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Mika brings crowd to its feet

T'CHA DUNLEVY, Montreal Gazette

Published: Monday, January 28

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.

 

 

tdunlevy@thegazette.canwest.com

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http://www.mikafanclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12491&highlight=gazette

 

Already posted .. kinda hectic in here today