Life in Cartoon Motion

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Life in Cartoon Motion
Studio album by Mika
Released February 5, 2007 (UK)
February 13, 2007 (Europe)
March 27, 2007 (USA)
Genre Pop rock
Powerpop
Pop
Length 50:49
Label Island (UK)
Universal/Motown (U.S.) FMR/Warner Bros.(Australasia/Worldwide)
Producer Greg Wells, Mika
Professional reviews
Mika chronology
Dodgy Holiday EP
(2006)		 Life in Cartoon Motion
(2007)		 Songs for Sorrow
(2009)

Life in Cartoon Motion is the debut album by pop singer Mika, produced by Greg Wells and Mika, mixed by Greg Wells, with co-production on two songs by Jodi Marr and John Merchant, released on Island Records on February 5, 2007 in the UK, and on Universal/Motown Records on March 27, 2007 in the U.S..

The single "Grace Kelly" stayed at #1 in the UK for five weeks straight and became a #1 hit in many countries. The album debuted at #1 in the UK, selling 5.6 million copies worldwide since its release and counting. The album cover of Life in Cartoon Motion has since been used in an iPod Touch commercial. It was the fifth best-selling album in the world in 2007.

Contents

[edit] Background

Prior to obtaining his record deal, Mika sent demos to many record companies in Britain, but was never signed. One record label in particular claimed that Mika had a good voice, but insisted he write more conventional songs like Robbie Williams in order to become more commercial. Mika rejected this advice.[1][2][3] The song "Grace Kelly" was inspired by these problems. In 2006 Mika signed with Island Records and began recording his debut album.

His musical influences are based in classical music.[3] Before Mika released his debut album he promised the media that "It was a magical world that you could live in. A parallel universe for people that is illusory and enchanting and amazing."[4] Some songs on the album are sexually ambiguous, prompting some questioning regarding Mika's sexuality. On this, Mika comments that he has no taboos about what he can use to tell a story or what stories he can actually tell. He believes that sexualizing music is great, but politically sexualizing music and making the artist's sexuality the defining point of someone's music is "boring".[2] He says about his own sexuality: "...laying myself out on the table to almost a tabloid level and kind of sharing my entire personal life, I'm really not into that."[2]

The songs on the album have different subjects. "Grace Kelly", as stated before, is about the struggle of getting a record deal. Mika stated that the song is a very important song on the album mostly because:"...it's a flagpole for the record in terms of lyrical content and the whole pop vision I wanted to get across."[3]

In March 2007 the album was released in the United States. Before its release there was much publicity about the album, mainly due to its success in Europe. Mika commented on the hype by saying: "I think I'm lucky. Hype can be good and hype can be bad. The good thing that's happening to me is that the hype is about the project, it's about the music ... I'm not the son of anyone famous, I haven't really slept with anyone particularly well known ... it's really just about music, and that's something I think is very healthy."[2]

[edit] Cover Design

The cover for the album and its inside booklet was designed by Mika's sister, Yasmine (who works under the pen name DaWack), Richard Hogg and Mika himself.[3]

[edit] Reception

Initial critical response to Life in Cartoon Motion was very mixed. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 55, based on 23 reviews.[5]

In January 2007 it was considered the best new talent in the BBC's Sound of 2007 music poll.[6] About 130 music critics and broadcasters from the U.K. agreed that Mika was the sound of 2007.[1] It has received highly polarized reviews, earning one star from The Guardian[7] and four stars in the London Evening Standard.[8] The album received 1 out of 10 from the Drowned in Sound website,[9] and prompted Brian May of Queen, a fan of Mika, to criticise the website[10] for making unnecessary personal attacks at Mika.[11][12]

[edit] Singles

Single UK US Au Eu It Fr Nl No Release
"Relax, Take It Easy" + + + + + + EP — early 2006 (UK); June 2007 (Eu); July 2007 (Canada)
"Grace Kelly" + + + + January 2007 (Worldwide); March 2007 (US)
"Lollipop" + +* + April 2007 (Norway, Switzerland); January 2008 (Canada)
"Love Today" + + + + + + + April 2007 (Worldwide)
"Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" + + + + July 2007; Fall 2007 (Canada); February 2008 (Australia)
"Happy Ending" + + + + + October 2007 (Eu); January 2008 (Ne)
"Relax, Take It Easy" /
"Lollipop"		 + Double A-side single — December 2007 (UK)
  • "Lollipop" and "Relax" were released in Australia to radio but was only added to one radio show - The Hot Hits. It was not successful in Australia and therefore did not have a physical release or much airplay.

