marie-andrée de rougemont

It is your constitutional right to disagree with other people's opinion and I entirely respect yours. So much so that I watched again these artists videos of the two songs... still not there. The middle of the Paris / Werchter / Amsterdam axis... what a golden spot ! Were your at Werchter ? It was the second gig I went to, after London, the last concert of the winter tour, which was excellent, and before the Parc des Princes, then Beirut. That night the band were completely insane, in a friendly and lovely way. True to say, Belgian audiences are awsome. I have often wondered since if the musicians were not a little high on stage fright just before the Parc des Princes huge challenge ? Whatever the reason I'll always feel privileged to have been there... So long, M.-Th.

I can't believe that Mika is in such dire need of songs to put on stage. He must have hundreds of them in his drawers : one of the songs that circulate on the Internet, Instant martyr, was, according to him, written when he was 7 or 8 and he often says that he never stops writing. I rather believe that using other artists' stuff is a kind of tribute to them and that, being a music lover, he likes to bow to other songwriters' talent by covering their songs. It is rather sweet and healthily unselfconscious of him. So long, M.-Th.

Marie-Thérèse, courtesy of Marie-Andrée I had obviously missed Niki's thread. The magic of the Internet has operated again : I had never heard this singer before and the song is really good (melody, arrangement & voice). Thanks a load for the information. Mika4Life13, I was not , in any way, criticizing Mika for singing other artists' songs. I don't remember using the word "stealing" ? To me, Mika's appropriation of the songs he uses on stage is purely artistic, how could it be different, no one can suspect him of singing a song in front of an audience of ... 50 000 people, for instance, and not giving the writers their due ! We have to use a common language to communicate and English is the obvious choice, I am sorry if you meet difficulties in understanding what is written in the various threads. Marilyn Mastin, you are right, I was referring to Mika's talent and personality, not his vocal range, but that would make it difficult for other artists to return the compliment ! So long, M.-Th.

I wasn't 'upset' and of course I don't one moment believe that Mika is in any bodily danger (got to recognize humour when you meet it and, why not, practice it a bit, sweetheart !)... but I have always been struck by Mika's complete artistic appropriation of other songwriters cum singers material. If it helps younger music lovers discover artists, good for them, but after comparing those artists' and Mika's rendering of the songs I don't think they will feel like buying the formers' albums. Talking about official recordings I totally agree with Akim in thinking that listening to demos don't stop us from buying them, on the contrary it makes us want to hear the songs again in a different version and buy the CD when it is released. Needless to say I wouldn't dream of not following Mika's request (he is one scary genius... kidding, he is a lovely person) so that I am not going to share Tell me once again with you all. I can't help thinking, though, that you can't have caviare on both sides of your toast (very messy, black stains all over your clothes...) : you can't love some big record companies in the back and sign juicy contracts with others who, thanks to the Internet, have realized that you have got the Midas touch and want to get some gold too and, on the other hand, complain about the Web drawbacks, like the circulation of unreleased songs (and incidentally they don't go there on their sweet little feet so there must be some leakage from people in the companies). I am personally hugely grateful to the Internet for helping Mika be known and recognized by millions of people, thus allowing him to make the record he wanted to make with complete artistic freedom... I think that is priceless and worth putting up with other annoying aspects of the Web. That was a long thread but I feel strongly about what I have just written. Your comments would be most welcome.

Marie-Thérèse Dear Elanorelle, In a previous thread I mentioned Mika's August hols in the French mountains and realized I forgot to tell you that when asked, at the Beirut press conference, what he would like to receive for his 25th birthday he said that anyway he would probably spend it in France where he be moutain climbing. So I suppose he will definitely take a much needed vacation before going back to the studios. Sorry to keep talking about the press conference, thus wheting everybody's appetite, but my covering of the event is hopefully coming up and will circulate on Utube or Dailymotion (it is longish and my friend told me that Utube doesn't accomodate long recordings) in the next few days. So long, M.-Th.

