MEAN MIKEY
5th October 2012
Inspired by the 1990 Bart Simpson hit single "Do The Bartman", Michael Mikey Brennan takes up the alter-ego of a fictional character version of himself in his debut single, "Mean Mikey", with a persona mirroring characteristics of Bart Simpson, Horrid Henry and Eminem's Slim Shady alter-ego, while also paying homage to his musical idol, the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson and the iconic hits "Billie Jean" and "Bad". Written and released when Mikey was thirteen years old, the comedy hip-hop and R&B-influenced song chronicles the life of an aspiring pop star and school student's childhood and teenage struggles with ADHD. Mikey is accompanied on this song by his teacher Mr. Croft, who provides the song's production, instrumentation, and additional vocals. (Including the voice of Mean Mikey's grouchy Homer Simpson-esque father).
The official storyboard music video for "Mean Mikey" showcases Mikey's artistic skills, with illustrations inspired by the work of many of his favourite cartoonists, animators and illustrators as a child. Including Walt Disney, Matt Groening (The Simpsons, Futurama), Stephen Hillenburg (SpongeBob SquarePants), John Lasseter (Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Cars), Pete Docter (Toy Story, Monster's Inc, Up), Andrew Stanton (Toy Story, Finding Nemo), Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille), Kazuki Takahashi (Yu-Gi-Oh!), Quentin Blake (Roald Dahl, David Walliams), Tony Ross (Francesca Simon's Horrid Henry books, David Walliams), Marc Brown (Arthur), E.H. Shepard (Winnie-the-Pooh), Joe Ruby and Ken Spears (Scooby-Doo), William Hanna and Joseph Barbera (Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo), Bob Kane and Bill Finger (Batman), Steve Ditko (Spider-Man), Peggy Fortnum (Paddington Bear), David Law (The Beano: Dennis The Menace) and Martin Handford (Where's Wally?). Many of the characters in the video are based on Mikey's friends, family and teachers (or be it, them with a twist). Fellow cartoon menaces Bart Simpson, Horrid Henry and Dennis The Menace (The Beano version) make cameo appearances.
"Mikey has always impressed me with his songwriting. From the first time I was introduced to his debut single, 'Mean Mikey' I was hooked on his ability to tell a story with his lyrics".
Tim Lawerence, Bower Grove School teacher + musician/vocalist (Hildamay, BAYUEX, Land Speed)
LYRICS
Yo, hey what's up mate?
Who the hell are you?
I'm Mean Mikey, yes I am
Welcome to my world
You can come in if you're not a girl
Ever since I was ten I was just stuck in my room again
So long they had to bring up my tea
Yummy yummy yummy, scrummy beans
​
No time for homework I'm too busy being me
Listening to music on my CD
Someday I'm gonna be a rockstar, wait and see
M-E-A-N M-I-K-E-Y
Yeah I'm Mean Mikey
​
Mean Mikey
You wanna be like me?
Mean Mikey
Hey, that's me
Mean Mikey
That's my name
Mean Mikey
You can say it again
Mean Mikey
Yeah
​
It was just last week, take a peek
After school it wasn't cool
I got in trouble again
Yeah I'm telling
Dad was yelling (Mikey!)
Mum was too
Because I filled the bath with green slimy goo
I got put to my doom
Grounded again
And punishment time in the air flies through
Sitting by myself alone in my room
But when I get kicked out of the house I'll be outside freezing cold
What's worse; without you to hold till I'm grey and old
All alone and there's nothing to do
Turn on the music and get to the groove let's move
​
Mean Mikey, you rock man
Oh yeah baby
Dance Mean Mikey
You'll never get me down
If you got the chance Mean Mikey, you're the best
I'm a changed man now, Chris Brown (Kieran!)
​
Mean Mikey
Mikey, Mikey, Mikey
Mean Mikey
If you're bad dance like Michael Jackson
​
Mean Mikey
You wanna be like me?
Mean Mikey
Hey, that's me
Mean Mikey
That's my name
Mean Mikey
You can say it again
Mean Mikey
Yeah, that's me
Who's bad?
Now turn it up louder
​
Now after school I always come home in a bad mood
Another mean day
Go upstairs and slam the door
Stuck in my room till tea time, looking at the clock
Peace and quiet until Kieran starts playing that loud damn Xbox
​
Wish I had one but don't have enough money
'Cause mum and dad stopped it for ten whole days
But still I'm feeling good so that's okay
Homework; English, Science, Maths
I hate them all, it's not fair
But nobody cares
​
Don't have any friends except those little animals; Joey, Phil Bear and Michael
But they make my life even worse
Stuck with three bears and a monkey, and they can talk
Eggy Emma the bogey brain bugs me everyday
​
I'm up in my room singing a song
Listening to Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber all night long
​
At the end of the day I'm tucked up in my bed, dreaming in my head
Safe from girly girls, boys with girls
And bogey teachers, get out of my world
​
Life's not fair for me, but I'll win someday
But until that day, may I say?
I made mistakes but it's not the end of me
But I can't go back to the past, life goes fast
Back to the future to see what's ahead
You know I'll go far miss, 'cause my name is
​
Mean Mikey
You wanna be like me, I'm your hero
Mean Mikey
Hey that's me, I'll be king one day
Mean Mikey
I'll get the crown, you'll all stay in my dungeon; I'll lock you down
Mean Mikey
That's my name, soon it will be in lighters
But still, I'll never be anything but a singer-songwriter
Mean Mikey
Hey turn up the music, my iPods stuck on replay, hey
Mean Mikey
I hate homework
Mean Mikey
You ain't see the best of me
Mean Mikey
Yeah