Manic Monday

Links: MDNA preview - Gang Bang

2012-03-09T00:05:00.007+02:00

Listen to a snippet of Gang Bang (written by Mika and William Orbit) from Madonna's new album MDNA. It's addictive, isn't it? I think it is. I also think it will be quite a success. This is how Mika wrote on his Twitter:

the madonna song is weird as fuck, underground & lyrically cool, it's amazing & bizarre. i love it, she sounds so good singing words so harsh

He sounds too enthusiastic imo, I wonder if he really likes the final version that much. I admit it took me a moment to get used to the idea of the collaboration with Madonna, I have always seen her a bit like Snow White's wicked step mother... But the more I hear the song the better it sounds, and I actually like the aggressiveness and darkness in it. I would LOVE to hear the original song, I can even imagine Mika's face while singing it, seen him "shooting" on stage numerous times.

Songs: Happy Ending

2012-03-07T14:59:00.002+02:00

I can't handle sad endings. I can't even handle "endings" in general, I always try to see every leaving as a possibility to go back or meet again. I'm probably the most loyal person in the world. I have only a few very close people and I will never leave them. I always go back to the cities and places I love, I return my favorite restaurants (I usually even order the same food every time) and go to see the same artist(s) time after time.

In my world, there's always a happy ending. If I'm reading a book and I start to doubt the ending will not be happy I just quit reading. I refuse to read sad endings. I never watch sad movies either, I just can't handle too much sadness. It takes over me and makes my general mood down for a long time. I once watched Broke Back Mountain because I had heard it's a beautiful film. My husband said maybe we should not watch it but I said "of course we should, I've heard it's a beautiful film". We watched it and it was the saddest movie I had ever seen, and I cried and cried and cried for weeks and I blamed my husband for letting me watch it.

Happy Ending is a sad Mika song, it tells about leaving: this is the way you left me, I'm not pretending, no hope no love no glory, no happy ending, this is the way that we loved, like it's forever, to spend the rest of the life, but not together. However, I always concentrate on his performing instead of the sad story. I love it most when he sings it so emotionally he almost screams, jumps a bit looking very frustrated and ends the song sounding miserably sad with the last lines. On the other hand, I also love it when he sings Happy Ending in a calm and melancholic way playing his piano. It makes the story sound something that happened a long time ago, something that can be accepted if not forgotten, and it's really pretty.

Happy Ending is different every time and for me it's one way to separate all the Mika shows I've seen. If someone asks me how the show was I think of HE. It's a challenging song. It tells if Mika is feeling his best, his usual self, a bit tired or even not well. So I might say "he was at his best". Or that "his voice sounded a bit tired during HE". It's still always a beautiful song and it gives him suitable moments to connect with his audience and it's always one of the most special moments of the show. I have seen some brilliant acoustic Happy Ending versions, but this is the first HE I usually think so I link it here.

Edit: I must link Happy Ending from Comedy Club (Jam Sessions) and from Kettner's (Magic Numbers gig) again, because these must be the best HE versions I've seen. Can't watch them too often.

Quick updates: Collaboration for a Madonna song and Victoires de la Musique

2012-03-02T10:35:00.023+02:00

I usually divide pop singers into three category. The first category is those mediocre singers, who are not really talented or creative but still smart, who have an industrial machine working behind them and who simply have a huge will power to make things happen as they want. You know, like Madonna. The second category is artists, who would be talented enough to make amazing and meaningful music but who choose to sing soulless, uninteresting, mainstream pop to have fame and a lot of money or for some other reasons (like being afraid to reveal their true selves). This makes me think of Lady Gaga (and I can be wrong, this is just my opinion and feel free to disagree, to tell the truth I really don't know much). The third category is obviously those talented and creative artists who love and do beautiful music with their heart and soul and who's shows are always special. You know, like Mika.

I have seen Madonna live once. She came to my country and I really wanted to see her concert, she is such a famous product and actually, years ago I did like some of her songs. Her concert was a huge disappointment. I realized she sounds worse than mediocre and that her newer songs are boring and absolutely not my taste. Organizing concerts for 80 000 people on a flat field and asking 100-300 euros for a ticket is more than greedy. I hate things like that. I spent most of my evening eating near the gates and watching thousands of people walking out. She didn't sing any of her old songs I used to like. However, she is ultra famous and her concert was one of the biggest (maybe the biggest) event in my country that year.

Universal Music Italia announced yesterday new details about Madonna's new album MDNA (out March 26), read about it here. Mika is one of the names mentioned, he has done a small collaboration and co-written one of the songs for her new album (William Orbit track called Gang Bang). It looked like a rumor but comes from Universal Music announcement and I hope it's true. So for the first time, I'm actually interested in Madonna's new album. This is a good opportunity for Mika to get some international publicity he truly deserves and show how good he is. Exciting?

To the French fans who are lucky to watch Mika performing at the Victoires de la Musique ceremony in Paris tomorrow night - enjoy!! I hope we all have new videos to watch on Sunday (will link them here asap). Have a great weekend everyone! xx

UPDATE:
Press pics from Paris Fashion week (thanks Eriko for finding the pics). Gorgeous pictures! Does it look like Mika is put in the shade by his sister? Lol! Yasmin looks absolutely beautiful.

UPDATE 2:
Loved his performance at the ceremony. He looked and sounded good (and so real, didn't he), he had backing singers and no dancers (lol, thank god!) and everything went technically well. His long legs looked even longer in his skinny trousers and his dancing was adorable and so totally Mika. I think my love doubled. Can't believe he didn't win, his EMD was the only thing that made the whole boring ceremony worth watching, but well done any way. Looking forward to hearing/watching new interviews from the French media. Some professional pics and the performance vid below, thanks MFC for finding and uploading!

Sunday blogs: Love

2012-02-14T22:27:00.000+02:00

Maybe it was Valentine's Day that made me think of love, maybe it was the fact that Mika's new album is called The Origin Of Love and consists of 12 love songs that describe different forms of love. Love is a funny thing. Loving someone more doesn't necessarily make you love someone else any less and there are as many kinds of love as there are people.

Romantic love is about intimacy, attraction and finding your soulmate. First moment of love can indeed be like the first desperate breath of air you need when you are put under water. Later you realize your home is where your love is. After finding your real love you don't need to search anymore, there's finally someone who loves you as incomplete as you are. It's not that love makes us blind (except during the highest feeling of new love), it's more that we learn to accept, like or even love imperfections in our loved ones.

When we love someone's mistakes we feel he/she is ours (I'm the one who loves you even you are not perfect and it makes you mine). A healthy relationship is always mutual and leaves both sides space to grow and evolve (and in ideal cases love grows and evolves at the same time). It's tempting to hope people we care stay as they are; if they change to something too perfect other people might love them as well and they might leave us (and that's the scary part). Love is a risk worth taking (a cliché but true?).

Loving your children is different than any other kind of love. With your partner or friends you can always be selfish if you like, but children - they come first. In an airplane you need to help yourself first to be able to help your children, but in everyday situations children's needs are more important than ours. Waking in the middle of the night (more tired than ever) to comfort your baby is one way to show love. My children teach me something new every single day and the fact that I'm their mother never stops amazing me. Every child has their own personality, so my love for them can be different but always unlimited.

Loving your friends means sharing and being there when they need you and vice versa. I wish friendships with people were as easy as friendships with animals. I feel sad and share it with my dog. She tells me she wants to play and we play together. After a moment we both feel happy. I <3 my dog.

There are so many kinds of love. Some people say I can't love a pop star. Of course I can. People can love even places and fictional characters, why not artists and their music. Loving someone distant is one-sided but also gives me a freedom not to take things too personally. I still like to think there is a real person behind the music I love.

In Finland we don't much talk about love or our emotions in general. We rather hope that people around us can understand our silent thoughts (and sometimes we blog about it). I still appreciate that I have so many lovely people in my life. Thanks for being there, hope you all had a good Valentine's Day. xxx

(The picture is from Liege and it was taken with love)

Songs: Karen/82 Rue Des Martyrs

2012-02-14T11:05:00.002+02:00

This is probably the first of my many Karen related posts. I seem to be very fond of the song even I don't know it really well yet (heard it three times during the Festival Tour). It immediately became one of my favorite ever songs and an absolute favorite of his new songs even the lyrics are in French (and I can't understand French).

As a child I couldn't understand English but I never thought there is something wrong or weird enjoying a melody or a beautiful voice when you can't understand the language. Restricting myself to listen to music only in my native language would be extremely silly (imo), because I come from a small country with only few talented artists and singers. I read translated literature and watch films with subtitles as well. English is still a foreign language for me, my skills are not near fluent, I can't understand tones as well as I'd like to and sometimes, when the lyrics are really complicated, I need to concentrate on either lyrics OR melody while listening to the song and not both, so I have learned to enjoy music in many ways.

It's not the same if you can't understand the lyrics properly. In an ideal pop song the lyrics and the melody go hand in hand and I love enjoying a perfect song especially if it's as simple and raw as possible and there's nothing distracting or nothing too much (like in this perfect song). If the lyrics are too complicated or if I can't understand them at all I simply listen to the voice or beautiful melody, and that's what happened with Karen. It's a beautiful song, would be wasting to ignore it.

The melody is very different than in his earlier songs, it grows in me more and more every time I listen to the song. I love Mika's voice in Karen and I think it's a very suitable song to show his voice at it's best. His voice sounds so gentle in it, doesn't it, like full of compassion and understanding. I know the story of Karen who sings at Bistro 82 at 82, Rue Des Martyrs (seen the lyrics translated) but as I can't understand the precise tone for the lyrics my interpretation is kind of random. I still enjoy this song a lot.

My French friends have told me the lyrics are sophisticated and that his accent is natural. Many people say the melody sounds familiar, and I'm not surprised. I think Mika absorbs ideas and influences while breathing and he is genius recycling and making things his own (also in his shows and cover art), and I don't mind it as long as he makes things his own style. I don't know who wrote the song with him, but it will be on the new album so we will hear the details soon. I'm really pleased I decided to go to Compiegne and saw the first performance for Karen, it feels important now, and I enjoyed hearing it live also in Liege and Corsica.

Songs: Any Other World

2012-01-30T19:18:00.003+02:00

For some reason I felt like listening to Any Other World. I admit I have never much cared about the album version for this song. It's a serious song. I have always seen two levels in it. Connected to the spoken introduction (a family friend tells a story about losing an eye during the war) the song tells a global message, but at the same time the song tells an individual story about someone who is facing a new and difficult situation in his/her life.

However, I didn't feel close to the song until I heard it live. It's an amazing, powerful live song, one of his best songs to sing especially at medium-size or even large venues. It's impressive and strong, I love it. I linked below videos from Dublin and Stockholm from the European Tour 2010. Feeling very nostalgic today.

Quick updates: The NRJ Music Awards

2012-01-29T12:51:00.012+02:00

Congratulations Mika for winning the Best International Male Artist award at the NRJ Musics Awards in France last night! I watched the gala at home via livestream and participated the virtual party with people from all over the world and it was so much fun, thanks everyone! It was good to see him performing after a long break (only via livestream but still) and he looked well and happy and it certainly made me happy too. I love it when he is wearing something simple and stylish, couple of international press pictures below:

He did a short interview a few hours before the gala and told he was not expecting to win anything and indeed, his face was priceless and so genuinely surprised after hearing the result, bless him! Watch him receiving the prize here and his back stage interview soon after that here. Thank you Eriko for uploading the vids and French speaking fans for translating everything so quickly, it's highly appreciated!

Mika was also nominated for best clip and best song. No awards for EMD but it was good to see him performing again! It made me miss his concerts more than ever, can't wait to see him live again. And did you see... he danced?? Yes, he did! I was almost shocked because dancing with a choreography is probably the most surprising and unexpected thing he can do on stage. Really, killing the band or talking to the puppet is nothing compared to dancing like this, it was cute and funny! You think he will do it again? xD Lol, just teasing, he was looking good, watch below (thanks Milda for uploading). So proud of him and EMD and looking forward to more interviews and news about the album.

Sunday blogs: Dreams

2012-01-27T16:03:00.002+02:00

If you could travel anywhere in the world to see a Mika concert, where would you go? I know I have some dream destinations. For example, I have always wanted to see Mika in Beirut. You know why. He was born in Beirut and has partly Lebanese roots. I have considered traveling to Beirut a couple of times, but the problem is I don't know the area at all and I feel insecure to travel on my own. I want my husband to come with me. My husband says no. He doesn't want to travel to Beirut. He thinks it's not a safe or suitable place for holidays. I think it would be safer to travel together than me going alone. Either way, I'm going to visit Beirut some day.

Another dream destination: Los Angeles. Just because all the cool people live in LA and I would love to see the place and feel the vibe. Or Singapore. I spent some time there years ago and I always thought I will travel there again but haven't done it yet. I loved the place and I loved sitting in bookstores or cafés reading self-improvement books. I would really like to visit Singapore again but it's expensive, and Singapore is not a place for long holidays and I need a good reason (like a Mika gig) to go there.

There is a competition on Mikasounds to win a pair of tickets to any Mika concert in the world, all the expenses like the flights and hotel paid. It's such an amazing prize! I want to win it like everyone else. I think it would be an opportunity to see Mika somewhere really far away from Finland, like in Japan or Brazil. However, it's a raffle so it's all about luck and all we can do to win is to buy a few raffle tickets.

I have this theory. Ever since reading those self-improvement books in Singaporean bookstores I have believed that we can all feel better by living in a clutter-free environment, clearing the space around us and simplifying our lives in different ways. My theory says that if we get rid of "negative energy" around us (like clutter, dirt, unhealthy habits) some positive things will come to us. So my plan is to get rid of all the negative thoughts and clutter, clean my house, lose some weight by eating healthy and exercising AND eventually some good luck, like a raffle prize, will come to me.

My husband doesn't completely believe in my theory. He says it's inevitable that some good things will come to me after all that hard work but that I can't know in advance what it will be. My son says I shouldn't take things so tangibly. The positive feeling will be prize enough. It's a win-win situation indeed. Even without winning the prize I will still have a clean house and a new, healthier life (and if necessary, I can buy a couple of Mika flights as a prize for myself without feeling too guilty).

You want to participate and win this amazing golden ticket? Go to Mika Fan club, read the instructions and donate some money to London's Air Ambulance (you will get a raffle number for every ten pound), and if you agree with my theory, clean your house and start a diet. Have great weekend everyone! xxx

Links: Back from the 70's

2012-01-19T15:20:00.008+02:00

Just giving a few news links. Nothing about the album yet, but I'm really looking forward to some new Mika interviews and appearances very soon. Well, first of all, he is nominated for several French music awards and there will inevitably be some news and maybe even television performances around the award celebrations. Who would have thought EMD would be this huge, it's fantastic, I'm so pleased for him. Read more about the awards here and here.

Secondly, Italian glass/sun glass label Lozza announced him to be a new spokesperson for Lozza glasses year 2012 so we will see him modeling in their advert campaign during the spring (read more updates from Lozza Facebook page).

Sounds as an interesting project! Mika + sun glasses + Italy sounds extremely cool and extremely hot at the same time. Maybe also colorful and summery? Can't wait the results! I wouldn't mind seeing some 70's influence in his music and shows as well, as a 70's child I love the style!

MFC birthday party in London 7.1.2012

2012-01-09T22:21:00.000+02:00

Congratulations MFC (Mika Fan Club) for 5 fantastic years! We had a huge birthday celebration on Saturday January 7th in London. I traveled London on Friday. To tell the truth I couldn't believe I was actually traveling all the way to London just to meet my fellow Mika fans (and not to see a concert!) and I wasn't sure it will be worth it, but it really was! Everything went as well as possible and we had a perfectly organized Saturday: competitions, birthday cake and singing in the afternoon and an auction, dinner and disco in the evening.

Everything started on Friday. I arrived to the hotel at 8 PM and saw a lot of familiar faces first thing in the lobby. We spent Friday evening together chatting and having a couple of drinks in a pub near the hotel. I didn't take as many pictures as I planned and my pictures are mostly random (not one group pic in my camera, sorry!), but I chose a few to upload below.

Mellody and her boy friend

Saskia and her lovely blue eyes :)

Sabine searching jukebox to find some Mika songs

On Saturday at 2 PM we all gathered to a big room/hall booked for the party. Everything was in order: prizes/auction items, birthday cake and amazing cupcakes, and we did some quiz, bingo and cake eating! I can't eat basic cake, but lovely Meggy had bought me gluten-free madeleines and biscuits from France as a gift and it made my day. So kind of her!

Before our afternoon break a young singer Alex Bampton did some Mika covers and his performance was a lovely surprise, I really enjoyed his versions for Mika songs. He is very young so I was amazed to see he seems to have some kind of "own style" already. He has a pretty voice and he looked shy but really relaxed and not nervous at all. Thank you Alex, well done!

In the evening we had a dinner and everyone was already eagerly waiting for the auction (organized to raise money for charity). The prizes were unbelievable wonderful and the main item donated by Mika was a pair of Christian Louboutin luxury shoes personally chosen by Mika (extremely generous gesture from him and very special item, imo!). The prize for the shoes went as high as 1750 pounds and the total amount raised, almost 3000 pounds, goes directly to the London air ambulance unit which saved Mika's sister Paloma's life after her serious accident a bit over year ago. Well done people organizing the auction and everyone bidding for the items! I feel quite proud of MFC atm, I hope Mika is pleased too.

The rest of the evening was just partying, lol! Dancing and chatting and having fun. Thanks Meggy for the company, thanks Kath and Silver for organizing and thanks everyone for being so lovely. See you all soon again! xxx

Converse shoes, paintings and magazines donated to the auction

These shoes donated for the auction are painted and signed by Mika!

Beautiful hand-painted T-shirt made and donated by Andy Ferrari from Brazil

Teddy-bear was my favorite, but every entry was awesome!

Birthday cake

Absolutely AMAZING cupcakes made by Noriko

Yulia holding her prize after the costume competition!

Alex Bampton

Me and Yulia later in the evening

Quick updates: New blog from Mika

2011-12-15T12:01:00.005+02:00

We got a new Mika blog last night. I've read it many times already and I know most of you have read it many times too, but you can always read it one more time. It's here. His writing made me so happy in so many ways. Let me explain.

All I want him to do is some honest, genuine sounding songs. I wrote about my expectations here. Pop music is not an over-complicated thing, it's an easy way to touch people's hearts. And even I used those words I'm not talking about too easy, too simple, too repetitive or poorly made music. I'm talking about well and professionally made clever music that also makes us feel and think, and music is not working that way if we can't hear a genuine and real artist behind it. He has to make it an honest way, and it will be brilliant. His blog tells me he thinks that way too, can't wait the result!

I had a very good feeling about this album since the beginning. I never had a single doubt, for some reason I felt it will be good. I know some people laugh at my attitude and say it's silly to think that way before hearing the songs but I don't think so. I don't want to live my life being too cynical. I want to believe in people and I especially want to believe in my own ability to recognize something extraordinary when I see or hear it. I recognized it from the first moment and I don't think I made a mistake. He is very special and talented.

I was so happy to read he sounds his old self meaning that he still wants to take risks and do things in his own way even when people question it or can't understand everything. Also, was so happy to read he sounds somehow grown up, somehow so content and peaceful. I love words in general and his writing was beautiful as always. I look forward to his writings almost as much as his music and I'm so thankful he wanted to share his thoughts in his blog.

My own blog is quiet at the moment, not many things happening. But I will travel to London in three weeks to meet some of my MFC friends and I will take a lot pictures and make new posts, I promise. We just need to be patient, there will be new songs in a few months. Wishing you love and peace, take care, people. xxx

Links: Vive le vent

2011-11-21T21:45:00.002+02:00

I absolutely love it that he can make even Vive le vent sound so "Mika". I wasn't sure it's possible. I love his voice here, I just wish we could here only his voice (the music around it is a bit too loud). The video is from Universal Music France Youtube channel.

Sunday blogs: Dogs

2011-11-16T12:18:00.000+02:00

This is just a random blog post. I was thinking of Melachi this morning. I'm happy I have this picture of us as a memory from last January. I wonder how she is doing these days, I hope she is well.

I have a dog too. She is called Maggie May after this song (I guess, she already had a name when she arrived to our house). My Maggie is in love with a gorgeous dog next door. Sometimes she sits in our living room, staring out of the window and crying, and I play her I See You (I think it gives her some comfort).

Dogs are awesome, must love them.

Links: Mika receiving the yearbook clip

2011-11-08T22:08:00.002+02:00

I know, I was supposed to upload this tiny clip months ago, but somehow I just didn't do it. I'm sorry! It needed some editing and my iMovie wasn't working and I avoided searching the file and a suitable program/another computer to edit it. However, people kept asking for it and I felt guilty I had not uploaded it (I know the yearbook group worked very hard for the book). So I found the clip and cut some silly, messy parts away so you can see the moment.

Lists: 3 gigs

2011-11-06T14:57:00.000+02:00

Jam Sessions at Comedy Club, Paris (11/2009)
The Circus, Helsinki (7/2010)
Das Festival, Schaffhausen (7/2011)

It's really impossible to be objective while choosing your favorite gigs. It's not only about the singer, it's also about your personal feelings, meeting people and the whole atmosphere. I love small intimate gigs when the artist is concentrating on singing and can take a good contact with the audience. However, Mika is always great on stage! I especially love it when I can see him enjoying the show (small or big), it makes the audience in a great mood.

I could easily list every gig I saw 2009 to my personal top10 gigs -list (Acoustic Tour, some small club gigs, 2 N-A shows, Little Noise), and it's very difficult to pick only one for my list. I think I will say Jam Sessions, because it was a very special, small show at an extremely pretty venue.

And I saw many shows year 2010. I feel so lucky I saw how the tour started and how it ended and many fantastic shows between but I want to mention Helsinki, for several reasons. Mika finally in my home town. Do I need to say more?

The third on my list is Schaffhausen, because I was in a great mood after the festival tour. I was really surprised I had that much fun at summer festivals, I really didn't expect it (because it was the first time I saw that many festivals in a row). Schaffhausen was a good, relaxed performance and definitely the best possible way to end this summer tour. Such a great day indeed.

So how is your list?

Lists: 3 show elements

2011-11-04T20:50:00.000+02:00

1. White T-shirts. I told you I love white T-shirts!

2. Newsflash and spacewalking. Saw these elements several times and it was very impressive every single time (blogged about newsflash here and about spacewalking here). Loved black and white costumes the band was wearing as well, very stylish!

3. Marie-Antoinette theme, one of my favorites for several reasons!

I was quite open to the M-A idea from the beginning, it reminded me of my family holidays in Paris after PDP concert (I visited Versailles and read a lot of stuff about M-A). Felt a funny coincidence to hear (three years later) that he is bringing M-A theme to his show.

The M-A show had more structure and order than his earlier shows and seemed a good decision for these big summer festivals. His singing without any massive sets would be more than enough, but he seems to be very fond of big, colorful show elements. The usual combination of balloons, glitter, flowers, Big Girls, Lollipop Girls, Toy Boys, school boys, astronauts, planets, umbrellas, Mexican death masks and Chinese dragons is a lot of fun (and it definitely gives the audience what they paid for), but it can be a bit of a sensory overload when seen for the first time so some details can be easily missed (that's why I love seeing his shows several times in a row). The Marie-Antoinette theme was different. The stage setting, the costumes and little theater plays inside the show were all connected and instead of dozens of smaller ideas there was this one basic idea and I'm sure it was easier for average festival goers (who doesn't know his music so well) to watch and follow. I was surprised how well the new set was built around the old songs and pleased that the atmosphere was kept funny and entertaining.

I really enjoyed this 2011 "mini tour" with M-A theme. I always enjoy traveling in France, love watching the local architecture and people in general (there's some kind of stylish elegance I can't see in my own country) and it was so cool to travel first to Paris/Compiegne, then Belgium and Corsica (and some other places as well but these were perfect for the theme), to meet a lot of familiar people, see the new set and hear the new songs. Everything simply fit together so well (not talking only about the venues, everything fit together so well). It's really difficult to explain, but I believe many people who saw the tour live share my opinion.

What to list next? Some great venues?

Lists: 3 songs

2011-11-03T09:50:00.024+02:00

Okay, I tried to make a list of 5 songs. And it was really difficult, because I had more than 5 competitors, and I always had to leave a part of them outside. I didn't want any of these songs feel bad or left out so I eventually made a list of 3 songs (though I don't know if songs even have any feelings). These are my three songs:

Acoustic Relax
I'm Falling
Underwater

Acoustic Relax is my absolute favorite, but I'm not sure if I can use I'm Falling, because we never had it properly (it's on youtube)? It's an early version for I See You and I listened to it a lot before I See You was recorded. Also, we haven't even heard the final version for UW (I just want to believe it's one of these three songs). Your three songs?

Edit: I already feel bad because I didn't write Karen instead of UW, lol! I knew it would happen!

Quick updates: Random

2011-11-02T12:06:00.003+02:00

Feels a little bit Manic Monday again, doesn't it! It's always good to have some Mika news, even if it's only him sharing a few silly tweets (actually, I LOVE silly tweets). It's been really quiet in the Mika world lately and we all miss the excitement we experienced before his second album was out: his tweets, blogs and vlogs, little hints and taste about his new music. It made the waiting easy, would love to live it all again.

At the same time I can't help but thinking that this silent period can be such a good sign though, because it means he is doing a lot of hard work to finish the new album. I hope he is giving it a lot of thought and I trust he will come and make some noise when he is ready (waiting with good feelings and high expectations!).

I loved everything around releasing TBWKTM but as an album it didn't feel nearly as genuine and effortless as his first album. I didn't mind, he made many TBWKTM songs work really well in his shows. But the image I have about Mika as an artist and as a person is strongly based on the songs from LICM. I can recognize him from those songs so well, even when he is telling a story and songs like Love Today describe his energy just perfectly.

Every song on LICM has a clear, simple message about some basic issues in life and songs like that just work well for me. He sounds really genuine asking things like Why don't you like me without making me try or simply telling This is the way you left me, I'm not pretending or I believe we are in this together.

I got similar convincing vibes from Rain and I See You: I hate days like this. You mean the world to me but you'll never know. I was so surprised that either of them was used as the first single from the second album (and TBWKTM was generally marketed in a narrow and a bit "artificial" way). Long explanations about one foot boy on his shoulder, singing about whatever else that touches you or blaming it on the girls and on the boys is just not the same, even I loved live versions for all these songs and they have some absolutely brilliant lines.

Songs with a simple effective message just work better (at least for me), so I was more than excited to hear Underwater. It sounds utterly beautiful and poetic but also honest and there's nothing to guess:

Cause all I need
is the love you breathe.

