Carátula del álbum Life In Cartoon Motion de Mika

Life In Cartoon Motion de Mika

Álbum de Mika

  • Fecha de lanzamiento: 5 de Febrero de 2007
  • Compositores: Mika, Jodi Marr, Dan Warner, John Merchant, Richie Supa
  • Productores: Greg Wells, Mika

Valora este álbum

Life In Cartoon Motion es un álbum de Mika, publicado en 2007. El disco incluye 10 canciones, entre ellas «Grace Kelly», «Lollipop», «My Interpretation» y «Love Today».

Antecedentes: la irrupción de un Artista único

A mediados de la década de 2000, en un panorama pop dominado por el R&B y el rock alternativo, Mika irrumpió como una bocanada de aire fresco. Nacido en Beirut, educado en Londres y con una formación clásica como cantante de ópera, Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr. era un artista difícil de clasificar. Durante años, luchó por conseguir un contrato discográfico, enfrentándose a ejecutivos que intentaban moldear su estilo extravagante y su impresionante rango vocal de casi cinco octavas para encajar en las tendencias del momento.

Rechazando comprometer su visión artística, Mika finalmente encontró un hogar en Casablanca Records. "Life In Cartoon Motion" fue el resultado de esa perseverancia. Es un álbum de debut audaz y sin complejos, una celebración de la individualidad y la imaginación que se rebela contra la conformidad. El disco se convirtió en un manifiesto personal, donde sus frustraciones con la industria musical y sus experiencias como un joven que se sentía fuera de lugar se transformaron en un pop vibrante y catártico.

Cómo se grabó y produjo

La mayor parte del álbum fue producida por Greg Wells en Los Ángeles. La colaboración entre Mika y Wells fue fundamental para dar forma al sonido característico del disco. La producción es maximalista y teatral, a menudo descrita como un "muro de sonido" pop. Se utilizaron capas sobre capas de armonías vocales, pianos de estilo music hall, coros infantiles y una instrumentación rica y variada para crear un mundo sonoro que fuera, como el título sugiere, una "vida en dibujos animados".

El sonido de "Life In Cartoon Motion" es una jubilosa amalgama de influencias. Se pueden escuchar ecos claros de artistas como Queen (especialmente en las armonías vocales y los cambios de ritmo), Elton John (en el prominente uso del piano), y los Scissor Sisters (en su mezcla de glam rock y pop descarado). Pese a las comparaciones, el resultado es único y distintivamente Mika: un pop grandilocuente, melódico y lleno de una energía incontenible.

Claves musicales y líricas

El álbum es una colección de narrativas en miniatura. Cada canción cuenta una historia, a menudo sobre personajes que no encajan en las normas sociales. Líricamente, Mika aborda temas de identidad, alienación, amor no correspondido y la presión por ser "normal". Sin embargo, lo hace con un tono de optimismo y una celebración de la excentricidad. Las letras son ingeniosas, a menudo con un toque de humor y una sinceridad desarmante.

Musicalmente, el disco es un festín de ganchos pop. La habilidad de Mika para crear melodías instantáneamente memorables es evidente en cada pista. Su extraordinario rango vocal, especialmente su falsete, se utiliza como un instrumento principal, añadiendo un dramatismo y una emoción que se convirtieron en su sello distintivo.

Las canciones más relevantes

"Grace Kelly": El sencillo que lo convirtió en una superestrella. Es una brillante sátira sobre la crisis de identidad y las presiones de la industria musical, escrita como respuesta a un ejecutivo que le dijo que debía sonar más como Craig David. Con su icónico falsete y su estribillo operístico, la canción se convirtió en un himno para cualquiera que se haya sentido presionado a cambiar para encajar. Fue un éxito número 1 masivo en el Reino Unido y en muchos otros países.

"Relax, Take It Easy": Aunque fue su primer sencillo, alcanzó su máxima popularidad tras el éxito de "Grace Kelly". Con su ritmo pulsante y su atmósfera de synth-pop, la canción es un mantra tranquilizador inspirado en la ansiedad que sintió Mika durante los atentados del 7 de julio de 2005 en Londres.

"Love Today": Un himno de pop eufórico y contagioso sobre aprovechar el momento y encontrar la alegría. La canción, con su energía arrolladora, fue nominada al Grammy a la Mejor Grabación Dance.

"Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)": Un himno de body positivity y celebración. Inspirada por una visita a un club "Butterfly Lounge" en EE. UU., dedicado a mujeres de talla grande, la canción es una celebración descarada de la belleza en todas sus formas.

