Before being overtaken by Rihanna and the unstoppable Leona Lewis juggernaut in recent weeks, this was the biggest-selling single of the year. It’s a disturbing and divisive record, but – how shall we put it? – one of the more memorable No.1s of the year.
I had the misfortune to review its parent album Life In Cartoon Motion, a ghastly concoction of wildly derivative showtunes and blatant rip-offs, with the most disingenuous lyrics this side of Coldplay’s X&Y. That said, ‘Grace Kelly’, for all its irritating quirks, has the kind of fantastic showboating chorus that only a churl could deny. I won’t argue with those who hate it – it’s just one of those songs.
Mika is so eager to please that one resolutely refuses to be pleased. “Why don’t you like me, why don’t you like me…?” – well, where to start? Credit where it’s due, though: nothing could have stopped this going to the top of the chart. “So I tried a little Freddie” – make that “a lot”, and please leave it now.
Gracing this with her cheeky chappy, bustly dance, Junior gave it short shrift in the end. It was the ultimate confirmation that small doses of Mika are quite enough. I don’t particularly want to hear ‘Grace Kelly’ anymore, but I’ll stand by his right to be recognised for one inventive song.
Even if I didn’t hate this with a vengeance, I’d query why it made it into this list ahead of:
• Smokers outside the hospital doors – Editors
• Your love alone is not enough – Manic Street Preachers with Nina Thingy
• Can I get get get – Junior Senior
• Keep the car running – Arcade Fire
• Just fine – Mary J Blige
• I wanna have your babies – Natasha Bedingfield
• Girlfriend – Avril Lavigne
• What goes around comes around – Justin Timberlake
• Stars in their eyes – Just Jack
I suppose the answer is, “Because it’s my list, not yours Bruno.”