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toshiko

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    Japanese Thread

    in MFC International

    Posted

    皆さん、こんばんは！

    イタリアから参りました「紫」です。

    5年程前に来日しまして、現在東京に住んております。日本語は

    まだまだですが、日本にいらっしゃるミ

    ーカのファンと友達になれたら嬉しいです。

    どうぞよろしくお願いいたします！

     

    こんにちは。富山県に住んでいる、Toshikoと言います。富山県お分かりになりますか？私は日本人ですが、初めて富山県に住むと聞いた時には、どこにあるのか判らなくて、地図で調べました:naughty: こちらには、たまに遊びに来ます。どうぞよろしくお願いします。

    Japanese Thread

    in MFC International

    Posted

    私はパリとロンドンのSwatch signing settion に参加したのですが、そこにいる皆さんの沢山の笑顔で溢れるとても素敵な空間でした！！！

    人数的にはパリもロンドンも同じくらいで、皆さん寒いなか何時間も待っていたのですが、ミーカに会えるのがとても嬉しそうにしていました。

    パリでは外で並んでいる私達のためにswatch shopがチョコレートを差入れしてくれたり、サイン終了後にちょっとしたスイーツとシャンパンを用意してくれました。

    ミーカもサイン会に来たファンの1人1人に笑顔でとても丁寧に対応していて、彼は本当に優しくてすごい人なんだなと改めて思いました。

    ちなみに私が日本人だと分かるとすぐに「コンニチハ！」と言ってくれて、それがとっても嬉しかったです。

    ロンドンのサイン会でもミーカは終始ニコニコしてました。:aah:

    after partyでのミーカは、まず最初に簡単な挨拶をしてシャンパンで乾杯をし、時間が限られていたにもかかわらず、出来るだけ多くのファンと少しづつ接してくれていました。

    MFCersの皆さんもとても優しく接してくれて、私の申し訳ないほど下手くそな英語にも耳を傾けてくれました。

    とってもとっても素敵な人達でした。:wub2:

     

    それからVoiceの収録は5回あったうちの3回ほど行ったのですが、ミーカは本当にプロフェッショナルな人で、アドバイスも誠実で的確で、たまに変なことを言って周囲を笑わせたりしていました。

    収録後も出待ちをしているファンのために、車をとめて顔を出して話しかけてくれたりしてくれて、彼は本当にファン思いの優しい人なんだなと実感しました！:thumb_yello:

     

     

    わー、紫さんもそう思いますかぁ！同じ風に思っている方がいて嬉しいです。

    ミーカのフランス語はとっても素敵ですよね！:wink2::mikalove:

     

    こんにちは。富山に住む、Toshikoと言います。う、う、うらやましい〜。素敵なレポートありがとうございます。読んでいて温かい気持ちになりました:wub2:

    MIKA to be Judge on XFactor 7 #XF7 Italia 2013

    in Mika News and Press

    Posted

     

    thank you, I could watch the second episode with your link :)

    and I agree with everyone about MIKA's delighted face while listening to the Ukurere girl:wub2:

    Japanese Thread

    in MFC International

    Posted

    "ミーカ日本語堪能って..." :teehee:

     

    2009年11月の新木場Studio Coast で、最初から最後まで日本語でとおしたので誤解があるようです。

    ものすごく頑張って( Imma も Japanese-English だったり ) Paris 時代の下宿人が日本人だったりして、憶えたようです。Mika の集中力の凄さは　イタリア語短期間習得で明らかですしね！

     

    また　日本語でコンサートしてほしいですね～:wub2:

     

     

    Thanks a lot Iona Bluesky for sharing !

     

    [YOUTUBE]zsffGQGZ4Ig[/YOUTUBE]

     

    Thanks a lot Iona Bluesky for sharing !

