marie-andrée de rougemont

:wheelchair:The translating mistake may be a revealing slip of the tongue -or pen, rather. I am at the same time so jealous and so happy for you who got the DVD before anybody else ! Thanks for sharing. You say nothing of the bonus part. Is it any good ? We were expecting a lot from that DVD, let's hope we are not disappointed...

Marie-Andrée Dear DarkLight and others. I can't say that I have really followed the whole Adele/Mika story but if she really gave all those details in an interview, so many of them that it was as good as saying 'My boyfriend is Mika', it must be a joke or a hoax because if you date a very private man you respect his privacy or he will drop you like a hot potato before you know it. Perhaps they are having a good laugh at the trash press expense ? And I agree with those of you who think he is no longer single. He doesn't sound or look like a lonely man, more like somebody who has found a satisfactory emotional balance , probably more than the 'occasional shag' mentioned on this thread. Somebody who accepts his terms : happiness behind closed doors. And yes, of course, we are very happy for him ! x Marie-Andrée

Marie-Thérèse Re Mika's father The following quotes have originally been posted by other MFC members ; if you feel like it you can find them back on this thread, roughly from pages 16 to 22. I just avoided giving names in order not to rub touchy members the wrong way. QUOTE Yeah, well, Mika's an insufferable prig I suppose. UNQUOTE If you say so… Sorry, very naughty of me but I have been partially quoted here before and couldn’t find a better way to show that it is awfully bad form. QUOTE I'm not sure what exactly you're hoping to accomplish here by repeatedly making false accusations against me because the people participating in this thread are more than capable of reading for themselves that I never said any such thing. If you wanted to destroy what little credibility you had to start with to the point where members wonder if you're a troll, then congratulations. You've done a bang up job. UNQUOTE QUOTE Sometimes the consequences are very positive. I always notice and take to people who jump right in and are gregarious, funny and are familiar enough with internet etiquette in general that they don't really need to know the ins and outs of MFC to make a positive impression. UNQUOTE I honestly don’t give a scr… about what people think of me or whether I am making a positive impression (this is not my fanclub). Whether people approve or disapprove of me is their concern, not mine. I for one don’t look at myself in other people’s eyes, especially relative strangers. And I don’t want to accomplish anything, I am not a leader of people, respect them too much for that and anyway it would bore me stiff. But I couldn’t help noticing that other newbies felt rather strongly about the pecking order, patronizing, respect-your-elders attitude and that this thread may have helped them express their feelings. So that, tempting as might appear the suggestion in bold in the following quote, that would hardly solve the problem. Or close the topic. QUOTE I mean that's exactly what happened in this thread so is it really so out of line that a long-time member has told newbies that they should just sit down and STFU? In any real life situation you would simply be shown the door and told never to return if you behaved like that. UNQUOTE QUOTE I sometimes almost feel that I have to apologise for being a long term member, knowing a lot if in jokes and things that have happened in the past, for having contributed to this forum for over a year both by posting and financially. Oh and having been to a few gigs too. Sorry. Sorry about all of that. UNQUOTE Some members have certainly devoted much time and money to the Fanclub. Good for them. Because they didn’t have to, nobody was pointing a gun at them, so they have done it for some personal reason, genuine admiration for Mika’s talent, expected pleasure to meet other people who shared the same passion, need to spice up their lives... any reason. And they have enjoyed it, presumably, or they would not have done it in the first place or would have quitted. So to expect newer or less deeply committed members to follow them at a respectful distance and bow to their wisdom doesn’t make sense. It is the same with children : you love them from the day they are born, breast feed them, make them your priority, you stop even thinking about designer clothes because the best part of your money must be bestowed upon them. You give them the best opportunities but it gives you no guarantee that you won’t see them scr… up their emotional or professional life, make the worst possible decisions in every possible way and feel miserable to boot. Are you going to reproach them with their choices : ‘When I think of all the things we have done for you, all the sacrifices, all the money spent on your education’ or are you just going to think, every single day, that being their parents has been the most wonderful, fulfilling experience, no matter what, and that giving them birth was the most selfish thing you have ever done so that expecting gratitude would be ridiculous ? I must apologize for taking up the children image again (at least, this time, I didn’t talk about pupils) but a patronizing attitude brings it uncontrollably to mind. Incidentally, Scandinavians love their trolls, devilish and obnoxious as they are, and if I paid attention to what people think of me I would be flattered… pity ! So long, M.-Th. Closing a thread because you find uncomfortable about what is said on it is...sad.

