Lea Michele dons Brit's naughty schoolgirl look for a faithful cover of the 1998 hit.By Aly Semigran
Lea Michele performs "... Baby One More Time" on "Glee" on Tuesday
Photo: FOX
It was the song that launched the career of one of the most beloved, albeit troubled, pop stars of the past decade. Its iconic video spawned a modern-day "Lolita" and earned the title of #1 first favorite video on "TRL." So, of course, Britney Spears' 1998 smash "... Baby One More Time" was an obvious choice for Tuesday night's episode of "Glee."
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Britney Spears Tweets About 'Glee' Tribute Episode
'I loved it!' writes the pop star, who also thanked fans and shared her thoughts on the show's covers.By James Dinh
Britney Spears and Heather Morris on the set of "Glee"
Photo: FOX
Britney Spears fans are a force to be reckoned with. Earlier this year, they campaigned for an episode of "Glee" to be dedicated solely to their favorite pop princess. And after much anticipation, on Tuesday night the students of McKinley High shimmied, crooned and danced their way in tribute to the entertainer. The singer took to Twitter to thank her fans for their efforts and shared her thoughts on the program, titled "Britney/Brittany," and its covers of her songs.
"I loved it! Thank you guys SO much for making this happen!" Britney tweeted. In particular, the star seemed to enjoy the renditions of her classic tunes, saying, "I love this version of Stronger. Artie did a great job," and "The GLEE version of Toxic is amazing!"
While some of the McKinley High students — including Cheerio cheerleader Brittany S. Pearce (played by Heather Morris) — went into anesthesia--induced dream sequences to channel their inner Britney, Spears herself emerged throughout the episode's hallucinogenic fantasies. Appearing as Madonna's character at the end of "Me Against the Music," a high-school teacher in "... Baby One More Time" and a fellow cheerleader, the singer remained a source of inspiration for the Gleekers.
Spears gave kudos to co-star Morris, saying, "Awww Heather Morris is sooo cute! Brittany S Pearce. Ha! She was so fun to work with and was really sweet in person."
The singer not only applauded Morris' friendliness, but also her rendition of "I'm a Slave 4 U." She wrote of the sultry production, "Slave: Oh ... My ... God ...! Those little boys are SO cute! I know how hard it is to dance with that snake! Nice job." The pop star also was surprised at how well the show re-created the music video set of her 2003 Madonna duet, "Me Against the Music," pointing out that it "looks just like the original," and adding, "Santana does a great Madonna impression."
As the students walked Spears through memory lane, Lea Michele's cover of "... Baby One More Time" also had the singer reminiscing. "Watching Baby brings back so many memories! Feels like yesterday," she explained.
John Stamos also made a guest appearance in the episode, as the dentist who sends the Gleeks into Britney world. Spears made it clear that the 47-year-old actor looks as good as he did during his heyday. "John Stamos is still hot! He looks the same as he did on Full House," she tweeted.
As with many "Glee" fans, Britney found a pleasantly odd interest in Jane Lynch, who plays the aggressive cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester, describing the actress as "hilarious and scary all rolled into one."
Spears wasn't the only one who enjoyed filming the tribute episode — the "Glee" castmembers recently dished on working with the star. Morris told Australian magazine TV Week that the singer was her childhood inspiration. "She was my idol from, like, age 12 to 16," she said. "I sang to her [songs] in my living room and danced to her — I learned all her moves. And I had my talent shows and I lip-synched to her. I just kept flashing back to growing up and being obsessed with her."
Naya Rivera, who plays Santana, also spoke highly of the pop icon. "I love Britney Spears. I mean, who doesn't? We all grew up with her," she proclaimed in a promo video for the show. "The first music purchase I ever made was '... Baby One More Time' on cassette. [It was like], 'Britney Spears is going to be in my mitts, what do I do?' [And I was like], 'Hi Britney!' And then she was like, 'Hey!' She was awesome and beautiful. She was, like, magical."
What did you think of the Britney-themed episode? Sound off in the comments!
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Photo: FOX
Britney Spears fans are a force to be reckoned with. Earlier this year, they campaigned for an episode of "Glee" to be dedicated solely to their favorite pop princess. And after much anticipation, on Tuesday night the students of McKinley High shimmied, crooned and danced their way in tribute to the entertainer. The singer took to Twitter to thank her fans for their efforts and shared her thoughts on the program, titled "Britney/Brittany," and its covers of her songs.
"I loved it! Thank you guys SO much for making this happen!" Britney tweeted. In particular, the star seemed to enjoy the renditions of her classic tunes, saying, "I love this version of Stronger. Artie did a great job," and "The GLEE version of Toxic is amazing!"
While some of the McKinley High students — including Cheerio cheerleader Brittany S. Pearce (played by Heather Morris) — went into anesthesia--induced dream sequences to channel their inner Britney, Spears herself emerged throughout the episode's hallucinogenic fantasies. Appearing as Madonna's character at the end of "Me Against the Music," a high-school teacher in "... Baby One More Time" and a fellow cheerleader, the singer remained a source of inspiration for the Gleekers.
Spears gave kudos to co-star Morris, saying, "Awww Heather Morris is sooo cute! Brittany S Pearce. Ha! She was so fun to work with and was really sweet in person."
The singer not only applauded Morris' friendliness, but also her rendition of "I'm a Slave 4 U." She wrote of the sultry production, "Slave: Oh ... My ... God ...! Those little boys are SO cute! I know how hard it is to dance with that snake! Nice job." The pop star also was surprised at how well the show re-created the music video set of her 2003 Madonna duet, "Me Against the Music," pointing out that it "looks just like the original," and adding, "Santana does a great Madonna impression."
As the students walked Spears through memory lane, Lea Michele's cover of "... Baby One More Time" also had the singer reminiscing. "Watching Baby brings back so many memories! Feels like yesterday," she explained.
John Stamos also made a guest appearance in the episode, as the dentist who sends the Gleeks into Britney world. Spears made it clear that the 47-year-old actor looks as good as he did during his heyday. "John Stamos is still hot! He looks the same as he did on Full House," she tweeted.
As with many "Glee" fans, Britney found a pleasantly odd interest in Jane Lynch, who plays the aggressive cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester, describing the actress as "hilarious and scary all rolled into one."
Spears wasn't the only one who enjoyed filming the tribute episode — the "Glee" castmembers recently dished on working with the star. Morris told Australian magazine TV Week that the singer was her childhood inspiration. "She was my idol from, like, age 12 to 16," she said. "I sang to her [songs] in my living room and danced to her — I learned all her moves. And I had my talent shows and I lip-synched to her. I just kept flashing back to growing up and being obsessed with her."
Naya Rivera, who plays Santana, also spoke highly of the pop icon. "I love Britney Spears. I mean, who doesn't? We all grew up with her," she proclaimed in a promo video for the show. "The first music purchase I ever made was '... Baby One More Time' on cassette. [It was like], 'Britney Spears is going to be in my mitts, what do I do?' [And I was like], 'Hi Britney!' And then she was like, 'Hey!' She was awesome and beautiful. She was, like, magical."
What did you think of the Britney-themed episode? Sound off in the comments!
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Justin Bieber And Manager Study Cautionary Tales Of Teen Stars
Scooter Braun says the secret to Bieber's longevity will be his personal life.By Eric Ditzian
Justin Bieber and Scooter Braun
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
After picking up four trophies at the American Music Awards, Justin Bieber was back in Canada on Monday night, playing a sold-out show at Montreal's Centre Bell. The 16-year-old hasn't been back in his native country much since his latest tour kicked off this summer. And, according to Bieber's manager, that constant traveling is hard on his family.
"I think his dad misses him a lot because he doesn't get to see Justin as much," Scooter Braun told The Hollywood Reporter of his client, who was recently announced as one of Barbara Walters' "10 Most Fascinating People of 2010." "I think his mother — she and I have talked about this — at times, she struggles with how protective we have to be of him."
At the same time, though, Bieber's mom is thankful that she can be protective of him while they're on the road. "[S]he feels safer with him living this life because it's structured, and we know where he is all the time," Braun said. "She feels that if they were still in Stratford, Ontario, he'd be getting himself into a lot of trouble."
Instead, the Biebs is in the midst of a 90-show international tour that weaves through North America before jumping over to the U.K. next year. And he has no plans to slow down anytime soon. Pop-culture history is littered with epic flameouts, artists who rose to fame and quickly disappeared. But Bieber is so committed to avoiding such a fate, Braun said, he researches folks who fall into the "Where are they now?" category.
"Justin doesn't study the people who made it," Braun said. "He studies the people who haven't. He hears all the naysayers about how he's going to disappear, so he likes to look up people who used to be the so-called Justin Biebers before him and didn't go anywhere. He wants to see why they didn't go anywhere. The general feeling we get is that it had nothing to do with their talent and everything to do with their personal life. Like the kids fall into drugs and destroy their own trajectory."
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After picking up four trophies at the American Music Awards, Justin Bieber was back in Canada on Monday night, playing a sold-out show at Montreal's Centre Bell. The 16-year-old hasn't been back in his native country much since his latest tour kicked off this summer. And, according to Bieber's manager, that constant traveling is hard on his family.
"I think his dad misses him a lot because he doesn't get to see Justin as much," Scooter Braun told The Hollywood Reporter of his client, who was recently announced as one of Barbara Walters' "10 Most Fascinating People of 2010." "I think his mother — she and I have talked about this — at times, she struggles with how protective we have to be of him."
At the same time, though, Bieber's mom is thankful that she can be protective of him while they're on the road. "[S]he feels safer with him living this life because it's structured, and we know where he is all the time," Braun said. "She feels that if they were still in Stratford, Ontario, he'd be getting himself into a lot of trouble."
Instead, the Biebs is in the midst of a 90-show international tour that weaves through North America before jumping over to the U.K. next year. And he has no plans to slow down anytime soon. Pop-culture history is littered with epic flameouts, artists who rose to fame and quickly disappeared. But Bieber is so committed to avoiding such a fate, Braun said, he researches folks who fall into the "Where are they now?" category.
