Mika - Big Girl (You Are Beautiful) | Song & Video Review
by 
Dave Parrack on August 9th, 2007
I’m not a big fan of Mika, feeling he’s a bit of a one trick pony, BUT, this song is actually quite good, and annoyingly catchy. It’s been out a couple of weeks now, being originally released on July 23rd in the UK, and it’s currently sitting at number 11 in the UK charts.
I love the subject matter, with Mika basically defending big girls around the world, and telling them to realise they’re beautiful despite what some people may say.
The whole song rips in to the basic premise that carrying a little extra weight is a terrible thing, almost a crime these days. Some artists and songs, especially the male American R’n'B singers and tracks deride any girl with a slight bit of chubbiness, which is clearly wrong.
The video is a lot of fun, and conveys the meaning of the song superbly. Some of the girls in the video, dancing around behind Mika aren’t actually that big, or maybe it’s just the corsets holding the flab in, but they look great none the less.
It looks like the video was filmed in a London market place, and I can imagine what the market stall holders thought as a camp looking singer and a clan of 6 larger women traipsed through while they were trying to sell their sprouts and lettuce.
My only problem is that Mika is a bit weird. Some would call it originality, I call it being a freak. Maybe that’s cruel, but I just don’t get his look and style, maybe because I’m getting a bit old. This song works though, and although I didn’t like the album ‘Life In Cartoon Motion’ it comes from, I have to admit this got my foot tapping.
Some of the lyrics of this song are inspired, with asides and requests to big girls to respect themselves. “You take your skinny girl, I feel like I’m gonna die, cause a real woman needs a real man, here’s why. You take your girl and multiply her by four, now a whole lotta woman needs a whole lot more.” I couldn’t agree more!
I don’t know if anyone else has ever done a song such as this, unless you include ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’ by Queen in the mix, and that proves Mika’s inane ability for originality. He annoys me, but I have to begrudgingly give him credit.
Tags: Big-Girl, British, Fat, London, Lyrics, Mika, Pop, Queen, R'n'B, UK, YouTube| 2.5 |
21 opinions for Mika - Big Girl (You Are Beautiful) | Song & Video Review
Aug 10, 2007 at 10:39 am
I was JUST watching him on Good Morning America this morning and thinking, “Okay, he sounds like he’s trying to sound like Freddie Mercury. And now he does a song like ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’ - yet he’s far too young to really KNOW that music.”
However I’m tossed back about 14 years when I was living in Italy, and “Queen” was the absolute RAGE there.
As a plus size woman, I’m torn. Part of me wants so desperately to believe that he’s genuine here, and that this song would take off as the anthem of all plus sized women out there - and the other part of me looks at this guy as quirky as hell, and knows that this too, shall pass… pretty damn quickly I bet.
I think it’s kind of cool that he’s not focusing on “big bootie” or whatever - but that’s a rap/R&B thing anyway, and doesn’t require one to be a “big girl” - just a girl with a big bubble butt. ;)
Aug 11, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Lara, thanks for commenting.
He was compared to Freddie Mercury from the off, he seems to lap up the similarities.
I think he’s being genuine in this song, and actually there;s quite a lashback against skinny models and waifs over here. Larger women can be gorgeous, I much prefer something to hold on to!
Aug 12, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Awh Dave… nice to know that not all men are after toothpick “birdcage chested” women! ;) Maybe I need to move to England… LOL
We went through the battle against waifs here for what feels like a very brief moment in the past year or so - but I think the mentality that big=lazy just overtakes any fight we’re willing to put into it. Especially being that America is the most overweight country in the world… *sigh*
I’m glad to read you think he’s being sincere though… I’m here to say that if he were American, I’d doubt the sincerity much more.
Aug 12, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Lara, you’ll find a lot of us men prefer a bit of meat on our ladies lol. Maybe it’s a British thing.
Britain isn’t far behind America for being overweight as a nation, but the portions you guys eat over there are massive :S
Women of all sizes are gorgeous, too many preconceptions are made on looks!
Aug 23, 2007 at 5:25 am
I am sorry to say BOY’s and Girls,
that there is NO EXCUSE to be be FAT! Yes, you can have some exra meat here and there, but that is curvy and shapey….
