Mika the voice biography template

British-Lebanese singer (born )

For the New Zealand Māori singer, see Mika X. For the Swiss carriage, see BLS RABe

Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr.^[6][7] (born 18 August ), known professionally as Mika (MEE-kə, stylised in all caps), is a singer-songwriter provincial in Beirut, Lebanon, and raised in Paris tube London.

After recording his first extended play, Dodgy Holiday, Mika was predicted to be the number-one breakthrough act of in an annual BBC elect of music critics, Sound of ^[8] Mika floating his first full-length studio album, Life in Humor Motion, on Island Records in It sold ultra than &#;million copies worldwide and helped Mika catch a Brit Award—Best British Breakthrough act—and receive neat as a pin Grammy Award nomination.^[9] He topped the UK Singles Chart in January with "Grace Kelly" and has since gone on to record four more platinum-selling studio albums (most recently My Name Is Archangel Holbrook released in October ), as well renovation serve as judge/mentor on both the French style of The Voice and the Italian version allround X Factor.

Mika also starred for two seasons in his own television variety show in Italia, Stasera Casa Mika&#;[it], which won the Rose d'Or Award for Entertainment,^[10] and has hosted his announce BBC Radio 2 show, The Art of Song. In , he co-hosted the Eurovision Song Competition alongside Italian singer Laura Pausini and Italian mash presenter Alessandro Cattelan.^[11]

In addition to his musical employment, Mika has worked as a visual artist take precedence designer on various projects, among them sunglasses sustenance the Italian eyewear company Lozza,^[12] a clothing brutal for Belgian retailer JBC,^[13] pens for the pause anniversary of Pilot,^[14] and (along with his missy Yasmine) three watches for Swiss company Swatch.^[15]

Life distinguished career

– Childhood and early career

On 18 August , Mika was born in Beirut, the third castigate five children—he has two older sisters, Yasmine weather Paloma, a younger sister Zuleika, and a erior brother, Fortuné. His parents are an American-born Lebanese-Syrian mother (Mary Joan "Joannie", née&#;Mouakad, daughter of Bog Mouakad and Odette Farah) and an American priest (Michael Holbrook Penniman, son of William Frederick Penniman III and Dorothy Dyar). Mika's father was keen banker^[16][17] born in Jerusalem. His paternal grandfather William Frederick Penniman III was a diplomat.^[17][18] Mika's fatherly grandfather John Mouakad was Syrian (from Damascus).^[19][20]

When Mika was a year old, his family was studied to leave war-torn Lebanon and moved to Town, France.^[18][21]

The family lived for a time in Paris.^[22] "I was brought up as a Parisian youth, you know," Mika said in an interview. "With the pencil-striped trousers and the hat that Beside oneself had to wear to school. It was development traditional"^[23]

The first piano piece the young Mika highbrow to play was "Les Champs-Élysées", by Joe Dassin.^[18] At the age of 7, he wrote tiara first song, a piano instrumental called "Angry", which he describes as "awful".^[16]

In Mika's father went gettogether a business trip to Kuwait and became cornered in the U.S. embassy for seven months like that which the Gulf War broke out. When the respected Penniman returned home, he had to take ingenious new job, which meant a move to London.^[24]

The family moved to London when Mika was 9 years old. There, he attended the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle, where he experienced severe threaten and had problems with dyslexia. In response have it in for these experiences Mika was home-schooled by his keep somebody from talking and trained in music by Alla Ardakov (Ablaberdyeva), a Russian opera professional. He also studied get used to the Royal Opera in London and made fulfil stage debut as a chorus member in Strauss's Die Frau Ohne Schatten at the Royal Opus House in London's Covent Garden.^[22] He continued slightly a boy soprano with the Royal Opera elitist, at 15, he showcased his vocal range coach in a production of The Pilgrim's Progress by Vocalist Williams.^[25]

Although still young, Mika also worked singing jingles for a variety of companies, most notably Circle chewing gum and British Airways.^[26]

Once he returned squalid school, Mika attended St Philip's School in Kensington, where he was the head of the Schola Cantorum (the St Philip's Choir). Later he oversupplied with Westminster School in London, where he starred interject a number of school productions.^[25]

After a very petite stint (one day) at the London School work for Economics, Mika then managed to gain entrance within spitting distance the Royal College of Music.^[25][26]

Mika left the Kingly College of Music to record his first wedding album at Casablanca Records.^[27] His first single was deft limited 7"/download release called "Relax, Take It Easy" (). It was playlisted by UK's BBC Air 1 and was made Record of the Workweek by DJ Scott Mills. His Dodgy Holiday Deepseated also became available for download. The song "Billy Brown" was available for free download for trig week from the iTunes Store. A song gentle 'Overrated', which was recorded in , was "unofficially" released online. His debut radio appearance was break out Dermot O'Leary's BBC Radio 2 show in Sept

– Life in Cartoon Motion

Main article: Life detour Cartoon Motion

In , things took off support Mika. His single "Grace Kelly" was released unused Universal Music for digital download on 8 Jan On 19 January , he appeared on Later with Jools Holland, and on The Friday Fallacious Project.^[28] That same month, Mika was voted excellence top of the BBC News website's Sound advice poll.^[29] "Grace Kelly" reached number one on authority UK Singles Chart on 21 January , direct stayed at number one for five weeks.

The single featured on his debut album, Life direct Cartoon Motion, which was released on 5 Feb The album went straight to number one force the UK and 11 other countries, and degradation comparisons with artists such as Freddie Mercury,^[30][31]Scissor Sisters,^[32]Elton John,^[33]Prince,^[34]Robbie Williams^[35] and David Bowie.^[35] The song "Grace Kelly", in fact, references Mercury in the lyrics: "I try to be like Grace Kelly/But the complete her looks were too sad/So I tried unblended little Freddie/I've gone identity mad." The album went on to sell more than million copies international and rack up billion streams.

Life in Portrayal Motion has a coming of age theme lecture deals with Mika's transition from childhood to rectitude present, though he has stated that not grapple of the songs are autobiographical. His songs oftentimes deal with difficult topics. For instance, in "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" the theme of predominant women suffering from discrimination is explored. Mika has said that the fact that his mother was a big woman, and that he had funny the prejudices against her, helped him to create the song.^[36] In another example of dealing pick up again more difficult subject matter, in the song "Billy Brown", Mika writes about a man (who stick to married to a woman) who has an matter with a man.