It's pop music. I just want his beautiful voice to tell us stories around some simple, genuine thoughts. Looking forward to surprises, his usual attitude and lots of good energy as always. So take your time Mika, just be yourself and do your yoga after drinking wine (don't underestimate your yoga talents, see the pic). xxx

Links: Noël Noël Noël

2011-10-19T10:14:00.004+03:00

Picture: Label Barclay

It's still October and I'm not even a huge Christmas person... But I read this and it put me in a Christmas mood already. Mika will be one of the artists singing on Michel Legrand's new Christmas album Noel, Noel, Noel with the song Vive le vent (Jingle Bells). The album will be a collection of "childhood Christmas songs" (it kind of explains the titles chosen) and it will be released November 21. The winter is getting darker and darker and it's good to have something joyful to look forward to, love surprises like this (Rufus is mentioned to be on the album too, great news!). I know it's a bit too early for Christmas songs, but I enjoyed the version for Let It Snow Mika did for Nova Acoustic a couple of years ago and I want to link it, watch it here.

Edit: You can listen to a tiny clip of Vive le vent here.

Traveling, events, people: Switzerland (7/2011)

2011-10-04T21:24:00.001+03:00

Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux

I had absolutely no idea Switzerland is such a beautiful country. The lake, the mountains, everything is so close to each other, it's just magical. And everything is much more colorful than I had thought in advance. Look at the pics, even notes look like toy money, lol!

I stayed at Nanou's place with the French girls and she kindly took her time to show us some places. We had coffee in Geneva after I had arrived and drove to see Montreux (the Freddie's statue!) and Lausanne. The view in the evening light was stunning, loved it! I uploaded some pictures below (that bird stole my biscuit!).

Paléo Festival: Festival area, fans

The atmosphere at Paléo festival was as relaxed as Nanou had described us. No one was pushing, queueing or hurrying. The area was full of little festival cafés/restaurants and cuisines from all over the world. The security was relaxed and joking: no stupid unnecessary rules or regulations or telling people what to do. But guess what? Sudden situations happening in the audience (like a couple of drunken guys fighting or a young girl feeling not well) were professionally taken care of in a few seconds. Not pointing any specific country, city or event, just saying: This is how massive music events should be organized.

Paléo festival: Other artists

Robert Plant is some kind a legend, isn't he? Not my kind of music but I enjoyed the performance.

Paléo festival: Mika

Mika did a very good, high-energy show in a difficult situation, the whole huge audience loved his performance! More pictures in my earlier blog post:

-Gig reviews: Paléo Festival in Nyon

Quick updates: Latest public appearances (some links and public photos)

2011-10-03T10:26:00.009+03:00

The Human Rights Campaign hosted the 15th Annual National Dinner on Saturday, October 1, in Washington and Mika gave a full after-party concert after the official dinner. I was so proud to hear he was asked to perform in such an important event (President Obama delivered the keynote address) and also so happy he is openly supporting a cause like this! I wish I could tell more news about the after-party concert but haven't heard/read anything yet. I'm so curious to know if he did Underwater or not (anyone knows the set list? please share!). The video linked above shows a few seconds from the concert, the audience seems to enjoy a lot and I hope N-A will understand his great value after a few appearances like this.

Oh, look at him, he is looking shy but so pleased and smiling in his new clever look! I must say I absolutely love his new style, he is looking so smart and adult, but still so "mika". I was already waiting for a bit more mature look and this change looks very natural, I'm glad he didn't forget his yellow knitted tie or yellow vest (in the pics from South-Korea below), feels very safe to still recognize him. Can't wait to hear if the new style can actually be heard in his new music.

His Korean sponsor shared a lovely video from his visit to South-Korea, it's acoustic Happy Ending from a small acoustic performance he did in Seoul. It's one of loveliest versions of HE I've ever heard, so I wanted to link it, watch it below. (All the pics are borrowed so I left the watermarks. )

Traveling, events, people: Corsica (7/2011)

2011-09-30T20:20:00.000+03:00

Ajaccio, Corsica

The concert: Fans/venue

The concert: Mika

I blogged about the concert earlier:

-Quick updates: Corsica

-Gig review: Mika in Ajaccio, Corsica

Traveling, events, people: Belgium (7/2011)

2011-09-23T13:57:00.001+03:00

Les Ardentes Summer Festival: Other artists/bands

I didn't have time to do any sightseeing or traveling in Belgium, but the day I spent at Les Ardentes Summer Festival in Liege was more than perfect indeed. The festival itself was one of the best organized events I saw this summer and was a lot of fun to spend the day watching good quality artists and bands while waiting for Mika's performance. We saw several bands during the day, but especially two of them are worth mentioning. The first one is King Charles. They did a good, very entertaining show, see a couple of pics below and please check out their music here, it's very addictive. Btw, ever seen hair that amazing before??

My another favorite was Suarez. I know, I got a bit carried away with the pics (they were a very photogenic band indeed)! Their music is soft and pretty, almost a bit boring when you listen to it recorded, but they were fantastic live, so if you ever have a possibility to see them live I highly recommend it, I really enjoyed their performance.

Les Ardentes Summer Festival: Face paintings & hairstyle (so pretty!!)

Les Ardentes Summer Festival: Mika

The Belgian audience was fantastic and Mika did an incredible show. The small technical problems and slightly nervous singing we saw in Compiegné were all gone and behind, I think this was his best show during the whole summer, he was absolutely on fire. I was really happy to see the new Marie Antoinette set properly, and I already blogged about it earlier:

-Quick update: Les Ardentes Summer Festival

-Gig review: Mika @Les Ardentes Summer Festival

-Ida @Les Ardentes Summer Festival

-Show elements: Paintings

-Show elements: Chandeliers

-Show elements: Horse Mask

Traveling, events, people: Hungary (7/2011)

2011-09-22T11:26:00.005+03:00

I made a few travel posts with mainly photos and links to express how I experienced different countries and festivals last summer. I absolutely love beautiful Budapest as a city and the festival at Lake Balaton had a special warm and relaxed atmosphere (beach party style) so I really enjoyed my short holidays in Hungary. Just click the pics to see them bigger and if you are interested in the other festival artists/bands there are links to their music above the pics. The fans in the pictures come from Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia (at least, please let me know if I ignored someone!). It's always so much fun to meet new people from different countries!

Budapest

Balaton Sound Festival: Fans

Balaton Sound Festival: Other artists/bands

Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra:

Big Boi:

Balaton Sound Festival: Mika

Blogged earlier:

-Quick updates: Balaton Sound

-Happy Birthday to Paloma @Balaton Sound

-Gig reviews: Balaton Sound

-iMMa @Balaton Sound

-Ben @Balaton Sound

-Big Girls and Lollipop Girls @Balaton Sound

Quick updates: New song (Underwater)

2011-09-21T14:19:00.013+03:00

Cause all I need
is the love you breathe
put your lips on me and
I can live under water, under water

Oh, god, I just had to make this quick post. Mika performed his new song Underwater last night in Seoul, and I have been watching it from Youtube since it was uploaded and I have cried my heart out while listening to it (you can watch it here and here, thank you Korean fans for posting the song!!). Awwww, I wish I had heard it live, but I will hear it live some day, and it will be so worth waiting, definitely as amazing as hearing I See You for the first time (in Boston 2009).

It's such a beautiful, beautiful song, omg. It makes me feel grateful to tears for all the love I feel and have in my heart and cry for all those poor, poor people in this world who have never loved. Poor people! So many tears. This song is pure love, it's so honest and it's so powerful yet simple enough. I think he has really done it this time.

The new album will be brilliant, just this one song can tell it. I'm so happy for him, because I think he really wanted/wants to do a good album. And he believes in love, otherwise he couldn't write songs like Underwater! How sweet is that?! His music definitely makes the world a better place. *wub*

Quick updates: Charts

2011-09-17T22:36:00.001+03:00

He did it!! Elle Me Dit is officially number one in the French charts (two weeks already!). It's not a surprise, I was expecting it. It's a happy song and it seemed suitable for the French markets from the beginning. The video supports it well, it has way over 3 million views on Youtube already (I blogged about the video here). I am so pleased for him. I hope this well-deserved success makes him in a good mood and gives a lot of positive energy for recording the new album.

I miss Mika shows/concerts so much I can almost feel a physical pain, so I have tried to keep myself busy with my real life (my husband says I must be exaggerating, but I'm not, I can tell you, it hurts). I have not forgotten my blog though. During my summer trips I took a lot of pictures of different places and people I met. I have promised to share some of them so I will make a few travel posts (but don't worry, I will not post the pics I was especially asked not to post!). Also, while waiting for the new material I might list some of my favorite links/articles. New posts coming soon. My photo archives are a mess so I need some time to sort them out (random pic above).

Songs: Blame It On The Girls

2011-08-30T22:50:00.009+03:00

He's got looks that books take pages to tell
He's got a face to make you fall on your knees
He's got money in the bank to thank and I guess
You could think he's livin' at ease
...
Life could be simple but you never fail
To complicate it every single time
You could have children and a wife, a perfect little life
But you blow it on a bottle of wine
...
I see the the lyrics for the song quite smart, so that's why I always classify Blame It On The Girls as one of his smart/clever songs with songs like Stuck In the Middle and maybe in the future with the English version for EMD. BIOTG is not in my personal top10 songs. I prefer songs with extreme emotions, songs like Relax (love), I See You (one-side love), Rain and Happy Ending (disappointment and moving on) or Love Today (extreme energy). Oh, this is just my own method for categorizing songs and it's not very scientific (so again, feel free to disagree).

I still think BIOTG is one of his best live songs. He always asks the audience to clap along and sing the chorus parts. He divides the audience into two groups, one singing "blame it on the girls" and another one singing "blame it on the boys". The band members are asked to be leaders for the groups and the louder one is the winner. It's always a lot of fun, people always love it and I always look forward to hearing this song live at concerts. I linked the performance he did in Cattolica 2010 below just as an example.

I also love the official BIOTG video with faded colors. I especially like the style and atmosphere in it. The idea behind the space/the dancers/the filming technique was maybe a bit too complicated (I don't think people could understand the effort put into making the video) but the result was stylish and it's one of my favorite official vids. Mika tells about making of the video here. The intro for the song is awesome, he knows how to do it, just watch the beginning of the official version.

The Band: Marcus

2011-08-25T18:28:00.001+03:00

The new keyboard player is called Marcus (at least I think so, please correct me if I'm wrong). I know nothing about him, absolutely nothing. I have nothing to complain either, I guess he is doing well. I wish I could tell you more, we might see him again. A few pics above, he looks quite good in a black shirt?

Show elements: Horse mask

2011-08-23T10:29:00.004+03:00

Mika often likes to perform tiny theater scenes in his shows and using a mask is one of them. It's a small joke. His backing vocalist iMMa is teasing him, she covers his eyes with a blue scarf promising a surprise but puts a horse mask on his head instead. And then she makes fun of him and the audience laughs but is also terrified that he will fall off the stage. I have that blue piece of fabric and there is his make-up on it. Oh, how cool is that! It's really cool.

God, I already miss the Marie Antoinette show so much. We don't even know if we can ever see it again. He can't use it after the third album, because people are already expecting something totally new. But he could do a few acoustic shows (playing his piano) and use one of those chandeliers, and that would be absolutely amazing. Just saying.

Sunday blogs: Sharing

2011-08-21T22:30:00.001+03:00

I love sharing my music hobby with my family. My husband is not a huge fan like I am, but he thinks Mika is an amazing live performer and we have seen almost 10 shows together. My family has been very patient with my traveling (just because they know it makes me happy) so I feel very lucky. My son is quite a fan already. If I catch him listening to music from his head phones after his bed time I know for sure he is listening to either Mika or Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson.
***

I had a dear friend visiting this weekend. She is not a Mika fan but she was there when I heard Relax for the first time and when this all started so she can understand me very well. She likes some Mika songs too and she told she likes especially Elle Me Dit so we watched the new EMD video together for a few times. That was fun!
***

We all know that Mika is not so keen on social media and he doesn't use (for example) twitter regularly. I'm usually just fine with that. I don't need to know what he is doing or where he is at every single moment, I'm happy he is not too star to be able to have his privacy and I hope he can enjoy his life (whatever he is doing). But I admit that every time he finally tweets it makes me smile. It's good to know he is (now/soon) back recording. I miss his old blogs/I miss reading his thoughts and I hope he wants to share some news about his music soon, using whatever channel he finds comfortable (vlogs/blogs/twitter).

Show elements: Chandeliers

2011-08-19T09:10:00.001+03:00

I have already mentioned the new chandeliers as my favorite part of the new Marie Antoinette set so I uploaded a few pictures to show them more detailed (just click the pics to see them bigger). Some color pics below to see how they look in day light/dark/colored lighting.

Everything was fitting together very well (paintings + chandeliers + costumes) and the atmosphere was totally different than in his previous show, I really enjoyed watching something new and different. As you can see the chandeliers were quite useful and funny during the show (to lean on/hang).

Links: The official Elle Me Dit video

2011-08-16T14:56:00.009+03:00

I made a new label called "links" so while Mika is on his long recording break (and not touring) I can make some posts linking my favorite official videos or articles. I was also excited about the brand new Elle Me Dit clip and I wanted to link it just in case someone out there is actually not a core fan and hasn't seen it yet.

I like Mika's new direction. He seems now a bit more mature than last year. I don't want him to be stuck in his teenage years forever. We have already lived through his teenage traumas once and although it was interesting it was not something I can personally connect with very easily. I can't even remember my own teenage years, I feel my life actually properly started much later. It looks Mika is now willing to move on and I think that's more than fine.