     

     

     

    なりほど、そういうことなのですね。

    Wikiに日本語堪能って書かれるほど、日本語をコンサートで使ったって凄いです。

    宇多田ヒカルさんとのデゥエットもどこかのインタビューで読んだことはあったのですが、動画で観たのは初めてです:wub2:

    日本語でのコンサート聞いてみたいです。

    ありがとうございました:flowers2:

    Mika Peace Project

    in General Chin Wagging

    Posted

    You don't have to respond here to participate! It's just that it wasn't clear if you're from MFC or not. We'll add you to the list! :thumb_yello: fThanks for notice :wink2:

    (We have your photo)

    thank you for the quick reply. and thank you for this great peace project :blush-anim-cl:

    Mika in Japan 2013: interviews - written/audio/video

    in Mika News and Press

    Posted · Edited by toshiko

    Thank you, Eriko as always:wub2: Here is the translation:blush-anim-cl:

     

    JJ magazine INTERVIEW : Blog

     

     

     

    Is there anything that you want to do at least while you are in Japan?

     

    MIKA　

    I've already done some shopping at the stores I always go, like nanamica or frapbois, also tsumori chisato, the shop selling this t-shirt I am wearing now. What do you call that area... Right, Daikanyama. I always visit all stores there. Within 7 hours, I buy 60 to 70 clothes for photo or VIDEO shootings for next 6 months, and I wear them for a year. I can't get them neither in London nor Paris. Can get them only in Japan, and for one thing, I just don't have time (for shopping).

     

     

     

    Your mom is good at making clothes isn't she?

     

    MIKA

    Yes. We have just released a line of clothes in Belgium.

     

     

     

    You posted a picture of the bag you were making on twitter. Do they have any connection to that collection?

     

    MIKA: That’s for me. When is this article going to be published? Within 1 to 2 weeks.. then I can't tell. I am starting the new project collaborating with the Swiss brand. I have been preparing for it for 6 months. I collaborate under the same feeling or story.

    For example, I collaborate for sunglasses. The image source was vintage RIVA boat and vintage Ferrari in 1940s. Inside of the glasses there are hand curved secret messages. I put secret messages on the clothes for the project in Belgium. The bottle designing for Coca-Cola which I did 2 years ago also was under the same world-view.

    I use the same approach and aesthetics for CD jackets and live shows. This time my shows are all coordinated with polka dots; everything including choir costume. All visual identity is fun and cynical. You will wonder if it is really happy or a bit perverse.

     

     

     

    Many of your songs have happy melody with cynical lyrics.

     

    MIKA

    Yes. I think such dualism is important for everything from fashion, music and even clothes. Humans should have evil side and angel side. I think Japanese are good at balancing these sweetness and bitterness. You don’t have something too sweet or too bitter. I am not talking about this lightly. I do think this is truly important for art, fashion and music. Same for humans. Friends of mine are nervous since they can’t expect what I would say next or don’t understand what I am thinking. But I think this is an important matter in life.

     

     

     

    Seems like the 1st album “Life In Cartoon Motion” is your childhood, and 2nd album “The Boy Who Knew Too Much” is your adolescence, and the 3rd album “The Origin Of Love” is you now. In this sense, which song most describes yourself?

     

    MIKA

    This is a hard one… Maybe, “Underwater” or “Love You When I’m Drink” and the title track, “The Origin Of Love.” These three songs are saying the same thing. In the meaning of “deny the ordinary” or “always not being bound by”, and “go find the way you’ve been wanting.” Usually after 16-year-old, people graduate from music, but I manage to do music professionally. These songs show my struggle of seeking ways.

     

     

     

    Many JJ girl readers are interested in learning languages. Any tips to be able to speak many different languages as you, MIKA?

     

    MIKA

    Enjoy the language! Now I am learning Italian as my forth language. I am appearing on Italian TV show, “X Factor”, and I have to speak Italian. Everybody says it is crazy to be on the program. I still can’t speak Italian, so I found a 24-year-old teacher from Sicily. She had only been to Italy and the UK, but now she is going all over the world with me. She is in another room today and talks to me in Italian regardless of me understanding it or not. I can learn Italian without feeling like studying.

