Tunisian interview (by phone) 21.10.10

[Gatagordinha]

Thanks so much for posting. It's lovely to hear him, and I always love listening to him speak French.

 

I agree, the interviewer was very good.

 

Pleased for fans that the Tunisia show is going ahead and I know he'll get a great reception.

[RAK1]

2nd part :

 

I : Now we’ll talk about your artistic world. You really created your own style and your own world so kudos for that! Especially in the music industry today. You “fight” against the major companies who wanted you to sing differently, like Craig David. You must be very proud of you, right, for becoming the star you are today?

M : don’t know, I don’t feel particularly proud. I always thinks about a lot of questions, that gave me energy. I’m never satisfied with what I do cause I always want to invent again myself. Now that I’m working on my 3rd album, that gives me the perfect opportunity to reinvent what I do and to add something new in my visual and world. You never should think of what you did being proud but you should learn about it and use these lessons to keep going on

I : Yes, but you had a uneasy adolescence, and you managed to establish your own style. It’s a big deal! And it’s a nice example for the young people who are suffering or dealing with themselves.

M : yes, it’s true. I used the feelings I felt (being apart at school…) and I used this energy to show the world I could do something. I made some films in my head, when I had troubles at school, in the street, I had some great illusions in my head. It could have been a disaster but thanks God, I was lucky and today I’m fine.

I : that’s great

M : I closed my eyes and I always dreamed ! I think I’m very lucky to do what I like today.

I : Next question. You often talk about a 10 years career. You don’t picture yourself singing at 50 like the Rolling Stones ?

M : don’t know. I like to think that I won’t wear the same things at 50, I won’t sing the same songs the same way I do now, I’d like to invent because it would be ridiculous a 50 or 60 years old man wearing coloring pants and braces and singing Lollipop! And honestly, it would be even disgusting/filthy. I must confess, you have to change !

I : maybe you will sing some ballads, really calm songs

M : oh no, not at all ! It wouldn’t be calm but insane ! But no ballads !

I: Talk to me about Melachi, your dog. I think her name is related to Arabic

M : it’s my great grand-mother’s name. The dog is very nice and very quiet ! very wise ! It’s funny because people from family or friends don’t like to touch her. I don’t know why, they don’t like dogs in the house, so it’s nice because she is not too much spoiled. So she is wise and always stays with me.

I : do you know a few words in Arabic ? We would like to hear you!

M: I’m terrible. I try, but when I tried in Jordania or Lebanon, everybody laughed at me

I : just say “hello”, something easy.

M :….

 

[ Then they talk about Arabic singers and the girl ask him if it’s something that touch him. He says they are childhood memories and some of them are ones of the greater voices of the world. ]

 

 

Ah! He named her after his great grandmother then.

That's a new one:naughty:

[Miro]

Lovely interview I always love to hear him speak French (though I don't really understand much of it ) and of course Arabic Thanks so much for posting and translating, Deb!

[RAK1]

Thanks for the translation Deb, must have taken you a while. It's appreciated:thumb_yello:

[krjsantos]

Own:wub2:Thank you Deb, so good hear Mika again:fangurl:

[French Deb]

Thanks for the translation Deb, must have taken you a while. It's appreciated:thumb_yello:

 

I was pleased to do it And that made me listen the interview again and practise my writing english, so it's only positive !

 

And for Melachi, I thought the same new story !

[Sabine64]

Thank you so much for your translation. Now after reading the interview I´ll hear it and can imagine what he said.

[sweet.pixie]

Thanks so much for translating! It's so good to have news from him!

[crazyaboutmika]

A bit late but this is the transalation I came up with

Hi This is Mika. Meet me in Tunisia.I can't wait for my gig there.

 

Mika, you're half lebanese, half american

Q:what's your relashionship with Lebanon?

 

Mika:That's a big part of me; I was born in Lebanon, in Beyrout, that's very important, my house or my parents has many Levanese inlfluences and I'm proud of it; he mentions coffee cups ,paintings etc..

 

Q: Do you chose the countries you tour?

 

Mika:Yes, for example I prefered Balbeck to Bybloss

My concert in Rabbat was great too; 40000 people , it was a free gig

 

Q:Anything special for Tunnis gig?

 

Mika: Do you know about my concerts?

