The sidewalk outside of Terminal 5 shook Saturday night as fans screamed, jumped and chanted when UK powerpop singer Mika took the stage at the intimate New York venue to perform – and not just sing – hits from his 2007 debut album “Life in Cartoon Motion.”
If you are unfamiliar with the Grammy-nominated Mika, he oozes color and vibrancy in everything from his upbeat ballads, to the Technicolor, storybook-like album cover, to the theatrical stage décor, to the effects in his recent Dodgy Holiday tour.
Within moments of stepping into the sold-out hall, the Beirut-born, London-raised Mika proves he can sing.
Comparing himself to ’70s rock icon Freddie Mercury in notable song “Grace Kelly,” he exudes real talent and showmanship, lost in an era were subdued, indie folk rockers dominate and sound all too similar.
Flaunting his signature brown, curly hair and a white button-down shirt and pants, he stood out among the sea of vibrant colors of the set and theater design.
During crowd favorites “Stuck in the Middle” and “Ring Ring,” Mika took time to have a scat sing-a-long with the audience, ensuring that spirits remained high for the hour-long show.
As an audience member, you should be prepared for the performer’s antics and the fast-paced nature of the show, as well as the more eccentric, quirky elements of the show, as was seen in his sudden departure from the stage.
After saying “Good night, New York,” and sprinting off the stage much too early in the set, it was evident that an encore was in order.
To the surprise of devotees, a large screen came down from the ceiling onto the stage to illuminate a live puppet show of a duel between members of the band dressed up as various woodland creatures. Mika revealed himself and came out victorious to end the show.
When the real show came to a close, confetti fell on the three tiers of audience members as large multi-colored balloons descended from the rafters to adoring fans below.
The performance, along with the kaleidoscopic tracks off his album, may seem flippant, but Mika’s messages are both whimsical and sincere. Songs such as “Billy Brown” tell of a man who had a life that “was all going accordingly to plan” who then “fell in love with another man”; others like “Love Today” and “Relax, Take It Easy” carry themes of peace and certitude that is applicable to all listeners.
Mika certainly has a vocal range and energy level that is unrivaled by many artists today.
“Mika masterminds a dozen tracks … that are catchy as hell if you’re in the mood,” said Christian John Wikane of PopMatters.com in his review on the singer. “If you’re not in the mood, spending time in Mika’s cartoon motion world is like drinking six shots of espresso after at 72-hour bout of sleep deprivation.”
No matter what music you like, give Mika a chance.
If you have the opportunity to see him in a show or spend time listening to his CD, you will leave pleasantly more optimistic than when you arrived.
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