Cautionary Wife

Sorry Daisylou !! Hope you hadn't typed it all out. ) CW.

8 March 2007 MIKA Hello again! Well, getting a double top with both single and album has been fantastic and we have you to thank in helping Mika achieve this, however, time and tide wait for no man and there is more, much more, to do! Starting with… US AOL Breakers OL Music are running a ‘Breakers’ competition for 12 emerging artists that are poised to break through this ear in the US. There are four Breaker categories with three candidates in each. Mika is part of the ‘As heard on TV’ section – thanks to his exposure on MTV – and is up against stiff competition in the shape of Corbin Bleu and Young Love. You can help Mika win his category and become one of the four winning Breakers by casting your vote online – and, yes, you can vote as many times as you want. It’s very competitive so obviously the more times you vote, the better Mika’s chances are! The winning Breakers will get their own dedicated spotlight on AOL Music and will receive superstar level support across the site! This will really help raise Mika’s profile in the States. To vote click HERE. Whilst still on the subject of Mika in America, his album ‘Life in Cartoon Motion’ gets its official US release on 27th March. Love Today (UK Release) You may know by now that Mika’s follow up single to ‘Grace Kelly’ will be ‘Love Today’. Which will be released on Casablanca Records. It will be available to download on 16th April and then on CD, 7†and 12†on 23rd April. It will come with a host of remixes courtesy of Rob Mello, Patrick Wolf and Switch. There will also be various versions according to formats including an acoustic version of ‘Love Today’ and a cover of The View’s ‘Same Jeans’ taken from Jo Whiley’s Live Lounge on the 7â€Â. The CD features a brand new track and an acoustic version of ‘Billy Brown’. Love Today Animation To accompany ‘Love Today’ there is a smart new animation that you can now download HERE. Mika’s shop – open for business Good news. Mika’s on-line shop, available on the website www.mikasounds.com, is now open for business. You can now buy all Mika’s recorded output to date, in all their wonderful variations direct from the shop why not take a browse? Festival season Looking out of my window at the March gloom, the idea of summer festivals seems distinctly remote, however, the dates are in place, the line ups are being finalised and Mika is in big festival demand this summer. He is lined up to appear at V, Oxygen and T in the Park. Hey, the very thought of that gives those grey clouds a silver lining. Rescheduled Brighton Date Mika’s recent UK tour has gone down a storm but unfortunately, due to illness, he had to cancel the Brighton date. The good news is that he is now being able to reschedule that date which will now be Friday 11 May. All those with tickets for the original date will be able to use them for the new one. So, as usual, loads going on. Thanks for your continued support. Love Mikasounds --- CW.

THE STAR, MALAYSIA By Jason Cheah 5 March 2007 Mika: Life in Cartoon Motion (Universal) Lebanese-born, London-based Mika Penniman is one of the singer-songwriters to watch this year. With a debut commercial chart topper in Grace Kelly, not to mention some underground download hits and limited edition 7-inch vinyls with Relax, Take it Easy and Billy Brown last year, the over-the-top grooves from this young man are bound to smash current boundaries of pop music. Debut album Life in Cartoon Motion has already generated opposing views among critics, whether it's genius songwriting or downright diabolical glam trash. Mika the enigma is anything but boring. But with one of the most wide-ranging vocals (actually praised by none other than Simon Cowell himself a few years ago) and some of the most quirky lyrical material, this 13-track effort does make you sit up and listen. Think Freddie Mercury (with and without Queen), Elton John, a little Rufus Wainright, a bit of George Michael, and even Scissor Sisters and The Darkness – this outlandish singer songwriter is all of those and more. He is about taking listeners to extremes with glam-up noise balanced with some mellow material and some kitsch-laden flirtations. Some of the titles look like a take on retro hits, but Relax is no cover of Frankie Goes to Hollywood nor Ring Ring a cover of Abba. Mind you, a sample of the melody line from Cutting Crew’s I Just Died in Your Arms is evident though on Relax. In addition to those tracks and the chart-topping Grace Kelly (yes, it’s something of a tribute to that legendary actress, although it does name check Freddie Mercury), there are also Lollipop (complete with children’s chant), the piano-driven Billy Brown and Big Girl (both sounding like a tribute to Queen), to keep you locked on to Mika’s crazy muse. It’s a little in your face, for sure, but that doesn’t detract from an extremely confident voice and some fabulously flamboyant songwriting from this 23-year-old. Definitely one to watch. ---- CW.

