lollipop_monkey Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Mika brings crowd to its feet The Montréal Gazette Life In Cartoon Motion. One would be hard-pressed to find a more appropriate title for Mika's debut album than the one the Lebanese-born, British pop singer picked himself. On Monday night, before an enrapt crowd of more than 11,100 young fans at the Bell Centre, he proved it. The exuberant, charismatic and vastly talented performer was irrepressible, bringing his ridiculously peppy songs to the stage with a wildly infectious enthusiasm. Channelling oft-cited influences including Freddy Mercury, Abba, Elton John and the Scissor Sisters, Mika - who in his last visit played the intimate Club Soda - tamed the Bell Centre in no uncertain terms. Or rather, he ignited it. Glo-Sticks were waved from the night's first song, Relax (Take It Easy). The audience jumped to its feet, dancing, screaming and singing along to the 24-year-old's soaring falsetto, underpinned by a thumping club beat. "Bonsoir Montréal!" he shouted after, in perfect French (he lived in France as a child). "Est-ce qu'il y a des big girls dans la salle ce soir?" Into his disco anthem Big Girl, complete with plus-sized models dancing in skimpy showgirl outfits. The gay-themed Billy Brown, a couple songs later, drove home the point that Mika is not all candy-coating. There is substance to his feel-good shenanigans. Which he proved time and again, pulling off the unlikely feat of playing all but two of his album's 12 tracks without losing momentum. To wit, the new song How Much Do You Love Me? ("La première chanson du nouvel album"), garnered lengthy applause. The stomping piano jam Stuck In the Middle incited general elation. While the two-for-one cover of Justin Timberlake's Sexyback and Prince's When Doves Cry (a reference his young fans didn't quite catch - the one lull in the night) was saved by his dynamic delivery. Mika could do no wrong. The breakup ballad Happy Ending brought on a heartfelt singalong ("Little bit of love, little bit of love," - awww). And his calling-cards Grace Kelly and Lollipop (the latter with balloons, costumes and confetti) took things over the top in the home stretch. Recycling the night's opening number, Relax (Take It Easy) for the encore - albeit in a remixed version - could have come off as a copout in different circumstances. Instead, it was crowd-pleasing genius ("On recommence?" he teased). Mika's combination of campy theatrics, monster hooks and tireless, pretention-free showmanship was beyond effective, it was big-league fun. "You've been f---ing incredible!" he gushed toward the end of his set. With a roar, his fans returned the compliment. Montreal dance-rock foursome Creature came out swinging in the opening slot, winning over the eager audience with the punchy songs from its upcoming full-length album, due March 5. Playing to its biggest crowd yet, the band delivered an entertaining set that kept kids cheering all the way through. http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/arts/story.html?id=cfae7fff-aa4d-4a94-9412-b9cef4e1b0bb&k=86474 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
englishrose Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Omg! OMG! I'LL HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE IN 17 DAYS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elanorelle Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 WOW:shocked: :shocked: LOTS OF PEOPLE! WOOHOOO! SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elanorelle Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Omg! OMG! I'LL HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE IN 17 DAYS! YES we will! 2780 is not the same as 11,000! but its a fair size!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
englishrose Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 YES we will!2780 is not the same as 11,000! but its a fair size!!!!!!!! Doesn't matter! We will see him and that's all I care about! OOOOOHHHHHH I've got a bug! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilmot Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Amazing!!! A cover of Prince's "When Doves Cry" Thank you for posting....so quickly!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmbm Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Nice review - thanks for posting! I HAVE to hear these covers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niki27 Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmbm Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 While the two-for-one cover of Justin Timberlake's Sexyback and Prince's When Doves Cry (a reference his young fans didn't quite catch - the one lull in the night) was saved by his dynamic delivery. I don't get this part - who wants to explain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
englishrose Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I think it means the crowd didn't like that part as much... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmbm Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I think it means the crowd didn't like that part as much... Thanks for helping my slowness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
englishrose Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 You're welcome. I had a sssslllloooowwww day yesterday, it took me like a minute to register what people were saying to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mariposa Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Wow! Thanks for posting! Such a great review! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREDDIESDOUBLE Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Nice report ! Could someone tell me what this means ? "La première chanson du nouvel album" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmbm Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Nice report ! Could someone tell me what this means ? "La première chanson du nouvel album" The first song from the new album Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elanorelle Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 looks like the First Song on the New Album if I know my French correctly ( I do read some, Freddie!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
englishrose Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 No, it means 'I am Freddie's stalker.' Gosh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREDDIESDOUBLE Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 The first song form the new album looks like the First Song on the New Album if I know my French correctly ( I do read some, Freddie!) Thanks to both Your French is better than mine .. errr Bonjour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elanorelle Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 The first song form the new album boy you and I are posting the same time! wooow I love this crazy energy ! wow wow! I think North America is on MIKA fire!!!!!!!!! :punk: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREDDIESDOUBLE Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 No, it means 'I am Freddie's stalker.' Gosh. :shocked: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
englishrose Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 :shocked: Being stalked by Mika, what an idea...normally it's the other way round... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elanorelle Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 :shocked: hehehehehehehe! So Freddie! you will have a cornucopia of gigs to glean from ! Mine is in 17 days and I am getting shaky already!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREDDIESDOUBLE Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Being stalked by Mika, what an idea...normally it's the other way round... Yeh I think Im falling into that danger zone of stalking him:naughty: Im loving the reports ..... hes on fire around the world , simply amazingg!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
englishrose Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Yeh I think Im falling into that danger zone of stalking him:naughty: Im loving the reports ..... hes on fire around the world , simply amazingg!!! Woooo! I can't wait! *hops around* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREDDIESDOUBLE Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 hehehehehehehe! So Freddie! you will have a cornucopia of gigs to glean from ! Mine is in 17 days and I am getting shaky already!!! Yeh Im in heaven! 17 days .. 17 days until the beat of relax kicks in ...... Its not your first one is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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