Mika (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mika
Mika at the London Roundhouse on 3 July 2022
Born	Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr. (1983-08-18) 18 August 1983 (age 41) Beirut, Lebanon
Other names	Mica Mika Penniman
Citizenship	United Kingdom United States Lebanon
Occupation	Singer songwriter producer actor
Musical career
Genres	Pop glam pop power pop
Instruments	Vocals keyboards
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Casablanca Republic Universal
Associated acts	Ariana Grande

Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr. (born 18 August 1983), known as Mika, is a famous singer and songwriter. He was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and grew up in Paris and London.

Mika became very popular in 2007. The BBC predicted he would be the top new artist of the year. He released his first album, Life in Cartoon Motion, which sold over 8.3 million copies worldwide. This album helped him win a Brit Award and get a Grammy Award nomination. His song "Grace Kelly" was number one in the UK in January 2007.

Since then, Mika has released four more successful albums. He has also been a judge and mentor on TV shows like The Voice France and The X Factor Italy. In 2022, he helped host the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. Mika also uses his artistic talents in design projects, like creating sunglasses and watches.

Mika's Early Life and Career

Childhood and Moving Around

Mika was born on 18 August 1983, in Beirut, Lebanon. He is the third of five children. His family had to leave Lebanon when he was one year old because of war. They moved to Paris, France.

Mika remembers his time in Paris fondly. He said he was "brought up as a Parisian boy." He learned to play the piano and wrote his first song, "Angry," at age seven.

When Mika was nine, his family moved to London. This happened after his father was stuck in Kuwait during the Gulf War. In London, Mika faced challenges like bullying and dyslexia at school. His mother homeschooled him, and he trained in music with a Russian opera professional. He also sang with the Royal Opera in London.

Starting His Music Journey

Mika sang jingles for companies like Orbit chewing gum and British Airways. He later attended St Philip's School and Westminster School in London. He was very good at school plays.

After a short time at the London School of Economics, Mika went to the Royal College of Music. He studied music during the day and wrote pop songs at night.

Mika left music college to record his first album. His first single, "Relax, Take It Easy" (2006), was played on BBC Radio 1. His Dodgy Holiday EP was also available online.

Becoming a Music Star

Life in Cartoon Motion (2007–2008)

In 2007, Mika's career really took off. His song "Grace Kelly" was released in January. It quickly became number one on the UK Singles Chart.

His first album, Life In Cartoon Motion, came out in February 2007. It went straight to number one in the UK and many other countries. People compared Mika to famous artists like Freddie Mercury and Elton John. The album sold over 8.3 million copies worldwide.

The album's songs often talked about growing up. Some songs, like "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)", explored difficult topics. Mika said he wrote "Big Girl" because his mother was a large woman, and he saw the unfairness she faced.

Mika performing at the V Festival in 2007

Mika toured the United States in 2007 and appeared on many TV shows. He also started his "Dodgy Holiday Tour" in Europe and the UK. In 2008, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for his song "Love Today." He also won a Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough Artist.

The Boy Who Knew Too Much (2009–2010)

Before his second album, Mika released a small collection of songs called Songs for Sorrow in 2009. His sister, DaWack, helped create the artwork for it.

Mika's second album, The Boy Who Knew Too Much, was released in September 2009. He recorded most of it in Los Angeles. The album was about his teenage years.

The first song from the album, "We Are Golden", was released in July 2009. It reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. Mika performed this song and others on TV shows and at festivals. In December 2009, Mika performed for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Variety Performance.

In May 2010, Mika released "Kick Ass (We Are Young)". This song was the title track for the movie Kick-Ass.

The Origin of Love and TV Work (2010–2014)

Mika's third album, The Origin of Love, was more simple and serious. It included his first French song, Elle me dit, released in July 2011.

He worked with many artists on this album, including Pharrell Williams. Mika also sang on a song called "Popular Song" with Priscilla Renea. This song was later re-released as a duet with Ariana Grande.

In 2012, Mika performed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He sang "Grace Kelly" and "Celebrate" before a beach volleyball game.

In 2013, Mika became a new judge on The X Factor Italy. He was the first international mentor on the show. He stayed for three seasons. He also joined The Voice: la plus belle voix (The Voice France) as a judge in 2014.

Later Albums and Projects

No Place in Heaven (2015–2018)

In 2015, Mika performed concerts with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. They played his songs with a full orchestra, which received great reviews.

His fourth album, No Place in Heaven, was released in June 2015. Mika described it as a "playful, yet a mature pop album." A deluxe version of the album included orchestral performances.

Mika also started his own TV show in Italy called Stasera Casa Mika. This variety show featured many famous guests and won an award in 2017. He also hosted a radio show on BBC Radio 2 called Mika: The Art Of Song.

In 2016, his song "Hurts" was remixed for an Italian film about fighting bullying. Mika said the song's words fit the film perfectly.

My Name Is Michael Holbrook (2019–2020)

In May 2019, Mika released the song "Ice Cream" and announced his fifth album, My Name Is Michael Holbrook. This album, released in October 2019, was described as "intensely personal."

