I don't know what to make of Mika: the 24-year-old falsetto-singing, chart-topping, Lebanese-born-but-Brit-raised singer-songwriter-pianist sounds like a cross between Freddie Mercury and George Michaels during this hour-shy 14-song set filmed in June 2007 at L'Olympia in Paris. Whether Mika will turn out to be a flavor-of-the-month for swooning teenage girls or mature into a genuine artist remains to be seen, but there's no denying the fact that songs such as “Big Girl (You Are Beautiful),” “Happy Ending,” “Relax (Take it Easy),” and the hit “Grace Kelly” are infectious little power-pop ditties that may sound familiar and repetitive but also make you tap your feet. Backed by a standard guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums lineup, Mika (Mica Penniman) sails through his limited repertoire (taken almost entirely from his smash debut Life in Cartoon Motion) at breakneck speed with effervescence and limited stage theatrics (the band returns in animal suits for a colorful encore). Unfortunately, while Mika is in command of his own material, his two covers of The Eurythmics' “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” and the Jackson 5's “I Want You Back” seem ill-advised: it's probably not particularly smart for a newbie to take on vocal giants like Annie Lennox and Michael Jackson in the first place, but it's even worse to serve up uninspired near note-for-note remakes. Presented in DTS 5.1 and Dolby Digital stereo, DVD extras include a 52-minute behind-the-scenes documentary following Mika on tour that hits all the expected bases and adds nothing more, five music videos, and three live performances featuring Mika on solo piano. Recommended, overall. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)
Mika: Live in Cartoon Motion
(2007) 59 min. DVD: $14.98. Universal Music Group (avail. from most distributors). Volume 23, Issue 2
Mika: Live in Cartoon Motion
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