holdingyourdrink

It was definitely the latter

I’ve been to the Zenith de Strasbourg 3 weeks prior and I didn’t feel I had to wear ear protection (although I probably should have, haha!). With Amsterdam, Brussels and Berlin I did, it was MUCH louder, although all three venues have a smaller capacity than Strasbourg… or maybe that’s the reason why, the sound was calculated for larger venues. In Brussels my friend told me that she couldn’t hear Mika speak during the first songs and Mika seemed to communicate with his sound technician (in Italian, which was a very funny moment, calling him his “sweetie banana” in the end ) to fix it. I had however no problem hearing him speak. The only difference between her and me was that I had ear protection in, which reduces up to 20+ decibel. So in that particular moment I don’t think people couldn’t hear him because the sound wasn’t on, I think because it was way too loud and therefore not balanced. The security was very reliable, strict and I have encountered moments where they were friendly, but also incredibly unfriendly. (For example when we were waiting outside for Mika at the back exit and his trucks needed room - they were very rude to my friend in a wheelchair who can’t just “roll away”, especially since people were not backing up quickly enough and she didn’t have room to move out of the way. That moment deserved more understanding, patience and consideration from security staff’s side). Location was great, pretty much in the middle of the city! Which is great if you are looking for something to eat.

Did he sing Jane Birkin? Or C‘est La Vie with the big Club Apocalypse (was it there?)?

Question, does anyone have a recording from Billy Brown from (close to) front row for me? I LOVE this song, especially in Berlin, and I didn’t record anything at all…. just sang my heart out ❤️

My thoughts exactly Unfortunately, you’re very right. This comes from a Dutch person living in Germany!

Oh yeah, Adam asked Bea and me to mine and dance to Elle Me Dit before the show started in Berlin….but we couldn’t hear any of it! So we had no idea if we nailed it! But we did kind of

Honestly, it was the best thing ever for him to post a story and to see his reaction it it. (I screamed your name when I saw it, I’m sorry, normally I’m not that raspy!) The cake is such a masterpiece!! Very well done. And also big big thanks to Karin and Saskia for arranging the flowers. That bouquet was HUUUUGE! And incredibly heavy. I think both of you got a good workout carrying it from the florist to the venue!!

It is funny, because it’s true!!!