Rendimiento comercial y recepción crítica

"Life In Cartoon Motion" fue un fenómeno comercial mundial. Debutó en el número 1 en el Reino Unido, donde se convirtió en uno de los álbumes más vendidos del año, y encabezó las listas de éxitos en más de una docena de países. Ha vendido más de 8 millones de copias en todo el mundo.

La recepción crítica fue en gran medida positiva. Los críticos elogiaron la audacia del álbum, su energía contagiosa y la innegable habilidad de Mika para la melodía. Ganó el premio BRIT al Mejor Artista Revelación Británico en 2008. Aunque algunos lo tildaron de derivativo, la mayoría reconoció la llegada de una nueva y emocionante voz en el pop.

Posición en listas:

Listado de Canciones

  1. Grace Kelly3:07
    vídeo del tema Grace Kelly
    [Intro (Talking)] I wanna talk to you! The last time we talked Mr. Smith you reduced me to tears! I promise you that won't happen again! [Verse] Do I attract you? Do I repulse you with my queasy smile? Am I too dirty? Am I too flirty? Do I like what you like? I could be wholesome, I could be loathsome, I guess I'm a little bit shy! Why don't you like me? Why don't you like me without making me try? [Bridge:] I tried to be like Grace Kelly, (Oooo) But all her looks were too sad, (Aaaagh) So I tried a little Freddie, (Mmmmm) I've gone identity mad! [Chorus I could be brown, I could be blue, I could be vi-o-let sky! I could be hurtful, I could be purple, I could be anything you like! Gotta be green, Gotta be mean, Gotta be everything more! Why don't you like me? Why don't you like me? Why don't you walk out the door! (Getting angry doesn't solve anything!) [Verse 2:] How can I help it, How can I help it, How can I help what you think? Hello my baby, Hello my baby, Putting my life on the brink! Why don't you like me? Why don't you like me? Why don't you like yourself? Should I bend over? Should I look older just to be put on your shelf? [Bridge:] I tried to be like Grace Kelly, (Ooooooo) But all her looks were too sad, (Aaaaagh) So I tried a little Freddie, (Mmmmm) I've gone identity mad! [Chorus:] I could be brown, I could be blue, I could be vi-o-let sky! I could be hurtful, I could be purple, I could be anything you like! Gotta be green, Gotta be mean, Gotta be everything more! Why don't you like me? Why don't you like me? Why don't you walk out the door! [Middle-eight] Say what you want to satisfy yourself! But you only want what everybody else says you should want, you want! [Chorus:] I could be brown, I could be blue, I could be vi-o-let sky! I could be hurtful, I could be purple, I could be anything you like! Gotta be green, Gotta be mean, Gotta be everything more! Why don't you like me? Why don't you like me? Walk out the door! I could be brown, I could be blue, I could be vi-o-let sky! I could be hurtful, I could be purple, I could be anything you like! Gotta be green, Gotta be mean, Gotta be everything more! Why don't you like me? Why don't you like me? Walk out the door! Ooooooooooo! (Humphrey... We're Leaving) Kaching-ah!
  2. Lollipop3:30
    vídeo del tema Lollipop
    Hey! What's the big idea? Yo, Mika! I said sucking too hard on your lollipop Oh, loves gonna get you down I said sucking too hard on your lollipop Oh, loves gonna get you down Sucking too hard on your lollipop Oh loves gonna get you down Sucking too hard on your lollipop Oh loves gonna get you down Say love, say love Oh loves gonna get you down Say love, say love Oh loves gonna get you down. I went walking with my momma one day When she warned me what people say Live your life until love is found 'Cause loves gonna get you down. Take a look at the girl next door She's a player and a downright bore Jesus loves her but she wants more Oh, bad girls get you down. Sing it! Sucking too hard on your lollipop Oh, loves gonna get you down Sucking too hard on your lollipop Oh, loves gonna get you down Say love, say love Oh, loves gonna get you down. Say love, say love Oh, loves gonna get you down. Mama told me what I should know Too much candy gonna rot your soul If she loves you let her go 'Cause love only gets you down. Take a look at a boy like me Never stood on my own two feet Now I'm blue as I can be Oh, love only got me down. Sing it! Sucking too hard on your lollipop Oh, loves gonna get you down Sucking too hard on your lollipop Oh, loves gonna get you down Say love, say love Oh loves gonna get you down Say love, say love Oh loves gonna get you down. I was walking with my momma one day When she warned me what people say Live your life until love is found Or loves gonna get you down. Sing it! Sucking too hard on your lollipop Loves gonna get you down Sucking too hard on your lollipop Oh, loves gonna get you down Say love, say love Oh, loves gonna get you down Say love, say love Oh, loves gonna get you down. Mama told me what I should know Too much candy gonna rot your soul If she loves you let her go 'Cause love only gets you down. Waa-oh waa-oh waa-oh lollipop Waa-oh waa-oh waa-oh lollipop Sucking too hard on your lollipop Oh loves gonna get you down Sucking too hard on your lollipop Oh loves gonna get you down Lollipop
  3. My Interpretation3:35