IN THE NEWS Sunday, 04 Mar 2007 19:43 Any aspirations comeback kids Take That may have of sticking around for just that bit longer have been helped by their single Shine climbing to the top of the UK chart. Fresh from last month's Brit awards success; the Manchester foursome's second single release from album Beautiful World displaces Ruby by the Kaiser Chiefs at number one. But the Kaisers can at least take comfort from their blockbusting new album Yours Truly Angry Mob debuting at number one, which kicks Amy Winehouse's Back to Black into third. Different as they are, the charts are dominated by Take That and the Kaisers, with the reformed boyband occupying second place in the album chart with the aforementioned Beautiful World. Back in the singles stakes The Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani featuring Akon rises four places to three, while former number one Grace Kelly by Mika and Fray's How to Save a Life complete the top five. UK singles charts 1 Shine – Take That (10) 2 Ruby – Kaiser Chiefs (1) 3 The Sweet Escape – Gwen Stefani featuring Akon (7) 4 Grace Kelly – Mika (2) 5 How to Save a Life – Fray (5) 6 Lil Star - Kelis featuring Cee Lo (3) 7 Standing in the Way of Control – The Gossip (new entry) 8 Miracle – Cascade (new entry) 9 I Wanna Love You – Akon featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg (4) 10 What Goes Around Comes Around – Justin Timberlake (11) UK album chart 1 Yours Truly Angry Mob – Kaiser Chiefs (new entry) 2 Beautiful World – Take That (5) 3 Back to Black – Amy Winehouse (1) 4 Life in Cartoon Motion – Mika (2) 5 Eyes Open – Snow Patrol (3) --- CW.

DIGITAL SPY Saturday, March 3 2007, 09:15 GMT By Daniel Kilkelly Mika's Grace Kelly is at the top of the Irish singles chart for a fifth week. Take That and Fray moved up into the top three this week with Shine and How To Save A Life respectively, while Gwen Stefani's The Sweet Escape also climbed up the chart. Just Jack's Starz In Their Eyes fell three places to number seven, and Jojo's Too Little Too Late dropped six positions. Cascada debuted at number ten with Miracle. Take That have knocked Snow Patrol from the top of the album chart with Beautiful World, which is followed by the Kaiser Chiefs' Yours Truly, Angry Mob at number two and Nelly Furtado's Loose at number three. The top ten singles in full: 1. (1) Mika: 'Grace Kelly' 2. (20) Take That: 'Shine' 3. (9) Fray: 'How To Save A Life' 4. (3) Akon ft. Snoop Dogg: 'I Wanna Love You' 5. (5) Kaiser Chiefs: 'Ruby' 6. (11) Gwen Stefani ft. Akon: 'The Sweet Escape' 7. (4) Just Jack: 'Starz In Their Eyes' 8. (2) Jojo: 'Too Little Too Late' 9. (8) Kelis ft. Ceelo: 'Lil Star' 10. (-) Cascada: 'Miracle' --- Also see here Top 50 Singles Week ending 1st March 2007 LW TW TITLE ARTIST LABEL WKS 1 1 GRACE KELLY MIKA CASABLANCA 7 20 2 SHINE TAKE THAT POLYDOR 5 9 3 HOW TO SAVE A LIFE FRAY EPIC 5 3 4 I WANNA LOVE YOU AKON FEAT. SNOOP DOGG UNIVERSAL 7 5 5 RUBY KAISER CHIEFS BUNIQUE/POLYDOR 4 Top 100 Individual Artist Albums Week ending 1st March 2007 LW TW TITLE ARTIST LABEL WKS 7 1 BEAUTIFUL WORLD TAKE THAT POLYDOR 14 2 YOURS TRULY, ANGRY MOB KAISER CHIEFS BUNIQUE/POLYDOR 1 3 3 LOOSE NELLY FURTADO GEFFEN 38 4 6 HOW TO SAVE A LIFE FRAY EPIC 2 11 7 FUTURESEX/LOVESOUNDS JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE JIVE 25 --- CW.

Lyrisc seem to have been move here for Erase, so apologies if repeating what I think are possible corrections Uninsecure = insecure ghost down = ghost town bed that we can't hold = bed taht we called home Fantastic song, IMHO. CW.

A lot of misheard lyrics on there. We are much more accurate here, I reckon. CW.

I had a quick check out by the tour bus after Manchester show. Some people were waiting quietly but there was an awful lot screaming, which I am sure would've put the band off. I suspect Mika and the band might've possibly already been on the bus. CW.

I love it. The sentiments are so raw. Think I got a couple of corrections Uninsecure = unsecure ghost down = ghost town A bed that we called home CW.

