ERIKA “Onna-Bugeisha” EP

Open your ears ladies and gents because there’s going to be some new music coming your way from ERIKA, and it’s good…damn good. If you’re unfamiliar with ERIKA now is the time to get acquainted because with tunes like the ones on her highly anticipated EP “Onna-Bugeisha”, she’s bound for musical stardom. ERIKA’s strong & soulful soprano voice and electric stage presence has led her to play backing singer to several artists, including international pop star Mika, but now she’s ready for center stage.

I’m someone who doesn’t like to mince words so I’ll get straight to the point: the EP is outstanding and it’s without a doubt some of the best new music I’ve heard. From the first verse of the first song I knew immediately that I was in for something great. The EP is a collection of 5 songs, which I will be taking you through one by one. There’s a mixture of sounds ranging from the intensity of rock, to the melodic surprises of pop, to the grandness of musical theatre. Lyrically speaking the songs shine; you can hear every emotion come soaring through ERIKA’s voice and the messages/stories are expressed in a very direct and creative way. There is a layer of depth to the writing while still keeping it simple and straight forward, which I found very intriguing and a sign of a gifted songwriter.

Now for the songs:

1) Wonderful – There are several layers to this one. Initially the song starts off with a more rock feel with a driving guitar in the background. You almost don’t expect it when it takes a turn into the upbeat pop sound. It’s not pure pop though, the rock sound stays apparent throughout the whole song, but there is definitely a mixture of hard and soft between the guitars, strings, and drum beats. Speaking of beats, this is one that gets my pulse going in a good way – it’s an exciting and uplifting start to the EP. The shot has gone off and the race is underway…

2) The Show –  I mentioned the sound of grandness akin to musical theatre and it makes an appearance in this song. There is a “bigness” to the sound which I love. It’s the kind of sound that hits you like a brick wall and wraps itself around you as you listen. I especially liked the imagery in the lyrics. It added to the overall feel of the song which I can only describe as being inside a dream. It’s a song that needs massive volume so my advice when listening to this one is simple: turn it up and let it wash over you.

3) Touch Me – The thing I like about this one is the message. It’s very self-empowering. A quick sample of the lyrics: “I’m a butterfly, scratch my wings and I’ll still fly, not a paper airplane, I won’t burn inside your flames, so touch me and I won’t break…” As for the sound, it’s more pop – very melodic and flows like a symphony. 

4) Junky – This is probably my favorite song. Lyrically it conveys a sort of sweetness and longing which when mixed with the foot-tap inspiring beat and classic pop sound makes it a winner. It’s just a fantastically constructed song – simple sound and a catchy beat yet is still lyrically profound and ERIKA’s vocals are top notch. I can see this one being really fun to do acoustic – lots of stomping and clapping would no doubt be involved.

5) Maybe – A bit softer than the others, it starts off with a piano accompanying ERIKA’s vocals and slowly builds to the sound of a pop power ballad. I thought the most interesting part of this one was the story in the lyrics. It’s a break-up told from the woman’s perspective, which isn’t anything new, but what I really like is the fact that it’s so honest and non-bashing yet still puts the man in his place. There is a “matter-of-factness” to the lyrics – she knows she’s right and he was wrong and now he’s nothing more than “an insect crawling on the ground trying to dodge all her footsteps”…but he’s being told very calmly, as a mother would a misbehaving child. This honesty and un-shielded confidence is what makes the message that much more powerful.

Bottom line: I would highly suggest checking out this EP. If you’re looking for some new music to get into, do yourself a favor and give ERIKA a listen. I don’t have anything negative to say about these songs other than I wish there were more of them.

 

ERIKA’S LINKS:

Official website – http://www.officiallyerika.com/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/erikaofficial

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/officiallyerika

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/0fficiallyerika/videos

Pledge Campaign – http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/erika

 

Pledge ERIKA: New EP, Video & Tour

A while back I wrote a post all about ERIKA – the pop artist formerly known as iMMa. If you haven’t read that post I suggest you do so before continuing reading this one. I’m a big supporter of people who make good music and undiscovered talent and ERIKA is both. She has all the makings of a future pop star with the potential to sell out shows all over the world. I watched a live video of her performing her new material recently and was truly impressed. It takes a genuine performer to take the atmosphere of a tiny venue and raise it up to the level of a stadium, just with the sheer power of one’s voice and stage presence. Check out the video below:

The reason I’m rambling on about how amazing ERIKA is and the reason I’m writing this post is that she currently has a campaign on Pledge Music. If you’re unfamiliar, Pledge is a great way for artists to raise money for a personal project or a charity, or in ERIKA’s case both. Below is the message from ERIKA on her Pledge page explaining her project:

Hey all,

Welcome to my Pledge page, being an unsigned artist I have always done everything on my own and extended my hand to friends for help in making a video, photo shoots, recording and gigging. I have been so blessed to have my friends or people who don’t even know me help me out by lending me their skills, to ensure that I can play my music and people can hear it.

For this, I am very lucky.

However I find myself needing more help and I am holding out my hand, no, in fact my arms in a virtual hug to you all to extend this community.

Help me make my target by pledging for all kinds of exclusive goodies, so that I can tour the UK and fulfill some European show requests. Also it will enable me to pay the wonderful musicians I work with for their time and talent.

With anything left over I would love to make another video, and very importantly donate a portion of funds raised over my target to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation.

