Lunari

I think all (or almost all) Italian posts on Mika's FB are geotagged - when I was in Italy last year, I could see a lot more posts there than I usually do. Maybe his team just thinks that most non-Italian fans aren't interested in these things and might be annoyed by seeing a bunch of posts in Italian? I really don't know, but I wish they didn't exclude international fans who actually want to see these posts and participate in giveaways.

From what I remember, he finds living there very lonely, but he says this makes it the perfect place for recording albums (as there aren't many other things to focus on).

An interesting thing he has said about his accent is that when he's in America in a place that he likes, for example New York, he starts sounding more American. But when he's in a place that he hates, like Los Angeles, he sounds more British than usual.

I'm glad we'll have a Slovenian rep that is active again, and I'm sure Urška will do a great job!

I think that when it comes to his own (new) songs, he has started using his softer and lower voice more, as I don't think there are any falsetto parts in NPIH songs at all. But when it comes to covers, he does seem to sing in a higher voice/falsetto more often than necessary. It seems to me that he views this as his trademark and perhaps he doesn't even realize how many people prefer his softer and more effortless singing. I wish he would do more of that too.

I've just installed the app. Great job! This should make things easier the next time Mika forgets some of his lyrics during a concert: someone in the front row can just open the app and lend him the phone, without even having to google the lyrics first!

It's definitely not a stupid question, but I doubt anyone knows the answer. As far as I know, Mika has never talked about the meaning behind Promiseland, so it's impossible to know for sure who the song is about. It could be about higher-ups in the music industry, but that's just one possible interpretation. It's a really great song though, one of my favourites!

Thank you, Chiara and Ellys, for sharing your stories! It's great to hear how many lives Mika and his music have changed for the better.

I don't have much to add to reports about the concerts that the others have written, but I just want to say that I found the experience absolutely amazing. They were my first symphonic Mika concerts, and even though I've listened to the previous ones on CD and DVD, that just can't compare to the real thing. I felt like I was transported into some other realm by Mika's voice, the orchestra and the choir. (I loved the choir! Sometimes their voices overpowered Mika's, but not in a bad way -- they just blended together perfectly.) It's hard to choose favorite songs, because I loved all of them, but if I had to choose just one, it would be Heroes. Like others have already mentioned, the main difference between both concerts was that on the 30th they did Grace Kelly again at the end, and on the 31st they repeated Underwater (while asking us to sing along). I don't think repeating Grace Kelly was planned in advance: the applause was so enthusiastic that Mika (and the others) had to return to the stage three times, and it was probably then that they decided to do an extra performance. Underwater on the 31st was definitely planned though. I loved that everyone seemed really into it: not just Mika and the audience, but also Simon Leclerc, the orchestra and the choir, as they were clapping and waving too. Last but not least, I was really happy to meet so many MFCers (some again and some for the first time). 2016 was full of Mika for me, so it was only fitting that I spent the end of it in the company of the Mika family!

Thank you for your report! It was a pleasure to spend some time with you in Florence. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the rest of your stay there, although it sounds like you had quite a few problems getting home. But all is well that ends well. I definitely hope to see you again soon!

He says, "When I was young, when I was *this* tall, when I wasn't half Italian yet, like now -- who were the Italians that I knew? I knew Leonardo, I knew Verdi, Puccini, Sophia Loren. But I also knew Mina and Adriano Celentano. Because their music, through the nations and borders, reached me, thanks to my family and our friends. As music does when it's beautiful, beautiful."

I totally agree. I would even say that Mika has never been just a musician. Of course music has always been the most important thing for him, but even at his early concerts he was never just sitting behind his piano and singing: he took a lot of time and effort to prepare a show that would let the audience enter his world. I think he's still basically doing the same thing with his show: he's letting us into his world using his music and imagination (with the help of some guests). . I also think that we don't have to worry that he'll "abandon" music for TV: in the first episode, before he sang Grace Kelly, he talked about how it all started with music and how he's a musician first. I'm sure there was a reason he gave that speech, and followed it by the song that is about the importance of remaining true to yourself. I loved the second episode even more than the first one! It went by incredibly fast.

