holdingyourdrink

English translation: You told us recently that your return is a tribute to your mother Joannie, who died in 2021 of brain cancer... "It is a tribute to what she has transmitted to me for good and for worse. She trained me from a very young age. There was a lot of love, but also pressure and expectation. She always said that the enemy was mediocrity. It was hard to live with it all the time. In reality, she gave me a key to freedom. The title of the album is indeed based on a message she sent me that said: "I hope your head is still blooming. She wrote this while she was in a real state of suffering. She made a magnificent gesture." With this album that allows your fans to enter your childhood, we have the impression that you have suffered a lot. What was the hardest fight of your youth? Loves? The career? Life in general? "The hardest fight? It's a beautiful question... This profession isolates, it hardens you. Sometimes, you lose that amazed look at the life around you. And your heart is getting heavier. It flies less. It is a huge challenge to stay light. As my song says, the key to happiness is in a head that blooms because it always has ideas. It asks itself questions. It remains curious. The solution is there." You talk about many trips. Is Belgium a land that inspires you? "It is a remarkably creative country in relation to its size. Belgium is small and extremely large at the same time. It is also a country that is not necessarily rocked by the sun and good weather. Yet, the Belgian public is the warmest, most joyful and most generous on the entire continent. A real mystery." What image did you have of Belgium before you came there? "That of Tintin. I have been a fanatic of his adventures since my childhood. I went to the Hergé exhibition about ten times. I ended up being ashamed to ask for VIP passes to visit it, so I queued like everyone else. I also love good little dishes. What do we eat well at your place!" Have you had the opportunity to taste Belgian cuisine? "Of course. Unfortunately, in the center of Brussels, many of my favorite little restaurants have disappeared. The fault of Covid: they all went bankrupt. I loved going to eat alone in these places." What is your favorite Belgian dish? "I only eat what is in season. Before, it was the mussels and fries. Today, I don't eat it anymore because I got sick a few times to the point of being hospitalized. But not in Brussels (laughs)!" What surprised or marked you the most in terms of Belgian culture? "At home, we can very easily engage in a conversation. This generosity of spirit is a treasure, it is essential. It can happen in a store, in a restaurant, a bar or even a festival. You have the easy welcome, but not superficial as in the American way. These are always true and profound exchanges." In 2024, you will redo your comeback on the coasts of Vianney, Zazie and Big Flo in "The Voice France". "Freer, more uninhibited, more committed than ever! And with heart. This means that I have become less smooth and more human." How do you see the new generation? "It is fertile. There is a good balance between women and men. Artists are also less afraid to get involved, poetically too. It's great this idea to be able to take on your niche and cultivate it." You have a sense of talent discovery. You were the only one to bet on Kendji Girac or the Fréro Delavega duo. Your risk-taking pays off... "You shouldn't even think it's a risk. You have to follow your instinct and remain a fan without asking yourself too many questions." Which Belgian artist beats your heart for? "I really admire Pierre de Maere. He has a superb sensitivity, a beautiful way of expressing himself. What he is succeeding is fantastic. And humanly, he's a great guy. A very beautiful person. He was the only one with whom I wanted to share a moment in all this delirium of the NRJ Music Awards. We went to the famous Maison de Bacon, in Antibes, to eat a bouillabaisse!"

Summary: many familiar faces! Amazing, just amazing memories. The Girls, Andy and a….crop top! I did NOT expect that

So I actually don’t dream about Mika, only about meeting up with friends to go see a Mika gig - but I always wake up before the gig!! So frustrating!! And I actually think I still didn’t dream about Mika a few nights ago, because in my dream I was talking to someone whose name was Mika and he sounded like him, but he didn’t look like him AT ALL….and we were passionately talking about football… I am actually quite certain neither of us really passionately likes football, so all this combined, I have come to the conclusion that I still haven’t dreamt about him up to this day.