Thank you all!
ERIKA

There are numerous different options for things you can put your money towards, all at varying price levels. For example:

$16 (10 pounds) – you get the new ERIKA EP “Onna-Bugeisha”

$39 (25 pounds) – you get a handwritten, ERIKA-fied lyric sheet complete with doodles and glitter and signed by the lady herself

$47 (30 pounds) – you get your name on the EP credits

$78 (50 pounds) – you get a Skype singing lesson with ERIKA

$124 (80 pounds) – you get a personalized recording of a song of your choice performed by ERIKA, the video of which will be sent to you

If you live in London and fancy an outing with ERIKA you can also Pledge to have afternoon tea with her at her favorite tea shop, go for a shopping day, or have a day out in London with ERIKA as you personal tour guide. Those are priced at $117 (75 pounds), $311 (200 pounds), and $622 (400 pounds) respectively. You can also make more than one pledge (I’ve made 2).

So if you’re a fan of ERIKA or if you’re someone interested in supporting  a talented up & coming artist check out her music and if you like what you hear think about making a pledge. I personally believe there is great fulfillment and joy in helping someone achieve their goals/dreams and ERIKA is most certainly deserving of all the support she can get. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I see great success in her future and if I can help her achieve it that makes it even better.

LINK TO ERIKA’S PLEDGE CAMPAIGN:

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/erika

An Intimate Evening with Mika

I’ve been to quite a few concerts in my life and so far they’ve all been great, but not extraordinary. Not until I went to see Mika at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in downtown Washington DC on Wednesday. It was my first time seeing Mika and after reading and hearing about other peoples’ experiences at his shows, I was expecting something magical; and that’s exactly what it was: pure magic.

This tour is extremely stripped down in comparison to other tours Mika has done. There are no huge extravagant sets, no colorful costumes, characters, or story lines, just Mika and his band doing what they do best. I don’t feel left out or disappointed because I didn’t get the full-on Mika experience either; yes his past shows were undoubtedly exciting and allowed you to escape into a fantastical world, but to me this show was the best possible Mika experience you could have because it showcased what a truly talented musician he is.

Now onto my experience…

I’ve been following Mika’s career since a fateful day in 2011 when I saw the music video for his song “Rain”. It hasn’t been a particularly long time of being a fan, but when you fall for him and his music you fall hard and fast, so naturally I waited (im)patiently for what felt like forever for the opportunity to see him live. That opportunity came to me in the form of a dream one morning about 2 months ago. Sounds weird, but allow me to explain…I had a (seemingly) random dream right before I woke up one morning about going to see Mika play an intimate show, where or why I’m not certain, but nothing is ever clear in dreams…usually. I woke up and got on my computer, went onto Facebook, and low and behold that was the day this North American tour was announced and one of the dates was in DC; not around the corner, but certainly do-able. What made it even freakier was the fact that it’s called “An Intimate Evening with Mika”. So to anyone out there that thinks dreams mean nothing, well, I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong.

After that it was a crazy whirlwind of planning, not that I’m complaining at all, planning is one of the things I do best and I love it. Seeing as how the universe seemed to want me to go to this show I figured all the planning should probably go smoothly, and guess what? It did. I managed to get 3 pre-sale tickets for myself, my sister, and my sister’s friend, even after thinking it had sold out. I found a reasonably priced hotel that was a 3 minute walk from the Synagogue (it turned out to be more like 1 minute). Our transportation issues to and from DC also managed to solve themselves which provided much relief after a lot of stressing out. The only thing left for us to do was to anxiously anticipate the day of the show, which arrived a lot faster than anticipated.

When we walked up to the Synagogue, I got this feeling of surrealism. I couldn’t believe we were finally here after all those weeks of waiting and anticipating (although for me it felt more like years); here it was, right in front of us, we were going to see Mika for the first time. When we got there the line of people was a bit surprising, it was wrapped around the side of the building which is something I wasn’t quite expecting, but  it’s good to know that Mika has fans here. I  heard someone behind me say they found out there was about 70 people ahead of us. As soon as I heard that my spirit sank a bit because if there was one element of this whole experience I wanted to work out more than anything, it was getting a good seat. (Side note: I’m glad this was a seated venue, I much prefer having the option to sit down at shows as it helps prevent a possible blackout and embarrassing fall to the floor due to dehydration and/or exhaustion). Confronted with this seating dilemma, I decided the best thing to do was to send out a powerful prayer to the universe to make a miracle happen. After all, it had had my back up to this point, why not ask for a little extra assistance? Turns out the universe is a pretty cool dude, or gal if you prefer, because when we walked into the Synagogue my sister immediately spotted seats up towards the front that were free. I proceeded to whisper “go! go! go!” and made a beeline right for them. I liken the moment to a crazy bride and her bridesmaids in a wedding dress shop where everything is half off and they spot the perfect dress and  therefor need to get to it before any of the other bridezillas catch the scent.

