Mika on Out, Doesn't Come Out
Mika is on this month's cover of OUT magazine, and reportedly sticks to his talking points.
"Anyone can label me, but I'm not willing to label myself...Anybody who says that I don't talk about sexuality or that I don't politically sexualize my music because of taboos, because of being afraid of [not] selling records, is completely wrong. I've made a record that doesn't compromise in any way what I'm allowed or not allowed to say in my lyrics."
A source told Towleroad that OUT originally requested Mika for the cover of their April issue, in order to coincide with the release date of his album in the U.S., but were refused.
According to our source, Mika's "handlers" wanted to do a cover but only if it came out a few months down the road, because they were concerned about breaking into the mainstream market were Mika pigeonholed as a "gay artist" right out of the gate.
You may have missed...
Mika's Gay Fanbase Missing in Action? [tr]
Mika Reports Death Threats for Silence on Sexuality [tr]
Rising Pop Star Mika Talks About Life in Cartoon Motion [tr]
Cracking Mika's Enigma Code [tr]
Pop Phenom Mika Takes Manhattan in Candy-Coated Showcase [tr]
I agree with the folks here saying that his handlers are going about it the wrong way. He comes across as asexual, not pan-sexual. All this coyness is de-sexualizing him, which can only be a bad thing for a pop star.
If Mika needs an example of someone who played up the pan-sexual thing well (for a while at least) see Alan Cumming. (Though now I just think of Mr. Cumming as a bit sleazy...)
Posted by: Gregg | Jun 7, 2007 12:21:27 PM
"Haven't we been fighting NOT to be judged on the basis of our sexuality?"
No we ahven't.
NEXT!!!!!
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Jun 7, 2007 12:32:01 PM
I agree with Tom. Out magazine (also Genre, Out Traveler, The Advocate, Tetu, attitude, DNA) don't give a sh!t about gay people.
Posted by: Jack! | Jun 7, 2007 12:32:04 PM
The sad thing is, very few people honestly care whether he's gay or not. HE'S the one who keeps bringing the pink elephant in the room. HE laments a lack of gay fandom, HE talks about death threats because of his reluctance to proclaim his sexual proclivities, HE raises the issue everywhere he goes. So while I respect his right to have whatever relationship to the closet he chooses, if he brings it up he can't complain about being asked the question.
Posted by: Larry | Jun 7, 2007 12:32:32 PM
Post Gay == Redecorating Your Closet
I doubt Mika has much control over his career at this point. The record companies are paying full freight until he can sell enough albums. What he really thinks is hard to know, though it's very annoying to listen to his constant coyness.
Posted by: anon (gmail.com) | Jun 7, 2007 12:33:55 PM
Part of me wants to be angry with him for not having the balls to say what is up, but I realize that is based in part on all the suffering I did as a child growing up in the deep South, where gay kids were outed whether they liked it or not - no questions asked. Of course that background makes me who I am, and my willingness to wear my assigned labels proudly may have given courage to others to be themselves and not live a life of denial, but I am going to have to stop short of saying he has to come out of the closet, too. It's his life or lack thereof.
Posted by: Bryant | Jun 7, 2007 12:35:03 PM
BostonBear, your equating being gay with "where you put your penis" is the problem. You can be gay and celibate, gay and married, gay and whorish, whatever. It tells you nothing about one's private life. It is not a deep personal secret about your dick. Who you like is a normal part of your life, unless you're hiding it.
Posted by: adamblast | Jun 7, 2007 12:38:15 PM
His voice sucks. His falsetto grates. His lyrics are insipid. There's nothing particularly clever, unique or groundbreaking about his music. In short, his talent is mediocre at best (I'm being kind). Given that, I don't particularly want him to come out as someone who plays on our team.
Now, Ed O'Brien on the other hand....
Posted by: peterparker | Jun 7, 2007 12:40:46 PM
Sounds to me like he's asexual, doesn't like sex, doesn't have sex, isn't proud or cares about sex.....just a little, limp-wristed airy-fairy.
