Lebanese pop entertainer Mika encompasses so many combinations of whimsical musical styles that the revolutionary artist has been compared to musicians spanning almost every measurable genre. The eclectic pop star is known for his bright and almost psychedelic-looking music videos, which go along brilliantly with his Beach Boys-type spurts of high-pitched music and free-wheeling catchy beats. Producing a kaleidoscope of witty and amiable music, Mika has taken the European charts by storm, leaking into the U.S. with his infectious and well-loved tunes.While Mika seems like he's living an exciting and exuberant lifestyle, it wasn't all fun and games for this fruity pop prince. Born with the name Michael Holbrook Penniman in Beiruit to a Lebanese mother and American father, Mika spent his youth playing hopscotch around Europe, moving several times to places like Paris and London. These moves, along with his father's being held hostage at Kuwait's American Embassy and being the target of frequent bullying at school, led to Mika's withdrawal from society for a time when he was just nine years old. The young protégé stopped talking and was taken out of school for six months, and it was during this time that Mika discovered the escape of music. Music became his life, and soon Mika began taking baby steps toward complete musical bliss, enrolling in formal musical training and studying at the Royal College of Music. Eventually, Mika got his name in the business by creating a jingle for Orbit chewing gum. Dropping out of school to concentrate on his bubblegum pop music, Mika turned to his heroes Prince and Harry Nilsson to steer him in the right direction.By 2006, Mika had indeed found his eclectic but golden musical niche, releasing the aptly titled album Life in Cartoon Motion in 2007, quickly landing on the Billboard charts along with numerous hit singles.