MUSIC ROOMS 02 March 2007 All tickets for both sites at this year's V Festival have completely sold-out. They went on sale at 9am on Thursday morning (March 1) and all 150,000 tickets went within hours. A statement from V Festival organisers Bob Angus and Simon Moran read: "We are absolutely overwhelmed that we have sold over 150,000 tickets this quickly. "It really is testament to the fantastic line-up - to have eight of the top nine artists in the album chart, with exception of Take That - who no doubt will have their moment today when their tickets go on sale." This year's festival boasts a line-up featuring Foo Fighters, Snow Patrol, Basement Jazz, Manic Street Preachers, Mika, Kasabian, The Coral and Paolo Nutini. V festival takes place at Weston Park, Staffordshire and Hylands Park, Chelmsford on August 18-19. --- CW.

My other half seems to have mixed feelings. Loved Grace Kelly, found infectiously compulsive... melody gets in your head - but expresses thought that the jury is out as to whether Mika will keep his appeal, depending on what he does next. Thinks he has a brilliant voice though. Other half has been very indulging of my enthusiasm... like buying me newspapers because there has been articles..... standing for long hours at concerts. CW.

Thanks Sunny. That's quite interesting. I hadn't been counting. ) CW.

THE EXAMINER Entertainment Tom Lanham, The Examiner Mar 2, 2007 SAN FRANCISCO - The obvious: One of the most charming, delightful and altogether sunniest singles in ages belongs to a 23-year-old, Beirut-born Londoner named Mica Penniman, who performs under the moniker Mika. Already a No. 1 hit overseas, “Grace Kelly†melds barrelhouse piano and a campy vaudevillian melody with the singer’s soaring Freddie Mercury acrobatics (even name-checking Mercury in the lyrics), and frappes it all into the most sugary confection on the air waves. But the truth behind the track is anything but sweet. The path from Lebanon to “Life in Cartoon Motion† Mika’s chart-topping new Casablanca debut disc  wasn’t paved with gold, says the singer, on a recent whirlwind promotional tour of the States. The Penniman clan left their homeland as it sank into civil war, relocating to France shortly after Mika was born. For eight blissful years, he recalls, “I had a kind of charmed life in Paris, so I took it for granted that life would always be like what my life was like at my little French school.†As soon as his folks moved to Britain, things took a nosedive. Perhaps it was his fashion sense, he reflects  his customary red trousers with matching bow tie. Or maybe it was his operatically-high voice. “But when we went to London, it was a complete nightmare. I didn’t have any easy time, for every textbook reason, from the size of my hips  which I don’t think are particularly large  to that I was a little bit chubbier then. So I was called everything from a fag to a fatty, and it was like ‘Lord of the Flies.’†When teachers got in on the derisive act, too, he says, “That’s when I just completely started to break down, and I kind of cut myself off from the world.†He was so traumatized, he literally forgot how to read and write. His mother dutifully pulled him out of school for six months, and sent him to study with a Russian singing coach. The lost boy quickly found himself again; Mika was soon appearing in a Strauss production at the Royal Opera House. The young artist’s life quickly divided into two parts: the fake world, school, and reality, music, where, he says, “I was treated like an adult, given responsibility and paid money. Not a lot, but I felt like I was. ... I was real.†Only one instructor gave him any usable grown-up skills, teaching him that everything creative was about developing a process, and “if you established it in the right way then it could only lead to success. And now I apply that to everything in my life, even my songwriting.†It took a while. But the underdog eventually triumphed over his tormentors. Mika started small, composing in-flight music for British Airways, even an Orbit gum jingle before inking his first hastily-aborted deal (“Grace Kelly†was a kiss-off to some meddlesome execs). Currently, Mika  who resembles a young Rupert Everett, circa “Another Country† has been snapped up for Paul Smith’s summer fashion campaign, and licensed his bubbly “Love Today†track to Motorola’s (RED) commercials. Now, as he stands ready to become the breakout star of ’07, Mika can laugh about those misunderstood days when he was obsessed with comics, toys, art books, Egyptian music  “things that don’t translate well to the schoolyard, because no one ever gave it a chance.†He adds, “But I’m sure if people actually spent a little more time with me, as opposed to writing me off at face value, then things would’ve been easier.†Thanks to the picture-perfect “Grace Kelly,†Mika has all the get-acquainted time he needs. --- CW.

