giraffeandy

I just want to say that Sanremo grew on me so much since the album release! It usually doesn't happen with singles that has been released before but there's something about the song that makes it better with time. Every time I listen to it, I like it more. At first, it was my least favourite single, then I realize it's really catchy and now it's one of my favourite songs from the album. 

9 minutes ago, Presci1108 said:

Me too, I like it, now. It's not his best song, but there's this "Must be the Reason why…" part of the song I really like a lot ! 

Exactly, love that part too! 

6 minutes ago, krysady said:

I think that he talked about this song in some interview, but can't remember which one, and neither what he said about it... anyone? 

There was one interview where the journalist (who heard the album before) said that Platform Ballerinas and Tomorrow are his favourite songs from this record but after that they only talked about Tomorrow, I don't think he said anything about PB... 

13 minutes ago, mellody said:

I suppose it's about his mum's illness.

Me too, especially because of the first verse but I'm a bit confused about the line Is that why you let the devil in. 

15 hours ago, MatanBenYosef224 said:

 

I Think that Platform Ballerinas sounds a bit like a song from High School Musical  

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0tHWJ6PDKA

 

 

 or this 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfsc5blh3RE

 

 

I think many songs by Mika sound like out of a musical... 

3 hours ago, Lucyndaria said:

Yeah, that's how I feel as well- I like all the songs well enough, but the album as a whole is just not what I expected.

 

I did some rearranging, and I feel like the songs "flow" better like this–

 

Tiny Love

Dear Jealousy

Sanremo

Ice Cream

Platform Ballerinas

Stay High

I Went To Hell Last Night

Cry

Ready To Call This Love

Tomorrow

Paloma

Blue

Tiny Love Reprise

I tried to listen to the album in this order and the tracklist is really good! If someone is interested, I made a playlist on Spotify: 

5 minutes ago, We-Are-Golden said:

It's not that I 'hate' or really dislike any of the songs though, the whole album just doesn't give me the same 'vibes' as his earlier albums did. I know he wasn't going for that, offcourse, but I just think it will take a while for the songs to grow on me, it'll take a longer time then with, for example, NPIH (my favorite). 

Maybe the concept of this whole album is to show the contradiction between Mika and Michael Holbrook and that's why it feels like two albums with different styles together.  Like the more introspective songs stand for Michael and the more danceable for Mika. Or most likely I'm starting to overanalyze everything. 

3 minutes ago, We-Are-Golden said:

After a few times listening to it I have to say that I'm starting to skip some of them. Probably because the music is just so totally different that what I'm used to from him and it really depends on the mood I'm in.

For me there's no bad song (just RTCTL feels a bit meh to me, but it's still ok) but I have the feeling I'm listening to two different albums – one with songs like Tiny Love, Paloma, I Went to Hell Last Night, Platform Ballerinas, Stay High, Tiny Love Reprise and the other one with songs like Dear Jealousy, Sanremo, Cry, Tomorrow and Ice Cream. One style is more Beatles influenced, the second has more 80s and 90s pop dance vibe. However, I like some songs from both parts so I actually can't say which style I would prefer on the album... 

5 hours ago, Mousetrap said:

I asked myself how Mika could record something like Cry or Stay High and call it authentic? Origin Of Love is authentic. Cry for instance is just 100% George Michael and 0% Mika. It's still nice song, but I expect Mika's music to be outstanding. Well, it's not anymore.

I don't get the general "hate" among fans for Cry tbh, I don't think it's the best song Mika has ever done but it's really one of the most enjoyable tracks on this record. Maybe it reminds of George Michael but Mika always had songs like that on his albums, just think of Touches You from TBWKTM, that's 100 % inspired by George Michael too (Faith & Father Figure) and still sounds like a Mika song. Cry also kind of gives me Tah Dah vibes, which is one of my favourite tracks from TOOL (deluxe). I have to say I'm rather kind of underwhelmed by some of the ballads on this record as I always thought ballads are Mika's strenght, even though Blue really grew on me after more listenings and I like it now. However, I think this album has some of Mika's best dance pop songs, which is kind of unexpected but I think I will enjoy this album for what it is. I actually have a quite similar feeling about MNIMH as I had about TBWKTM, many great songs I will definitely play a lot, it just doesn't have the flow of an album for me like for example NPIH had. 

6 hours ago, ellie said:

I think thats what he was going for but its quite condescending and oblivious, Mika is also a man making assumptions about women's behaviour and taking digs at 'the other senoritas' while scolding the audience for ... assuming that a girly girl is a typical 'senorita'. How does he know the 'other senoritas' arent doing it for themselves too?

Idk but the line "She ain't like no other señorita" seems very ironic to me, I don't think he means it serious.

39 minutes ago, Dominika said:

I'm only disappointed by the song Blue, maybe because it didn't hit me straight away just like others songs did.

I feel the same about Blue, I like the lyrics but it didn't hit me yet.

