meimei88

Oo Ooo... I would like to claim Ross Copperman as my husband... have fallen for him since I found him through Luke Juby.. I love him and Mika in equal measures.... Went to see him on 20th March and he was amazing.... going to see him again tomorrow night in Soho... he is going to be huge this year!! He recognised me from MySpace!!!! Check him out www.myspace.com/rosscopperman :wub2:

Yea!! London is fab.. it's the place to be!! My hometown doesnt smell!!

Its amazing

Yay!... wonder if there will be any signing? I was there early last time and was disapponted

Looks like its already available!!.. check out this link!! http://video.uk.msn.com/v/en-gb/v.htm?g=c9d00160-561a-416c-bf29-f675388e638e&t=s75&f=&fg Don't ask!! Us in the other thread don't get it either!! Enjoy!!! It's so great! I've been transported back to that wonderful night!

I'm soooo enjoying this!!! Can't wait to see the Lollipop finale... that was crazzzzyyy!!! I have such great memories!!!

Yay! Its like I was there all over again!!! Trying to spot myself at the front!!

oo so it could be 2pm for me? Can't to re-live that night!! Looks like MSN will probably archive it once its been broadcast! So hopefully I can catch it later on. Hmm must look into stream capture, would love to record it!!

Will it repeat on MSN? I'm on a training course this morning

The Recorder - Central Connecticut State University April 4, 2007 Album: Mika: Life In Cartoon Motion By Ted Ancher,Staff Writer Possibly one of the greatest musical acts of the 21st century has emerged out of London. Mika’s debut album Life in Cartoon Motion is what music has been waiting for. His style is a bit flamboyant, but it only makes the songs and the playful lyrics more interesting and inspiring. His first single “Grace Kelly†hit the top spot in the British charts for five weeks, however due to being relatively unknown in the States, “Grace Kelly†peaked at #76 here. Though this track is one of the best on the album, it is by far not his best. “Love Today†which you may have heard on the Verizon Wireless commercials, is the next single and is far superior due to the immediate hook at the beginning of the song. This song keeps you moving. As of right now, his biggest competition is the Kaiser Chiefs, who recently released their sophomore album and is probably the only other credible act coming from across the pond. Their hit “Ruby†knocked “Grace Kelly†off the top spot. This situation is very reminiscent of the way it was back in the late 50’s and early 60’s when British acts were doing extremely well in their native land, but were huge flops in the United States. It wasn’t until 1964 when The Beatles broke the mold and headed what is now known as the British Invasion. With his upcoming single “Love Today†Mika could single-handedly begin a new one, especially with an album like Life In Cartoon Motion. As you dig deeper into the album you’ll find that nearly every single song is very catchy and is very easy to sing along to either by the end of the song or by the second or third listen. He’s being compared to greats such as Nillson, Freddie Mercury of Queen, and Elton John, which is not a bad thing. He has definitely proven that he can turn the classic sounds of the 60’s and 70’s into contemporary classics of today. At times some songs can get syrupy such as “Lollipop,†but for the most part are light and tuneful, driven by strong melodies and a rollicking yet playful and tuneful piano. His talent for song craft, in my opinion, is unmatched, and is a breath of fresh air for Britain and the music world in general. “Relax, Take it Easy†takes the melody of the chorus from “(I Just Died) In Your Arms Tonight†by the Cutting Crew and turns it into a very far out catchy dance track, that if played at clubs would be a surefire hit. However, he isn’t all fun and games. He does get serious at times, such as the insightful “My Interpretation†and the personal and reflective “Any Other World,†which has strings taken from The Beatles songbook. If you’re sick and tired of today’s commercial pop scene, or are just tired of music in general, this album will reawaken your senses and clean out the earwax build-up. Just because his name isn’t Justin Timberlake doesn’t mean he produces terrible music. He is worth giving a try. Bottom line: Life in Cartoon Motion is, for lack of a better term, ear candy.

