Record Review: Mika – Life in Cartoon Motion

Beirut born, English raised Mika gave the finger to the record industry in the form of single “Grace Kelly”. No company would touch this flamboyant, classically trained pop sensation so he went ahead wrote this song, released it as a download and next thing you know it tops the UK chart for no less than five weeks.

So it was with great curiosity and anticipation that he released his debut record. Second track “Lollipop” has already reached the lower portions of the chart despite it being so sugary sweet it hurts my teeth. But all is not lost, after an acoustic guitar driven third track, Mika morphs into Robbie Williams and breaks out onto the dance floor with killer disco jaunts “Live Today” and the ultimate highlight “Relax”.

But then he dips into some odd territory with the next two tracks,“Billy Brown” a cabaret-like tale of a suburban man with a wife, some kids and a male lover (scandalous!) who must take off to Mexico to get his head…straight.

“Big Girl” continues with the un-PC tone with Mika singing big band style about girls with a lot of back. “You take your girl and multiply by four,” Mika coos about this rather large girl who eats nothing but pizzas and diet coke.

There’s no describing Mika really. The lead single sets a tone that is never followed up. Instead it’s as if each track was recorded by a different version of the same man. Though on paper it should never work, Mika’s brilliant personality is tight enough to shine over each of these tracks making the whole project work like some completely bizarre cartoon.

Kaiser Chiefs gleam at number one with ‘Ruby’

While not exactly earth shattering, a change has come atop the UK charts. Mika slips to number two as “Grace Kelly” runs out of steam. The track held the top spot for the past five weeks, a good run for any song but as a debut single from a debut artist, it’s more than impressive.

Kaiser Chiefs polish their act at number one with “Ruby”, their first number one single. The track is cut from their album “Yours truly, Angry mob”. And down at number three, Kelis pops into the top ten for the first time in three years with a duet with one half of Gnarls Barkley, Cee Lo.

But the biggest leap into the top ten comes at number 8. Sophie Ellis-Bextor scores the biggest move in the entire top 40 with “Catch You”. It looked as if this would be her lowest chart entry but the CD single release of the hit has helped the song become her sixth top ten single.

Take That finally crack the top ten at number ten with “Shine”. This is the follow up to their number one smash “Patience” which continues to hold on at number 15 this week.

One place below Beyoncé settles in with “Listen” her single from the Dreamgirls soundtrack and the song that proves one thing – this girl’s got a nice booty, great hair and a beautiful face, she can scream like a siren and spew attitude like a house on fire, but as a balladeer she just can’t cut it. This single is not sensual, not sweet not even romantic – it’s boring and grates on your nerves. Deservingly it will be her weakest hit ever. Oh… where’s Jay-Z? Oh, there he is with that Hudson girl…..wasername, the Oscar winner!

Luckily there the chart brightens at number 20. Junior Jack remixes one of his own hits and brings “Stupidisco” into the top 40, three years after the original hit the European clubs. Hopefully his summer friendly track signifies that better things chartwise will hatch as spring approaches.

Brit Awards fuel older tracks

Award shows may not have the same draw they once had but if this week’s chart is any indication, the Brit awards had at least a little influence on the British record buying public.

No change at number one as Mika racks up yet another week at number one. Five weeks in total, making Mika a shoe in for at least one Brit award next year.

The UK’s best band of the moment, Snow Patrol, whose hit “Chasing cars” has been around since early last year, clock up another week in the top 20. This week the track tears up from 23 to 12 in an impressive move, undoubtedly fuelled by their stellar performance of the track at the ceremonies. Meanwhile their new track “Open your eyes” soars 56 to 26.

Amy Winehouse also profited from her performance on the Brits bringing “Rehab” back to 22 from 49. In the meantime follow up track “You know I’m no good” stalls at 42.

The Red Hot Chilli Peppers also see a spark of Brit power fallout from their performance as new track “Desecration Smile” marks the week’s highest debut at number 27.

Surprisingly the Scissor Sisters didn’t get the same treatment. “I don’t feel like dancing” opened the show with a killer, disjointed leggy performance, yet said track only climbs six places to 33, proving that even in this new era of everything goes, some things still don’t make any sense.

Nelly Furtado dances back to number one

While the fourth single form her ‘Loose’ album, “Say it right”, continues its climb in the UK, Nelly Furtado manages to knock Beyoncé from the top spot in the US.

Beyoncé had been seated at the throne of the Hot 100 for 10 weeks with the aptly titled “Irreplaceable” but her reign finally came to an end when the unstoppable Furtado switched positions this week 2-1 to claim her second number one single in the US in six months.

Furtado topped the chart last summer with “Promiscuous”. “Say it right” took 14 weeks to ascend to number one.

As icing on the cake, Furtado also debuts in the lower regions of the chart alongside Justin Timberlake on Timbaland’s “Give it to me” collaboration from his upcoming album due in March.

It’s been a stellar year for this Canadian diva and its not over yet as she gets set to host the Juno awards from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on Sunday April 1st, 2007.

Mika makes chart history once more

Mika spends another week at number one. That makes one whole month at the top of the heap for this former download only single. A full four weeks at number one makes an impressive track record, but Mika makes chart history this week for another reason.

"Lollipop", the second track on Mika’s just released full length album, bounces in at number 62 on downloads alone – could Lollipop be about his colourful candy-like clothing taste?