"Justin doesn't study the people who made it," Braun said. "He studies the people who haven't. He hears all the naysayers about how he's going to disappear, so he likes to look up people who used to be the so-called Justin Biebers before him and didn't go anywhere. He wants to see why they didn't go anywhere. The general feeling we get is that it had nothing to do with their talent and everything to do with their personal life. Like the kids fall into drugs and destroy their own trajectory."
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T.I.'s New Single 'Castle Walls' Hits The Net
Lyrics describe downside of fame, with vocals by Christina Aguilera.By Jayson Rodriguez
T.I.
Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images
T.I. has achieved an extraordinary amount of success in his career, including Billboard chart toppers and hit movies. He's also suffered several setbacks, like his current predicament of being an inmate in federal prison. The mix of highs and lows is nothing new to the talented but troubled MC.
In a new track that surfaced online on Monday (November 29) called "Castle Walls" and featuring Christina Aguilera, the rapper reveals that despite his achievements, there's an undercurrent of darkness shadowing his life.
"See with the Phantoms and Ferraris in the driveway/ But you see it came in exchange of a sane man's sanity," he raps over the Alex da Kid-produced number. "Your vision jaded by the Grammys on the mantlepiece/ Just switch your camera lenses, you will see the agony."
Aguilera provides a moving chorus to the track as she sings, "If I should tumble, if I should fall/ Would anyone hear me, screaming behind these castle walls?"
Earlier this month, Alex da Kid (Eminem, B.o.B) told MTV News the track would be T.I.'s next single. "I love it," he said of the number. "I think it's amazing. It's my sound, just kind of an evolution of that. I think it'll cater to a lot of different people."
The track will be featured on T.I.'s forthcoming album No Mercy, set to arrive December 7.
The album was previously slated to be titled King Uncaged, but the Atlanta MC changed the name after he was arrested in Los Angeles last month on drug charges and sentenced to 11 months in prison.
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T.I. has achieved an extraordinary amount of success in his career, including Billboard chart toppers and hit movies. He's also suffered several setbacks, like his current predicament of being an inmate in federal prison. The mix of highs and lows is nothing new to the talented but troubled MC.
In a new track that surfaced online on Monday (November 29) called "Castle Walls" and featuring Christina Aguilera, the rapper reveals that despite his achievements, there's an undercurrent of darkness shadowing his life.
"See with the Phantoms and Ferraris in the driveway/ But you see it came in exchange of a sane man's sanity," he raps over the Alex da Kid-produced number. "Your vision jaded by the Grammys on the mantlepiece/ Just switch your camera lenses, you will see the agony."
Aguilera provides a moving chorus to the track as she sings, "If I should tumble, if I should fall/ Would anyone hear me, screaming behind these castle walls?"
Earlier this month, Alex da Kid (Eminem, B.o.B) told MTV News the track would be T.I.'s next single. "I love it," he said of the number. "I think it's amazing. It's my sound, just kind of an evolution of that. I think it'll cater to a lot of different people."
The track will be featured on T.I.'s forthcoming album No Mercy, set to arrive December 7.
The album was previously slated to be titled King Uncaged, but the Atlanta MC changed the name after he was arrested in Los Angeles last month on drug charges and sentenced to 11 months in prison.
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If AC/DC aren't cranking out albums fast enough for you and Rhino Bucket don't get your engine revin,' then check out the new Airbourne album 'No Guts, No Glory.' The second disc by these Aussie/DC obsessives is a feast of sleazy, slammin' rhythms, jagged flesh-cleaving guitars and howled melodic vocals that sound like Angus-and-company on [...]
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Chloe Moretz Is Thankful For 'Kick-Ass,' Hit-Girl Groupies And Brad Pitt
And we're thankful for her, one of our favorite actors of 2010.By Josh Horowitz
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Photo: Mike Coppola/ FilmMagic
At the beginning of this year, MTV News tagged Chloe Moretz, a little-known young actor whose largest role at that point was in "(500) Days of Summer," as one of the actors in our "10 to Watch in 2010" series.
She didn't disappoint. The 13-year-old blew audiences away as the sword-wielding, bullet-taking badass Hit-Girl in "Kick-Ass." She followed up that comic book adaptation with an intense and mature performance in "Let Me In," in which she played a troubled vampire yearning for a human connection.
It's no surprise, then, that we've now named Moretz as one of the folks we're most thankful for in 2010. MTV News recently sat down for a chat with the teen star, who talked about meeting overly enthusiastic fans, how her family has helped her career and one unforgettable encounter with Brad Pitt.
MTV: You were one of our stars to watch in 2010, and now Thanksgiving time is rolling around very soon. Every year we select the actors we're most thankful for, and you're one of the actors we're most thankful for in 2010.
Chloe Moretz: Really? Wowers! Yayers! Yay-zies?
MTV: Does it feel like it's been a big year for you?
Moretz: It's been huge. "Kick-Ass" and then ["Let Me In"] — it's been absolutely insane.
MTV: What's been the highlight?
Moretz: "Kick-Ass," how big it got. The sheer thought of how much work I put into it and it finally getting so huge. That was insane. I was flabbergasted.
MTV: Were there any moments at red carpets or premieres where you thought, "Wow, this is crazy"?
Moretz: A guy at the London premiere, he had a Hit-Girl costume on — a pink wig and everything. That struck home. That leaves a memory. He was chic.
MTV: Have you run into some fans of yours, or fellow actors, who have come to you and said how impressed they are by your work?
Moretz: Brad Pitt at the afterparty, he was like, "I really like the role of Hit-Girl." And I was like, "What'd Angie think?" No, it was amazing. It was really cool to see someone who is so big and is such a phenomenal actor to recognize my work.
MTV: Who or what are you most thankful for in 2010?
Moretz: My family, of course. Without my family, where would I be? That my mom said yes when I was 6 begging her to let me semi-start the business. Where would I be without my brother Trevor? He's my acting coach.
Thanksgiving is a time for taking stock, expressing gratitude and, most importantly, overeating. We at MTV News have been gorging all year at movie theaters, so it's about time we looked back and gave thanks to our favorite actors and filmmakers of 2010. Enjoy exclusive interviews with our winners all week long.
Check out everything we've got on "Kick-Ass" and "Let Me In."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Chloe Moretz
Photo: Mike Coppola/ FilmMagic
At the beginning of this year, MTV News tagged Chloe Moretz, a little-known young actor whose largest role at that point was in "(500) Days of Summer," as one of the actors in our "10 to Watch in 2010" series.
She didn't disappoint. The 13-year-old blew audiences away as the sword-wielding, bullet-taking badass Hit-Girl in "Kick-Ass." She followed up that comic book adaptation with an intense and mature performance in "Let Me In," in which she played a troubled vampire yearning for a human connection.
It's no surprise, then, that we've now named Moretz as one of the folks we're most thankful for in 2010. MTV News recently sat down for a chat with the teen star, who talked about meeting overly enthusiastic fans, how her family has helped her career and one unforgettable encounter with Brad Pitt.
MTV: You were one of our stars to watch in 2010, and now Thanksgiving time is rolling around very soon. Every year we select the actors we're most thankful for, and you're one of the actors we're most thankful for in 2010.
Chloe Moretz: Really? Wowers! Yayers! Yay-zies?
MTV: Does it feel like it's been a big year for you?
Moretz: It's been huge. "Kick-Ass" and then ["Let Me In"] — it's been absolutely insane.
MTV: What's been the highlight?
Moretz: "Kick-Ass," how big it got. The sheer thought of how much work I put into it and it finally getting so huge. That was insane. I was flabbergasted.
MTV: Were there any moments at red carpets or premieres where you thought, "Wow, this is crazy"?
Moretz: A guy at the London premiere, he had a Hit-Girl costume on — a pink wig and everything. That struck home. That leaves a memory. He was chic.
MTV: Have you run into some fans of yours, or fellow actors, who have come to you and said how impressed they are by your work?
Moretz: Brad Pitt at the afterparty, he was like, "I really like the role of Hit-Girl." And I was like, "What'd Angie think?" No, it was amazing. It was really cool to see someone who is so big and is such a phenomenal actor to recognize my work.
MTV: Who or what are you most thankful for in 2010?
Moretz: My family, of course. Without my family, where would I be? That my mom said yes when I was 6 begging her to let me semi-start the business. Where would I be without my brother Trevor? He's my acting coach.
Thanksgiving is a time for taking stock, expressing gratitude and, most importantly, overeating. We at MTV News have been gorging all year at movie theaters, so it's about time we looked back and gave thanks to our favorite actors and filmmakers of 2010. Enjoy exclusive interviews with our winners all week long.
Check out everything we've got on "Kick-Ass" and "Let Me In."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year
Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.By James Montgomery with MTV News staff
Alison Krauss and Robert Plant accept the award for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards on Sunday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
"I'm bewildered," Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the Grammy Album of the Year award with Alison Krauss on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."
He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because Raising Sand, which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect Grammy album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.
You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history.
Really, she's the key to Sand's success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released.
And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain.
And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified.
To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.
One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album.
"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards."
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Alison Krauss and Robert Plant accept the award for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards on Sunday
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"I'm bewildered," Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the Grammy Album of the Year award with Alison Krauss on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."
He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because Raising Sand, which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect Grammy album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.
You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history.
Really, she's the key to Sand's success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released.
And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain.
And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified.
To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.
One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album.
"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards."
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Kanye West, Nicki Minaj And Ke$ha Lead Huge Album-Release Week
My Chemical Romance also moved their album to Monday to get a jump on the holidays.By Gil Kaufman
Kanye West
Photo: MJ Kim/ Getty Images
It happens every year around this time. No, not that food coma from too much turkey — the parade of megastar albums that drops the week of Thanksgiving.
While the past two weeks have already seen the release of a number of potential blockbusters, from Taylor Swift's instant-platinum Speak Now to new albums from Susan Boyle, Kid Rock, Rihanna, Josh Groban and Rascal Flatts, Monday's bumper crop could help pump some life into the holiday season.
