superstar Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 WORLD'S HIS STAGE; 'NON NATIONAL' MIKA IS AT HOME WHEREVER HIS MUSICAL TALENTS TAKE HIM.. AS HE PREPARES TO WOE IRISH FANS AT OLYMPIA by Claire Brennan Unless you have been living under a giant soundproof rock for the lastthree years you've probably heard of the one-man musical wonder thatis Mika. The self-proclaimed "marmite" of the music industry has singlehandedly divided the nation with his ultra-flamboyant style andinsanely catchy lyrics. But love him or hate him you've got to give the guy his dues. He's managed to sell eight million records and is about to embark on a sell-out tour of Europe. Not bad work for a 26-year-old. Mika is the first to admit that he owes much of his success his eclectic upbringing. In fact his childhood was one of constant change. One of five children, Mika was born Michael Penniman in Beirut to a Lebanese mother and an American father. The outbreak of the country's civil war forced the family to flee their home and move to Paris. Mika and his siblings adopted the language and attempted to make thecity their own. But it wasn't long before the Pennimans were on the road again,eventually settling in London. Not even Mika's accent can define his true heritage. At times he sounds like the perfect English gent before switching to something a little more exotic. He told The Beat: "I don't really have a nationality or a hometown. "I have my music and I can settle there. When I perform the stage becomes my home." Mika brings his travelling abode to Dublin's Olympia on February 15. He promises the gig will represent his flamboyant and amorous nature. Ticket holders should expect to be bombarded with plenty of Mika's trademark razzle dazzle. He added: "We are pretty quiet behind stage before the show starts. I guess we try to conserve all of our energy. "We want to take the audience somewhere, where they can forget about the outside world and just have fun." Despite having just two albums under his belt Mika has a vast range to chart hits to chose from when he pens his concert set list. His debut Grace Kelly exploded onto the music scene back in 2007 in ablaze of camp pop perfection. Since then his first album Life in Cartoon Motion and his recent follow up, The Boy Who Knew Too Much, have sold almost eight million copies worldwide. Next week he'll be crossing his fingers and toes as battles it out at the Brit Awards. He's nominated in the Best Male Artist category. But will one of the UK's biggest music accolades finally prove he's a national treasure? Probably not...He said: "No matter how long I live in London I will never be considered as one of their own. "That's just the way it is. It's a good job I am a gypsy because otherwise it would bother me. "I believe that you take something for every experience in your life including childhood. "So even though I'll never be considered English, I wouldn't change it." As with any award show the winner is never a given. Mika faces stiff competition from Paolo Nutini, Dizzee Rascal, Calvin Harris and a reformed Robbie Williams. However, he insists there's no rivalry. Mika enjoys working with other artists and recently recorded Simon Cowell's (above) charity single, Everybody Hurts - Help Haiti Now. The track is sure to raise thousands for the three million people displaced by last month's devastating quake. Mika is part of an all-star line-up but has more reason than most tolend his distinctive vocals to the record. He said: "I grew up in France and have a lot of friends that live in Haiti. I was there a couple of years ago for a wedding. "I couldn't believe it when I heard what happened. I was honoured to take part in the charity single. "We all recorded our vocals separately so there's no big chorus line like there is with Band Aid. It's just very simple." Mika also admits that he is a "sucker for a melody" and spends much ofhis time writing for other artists. He penned Boyzone's current single Gave It All Away almost two years ago. The track didn't feature on the band's comeback album because of a"publishing dispute". Mika was accused of holding back the track because he thought the boyband's version was "cheesy". But Stephen Gately's tragic death last October, sparked a change of heart and he agreed to let Ronan and the boys release the track as a tribute to their band mate. The star said the song, which opens with Gately, inset, singing "I'll learn to live before I die", has a very different meaning for him." It was in the pipeline for a couple of years but it has an altogether different significance now. It's very scary hearing him sing those words. It's arresting. He was an outsider and he had a very hard life until he found music and success." Gately's grit and determination certainly struck a chord with Mika. Behind the 100 watt grin and L'oreal curls is a young man whose musi cbecame his sanctuary at an early age. He struggled to fit in at school - continually branded "the new boy". His sexuality has always remained a closely guarded secret. He insists it's nobody's business but his own. This adds a little mystery to a singer who otherwise reads like an open book. What you see is what you get - and he's not going to try to be anything else. The Mirror February 5, 2010 Friday Eire Edition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAK1 Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Shouldn't that be "WOO" in the headline? :roftl: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superstar Posted February 6, 2010 Author Share Posted February 6, 2010 Shouldn't that be "WOO" in the headline?:roftl: What?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cliffpat Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Shouldn't that be "WOO" in the headline?:roftl: haha! guess it just depends on people's opinion of him. hahaha. it's a really well done article. thank you for posting it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbyyy Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Behind the 100 watt grin and L'oreal curls... that bit made me laugh Thankyou for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foalbaby14 Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Thanks for posting:biggrin2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foalbaby14 Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Mika's trademark razzle dazzle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LilStar Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 that bit made me laugh Thankyou for posting i was about to quote the same thing: Behind the 100 watt grin and L'oreal curls quote of the day:roftl: or the evening... whatever:roftl: T4P!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Angel Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 that bit made me laugh Thankyou for posting +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellemoonbeam Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 +1 such a good article! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cherol Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 L'oreal curls That's so good. I like that article, thanks for posting!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yuna Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Thanks for posting!! can't wait to see the show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Sky Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Funny I thought it should be WOW....anyway, it shouldn't be woe, that is for sure....but thanks for typing it all out...there in no link yet is there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuMika Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Thanks for posting!good interwiev,except that I didn't understand the half of it... but yess,"the L'oreal curls":biggrin2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mine Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Very nice interview:thumb_yello: thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikatuned Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 thanks for posting! an interesting read ))) lol, +5 for '100 watt grin and L'oreal curls' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAK1 Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 thanks for posting!an interesting read ))) lol, +5 for '100 watt grin and L'oreal curls' Because he's worth it, ha ha!!! Sorry, seriously now, good article, T4P ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naectegale Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Shouldn't that be "WOO" in the headline?:roftl: :roftl: I nearly choked onmy toast reading that :roftl: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austerulous Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 T4P! Good way of desrcibing it... 100 watt smile! I'm going to slip that into normal conversation somehow in the near future.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanessa Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Do we know now what shampoo he's using Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marian538 Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 T4P!! everytime he talks about the tour it gives me goosebumps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Thanks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kodes100 Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 "The One-Man Musical Wonder That Is Mika!" Thank you superstar.:thumb_yello: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissPie Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 t4p! Nice article loved the 100 Watt grin too "Unless you've been living under a giant soundproof rock" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellody Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 thanx! "sucker for a melody" he's learned from his mistakes and added an "a" this time. L'oreal curls, LOL! is he getting money/free products from them too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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