I’ve been avoiding the Mika album “Life In Cartoon Motion” for a while now. It probably might be because every music site and self-proclaimed music authority keeps thrusting the Mika buzz in my face everywhere I go. The British singer-songwriter has been hailed, along with Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen, as the “next big thing on both sides of the pond.” That label, however, has lost all credibility with me. Seriously, how many times does that actually work out? I was weary of Mika because of this. But after so much hype, I finally decided to take the bait.
All I knew of the British singer/songwriter was the fact that he resembled John Mayer, only slightly better looking. I expected something James Blunt-ish or Damien Rice-like from the shaggy singer–what I got was a colorful mix of Freddie 
Mercury, Scissor Sisters and The Beatles. But even if the record is a refreshing disco/pop/funk infused-romp, at times, it feels almost like a sugary pop overload. It’s best consumed in small doses.
The flamboyant singer’s release brings us campy, over-the-top sounds that will either make you want to clap your hands and sing along or shoot yourself. So when Mika sings “Do I attract you? Do I repulse you?” in the rousing “Grace Kelly,” it takes on a different meaning. He’s taken the perkiest elements of his biggest influences and made them his own. Whether that’s a good or bad thing, is up to you. Songs like “Grace Kelly,”where he mentions becoming Freddie Mercury, are reminiscent of Mercury’s signature crooning. And it’s also impossible to not think of Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls” when listening to “Big Girl (You Are Beautiful).”
His best material comes in his low-key, dance-rock effort ”Ring Ring” and the club-friendly “Relax (Take It Easy),” which is almost identical to Cutting Crew’s “I Just Died in Your Arms.” Both of these songs are more easily digestible than the overtly animated “Love Today” and “Lollipop.” Complete with handclaps, Mika’s overbearing falsetto, horns and a children’s choir, “Lollipop” almost sounds like a commercial jingle for Blowpops. It might give you a cavity on your first listen.
It’s on tracks like “My Interpretation” and “Erase” that Mika falls short. His ballads are straight from the Robbie Williams school of music, only Williams’ efforts are bigger and better. I found myself wanting to skip past the boring ballads and on to the more upbeat songs like “Billy Brown,” a tune that blatantly borrows from The Monkees “Daydream Believer” and The Beatles’ “Penny Lane.”
Like his album’s cover art, “Life in Cartoon Motion,” is a vivid array of musical colors. In a world so overwrought with heavy issues, Mika might be that bright ray of sunshine it needs, but keep in mind, you might want to wear shades.
Posted by Crystal
I wasn’t buying it at first but after a couple of listens, it’s pretty addictive. So, I heard it was pronounced Mee-kah instead of My-kah. Any clue which one’s right?
I think I saw him doing “The Hussle” in one of his videos….I think that says it all.