I feel like I should add some sort of disclaimer: I do these translations fairly quickly and while I try to stay as close as possible to the original article, the translation is not necessarily perfect (I'm not a native speaker of either English or Italian). I just do them so that non-Italian speaking people can understand the interview, and hopefully I'm still a slightly better translator than google.

Translation: No children: I lead a selfish life He runs around like a maniac between tours, albums, books and TV shows (Stasera Casa Mika is coming). Reinventing himself all the time, because, he says, he has a punk soul that makes difficult choices. [Text in the box: "Sometimes I talk too much, and during concerts it often happens that someone says "shhh, be quiet".] "I've always wanted a home, because I lost it many times when I was a child and as years passed by, it became an obsession for me, a sort of fetish." Now that he has enough homes, scattered around the world, Mika feels more secure. Enough to want to create a house in his image and likeness on TV as well: Stasera Casa Mika, a spectacle in four episodes that starts on Tuesday, 15th November, at 21:10 on Raidue. And it's just one of his million commitments: 15 months of tour, concerts in Firenze on 30th and 31st December, a new album coming out in 2017 and a book titled as one of the works of Dario Fo (we don't know which one yet), who the singer sees as "the most punk and modern hero of the recent years". Born in Beirut to a Libanese mother and a father from the U.S., transferred to Paris as a child and then grown up in London, Mika, real name Michael, 33, is used to changes. "I never want to be too similar to the same version of myself" he confides. "That's why I left XFactor after three seasons, while I said yes to the fourth season of The Voice in France, where there's less pressure." He does have a certain "know how" in recognising talents. "I know young people who at 16 are ancient, because they let others form their opinions. Maybe at first they become popular, but they will never be modern." The solution? "To put their soul and heart in it: they mustn't be caught unprepared." Mika takes his time to explain every single concept. In a profound, intelligent, exhaustive way. He does it during our appointment as well, despite the fact that fans are waiting for him in rain for one of the three pyjama parties where a video for his show is taken. So, where is your real home? In the Mecenate street in Milan (where Stasera Casa Mika is recorded, editor's note). I feel much more at home there than in the apartment I rent in the centre of the city. And what's it like inside? Very nice. It has something fantastic ... It seems like Tim Burton's set. To create it, I collaborated with a team of artists who follow me during tours. This is why the furnishings are a reflection of me. I'm very proud of it. What kind of spectacle awaits us? You'll see guests of all ages, from a 17-year-old teen idol to a 78-year-old intellectual (in the first episode: Renzo Arbore, Virginia Raffaele and Sarah Felberbaum, in the role of Mika's housemate, editor's note). And then there's me. I go all around Italy, I return and bring some things with me. It'll be fun. Do you spend a lot of time at home? I think that the most delicious part of the day begins in the evening, from when you return home to when you go to sleep. During the show I replicate the same moments, set in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the sitting room and obviously in bed. Your main residence is in London. What can you tell us about that one? That it's full of books. There's a lot of art, there are my two dogs, the gardener, a person who takes care of the house, the cook -- because eating is wonderful! And there's my partner (Andreas Dermanis, filmmaker, editor's note) who always finds himself surrounded by strangers. He loses his head because of that. You've been together for 10 years. Are you talking about children? No, I live too selfish a life. Doing 15 months of tour requires a gigantic emotional investment. You have to be surrounded by tolerant people, who understand and accept the fact that you're "ruining" your life. With a child this wouldn't be possible. At least you and Andreas go on vacation together ... Of course, we're going to do it in January, in a place where you can surf. Do you know that at 33, it's the best sport to have a toned body? You pay a lot of attention to your appearance and look. Clothes are important and people who say that appearance doesn't matter are lying. A look is a way of communication. And it's under everybody's eyes. In what way? You have to learn how to dress, considering it a part of your personal culture. Whether you're inspired by a dandy or a casual look, by Cary Grant's outfits of by James Dean's jeans, there are many ways of being a man. You just have to know how to look around and choose. Speaking of mirrors, how do you see a curly boy from a few years ago today? I was divided in two. On the one hand there was music, art and a sense of fantasy that made me feel good. On the other hand there was anger, because I wanted to hurt those who treated me badly, but I didn't know how. Did you manage to do it? No, I'm a weakling. But there's no stronger revenge than success. Your family now support you in everything, but it wasn't always like this. I come from a Wes Anderson-like family (director of The Royal Tenenbaums, editor's note). But we have a real relationship, and we collaborate: my sister Yasmine is a graphic designer and she has done some drawings for the Casa Mika scenography, while Paloma deals with outfits. She's a great stylist, she worked with Pierpaolo Piccioli from maison Valentino on all the show's costumes . You're tireless! Where do you find your strength? In taking risks, and going against the flow. If you want your soul to be punk, first of all you have to be like that with your head, your mouth and your pen.

