Naectegale

1 hour ago, Naectegale said:

I can’t see the like button properly on my iPad  It looks like big grey blob and when I click on it I get a second grey blob over the icons, so I have to guess where the icon I like is 😠

Silver said I should post this here, so here it is

Only met him once, but it was fun to him chatting on twitter. Very sad

This is him at Sadlers Wells in happier times

Well that hour went quickly

It's been a while

Quebec has its own star system and music industry and generally it does not cross over into English Canada in a big way unless the artists themselves do. Celine Dion used to be a francophone artist but of course she started recording in English eventually. There are smaller French regions outside of Quebec and in Ontario you'll find many people who grew up in Montreal and have ties. They usually have a pretty good understanding of French and are likely far more aware of what is going on in French Canadian culture than I am. But as you move farther away from Quebec the French influence is virtually non-existent. In Ontario we had some mandatory French in school but in western provinces they don't even do that.The US is a cultural behemoth and because of the climate in Canada most of the population lives very close to the US border. Even back in the days before cable, we would watch American TV because we are close enough to receive signals through an antenna. The US has far, far more impact on English Canadian culture than the French region of Canada does. And our cultural ties with Britain were very tight up until the last generation or so. When I was growing up virtually everyone I knew was either born in the UK or their parents were. I have given it a try and actually I really like Elle Me Dit. But generally I think Mika's French music is terrible. It doesn't sound like his other music. It doesn't sound like modern pop music at all. (Sadly neither do most of the English songs on his new album but that is another story.)

I like EMD & BBB but I agree the other French songs sound derivative and a bit dull. And I haven't listened to the latest album much - it just misses for me, apart from Last Party.

I can give you a crash course on this later...

 

The short answer is: it's pretty separate.

b.b.but..hang on a bit -  you live in Quebec - how do you manage to avoid French songs in Quebec?

Sorry to bang on about it - it's well  I know - but I'd never thought about it before

Edit: In my excitement I confused you with Christine   so maybe it's English songs you have to seek out?

Well, that's a general human quality IMO. Don't we all do that usually? It's rather difficult to step out of your own worldview.

 

edit: I just read Naectegales post. Why say anything anyway. It's all been said and done before      .

Great minds think alike

I think I've been annoying Nectar with too many generalizations about UK fans ( )

I am a bit surprised that you don't hear French songs in Canada? or aren't the French Canadians allowed out of Quebec?

Are you culturally segregated? I ask only because I don't know  Is Canada so big that you can have separate industries with their own charts and for things never to cross over?

Let me rephrase that - he doesn't respect what we think. Unless of course you simply echo his own thoughts, tastes, interests and worldview back to him.

Don't we all do that? When was the last time you did something because someone told you to, when it didn't match your own "thoughts, tastes, interests and worldview" Unless it was your boss or your mother doing the telling 

I am talking about the disapproving "no"s when he asked parlez-vous francais. There was plenty of that.

Disapproving? or just honest? I don't speak much French - I recognise odd words, that's about it, so I would answer no. But I like BBB - I understand it in a way that doesn't require words - it's in the music, and the way he sings it

No, what I am saying is that he shouldn't completely disregard 40% of it. These are only 13 songs. That leaves plenty of room for other songs. This is not statistical nonsense, it is common sense that you do not take an entire 40% of your top selling songs, throw them in the bin and replace them with a song that has sold exactly 0 copies. Or maybe you do and your audience starts booing when you ask a room full of English people parlez-vous francais? In that case you should just accept the consequences of your poor choice with some humility instead of throwing a strop.

I didn't here anyone booing BBB at the Adelphi. It was a great gig. Mika must be doing something right to get such a good reaction. Statistics had nothing to do with it.

We don't know if it's the majority, you're just assuming that.

 

That's why I have a problem with your point of view in this discussion. It's certain that there are some fans (could be the majority) that would prefer if Mika would only sing English songs. But it's also certain that there are also fans that like (some) French songs and that would like him to sing for example BBB or LMD.

And then we have a big group that doesn't really care and just want to have an good evening in total.