Posted by: woodroad34 | Jun 7, 2007 12:42:31 PM
And what's with the little necklace between his teeth?
Posted by: woodroad34 | Jun 7, 2007 12:43:21 PM
And what's with the little necklace between his teeth?
Posted by: woodroad34 | Jun 7, 2007 12:43:26 PM
...and let me add an "Amen, brother!" to the complains about Out, The Advocate, etc. They're worse than useless these days--they're actually callous to our political and cultural fight. Besides being nothing but mainstream press releases anymore...
Posted by: adamblast | Jun 7, 2007 12:47:15 PM
hmmmm. me thinks you all dost protest too much. At the end of the day if this guy were to come out would you like him more? Does that make sense? And if he is gay and says so, would you talk about it? Does it really matter? I know he's putting himself in a bit of a pickle (laugh if you want) but the question is being asked. Why is it being asked? Is it important?
Posted by: JR | Jun 7, 2007 12:51:44 PM
Let the backlash begin!!!
Check out this related article on After Elton:
http://www.afterelton.com/blog/brianjuergens/mika-post-gay-o
r-just-post-interesting
OR
http://tinyurl.com/2npyt2
Posted by: Tiger | Jun 7, 2007 12:53:56 PM
Post-gay is believing that there is life outside of the gay identity.
This is a good article on that topic.
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=oid%3A10951
Posted by: Landis | Jun 7, 2007 1:13:42 PM
Bullshit. Post-gay is deciding you don't give a crap about homophobia because you live a cushy lifestyle yourself.
Posted by: adamblast | Jun 7, 2007 1:20:06 PM
I wish he wouldn't be coy about his sexuality, but I can't deny I love his music. His entire CD is wonderful.
Posted by: phil | Jun 7, 2007 1:23:48 PM
Wow, so much bitterness and venom over somebody who just plays music (pretty good music in my opinion) and wants people to have fun. Does everybody have to have such a strong opinion about everything? Chill out people.
Posted by: phil | Jun 7, 2007 1:27:50 PM
Who the hell is he kidding??
The reason I loved his music in the first place was that it was so blatantly flaming and fun, but his attitude since the official release has really spoiled his album for me. These denials in these interviews are grating and a bit insulting.
Posted by: Steve G. | Jun 7, 2007 1:44:48 PM
There must be a split in the gay world about the definition of "gay". I see it clearly among black gays and now I'm seeing it's a problem for white gays too. The sex part is just homosexuality. To me, the gay part is about love, friends, social identity, sense of style and wit, Broadway show music and old Bette Davis movies. And I'm proud of the latter stuff; the sex part...well, that aint worth shit right now, but I'm still GAY!
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jun 7, 2007 1:52:24 PM
Broke down after reading all of the hype and loaded his LP onto my iPod last weekend. Me and my friends all came to a consensus: thumbs down.
Posted by: Gary | Jun 7, 2007 1:52:55 PM
He's horrid, I guarantee in a year you won't hear a thing from him. His music makes me want to jab my ear drums out with sharp pencils.
Posted by: Jocko | Jun 7, 2007 2:16:31 PM
Adam:
"Bullshit. Post-gay is deciding you don't give a crap about homophobia because you live a cushy lifestyle yourself."
No, it is about making a difference elsewhere, or in different formats. I've been volunteering in the *community* for awhile, and gay-activism is shrill, inefficient, and lots of bitching queens.
Posted by: Landis | Jun 7, 2007 2:22:14 PM
"gay-activism is shrill, inefficient, and lots of bitching queens" who you can thank that you weren't beaten up today.
Posted by: adamblast | Jun 7, 2007 2:28:47 PM
"gay-activism is shrill, inefficient, and lots of bitching queens" who you can thank that you weren't beaten up today.
gratitude to them them has nothing to do with their current relevance.
Posted by: Landis | Jun 7, 2007 2:38:15 PM