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Exuberant (but nervous?) Mika at Electric Factory

greta

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greta

greta

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http://www.philly.com/inquirer/breaking/news_breaking/15102186.html

 

Last spring, Mika, the Lebanese born pop-star-in-the-making, introduced himself with a song named after a Philadelphia born princess. In "Grace Kelly," the first single off his debut album Life In Cartoon Motion, he repeatedly asked a question to which he could not conceive of a logical answer: "Why don't you like me?" Last night at the Electric Factory, the London-based pianist born Mica Penniman kicked off his first U.S. tour with a terrifically entertaining, delightfully campy, aerobically energized sold-out show that made not liking him seem to not be an option.

As the room full of teenaged girls let their enthusiasm be heard, the floppy haired 24 year old took to the stage to Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" before beginning with the lithesome dance track "Relax (Take It Easy)" and the full-bodied boogie of "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)." For the latter, the skinny man was joined by a plus-sized dancer dressed in a corset that matched the one worn by an oversized woman inflated at the rear of the stage.

After that, Mika sat at the piano and confided to the audience that, this being the first time in Philadelphia and all, he and his five piece band were "pretty . . .nervous."

If that was true, it wasn't evident in the least. In many ways, Mika is a throwback to the 1970s, before the concept of "indie" existed and pop stars like Elton John were unabashed in their extravagance. His songs are catchy, shamelessly commercial singalongs with big, bold choruses. (Before scoring a record deal, he wrote jingles for Orbit gum and British Airways.)

And Mika - who shares a last name with another flamboyant keyboardist, Little Richard - is in the habit of gleefully showing off his octave leaping voice, after the manner of another of his forebears, Freddy Mercury, who is name checked in "Grace Kelly."

On Life In Cartoon Motion, Mika's influences are readily apparent, and he doesn't make much of an effort to camouflage them on stage. At the Factory, he paid tribute to Annie Lennox, whose vocal mannerisms he often approximates, with a cover of the Eurythmics' "Missionary Man," done as a duet with a back up singer who stood atop a giant M wearing a feathered headdress doing her best impression of Salma Hayek's snake dance in From Dusk Till Dawn.

But for all the transparency of his sources, Mika already comes off as his own exuberant creation. That was apparent whether he was driving his fans into fits of ecstasy with a shirtless drum solo, or dressing in a bunny suit for a closing, confetti strewn version of the infectious "Lollipop." That primary colored confection was worthy of the Banana Splits - that's a compliment - and made sure that everyone present liked Mika even more at the end of show than they did at the beginning.

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Marilyn Mastin

Marilyn Mastin

Posted
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http://www.philly.com/inquirer/breaking/news_breaking/15102186.html

 

Last spring, Mika, the Lebanese born pop-star-in-the-making, introduced himself with a song named after a Philadelphia born princess. In "Grace Kelly," the first single off his debut album Life In Cartoon Motion, he repeatedly asked a question to which he could not conceive of a logical answer: "Why don't you like me?" Last night at the Electric Factory, the London-based pianist born Mica Penniman kicked off his first U.S. tour with a terrifically entertaining, delightfully campy, aerobically energized sold-out show that made not liking him seem to not be an option.

As the room full of teenaged girls let their enthusiasm be heard, the floppy haired 24 year old took to the stage to Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" before beginning with the lithesome dance track "Relax (Take It Easy)" and the full-bodied boogie of "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)." For the latter, the skinny man was joined by a plus-sized dancer dressed in a corset that matched the one worn by an oversized woman inflated at the rear of the stage.

After that, Mika sat at the piano and confided to the audience that, this being the first time in Philadelphia and all, he and his five piece band were "pretty . . .nervous."

If that was true, it wasn't evident in the least. In many ways, Mika is a throwback to the 1970s, before the concept of "indie" existed and pop stars like Elton John were unabashed in their extravagance. His songs are catchy, shamelessly commercial singalongs with big, bold choruses. (Before scoring a record deal, he wrote jingles for Orbit gum and British Airways.)

And Mika - who shares a last name with another flamboyant keyboardist, Little Richard - is in the habit of gleefully showing off his octave leaping voice, after the manner of another of his forebears, Freddy Mercury, who is name checked in "Grace Kelly."

On Life In Cartoon Motion, Mika's influences are readily apparent, and he doesn't make much of an effort to camouflage them on stage. At the Factory, he paid tribute to Annie Lennox, whose vocal mannerisms he often approximates, with a cover of the Eurythmics' "Missionary Man," done as a duet with a back up singer who stood atop a giant M wearing a feathered headdress doing her best impression of Salma Hayek's snake dance in From Dusk Till Dawn.