 

Exactly - it's not as if the whole audience joined in the heckling or sat down or walked out or even looked bored. I remember it as being fun song, and one of the highlights.

Also, may I add that Mika is not some heavenly perfect creature. He is human and therefore has flaws. I feel like how he dealt with the situation was not the best way.

 

Mika has been in the music industry for a while but that doesn't mean he won't stumble and make mistakes, and obviously the way he dealt with being offended at his concert was a mistake, but that is because he is human.

 

Everyone has certain traits that aren't exactly desirable, maybe one of those traits for Mika is being defensive. I know it's a trait I have, and it's not always a good one, but when has anyone lived a mistake free and perfect life?

 

Jemma, my heart breaks for what you must be experiencing and I am glad that you have some amazing friends who are here to support you on the club.

 

I'm just a bit upset by how this discussion has turned into a war of words between fans. I hope I haven't upset anyone, I'm only 17 and I have no right to lecture anyone, I've barely experienced life tbh.

 

I am once again, very very sorry if anyone has been offended by my comments.

You are entitled to have your say, as we all are. And no reasonable person would take offence at your reasonable points, reasonably made

So if 80% of the audience don't really like it, and 20% do, how does that work? I'm just playing devils advocate here, I'm curious to how that would work.

Suppose it was actually the other way round, and 80% were happy to hear it? Why should a vocal minority determine Mika's set list?

It makes perfect sense.

 

These are the top 15 songs on Mika's UK itunes chart. These are a fair representation of the songs people will want and expect to hear when they go to a gig in the UK. If I recall Mika did not play 5 of these songs. He did not play FIVE of his most popular songs in the UK and instead chose one song that most people do not have any interest in. This is total self-indulgence and is not about giving the fans what they want.

 

1

Grace Kelly

2

Lollipops

3

Happy Ending

4

Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)

5

Love Todays

6

Popular Song

7

Popular Song (feat. Ariana Grande)

8

Any Other World

9

All She Wants

10

Talk About You

11

Rain

12

We Are Golden

13

Relax, Take It Easy

14

Staring At the Sun

15

Grace Kelly

Are you seriously saying that Mika should devise a set list on the basis of I-tunes popularity? With no flexibility to play new songs or songs the audience may not have heard or songs that provide space for some creative staging? So no Toy Boy? no Promise Land? or Over my Shoulder? Because I-tunes users haven't picked up on them? Since when have I-tunes users been synonymous with Mika fans? It is not a representative sample. Popular Song (feat. Ariana Grande) wouldn't be so high on Mika fan votes alone - AG has a massive fanbase.

Set lists are part of the creative process and shouldn't be dictated by some pseudo-scientific statistical nonsense. I'm not saying he shouldn't play hits - that would be silly - but there should always be room for something new or different to be included.

I don't think he needs unconditional love and approval, I think he just does not want to be rudely treated and given vocally negative during the show, which is not a big request. He has been told many times that UK fans don't like French songs, but I think this is the first time it really upset him, because they yell it out during the show.

It's like when I was teaching a undergraduate class if the students don't like what I said they could always talked about it to me later, not saying loudly in class they didnt like the topic I teach. That is basic polite and respect to the one on stage, which is not a lot to ask.

I've heard complains after the class, but never during my lecture. And I can not imagine how sad and embarrased I would be if the students just vocally negative about my lecture in the class.

That annoys me, actually. because I am English all the way through - at least to the 18th century - and I like some of the French songs. . It's OK to tell him if you don't like French songs, but no-one has the right to speak for all Mika Fans like we are all a homogenous lump. No-one speaks for me but me. I like the cheekiness of Boum Boum Boum and I don't want to be deprived of it because of some loudmouth heckler

I do not object to him being upset by it, but to the fact that he portrays himself as a victim of intolerance instead of just rude heckling. He goes so far as to say it made him stop chatting to the audience which is not only reminiscent of his childhood bullying story but it is not even true. If he had just said "I was really hurt by it" I would totally sympathize with his position.