     

     

     

    So, it is like setting yourself always being in Italy?

     

    MIKA

    We are in Italy (laugh). Even if we are in Tokyo, we live in Italy (laugh). Italy has the best Sushi in the world!

     

     

    9120051571_7b07264947_o.jpg

     

    9120051927_5af0bf2806_o.jpg

    Mika in Japan 2013: interviews - written/audio/video

    in Mika News and Press

    Posted

    Thank you so much for the translation!

     

    So he does have a house in the US then, has he confirmed that rumour before?

     

    On the other hand... I didn't know we had JBC stores here. Most definitely not in 'every main street' :fisch:

     

    yes, he clearly said he has a house in the states. maybe the interviewer and editor of this magazine are Mika fans, and they exaggerated what MIKA said:doh: i think MIKA is getting respect in Japanese music industry:thumb_yello:

    Mika in Japan 2013: interviews - written/audio/video

    in Mika News and Press

    Posted · Edited by toshiko

    Here it is:wink2:

     

    Have you met David Byrne or David Bowie?

     

    MIKA: No, I don’t want to meet them. The people who create amazing things are not necessarily interesting in many case, or not as interesting as I expected. Harry Nilsson was a fool with an alcoholic problem during he was alive, wasn’t he? So, when someone says, “I love your music,” I leave the place saying, “Oh, Thank you….” because I don’t want to disappoint him/her. At the events or awards even if I meet other artists, I don’t want to use my energy talking crap.

     

     

     

    You are not interested in living as a celebrity, MIKA.

     

    MIKA: No, maybe I am the only one who wouldn’t feature my face even when designing bottles with Coca-Cola. For the things I design, it is the same (I don’t want to show my face on them). I didn’t want to feature my face in a big way on the album artwork. But this time, kind of like a joke, I used my own portrait. I asked the photographer to take me like Richard Avedon. Don’t you think the picture is like Greek sculpture? So put my name on the head as Jesus Christ wearing a corona. First, I thought it was an ugly idea. Then I thought it may be suitable since the title, “The Origin of Love” is so big and beyond the time barrier. Now, I like it very much.

     

     

     

     

    In that artwork, your sister, Yasmine was involved. Having your family close by, in a way, does it make you down-on-earth?

     

    MIKA: Down-on-earth! NO. Never. Maybe I am one of the worst ones about being down-on-earth (laugh). I don’t want to be.

     

     

     

    Hahaha, we talked about design a bit ago, you have introduced your collections from Belgium Fast Fashion Brand, JBC recently.

     

    MIKA: Yes, now they are selling on trial. Yet, we don’t know if this will succeed in the future. I am thinking to make relatively good clothes which anyone can purchase with about 30 Euro. I designed Men’s, Ladies’ and Kids’ lines. As going to Belgium or Holland, in main streets there are always JBC store. They show my name, album, tour schedule information in wide scale. I could publicize my album purely. I don’t make new music for brands, but I think it is good to spread my music through the brand.

     

     

     

    You are working seriously on designing. Also regarding this project, do you consider it is a part of expressive activities, not a part of advertising activities to sell music?

     

    MIKA: I would say both. I want to sell albums and tickets too. For example, “Origin of Love” is a pop song, but it is a type of the song you don’t hear it on radio 100%, so I put in a lot of thought on how to make people know the song. I want to change neither the song nor my vision.

    Well, all in all I like to design. As designing graphics or fashion items, I design music. Now I say it is like I, Yasmine and the guy named Alex, three of us run the design house. We work from our pure soul, so in many cases projects brought in do not work. With these members, we create my show too.

     

     

     

    You are so talented. In some day, you seem likely to create musicals.

     

    MIKA: Maybe. Some musicals are boring, but I like Cole Porter and I love “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” By the way, when I came to Japan four years ago, I saw AKB48 show in Akihabara. It was like a musical. It was a type of the show which audience participated 80%. I saw 50 year old man dancing. He was dancing more lively than the girls on the stage. It was wonderful (laugh).