But for all the transparency of his sources, Mika already comes off as his own exuberant creation. That was apparent whether he was driving his fans into fits of ecstasy with a shirtless drum solo, or dressing in a bunny suit for a closing, confetti strewn version of the infectious "Lollipop." That primary colored confection was worthy of the Banana Splits - that's a compliment - and made sure that everyone present liked Mika even more at the end of show than they did at the beginning.

"Mika already comes off as his own exhuberant creation".

 

How long have we waited for someone, who writes articles and reviews, to realise...

MIKA IS UNIQUE!!!!!!!!!

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Blue Sky

Blue Sky

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Little Richard was called Penniman !!!! :shocked: :shocked:

AWESOME !!! :mf_rosetinted:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Richard

 

I am surprised a little googling didn't bring that one up earlier for you Yop...but perhaps you have never been into googling the way our young greta has of late...

 

I mean, in the article..oh, nevermind:bleh:

wanna dig out more about surnames and parental links?:glasses3:http://www.distantcousin.com/SurnameResources/Surname.asp?Surname=Penniman

 

 

Winner of the most-stalkerish award for tonight!!:winner_first_h4h:

You are making it easy for the papparazzi Greta, they can just follow you round on MFC and get all they need!!

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HelloKitty Lucy

HelloKitty Lucy

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http://www.philly.com/inquirer/breaking/news_breaking/15102186.html

 

Last spring, Mika, the Lebanese born pop-star-in-the-making, introduced himself with a song named after a Philadelphia born princess. In "Grace Kelly," the first single off his debut album Life In Cartoon Motion, he repeatedly asked a question to which he could not conceive of a logical answer: "Why don't you like me?" Last night at the Electric Factory, the London-based pianist born Mica Penniman kicked off his first U.S. tour with a terrifically entertaining, delightfully campy, aerobically energized sold-out show that made not liking him seem to not be an option.

As the room full of teenaged girls let their enthusiasm be heard, the floppy haired 24 year old took to the stage to Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" before beginning with the lithesome dance track "Relax (Take It Easy)" and the full-bodied boogie of "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)." For the latter, the skinny man was joined by a plus-sized dancer dressed in a corset that matched the one worn by an oversized woman inflated at the rear of the stage.

After that, Mika sat at the piano and confided to the audience that, this being the first time in Philadelphia and all, he and his five piece band were "pretty . . .nervous."

If that was true, it wasn't evident in the least. In many ways, Mika is a throwback to the 1970s, before the concept of "indie" existed and pop stars like Elton John were unabashed in their extravagance. His songs are catchy, shamelessly commercial singalongs with big, bold choruses. (Before scoring a record deal, he wrote jingles for Orbit gum and British Airways.)

And Mika - who shares a last name with another flamboyant keyboardist, Little Richard - is in the habit of gleefully showing off his octave leaping voice, after the manner of another of his forebears, Freddy Mercury, who is name checked in "Grace Kelly."

On Life In Cartoon Motion, Mika's influences are readily apparent, and he doesn't make much of an effort to camouflage them on stage. At the Factory, he paid tribute to Annie Lennox, whose vocal mannerisms he often approximates, with a cover of the Eurythmics' "Missionary Man," done as a duet with a back up singer who stood atop a giant M wearing a feathered headdress doing her best impression of Salma Hayek's snake dance in From Dusk Till Dawn.

But for all the transparency of his sources, Mika already comes off as his own exuberant creation. That was apparent whether he was driving his fans into fits of ecstasy with a shirtless drum solo, or dressing in a bunny suit for a closing, confetti strewn version of the infectious "Lollipop." That primary colored confection was worthy of the Banana Splits - that's a compliment - and made sure that everyone present liked Mika even more at the end of show than they did at the beginning.

 

The skinny man...:naughty: this is a Mika's specific prerogative...

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Gatagordinha

Gatagordinha

Posted
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"Mika already comes off as his own exhuberant creation".

 

How long have we waited for someone, who writes articles and reviews, to realise...

MIKA IS UNIQUE!!!!!!!!!

 

Yes it was good to read that.

 

Little Richard was called Penniman !!!! :shocked: :shocked:

AWESOME !!! :mf_rosetinted:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Richard

 

Keep up Yoppa, didn't you know that? :mf_rosetinted:

 

I didn't know that either and I'm not ashamed to admit it :mf_rosetinted: .

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RAK1

RAK1

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Posted
well... i do... i like his songs ! :blink: and i find the coincidence quite funny... didn't know that...

 

I'm with you, I had no idea that was Little Richards surname.

That's pretty awesome!

They both play piano, they both have excessive and exuberant energy and they both have overwhelming charisma.

Guess it must go with the name!LOL!

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Gatagordinha

Gatagordinha

Posted
Posted
I'm with you, I had no idea that was Little Richards surname.

That's pretty awesome!

They both play piano, they both have excessive and exuberant energy and they both have overwhelming charisma.Guess it must go with the name!LOL!

 

Not forgetting the hair...

 

little_richard.jpg

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