By: Donnie Branscum, U-Wire Issue date: 4/3/07 Section: Tempo STILLWATER, Okla. - The British invasion is back as Mika entices music lovers with his debut, "Life in Cartoon Motion," which has already become a number one album in the United Kingdom. The album is an eloquent blend of energetic, '80s power-pop arrangements and Mika's operatic Freddie Mercury-like falsetto. It's one of the most refreshing albums I've experienced this year, and Mika's tumultuous talent will hopefully add some artistic credibility to the realm of pop music, which has seemed a little bleak this year. His most recent single, "Grace Kelly," has already received heavy acclaim from the MTV2 audience, and another track, "Love Today," has been used for the Motorola (Red) commercial. "I grew up listening to everything from Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, to Serge Gainsbourg and flamenco," Mika said in a press release. "I'm always going back to great artist/songwriters - people who make great records to their own vision." Mika was born in Lebanon, to a Lebanese mother and an American father. Soon after his birth his family fled to Paris to avoid the war in Lebanon. When his father was taken hostage and held at the American embassy in Kuwait City, his family settled in London. Mika said he was having a hard time living in London for the first few years, suffering from intense dyslexia, which led him to forget how to read and write. He was later pulled out of school for about six months, and it was during this time that he said music became very important to him. "It got me back on my feet and by age 9, I knew I would be a singer/songwriter," Mika said. This proclamation led him to London's Royal College of Music, where he was classically trained in opera, which transcends in his work. "By day, I was surrounded by snobs who thought that classical music was the only real music - if it wasn't written down, it didn't exist," he said. Mika taught himself to play the piano during his childhood, and his brilliant musical creativity has him poised for pop super stardom. His powerful voice and catchy hooks are enough to entertain listeners, even those with the most evolved musical interests. The U.S. has not seen a European artist as wonderfully creative and vocally gifted as Mika since Sir Elton John. The standout tracks are his current single, "Grace Kelly," the incredibly infectious, "Lollipop" and the wickedly sexy, "Relax (Take it Easy)." "If you're a freak, you have to build a circus around yourself," he said. "And then maybe other freaks will come and join your show."

His Suspicious Silence on Silent Star queerty.com 3rd April 2007 Gay gossip monger Perez Hilton has been called out for calling gay celebs out of the closet - most notably Lance Bass and Neil Patrick Harris - but now he's being called out for not calling someone out: Mika. Hilton recently introduced the sexually mum British pop star at a Time Warner Center in-store show and the boys at AfterElton wonder why he's become some chummy with someone that should, ideologically speaking, be his enemy: Those of us who have been following Mika's Stateside invasion have noticed that Perez has been oddly prominent at the early appearances of this particular musician. Odd, in that Hilton isn't a music critic and doesn't run a music site - he's a gossip writer who has made his politics crystal clear when it comes to celebrities whose sexualities fall under public scrutiny... How interesting, then, that Hilton is now an honorary member of the PR posse of a man who flat-out refuses to discuss his sexuality publicly. Isn't Mika exactly the kind of celeb that Perez would usually attack for his coyness? Could it be that Hilton has compromised his well-documented principles for the chance to be part of an album launch and for a place in the pocket of a pop star? Is there something rotten in the state of Gayville? We have to say, however, that picture of Mika and Hilton's kind of cute. Mostly Mika, of course. Speaking of photos, Mika apparently showed up late to the TW gig - he got tied up at an Out shoot. Something to look forward to...

I think thats Cherisse in the bunny in this pic! and Mikey in the elephant!

Here is another pic from Lukes MySpace

Aww.. hey hubby how are you? Kept things ticking over while I was away? Tried to PM you but your inbox is full!!!

No worries! We're all tired of the is he/isnt he debate on this forum but unfortunately this speculation and debate will go on and on in the press... I'm just posting articles related to Mika...good or bad....

Canada.com. National Post David Marchese, Salon Published: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 As he tries to conquer this continent, Beirut-born, British-raised singer-songwriter Mika is forcing people to consider whether American audiences are likely to accept an openly gay pop star. Currently touring behind his just-released in America and already huge in England debut album, Life in Cartoon Motion (accurately described on his MySpace page as sounding like "Beck via Queen and Elton John and a touch of Rufus W."), the 23-year-old Mika has been lighting up the blogosphere with discussion about his sexual status and earning the love from high profile fans like Perez Hilton. Furthermore, in a recent interview on the ThisIsLondon Web site, Mika revealed that he has received death threats for not confirming his sexuality. As to why he's not interested in clarifying what people want to know, Mika says, "I never talk about anything to do with my sexuality, I don't think I need to." Frankly, given Mika's stated influences, his Freddie Mercury fixation and the lyrics to some of his songs -- "Oh Billy Brown had lived an ordinary life / Two kids, a dog and a cautionary wife / While it was all going according to plan / Then Billy Brown fell in love with another man" -- I don't think he needs to explain anything either. The effect that coming out could have on Mika's burgeoning stateside popularity gets at a couple of interesting issues. Foremost among them is the old saw that American audiences are unwilling to accept a certain level of campy theatricality in their pop stars. A recent cover story in the Village Voice about the inability of the out disco-pop band the Scissor Sisters to translate their massive worldwide success to their native U.S.A. hit at much of the same stuff swirling around Mika. In the piece, Tricia Romano writes: "The 'Can they break America?' question won't go away. They might be too dance-y to get radio play, or maybe they're too campy. But these are just code words for 'too gay.' Homophobia is the last refuge of accepted blatant prejudice in a country that has laws banning gay marriages." American audiences' unwillingness to accept "campy" pop stars has been pointed to as a reason for the failure of English exports like glam rock in the '70s, Robbie Williams (not gay but still super-campy) in the late '90s and the Scissor Sisters more recently. I've seen people explain that embracing the artifice that goes along with a camp sensibility is at odds with some sort of American preference for authenticity. Hogwash. The truth is that American audiences love camp with their pop. Kiss is maybe the campiest band that has ever existed. Prince masturbated his guitar at the end of Purple Rain. Axl Rose had a fondness for skin-tight cycling shorts and incredibly overblown video epics. But those acts were all straight. Well, as much as it pains us to remember, the Village People were once big stars, Boy George and Culture Club had no problems scoring U.S. hits and it seems to me that Elton John has managed to do OK since he came out. The remaining members of Queen were even able to play sold out arena concerts last year with a show that was essentially a tribute to the memory of Freddie Mercury. Now I'm not sure at what point in their careers the aforementioned acts came out, but you'd have to have been particularly blindered if you were surprised when you heard the news. How much truck should we give to the idea that a musician like Mika would suffer irreparable career damage if he came out? I hope Mika continues his ascent and feels comfortable enough to come out (if, that is, he's even gay), if only because I think it'll be instructive to see the response to a pop star who comes out while on his way up. I'm optimistic.