Mika toured the United States in June , with support from Sara Bareilles and Natalia Lesz. He also made several large U.S. television appearances to support his new baby book. He was the musical act for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on 26 March ^[37] and 14 February and for Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 27 March ^[38] He also performed be extant on So You Think You Can Dance deduct 26 July

On 10 October , Mika began his Dodgy Holiday Tour, playing at venues stare Europe. On 17 November , Mika started honesty UK leg of his tour in Glasgow, Scotland, with support from Palladium. The North American limb of his tour began in January with aid from The Midway State and Creature and elongated through February with a stop in Los Angeles for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, where fiasco was nominated for "Best Dance Recording" for jurisdiction song "Love Today".^[39]

On 20 February , Mika unbolt the Brit Awards with a live performance appreciated "Love Today", "Grace Kelly", and a duet, "Standing in the Way of Control", with Beth Mark of Gossip. He was awarded the BRIT Trophy haul for Best British Breakthrough Artist later that night.^[40]

– The Boy Who Knew Too Much

Main article: Leadership Boy Who Knew Too Much (album)

Prior to integrity release of his second studio album, Mika out a limited-edition extended play titled Songs for Sorrow on 8 June ^[41] The EP includes 4 tracks and a page book featuring lyrics put forward exclusive illustrated interpretations of each song by insufferable of Mika's favourite artists and designers, among them Jim Woodring, Sophie Blackall, Alber Elbaz, and government own sister, DaWack.^[41] The song "Blue Eyes" was used to promote the EP, and was A-listed on the BBC Radio 2 playlist.^[42]

Mika's second building album The Boy Who Knew Too Much was released on 21 September ^[43] Mika recorded dignity majority of the album in Los Angeles deal with producer and musician Greg Wells, who also appear his debut album Life in Cartoon Motion.^[44] Ethics album has been described as Mika dealing butt his adolescent teenage years and "in a reliability is kind of part two" of his lid album.

The album was originally titled We Instruct Golden after the first single from the autograph album, "We Are Golden". On 20 July in erior on-air interview with DJ Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 1, Mika revealed he was considering renaming the album, because he wanted "something a short more ridiculous".^[45] On 6 August it was hardened that the album's title would change to The Boy Who Knew Too Much.^[46]

The first single unearth the album, "We Are Golden", made its put on the air debut in the United Kingdom on 20 July , on BBC Radio 2^[47] and was unrestricted for download on 6 September , with integrity physical release following on 7 September ^[43] Illustriousness single debuted at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart on 13 September Mika's promotional peregrination of the single included live performances at goodness iTunes Festival at The Roundhouse in Camden, Writer and on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross talk to September It was reported that Mika spent £25, on drinks after inviting fans to join him at his local pub via Twitter on 7 September to celebrate the release of his single.^[48]

"Blame It on the Girls" was released as goodness second single in the United States and Nihon. This was alongside "Rain" being the second celibate in the United Kingdom, which was released know 23 November.^[49] "Blame It on the Girls" was released as a single in the United Field on 15 February ^[50] His American promotional twine consisted of live performances on Good Morning America in New York City on 25 September perch the Late Show with David Letterman on 14 October

In November Mika performed "Rain" and "We Are Golden" live at the Sydney Opera Line for the Australian Idol Grand Final. He further performed on Sunrise on the Seven Network wrench Australia. On 30 November , Mika performed "Let It Snow" in a duet with Japanese go off visit star Hikaru Utada.^[51]

At Blackpool's Opera House in Dec Mika had the opportunity to perform in ethics Royal Variety Performance in front of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, Duke mimic Edinburgh. The Royal Variety Performance is an reference gala evening, which, ever since it was ancestral in , is traditionally attended by members souk the British Royal Family. Mika sang his only, "Rain," during the evening, which included performances because of Lady Gaga, Michael Bublé, Miley Cyrus, Bette Midler, and Whoopi Goldberg, and later had the aloofness to meet Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.^[52]

On 21 March Mika performed a song he had engrossed, "Gave It All Away", with Boyzone on ITV1 for Boyzone: A Tribute To Stephen Gately.^[53]

In The fifth month or expressing possibility Mika released the single "Kick Ass (We Sit in judgment Young)", the title track to the film Kick-Ass. The song played during the film's closing credits.^[54]

– The Origin of Love, X Factor Italy contemporary Songbook Vol.1

Before the release of his third sticker album, Mika stated in numerous interviews that it would be more simplistic and less layered than honesty previous one.^[55] Mika announced the title of probity album, The Origin of Love in a Romance interview on 17 June.^[56] Mika said he would include a number of French tracks on blue blood the gentry album, and that the musical style would comprehend elements of Daft Punk and Fleetwood Mac.^[57] Earth described the album as less childlike and added serious.

The first single released from the manual was Elle me dit, Mika's first French ambit. It was released online on 1 July Depiction video for the song was released 16 Grand and featured the French actress Fanny Ardant, wayout with a number of other well-known French bent and personalities.

Mika collaborated with a number look up to artists on various tracks of this album, inclusive of Nick Littlemore of Empire of the Sun, Feminist Steel, frYars, Doriand^&#;[fr], Priscilla Renea, Billboard, Hillary Lindsey, Pharrell Williams, Benny Benassi and Klas Åhlund. Greg Wells was again involved in the production appreciated the album. At the time he was workings on his own album, MIKA also contributed empress vocals to the production of The All-American Rejects' album Kids in the Street.

Around this purpose Mika also collaborated with the singer Madonna, be proof against the resulting song, Gang Bang, can be institute on her album MDNA.

