violet_sky

Alright. I have only read a few comments on twitter and not really anything in this thread. From what I have read it sounds like Marmite. Watch out, I'm going to listen to it for the very first time NOW. Oh but before I do that, I'd like to get rid of my two cents about the single cover mellody posted (thanks mellody! ) You know these things are important aspects of Mika's Gesamtkunstwerk to me. I'm not sure how to look at this, because it is 'just a single', and from what I have read somewhere on twitter, just finished recently, probably to be ready for the summer shows, so I don't want to attach too much weight to it. However, what I can see is that he might be looking for a real change. Not necessarily a bad thing. The result (if this is a result yet) is quite drastic, though. The cover looks like as if he wants to move away from the playful, feminine design and show a very different, more simple, more straight (mwahah) facet of his work. Maybe to be taken more seriously? Personally. I'm not a huge fan of the 70s disco typeface they used. Concerning colour combination and composition, I have to admit, that the first asssociation that came to my mind was some vintage package design. I have no idea why. But I don't want to overestimate this just yet. I'm positive they'll keep some nice twirls for the album cover. Sooo... time to listen. *click*

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'd prefer that one over bronze statue Mika any day of the week. Finding the Mika ad in my mag instead would make me cringe. M.S. is a brilliant and quite popular actor, though. And of course his name and face are (WAY) more familiar over here than Mika's. Seems a very decent decision to me.

In Germany Matthias Schweighöfer seems to take Mika's place. Phew!

Scrape Off The Glitter

And I didn't even think about HIS shoes.

I'm so tired, I actually read this as 'new shoes'. It made sense, too. So I almost didn't notice my mistake.

Thanks for posting the pics. His hair is very short. He looks like Mika. He still does stages. All is good.

Really some great stuff shown in the video. I like. I see nothing of it would be in line with the line art (no pun intended) illustrations they always have (except for the dove). Nice they showed some of the other entries anyway. Even if just as an also-ran. Congrats to everyone!

Thanks for the scan, robertina. EDIT: and thank you, Nezza, for the summary, of course! I had quite a few reasons to be honest. First I'm really short on time these days, so I would probably not have been able to come up with anything remotely satisfactory for this purpose anyway. But more importantly, I was convinced that whatever I might have sent, it would not be considered, because what would make more sense for an Italian magazine in Italian language than choosing an Italian entry. It seems only logical to me, so I'm really not surprised. What surprises (and disappoints) me is neither the image itself (because I totally see Mika choosing that, he had blogged about artists committing themselves to that sort of image years ago), nor the fact that in the end it didn't have to fit the literal frame (because I know Mika adapts to what he's given when having to make a choice). I'm really annoyed that this result is giving the impression of some sort of a mini pitch for professional illustrators rather than an opportunity for a talented fan to get the recognition they are hoping for. From their idol. I know that the idea as such was not sold this way in the actual article. But the fact that the article including the request for illustrations was copied to his own mikasounds blog is a bit irritating. Because there he does not talk to the Italian Repubblica readers but to his international fan base. I'm glad I didn't send anything. But regardless, I would have loved to see something brilliant by a real fan rather than that. I'm sure he got lots of great stuff and also different images than the usual fan art genre as in pencil Mika faces (not implying that it's bad). But maybe I do them all wrong, the mag, Mika and Leonardo Cosmai, and maybe the latter is not only a pro, but also the biggest Mika fan ever, wishing for nothing more than this accolade by his idol. I doubt it, though.

I'm really curious now. And I haven't even submitted anything.

Right.

He can't read.

Good luck to everyone who sent something. I'm curious to see the result. My guess would be a pencil Mika portrait. I also think that assuming the final choice will be an Italian entry is not too far-fetched. I'm up for a surprise, though. Nontheless I'd really love to see the other MFC entries, too. I bet there are some real masterpieces among them.

Of course. A frame. Now it makes sense. I must admit I didn't get the illustration with the article. And then I didn't understand what frame he was talking about on the Mikasounds original.

You're right. I've been lost in RL for too long, I've forgotten everything.

Any details? Will it have to be line art like in the previous articles? What format? Which size will it have on the print? And ... Erm... What is the TOPIC? Illustration is about visualizing a certain thought or a story or a topic (I thought) LOL

Ooooh! What a great topic. I've been waiting for something like that forever. Thanks for posting and translating! I'm looking forward to reading the original.

Charlie Sheen is a phenomenon. I wonder how that show could get so popular. I wonder how one can make it through a single episode in front of the tv, let alone, enjoy that cr@p. Or how he can make those ridiculous amounts of money doing nothing but being himself. (Embarrassing enough...) But the really scary thing is that there are guys out there who take his approach as gospel, get away with it and even feel confirmed.

You're probably very right there. Now looking at it this ad seems to me as nothing but the manifestation of a transformation process that has been completed already, unnoticed by few (like me) who were watching without being aware that many gradual steps of change may lead to something far away from the point of departure.

