2013 - Mika in "Saturday Night Online" this September 21

[SimonaG]

Thank you so much Christine

[Lucrezia]

Just saw the little chat and well it's the most amazing thing i've ever seen in the last years. I saw the Mika of the early days and it remembers me why I'm his fan

 

He was really sincere and funny at the same time and I did not see him in this way from such a long time. I'm glad that the small holiday around europe has done to him a very good effect.

 

P.s. Thank you so much Christine for the transcript

[Léna Machu]

Here is the transcript. I couldn't make out some of the names so I just guessed.

 

Hey it’s Mika. Thank you so much for submitting your questions. I cannot wait to answer them. And a very special thank you to Romeo for having me on the show. So, first question on my computer down here is from

 

Rachel from Westmont: Out of all the songs you’ve ever recorded, which is your favorite and why?

 

You know what it probably has to be a song called Over My Shoulder which is something that I recorded after having a terrible week. I was 17 years old. I was still at school and I wrote this song hiding in a little, kind of, cubicle at school. We used to have these practice cubicles and that’s where I wrote the song, hiding from the world. And I went and I recorded it in the garage of a friend’s house. He had a little home studio and I had no idea that I would record something that would end up on my first album. I just know...I did it in like 50 minutes? 45 minutes? And I didn’t have time to record much. I finished it and I listened to it and I was like okay, this is the first thing I’ve ever recorded that I can say sounds kinda special. So of course it has a special significance for me. It’s Over My Shoulder and it’s from my first album. It’s actually a hidden track.

 

Katie from Doncaster: When will album 4 be released?

 

Album number 4 will be released when it’s finished. Ah, it’ll be finished and released next year. That’s the intention. Um, no, I mean that’s what I’m working towards. It’s been, it’s literally about 2 or 3 days since the one year anniversary of the Origin of Love which was my last album – my third. And so now I’m starting number 4. I’ve already written a few songs. I’m back at work after this crazy long road trip I’ve been on. My first proper holiday in like 6 years. I took 6 weeks with my dog and my friends and we drove around Europe and now I’m back at work. I’m in London and I’m actually talking to you from my study in my place in London.

 

Christine from Denver (love Denver) wants to know what my favourite colour is?

 

Christine, for real? Uh, I don’t know. I don’t really have one but to tell you the truth I always say I don’t have one but I grew up surrounded by girls. I’ve got 3 sisters. So in that case I’d probably have to say my favourite colour, out of reaction growing up, was always blue. I insisted on wearing blue all the time. Blue and yellow. I hope that’s good enough.

 

Jasmine from Cincinnati: Are you planning on touring in the USA in the near future? I would love to see you again!

 

Thank you, cause quite frankly touring the United States is one of my favourite things to do as a musician, as a touring musician. You know, firstly, it’s huge. And the audiences are really giving and diverse and it’s just a pleasure. It’s a real pleasure to play in America. The crowd is vocal and reactive and you feel like a musician. You stand on stage and, you know, 2 weeks into an American tour I kinda sit there and say “Wow, this is what being a musician is.” Actually in Denver I had an incredible experience. I ended up – I was supposed to play for about an hour and a half. I played for about 2 hours and 20 [minutes]. People were just calling songs and I was playing them. In Washington, DC on my last acoustic tour I didn’t like the way that the sound was being amplified and it was a synagogue that we were playing in. So I stepped aware from the microphone and I told everyone to be super quiet and I sang without amplification for about half an hour and it was magical. I can’t wait to do it again. So, I hope so. Maybe next year.

 

Maddy from Roseville: What would you do if you woke up as Eminem for a day?

 

As Enimem for one day? I would go and I would buy a plane. I don’t know what I would do. I don’t know what I would...I don’t know how I would start. I don’t even know how to get dressed. Um, I’d uh. You know the problem is that probably by the time I actually get used to the idea of being Eminem I’d be back to myself again and then I’d miss being Eminem. Make some tea.

 

Roxane from Montreal: Do you sing in the shower? If so, what’s your repertoire?

 

I do sing in the shower. Mostly when I’m nervous about something. Actually I pretty much sing every time I’m nervous about anything whether I’m in the shower or not. My repertoire? Rubbish. Rubbish that’s not...actually mostly it’s rubbish that’s sung by women. That’s my repertoire for the shower.

 

Frederico from Genoa: What is your favourite song by another artist?

 

That is the most impossible question. That’s actually harder than what’s your favourite colour, I’ll have you know. Um, there’s so many. From a [De André ?] song, who is also from Genoa. To um, you know I’ve been listening to Carole King’s Tapestry album and I sit there and I’m like how many great songs can you put onto one record? I listen to Prince’s Purple Rain. I’m like, how can you do this, you know? Or, uh, so many – Leonard Cohen songs, Tom Waits’ songs. As much as I’m jaded about the Beatles because, you know, we hear them every single day. You sit down and you look at some of those songs and you think “Wow.” In the context of the time they were written, these things are just mad pieces of genius. Then you listen to an Ella Fitzgerald song or a Nina Simone classic and you’re like wow, that’s pretty amazing. But my favourite song in the world has to be Nature Boy which was sung by Nat King Cole. There’s an amazing story around how it was written which you should just find out. It’s worth finding out about.