Also, I love visually beautiful things and I have really liked some things he has used lately (in his shows/vids). I have been into different decorating styles and vintage things for years (before I heard about Mika). I could easily live in an empty room with only one big chandelier in it, so I absolutely loved the new set with the two huge chandeliers he had on the festival tour. I enjoy watching French films, and the EMD clip above looks like a funny random clip from a film. I like it and I like the bohemian style in it. I think it's actually supporting the song really well. When I heard the English version for the song I immediately imagined his mother nagging on him, lol, but it doesn't happen with the French version and I find this random weird family in the clip quite funny.

I still don't think I will watch this video too often because he is not in it himself. It's always hypnotizing to watch Mika in his music videos. I will never forget how I watched the Grace Kelly video over and over again when I first found it a few years ago. I loved it and his new music videos can never give the same feeling. This clip seems a "small" video, as it should be, it's only for one market and between albums, and music videos are not about money but about ideas. Btw, Fanny Ardant is not my favorite character in the vid, I totally fell in love with the older man (the one shaving and dancing)!

This is a funny little clip, it made me smile and I like the style, but it's nothing totally mind-blowing and I like it that way. I already think Mika is way more intelligent, interesting and creative than people/artists in average, and I actually love the fact that he is also sometimes weird, that he makes random music videos and that he sometimes allows himself to look silly in his granny curls or silly pants. Too polished or perfect people scare me. I had a good, warm feeling after watching this clip, I might watch it one more time. Check it out if you haven't seen it yet.

Songs: Love Today @Balaton Sound, Hungary

2011-08-14T21:20:00.001+03:00

I have blogged about Love Today earlier but I had some pics from Balaton Sound so I decided to do another photo post. I can't express how much I love this song. It's such a great, high energy song. I never heard early versions for Love Today (I heard it for the first time live 2008) or the other LICM songs, so now I'm really grateful every single time I'm able to hear the first, even clumsy, versions for new Mika songs (and see how they evolve from the beginning). I'm always curious to see what he is doing next and I love seeing him trying new and different things.

I don't much complain about his music/shows. It doesn't mean I like everything Mika or the machine around him does, but my philosophy is to concentrate on things I enjoy and also to love every day as much as possible. His music simply makes me happy. I think people are in general afraid to purely enjoy things because they are worried they look silly or not smart enough if they are not giving some "constructive critique" every second. This is just one theory (and of course there is time and place for analyzing too, it's a part of the fun).

I love his voice in Love Today and I love the energy it gives me at gigs. Just seeing the pics makes me want to jump. Now I'm counting three and everyone who can will jump? 1, 2, 3.

The Band: Ben @Balaton Sound, Hungary

2011-08-12T14:12:00.000+03:00

Show elements: Big Girls and Lollipop Girls @Balaton Sound, Hungary

2011-08-11T10:21:00.000+03:00

I promised to make a photo post from Balaton Sound Festival with pictures of Big Girls and Lollipop Girls. I'm sorry the pics are not very good quality, it was a hectic situation, but I thought the girls in the pics might want to see them in any case and have them as a memory. Hahah, the girl Mika is hugging looks a bit suffering but believe me, she was having the time of her life. Check the end of this post, I linked BG and Lollipop vids (filmed by Balazs).

Gig review: Das Festival, Schaffhausen, Switzerland

2011-08-09T12:55:00.003+03:00

I didn't originally plan to travel to Schaffhausen, but I wanted to give the tour a proper end and Paleo Festival didn't feel a proper end even though it was a good show. My German friends had some space in their car on their way from Munich to Schaffhausen and they even offered me a place to stay for Friday night so I decided to fly to Munich and do a road trip together with them. The whole Saturday morning I was worried that something would go wrong. I'm always a bit worried. I guess I'm just generally afraid that some day the universe will punish me because I'm not a good enough person, and I'm bad at handling sudden disappointments so my defense mechanism is always to imagine the worst scenarios. But guess what, the festival was not cancelled because of thunder storms, we didn't get stuck in any traffic jams (at least not for a long time) and we didn't arrive too late. Everything went well and we had a perfect day!

We arrived in the afternoon just on time to see the venue before the area was closed (after the first part of the festival, there was a children's event in the morning). I saw some paintings hanging already above the stage and I took a few pictures, and suddenly the band came to the stage and started to do their soundcheck. Usually the sound team does it. Sometimes the band is there, sometimes Mika is there but most times we are not allowed to see it. So we were happy to watch iMMa and Ben rehearsing and Marion (who was next to me) and I were wondering why Martin was not there, we couldn't recognize the guitarist. Suddenly I realized that Mika had appeared. I was sure we would be asked to go outside the area but the security only asked us not to take any photos and we were allowed to watch the soundcheck. Mika explained that they have a new guitarist and that they need to do a longer soundcheck than usually. He didn't sing only one or two songs but many songs and it felt like a real surprise gig. I really loved watching it!

I have seen him on stage many times but he is always performing and doing a show and the moments we see him off-stage are always over too quickly. So it was really special to see him practicing, doing his job and guiding the band looking so casual in his jeans. He seemed to be in a very good mood, he said some comments to us and the audience didn't seem to disturb him. He spontaneously did some lines from Elle Me dit in English and it was amazing, everyone was cheering and he looked surprised ("oh, you liked it?") and we said "YES!" and we secretly started to hope he would sing it in English in the evening. Marion and I were standing stunned and speechless during the whole soundcheck, not capable of saying more than a few very obvious lines to each other. The whole situation made us laugh out loud afterwards and it was so cool to see we both (and everyone there) thought it was one of the most special Mika moments ever. I wonder if he knows how silly his fans are, but it was definitely worth traveling just to see the soundcheck and we still had the show to see in the evening!

This was a festival once again so waiting for the gig meant watching the other festival artists, in this case all bands. I can't remember the names for the first two. The first one was a bit boring, but compared to the second one it was actually quite good. The second band had a really weird female singer who looked drugged and their music was just bad in my ears. Marion and I couldn't believe the festival was paying for having them, I bet someone paid to send them away from UK. The third band was called The Rambling Wheels and omg, they had the attitude!! Oh, I totally loved their show, and not only because they had a song called The Girl With the Tattoo (my song!). After them the audience was really ready to see Mika, and it loved him!

He had so much fun on stage, it was awesome to watch. The whole band did well, and loved seeing them participating so much. The stage was so much smaller than in Nyon and they seemed to fill it with joking and laughing. The new guitarist did well, can't understand how he looked so relaxed at his first gig together with Mika and his band (it was literally his first day). BIOTG was great. It's weird that I never listen to the album version but I liked the vid and I always love it at concerts. I loved hearing Rain one more time this summer, because the new version is so good and I was especially pleased he did Touches You (we haven't heard it much lately). He talked a bit before Happy Ending explaining it's a challenging song and it was really adorable! Of course we know it's more difficult song to sing than most of his songs, and it always tells how his voice is that day. It's a bit different every time but I don't mind, HE is always one of my favorites, love it. His voice is like an instrument, it can't be similar every day and that's one reason to listen to it live.

In the end he really did Elle Me Dit in English and it was quite amazing to hear a new song at the last gig. Now I need time to understand that it is actually an English song and not French! I liked the idea of French songs so much, but I guess I will get used to the English version soon. Of course the song feels totally different now when I can understand everything and the image in my head is not based just translations and my own thoughts.

So it was a perfect way to end the tour. He mentioned several times that this was the last festival and he was extra kind and sweet to people (well, he can have some space now after the tour is finished). I know this was actually not a tour but it felt like a mini tour, and we saw the Marie Antoinette stage and the new costumes and heard three new songs (four versions). I already miss everything (I need live Mika music just like I need books around me) but at the same time I have more energy after all this traveling and fun than I have had for a long time and it makes me look forward to some busy times in my real life.

I went back to Munich with Karin, Saskia and Renate (and Karin was an excellent driver even it was so dark and wet) and I flied back home and I hugged my husband telling how awesome Schaffhausen was and said thank you thank you thank you for letting me go (it was expensive and it also meant some extra work for him at home). And I explained that we saw the soundcheck, that Mika looked gorgeous and so casual during it and that he did a great show and was really kind and hubby said "yeah, no problem, just please stay home for a while now". I feel I'm not a good enough person, some day the universe will punish me.

Quick updates: Das Festival, Schaffhausen

2011-08-07T14:57:00.003+03:00

Sometimes I have this feeling that I just have to do something, like travel to see a concert somewhere. And this time I really had to travel to Schaffhausen, to Switzerland. I'm really happy I decided to do it (and I'm grateful to my family who was so understanding with my last minute decision). I will write a proper gig review as soon as I have time. I had a fantastic Saturday in Switzerland, many happy memories and such a good end to the tour. A few pictures above. Mika and the whole band was in a funny, joking mood. It was fun!

In the end he did Elle Me Dit in English. We were allowed to watch the soundcheck before the show so we were a bit expecting it (loved watching the soundcheck, btw, the coolest thing ever!).

Show elements: White T-shirts

2011-08-03T20:22:00.001+03:00

I love watching his colorful shows. I've learnt that that (theatrical shows) is how he is expressing himself, it's a part of this artist. His stage clothes and costumes play an important role in the world he has created. But, if you ask me, he looks best in white T-shirts. Oh, ask anyone. I'm serious. And it's so nice to be able to concentrate purely on the music/singing/performing.

The pictures above are from Balaton Sound festival. I'm traveling to Schaffhausen on Saturday with my German friends. One more festival, looking forward to it. More posts next week.

Show elements: The light show

2011-08-01T22:57:00.001+03:00

I always give a lot of attention to the lighting. It can be brown, it can be blue and it can be violet, quite often also red, green or yellow. See some examples above. It looks awesome and it makes taking photos and videos so much more interesting and of course easier. I like seeing things through my camera. My husband says I'm "hysterical" with my camera (he is one the victims too) but if I don't have any photos afterwards I almost wonder if anything ever happened.

Mika has always a great light show but this year it's even better than last year, not too bright or even slightly disturbing (I can't be the only one with a bit sensitive eyes). Yay, well done! The pictures are from Liege, Nyon and Balaton.

Gig review: Ajaccio, Corsica

2011-07-31T02:15:00.004+03:00

Arriving to Corsica one day before the concert was a bliss. I had had so much fun during the whole trip, but a "festival tour" means tight schedules and sleepless nights, cheap hotels and standing at festivals in a rain without any food. It was worth it and I really enjoyed every moment, but when I arrived to my last destination (before a small break at home) I felt I needed some sun and rest.

The first pic is the view from my hotel window, and I don't want to sound spoiled but I needed it. I deserved it, lol! The second pic is a restaurant across the hotel. They had some fantastic salads, not to mention proper table lines, and yes, I deserved that too. In the evening I had time to have a dinner near the beach with my French friends and when I got back to the hotel I found Yulia and we went to see the venue near the hotel before having a good rest.

When I saw the venue I realized immediately it was not just another venue. The square was a local place for concerts but it couldn't be a coincidental venue for a Mika show. He was planning to bring his show under the statue of Napoleon. Seriously, he was planning to bring his new French style stage setting to this square in Ajaccio and to perform in his silly pants and Napoleon style jacket under the statue of Napoleon! Too cute and adorable! I loved the whole idea. Things like this make him special, I really wouldn't bother doing all this for any other artist. Just to remind you, see the statue one more time below.

We had a relaxed day before the concert sitting and chatting in cafés and we were let in to the concert area only a short time before it started (no supporting acts). I almost couldn't wait to see the show. I always love the moment before it all starts, I love watching his team making the final arrangements, I've seen them doing it in so many places (they all look so familiar and even that "one one-two two-hey hey-check check" thing is like music to my ears) and I love watching his sister checking the stage in her black dress (she is gorgeous, she must be one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen) and I LOVE hearing songs like this. I admit that just writing all this makes my heart beat a bit faster even I always say I'm not addicted. You know, I'm not addicted, I just like traveling and listening to live music.

It was a very good show. The Corsican audience was maybe not the kind of an audience that sets him on fire (like happened in Belgium), but he did definitely a very good performance. He was in a good and smiling mood, seemed to enjoy performing and interacted with the audience quite a lot. Well, he was speaking French so I couldn't understand his stories, only some references, and after the show I made the same decision as always: I will learn some French before the next tour. This time I really mean it.

The concert was at one of the most special venues I've seen but there are also a couple of other things I want mention here. Firstly, he took a long time to rehearse the new songs before the show and it was worth it, we saw the best versions for the new songs so far (BIOTW was even better in Paléo, I guess performing it several times makes a difference). I want to link Karen again, just because I love it so much. The beginning/the way he starts the song is my very favorite part (it's absolutely beautiful!) and the chorus works perfectly live (even it's not very original, I still love it). I want to be grateful that I heard the song three times this summer but at the same time I'm afraid he will never sing it again, that's what always happens to my favorite songs, remember Ring Ring, Lady Jane and I See You.

Secondly, this must have been the best show from iMMa I've ever seen, she was partying her heart out with Ida, it was fantastic. Well done, girls, so much energy on stage!

It was good to see some familiar and some new faces from countries like France, Spain, Italy and Greece, and special thanks to Christie for making me smile (it worked!), to Vladimir for telling New York stories while waiting for the gig to start and to Yulia for keeping me company (it was fun!). Some pictures from the gig below.

Show elements: Paintings

2011-07-29T01:10:00.001+03:00

I uploaded some pictures of the background paintings (just to show how visual it all looks). So if you haven't seen the new stage setting or can't remember all the details, just click the pics to make them bigger and have a look. The first picture above is from Ajaccio, Corsica and all the rest from Les Ardentes Summer Festival, Liege. I love it how the idea is so simple but also full of details at the same time and the new setting looks really impressive even at a large stage.

