Life in Cartoon Motion

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This article is about the studio album. For the live DVD, see Live in Cartoon Motion.
Life in Cartoon Motion
File:MikaCartoonMotion.jpg
Studio album by Mika
Released 5 February 2007 (2007-02-05) (UK)
22 March 2007 (2007-03-22) (US)
Genre
Length 46:16
Label Island (United Kingdom)
Casablanca (United States)
FMR
Warner Bros. (Australasia)
Producer
Mika chronology
Dodgy Holiday
(2006)Dodgy Holiday2006		 Life in Cartoon Motion
(2007)		 Songs for Sorrow
(2009)Songs for Sorrow2009
Singles from Life in Cartoon Motion
  1. "Grace Kelly"
    Released: 29 January 2007
  2. "Love Today"
    Released: 23 April 2007
  3. "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)"
    Released: 23 July 2007
  4. "Happy Ending"
    Released: 15 October 2007
  5. "Relax, Take It Easy / Lollipop"
    Released: 23 December 2007
  6. "Lollipop"
    Released: 7 March 2008

Life in Cartoon Motion is the debut album released by British recording artist Mika. The album was produced by Greg Wells and Mika himself, mixed by Wells, with co-production on two songs by Jodi Marr and John Merchant. The album was released via Island Records on 5 February 2007 in the United Kingdom, and via Casablanca Records on 27 March 2007 in the United States. The album's lead single, "Grace Kelly", stayed at number one on the UK Singles Chart for five weeks straight and became a number-one hit in many countries. The album debuted at #1 in the United Kingdom, selling 7.8 million copies worldwide since its release.[1] The Life in Cartoon Motion album cover has since been used in a commercial for the iPod Touch. It was the ninth-best-selling album in the world during 2007.[2]

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.[3][4][5] 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.[5] 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."[6] 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".[4] 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."[4] 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."[5] The cover for the album and booklet was designed by Mika's sister, Yasmine, who works under the pen name DaWack, Richard Hogg and Mika himself.[5] 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."[4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3.5/5 stars[7]
Drowned in Sound (1/10)[8]
Entertainment Weekly B+[9]
The Guardian 1/5 stars[10]
Observer Music Monthly 4/5 stars[11]
Pitchfork Media (1.5/10)[12]
Robert Christgau (1-star Honorable Mention)[13]
Slant Magazine 3/5 stars[14]
Stylus D−[15]
Rolling Stone 3/5 stars[16]

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.[17] In January 2007 it was considered the best new talent in the BBC's Sound of 2007 music poll.[18] About 130 music critics and broadcasters from the U.K. agreed that Mika was the sound of 2007.[3] It has received highly polarized reviews, earning one star from The Guardian[19] and four stars in the London Evening Standard.[20] The album received 1 out of 10 from the Drowned in Sound website,[21] and prompted Brian May of Queen, a fan of Mika, to criticise the website[22] for making unnecessary personal attacks at Mika.[23][24]

Release

The original version of the album, released in the United Kingdom and Europe on 5 February 2007, contains a total of twelve tracks, including the hidden track "Over My Shoulder" and the bonus track "Ring Ring". It also includes an enhanced section, with links to music videos and live performances, as well as other exclusive content. The version released via the iTunes Store in Europe featuring three additional acoustic recordings as bonus tracks. The American version of the album, released on 27 March 2007, is essentially the same as the British release, however, it includes the exclusive bonus track "Erase", not included on the original release. American versions of the album bought at Best Buy stores also carry two exclusive bonus tracks - acoustic versions of "Love Today" and "Satellite", while the American iTunes Store version also includes an exclusive acoustic version of "Grace Kelly". The version of the album released in Japan is essentially the same as the original British release, however, it also includes the American exclusive track "Erase", as well as the Japanese exclusive track "Your Sympathy", as well an enhanced element containing the music video for "Grace Kelly".