     

     

     

    You have become a judge at X-Factor, Italy

     

    MIKA: I would be the worst judge ever (laugh). Italy has a tradition of audition programs since 1949. They also have a music festival like Sanremo. Therefore, their “X-Factor” is very different from ones in other countries. At the press conference of the program, there were writers from big papers like “Corriere della Sera” or “La Repubblica.” Anyway, I am excited what kind of talent is coming out from the show.

     

     

     

    You may see the magazine's pages if you would like to do.

     

    page 82-83 http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/9...07f3dea8_k.jpg

     

    page 84-85 http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7432/9...ce261e09_k.jpg

    Mika in Japan 2013: interviews - written/audio/video

    in Mika News and Press

    Posted

    I am working on the translation. I will do the rest later. I hope my translation is OK.

     

    CROSSBEAT 2013年8月号

     

     

    3rd album 「The Origin Of Love」の発売から約８カ月。

    ３年ぶりにMIKAが日本にやって来た。前作でも組んだ売れっ子、Greg Wellsに加え、PNAU / Empire Of The Sun の Nick Littlemore や ｆｒYers の Ben Garrett, Teddybears の　Klas Ahlund、それに　Benny Benassi など、エレクトロ系を中心とした制作陣を迎えて作られたこの作品は、今の空気を吸い込みながらもオリジナルで普遍的なポップ・ソングを作ろうという MIKA の意気込みが感じられる、愛と夢が詰

    まった、そしてちょっとした毒っけも添えられた快作。

    本作を引っ提げて行われた、満員御礼の５月１４日　新木場Studio Coast 公演は、ファンが聴きたい曲を満遍なく網羅した内容で大いに盛り上がった。

    サーカスみたいなドリーミーなステージ・セット、The Flaming Lips　ばりに巨大風船が飛び交う客席。伸びのあるファルセットを聴かせる MIKA とバンド・メンバーの掛け合いも楽しく、オーディエンスとの一体感も最高、祝祭気分に満ちた素晴らしいショウだった。

     

     

     

     

    　昨年は新作リリースのタイミングでカミングアウト、より自由になった感のある MIKA。

    真っ青な細身ジャケットを素敵に着こなした彼は、本誌を差し出すと「 Oh! CROSSBEAT !」と大喜びで受け取り、楽しそうにページをめくっていた。

     

    --雑誌はよく読むんですか？

    Do you read magazines?

     

    MIKA 「たくさん雑誌は読むけど、音楽雑誌はまったく読まないんだ。アメリカやイギリスの音楽誌は嘘ばっかりだから。登場するアーティストのことは大抵知っているから、記事と事実が違うのが分かるんだ。音楽誌において純粋な内容が守られている国は少ないよ。かつては　UK　にも　Melody Maker みたいな雑誌があったよね。でも　Rolling Stone なんて最早ライフスタイル・マガジンだ。Melody Maker もある意味そうだったけど、あれはカルトなライフスタイル・マガジンだった。僕自身は好きか嫌いか両極端の世界、純粋なものが好きなんだけど、今はそういうものがほとんど存在しないから面白くない。日本の文化にはそういう部分がまだ残っているんじゃないかな」

    MIKA: I read magazines, but I don't read music magazines at all. American and UK music magazines tell lies. I know most of artists they write about, so I could tell what they write are not true. In many countries, it's hard to find music magazines with pure music contents. In UK, there used to be a magazine like Melody Maker. However, Rolling Stone is much more like a life style magazine. To some extent, Melody Maker was like that, but it was more of a cult life style magazine. I myself like something which people would love or hate, something pure, but it is hard to find such a thing now-a-days. It is boring. I think Japanese culture still reflects such a notion.

     

     

    --音楽業界、ポップ・ミュージックの世界からもそういう部分が減ってしまった？

    Would you say we have less of that in the music industry or pop music world?