It has been like that for a while. I remember googling him some time ago and getting the same message. But as far as I can tell, his site works normally.

I really enjoyed reading your blog. Your thoughts on why Mika's popularity in the UK has diminished are very interesting and thought-provoking!

The video of Mika performing Rocket Man is on the BBC site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04fj000 And also A Case of You: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04fhpc9

You're welcome, I'm glad you found my translation useful. It would be great if you shared your French translation here too!

He has mentioned him before (he usually calls him Andy), but very rarely.

That's great news, thanks for letting us know! Translation: Kylie Minogue is about to publish an album of Christmas covers. One of the songs is Wonderful Christmastime and it will be sung in duet with Mika. The song was written by Paul McCartney and came out in 1979.

You're welcome. I didn't really have anything else to do last night, and I wanted everyone to be able to read this interview as soon as possible, because it really is a great one!

Here's a translation: Mika means Houdini When he speaks, Mika draws images. During this interview you'll see him: carrying a huge suitcase that only he sees, lying down on a carpet to avoid feeling like an exile and then on stage becoming a prisoner in a cage made of eyes, and also transforming himself into a tree, very tall, as it should be. But let's start from the first scene: he's in his kitchen at home, in London, on the phone. He's saying to everyone: "I've got a crazy idea. I want to do a TV show." And you weren't talking about X-Factor. A few years ago I said to myself: I will never do TV. But then I did a talent show, which was of such high quality that it allowed me to remain myself in a situation that was dangerous, very dangerous. And then, because you can't keep doing something that doesn't really belong to you for too long, I stopped. At that point there was an invasion of requests, and I responded to this one: Stasera CasaMika. If it goes well, it goes well, if not, I can say that I have tried to make something beautiful. What is a beautiful thing on TV like, in your opinion? There were many beautiful things on TV in the past, when television was an event, a mix of humor and quality and a confluence of many excellent things: amazing clothes, exceptional dancers, cutting edge design; entire teams that were working for movies also worked for television. I'm thinking of Mina's shows and Arbore's Indietro tutta! in Italy, of Frank Sinatra's, Elvis's and Cher's specials in America, the variety of the couple Carpentier in France (manufacturers of TV shows from the 50s and 90s, editor's note). Let's say that I thought of all these things when I imagined the program. And I had one condition: that I was given carte blanche on everything, including the details like the logo, promo, clothes. Did they give it to you? Yes. What's it like in CasaMika? Crowded, there are many friends who come to see me. Virginia Raffaele and Sarah Felberbaum will be a permanent presence in every episode, and I also see many people and interesting things outside the studio. I thought going out was a way of bringing Italy to my house. I'm doing a long and beautiful journey in your country. Now you know Italy quite well. How do you see it? It's a place full of contrasts and contradictions, and inhabited by people so different from each other that they don't even seem like compatriots. But this diversity is what gives it enormous cultural wealth. For me Italy is like a long door, even a beautiful corridor to other countries, and it represents my life very well because here I can find something from places where I've lived: London, Paris, but also Lebanon. I also like the fact that Italy has the same cultural autonomy that I find in France: you have celebrities who are real stars even if nobody abroad knows them, and this is nice because it means that the American entertainment machinery hasn't conformed everything. Before you came to Italy and really got to know it, had you imagined it like this? No, everything is much more complex. Things in this country aren't easy: the bureaucracy, for example, is unmanageable. But there is life, and it's in the streets, not hidden behind walls, in homes. And you're always less sad when there's life around you. Our biggest flaw? Emotion, always. It's the biggest flaw, but also the biggest asset. I know this well because it's also the biggest flaw of my family. Are we as welcoming as foreigners say we are? In this regard it is as if Italy was not one, but two countries. There are millions of Italians who are very tolerant, and millions who aren't like that at all. I've always felt this split in France too, but never in England, at least not until