We ended up sitting about 3 feet from the stage and had a pretty perfect view of everything. The only issue I had during the show was the fact that the “stage” (which wasn’t really a stage, I believe it’s called a “bima”) was so tall. So when we were seated and Mika was behind the piano, you could just barely see his face over the top. Occasionally it would pop up over the edge but for the most part we were getting legs, feet, and a disembodied voice. They were nice feet and legs though, and the voice, well we all know how amazing that is, but i digress…

The build up to the show starting was intense. I couldn’t stop thinking about what it was going to be like seeing Mika for the first time in person. After what felt like an hour of waiting, Max and Curtis came out to start the pre-show DJ set. I’m surprised people have been saying it’s not very good and they were wishing it would end because my sister and I were having the time of our lives seat dancing. I’d go so far as to say we could have been a great addition to the whole setup by being on stage leading the crowd in their own seat dancing. At one point Max and my sister were voguing together to Madonna, it doesn’t get much better than that. So Max and Curtis get two enthusiastic thumbs up from me for the DJ set, it was a rousing good time and a great warm-up to the actual show. And might I add, not everyone can find the beat in a laundry detergent commercial so well done Max and Curtis for locating it and rocking out, my sister in particular found it quite entertaining.

After the DJ set was over they started setting up for Mika to come out. A favorite moment of the night happened during this time when one of the guys setting up measured where to put the microphone for Mika by seeing if it hit his forehead. Eventually the man himself came walking out from the back of the Synagogue through the audience and went up on stage. He dove right into “Grace Kelly” *cue the ear piercing screams* and the show was off like a rocket. I can’t recall  the exact order of the songs but he played “Blue Eyes”, “Stardust”, “Lola”, “Lollipop”, “Big Girl”, “Love Today”, “Billy Brown”, “Stuck In The Middle”, “Relax”, “Happy Ending”, “Origin Of Love”, “Underwater”, “Love You When I’m Drunk”, “Popular”, “Celebrate”, and “Elle Me Dit” which started out as “Emily” but he messed it up and asked if we’d rather hear the French version instead which got nothing but applause. He ended with “Over My Shoulder” which nearly put me to sleep, and to looks of it Max too, because I noticed him closing his eyes a few times. I don’t mean “put me to sleep” in a bad way, it was just that between me being drained of all the energy that ever existed in my body and the slow calming effect of the song, drifting off was an urge I had to fight. The only disappointment with the set list for me personally was not hearing “Rain”, the song that started it all for me. I’m choosing to view it as a sign that this will not be my last Mika show, because the odds are he’ll have to play it at at least one of the many future shows I will be attending.

The best part of the show had to be when he sang “Lola” and “Stardust” without a microphone. It was very special and we all felt lucky to have gotten to experience that. It really worked with the acoustics of the Synagogue as well, he sounded wonderful. In fact, those two performances were the best of the night in my opinion; watching the way he moved with his eyes closed, you got the feeling the song was just flowing through him, like he was telling a story, the most important, beautiful story you’ve ever heard told through song.

Every one of Mika’s performances through the whole show were simply amazing. His voice was in top form, he hit every note effortlessly and sang with the kind of emotion that only a God-gifted singer can muster. Every song was flawless, apart from “Emily”,  but it turned into something better because it was at that point everyone stood up and started dancing. That’s the thing isn’t it, because it’s nice to have the option to sit, but with someone like Mika sitting becomes extremely restrictive after a while. I don’t think I’ve danced or sang that hard or that passionately in a long time, maybe ever. I felt myself completely letting go and just surrendering to the joy of the experience. That was my personal favorite part of the show –  singing along with him. There were points where he’d get the audience to sing, like during “Lola” and dammit if I didn’t sing with every fiber of my being, and I sounded GOOD too. I think because I was singing so loud other people could hear me and I was told I sounded good, so don’t fret I’m not tone deaf, I know what I sound like. Former first soprano choir girl right here ladies and gents…and not to brag, but screw it I’m gonna brag anyway, Mika and I sounded fantastic together. There were points where it was clearly only him and I singing and maybe a few other people, but I could only hear the two of us and I’m definitely seeing a duet in the future…

We did stay after the show because I knew there would inevitably be a quick chatting & signing session outside and I didn’t come this far not to actually meet him. We didn’t have to wait long thankfully because by that point I was dying from dehydration and low blood sugar. The first thing I have to say about being face to face with Mika is he’s not as tall as people always say, in fact that was the very first thing that I thought when he appeared at the beginning of the show. Either I’m taller than I think or he’s shorter than he thinks but he wasn’t towering over me by any means. I feel like I’m shattering the illusion but personally I was glad he wasn’t this giant lanky wall of a person that everyone says he is. I also feel like I’m the first person ever to think he’s shorter than he appears which I find amusing. But back to meeting him…it was a very quick interaction and I would have loved to talk to him more because I felt like I could, but he was in a rush. You know how you get the feeling like you can just talk to someone for hours even though you just met them? That was how I felt around him, I felt a great sense of calm and confidence and was totally comfortable. He signed my sister’s friend’s ticket and took my sister’s bag and signed and drew a face on the inside of it, which has been named “Akim (Mika spelled backwards) Geoff McCoy, Private Eye” (don’t ask, my sister named it and decided to give it a career as well).

I, on the other hand, thought I would be bold and ask if I could give him a hug. That’s all I wanted, just a hug. He made a weird face at first and I thought maybe it was me and I thought “oh wow you must really not want to hug me…” but as it turned out he was only concerned that he smelled bad. He gave me what I have now established to be the “half hug” – quick, forceful, and mostly to the side avoiding as much body to body contact as possible. I have decided that he owes me the other half. Also, my nose was right up next to his neck and I smelled absolutely nothing so I’m not getting where he thinks he’s so offensive he can’t hug people after shows. We all smell to some extent after concerts Mika, I believe I told you that, so don’t worry so much and just spread the love.

