JOUNIEH: “Relax, Take it Easy.” Many of us may have sung or hummed this song by the Lebanon-born British singer/ songwriter who was named Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr., and calls himself Mika.
Mika gained international fame thanks to his album “Life in Cartoon Motion,” released in 2007, from which issued “Grace Kelly,” “Lollipop,” “Happy Ending” and “Love Today” and several others, including “Relax, Take it Easy.” These were all huge hits on the European music charts.
Mika sang all these tunes Tuesday evening at the Jounieh International Festival, a performance that recalled much of the success of his 2008 Martyrs’ Square concert, held under the aegis of the Beiteddine Festival.
Jounieh’s Fouad Chehab Stadium was full to the rafters with devoted fans awaiting their idol, curious revelers and the odd journalist on assignment – kids, teens and more mature aficionados of Mika’s brand of pop. All hands roared with approval the minute the artist took to the stage.
A number of international artists scheduled to perform in Lebanon this summer have canceled their gigs due to the tense security situation in the country. Mika didn’t seem bothered in the least, preferring to express pride in his Lebanese origins.
“I’m half Lebanese,” he said. “Stop pulling my leg.”
And with that, Mika’s powerful and crystal-clear voice took his Jounieh audience on a musical roller-coaster ride.
Mika’s onstage antics went on for almost two hours. He put a hat on, took it off, then put it back on again. He jumped about on stage. He invited a woman in the audience to come up on stage with him. He threw water on the folks in the front rows. And made fun of his guitarist, Max.
Those who are familiar with Mika’s work – especially those who have already participated in one of his concerts outside of Lebanon – may have felt a trace of disappointment about Jounieh’s stage design.
Mika concerts are known to be fantasy-like worlds, with the vividly colored stage scattered with performance toys and other accessories. Fouad Chehab Stadium’s set design had no such items on stage. A facsimile of an antique arcade was the stage’s sole adornment. The performer still managed to transport his audience into his world, simply by talking to them, sharing some personal anecdotes and throwing giant rubber balloons at them.
At several points during his performance, he waved a big Lebanese flag, thanked Beirut for its warm welcome and expressed his gratitude to the public.
Naturally the Jounieh show provided an occasion for him to sing some tracks from his latest album, “The Origin of Love,” released in France in Sept. 2012, which saw the singer-songwriter compose in French.
“Underwater” – which has been playing constantly on Lebanese radio stations – was on Tuesday night’s playlist, as was “Elle me Dit” (‘She Tells Me’), “Love You When I’m Drunk” and the title track, “Origin of Love.”
The groove was infectious and audience members weren’t able to stay seated. Fans stood up at the first opportunity and rushed to the stage. More circumspect types waved colorful fluorescent tubes.
Clusters of teenage girls spent the evening squealing their lungs out, threatening to deafen any somewhat older journalists standing close-by. These youngsters knew all Mika’s song lyrics, all of them. Those who were not quite so plugged-in were able to enjoy the ambient good vibe, singing along quietly when the singer returned to one of his antique classics.
Some folks living in the buildings surrounding the stadium also enjoyed the show. Anyway they waved their arms from the balconies.
Once in a while, Mika punctuated his show with “Keefak Beirut?” (‘How are you Beirut?’), “Ana Mafi Mo7” (‘I’m crazy’) – suggesting once more that the artist revels in being in Lebanon once again, if only for the chance it gave him to demonstrate his Arabic skills.
Mika is a fine entertainer, with a remarkably ability to control his spectators’ energy levels. At the end of “Underwater,” the lights dimmed and the artist asked his audience to close their eyes and shout the chorus as though “you were the last person on Earth.”
Not everyone did as they were told, of course. Yet it was touching to see youngsters doing what their idol suggested, screaming as though wanting to be heard.
The Jounieh International Festival continues with the eight final candidates of The Voice who will be closing the festival on July 9. For more information, please visit www.jouniehinternationalfestival.com or call 01-999-666.
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on July 04, 2013, on page 16.
By Chirine Lahoud
The Daily Star