elanorelle Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 interesting and insightful article!makes some points! http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080225/ENT/734191392 AND! http://www.heraldnet.com/section/BLOG21 Mika's a phenomenon onstage and a hit abroad By Andy Rathbun Herald Columnist Mika doesn't hide the fact he's looking for a little love and attention. His songs are filled with oddly needy lyrics, as he asks, "Why don't you like me?" and urges his audience to "love, love me." The singer has been winning people over without much U.S. radio support. He played a sold-out show in Seattle at the Showbox SoDo on Valentine's Day, then went back to England, where on Wednesday he giddily accepted a Brit Award -- a bit like a Grammy -- for Breakthrough Act. Clearly, England has embraced the singer, with more than 1 million copies of his debut, "Life in Cartoon Motion," sold there. But the U.S. seems ready to shove him off onto a cult audience, which would be a mistake. Why? Because he is one of the strongest young live performers out there. Now 24, Mika settled in London at age 9, the son of a Lebanese mother and an American father. Born Michael Holbrook Penniman, he attended London's Royal College of Music. He had been bullied as a child and still felt uncomfortable in his environment, he told Rolling Stone. "By day, I was surrounded by snobs who thought that classical music was the only real music -- if it wasn't written down, it didn't exist," he said. "Then at night I'd go to some indie show where everyone was just as big of a snob. Except they believed everything had to be jangly and grungy and British. I was a mutt -- rejected by both worlds." His first album feels a bit like the work of a mutt hungry for attention. It's a tail-wagging mash-up of influences including Freddie Mercury and 1970s disco. Some of it wears thin after repeat listening, but it is not, as one early critic sniffed, of "virtually zero worth." Rather, it serves as a soundtrack for his live show; almost every song on the album benefits from his charismatic stage performance. Yes, his songs could be stronger, and on future albums, maybe they will be. But his show -- the fizzy mix of Broadway and Vegas he brought to Seattle 11 days ago -- already is hard to top. At the Showbox, a huge skeleton puppet walked across stage as Mika twirled an umbrella. An angel burst from an oversized balloon. During a cover of the Eurythmics "Missionary Man," a scantily clad female with a huge feather headdress joined the singer. And plump dancing girls shook around for his song "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)." As ridiculous as it was at times, it all hung together, because camp rules most of Mika's songs. "Billy Brown," a show-tune-styled track, is about a gay love affair, while "Love Today," featuring a girl that "licks her lips like they're something other," is a disco throwback, grounded in piano and guitar. During the show, the singer gave a nod to the lack of support he's had from radio stations in the U.S., saying he felt lucky to perform live despite scant airplay. His highest charting song, "Grace Kelly," a smash overseas, reached a lowly 75 on the Billboard Hot 100. The crowd didn't seem to care about his radio success -- or lack thereof. Thousands whooped as he staged a Stomp-style drum off on a garbage-can contraption. His minor hits spurred sing-alongs. Everyone knew the words. And everyone seemed to love, love him. Columnist Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455 or e-mail arathbun@heraldnet.com. Listen here To hear tracks from Mika, go to http://www.heraldnet.com/popsecrets today. more positive articles yay! i loved that Concert so much! :punk: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzy Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Thanks for the article Suzanne! Have you come down a little from your "high" ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elanorelle Posted February 25, 2008 Author Share Posted February 25, 2008 Thanks for the article Suzanne! Have you come down a little from your "high" ? NOPE!!! CERTAINLY WON'T AFTER THURSDAY THIS WEEK. ! I HAVE STUFF UP MY SLEEVE (OR RATHER A BOX IN LONDON) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akim Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Its great review, thanks for posting I can't wait for his second album... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassiopée Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Thanks for posting Suzanne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elanorelle Posted February 25, 2008 Author Share Posted February 25, 2008 Thanks for posting Suzanne YOU ARE VERY WELCOME:) :wub2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I <3 MIKA!!! Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 thanks elanorelle!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah90 Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 i looooove great reviews!! thanks for posting!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcdeb Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Nice review, Suzanne! Thanks for posting it! dcdeb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miek Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Ynaks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyn Mastin Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 interesting and insightful article!makes some points!http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080225/ENT/734191392 AND! http://www.heraldnet.com/section/BLOG21 Mika's a phenomenon onstage and a hit abroad By Andy Rathbun Herald Columnist Mika doesn't hide the fact he's looking for a little love and attention. His songs are filled with oddly needy lyrics, as he asks, "Why don't you like me?" and urges his audience to "love, love me." The singer has been winning people over without much U.S. radio support. He played a sold-out show in Seattle at the Showbox SoDo on Valentine's Day, then went back to England, where on Wednesday he giddily accepted a Brit Award -- a bit like a Grammy -- for Breakthrough Act. Clearly, England has embraced the singer, with more than 1 million copies of his debut, "Life in Cartoon Motion," sold there. But the U.S. seems ready to shove him off onto a cult audience, which would be a mistake. Why? Because he is one of the strongest young live performers out there. Now 24, Mika settled in London at age 9, the son of a Lebanese mother and an American father. Born Michael Holbrook Penniman, he attended London's Royal College of Music. He had been bullied as a child and still felt uncomfortable in his environment, he told Rolling Stone. "By day, I was surrounded by snobs who thought that classical music was the only real music -- if it wasn't written down, it didn't exist," he said. "Then at night I'd go to some indie show where everyone was just as big of a snob. Except they believed everything had to be jangly and grungy and British. I was a mutt -- rejected by both worlds." His first album feels a bit like the work of a mutt hungry for attention. It's a tail-wagging mash-up of influences including Freddie Mercury and 1970s disco. Some of it wears thin after repeat listening, but it is not, as one early critic sniffed, of "virtually zero worth." Rather, it serves as a soundtrack for his live show; almost every song on the album benefits from his charismatic stage performance. Yes, his songs could be stronger, and on future albums, maybe they will be. But his show -- the fizzy mix of Broadway and Vegas he brought to Seattle 11 days ago -- already is hard to top. At the Showbox, a huge skeleton puppet walked across stage as Mika twirled an umbrella. An angel burst from an oversized balloon. During a cover of the Eurythmics "Missionary Man," a scantily clad female with a huge feather headdress joined the singer. And plump dancing girls shook around for his song "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)." As ridiculous as it was at times, it all hung together, because camp rules most of Mika's songs. "Billy Brown," a show-tune-styled track, is about a gay love affair, while "Love Today," featuring a girl that "licks her lips like they're something other," is a disco throwback, grounded in piano and guitar. During the show, the singer gave a nod to the lack of support he's had from radio stations in the U.S., saying he felt lucky to perform live despite scant airplay. His highest charting song, "Grace Kelly," a smash overseas, reached a lowly 75 on the Billboard Hot 100. The crowd didn't seem to care about his radio success -- or lack thereof. Thousands whooped as he staged a Stomp-style drum off on a garbage-can contraption. His minor hits spurred sing-alongs. Everyone knew the words. And everyone seemed to love, love him. Columnist Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455 or e-mail arathbun@heraldnet.com. Listen here To hear tracks from Mika, go to http://www.heraldnet.com/popsecrets today. more positive articles yay! i loved that Concert so much! :punk: I love love Andy Rathbun! In fact, since he's left his email address, I'm going to email the wonderful guy and say how much I love his review! He needs to go on our 'good guy' list! Edit: I emailed him and congratulated him on his review. He sent one back asking where I was from I have nominated him for our A List of good guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lollipop_monkey Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Because he is one of the strongest young live performers out there. Cheers to that! Thanks for posting! Has it really been that long since Seattle already? Sigh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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