After Kanye West decided to stake out the off-cycle Monday as the release date for his eagerly anticipated My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, his competitors fell in line to take advantage of the holiday-week sales rush, with Nicki Minaj, My Chemical Romance and Ke$ha pushing their release dates up one day as well.
"I think Kanye will do great," said Carl Mello, director of purchasing for the 28-store Newbury Comics chain, one of the few remaining non-big-box music retailers in the nation. "He did himself a lot of favors putting up so many tracks during the year and engaging with the audience."
Between the string of G.O.O.D. Friday releases and his headline-grabbing "Runaway" mini-movie, Mello said Kanye set the album up by whetting his audience's appetite for months on end. As for Nicki's Pink Friday, even though she spent the year building up cred with a series of features and her own hit "Your Love," Mello predicted she'd do "fine" but wasn't expecting her to put up Kanye numbers. "It's nice to have a female rapper who is credible and has a chance at being quite popular," he said.
The bigger challenge might come for My Chem, whose Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys has gotten good buzz thanks to the speedy single "Na Na Na," but they have been out of stores since 2006's The Black Parade, which divided some fans.
"There's almost nothing harder to sell than something that reacted well with 13- to 14-year-olds a few years ago, but who don't necessarily make the journey with the band over the years," he said, noting the dive in popularity of similar bands such as Fall Out Boy and Good Charlotte.
And though first-week sales of Rihanna's Loud are not expected to be blockbuster, Mello also said he expects that album and Kid Rock's Born Free to be solid sellers through the end of the year, along with Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, as well as Swift and previously released discs by Eminem and Lil Wayne.
Billboard magazine Senior Chart Manager and analyst Keith Caulfield agrees that West will probably have the biggest sales week, but said Ne-Yo could also have a solid bow with Libra Scale after months of working singles to radio. While he thinks Nicki could have a good week, Caulfield was cautious about Ke$ha's Cannibal.
"She could also do well, but because she's so track-oriented, it's hard to say," he said. "The best comparison for Nicki would seem to be Missy Elliott at her height with Under Construction, which sold 259,000 in its first week, and that's when people bought a lot of records. It's hard to gauge how an artist who, up until this point, has been very track-oriented but has an established record for a long time before releasing a proper album will do."
He pointed to fellow Young Money rapper Drake, who built his career up for nearly a year with a popular mixtape and features before releasing a full-length debut. "She's very different. She's colorful and versatile, but it's hard to pinpoint how that will translate into sales," he said, noting that "Your Love" has sold a very respectable 700,000 downloads to date.
Also in the mix are greatest-hits releases from Jay-Z and Pink; Lloyd Banks' H.F.M.2; the reissue of Nine Inch Nails' debut, Pretty Hate Machine; a Jimi Hendrix box set that Mello said is doing very well at his stores; Bruce Springsteen's The Promise archival set; the "Burlesque" soundtrack; and next Friday, a Target exclusive acoustic set from Justin Bieber.
And the hits will keep coming through the holidays, with a Christmas-themed "Glee" soundtrack on November 30 — which will also bring the latest from the Black Eyed Peas, The Beginning — followed the next week by T.I.'s No Mercy. December 14 brings the last potential blockbuster of 2010, the first posthumous album of Michael Jackson material, Michael, as well as the major-label debut of "American Idol" season-nine runner-up Crystal Bowersox, Farmer's Daughter; R. Kelly's Love Letter; and Ciara's Basic Instinct. (All release dates subject to change.)
Which new release are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments!
Related Artists
Kanye West
Ke$ha
Nicki Minaj
Kanye West
Photo: MJ Kim/ Getty Images
It happens every year around this time. No, not that food coma from too much turkey — the parade of megastar albums that drops the week of Thanksgiving.
While the past two weeks have already seen the release of a number of potential blockbusters, from Taylor Swift's instant-platinum Speak Now to new albums from Susan Boyle, Kid Rock, Rihanna, Josh Groban and Rascal Flatts, Monday's bumper crop could help pump some life into the holiday season.
After Kanye West decided to stake out the off-cycle Monday as the release date for his eagerly anticipated My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, his competitors fell in line to take advantage of the holiday-week sales rush, with Nicki Minaj, My Chemical Romance and Ke$ha pushing their release dates up one day as well.
"I think Kanye will do great," said Carl Mello, director of purchasing for the 28-store Newbury Comics chain, one of the few remaining non-big-box music retailers in the nation. "He did himself a lot of favors putting up so many tracks during the year and engaging with the audience."
Between the string of G.O.O.D. Friday releases and his headline-grabbing "Runaway" mini-movie, Mello said Kanye set the album up by whetting his audience's appetite for months on end. As for Nicki's Pink Friday, even though she spent the year building up cred with a series of features and her own hit "Your Love," Mello predicted she'd do "fine" but wasn't expecting her to put up Kanye numbers. "It's nice to have a female rapper who is credible and has a chance at being quite popular," he said.
The bigger challenge might come for My Chem, whose Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys has gotten good buzz thanks to the speedy single "Na Na Na," but they have been out of stores since 2006's The Black Parade, which divided some fans.
"There's almost nothing harder to sell than something that reacted well with 13- to 14-year-olds a few years ago, but who don't necessarily make the journey with the band over the years," he said, noting the dive in popularity of similar bands such as Fall Out Boy and Good Charlotte.
And though first-week sales of Rihanna's Loud are not expected to be blockbuster, Mello also said he expects that album and Kid Rock's Born Free to be solid sellers through the end of the year, along with Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, as well as Swift and previously released discs by Eminem and Lil Wayne.
Billboard magazine Senior Chart Manager and analyst Keith Caulfield agrees that West will probably have the biggest sales week, but said Ne-Yo could also have a solid bow with Libra Scale after months of working singles to radio. While he thinks Nicki could have a good week, Caulfield was cautious about Ke$ha's Cannibal.
"She could also do well, but because she's so track-oriented, it's hard to say," he said. "The best comparison for Nicki would seem to be Missy Elliott at her height with Under Construction, which sold 259,000 in its first week, and that's when people bought a lot of records. It's hard to gauge how an artist who, up until this point, has been very track-oriented but has an established record for a long time before releasing a proper album will do."
He pointed to fellow Young Money rapper Drake, who built his career up for nearly a year with a popular mixtape and features before releasing a full-length debut. "She's very different. She's colorful and versatile, but it's hard to pinpoint how that will translate into sales," he said, noting that "Your Love" has sold a very respectable 700,000 downloads to date.
Also in the mix are greatest-hits releases from Jay-Z and Pink; Lloyd Banks' H.F.M.2; the reissue of Nine Inch Nails' debut, Pretty Hate Machine; a Jimi Hendrix box set that Mello said is doing very well at his stores; Bruce Springsteen's The Promise archival set; the "Burlesque" soundtrack; and next Friday, a Target exclusive acoustic set from Justin Bieber.
And the hits will keep coming through the holidays, with a Christmas-themed "Glee" soundtrack on November 30 — which will also bring the latest from the Black Eyed Peas, The Beginning — followed the next week by T.I.'s No Mercy. December 14 brings the last potential blockbuster of 2010, the first posthumous album of Michael Jackson material, Michael, as well as the major-label debut of "American Idol" season-nine runner-up Crystal Bowersox, Farmer's Daughter; R. Kelly's Love Letter; and Ciara's Basic Instinct. (All release dates subject to change.)
Which new release are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments!
Related Artists
Kanye West
Ke$ha
Nicki Minaj
Usher Most Admires Justin Bieber's 'Excitement And Innocence'
Bieber's mentor tells MTV News the teen sensation has 'so much more in store for the future.'By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Tim Kash
Usher and Justin Bieber at the 2010 AMAs
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
With so much accomplished in 2010, Justin Bieber has certainly set the bar high for 2011. But the teen singer is already gearing up for next year. Bieber will not only release his much-anticipated 3-D flick, "Never Say Never", but he has also teased that he'd like to release an album of all-new material sometime later next year.
His mentor, Usher, thinks that at this point, the sky's the limit.
"As far as music and entertainment, that's the beginning," Usher told MTV News at Sunday's AMAs, where Bieber performed and took home four awards.
"There's so much more in store for the future, or at least there's a ton of things we can do and will, and with the support of his fans who will continue to just grow and grow and grow."
At 16, Bieber has accomplished what few manage with many more years in the music business, but Usher said he wants to ensure that Bieber doesn't stop enjoying it all as his popularity continues to grow and his schedule gets busier.
Asked what he admires most about Justin, Usher said, "His excitement and innocence in it. And I don't mean that in a light way because I think that he's absolutely enjoying every moment of it, as any young man his age would, but in a different way because [of] the hard work that has gone in and led to the dream that has become a reality. And every time you have an opportunity do something incredible, I tell him to do his best and be conscious that what you're doing today should last forever and eternity."
What did you think of Justin's AMA performance on Sunday? Tell us in the comments!
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Justin Bieber's AMA Night
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Justin Bieber
Usher
Usher and Justin Bieber at the 2010 AMAs
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
With so much accomplished in 2010, Justin Bieber has certainly set the bar high for 2011. But the teen singer is already gearing up for next year. Bieber will not only release his much-anticipated 3-D flick, "Never Say Never", but he has also teased that he'd like to release an album of all-new material sometime later next year.
His mentor, Usher, thinks that at this point, the sky's the limit.
"As far as music and entertainment, that's the beginning," Usher told MTV News at Sunday's AMAs, where Bieber performed and took home four awards.
"There's so much more in store for the future, or at least there's a ton of things we can do and will, and with the support of his fans who will continue to just grow and grow and grow."
At 16, Bieber has accomplished what few manage with many more years in the music business, but Usher said he wants to ensure that Bieber doesn't stop enjoying it all as his popularity continues to grow and his schedule gets busier.
Asked what he admires most about Justin, Usher said, "His excitement and innocence in it. And I don't mean that in a light way because I think that he's absolutely enjoying every moment of it, as any young man his age would, but in a different way because [of] the hard work that has gone in and led to the dream that has become a reality. And every time you have an opportunity do something incredible, I tell him to do his best and be conscious that what you're doing today should last forever and eternity."