Marie-Thérèse As I mentioned to Soaring Simpson earlier, in retrospect, the more effective approach would have been to not entertain people's questions at all. I gave the members here more credit and didn't expect it to lead to people encouraging others to take videos of Mika's brother. My mistake. (first posted by Christine). Your mistake was in the first place to answer questions that, given your stong views about stepping the line, you must have deemed highly inappropriate. I find it cute -and very typical- that your initial mistake should be turned into reproaching other members with not understanding your subliminal warning : 'Mind you, folks, that doesn't allow you to spot them in a crowd and take videos of them !' I never advised people on this forum to circulate photos or videos of any member of Mika's family but would feel an insufferable prig if I asked them to refrain from posting paparazzi's stolen pictures, even though I am not happy to see them on line. At the Beirut press conference I could have taken videos of his whole entourage, up to their dog (I mean if there had been one) but it would have made me feel uncomfortable, so I didn't do it. I didn't even ask them if I could, although many people filmed them away without bothering to ask. It had nothing to do with other people's patronizing view and I, for one, give credit to other MFC members to act as they think appropriate because I don't consider them as stalking freaks. Do you think I am wrong ? So long, M.-Th.

Marie-Thérèse Your reaction to my post carefully avoids answering my criticism about a senior member giving descriptions of Michael and Fortuné Penniman and then reproachin gothers with doing the same thing. If Christine put on line description of the two guys, doesn't it make her 'as bad as the paparazzi' ? Or, again, is there a double standard on this Forum ? Pretty worrying if that is the case... M.Th.

Marie-Andrée de Rougemont The ""Looking For Something" Thread... If you're looking for something at all MIKA or MFC related, then you can come here and ask. Any pictures, videos, interviews in the News section where it takes too long to search through our many pages, or you're just being lazy, or the search option isn't being too accurate, or you want to talk to a real person... I just thought it would be easier in one big thread for everything! So ask/search/answer away! There's bound to be someone who knows where it is... (oriinally posted by findingmywords) I happened to find, on dailymotion, a video ad for the 251207 coverage of the Forest National gig on Plug TV. Has anybody happened to dowload it ? From what I have read and heard so far it seems to have been a fabulous concert. Thanks in advance. xMarie-Andrée P.S. Where do I find a smilie (I have grown rather fond of the wheelchair one) when I reply to a message ? Couldn't find it here.

Marie-Thérèse Re my previous post : I would love to read the message where Christine gave those description but she has been so talkative that I didn't have the courage to go through all her posts. Could JackViolet or any members who read it oblige ? Thanks a lot. M.-Th.

Marie-Thérèse 'Christine's description of Mr. Penniman sr and Fortune--well, honestly, I don't think she should have given it either, although all she was doing was trying to humor people's curiosity without providing any photos. However, describing his family is not against the rules, so it's not like she broke any guidelines. I just think it's better to avoid such talk altogether, and I was the one who said so, but I don't make the rules.'(originally posted by JackViolet. So when Christine gives a description of Michael and Fortuné Penniman she is just trying to humour people’s curiosity but when another (smaller –pecking order again…) member does the same, without providing any photos either, she is encouraging fans to harass the poor guys and their entire family ? Just how hypocritical and self-righteous is that ? How can Christine expect to be taken seriously when she criticizes in others what she does herself ? (I didn’t read the thread but feel I can trust JackViolet not to make a mistake about it). If older members and moderators want to be judgemental and critical of what other members do they might practice what psychologists call ‘silent education’ : I don’t advise you, ask you or order you to do or not do something but just do or not do it myself so that you can follow my example. It seems that in the forum the ‘education’ -as we are treated like pupils or children- has been very loud indeed. And thus not very convincing. So long, M.-Th.

