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Mika (singer)
Background information
Birth name Michael Holbrook Penniman
Born August 18, 1983 (1983-08-18) (age 23)
Beirut, Lebanon
Origin London
Genre(s) Pop, Dance Pop
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s) Vocals, Piano
Years active 2006–present
Label(s) Casablanca Records
Island Records
Website Mikasounds.com
Mica Holbrook Penniman (born 18 August 1983), known as Mika (IPA [ˈmikə]),
is a Lebanon-born, London-based singer who has a recording contract with
Casablanca Records and Universal Music. [1][2][3]
Early life
Mika was born in Beirut, Lebanon, the middle child of five children born to
a Lebanese mother and an American father. When he was one year old his
family was forced to leave war-torn Lebanon and moved to Paris. He wrote his
first song, which he describes as an "awful" piano instrumental called
"Angry", at age seven. The family moved to London when he was nine years
old. In London he then attended the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle where
he experienced more severe bullying at school and had problems with
dyslexia, so he was home-schooled by his mother for close to a year.[3]. He
then attended St Philips School in Kensington. He then attended Westminster
School and the Royal College of Music, which he later left to record his
first album.[4]
Musical career
He was trained by Alla Ardakov (Ablaberdyeva) a Russian opera professional
and his public performances and jobs have varied from classical performances
in the Royal Opera House, writing in-flight music for British Airways and
creating an Orbit chewing gum jingle. His debut radio appearance was on
Dermot O'Leary's BBC Radio 2 show in September 2006, Later with Jools
Holland and on The Friday Night Project on 19 January 2007.[citation needed]
While he is rumoured to have a vocal range of five octaves,[4] he actually
claims that it is closer to three and a half octaves.[5]
His slightly altered his given name, Mica, changing the "c" to a "k,"
because he was frustrated by how often people would mispronounce it.
In January 2007, he was at the top of BBC News's Sound of 2007 poll.[6]
His first single was a limited 7"/download release called "Relax, Take It
Easy" (2006). It was play listed by BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom, and
was also made Record of the Week by DJ Scott Mills. The Dodgy Holiday EP is
also available for download. His song "Billy Brown" was available for free
download for a week from the iTunes Store.
Universal Music released his single "Grace Kelly" by digital download on 8
January 2007, and it reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on 21
January 2007. The CD, 12", and limited-edition 7" versions were released on
29 January 2007. The release features remixes by Tom Neville, Bimbo Jones,
Linus Loves, and Pull Tiger Tail.
Produced and mixed by Greg Wells in Los Angeles, with two songs co-produced
by Jodi Marr and John Merchant, Mika's début album Life in Cartoon Motion
was released on 5 February 2007, and has brought comparison with artists
such as Freddie Mercury,[7][8] Scissor Sisters,[9] Elton John,[10] Robbie
Williams[11] and David Bowie.[11]
He was the musical act for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, on 26 March
2007[12] and for Jimmy Kimmel Live on 27 March 2007.[13]
His band consists of Martin Waugh (guitars, backing vocals), Michael Choi
(bass, backing vocals), Cherisse Osei (formerly of The Faders, drums) and
Luke Juby (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals).[citation needed]
Personal life
Mika comes from a family of three girls and two boys. His sister Yasmine,
who works as an artist under the nom de plume Dawack, painted the cartoon
art for his album Life in Cartoon Motion.[11]
Although his "camp" performances have led to speculation that he might be
gay,[14] Mika keeps his sexuality private. In response to media speculation
he has been quoted as saying, "I never talk about anything to do with my
sexuality. I just don't think I need to. People ask me all the time. But I
just don't see the point." The quote continues, "In order to survive I've
kind of shut up different parts of my life, and that's one of them,
especially this early in my career."[15]
He has brushed aside suggestions that he is steering clear of sexual taboos
in order to appeal to the American market, pointing to the song "Billy
Brown", which is about a man who has a homosexual affair. He is quoted as
saying, "If I was worried about sexual taboos I certainly wouldn't have made
the record I made. It has nothing to do with that. It has more to do with
self-respect."[16]
Discography
Albums
Life in Cartoon Motion
* Released: 5 February 2007
* Chart positions: #1 UK and France, #29 US, #2 UWC
See also Life in Cartoon Motion world charts.
* UK sales: 600,000 (19 weeks)
* France sales: 400,000 (19 weeks)
* U.S. sales: 150,000 (13 weeks)
* Worldwide sales: 2,200,000 (20 weeks)
* BPI certification: Double Platinum
* Singles: "Relax, Take It Easy", "Grace Kelly", "Lollipop", "Love Today"
* Soon "Big Girl (You are Beautiful)" will be released as a single in the
U.K.
Singles
These are the peak positions of Mika's singles in the United World Chart,
UK, US, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Germany , Italy and the Netherlands. For
more chart figures see the singles.
Year Title Chart positions Sales/Points Album
UWC U.K. U.S. IRE ITA NL CAN AUS GER
2006 "Relax, Take It Easy" 24 67 - - 2 - - - 6 242,000 Life in Cartoon
Motion
2007 "Grace Kelly" 4 1 (5) 57 1 (7) 1 4 2 2 4 4,017,000
"Lollipop" - 59 - - - - - - - -
"Love Today" - 6 92 14 - - 3 - - -
"Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" - - - - - - - - - -
References
1. ^ Pareles, Jon. "A rising British pop star revives a Mercurial style",
The New York Times, 2007-03-31. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
2. ^ "Artist of the day: Mika", Spin, 2007-03-27. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
3. ^ a b Mccaffrey, Julie, and Adam Luck. "Mika, Teenage prodigy of the
Royal Opera", The Daily Mirror, 2007-01-29. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
4. ^ a b Paphides, Pete. "Triumph of a tortured soul", The Times,
2007-01-05. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
5. ^ "Live interview with Mika." Rove. Channel Ten, Australia. 2007-03-06.
6. ^ Youngs, Ian. "Singer Mika tops BBC talent", BBC News, 2007-01-04.
Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
7. ^ "Mika uses Freddie's piano?", Metro, 2007-01-24. Retrieved on
2007-06-22.
8. ^ Jones, Emma. "Sound of 2007: Mika", BBC News, 2007-01-05. Retrieved on
2007-06-22.
9. ^ Sullivan, Caroline. "Mika", The Guardian, 2006-12-07. Retrieved on
2007-06-22.
10. ^ Bray, Elisa. "V is for victory - and for virtuoso", The Independent,
2007-03-01. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
11. ^ a b c "Introducing the sound of 2007: Mika", The Belfast Telegraph,
2007-01-23. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.
12. ^ "Episode 16.142." The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. NBC. 2007-03-26. No.
142, season 16.
13. ^ "Episode 5.111." Jimmy Kimmel Live. ABC. 2007-03-27. No. 111, season
5.
14. ^ Stewart Who?. "Is Mika gay?", Gay.com UK & Ireland, 2007-02-08.
Retrieved on 2007-04-06.
15. ^ Grew, Tony. "Brit pop star won't say which way he swings", Pink News,
2007-01-24. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
16. ^ Adams, Cameron. "Cartoon hero", Herald Sun, 2007-03-15. Retrieved on
2007-04-06.
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