What did you think of Justin's AMA performance on Sunday? Tell us in the comments!
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Justin Bieber's AMA Night
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Beyonce Jokes She's Been Pregnant With Concert Special
'I was pregnant with this DVD,' she laughs to MTV News as 'I Am ... World Tour' is set to air Thanksgiving Day on ABC.By Jocelyn Vena
Beyoncé
Photo: MTV News
Beyoncé never really seems to slow down, so when the time came to choose a director for her concert special DVD "I Am ... World Tour," the singer decided to take on those duties too. It's an accomplishment the singer jokes may have sparked those pregnancy rumors.
"I was pregnant with this DVD, yes!" she joked to MTV News.
The DVD hits stores on November 30, but fans can catch the 90-minute "I Am ... World Tour" TV special when it airs on ABC Thanksgiving night at 9:30 p.m. ET. Beyoncé opened up about what it was like to sit in the director's chair.
"Well, I've done some co-directing for music videos [but] this was definitely a big step for me, and I'm so thrilled," she said at the New York City screening for the flick.
Beyoncé said she was completely hands-on, deciding which moments made the final cut and which ones wound up on the cutting-room floor. "It was hard work," she said. "I learned so much. I have a new respect for directors and I think I would like to do more of it."
Her parents, Mathew and Tina Knowles, who also attended the screening over the weekend, said the film gives B the recognition she deserves after years of collaborating on many of her own videos.
"I'm really excited about this because Beyoncé has been making little short films and really helping to direct her videos," Tina told us. "So it's nice that she'll get credit for doing something that she really loves doing and that she's very talented at."
Dad Mathew recalled all of the effort his superstar daughter put into the special. "I'm so proud," he said. "I had an opportunity [to see the film], I've been to Houston with a screening; I've been to Bentonville, [Arkansas], with a screening, and to see the excitement from the audience, what an incredible job Beyoncé did as a director in the editing, I'm just so proud. Hopefully, all the fans go out and get the DVD and soundtrack and look at that ABC special coming on Thanksgiving."
Are you excited to see Beyoncé's concert special? Tell us in the comments!
Related Artists
Beyoncé
Beyoncé
Photo: MTV News
Beyoncé never really seems to slow down, so when the time came to choose a director for her concert special DVD "I Am ... World Tour," the singer decided to take on those duties too. It's an accomplishment the singer jokes may have sparked those pregnancy rumors.
"I was pregnant with this DVD, yes!" she joked to MTV News.
The DVD hits stores on November 30, but fans can catch the 90-minute "I Am ... World Tour" TV special when it airs on ABC Thanksgiving night at 9:30 p.m. ET. Beyoncé opened up about what it was like to sit in the director's chair.
"Well, I've done some co-directing for music videos [but] this was definitely a big step for me, and I'm so thrilled," she said at the New York City screening for the flick.
Beyoncé said she was completely hands-on, deciding which moments made the final cut and which ones wound up on the cutting-room floor. "It was hard work," she said. "I learned so much. I have a new respect for directors and I think I would like to do more of it."
Her parents, Mathew and Tina Knowles, who also attended the screening over the weekend, said the film gives B the recognition she deserves after years of collaborating on many of her own videos.
"I'm really excited about this because Beyoncé has been making little short films and really helping to direct her videos," Tina told us. "So it's nice that she'll get credit for doing something that she really loves doing and that she's very talented at."
Dad Mathew recalled all of the effort his superstar daughter put into the special. "I'm so proud," he said. "I had an opportunity [to see the film], I've been to Houston with a screening; I've been to Bentonville, [Arkansas], with a screening, and to see the excitement from the audience, what an incredible job Beyoncé did as a director in the editing, I'm just so proud. Hopefully, all the fans go out and get the DVD and soundtrack and look at that ABC special coming on Thanksgiving."
Are you excited to see Beyoncé's concert special? Tell us in the comments!
Related Artists
Beyoncé
Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber Top EMA Winners List
30 Seconds to Mars, Katy Perry, Ke$ha also take home trophies. By Mawuse Ziegbe
Lady Gaga appears via video link during the 2010 MTV EMAs on Sunday
Photo: Getty Images
The 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards Sunday (November 7) brought tons of star power and memorable performances to Madrid. In turn, many of pop music's biggest stars took home some hardware from Spain for their chart-topping hits. Catch the EMA show Sunday (November 7) at 9 p.m. ET on MTV2 and Friday at 9 p.m. ET on MTV, and check out a list of the winners below:
Best Song
Lady Gaga "Bad Romance"
Best Live Act
Linkin Park
Best Pop
Lady Gaga
Best New Act
Ke$ha
Best Female
Lady Gaga
Best Male
Justin Bieber
Best Hip Hop
Eminem
Best Rock
30 Seconds to Mars
Best Alternative
Paramore
Best Video
Katy Perry "California Gurls"
Best Push Act
Justin Bieber
Best World Stage Performance
Tokio Hotel
Best European Act
Marco Mengoni
The 2010 EMAs will air on MTV2 on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET, and an edited, performance-heavy version will be broadcast Friday, November 12, at 9 p.m. ET on MTV.
Related Videos
EMA 2010 | Show Highlights
EMA 2010 | Performances
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EMA 2010 | Full Fashion Recap
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Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga appears via video link during the 2010 MTV EMAs on Sunday
Photo: Getty Images
The 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards Sunday (November 7) brought tons of star power and memorable performances to Madrid. In turn, many of pop music's biggest stars took home some hardware from Spain for their chart-topping hits. Catch the EMA show Sunday (November 7) at 9 p.m. ET on MTV2 and Friday at 9 p.m. ET on MTV, and check out a list of the winners below:
Best Song
Lady Gaga "Bad Romance"
Best Live Act
Linkin Park
Best Pop
Lady Gaga
Best New Act
Ke$ha
Best Female
Lady Gaga
Best Male
Justin Bieber
Best Hip Hop
Eminem
Best Rock
30 Seconds to Mars
Best Alternative
Paramore
Best Video
Katy Perry "California Gurls"
Best Push Act
Justin Bieber
Best World Stage Performance
Tokio Hotel
Best European Act
Marco Mengoni
The 2010 EMAs will air on MTV2 on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET, and an edited, performance-heavy version will be broadcast Friday, November 12, at 9 p.m. ET on MTV.
Related Videos
EMA 2010 | Show Highlights
EMA 2010 | Performances
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EMA 2010 | Show Highlights
EMA 2010 | Full Fashion Recap
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Drake, Usher, Alicia Keys Top Soul Train Awards Nomination List
Nicki Minaj, B.o.B, Ne-Yo scored two nods apiece at this year's show set to air November 28.By Jayson Rodriguez
Alicia Keys
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images
Alicia Keys, Usher and Drake lead the list of nominees for the 2010 Soul Train Awards, it was announced on Monday (October 18).
New mother Keys and Usher are tied for the most nods with four apiece; Keys is up for Best R&B/Soul Artist Female, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Record of the Year, while Usher is up for Best R&B/Soul Artist Male, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Dance Performance.
Drake is just one nom behind the pace-setters. The Toronto lyricist scored nods in three categories: Best Hip Hop Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Record of the Year.
Nicki Minaj, Ne-Yo, B.o.B Erykah Badu, Monica, Sade and Fantasia are among the other big nominees, each scoring two nods apiece. This year's Legends Awards recipients are veteran singers Ron Isley and Anita Baker.
R. Kelly is set to open the show, hosted for a second-straight year by actor Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. Rick Ross, Cee-Lo and Keyshia Cole are among the acts scheduled to perform. The 2010 Soul Train Awards are set for November 10 at Atlanta's Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and will air November 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on BET and Centric.
Last year marked the return of the seminal awards show, founded by "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius, after a two-year hiatus. The 2009 production also took place in Atlanta and featured tributes to Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, L.A. Reid and Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds.
For the full list of nominees, visit BET.com.
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The 2010 Soul Train Awards Nominees
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Alicia Keys
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images
Alicia Keys, Usher and Drake lead the list of nominees for the 2010 Soul Train Awards, it was announced on Monday (October 18).
New mother Keys and Usher are tied for the most nods with four apiece; Keys is up for Best R&B/Soul Artist Female, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Record of the Year, while Usher is up for Best R&B/Soul Artist Male, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Dance Performance.
Drake is just one nom behind the pace-setters. The Toronto lyricist scored nods in three categories: Best Hip Hop Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Record of the Year.
Nicki Minaj, Ne-Yo, B.o.B Erykah Badu, Monica, Sade and Fantasia are among the other big nominees, each scoring two nods apiece. This year's Legends Awards recipients are veteran singers Ron Isley and Anita Baker.
R. Kelly is set to open the show, hosted for a second-straight year by actor Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. Rick Ross, Cee-Lo and Keyshia Cole are among the acts scheduled to perform. The 2010 Soul Train Awards are set for November 10 at Atlanta's Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and will air November 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on BET and Centric.
Last year marked the return of the seminal awards show, founded by "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius, after a two-year hiatus. The 2009 production also took place in Atlanta and featured tributes to Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, L.A. Reid and Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds.
For the full list of nominees, visit BET.com.
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The 2010 Soul Train Awards Nominees
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Charlies Angels Charlize Theron Chelsea Handler Cheryl Burke
Saturday, November 27, 2010
'Cowboys & Aliens' Director Jon Favreau Offers Trailer Play-By-Play
Favreau sits down with MTV News to talk about opening scene, villainous Harrison Ford and a 'mistake' fans found in the sneak peek.By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Jon Favreau
Photo: MTV News
"Iron Man" director Jon Favreau sure knows how to cut a trailer. Going back to his sneak peek for the first "Iron Man" — which brought down the house at that year's San Diego Comic-Con — to the debut of the highly anticipated "Cowboys & Aliens" trailer last week, Favreau seems to be an expert at getting fans into a frenzy.
Due in large part to the response from the trailer, and our own excitement for Favreau's upcoming flick, MTV News caught up with the man himself at his editing bay in Santa Monica, California, for a play-by-play look at his titillating teaser.
"This is new for me," Favreau said of commenting on his trailer. "I'm already doing a commentary track on a [trailer]. I'm in the middle of [editing] my director's cut."