 

Elisa (?) from Laval: What is your favourite TV series?

 

I am the only human being, I think, left in the world that still watches Cougar Town. It is the best TV show that has ever been made. It’s pure, sophisticated, well-timed gold. Comedy-television gold. And I like it very much. I actually tried to get a cameo on it because although that they pretend that they film in Florida they don’t actually film in Florida at all. They film in Culver City which is actually where I’ve recorded 3 albums with Greg Wells. Um, they film it all around. And that’s in Los Angeles, so they actually filmed it all around the studio. And I tried to get a job in the coffee shop. A cameo – not a cameo, but just like being the guy in the coffee shop that serves the coffee. But I didn’t get the part.

 

Shea-lyn from NYC: Where do you come up with the inspirations for your songs?

 

Often in the shower or in the bathroom or on the loo – on the toilet. I mean I don’t know why but it, no. I get a lot of ideas when you’re in the bathroom but I don’t know why. I think it’s the intimacy of just being kind of closed up in there. I hope that doesn’t ruin my music for you.

 

Holly from Derby: How would you describe your fans?

 

My fans are...my fans are pretty awesome in fact. They’re a mix of everything. They’re, you know, I’ve got every type of fan and you see that when you come to one of my concerts. I’ve got like, fans that are 30, 40, 50, 15, 12. I mean the whole mix. Girls and guys, every type. And um, I don’t know, I think my fans are a good mix of like silly and serious. You know musos and not afraid to like melody. I like to think that the perfect scenario is one when your fans are a reflection of you because then it means that your music is communicating in the right way. And I think that I’m lucky enough to be in that situation. So I consider myself very fortunate.

 

Francesca from Sezze: Would you ever sing with a metal singer?

 

Ah, I mean, I’ve said many times that one of my favourite things growing up was Marilyn Manson and his shows and his records. The melodrama of those records. So I don’t really know. I mean I would do backing vocals or something. I’m not quite sure.

 

Katie from Doncaster: What’s your favourite time of year?

 

Um, well, now actually. The autumn or spring. Because in summer you just get good weather and then you get bored with good weather and then you want it to be cold again and you just kind of get jaded. You go in the winter and in the winter you get jaded of the cold and you just want it to be warm, you know. But the thing is about spring and autumn is that everything is changing every day and there’s a reason for it to be unpredictable and so they’re the best seasons. Also I think spring’s the most creative for sure.

 

A [?] from New York City: Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

 

Hmm. I see myself as the same person in 20 years as I am now. I see myself doing the same things and I make music, I make things, I design things. I’ve got this design company with my sister and we draw things and we make stuff. We are about to launch a global Swatch campaign which is a collaboration where we design watches and make tons of things from artwork to applications for your phone. So I see myself making things, making music. Always making music, making melody, making drawings. I think when you make something you feel good, you feel happy, you feel like you have value. And there’s nothing that can beat that. Nothing at all. Spending money, doing whatever, travelling around. Still it’s not as good a buzz as when you sit down and you make something out of nothing. So I see myself making things and maybe writing shows – a musical of some sort.

 

Madilyn from Hermiston: Do you prefer blondes or brunettes?

 

The politically correct would be to say neither. I mean not neither but either/or. But it has to be blondes. I’m sorry brunettes, of which I am one of. I’m betraying my kind.

 

Henry from Calabasis: Is Mika your real name? If not, where did it come from?

 

My real name is Michael Holbrook Penniman Junior. It’s a little bit long to put on a record. Um actually my name is Michael because my father’s name is Michael but my mother hated that name so the deal was when I was born that they would call me Mica and my legal name would be Michael. But they would call me Mica. So I was Mica from birth but for the traditionalist that my father is he legally gave me the name Michael.

 

Marina from Madrid: What does your song Lady Jane mean to you?

 

Lady Jane is a gothic fairytale. It means, it’s about a woman that has a special power. She can walk on water. She meets this man who falls in love with her. She walks on water to show off in front of him. He chases after her to get her and he drowns because he can’t swim. And she gets upset so she chops off her feet and jumps in the water with him. It sounds like I’m completely insane when I’m describing the song but it’s really good. Uh, just listen to it and I won’t seem as mad as I do now.

 

Tia from Chaska: Did you enjoy the US last time you toured here?

 

Very much. As I said it was one of the most amazing tours the last time I was there. I was doing an acoustic tour and had some very special moments and met some amazing fans of every type. Both during the concerts when they would speak to me because the venues were small and everyone was just able to talk. And then afterwards. It was an amazing moment. I will never forget it. One of my favourite tours I’ve ever done. I’ve done an arena tour. I’ve done, you know I do festivals. I’ve just finished a festival tour. We did up to like 79,000 people in France but still my US acoustic tour that I did recently was one of my favourites, ever.

 

B[?] from Saudi Arabia: What’s next for you in your career?