[edit] Track listing

[edit] Standard edition

# Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Grace Kelly"   Mika, Jodi Marr, John Merchant, Dan Warner 3:05
2. "Lollipop"   Mika 3:05
3. "My Interpretation"   Mika, Jodi Marr, Richie Supa 3:35
4. "Love Today"   Mika 3:55
5. "Relax, Take It Easy" (contains a prelude monologue to "Any Other World") Mika, Nick Eede 4:30
6. "Any Other World"   Mika 4:19
7. "Billy Brown"   Mika 3:15
8. "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)"   Mika 4:11
9. "Stuck in the Middle"   Mika 4:07
10. "Happy Ending" (includes hidden track "Over My Shoulder" – 4:45, total time: 10:21) Mika 4:35

[edit] Australian and British edition

# Title Writer(s) Length
11. "Ring Ring"   Mika 2:49

[edit] American, Canadian and Brazilian edition

# Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Grace Kelly"   Mika, Jodi Marr, John Merchant, Dan Warner 3:05
2. "Lollipop"   Mika 3:05
3. "My Interpretation"   Mika, Jodi Marr, Richie Supa 3:35
4. "Love Today"   Mika 3:55
5. "Relax, Take It Easy"   Mika 4:30
6. "Ring Ring" (contains a prelude monologue to "Any Other World") Mika 3:37
7. "Any Other World"   Mika 4:19
8. "Billy Brown"   Mika 3:15
9. "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)"   Mika 4:11
10. "Stuck in the Middle"   Mika 4:07
11. "Erase"   Mika, Jodi Marr, Desmond Child 3:38
12. "Happy Ending" (includes hidden track "Over My Shoulder" – 4:45, total time: 10:21) Mika 4:35

[edit] Bonus Tracks

UK Edition

" (Acoustic)

Japanese Edition
  1. "Ring Ring" (Bonus Track) – 2:47
  2. "Your Sympathy" (Bonus Track) – 3:10
  3. "Grace Kelly" (Video)
US iTunes Edition
  1. "Grace Kelly" (Acoustic) – 3:05
US Best Buy Edition
  1. "Love Today" (Acoustic) (Best Buy Bonus Track) – 2:58
  2. "Satellite" (Acoustic) (Best Buy Bonus Track) – 4:13
Canada Digital download
  1. "Grace Kelly" (Acoustic) (iTunes Canada Bonus Track) – 3:14
  2. "Stuck in the Middle" (Acoustic) (iTunes Canada Bonus Track) – 3:54
  3. "Relax, Take It Easy" (Acoustic) (iTunes Canada Bonus Track) – 3:02

[edit] Chart performance

"Life in Cartoon Motion" was named the fifth worldwide best-selling album of 2007, beating many established artists and groups. Mika was also the world best-selling male singer of 2007. According to Billboard, the album spent 7 weeks at number 1 in Europe in 2007.

Chart Provider(s) Peak
position		 Certification Sales
Argentine Albums Chart [13] CAPIF 1 Gold 20,000
Australian Albums Chart [14] ARIA 5 2x Platinum 140,000[citation needed]
Austrian Albums Chart [14] Media Control Europe 4
Belgian Albums Chart [14] IFPI/Ultratop 1 5x Platinum 200,000[citation needed]
Billboard 200 (U.S.) [14] Billboard 29 300,000
Billboard Top Internet Albums (U.S.)[15] 29
Billboard Top Digital Albums (U.S.)[16] 5
Canadian Albums Chart[17] Nielsen SoundScan 2 2x Platinum 200,000[citation needed]
Czech Republic Albums Chart IFPI 24
Danish Albums Chart [14] IFPI 3
Ecuadorian Albums Chart[18] 15
Estonian Albums Chart[19] Pedrobeat 1 Platinum[19] 10,000[20]
European Albums Chart[21] IFPI 1 4x Platinum [22] 4,000,000+
Finnish Albums Chart [14] IFPI 11
French Albums Chart [14] SNEP/IFOP 1 Diamond[20] 1,000,000[citation needed]
German Albums Chart [14] Media Control 6 Gold 100,000[citation needed]
Greek International Albums Chart[23] IFPI 1 Gold 10,000[citation needed]
Hungarian Albums Chart[24] IFPI 12
Japanese Albums Chart[25] RIAJ/Oricon 13 Gold[26] 100,000[citation needed]
Irish Albums Chart [14] IRMA 2 3x Platinum[27]
Italian Albums Chart[28] FIMI 9 Platinum 147,000[citation needed]
Mexican Albums Chart AMPROFON 5
Netherlands Albums Chart [14] MegaCharts BV/NVPI 1 Gold 35,000[citation needed]
New Zealand Albums Chart [14] RIANZ 3 Gold[29] 7,500[citation needed]
Norwegian Albums Chart [14] VG Nett 1
Polish Albums Chart[30] ZPAV 13
Portuguese Albums Chart[31] AC Nielsen Portugal 9 Platinum 20,000[citation needed]
Russian Albums Chart[32] IFPI 1 x3 Platinum+Gold 75,000[citation needed]
South Korean Albums Chart[33] MIAK 1 Platinum 52,110[33]
Swedish Albums Chart [14] GLF 3 Platinum 40,000[citation needed]
Swiss Albums Chart [14] Media Control Europe 1 Gold 15,000[citation needed]
Spanish Albums Chart PROMUSICAE 11 Gold 40,000[citation needed]
UK Albums Chart [14] BPI/The Official UK Charts Company 1 5x Platinum[34] 1,500,000
Preceded by
Not Too Late by Norah Jones		 UK number one album
February 11, 2007 – February 24, 2007		 Succeeded by
Back to Black by Amy Winehouse

