andi Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 didn't see this posted but feel free to close if it has been. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/newsfeed/2008/03/01/brit-award-winner-mika-i-m-obsessed-with-plastic-toys-86908-20336145/ Brit Award Winner Mika: I'm Obsessed With Plastic Toys Mar 1 2008 Exclusive by Rick Fulton STEP aside Michael Jackson and Sir Cliff Richard, there's a new Peter Pan of Pop. With an album called Life In Cartoon Motion, it was to be expected but Mika's love of toys is becoming slightly worrying. He admits to loving Sylvanian Families - and he's 24. The Beirut-born, London-based singer, who won the British Breakthrough Act at the Brit Awards last week, shrugged: "I have probably one of the most extensive collections of Sylvanian Families for a 24-year-old in the world. "I collect toys. I think they're OK. I just like the plastic houses more than the toys. "I'm not into dolls' houses so much, I just like the plastic feel. I'm obsessed with plastic. I like the syntheticness. "My life has become crazy and surreal. Just because I won't compromise how I like to do things. "We'll be gigging and we'll all be eating together in a restaurant. Then, the next day, I'll be in Brussels, go to the Tintin shop and buy 15 cases of Tintin toys and make each member of my family carry one on the Eurostar. It's just fun." Mika has featured toys in the video for his single, Happy Ending, that were made by a Japanese artist and is going to host an exhibition of the toys his fans send him. He said: "I've now had to hire a separate storage room where we've put all the best stuff and next time we exhibit the artwork, which we've done before, we're going to have a room dedicated to the fans. "We've had toy-makers make models of some of my characters and send them to me. We've had embroiderers who make full embroidered clothes with all the artwork on it. "We've got artists who send in animation they've made. We've even got filmmakers from Asia, especially, who make films to go with my songs. It is really incredible." While Mika is a toy fan, don't mention Cabbage Patch Kids to him. "Oh, they're just vile," he grimaced. "I always try and find kids who resemble Cabbage Patch Kids. "You'd be surprised how many ugly babies there are. You just look at some and you want to say, 'Oh, your kid looks like a Cabbage Patch Kid.' "They have like a pointed in nose. Don't get me wrong, I don't live surrounded by my little Sylvanian Families and scary dolls. The weird part is that it's all in storage." While he's yet to reach Michael Jackson's Neverland proportions, it seems he has the same spending problems as the American superstar, although he also reveals he isn't as rich as you'd think. One of his resolutions for 2008 is to be more "money conscious". He admitted: "I'm not very good with it. I haven't seen any of it yet, though. "I had some publishing money at the beginning of the year." Of course, the cash will come eventually because Mika had a fantastic year in 2007. It's been more than a year since Life In Cartoon Motion, which included his No.1 debut single, Grace Kelly, was released and since then the album has hardly left the top 10.This week it is at No.5 in the Scottish album charts - 55 weeks after its release. Only Amy Winehouse's Back To Black has done better in the ScottishTop 20 album charts and is currently number 13 after 69 weeks. Last week, Mika opened the Brit Awards with a medley of Love Today, Grace Kelly and a duet Standing In The Way Of Control with Beth Ditto. He was later awarded the Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act, although he looked disappointed to miss out on British Male to non-singing producer Mark Ronson. But the Brit made up for him losing out to Justin Timberlake for the Grammy for Best Dance Recording. Mika had flown from Vancouver, where he'd been touring America and Canada to do the Brits, getting some much-needed energy from Kylie who made him coffee. And while he went to the Aussie's Brits aftershow party and performed a duet with Beth, don't think his new album will feature any duets. He claims rumours he's working with Madonna are not true. And he insisted: "I'm not interested in dusting my album sleeve with gold. I don't want to borrow from other people." Not even from Sir Paul McCartney, who he met before the Brits where the Beatle was given an Outstanding Contribution To Music award. While Mika likes Macca now, he admits their first meeting in January didn't go well. He said: "We walked past each other. "He looked at me and, I mean, his crew is tiny. It's like two people. I was with like two or three people and he goes, 'So, is it Me-ka or My-ka?' And I was slightly despondent about it. "I wasn't rude as I get it all the time but I said,'Oh it's fine. It's Mika,' and just walked off. I was fine about it as I've even had Wayne Coyne, from The Flaming Lips, one of my heroes, make fun of my name and that made me really upset. So I was like, 'Fine, I'm never going to get upset again'. "I realised there was no point getting upset after I got upset with Wayne Coyne, I looked like an idiot. "But Paul McCartney came up to me again later that night and said,'You know what? I just have to tell you that, I know that your name is Mika. "I think you took me seriously and I wanted to apologise. "I know who you are and I know all about your music. Well done.' And I thought to myself, 'Wow, sometimes it pays not to be a d***head once in a while. "Know your place. Know who's boss and see how it works out." Since the Brits, he's played London Brixton Academy before taking a break to record his second album. A European tour starts in July but there are windows that would allow him to play T in the Park. And he admitted: "I probably will be doing a couple of slots at festivals in the summer." But his main aim for 2008 is to write his second album, which he's already started doing. "Let's not kid about it, it's not going to be easy. The first one was no way easy," he said. "However, I am obsessed with it and I want to make it good. I have absolutely no idea of when it will come out, though. "I seem to have more of a sense of humour about it than most people. I just think as long as it is musically intense, really melodic and it tells a story. It has to be an evolution. "I completely understand the responsibility I have in continuing the sonic style that I have created. "That's not something that scares me." He obviously travels extensively now and finds that flying business class rather than economy helps. He's not yet got his own private jet but admits using one when he had to be in three different countries in one day. He said: "It was really easy but I felt bad for the Amazon. I try and support the climate control companies but I think some of them are confusing. "Trying to find a company that can actually offset carbon emissions ... we keep looking." What did he make of the Live Earth concert with the stars flying on their private planes to get to the concerts? Mika starts giggling: "Do I have an opinion on it? Of course, I do. I have opinions on everything. I'm a stubborn old mule. The biggest problem is keeping my mouth shut." He may be a new Peter Pan but at least Mika has revived the colourful world of fun-time pop again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I <3 MIKA!!! Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 yup this has been posted:wink2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andi Posted March 11, 2008 Author Share Posted March 11, 2008 yup this has been posted:wink2: not to worry ok.. thanks.. close it please:thumb_yello: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirtilla Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 not to worry ok.. thanks.. close it please:thumb_yello: A pleasure to read it again:wub2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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