Marie-Thérèse, courtesy of Marie-Andrée Dear MFC members, We definitely do not want to irritate Mika... but I am not sure they should be more than mildly annoying as on stage and even in studio he transcend each song to such an extent that they have little to do with the bootleg recordings we may have heard on the Internet. Have you noticed how, in the same way, he appropriates the songs he borrows from other artists so that after listening to his rendering of them one tends to forget who wrote and performed them in the first place ? Flattering as it may be to see a talented singer use your material that must be aggravating ! I very much enjoyed "Just can't get enough" during the summer tour and wanted to watch Depeche Mode perform it... disappointing. I found Eurythmics version of Sweet dreams absolutely brilliant... now, it sounds banal. I suppose it is all right for bands who still enjoy some fame but imagine that one day he sings on stage a song written by a shooting star, a one-song-man or -woman, they're bound to feel murderous... come to think of it, he might well consider having more than one bodyguard to protect him ! As for me, I confess I am unable to regret having found and downloaded on the Internet, a few months back, "Tell me once again", even though I have lost the lyrics (when Mika sings, whether in English or in French,I find it difficult to catch every word). Sorry, Mr Penniman, we fans are impossible, but would you, in the same circumstances, have resisted 'stealing' a new song by... Harry Nilsson, for instance ? Tough. So long, M.-Th.

From Marie-Andrée Thanks you so much, I had given up any hope of commenting on the blog. Can't wait to try it now. Love, Marie-Andrée

From Marie-Thérèse, courtesy of Marie-Andrée How selfish of you ! Let's hope he enjoys every minute of his stay in whichever French mountains he is going to climb and doesn't fall off them. We don't want him to break down, do we ? Even though he is a hard nut to crack as he has survived the insane year and a half he has just been through while any other person would have collapsed 'like a bunch of broccoli' (Young Frankenstein), enough is enough and he deserves to spend some quality time with the ones he loves, far the paparazzi who, as everybody know, spend their time in more glamourous spots and are afraid of heights -no wonder, they are a crawling species... I believe the most beautiful birthday present we can give him is to forget about him for a couple of weeks, until he starts getting in touch with his fans on the blog. Which, incidentally, I still don't know how to register into. Help me ! So long, M.-Th.

From Marie-Andrée Talking about recording... Mika, in his first DVD, said that he would like to make two versions of his albums, one in studio and one live. Let's hope he hasn't given up on that project. Whatever his record company think about it, he is very much the boss where his music's concerned so if he wants it he is going to get it. It would be so great for people who, like me, and for various reasons, have not been able to go to one of his concerts yet and can only hope to make it one day ! How long is it to the PdesP DVD ? From 27 to 57 days, depending on the day in September when it is released... and we can be impatient without feeling guilty of putting pressure on him, because, contrary to the new album, the shooting has already been done, what remains to do is the editing and even though he is a control freak I don't think Mika will spend too much time checking on that. Love to all MFC members, Marie-Andrée

From Marie-Andrée Dear Avoca, I wasn't in Beirut and I couldn't hear Mika's mentioning his father on any of the Utube recordings. I don't believe that in Stuck in the middle he addresses his father. I rather see it as a poignant love song dedicated to his mother, with some nostalgia, some bitterness, where he expresses his need to break free from her and apologizes for hurting her in the process. I don't think any mother who once saw her children fly from the nest can listen to it without being deeply touched. Actually I am showing off : the lyrics had to be translated for me. But once I understood them that's what I was feeling. Any other interpretation ? Love, Marie-Andrée

From Marie-Thérèse, courtesy of Marie-Andrée This is my third attempt at answering Racha : every time I am almost finished, the Wifi connection pops off. Most annoying. Thank you, Racha ! Your videos are brilliant, they put mine to shame and when I found them on Utube I was delighted. I am sorry I mentioned scarce and short recordings, I guess I must have been impatient. Did you manage to sneak in a camera to the Golden cage where you must have been standing ? True to say the frisking at the gates was not very thorough and I was sorry I only brought my mobile. I taped about 2/3 of the press conference which should be readable by you all after the computer genius who came to my place this afternoon has done to them whatever they do to change mud into gold (I am mixing my metaphores... I meant, 'the alchemist'). Good to know that there are people more gifted than I am in such matters. To tell you how hopeless I am : only the evening before the Beirut gig did I realize that far from screwing up my recording of the London February 28th show I had got 75 mn of a 90 mn set, missing only the last two songs (incidentally that was not too bad for a dummy who was using her cell phone for the first time). I don't think I am going to share it with you all, though : we have already seen beautiful and extensive coverage of that night ; Suzie's recording of Any other world is superb, thanks a load to her for sharing. Apart from Mika and his entourage I must have been the one who came to Beirut from farthest away : I live in Marseilles, in the Mediterranean, but had to fly north to Paris then back south ie a good extra 1 000 miles. Looking at the reports there doesn't seem to have been many people coming from Europe. We MFC members are lucky you went there from Dubai, dear Cheshire cat ! Now we are looking forward to the new album and the tour to come. My mother, who couldn't make it to London (sitting tickets sold out) or to any of the summer tour dates (she is really old and very sensitive to heat) is getting frantic. But aren't we all ? So long, M.-Th.