RTE ENTERTAINMENT Wednesday, 28 February 2007 The Killers and Mika have been added to the OXEGEN line-up for this year, it was revealed at the official festival launch today. The Killers announced today that they would be headlining the main stage on Sunday 8 July 2007. Chart-topper Mika has been added to the line-up for Saturday 7 July. Already confirmed for the festival are Snow Patrol, Muse, Daft Punk, Arcade Fire, Scissor Sisters, Razorlight, My Chemical Romance and Bloc Party. Speaking about the festival, Muse frontman Matt Bellamy said: "OXEGEN is the best festival, we love playing in front of the Irish crowd and can't wait to return this summer." Razorlight singer Johnny Borrell said: "The crowd are always amazing at OXEGEN. It's a great line up this year and we can't wait to play. Ireland's the greatest country in the world." --- VIRTUAL FESTIVALS The Killers confirm Oxegen 28 February 2007 The Killers have been confirmed to headline Ireland's Oxegen, closing the festival on Sunday night. Wu Tang Clan, Mika and The Gossip have also been announced along with several dance acts... Oxegen takes place at Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Co Kildare, on 7-9 July. Loads of acts have already been confirmed, including Muse, Snow Patrol, Scissor Sisters and Kings Of Leon on Saturday's main stage. Rozorlight will warm up for The Killers on the Sunday and there will also be main stage performances by Arcade Fire and The Kooks. Organisers have just announced the first dance acts, which include Deep Dish with special guest Cedric Gervais, Frankie Knuckles, Datarock, Erol Alkan, Booka Shade, Justice, M.A.N.D.Y, Dr.lektroluv and Cagedbaby. The majority of artists have not yet been assigned stages but the day split now goes like this.. Saturday: Muse, Snow Patrol, Scissor Sisters, Kings of Leon, Interpol, Amy Winehouse, The Fratellis, MIKA, Wu Tang Clan, Tori Amos, The Goo Goo Dolls and The Gossip, as well as Erol Alkan, Booka Shade, M.A.N.D.Y, Justice, Dr.lektroluv. Sunday: The Killers, Razorlight, Arcade Fire, Daft Punk, The Kooks, My Chemical Romance, Bloc Party, Babyshambles, James Morrison, CSS and Klaxons will be taking to the stage along with Deep Dish (with special guest Cedric Gervais), Frankie Knuckles, Datarock and Cagedbaby. You may remember we reported that Snow Patrol would be headlining ahead of a performance by Muse, yet the festival has now put Muse above them on the bill. We're try to find out what's going on and will let you know! Tickets go on sale this Friday morning and will be available to buy here. --- CW.

EUROPEAN TOP 100 ALBUMS on March 3, 2007 The European Top 100 Albums is compiled by Billboard Information Group and based on the national album sales charts of 18 European territories: Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Finland, Flanders, Italy, Ireland, Norway, Holland, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom, Wallony. 1 Norah Jones- Not Too Late 2 Nelly Furtado - Loose 3 Madonna - Confessions Tour 4 Mika - Life In Cartoon Motion 5 Amy Winehouse - Back To Black TOP WORLD BEST SELLERS 1 Gerald Levert - In My Songs 2 Mika - Life In Cartoon Motion 3 Various - Pop music, Vocal - Grammy Nominees 2007 4 Amy Winehouse - Back To Black 5 Norah Jones - Not Too Late -- CW.

... Shockwaves NME Awards: Lauren laverne looks back at the past twelve months in Rock with help; from an array of musicians and pundits. This show on Channel 4 early this morning (0.05am) 27 Feb, was a prelude the forthcoming NME Awards. Mika made at least 3 cameo appearances - snatches of interviews during the programme. --- 4Music: The Shockwaves NME Awards will be televised on Channel 4 this Friday at 11:40pm Lauren Laverne presents the Shockwaves NME Awards 2007 featuring performacnes from Kasabian, The Killers, Kaiser Chiefs, The View and Jarvis Cccker, Even though Mika not on list of perormers, he may well be featured in some of the filmed comment as he was in the fore-runner programme. CW.

I'll be there. Will definitely wear a rosette.... maybe a Queen t-shirt as I haven't got a Mika one yet. CW.

VIRGIN RADIO Virgin Radio is your summer festival station 26 Feb 07 Virgin Mobile V Festival Virgin Radio can exclusively reveal the headliners of the 12th Virgin Mobile V Festival on 18 and 19 August as The Killers, Foo Fighters and Snow Patrol. Other bands confirmed to play are Virgin Radio regulars Mika, The Kooks, The Fratellis, The Fray, The Goo Goo Dolls, Manic Street Preachers, James Morrison, KT Tunstall, Damien Rice, and Paolo Nutini. Other big names set to appear are festival favourites Primal Scream, Basement Jaxx, Babyshambles, Kasabian, Editors, P!nk, Happy Mondays, James and The Proclaimers. Tickets will be available from 9am on Thursday, 1 March from this website. --- CW.