Everything looks really easy and simple but they must have put so much effort to this show. The whole show is like a huge theatre play. See how well the costumes fit together with the paintings? I feel so lucky I was able to see the show in Compiégne and Corsica, can't think more suitable venues for the new setting and costumes.

Gig reviews: Les Ardentes Summer Festival in Liége, Belgium

2011-07-26T16:04:00.002+03:00

His new show is a success. Yes, a success! Look at his face after the show at Les Ardentes Summer Festival in Liége, Belgium. He did a fantastic, relaxed performance and the Belgian audience loved it. What a great night it was. I've seen the new stage setting four times, in Compiégne, in Liége, in Corsica and finally last Saturday in Nyon. I saw it really well and properly for the first time in Liége, so I wanted to describe it with a few words in this Liége gig review post.

First of all, a show can be created in two ways. The first way is to have a huge amount of small ideas and elements, gather them all together and combine them as one big colorful show. He did that at his previous tour. It's a bit messy way, but not actually a bad way, just unstructured needing a lot of work. I loved some of those show elements a lot, I still do and would do everything to see them again (the drumming scene, his space walking with the news flash just to mention a couple of these elements). It was fascinating especially for a fan to watch many shows in row and literally see in front of your own eyes how the show evolved and got better time after time. Loved the whole process.

But the another way is to take one clear basic idea and to build the show around it, adding smaller details all related to the main idea. This is what he has done with the new Marie Antoinette theme and it's a very structured way to build a new show. It makes him look organized and more mature. The audience can follow the show more easily and it makes the show successful from the start. There is really a big difference. I genuinely think this is the best show he has ever created. I realized it already in Compiégne but seeing it better in Liége made me very proud of him, really.

The new stage setting is very simple in a good way. There are a few big canvases with painting motives in them, hanging in two rows: Marie Antoinette, Napoleon, fighting scenes etc (some of them a bit creepy) and two big chandeliers. That's it, and it works perfectly both at historical venues and at huge festivals. I've seen his awesome team building it up very quickly, and not sure if it is really that easy but at least they make it look easy. It's simple, but there are numerous small details in the painting pictures, and you don't get bored with it during one tour. Two big chandeliers are my favorites (just because I love chandeliers). See the stage in the picture below. I have more pictures of paintings, I will post them as soon as I have time to organize my pics. And see, he has gathered a court around him!

On the Marie Antoinette style background he has added fantastic costumes (by Mrs Penniman) and some relevant show elements: undressing Ida's and iMMa's huge skirts and showing their fabulous, colorful "underwear" under them (they both look gorgeous/this is not about the Victorian age so why not), the horse mask scene with iMMa and playing Napoleon in his dark jacket. Finally, there are two new French songs and one very theatrical new English song and the setting is more than perfect to them all. The new show is very controlled, looks he has learnt a lot in a very short time. He has really matured this much?

The Liége show was well done without any of those technical problems we saw/heard in Compiégne. It's always amazing to see a big festival audience who doesn't necessarily know his music so well enjoying his show this much. And even I think he did especially BIOTW better in Corsica and Nyon I still enjoyed all his new songs in Liége. Watch Karen below:

The band: Ida @Les Ardentes Summer Festival

2011-07-25T17:48:00.000+03:00

Gig reviews: Paléo Festival, Nyon, Switzerland

2011-07-24T18:18:00.000+03:00

Mika dedicated his show at Paléo Festival (in Nyon, Switzerland) to Amy Winehouse, who was found dead at her home in the very same morning. Mika was replacing Amy at the festival due to her show cancellations (and therefore many people at the festival had originally bought their tickets to see her) so mentioning her name was a respectful and appropriate thing to do. She was a talented young artist and her death was tragical from every point of view so he must have been genuinely very upset and shocked. I was worried that replacing AW in this situation would be very difficult for him, but despite of the tragedy the Paléo audience wanted to see a good show and surprisingly he did one of his best gigs this year.

The absolutely best thing (imo) in this performance was incredible energy circulating from Mika to the huge audience and right back to him. He took a lot of open contact to the whole audience (the place was ideal for a big crowd, it was naturally sloped and the whole crowd could see him and he saw the whole audience). He seemed to clearly enjoy the easily-responding festival audience and I was happy to see the best versions for a long time for some of his energetic songs like Rain and Love Today. He did his new songs Elle Me Dit and BIOTW but no Karen (and I really wanted to hear especially that one, but I shouldn't be this greedy, I've already heard it live three times). I chose some pictures above to show his energy, but it's difficult to describe it with pictures or words. Also, Mika seems to feel very comfortable performing together with Ida and it's was a pleasure (as always) to see her on stage again.

The band was more restrained than usually and gave a lot of space for Mika, but I paid some attention to Ben who was clearly much more relaxed than at earlier gigs and it made me relieved. He seems to be a very sweet guy and I think he just needed a bit time to find his place.

I still have some earlier gig reviews to write and I will describe the new show/stage with more details and pictures. I might also do more posts about my trip to Switzerland, the people I met and the festival in general. I had the most pleasant and comfortable short visit to Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux and Nyon thanks to Nanou, who generously let me stay at her home and drove me and the other foreign fans around these cities/towns showing some extremely beautiful views. I feel quite stupid admitting that I had no idea how beautiful country Switzerland really is (with the lake and mountains).

I had a great time indeed, so why do I feel this empty? So many sad news around us and I need some time to rest after traveling. I took only a few vids ( I wanted to enjoy this show without using too much camera), the vid below is BIOTW.

Gig reviews: Compiégne, France

2011-07-21T00:04:00.001+03:00

The best thing in Compiégne was to see so many familiar faces, hadn't seen most of you for ages, it was absolutely a pleasure to meet everyone again! The new show was incredible. My first thought after the gig was that this must be the most amazing thing Mika has ever created, and I still think so. The new Marie Antoinette stage setting is a perfect background for the new fantastic costumes and also his new songs. Seriously, this is the most stunning pop theatre we can find (and if "pop theatre" is not an English word please just correct me).

The sad thing is that the organization of the show in Compiégne was at a poor level and it had a lot of impact on the atmosphere. It's not a secret that Mika is a magnet for unprofessional business partners. Most times I find it sweet because it gives the impression that he doesn't care for money as much as many other artists (and I appreciate it). This time it made me a bit sad for him, because the new show deserved only the best things around it. The local organizer was a total beginner causing some almost nightmarish effects.

First of all, they didn't promote the concert properly. He sold several as big concerts as this in France just a year ago, and even he has been on a short break they should have easily sold one concert in his strongest area especially with a brand new setting, three new songs and this beautiful, special venue. I'm not sure who was responsible for the poor advertising (concert organizer, local record company, other business partners??) but either they didn't realize they need to work for selling the gig, they realized it too late or everything was just really badly coordinated.

They ended up giving a lot of tickets away for free. I (like many other fans) bought my expensive category 1 ticket as soon as the gig was announced, but in the end thousands of people with cheaper category 2 & 3 or even free tickets were let in before me and everything was a mess. The whole situation was chaotic. I couldn't notice any normal, professional security, only young girls and a couple of armed men with dogs. All the gates were opened at the same time, the organizers didn't care if people had queued or not, and the situation was not only unfair but also dangerous - some of my friends needed medical help in the crowd.

Despite all this the show went really well. Mika was a bit nervous during it. I don't know if he knew what was happening in the crowd or if he was only concentrating on his own performance and was nervous because of some technical problems (they had some). Personally I couldn't see the show properly in Compiégne and I was momentarily disappointed, but for me it was only one show (I saw the same show the next day in Liége, it was so awesome, more details later!). The situation just made me angry. This is about his reputation and his public image. How could they do things so badly and cause him harm? Amateurs.

Hahah, rant over. I was really happy I was there. Not only because I met so many friends but also because I really wanted to hear his new songs for the first time and I really wanted to see this beautiful historical venue (and it was even more special than I expected). I totally fell in love with Karen. The new show is spectacular, can't wait to describe everything in my Les Ardentes gig review, he was in the best possible form in Belgium. Some pics above (if you feel uncomfortable to see your face in my blog, just ask and I will remove the pic).

Gig reviews: Balaton Sound, Hungary

2011-07-19T01:04:00.001+03:00

Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities in the world (saw it last time on my honeymoon years ago) so there was no question if I could possibly skip Balaton Sound festival a couple of hours jorney outside Budapest at Lake Balaton. I arrived to Hungary a day before in order to have some time for sightseeing. My friend Erika showed me the city and some interesting places, cooked us proper Hungarian food (delicious!) and made me feel really welcome in general so I had a fantastic time, can't thank her enough.

We traveled to the festival by train in the festival morning and I was really surprised to see the area. The stage was only two minutes walk from the beach, the place looked beautiful and people were starting their beach party wearing bikinis and swim suits! They had obviously come to see their friends and to party, not actually to see artists, so the whole day and night was relaxed, there was no pushing and we could easily leave our front row places to buy drinks or use toilets. (Budapest roofs in the first pic and Lake Balaton in the second.)

Balaton Sound was a proper festival and we watched two artists/groups before Mika. The first one was a local (?) party band, I never even caught their name but they were great, I loved them! The second one was a rap artist called Big Boi, and rap artists (grown-up men wearing safari outfits and heavy, golden jewellery, touching their manly parts while dancing...) are so not my style, but actually it was a lot of fun live and I enjoyed the show. We met the most amazing and helpful Hungarian guy called Balázs, who came to see Big Boi but decided to see Mika too and kindly offered to film Mika songs with my camera so I could take some photos with my another camera. The quality is really much better than usually in my vids (all credits to Balázs for that) so I naturally want to have a full-time cameraman at gigs with me for now on, lol!

Mika started his show with Relax as usually and he kept his eyes closed at first. I bet he was a bit unsure how the audience would be like (I heard the audience wasn't so good in Budapest a year ago) but he opened his eyes soon and saw that the audience was happy and warm and partying with him. Watch Relax below:

I really enjoyed it that everything in the show was kept really plain and simple. He had his old flower curtain as a background and he was wearing white clothes and he took a lot of contact with his audience, and this is how I like him best. We can always read a lot of emotions from his face and he looked almost touched when he noticed that the audience knows lyrics for songs like Happy Ending even he is not really popular in Hungary. The vid below shows two songs, Happy Ending and Love Today (Mika in his new red jacket).

This was really a very basic show, meaning no new songs or not many show elements. It was mostly the audience (so much better than I expected) and Mika's relaxed singing what made it so special, and although I was dying to see his new Marie Antoinette show and to hear his new French songs I really enjoyed this last "old show" with BGs and LPs (I will make another post with pics of fans on stage). In the end of the show a random guy from the audience (not a fan but an average festival visitor) shouted "Mika, you rock!!" and it made me smile so much, such a great and well-deserved feedback!

I was hoping to see Mika after the show because I had promised to Mana (who was the editor of the MFC yearbook 2011) to give Mika his copy of the new yearbook. It was heavy and it really didn't suit well into my suitcase and I just generally couldn't wait to give it. His sister promised he might meet us after the show if he has time but didn't tell when and where and the festival area was huge, but luckily he saw us before leaving and came to say hi and I was able to give the book (which looked awesome, I was so proud to be one delivering it!). He was very pleased to have the book and he took a moment to admire it.

After that we talked a few words about the show next day and he assumed I was not coming, because I guess he was (for once) practical enough to understand it was middle of the night at countryside in Hungary and it might be more challenging for me to be early enough next day somewhere outside Paris than it was for him (with a driver and people taking care of him). I told I was coming and we did a high five for that, lol. It is sweet he seems to think it's perfectly natural for his fans to travel where ever his next show is and that only tiny practical issues with timing can stop us. He is so spoiled but he is right, I wouldn't have missed his new show, and Erika and I took a train to Budapest and I was on time at the airport for my flight to Paris and Compiéne.

Hungary was one of my best concert trips ever, really. Thanks everyone for bearing with me (my tweets, text messages, blogs). I know I can be a bit drama queen at times. When I'm happy I'm really happy, and when I'm sad I'm so sad I'm devastated (look, it's raining outside and the sky is crying together with me just because things are not going my way). In the end everything is usually just fine and most times I end up having the best time but this internal turmoil with ups and downs makes me a bit exhausted afterwards and it definitely asks some patience from people around me.

All my vids from Balaton Sound are here. I already blogged about iMMa and Paloma's birthday song, and I still have a lot of pictures from Hungary. More blogs from the Summer Festival Tour coming soon!

Happy Birthday to Paloma @Balaton Sound, Hungary

2011-07-18T21:12:00.000+03:00

Sometimes Mika wants to share something personal during the concert and it always makes the audience feels special. He can tell small stories or memories, and though we can never be sure if they are true or not (because we know how he likes to tell some wicked things to journalists if he is bored) they are usually really cute and funny. Sometimes he asks the audience to take part of the concert like he did at Balaton Sound.

At some point in the middle of the concert he took his mobile and asked the audience to sing Happy Birthday to his sister Paloma who usually tours with him but is still at the hospital after her serious accident 7 months ago. It was really touching, because Paloma has been in our thoughts since the accident happened, and it was also a sign he liked the Hungarian audience (otherwise he would have just forgot the birthday song).