Beginning with the first shot — in which a rough-and-tumble Daniel Craig wakes with a start to discover a mysterious metal band on his arm — Favreau addressed the challenge of melding two genres: Western and sci-fi.
"When you're doing a mash-up of two genres, if you play with either of them tongue-in-cheek, the combo is not going to be what's special," he said. "It allowed us to play Western pretty dead straight."
Also, that opening shot will likely be the film's opening sequence too. "It's the first shot — I'm in my director's cut, but right now, this is essentially how the movie starts," Favreau revealed, adding that the credit for that opening goes to executive producer Steven Spielberg. "The writers told me when Spielberg was developing the script, this was one of his big ideas, this [opening] image."
Another arresting image in the teaser is iconic actor Harrison Ford looking not-so-Harrison-Ford-like but rather grizzly and villainous. Favreau explained that he wants fans to see another side of their favorite actor, with shades of Han Solo and Indiana Jones.
"When Harrison comes into the movie, how do you separate him from everything he's done? How do you present him in a way that I, as a fan, would want to see him?" Favreau said of the challenge in having Ford portray a seemingly villainous character. "He was always this bastard with a big heart; that's the archetype I like for him.
"Everybody's got kind of a rough edge," Favreau added. "This is a genre film."
One more aspect to touch on, via hundreds of comments on the Internet, is a certain shot in which fans claimed that they could see a wire pulling an actor into the air; Favreau said that was no accident.
"When you see more about the way the aliens work, there is a device that they abduct people with that that is a practical element of," he explained. "It's not a mistake — we didn't miss the paint-out — but thanks to the people playing at home. If you could catch that, I'm very proud."
Favreau ended his first trailer play-by-play with a good-natured "thank you" to all the fans.
"We're working hard. Thanks to all of you for putting wind in our sails," he said. "I'm glad you liked what we put out there."
Check out everything we've got on "Cowboys & Aliens."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
Related Videos
Jon Favreau's 'Cowboys & Aliens' Director's Commentary
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Jon Favreau
Photo: MTV News
"Iron Man" director Jon Favreau sure knows how to cut a trailer. Going back to his sneak peek for the first "Iron Man" — which brought down the house at that year's San Diego Comic-Con — to the debut of the highly anticipated "Cowboys & Aliens" trailer last week, Favreau seems to be an expert at getting fans into a frenzy.
Due in large part to the response from the trailer, and our own excitement for Favreau's upcoming flick, MTV News caught up with the man himself at his editing bay in Santa Monica, California, for a play-by-play look at his titillating teaser.
"This is new for me," Favreau said of commenting on his trailer. "I'm already doing a commentary track on a [trailer]. I'm in the middle of [editing] my director's cut."
Beginning with the first shot — in which a rough-and-tumble Daniel Craig wakes with a start to discover a mysterious metal band on his arm — Favreau addressed the challenge of melding two genres: Western and sci-fi.
"When you're doing a mash-up of two genres, if you play with either of them tongue-in-cheek, the combo is not going to be what's special," he said. "It allowed us to play Western pretty dead straight."
Also, that opening shot will likely be the film's opening sequence too. "It's the first shot — I'm in my director's cut, but right now, this is essentially how the movie starts," Favreau revealed, adding that the credit for that opening goes to executive producer Steven Spielberg. "The writers told me when Spielberg was developing the script, this was one of his big ideas, this [opening] image."
Another arresting image in the teaser is iconic actor Harrison Ford looking not-so-Harrison-Ford-like but rather grizzly and villainous. Favreau explained that he wants fans to see another side of their favorite actor, with shades of Han Solo and Indiana Jones.
"When Harrison comes into the movie, how do you separate him from everything he's done? How do you present him in a way that I, as a fan, would want to see him?" Favreau said of the challenge in having Ford portray a seemingly villainous character. "He was always this bastard with a big heart; that's the archetype I like for him.
"Everybody's got kind of a rough edge," Favreau added. "This is a genre film."
One more aspect to touch on, via hundreds of comments on the Internet, is a certain shot in which fans claimed that they could see a wire pulling an actor into the air; Favreau said that was no accident.
"When you see more about the way the aliens work, there is a device that they abduct people with that that is a practical element of," he explained. "It's not a mistake — we didn't miss the paint-out — but thanks to the people playing at home. If you could catch that, I'm very proud."
Favreau ended his first trailer play-by-play with a good-natured "thank you" to all the fans.
"We're working hard. Thanks to all of you for putting wind in our sails," he said. "I'm glad you liked what we put out there."
Check out everything we've got on "Cowboys & Aliens."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
Related Videos
Jon Favreau's 'Cowboys & Aliens' Director's Commentary
Related Photos
'Cowboys & Aliens'
Usher Remembers Being A 'Pizza Face' On 'When I Was 17'
'I had really, really bad acne ' he admits in Saturday's episode. By Mawuse Ziegbe
Usher on "When I Was 17"
Photo: MTV News
He's known as one of the smoothest R&B sensations to grace the stage, but when Usher was 17, he grappled with a far less flattering image.
"I went through this phase where I had really, really bad acne," the singer admits on the latest episode of "When I Was 17," premiering Saturday at 11 a.m. Usher, who was 17 in 1995, reveals with a grin that his nickname was "Pizza Face."
"His acne was so horrible," recalled one of Usher's more blunt friends, Keith. "His face was so jacked up."
Music mogul and producer Jermaine Dupri remembered how the entertainer's spotty complexion led him to shy away from the spotlight.
"He didn't want to go out. He wanted to stay in," Dupri says. "He was a little ashamed of what was going on with his face."
The singer went to extreme, and ultimately unsuccessful, lengths to disguise his breakouts.
"As a dude, you're not gonna put makeup on your face, right?" Usher said. "I tried that, it didn't even work."
He may have experimented with cosmetics and spent a few more nights at home but the multiplatinum star didn't let his acne hold him back from wooing the ladies. "I was 17, so I would still try to talk to girls [and] get past it," Usher reasoned.
He even had some smooth lines to drop when he wanted to draw attention away from his skin. " 'Don't look at that, look at my eyes, baby. I'm trying to say something real serious to you right here,' " Usher recalled, reenacting his complexion-deflecting dating moves. "I know I have pizza face, I don't care."
In the end, his skin cleared up and the singer said it was just a matter of riding out a rite passage that many teens are forced to endure.
"This is something that all 17-year-olds have to deal with," Usher said. "You can't run away from it."
— this week featuring B.o.B, Usher and Ne-Yo — premieres Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV
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Usher on "When I Was 17"
Photo: MTV News
He's known as one of the smoothest R&B sensations to grace the stage, but when Usher was 17, he grappled with a far less flattering image.
"I went through this phase where I had really, really bad acne," the singer admits on the latest episode of "When I Was 17," premiering Saturday at 11 a.m. Usher, who was 17 in 1995, reveals with a grin that his nickname was "Pizza Face."
"His acne was so horrible," recalled one of Usher's more blunt friends, Keith. "His face was so jacked up."
Music mogul and producer Jermaine Dupri remembered how the entertainer's spotty complexion led him to shy away from the spotlight.
"He didn't want to go out. He wanted to stay in," Dupri says. "He was a little ashamed of what was going on with his face."
The singer went to extreme, and ultimately unsuccessful, lengths to disguise his breakouts.
"As a dude, you're not gonna put makeup on your face, right?" Usher said. "I tried that, it didn't even work."
He may have experimented with cosmetics and spent a few more nights at home but the multiplatinum star didn't let his acne hold him back from wooing the ladies. "I was 17, so I would still try to talk to girls [and] get past it," Usher reasoned.
He even had some smooth lines to drop when he wanted to draw attention away from his skin. " 'Don't look at that, look at my eyes, baby. I'm trying to say something real serious to you right here,' " Usher recalled, reenacting his complexion-deflecting dating moves. "I know I have pizza face, I don't care."
In the end, his skin cleared up and the singer said it was just a matter of riding out a rite passage that many teens are forced to endure.
"This is something that all 17-year-olds have to deal with," Usher said. "You can't run away from it."
— this week featuring B.o.B, Usher and Ne-Yo — premieres Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV
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Michelle Williams Continues To Channel Her Inner Marilyn Monroe
Last month we got our first look at actress Michelle Williams in full make-up as Marilyn Monroe in her new film My Week with Marilyn. Today we get to see another promo photo of Michelle as Marilyn and I gotta say, I much prefer this photo to the first Marilyn photo we saw last month: [...]
Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror
Man In The Mirror
Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: Epic Records
Director: n/a
Album: Moonwalker
Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: Epic Records
Director: n/a
Album: Moonwalker
Bill Condon Tweets The First Photo From ?The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn?
Director Bill Condon gave Twilight fans much to be thankful for on Thanksgiving yesterday because he posted the FIRST PHOTO to be released from the set of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn on the film’s official Twitter profile: As you may recall, we’ve already seen photos of the principal cast making their arrival on the [...]
Melissa Joan Hart Melissa Rycroft Melissa Sagemiller Mena Suvari
'Faster' Star Dwayne Johnson Talks Channeling Clint Eastwood
'I've got one big bullet and I'll put it right between your eyes,' he tells MTV News of throwback action flick.By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Dwayne Johnson
Photo: MTV News
Dwayne Johnson started off the year rocking a pink tutu in "Tooth Fairy." He's ending the year, though, in pretty much the exact opposite fashion, kicking ass like we've never seen the former pro wrestler kick ass before.
In "Faster," Johnson stars as an unnamed ex-con on an utterly brutal mission to avenge his brother's decade-old murder. The movie is like a flashy throwback to ultraviolent 1970s films like the Clint Eastwood-starring "Dirty Harry" and Sam Peckinpah's "Straw Dogs." Those flicks, it turns out, were the inspirations for "Faster," which opens Wednesday.
"The movies of the '70s, a lot of Peckinpah movies, Eastwood movies from the '70s, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson — movies like that where they just have that tone and that texture," Johnson told MTV News. "There weren't big explosions for the sake of explosions, so all the action was fueled by an emotion. Not big bazookas or anything like that. I've got one big bullet and I'll put it right between your eyes. It's that type of action."