     

    MIKA 「ネガティブな発言ばかりになるのは嫌だな（笑）。

    でも、ものにもよるよね。驚くべきことに、今のアメリカではメロディアスでありながら、同時に実験的な音楽を作ることがよしとされている。

    Death Cab for Cutie や　Regina Spektor　のものはすべてそうだし、Of Montreal　や　Beck のシンパも多い。

    イギリスだとそういう音楽はあまり人気がないんだよね。本当に今のUKシーンはクソつまらないよ！」

    MIKA: I don't want to talk only negatively (laugh). However, I would say it depends. Surprisingly, in the states, it is considered good to make music melodiously AND experimentally at the same time. The music of Death Cab for Cutie or Regina Spektor is all like so. There are many sympathizer of Of Montreal or Beck. In the UK, such music is not popular. Truly, the UK music scene is really boring. (direct translation would be "f##king boring"... and I think maybe Mika said so, Lol)

     

    --今もロンドンにベースがあるんでしょう？

    You have a base in London still now?

     

    MIKA 「うん。結局世界中でホテル住まいをしてるけどね。

    アメリカにも家はあるし、わりと気に入っている。でも、住むところはどうでもいいんだ。

    僕はある国に特別な思い入れがあるわけじゃない。だから音楽をつくっているんじゃないかな。

    僕はいつも異なるリアリティーを求めている・・・・・・常に作り物の世界の中に存在しているんだよ。

    僕はサウンドとかファッション先行で曲を作るんじゃなく、

    常に妄想や倒錯、ファンタジーみたいなものに駆り立てられてもの作りをしたいと思っているからね」

    MIKA: Yes, even though I live in hotels all over the world. I also have a house in the states, and I quite like it. But I don't care where I live. I don't have special feelings on a certain country. That's why I may be making music. I am seeking for different realities... I always exist in fake world. I don't make music from the sound or fashions. I constantly eager to make things spurred by delusion, perversion, or fantasy.

     

    --デビュー作は自身の幼少時代、セカンドは10代の青春時代のサウンドトラックのようなものだとかつてあなたは語ってました。

    今回も自分の実体験に基づいているものがあるようですが、ファンタジーの世界に生きながらも、ベースには自分の体験したことを置きたいと思っている？

    You said the debut album is the soundtrack of your childhood, the second is of your adolescence. It seems like this time also based on your real life experiences. Do you want to live in your fantasy world, yet you still put your experience as a base.

     

    MIKA 「うん、スタート地点には常に自分の体験がある。

    だけど、そこから徐々にリアリティーを超越して、どんどんファンタジーよりになっていくんだ。

    それと同時に、今回はトラディショナルなラブ・ソングを書くことをはっきりとしたコンセプトとして決めていた。ただ、14曲のラブ・ソングを書くということは、ほとんど自分自身の人生を書いている、ということにもなるよね。

    また、ポップ・アルバムという手法をとりながら、できるだけ現代的なやり方をする、ということも念頭に置いたよ」

    MIKA: Yes, at the start point, there is always my experience. However, from then, gradually it gets beyond the reality and becomes fantasy. At the same time, this time I had a clear concept of writing traditional love songs. Writing 14 love songs means almost like writing about my own life. Also, I thought of making a pop album using modern approach as much as possible.

     

    --今　"ポップ・アルバム"という言葉が出ましたけど、あなたのなかで"ポップ"の定義ってどんなものなんでしょう？

    You used the word, "Pop album." What is your definition of "Pop"?

