dcdeb Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=270536 Mika proud to a 'pop' artist Thursday May 31 20:01 AEST British singer-songwriter Mika considers himself part of a new wave of performers who can proudly and credibly call themselves "pop" artists. "Pop became a dirty word after the 1990s. Pop lost its way. But now it's certainly coming back on track," the 23-year-old said in Sydney on Thursday. Mika's debut single Grace Kelly has been a hit around the world and cemented itself in the top 10 of the Australian ARIA singles chart for the past 11 weeks. A virtuoso pianist with a four-octave vocal range, Mika's influences range from the opera he sang as a child to the great self-made masters of reinvention such as Prince. In Australia as part of a globe-trotting promotional tour for his debut album Life In Cartoon Motion, Mika admitted he fears the huge global success of his first offering could see him pigeon-holed and destined to disappoint fans on his next release. "It's all quite heart-warming, but it's early days," he said. "So don't get sick of me yet." Born in war torn Beirut, Lebanon, Mika and his family fled to France and eventually settled in England. Much of his growth as a musician came when he trekked around the United States working with as many creative minds as he could find. Such a journey has developed Mika as an artist who is proud to be "placeless" and not bound by the expectations of any country or style of music. "It's about the album as a body of work and songs, as opposed to singles. I'm not Crazy Frog. I'm here for a long time," he said. Mika said he considered himself a writer more than a musician and music is simply a tool to his story-telling. "Because I embrace and adore the concept of a pop song and the challenges of writing pop songs, I seem to often be misunderstood for someone who is a manufactured product, who isn't actually a serious musician," he said. "I mean pop music as it was in the 60s and 70s. Now pop is coming back, records are infused with so many different influences. You've got Amy Winehouse playing soul-pop, Lily Allen making reggae-pop, Christina Aguilera making pop in the old swing and big band style and its' so fun, and its production is so sophisticated." He describes his own work as "psycho-babble hyper-pop". "It's all pop. Pop is good now, and it's getting better," he said. Ironically, Grace Kelly is a song which thumbs its nose at the music industry in much the same way Australian country-crossover singer Kasey Chambers did with her breakthrough single, Not Pretty Enough. When this is mentioned to Mika, who obsessively collects designer toys and pop music from around the world, he breaks into his own word-perfect version of Chambers' song. "I told you I have a massive pop anthology from around the world. I know that song, it's great," he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Thanks dcdeb! I love this part: "It's all quite heart-warming, but it's early days," he said. "So don't get sick of me yet." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcdeb Posted May 31, 2007 Author Share Posted May 31, 2007 I liked that part as well, Blue. He's very practical dcdeb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherry_baby Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Thanks for posting, nice little read x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisylou Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 As if we could get sick of him, we want MORE!!! Who cares wants classed as the "in" trend music! pop will always be up there! xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREDDIESDOUBLE Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 As if we could get sick of him, we want MORE!!!Who cares wants classed as the "in" trend music! pop will always be up there! xxx Well said Daisy , Mika brings pop back to the masses and about time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackViolet Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Great quotes. I love the fact that he is unashamed to be a pop artist, and isn't trying to be all pretentious with his music. I'm into alternative and indie rock, but I love pop provided it's good pop (my favorite is 60s and 70s pop, exactly)--and I'm really glad people like Mika are bringing it back. --Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Sky Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Great! This is the first news I have seen from Oz, the big MIKA promo ball has started rolling, we will be filled with interviews and photos from Australia for the next 4 days!! YAY!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamette Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 "I'm not Crazy Frog. I'm here for a long time" :roftl: I hate this frog!