    Letra

    You talk about life, you talk about death, And everything in between, Like it's nothing, and the words are easy. You talk about me, and you talk about you, And everything I do, Like it's something, that needs repeating. I don't need an alibi or for you to realize, The things we left unsaid, Are only taking space up in our head. Make it my fault, win the game Point the finger, place the blame It does me up and down, It doesn't matter now. [chorus:] 'Cause I don't care if I ever talk to you again. This is not about emotion, I don't need a reason not to care what you say, Or what happened in the end. This is my interpretation, And it don't, don't make sense. The first two weeks turn into ten, I hold my breath and wonder when it'll happen, Does it really matter? If half of what you said is true, And half of what I didn't do could be different, Would it make it better? If we forget the things we know. Would we have somewhere to go? The only way is down, I can see that now. [chorus] It's really not such a sacrifice [chorus] And it don't have to make no sense to you at all, 'Cause this is my interpretation, yeah, yeah, yeah.
  4. Love Today3:55
    vídeo del tema Love Today
    Doom da da di da di Doom da da di da di Everybody's gonna love today, Gonna love today, gonna love today. Everybody's gonna love today, gonna love today. Anyway you want to, anyway you've got to, Love love me, love love me, love love. I've been crying for so long, Fighting tears just to carry on, But now, but now, it's gone away. Hey girl why can't you carry on, Is it 'cause you're just like your mother, Little tike, like to tease for fun, Well you ain't gonna tease no other, Gonna make you a lover. Everybody's gonna love today, Love today, love today. Everybody's gonna love today, Anyway you want to, anyway you've got to, Love love me, love love me, love love. Girl with a groove with the big bust on, Big bust on, big bust on. Wait till your mother and your papa's gone, Papa's gone Momma, momma papa, shock shock me, Shock shock me, shock shock. Everybody's gonna love today, Gonna love today, gonna love today I said, Everybody's gonna love today, gonna love today, Anyway you want to, anyway you've got to, Love love me, love love me, love love. Carolina sits on ninety five Give her a dollar and she'll make you smile. Hooker, what a looker, walk away! Carry dresses like a kid for fun, Licks her lips like they're something other, Tries to tell you life has just begun, But you know she's getting something other Than the love from her mother Everybody's gonna love today, Love today, love today Everybody's gonna love today, Anyway you want to, anyway you've got to, Love love me, love love me, love love. Girl with a groove with the big bust on, Big bust on, big bust on. Wait till your mother and your papa's gone, Papa's gone Momma, momma papa, shock shock me, Shock shock me, shock shock. I said, Everybody's gonna love today, Gonna love today, gonna love today I said, Everybody's gonna love today, Gonna love today, Anyway you want to, anyway you've got to, Love love me, love love me, love love. Doom da da di da di Doom da da di da di Doom da da di da di Doom da da di da di..... Everybody's gonna love today, Gonna love today, gonna love today Everybody's gonna love today, Gonna love today, Anyway you want to, anyway you've got to, Love love me, love love me, love love. Doom da da di da di Doom da da di da di Doom da da di da di Doom da da di da di.....
  5. Releax, Take it easy

    Vídeo

    vídeo del tema Releax, Take it easy
  6. Any Other World4:19

    Letra

    In any other world You could tell the difference And let it all unfurl Into broken remnants Smile like you mean it And let yourself let go 'Cause it's all in the hands of a bitter, bitter man Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in Take a bow, play the part of a Lonely, lonely heart Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in To the world you thought you lived in I tried to live alone But lonely is so lonely, alone So human as I am I had to give up my defenses So I smiled and tried to mean it To make myself let go 'Cause it's all in the hands of a bitter, bitter old man Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in Take a bow, play the part of a lonely, lonely heart Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in To the world you thought you lived in 'Cause it's all in the hands of a bitter, bitter old man Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in Take a bow, play the part of a lonely, lonely heart Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in To the world you thought you lived in Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in [x2] Say goodbye In any other world You could tell the difference [Spoken] "I never ever, I forget my story. My face is no sad, but inside, I am sad. "
  7. Billy Brown3:14