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Mika's Rise and Shine OhMyNews.com. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d Q&A: Mika, the latest singing sensation from across the pond The Associated Press. April 5, 2007. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d Miriam Zendle Interview with Mika Digital Spy. October 16, 2006. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  4. ^ Linda McGee Mika - Life in Cartoon Motion RTÉ. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  5. ^ "Mika:Life In Cartoon Motion (2007): Reviews". Metacritic. CNET Networks, Inc. http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/mika/lifeincartoonmotion. Retrieved 2009-03-24. 
  6. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6231243.stm
  7. ^ Petridis, Alexis (2007-02-02). "Mika, Life in Cartoon Motion". Guardian Unlimited. http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/alexispetridis/story/0,,2003519,00.html. Retrieved 2007-02-04. 
  8. ^ "CDs of the Week". Evening Standard. 2007-02-02. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/article-23384054-details/CDs+of+the+week/article.do. Retrieved 2007-02-04. 
  9. ^ "Mika: Life In Cartoon Motion". Drowned in Sound. 2007-02-05. http://www.drownedinsound.com/release/view/9109. Retrieved 2007-02-16. 
  10. ^ Brian May (2007-02-05). "Another Nasty Piece of Work". www.brianmay.com. http://www.brianmay.com/brian/brianssb/brianssbfeb07a.html. Retrieved 2008-01-11. 
  11. ^ Oliver Duff (2007-02-06). "May springs to Mika's defence". The Independent. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20070206/ai_n17198282. Retrieved 2008-01-11. 
  12. ^ "Brian May in DiS-hating shocker!". Drowned in Sound. 2007-02-07. http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/1591719. Retrieved 2008-01-11. 
  13. ^ Argentina. Universal Music Argentina.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Mika - Life In A Cartoon Motion chart positions and trajectories". aCharts.us. Retrieved May 7, 2007.
  15. ^ Mika Chart History Billboard
  16. ^ Mika Chart History Billboard
  17. ^ Canada Allmusic.com
  18. ^ Music Plus :: Musicalisimo :: Ecuador
  19. ^ a b Estonia
  20. ^ a b Certification Award Levels
  21. ^ Europe
  22. ^ http://www.ifpi.com/content/section_news/plat2009.html
  23. ^ Greece
  24. ^ Hungary
  25. ^ "You Taiju: Life in Cartoon Motion" (in Japanese). Oricon Marketing Promotion. http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/ranking_list.asp?itemcd=710334&samecd=1&chart_kbn=11A&linkcd=31365941. Retrieved 2008-05-22. 
  26. ^ "Shadan Hojin Nihon Record Kyokai Kakushu Tokei" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200707.html. Retrieved 2008-05-22. 
  27. ^ Irish certifications 2007 Irish Charts.ie. Retrieved April 14, 2008.
  28. ^ Italy
  29. ^ NZ Certification
  30. ^ Poland
  31. ^ Portugal
  32. ^ Музыка KM.RU - Новости - Клип певца Mika лидирует на всех музыкальных каналах
  33. ^ a b 무제 문서
  34. ^ http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=33257

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Mika
Albums
Life in Cartoon Motion (2007)  • The Boy Who Knew Too Much (2009)
EPs
Singles
Life in Cartoon Motion
The Boy Who Knew Too Much
Concert Tours
"Dodgy Holiday Tour" (2007-2008) • "1955 Tour" (2009-2010)
DVDs
Other articles
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_in_Cartoon_Motion"