London Free Press By DAVID FRIEND, CP TORONTO -- Pop singer Mika decks out his concert venues with balloons, confetti, clowns and all things reminiscent of a six-year-old's birthday party. "What I try to do is take reality and just hype it up to a level where it makes it more livable," explains the 23-year-old newcomer who exploded onto the music scene earlier this year. Tall and lanky, Mika wears a bright orange hooded sweatshirt and his long curly hair sways in every direction as he talks about his debut album, Life in Cartoon Motion, which entered Canada's SoundScan charts at No. 2. Helped by massive hype and reviews comparing him to legends Elton John, David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, Mika has already logged a five-week stay at No. 1 with his single Grace Kelly in the U.K. where his album also took the top spot. For Mika, all of this attention marks a sharp turnaround in a life full of instability. Born Mica Penniman, the middle of five children, in Beirut, Lebanon, his family fled the war-torn country and moved to Paris before uprooting once again for London. Mika has said the shifts made it difficult for him to fit in. He found himself the target of constant harassment in elementary school, which led his mother to briefly pull him from classes. He began to dabble in theatre and take singing lessons, which eventually led him to enrol in London's prestigious Royal College of Music. He left the college to pursue dreams of a music career, but found that most labels wanted to mould him into a marketable product. Frustrated by one producer in particular, he penned Grace Kelly, an upbeat ditty where he begs for some semblance of an acceptable identity and asks "Why don't you like me?"

Samesame.com.au, By Tim D, 3rd April, 2007 Nothing official has been confirmed as yet, but today we were given our biggest hint yet that Mika is making his way to Australia in the next few months, most likely for the Splendour in the Grass Festival. The big hint? The delicious pop star has just been added to the line-up for the Fuji Rock Festival to be held in Japan on the 27th to the 29th of July this year. The Splendour in the Grass Festival in Byron Bay is on the following weekend, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th of August, and traditionally Fuji Rock and Splendour share the same artists given their close timings. It’s all starting to fall into place – Mika. Early August. Australia. You heard it here first.

Sorry! Just spotted same interview already posted under different title and publication!... I've been away for 10 days so I'm a LOT behind!!

24dash.com Published: 02/04/2007 - 10:07:07 AM Critic Rating How does one go about creating a ‘record’ like this one? How do you compose a record in which nothing happens? MIKA knows, and knows well. This is mediocrity of the highest order – effortless nothingness. The criminally mendacious press release that accompanied this ooze made the shocking claim that it is a ‘blast of pure pop energy’, which absolutely had to have been written through teary eyes and huge duress. MIKA, on this evidence, is anti-music. MIKA’s ‘sound’ reminds me somewhat of mid-90s soporific specialist, D:Ream, a fellow peddler of music to shut eyes to. The two share an uncannily bad ear for style, form and arrangement, and, not having had the honour of seeing MIKA, I am tempted to believe they are one and the same person. How does ‘music’ like this get through the filter? Who’s it for? The truly stunning aspect of this ‘song’ is that it isn’t even annoying; it doesn’t haunt your memory against your will like other musical felonies; it doesn’t scream to be turned off; it just glosses over you like a wave of stale air. Music, even when it’s done badly, is, at the very least, supposed to try to engage you. MIKA’s ‘record’ couldn’t engage a telephone; has he even listened to it himself? Perhaps I am missing the point. Perhaps this is modern satire and the joke is on me. After all, MIKA’s endlessly repeated narcissistic demand that everyone love him has the hallmarks of the post-post-post-post-ironic (or whatever) phase that we are now all apparently enjoying. That might also explain why music doesn’t actually have to be music anymore. I can’t criticise this rubbish enough (I’m having to listen to it on repeat while I’m writing this because as soon as it’s finished I have absolutely no memory of it); it is preternaturally mundane. An offence. Review by Max Salsbury ************************************************* I still love this song!!

