As a fan since 2007 from back when I was a music-obsessed teenager and heard Grace Kelly for the first time, I still listen to Mika whenever I need a poppy pick-me-up. Nothing will clear up the gray skies of Luxembourg faster than the high-pitched vocals of Mika. So while my journalistic credibility may be somewhat skewed, Mika’s concert at Rockhal was a show to be remembered.
I was shocked to see Rockhal completely packed as soon as the doors opened at 19:00. The crowd was composed of people young and old - even leaning a little more towards the older end. I couldn’t help but wonder why. Was it Mika’s star-lit past as a judge on France’s The Voice or Italy’s X Factor? Who knows. But no matter the age, the concert-goers were decked out in their most colorful and shiny garb to come watch the LGBTQ icon.
The show opened with SYREETA. This DJ played some groovy beats under a (potentially seizure-inducing) light show. While initially she managed to get the crowd moving, the movement decreased to some casual head bobs as the crowd anxiously anticipated the main event.
Between shows while the crew set up for Mika, the crowd was left staring at the colorful backdrop of a person with a wide open mouth. Was Mika going to come out from the mouth? Or perhaps from one of the eyes? In an unexpected move, ethereal music played as light shone through the eyes of the backdrop, curtains opening up to reveal a cage containing the most glorious firebird we’ve ever seen - MIKA.
While listening through his sixth album that inspired this tour, Que ta tête fleurisse toujours, it was clear to me that the song Bougez was made to open concerts. Admittedly, I didn’t particularly like the song. That was until Mika spread open his wings dancing in front of a backdrop of lightning. Turns out, I love the song. And it was the perfect way to launch the audience into the high energy of the whole concert.
But seriously. At 40 years old, Mika was running and leaping across the stage throughout the entire show. At 30 years old, I barely survived the excitement coursing through my body during the show… it’s really making me take a hard look at my workout regimen, but that’s a different story.
The digital backgrounds demonstrated an array of bright captivating animations - sometimes depicting a collage-like mixture of retro imagery with space and other times graphic, cartoony patterns. No matter the background, it was paired with expertly-placed lighting to pull in the audience (making me grateful at Rockhal’s ability to equip whatever illustrious set design comes their way). During Underwater the audience was taken deep into the sea, and during Big Girls (You Are Beautiful), Queen Big (who reminded us she is not to be confused with Queen Bee) spoke to us directly while transporting the audience to the Butterfly Lounge.
It was during Big Girls (You Are Beautiful) that Mika surprised us all by jumping into the crowd and dancing directly with his fans. Did he walk right next to me? He did. Did I freak out? Yes. Luckily for all of us, only the people next to me at the concert have access to the sounds that came out of my mouth as my star-stunned brain shut down in the presence of one of my favorite musicians.
The only thing more dazzling than the backdrops were Mika’s outfits (which were clearly paired thoughtfully with each of the backgrounds). Let’s not forget, he pulled off a red suit with gigantic WINGS at the beginning of the show. Although Mika wore a line-up of radiant suits that could make RuPaul jealous, my favorite outfit was a silver reflective sparkling suit with a matching shirt and tie that turned him into a human disco ball.
Mika clearly showed off his skills in changing in and out of outfits quickly, but he also demonstrated he can change in and out of languages just as fast. He switched from English to Italian and even a second of Polish, but ultimately he concentrated on French. And how I wish my B1 skills were good enough to understand the nuances of the French language, so I might have been able to comprehend all of the charismatic anecdotes Mika shared with the crowd. But here are some of the bits I did get…
As he played one of the oldies, Billy Brown, he shared how he wrote that song and performed it for his family as a way of coming out as a gay man. As a shy and timid person growing up, the piano brought him happiness by letting him express anything he couldn’t figure out how to say out loud.
During Elle Me Dit, he also painted a picture many people can relate to, shopping in the grocery store, placing the right balance of junk food and vegetables into your cart, sometimes you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and realise how serious you look - and how serious life can be. So what’s the answer? DANCE. Of course dancing in this situation metaphorically representing making the most of life and choosing joy.
The show ended, but luckily we didn’t have to wait too long for the encore. Mika again astonished his fans by descending from the heavens (otherwise known as the ceiling of Rockhal) standing on top of a “Club Apocalypso” lit-up sign. The crowd sang out his latest hit, C’est la Vie. Ending the show with the curtain closing, only to have Mika and his crew come back out for one last bow. This act felt like there was an understanding that this concert was more than just music, but a theatrical performance from a true entertainer.
Was the show extra? Absolutely. Was it incredible? Yes. Here’s to dancing through the seriousness of life and to concerts in Luxembourg that help us do just that.
KACHINGA!