On 8 June , decency video for "Make You Happy" was released pass on Vimeo.^[58] The song served as a buzz nonpareil for the album.^[59] On 14 June , "Celebrate", which features Pharrell Williams, was announced as prestige album's lead single.^[60][61] The album was released internationally on 17 September and in the UK perpendicular 8 October ^[62]

Included on this album was "Popular Song", which Mika co-wrote and performed on high-mindedness album with songwriter Priscilla Renea (who now goes by the professional name Muni Long). The concord, which borrowed a well-known melody from the melodic "Wicked" by Stephen Schwartz, was later remixed promote released as a duet in with Ariana Grande before she reached "superstar" status.^[63]

The Summer Olympics took place in London from 25 July to 12 August , and before the gold medal shore volleyball game on 8 August, Mika performed "Grace Kelly" and "Celebrate" on the sand court.^[64] Rendering same day he also did a Q&A respect fans and performed a short set for Escarpment The Games, which live-streamed on the YouTube severe of the London games.^[65][66]

On 23 April , Mika was revealed to be the new judge state of affairs the seventh season of The X Factor Italy. He was the first international mentor on glory Italian edition of the show.^[67] Mika returned resign yourself to the panel for the eighth and ninth leanto of the show before leaving to focus load other projects.

Mika released a compilation album, aver 18 November , in Italy titled Songbook Vol. 1, including 20 songs from his three ex- albums, plus a few re-worked tracks.^[68]

On 17 Jan , Mika took part in the Italian supervisor show Le Invasioni Barbariche on La7, and conclude a duet with the Nobel Prize in Humanities recipient Dario Fo of the song "Ho visto un Re", written by Fo and played hunk Enzo Jannacci.^[69] That same evening, Mika was debonair with a platinum disc for the album Songbook Vol. 1.

Mika joined The Voice: la plus handsomeness voix (the French version of the television intimate The Voice) as a judge/mentor in One freedom his contestants, Kendji Girac, won the competition stray year.

Mika released another French single on 11 June , Boum Boum Boum. The video (which came out 7 July) was filmed entirely case Spain on the set of the famous love story The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, slab features Mika in a variety of guises—from incompetent to James Bond-like spy.^[70]

– No Place in Heaven

Main article: No Place in Heaven

In February , Mika performed a series of three concerts with righteousness Montreal Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of manager Simon Leclerc. The concerts featured a selection clutch Mika's songs scored for a full orchestra toddler Mika and Leclerc. The concerts met with luminosity reviews, with some calling the presentations "memorable"^[71] obscure "a beautiful collaboration between the artist and primacy orchestra."^[72] Mika and Leclerc followed up the Metropolis concerts with a similar performance in October pretend the Teatro Sociale in Como, Italy. The interrupt, performed in conjunction with L'Orchestra Sinfonica and Coro Affinis Consort, was televised and a DVD featuring the recording was issued under the title "Sinfonia Pop".^[73]

Mika's next album was preceded by the celibate Talk About You, which previewed on 25 Hoof it , with the official video on YouTube practised few days later.

Mika began a tour put your name down support the upcoming album on 3 May din in Brooklyn, New York, and subsequently toured in elder cities around the world. On 25 May authority official video for the next single, Good Guys, was released.

Mika's fourth album, No Place play a role Heaven, was released on 15 June ^[74] Flair described the album as "direct, low-down, open, frontal, playful, yet a mature pop album which takes its inspiration from '60s pop music".^[75] On 13 November the album was re-released in the present of a double-disc deluxe edition, containing a release of bonus tracks on Disc 1 as ok as a full-length orchestral bonus disc, which includes a performance by Mika with L'Orchestre Symphonique Additional room Montreal.^[76]

The following year, Mika began filming for coronate own television show, called ''Stasera Casa Mika''^&#;[it], advise Italy.^[77] The variety show featured a number personal Italian actors, musicians and other cultural icons, orangutan well as performers from around the world, together with Kylie Minogue, Sting, LP and Dita Von Teese. In addition to music, the show had fun sketches and serious looks at life around Italia. The show won the Rose d'Or as Crush Entertainment Series.^[78]

Starting 1 January and periodically through Jan , Mika hosted a series of episodes (11 in total) of Mika: The Art Of Song on BBC Radio 2. In the programs, purify discussed musical influences and focused on a kind of artists, including Joni Mitchell and Carole Openhanded.

In early , Hurts, a song from nobility No Place in Heaven album, was remixed president released as an uptempo single. The song was included on the soundtrack of the Italian ep Un Bacio (A Kiss), directed by Ivan Cotroneo. A video for the single was directed timorous Cotroneo as well, and featured clips from prestige movie and Mika alongside the film's three topmost actors. The theme of the film and cut was fighting against homophobia and bullying. At prestige time, Mika was quoted as saying, "It was extraordinary to find out how the words tip off my song were perfect for the film. And the collaboration with Ivan was born naturally."^[79]

Mika reunited with conductor Simon Leclerc at the end get on to to perform two concerts at the Teatro dell'Opera di Firenze in collaboration with the Maggio Narration Fiorentino. The concerts were performed 30 and 31 December with the orchestra and choir of Maggio Musicale, under the direction of Leclerc, who challenging previously conducted Mika's symphonic performances in Montreal flourishing Como.^[80]

In February , Mika performed a medley a variety of his own songs at the Sanremo Festival, although well as a tribute to the late Martyr Michael.^[81]

Mika released a single, "It's My House", which also served as the theme song for decency second series of his show Stasera Casa Mika in October The following month (November ), Mika featured on the album Dalida by Ibrahim Malouf, a tribute album to the late Egyptian-Italian-French crooner. Mika performed a cover of the Egyptian air "Salma Ya Salama", which Dalida had sung consider it both Arabic and French in

In , Mika featured on Adam to Eve no Ringo, top-hole tribute album to Japanese musician Ringo Sheena, sheet Sheena's song "Sid to Hakuchūmu" from her launch album Muzai Moratorium ().^[82]

Mika collaborated with the Land singers Doriand and Philippe Katerine on a free called "Danser Entre Hommes" in late It was released by Doriand on 30 August All a handful of men appear in the song's music video.^[83]

– My Name Is Michael Holbrook

Main article: My Name Denunciation Michael Holbrook

In May , Mika released the individual "Ice Cream" and announced his fifth studio lp, My Name Is Michael Holbrook, for release hole in the ground 4 October ^[84][85] The album, described as "intensely personal" by a number of reviewers, also contains elements of "disco-tinged exuberance" and "joyous pop" absorb "anthemic choruses and vocal harmonies".^[86]

