dcdeb

I laughed when I read this bit... did anybody else think that Luke looked burdened or in discomfort last night? dcdeb

by Karen Georghiou. Tuesday, 15 May 2007: The London Paper http://www.thelondonpaper.com/cs/Satellite/london/news/article/1157147444420?packedargs=suffix%3DArticleController One more... no pix with this one With the huge success of Mika’s hit single ‘Grace Kelly’, critics have speculated whether the new kid on the block has what it takes to be more than just a one hit wonder. But after a show packed with tune after tune of catchy pop melodies and pick-me-up beats, it looks like the mark Mika made on the world of pop won’t be so easily wiped away. Mika bounced onto the stage bursting with energy. ‘This is my fourth show in London and it just gets better’ he grinned to a hyped-up and captivated crowd. The singer hit the high notes with his stunning falsetto voice as the audience, many in glitter wigs and bunny ears, lapped up every moment. "I peaked out from my dressing room and saw you all dressed up. I wondered how you all got here.’ He pondered with a smile. Mika and the band soon joined in with the frolics when they came out donned as animals, the performer himself looking resplendent in a chicken suit. The flamboyant star brought the house down with Grace and his latest offering Lover Today, a more dance-oriented track which is currently dominating the UK ‘s radio playlists. With an impressive vocal range, unique song-writing style and powerful stage presence, it’s no surprise he’s been compared to the likes of Freddie Mercury. The night may have had a surreal age – but there’s no doubting Mika’s very real talent.

By Chris Elwell-Sutton, Evening Standard 15.05.07 One of the most heavily hyped artists in recent times, flamboyant Lebanese-born singer Mika had been declared a star long before he released his first single. But despite his appearance in just about every one of those "ones to watch in 2007" lists, the fickle world of the media moves so fast now that in some quarters the murmurings of a backlash against him have already begun. Luckily for Mika, though, his success - which recently saw him sell his 500,000th copy of his album Life In Cartoon Motion - is not dependent on being thought cool, groundbreaking or edgy by socalled tastemakers, since in truth, he is none of those things. No, Mika's massive popularity is built on a far more solid foundation of a repertoire of gloriously lifeaffirming songs, a bucketload of charisma and a fantastic voice. All of these were very much in evidence at last night's spectacular show, and Mika's fans lapped it up. Opening, as he usually does, with debut single Relax, Take It Easy, Mika displayed a breathtaking falsetto. The crowd - whose gay-and-female-heavy demographic, with plenty of silly fancy dress thrown in, seemed to confirm the idea that Mika's stealing the Scissor Sisters' fans - reacted with abandon to this high-energy opener as the gangly star pranced and strutted in a fabulously camp skin-tight white outfit that brought to mind the man with whom he's most often compared: Freddie Mercury. I harboured the uncharitable suspicion that such perfect, strong high-notes must have been the result of miming. But I was wrong. It soon became clear, as his band took a back seat and he sat at his piano to perform the gentler My Interpretation, that Mika's voice really is as extraordinary as it seems. Lacking enough of his own material to fill the show, Mika made the sensible decision to sing a few songs by other people. The excellent Ring Ring was followed by a masterful rendition of The Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams that had bums flying off seats. Another successful cover was The Jackson Five's I Want You Back. As he followed these up with the crowd-pleasingly jolly Love Today, a carnival atmosphere prevailed as the audience entered an even more intense frenzy. Don't ask me why, but he performed the track dressed as a chicken while his keyboard player struggled manfully on, despite the clear discomfort caused by his rabbit costume. It was a suitably theatrical end to a spectacular performance that clearly owed more to the traditions of musical theatre than to those of rock'n'roll.

Thought I'd check in with you all to see if you're still breathing normally... or if you'd hyperventilated in anticipation! Glad to see you're all hanging in there... can't wait for tomorrow for you! And then to hear your stories afterward! dcdeb <27 days 17 hours 9 minutes until Mika in DC!>

There are some MFC'ers pix in the "Pictures from Leeds" thread -- the first are from WENN, but later in the thread there are some nice ones from Bexxy and others dcdeb

What a wonderful report! I can just imagine how excited you must have been! Thanks so much for sharing your story -- looking forward to the photos/vids! dcdeb

*YOU'RE AFRAID?* Why on EARTH would you apologize for having TOO MANY pix! LOL! There is NO such animal! I'm so loving Mikey's blonde hairdo, goes well with his blue bass Thanks so much for ALL of these, Blue Eyes -- especially this one (oh, to be this thin): dcdeb

