Gatagordinha

You would think that this would be an end to it wouldn't you. However I think that there are still a lot of fans, mainly younger ones but not exclusively so, who are completely in denial about Mika's sexuality and who would still try and argue that he may be in love with a woman even if he wore nothing but a tshirt with the words I AM GAY AND HAVE A BOYFRIEND on it every day for the next three years. I understand to a point that it may spoil a fantasy for some fans, but after this unequivocal statement from the man himself it really IS time for the speculation threads to end once and for all.

I've only personally met one straight man who I could say was a proper fan - and a pretty big one too. He doesn't post here any longer. But I know of several others who admit freely to liking Mika, one of which is my 68-year-old dad. Well he really liked LICM anyway and can often be heard whistling Lollipop or whatever (as dads do..). I hasten to add that he is not a member of MFC though

Agree on BIB. It sounds better and less clunky somehow. I feel the opposite to you about the pace, though. I quite like those crammed syllables for some reason.

It did sound that way! That's why I'm not going to get too fed up about it yet. I don't mind the distortion, but I agree about the dynamics . Hoping the album version has more oomph (I seem to use that phrase a lot these days in relation to Mika )

I don't know if this girl's on MFC but maybe she should be Gemma MJ Thompson ‏@gemmathompsonxx Then went to see Mika with the fam. Literally the best performance I've ever seen In my life. He is INCREDIBLE live!!!

This is very nice to hear

I've listened again and I like it a bit more now, but it still feels a bit flat to me. It needs the bass turning up!! Still a good song though and at least we know for certain he can deliver it live

Oh dear, I'm disappointed with this version I hope there's a better version on the finished album. This one totally lacks the energy and emotion of the live version. I was hoping for something much bigger and bolder

Which interview is he talking about, that annoyed him? Has it been published/broadcast yet?

So this is just a promo tour? Ok now I'm confused I just wish we knew in advance what the touring strategy will be, and what he plans to do next year, because I only intend to see him once for this album, and I would like to be able to pick the best show for me. I know sometimes it's hard to give many months' advance warning though, unless you are in the megastar category. Having said that, I am pretty sure that the only time he'll come up North is for the "proper" tour so I needn't worry too much, I don't think.

I personally don't want a UK tour until after Christmas. But whatever. I suspect the "UK tour" will consist of about three dates, none of which will be in Wales or Northern Ireland As always, though, I would love to be proved wrong!

I'm still not in the fan club of this particular song but I have to say, he sings it so beautifully here His lower register really is to die for isn't it. So mellow. I hope he gets the recognition he deserves for his non-falsetto voice, with this album (among critics, I mean).

This song just doesn't grab me, sorry. I find the chorus very dull. And all the repetition of "underwater"... Safe to say that if I heard it on the radio by any other artist, I'd turn it off. Just my opinion though and I know lots of people here love it .

I wish I could have voted for three, as I can't separate Celebrate and Make You Happy. I like them both equally for completely different reasons. Just a thought about Origin Of Love; has anyone else noticed the chord progression in the 'From the air I breathe' segment is the same as (or extremely close to) that of the chorus of Happy Ending, only in a different key obviously. Mika knows what works I think I am definitely going to like it more that TBWKTM. As for mixing up styles, I think this album is shaping up to be a good mix but somehow much more cohesive than TBWKTM in terms of overall sound (if that makes sense and isn't a contradiction). TBWKTM was a bit of a hodge podge really .

Quote of the MFC year so far I can't believe I hadn't really thought of the lyrics in that way until now. But it does make perfect sense, to put that general 'coming out' slant on it. I mean, I thought it was maybe a personal lyric about getting back together with his ex. But it could also be a metaphor for coming out, yes. The 'finish line' bit is so Olympics though, as Marilyn says. So much so that whenever I hear the song I get a mental pic of Usain Bolt, and I can't shake it off at all and probably won't ever be able to, knowing how my mind/memory works

This has brought back horrible memories of Gave It All Away Wand Erection may be a boyband but at least they are young and current and not a sappy Manband like Boyzone were at the time of GIAA. So anything he wrote for them would have to be better than GIAA. But please don't give them one of your good songs, Mika, keep it for yourself As for Bieber, . Too horrible to even think about, soft hands or no soft hands.

That just made me laugh so much, I don't know why!! I agree with you though. Nicorette...urgh. I don't like product placement or brand names in songs. I always had a problem with Diet Coke in Big Girl too. He should have said "sugar free cola soft drink"

I agree with you about the lyrics. Cringey in places. The bit that gets me is the repetition of 'cigarettes' in the third line. He's already said cigarettes and to repeat it sounds...weird. However I still love the song and think he gets away with it, just, as you are kind of swept along with it and the cigarette motif isn't shoved down your throat too often. Trouble is, I can see the lyrics getting some stick from critics. Then again, what's new .

Not sure about this song yet. It's a little bit repetitive and predictable. I like the piano line in it, that's catchy. I hope on the recorded version that's really to the fore of the mix and the backbone of the song. Something about the title grates on me..Lola..I keep thinking of Barry Manilow I mean Bazza is a legend but he's not something I want in my head when listening to Mika.

Dear Lord. I long since stopped thinking Mika was the hottest thing on the face of the earth but this shot may just reconvert me.

I can't stop listening to TOOL I think this is Mika's best song since Grace Kelly. It has the potential to be a real pop classic, yes even here in the cynical old UK. I wish he'd release it here first rather than Celebrate. I'm prepared to be disappointed again though, as it fails to get airplay and thus success over here

O Superman, brilliant record and just a little bit scary. Apart from stuff like Kraftwerk and a few other electronic innovators, you just didn't get vocoded vocals back then and it was unnerving but also very cool. I remember when it was #1. Along with Tubeway Army's 'Are Friends Electric?' from 1979, it was like listening to the future, back then.

Thank you everyone for the videos and pictures. I have to say, this looked like a great gig. The most pleasing thing for me is that it's so simple, no fussy outfits or theatrics or gimmicks (on the videos I've seen, anyway ), it's almost like the old days when the music was quite rightly the focus. Also, I love the new band. They sound great. A much fuller sound than before. I just wish Mika would keep his shirt on, but I suspect I'm in the minority on that .

First choice was easy, The Origin of Love. It's the only one I can imagine really catching on here in the UK and for that reason it gives me a bit of hope. Wasn't sure between Celebrate or MYH for second choice but went for Celebrate as I've listened to that more.

It's just occurred to me that this song sounds a bit like Life by Des'ree in places Well to me it does, anyway. I would post a video of that song but I seem to have completely forgotten how to embed videos here :blink: