MaryElizabethhB

My sister and I will be in London next year for a study abroad program, which we were already ridiculously excited about, but now there's a show while we're there, on my 26th birthday. This just keeps getting better and better. Hope we'll be able to go!

https://youtu.be/MqZM9ioGtLg

You're both welcome, it is super easy from a Mac if you have an iPod or iPhone. Not sure about a PC, can't help you there unfortunately Deb, i'm a total Mac convert now but i'm sure there must be a way, i use Quicktime "record new movie" and then plug in a device and switch the settings to record from my iPod. Loved your post about the show experience as well! I loved seeing on Twitter after it was over how many people discovered and re-discovered him because of this performance. That was extremely satisfying and well-deserved

My thoughts exactly

attention seeking, drama motivated, unprofessional behavior. i said what i said, i'm glad i said it, and i'm done. i can't take this website or reviewer seriously. it was worth it to get the point across but these people are so not worth any real time, thought, or energy. won't affect the innumerable amount of people who like him and the album. he's already gained tons more fans just from the GMA performance. plus like i said, i wasn't commenting because they wrote something negative about Mika, it's because it was a piss poor excuse for a review and could have been presented much better. it was just my way of being like hey anyone reading this, think for yourselves and don't listen to someone who thinks they have the right or ability to speak for an entire population of people. if they listen to it and still don't like it, that's cool, at least they reached that conclusion on their own. anyway, that's what my motivation was with posting those comments which i hope comes across (i was a wee bit irritated whilst writing them, couldn't be helped). and i'm glad we all spoke up about this. won't mean anything to the person who wrote it or the website, other than fueling their fire, but we used our voices for good as opposed to the reviewer

So I posted a follow-up comment because I'm feeling extra sassy and impassioned today to speak my mind and there were things I didn't touch on that I felt are important to say so here's chapter 2 in my comment novel: Just a follow up to my last comment because I forgot to touch on this and I feel it’s important: From a review standpoint this comes across as unprofessional and lacking quite a bit in terms of being an informed writer. There is no statement of this being your opinion as in “in this reviewer’s opinion…” or the like, there is only diverting responsibility for your views onto everyone else and trying to speak for them, which I can tell you, unless you possess supernatural powers or come from another planet where you are able to get inside someone’s head and use their voice, you can’t do. You are only speaking for you, please make that clear and don’t assume everyone else feels the same way. I don’t know if you are actually a fan/follower of Mika or not, but it certainly does not come across as such. Believe it or not there are a lot of people who actually don’t think Grace Kelly is his best song nor is it their favorite. Constantly going back to it as the prime example of his best work or how he should be making his music just proves how out of touch you are with who he is as a person and artist. Lastly, I just have to make clear that I don’t ever comment on these kinds of things. Everyone gets negative reviews, not everyone is going to like your work and that’s fine. We all have the right to an opinion. However, what drove me to comment was the fact that this “review” came across as nothing more than someone complaining about why Mika isn’t making the same music he did in 2007 or why he sounds like other artists. Firstly, if his older music is what you like, listen to that. It’s fine to not like his newer stuff but don’t blindly bash it just because it’s not to your taste. Secondly, just because one song sounds like another it doesn’t mean the artist is copying or trying to be like someone else. Your favorite go-to Grace Kelly actually talks about this and the fact that the music industry loves to compare because it can’t handle anything original. Mika has never been someone you can put in a box. Yes he has derived influence from other artists, he has said so himself, but that doesn’t mean he’s trying to be like them. I don’t understand why music can’t just be enjoyed for what it is or why artists can’t be inspired by one another and it be left at that instead of it becoming this childish drama fueled thing of “oh he’s just trying to be like this person…” We really need to stop that kind of thinking. Thirdly, and this is the most important point I need to make, if you are a reviewer you have to be informed, you have to be objective, and you have to have evidence to back your opinions. In this article there is no evidentiary support given to substantiate your claims as to why this is a poor album. There is no depth, only someone bitterly espousing that they think this album sucks. I do not agree with anything you said but if you had presented it in a way in which I could understand and that didn’t insult the people who like Mika and the album in the process, I at the very least could have respected you for it. Maybe something to think about for future reviews. I promise I'm done now

https://youtu.be/ishYnLXTdEU

thank you hon

why thank you hon, what can i say it just comes naturally

thanks! i'm sure it probably won't change anything but i'm glad i said it, although the person did change Gene Kelly to Grace Kelly

Thank you and agreed - the review felt like less of an informed review and more of the reviewer just whining about the past because they can't roll with the present. Quite unprofessional. That's what I take the most issue with I think, not that it's a bad review, every artist gets those and we all know Mika doesn't seek validation from everyone, it's the way this one was written. If you don't like something, that's fine, but try and be intelligent about getting your opinion across, at least that way even if people don't agree with you they can still respect you.

Why thank you my dear Thank you! Whether is makes an impact or not, I'm glad I spoke my mind Thank you, and good for you!

You're most welcome, happy to do it now that I've discovered how easy it is to record them!

I've just wrote a massive comment. If you care to read it here it is: The problem I have with this review is it comes off as extremely biased. It’s trying to speak for all of his fans saying “this isn’t the Mika we want” and “we want this from him and that from him” when that’s an incredibly unfair and untrue thing to say. Just because you’re stuck in 2007 it doesn’t mean the rest of us are. I’m not trying to speak for the entire fanbase either because like I stated, that would be irresponsible, but being a part of said fanbase and knowing tons of other fans, reading what people are saying online from all over the world, seeing the reactions on video from countless gigs and TV shows, thus far I can say without doubt that overall everyone seems to appreciate this new album and this new Mika. Personally, I’m glad he’s not 2007 Mika anymore. Doing the same thing over and over and over is destructive for an artist in so many ways. I always believed he was more than campy, over-the-top, flamboyant pop music (as people such as yourself always love to label him as). He’s a true artist, and with that comes a multi-faceted creative personality, a flexibility and innate hunger to transform oneself and push your own boundaries; an eagerness to grow and evolve. Something that you and every other narrow-minded listener seems to lack. I have enjoyed watching Mika evolve, I have enjoyed what his music has become and moreover I am proud of the person and artist he has become. You make it sound like him being more open and honest in his music is a bad thing, but I couldn’t disagree more. It’s an inspiring example of self-examination of one’s life, an understanding of oneself, and a willingness to put it out there for others to hear. My life motto is “you never know who needs to hear your story” which is why I also make a point to be honest with others and unafraid/unashamed to share. I think despite whether you feel this openness on the album worked or not (for you) you can’t deny the fact that it is something to be applauded. Also, whether you realize it or not he has always been this way. Even the “big camp” songs you love so much are biographical and intensely personal. The only difference is now it’s a more straight-forward message without distraction or disguise. This is the new Mika: the person who knows who he is and isn’t afraid of it. It’s a Mika who I believe to be quite admirable and capable of anything. Maybe you should have listened a little closer before calling him a Robbie Williams wannabe, because I can tell you for a fact he’s not trying to be anything or anyone but himself. But if you can’t handle this Mika maybe it is better for you to stay in your protective 2007 bubble. As for the rest of us, we’ve moved on. Also, his big hit was “GRACE Kelly”, not “Gene Kelly”. For someone who seems so stuck on that phase of Mika’s career, you’d think you would know what the song is called. I could have said more but I ran out of steam. I think this is ranty enough and gets my points across.

GMA backstage Periscope: https://youtu.be/vaxQw603vDo

GMA backstage Periscope https://youtu.be/vaxQw603vDo

I am uploading the Periscope vid as we speak. Will post when it's done

Thank you

I saw this yesterday and actually found it a bit funny. I love the "we want this" and "we want that" from Mika when clearly that's just what HE wants. If this person wants to keep living in 2007 that's fine. I love that Mika but I'm proud of who he's become and I'm glad he's not doing the same thing over and over. It sucks some people can't appreciate that or what he's done on this album, but what are you gonna do? There are enough supporters out there a few bad ones aren't worth the time or energy it takes to get worked up about them, especially ones like this who clearly just don't get it. Plus Mika doesn't crave validation, which is a good thing on an artistic and personal level - living that way is destructive. It's just the nature of things, there will be good reviews and bad ones and luckily there have been good ones, and there remain plenty of fans to keep supporting his music. In the end the listener will decide for themselves and it seems like, from what I've seen thus far, that they do appreciate NPIH and they do get it.

This is so random but I was just watching Jaclyn Hill's new video (if anyone doesn't know her she's a professional makeup artist and one of the biggest YT stars in the beauty community) and she seat danced to Lollipop at the end (23:21, 24:00, and 24:07). She makes me smile and it made me smile so I thought I'd share it:

well i'm glad the mystery is solved at least. bit annoyed how much time and energy i spent trying to figure out what it was...oh well

so it's not even a real interview then? well that would explain why no one could find it

I have been googling, Photoshopping, basically driving myself mad trying to figure out what this magazine is with no success. I don't know why but figuring this out has become like a personal vendetta My question is, did you take this picture or did you find it somewhere? If so, where'd you find it?

No worries, I may be young but it doesn't stop my brain from going a bit sometimes as well plus I'm not on here that much so I wasn't expecting you to remember

Thank you Deb for your sweet reply! I have actually seen him before at the Sixth and I show, what an experience that was, were you at that show too? I seem to remember you were, hard for anything to beat that one for me it was a pretty perfect first gig I am sad I won't be there to support him, even if it's a short show it feels like it's been AGES so I was excited about any chance to see him lol but it's ok and I'm glad to know there will be people like you and others there to give him some love. It would be fabulous to meet you as well! Hopefully another opportunity will come around soon! Until then, I hope you and everyone else has a really fun time! I wish you luck for being up at that crazy early hour as well (although I'm sure it'll be worth it) P. S - I'm not sure how to quote just one reply so I would have only quoted the one to me