 

I have no idea whatsoever. And it’s always been like that and it will probably always be like that. And so it keeps me excited because I don’t know if it’s gonna be a, you know, what kind of year it’s gonna be. I could never have predicted the year I’m having now. I’m doing two TV shows and making a new album. I’m designing watches and stuff. It’s creative. It’s insanely busy but I get bored easily so it’s okay.

 

Joey from Nashville: What’s the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

 

Wow I’ve had fans do amazing things. I mean from fly around the world following a tour because they made it their objective and that means so much when you see someone travelling around. It doesn’t go unnoticed. To, uh, you know , I’ve had a fan name a baby after me. I was actually really honoured. That was one of the nicest things.

 

Arunas from [?]: What do you think about the state of the music industry currently?

 

I think it’s good. I mean I think it’s all kind of changing. You can look at it as falling apart which, in a way, it is. But you know people are doing different things like you know I look to place my music in films and on television and doing cool projects like with brands like Swatch and stuff because it spreads he music and it spreads the word because the old system of just releasing songs just doesn’t work in the same way. So it’s not the same process. I think it’s good. I think it makes us more creative. That’s my perspective on it.

 

Lizzie from Indianapolis: What is your favourite song to perform?

 

At the moment, in America and well, in general in most places, my favourite one is Popular because we start it with an organ. It sounds a bit like church and everyone in the crowd sings it like a big hymn and it feels amazing. So it has to be Popular Song.

 

B[?] from Istanbul: Do you like it when fans throw gifts on stage? Does it affect your concentration?

 

Uh, it depends. Sometimes it’s really annoying. I don’t know why people throw stuffed toys. Why are you...? Unless it’s for my dog I don’t know why. But the worst thing is when people are trying to get my attention with a letter and I’m in the middle of singing a song and all they want is for me to read the letter but I’m a little bit busy. That drives me mad.

 

Katie from London: What’s your shoe size?

 

43 and a half. 11 US. 10 UK. Does that mean you’re sending me something?

 

Nick from Nebraska: If you could collaborate with anyone living or dead who would it be and why?

 

Nina Simone. The finest male vocalist, uh female vocalist. Sorry, it’s late. Female vocalist and amazing rhythm, amazing classical influences in what she does. Just amazing artist. I wish I could have just seen her perform live. I would have...that’s my wish. We’re getting towards the end.

 

Alina from Mexico: What’s your favourite thing to hear from your fans?

 

I love to hear how a song becomes a part of someone’s life. I write a song in, you know, in a little tiny room in front of a piano and it goes and it becomes something else. And I love to hear how that song can be transformed into someone else’s life.

 

Tracy from Boston: What would you do if you started to go bald?

 

Wear a hat. For sure. But at the moment there’s no risk.

 

Andreas from San Jose: What’s your favourite sport?

 

Anything that doesn’t involve playing with a team. To rock climbing, water skiing, wakeboarding which is my new obsession, hiking, stuff like that. Lonely things. I’m rubbish a football.

 

Jordan from Philadelphia: If you were stranded on an island and could only bring 3 things what would they be and why?

 

Well the first thing would be this thing. This would be the first thing that I would bring with me. Because it’s perfect in every way. And the second thing I would bring would be a toothbrush because if you lose your teeth you can’t eat and then you die of scurvy or something. And the third thing that I would bring with me would be music because I would go mad without music. If you have music you can stay sane. Okay almost at the end.

 

H[?] from Belgium: What was your reaction the first you ever heard one of your songs on the radio?

 

Fear, fear and fear. It wasn’t elation it was just pure fear. I don’t know why. Maybe I need to speak to somebody about it but I still get that feeling when I hear my song on the radio now. Fear. You’re just afraid that your song’s gonna, you know, you hear it in the studio and you can control it. On the radio it’s out there.

 

Katie from Detroit: When you go on tour again will you keep the same band as previous tours?

 

I hope so. I love my band at the moment and we all get along. Musicians come and go and when they go it doesn’t mean they won’t come back so a band is a living thing. I like them. They like me. So at the moment we’re all good.

 

Julie from Luxembourg: Are you excited to be a judge on The Voice in France? Do you have any expectations about it?

 

Yes, I am excited. I’m very happy to be doing it. I like the other judges very much. I like the format of the show. I think it’s really cool. The only thing that makes me nervous is that I have to practice up my French a little bit more.

 

Naomi from Canada: Will you be releasing new music any time soon?

Yes actually I will be releasing a few bits. But then obviously the album will be coming later.

 

Katelyn from Princeton, NJ: What made you come up with your dog’s name, Melachi?

 

It means “queen” in Arabic and it was the name of my great-grandmother. And she’s pretty regal.

 

How often do you get free time?

 

After this I get a couple of hours off and then um, no from time to time. I took a big chunk of time off so I’m all right to get busy.

 

Berenike from Leipzig: How do you feel about paparazzi photos?

 

Like everyone else really. I mean, wah. Just don’t look at them. That’s the most important thing. Mel’s kinda falling asleep.

 

Gabriella from Caracas: Would you ever consider being an actor?

 

No. I’m goofy on the screen and I’m not a very good actor. I’ll stick to making music.