Mika in Germany! After 12 years absence! I was born and raised in Amsterdam, but I’ve been living in Germany for the past 10+ years, so I do consider it my home - and for Mika to do both Amsterdam in Berlin within a week, well, you can just understand how happy that made me when the tour announcement came last year. The venue was a lot smaller than the previous concerts of this tour that I had been to, which meant that not all stage props would fit. When I entered the venue I saw that this was true: there wasn’t even enough height to put up the curtain, let alone the Club Apocalypse sign. We could see the cage right there. Ohhh! Exciting!! Having just been to Brussels with an amazing audience and atmosphere, I was wondering how the German audience would react to him - especially after such a long absence. I decided that I would make it my mission to give a lot of expressive energy during the gig, hoping to be infectious for others (people who know me also know that this doesn’t take any effort from my part, I just have a lot of energy): if you saw a crazy person dancing, it was probably me! Just like the Amsterdam concert, Mika started with the English version of Bougez. It’s impactful all the same and you just get sucked into his visual and melodic world right away. And although I did have the feeling the audience took a bit to warm up during the first few songs, they eventually did commit and went in full force with people jumping up and down and just having a really good time. Right before the concert started. A girl who was standing right behind me asked if she could be front row for Any Other World, since the song meant so much to her. I then asked her that she must have another song she adores, she replied that she also really loved Happy Ending, so we agreed we would switch positions during these songs. Origin Of Love was after Bougez, then came Talk About You. I don’t know about this order. have to say that I really like Talk About You after Bougez, because the contrast and surprise effect is bigger. Also, it sets the mood for Apocalypse Calypso after, which I personally think he should definitely bring back to the setlist. Not only because it’s the name of the tour, but it’s so HIM. Showing the span and diversity of both his register and discography is just perfect in these three songs. Don’t get me wrong, I love Origin Of Love, but it would be better later in the setlist, if anything. He exchanged Sweetie Banana for Lollipop, actually a good choice, it does bring across the same message, doesn’t it? Haha. Feels Like Fire is such a highlight. My friend Erik was with me and he told me afterwards that he really feels the gravity and grandesse of the song, it’s so perfect as a movie soundtrack. That made me incredibly proud to hear. After Yo-Yo they moved the platforms of the musicians the way they prepare for Jane Birkin. I squealed in excitement, finally a French song!! I knew the audience would love it, but nonetheless I told myself to “La La La” as loud as I could once the time was right, hoping to be contagious for the people around me. Mika said a few words about Jane Birkin, which was received with laughs and a good mood. The audience ate it up and the “La La La” part didn’t need much convincing at all. I was so happy he included it, I’m very happy he took that trust-fall with the audience, because I do feel he maybe feels insecure about the reception of the French songs outside of a francophone country. After Good Guys was Billy Brown. I know that it was instead of 30 secondes, but do I wish he kept 30 secondes. I love the flow of the show when he slows down in that moment and Billy Brown (although I love the song!) just keeps it too much up tempo. He could even do a mix version of French/English like he does with Bougez, if he’s unsure about the reception of it? I personally would LOVE to hear that, especially since he did exactly that in a story he posted last year behind his white piano. Also, it would bring exactly the contrast that makes it a Mika gig. Slow down in a ballad, as a build-up for the happy and up tempo Grace Kelly right after. When it was time for Happy Ending and I swiftly switched places with the girl as promised. The poor thing was crying and trembling, barely holding it together. I didn’t know her name, I didn’t know her circumstance, but I felt that she needed a hug, so I held her during the entire song: which she accepted gratefully. The same for Any Other World. She was very kind to offer me my place back after Happy Ending (which comes before Any Other World), but I told her that she should stay there and enjoy the gig. I still had a very good view and had enough room to dance, so I was perfectly fine where I was. It made me very happy I could do this for her, to me this is communion of spirit, as a wise poet once called it Once the gig was over with the banger that We Are Golden is, the audience was left completely stunned. They didn’t immediately leave, but were just staring at the stage for a few, most probably to process what had just happened! I saw so many people with stars in their eyes, some even with tears. Mika just came in like a wrecking ball in Berlin and left a complete euphoria in people’s hearts. I hope this is the start of a renewed connection with the German audience, because the spark was definitely there.

Where do I start? This gig is definitely the best gig I have been to so far, EVER. The energy was so good, from the very first note right until the very end, with both Mika as with the audience - which continued to work as a strong synergy as the gig progressed. I remember Mika saying recently in a Belgian interview that there is something special about the venue Forest National (Vorst Nationaal in Dutch), and I definitely experienced myself what he meant by that. Having attended Amsterdam two days prior (from the seated area instead of the pit) and knowing Brussels is officially bilingual (French and Dutch), I was curious about the setlist and if there would be mainly English songs or also French songs. To my delight, it was the setlist he had used for the Francophone leg of the tour so far, meaning it included Bougez (French), Sweetie Banana, Apocalypse Calypso, Jane Birkin, 30 Secondes and C’est La Vie. Just like in Amsterdam, he replaced Moi, Andy et Paris with Good Guys - and honestly, although I do love MAEP, it is a very good choice and I felt it was definitely one of the highlights of the setlist. (But I am very biased, I absolutely adore Good Guys and am very happy to hear it live). When I heard the French songs again in concert, I had this feeling of familiarity and just the sense that they all belonged in the entire concept of the show. To exchange them with only English songs doesn’t do the show justice in my opinion, because I feel it was built around the French songs. It just feels RIGHT to have them there, period. And I fiercely hope that Mika will include them more and more in the English speaking part of the tour. For Big Girls he wore a new suit! Pink with a pink plastic flower. It looks so elegant on him that I squealed in utter excitement as he appeared on stage. It’s almost embarrassing how happy something like that makes me, I just cannot contain myself. Haha! My favourite part is when he appears on stage with the blue feather suit. His stage persona transforms into a rockstar and I felt in Brussels he was a really really happy rockstar, because the audience went absolutely insane. If there was any pent up energy still in any of the audience, he certainly pulled it out of them and let them jump (and fly) like madmen and madwomen. When Any Other World started, I was paralyzed. This songs really touched a very emotional cord with me. We Are Golden came on swiftly after. If Mika wants to make us dance with tears in our eyes. I think he certainly succeeded with this extreme contrast in subsequent songs. I left the gig with a huge smile on my face. My heart is still full when I think back. This is the kind of show that the world should see. This show is like being immersed in the dreams and imagination of his mind, pulling you in completely, to then suddenly (yet gently) let you go when it ends. Simply left stunned, but very content.

