Dr. John
by Mika

Album: The Boy Who Knew Too Much (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Mika tried to explain the genesis of this uptempo track in an interview with The Observer Music Monthly June 2009. He explained: "When you've had too much to drink and you're reminded of things you'd rather forget... I always wished there was this mystical figure I could talk to. I started to call him Dr. John. He's this triangular-shaped, perfect older man with just the right ingredients of madness and humility... he's got a big white beard and he's covered in feathers that he steals from his pet peacock." Seeing the interviewer looking baffled, he added: "There's this whole world that goes with my songs."
  • According to an interview with Billboard, Life in Cartoon Motion was envisioned by Mika as "a kind of rock opera about my adolescence." This song kicks off with Mika singing "I look for love in a strange place, in the back of a bar." He explained The Observer Music Monthly: "Well, it wasn't barbershop love, in a let's go to the dance, boys on one side, girls on the other and 'I'll buy you a couple of warm pints of Stella.' I was quite shy but there was a bit of a secret life going on. I made a lot of mistakes. There was a lot of very harsh rejection as well in relationships. Or make-believe relationships that had developed in my head. I wasn't a crazy promiscuous f---- up, but I was doing things I shouldn't have been doing, yes, just like any teenager."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Grammar In Lyrics

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?

Cy Curnin of The Fixx

Cy Curnin of The FixxSongwriter Interviews

The man who brought us "Red Skies" and "Saved By Zero" is now an organic farmer in France.

David Paich of Toto

David Paich of TotoSongwriter Interviews

Toto's keyboard player explains the true meaning of "Africa" and talks about working on the Thriller album.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")Song Writing

Nick made some of the biggest videos on MTV, including "The Final Countdown," "Heaven" and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)."

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.