Salma Hayek is PERFECT….She is NOT SKINNY! she is shapely and curvy and SEXY!
BIG GIRLS must go on DIET! FAT is not good!
Aug 23, 2007 at 9:10 am
Listen up, “Spiderman”… While I happen to agree with you that Salma Hayek has a great shape, you need to grow up and learn that people are more than their bodies, and don’t deserve to be insulted, made fun of, or ridiculed for not falling under YOUR idea of “perfect”.
There are plenty of reasons why some people carry more fat on their bodies than others. I suggest you stop playing your Dogma DVD over and over again and try to educate yourself before you start saying things like “no excuse”.
Everyone’s different. You can take two women the same age, height, and weight and FORCE them to do the same workouts and eat the same food, and they’ll still look different after a month or year or whatever.
It’s not as easy as you seem to think it is… and I pray for your sake that somehow you find yourself stricken with the burden of having your body start holding on to extra fat for some medical reason. Or better yet, because of age alone. If there were truly “no excuse” then wouldn’t we ALL be “perfect” in your eyes?
Had you come at this from a “healthy lifestyle” perspective, you’d have gotten a much kinder response from me. However you seem to be far too vain and judgmental to deserve something kind from anyone.
(Sorry Dave… sometimes I can’t help it. ;))
Aug 23, 2007 at 9:49 am
Don’t apologise Lara, I welcome a good debate, and Peter Parker is so wrong, he deserves a bit of vitriol from you.
Peter, first of all there are reasons people are big, it’s not always through eating too much. And regardless of that, are you telling me no big women are attractive? What a bunch of crap that is.
Salma Hayek has a good figure but she’s not my type, so I’d much prefer to take one of the ladies in this video out for a drink.
Losing weight can sometimes be healthy for you, but it’s your sort of sttitude which makes young girls become stick thin ot develop eating disorders.
Aug 23, 2007 at 10:04 am
Thanks Dave - and you’re right. It’s that attitude that does drive women into depression and extreme, unhealthy behavior.
Just like there are women that are “naturally thin” who wind up being called “anorexic”, there are women who are “naturally thick” that often are labeled as lazy or gluttonous. It’s a giant “monster” that people like this guy keep feeding. Pun definitely, intended.
Aug 23, 2007 at 10:40 am
Weight issues asides, I love the video. The kitsch is awesome - the looks on the faces of the bystanders are priceless.
And I think it’s awesome that the video is not full of Posh look alikes. As the mother of two girls, I am tired of turning on the telly and seeing skinny girls. Why can’t we just accept people as people?
Aug 23, 2007 at 11:37 am
I’m jumping in here - I am NOT thin, and I constantly get reminded by that every time I see super-thin size -0 celebrities on the television.
However…
I can’t lose weight the way most people can, because of my polycystic ovary syndrome. I can sweat my butt off and eat nothing and still lose less than half a pound a week. When you’re hungry and exhausted AND chasing after two kids, it doesn’t seem worth it.
My husband loves my body, and makes sure I know it just about every night :)
Aug 23, 2007 at 11:42 am
YAY RANDI!!!!!
My friend has PCOS too and she has a hard time losing weight. It’s awful that sometimes people choose ignorance and vanity over reality… but good for you for living your life as who you are and not what others think you should look like! :)
Aug 23, 2007 at 11:55 am
Dave,
Sir Mixsalot’s song “Baby’s Got Back” was always a favorite of mine, even though I deplore rap. Somehow, when it comes on the radio, it always makes me smile.
Beth
Aug 23, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Love this video! After I heard this song I went and listened to some of his interviews and he really does seem sincere.
As for the poster above discussing how there is no excuse for women to be anything other than what he expects them to be … well, we are not going to change his mind. He wants the world his way, and as a result he will find his life and his experiences are as limited as his desires.
Aug 23, 2007 at 12:50 pm
It’s not about size, its about health and confidence. I’m not a super-model size, but I have confidence in my own body and I keep myself healthy, making sure that I work out a few times a week and eat healthy foods. Size 0 to size 20 (or bigger) and everything in between–you ARE beautiful if you believe yourself to be!
Aug 23, 2007 at 10:52 pm
Put a crabby woman in a thin body, she’s still going to be a crabby woman.
