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Mika is back, the male Alice who two years ago took us to a wonderland full of colors, characters, entertaining stories, and that voice skillfully navigating between high notes and falsettos. So after "Life in cartoon motion," the Lebanese singer-songwriter presents us with his new album of unreleased tracks, "The boy who knew too much." And it's a delightful album, tasting of cotton candy and sweets, colorful and carefree, which keeps the promises made in the first album. While the first album moved within childhood territories, this new work treads into the realm of adolescence, continuing a journey that could evolve into a probable trilogy expected to conclude with adulthood.
The references to adolescence are evident from the first verse of the successful first single "We are golden" which says "Teenage dream in a teenage circus." An anthem that urges not to feel inferior or different but to live as if one were precious, as if one were golden, indeed.
The music proves to be a worthy successor to the first record, while the lyrics appear more complete and a bit more mature. For example, there are no approximate or filler lyrics like past episodes such as "Lollipop" and "Big girl (you are beautiful)." Let's clarify immediately that "We are golden" is the most explosive track and the one that immediately catches the ear.
For other tracks, however, a first listen may not suffice for them to be appreciated, as happened to me. But after several listens, each track proves to be more than enjoyable.
Starting with "Blame it on the girls," probably the second single, which musically can vaguely remind of "Relax." Meanwhile, I think that "Good gone girl" will occupy many radio spaces due to its exciting, almost sixties rhythm, the voice alternating perfectly between high tones and falsettos, and its ability to convey cheerfulness. I also find that this song is particularly successful due to some perfectly fitting rhymes.
Other notable songs include "One foot boy," also completely carefree and cheerful, and "Touches you," which, however, has an arrangement that might come across as too forced. Too many background choruses drown out the words.
The album also includes love ballads in the vein of "Happy ending" such as the sweet "I see you," the catchy "Blue eyes," and the orchestral "Pick up off the floor." Meanwhile, "Toy boy" moves skillfully between violins and strings, perhaps being one of the most intriguing pieces of the album. There is even room for the delicate "By the time," a duet with Imogen Heap, a British singer-songwriter known for being the voice of the group "Frou frou." The result is a very beautiful song in the verse but with a chorus, almost whispered, that in the long run can become obsessive.
"Dr. John" is instead the most childish track of the album. It's listenable but leaves nothing behind. While "Rain" neither detracts from nor adds to the album's value.
In conclusion, I maintain that Mika has all the credentials to achieve good success and be considered a skilled singer-songwriter. The album is ideal for spending carefree and relaxing moments because, unintentionally, you find yourself singing the tracks of this album, which takes you for a little over 40 minutes into another world; a brighter and more vibrant world. Perhaps Mika has figured out that this is the right ingredient to distract for a moment from the bleak global situation. Sure, he could have put a bit less on the plate and dared a little more, but for that, we can comfortably wait for the next album, because if the second album is always the hardest (quoting Caparezza), the third album will clear up any doubts.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 We Are Golden (03:57)
Teenage dreams in a teenage circus
Running around like a clown on purpose
Who gives a damn about the family you come from?
No giving up when you're young and you want some
Running around again
Running for running
Waking up
In the midday sun
What's to live for?
You could see what I've done
Staring at emotion
In the light of day
I was running
From the things that you'd say
We are not what you think we are
We are golden, we are golden.
We are not what you think we are
We are golden, we are golden.
Teenage dreams in a teenage circus
Running around like a clown on purpose
Who gives a damn about the family you come from?
No giving up when you're young and you want some
Running around again
Running for running
Running around again
Running for running
I was a boy
At an open door
Why you staring
Do you still think that you know?
Looking for treasure
In the things that you threw
Like a magpie
I live for glitter, not you
We are not what you think we are
We are golden, we are golden.
We are not what you think we are
We are golden, we are golden.
Teenage dreams in a teenage circus
Running around like a clown on purpose
Who gives a damn about the family you come from
No giving up when you're young and you want some
Now I'm sitting alone
I'm finally looking around
Left here on my own
I'm gonna hurt myself
Maybe losing my mind
I'm still wondering why
Had to let the world let it bleed dry
We are not what you think we are
We are not what you think we are
We are not what you think we are
We are golden, we are golden
Teenage dreams in a teenage circus
Running around like a clown on purpose
Who gives a damn about the family you come from
No giving up when you're young and you want some
Running around again
Running for running
Running around again
Running for running
We are not what you think we are
We are golden, we are golden.
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