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 In addition to my short reply here are my personal thoughts: I love pop music. Especially pop music from the seventies. I think that is one of the reasons why Mikas music attracts me. And I like his ideas about the comeback of pop music. And now I'm going to look for that song by Kasey Chambers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Mewissa<33 Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 yaaaay! my favorite favorite FAVORITE singers are bringing pop back!!! according to Mika xD cooliiieee! yaay im listening to real music xD cooool LOL i luvved this <33 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikjass Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 It's good that we get to learn more and more about him now that he is going around... i was so sick of the same questions that was directed to him previously. By the way I had an episode of fear for Mika's future few weeks back... he is topping the charts and winning hearts so fast that i was afraid he might not be able to top this next time around, but I now I'm sure he's got it sorted out... can't wait for MORE! MORE AND MORE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violet_sky Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 "So don't get sick of me yet." Have no fear Mika, don't underestimate us Thanks a lot, dcdeb! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Showtunes17 Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 "I mean pop music as it was in the 60s and 70s. Now pop is coming back, records are infused with so many different influences. You've got Amy Winehouse playing soul-pop, Lily Allen making reggae-pop, Christina Aguilera making pop in the old swing and big band style and its' so fun, and its production is so sophisticated." YAY Mika likes Christina Aguilera, these two are my FAVOURITE!!!!! singers EVER! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatagordinha Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I'm just happy to see him pointing out that other 'pop' artists are also heavily influenced by past genres and artists (as if this were news anyway!! doh!) and not just him! And that it's not a crime, as Mika-hating journos would have everyone believe, but just a fact of modern music, ie pretty much everything has been 'done' by now and it's truly hard to be totally original. To me, mika is as original and unique as it's possible to be within the limits of 'pop' these days. If that makes sense. That's why he's so fab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Mewissa<33 Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 YAY Mika likes Christina Aguilera, these two are my FAVOURITE!!!!! singers EVER! i knooow!! isnt that cool!??? :roftl: was her big fan before Mika LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisylou Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Great! This is the first news I have seen from Oz, the big MIKA promo ball has started rolling, we will be filled with interviews and photos from Australia for the next 4 days!! YAY!! Mmmmmmmmmmm!!!! xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Showtunes17 Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 i knooow!! isnt that cool!??? :roftl: was her big fan before Mika LOL Same was/AM a HUGE christina fan she was the only artist i cared and followed since Mika arrived and NOW they're both virtually level in my eyes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Mewissa<33 Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Same was/AM a HUGE christina fan she was the only artist i cared and followed since Mika arrived and NOW they're both virtually level in my eyes! yeaa...im STILL a huge fan too xD but she is #2 eheh xD or kind of like sharing the same place with Mika XDD ---her greatest performance is It's a man's world <3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Showtunes17 Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 yeaa...im STILL a huge fan too xD but she is #2 eheh xDor kind of like sharing the same place with Mika XDD ---her greatest performance is It's a man's world <3 That peformance was just :shocked: It just confirmed to me that she is a LEGEND!!!!! and BTW have you heard her version of "Mother" by John Lennon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sity Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Well when you are proud and take the responsibility of what you're doing, I believe that's the way to be an opposite to Crazy Frog... And ain't Mika already doing that? Yes, LICM has gained (and will gain) a huge success. There's no way the next album will be similar to the first one. I won't be dissapointed of the next album as long as it's done by heart as the first one. Even how I love the premiere album, Im actually eagerly waiting the new album to be something very different! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paula.pop Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Interview full of good quotes! That Man is a genius! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Mewissa<33 Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 That peformance was just It just confirmed to me that she is a LEGEND!!!!! and BTW have you heard her version of "Mother" by John Lennon yeap!! i even made my dad changed my mind about her when we saw THAT performance and omg! that version was AMAZING so yeaa back to Mika xD LOL I cant wait for his new album!!!!! im waiting....and still waiting.....wait.....ing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esperia75 Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 ...I LOVE POP!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annabelle Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Thanks for this, it's great! And how can he think that we'd ever get sick of him?!? I think this is impossible, no wait...I know this is impossible. And I bet his new album is going to be great as well since all his songs are-so how could it be that the album wouldn't be just awesome? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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