 

Clara from Santiago: Are you in love with anyone at the moment?

 

Yes, I am. Thank you very much for asking. Now bugger off.

 

[?] from Germany: What is your biggest fear?

 

Uh I don’t know. Lots of things really. I don’t like answering that.

 

Sam from New York: What kind of car do you drive?

 

I drive a 1966 Austin Healey red little tiny convertible. It cost me £5,000. It breaks down every single day. It’s a piece of rubbish and I love it. It looks like a toy and I hardly fit in it.

 

Jodie from Northampton: What are 3 words you would use to describe yourself?

 

No idea whatsoever. I’ll leave that elaboration to you.

 

All right, that’s it. Thank you so much for submitting your questions and thank you for Romeo for having me. From me and from Mel in my study until very soon. See ya.

 

Thank you soooooooooooooo much, Christine :huglove:

[Marilyn Mastin]

Thank you Christine. My favourite bit is the one where the question is where he'll be in 20 years?

The answer is... Well put it this way... If I'd written it myself, for him to say, it wouldn't have been said any better!

Edited September 23, 2013 by Marilyn Mastin

[Sabine64]

Thank you to Berenike for recording and posting it on Youtube and Thanky you to Christine for the transcript. I mean I understood almost everything he was saying but it´s a good feeling to prove if I´m right.

 

I really love to watch it again and again, he seems so open and honest and all his face expressions , he not that conrolled like he was in other interviews.

Btw I´m sure he doesn´t wear pyjamas, I already saw that sweatshirt a few times in other fotos and he wore blue trousers

[mellody]

finally managed to watch it... thanks berenike for recording and posting!

haha, he's so cute! you could tell that he was a bit tired (no wonder at 2am... ) and was starting to hurry towards the end. i really loved some of the questions and his answers tho. not the "is mika your real name" one, obviously, but i loved that he said the acoustic US tour was one of his faves and he wants to do that again - he basically answered my question with that too. i would have absolutely loved to go to one of these gigs and i hope the next time i'll be able to make it. and well, his face expression when answering the album no. 4 question says more than any written interview ever could. 2015 it is, then. (if we're lucky...)

 

i researched the song "nature boy" he mentioned, and i'm surprised that the famous line "the greatest thing you'll ever learn is how to love and be loved in return" is from that song, i did know that line but i didn't know the song so far (at least i didn't remember having heard it before). i'm wondering tho which story he means about it being written. i found some interesting facts on wikipedia, that the guy who has written it first had trouble to get it to nat king cole, and then nat king cole had trouble recording it because his record company didn't want the song. and then he recorded it shortly before the recording ban, kind of a strike by studio musicians in the US - something i hadn't known about yet either. and this strike was the reason the record company put the song on a b-side, because they didn't have other options. i found these infos lots more interesting than the little info i found about it being written, it only said that 2 other artists claimed the songwriter had stolen the song from them. did any of you find any more info about what mika could have meant?

 

i also enjoyed hearing him talking about creating things, about his thoughts on the state of the music industry, and about his fans. really lovely interview, although the questions might not have been "spectacular" - but tbh i didn't expect spectacular new info in this interview. i just enjoyed hearing his thoughts on some things and seeing his reactions.

[Alireine]

Thank you Christine!!! i could understand almost everything the second time I watched the video but still missed a few things, so now it's perfect!

Btw, what does "bugger off" means?

 

I love the way he explains how he loves to create and make things, and that he is easily bored. And his view about the music industry.

[krysady]

did any of you find any more info about what mika could have meant?

 

Besides wikipedia,I found this blog: http://bigstarstory.tumblr.com/post/25929378245/origins-of-the-song-nature-boy

[mellody]

Besides wikipedia,I found this blog: http://bigstarstory.tumblr.com/post/25929378245/origins-of-the-song-nature-boy

 

ah, thanks. i did some more research on the songwriter now, and found out he was a hippie, claimed to live from $3 per week and lived outdoors under the "L" of the hollywood sign. and that he kept this lifestyle despite the success of the song. maybe that's what mika meant.

[Christine]

Btw, what does "bugger off" means?

 

Same as f*ck off. I actually thought that's what he said until I listened closely to write the transcript.

[RAK1]

finally managed to watch it... thanks berenike for recording and posting!

haha, he's so cute! you could tell that he was a bit tired (no wonder at 2am... ) and was starting to hurry towards the end. i really loved some of the questions and his answers tho. not the "is mika your real name" one, obviously, but i loved that he said the acoustic US tour was one of his faves and he wants to do that again - he basically answered my question with that too. i would have absolutely loved to go to one of these gigs and i hope the next time i'll be able to make it. and well, his face expression when answering the album no. 4 question says more than any written interview ever could. 2015 it is, then. (if we're lucky...)