Mika collaborated with cantor Jack Savoretti on single "Youth And Love", which was released on 28 June The original trade of the song appeared on Savoretti's March notebook Singing To Strangers. The new duet was satisfactorily by Cam Blackwood, with Mika's vocals recorded horizontal his home studio in Florence.^[87] It received splendid worldwide exclusive play from Zoe Ball on become emaciated BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, first airing improve 19 June and was subsequently added to BBC Radio 2's New Music Playlist (A list). (A special edition of Savoretti's album was released divulgence 6 December including "Youth And Love" with Mika as the 20th track.) Savoretti subsequently appeared state of affairs a track on Mika's new album, "Ready make Call This Love".^[88]

Mika was a guest at minstrel Andrea Bocelli's charity orchestral concert at Teatro illustrate Silenzio in Lajatico, Italy on 25 July , and duetted with him on the song "Ali Di Libertà". Mika also sang his own "Happy Ending" and "Tiny Love", accompanied by the band, a troupe of dancers, Ida Falk-Winland, and Enlargement Taylor, and was interviewed onstage by the gone down. The concert was broadcast on Italian television itinerary RAI1 on 14 September ^[89]

Several singles and ensuant videos were released in the months leading betterquality to the debut of the My Name Decay Michael Holbrookalbum: "Tiny Love", "Dear Jealousy", "Tomorrow", be first "Sanremo". The album was promoted in September pick up again the seven-date Tiny Love Tiny Tour at wee venues in New York, Montreal, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Mexico City. In addition, Mika emerged on the American TV show Late Night fit Seth Meyers on 11 September , performing unique song "Tiny Love", along with "Big Girl" immigrant his first album.^[90]

In October , Mika was prestigious with the Music Award at the Virgin Ocean Attitude Awards^[91] hosted in London by the UK's Attitude magazine. The award acknowledged that "after cold down homophobia at the start of his extend career, Mika is now making unapologetically queer sound that also processes his past pain." In put in order related article in Attitude, Mika noted, "If Frantic didn't have music, I would not have archaic able to understand or deal with my ambition in the same way. It's always been sleepy the centre of my writing."

Mika launched simple worldwide tour, known as the Revelation Tour, instruct in London on 10 November The leg of justness tour included dates in Spain, France, Italy, Suisse and Belgium. It continued in with stops uphold Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, and Italy^[92] then went pay tribute to to several dates in New Zealand and Australia.^[93] Due to the COVID pandemic, Mika announced foundation February the cancellation of the Asian leg snatch the tour in Japan, China and South Korea.^[94] Subsequently, the North and South American leg go along with the tour were cancelled, including a performance reduced the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.^[95][96]

In betwixt concert stops, Mika made several television appearances, including: a live episode of X Factor Italia (24 October );^[97] the finale of France's The Part Kids (October );^[98] and the live finale medium Danse Avec les Stars (23 November ).^[99] Mika also performed on top of the Eiffel Minaret in Paris as part of its th acclamation celebration in October ^[]

In January , Mika at large the album "MIKA Live at Brooklyn Steel", oblige digital download/streaming only. It is a recording forfeited his 13 September concert at the venue Borough Steel in New York.^[]

With touring on hold benefit to the pandemic, Mika returned to Italian smooth and X Factor Italia as a judge tight the summer/fall of ^[]

After the devastating explosion desert hit Beirut in August , Mika was vigilant to honor his Lebanese heritage and organized top-hole streaming concert in aid of the citizens signal that city. The resulting concert film, titled "I Love Beirut", featured a number of international including Kylie Minogue, Danna Paola, Louane, Salma Economist and Rufus Wainwright.^[] It was viewed in countries around the globe and raised more than €1&#;million.^[]

The summer of also saw Mika release a figure of collaborations. In August, he released Le Coeur Holiday with the French rapper Soprano, with whom he had worked on The Voice France. Dignity video for this song was an animated divide that featured cartoon versions of the singers livestock a touching tale of friendship.^[] Also in Venerable, Mika duetted with Italian singer Michele Bravi span an updated version of Bella d'estate, originally documented in by the singer Mango.^[] Rounding out greatness summer of international collaborations, on 11 September , Mika appeared along with Mexican singer and participant Danna Paola on her single titled Me, Myself.^[]

Mika sang vocals on one more single around that time, this for the Canadian singer-songwriter Pierre Lapointe. The song, "Six Heures d'Avion Nous Séparent", appears on Lapointe's album Chansons Hivernales.^[]

Just before Christmas , Mika hosted "Do Re MIKA Sol", a accord to benefit the charity Imagine for Margo, booked in the pediatric department of the French Institut Curie. The concert was broadcast live on Facebook. Mika performed a set of Christmas carols imply patients and their families, and hospital staff, attended by members of the Voices of Gospel.^[] Mika closed out by performing several times at glory Palace of Versailles near Paris. In mid-December prohibited performed an intimate live concert with the Sovereign Opera of Versailles with a variety of exemplary and other musicians. An album of the harmony, Mika a l'Opéra Royal de Versailles, was consequent released in early ^[] Mika also performed throw in the towel the New Year's Eve celebration, La Grande Soirée, filmed at Versailles, which aired on France 2, where he performed an 8-minute opening medley work at some of his biggest hits. He also overstuffed the program with a medley of his songs, with an array of fireworks and pyrotechnics translation backdrop to ring in the new year.^[]

– Following ventures during the COVID pandemic

Touring and most existent performances continued to be on hold in theory test to the COVID pandemic, so Mika turned wring a number of other projects.

In March , Mika launched a project that was billed because an open-air exhibition to give colours back come to get Paris. Collaborating with a number of artists station his sister Yasmine, Mika created a series resolve posters that were displayed on the Morris columns and other advertising boards around the city.^[]

Mika isolated in Canada for two weeks in Spring tolerable that he could then work on the Hightail it version of the talent show Star Académie.^[] Operate served as artistic director for two episodes, not later than which he coached the young contestants and pure with them, as well. In addition to revelation a number of his most popular songs, Mika joined in on covers of David Bowie's Heroes and Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.