That's a far cry from January's "Tooth Fairy," in which Johnson played a vicious hockey player magically transformed into a tooth-snatching, cash-bestowing pixie. It's a role that had him squeezing into tights and donning the aforementioned tutu. So, um, which Johnson character — fantastical fulfiller of dreams or cruel destroyer of lives — falls closest to the guy he really is?
The 38-year-old actor says each role has something in common with the other — a trait he also proudly shares. "There is nothing I wouldn't do to protect someone I love," he said.
Check out everything we've got on
"Faster."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Dwayne Johnson
Photo: MTV News
Dwayne Johnson started off the year rocking a pink tutu in "Tooth Fairy." He's ending the year, though, in pretty much the exact opposite fashion, kicking ass like we've never seen the former pro wrestler kick ass before.
In "Faster," Johnson stars as an unnamed ex-con on an utterly brutal mission to avenge his brother's decade-old murder. The movie is like a flashy throwback to ultraviolent 1970s films like the Clint Eastwood-starring "Dirty Harry" and Sam Peckinpah's "Straw Dogs." Those flicks, it turns out, were the inspirations for "Faster," which opens Wednesday.
"The movies of the '70s, a lot of Peckinpah movies, Eastwood movies from the '70s, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson — movies like that where they just have that tone and that texture," Johnson told MTV News. "There weren't big explosions for the sake of explosions, so all the action was fueled by an emotion. Not big bazookas or anything like that. I've got one big bullet and I'll put it right between your eyes. It's that type of action."
That's a far cry from January's "Tooth Fairy," in which Johnson played a vicious hockey player magically transformed into a tooth-snatching, cash-bestowing pixie. It's a role that had him squeezing into tights and donning the aforementioned tutu. So, um, which Johnson character — fantastical fulfiller of dreams or cruel destroyer of lives — falls closest to the guy he really is?
The 38-year-old actor says each role has something in common with the other — a trait he also proudly shares. "There is nothing I wouldn't do to protect someone I love," he said.
Check out everything we've got on
"Faster."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Cameron Diaz Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle Carla Campbell
Friday, November 26, 2010
Photos | Janet Jackson Performs A Tribute To Michael Jackson At The VMAs
Janet Jackson Performs A Tribute To Michael Jackson At The VMAs
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Ke$ha's Cannibal: A Cheat Sheet
Singer has already scored a hit with new single 'We R Who We R.'By Gil Kaufman
Ke$ha
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/ Getty Images
It's been a pretty phenomenal year for Ke$ha. The brash, glitter-loving club kid burst onto the scene in January with her debut album, Animal, hot on the heels of the smash debut single "Tik Tok."
In short order, she ended the chart run of Susan Boyle when Animal debuted at #1, made her first trip to the Grammy Awards, teamed up with pals 3OH!3 for another hit video with "Blah Blah Blah," dropped in on "American Idol" and hit the road with Rihanna. And that's just the first three months of the year!
But after scoring another hit with "Your Love Is My Drug" and flipping the bird to haters over their critiques of her wobbly debut on "Saturday Night Live," Ke$ha unleashed another single, "Take It Off."
For a minute, there was talk of a follow-up album that might have a country twang, not out of the question considering that she's a Nashville native and her mom penned songs for Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. But as she said at the time, "I'm also really digging being called, like, half-jokingly, a white-girl rapper. I think it's really funny, and I'm going to ride that train for a little bit."
By August, she was already plotting her next move, telling MTV News, "I'm always writing and kind of thinking of the next step. I'm still executing this record properly onstage, but the next record is definitely on my mind, and potentially in the works soon." She described waking up in Tokyo at 4 in the morning with a brainstorm for a new song and then spending seven hours making a "horrible" beat on "Garage Band" and singing and rapping into her computer.
A short time later, it was announced that her nine-song follow-up, Cannibal, would hit stores November 22 as a "companion" album to a reissue of Animal. The disc was reported to contain eight new songs produced by heavy-hitters like Max Martin, Benny Blanco and Bangladesh and to be preceded by "We R Who We R."
"This year has been carnivorous and life-changing. I have my rowdy, gorgeous fans to thank for taking me on the ride of a lifetime," Ke$ha said in a statement. "My only goal with this record is to keep them dancing. The songs on Cannibal were made to inspire people to ignore any hate or judgment and be themselves unapologetically. It's the perfect companion to Animal and I hope you guys like it. And if you don't like it — bite me."
Though a rumored hookup with Drake was false, a confirmed track list proved to have plenty of profane and silly titles, including (ahem) "C U Next Tuesday," "Sleazy," "Blow," "The Harold Song," "Cannibal," "We R," "Crazy Beautiful Life" and "Grow a Pear," plus a remix of "Animal." After winning an MTV EMA for Best New Act, the singer also locked in her first headlining affair, the Get $leazy Tour, which is slated to kick off February 15 in Portland, Oregon.
Like most major new albums, Cannibal leaked online a week before it hit shelves, perhaps the finest proof yet that Ke$ha has truly hit the big time. Only this time, after most of the songs had hit the Web, Ke$ha just posted the damn thing herself on her website and told her fans to enjoy.
"This is my album premiere, and it's top secret, and it's really fun and it's wild," Ke$ha said in a message posted on her site. "Things are going to get crazy and a little awkward, it'll be okay. Listen to it."
She's going to have plenty of major competition on the charts this week with new releases from Kanye West, Nicki Minaj and My Chemical Romance, but something tells us Ke$ha isn't that worried.
Open the floodgates! It's Mega-Release Week, with Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Ke$ha, My Chemical Romance and Lloyd Banks all dropping new albums. Stick with MTV News for everything you need to know about the brand-new music.
Related Artists
Ke$ha
Ke$ha
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/ Getty Images
It's been a pretty phenomenal year for Ke$ha. The brash, glitter-loving club kid burst onto the scene in January with her debut album, Animal, hot on the heels of the smash debut single "Tik Tok."
In short order, she ended the chart run of Susan Boyle when Animal debuted at #1, made her first trip to the Grammy Awards, teamed up with pals 3OH!3 for another hit video with "Blah Blah Blah," dropped in on "American Idol" and hit the road with Rihanna. And that's just the first three months of the year!
But after scoring another hit with "Your Love Is My Drug" and flipping the bird to haters over their critiques of her wobbly debut on "Saturday Night Live," Ke$ha unleashed another single, "Take It Off."
For a minute, there was talk of a follow-up album that might have a country twang, not out of the question considering that she's a Nashville native and her mom penned songs for Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. But as she said at the time, "I'm also really digging being called, like, half-jokingly, a white-girl rapper. I think it's really funny, and I'm going to ride that train for a little bit."
By August, she was already plotting her next move, telling MTV News, "I'm always writing and kind of thinking of the next step. I'm still executing this record properly onstage, but the next record is definitely on my mind, and potentially in the works soon." She described waking up in Tokyo at 4 in the morning with a brainstorm for a new song and then spending seven hours making a "horrible" beat on "Garage Band" and singing and rapping into her computer.
A short time later, it was announced that her nine-song follow-up, Cannibal, would hit stores November 22 as a "companion" album to a reissue of Animal. The disc was reported to contain eight new songs produced by heavy-hitters like Max Martin, Benny Blanco and Bangladesh and to be preceded by "We R Who We R."
"This year has been carnivorous and life-changing. I have my rowdy, gorgeous fans to thank for taking me on the ride of a lifetime," Ke$ha said in a statement. "My only goal with this record is to keep them dancing. The songs on Cannibal were made to inspire people to ignore any hate or judgment and be themselves unapologetically. It's the perfect companion to Animal and I hope you guys like it. And if you don't like it — bite me."
Though a rumored hookup with Drake was false, a confirmed track list proved to have plenty of profane and silly titles, including (ahem) "C U Next Tuesday," "Sleazy," "Blow," "The Harold Song," "Cannibal," "We R," "Crazy Beautiful Life" and "Grow a Pear," plus a remix of "Animal." After winning an MTV EMA for Best New Act, the singer also locked in her first headlining affair, the Get $leazy Tour, which is slated to kick off February 15 in Portland, Oregon.
Like most major new albums, Cannibal leaked online a week before it hit shelves, perhaps the finest proof yet that Ke$ha has truly hit the big time. Only this time, after most of the songs had hit the Web, Ke$ha just posted the damn thing herself on her website and told her fans to enjoy.
"This is my album premiere, and it's top secret, and it's really fun and it's wild," Ke$ha said in a message posted on her site. "Things are going to get crazy and a little awkward, it'll be okay. Listen to it."
She's going to have plenty of major competition on the charts this week with new releases from Kanye West, Nicki Minaj and My Chemical Romance, but something tells us Ke$ha isn't that worried.
Open the floodgates! It's Mega-Release Week, with Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Ke$ha, My Chemical Romance and Lloyd Banks all dropping new albums. Stick with MTV News for everything you need to know about the brand-new music.
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Ke$ha
Photos | 'Forbes' Magazine's Top-Earning Musicians Of 2010
'Forbes' Magazine's Top-Earning Musicians Of 2010
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Bruce Springsteen
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Taye Diggs Remembers Making Poop Song On 'When I Was 17'
'Private Practice' star recalls creating impromptu joint about feces on episode premiering Saturday at 11 a.m.By Mawuse Ziegbe
Taye Diggs
Photo: MTV News
Taye Diggs has built a reputation as a Hollywood heartthrob, lighting up the screen in everything from "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" to "Brown Sugar." But when the actor was 17, he was less of a hunk and more of a ham, constantly cutting up with his friends.
"When I was 17, we were all performers. Wherever we were, we would always try to put on some kind of a show," he remembers on the latest episode of "When I Was 17," which also features Naya Rivera from "Glee" and NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony, premiering Saturday at 11 a.m.
"They were always, always making up songs and singing them and joking around," Diggs' brother Gabriel recalls.
One time, Diggs and his pals turned someone else's crappy luck into a catchy tune.
