The slogan 'Mika everyone can afford' used to promote the Lebanese artist's first album was prophetic: few can afford to sell out Milan's biggest club, Alcatraz, just one month after the release of his debut album.
Yesterday in the via Valtellina venue there were more than three thousand to welcome MIKAthe new king of international pop. Stage design true to the colours of the cover of 'Life in Cartoon Motion', lollipops handed out among the audience and even stage costumes reminiscent of the world of cartoons: this is the MIKA universe, a planet that revolves around his wonderful voice. Live, the author of 'Grace Kelly' (the single that blew him away in the European charts), is simply extraordinary: a flawless, precise and powerful performance, aided by a tight-knit band, the same one we saw at work on the Sanremo stage two months ago.
Another very interesting artist opens the concert, Mr Hudson accompanied by his faithful band, the The Library. Author of refined and naive British pop, they presented a 40-minute set that concluded with the single 'Too Late'currently in rotation on Italian networks.
At 10 p.m. it is the turn of MIKAmore than an hour-long show, in which almost all the tracks on the album were performed, as well as a cover of Everybody's Talkin' by Harry Nillson. Before the encores comes to general jubilation Grace Kellywhile closing with 'Lollipop'with the five musicians appearing on stage in the guise of 'little animals' of different natures...
We are happy to be able to immediately announce to his many fans that Mika will be back in Italy next year. 19 July a Florence for theITALIA WAVE Festivalmore details shortly.
To close, here is the setlist from last night's concert:
Relax
Big Girl
My Interpretation
Billy Brown
Over My Shoulder
Everybody's Talkin'
Stuck in the Middle
Ring Ring
Holy Johnny
Love Today
Grace Kelly
Lollipop
Photo by Francesco Prandoni