 

Yes, we have Leila who's a big fan of yours who spied for us

I like people in the audience to come and dance on styage with us; we have all the clothes for the dark carnival

That creates a different athmosphere as the audience is different too

Big girls and all the others are welcome even men (some men did breakdancein USA at my show)

Mika mentions some Japonese on stage who almost didn't move

Lady: Tunisians will be hot

 

Q:You've created your own universe against the major records compagnies, you must be proud

 

Mika:Not really, I'm always questionning and I want new things all the time

What you did should be used for the rest

 

Q:Your success is a good example for young people who are looking for who they are

 

Mika:yes, I use this energy to create my small movies in myhead, it might have been a disaster but imy dreams worked

 

Q:You often talk about having ten years of carrer

 

Mika:When I'm fifty or sixty I can't go on singing with colored pants and singing Lollipop, that would be yucky I 'll have to change but I won't sing ballads that I'm sure of

 

Q:Tell me about Melachi

 

Mika:Melachi is my great grand mother's name; she's very very quiet and that's funny, many arabic people in my house or friend touch her, she is not spoillt she always stays with me

 

Q:Do you know a few words in arabic?

 

Mika:I'm too bad at arabic, everybody makes fun of me

 

Q: Say"hi!"

 

Mika: salamalecoum

 

Q:I know you like arabic singers?

 

Mika:Yes, they have beautiful voices like Mazaroum, I love the way she sings, she is inspiring, one of the best living singers even though I don't understand all the words she sings

 

Q:You say you work at home with your friends and family, that's a wonderful world

 

Mika:No, it's filled with fights and creams (not being cute, sweet or cooking muffins)

 

Q:so who wins?

 

Mika:The one who screams louder! The one who can't scream any more loses!

 

Q: Proust questionnaire

 

Q:What's your favorite word?

 

Mika:Onomatopea

 

Q:Most hated word?

 

Mika:salopette (overalls) (word play could mean f*****.bast.** farts if you cut it in two slang words)

 

Q:the job you couldn't have done?

 

Mika: plummer (I hate water)

 

Q:your main default?

Mika:hum, many unfortunately ...i'm impatient

 

Q:and main quality?

Mika: I'm impatient

 

Q:Your hero/heroin?

 

Mika:Snoopy, zen, mature, simple, not materialistc like a buddhist, very deep

 

Lady: Thanks you! I have two things to tell you

 

First you are golden

 

we want to give you lots of love, we care about you here

 

Mika:Yes, my sister had a big accident last week but she's in a stable state now and getting better so we decided not to cancel the concert as she was well enough and we were well enough to do it and that makes us happy as the gig will take place and that she's well enough

 

Lady:That's what I meant we all support you and care about what happened.

Thank you so much for coming

 

Mika:Thanks to you.

[qwurtie]

I dont understand french :sneaky2:so thank you for the translation!

i agree, the interviewer was good when she was talking about paloma.

 

Ah! He named her after his great grandmother then.

That's a new one:naughty:

 

thats what i was thinking!

[Mary]

This interview made my day! Loved to hear him laughing, good to see he's in a good mood for the upcoming gigs!

[LilStar]

listening right now!!!!

its so good to hear his voice:wub2:

 

hes so adorableeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

!!!!!!!!

 

i wanna hug him!!!!!

[Fmbm]

Thanks for posting and the translation! It's so nice to read/hear something new from him.

 

 

P.S. I can't believe no one wants to go near Melachi. She's so adorable!

[guylainem123]

Thanks for posting and the translation! It's so nice to read/hear something new from him.

 

 

P.S. I can't believe no one wants to go near Melachi. She's so adorable!

 

perhaps it has nothing to do with Melachi. it could be that they are not dog lovers at all.

[francoise]

You're welcome guys . I think it's a very nice interview and it's the first one since a while and since these difficult days so I wanted to share with the most of you

 

Mille mercis Deb

It's really a great interview.

It's such a pleasure to hear again his voice and his laugh

 

thanx again deb!

 

i love it that the interviewer is sensitive enough not to ask him about paloma, but that it's him who brings up the topic!

 

+1

She has a lot of tact

[Yuna]

Thanks for posting and translation. it's a great interview!

 

little bit surprised to hear that his family don't like dogs.. but a golden retreiver is too big to live in a flat.. I think that can be a reason...well it's good for melachi to live with Mika in his own house... (and jealous of course )

[lillibet]

Leila , tu es une star!!!

[DANI56]

d/l

 

http://www.sendspace.com/file/f4rc0n

[robertina]

d/l

 

http://www.sendspace.com/file/f4rc0n

 

grazie dani!