Marie-Thérèse Being used to being one of an opinion I was surprised and amused (not more) to see some MFC members react to the admonitory messages of moderators. Some of us may indeed be more articulate than others, but not all of us blow our own trumpets at the same volume. (Blue Sky). Exactly my point : louder, less submissive, less tameable… irritating. As for the crotch-circling photos... ok, I hate them too. I would be very happy to have any sort of chance to make that sort of stuff discouraged on the forums. But... I'm not everyone else, and I'm not Mika. Mika has put himself out there, this is within the normal bounds of what goes on at fansites and within celebrity culture in general... and honestly, Mika does not discourage it himself. I wish he would! But no, the man seems quite happy to strip on stage, and make his dance moves ever-more focused on his gyrating hips, etc etc, so I don't think he is unduly bothered by this kind of attention. (Jack Violet). Again, exactly my point : if Mr Penniman (sorry, I do call him that, will you let me know if he changes his name ?) enjoys gyrating his rear end and pelvis to a drooling audience it shouldn’t bother him to see close ups of his crotch circulating on the Internet. Although I personally find it unpleasant to read a thread about the bulge in his pants when he is going out of a restaurant with a friend (incidentally, when they are on the skinny side all men look in the mood all the time unless they are wearing very baggy pants), but then I am not him (lucky for us both). But in the same way members of his family who work very closely with him on his projects and appear in countless TV coverages and blogs shouldn’t be coy about appearing on a picture taken on very public occasions. So you can say you have seen them or met them? So you can harass them for non-existent special privileges? Or no reason other than simple curiousity/nosiness ? (Bluesky). Ha ha… so it p…s moderators or older members off when the hoi polloi approach Mika closer than they do ? I shouldn’t have been allowed to attend the press conference, for instance, as I was the only MFC member to be there, and a junior one at that ? Sorry to disagree but I was very happy to, if only for being able to share a most interesting occasion with you all. The only privilege I expect from an artist who gives me incredible pleasure with his music is to buy his records, go to his gigs and thank him very shyly when he goes out of the theatre even if it means waiting three hours in the cold. I was not part of the unruly posse of fans at the Brixton after party and I don’t remember Mika, on coverages of the event, looking particularly scared or annoyed ; he likes to be liked and he does get that from his fans. And I certainly did not harass him in Beirut. Read my post again. I very much wanted to talk to him to thank him on behalf of my mother and believe me, not being able to say “Thank you” is much more frustrating than not being able to get an autograph. The lovely elderly lady who sat next to Mika during the press conference even took me with her to the room where he was having a drink but I soon went out because I felt I was intruding. (while they figure out their place in the pecking order!). And if you don't think we have one, that it's all completely egalitarian here, then we must be looking at two different forums. Much as I might wish it otherwise. (chickadee) Actually, I was just thinking about this some more while washing the dishes (I didn't get much done, cos I'm practically straight back here ) and maybe I'd describe it more like high school. There are different friendship groups on here and little cliques and politics and loyalties and it all gets quite tangled to work out sometimes who's in with who, who's fighting with who, who's persona non gratis (sp?) at the moment, etc etc. I'm pretty sure the high school analogy has been used before.... (chickadee). Oh, the school analogy definitely has, chickadee : I wrote about the ‘schoolmarmish’ tone of some of the moderators -other threads mentioned their patronizing approach- so I got more the impression of primary school than high schoolt eachers but if you want to give them promotion, kind of you. As for a pecking order, don’t make me laugh, my lips are chipped ! Every opinion and voice is worth being heard on the forum, be it that of a passionate and clumsy teenager or that of a middle age cynic. If moderators dream of a more aseptic forum I am sorry for them but I think it would bore most MFC members’ b…ocks off. Something intrigues me. I get a feeling from their posts that some of the moderators, who admire Mika tremendously as an artist, seem to find him, if not obnoxious, shall we say… slightly unsavoury and sometimes on the pathetic side ? It is good for us end-of-the pecking-order fans to see that they can get rather patronizing with Mr Smith too (if that is his new name), and believe that the poor little sod needs their advice from time to time, if only not to make a fool of himself. And to end this message. ‘Topic closed’ ? Not so good, guys, we are neither your pupils nor your kids… who would probably have a fit of the giggles if you talked to them like that. So long, M.-Th.

