Life in Cartoon Motion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Life in Cartoon Motion
Life in Cartoon Motion cover
Studio album by Mika
Released Flag of the United Kingdom February 5, 2007
Flag of the United States March 27, 2007
Genre Pop rock
Powerpop
Indie
Length 47:13
Label Island (UK)
Universal/Motown (U.S.)
Producer Greg Wells
Mika
Professional reviews

Life in Cartoon Motion is the début 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 seven weeks straight and became a #1 hit in many countries. The album debuted at #1 in the UK, selling 5.7 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.

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 it's inside booklet was designed by Mika's sister (who works under the pen name DaWack) and Mika himself.[3]

[edit] Reception

[edit] Reviews

In January 2007 it was considered the best new talent in the BBC's Sound of 2007 music poll. 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[5] and four stars in the London Evening Standard.[6] The album received 1 out of 10 from the Drowned in Sound website,[7] and prompted Brian May of Queen, a fan of Mika, to criticise the website[8] for making unnecessary personal attacks at Mika.[9][10]

[edit] Singles

Single UK US Au Eu It Fr Ne No Release
"Relax, Take It Easy" + + + + + + EP Early 2006; Jun 2007 Eu; Jul 2007 Canada;
"Grace Kelly" + Jan 2007; March 2007 US
"Lollipop" + +* + Apr 2007 No, Switzerland; January 2008 Canada
"Love Today" + + + + + + + Apr 2007
"Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" + + + + Jul 2007, Fall 2007 Canada, Feb 2008 Australia
"Happy Ending" + + + + Oct 2007 Eu; Jan 2008 Ne
"Relax, Take It Easy" /
"Lollipop"		 + double A-side single
Dec 2007 UK
  • Lollipop was released in Australia to radio but was only added to one 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

(All songs written by Mika unless otherwise stated).

  1. "Grace Kelly" (Mika, Jodi Marr, John Merchant, Dan Warner) – 3:07
  2. "Lollipop" - 3:03
  3. "My Interpretation" (Mika, Jodi Marr, Richie Supa) – 3:35
  4. "Love Today" – 3:55
  5. "Relax, Take It Easy" – 4:30 (contains a prelude monologue to "Any Other World")
  6. "Any Other World" – 4:19
  7. "Billy Brown" – 3:14
  8. "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" – 4:08
  9. "Stuck in the Middle" – 4:08
  10. "Happy Ending" – 4:35 / 10:21 (includes hidden track "Over My Shoulder" – 4:45)

[edit] American and Canadian edition

  1. "Grace Kelly" (Mika, Jodi Marr, John Merchant, Dan Warner) – 3:07
  2. "Lollipop" - 3:03
  3. "My Interpretation" (Mika, Jodi Marr, Richie Supa) – 3:35
  4. "Love Today" – 3:55
  5. "Relax, Take It Easy" – 3:44
  6. "Ring Ring" - 3:37 (contains a prelude monologue to "Any Other World")
  7. "Any Other World" – 4:19
  8. "Billy Brown" – 3:14
  9. "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" – 4:08
  10. "Stuck in the Middle" – 4:08
  11. "Erase" (Mika, Jodi Marr, Desmond Child) - 3:38
  12. "Happy Ending" – 4:35 / 10:21 (includes hidden track "Over My Shoulder" – 4:45)

[edit] Australian and British edition

  1. "Grace Kelly" (Mika, Jodi Marr, John Merchant, Dan Warner) – 3:07
  2. "Lollipop" - 3:03
  3. "My Interpretation" (Mika, Jodi Marr, Richie Supa) – 3:35
  4. "Love Today" – 3:55
  5. "Relax, Take It Easy" – 4:30 (contains a prelude monologue to "Any Other World")
  6. "Any Other World" – 4:19
  7. "Billy Brown" – 3:14
  8. "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" – 4:08
  9. "Stuck in the Middle" – 4:08
  10. "Happy Ending" – 4:35 / 10:21 (includes hidden track "Over My Shoulder" – 4:45)
  11. "Ring Ring" - 2:49

Life in Cartoon Motion has a hidden track after "Happy Ending." If the CD is left playing after that song is played, you can hear "Over My Shoulder."

[edit] Bonus Tracks

  • UK Edition
  1. "Ring Ring" (Mika, Jodi Marr) (Bonus Track) - 2:47
  2. Splash Page Live Link (CD-Rom Section)
  • UK Digital download
  1. "Grace Kelly" (Acoustic)
  2. "Stuck in the Middle" (Acoustic)
  3. "Relax, Take It Easy" (Acoustic)
  • Japanese Edition
  1. "Ring Ring" (Bonus Track) - 2:47
  2. "Your Sympathy" (Bonus Track) - 3:10
  3. "Grace Kelly" (Video)
  • 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) - 3:54
  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
Australian Albums Chart [11] ARIA 5 2x Platinum 140,000+
Austrian Albums Chart [11] Media Control Europe 4
Belgian Albums Chart [11] IFPI/Ultratop 1 3x Platinum 100,000+
Billboard 200 (U.S.) [11] Billboard 29 300,000[12]
Billboard Top Internet Albums (U.S.)[13] 29
Billboard Top Digital Albums (U.S.)[14] 5
Canadian Albums Chart[15] Nielsen SoundScan 2 2x Platinum 200,000
Czech Republic Albums Chart IFPI 24
Danish Albums Chart [11] IFPI 3
Ecuadorian Albums Chart[16] 15
Estonian Albums Chart[17] Pedrobeat 1 Platinum[17] 10,000[18]
European Albums Chart[19] IFPI 1
Finnish Albums Chart [11] IFPI 11
French Albums Chart [11] SNEP/IFOP 1 Diamond[18] 1,000,000+
German Albums Chart [11] Media Control 6 Platinum 200,000+
Greek International Albums Chart[20] IFPI 1 Gold 10,000
Hungarian Albums Chart[21] IFPI 12
Japanese Albums Chart[22] RIAJ/Oricon 13 Gold[23] 100,000
Irish Albums Chart [11] IRMA 2 3x Platinum[24]
Italian Albums Chart[25] FIMI 9 Platinum 120,000
Mexican Albums Chart AMPROFON 5
Netherlands Albums Chart [11] MegaCharts BV/NVPI 1 Gold 35,000
New Zealand Albums Chart [11] RIANZ 3 Gold[26] 7,500
Norwegian Albums Chart [11] VG Nett 1
Polish Albums Chart[27] ZPAV 13
Portuguese Albums Chart[28] AC Nielsen Portugal 9 Platinum 20,000
Russian Albums Chart[29] IFPI 1 Platinum 75,000
South Korean Albums Chart[30] MIAK 1 Platinum 52,110[30]
Swedish Albums Chart [11] GLF 3 Platinum 40,000
Swiss Albums Chart [11] Media Control Europe 1 Gold 15,000
Spanish Albums Chart PROMUSICAE 11 Gold 40,000
UK Albums Chart [11] BPI/The Official UK Charts Company 1 4x Platinum 1,200,000+
United World Chart [11] Media Traffic 2 5,649,125
United World Chart (Year-End 2007) 5 4,769,775