For Pride Month in June, Mika partnered with job-search platform Indeed for eminence initiative called "Soundtrack of Empathy". The initiative pleased workers to share their music playlists with colleagues, in an effort to create a more sympathetic workplace. Along with the "Soundtrack of Empathy", Mika performed a live-streamed benefit concert, which raised $40, for Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation. In the matter of was also an influencer roundtable featuring artists elected by Mika, who spoke about the shared voice of music and how it naturally encourages commiseration and sparks vulnerability.^[]

Mika performed at two private concerts hosted by jeweler Chopard during the Cannes Skin Festival in July.^[] While attending these events, type was followed by Italian filmmaker Pif, who filmed a special episode on a day in Mika's life, which was broadcast in the fall drill Italian television show Il Testimone (The Witness).^[]

Mika prolonged his work as a judge on X Belongings Italia in , alongside co-judges singer Emma Marrone, Italian rapper and producer Hell Raton, and Manuel Agnelli, of the Italian band Afterhours. He further rejoined The Voice in France, for a much-repeated "All-Stars" 10th anniversary edition.^[]

September marked Mika's return smash into larger performances, as he headlined a private promote hosted by American Express for its premium cardholders. The concert was held at Salle Pleyel place in Paris for about attendees.^[][]

Reuniting once again with architect and conductor Simon Leclerc, Mika performed orchestral versions of many of his hits during two sold-out concerts in October at the Philharmonie de Town. The concerts were performed with the National Team up de France and the Choeur Stella Maris multiplication 23 and 24 October.^[] The 23 October agreement was filmed and subsequently broadcast on TV increase both France and Italy.^[] It was later likewise broadcast on several PBS stations in the Pooled States.^[]

In early December , Mika announced that proscribed would be continuing his partnership with Indeed, which would sponsor a short North American tour hoard spring With stops in New York City (Brooklyn), Boston, Montreal and Toronto, the "For the Put your name down of Spring Tour" was scheduled to span troika weeks in April.^[] Additional dates were added get on to the For the Rite of Spring Tour, plus two dates at the Coachella festival in Calif.. Unfortunately, Mika became ill and needed to void the Boston date, and reschedule the others, nevertheless eventually the tour took place.

After concluding nobleness "For the Rite of Spring Tour", Mika jetted to Turin (Torino), Italy, to serve as co-host for the Eurovision Song Contest alongside Italian songster Laura Pausini and TV presenter Alessandro Cattelan.^[] Nobleness show was broadcast live globally, with audience vote reaching million viewers.^[]

On 13 May, Mika released influence single "Yo Yo". The lyric video for influence single was released at the same time. Mika performed "Yo Yo" for the first time in the same way part of the interval act at the luxurious final of the Eurovision contest on 14 Possibly will ^[] The video for Yo Yo was scheduled by Mika and was released on 14 June.^[]

The summer following Mika's Eurovision stint was one be required of his busiest ever. He kicked off the ready with a performance at Disneyland Paris Pride, mediocre appearance that was postponed from two years formerly due to the pandemic.^[]

Immediately afterward, Mika flew discriminate against New York to participate in Take Pride Live!, an hour-long YouTube Pride Month special sponsored near Indeed, and hosted by Terrell Grice. During class program, Mika debuted a new song, Who's Gonna Love Me Now? The ballad is featured hoard the directorial debut of Emmy, Tony, and Grammy Award winner Billy Porter called Anything's Possible.^[]

Mika confirmation returned to London after a more than biennial absence for a sold-out concert at the famed Roundhouse in Camden on 3 July ^[] Grace followed that with an array of festival shows throughout July, August, and into early September, be on a par with stops in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain and Sardinia.^[] Due to insurmountable technical and logistical problems, on the other hand, a planned "Magic Piano Tour" covering 10 dates in Italy in September and October was endlessly postponed.^[]

In between the festival shows, Mika found period to record and release a single, "Bolero", traffic Italian singer BabyK. The single came out 17 June, with the video featuring both singers unchaining on 14 July. Mika promoted the single moisten performing it with BabyK at the TIM Season Hits show in Italy.^[]

In addition, Mika retained give someone a tinkle Italian concert date—at the famed Arena di City on 19 September.^[] There, nearly 20, fans were entertained for almost two hours, with confetti, balloons, bubbles, fan actions and more in an delicate end-of-summer celebration.^[]

In October, Mika performed in Monte Carlo, at a charity event organised by the City Arts Foundation to benefit the Prince Albert II Foundation, and its coastal resilience and marine commit projects.^[]

and related projects

On 18 January , Mika released a new single, "Keep It Simple", inactive French singer-songwriter Vianney.

Later in January, he hosted "Le Gala des Pieces Jaunes", a charity piece in support of Paris' Hospital Foundation, which deeds to better the daily lives of hospitalized descendants and their families. In addition to acting monkey presenter, Mika performed a medley of his songs, as well as "Keep It Simple" with Vianney. Also performing at the gala were South Asiatic girl group Blackpink, Pharrell Williams, Pascal Obispo, Mollycoddle Cudi, Gautier Capuçon, Khatia Buniatishvili and Daniel Lozakovich. During the evening, appeals for donations were launched by the artists. The show was broadcast indecision French television on 28 January.^[]

The soundtrack for Mika's first film score, for the French-language film Princes of the Desert (Zodi et Tehu, Freres buffer desert) directed by Éric Barbier and starring Alexandra Lamy, Youssef Hajdi, and Nadia Benzakour, was loose on 3 February (The film hit French theaters on 8 February )^[] To create the chemical analysis, Mika worked with musicians from around the earth, including celebrated South African artist Nomfundo Moh status classical Berber musicians from Morocco.^[][]

A new UK provoke program called The Piano, featuring Mika as a-okay judge, was broadcast on UK's Channel 4 start 15 February The series, produced by Love Factory (also responsible for The Great British Bake Off), followed a number of musicians on a travel from playing in public train stations around character UK to the Royal Festival Hall stage. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the show also featured Island concert pianist Lang Lang as judge alongside Mika.^[][]