To me it seems a bit more difficult. I see him as an artist who has been known to create his work on his own terms, being proud of not compromising, not caring if he can't please everybody. With his face he represents first and foremost the brand MIKA, though. These things are inseparably connected, as he is not only a faceless writer, but a public performer, too. Not only the puppet player but also his puppet. He's representing his own business in first place and this is different to an actor for example. In the past, especially in the beginning of his career he spent a lot of time, effort and thought in establishing and especially positioning that brand in a certain place, that I would call courageously different. His face on that ad looks to me like disturbingly common instead. Not only does it jeopardize that image he has created of himself as a real and special artist, he may even systematically nullify it. However, I don't think of him as dumb. He did it with his eyes open, so maybe this is the plan.

I just showed it to Mr. Violet and this is the script of our entire coversation about it: "Is it real?" "Yes." "Hm."

That's quite close to how I feel about it, too. But I already said I didn't like it in the other thread. It strikes me as if he was about to sell his soul. I know this is drastically exaggerated, but that was my first reaction, and it is how I feel about it. From a rational point of view and to be fair, he has done things like that in the past, too. Even in the very beginning of his career, with that Paul Smith campaign. I didn't like those pics either, but didn't really care much because those pics were not all over the place and at that time I think he was a little more present with his music. I thought it was a case of being young and needing the money. However, he is quite versatile and multitalented and probably has more than just one interest. And I know he can be anything. Does not always have to be anything I like. I think he likes the thought of being stylish. I'd prefer him to find his own style, though. I never really liked those odd skinny trousers and a few other things but I always appreciated his insisting in being different. I don't see that in the Boss ad. As I said in the other thread, that ad annoys me because it could really be anybody's face on there. If I saw that pic and had never heard a thing about Mika I'd think of the face as belonging to just another featureless prick who happens to be somewhat handsome. I wouldn't google for his name or want to find out what additional talents he might have besides facing a camera with that rather blank look.

Thank you. I can still get very emotional over that Mika topic. Right, I was talking about the after show M&G queueing. That was not misunderstood though, was it? I hope I didn't confuse anyone; it's difficult sometimes with all that chaos in my head. No, really, I think that queueing for the gig and queueing to meet Mika are different things. Although it makes sense that the front row folk can be found in the M&G queue as well . I'm not sure if I will do the pre gig queueing again. I know I always say that. I said it many times and then however did it again. So well, I don't know. In the beginning of my career as an MFCer I thought of the front row idea as overrated. But it's true that nothing compares. Apart from the jaw-droppingly mindblowing (and unblocked) sight you get, there are the invaluable advantages that position has if you're really claustrophobic. I underestimated that, too, until I had my first front row experience. From another point of view, I'm not really a front row person. I often think I'm not the audience Mika wants or deserves. I can't really give him all that . I'm quite calm. The jumping and freaking out does take some effort for me. I don't want to be a Lollipop girl or a Big Girl or part of a stage invasion. I still enjoy the show, believe me... I agree with everyone wanting seated venues with assigned seating. That would be wonderful. Not that I don't enjoy the company and that unique community experience. It's the lack of little amenities, like not freezing all day, not being able to afford five minutes to leave your coat in the cloakroom, having to carry everything with you. Hanging out around the venue ALL freaking day. I don't want to be totally exhausted by the time I enter the venue. Not in winter and not in summer. It always depends on the country and venue, though. E.g. it's such a nice thing to just be able to leave your car right in front of the entrance. And of course the numbers thing is a real blessing. As for the aftershow M&Gs, me too, when I see it gets too much, I don't bother to try and talk to him. There might always be a next time. I remember it well. Kind he is.

Me, myself and I are a bit schizophrenic when it comes to MIKA. I've always been. () I've never been a fan of fandom. It took me quite a while to sign in to the forum, just because the concept of superior-star-vs-submissive-fanatic was something I strongly disapproved of for myself. But I was so smitten with the enigma of Mika that I wanted to know everything anybody had to say about him. I didn't want to miss a single bit of footage. Still up to that point queueing in a line to wait for a popstar to sign whatever object and keeping one's dignity were mutually exclusive things for me. It confused me to meet people who seemed perfectly sane and normal to me and still did that kind of thing. Some time this week I've read a post in the twitter thread about the concept of treating Mika like an equal. I always really loved that thought. I just never thought it was possible. We all prefer to talk to equals, don't we? Well, I do. I don't want to look down on people. Especially not when I talk to them. Now that is easy because in one way or another we're all equal. I don't really mind looking up to people, actually. But when I talk to that kind of folk, I would like to think that there is a reason for them to listen. Namely listen to me as an individual. I always looked up to Mika. I still do, for many reasons that go from a as in art to z as in zorro. I like him on his pedestal and I like him when he steps down from it. I don't really think that there is such a huge difference between pedestal Mika and eye level Mika [fig.] at all. There are traits, like his empathy, that appear through his intuitive actions so manifestly for everyone that they can impossibly be part of a manufactured persona. When he cares to make his signature tangible for a blind girl for example. I'm not saying I don't believe that he can be difficult. Yet those pieces of Mika that are for the public are enough for me to not mind looking up to him and get in the queue. And maybe even keep my dignity. In fact it only occured to me lately that maybe he doesn't even look as far down on us as we (or I) look up to him.

I'd highly appreciate a new tour dvd. Even though I enjoyed the last dvd for the making of and the visual aspects of that special concert rather than the performance in particular, I love the thought of having a record of every tour when I could see him once or twice. (Which doesn't mean I don't love everyone of you for sharing your video footage. )