He filmed the song with his mobile and look, there is Moomin character in his phone. No idea if someone gave it to him or if he got it himself, but I hope it's his own mobile, because after trying to educate him with Moomin stories for years it feels like small victory, lol. See Happy Birthday song below:

The band: iMMa @Balaton Sound, Hungary

2011-07-16T12:26:00.000+03:00

Quick updates: Summer Festival Tour, the summary

2011-07-15T18:15:00.000+03:00

Back home from the Summer Festival Tour, it's time to make a small summary. This was the first time I travelled to see festivals, I've tried to avoid them earlier. I thought festivals are huge and messy and that I'm too old for them. That's kind of true, but at the same time my experience is that festival performances are a bit like basic Mika gigs but with decent support groups. During my trip I saw Mika at Balaton Sound festival (Hungary), Compiégne (France), Les Ardentes Summer festival in Liége (Belgium) and Ajaccio (Corsica). Two festivals and two Mika solo gigs, but the set list was basicly the same and I enjoyed them all.

I'm going to write a proper gig review for every gig and post my pictures and vids, but I have a lot of things to say so it will take some time. I will also make some separate posts to show pics of the band and the stage setting. I heard new songs three times, can't believe it's almost over now. One more festival to see (for me) in Switzerland.

It's really difficult to say which show was my favorite. I think I will say Hungary even he didn't sing his new songs there, because it was a lovely plain show without anything extra (no special stage setting, just a flower curtain and Mika in his white clothes) and that's how I like him best. The audience was really good and warm. He communicated a lot and looked really relaxed after noticing how well everything was going.

On the other hand, the new Marie Antoinette style show is the most amazing show he has done so far and I loved it. Compiégne was a disappointment for most fans, because local organizers did a poor job and everything at the venue was chaotic and affected the atmosphere a lot. I'm still happy I was there. I heard the new songs for the first time and saw how special the venue was, and things like that are meaningful to me. I was lucky to be in Liége the next day, and it totally made up what happened in Compiégne. I saw the new stage perfectly and Mika did a wonderful show in front of an amazing audience. He was clearly happy and in a good mood after the show. Ajaccio was a very nice end to my trip. The venue was not a coincidence, really, it was a very special place for Mika to perform, he seemed to be thrilled to sing under the statue of Napoleon and he joked and had fun with the band.

It was really good to finally hear his new songs live. I mostly value his songs through live performances, that's how I want to experience his music, and I loved new music live. Elle me dit is not my usual style, but it's actually a lot of fun live. His new English song Blame It On the Weather (I call it just the weather song, it needs a better title) is a theatrical song and suits well in the Marie Antoinette setting. The melody is beautiful and I like the emotional lyrics. I don't much care duets. I've heard people saying Ida's voice is too hard or cold for the song but I like Ida and her distant style, so if he wants to do duets I hope it's with Ida. Karen is my absolute favorite of these three songs, I can't stop listening to it, it will probably be my long-time favorite. I'm a bit upset people are already analyzing his new songs to pieces, it's not that simple or black and white with pop music (it's serving so many different purposes). He has never tried to please everyone and I hope he will continue doing a lot of different projects and things he is interested in. Mixed feelings after the tour, happy I saw it, sad it's almost over again.

Quick updates: Corsica

2011-07-14T02:43:00.008+03:00

Marie Antoinette style Mika gig under the statue of great Napoleon, the most suitable venue. A good gig with lots of funny details! Maybe not with as amazing audience as in Liege, but definitely a good one. Especially the girls rocked! Ben and Marcus are a bit invisible on stage, Ben seems to feel almost uncomfortable, but gorgeous iMMa made it up for sure, by partying even more than usually. Just a few random pics from my camera, will blog more (with vids) at home. Karen was lovely, it's already one of my favorite ever Mika songs.

Quick updates: Les Ardentes Summer Festival in Liege, Belgium

2011-07-11T14:53:00.001+03:00

First of all, I can't describe how much I love the new stage setting, the costumes, the light show - the whole Marie Antoinette theme. I saw it already in Compiégne two days ago and it looked magical next to beautiful old buildings. However, the situation in Compiégne was a bit chaotic, and I didn't see the stage properly, so I was more than pleased to see it again last night in Liége, Belgium.

I will blog about these both two gigs later, but wanted to show a few pics about the new theme. Love it. I was also so happy to hear the new songs again in Belgium (will upload the vids as soon as possible). Karen might be my new favorite song and the duet with Ida is the most beautiful love song I have heard for a long, long time. He couldn't choose a better artist than Ida to sing with, they are gorgeous together. Happy, exciting times. On my way to Corsica now. xx

Quick updates: Balaton Sound, Hungary

2011-07-11T13:11:00.001+03:00

What a great time I had in Hungary! I have so much to tell and a lot of pictures and videos (I will upload more as soon as I get home). A few pictures above just to show his smiling face in front of the Hungarian audience. I met him briefly after the show and gave him the new MFC yearbook and he was really sweet even he was in a hurry to France. The cutest popstar ever (*fangurl face*).

Songs: Lady Jane

2011-07-04T21:59:00.004+03:00

I was chatting about Lady Jane (from Songs For Sorrow EP) with my fellow Mika fans and noticed I'm in a minority because I absolutely love the weird lyrics of the song. Lady Jane is one of my very favorite Mika songs, mostly because his voice is so extremely pretty in it, but also because of the story. I was lucky to hear this song live several times during the Acoustic Tour and a couple of times after that. My favorite version must be from Jam Sessions, Paris (but I'm afraid the song was sadly cut out from the official videos). The lyrics tell a quirky legend about Lady Jane and her lover. First the song made me think of a Finnish song about a man crying in a bar after her Lady Jane (kind of Rolling Stone imitation) but luckily it didn't much disturb my imagination. What a tragic story this is, a few lines:

Lady Jane said she walked on water but she never had a man to show

Then one day she found a fella she was eager just to let him know

Lady Jane she walked on water

Followed by her brand new lover who tumbled along drowning down below

Lady Jane did not abort

For legends are never made that short
Now be sure when you listen to this

Here's another reason why you shouldn't eat fish

Convinced he would become a creature of the sea

She cut off her feet and jumped into the deep

And never stopped looking for her lover below

A few days ago I was on holidays, sitting in a restaurant with my husband and we ordered two different dishes to share and taste new food, local fish for hubby and a salad for me. The fish had huge eyes. Oh, huge and desperate. "This is delicious!". Um, you can have the fish and I can eat the salad. I couldn't touch the fish.

Lady Jane the river fish

Became the world's most wanted dish.

And though no man would dare to catch

Something who's beauty we could never match

But then some emperor from a far away state

Said "I order you to get that fish's head on my plate!"

They killed little Lady Jane. (sad!)

The emperor of the distant land

The only man who didn't understand

That though you think you have got your prize

There's another fish that has escaped your eyes

Lady Jane her lover's there

Swimming through the ocean with a desperate stare

Looking for Lady Jane. (omg, how sad!)

"That's a horrible, horrible story" said my husband later when I showed him the lyrics. "The end of this story is pure politics! And no, I won't discuss about these lyrics more than this". Sigh. But it's a fascinating song, isn't it? I like to keep the song at a story level, I won't take the road to look for any second or deeper meanings for eating fish or anything else (though it would be possible). I simply love the combination of this tragic, quirky story and Mika's beautiful, bright voice.

The beginning of the song is sometimes a bit difficult for him (if he is nervous). Above is the vid from Little Noise Sessions (Union Chapel, with King's Singers, 11/2010). It was a lovely, lovely version, I really enjoyed it.

Quick updates: Some thoughts

2011-07-02T15:56:00.001+03:00

This is a bit personal, but there is nothing as strong or as emotional as a mother/son relationship. Sons - they are the most stubborn, the most infuriating, the most beautiful and the most special creatures in the world. Mine are young kids, but I don't think the feeling ever goes away. Beauty Mark is my favorite Rufus Wainwright song, written to his mother, and I have always hoped Mika would write something about the issue (he is mentioning to it quite often, it must be important to him). I guess he has finally done it, but from a different angle as I expected (very Mikaish thing to do).

His new single Elle Me Dit can be finally heard here. The idea behind the lyrics is almost serious but the song is very catchy and very summery! It's causing some mixed feelings among his fans, mostly because it's also in French. Something so beautiful in my ears and of course a bit complicated too: I can't understand a word. I'm depending on my French friends and having long discussion with them about the lyrics, probably for weeks from now on. Mika writing songs in French is absolutely a positive thing, imo. It's new for him so it can also be a small risk. Must love him for taking risks like this. I can perfectly see the new single being a huge summer hit in France and it's nicely supporting his big show in Compiégne.

I suppose Elle Me Dit is planned as a bonus track for the third, mostly English, album. It's a lovely taste, but maybe not a real example of his new style or sound? We will see. It doesn't allow him to use his incredible voice as we are used to, but I love so much hearing his usual teasing voice since the beginning and some very pretty high vocals (my very favorite) in the middle of the song. It makes me smile happily. Not sure if the single cover is final or if it was a considered and thoughtful decision but I like it a lot. It's simple and fresh and even a bit vintage with faded tricolors. Vive La France!

In my previous post I wrote about waiting. Yesterday I ended up having truly a disappointed and depressed day. The travel plans I made for Romania (B'estfest 2011 today) were ruined a while ago due to a silly confusion in my schedules. I came home from my summer holidays last night and found out the Ukraine gig I had so much looked forward to had also been cancelled. I'm not very mature when it comes to handling disappointments, so I literally cried. Sad, sad Nina. But even I use more time and effort for my music hobby than some people for their day job, this is still only a hobby and it should be fun. I can't afford myself feeling depressed over pop music, really. First I decided I will never ever let myself to look forward to anything any more. Ever. No expectations, no disappointments.

I felt better after sleeping. It's a new day so I made new plans. You see, the more misery while waiting the happier when something good is actually happening. That's my motto. Looking forward to my trips again, see you in Hungary, France, Belgium and maybe in Switzerland.

Quick updates: Waiting

2011-06-18T00:51:00.001+03:00

Sounds a bit twisted, but I kind of enjoy waiting. It feels so unbearable and so good at the same time. While waiting, everything is still possible.

I'm waiting for the summer tour and a possibility to have the first taste of the new album in Compiègne. New songs. I have a strong feeling the new album will be mind-blowing, but we had nothing tangible to expect until yesterday (when Mika finally gave his first interviews for the French press, see here and here). The third album will be called The Origin of Love. It will consist of love songs (I don't expect them to be very typical though) and just hearing the title made my thoughts fly. I totally believe in the soul mate theory. So romantic. I also believe that love just happens and that it should definitely not be made too complicated. I'm so curious to see his approach to love. I hope he will not be too cynical. The love theme will also give him an opportunity to talk about sexuality in his songs if he wants to. Usually he does.

There're a couple of soft spots in my heart. First of all, I love seeing how a clever mind works, in general and in this artist. I don't know much about music, really, so I find it amazing someone can share so many thoughts and stories, not to even mention energy and emotions, through his songs. Brilliant! So I have high expectations for the new album. Another thing I love is an attitude to do things in a special own way even if it's against general rules. I watched the new interviews, I can still see the attitude I love so much. He is looking so different though, isn't he? Like wanting to show something totally new and surprising (but he will see the same old fans, I hope he's not too disappointed). I love his new look. So looking forward to the new music, it's such a privilege for us to see him developing as an artist!

I made a new category called "Quick updates". My real life is busy at the moment and I'm also planning to make proper gig reviews after the tour, but I will try to make some short posts during my trip, will link them on twitter (@tiibet_mfc). Happy waiting. Love and kisses!

The band: Cherisse

2011-06-06T23:51:00.003+03:00

Last but not least. She's small but she's mighty. La favorita, Cherisse Osei! I don't have many pictures of Cherisse, simply because she is always so far away behind her drumms! Cherisse is the most popular member of the band, everyone loves her. Mika knows it and he often makes funny loving jokes about it. The last pic of Mika and Cherisse is one of my favorites even it's not a good quality.

Memories: Coimbra 10/2010

2011-06-05T23:26:00.001+03:00

I was hesitating a bit before traveling to Portugal (Festa das Lata 10/2010) because it's not the easiest destination to travel from Finland (expensive flights) and this was not regular gig but a festival. I didn't know any local fans and Portugal is not a familiar place for me, but in the end I decided to go. I really wanted to see this one. It was the last possible gig for me before a long break, it felt important to travel and I was very happy I did it.

It was a great gig. There were some drunken students (because it was a kind of student party/festival) and Mika performed very late, but I didn't mind. I was so happy to see him on stage. He must have been a bit tired but he did well. I met some old MFC friends and had a lot of fun! The vids below are Happy Ending and Rain (2:36, 2:43)

This is the last concert memory I need to post, because the Coimbra gig was the last concert I saw before the Kettner's Magic Number gig (I will label new concert posts as "gig reviews"). Waiting feels unbearable, I hope there will be more soon.

Show elements: Circus themes

2011-05-30T18:35:00.002+03:00

Mika loves to make his shows as colorful spectacles combining elements from different cultures and art styles (Chinese dragons meet Mexican death feast etc.). My personal favorites are circus themes, because as a child I was fascinated especially by beautiful, old-fashioned circus venues but also by circus people and their touring life (via books and movies). I even used to imagine myself traveling from town to town with a pretty wooden caravan and happy little animals. What an adventurous life it would have been, lol!

He likes to make things look a bit darker though, maybe in order to have some contrast in his shows, and the effect is always surreal and magical. The first three pictures are from the Parc des Princes concert (7/2008), then the Cirque d'Hiver venue building from Paris (6/2009) and the clown stage setting from Cattolica (8/2010). Btw, I would love to know how he feels about his own modern touring life!

Sunday blogs: New tattoo

2011-05-27T08:45:00.002+03:00

It's my new tattoo. Excuse my weird pose and bruised skin. The tattoo was just done before taken the pic, so it looks really black and strong, but it'll heal in a couple of weeks. The butterfly is turquoise. It says "Relax", because acoustic Relax is still the most beautiful Mika song, imo. It was also the first song I heard from him and there is a story behind how it happened so I like the idea.