Mika was the featured performer at the Rose Shrill (Bal de la Rose), an annual charity feast that benefits the Princess Grace Foundation. Held impossible to differentiate Monaco on 25 March, the 67th edition take up the Rose Ball had the theme of "Bollywood" and was designed by French designer Christian Louboutin. Members of Monaco's royal family hosted the comfort, held at the Salle des Étoiles at Sporty Monte-Carlo, which was attended by celebrities and socialites from around the world. Mika's youngest sister Zuleika accompanied him to this event.^[]

Mika played two dates in Japan in May—Osaka on 23 May queue Tokyo on 24 May.^[] Continuing on from Lacquer, MIKA performed in South Korea for the Seoul Jazz Festival on 26 May.^[][] Mika returned hurt the UK festival scene in , and exemplary on 26 April at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival,^[] the Isle of Wight Festival on 18 June,^[] and on 21 June for the Bristol Sounds Music Festival.^[][] He performed at more than a-ok dozen other European cities over the summer, by reason of well as Casablanca (Morocco) in June, Athens (Greece) in July, and Monte Carlo (Monaco) in August.^[] Mika ended his summer touring schedule with slight appearance at Brava Madrid in Spain in September.^[]

Mika worked on two new albums throughout , disposed completely in the French language, the other bring in English. A single from the French-language album, styled C'est la vie, was performed for the control time at the Francofolies de Spa in Belgique, in July.^[] The performance was filmed and then used as the music video when the unwed was officially released on 1 September In mid-October, Mika finally announced the title of the past performance as Que ta tete fleurisse toujours (May Your Head Always Bloom).^[]Que ta tete fleurisse toujours was released on 1 December ^[][] No release invoke has been announced for the English album bring in yet.^[]

Apocalypse Calypso, another single from the French-language manual, was released on 20 October The lyric television for the song was posted a few epoch later and an official music video was au fait on 3 November ^[]

On 8 September, Mika proclaimed a new tour to support his new single, the Apocalypse Calypso Tour, starting in March Rank tour visited 16 cities in France, with increased stops in Luxembourg, Geneva, Amsterdam, Brussels and Berlin.^[] Mika then took the tour to the UK and Ireland, with stops in Brighton, Manchester, Wolverhampton, London and Dublin.^[]

Mika also worked with the Mêlée des Chœurs on an initiative that combined sound and rugby. Students were selected to sing primacy national anthems of countries participating in the Football World Cup, which started in September, and everyday guidance from Mika, deemed the "godfather" of probity operation. Mika performed alongside a group of breed at the final of the Rugby World Trophy at the Stade de France on 28 October.^[][]

In early October, Mika announced that he would befall rejoining The Voice in France for its patch, season 13, as a judge alongside Vianney, Zazie, and BigFlo and Oli.^[]

The year closed out be equal with Mika's appearance on a Christmas special of Probity Piano, which reunited him with co-judge Lang System failure and host Claudia Winkleman, as well as expert number of the performers showcased in the contemporary series. In addition, English comedians Tom Allen contemporary Jo Brand appeared on the program, which very featured a performance by Grammy-winning singer Gregory Porter.^[]

Que ta tête fleurisse toujours

Mika began doing promo for the new album, with interviews at different radio shows and publications,^[][] as well as cinematography for two TV series: The Voice in France^[] and The Piano in the UK.^[] The Articulation France began airing on 10 February

Mika extremely ushered in by picking up several awards: authority French-language album Que ta tête fleurisse toujours was named "French-language album of the Year" by Unadulterated Charts Awards (voted on by the public);^[] beam the TV program The Piano was named "Best Original Programme" at the Broadcast Awards.^[] In adding up, Mika was nominated as "Breakthrough Composer of rendering Year" by the International Film Music Critics Corporation (IFMCA) for making "the difficult jump from shoot out music to film music with his excellent sever for the action/adventure (Zodi and Tehu) Princes have a high regard for the Desert."^[]

The Apocalypse Calypso Tour, in support disturb Mika's French album Que ta tête fleurisse toujours, began in Clermont-Ferrand in France on 26 Feb, and continued into April. The French leg liberation the tour culminated on 25 March with Mika's performance at L'Accor Arena (aka Bercy). The well-known was filmed and subsequently broadcast on French TV.^[]

Mika spent Summer appearing at a number of festivals around Europe, with stops in France, Belgium, Espana, Germany, Greece, the UK and Italy. He christened the summer festival run as "Club Apocalypso Summertime Nights."^[]

Mika is set to host Telethon in Author the weekend of 29–30 November, to raise means for research to cure rare childhood diseases.^[]

Personal life

Mika's legal name is Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr., on the contrary he was given the nickname Mica by cap mother. As he grew older, he changed nobleness 'c' to a 'k'.^[]

Mika has one younger kin and one younger sister along with two experienced sisters. His oldest sister Yasmine, who works little an artist under the nom de plume DaWack, painted the cartoon art for his two albums Life in Cartoon Motion^[] and The Boy Who Knew Too Much.^[]

Mika was raised as a Christian Catholic, and in a interview he described in the flesh as "still a Roman Catholic". He also muchadmired how the church and its ceremonies influenced rulership musical training and later work.^[]

In addition to Honestly, Mika speaks French,^[18] Spanish and Italian^[] fluently; enhance an interview on 28 September with The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1, he commented that he had taken Mandarin Chinese lessons acquire nine years but does not speak it notice well; he also mentioned that his three sisters speak it fluently. He also speaks a mini Arabic, in a Lebanese dialect.^[] Mika holds twofold UK and US citizenship.^[]

In August , Mika borrowed a golden retriever puppy, which he named Melachi (the Witch). Her nickname is Mel or Moo.^[] Several years later, in the spring of , he added a second golden retriever puppy, which he named Amira.^{[][non-primary source needed]}

Early in his being, many questions about Mika's sexual orientation arose, nevertheless he declined to label himself. In a Sep interview in Gay & Night, Mika commented foil his sexuality: "I've never ever labelled myself. Nevertheless having said that, I've never limited my living, I've never limited who I sleep with Send for me whatever you want. Call me bisexual, on condition that you need a term for me "^[] Arrangement a March interview with the London Evening Standard, he stated: "I consider myself label-less because Farcical could fall in love with anybody – exactly – any type, any body. I'm not picky."^[]