From Marie-Thérèse, courtesy of Marie-Andrée So happy you enjoyed the report, guylainem 123, and looking forward to sharing with MFC members my coverage of about 2/3 of July 26th press conference as a computer wizard is coming to my place this pm (August 1st) to help me with it. So long, M.-Th.

Marie-Thérèse, courtesy of Marie-Andrée Robertina, rejoice : a genius is coming to my place this pm (August 1st) to help me share my coverage of at least 2/3 of the July 26th press conference ! Fortunately not everybody is as illiterate as I am. I don't really know how my mother will manage to get in touch with Mika to ask him if she can tell you all about the adorable thing he did ; and even if she does I feel that he is so private and modest that he might well ask her to keep mum about it. Definitely his privilege : she wouldn't dream of unveiling something if he is anxious for it not to be known. So long, M.-Th.

Marie-Thérèse, courtesy of Marie-Andrée Violet_sky, happy you enjoyed the report and looking forward to sharing with you all my coverage of at least 2/3 of the July 26th press conference as a friend of mine is coming to my place this pm to help me with it. So long, M. Th.

Marie-Thérèse, courtesy of Marie-Andrée Marina, So happy you enjoyed it... and looking forward to sharing the two-thirds of the press conference I taped on July 26th : a friend of mine who, contrary to me, is not illiterate is coming to my place this pm to help me with it.. So long, M. Th.

Marie-Thérèse, courtesy of Marie-Andrée August 1st, 2008 Aimee, don't tell us that you didn't tape the TV coverage ?! Or that you can't find somebody who did record it ?... Hopefully I will be able to share my coverage of nearly two thirds of the July 26th Beyrouth press conference so watch the forum in the next few days. So long, M. Th.

From Marie-Thérèse, courtesy of Marie-Andrée My pleasure. Sharing is at least 90% of enjoying, don't you think ? A friend of mine is going to come to my place this afternoon (August 1st) and hopefully help me put my recording of the press conference (more than half of it as it turned out) at the fan's disposal. I don't know about the gig :Racha's coverage is absolutely brilliant and puts mine to shame ; she must have sneaked a real camera into the venue and have stood in the "Golden cage", the area nearest the stage. Thanks a load to her. So long, M. Th.

First I must tell the MFC members that I very recently had the opportunity to realize how genuinely good and immensely generous Mica Penniman is. It is so touching that I can't wait to share it with you but it might embarrass him to see it publicized so I must wait for his go-ahead to tell you about it. Second, my daughter has -once again- screwed up her registration... forgotten her password or something, she is hopeless ! So I generously give her my space to report on the Beirut gig. Here it comes : 'I have just spent two days travelling to Beirut and back & two days there, plus an extravagant amount of money but it was worth it and more. First info : Beirut is a danger zone... because of its drivers ! Pity though, because in spite of being deeply scarred the city is beautiful and best discovered by walking through its more secret streets. Second, the people there are unbelievably welcoming and touchingly grateful when you come to Lebanon in spite of the troubles (just a little machine gun firing at night, coming from far away, nothing to write home about and to stop you from going there, you'll love it). I had the privilege to attend Mika's press conference which, in spite of the stately room it took place in, had a village hall meeting atmosphere : kids running all over the place, playing with the mikes, happily fighting each other on the carpet, while their mothers chatted away (they did relax and take it easy) but it was rather sweet. In dire need of a vacation Mika, when he arrived, looked rather drawn and tense but as soon as the press conference began he was his usual self, very much in command, giving each question due consideration before answering it carefully and with surgical precision ; let it be known : Mr Penniman is a tough guy. He had to reject two very kind offers : a proposal from a lady journalist and the mobile phone a little boy wanted to give him to replace his own, which is broken (please, do not each of you send him a cell phone or he will have to move to a much bigger place !) His "mafia" was there, first and foremost his mother who, in spite of obviously being exhausted, had a kind word and a radiant smile for everybody who approached her ; the five Pennimans are very lucky indeed. The gig started more than one hour late (the Lebanese way, a friend of mine from Beirut told me). I was in the front row of the sitting area (a sponsor had chickened out and I got his seat) but I wish I had been standing in front of the stage, that's where the action is. Technically it was not his best concert (in my view, the Werchter one remains the best gig ever) : shortish set, rather small stage... but to say, like Mika, that the atmosphere was electric is the understatement of the century. There was so much love coming up from the audience that it enveloped the whole venue in a kind of warm veil or breeze... words fail me, those of you who were there will know what I mean. And the crowd went wild, of course. Five middle age ladies were sitting next to me, one of them apparently a minister in the new government, and they were very dignified at first, legs elegantly crossed, smiling sweetly and sedately but after the fourth of fifth song they had nearly reached chair-breaking point and were shaking it like everybody else. Awesome ! As for the artists, I truly believe they were levitating ; actually I swear I could see them moving a couple of inches above the stage and I had not been drinking. I wanted to thank Mika on behalf of my mother (see above) and his tour manager had told me at the press conference that I could see him after the show but for security reasons he left the venue just after the encore (which he hardly managed to sing, the audience doing it for him !) Still I can say "I was there" although three days later it still feels slightly unreal, like some experience from an entirely different plane. I taped a good quarter of an hour of the press conference and at least three songs during the show but I am rubbish at anything even mildly technical. If one of you could tell me how to make a mobile phone recording pass onto a portable computer then onto the forum (stop it, one shouldn't laugh at an intellectually handicapped person !) let them give me some instructions on the forum or leave their email or phone number so that I can get in touch with them, I would be so happy to share it with everybody, not many of you could make it to Beirut on that day and the recordings I have seen on utube so far are scarce and short. Thank you for the great pictures of the gig. So long, Marie-Thérèse' I told you, she is hopeless ! Marie-Andrée