Mika worked with singer Jack Savoretti on the song "Youth And Love." He also performed with Andrea Bocelli at a charity concert in Italy.

He promoted his new album with a "Tiny Love Tiny Tour" in small venues. He also appeared on American TV shows. In October 2019, Mika received the Music Award from Attitude magazine.

Mika started his "Revelation Tour" in November 2019. However, some parts of the tour had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After a big explosion in Beirut in August 2020, Mika organized an online concert called "I Love Beirut." It raised over €1 million for the city's citizens. He also released songs with other artists like Soprano and Danna Paola.

Recent Activities (2021-Present)

Projects During the Pandemic

Mika at the Philharmonie de Paris, October 2021

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Mika worked on many projects. He helped create an open-air art exhibition in Paris with his sister Yasmine. He also worked as an artistic director for the Canadian TV show Star Académie.

For Pride Month, Mika partnered with Indeed for "Soundtrack of Empathy." He performed a concert that raised $40,000 for Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation.

Mika continued as a judge on X Factor Italia and returned for a special "All-Stars" edition of The Voice in France. He also performed sold-out orchestral concerts in Paris.

Eurovision and Tours (2022)

In 2022, Mika co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Italy. He performed his new song "Yo Yo" at the event. He said the main message of his performance was love, and that "love is this one thing that can break down barriers."

Mika had a very busy summer in 2022. He performed at Disneyland Paris Pride and debuted a new song, "Who's Gonna Love Me Now?", for a film. He also had a sold-out concert in London and played at many festivals across Europe.

He released a song called "Bolero" with Italian singer BabyK. Mika also performed a big concert at the Verona Arena in Italy for nearly 20,000 fans.

New Music and TV Shows (2023-2024)

In January 2023, Mika released a new song, "Keep It Simple," with French singer Vianney. He also hosted a charity show in Paris to help hospitalized children.

Mika created the music for the French film Princes of the Desert. He worked with 160 musicians from around the world for the score.

He became a judge on a new UK TV show called The Piano. The show followed musicians playing in public places and performing at the Royal Festival Hall.

Mika released a new French album, Que ta tête fleurisse toujours, in December 2023. He also announced a tour for 2024 called the "Apocalypse Calypso Tour."

In 2024, Mika's French album won "French-language album of the Year." He also continued his role as a judge on The Voice France. Mika will host Telethon 2024 in France to raise money for research into rare childhood diseases.

Mika's Personal Life

Mika's full name is Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr. His mother gave him the nickname Mica, which he later changed to Mika.

He has two older sisters, a younger sister, and a younger brother. His oldest sister, Yasmine, is an artist who created the cartoon art for his first two albums.

Mika was raised as a Melkite Catholic and still identifies as a Roman Catholic. He believes the church influenced his music.

Mika speaks English, French, Spanish, and Italian fluently. He also knows a little Arabic. He has dual UK and US citizenship.

He has two golden retrievers named Melachi and Amira. Mika has homes in Italy and Miami, Florida, where he has a recording studio.

Other Projects and Charity Work

Mika has written songs for other musicians using different names. He also modeled for fashion designer Paul Smith.

He designed sunglasses for Lozza and a clothing line for JBC. Mika and his sister Yasmine also designed watches for Swiss company Swatch.

Mika was the voice of the main character, Mustafa, in the French version of the animated film The Prophet. The film was produced by Salma Hayek.

Mika has supported many charities. He performed at "Children in Need Rocks" in 2009. He also designed a special Coca-Cola bottle to raise money for a children's hospital project in France.

In 2010, Mika joined other stars to record a cover of REM's "Everybody Hurts." This was to help people affected by an earthquake in Haiti. He also supported the charity Imagine for Margo, which helps children with cancer.

In 2015, Mika visited Lebanon with UNHCR to meet refugees. He continues to support this organization. In 2023, he hosted a charity show in Paris to help hospitalized children.

Mika's Albums

• Life in Cartoon Motion (2007)
• The Boy Who Knew Too Much (2009)
• The Origin of Love (2012)
• No Place in Heaven (2015)
• My Name Is Michael Holbrook (2019)
• Zodi & Téhu, frères du désert ^[fr] (soundtrack) (2023)
• Que ta tête fleurisse toujours (2023)

Mika's Films

• Live in Cartoon Motion (2007)
• Live Parc des Princes Paris (2008)
• Cadences obstinées (2014), playing Lucio
• The Prophet (2015), voice of Mustafa (French version)
• Mika Love Paris – Live a Bercy (2016)
• Sinfonia Pop (2016)

Mika's Tours

• Dodgy Holiday Tour (2007–2008)
• Songs for Sorrow Acoustic Tour (2009)
• 1955 Tour (2009)
• Imaginarium Tour (2010)
• The Origin of Love Tour (2012)
• An Intimate Evening (2013)
• No Place in Heaven Tour (2015–2016)
• Tiny Love Tiny Tour (2019)
• Revelation Tour (2019–2020)
• For the Rite of Spring (2022)
• Apocalypse Calypso Tour (2024)

Awards and Recognitions

Mika has received many awards for his music and work:

See also

In Spanish: Mika (cantante) para niños