    Letra

    Oh Billy Brown had lived an ordinary life. Two kids, a dog, and a precautionary wife. While it was all going accordingly to plan Then Billy Brown fell in love with another man. He met his lover almost every single day Making excuses for his dodgy holiday On some religion that he said he'd newly found They didn't know that his faith was earthly bound Brown... Oh Billy Brown. Don't let the stars get you down. Don't let the waves let you drown. Brown... Oh Billy Brown. Gonna pick you up like a paper cup. Gonna shake the water out of every nook. Oh Billy Brown. Oh Billy Brown needed a place, somewhere to go. He found an island off the coast of Mexico Leaving his lover and his family behind. Oh Billy Brown needed to find some peace of mind. And on his journey and his travels on the way, He met a girlie who was brave enough to say, When they made love he shared the burden of his mind. Oh Billy Brown you are a victim of the times. Brown... Oh Billy Brown. Don't let the stars get you down. Don't let the waves let you drown. Brown... Oh Billy Brown. Gonna pick you up like a paper cup. Gonna shake the water out of every nook. Oh Billy Brown. Brown... Oh Billy Brown. Gonna pick you up like a paper cup. Gonna shake the water out of every nook. Oh Billy Brown. Oh Billy Brown had lived an ordinary life. Two kids, a dog, and a precautionary wife. While it was all going accordingly to plan Then Billy Brown fell in love with another man
  8. Big Girl

    Vídeo

    vídeo del tema Big Girl
  9. Stuck in The Middle4:08

    Letra

    I sit and think about the day that you're gonna die, Your wrinkled eyes betrayed the joy with which you smiled. Care to see my reason? Care to put your life in mine? Lookin' at life from the perspective of a boy Who's learned to love you but has also learned to grow. Could we make it better, stormy weather, So hard to know Oh, oh, oh - Is there anybody home? Who will believe me, won't deceive me, won't try to change me? Ah, ah, ah - Is there anybody home? Who wants to have me, just to love me? Stuck in the middle. I look at you, You look at me, We bite each other. And with your bitter words you kick me in the gutter. But my troops are bigger than yours 'Cause you'll never stand my fight. Ours is a family that's based upon tradition But with my careless words I tread upon your vision. Are five kids better than one, who'd doesn't like to be gone? Oh, oh, oh - Is there anybody home? Who will believe me, won't deceive me, won' try to change me? Ah, ah, ah - Is there anybody home? Who wants to have me, just to love me? Stuck in the middle. Yea... Yea... Yea... This is to my name, This ain't a greater plan to break your heart of me. I know that what I've started means that when we have parted I can live in honesty Oh, oh, oh - Is there anybody home? Who will believe me, won't deceive me, won't try to change me? Ah, ah, ah - Is there anybody home? Who wants to have me, just to love me? Stuck in the middle, Stuck in the middle, Stuck in the middle, Stuck in the middle
  10. Happy Ending10:21
    vídeo del tema Happy Ending
    This is the way you left me, I'm not pretending. No hope, no love, no glory, No Happy Ending. Wake up in the morning, stumble on my life Can't get no love without sacrifice If anything should happen, I guess I wish you well A little bit of heaven, but a little bit of hell This is the hardest story that I've ever told No hope, or love, or glory Happy endings gone forever more I feel as if wastin' And I'm wastin' everyday This is the way you left me, I'm not pretending. No hope, no love, no glory, No Happy Ending. This is the way that we love, Like it's forever. Then live the rest of our life, But not together. 2 o'clock in the morning, something's on my mind Can't get no rest; keep walkin' around If I pretend that nothin' ever went wrong, I can get to my sleep I can think that we just carried on This is the hardest story that I've ever told No hope, or love, or glory Happy endings gone forever more I feel as if I'm wastin' And I'm wastin' everyday This is the way you left me, I'm not pretending. No hope, no love, no glory, No Happy Ending. This is the way that we love, Like it's forever. Then live the rest of our life, But not together. A Little bit of love, little bit of love Little bit of love, little bit of love [repeat] I feel as if I'm wasted And I'm wastin' everyday This is the way you left me, I'm not pretending. No hope, no love, no glory, No Happy Ending.