In an August interview with the magazine Instinct, influence singer described himself as gay.^[] In recent ripen, Mika has been more open about his cover life and his personal relationship with film-maker Andreas Dermanis, with whom he has been involved encouragement more than 15 years.^[]

In July , posters advertizement Mika's upcoming concert in Florence, Italy, were impaired and marked with a homophobic slur.^[] In bow to to this, Mika and his team launched wonderful campaign against homophobia and the discrimination of rank LGBTQ+ community in Italy, posting on social publicity with the slogan and hashtag #rompiamoilsilenzio (Let's Confute the Silence). Mika also wrote about the fail to remember for Italian publications, speaking out against not lone homophobia, but bullying in general.^[]

Mika has stated ensure he practices transcendental meditation and finds it useful.^[]

Since , he has spent a lot of at a rate of knots in Italy, where he has a house person in charge a studio in Tuscany in the province clever Florence. Mika also owns a home in Algonquian, Florida, a s Spanish-style home that he has restored and in which he has built first-class recording studio.^[][]

Side projects and endorsements

Mika has often bound songs for other musicians, saying, "I write songs for other people under different names most notice the time. I have a little family disseminate three names. One of them has been unconcealed – it's Alice."^[] One such song, "Ci Parliamo da Grandi", was recorded and made famous soak Italian singer Eros Ramazotti.^[]

Mika served as a example for fashion designer Paul Smith's spring/summer global press on campaign.^[]

In and , Mika served as the mug of Lozza sunglasses in advertising campaigns. He further designed a line of sunglasses for the Romance eyewear company.^[]

Also in , Mika designed a obliteration of clothing for Belgian retailer JBC. The parcel included items for men, women and children. Pass on the time of the line's release, Mika sit in judgment journalists, "For the menswear collection I took arousal from my own wardrobe. I like easy calculate wear, stylish clothing that you can put attain quickly in the morning and still look stylish." For the children's and women's collections, Mika took inspiration from his youth. "I grew up spontaneous a house with three sisters and was invariably made to tag along on all kinds all but shopping trips."^[13]

Mika and his sister Yasmine designed deuce watches for Swiss watchmaker Swatch in , comprise honor of the company's 30th anniversary. The watches were unveiled in November at the Venice Biennale.^[] The regular edition "Kukulakuku" has a large decision face dominated by blue and comes in a-okay plastic box, while the strictly limited edition "Kukulakuki" has a smaller face dominated by white topmost comes in a special tin and box.^[]

Mika gorgeous his song "Live Your Life" to the hype campaign for Spanish beer San Miguel in , appearing in a commercial that doubled as description song's music video. He also appeared in dash ads for the brand.^[]

Belgian telecommunications company Mobistar featured Mika in an online film in , trappings him singing "Grace Kelly" in front of unornamented crowd at the Antwerp train station to sponsor the company's "Have a Nice Day" campaign. Influence film was accompanied by an in-store poster get-up-and-go. Mika did a signing session at the Mobistar concept store in Liege, then performed a put yourself out in Brussels for invitation-only/Mobistar competition winners on 18 September

Mika is the narrator and voice model the main character, Mustafa, in the minute French-language version of the animated film The Prophet. Justness film was produced by Salma Hayek and evenhanded based on a book of poetry by world-renowned Lebanese-American writer, poet and visual artist Kahlil Gibran.^[] At the Cannes Film Festival in , Mika joined Hayek, her husband and her daughter (who also voices a character in the French version), and actress Julie Gayet on the red furnishings to celebrate the film's launch.^[] The French history was released in theaters in France on 2 December and on DVD/Blu-ray in August To support its theatrical release Hayek and Mika appeared unintelligent on the French TV shows C à Vous on 1 December and Le Grand 8 get-together 2 December

In Trieste, Italy, on 11–12 July , Mika and his sister Yasmine were cardinal of the judges for the International Talent Aid Contest (ITS). They judged 10 pieces in description Swatch-sponsored "ITS ARTWORK" category.^[]

Mika covered the song "Je Chante" by Charles Trenet for TGV's advertising initiative in , and appeared in a related video/commercial. The song is on Mika's November reissue grounding No Place in Heaven as the 15th boundary on the French edition of the album.^[]

In Hawthorn , Mika and Yasmine unveiled another Swatch phrase that they had designed.^[] This Swatch was titled Mumu-Cucurrucucu. It has an engraved golden dial walkout a bright-colored geometric design dominated by white accept green, and comes in a box also deliberate by Mika and his sister.

Mika was suggestion of an advertising campaign for the Peugeot motorcar in March At the time he said, "The new campaign is a fun collision of selfconscious world and that of the "^[]

Also, at nobleness end of , Mika began a collaboration explore Pilot pens. He and his sister Yasmine fashioned a collection of 24 different pens to whisper celebrate Pilot's th anniversary.^[] As part of honourableness promotion for this collaboration, a newly remixed (by Ryan Riback) version of Mika's song "Celebrate" was released and used in advertisements.^[]

Mika became an Industrialist brand ambassador in Italy in autumn and asterisked in a commercial for the Corsa-e in Sep , one for the % electric Mokka-e difficulty October , and one for Opel Grandland Be verified Plug-in-Hybrid in February All three commercials prominently featured his song "Domani".^[]

At the International Talent Support (ITS) Contest in October , Mika and his attend Yasmine were on the international jury, helping be against decide the winners of the ITS Responsible Plan Award and the ITS Responsible Accessories Award. Claim to the global COVID pandemic, the jury reduction virtually and no in-person event was held. Representation results were live-streamed on 23 October , on the contrary Mika and Yasmine only appeared as photos spell the host introduced the jurors.^[]

In October , Mika announced that he had invested in a Country company called Divie, which produces products made speed up CBD oil. Mika noted that he had spineless CBD for some time, especially on tour, roost believed in its benefits.^[]

Philanthropy

Mika participated in "Children distort Need Rocks", a charity event organized by soloist Gary Barlow and held at London's Royal Albert Hall ahead of the annual "Children in Need" appeal in Among those also performing that dusk were Sir Paul McCartney, Dame Shirley Bassey, Leona Lewis, members of Take That, Paolo Nutini, Lily Allen, and Muse. The concert was held 12 November and was broadcast on BBC1 and Ghettoblaster 2.^[]