Parker…You must be looking at life through the wrong end of the camera. Not only are there countries out there who love a little bit of budunkadunk but actually think that it’s healthy.
Unless weight loss is needed to reduce a health problem then people shouldn’t worry about it.
DaveP, thanks for introducing me to a new artist. He looks like he’s trying to bring the 60’s back but I really like the song. I think Christina Aguilera has a song about people being bueatiful and Prince
Aug 24, 2007 at 12:42 am
I recently had a conversation with my sister on how clueless a lot of guys are about how much a woman weighs, or what size she wears. I’ve seen guys estimate the weight of a girl who’s 200lbs as 150lbs, or guess that the size 14 girl is a size 8, or buy their girlfriends sizes that are two or more off their actual size (both too big and too small).
Whatever your size, be comfortable with it (or do what you need to do to get it to the level of health you need). You will have no trouble meeting people who love your body too, especially if you love your body.
But society’s pull can be so strong sometimes. I personally know that in order for my BMI to be acceptable, I have a lot of weight to lose, but sometimes I wonder if I’m not meant to the be the size I am. Body image issues can be so self destructive.
Aug 24, 2007 at 2:21 am
I had to comment. There is literally no way to say this in a way so as not to be taken arrogantly, but I don’t mean it like that. I’m a size 0 - or smaller. I’ve got a couple of assets that men tend to talk to, a tiny waist and big blue eyes. Do you know what that gets me? Stereotyped as easy, and the like. While no one should have to conform to anyone’s ‘rule,’ sometimes it’s hard when you do. I’m just happy that I don’t have blonde hair - the stereotype that would be tacked on is too insulting to my intelligence.
No matter what, if you think you’re fabulous, you are. Anyone who provides commentary on what needs to happen to a population - well, they’re just an idiot.
Aug 24, 2007 at 3:38 am
Hey there, I thought I’d chime in.
I’m a fat chickie and I like this video. The women in this video aren’t fat=unhealthy, which would make me against this video. If they were unhealthy fat, then I would be ranting on this like white on rice.
But, like Randi, I have PCOS. I have been working hard as bloody all at the gym for a month and have lost zip. Nothing. Nada. But I’m getting healthier otherwise, and that’s what matters.
I like videos that promote it being okay for a woman to have some curves but not hellalottaflab.
Have I made any sense? Hehe.
Aug 27, 2007 at 12:40 pm
I gained weight after being diagnosed with a rare disease and had to be on bedrest for 2 years and then, a few years later, I had to go back on bedrest because of a pregnancy. I had to eat but I wasn’t allowed to exercise and even now, I have to take it slow. I felt so terrible about myself.
This song is for women who suffer from chronic obesity or for those who are trying to lose the weight but need love in the meantime. I’ve lost 37 pounds and still, I know someone like you would judge me if you saw me eating an ice cream cone in public.
You know nothing about an individual’s reasons for being overweight. That said, we should all strive to be a “healthy” weight but that should not be determined or dictated by others.
Aug 27, 2007 at 11:51 pm
Right on, Jeanne! :)
For being a 30 year old, 100lb overweight woman, my doctors say that I’m extremely healthy. I have two “issues” that get repeated every time I go to the doctor, and that’s “quit smoking” and “lose some weight” - if that’s all they can say about me, I think I’m doing well. LOL My blood pressure’s VERY low, my cholesterol is low, my sugar is normal, and I have more lung capacity than I should for being a smoker of 13 years. (Yes, I know, I SHOULD quit that!)
I’m pretty healthy for a fat chick. And I do want to lose weight for health reasons, as well as my own vanity, but no one, especially no one like “Peter Parker” is going to make me feel bad about it. :)
Congrats on your loss so far! :)
Aug 28, 2007 at 1:20 am
Thanks, Lara. We keep “running into each other” today :)
I think that the only reason I have started to lose any weight is because I started to love myself *with* the weight. As soon as I bought cute, “fat” clothes, the pounds started to go. I lost 11 pounds this month.
We need more people like Mika because, I believe, the best way to help someone lose weight is to love them and make them feel good at their heaviest. Most of us get fat for emotional reasons and if we feel emotionally supported and accepted, we’ve won half the battle ;)
Hooray for Mika!!!
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