I consider myself a citizen of the world

Yes! This was an amazing start! I was confused and wondered if Nomfundo was there and would suddenly appear, but then @CharlotteLtold me it was indeed Max!

Amsterdam! Mika was in Amsterdam!!! I haven’t lived there for over 10 years, however: you can take me out of Amsterdam, but you can’t ever take Amsterdam out of me! So for him to be there made a lot of great things come together. I didn’t come alone this time, I had my friend and his husband, my brother and my daughter with me. What made the biggest difference is that I didn’t queue to be an „enfant terrible“ in the pit, but opted for the seats and sit amongst „the angels“ (and no, you can’t take the „enfant terrible“ out of me, either ). This made for an entirely different concert experience, which I enjoyed just as much. When I said hi to the queue (I am sorry if I have missed any of you: I was too concerned to be there with my daughter, who is an even more energetic version of me….go figure….), we bumped into Adam and he asked him if we would like to be in a video with about 100 other fans. That video was just posted in Mika‘s stories, so cute to see how it turned out, you are all so stunning!! Amsterdam was packed, I tell you. Up until the seated area (which was completely filled) there were still people standing behind it and dancing their heart out. Speaking of hearts: before the concert, people on the forum asked if we could help cut out hearts. I offered to distribute them in the seated area. My daughter and her newly found friend, the daughter of @smokesignal, offered to distribute it under the lovely supervision of @CharlotteL, who also graced us with her company. I had cut out 200 hearts… and the only regret I have is that I didn’t cut out more. People kept asking for them! They all wanted to participate!!! The atmosphere was already fantastic. Yes Mika, all the way up to the angels. Already before the show. Earlier in this topic I have spoken about the setlist, so I won’t discuss it too much here. What I do want to mention again and again is the amazing reception Mika got with every song. It took a bit of warming up to get everyone out of their seat, but the energy and participation was there all the time. I do feel I had to contain my energy here and there in the beginning, but after the first songs there was no stopping me, nor my daughter. We really danced our hearts out! I am sorry for the lady behind me who wanted to film the whole thing, I think I’m featured in maybe 90% of her videos, blocking the view with different flailing bodyparts. To see the show from a distance was incredible. When you‘re in the front you don’t really see the entire picture. You literally need a bit of distance to gain a different and complete perspective. The visual concept is incredibly done and so….rounded and complete. From the lights to the smoke to the fireworks. Also the visuals were not only beautiful, they were cheeky and funny as well. But as I was enjoying the show more from a distance, I get more of a general idea rather than several intense moments, which you usually experience in the pit. My brother went to see Mika for the first time and loved it. Same for my friend and his husband. They told me that they really loved the atmosphere and the complete audience participation. It is one of a kind. Words like „amazing“, „fabulous“ and „pure showman“ were said more than once. In the end we had to leave a little early, as my daughter was overwhelmed from the intensity of it all. So I did what a mama does and I took her home for many cuddles. She slept swiftly after that and this morning as she woke up the first thing she said was: „When will we go again?!“

Was in Amsterdam yesterday and bought 5 tourbooks (all for other people). This didn’t seem a problem at all, they didn’t limit it to a certain number of books per person. Like previously said by Anna, I think they just take a random box and don’t necessarily go in chronological order. I had numbers between 730 and 770.