:wheelchair: Marie-Andrée I found the 2007 Rhode Island video on the Italian Fanclub then on Utube. My interpretation, Love today and GK, acoustic with only Mika and Martin but incredibly powerful ; it is good sometimes to recapture the pleasure of just listening to the songs without having to go back to the studio version, always slightly more aseptic. Mika was smartly dressed as always but in an unusually subdued way. Watch his scarf slip down as he assaults the piano though... I believe that he gave an interview to the same radio at that time (saw pictures of him being interviewed) but couldn't find it... Has anybody been luckier than me ? Thanks in advance. x Marie-Andrée P.S. Watched the Georgia Center Stage videos yesterday. Thanks for sharing such brilliant recordings !

Thank you... so definitely a hearing aid. Too late for my birthday but will put it on my list for Santa. x M.-Th.

Marie-Thérèse From Christine : 'Mika has indicated that he wants the forum to continue on in the way it's been run in the past. There is no guarantee things will not change, but you may want to be careful what you wish for. If you think that Mika's involvement is going to necessarily translate into more professional organization and less censorship you may be in for a surprise.' More professional organization ? Very likely. Less censorship ? I don’t think so. But more coherence, yes, indeed, I would expect that. M.-Th.

Now let's not play on semantics please... I told you in the past i found it highly hypocritical to tell members where to find demos saying you wouldn't post them on the forum.. Same thing here. You may not be encouraging them to post pics of Mika's family on MFC, you're still encouraging them to take these pics and besides, you give explicit descriptions of what some people look like and I hope you realize you're making them curious and that they will therefore sollicitate personal info... which some are already doing. I hadn’t realized that semantics was a dirty word when one was trying to communicate or that I had such power over others. I thought Mika’s fans were people, not puppets, and that they could be credited with making their own decisions. Long before I posted any threads. How many gigs have you attended? I've seen fans misbehaving at signings. And we're not just talking gigs and signings here but also people feeling free to knock his door and stuff. So let’s be quite clear, folks : knocking on Mika’s door –and stuff- is very naughty and if you read in any of my threads that I advised you to do so, you were sadly mistaken. More seriously I have attended four gigs so far and always found people very reserved and respectful. And watched recordings of many events when they didn’t act differently. Maybe you should devote part of your valuable time to deal with other bands’ fans ; that might help you put things into perspective. You must read diagonally because we've never said such a thing. If the MFC members have a quality, it's their respect of people's looks. They would never criticize omeone's weight. The pregnancy and twin story was just a way to take the piss at some tabloids and had nothing to do with Adele. So the pregnant partner is not Adele ? I had read a very classy reference to a bump in Mika’s pants in one of the posts but hadn’t realized the MFC member was referring to foetuses. And incidentally you are not answering the part about asking MFC members not to circulate private photos of Mika with a possible girlfriend, even if they have already been published in the trash press. We are not friends of Mika’s ? Quoting just one sentence from a paragraph ? I bow to your intellectual honesty but will put the whole paragraph below, if you don’t mind… We are not friends of Mika’s ? My English stands corrected (my editor is in on holiday, he needed it, poor soul !). What I meant is that most of us consider ourselves as his friends, even if he doesn’t reciprocate (and that is very private). So now it's not about ethics anymore? They have no real power on what's happening, that's true, just like we can do little about these papped pics and the fact some fans are curious. But that doesnt mean we just have to sit back and watch as some members obviously cross the line, and tbh, my dear, you've been flirting with that line in many of your posts. Appreciate you honesty (tbh) when I witness it. I have been flirting with a sensitive line ? Perhaps but I am not the only one although it is quite possible that my being more articulate than some gets your goat because it means that I am less easy to manipulate or be made feel bad about what I may have done or written. And one compliment leading to another, some moderators are definitely schoolmarmish when they intervene about something that they find open to criticism. If I find it irritating I wonder what it feels like when you are a teenage fan... I lately went through a thread about drastic changes that were likely to occur in the MFC in the months to come. Didn’t read it very attentively, was not that interested but it might not be a bad idea for Mr Penniman to regain control on what is happening here, maybe organize it on a more professional basis. We can trust him to do what is best for us all. Him included, shouldn’t forget to take care of number one. x M.-Th.

Marie-Thérèse With your translation I watched the video again and I can't say that I heard the same things as you did. I even tried to lip read (I know, pathetic !) and couldn't read those words. But then if you are English speaking you are certainly right. M.-Th.