     

     

    MIKA 「うーん・・・・・・ポップというのは僕自身よく使う言葉だけど、ジャンルでありながらそうでないとも言える。Brian Wilson　はポップだなと思うし、Elton John もポップだ。

    David Bowie は間違いなく最もポップな存在の一人だと思う。

    ポップとロックの違いをよく見てみると、非常に基本的なことだけれど、例えばクラシックなポップ・レコードであろうが今のものであろうが、ポップ・レコードのヴォーカルのレベルはロックのそれよりもうんと高い。

    そういうテクニカルな部分と同時に、自分をどう見せるか、というやり方も違う。

    プレゼンテーションの仕方の面でもポップでは独特な手法をとっているよね。

    多くの人に好かれること、キャッチーなこと、目立つことは大事な要素で、ポップ・アーティストをより有利に見せる要素だ。

    ロックではポップみたいなメロディーや色づかい、ショウマンシップみたいなものは使わないよね。

    一方、ダンス・ミュージックはテクノロジーのスクリーンの裏にいろいろなものが隠れていて見えない。

    MIKA: Well... "Pop" is the word I use often. It is a category of music but it could be not. I think Brian Wilson is Pop. Elton John is too. With no doubt, David Bowie is one of the most distinguished Pop artists. Looking at the differences between Pop and Rock, this is basic but vocal level is much higher in Pop records comparing to Rock ones. It doesn't matter if records are classic Pop or modern. Besides such technical aspect, the way how to show ourselves is different. Pop takes original methods in presentation. It is essential to be favorable, catchy, and appealing. These factors make pop artists look better. Rock doesn't use melody, colors or showmanship like Pop does. On the other hand, dance music hides many things behind technology screen. Can't see much.

     

    また、素晴らしいラップ・アーティストは、かつて吟遊詩人が街から街へと巡りながら歌を歌っていたのと同じように、ストリートの現実をステージの中央に持ち込んでいる。

    ポップ、ロック、ラップ、ダンス、フォーク・・・・・・みんな目的や意図するものが違うんだ。

    それにしても、現代ではポップ・ミュージックってあまりにも歪められていて、純度が下がっていると思う。汚い言葉も氾濫しているし・・・・・。

    僕は敢えてポップって言葉を使っているけれど、今のポップの世界は嘘っぱちでクソだね。」

    Also, great rap artists bring street reality on the middle of the stage as jongleur used to sing town to town. Pop, Rock, Rap, Dance, Folk... they all have different purposes and messages. By any measure, I think in this modern world, Pop music is so distorted and unpurified. Dirty words are everywhere... I use the word, Pop intentionally, but modern Pop world is all lie and ****.

     

    --では、あなたが理想だと思うポップ作品を教えてください。

    音楽だけじゃなく、プレゼンテーションの部分も含めて。

    Then, could you tell us your ideal Pop music. Not only music but also including presentations.

    MIKA 「David Byrne。

    彼は最もエレガントでインテリジェントなポップ・アーティストだと思う。実は僕のツアー・マネージャーは 彼や Bowie のツアー・マネージャーもしていた人なんだ。だから採用したんだけどね！

    作品を挙げるの？

    うーん、僕はベスト・アルバム世代だから、特定のアルバムというよりは彼の作品全体だね。

    どの作品も素晴らしいし。でも　やぱっり『Stop Making Sense』の時の彼は最高だったと思うよ。あの独特の衣装も含めてね。

    それから　Harry Nilsson。

    アルバムで言うと　『Pandemonium Shadow Show 』が大好きだな。Harry Nilsson　って今では一般的に聴かれているアーティストじゃないかもしれないけれど、70年代に向かっていくにあたって、ポップの世界で非常に重要な仕事をした人だと思う。

    The Beatles　のメンバーにも多大なる影響を与えたし、素晴らしい才能の持ち主なんだ」

    MIKA: David Byrne. I think he is the most elegant and intelligent Pop artist. Tell you the truth, my tour manager used to manage his or Bowie's tours. That's why I hired him. You want me to name the album? Well, I am in the best album generation, so I would not say the particular album but his whole work. Every song is great. However, he was the best at the time of "Stop Making Sense" with that very original costume. Also, Harry Nilsson. If I name the particular album, I love "Pandemonium Shadow Show" Though Harry Nilsson may not be the one who would be listened widely now, I think he took a very important role in Pop world getting into 70s.

     

    to be continued.....

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