A dreamful summer night full of love, dancing, singing, and flying with Mika in Barcelona

Singer-songwriter performs hit after hit at Les Nits de Barcelona music festival

Singer Mika performs at Les Nits de Pedralbes music festival in Barcelona on July 17, 2024
Singer Mika performs at Les Nits de Pedralbes music festival in Barcelona on July 17, 2024 / José Irún
Gerard Escaich Folch

Gerard Escaich Folch | @gescaichfolch | Barcelona

July 18, 2024 01:03 AM

July 18, 2024 01:08 AM

Dancing, jumping, singing… And while every spectator going to a concert expects the artist to do at least one, mainly singing, Wednesday was different, as those were the concert's basics.

"We have danced, sang, danced together, and what are we missing now?" singer-songwriter Mika asked the public mid the 'Love Today' song almost at the concert's end.

"Make love!"

American, British, and Lebanese singer Mika performs in Barcelona on July 17, 2024 at Les Nits de Pedralbes music festival
American, British, and Lebanese singer Mika performs in Barcelona on July 17, 2024 at Les Nits de Pedralbes music festival / José Irún

But turns out that "before making love in the Royal Gardens, we need to fly first."

At that moment, the American, British, and Lebanese singer had been performing for almost 1:45 hours, but he and the thousands of fans could easily continue.

Mika's gig at the summer Les Nits de Barcelona music festival, held in the Palau de Pedralbes gardens, or, as he referred to it during the whole night: 'Jardines Reales,' was a party.

Yes, in Spanish, as he has been working during this last year to improve the language. Something which he succeeded with a high mark, despite saying 'gambas' instead of 'piernas' (legs) and considering the meaning in Spanish, prawns, the public started laughing. Mika quickly realized the error and acknowledged it was his only mistake during the whole night.

Musician Mika performs in front of thousands in Barcelona on July 17, 2024 at Les Nits de Pedralbes music festival
Musician Mika performs in front of thousands in Barcelona on July 17, 2024 at Les Nits de Pedralbes music festival / José Irún

"Me disculpo a tots porqué me falta un poquito de Catalán," (forgive me, as I am missing a little bit of Catalan language) the musician said early in the concert. In fact, he asked the help of a front row fan, Ada, to help him with Catalan. 

"Aquesta nit esteu molt elegants," (you are dressed very smart tonight) he said when talking to the audience with Ada's help. Everyone, as he said, was well dressed because they were attending a concert at the "Jardins de Pedralbes," even though he first said 'Jardines reales' in Spanish, but his translator switched it to the location's name.

It was the second time I got to watch the singer performing in Catalonia. My first time was at the Cap Roig festival in the seaside town of Calella de Palafrugell two years ago.

Singer Mika at Les Nits de Pedralbes music festival in Barcelona on July 17, 2024
Singer Mika at Les Nits de Pedralbes music festival in Barcelona on July 17, 2024 / José Irún

And as back then, Wednesday's concert was unique, excellent, fun, fabulous, lovely, and, why not... a little bit hot, as it had been a sunny and warm day in Barcelona, and temperatures were already relatively high at the start of the gig at around 10 pm.

Mika did not cease to surprise us with hit after hit, such as 'Lollipop,' 'Relax, Take it Easy,' or the beautiful 'Happy Ending.'

It may be impossible for him to stay on stage the whole night as he looks to interact with the audience and dances and sings surrounded by his fans. Two years ago, he started seated in the middle of the audience, and no one knew where he was. Not even the person by his side, who, as I recall, Mika said he was looking on Google, the artist. He was not aware the artist was explaining the situation to the whole audience over the speaker.

Singer Mika wearing a white suit in a concert in Barcelona on July 17, 2024
Singer Mika wearing a white suit in a concert in Barcelona on July 17, 2024 / José Irún

On Wednesday's show, he appeared on stage directly, full of energy and already jumping around in a white suit. He wore five different suits: the first one, followed by a very colorful suit, a glittery one, another white one with a large embroidered white flower, and a dark green one. 

'Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)' was the song that made Mika get off the stage and sing it with the audience while walking, or in some cases, running, around the seats. It was his playground, his 'Butterfly Lounge,' and he checked the different areas of the stands to see who were the "most crazy" fans.

One of the most beautiful moments was during the song 'Underwater' when spectators held hundreds of paper fish, which surprised Mika. The female fan, who had prepared all these fish, had been cutting paper fish for around two days, as she told Mika during the middle of the song. She was invited to go on stage to help the singer conduct the audience as the choir.

But after 'Underwater,' there were still hits such as 'Live Your Life,' 'Billy Brown,' or 'Elle me dit.' These were marking the end of the show, which had 'Grace Kelly,' and 'Happy Ending,' as the main closers, without forgetting the big hit: 'Love Today.'

"And now that we have flown," he said at the song's end, "we can finally make love."

"Moltes gràcies, us estimo Barcelona," were Mika's last words on stage.