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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2004184743_mikareview16.html

The best Valentine's Day party in town had to be pop showman Mika's glittery extravaganza Thursday night at the cavernous Showbox SoDo.

The tall, skinny, boyishly cute singer-keyboardist, in white jumpsuit with glittery accents, presented a tight, fast-paced, action-packed show that featured up to a dozen colorfully costumed musicians and dancers, along with blinding blizzards of confetti and blasts of colorful streamers that blanketed the crowd.

It felt like a disco sometimes, with all the colorful, flashing lights, body-slamming beats and a dance floor packed with couples, gay and straight, as well as individuals and even mixed groups of people, dancing the night away.

"Everybody's gonna love today!" the Beirut-born, London-based Mika sang in high falsetto, a lyric perfectly matched to Cupid's holiday. The invigorating tune it came from was "Love Today," which was nominated for a Grammy in the best dance recording category. It was one of the big production numbers in the show, with Mika and his female percussionist, sporting an enormous Afro, pounding out a duet on trash cans, a la "Stomp!"

The song lost at the Grammy ceremony earlier in the week, but the nomination upped Mika's profile in America. He's already a star in England and Europe but told the crowd he's had trouble getting his songs on the radio here because of some touchy themes.

Some of those songs seemed to be favorites of fans at the show, who cheered them on and sang along. "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" featured two full-figured gals in strapless blue dresses proudly prancing onstage. "Billy Brown," about a married man's gay love affair, had the many gay guys on the dance floor whooping and hollering.

His breakthrough, dance-floor hit, "Grace Kelly," with combative, contradictory lyrics that mirror Mika's androgynous, ambivalent persona, was also a highlight. But the biggest blast of all came with the long, busy encore of "Lollipop," which featured the biggest confetti and streamer showers.

The Midway State, the Canadian group that opened, also featured a cute young singer-keyboardist, Nathan Ferraro, who sang well-crafted, romantic, sunny pop songs. He and his band did a good job of winning over the big crowd.

 

By Patrick MacDonald

Seattle Times music critic

 

 

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2004184743_mikareview16.html

The best Valentine's Day party in town had to be pop showman Mika's glittery extravaganza Thursday night at the cavernous Showbox SoDo.

The tall, skinny, boyishly cute singer-keyboardist, in white jumpsuit with glittery accents, presented a tight, fast-paced, action-packed show that featured up to a dozen colorfully costumed musicians and dancers, along with blinding blizzards of confetti and blasts of colorful streamers that blanketed the crowd.

It felt like a disco sometimes, with all the colorful, flashing lights, body-slamming beats and a dance floor packed with couples, gay and straight, as well as individuals and even mixed groups of people, dancing the night away.

"Everybody's gonna love today!" the Beirut-born, London-based Mika sang in high falsetto, a lyric perfectly matched to Cupid's holiday. The invigorating tune it came from was "Love Today," which was nominated for a Grammy in the best dance recording category. It was one of the big production numbers in the show, with Mika and his female percussionist, sporting an enormous Afro, pounding out a duet on trash cans, a la "Stomp!"

The song lost at the Grammy ceremony earlier in the week, but the nomination upped Mika's profile in America. He's already a star in England and Europe but told the crowd he's had trouble getting his songs on the radio here because of some touchy themes.

Some of those songs seemed to be favorites of fans at the show, who cheered them on and sang along. "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" featured two full-figured gals in strapless blue dresses proudly prancing onstage. "Billy Brown," about a married man's gay love affair, had the many gay guys on the dance floor whooping and hollering.

His breakthrough, dance-floor hit, "Grace Kelly," with combative, contradictory lyrics that mirror Mika's androgynous, ambivalent persona, was also a highlight. But the biggest blast of all came with the long, busy encore of "Lollipop," which featured the biggest confetti and streamer showers.

The Midway State, the Canadian group that opened, also featured a cute young singer-keyboardist, Nathan Ferraro, who sang well-crafted, romantic, sunny pop songs. He and his band did a good job of winning over the big crowd.

 

By Patrick MacDonald

Seattle Times music critic

 

 

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

 

Britain!!!!! :sneaky2:

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Thanks for posting this great review!

 

I disagree that his music has "touchy" themes. Yes, BB might be a little touchy....but only a little. Think of all the other "mainstream" artists who are so much more flagrant with sexual and violent lyrics--and no one gives them a second thought.

 

I think Mika's problem here in the US is that his music is happy and celebratory. That just doesn't seem to be 'in'.

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Thanks for posting this great review!

 

I disagree that his music has "touchy" themes. Yes, BB might be a little touchy....but only a little. Think of all the other "mainstream" artists who are so much more flagrant with sexual and violent lyrics--and no one gives them a second thought.

I think Mika's problem here in the US is that his music is happy and celebratory. That just doesn't seem to be 'in'.

 

I agree and I also think that they dont want to write about someone who isn't into drugs and booze filled parties, lewd sex acts or someone who courts ANY ad ALL publicity, they don't like the fact he is clean living, and are dying to find out if he IS gay so they got something on him that they will consider news worthy enough to plaster all over their trashy papers. (can you tell how annoying I find them).

 

But yeah that's a good review and I liked that they mentioned the support act too that was great, but hey...what about Mikas excellent fans who are THE BEST!! :bleh:

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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2004184743_mikareview16.html

The best Valentine's Day party in town had to be pop showman Mika's glittery extravaganza Thursday night at the cavernous Showbox SoDo.

The tall, skinny, boyishly cute singer-keyboardist, in white jumpsuit with glittery accents, presented a tight, fast-paced, action-packed show that featured up to a dozen colorfully costumed musicians and dancers, along with blinding blizzards of confetti and blasts of colorful streamers that blanketed the crowd.

It felt like a disco sometimes, with all the colorful, flashing lights, body-slamming beats and a dance floor packed with couples, gay and straight, as well as individuals and even mixed groups of people, dancing the night away.

"Everybody's gonna love today!" the Beirut-born, London-based Mika sang in high falsetto, a lyric perfectly matched to Cupid's holiday. The invigorating tune it came from was "Love Today," which was nominated for a Grammy in the best dance recording category. It was one of the big production numbers in the show, with Mika and his female percussionist, sporting an enormous Afro, pounding out a duet on trash cans, a la "Stomp!"

The song lost at the Grammy ceremony earlier in the week, but the nomination upped Mika's profile in America. He's already a star in England and Europe but told the crowd he's had trouble getting his songs on the radio here because of some touchy themes.

Some of those songs seemed to be favorites of fans at the show, who cheered them on and sang along. "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" featured two full-figured gals in strapless blue dresses proudly prancing onstage. "Billy Brown," about a married man's gay love affair, had the many gay guys on the dance floor whooping and hollering.

His breakthrough, dance-floor hit, "Grace Kelly," with combative, contradictory lyrics that mirror Mika's androgynous, ambivalent persona, was also a highlight. But the biggest blast of all came with the long, busy encore of "Lollipop," which featured the biggest confetti and streamer showers.

The Midway State, the Canadian group that opened, also featured a cute young singer-keyboardist, Nathan Ferraro, who sang well-crafted, romantic, sunny pop songs. He and his band did a good job of winning over the big crowd.

 

By Patrick MacDonald

Seattle Times music critic

 

 

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

 

Thanks for posting!

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