 

By the way, he did not just mention it in an interview. He has also told thousands of people at a gig that this fan needs to get some "boum boum boum". Everyone tried to blow it off as a playful joke at the time but obviously it is not. If you are the target of your favourite pop star's rude jokes about you in front of thousands of people or on TV I don't think it's much comfort if he doesn't call you out by name. His reaction is totally disproportionate to the "crime" no matter how rude you think it is to heckle him at a show, simply because of the power he wields in this situation.

We should be used to his exaggeration by now. He's always done it, and we figured that out fairly early on.

I'm going to defend Mika on this one.

I think it is unkind to heckle Mika over his set choice at a live event. Having opinions is fine, and I have no problem with people saying something on MFC, or maybe to him after the show. But being so vocally negative during the show is unkind and off putting, and I am not surprised he was upset by it.

As for mentioning it in an interview:

a) He was making a point about the multinational make-up of his audience (ie the flags) and contrasting that with the narrow-mindedness of the previous heckling to make the point more strongly

b) He is entitled to be bothered by what some fans do at concerts

c) If it bothers that fan that he was upset and says so in public, then that's life. He does not mention the fan by name.

Aren't his origins American?

That would be great sarcasm if it weren't for the fact that he's American and not just pretending to be so to pander to an audience.

 

Where can I hear this genius work of obscure 80s Italian music reinterpreted by Mika? I doubt I will find it on Canadian iTunes or Spotify. (Both of them paralyze my computer so I am not going to attempt it.)

He was educated in the UK. He won a Brit award as a Brit, not as an international artist. He is only half American. He should learn to spell properly

I know, but I'm sure there's an official title. 

 

 

Thanks!!!! 

Once again Mika insults his UK fans and turns his back on his British origins by adopting American spelling

Wait !

 

Is it Centre or Center???? 

 

I don't want the thread title to be wrong!!! 

It's Center, I have edited the title 

It makes no difference

Generally "centre" is English spelling and "center" is US spelling - but even that isn't always true

I loved every minute of it, though I'd have liked him to do Rio. I also thought there was a naturalness about the whole thing - thought it about the album, but more live - that he's not hiding himself behind eccentricity any more. Also, the evening seemed to be much more about singing and music than previously (apart from with the King's singers), although he's still the outstanding performer he always was - maybe better.

I loved all the piano bits, the accappello bits, and Over My Shoulder. I thought his banter was funny and charming, I was pleased that there were bits where I could watch and listen to Mika rather than to singing and dancing fans as well as dancey bits.

I had a really good view (stalls row N, behind children) but - my only quibble - I found the sound quality poor and couldn't make out the lyrics, to the point that I didn't recognise some songs until he got to the chorus.

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant, I've been watching the vids and am still on a Mika high.

So thanks to everyone who's posted vids, pics, reports, and especially the set list. Thanks also to Deb for the great fun meet up beforehand. And I wish I could have seen the flags from the front.

I agree - there was definitely more quality singing and less running about but the sound was really bad - I was too near a speaker which was distorting the bass and vibrating

It was a pleasure to make the badges. It made me feel like I was a part of it all.

Such a pity you couldn't be there

Of course. I've just posted it in the Heaven tour live version videos thread. 

http://www.mikafanclub.com/topic/32219-heaven-tour-live-version-videos/#entry4027410

Thank you

It's not absurd to expect him to sing Rain. It just didn't happen because it's also not absurd of him to try a song that has been a public's favourite in his last shows. Especially not because he clearly loves making a whole act out of it and probably hoped that that act would also conquer the English fans.

 

The explaining of the words is part of the performance. He did it everywhere. The clip of BBB in Amsterdam had so many hits because of the interaction with a young fan that he used as a translator. Mika likes to be playful with words and movements on stage and this song is perfect for that. Okay, it didn't work so well in London (and in New York). Perhaps he gives up now and will not do it again which is a pity for some English people that can't travel to the rest of Europe to hear his french songs. But it sure will be a blessing for others.

 Can you provide a link to that clip please