two months ago when they voted for Brexit and it became clear to everyone that the "soft" Right isn't soft at all, and it scares me a lot. But if we pay attention, the same thing is happening in America, with Trump: homophobia, sexism and racism are found everywhere in different colors, attributes and manifestations. We are living a situation of great tension, frustration, economic crisis, and in the background there's war. History tells us that when things go well, societies are more tolerant, and when things go wrong, they close up. Your family has Syrian and Libanese origins, two warring countries. My mother has relatives in Syria, who have now all fled. But the 25 years of war in Lebanon have transformed my idea of the country where I was born. Its mythology has fragmented itself into small things: a carpet on which I lie down, the scent of the house when we're cooking, the voice of Fairouz (a Lebanese music star, editor's note). But I think it's like that for all exiles and migrants: your country does't exist anymore, you find it elsewhere and so you can take it with you wherever you go. Do you also do this with the other countries where you've lived? Yes, I have a great imaginary suitcase on my shoulders, which is very very heavy. In this suitcase there are places and there is also my family: I'm the only child who has run away from home at 2am to join a circus, but has taken all his relatives with him. Where do you feel at home now? Where there is a project and creativity, I am at home. This makes me think of all those who emigrate to find a road that is their own. In Italy this happens a lot, too much, because there are no opportunities for young people, nobody invests in them. The brain drain is also a spirit drain: a generation of kids who dream of escaping is a tragedy for their country. My and my brother's generation are the first who didn't know the world in growth. And this changes your head: the lack of prospects takes away your freedom, the inability to dream is an invisible prison. From which I have always escaped. I ran away from school, from college, from the trap of the pop music machinery: I'm Houdini. I'm always running away, even now. I run away and I carry everything with me. The heaviest suitcases are those that you cannot see. Will you run away from TV too? I will run away, I will always change. But not from music, right? Singing is the only thing that allows me to run away, it's the most important thing in my life. When you sing, you open a door. When I sing, I feel like I'm speaking another language, a much more complex one, but also a simpler one. A language of signs, of sensuality, with no barriers. It makes me feel free, not powerful, but connected. When I did Rock in Rio (a big music festival, editor's note) in Lisbon in May, there were 80,000 people listening to me, and there, in front of the biggest fear, the biggest prison - there is no prison that is clearer and more explicit than 80 thousand people who are looking you in the eyes - I opened my mouth, I sang and with singing I found the key to open the barriers. Are you always afraid before you sing? Always. But you must do it and you do it. It's like sex: isn't it terrifying when you do it for the first time with someone new? But then it passes. It's like seawater when it's cold and you can't decide to enter it. Then the gravity does everything for you. You mentioned sex with new people, so I have to ask: are you still dating Andreas? For the last ten years and three weeks. Is it a lot? Yes, no, it depends. What is the secret of such longevity? He has left me freedom to change, and so I didn't have to replace him with another person. He did well: it's always a little scary to see the other person change. Yes, but he had no choice. We are two very different trees, I like a particular kind of light and a pH of the ground that he doesn't like. So we share neither ground nor light, but we remain here. And what kind of trees are you? I'm a pine tree with roots in the ground, but with branches in the wind. He is a chestnut tree that sheds its leaves in winter. But they return in spring. Maybe not all of them, but they return.

I'll definitely be there. Thanks for organising this!

That's a shame. I guess Brexit won't affect you negatively then, since things are already bad. Too bad there probably aren't enough of us from ex-Yugoslavia to have a party for ourselves, but hopefully we'll see each other at one in Italy, whether it's the big party or a smaller one.

I had no idea you needed a visa to get to the UK from Serbia! I can definitely understand why you'd prefer Milan then. Milan is closer to me than London too, but I thought London was easily accessible for more people -- but maybe not. Definitely not for me, as there are no flights to Glasgow from where I live, while there are plenty of flights to London.