Mika to perform concert in Seoul

From: The Korea Herald | Nov. 04, 2009
By: Song Woong-ki

Fun-lovin' British retro-pop singer-songwriter Mika is set to perform his first concert in Korea this month, bringing with him a cache full of glam, disco and '80s-style pop ditties that will get concert-goers singing and dancing.

The Lebanon-born singer will be at the Melon AX-Hall in Seoul on Nov. 28 - a mid-sized venue which holds about 2,000 standing and 1,000 sitting - where he will perform songs from the follow-up to his multi-platinum debut, "The Boy Who Knew Too Much."

Since making a splash on his debut, the gangly 26-year-old London-based singer has been compared to past music legends like Freddie Mercury, Elton John and The Stereophonics for his penchant for blending together catchy and anthemic pop with a little bit of glam and arena-rock.

With model looks and charm to spare, Mika rose to pop stardom two years ago with his U.K. chart-topping ode to '50s-era American screen siren "Grace Kelly" and the kitschy '80s-pop inspired "Love Today," from his debut "Life in Cartoon Motion."

The album debuted on the top spot in the U.K. charts and stayed for five weeks, becoming the world's fifth-best selling record of that year. According to Billboard, the album also spent 7-weeks at No. 1 throughout Europe.

Last year, he opened the 2008 BRIT Awards, performing the two hits off his first album. The same night he won the award for Best British Breakthrough Artist, beating out Leona Lewis, The Klaxons and Kate Nash.

His new album was released in late-September to somewhat mixed reviews.

Entertainment Weekly gave it a rating of "A" while Slant Magazine which gave it one and a half stars out of five.

The majority of the album was reported to have been recorded at a rundown hotel room in Los Angeles with producer and musician Greg Wells - who also produced "Life in Cartoon Motion."

The album has been described as Mika dealing with his adolescent teenage years, and "in a sense is kind of part two," following his debut record.

Over the years there has also been rumors swirling about his sexuality due to his flamboyant stage persona.

"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," he has been quoted as saying.

"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."

In a recent interview in the September issue of Gay & Night magazine, Mika further addressed the rumors.

"I've never ever labeled myself. But having said that, I've never limited my life, I've never limited who I sleep with ... Call me whatever you want. Call me bisexual, if you need a term for me ... You should be as free as you want."