The tattoo was done by a tattooist called Mika, and I played him Relax. He could recognize it and he knew the singer is called Mika too. "What a coincidence", he said. I know!! "But there is no such thing as a coincidence". Wow, how deep is that. He is cool, he likes India and yoga and things like that.

I was worried my husband would be shocked about it, but actually he just smiled so much I almost thought he is laughing. I have a feeling he finds all this Mika love a bit hilarious, but I don't mind. As I said earlier, life (and especially things like this) should definitely not be taken too seriously. Hubby said it's pretty and I really like it myself. I know some people just hate tattoos, and I will probably need to wear a scarf every time I meet my mother in law, but it's just fine, I'm already wearing long-sleeved shirts. She must think I feel chilly very easily.

It's my Relax-butterfly, and I will call it "a music tattoo", not "a Mika tattoo". Just imagine me showing my butterfly tattoos to Mrs Pennimann ("this is my son, and this my son and this is my son. And this your son."). Oh dear, that would be sooooo wrong. So let's just call it a music tattoo. But yes, it refers to Mika's music. And guess what? It will be there forever.

Memories: Cattolica 8/2010

2011-05-26T07:31:00.000+03:00

People often want to make clear that they travel around the world to see Mika concerts only to meet their friends or/and that they would have travelled to those destinations in any case, for holidays. Usually I don't bother to explain myself. I love seeing these concerts and I'm an adult, so I can use my time and money for this if I like (and I do like). But seeing fantastic places/some of my favorite cities, meeting friends and local people and having an opportunity to watch around and observe things in different countries, yes, it's definitely a bonus! Italian sun set in the first pic, so pretty!!

The Cattolica gig in Italy last August was one of the most entertaining concerts I've seen. So much fun!! Mika was in his funny and relaxed mood, telling random jokes, and after only a few words in the beginning of the gig Nezza (who was next to me) and I looked each other: This is going to be a good one, so good!!!! (I know, I know!!). A few words can tell so much. I love his random silly mode, it's like an order to the audience to relax and enjoy. Music should not be taken too seriously, life should not be taken too seriously. Smiling, laughing, enjoying the music, having fun. Good things.

The gig was day after Mika's birthday, and Italian fans wanted to give him a cake and sing Happy Birthday. I was so pleased they generously let us foreigners to take part of the surprise. It's always good to be a part of the group and not an outsider. To tell the truth, I'm not always so keen on different surprise projects. Too often they turn out to be too competitive, if you know what I mean (fans do things to get his time and attention). Sometimes I even find these projects a bit disturbing (Happy Ending is one of my favorite songs, I want to be able to concentrate on listening to it properly, without being worried what's happening in the audience). But sometimes these surprises are a great success (like simple bubbles in Tallinn, loved them!) and in Cattolica everything felt really appropriate. After all, it was his birthday just day before the gig! It was fun (cake, flowers, confetti, balloons)!! See the vid below both giving the cake and eating it.

Writing these gig memory posts is more difficult time after time. It makes me miss his music so much and we still need to wait for the next tour... Oh, I just had a new tattoo done. It's nothing really exciting, it's another butterfly, but there is a song title in it. So silly, but it gives me a little comfort to have it there. Can you guess which song it is?

Show elements: Glitter

2011-05-21T19:46:00.000+03:00

By glitter I mean silver and golden paper used at Mika concerts especially during WAG and I See You (the umbrella scene). It goes everywhere, you can find silver/golden pieces from your clothes/bags/pockets days, actually months afterwards. Don't ever throw it away, it'll bring you good luck.

I See You below is from Amsterdam (5/2010), Mika jumping into glitter (the second pic above) from the Acoustic Tour.

Memories: Summer festivals in Italy 7/2010

2011-05-19T13:40:00.001+03:00

Going to Italy is always a major culture shock for me. People are so friendly and helpful I can't believe it. As soon as I get the idea of traveling, someone is already emailing me maps, timetables and even addresses for suitable restaurants. If Italians are not keen on the idea of foreigners coming to their gigs they don't let me feel it, because it's just against their nature, they seem to be proud of their generosity and hospitality.

And when I'm finally in Italy, someone will tell me where to go, translate everything important and even bring me some water before I have time to realize how badly I actually needed it. People take care of each other, share and communicate. In Finland old people can die on a street in the middle of the day and no one takes a notice. Sometimes I feel Finnish people take a contact with their neighbors only to check the value of their house, car or television in order to feel superiority or jealousy (and how sick is that). I'm exaggerating of course, but there are some clear cultural differences.

I always enjoy being in Italy and I think Mika enjoys being in Italy too, at least all the Italian gigs I've seen so far have been more than successful. My trip to Italian summer festivals in Rome and Udine last July was beyond amazing, not least because of our very special bus trip across Italian countryside (I mentioned it here). The venue in Udine was one the most beautiful venues I've seen. Mika loves using extraordinary venues (churches, old theaters, castles, sea side areas...) and it often makes his concerts even more special.

I linked above Kick Ass and Blame It on The Girls from Rock in Roma and Blue Eyes from Udine, so it's easy to see two different stage settings he used during the Festival Tour (must be easier with two of them, one in use and another one on it's way to the next destination), he had a setting with trees and another one with flowers and simple letters M-I-K-A. He is awesome, isn't he? Bello bellissimo grazieeeee!!!!! That's all my Italian.

The band: Martin

2011-05-19T12:29:00.002+03:00

It's guitarist Martin Waugh. It's always good to see him with Mika. Martin is so reliable. He always seems to know what to do. Jimmy and iMMa often chat with fans, but Martin likes his privacy and he usually even looks a bit distant, so I never go and say hi to him even if he is next to me. He showed his relaxed side during the Arena Tour dancing Kick Ass with the band in the end of the show (the last two pics). I want to see Martin partying like that again! Can I?

Memories: Riga & Tallinn 8/2010

2011-05-17T11:54:00.006+03:00

Seeing Mika live for the first time is a surprising experience for many people, he is brilliant on stage, he takes all their attention. People can hardly see the band/the audience/the stage setting/anything else. I saw my first Mika concert Feb 2008. The amazed feeling has never left me but gradually, after seeing more concerts, I started to understand and see the magical world he has built around his songs (with stage settings full of details and song characters living in their weird costumes). I started to observe the whole show dynamics and it made everything even more interesting. The main reason I go to see his concerts is still very simple and something I learnt when I saw him for the first time: he is brilliant on stage.

When the majority of the audience is sharing "the first time experience" the group effect is so fresh and strong it's difficult to describe. That's what happened in Riga, Latvia and Tallinn, Estonia (8/2010) during the Baltic Tour. I had already felt something like that in Helsinki, but in a smaller scale, because the venue was a night club (a big one, but still an intimate and closed venue compared to arenas and outside areas). I didn't know what to expect from bigger Baltic city concerts. I learnt later that singing along is somewhere very deep in Baltic culture. The way the Baltic audience was taking part of these shows was very natural and effortless. People concentrated on the performance and enjoyed, many of them knew the lyrics and sang along, and the atmosphere was fantastic.

I loved it. I let myself concentrate on the most important things, his voice and energy, just like everyone else. I loved the atmosphere and watching Mika's face when he realized he is doing some of his best concerts for a long time in cities like Riga and Tallinn. Who would have thought in advance? I didn't, and I don't think he took it for granted either.

The Tallinn concert will always be remembered as the bubble gig. Estonian fans gave bottles of soap to people in the audience (to make bubbles) and when Happy Ending started the whole venue area was filled with bubbles, in twenty seconds! The Estonian night was not too dark, and the bubbles looked beautiful, it was like a magic! The first vid below is the bubble vid, and the second one is Rain from Riga. He takes his shirt off ("thanks for being a great audience, I had fun"), and the way he screams "baby" and starts jumping (like back row girls at an aerobic class) is beyond adorable. My favorite part of Rain. Must love him.

Memories: Helsinki 7/2010

2011-05-15T14:09:00.004+03:00

Mika announced his Helsinki concert and suddenly he was all over the Finnish media. His face was on every news page and I got emails, FB-messages and texts from friends who hadn't contacted me for ages. "Did you hear, Mika is coming to Finland?" Yes, I heard, can't wait!!!

I was also worried sick. I knew Mika would do a great concert in Helsinki, he always does a professional show. I knew the audience would enjoy it. I was worried he would not enjoy it. I couldn't bear the thought that he might not enjoy performing in my home town or not like the audience, the venue or my country in general. It was his first concert in Finland, I had no idea about the audience (though I knew there would be some enthusiastic teens).

In the end everything went just perfectly. The venue in Helsinki was small enough to sell and the audience was amazing, everyone singing and dancing their hearts out. Finnish fans were moderately young, but so sweet and adoring, not aggressive or pushy at all and Mika seemed to totally enjoy the situation. He gave his young fans a lot of attention and it just melted my heart! The gig was so happy and warm (actually, the Circus night club was literally hot as a sauna), everyone smiling from the beginning to the very end of the show and I loved every moment of it and the whole atmosphere.

I didn't much talk with him after the gig. He said something like "so I'm here" and I said something like "yeah". You know, casually. I was so happy my heart was singing and all I could think was oh, I love you, not only for finally coming to my country but also making it such a fantastic show (it was not the first or only show I have seen but definitely the most meaningful). But I guess you can't just go and say things like that to popstars (or can you?) so I said "yeah". You know, casually. Maybe I was also kind of hoping that an artistic person like him can sense the feelings coming from his audience without saying.

Now I understand why people say "a home gig is always a home gig", because it was a special day for me indeed. I had finally a possibility to bring my family to see my favorite artist, for once I was not too tired (because there was no need for traveling) and I had time and a chance to do some sightseeing with my foreign friends before and after the concert. Besides, I had two Baltic city concerts to look forward to so my mood was just excellent. Good times, happy memories.

Memories: Amsterdam & Luxemburg 5/2010

2011-05-11T23:02:00.006+03:00

The pictures are from the Luxembourg show (Rockhal 5/2010). The girls (Ida, Cherisse and iMMa) are having fun and dancing Kick Ass in the end of the show.

You know, I love these concerts and usually I believe love is enough. I want my Mika moment and nothing can stop me. I don't mind if it means long travels without sleep or even no time to eat. I can usually handle it. But I've learnt that I have my limits, too. There were so many distracting factors in Amsterdam that I felt very difficult to concentrate on the show. It was freezing. I have never felt so cold in my life, it was freezing cold even inside the venue. And there was a weird tension in the atmosphere (so many people, even lovely people, and I still felt alone) and some things that happened just before the concert were bothering me a lot. When the gig started I was already crying because I hated myself (I'm always a horrible person when I'm over-tired and over-everything) and it took me several songs to recover but the music helped as it always does and the show was as good as it always is and I really enjoyed it in the end (as I always do).

In Luxembourg everything was just perfect. I was so happy I was able to see it. I almost skipped it and finally started to look for a ticket when it was already sold out but managed to find one, thanks some helpful people. I had a good feeling the whole day, everything felt really relaxed and fun. Mika did an amazing performance, what a fantastic way to end the Arena Tour. Somehow it felt he was really there, genuinely present. He communicated and joked with the band the whole time and gave a lot of attention to the audience. When he did a French song La Solitude I almost cried again but this time because I was so extremely happy, I hadn't expected him to sing this sad, beautiful song at all, but I had hoped to hear it for a long time. Watch Happy Ending below (HE is obviously one of my favorites). He says thank you to his fans before singing, it's really sweet of him (in French, I always have to ask people next to me "what is he saying, what is he saying", lol). The second vid is WAG (another favorite, yes).

Memories: France 4/2010

2011-05-10T22:15:00.005+03:00

The ash cloud from the volcano messed my plans to travel to Barcelona, my flight was cancelled. I wanted to make sure I would be in France soon after that (I didn't dare to wait my flight in case it would have been cancelled as well) so I took a ferry to Stockholm and a train from Stockholm via Copenhagen, Cologne, Brussels and Paris to Marseille. It was a long way. I didn't much sleep during the trip and I was afraid I would miss the first gig in France but was luckily in Marseille just in time and saw Mrs Penniman (Mika's mother) choosing fans to be Big Girls and Lollipop Girls.

Instead of using professional dancers at his shows Mika lets his fans from the audience to dress in colorful dresses and dance with him on stage during a couple of songs. It is extremely kind and generous from him. It means a lot of extra work for his team but it gives his fans some unforgettable memories. For many fans, especially for younger ones, being on stage with him is something to remember forever. Personally I'm not a stage person. To tell the truth I was scared to death even thinking about being/dancing on stage. But I'm really interested in his shows (every single little detail), and this seemed to be a great opportunity to see how things work backstage and so many of my friends had told about it so I decided to give it a try. And I loved every moment of it, seeing his mother and sisters working so hard and things being so, so busy!!! I loved helping the other girls to get dressed and just watching what happened but I admit I was really scared to wear the green corset and be in front of people myself...

It is really not that scary as it sounds. Big Girls wear masks, so no one can actually recognize them. And there are always many girls, all size and age. The problem was mostly that I didn't know what to do (because I don't speak any French) until Mika's lovely assistant realized I can't understand a word and quickly gave me the details in English. I couldn't much see behind my mask, and I was quite terrified I would fall off the stage. What worried me most was that Mika would be annoyed or angry if something went wrong (I just had a feeling he wants things his way and is not pleased if something goes wrong during his shows). Telling Mrs Penniman that she has one BG less than planned was definitely not an option. I mean she is an amazing woman. I really respect her and appreciate everything she does behind the concerts, and I would have never cancelled just because I was nervous.