Sivan! You are amazing!! The scrapbook looks so great!!! I've not listened to the video yet but will watch it in full later on today!

Nekesa Mumbi Moody Canadian Press Monday, April 02, 2007 NEW YORK (AP) - Being different is a key trait if you want to make yourself stand out in the musical arena. It is not a prized attribute, however, during those awkward adolescent years. Mika, the latest singing sensation from across the pond, found out both lessons at an early age. Beirut-born and Paris-raised until he was nine, he found himself an outcast after his family moved to London. His interest in piano and singing, along with his dyslexia, further distanced himself from classmates, and he became the prey of bullies. Away from school, he began to perform, and that became his respite. There, he found his flamboyance was celebrated, not taunted; he got respect for singing; and better yet, got paid for it. So no wonder the first single in the U.S., the piano-heavy, falsetto-crooned "Grace Kelly," celebrates his refusal to conform. Like the musicians he idolized as a child - Prince and David Bowie among them - the 23-year-old does best when he stands apart from the pack. The Associated Press: You've got a lot of buzz in advance of your U.S. debut CD, "Life in Cartoon Motion." How has that affected you? Mika: I think I'm lucky. Hype can be good and hype can be bad. The good thing that's happening to me is that the hype is about the project, it's about the music ... I'm not the son of anyone famous, I haven't really slept with anyone particularly well known ... it's really just about music, and that's something I think is very healthy. AP: You got your start in a somewhat unusual way. Mika: From a very early age I used to gate-crash parties and just get to the stage and perform, or I would just kind of walk around and push my face into everyone's face. But then when I started to try and get a serious deal, up until about a year and a half ago, I was just going around and playing the piano just about everywhere ... I climbed up the music executive ladder kind of quickly, because I was willing to perform for anyone and everywhere, so that's kind of how I got my deal. AP: Your first single, "Grace Kelly," kind of pokes fun at the idea of conformity. How do you resist the temptation to copy what is commercially viable? Mika: People were saying to me, if you just become a little bit more commercial, or you become a little bit more like what's selling at the moment, whatever that was at the time, whether it was Robbie Williams or David Gray, then you can make it. But to me, it was never an option. I think I figured out that I would rather be a total failure but be myself and at least give it a shot than be moderately successful, pretend to be someone else, only have it last a certain amount of time and be happy as a result. AP: Were you surprised that you turned out to be so successful? Mika: I'm surprised at the speed in which I've been embraced ... I think anyone deluded enough to go into the music industry as an artist has to have some kind of self-belief. But at the same time I was surprised that I got to No. 1, I never expected to get to No. 1 in the U.K. ... I never knew it would be a commercially bankable career. AP: There are songs on the CD that are sexually ambiguous. That's gotten a lot of people asking about your sexuality. Were you hesitant to put records like that out for that reason? Mika: I have no taboos about what I can use to tell a story or what stories I can actually tell, so I kind of gave myself that freedom. I certainly didn't think about it. It never even crossed my mind. I didn't think about the repercussions nor did I think about getting attention. Sexualizing music as part of getting sexy with music is amazing, but politically sexualizing music and making the artist's sexuality the defining point of someone's music is so boring. So as far as enabling myself to tell and use any kind of tool that I want to tell a story or use in my lyrics, I'm totally into that. As far as laying myself out on the table to almost a tabloid level and kind of sharing my entire personal life, I'm really not into that. Singer Mika is photographed at Sirius Radio in New York, Feb. 16, 2007. (AP/Jim Cooper) Same story also published at the White Plains Journal News(NY Journal)

PR-Inside.com 2007-04-01 18:08:07 - Beirut-born singer MIKA refuses to travel anywhere without his favourite brand of tea because only he can brew up a perfect cup. The Grace Kelly singer, who was brought up in England, is very particular about his Earl Grey tea - and hates what is served up to him in cafes around the world. He says, "When you don't drink coffee, you've got to get your tea right." But he admits that even when he packs his own tea, he can't get a decent cup in Los Angeles. He adds, "Los Angeles water makes the worst tea in the world."

Yay!! Just got back from hols.. my god.. lots has gone on in here.. i don't know where to begin catching up!! Got home to find my tickets waiting for me Really looking forward to seeing Mika again!!