Marie-Thérèse Thank you. I should really buy myself a hearing aid !

Marie-Thérèse Topic exhausted ? No right to answer ? I did not see that in the MFC guidelines (which I read carefully yesterday, once more). So, sorry but I am going to clarify a few points. First, and that answers Jack's reaction too, I never encouraged a fan (I have just read my threads again) to put pictures of the Pennimans on line. Although Yasmine's being coy about seing her picture circulate while she keeps willingly appearing in magazines, on TV and on the blogs seems to me strange. But if this is the way she feels, no problem. And no, I have never seen Mika's fans being overwhelming, I have always seen them respectful, even at three in the morning when they had been waiting for nearly three hours, they didn't even call his name loudly, just said it, and not all at the same time. They are very enthusiastic when he is on stage, but then he does encourage it and enjoy the feedback from his audience. The only time when I saw people disrestpectful was in Beirut, after the press conference, when a lady and her two teenage daughters wouldn't take "No, sorry, no autographs, he is exhausted" for an answer. And no, I don’t find it fine for paparazzi’s photos to circulate on the forum, on the contrary , read my post again. You say you can’t do anything about it ; legally, definitely not, but I thought we were talking ethics here ? Couldn’t you ask fans to refrain from circulating stolen pictures taken in very private circumstances even if it were outside a restaurant ? Much more private than before, during and after a show. For instance the silly thread that those pictures started. It’s OK, everybody has a right to go West sometimes and I myself took part in it so it would be hypocritical of me to criticize it, even though I am not quite sure inferring that a young woman is expecting twins when she happens to be overweight is in the best of taste. But I don’t remember you or any of the moderators reacting to it from an ethical point of view (if you did and I missed it, I apologize but it is lengthy, apparently silly topics inspire us fans more than serious ones…). We are not friends of Mika’s ? My English stands corrected (my editor is in on holiday, he needed it, poor soul !). What I meant is that most of us consider ourselves as his friends, even if he doesn’t reciprocate (and that is very private). To conclude (but an answer is always an option, I don’t shut doors on people’s face) let’s be lucid : the Pennimans are highly intelligent, learned and lucid people. They have always known that Mika’s becoming famous (and they all longed for it to happen) would involve a certain loss of privacy. They have so far succeeded in limiting the phenomenon with Mika’s fans’ help simply because they have always respected them and that it is a very catching feeling. That they should complain about it is part of the game but they know that they have no real power on it. Especially in Britain, where the laws about protecting a person’s image are far more laxist than on the Continent. So long, M.-Th.

Please see my answer to Niki27 below -or above as the case may be, not far from here anyway : have just posted it.

Marie-Thérèse Respecting Mika's family's privacy is fine but don't you think we are getting (or are being manipulated into being) a little hypocritical here ? Believe me, and you can see it on the TV coverage, Michael Penniman didn't duck when he saw a TV camera filming him (actually, if he had asked not to be filmed, I am sure the reporters would have obliged). And Mika's sisters and mother often appear on the blog archives. True, they work with Mika, but let's face it : Mika is in the public eye, enjoys the positive parts of it ; I don't think he would like being back to gate crashing to have his songs listened to even if it meant getting as much privacy as a couple of years ago... There is nothing shameful about going to your son's press conference or your big brother's gig and I don't think we have any right to make fans feel bad because they have taken a friendly picture of one of Mika's siblings. Although I didn't do it in Beirut but it was because I wouldn't have felt comfortable with it, not because the Lord (as JackViolet cheekily called Mika in a recent thread) has banned it, and I don't feel particularly self-righteous about it, just happy I made my own decision. I personally am much more shocked when I see stolen pictures of any public figures with their pants down (literally or metaphorically) published in the trash press. I would much rather see pictures of Joannie Penniman (who is, in every senses of the word, a lovely lady) on the MFC threads than a picture of her son sucking too hard on his lollipop, sitting next to a guy he may-or may not- end the night with or walking out of a restaurant next to a girl he may -or may not- go back to his flat with. But I wouldn't be particularly be proud of myself if I went all judgmental about those pictures circulating on the MFC threads. Remember, we are among friends, here: friends of Mika's and each other's friends as well. Even when we agree to disagree. x M.-Th.

