Belgian Interview - Moustique

[lyli21]

Here an interview from a belgium magazine

 

http://www.moustique.be/culture/musique/150715/mika-je-deteste-la-violence-cest-une-faiblesse

 

Mika "Je déteste la violence, c'est une faiblesse"

 

I can't translate it now as i'm at work (but i don't know if i would be able to make a good translation so if anyone wants to do it don't hesitate )

[Kaito]

I can't translate it now as i'm at work (but i don't know if i would be able to make a good translation so if anyone wants to do it don't hesitate )

 

I'll do the translation I'm soooo happy as I buy this magazine every week

[Kaito]

I'll do the translation I'm soooo happy as I buy this magazine every week

 

TRANSLATION :

 

Mika: "I hate violence, it's a weakness"

 

Mika

The Origin Of Love

 

The Lollipop star has grown up but he has kept his colorful-pen-like naivety.

 

Mika is a good guy. No, really, he is. You’re not gonna see him show off while others do withoug having sold 8 billions Cds. It’s mostly an artist who doesn’t hide, or at least, not anymore: he admits that his music is meant to be commercial and hes doesn’t care about snobs, he doesn’t claim a so-called bisexuality when he’s asked, and everyone actually expected it a bit, he says he’s gay. He comes to terms with himself.

Once alone with him, he leaves behind his livewire-jumping-on-stage suit to turn back to a young man, shy but pretty friendly. Mika even apologizes when his tour manager interrupts nervously the interview to remind him that he has to get on stage soon. Tonight, 28th July, he’s THE star on the line up of the Suikerrock, the familial festival held in the sugar-making town of Tirlemont. And as usual, he will delight his public thanks to a colorful show during which his new songs such as “The Origin of Love” are mixed without any problem with his other ones. It’s true that when you have such hit-songs as Elle me dit or Celebrate, you don’t really have to worry.

 

Can you explain what’s the difference between this CD and the first 2 ?

Mika – When I wrote my 1st Cd, I was surrounded by people. It was a real“college atmosphere” and I made this CD for my friends and with them. It was a cimmunity. For The Boy Who Knew Too Much", my second recording, I was on my own and I needed it. For "The Origin Of Love", I didn’t wanted it anymore. It’s not because it’s pop music with commercial goals that I should be stuck in a defined way of proceeding. So, I packed my suitcases and I left for a place where I could find people that loved me

You open more yourself to the outside world than you used to. According to you, what were your criteria’s when you chose the great names that collaborated with you for this album?

Mika – I didn’t have any particular list. I contacted producers and remixers of repute for their sense of curiosity, such as Pharrell Williams, Will.iam Orbit or Benny Benassi. I thought I’d try and see if it works. You never really know beforehand how someone’ll be like. Some people could actually be real sharks only interested in profit or assh*les.. The goal wasn’t to come and say “I want something from you, Give me a song and I’ll pay you” It wasn’t like that at all. It was rather like “let’s have some fun together, give me inspiration, help me to express myself!” And it was an exchange as I have also written songs for others, such as Empire of the Sun or Madonna.

This CD sounds a bit more electro. Nowadays, everyone can make electro-music.

Mika – We hear a lot of electronic music, everywhere... but a great part of it sounds mike pornography, it’s only made to impress with as much effects as possible. I prefer electronic-music from the 70’s, stuff like Fleetwood Mac,or the French hosue music from the 90’s or even calmer groups such as Röykssop. This being said, this is only half of the songs on the album. The other half isn’t electro. It’s an evolution: on the 1st CD, there were electronic parts everywhere but they were hidden. On the second one, there weren’t a lot of them, except for Rain.

The song Popular talks about the star-system and its drifts. Is it easy to remain reacheble and keep its feet on the ground when you have reached such a level of celebrity?

Mika – When you have a Lebanese family like mine, yes, it’s easy. We see each other all the time, we fight, we laugh a lot. And also, you have to make a difference: I’m someone famous but I’m no celebrity. I only talk about my private life in my lyrics. It’s my protection. To sum it up, I’d say that the music I make allow me to keep my feet on the ground.

Oh really… What’s the link?

Mika – Considering how my career began, and the broadcasting of my music on the web, I can tour in almost any country of the world but it’s different everywhere. I can land in a festival with 20,000 people in front of me and the next day, I can play in front of 1,000 people.

Is the Mika of 2012 the same as in2007?

Mika – Yes, completely. I have evolved in my heart, I have the same goals, the same desires and the same concerns. Only the context has changed.

What does a « Mika in a bad mood » look like?

Mika – I hate violence, it’s a weakness, so I’m not the kind of person that would break everything around me. When I’m in a bad mood, I take my time. I think of the situation, of a way to make it less negative. And even if people feel the opposite, I’m often in a bad mood.

You’re going on stage in half an hour. Do you still have stage fright?

Mika – Yes, of course. Each time, I think I’ll lose my voice and I start toucing my throat as you’ve been able to see for the few last minutes. I have no idea how the audience’ll be like. We never know what the reactions will be like, it’s a kind of raffle. By the way, I’m sorry, but I really have to go and get prepared.

Edited September 11, 2012 by Kaito

[mellody]

So, I packed my suitcases and I left for a place where I could find people that loved me

 

he could've just come on mfc for that.

 

thanks for the translation! this story about his writing block, travel to montreal and collaborations seems to be the new "why did you write gk"... but i find interesting what he says about electronic music on his first 2 albums, and about mika in a bad mood.

[Dreamy_Queen]

Thank you for the translation!

[lyli21]

Thank you for the translation

[Maaikie...]

Thank you for the translation!!

[dcdeb]

he could've just come on mfc for that.

 

Indeed!

 

Thanks so much for finding and translating!

[Louiza]

great interview, thanks for posting!

"Je déteste la violence, c’est une faiblesse" well said Mika:thumb_yello:

[Crick!]

Really nice interview, thanks for the translation!

 

I loved what he said about electronic in his first two albums, I didn't really expect it, and I loved when he explains how he can keep his feets on the ground.

 

One of my favourite written interview.