"I remember one time there was a fire drill, and me and my boy Shane saw this dude step in some dog doo," he says. "We laugh ... and then, right then, somebody drops a beat."
Shane recreates the beat, flapping and pursing his lips, before continuing the story: "Then [Diggs] joined in, "corn feces!"
"And then it just breaks into a whole song," Diggs recalls of the ditty's inexplicable development.
Then Shane breaks down the joint's loopy lyrics for viewers: "I was walking down the street, rocking to the beat/ Clapping my hands and stomping my feet/ Look at the ground and what do I see?/ Corn feces staring right at me. Corn feces!"
For Diggs, who was 17 in 1988, the impromptu, poop-inspired ode is still hilarious years later.
"Corn feces!" the star proclaims, clapping his hands and cracking up.
"When I Was 17" — this week featuring Naya Rivera, Camelo Anthony and Taye Diggs — premieres Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV
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Taye Diggs
Photo: MTV News
Taye Diggs has built a reputation as a Hollywood heartthrob, lighting up the screen in everything from "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" to "Brown Sugar." But when the actor was 17, he was less of a hunk and more of a ham, constantly cutting up with his friends.
"When I was 17, we were all performers. Wherever we were, we would always try to put on some kind of a show," he remembers on the latest episode of "When I Was 17," which also features Naya Rivera from "Glee" and NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony, premiering Saturday at 11 a.m.
"They were always, always making up songs and singing them and joking around," Diggs' brother Gabriel recalls.
One time, Diggs and his pals turned someone else's crappy luck into a catchy tune.
"I remember one time there was a fire drill, and me and my boy Shane saw this dude step in some dog doo," he says. "We laugh ... and then, right then, somebody drops a beat."
Shane recreates the beat, flapping and pursing his lips, before continuing the story: "Then [Diggs] joined in, "corn feces!"
"And then it just breaks into a whole song," Diggs recalls of the ditty's inexplicable development.
Then Shane breaks down the joint's loopy lyrics for viewers: "I was walking down the street, rocking to the beat/ Clapping my hands and stomping my feet/ Look at the ground and what do I see?/ Corn feces staring right at me. Corn feces!"
For Diggs, who was 17 in 1988, the impromptu, poop-inspired ode is still hilarious years later.
"Corn feces!" the star proclaims, clapping his hands and cracking up.
"When I Was 17" — this week featuring Naya Rivera, Camelo Anthony and Taye Diggs — premieres Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV
Related Videos
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Chandra West Charisma Carpenter Charli Baltimore Charlies Angels
Alanis Morissette Wishes You A Happy Thanksgiving
Today is Thanksgiving Day here in the US, the day that we give thanks for all the blessings in our lives while celebrating with family, friends, etc. First time mother-to-be Alanis Morissette (who is due to give birth to her baby boy with hubby Mario Souleye Treadway any second now) posted a Thanksgiving message on [...]
Erica Leerhsen Erika Christensen Estella Warren Esther Cañadas
Britney Spears - Do Somethin'
Do Somethin'
Artist: Britney Spears
Label: BMG International
Director: Bille Woodruff/Mona Lisa
Album: My Prerogative
Artist: Britney Spears
Label: BMG International
Director: Bille Woodruff/Mona Lisa
Album: My Prerogative
Jessica Cauffiel Jessica Paré Jessica Simpson Jessica White
Jay-Z Talks Tupac, Beyonce During Charlie Rose Interview
Rapper chides veteran talk-show host for mispronouncing Tupac's name.By Jayson Rodriguez
Jay-Z
Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images
BROOKLYN, New York — Jay-Z's new book, "Decoded," may be about translating the lyrics in his songs, but when the iconic MC sat down with talk-show host Charlie Rose, he promised to "decode" everything.
Rose interviewed the rapper on Thursday before an audience at the Brooklyn Museum for a future episode of his PBS program, and the pair touched on much more than music.
With Beyoncé, his mother and other family members seated in the front row, Jay-Z held court on an array of topics, including Tupac Shakur, his arrest for stabbing a record executive and his drug-dealing past.
"Did you ever do the drugs?" Rose asked the Roc Nation boss.
"Crack cocaine," Jay responded, drawing laughs from the audience. "C'mon, man. That's hard-core, man. Maybe a little weed. A Ballantine Ale. Or a Guinness Stout."
"Decoded," Jay-Z's first book, is part memoir and part deconstruction of his lyrics, which have helped to garner more #1 albums than any solo artist in history.
Sporting a gray blazer, black v-neck sweater, dark denim jeans and designer kicks, Jay-Z was casual and charismatic throughout the evening.
When Rose mispronounced Tupac's name, the rapper humorously chided the talk-show host.
"If it was Tupac," Jay said, pronouncing it "two-pack" and pausing to let the laughter build up, "it would be spelled with a 'k' and not a 'c' at the end. You're not the first to say it wrong, but hopefully, after tonight, you'll be the last." The veteran journalist redeemed himself when he leaned over to give Jay-Z a fist pound, signifying that he had learned his lesson.
Rose probed further into the "Run This Town" star's life, at one point asking about his arrest in the stabbing of former Biggie confidant Lance "Un" Rivera.
"He was stabbed, but he went home without taking an aspirin," Jay responded, defusing the headlines of the past. "He was fine. Don't feel bad for him."
As the conversation neared its end, Rose brought up the guarded rapper's marriage to singer Beyoncé. He pointed to a clip of the two from the video for "O3 Bonnie and Clyde," but Jay chimed in before Rose could ask his question.
"I don't know how I let her wear that Boston hat," Jay-Z said. "She took the B a little too far. That's what I thought of.
"How did I get out of that," he joked, after Rose was flustered and forgot his question.
As of press time, the broadcast date for the episode of "Charlie Rose" featuring Jay-Z had not been announced.
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Jay-Z
Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images
BROOKLYN, New York — Jay-Z's new book, "Decoded," may be about translating the lyrics in his songs, but when the iconic MC sat down with talk-show host Charlie Rose, he promised to "decode" everything.
Rose interviewed the rapper on Thursday before an audience at the Brooklyn Museum for a future episode of his PBS program, and the pair touched on much more than music.
With Beyoncé, his mother and other family members seated in the front row, Jay-Z held court on an array of topics, including Tupac Shakur, his arrest for stabbing a record executive and his drug-dealing past.
"Did you ever do the drugs?" Rose asked the Roc Nation boss.
"Crack cocaine," Jay responded, drawing laughs from the audience. "C'mon, man. That's hard-core, man. Maybe a little weed. A Ballantine Ale. Or a Guinness Stout."
"Decoded," Jay-Z's first book, is part memoir and part deconstruction of his lyrics, which have helped to garner more #1 albums than any solo artist in history.
Sporting a gray blazer, black v-neck sweater, dark denim jeans and designer kicks, Jay-Z was casual and charismatic throughout the evening.
When Rose mispronounced Tupac's name, the rapper humorously chided the talk-show host.
"If it was Tupac," Jay said, pronouncing it "two-pack" and pausing to let the laughter build up, "it would be spelled with a 'k' and not a 'c' at the end. You're not the first to say it wrong, but hopefully, after tonight, you'll be the last." The veteran journalist redeemed himself when he leaned over to give Jay-Z a fist pound, signifying that he had learned his lesson.
Rose probed further into the "Run This Town" star's life, at one point asking about his arrest in the stabbing of former Biggie confidant Lance "Un" Rivera.
"He was stabbed, but he went home without taking an aspirin," Jay responded, defusing the headlines of the past. "He was fine. Don't feel bad for him."
As the conversation neared its end, Rose brought up the guarded rapper's marriage to singer Beyoncé. He pointed to a clip of the two from the video for "O3 Bonnie and Clyde," but Jay chimed in before Rose could ask his question.
"I don't know how I let her wear that Boston hat," Jay-Z said. "She took the B a little too far. That's what I thought of.
"How did I get out of that," he joked, after Rose was flustered and forgot his question.
As of press time, the broadcast date for the episode of "Charlie Rose" featuring Jay-Z had not been announced.
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Beyoncé - Ego
Ego
Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia, Music World Music
Director: Beyonce, Frank Gatson, Sheryl Murakami
Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce [Deluxe Edition]
Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia, Music World Music
Director: Beyonce, Frank Gatson, Sheryl Murakami
Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce [Deluxe Edition]
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Christian Bale Talks 'Dark Knight Rises': 'We've Got To Up It'
Actor tells MTV News he's 'very excited, because if ['Batman' series director Christopher Nolan] maintains, this will be the last one.'By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Christian Bale
Photo: MTV News
News about the third installment of Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale's "Batman" series has been slowly dripping out over the past few months. Nolan officially committed to direct in September, "Inception" actor Tom Hardy joined the cast in October, and a few weeks later, the title, "The Dark Knight Rises," was announced.
So, yes, we've been learning snippets of info here and there. All along the way, though, Bale himself hasn't learned much more than us. "Chris will let me know what I need to know when I need to know it," Bale told MTV News while promoting "The Fighter." "It's our fourth movie together. I probably know a little bit more than some other people out there, but I think most people would be surprised at how little I do know."
One thing Bale does know is that this will bring their "Batman" series to a close. That's what Nolan said back in March, and that's what has Bale looking forward to the "Dark Knight Rises" shoot.
"Very excited, because if Chris maintains, this will be the last one," Bale said, adding, "We've got to up it."
The production is set to kick off in New Orleans in the spring. That gives the 36-year-old Bale more than enough time to get into the mind-set of Bruce Wayne. Plus, after working together on two "Batman" flicks and 2006's "The Prestige," the pair know what to expect from each other.
"It just hasn't been necessary yet," Bale explained about not knowing very much about the upcoming film. "I know he'll give me plenty of time to prepare for whatever I need to, and I'll discover it. He's a pretty damn good filmmaker. I trust that he's going to come up with something wonderful."
Check out everything we've got on "The Dark Knight Rises."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
Christian Bale
Photo: MTV News
News about the third installment of Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale's "Batman" series has been slowly dripping out over the past few months. Nolan officially committed to direct in September, "Inception" actor Tom Hardy joined the cast in October, and a few weeks later, the title, "The Dark Knight Rises," was announced.