Oh, I would love to hear new interpretations of any of his songs! I thoroughly enjoy when he starts “Relax” acoustically and with his lower register. It’s such a calm and soothing beginning, to then build op to what the song is. He has done it for the acoustic gig in Milan and for his symphonic concerts as well. It would totally work for festivals! The core and energy of the song is still perserved, just a different build up. I hope he will change his mind for the upcoming tour and go some new interpretations anyway.

Currently absolutely in awe with this song. Time stops when I listen to it. In fact the whole album stops time within me. At the moment this song in particular.

The album has been on repeat since its release and my mind and heart has just exploded - in the best possible way. I started a drawing trying to capture the essence of this album, what it provokes in me. But….I notice that I haven’t wrapped my head or heart around it yet. I think I am going to let it sit for a little bit and just enjoy it without expressing myself too much. Which is unlike what I usually do, because usually I feel I am more than ready to put something on paper. This time it is the opposite: I feel this album shows such a tender side of Mika that I don’t want to ruin it with mere scribbling and dashes of colour. I want to honour the image and the intention. If that makes sense.

Oh Mika, we do think you are absolutely crazy, but us fans are also a crazy bunch of mofo’s so I think it fits

There is no fitting response to this other than:

Love the Gregory sweater! He looks great! (Gregory I mean, Mika isn’t too bad either )

I think so too! Many were interviewed, including Silvia, Charlene, Bea, Karin and myself, in our native language.

So I was walking around in Paris and entered the FNAC to browse around. Guess who I ran into? It was short, but sweet. He was very kind and SO TALL. But I am really very short, so no surprise there I didn’t get the notice about wearing your Christmas sweater (just kidding, but it looks like one, doesn’t it?), so I am embarrassingly underdressed. But look! He signed my album!

Wheezing. I can’t with you.

What a Happy Ending!

I love his hair like this: a little longer, wavy, perfectly messy styled!

I totally see this going like this: A: You’re going to Paris, again? M: Work is calling! You know this! A: Well I am off to Greece anyway, so have fun. M: Why are you going to Greece? A: Work is calling! Are you jealous? M: I am not jealous, you are! A: Who me? No YOU are! M: Go away! I don’t want to talk to you! A: What!? That doesn’t make sense. M: But I’m an artist! A: #### you! M: *writes a song*

I love this answer, especially the insight that Andy told him he must be projecting it makes the song even more enjoyable to listen to, also knowing that the two of them are fine and they have overcome this hurdle, fortunately!! The fact he makes a strong political statement here, without becoming too polarized and remaining in his role as an artist, is incredibly well done. Also shows insight in the many thoughts that had crossed his mind in the last few months, without running to social media to make a statement. I very much respect him for this. Also this interviewer really did their homework and I am extremely pleased to read such an articulate interview. I haven’t caught up with the rest yet, but this one stands out.

Didn’t he also say this in the rugby interview with Big Jim, the one he did before the World Cup in Paris? He said when he was younger he wished he had two super powers: 1) to be able to be good at sports and 2) to stop time.

Actually, he has many insecurities concerning his face. He has told so in interviews that he really doesn’t like his own image. However, his stage personality is a whole different ballgame! There I agree with you. There he doesn’t care AT ALL and beams so much personality and confidence that you would never guess he has ANY insecurities.

Hahah! Mika even calls himself adoringly a poptart, so who started it!?

No comment only that you need to go to the NC!!

Aww! I love our poptart, but I love this poptart as well!!! Just not the edible ones, those are the only ones I don’t fancy

I think Amira, because she has a black nose (Mel’s is more pinkish).

Well, the fanvideo becomes property of Universal Music / Mika, so when your video was used, that specific snippet is included in the property, officially. That’s true, however, I only sent in 20 seconds and they used half of it, chopped up I think I can try to black out the parts they used, for legal purposes.

This song is my favourite on the album. The last sentences break me

The videos that were used in the fanvideo are official property of Universal Music I believe, so they officially cannot be posted. All others can.