It wasn't so serious in the end. I survived. Well, let's face it, I was really bad. I couldn't see a thing, I hit my mask to Jimmy's bass and tried to hide behind Lollipop Girls the rest of the time to save the situation, but Mika wasn't angry at all. I don't think he had time to pay any attention. We took a group picture after the show and I exchanged a few words with him about the Helsinki gig (which was just announced). He sometimes meets his fans so I have met him a few times, but those situations are most times really busy and my English is very poor. Usually I watch him first and if he doesn't seem chatty I don't ask any questions, because I don't like a feeling that I'm bothering him.

After Marseille I went to Lyon and Paris. I was not feeling well in Lyon (not enough sleep and too much traveling and excitement) but the French fans were really helpful and kind, giving me medicine and a place to rest before the show, and luckily I was able to watch the Lyon show (the first Arena Tour show for me). It was a fantastic, huge show. I was so proud to see him performing in front of the huge audience and see all the theatrical elements. He had done several changes to his show after the European Tour and made it more suitable for large venues. Everything went so well and the Lyon show left a good feeling and I really started to look forward to Paris and those important Bercy shows.

My videos from Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon, is here, from Bercy, Paris (the first night) here and (the second night) here. Below is Good Gone Girl with gorgeous Ida and Happy Ending, both from Bercy. During Happy Ending he made some happy hearts for Paris. LOVE.

Memories: Vienna 3/2010

2011-05-09T16:14:00.001+03:00

Vienna (Gasometer 3/2010) was such a good concert, definitely one of the best concerts I've seen. Mika was on fire, the band was on fire, the audience was on fire (really enthusiastic yet so polite). I had so much fun! Unfortunately I don't have much material from this gig, the vid below is Over My Shoulder.

Memories: Germany 3/2010

2011-05-06T09:39:00.009+03:00

I travelled to see some shows in Germany (March 2010) and I was so pleased I decided to do it, I really enjoyed the trip. I loved it how everything was so easy. Germans are not too emotional and even a little bit distant. They seem to be fair and straightforward and they don't make things unnecessarily complicated. I was happy too see only very little tension between fans, queueing was great fun and it was good to meet familiar people both from Germany and from some other countries as well.

I was really tired in Dusseldorf (after Scandinavia during the same week), and I must have looked like a zombie, but the gig was good and I enjoyed it a lot. I felt much better in Hamburg. We spent a relaxed day (as a group of fans) walking near Reeperbahn waiting for the gig (the pic above is taken at Grosse Freiheit near the venue) and even though Mika seemed to be a bit tired during the show he did well and I really started to look forward Berlin, which truly was fantastic, indeed. I loved it as I loved the Berlin gig during the Acoustic Tour, too.

I can remember how some of these German venues opened their doors really late, just before the supporting acts were supposed to start and we had some exiting moments wondering if John had actually forgotten us (and I really wouldn't have blamed him if he had, because he must have far more important things to do than taking care of our fangurl nerves), but he was always there eventually ("I will take care of you people, you should know"). He was so calm and so polite as always still making everyone listen to him. Sometimes he didn't remember to look serious and I guess he must be at least a tiny bit pleased that everyone loves him. The supporting acts I mentioned were so funny (I might do a Sunday blog about them later).

The video below is from Berlin. Taking off his shirt in the end of the gig is a gesture. It's a sign to the audience saying "you were great, this was fun/I have danced a lot and it's so hot here" and he is having fun taking his shirt off and letting all the excited girls and boys scream a bit. I don't mind if he does it or not, but I really love the contrast in him. He can look so shy and so quiet and suddenly so totally self-confident. It's amazing. And he can take his shirt off knowing he looks more than gorgeous and still continue dancing his school boy dancing style, and it's sweet and charming and something that makes him so special and interesting. Sometimes he does the whole gig shirtless if it suits the style (like at club gigs), and sometimes he touches his shirt but doesn't take it off, and it always makes me smile because I imagine his mother giving him signs from the backstage. Noooooo Mika. It's way too cold and drafty here.

My videos from Philipshalle, Dusseldorf are here, from Grosse Freiheit 36, Hamburg here and from Huxley's, Berlin here.

Memories: Scandinavia 3/2010

2011-05-04T19:31:00.001+03:00

Mika did a small Scandinavian tour (officially a part of the European Tour) last March and these gigs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm almost felt like home gigs for me, especially because the Helsinki gig was not yet even announced at the time. It was so much fun, and I will always remember Oslo as one of my best ever concert experiences. I was wondering afterwards if it really was that great. Maybe it was just my own good mood that caused it, but no, it wasn't. It was his good mood that caused it, he was so relaxed and having fun that the audience went just wild screaming and singing.

The audience in Scandinavia (as in Helsinki and Baltic cities) is different from the audience in the rest of Europe. It's clearly much younger than his old fan base. There is a lot of discussion about this phenomenon in his fan club, and after seeing gigs in Scandinavia, Helsinki, Riga and Tallinn I can't but agree. I am a bit worried. I have always enjoyed meeting people from different age groups in these circles. There is a clear message in his songs and I feel strongly that it's not only for teenagers. I think his second album was very tempting to the teenage audience though, maybe because the theme was his own younger years and definitely because the promotion was directed to a very young audience.

I really look forward to his new album, I know it will be different from anyone can expect, at least different from I can expect, and I secretly hope his album promotion and marketing in my near area (Finland, Scandinavia, Baltic area etc) will be more substantial than it was after the second album. He is one of the most intelligent (not only creatively talented) persons in the music business at the moment, he has a fascinating and colorful personality, an interesting multi-cultural background and he feels passion for so many things, like arts, illustration, style and fashion culture, theater and all performing arts. After following interviews about him and reading his texts (blogs, columns) for years I know he is a good person and someone who's thoughts and values I respect (and while watching this world full of small-minded people I wouldn't support anyone I can't respect).

And still, all that my local press has ever told about him (mostly in teen magazines) is that he was bullied at school and that he is interested in colorful sneakers. His small concert in Helsinki was warm, lovely and so joyful. It was efficiently promoted by the small company who brought him to Finland, but the tickets were mostly sold by spreading word amongst 13-15 yo girls and the audience in general was very young. After the third album the image that is created will be so much stronger, now there is still time to change it. His Helsinki concert got wonderful reviews and his short visit left people who saw him happy and excited.

The first vid below is Lollipop from KB Hallen, Copenhagen, and after that I See You and WAG from Sentrum Scene, Oslo. Look at his face, he was in a great mood, wasn't he? The last vid is Any Other World from Annexet, Stockholm (one of my favorite songs from last tours).

Memories: London 2&3/2010

2011-05-03T19:11:00.001+03:00

I have seen some fantastic Mika shows in London. Still, I always have a weird feeling he is seeking for a sign of acceptance or approval from the London audience. It must be my imagination. He did really well in both two concerts last February/March at Hammersmith Apollo. The first show was full of technical problems, really, but it didn't matter so much. He can always handle them very well.

I linked below We Are Golden from the first Hammersmith gig. I usually never listen to the album version of WAG. I'm too old, it's been too long since my teenage years (and they were not traumatic enough to even remember that well). But I've noticed I absolutely love WAG live performances, the intro is so beautiful and breath-taking, literally. When he sings it looking like he can't breath (0:45) I always feel a sudden and urgent need for more air, too. Yes, so weird. Definitely one of the highlights of his last tour.

The second vid is Blue Eyes from the second Hammersmith night (BE dance 1:0 ->, watch the vids from Youtube and HD, click them bigger).

Memories: Belfast & Dublin 2/2010

2011-05-02T21:05:00.002+03:00

I really, really miss Mika concerts. I know it because I feel a physical pain in my stomach every time I hear his music or see concert pictures. There is a small festival tour coming up in July, I hope I will be able to do a small trip to hear his new songs. Before that I need to document year 2010. I'm going to make a few quick "memories posts" with some pictures and videos.

The pics above are from Belfast and Dublin. Belfast was the first gig of the Ireland and UK Tour 2010. I usually do my best to see something from the beginning of the tour because it's a starting point and that's why specially interesting to see. He usually does small changes during tours and it's quite fascinating to compare the first gigs to later ones and even to the last one if possible.

Belfast is one of my best gig memories. Many people say it was like a rehearsal for the Dublin gig (and Dublin was a great gig indeed) and I guess it was not exactly how he wanted it to be because he made several changes after the gig. I really enjoyed these two gigs, but especially the Belfast one. The Dublin show a couple of days later went very smoothly, he must have been pleased too. My videos from Belfast are here and from Dublin here. One of my favorite HE versions is from Dublin. See it below with Any Other World. Suddenly my stomach hurts again.

Show Elements: Newsflash

2011-04-30T16:07:00.000+03:00

I took a few pictures of the show opening from the Arena Tour 2010. The band was watching a television newsflash and the scene was combined to Mika's spacewalking (previous blog post). The audience could see the newsflash on the background and it was starring Sir Ian McKellen himself.

I loved this scene, it was very impressive and made my heart stop every single time. Watch the newsflash on filmmaker Andy Dermanis' Youtube channel here.

Show Elements: Spacewalking

2011-04-18T18:22:00.001+03:00

I really liked the beginning of the Arena Tour shows, spacewalking in a space suit combined to a newsflash (will blog about that later) followed by Relax. Seeing him in a space suit reminds me of a movie called Valentin, which Mika blogged about a couple of years ago. I often watch the movies he recommends, not because I automatically think I will like them but because I'm interested in what kind movies/books/music he likes. This one I loved though, it's a very good movie.

A few pics from the Arena Tour above and the vid below from Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon (4/2010). I wonder, btw, if his childhood dream was walking in space or spacewalking on stage, thousands of people screaming his name. Maybe both.

Sunday blogs: Lucky perfumes

2011-04-17T00:16:00.000+03:00

Most people say they don't believe in luck but they still do some silly things. For example, if you find a piece of (Mika) glitter from your purse or pocket, do you throw it away? I don't think so. Because that piece of golden or silver paper from a Mika concert gets you in a good mood and you never know, it might bring you some good luck, too.

A couple of years ago I traveled to see a Mika concert, and everything almost went wrong on my way. Almost. I almost missed my flight, I almost took a wrong bus and I almost didn't get in to the venue, because my ticket was lost. In the end everything was fine though. I got in and I saw a fantastic concert. I started to think how many things could have gone wrong and how lucky I was that time. Why? I figured out that the reason for my good luck was the perfume I had tested at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport just before my flight. It was a fairly new scent (Indigo by Kenzo, if you are interested), I loved the name and it smelled really suitable for me (I'm not a perfume person at all). It must have been the perfume that made me lucky, what else it could have been.

After that I never traveled without testing the same perfume before my flights. I felt I needed that tester perfume to bring me good luck. But it was so stressful! I had to run around airports in different cities looking for a tester perfume, sweating like a pig carrying my heavy bags. At large airports I sometimes had to walk/run 20 minutes before I could even find any shops. And I often travel at night time, so airport shops are closed, and every shop doesn't sell that particular perfume etc. So sometimes I had to travel without spraying my lucky perfume (and I had to try to find it from the next airport). But the biggest problem was long trips, when I had to take several showers during my trip. Any perfume can't last for several days and several showers, really.

That is exactly what happened during the US Tour. I was in New York and I suddenly noticed I couldn't smell my lucky perfume any more, not even in my jacket. So I dragged my poor husband around NYC department stores and tried to find the right perfume to test. My husband was confused. "How come you never bought this perfume if it is so important to you?". Bought? Are you serious? You can't buy luck, sweetie, it doesn't work that way. We searched huge department stores in NYC and all we could find was my lucky fragrance but for men. Hubby is a wise man and knows when there's no point to argue. Can I spray this scent on you? "Sure". I did it, and he was smelling quite strongly, and everything went just fine that night, except I had a few problems with the venue security (told about it here).

Of course I realized I have to stop my absurd behavior. So I just stopped using/testing my lucky perfume. Guess what? Nothing bad happened. Well, I did miss some gigs because of the ash cloud and I had to cancel some trips simply because of bad timing, but that would have happened in any case. We can't have it all. I was so relieved, no sweaty running at airports any more, no need to search for a tester perfume...

Until after the Coimbra gig (last October) something happened again. I saw one of the French fans holding a small tester perfume after the gig. This time it was Chanel. She offered to spray it on me and I tried to think really hard. Should I do it or not? I let her spray it on me, and it was a lovely scent. After that I went to search another fan who was a BG (I had lost her jacket so I had to find her). The situation was a bit chaotic, lot of people everywhere. Suddenly I saw Mika in front of me. He smiled and said hi. I just smiled, I didn't even try to talk to him, I didn't want to bother him (he was exhausted and busy, it was almost 4 AM). He changed a few words with people and left. Sounds so silly, but it was really important for me to see him there (more than usually, really, because it was after his sister's accident and we all had been so worried). It happened very fast but I had time to think three things in my head:

-Awwww, you look tired but you look yourself, and this is only a tiny moment but I'm SO happy to see you, you have no idea, we have been so worried...
-Oh, I can remember that hoodie from a photo shooting, you actually wear those clothes?! That's SO interesting!
-Shit, this happened because of that tester perfume?? It's starting all over again? Oh, SHIT!!!

I didn't give it a possibility to start all over again. I flied to Brussels and bought that Chanel perfume from the Brussels airport. Maybe it's not working as perfectly as testers but it's so much easier this way. And we really can't be lucky all the time, none of us can. The pic and the Kick Ass vid below from Coimbra (10/2010).