[basicamenteyo]

[francoise]

d/l

 

http://www.sendspace.com/file/f4rc0n

 

Thank you

[laymay kang]

and I’m very happy she is stable enough and that she makes enough progress that we could do this gig. We nearly canceled it and we are very happy that we don’t have to cancel. It’s a pleasure cause that’s means that we can actually do the gig and that she is in a state good enough that I can do it, so it’s very positive.

I: That’s why I said that. Many people have prayed here for Paloma and we were really sad. It’s a very good news that you are saying to us right now.

 

 

i want news about paloma, sweet mika~

some new information funny~ melachi name of the aid, she nice doggy, but why don't touch her~ Maybe because she's so naughty.

my dog same

 

nice to meet you, mika~

[AnnaMariaPetra]

Ok guys, thanks to Leila who posted it on youtube, here is a phone interview in French Mika did today.

 

http://www.shemsfm.net/actualite/evenements-a-l-antenne/exclusif-interview-de-mika/60

 

or here :

 

It's very long, but he speaks about his gig in Tunis, about his past gigs in Arabic countries, the fact he invites fans on stage... AND he speaks about Paloma saying he is so happy she is stable and that she recovers fast, that's why they could make the gig that what nearly canceled

 

Very happy to hear him and he seems fine

 

Translation (I did my best, sorry for the mistakes!)

 

Hi, this is Mika. Meet me on the 23rd of october at « La coupole » in Tunis, I’m waiting for this gig for months.

I : for the first time and in exclusivity, we are with Mika. Hi Mika !

M : Hi, how are you ?

I : very fine, thank you for being ok to answer our interview

M : it’s a pleasure, can’t wait to come here

I : we are waiting for you and very happy to welcome you. It’s really crazy here with the tickets sellings. So, we’re gonna have a chat so our listeners could know you better

Everybody knows that you are half American and half Lebanese…

M : exactly !

I : as you can guess, it’s the Lebanese part that interests us more !

M : of course !

I : How related to Lebanon are you ? Do you have family, memories…?

M : I was born in Beirut. But I think that even if we only have a small part of yourself Lebanese, this part is the most important of your family. For instance, I have Moroccan and Italian friends and even if they are half English or half American, the Italian or Arabic part is the most important. And it’s very true for me : when you come to my parents’ or to my place, it’s a Lebanese house. This is a great part of my life, of childhood. I’m very proud of that.

I : Even at your home, right now, you do have some Lebanese “touch” (objects…)

M : of course, there are still the coffee cups, still Rafa the family friend who can predict our fortune [or maybe he wanted to say luck...], there are paintings, carpets everywhere.

I : Mika, Tunisia isn’t the first Arabic country where you do a gig : there was Morocco, Jordania, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and of course Lebanon. Do you choose the countries where you play ?

M : Yes, it’s really me. For instance, this year, wed had the choice to do Baalbek in Lebanon even if I had biggest propositions. But Baalbek was important for me. I think we always should choose where you go. We did a gig in Rabat a few months ago. This gig was managed by the king and it was free and almost 40 000 people came, it was outside. It was an outstanding feeling and a great honor being there.

Can’t wait to go in Tunisia, I have a lot of Tunisian friends. I’m very happy

I : we are really waiting for you. Will we have some surprises for this Tunis gig ?

M : Well, if you don’t know my gig, there will be some surprises, but if you already saw it 10 000 times [can’t hear the number very well ! ] there won’t !

I : I do have a spy ! Her name is Leila, she’s a big fan of you and meet her several times

M : yes

I : and she told us that some people will be lucky enough to get on stage with you. So I tell it, there will be huge surprises and you’re very close to your fans

M : I like to pick fans and people from the audience to get on stage and to dance with us. For instance on Big Girl we have the outfits… [ then he explains the funeral march and the Mexican carnival thing] All this create craziness !

I : that’s why your shows are unique because the audience isn’t the same from a country to another

M : exactly ! it’s always different! For instance for this tour, we look for people to dance on stage so if you want to dance on stage, come quite early then, there will be my sister and someone from the production who will go out to pick people

I : Are there only BG ?

M : no, we are looking for many kind of people because we have many different outfits, with men or women. We started that on the US, and some men did breakdancing on stage [never heard about that !!], then we went to Japan, and it was so difficult to find people to dance on stage and when they danced on stage, they didn’t move except their head!

I : you’ll see how the Tunisian will be entertaining !

M : I hope so!

 

I : Now we’ll talk about your artistic world. You really created your own style and your own world so kudos for that! Especially in the music industry today. You “fight” against the major companies who wanted you to sing differently, like Craig David. You must be very proud of you, right, for becoming the star you are today?