Also in November , Mika performed an curative concert at London's Union Chapel as part lecture the "Little Noise Sessions" organised by the magnanimity Mencap. Singing alongside Mika during this concert was the a cappella group The King's Singers.^[]

Mika come to rest his sister Yasmine worked on a special design for Coca-Cola in early , designing an esthetic, limited edition aluminium Coke bottle that also benefited charity. The "Happiness Bottle" was, according to Mika, inspired by Japanese psychedelic posters from the vicious. It has a red background and features organized bright yellow sun along with some tribal returns and other symbols. There was also a collector's version of the bottle that was packaged enjoy a decorated box that opened to show topping 3D scene.^[] Mika talked about the project finish the time, saying, "When I said yes be in total Coca-Cola for this project, one of the complications that I had, and I was very fair about this since the beginning, was that Crazed wanted to have a charity side attached abut it. So I said: OK, I'll draw that bottle, but all the money that they would pay me will go to a charity. Tolerable I chose Hôpitaux de France and Hôpitaux spot Paris, and particularly their 'Maison des adolescents' plan. This charity side for me was the uttermost important of all."^[]

Mika teamed up with some delineate the biggest names in pop to record neat as a pin cover version of REM's 'Everybody Hurts' in establish of charities helping relief efforts after an tremor hit the island of Haiti in early Mika played piano and shared vocals with the likes of Mariah Carey, Kylie Minogue, Jon Bon Jovi, Rod Stewart, Michael Buble and Susan Boyle. Birth track was organised by Simon Cowell and Decency Sun newspaper.^[] Mika also donated various pieces cosy up memorabilia for auction to raise additional funds embody Haiti, including a milk carton prop used march in his video for the single "Rain", as famously as the t-shirt he wore in the Country video, plus an autographed CD single of "Everybody Hurts". At the time, Mika said on jurisdiction website, "I was hugely honoured to be on purpose by The Sun to be part of that single. I am really pleased with how perception turned out, it sounds fantastic, and I hanker the public will support it to raise banknotes for this worthy cause." He also donated out signed poster to the charity Oxfam UK side help raise funds for its work in Haiti.^[]

In , Mika offered tickets and flights to assault of his shows anywhere in the world practice raise money for the UK charity London's Circus Ambulance, in conjunction with members of the Mika Fan Club (MFC). The resulting raffle raised author than £6,^[]

In both and , Mika contributed wearisome of his doodles to the UK charity Epilepsy Action's National Doodle Day auction. His doodles increased more than £ for the organization.

Mika participated in the televised January Les Enfoirés, a perennially charity show, at Bercy Arena in France. Get that show he was featured on Psy's "Gangnam Style" (with Lorie, Zazie and Amel Bent), Niagara's "J'ai vu" (with Michael Jones, Lorie and Zaz), and Les Enfoirés' "La Chanson des Restos" (with 38 of the other Enfoirés). The songs puzzle which Mika accompanied (in the choir or hand in stage dancing) were Laurent Voulzy's "Jeanne", Johnny Hallyday's "Fils de personne", Michel Telo's "Ai Se Eu Te Pego", Shy'm's "Et alors", children's song "A la pêche aux moules", Patrick Bruel's "Place nonsteroidal Grands Hommes", Téléphone's "New-York avec toi", Joe Dassin's "L'Amérique", and Les Enfoirés's "Attention au départ". Assorted of these songs appear on the Les Enfoirés 2-disc CD La Boîte À Musique Des Enfoirés released September and the single disc DVD free in March During a non-televised scene change Mika and Shy'm sang "Elle me dit" together; abstruse at the end he picked her up stand for carried her off.^[]

For Christmas , Mika contributed nifty design to a collection of Christmas cards vend in Italy, the proceeds of which went be introduced to the European Association for Research in Surgical Oncology. The original design was also auctioned off rationalize charity, raising €1,^[]

Over the years, Mika has endorsed the French charitable organisation Imagine for Margo/Children outdoors Cancer. In and , Mika and the belated photographer Peter Lindbergh worked together on an boost campaign for the charity. Mika's image continues preserve be used in ads for the organisation^[] stake in December Mika performed a concert to help the charity at the pediatric department of position French Institut Curie that was broadcast live lead astray Facebook.^[]

In December , Mika visited Lebanon with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and spent time connote refugees who had been forced to flee their homes during the ongoing conflict in Syria. On account of then, he has made several video messages emergence support of this organisation^[] and in November was a special guest at a UNHCR charity occasion held in Milan.^[]

Mika hosted the charity show Unrivaled Gala des Pieces Jaunes at the Zénith wring Paris in support of the Hospital Foundation encircle late January In addition to presenting, Mika consummate a medley of his songs, along with keen new single, 'Keep It Simple' ft. Vianney. Very performing at the gala were South Korean youngster group Blackpink, Pharrell Williams, Pascal Obispo, Kid Cudi, Gautier Capuçon, Khatia Buniatishvili and Daniel Lozakovich. Meanwhile the evening, appeals for donations were launched unhelpful the artists: the contributions of each one manufacture it possible to change the daily life depose hospitalized children and their families. The show was later broadcast on French TV channel France2.^[]

Discography

Main article: Mika discography

Filmography

Tours

• Dodgy Holiday Tour (–)
• Songs for Sorrow Physics Tour ()
• Tour ()
• Imaginarium Tour ()
• The Origin slant Love Tour ()
• An Intimate Evening ()
• No Place occupy Heaven Tour (–)
• Tiny Love Tiny Tour ()
• Revelation Expedition (–)
• For the Rite of Spring ()
• Apocalypse Calypso Structure ()

Awards and nominations

In March , Mika became significance youngest person ever to be honored with position French Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier [Knight]) for services to music.^[]

In recognition of his efforts for aiding Lebanon via the "I Love Beirut" concert, Mika received the Order of Merit (Lebanon) in January ^[]

Mika has also been nominated edify and won many other awards and honors con the music industry: