouncing up and down like an overjoyed puppy. Grinning broadly beneath rich black curls, the former member of the Royal Opera chorus sang mostly in a falsetto - not the heartbroken kind employed by Chris Martin or James Blunt, more of a Saturday night squeal. Classy house tune Relax, Take It Easy opened proceedings at a relatively sedate pace, but later Big Girl (You are Beautiful) fired the mood towards hen-do hysteria. Two women spilling out of blue corsets flanked the singer and waved their cowboy hats to a rubbery bassline that propelled another certain smash hit. Mika seemed unprecious about his abilities as a songwriter, always preferring catchiness over any more lasting qualities. This was music with less depth than an ashtray, the sugary chant of Lollipop in particular proving to be so throwaway, it was possible to move from adoring it to finding it deeply irritating in a matter of minutes. The odd slow moment dampened the celebratory mood but provided much needed changes of pace. Sparse piano ballad Ring Ring was nearly bleak enough to deflate all the balloons floating around. A soothing cover of Everybody's Talkin' by Mika's hero Harry Nilsson, another pop eccentric, indicated his likely future. He will not always be the chart ringmaster he is today, but there were enough intriguing diversions here to prove that he is no clown. --- CW.

ITN NEWS Tue 6 Feb 2007 New pop sensation Mika has proved he's got celebrity pulling power. The singer, who has held the number one spot in the singles chart for three weeks, has played a one off gig in London's Berkeley Square. Among those milling around in the circus-themed venue, were The Feeling and Sophie Ellis Bextor. Lebanese-born Mika has been dubbed the saviour of British pop music after the success of his debut track Grace Kelly. His album, Life In Cartoon Motion is now in the shops. He is tipped to become one of pop's biggest success stories this year. Mika recently made into another top 100 - a chart of the world's sexiest men. He was voted 79th in the poll for NW (New Woman) magazine. Take That were in first place. --- CW.

I think Mika sounds like Roger Taylor of Queen on the breathy line "I try to be like Grace Kelly". His hair could be classic Beethoven. CW.

I think so. I haven't downloaded all the mixes from iTunes as I had them on CD's or 12's and the extra tracks Over My Shoulder on the Grace Kelly CD and Satellite on 7", which converted to an mp3, so no need to buy them again. I bought the Dodgy Holiday 4-track download for myself and for several friends for Christmas. And have the podcasts either from iTunes or other original sources. Some of the tracks I got as pre-release 3 track and a 5-track, but still bought the download and CD formats of the album. Can't wait for more promo video - or a proper DVD !!!! Might as well ask for the moon even if I have to settle for the stars. CW.

It's HERE "Bohemian Rhapsody" from Sunday Herald (04.02.07). It also said he turned up to class in a clown outfit. What a joy of a kid !! The best article I have read in a long while. CW.

When you go into iTunes there is a nice Banner heading of Mika, first thing you see. When you call up Life In Cartoon Motion, they have made a really lovely page with Mika depicted in the album graphic. Takes up the depth of my big screen. There's a blurb that says: ALBUM NOTES If you feel that the Scissor Sisters are a bit too reserved for your tastes, then Mika may just fulfill your more flamboyant fantasies. Sounding like Freddie Mercury shucking and jiving through a Broadway rendition of The Wiz, Mika is a pop force worth taking note of. Theatrical falsettos, disco-soul, hand-claps and generous slices of gandoise bubblegum make this a guilty pleasure. Screatch that. Tunes like "Grace Kelly" and "Lolipop" are just pure pleasure, plain and simple. Life In Cartoon Motion also contains three acoustic, exclusive live tracks. There are 14 songs on the download album. 1. Grace Kelly 2. Lollipop 3. My Interpretation 4. Love Today 5. Relax, Take It EAsy 6. Any Other World 7. Billy Brown 8. Big Girl (You are Beautiful) 9. Stuck in the Middle 10. Happy Ending 11. Ring Ring 12. Grace Kelly (Acoustic) 13. Suck in the Middle (Acoustic) 14. Relax, Take It Easy (Acoustic) Separately, on iTunes, you can get the tracks of Dodgy Holiday EP, the B Sides of Grace Kelly CD and 7" - Satellite and Over My Shoulder, remixes, live versions, - about 17 tracks which are not listed as album 'Life In Cartoon Motion'. You can also check out on iTunes free Mika Podcasts and in Music Videos Section Grace Kelly is listed. CW.

SAD that Tim de Lisle in The Mail on Sunday yesterday only gave it 2/5. I didn't find this evaluation to be much about the music, just whether or not Mika manage to keep this journalist liking him. Words come to mind.... 'why don't you like me without making me try.' CW MAIL ON SUNDAY 4 February 2007 "Mika - Life In Cartoon Mtion Casablanca Records £12.99 inc p&p 01634 832 789 ** /5 No sooner had I reviewed Grace Kelly, the debut single from the young Lebanese Londoner Mika, than it went to number one. Now his album, Life In Cartoon Motion, is here, and it's a disappointment. Mika turns out to be one of those people you take to immediately, only to find you like them less as you get to know them better. With his camp energy, catchy tunes and fluting voice, he should have further hits, but over a whole album his charm palls, and his schtick - Scissor Sisters meets Queen - feels calculating. Big Girl (You Are Beautiful) is a shamless rehash of Queen's Fat Bottomed Girls, only partly redeemed by the fact that it's message is highly topical; Billy Brown, the tale of a closet gay is painfully twee. There's a fine line between cute and annoying."

Enjoyed that a lot. Thanks Mikila. I laughed out loud at the image of Mika trying to push his cheap white chipboard piano out of a window and save it and his new shoes from a house fire. Same as I laughed when I read that as a small child, he dragged a full sized christmas tree into class. Didn't he say something about panto? So much of his life is pure entertainment. CW.

Me too. With Mika's love of vinyl and artwork I cannot imagine WHY no 12" of the album to display the drawings in full glory and properly print the lyrics. And wot no 12" pictiure disk!! Can't you guess I'm a sad vinyl freak? Now sadder cos of these omissions. And why no Grace Kelly video track on the physical CD?? Not everyone has or wants to use iTunes, though the 3 extra acoustic versions on the download album are lovely. Still.... whadda we mere mortals know? CW.

Thump the counter, Italian Girl. DEMAND your rights. HA!! CW.

Mika only mentioned in paragraph one here, but this article details strong competition in the UK album chart. Next week will be interesting. And if Billboard is listening, then America is listening..... I think. CW. BILLBOARD February 05, 2007 Paul Sexton, London As Mika's "Grace Kelly" (Universal Island) started a third week atop the U.K. singles chart, there was a No. 1 debut on the album survey for Norah Jones' "Not Too Late" (Blue Note). It's Jones' third straight bestseller on the British charts, following "Come Away With Me" (2002) and "Feels Like Home" (2004). There were no new entries in the top 20 of the singles chart, but as is now the norm under new eligibility rules, there were several climbers. Fall Out Boy's "This Ain't a Scene, It's An Arms Race" (Mercury) jumped 6-2 and Bloc Party's "The Prayer" (Wichita) 13-4, beating the No. 5 peak of its previous highest-charting single "So Here We Are"/"Positive Tension" in 2005. "I Wanna Love You" (Universal) by Akon featuring Snoop Dogg continued its steady progress, 56-35-16-11-9, and the Fray's "How To Save a Life" (Epic) also progressed into the top ten with a 16-10 move. Kelis scored a new top 20 hit as "Lil Star" (Virgin) featuring Cee Lo improved 37-19. The highest new entry on the survey was Kasabian's "Me Plus One" (Columbia) at No. 22. With opening sales of 60,000, Jones' third album held off the challenge of rock newcomers Klaxons, who debuted at No. 2 with "Myths of the Near Future" (Polydor). Last week's bestseller, the View's "Hats Off to the Buskers" (1965), fell to No. 3, while south London rapper Jamie T's debut album "Panic Prevention" (Virgin) came in at No. 4. Just Jack, whose rap/pop single "Starz in Their Eyes" (Mercury) spent the second of two weeks at No. 2 last week, opened at No. 6 with the album "Overtones," while Madonna's "The Confessions Tour" (Warner Bros.) came in at No. 7. Nelly Furtado rebounds to the top on both of Billboard's pan-European sales charts to lead them simultaneously for the first time. "Loose" (Mosley/Geffen) moves 2-1 on European Top 100 Albums, which it led for a week two weeks ago, while "All Good Things (Come To An End)" belies its title by returning to the helm of Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2-1, after topping that list for one chart frame three weeks ago. ---

THIS IS LANCASHIRE By David Adair 5 Feb 2007 The power of the Polyphonic Spree, the wistfulness of Jim Noir and the je ne sais quoi of Queen meet up in the musical orbit of this flighty ten track wonder. My Interpretation stands toe to toe with The Magic Numbers and The Mamas & The Papas, sending you flying with its deep seated vocal projection and a glorious, ranging melody. The centrepiece of the album, Any Other World, is pure theatrics in Michael Crawford-sized portions, veering just the right side of sentimentality. A fresh and bold sound ready to push the boundaries of pop music. CW.

I couldn't wait and got the download album from iTunes last night. The CD arrived in the mail and different tracklisting to the download album !!! Check out iTunes !! CW.

It was 11 -11.20am. I think sadly, you did miss the dear boy. CW.

On BBC Radio 2. All this week, Ken Bruce will be playing songs from Radio 2's Album of the Week by Mika. And TODAY... Mika will be around to talk to Ken - between 9.30 and noon LISTEN LIVE - So tune in NOW !!! Mika will be on during last hour of the show ALSO.... Saturday 10 Feb 20:00 - 21:00 Radio 2 Music Club Presents...Mika - a special concert from BBC Maida Vale. CW.

Downloading the album from iTunes UK store right now. CW.

CDwow will be the IMPORT - not a US domestic release. There is a footnote next to the item.. "CD WOW! is an international supplier of CDs. Please check the track listing to ensure we stock the version you require." In the USA you can also get the import on amazon.com. CW.