M : don’t know, I don’t feel particularly proud. I always thinks about a lot of questions, that gave me energy. I’m never satisfied with what I do cause I always want to invent again myself. Now that I’m working on my 3rd album, that gives me the perfect opportunity to reinvent what I do and to add something new in my visual and world. You never should think of what you did being proud but you should learn about it and use these lessons to keep going on

I : Yes, but you had a uneasy adolescence, and you managed to establish your own style. It’s a big deal! And it’s a nice example for the young people who are suffering or dealing with themselves.

M : yes, it’s true. I used the feelings I felt (being apart at school…) and I used this energy to show the world I could do something. I made some films in my head, when I had troubles at school, in the street, I had some great illusions in my head. It could have been a disaster but thanks God, I was lucky and today I’m fine.

I : that’s great

M : I closed my eyes and I always dreamed ! I think I’m very lucky to do what I like today.

I : Next question. You often talk about a 10 years career. You don’t picture yourself singing at 50 like the Rolling Stones ?

M : don’t know. I like to think that I won’t wear the same things at 50, I won’t sing the same songs the same way I do now, I’d like to invent because it would be ridiculous a 50 or 60 years old man wearing coloring pants and braces and singing Lollipop! And honestly, it would be even disgusting/filthy. I must confess, you have to change !

I : maybe you will sing some ballads, really calm songs

M : oh no, not at all ! It wouldn’t be calm but insane ! But no ballads !

I: Talk to me about Melachi, your dog. I think her name is related to Arabic

M : it’s my great grand-mother’s name. The dog is very nice and very quiet ! very wise ! It’s funny because people from family or friends don’t like to touch her. I don’t know why, they don’t like dogs in the house, so it’s nice because she is not too much spoiled. So she is wise and always stays with me.

I : do you know a few words in Arabic ? We would like to hear you!

M: I’m terrible. I try, but when I tried in Jordania or Lebanon, everybody laughed at me

I : just say “hello”, something easy.

M :….

 

I : You work at home with your family, your friends. It’s like a wonderland !

M : no, it’s a world with many arguments, many troubles! When we work with family, everyone thinks it’s very cute, that we are always together working during a minute and cooking some muffins during another… but we work late.

I : who is the referee when there is a problem ?

M : he is the one who has more energy to scream. The one who can’t scream anymore looses!

I : we have a small “Proust questionnaire” to end with. Your favorite word ? Lollipop?

M : onomatopoeia

I : the word you hate ?

M . salopettes [in French it’s quite a fun word!] (= dungarees)

I : the job you could never have done?

M : plumber, I hate water!

I : your main defect ?

M : Hmmm

I : oh apparently, there are a lot of defects and you have to choose one!

M : yes, there are! I’m impatient

I : and your main quality ?

M : I’m impatient!

I : your favorite hero/heroine ?

M : Snoopy

I : Snoopy, are you serious ?

M : Yes! He is zen and mature, but he’s a dog so he can’t have many material qualities. He’s like a Buddhist. In fact, he is very complicated Snoopy!

I : Wow, all that in Snoopy!

M : yes, it’s deep!

I : thank you so much. I have a couple of things to tell you : “you are golden”, really. And you know, we are all with you, we thought a lot about you these past days. And we are waiting for you, we’ll give you a lot of love next Saturday I hope.

M : Thank you. Actually, my sister had a big accident a week ago…

I :… yes, that’s why I’m telling you that…

M : and I’m very happy she is stable enough and that she makes enough progress that we could do this gig. We nearly canceled it and we are very happy that we don’t have to cancel. It’s a pleasure cause that’s means that we can actually do the gig and that she is in a state good enough that I can do it, so it’s very positive.

I: That’s why I said that. Many people have prayed here for Paloma and we were really sad. It’s a very good news that you are saying to us right now.

M : thanks a lot

I : thanks you very much, I’d like to meet you on Saturday. See you soon

M : See you, bye.

 

Wow FrDeb!! Thanks for the (long long!!) translation!

Nice interview, glad he's performing.

[Gracekelly85]

Thanks so much for posting the interview!

I'll listen to it when I'll be at home... can't wait!

[Louiza]

Thank you Deb for posting and thanks Dani for the d/l link:flowers2:

 

It's so heartwarming to hear a new interview with funny moments and excitement about the upcoming shows. It means that everything is fine again:wub2: How nice of the journalist not to ask directly about Paloma but only say that everyone thought of him a lot these past few days.

 

Cant believe that no one wants to go near Melachi, she's so cute and adorable!!!