Marie-Thérèse What a shame ! Actually Fortuné is likely to be the best looking of the Penniman brood, bound to look really stunning in a couple of years' time. He still looks like a child (peachy round cheeks... stop drooling, girls !) but when you look at him you can already see the DDG young man he is soon going to be. No wonder he blocked the way, though : very tall, even for a Penniman. Here is a tip : next time you see a curly dark head, about 9 feet above floor level, at one of Mika's gig, forget about Andrew, start filming. M.-Th.

Marie-Thérèse Was at the Beirut press conference though. Can see him on Lebanese TV coverage of the event : middle-age guy, sturdy, receding hair, in his shirt sleeves, filming away with a big smile on his face. Can't miss him. M.-Th.

Marie-Andrée Next year ? I don't think so. Much more likely before Christmas ; no matter how much freedom Mr Penniman is given, marketing rules and anyway the album must already be well on the way. If Mika and the record company gave us a date we would go bonkers weeks before the expected release, but if we are given a 2009 date we will be happily surprised when the record is released earlier (and less likely to develop anxiety-induced stomach ulcers). Don't forget the PdesP DVD in September. Brilliant timing actually : - September, still prettily tanned from the summer hols, PdesP DVD. Two months at work and when we are becoming restive, say... - early December, second album. And the upcoming tour ! Sorry, can't type anymore, can't see the screen : two many stars twinkling in my eyes... x Marie-Andrée

Marie-Thérèse I may have already posted this message (so many threads, I get confused sometimes and find it difficult to find my old posts and possible answers to them). I posted the following about the crazy 'Mika's possible girl-friend' thread which is actually becoming seriouser and seriouser... What is part of my 'looking for something' pb is in bold. [B] I listened again to blog archive n° 10, Sailing, and what I could hear at about 40' was : 'it's my close one's birthday', then Mika's conclusion to the day out sailing was : 'and life has never felt so sweet... absolutely full'. [/b] Whether Mika is currently dating a person (gender unknown) born on July 16th or a girl born on May 5th is totally irrelevant ; this crazy thread is just a fun one, and I would personally feel very uncomfortable if we were seriously wondering who he is doing it with, which is none of our business. My point is : don't any of the MFC members whose mother tongue is not English sometimes find it difficult to catch every word that is said in an interview or, even more often, in the blog archives ? Would one -or several- of the English-speaking MFC members translate at least the blogs (they are quite short) ? As far as I am concerned I would be quite willing to translate into English the French interviews that have not been translated yet. Or the French blogs. Couldn't manage the French version of GK though, unless I find the written lyrics somewhere (been unable to so far). The little I heard of them (when Mika was discussing them with Doriand in the car) makes me feel sorry Mika didn't write them himself, they would have been so much better. Although it's not that important : it was sweet of him to sing it at his summer gigs in France. [/b] So long, M.-Th.

Marie-Thérèse I listened again to blog archive n° 10, Sailing, and what I could hear at about 40' was : 'it's my close one's birthday', then Mika's conclusion to the day out sailing was : 'and life has never felt so sweet... absolutely full'. Whether Mika is currently dating a person (gender unknown) born on July 16th or a girl born on May 5th is totally irrelevant ; this crazy thread is just a fun one, and I would personally feel very uncomfortable if we were seriously wondering who he is doing it with, which is none of our business. My point is : don't any of the MFC members whose mother tongue is not English sometimes find it difficult to catch every word that is said in an interview or, even more often, in the blog archives ? Would one -or several- of the English-speaking MFC members translate at least the blogs (they are quite short) ? As far as I am concerned I would be quite willing to translate into English the French interviews that have not been translated yet. Or the French blogs. Couldn't manage the French version of GK though, unless I find the written lyrics somewhere (been unable to so far). The little I heard of them (when Mika was discussing them with Doriand in the car) makes me feel sorry Mika didn't write them himself, they would have been so much better. Although it's not that important : it was sweet of him to sing it at his summer gigs in France. So long, M.-Th.

Marie-Thérèse Don't you worry : if they ever read the threads -which I very much doubt- I am sure they don't give a f...

Mika deserves better ? You don't date people -if those two are dating- because you find their singing voice interesting. Although, come to think of it, her speaking voice is not particularly good either... but perhaps Mr Penniman is not into voices. And she is rather pretty.