dcdeb Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 By Chris Elwell-Sutton, Evening Standard 15.05.07 One of the most heavily hyped artists in recent times, flamboyant Lebanese-born singer Mika had been declared a star long before he released his first single. But despite his appearance in just about every one of those "ones to watch in 2007" lists, the fickle world of the media moves so fast now that in some quarters the murmurings of a backlash against him have already begun. Luckily for Mika, though, his success - which recently saw him sell his 500,000th copy of his album Life In Cartoon Motion - is not dependent on being thought cool, groundbreaking or edgy by socalled tastemakers, since in truth, he is none of those things. No, Mika's massive popularity is built on a far more solid foundation of a repertoire of gloriously lifeaffirming songs, a bucketload of charisma and a fantastic voice. All of these were very much in evidence at last night's spectacular show, and Mika's fans lapped it up. Opening, as he usually does, with debut single Relax, Take It Easy, Mika displayed a breathtaking falsetto. The crowd - whose gay-and-female-heavy demographic, with plenty of silly fancy dress thrown in, seemed to confirm the idea that Mika's stealing the Scissor Sisters' fans - reacted with abandon to this high-energy opener as the gangly star pranced and strutted in a fabulously camp skin-tight white outfit that brought to mind the man with whom he's most often compared: Freddie Mercury. I harboured the uncharitable suspicion that such perfect, strong high-notes must have been the result of miming. But I was wrong. It soon became clear, as his band took a back seat and he sat at his piano to perform the gentler My Interpretation, that Mika's voice really is as extraordinary as it seems. Lacking enough of his own material to fill the show, Mika made the sensible decision to sing a few songs by other people. The excellent Ring Ring was followed by a masterful rendition of The Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams that had bums flying off seats. Another successful cover was The Jackson Five's I Want You Back. As he followed these up with the crowd-pleasingly jolly Love Today, a carnival atmosphere prevailed as the audience entered an even more intense frenzy. Don't ask me why, but he performed the track dressed as a chicken while his keyboard player struggled manfully on, despite the clear discomfort caused by his rabbit costume. It was a suitably theatrical end to a spectacular performance that clearly owed more to the traditions of musical theatre than to those of rock'n'roll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnFa Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Sweeeeeeeeeet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violet_sky Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Thank you I want more of these pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titania Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Thanks dcdeb . Fantastic review Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zahara Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Aww..gotta love the second pic! LOL!! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziema Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Thanks for posting! I like the headline for the article ^^ The big girl seems to be in a dangerous situation, her boobs is nearly hopping out ^^ And I wonder if Mika sews on these things on the side of his pants by himself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirtilla Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 wow, thanx!! very very sweet!! Aww..gotta love the second pic! LOL!! Thanks me too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avoca Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 yes, this was a good review: I loved it! and the pics are very special! wow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Sky Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 What a fabulous review!!! I sounds like the journo did not expect to be converted!! "...gloriously lifeaffirming songs, a bucketload of charisma and a fantastic voice..." I hope Mika's family cut that one out and keep it for him!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcdeb Posted May 15, 2007 Author Share Posted May 15, 2007 Don't ask me why, but he performed the track dressed as a chicken while his keyboard player struggled manfully on, despite the clear discomfort caused by his rabbit costume. I laughed when I read this bit... did anybody else think that Luke looked burdened or in discomfort last night? dcdeb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBlackQueen Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Thanks! Great review and amazing pics (especially the last one, wow) So nice of you to post it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jemmalee Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I laughed when I read this bit... did anybody else think that Luke looked burdened or in discomfort last night? dcdeb Not at all, he keep his rabbit head on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mariposa Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Thanks for posting it!! I it!!! cool pix!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violet_sky Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Thanks for posting!I like the headline for the article ^^ The big girl seems to be in a dangerous situation, her boobs is nearly hopping out ^^ And I wonder if Mika sews on these things on the side of his pants by himself Well observed, LOL. Really, I haven't seen that. Looking at Mika pics I always have kind of a limited visual field Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kriszti Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babspanky Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Ha it's nice to know that we are not all totally biased! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamette Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 The second pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamika Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 brilliant review:thumb_yello: this one is too. i love themhttp://www.thelondonpaper.com/cs/Satellite/london/news/article/1157147444420?packedargs=suffix%3DArticleController Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crina Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 i love how he looks at her and his attitude of kind of dangerouse macho . so sexy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crina Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 brilliant review:thumb_yello: this one is too. i love themhttp://www.thelondonpaper.com/cs/Satellite/london/news/article/1157147444420?packedargs=suffix%3DArticleController on the page of this link is another one http://www.thelondonpaper.com/cs/Satellite/london/music/article/1157147426554?packedargs=suffix%3DArticleController the article is written by thomas atkinson. is one of the best if i know right and he like mika, so we all are right. mika is becoming a megastar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marianne84 Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Wow! That's a really good review. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natie Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Thanks for posting!Great review! Natie x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JUlie Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I was at the gig last night and I thought it was five stars..My converted cousin loved it as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 By Chris Elwell-Sutton, Evening Standard 15.05.07 I harboured the uncharitable suspicion that such perfect, strong high-notes must have been the result of miming. But I was wrong. It soon became clear, as his band took a back seat and he sat at his piano to perform the gentler My Interpretation, that Mika's voice really is as extraordinary as it seems. I had exactly the same reaction when I saw him in Toronto. I watched him very closely throughout Relax, Take it Easy because I just couldn't believe what was coming out of his mouth. I've seen video of the performance since and the reality is his voice in the intro is actually much louder and stronger than it sounds on the recording. During the acoustic songs he could have performed without a microphone. I've seen opera soloists at the Royal Albert but to see someone sing pop like that on a small club stage was surreal. I think anyone who's seen a show would be instantly converted to a fan. He's really extraordinary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazGirl Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 That Was The London Gig Right? I Was There! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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