Review: 'Life in Cartoon Motion', by Mika

If you have listened to any radio in the past week or visited any shopping centre worth visiting, tt is likely that you have heard 'Grace Kelly', the overwhelmingly popular first single of this extraordinary debut album by Mika. Achieving satisfying irony, this song (written as a 'fuck you' to record labels who wanted to change his image to be more commercially viable) has had conspicuous mainstream success in both Britain and Australia. It should not be long before follow up singles are released to satisfy the Mika cravings on everybody's lips.

His style is difficult to peg. Naturally one label's him as pop, but his exact creative wavelength is somewhat ambiguous. It is perhaps easiest to outline his musical profile in terms of his influences, of which Queen (in particular Freddy, as referenced in 'Grace Kelly') is most noticeable. Many music critics draw this comparison with considerable scorn, but to be compared to one of pop music's greatest performers is hardly an insult. The two virtuosos share a refreshingly broad range, which they can traverse almost effortlessly. Also, on a more personal level, they both moved to Britain after being born in other places (Freddy in Zanzibar and Mika in Beirut). Mika even borrows lyrical ideas from Queen in the song 'Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)', as the listener cannot avoid noticing the similarity to Queen's 'Fat Bottomed Girls'. Unfortunately, such similarities, in addition to other notable ones, such as that between Mika's 'Relax (Take it Easy)' and Cutting Crew's 'Died In Your Arms Tonight', provide plenty of fodder for his critics. However, any discerning listener will naturally ignore critics and make their own judgement on this young and talented (not to mention incredibly cute) man.

The most refreshing aspect of this album is its up-beat feel. I fail to remember any recent music that has physically moved me in the same way as Mika. I frequently end up bopping in my seat on the bus, and I once caught myself conducting with a spoon in one hand and my yoghurt tub in the other. With irresistably catchy refrains splashed liberally in every track it is nearly impossible to get Mika out of one's mind. The songwriting and lyrical attitude is also refreshing, as he serenades the listener with tales of a happily married man who suddenly decides to pursue a homosexual relationship and then travels to a foreign land (in 'Billy Brown'), or of a character with a preference for larger women (in Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)). Whilst these are bouncey, fun-filled songs, they also address issues of current social concern, namely homosexuality and false physical ideals for young women. He presents them in such a simple sing-song way that the weight with which these issues are debated is instantly broken down. It is almost as though he presents the straightforward and honest perspective of a child, which is so often much clearer than that of the adult social commentators.

It is Mika's childish charm (and perhaps his wonderfully silly hair doo) that draws listeners in and does not dissapoint them. A stunning debut album that you will find yourself listening to over and over again, both on your stereo and in your head.