And that was it, I got my awkward half hug and we headed back to the hotel completely exhausted and about to collapse from thirst, which I nearly did a few times during the show. But I pushed myself through and I’m so glad I did because it was a night I’ll never forget. Like that random guy shouted at you during “Over My Shoulder”, well done Mika, well done. You are quite literally a dream come true.

The Origin Of Love by Mika: The Definition of Pop Perfection

Where to even begin on this review…well, first I’ll just say that it’s been a long time coming. When I heard Mika had a new album coming out I knew I was going to have something to say about it. I absolutely love writing about music, especially music I have a lot of respect and adoration for, and Mika’s music definitely falls into that category. Unfortunately, I’ve had to wait for what seemed like forever to receive the album as it only just came out this month. Not so unfortunate was my decision to pre-order it from the official website so I actually ended up getting my copy ahead of the U.S release. I cannot thoroughly or accurately express in words the amount of excitement I felt when I went to get the mail a couple of weeks ago, not expecting to find anything of interest, and instead there was my copy of The Origin Of Love. I then ran back home with a smile on my face, repeatedly thanking some unidentified higher power entity for sending the album to me. This impassioned burst of elation was quite appropriate seeing as I had chosen to make things even harder on myself by not allowing any of the new songs being leaked and performed to reach my ears. For months I was avoiding all exposure to the new material like the plague. Not as easy a task as it sounds, and I’ll be perfectly honest and say I came close to cracking a few times under the pressure of reading all of the ecstatic fan reactions to the new songs. I did give in and listen to the single “Celebrate” (which I’ve heard about a thousand times at this point as it was the only new song I allowed myself to indulge my curiosity in) but that was my only moment of weakness. This aversion may sound crazy to some people, but with some musicians I find it’s better to wait, sit down, and listen to the finished product as a completed work of art. When the time finally arrived to listen to the complete Origin Of Love album, it was like a release – like letting out a breath I had been holding in for 3 months…

The first song I listened to was the title track “Origin Of Love” and after the song ended, the first thing I thought was “wow this is an amazing song” (and it truly is amazing, but I’ll go more into that later). After that I knew I was in for a thrilling experience with the rest of the album and that’s exactly what I got – it starts off strong and never falters from that strength. To me it has a sort of mix-tape quality to it because, as I came to find with subsequent listens through, every song is unique; each track has a different sound, an individual feel to it, and yet they all fit together in a way that makes sense. Mika has frequently stated that one of the major inspirations for the album is Fleetwood Mac and after listening to The Origin Of Love, I now see why. It has the same sort of fluidity of sound from one song to the next as the Rumours album, which happens to be one of my personal favorites. Like Rumours, every song is done in a way that’s not over-thought or trying too hard; they’re just good. The album is however, as the critics, fans, and Mika himself have stated, undeniably different from the pop singer’s previous two albums Life In Cartoon Motion and The Boy Who Knew Too Much, but as Mika has also stated, it still sounds like him. It is definitely more “commercial”  and “mainstream” sounding for lack of better terms. I personally don’t care for those terms because of the associations that always seem to surround them, but it’s the best and the most easily understood way to describe the difference between Origin and its predecessors. Thankfully and not surprisingly, the “more commercial” aspect of the album does not detract at all from the artistic and creative talent Mika once again displays; his penchant for melodically driven pop songs and ability to pen equally catchy, emotive, and dark lyrics remains prevalent on this third album, perhaps more than ever before.

The sound of the album is what gives The Origin Of Love its more “commercial” feel as it’s a total departure from what we’ve become accustomed to hearing from Mika. I would describe the sound of the first two albums as more theatrical, cartoon-inspired, and having a more youthful almost rebellious attitude. The sound on Origin is a mixture of what I’d call “the best of what pop music has to offer” as it features alluring melodies, honest and playful lyrics, and beats that make you want to move. I hear not only the departure from the typical Mika sound, but also a progression; a progression of Mika as an artist and as a person. There is indeed a sense of him “wearing his heart on his sleeve” on this album and as you listen to it, you take a sort of journey through his life, at the end feeling as though you’ve gotten to know him a little better.

I find the songs themselves to be light and accessible yet complex, and each one is a great example of the potential of modern pop music. I’ve always thought that Mika understands the nature of pop music better than most artists putting out records today and that is once again apparent on this album. One of the great things about The Origin Of Love to me is that because every song is just so damn good you’re able to listen to it over and over without getting tired or bored. The experience with this album has been one of the best I’ve had as far as being able to rapidly memorize lyrics and recognize melodies. When I have an experience like that with an album it quickly becomes one of my favorites, and that has most definitely happened with this album. I can honestly say I love every single song which is something that rarely happens to me. Most of the time I’ll like certain songs a lot better than others on records but every now and again a record like this one comes along and I end up loving all of it and can’t get enough. If asked, I would say this is my favorite Mika album out of the three he has put out. Don’t get me wrong, the first two are still albums that I adore and view as extremely innovative pop albums, but there’s something about The Origin Of Love that’s magical. It’s just that good.

