Love today - Mika

I don't know if anyone even remembers Mika these days. He was very popular when he released his debut album ten years ago, but I don't hear his name anymore. That's not to say that he stopped making music: his recent album 'No place in heaven' (2015) was pretty good, though perhaps not as good as 'The origin of love' (2012).

Anyway, I never bought the 7" singles from his debut album because they were only available for ridiculous prices. I was lucky enough to pick up the single Grace Kelly for just 2,5 euro seven years ago, and again this time, 'Love today' was there for me for just three euros. I wonder if, in time, I can find the other singles this cheap as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 5861
Found: Record Bag, Vienna
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Love today' / 'Stuck in the middle (acoustic)'

Grace Kelly - Mika

'Grace Kelly' was released in January 2007 as the debut single from Mika. It subsequently appeared on his debut album 'Life in cartoon motion'. The song was written as a satire of musicians who try to reinvent themselves to be popular. The lyric 'So I try a little Freddie' is a reference to Queen's Freddie Mercury, to whose singing voice Mika's has been compared.

The single reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. Initally, the song was available as a download only, but a cd-single was subsequently sold in shops. This 7" single was released in the UK only, featuring an inner sleeve which colours in the words 'Grace Kelly', which are cut out from the outer sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 4495
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Grace Kelly' / 'Satellite'

We are golden - Mika

I'm really sorry now that I didn't buy the 7" singles from Mika's debut album 'Life in cartoon motion', because when you find them now on eBay, each one of them costs a fortune. So I decided to be quicker this time around, with the release of 'We are golden', the first single from Mika's second album. It was pressed on - you guessed it - gold coloured vinyl.

According to Mika, the song is 'big sounding and aggressive, but in a good way. It's got a gospel choir on it and a kids' choir, but unlike the first record they're not singing sweetly, they're screaming at the top of their lungs'. The single has already reached number 4 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4101
Found: eBay.co.uk, received October 14, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'We are golden' / 'We are golden (Jokers of the scene are not who you think they are remix)'