The demo version of the album, issued to media journalists and critics, has a very different tracklisting to any of the main versions of the albums. It does not include the tracks "Lollipop", "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" and "Over My Shoulder", but does include the Japanese only bonus track "Your Sympathy", as well as including "Gave It All Away", Mika's original version of the track, before it was given to Boyzone. Mika's version had never appeared on any other release, until the release of the Asian Tour Edition in March 2008, which includes the eleven standard tracks from the British album, the European bonus track "Ring Ring", "Gave It All Away" from the demo version, "Erase" from the American version, "Your Sympathy" from the Japanese edition, and the B-side recordings "Satellite", "One Lonely One" and "Instant Martyr". The album was also packed with a bonus disc, including six acoustic recordings, four live recordings, and the single mix of "Happy Ending".

Track listing

Standard edition
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Grace Kelly"  
  • Mika
  • Jodi Marr
  • John Merchant
  • Dan Warner
 3:07
2. "Lollipop"   Mika 3:03
3. "My Interpretation"  
3:35
4. "Love Today"   Mika 3:55
5. "Relax (Take It Easy)"  
4:30
6. "Any Other World"   Mika 4:19
7. "Billy Brown"   Mika 3:14
8. "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)"   Mika 4:08
9. "Stuck in the Middle"   Mika 4:08
10. "Happy Ending"   Mika 4:45
11. "Over My Shoulder" (Hidden Track) Mika 4:45

Personnel

  • MIKA – keyboards, backing vocals, percussion, piano, guitar, programming
  • Greg Wells – producer, mixer, guitar, bass, drums, programming, percussion, keyboards
  • Tim Pierce – guitar
  • Dylan Schiavone – guitar
  • Lyle Workman – guitar
  • Dan Rothchild – bass
  • Matt Chamberlain – drums
  • Derek Cintron – percussion
  • Fabien-Waltmann – programming
  • Backing vocals by: Zuleika Penniman, Paloma Penniman, Fortuné Penniman, Audrey Moukataff, Alexander Millar and Ida Falk

Orchestra

  • Larry Corbett – cello
  • Lee Thornburg – horns
  • The Spoon Orchestra of Chiswick – orchestra
  • Studio Gospel Choir – backing vocals
  • Maxi Anderson – choir leader
  • Paul Buckmaster – string arrangement
  • Jerry Hey – brass arrangement

Production

  • Jodi Marr – producer, percussion
  • John Merchant – producer, recording engineer
  • Joe Zook – recording engineer
  • Carlos Alvarez – recording engineer
  • Joe Chiccarelli – recording engineer
  • Chris Nicoladies – recording engineer
  • Drew Pearson – recording engineer

Charts and certifications

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mika's Rise and Shine OhMyNews.com. Retrieved 14 February 2007.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Q&A: Mika, the latest singing sensation from across the pond Associated Press. 5 April 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Miriam Zendle Interview with Mika Digital Spy. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  6. ↑ Linda McGee Mika - Life in Cartoon Motion RTÉ. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/MIKA-Life-In-Cartoon-Motion/release/906414
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/MIKA-Life-In-Cartoon-Motion/release/3357897
  28. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/MIKA-Life-In-Cartoon-Motion/release/943773
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/MIKA-Life-In-Cartoon-Motion/release/4162579
  31. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/MIKA-Various-Tracks/release/2038017
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Argentina. Universal Music Argentina.[dead link]
  34. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  35. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Ultratop.be – Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  37. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  38. ↑ "Mika – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Mika. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  41. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
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  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ "Mika: Life In Cartoon Motion" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  45. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  46. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 21, 2007". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  50. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  53. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  54. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  57. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  58. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  59. ↑ "Mika | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  60. ↑ "Mika – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Mika. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  61. ↑ [1][dead link]
  62. ↑ [2][dead link]
  63. ↑ [3][dead link]
  64. ↑ [4][dead link]
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  66. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  67. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  68. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  69. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  70. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Mika in the field Interpret. Enter Life in Cartoon Motion in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
  71. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  72. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  73. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  74. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  75. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  76. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  77. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  78. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  79. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  80. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  81. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  82. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Select the "Chart", enter ' in the field "Year". Select ' in the field "Semana". Click on "Search Charts"
  83. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  84. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  85. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Life in Cartoon Motion in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  86. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  87. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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