So now that I’ve effectively rambled on for several paragraphs, I think it’s time to dive into the finer details and go over the songs individually. I always find it helpful and interesting when I read music reviews when the person goes into why they like, dislike, or love each song on the album so that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to cover everything except the two bonus remixes, and some acoustic tracks on the second disc of the U.S deluxe edition. I wanted to focus on the tracks I had the most to say about. And away we go…

DISC ONE:

1) Origin Of Love – The title track on the album and what gave me the heads up that the rest was going to be nothing short of magnificent. It features a sort of spacey, other-worldly choir sound, akin to something that would be seen on Doctor Who. To me it sounds like an outer space church choir made up of aliens and humans. It’s a very interesting sound and when I first heard it I was blown away by how unique it was. It’s extremely joyful and leaves you with a smile on your face after every listen. I have to also mention the short bit of monk-style Latin chanting in the middle which I think is fantastic and definitely not something found on your every day pop song (but Mika is not your every day pop artist). The song is beautifully and powerfully written and arranged. It is a true stand-out on the album.

2) Lola – I can’t express how much I love this song! You how there are some songs that you play over and over just to sing along? Well, Lola is one of those for me. It’s probably one of the ones I’ve played the most since getting the album. It’s one of the songs that sounds a bit more like the previous records to me with the bouncy piano and beat. I love the whole idea of it being a conversation, and all in all, it’s just a great, catchy pop song that’s fun to sing. Lola, I’ve made up my mind, and this is one of my favorite Mika songs ever.

3) Stardust – This was one of the most talked about songs I’d read about online as the album started getting released. After listening to it I do see why because it’s a pretty perfect electro-pop love song. It has a great build from the verse to the chorus and in my opinion, the chorus features some of the best higher octave singing Mika has ever done. Again, it’s a fun one to sing along to, especially for me since my range is that of a 1st soprano. If you’re into more electronic pop and want to listen to a song that exudes joyfulness, then this is a great one.

4) Make You Happy – I actually did hear this one when the music video was released months ago, but since then I had completely forgotten it (which is why I didn’t count it along with Celebrate as cheating). I did remember liking it though and I still do now that I’ve listened to it again. This is the more electronic version (there’s a second version that is less electronic) but it’s still very melodic. I love the rhythm of the singing during the verses as well. One of my favorite lines from all of the songs on the album is in this song: “can’t you see the love around you, you know you’re crazy not to take it”. That one in particular stands out to me for whatever reason and I love the way it’s sung.

5) Underwater – This song has been talked about so much everywhere online and it’s been one of the songs I’d been anticipating the most. In all honesty it sounded different than I thought it would at first listen. Not in a bad way, just not what I was expecting. I’m not even sure what specifically I was expecting to hear, but that aside, I do really love this song as much as everyone else. It opens on a really beautiful piano riff that sets the tone for the rest of the song which I find to be one of floating. Visually, the song evokes images of the ocean; as it rises and falls it creates the feeling of a wave rising and crashing down. I love when songs make you actually experience something. Every time I listen to this song I’m immediately whisked away from where I am. It’s a similar experience to a song like “Rocket Man” for me where I feel like I’m just floating on a cloud.

6) Overrated – For some reason it took a few listens for me to love this song. Maybe because it’s more heavily electronic and I’m not particularly into electronic music, but I do really like it now and think it’s great. It sounds a bit like something you’d hear in a club to me, but at the same time there’s a classical, almost theatrical element to it particularly in the verses which is where the magic is as far as the singing.  There are bits during the verses that really showcase how incredible Mika’s lower range is, which we haven’t been able to truly appreciate. It’s very strong and full of passion and it’s probably my favorite bit of singing out of all the songs on the entire album.

7) Kids – This is another one of my favorites on the album. I’ve read it’s a lot of people’s least favorites for one reason or another and I’m surprised by that. As soon as I listened to it my first thought was “this reminds me of something…” and it really does, it reminds me of older music from the 60’s or 70’s but blended with contemporary pop. It has a very hazy, Californian, almost Simon & Garfunkel type of sound to it. I’m personally not a fan of Simon & Garfunkel, but that’s what it makes me think of automatically, or some other similar artist of the late 60’s/early 70’s.

8) Love You When I’m Drunk – First of all, the lyrics to this song are great. I understand it’s meant to be a sort of break up letter and that definitely comes across. I have to say, I commend Mika for being so open on this song (and I feel for whoever the song was directed towards as well). This is another song that I think is reminiscent of the first two records, musically speaking. The thing I noticed most about it is the variation in the singing. It starts out sounding almost theatrical in a sense, very proper, very poised. An image of him standing on stage holding his hands together in front of his chest as they do in operas comes to mind. Then it starts to build in intensity and when the chorus hits, it’s an explosion. My interpretation of the song is like this: the verse is the story he’s telling, then it starts to build and he’s saying “hey pay attention I have something to tell you…”, and then the chorus is the main message. I’m hoping that makes sense and if not, listen to the song and maybe you’ll be able to hear it like I do.

9) Step With Me – One of my other favorites, and one that’s been played over and over much like Lola. It’s just a perfect pop song to me. Everything about it, from the melody, to the lyrics, to the beat…everything. It reminds me a little of 90’s pop but better; more so in the chorus. To me that’s not a bad thing because I was all over 90’s pop music, I listened to all of it and loved it, unashamedly. It’s the perfect combination of sweet melodies and a breezy beat that makes you want to sway from side to side. This song is delicious like home-cooked dishes I’m listening to mischievously…

10) Popular Song – Well who knew Mika could rap?! Not I! Yes, he sings AND raps on this song (along with Priscilla Renae who sounds great as well), not in a hard-core-gangsta-let-your-chains-hang-low sort of way, but still it’s fun and charming. The first time I heard this song I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing because the lyrics are so great; they’re funny, honest, and convey a message that’s easy to relate to. And yes it’s also true that he samples the song “Popular” from Wicked in the chorus (so for all you musical theatre geeks, this one might be one to check out). If you’ve ever been bullied, misunderstood, or felt like an outsider, sing along to this one – you’ll feel empowered.