 

i researched the song "nature boy" he mentioned, and i'm surprised that the famous line "the greatest thing you'll ever learn is how to love and be loved in return" is from that song, i did know that line but i didn't know the song so far (at least i didn't remember having heard it before). i'm wondering tho which story he means about it being written. i found some interesting facts on wikipedia, that the guy who has written it first had trouble to get it to nat king cole, and then nat king cole had trouble recording it because his record company didn't want the song. and then he recorded it shortly before the recording ban, kind of a strike by studio musicians in the US - something i hadn't known about yet either. and this strike was the reason the record company put the song on a b-side, because they didn't have other options. i found these infos lots more interesting than the little info i found about it being written, it only said that 2 other artists claimed the songwriter had stolen the song from them. did any of you find any more info about what mika could have meant?

 

i also enjoyed hearing him talking about creating things, about his thoughts on the state of the music industry, and about his fans. really lovely interview, although the questions might not have been "spectacular" - but tbh i didn't expect spectacular new info in this interview. i just enjoyed hearing his thoughts on some things and seeing his reactions.

 

I love this song, my dad was a fan of Nat King Cole, and Glenn Miller, so we used to buy him complilation albums of theirs for his birthday, if it coincided with their release.

So Nature Boy got played often at home, and I think it's one of the songs that tuned my ear as a youngster to different sounding music.

[Alireine]

Same as f*ck off. I actually thought that's what he said until I listened closely to write the transcript.

 

thanks!

[willywonka]

What's Eminem got to do, got to do with it???

 

Maddy from Roseville, seriously????????

[mellody]

I love this song, my dad was a fan of Nat King Cole, and Glenn Miller, so we used to buy him complilation albums of theirs for his birthday, if it coincided with their release.

So Nature Boy got played often at home, and I think it's one of the songs that tuned my ear as a youngster to different sounding music.

 

yeah, it reminded me of old movies (for example starring frank sinatra) my mum used to watch a lot, and that i also loved as a child. no idea whether this song in particular was in one of those movies, but i could very well imagine it. so maybe i've heard it, i just don't remember

 

What's Eminem got to do, got to do with it???

 

Maddy from Roseville, seriously????????

 

maybe she's a fan of mika and eminem. but seriously, i was thinking the same like you.

[Marilyn Mastin]

What's Eminem got to do, got to do with it???

 

Maddy from Roseville, seriously????????

Will the real Slim Mika please stand up!

[nenartus]

What's Eminem got to do, got to do with it???

 

Maddy from Roseville, seriously????????

 

 

 

maybe she's a fan of mika and eminem. but seriously, i was thinking the same like you.

 

 

When I first heard that i thought she asked him about m&m. When he started to answer I was like "by a plane ...huh...how to get dressed...huh?!?"

[Mikasister]

Thank you for the transcript Christine I understoosd almost everything but it's good for me can read it. I think Mika is one of the few people whom I understand speaking in english Maybe my ear got used to his way of speaking

[Mikasister]

When I first heard that i thought she asked him about m&m. When he started to answer I was like "by a plane ...huh...how to get dressed...huh?!?"

 

I understood the same but thanks to Christine now it's clear, that's what I needed to read it

[maggie112]

When I first heard that i thought she asked him about m&m. When he started to answer I was like "by a plane ...huh...how to get dressed...huh?!?"

 

The same as me... Mika as an m&m would be fun

[mer]

Thank you for the transcript Christine I understoosd almost everything but it's good for me can read it. I think Mika is one of the few people whom I understand speaking in english Maybe my ear got used to his way of speaking

 

me equal this answer

I adore MIKA to http://www.saturdaynightonline.com/pages/chat/mika.html

[Julia Welcomes]

An overall feeling I got from this Q&A - is like we`re back in the good old times

I watched Q&A in 2007 (if I`m not mistaken), but Mika looks almost the same these days.

[clara85]

It still seems to work at http://www.saturdaynightonline.com/pages/chat/mika.html

 

But I'm uploading to Youtube anyway. In 105 minutes it should be watchable here:

 

YYQrD1g9_Jc

 

I'm off to bed now

 

Thanks for sharing

 

 

Here is the transcript. I couldn't make out some of the names so I just guessed.

 

Hey it’s Mika. Thank you so much for submitting your questions. I cannot wait to answer them. And a very special thank you to Romeo for having me on the show. So, first question on my computer down here is from

 

Rachel from Westmont: Out of all the songs you’ve ever recorded, which is your favorite and why?

 

You know what it probably has to be a song called Over My Shoulder which is something that I recorded after having a terrible week. I was 17 years old. I was still at school and I wrote this song hiding in a little, kind of, cubicle at school. We used to have these practice cubicles and that’s where I wrote the song, hiding from the world. And I went and I recorded it in the garage of a friend’s house. He had a little home studio and I had no idea that I would record something that would end up on my first album. I just know...I did it in like 50 minutes? 45 minutes? And I didn’t have time to record much. I finished it and I listened to it and I was like okay, this is the first thing I’ve ever recorded that I can say sounds kinda special. So of course it has a special significance for me. It’s Over My Shoulder and it’s from my first album. It’s actually a hidden track.

 

Katie from Doncaster: When will album 4 be released?

 

Album number 4 will be released when it’s finished. Ah, it’ll be finished and released next year. That’s the intention. Um, no, I mean that’s what I’m working towards. It’s been, it’s literally about 2 or 3 days since the one year anniversary of the Origin of Love which was my last album – my third. And so now I’m starting number 4. I’ve already written a few songs. I’m back at work after this crazy long road trip I’ve been on. My first proper holiday in like 6 years. I took 6 weeks with my dog and my friends and we drove around Europe and now I’m back at work. I’m in London and I’m actually talking to you from my study in my place in London.

 

Christine from Denver (love Denver) wants to know what my favourite colour is?

 

Christine, for real? Uh, I don’t know. I don’t really have one but to tell you the truth I always say I don’t have one but I grew up surrounded by girls. I’ve got 3 sisters. So in that case I’d probably have to say my favourite colour, out of reaction growing up, was always blue. I insisted on wearing blue all the time. Blue and yellow. I hope that’s good enough.

 

Jasmine from Cincinnati: Are you planning on touring in the USA in the near future? I would love to see you again!

 

Thank you, cause quite frankly touring the United States is one of my favourite things to do as a musician, as a touring musician. You know, firstly, it’s huge. And the audiences are really giving and diverse and it’s just a pleasure. It’s a real pleasure to play in America. The crowd is vocal and reactive and you feel like a musician. You stand on stage and, you know, 2 weeks into an American tour I kinda sit there and say “Wow, this is what being a musician is.” Actually in Denver I had an incredible experience. I ended up – I was supposed to play for about an hour and a half. I played for about 2 hours and 20 [minutes]. People were just calling songs and I was playing them. In Washington, DC on my last acoustic tour I didn’t like the way that the sound was being amplified and it was a synagogue that we were playing in. So I stepped aware from the microphone and I told everyone to be super quiet and I sang without amplification for about half an hour and it was magical. I can’t wait to do it again. So, I hope so. Maybe next year.

 

Maddy from Roseville: What would you do if you woke up as Eminem for a day?

 

As Enimem for one day? I would go and I would buy a plane. I don’t know what I would do. I don’t know what I would...I don’t know how I would start. I don’t even know how to get dressed. Um, I’d uh. You know the problem is that probably by the time I actually get used to the idea of being Eminem I’d be back to myself again and then I’d miss being Eminem. Make some tea.

 

Roxane from Montreal: Do you sing in the shower? If so, what’s your repertoire?

 

I do sing in the shower. Mostly when I’m nervous about something. Actually I pretty much sing every time I’m nervous about anything whether I’m in the shower or not. My repertoire? Rubbish. Rubbish that’s not...actually mostly it’s rubbish that’s sung by women. That’s my repertoire for the shower.

 

Frederico from Genoa: What is your favourite song by another artist?

 

That is the most impossible question. That’s actually harder than what’s your favourite colour, I’ll have you know. Um, there’s so many. From a [De André ?] song, who is also from Genoa. To um, you know I’ve been listening to Carole King’s Tapestry album and I sit there and I’m like how many great songs can you put onto one record? I listen to Prince’s Purple Rain. I’m like, how can you do this, you know? Or, uh, so many – Leonard Cohen songs, Tom Waits’ songs. As much as I’m jaded about the Beatles because, you know, we hear them every single day. You sit down and you look at some of those songs and you think “Wow.” In the context of the time they were written, these things are just mad pieces of genius. Then you listen to an Ella Fitzgerald song or a Nina Simone classic and you’re like wow, that’s pretty amazing. But my favourite song in the world has to be Nature Boy which was sung by Nat King Cole. There’s an amazing story around how it was written which you should just find out. It’s worth finding out about.

 

Elisa (?) from Laval: What is your favourite TV series?

 

I am the only human being, I think, left in the world that still watches Cougar Town. It is the best TV show that has ever been made. It’s pure, sophisticated, well-timed gold. Comedy-television gold. And I like it very much. I actually tried to get a cameo on it because although that they pretend that they film in Florida they don’t actually film in Florida at all. They film in Culver City which is actually where I’ve recorded 3 albums with Greg Wells. Um, they film it all around. And that’s in Los Angeles, so they actually filmed it all around the studio. And I tried to get a job in the coffee shop. A cameo – not a cameo, but just like being the guy in the coffee shop that serves the coffee. But I didn’t get the part.

 

Shea-lyn from NYC: Where do you come up with the inspirations for your songs?

 

Often in the shower or in the bathroom or on the loo – on the toilet. I mean I don’t know why but it, no. I get a lot of ideas when you’re in the bathroom but I don’t know why. I think it’s the intimacy of just being kind of closed up in there. I hope that doesn’t ruin my music for you.

 

Holly from Derby: How would you describe your fans?

 

My fans are...my fans are pretty awesome in fact. They’re a mix of everything. They’re, you know, I’ve got every type of fan and you see that when you come to one of my concerts. I’ve got like, fans that are 30, 40, 50, 15, 12. I mean the whole mix. Girls and guys, every type. And um, I don’t know, I think my fans are a good mix of like silly and serious. You know musos and not afraid to like melody. I like to think that the perfect scenario is one when your fans are a reflection of you because then it means that your music is communicating in the right way. And I think that I’m lucky enough to be in that situation. So I consider myself very fortunate.

 

Francesca from Sezze: Would you ever sing with a metal singer?

 

Ah, I mean, I’ve said many times that one of my favourite things growing up was Marilyn Manson and his shows and his records. The melodrama of those records. So I don’t really know. I mean I would do backing vocals or something. I’m not quite sure.

 

Katie from Doncaster: What’s your favourite time of year?

 

Um, well, now actually. The autumn or spring. Because in summer you just get good weather and then you get bored with good weather and then you want it to be cold again and you just kind of get jaded. You go in the winter and in the winter you get jaded of the cold and you just want it to be warm, you know. But the thing is about spring and autumn is that everything is changing every day and there’s a reason for it to be unpredictable and so they’re the best seasons. Also I think spring’s the most creative for sure.

 

A [?] from New York City: Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

 

Hmm. I see myself as the same person in 20 years as I am now. I see myself doing the same things and I make music, I make things, I design things. I’ve got this design company with my sister and we draw things and we make stuff. We are about to launch a global Swatch campaign which is a collaboration where we design watches and make tons of things from artwork to applications for your phone. So I see myself making things, making music. Always making music, making melody, making drawings. I think when you make something you feel good, you feel happy, you feel like you have value. And there’s nothing that can beat that. Nothing at all. Spending money, doing whatever, travelling around. Still it’s not as good a buzz as when you sit down and you make something out of nothing. So I see myself making things and maybe writing shows – a musical of some sort.

 

Madilyn from Hermiston: Do you prefer blondes or brunettes?

 

The politically correct would be to say neither. I mean not neither but either/or. But it has to be blondes. I’m sorry brunettes, of which I am one of. I’m betraying my kind.

 

Henry from Calabasis: Is Mika your real name? If not, where did it come from?

 

My real name is Michael Holbrook Penniman Junior. It’s a little bit long to put on a record. Um actually my name is Michael because my father’s name is Michael but my mother hated that name so the deal was when I was born that they would call me Mica and my legal name would be Michael. But they would call me Mica. So I was Mica from birth but for the traditionalist that my father is he legally gave me the name Michael.

 

Marina from Madrid: What does your song Lady Jane mean to you?

 

Lady Jane is a gothic fairytale. It means, it’s about a woman that has a special power. She can walk on water. She meets this man who falls in love with her. She walks on water to show off in front of him. He chases after her to get her and he drowns because he can’t swim. And she gets upset so she chops off her feet and jumps in the water with him. It sounds like I’m completely insane when I’m describing the song but it’s really good. Uh, just listen to it and I won’t seem as mad as I do now.

 

Tia from Chaska: Did you enjoy the US last time you toured here?

 

Very much. As I said it was one of the most amazing tours the last time I was there. I was doing an acoustic tour and had some very special moments and met some amazing fans of every type. Both during the concerts when they would speak to me because the venues were small and everyone was just able to talk. And then afterwards. It was an amazing moment. I will never forget it. One of my favourite tours I’ve ever done. I’ve done an arena tour. I’ve done, you know I do festivals. I’ve just finished a festival tour. We did up to like 79,000 people in France but still my US acoustic tour that I did recently was one of my favourites, ever.

 

B[?] from Saudi Arabia: What’s next for you in your career?

 

I have no idea whatsoever. And it’s always been like that and it will probably always be like that. And so it keeps me excited because I don’t know if it’s gonna be a, you know, what kind of year it’s gonna be. I could never have predicted the year I’m having now. I’m doing two TV shows and making a new album. I’m designing watches and stuff. It’s creative. It’s insanely busy but I get bored easily so it’s okay.

 

Joey from Nashville: What’s the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

 

Wow I’ve had fans do amazing things. I mean from fly around the world following a tour because they made it their objective and that means so much when you see someone travelling around. It doesn’t go unnoticed. To, uh, you know , I’ve had a fan name a baby after me. I was actually really honoured. That was one of the nicest things.

 

Arunas from [?]: What do you think about the state of the music industry currently?

 

I think it’s good. I mean I think it’s all kind of changing. You can look at it as falling apart which, in a way, it is. But you know people are doing different things like you know I look to place my music in films and on television and doing cool projects like with brands like Swatch and stuff because it spreads he music and it spreads the word because the old system of just releasing songs just doesn’t work in the same way. So it’s not the same process. I think it’s good. I think it makes us more creative. That’s my perspective on it.

 

Lizzie from Indianapolis: What is your favourite song to perform?

 

At the moment, in America and well, in general in most places, my favourite one is Popular because we start it with an organ. It sounds a bit like church and everyone in the crowd sings it like a big hymn and it feels amazing. So it has to be Popular Song.

 

B[?] from Istanbul: Do you like it when fans throw gifts on stage? Does it affect your concentration?

 

Uh, it depends. Sometimes it’s really annoying. I don’t know why people throw stuffed toys. Why are you...? Unless it’s for my dog I don’t know why. But the worst thing is when people are trying to get my attention with a letter and I’m in the middle of singing a song and all they want is for me to read the letter but I’m a little bit busy. That drives me mad.

 

Katie from London: What’s your shoe size?

 

43 and a half. 11 US. 10 UK. Does that mean you’re sending me something?

 

Nick from Nebraska: If you could collaborate with anyone living or dead who would it be and why?

 

Nina Simone. The finest male vocalist, uh female vocalist. Sorry, it’s late. Female vocalist and amazing rhythm, amazing classical influences in what she does. Just amazing artist. I wish I could have just seen her perform live. I would have...that’s my wish. We’re getting towards the end.

 

Alina from Mexico: What’s your favourite thing to hear from your fans?

 

I love to hear how a song becomes a part of someone’s life. I write a song in, you know, in a little tiny room in front of a piano and it goes and it becomes something else. And I love to hear how that song can be transformed into someone else’s life.

 

Tracy from Boston: What would you do if you started to go bald?

 

Wear a hat. For sure. But at the moment there’s no risk.

 

Andreas from San Jose: What’s your favourite sport?

 

Anything that doesn’t involve playing with a team. To rock climbing, water skiing, wakeboarding which is my new obsession, hiking, stuff like that. Lonely things. I’m rubbish a football.

 

Jordan from Philadelphia: If you were stranded on an island and could only bring 3 things what would they be and why?

 

Well the first thing would be this thing. This would be the first thing that I would bring with me. Because it’s perfect in every way. And the second thing I would bring would be a toothbrush because if you lose your teeth you can’t eat and then you die of scurvy or something. And the third thing that I would bring with me would be music because I would go mad without music. If you have music you can stay sane. Okay almost at the end.

 

H[?] from Belgium: What was your reaction the first you ever heard one of your songs on the radio?

 

Fear, fear and fear. It wasn’t elation it was just pure fear. I don’t know why. Maybe I need to speak to somebody about it but I still get that feeling when I hear my song on the radio now. Fear. You’re just afraid that your song’s gonna, you know, you hear it in the studio and you can control it. On the radio it’s out there.

 

Katie from Detroit: When you go on tour again will you keep the same band as previous tours?

 

I hope so. I love my band at the moment and we all get along. Musicians come and go and when they go it doesn’t mean they won’t come back so a band is a living thing. I like them. They like me. So at the moment we’re all good.

 

Julie from Luxembourg: Are you excited to be a judge on The Voice in France? Do you have any expectations about it?

 

Yes, I am excited. I’m very happy to be doing it. I like the other judges very much. I like the format of the show. I think it’s really cool. The only thing that makes me nervous is that I have to practice up my French a little bit more.

 

Naomi from Canada: Will you be releasing new music any time soon?

Yes actually I will be releasing a few bits. But then obviously the album will be coming later.

 

Katelyn from Princeton, NJ: What made you come up with your dog’s name, Melachi?

 

It means “queen” in Arabic and it was the name of my great-grandmother. And she’s pretty regal.

 

How often do you get free time?

 

After this I get a couple of hours off and then um, no from time to time. I took a big chunk of time off so I’m all right to get busy.

 

Berenike from Leipzig: How do you feel about paparazzi photos?

 

Like everyone else really. I mean, wah. Just don’t look at them. That’s the most important thing. Mel’s kinda falling asleep.

 

Gabriella from Caracas: Would you ever consider being an actor?

 

No. I’m goofy on the screen and I’m not a very good actor. I’ll stick to making music.

 

Clara from Santiago: Are you in love with anyone at the moment?

 

Yes, I am. Thank you very much for asking. Now bugger off.

 

[?] from Germany: What is your biggest fear?

 

Uh I don’t know. Lots of things really. I don’t like answering that.

 

Sam from New York: What kind of car do you drive?

 

I drive a 1966 Austin Healey red little tiny convertible. It cost me £5,000. It breaks down every single day. It’s a piece of rubbish and I love it. It looks like a toy and I hardly fit in it.

 

Jodie from Northampton: What are 3 words you would use to describe yourself?

 

No idea whatsoever. I’ll leave that elaboration to you.

 

All right, that’s it. Thank you so much for submitting your questions and thank you for Romeo for having me. From me and from Mel in my study until very soon. See ya.

 

Thank you so much for the transcript Christine

Edited September 23, 2013 by clara85

[Teresa]

Thank you for the transcript! Btw yes, I confirm that he mentions De Andrè. (And this makes the chat -at least for me- even more perfect than it already is, as De Andrè was one of the best songwriters- I'd even rather say poets- Italy has ever had. Mika never fails to prove himself as such an interesting and clever artist, even in his musical tastes )

[macboll]

Mine asked us in the French-speaking thread to translate the script into French. I've started to translate the first half. Will do the other half tomorrow If some of you prefer to read the French version, here's the link to the French-speaking thread

 

http://www.mikafanclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27777&page=24

[Christine]

Mine asked us in the French-speaking thread to translate the script into French. I've started to translate the first half. Will do the other half tomorrow If some of you prefer to read the French version, here's the link to the French-speaking thread

 

http://www.mikafanclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27777&page=24

 

I think there was a link to a French transcript in the description of the YouTube video that was posted earlier?