33 minutes ago, Lucyndaria said:

Maybe I will actually make a playlist with a different song order and see if the album as a whole works better for me that way. For now, I think NPIH will stay my favourite album- and that one does feel more personal- but Tomorrow, Paloma and Dear Jealousy go on the "best songs ever" list.

Wow, I have to say I have the exact same opinion on most of the songs and even the album as a whole, I agree with you on NPIH and I also thought of making my own playlist with a different track order! 

17 minutes ago, MatanBenYosef224 said:

Ready to call this love is just basic love duet, Which seems a bit "I Heard it before" in some way...

Exactly, especially for Mika who writes so specific lyrics most of the time this one seems to be too general...

MNIMH, day 2, new thoughts:

Cry really grew on me a lot! I was indifferent about it first but now it's probably a top 5 song for me. It's not a typical Mika song but it gets better with more listenings. An unexpected favourite of mine. On the other hand, it's hard to choose a least favourite but I have to say Ready To Call This Love feels a bit basic to me. It's a sweet love song but for me it's a filler on the album, the lyrics are quite simple and it doesn't hit me (yet). Overall I like the production of most of the tracks, there are many interesting twists and I like the instruments there, also some great bridges and intros/outros, that makes the songs even more enjoyable, all the songs develop in a way. And I also always loved Mika's songs with choirs.

13 minutes ago, ellie said:

I think my biggest issue with this album, even though I like many of the songs is that the concept seems pretty weak, I fail to see any mika/michael distinction ( TOOL and NPIH felt more personal to me actually ) or why he felt alienated with the mainstream music industry when this album is leaning into commercial pop more than the others. So on top of being a mixed bag Mika makes it the more confusing.

 

Yeah, I also feel NPIH is more intimate, I enjoy the new songs but at the same time I "miss" Mika in them. I'm a bit conflicted about it. I think this will be an album where I'll prefer to listen to the songs I'm currently in mood for rather than listen to the entire album. And I also have the feeling this album is more radio-friendly than his previous albums.

6 minutes ago, Ellys said:

Thanks for writing it down.

I made a few corrections and completed it:

 

 

Cause I can’t be your slave to the rhythm   
I've got charcoal (?)* on my feet                                    
Won't it be nice to get a little bit into you
It's just that I'm a little bit into you

 

I can't be your bitch to the rhythm
It (?) won't be enough for me
Won't  it be nice to get a little bit close to you
It's just that I'm a little bit into you

 

Must be a reason why
A reason why we fall in love
Give me a reason why
I'm hurting for the both of us

Must be a reason why
A reason why we fall in love
Give me a reason why
It hurts so much

 

Don't make me
Cry, cry, cry, cry, cry [x4]

 

If it’s only pain you deliver
Then why does my heart not see
Why do I keep on finding ways to be next to you
When no one makes me feel more alone than you

 

Must be a reason why
A reason why we fall in love
Give me a reason why
I'm hurting for the both of us

Must be a reason why
A reason why we fall in love
Give me a reason why
It hurts so much

 

Don't make me
Cry, cry, cry, cry, cry [x4]

 

l'll be ok again, I'll be ok again
I'll be ok again, I won't cry over you

Don't make me
Cry, cry, cry, cry, cry [x8]

 

 *I'm not sure it's charcoal but I'm pretty sure it's not needles. Has anyone figured it out? Any help?

On Genius there's shackles:

'Cause I can’t be your slave to the rhythm
I've got shackles on my feet

https://genius.com/Mika-cry-lyrics

I think it makes sense and I also hear it there... 

(I know Genius isn't official but I usually read the lyrics there and they're mostly right.)

Some reviews so far:

https://www.gigwise.com/reviews/3361309/album-review-mika-my-name-is-michael-holbrook (8/10)

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/wilco-review-ode-to-joy-tracklist-release-date-mika-my-name-is-michael-holbrook-a9137536.html (3/5)

https://www.riffmagazine.com/album-reviews/mika-my-name-is-michael-holbrook/

https://www.allmusic.com/album/my-name-is-michael-holbrook-mw0003311612 (3,5/5)

https://www.unionjournalism.com/2019/10/03/review-on-album-ode-to-joy-by-wilco-and-mikas-my-name-is-michael-holbrook/

I have to say I partly agree with some of them saying the album doesn't feel as cohesive. For example NPIH tells a story for me, I even prefer some of the songs when hearing them on the album than separately because the whole album has a concept. Even though MNIMH has songs like Tiny Love, Paloma and Tiny Love Reprise that fit together, sometimes I feel the flow of the album isn't working as well, the mood and style is changing a lot throughout the songs, for example right after Blue there's Stay High, it's always a big shock for me to hear such an energetic song after the ballad, which is rather melancholic. Don't know if someone here feels the same when hearing the album from start to finish. I really enjoy the majority of the songs on this album but as an album, it feels a bit all over the place. 

7 minutes ago, silver said:

Does this link work or is it restricted to UK?

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00096bd/saturday-kitchen-05102019

Unfortunately it is: BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues. In the UK? Here's some advice.