The debut of this track marks the first time an album only track cracks the top 75 in the UK and therefore hints at the beginning of what I expect to be a usual occurrence once the record companies stop serving up their crappy mid winter duds in favour of the spring must-have albums.

And remember, Apple and the Beatles just settled their disagreement – could a Beatles chart invasion be just around the corner once their tracks get the iTunes go ahead?

Very little movement over all on the rest of the chart this week. Kaiser Chiefs debut at number 2 with their new single “Ruby” while Just Jack clings on to the third spot for yet another week.

Down at number 19, Nelly Furtado rises from 37 with her fourth cut from her loose album “Say it right”. Should Nelly continue to climb next week into the top ten she will have a fourth top ten single from her best selling third album. Whoa Nelly!

UK chart shows signs of winter freeze

In the not so distant past, the UK Charts held as much surprise from one week to the next as the best whodunit movie. Unpredictability remained the only thing predictable. Fast forward to 2007, a new year and new chart rules having just the opposite effect of what one would expect.

The chart hasn’t become more volatile, instead it’s become more regular. Same number one song, Mika’s “Grace Kelly” as last week, and the week before that, means not much going on in the top portion.

The chart has very little activity until the first debut all the way down at 22 with Kasabian and their new track “Me plus one”.

Sophie Ellis-Bexter returns to the charts this week at number 28 with “Catch You”. By far more edgy than her previous dance floor friendly retro romps, this track still has all the high energy dance beats in the right places but with a heavier guitar riff. Not exactly the track of the century, but it must sound great on the dance floor.

Take That, after dominating the number one position for the remaining month of last year, make a rather dim debut at number 30 with “Shine”, with a few patience we may see this one climb higher but for now it seems like the year’s best comeback has begun to lose steam.

Nelly Furtado continues to steamroll the chart with yet another cut from her summer jam “Loose” album. “Say it Right” is already top 3 Stateside and it enters the UK charts at 37 while former top tenner “All good things” continues to cling on four steps higher at 33.

Snow Patrol continue to climb the chart with their smash song “Chasing Cars” up 32 to 24 while new track “Open your eyes” bows in at 52. Finally Fratellis make the third group to claim double status on the chart this week. Although in their case it’s not an older hit and a brand new track but rather two new tracks making their chart debut the same week at numbers 41 and 43.

Interestingly, former married couple and members of the ever growing “who cares” pile, Nick Lackey and ex-wife Jessica Simpson both debut with their versions of the nasty divorce. Nick comes in stronger with “What’s left of me” at 47 and Jessica sticks her bubble gum under the seat at 52 with “Public Affair”.

Switches prances into the lower ranks of the chart with their track “Drama Queen”. With a title like that I was expecting and over the top, campy parade of clichéd lyrics and a startling commentary on some pressing issue. Instead the track is a forgettable indie rocker reminiscent of Blur’s “Song 2” but only the screaming part. A rather mess, I wish this band had switched on a bit of originality. unfortunately this song sounds like a classic rock by numbers cut. Just hearing it I can imagine the band recording it in someone’s garage.

At 63 the Noisettes enter with “Sister Rosetta” which tragically sounds like the female version of Switches, and that is being generous. In all a rather bland batch of debuts. It makes the number 56 return of Jackson 5’s “I want you back” all the more welcome.

Madonna – The Confessions Tour

There’s no stopping Madonna. “She’s got herself a universe” and its one big dance party from the time the disco ball drops in the opening scene to the last notes of “Hung up”.

Her brand new CD/DVD package features the entire “Confessions Tour” recorded live in the United Kingdom at Wembley Arena during her sold out, record breaking concert in summer 2006. Uncut and uncensored, unlike the watered down version that NBC played last November, Madonna struts, swears, flips the bird, insults the president and hangs from a mirrored cross with tireless conviction. She also does a bit of singing and dancing, belting out some oldies but mostly concentrating on newer material from her last “Confessions on a dance floor” album.

The choreography dazzles, brought to life by a team of talented dancers who at times seem more like acrobats in search of a circus than dancers on a stage at a rock concert. But that’s what makes a Madonna concert so great. As much as I hate to admit it, Madonna is not the best live vocalist, but what she lack in the lips, she makes up for in the hips. This forty –something-year-old mother of two has more moves ups her sleeve than artists half her age.

The CD portion of this package collects some of the more memorable songs onto one live disc. From the first notes of “Future Lovers” your toes begin to move until you can’t help but break out of your seat and “Jump” along to the thumping beats.

However, abruptly and without warning, Madonna sings the first notes of “Live to tell” on track four followed by a series of confessions from youths who’ve lived disturbing lives at the mercy of others. While their stories are poignant, going from a full on disco romp to hearing about some poor boy nearly choked to death at the hands of his father is a bit of a downer at any party.

Minus that exception and the plug for her “Raising Malawi” charity (which does great work for children orphaned by AIDS), the entire package delivers the strength and energy felt at the live show. It relives the highlights for those wealthy enough to have attended and allows the rest of us to experience it in our own living rooms.

The music sounds great with less interruption from rowdy audiences than one would expect, giving the CD a polished quality rare in live recordings. Oh, and the booklet full of images is absolutely Madgenificent.