First I must tell the MFC members that I very recently had the opportunity to realize how genuinely good and immensely generous Mica Penniman is. It is so touching that I can't wait to share it with you but it might embarrass him to see it publicized so I must wait for his go-ahead to tell you about it. Second, my daughter has -once again- screwed up her registration... forgotten her password or something, she is hopeless ! So I generously give her my space to report on the Beirut gig. Here it comes : 'I have just spent two days travelling to Beirut and back & two days there, plus an extravagant amount of money but it was worth it and more. First info : Beirut is a danger zone... because of its drivers ! Pity though, because in spite of being deeply scarred the city is beautiful and best discovered by walking through its more secret streets. Second, the people are unbelievably welcoming and touchingly grateful when you come to Lebanon in spite of the troubles (just a little machine gun firing at night, coming from far away, nothing to write home about and to stop you from going there, you'll love it). I had the privilege to attend Mika's press conference which, in spite of the stately room it took place in, had a village hall meeting atmosphere : kids running all over the place, playing with the mikes, happily fighting each other on the carpet while their mothers chatted away (they did relax and take it easy) but it was rather sweet. In dire need of a vacation Mika, when he arrived, looked rather drawn and tense but as soon as the press conference began he was his usual self, very much in command, giving each question due consideration before answering it carefully and with surgical precision ; let it be known : Mr Penniman is a tough guy. He had to reject two very kind offers : a proposal from a lady journalist and the mobile phone a little boy wanted to give him to replace his own, which is broken (please, do not each of you send him a cell phone or he will have to move to a much bigger place !) His "mafia" was there, first and foremost his mother who, in spite of obviously being exhausted, had a kind word and a radiant smile for everybody who approached her ; the five Pennimans are very lucky indeed. The gig started more than one hour late (the Lebanese way, a friend of mine from Beirut told me). I was in the front row of the sitting area (a sponsor had chickened out and I got his seat) but I wish I had been standing in front of the stage, that's where the action is. Technically it was not his best concert (in my view, the Werchter one remains the best gig ever) : shortish set, rather small stage... but to say, like Mika, that the atmosphere was electric is the understatement of the century. There was so much love coming up from the audience that it enveloped the whole venue in a kind of warm veil or breeze... words fail me, those of you who were there will know what I mean. And the crowd went wild, of course. Five middle age ladies were sitting next to me, one of them apparently a minister in the new government, and they were very dignified at first, legs elegantly crossed, smiling sweetly and sedately but after the fourth of fifth song they had nearly reached chair-breaking point and were shaking it like everybody else. Awesome ! As for the artists, I truly believe they were levitating ; actually I swear I could see them moving a couple of inches above the stage and I had not been drinking. I wanted to thank Mika on behalf of my mother (see above) and his tour manager had told me at the press conference that I could see him after the show but for security reasons he left the venue just after the encore (which he hardly managed to sing, the audience doing it for him !) Still I can say "I was there" although three days later it still feels slightly unreal, like some experience from an entirely different plane. I taped a good quarter of an hour of the press conference and at least three songs during the show but I am rubbish at anything even mildly technical. If one of you could tell me how to make a mobile phone recording pass onto a portable computer then onto the forum (stop it, one shouldn't laugh at an intellectually handicapped person !) let them give me some instructions on the forum or leave their email or phone number so that I can get in touch with them, I would be so happy to share it with everybody, not many of you could make it to Beirut on that day and the recordings I have seen on utube so far are scarce and short. Thank you for the great pictures of the gig. So long, Marie-Thérèse' I told you, she is hopeless ! Marie-Andrée