7 minutes ago, Anna Ko Kolkowska said:

 

I put the link two messages above. For the moment the replay is not available. But I when I tried to check it I had a message that the program can be seen only for UK 

So maybe someopne will be able to download it here?

I was trying to watch it live, first I had to registrate and then I was asked to pay a TV licence so I gave up... 

7 hours ago, kreacher said:

 

this was my interpretation too.

the part i don't understand is the rope with the boobs @ about 1:47 

 

love the video tho ❤️ i wish it was longer. i need to know what happens next!

The scene with the rope reminds me of a hanging loop but I don't know if he is afraid he could be hanging for being a gay or thinking about suicide? But maybe I'm completely wrong... 

With the boobs, not sure, she looks a bit like a prostitute, maybe she only represents heterosexuality for him, the "norm/standard" he doesn't meet... Idk if it makes any sense. 

Just now, ottimistaaccidentale said:

Sorry do you know anything about the LP release date?

It's different on every website

I've seen 13.12.2019.

24 minutes ago, Hannah_ said:

She does everything she’s doing because she wants to and is enjoying herself - “Grooving to the music like a woman do/Throws her body in it not for me not you/But for her”.

I also think that's the message of the song, sometimes people say that women "should be dressed/behave" in a certain way or that they are doing certain things for men, to be attractive etc. For example when I'm dancing at a club, I hate when men are staring at me and think that it's an invitation for them to join me and harass me. Also when I have a skirt, shorts or a nice dress especially in Summer, some men are whistling at me and they think they have the permission to say anything to me, I often feel verbal sexually harassed by men only because I decide to wear certain clothes or dance at a club, even though I'm doing it for me, not for them! That's my personal interpretation of the song. 

2 hours ago, Starlight said:

Heute soll es dann mit der Post kommen. Ich weiß nicht mal, ob Amazon dran schuld ist oder ob es nicht die Post vergeigt hat.

Bei meiner Bestellung hat es leider der Versandservice vergeigt, ich hab es zwar nicht bei Amazon bestellt, sollte aber die CD gestern bekommen und noch um fünf Uhr haben sie mir als ich im Chat nachgefragt habe geschrieben, dass das Päckchen schon im Auto auf dem Weg ist und dass ich es noch heute bekomme... Ich hab den ganzen Abend vergeblich darauf gewartet. Leider liefern sie nicht am Wochenende, also muss ich auf die CD bis Montag warten. Bin echt sauer auf sie... Habe mich auf die CD so gefreut.  Ich musste mir dann das ganze Album auf Spotify anhören, um den Tag zu retten, weil ich so enttäuscht war.

4 hours ago, Anna-is-golden said:

I love the videoclip, it’s very beautiful and deep.. but i have a question, if you have any idea can you please answer me?

 

I don’t understand the connection between the lyrics of the song (that seems happy and full of joy with just a little of loneliness) and the video (with this deep message about homosexuality in the ‘900). (I think the video is filmed to look like around 1960.)

Maybe i lost the meaning of some parts of the song, because i don’t speak english very well.

If you can help me understanding more thank you❤️

Here you can also read more about it:

https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8532195/mika-sanremo-video?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

In a statement, the video's director W.I.Z. says that the new clip takes place in "an era when homosexuality, if not illegal, was socially unacceptable, a time of discrimination and persecution. 'Sanremo' represents his utopian dream, a fictional place of liberation and transcendence."

I feel this is the most typical Mika song on the album, I love it, a lot of fun and great lyrics too, the sound and energy reminds me a little bit of Love Today! 

7 minutes ago, mellody said:

Not sure if it's supposed to be his wedding ring, but it doesn't really look like one... but in that case it could be about it being hard for him to leave his family, despite the fact that he has to, because he can't live with a lie.

That's my interpretation, maybe it doesn't look like a typical wedding ring but he wears it on the left ring finger... 

My very first thoughts on MNIMH (may change a lot):

I'm overwhelmed by the diversity of the new tracks, there are so many moments on the album that really surprised me because I didn't expect this particular sound or style from Mika. A definitely need to listen to the album a couple of times because there's so much going on in all these new songs, both musically and lyrically. It feels different than all his previous albums and I think that's a good thing – sure, not everybody will like it but I appreciate that he is still trying something new and fresh. My favourite album to date is NPIH, especially the ballads and mid-tempo songs, so it's quite unusual for me that on MNIMH I prefer the up-beat songs, the ballads here feel surprisingly weaker to me (maybe I just need more time but I don't think the slower songs are as good as some of Mika's older ones), but actually all the dance/up-beat songs are so much fun to listen, really playful and also with a great 80s vibe, I love it! I think this will be my favourite Mika album when I'm in mood for more energetic, pop/dance music but it probably won't beat NPIH in my overall ranking (however, it's really too early for me to compare MNIMH to the previous albums, the only thing I know for sure now is that TOOL remains my least favourite one). My favourite tracks so far are Dear Jealousy, Tomorrow, Tiny Love, Platform Ballerinas and I Went to Hell Last Night. However, the list will definitely change after more listenings.