They don't seem to have that info available yet, Mirtilla -- the website isn't quite updated yet: http://www.ibizarocks.com/ dcdeb

You took the words right out of my mouth! That's just how I feel -- I'm able to feel almost as if I was there, no matter where *there* was! dcdeb

Thanks so much for coming online tonight! You've made my night! I would do the same with the confetti and ticket dcdeb <28 days 4 hours 9 minutes until Mika in DC>

Oh how exciting! You're back already! Can't wait to hear the latest... and see the latest pix! Woo hoo! dcdeb

Absolutely loving all the photos -- everyone's done such a fabulous job of sharing and helping all of us feel included, as if we were there, too! I really really really really really appreciate it! :flowers2: dcdeb <28 days 5 hours and 37 minutes until Mika in DC!>

Yep. That was it. dcdeb

I should have known Sou would be on the job! THANK YOU! dcdeb <who will undoubtedly listen again>

Let's see... He talked about how he's living his life on the road at the moment, either on stage or in an airplane. He said the best thing about touring was the people he got to see, and the places he's been -- the worst was living in hotels, without your own place or routine. He added that he knew this was the "big push" to get his career off to the right start, and he talked about how the record sales were exploding worldwide all at the same time due to everything being so available via the internet, that he was having to run after that to catch up, and that it was "exhausting." They asked him who he was listening to right now and he mentioned Patrick Wolf, and how it seemed like Patrick was going to leave the music business because of reading negative stuff on his forum -- then Mika added that it was dangerous sometimes to read about yourself on the internet. He talked a bit about how he's still writing songs every day, just in a different way than he's used to, and he introduced Love Today by saying the lyrics (Carolina sits on 95, give her a dollar and she'll make you smile, etc.). He talked some about all the festivals he's doing this summer, and how he's going to be in a different city just about every day. After Love Today, I think he talked about doing the artwork for the CD with his sister, and then he introduced Patrick Wolf's Magic Position. I think that's about it dcdeb

OK, I was a little confused -- thought this was going to be a live broadcast of part of the show that's going on right now... I'm NOT complaining -- it was lovely to hear him, of course! Just not what I thought it was going to be. I'm blonde, what can I say? But thanks so much for giving the link to this, so that I could pretend for a few minutes that I was there in London at the show! dcdeb

Oh, wouldn't I just love to take you up on that! Let's see... flights from Washington DC to Birmingham... only $1800... plus hotel, plus the ticket... hmmm, I wonder if I could convince my husband that it was my belated Mother's Day gift? oh well, I can dream, can't I? dcdeb

Oh, if only I could go to this -- I've always wanted to go to Spain, as well... one of these days... dcdeb

I would love to hear more about the show -- do you have anything you'd like to share about it? Like, I'd love to know more about Any Other World -- did he bring other musicians (cello, etc.) on for that? Or do you maybe have some photos of Mika on stage that you'd be willing to post? I really would like to hear about the show itself dcdeb

The lineup for this year's Ibiza Rocks gigs have been announced. Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, Mika, The View and CSS are just a few of the draws for the summer series of shows. Returning for its third season, other acts on the bill include The Fratellis, LCD Soundsystem and The Enemy. The gigs takes place in Manumission's beach side venue Mar M between 19 June and 11 September. Zane Lowe, Rob Da Bank and Mark Ronson have been announced as resident DJs playing through the summer. The lineup is: The View (June 19) CSS (July 10) Kasabian (16-17) LCD Soundsystem (18) The Enemy (31) Mika (August 7-8) Arctic Monkeys (September 1) The Fratellis (3-4)

Woo Hoo! So excited for all of you going tonight! Can't wait to start reading the reports and seeing the photos! dcdeb

Me too! It's just... wrong. After all their preparations, and all they went through... to be turned away... it's just WRONG! dcdeb

It just doesn't seem right ... I hope they at least get to meet Mika after the show! dcdeb

So excited for you all! Congrats to Cazgirl and whoever else won the competition (I was away all weekend and haven't caught up completely yet!) Can't wait until June when Mika makes his way to DC finally! All of your stories just get me even more ready!!! dcdeb

WOW! Just got back from a weekend away, anxious to devour all the reports -- and you all did not fail me! Daz, what fabulous stories you have to tell -- and I just adore the Sweet Dreams video! Thank you thank you thank you! Blue Eyes, what absolutely gorgeous pix! And Jemma! WOWzie woo! And everyone else! It's more than I could have imagined! June 12 June 12 June 12 just a month away.... I cannot wait!!! I can't thank you all enough! You've made this mother very happy -- giving me such wonderful gifts on Mother's Day, that's for sure!