CONTACT MUSIC 27/02/2007 Singer NELLY FURTADO continues to dominate at the top of the European singles chart - her smash hit ALL GOOD THINGS (COME TO AN END) is still at number one. British star MIKA climbs three places to number two with GRACE KELLY, and AKON FEAT SNOOP DOGG is at number three with WANNA LOVE YOU. At four is YANNICK NOAH with AUX ARBRES CITOYENS, and GOMONT-KAMINI are at number five with MARLY. Meanwhile, NORAH JONES' NOT TOO LATE remains at number one in the European albums chart, keeping Furtado's LOOSE at number two. In third place is MADONNA's THE CONFESSIONS TOUR album, with Mika's LIFE IN CARTOON MOTION at number four. AMY WINEHOUSE is at number five with BACK TO BLACK. --- CW.

MCD (press release), Ireland MIKA Live in Spirit 1 March 2007 27 Feb 07 Take a light sprinkle of Freddie Mercury. Add a dash of Beck. Mix with a drop of Prince, a pinch of Bolan, stir well eh voila! Ladies and Gentlemen, please meet Mika. His debut single Grace Kelly will be released on Jan 26th and is already a firm favourite on radio request lists across the country! He is currently putting the finishing touches to his debut album Life in Cartoon Motion, which will be out in early March. 22 year old virtuoso Mika (pronounced 'Meeka') is the sort of goose-bump-brilliant star that British pop is in desperate need of right now. A songwriter, performer, producer and orchestrator, his tunes combine a heady euphoric rush with darker unexpected elements: daytime melodramas and night-time tales of love, loss, abandonment, hope and happiness. Mika has a stunning, you-wouldn't-believe-it life story (born in Beirut, grew up in the war, a father held hostage in an embassy in Kuwait, self-imposed exile in Paris before settling in London) and you have the first chapter in a story that is destined to keep us enthralled for the foreseeable future. Debonair, with a touch of degenerate dandy, Mika works the finest Amadeus haircut this side of the 18th Century Salzburg. His single also comes with some brilliant artwork created by Mika himself which can be seen in more detail on his website. Speaking of his up-coming concerts Mika says: "I can't wait to get playing live. It's where it all comes together for me. You change things, because you have to, it's a different dynamic. I'm looking forward to that. I often get stressed when recording, as it's so full of decision making. You're constantly editing and deciding what should/can stay on the song for ever. I'm looking forward to undoing that in my live sets, and going places where I wouldn't necessarily go on the record!" Tickets are 25.70 including booking fee and are available for purchase through the following options: In person at Spirit box office or Ticketmaster venues nationwide Online: www.ticketmaster.ie By phone 0818 719 300 --- CW.

Had to look the word up... From SLANG DICTIONARY Kerching: Yorkshire slang meaning to punch (and potentialy make unconcious). Example: Watch it or you'll get a kerching in your face. CW.

I got some rosettes and stickers off ebay a few weeks ago. I think the rosettes are £3 at the shows. CW.

I remember at the Barfly, on the merchandise, a pale blue ladies t-shirt with flowery Mika design print on tbe front. They are quite small. I was contempalating a black t-shirt with similar design on front. Noticed a hoodie ... Hmmm... might have been grey, and they had rosettes definitely. CW.

Maybe I'll try that again. Thanks CW

BIRMINGHAM MAIL Feb 26 2007 Mika, Barfly, Birmingham By Andy Coleman HE was number one in the UK singles chart for six weeks, during which time he has also topped the album chart, but Mika was more than happy to honour his commitment to play the small Birmingham Barfly. And what a fun night it was. The 23-year-old Beirut born entertainer is a bundle of energy, bounding around the stage and flamboyantly waving his arms around. He even announced that his mum was in the audience. Most of his songs have an infectious quality which the sold out crowd couldn't resist singing along to. Opener Relax (Take It Easy) has a thumping disco beat and its resemblance to Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Relax can't be accidental. The cheeky Big Girl (You Are Beautiful) links the tune of Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 with the sentiments of Queen's Fat Bottomed Girls. And the camp Love Today brings to mind the Scissor Sisters and Freddie Mercury. Closing with chart-topper Grace Kelly, he played all but two tracks from his Life In Cartoon Motion album. --- CW.