11) & 5) (from Disc 2) Emily / Elle Me Dit – They’re pretty much the same song, just different lyrics/languages. “Elle Me Dit” and “Emily” are both extremely catchy (probably the catchiest songs I’ve heard in a while, seriously I dare you to listen to them and then not have one or both stuck in your head). Although “Emily” is just the English equivalent to EMD, to me it manages to stand on its own. “Elle Me Dit”  has also become my go-to song to walk to French class to (quite excessive, I know). Both are fun to sing along with and if you are not fluent in French and appreciate a good challenge, try to sing along with “Elle Me Dit”, it’s a verbal workout.

12) Heroes – The saddest song on the record that talks about soldiers returning from war and the permanent,  life-altering, devastating effects having that experience results in. It makes me want to cry when I hear it because lyrically, it’s very poignant and poetic. Musically, it’s simple and beautiful, and it is beautiful in its simplicity. It’s message is one not heard or expressed often in music these days and I always find it both refreshing and praise-worthy when and artist creates something that speaks to the state of the world; in this case directly to some of its most overlooked and damaged citizens.

13) Celebrate – Ah Celebrate, the one song I’ve had something to say about for months. Admittedly, when I first listened to this song I wasn’t sure if I liked it. It was the first glimpse I had of the “new Mika” and at first I honestly thought it was too different. However, the more I listened the more I liked it. Going back to Fleetwood Mac, there’s something about it that reminds me of “Everywhere”; melodically it sounds very similar to me, which isn’t necessarily bad if you like Fleetwood Mac and “Everywhere” in particular, which I do. The only thing I would say in opposition to it is that I do prefer the “China Boy” verse on the acoustic version (also on the album) and wish it was included, but that’s really the only “bad” thing about it in my opinion. This was also a very important song to me as it came into my life during a time of major transition during which I would always go back to the line “I remember those two letters, it will be OK”. That became my mantra of sorts and helped keep me sane during a rather stressful time in my life. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to dance and sing it at the top of your lungs and that’s exactly the kind of distraction from stress I needed over the past few months. So thank you, Mika.

14) Make You Happy (Miami Edit) – This is the other, less electronic version of the song. It relies more on an orchestral, instrumental sound mixed with electronic touches. I think the blend of the two works wonderfully and the product is almost ethereal. It sounds a bit sadder than the original to me as well, both in sound and lyrically. I think both versions are able to stand on their own and it just depends what type of sound you prefer.

DISC TWO:

1) Origin Of Love (Acoustic Version) – Alright, I’m just going to come out and say it…disagree if you wish, but in my opinion, this version is better than the original. It’s my favorite song out of all the songs on the album, hands down. Do I love the original and think it’s a great song, yes, but this acoustic version kicks its ass. It’s so beautiful, so simple, sung and arranged perfectly (there are too many compliments I could shower down upon it so I’ll cut it off there). I feel that this version gets to the heart of the song more so than the original. You’re able to really hear the lyrics, really hear the message. It’s arranged in a sort of jam session type of way which I really like a lot and I feel like the fact that it’s stripped down gives it an honesty and a purity that I feel like the original lacked in some respects. It still maintains a sort of choir sound, just in a more casual sit-down type of way. It still has that “lift you up and take you away” quality that the original has but it does so with a lighter touch. It’s perfect to me and even my mother (who is also a Mika fan) said she thought this was the single version not having heard the original. Yet another case of two versions of songs successfully standing on their own but in this case, at least to me, one comes out on top.

7) Tah Dah – Love this one. It’s very 80’s synth-pop sounding which I really like; the 80’s are one of my favorite decades of music so any reference to that time period and I’m on board. It’s not so overtly 80’s pop though, it’s more like 80’s pop that’s been updated and mixed with modern electro-pop elements. Just goes to show that music is never truly “out of date”.

So let me just break it down for you: if you’re a fan of Mika, or if you’re simply looking for something new and different to listen to, I’d highly suggest picking up this album. It’s song after song of pure brilliance and effectively demonstrates the magical qualities of pop music. I’ve enjoyed getting to know a new side of Mika through listening to this record. I can tell that with every detail of every song it was a labor of love. It took a while to come to full fruition, but the proof is in the final product. It’s as telling as it is important to also understand what he went through in order to make this album what it is – from writer’s block, to a bad break-up, to a horrific medical ordeal in his family – all the while growing as a person and evolving into who he is today: confident, mature, and most importantly, happy. I think he should congratulate himself for being aware of the changes he needed to make and for taking the time he needed to get to where he wanted to be. Most of all, he should be proud to have made such a fresh and immaculate pop record.

What’s My Point: Internet Trolls

The issue of internet “trolls” and “haters” has been a hot topic of conversation for years. I’ve always had strong opinions about it and have had yet to share them. Well, again I was trying to relax and take a nap when the idea for typing this post popped into my head and I couldn’t ignore it. So I’d like to share with you my take on this issue. Granted I’m probably not going to say anything that hasn’t already been said, but regardless, what I have to say is still valid.

