Ooh this song is brilliant. Although Elle me Dit and Blame it on the weather did not give me that 'ooh' kind of feeling for me at first, Karen( 82 Rue Des Martyr ) really did. Just a shame it probably won't be released in England.
Although I know 'viva la vida' by coldplay, I don't think Karen ever sounds like it. Underwater has very similar ( if not the same) chords to 'set fire tO the rain'. This is no plagiarism though, and I doubt if Mika has even heard ' set fire to the rain', it's just a common chord progression. Mika usually does this , and puts wonderful melodies and harmonies on top. (good for my slightly haphazard self-taught piano playing!)
Sorry, dont see how this song could be second rate or not singing. Maybe you are talking about Elle Me Dit. IMO this is not mika's best song ever, but is still really catchy ( I'm always going round singing 'danse ,
Danse, danse!)