Mika made his triumphant return to London at the legendary Roundhouse on Sunday night, 7/3. This was quite the intimate venue for an artist of his magnitude, especially coming off the high of an epic Eurovision performance. The line wrapped around the venue as thousands queued to get in, some even waiting out front for nearly twenty-four hours. Why on earth would anyone wait that long? For a live spectacle like no other and the perfect way to wrap a month of pride celebrations.
The Lebanese-born, British singer-songwriter has proven to be a virtuoso over the past decade and a half, with a sharp wit and an incredible sense of melody. He’s like a cross between Barry Gibb, Freddie Mercury, and Idina Menzel, bridging the gap between theatrical rock, pop, dance, and Broadway. He was hitting notes that I didn’t think were possible, and he made it look easy. He can write a hook like no other, his musical resume speaks volumes, and he’s become an icon and inspiration for the LGBT community and beyond. It begs the question, is there anything that Mika can’t do?
Soft-spoken, charming, and personable, he had the audience in the palm of his hand, not because of ego but because he’s vulnerable; he was one of them. He’s also quite the storyteller. Throughout the set he spoke to the capacity crowd as if they were all gathered around the fireplace at his home. He told a heartwarming story about his mother before dedicating “Grace Kelly” to her. He also talked about how excited he was about writing the symphonic score for an upcoming movie about an unusual friendship that blossoms between a boy and a camel (I couldn’t make out the name of the film, and I don’t think it’s been announced yet).
The setlist was a tour de force of magical pop moments, opening up with a cabaret-style version of “Lollipop,” straight into “Origin of Love” before leaping into the middle of the crowd during “Big Girls” as he joined in the dance party with his fans. He spent nearly the entire song weaving his way through the crowd and even pausing to take a selfie or two along the way.
Other gems of the night included “Popular,” “Happy Endings,” and a roaring version of “We are Golden” which had every single person in the audience singing at the top of their lungs. The show wrapped with “Grace Kelly” and “Love Today” and then the party was over. Still buzzing, the crowd left and quickly took to social media to share their love for an incredible night and witnessing one of pop music’s most creative talents of the past decade and a half. He really does have it all—the songwriting chops, the moves, the look, and most importantly, that voice.