To begin with, what classifies someone as a “troll” or a “hater”? In my opinion and in the most simple definition, it’s someone who in this case uses the internet for evil instead of good. I was watching the Olympics opening ceremony and if you watched you’ll probably remember the Cirque Du Soleil style “4 decades of British music” dance number at the beginning called “Frankie and June Say Thanks Tim”. At one point the “Tim” mentioned in the title, Tim Berners-Lee the creator of the World Wide Web appeared sitting behind a computer and typed out “THIS IS FOR EVERYONE” as it appeared across the stadium walls. The commentators had this to say about him: “he wanted to make sure the World Wide Web was for everyone to enjoy and no one to abuse”. As wonderful a concept as that is, when I heard that I sort of cringed out of knowing what the reality is.

I don’t see all of the trolling and hating that goes on online but what I have seen has shocked and disgusted me at times. The things people think they can get away with saying is quite unbelievable. Most of what I’ve seen has been on YouTube. I’m subscribed to many of the “beauty gurus” on YT and without a doubt on every video there’s always going to be at least one nasty, degrading, negative comment made towards the video or worse the person or people in it. Some of it could most definitely be classified as cyber bullying. I’ve heard of several people who’ve stopped making videos or taken long breaks due to constant negative comments and bullying. I know as someone who loves making videos and gets joy out of it, though I don’t do it as a YT partner on a regular basis, it would greatly sadden me if I felt I had no choice but to stop. I give a lot of credit for those on YT who continue on and are strong enough to ignore all of the negativity in the comments section that runs rampant these days.

Of course it’s not just on YouTube that trolls lurk and haters lay in wait, it’s everywhere, it’s just in some places it’s more prevalent. Myspace is a great example and for a lot of people it’s hater-central. I’ve heard mostly from different music artists that have Myspace pages that they’ve received a lot of hate mail from people who don’t like them for one reason or another. On Facebook it’s the same, I’ve seen in the comments on band pages loads of people who clearly only go there to spread their less than kind opinions. My question is, what’s the point in doing so? If you don’t like someone or something that’s fine, everyone is entitled to what they like and dislike but if I don’t like a band or an artist I don’t listen to them. I don’t go trolling seeking out places to post negative opinions and bring every one of their fans down. That being said, the fans of whatever or whoever you snap at will always snap back so it’s probably best to just keep it to yourself.

I always get offended and upset when I see someone leaving negative or just downright mean comments about things or people I enjoy. Going back to YouTube, every time I see a negative comment I choose to balance it out by leaving a positive one. I don’t reply to any of the people I see leaving the hater comments because I do not wish to invite any drama into my world. There’s always someone else who is willing to do that anyway and so it becomes a diffusion of responsibility situation. It’s not that I don’t want to defend the person or the thing, I just know for me it’s not the best use of my time or energy, especially since starting a war with people like that gets you nowhere fast.

This brings me to my advice portion and what I would say to someone dealing with this issue. If you have negative people in your life, I know from experience it’s not easy. The best way to handle someone who says mean things to you or leaves you nasty comments online is the most obvious one: just ignore it. Do not engage them, do not respond, just let it affect you for a few seconds, then let it roll off your back and move on. Any time someone says something unkind to you or is being negative it’s a projection of their own issues and insecurity that they aren’t able to deal with. So remember to not take anything personally and know that you are not the one with the problem, they are. That’s the best advice I or anyone can give.

So what’s my point? Don’t feed the trolls and don’t engage the haters. The internet is indeed for everyone as it should be. However, some of the people in that inclusive “everyone” need to stop and think about how they’re using this life-changing invention. It’s as simple as “think before you type” or “think before you log on”. If you feel the need to constantly go online just to find ways to bring others down maybe you need to stop, think, and figure out why that is. Recognizing your own issues and shortcomings is never easy but it’s the first step to making the world less infected by toxic personalities. To everyone having problems with toxic or negative people, I understand your struggle. It’s hard to accept that there are some people who are just not beneficial and should not be welcome into your life. As someone who is very friendly, loving, and inclusive, that’s a very difficult concept to come to terms with. Still, I believe people are basically good and there are far more good people in the world than bad. The bad ones just need to wake up and realize their time would be much better spent spreading positive energy than negative. But until that happens, I intend to make good use of the “block”, “delete”, and “unfriend” buttons.

The Live Concert Experience: My Interpretation

Boys Like Girls Live at The Electric Factory

 

Of all the different experiences I’ve had in my life, there’s always one that consistently is the same each time: a live concert. This is basically how it goes…

 

I’m surfing around the web hitting all my usual spots – email, Facebook, Twitter etc. – when I come across something that instantly sends my heart beating faster and shoots my excitement level through the roof. I’ve just found out one or more of my favorite bands or artists is coming to a venue near me. First thought: I must get tickets. This is not negotiable. Second thought: I must find someone to go with me. It’s always more fun when you have someone to go with. Third thought: time is running out! If I want to make this happen I need to  stop sitting here staring at my computer screen and put my plan into action.