The choice to not include French songs was such a shame, but I do understand why he would add Billy Brown and Good Guys in Amsterdam: Amsterdam is a Pride capital, the first to marry same-sex couples AND the Netherlands is the first country to legalize it. It may sound far fetched, but being Amsterdam born, I understood the reference and in my mind he customized it for this city. (I may be way off of course we never know with him!) Does it fit the Apocalypse theme? I think it does in a way. If all comes to an end, we should love and love freely.

Will write a full report later, but I was incredibly surprised to see the entirety of QTTFT go up in smoke. The show was amazing nonetheless, please don’t get me wrong. This time I was an “angel” and not an “enfant terrible”, so I had a better view of the general atmosphere. And I can tell you all the way up to the angels people LOVED it, but it was not thanks to the setlist, it is thanks to HIM. Mika is a force! He could’ve EASILY kept Jane Birkin and C’est La Vie in my opinion. And I am saying this with a slight pang in my heart, because I really did adore Rain on the Apocalypse Club as it’s my favourite live, but it deserves C’est La Vie of all songs. The English adaptation of Bougez was incredible. Just like the French version it pulled people right in, no mistake about that. I can understand why he did that in a non-French speaking country, especially as it’s the first song of the show. It serves to pull people in and set the tone. And it pulls in people even more if it’s a language they understand. Smart move with same energy. Also, there were no songs from MNIMH (there weren’t in the French leg of the tour either, but if he wanted to stick to English for this setlist he could’ve chosen from that album as well). He said he hasn’t been back in Amsterdam for more than 8 years, but he also didn’t show off enough of the songs he has done in the last 8 years. Which we all agree are absolute gems! I loved the show yesterday and I also loved the setlist, because I just love his music. But at the same time it makes me very sad in my fan heart that he is selling himself short by sticking to his first four albums. The new audience who doesn’t know Mika initially know him by the 4 classics (GK, Relax, Lollipop, Big Girls - right?). The 15 other songs of the show are new to them anyway. I hope he will come back to the Netherlands very soon, much sooner than 8 years. The show was sold out for months, he attracts the audience easily. I hope he will consider having a setlist that will include all of his albums, the Dutch people will love it. I guarantee you that they will adore it.

Are you?!?!!

Oh god no

Heyyy! It’s easy: I have Asian heritage and have shoulder length straight black hair. I will be wearing a long sleeve white blouse and white sneakers. My name is Michelle My daughter is also quite small for her age (10), but she makes up for it with the noise she can produce

Haha! So you did get a close up view after all! Love how in this video everyone keeps a respectful distance from Mika and lets him go through without grabbing him I have seen differently in other videos of him entering the crowd!

I will arrive the hour before doors open, so won’t be queueing with all of you this time. I will say hi to the queue, though!! Are you with Anajulia (she messaged me on Instagram after I offered to also bring some hearts)? Then we’ll definitely see eachother

Just made 200 hearts! Ready to goooo on Friday!

To me it seems like a white-white, but it’s hard to tell with the stagelights that are also coloured. If anything, it’s definitely NOT a cream/yellow white in my eyes. You can also see it well in the Apocalypse Calypso music video, the wing is very visible there without blinking-coloured lights.

Hey! What a great idea!! I can contribute for the seated area, I am planning to sit in the back and could try to make and distribute more coloured hearts there. Any colour is fine?

In the story of Clement it doesn’t seem like a satellite stage anymore. Too bad! Come to think of it: it wouldn’t work with the current backdrop either. However, Mika is never short of surprises, I wonder how he would transform it, if he would do a satellite stage.