First I must tell the MFC members that I very recently had the opportunity to realize how genuinely good and immensely generous Mica Penniman is. It is so touching that I can't wait to share it with you but it might embarrass him to see it publicized so I must wait for his go-ahead to tell you about it. Second, my daughter has -once again- screwed up her registration... forgotten her password or something, she is hopeless ! So I generously give her my space to report on the Beirut gig. Here it comes : 'I have just spent two days travelling to Beirut and back & two days there, plus an extravagant amount of money but it was worth it and more. First info : Beirut is a danger zone... because of its drivers ! Pity though, because in spite of being deeply scarred the city is beautiful and best discovered by walking through its more secret streets. Second, the people are unbelievably welcoming and touchingly grateful when you come to Lebanon in spite of the troubles (just a little machine gun firing at night, coming from far away, nothing to write home about and to stop you from going there, you'll love it). I had the privilege to attend Mika's press conference which, in spite of the stately room it took place in, had a village hall meeting atmosphere : kids running all over the place, playing with the mikes, happily fighting each other on the carpet while their mothers chatted away (they did relax and take it easy) but it was rather sweet. In dire need of a vacation Mika, when he arrived, looked rather drawn and tense but as soon as the press conference began he was his usual self, very much in command, giving each question due consideration before answering it carefully and with surgical precision ; let it be known : Mr Penniman is a tough guy. He had to reject two very kind offers : a proposal from a lady journalist and the mobile phone a little boy wanted to give him to replace his own, which is broken (please, do not each of you send him a cell phone or he will have to move to a much bigger place !) His "mafia" was there, first and foremost his mother who, in spite of obviously being exhausted, had a kind word and a radiant smile for everybody who approached her ; the five Pennimans are very lucky indeed. The gig started more than one hour late (the Lebanese way, a friend of mine from Beirut told me). I was in the front row of the sitting area (a sponsor had chickened out and I got his seat) but I wish I had been standing in front of the stage, that's where the action is. Technically it was not his best concert (in my view, the Werchter one remains the best gig ever) : shortish set, rather small stage... but to say, like Mika, that the atmosphere was electric is the understatement of the century. There was so much love coming up from the audience that it enveloped the whole venue in a kind of warm weil or breeze... words fail me, those of you who were there will know what I mean. And the crowd went wild, of course. Five middle age ladies were sitting next to me, one of them apparently a minister in the new government, and they were very dignified at first, legs elegantly crossed, smiling sweetly and sedately but after the fourth of fifth song they had nearly reached chair-breaking point and were shaking it like everybody else. Awesome ! As for the artists, I truly believe they were levitating ; actually I swear I could see them moving a couple of inches above the stage and I had not been drinking. I wanted to thank Mika on behalf of my mother (see above) and his tour manager had told me at the press conference that I could see him after the show but for security reasons he left the venue just after the encore (which he hardly managed to sing, the audience doing it for him !) Still I can say "I was there" although three days later it still feels slightly unreal, like some experience from an entirely different plane. I taped a good quarter of an hour of the press conference and at least three songs during the show but I am rubbish at anything even mildly technical. If one of you could tell me how to make a mobile phone recording pass onto a portable computer then onto the forum (stop it, one shouldn't laugh at an intellectually handicapped person !) let them give me some instructions on the forum or leave their email or phone number so that I can get in touch with them, I would be so happy to share it with everybody, not many of you could make it to Beirut on that day and the recordings I have seen on utube so far are scarce and short. Thank you for the great pictures of the gig. So long, Marie-Thérèse' I told you, she is hopeless ! Marie-Andrée