First things first – I ask anyone I think would be interested in going if they’d like to take part in the festivities. Usually this means either a friend or my sister, and even my mom has joined in in the past. Good thing I know I have at least two people in the near vicinity that I can have a face-to-face conversation with as I am now surely on such a determined, adrenaline-driven path I need the most direct form of communication possible to set my mind at ease. I, like so many others, hate waiting on texts and trying to reach someone by calling can lead to an annoying time-wasting game of phone tag so knowing I have live-in concert buddies is a really wonderful gift.

After I put forth the invitations and relay all of the necessary information (where is it, who’s playing, how much does it cost etc. etc.) the race is on to acquire tickets. Depending on the venue, this part can be a bit stressful. If the show is at a venue where it’s all standing general admission then the only thing you need to worry about is whether or not it will get sold out. If it’s a venue where your ticket determines how good a seat you get it becomes more complicated, especially if it’s also an act that’s hugely popular so you’ll also have to factor in how long before it’s completely sold out. Either way I find I’m extremely anxious to get the ticket ordering done. The only difference between the two situations being that for the seated venues, the process of selecting your section and price range, then waiting for the site to generate the best tickets for you can be maddening. However, I’ve always managed to have pretty good luck in ticket acquisition and for this, I thank you universe, for you must know how important going to a concert is to me.

Once the buying, processing, and printing is completed, I’m finally able to take a breath and relax. A sense of calm comes over me, or at least as calm as my excitement will allow for now I am entering the phase of calendar-marking, outfit decisions, and fantasizing about what will happen once that magical day finally arrives. I love planning for things in all senses of the word and planning for a concert is one of my most favorite things to plan for. It’s one of those things where you never know what could happen so you build up in your mind all kinds of possibilities, some of which may or may not come true, but it’s all in good fun.

And now it’s finally arrived. The day you’ve been anxiously awaiting for weeks, sometimes months. The time seems to have flown by faster than it felt. If I don’t have anything better to do I’ll sometimes spend the better part of the day getting ready. I don’t go all out crazy but as I usually take a while to get ready on a normal day and a concert day is special, I’m going to take the time needed so I feel that way. I take out the outfit that I’ve had stowed away, do my hair and makeup, get dressed, double and triple check that I look good and feel equally so, then head out towards the final destination.

Upon arrival at the venue, the atmosphere is filled to the brim with excitement and anticipation. There’s a sense of unity among concert-goers because we’re all there for the same reason: to see a great show and have the time of our lives. You can meet some really nice people at concerts; everywhere you turn there’s one more person that’s just as happy to be there as you are. That’s one of the best things about a live show in my opinion – there’s such a feeling of togetherness, equality, and unity that you don’t always find in every day life. Every person at the same place for the same reason and it doesn’t matter who you are, only that you came to have a good time.

But now the waiting begins. This has to be the worst part, if there is really a “worst” part of a concert. It’s slightly better at seated venues as you have the option to, well, be seated while you wait. You can get up and walk around, get food and drinks, visit a merch stand, whatever you feel like and make it back in time for the show to start, in your same spot. It’s close to torture at the clubs and places you have to stand for hours not only while watching the show but during the half hour or longer break between performers. The thing about club venues and standing venues in general is it’s always a bit of a roller coaster physically speaking. I usually can’t eat very much before a show because my excitement just won’t allow it and I always end up paying for it once I get there. Once you’re in your spot that’s where you’re staying for the rest of the gig unless you’re a crowd surfer or you simply have to leave for the bathroom or something. The standing around waiting among a sea of people in a hot enclosed space feels like it’s going to be the death of you. That is until the music starts and you forget the fact that not a second ago you felt like you were about to pass out. Then the music stops, the next round of waiting begins, and you have nothing left to distract you from your physical symptoms. All I can say is thank God for phones, iPods, and gaming devices because while I’m not addicted to mine most of the time, in a situation like that they can be your best friend. Now getting back to the concert…

The show starts and everyone immediately stops what they’re doing and in unison lets out an excited cheer. It’s like something clicks and no matter how you were feeling or what you were doing, this is more important. I feel like a completely different person at concerts; I feel more outgoing, like I lose all my inhibitions and don’t care if I look like an idiot because chances are everyone else is doing the same. If they’re not, I suppose it’s their loss in the end. I guess I feel more like myself in a way or like the version of myself that I want to be all the time. It’s such a freeing feeling singing at the top of your lungs to your favorite songs and dancing like no one is watching. Even though I’m surrounded by people, I always feel like I’m in a bubble – my own little world, where it’s just me, the music, and the performer(s).

I never want a concert to end because after experiencing something that can only be described as “entering another world”, how can the one you go back into afterwards possibly live up? It never really can in my mind. Seeing someone you admire perform live is a great honor. For that one set no matter if it’s 20 minutes or 2 hours,  they’ve invited you into their lives, into their world, and they want to share a piece of themselves with you. It’s such a profoundly human thing – to want to share with others, enrich their lives and bring them joy and music is one of the best ways in which to do so.

So the show is over, and there is a lightening of the mood as everyone comes off the cloud they’ve been floating on for the past few hours. I always feel a mixture of happiness and disappointment. As I leave the venue, riding on a high that only music can give me, I reflect back on everything that just occurred – everything I felt, everything I heard, everything I saw, and perhaps if I was lucky I got to meet someone special whether they be someone I saw on stage or someone I saw in line. Once back at the car, the train, or whatever your mode of transport, you know you’ve officially re-entered “the real world” – a sobering thought, but at least the memories get to come with you.