[edit] United World Chart chart trajectory

  • 01. #7 (116,000)
  • 02. #14 (97,000)
  • 03. #27 (55,000)
  • 04. #18 (69,000)
  • 05. #18 (79,000)
  • 06. #23 (77,000)
  • 07. #14 (81,000)
  • 08. #5 (128,000)
  • 09. #8 (135,000)
  • 10. #2 (120,000)
  • 11. #5 (120,000)
  • 12. #6 (117,000)
  • 13. #8 (120,000)
  • 14. #8 (119,000)
  • 15. #5 (112,000)
  • 16. #11 (109,000)
  • 17. #9 (101,000)
  • 18. #16 (94,000)
  • 19. #16 (93,000)
  • 20. #14 (90,000)
  • 21. #14 (108,000)
  • 22. #11 (115,000)
  • 23. #11 (111,000)
  • 24. #8 (119,000)
  • 25. #6 (121,000)
  • 26. #5 (120,000)
  • 27. #3 (125,000)
  • 28. #2 (122,000)
  • 29. #3 (115,000)
  • 30. #7 (103,000)
  • 31. #8 (92,000)
  • 32. #10 (77,000)
  • 33. #18 (73,000)
  • 34. #21 (65,000)
  • 35. #31 (57,000)
  • 36. #29 (57,000)
  • 37. #27 (54,000)
  • 38. #32 (52,000)
  • 39. #25 (56,000)
  • 40. #34 (52,000)
  • 41. #38 (58,000)
  • 42. #30 (79,000)
  • 43. #25 (112,000)
  • 44. #26 (165,000)
  • (out)
  • (out)
  • 45. #19 (104,000)
  • 46. #18 (67,000)
  • 47. #18 (60,000)
  • 48. #15 (56,000)
  • 49. #20 (52,000)
  • 50. #17 (52,000)
  • 51. #23 (48,000)
  • 52. #24 (55.000)
  • 53. #15 (53.000)
  • 54. #14 (70.000)
  • 55. #23 (41.000)
  • 56. #38 (38.000)
  • 57. #38 (42.000)
  • 58. #23 (46.000)
  • 59. #36 (41.000)
  • 60. #29 (39.000)
  • 61. #38 (32.000)
  • 62. #37 (31.000)
  • (out)

[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. ^ Petridis, Alexis (2007-02-02). Mika, Life in Cartoon Motion. Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
  6. ^ CDs of the Week. Evening Standard (2007-02-02). Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
  7. ^ Mika: Life In Cartoon Motion. Drowned in Sound (2007-02-05). Retrieved on 2007-02-16.
  8. ^ Brian May (2007-02-05). Another Nasty Piece of Work. www.brianmay.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
  9. ^ Oliver Duff (2007-02-06). May springs to Mika's defence. The Independent. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
  10. ^ Brian May in DiS-hating shocker!. Drowned in Sound (2007-02-07). Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Mika - Life In A Cartoon Motion chart positions and trajectories". aCharts.us. Retrieved May 7, 2007.
  12. ^ Pulse Music Board - Billboard 200: 4/14/07: Tim McGraw 325k
  13. ^ Mika Chart History Billboard
  14. ^ Mika Chart History Billboard
  15. ^ Canada Allmusic.com
  16. ^ Music Plus :: Musicalisimo :: Ecuador
  17. ^ a b Estonia
  18. ^ a b Certification Award Levels
  19. ^ Europe
  20. ^ Greece
  21. ^ Hungary
  22. ^ You Taiju: Life in Cartoon Motion (Japanese). Oricon Marketing Promotion. Retrieved on 2008-05-22.
  23. ^ Shadan Hojin Nihon Record Kyokai Kakushu Tokei (Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved on 2008-05-22.
  24. ^ Irish certifications 2007 Irish Charts.ie. Retrieved April 14, 2008.
  25. ^ Italy
  26. ^ NZ Certification
  27. ^ Poland
  28. ^ Portugal
  29. ^ Музыка KM.RU - Новости - Клип певца Mika лидирует на всех музыкальных каналах
  30. ^ a b 무제 문서

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Mika
Albums
Life in Cartoon Motion
Singles
"Relax, Take It Easy" • "Grace Kelly" • "Lollipop" (airplay release) • "Love Today" • "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" • "Happy Ending" • "Relax, Take It Easy" (re-release) / "Lollipop"
DVDs