So, yes, we've been learning snippets of info here and there. All along the way, though, Bale himself hasn't learned much more than us. "Chris will let me know what I need to know when I need to know it," Bale told MTV News while promoting "The Fighter." "It's our fourth movie together. I probably know a little bit more than some other people out there, but I think most people would be surprised at how little I do know."
One thing Bale does know is that this will bring their "Batman" series to a close. That's what Nolan said back in March, and that's what has Bale looking forward to the "Dark Knight Rises" shoot.
"Very excited, because if Chris maintains, this will be the last one," Bale said, adding, "We've got to up it."
The production is set to kick off in New Orleans in the spring. That gives the 36-year-old Bale more than enough time to get into the mind-set of Bruce Wayne. Plus, after working together on two "Batman" flicks and 2006's "The Prestige," the pair know what to expect from each other.
"It just hasn't been necessary yet," Bale explained about not knowing very much about the upcoming film. "I know he'll give me plenty of time to prepare for whatever I need to, and I'll discover it. He's a pretty damn good filmmaker. I trust that he's going to come up with something wonderful."
Check out everything we've got on "The Dark Knight Rises."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
Usher Most Admires Justin Bieber's 'Excitement And Innocence'
Bieber's mentor tells MTV News the teen sensation has 'so much more in store for the future.'By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Tim Kash
Usher and Justin Bieber at the 2010 AMAs
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
With so much accomplished in 2010, Justin Bieber has certainly set the bar high for 2011. But the teen singer is already gearing up for next year. Bieber will not only release his much-anticipated 3-D flick, "Never Say Never", but he has also teased that he'd like to release an album of all-new material sometime later next year.
His mentor, Usher, thinks that at this point, the sky's the limit.
"As far as music and entertainment, that's the beginning," Usher told MTV News at Sunday's AMAs, where Bieber performed and took home four awards.
"There's so much more in store for the future, or at least there's a ton of things we can do and will, and with the support of his fans who will continue to just grow and grow and grow."
At 16, Bieber has accomplished what few manage with many more years in the music business, but Usher said he wants to ensure that Bieber doesn't stop enjoying it all as his popularity continues to grow and his schedule gets busier.
Asked what he admires most about Justin, Usher said, "His excitement and innocence in it. And I don't mean that in a light way because I think that he's absolutely enjoying every moment of it, as any young man his age would, but in a different way because [of] the hard work that has gone in and led to the dream that has become a reality. And every time you have an opportunity do something incredible, I tell him to do his best and be conscious that what you're doing today should last forever and eternity."
What did you think of Justin's AMA performance on Sunday? Tell us in the comments!
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Usher and Justin Bieber at the 2010 AMAs
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
With so much accomplished in 2010, Justin Bieber has certainly set the bar high for 2011. But the teen singer is already gearing up for next year. Bieber will not only release his much-anticipated 3-D flick, "Never Say Never", but he has also teased that he'd like to release an album of all-new material sometime later next year.
His mentor, Usher, thinks that at this point, the sky's the limit.
"As far as music and entertainment, that's the beginning," Usher told MTV News at Sunday's AMAs, where Bieber performed and took home four awards.
"There's so much more in store for the future, or at least there's a ton of things we can do and will, and with the support of his fans who will continue to just grow and grow and grow."
At 16, Bieber has accomplished what few manage with many more years in the music business, but Usher said he wants to ensure that Bieber doesn't stop enjoying it all as his popularity continues to grow and his schedule gets busier.
Asked what he admires most about Justin, Usher said, "His excitement and innocence in it. And I don't mean that in a light way because I think that he's absolutely enjoying every moment of it, as any young man his age would, but in a different way because [of] the hard work that has gone in and led to the dream that has become a reality. And every time you have an opportunity do something incredible, I tell him to do his best and be conscious that what you're doing today should last forever and eternity."
What did you think of Justin's AMA performance on Sunday? Tell us in the comments!
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Photos | Wango Tango 2010
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Michael Jackson - Thriller (Long Vers.)
Thriller (Long Vers.)
Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: Epic Records
Album: Thriller [Bonus Tracks]
Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: Epic Records
Album: Thriller [Bonus Tracks]
Britney Spears To Hit Studio With Max Martin, Dr. Luke This Week
'I'm pretty sure it's a smash,' Spears' manager tweets about song for her upcoming album.By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears
Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images
For those wondering what the deal is with Britney Spears' next album, her manager, Adam Leber, tweeted an update about the princess of pop's musical endeavors as she works on the follow-up to 2008's Circus.
"Brit is recording a big big BIG new song on Friday with #MaxMartin & @TheDrLuke. I'm pretty sure it's a smash!" he wrote. Leber recently said that the album would sound "progressive" and that ''it'll be a departure from what you've heard" in the past.
Dr. Luke retweeted Leber's message, as well as this update for all the Britney fans out there: "Please continue to wait 4 Britney's new song!!!!" Luke worked with Spears on her "Circus" track for her last album.
As for Martin, he and Spears have a long history of making music together, having worked on "3," "... Baby One More Time" and "If U Seek Amy."
"She's such an icon, I don't want to let anyone down," Dr. Luke recently shared about working with Britney, who is expected to release music sometime in early 2011. "But most importantly, I want to make good music ... I'm excited to be co-executive producing with Max Martin, the person who kind of invented Britney, and to make good music. And she's such an amazing vehicle to getting that music out to a lot of people in every country."
Spears has also hit the studio with producer Danja, who worked on her song "Gimme More." He explained, "I'm definitely gonna do my part and try to make it hard-hitting, up-tempo, high-energy. That's what I think we need and that's what I'm gonna shoot for."
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Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images
For those wondering what the deal is with Britney Spears' next album, her manager, Adam Leber, tweeted an update about the princess of pop's musical endeavors as she works on the follow-up to 2008's Circus.
"Brit is recording a big big BIG new song on Friday with #MaxMartin & @TheDrLuke. I'm pretty sure it's a smash!" he wrote. Leber recently said that the album would sound "progressive" and that ''it'll be a departure from what you've heard" in the past.
Dr. Luke retweeted Leber's message, as well as this update for all the Britney fans out there: "Please continue to wait 4 Britney's new song!!!!" Luke worked with Spears on her "Circus" track for her last album.
As for Martin, he and Spears have a long history of making music together, having worked on "3," "... Baby One More Time" and "If U Seek Amy."
"She's such an icon, I don't want to let anyone down," Dr. Luke recently shared about working with Britney, who is expected to release music sometime in early 2011. "But most importantly, I want to make good music ... I'm excited to be co-executive producing with Max Martin, the person who kind of invented Britney, and to make good music. And she's such an amazing vehicle to getting that music out to a lot of people in every country."
Spears has also hit the studio with producer Danja, who worked on her song "Gimme More." He explained, "I'm definitely gonna do my part and try to make it hard-hitting, up-tempo, high-energy. That's what I think we need and that's what I'm gonna shoot for."
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Beyonce Can't Pick Her Favorite Jay-Z Song
'I can't tell you which one is my favorite. It's just too many,' singer tells MTV News.By Jocelyn Vena
Beyoncé arrives at her "I Am ... World Tour" DVD screening on Sunday
Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images
Jay-Z is letting fans into his world with two major releases this month. He just published his book, "Decoded," in which he takes a closer look at his career, and on Monday (November 22), Hova is releasing a greatest-hits album, The Hits Collection, Volume 1.
The album features Jay's most memorable tunes, including "Big Pimpin'," "Hard Knock Life," "99 Problems" and his collabo with his superstar wife, Beyoncé, "03' Bonnie & Clyde."
But when MTV News caught up with Bey Sunday at a New York screening for her DVD concert special, "I Am ... World Tour," she admitted that "Bonnie & Clyde" isn't her favorite Jay-Z track.
"God, that's not my favorite, even though I like it," she laughed. "I can't tell you which one is my favorite. It's just too many. You're putting me on the spot!"
While the pair may be releasing fresh products at the same time, the singer insists there is no competition in the Carter-Knowles household.
"No absolutely not, [there is no competition]," she told reporters at the DVD event, going on to praise "Decoded." "That book is unbelievable, and I think we're all really proud of it. And this DVD [out this] Thanksgiving — it's the holiday season of everyone's [material] coming out."
The DVD shows a new, more intimate side of the usually private Beyoncé, and Jay-Z admits that his book also sheds new light on his persona and career. "A lot of people listen to music, but they don't really listen to it," he explained. "You may know the words and you may bop your head to it, but you don't really understand what you're singing."
Open the floodgates! It's Mega-Release Week, with Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Ke$ha, My Chemical Romance and Lloyd Banks all dropping new albums. Stick with MTV News for everything you need to know about the brand-new music.
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Beyoncé arrives at her "I Am ... World Tour" DVD screening on Sunday
Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images
Jay-Z is letting fans into his world with two major releases this month. He just published his book, "Decoded," in which he takes a closer look at his career, and on Monday (November 22), Hova is releasing a greatest-hits album, The Hits Collection, Volume 1.
The album features Jay's most memorable tunes, including "Big Pimpin'," "Hard Knock Life," "99 Problems" and his collabo with his superstar wife, Beyoncé, "03' Bonnie & Clyde."
But when MTV News caught up with Bey Sunday at a New York screening for her DVD concert special, "I Am ... World Tour," she admitted that "Bonnie & Clyde" isn't her favorite Jay-Z track.
"God, that's not my favorite, even though I like it," she laughed. "I can't tell you which one is my favorite. It's just too many. You're putting me on the spot!"
While the pair may be releasing fresh products at the same time, the singer insists there is no competition in the Carter-Knowles household.
"No absolutely not, [there is no competition]," she told reporters at the DVD event, going on to praise "Decoded." "That book is unbelievable, and I think we're all really proud of it. And this DVD [out this] Thanksgiving — it's the holiday season of everyone's [material] coming out."
The DVD shows a new, more intimate side of the usually private Beyoncé, and Jay-Z admits that his book also sheds new light on his persona and career. "A lot of people listen to music, but they don't really listen to it," he explained. "You may know the words and you may bop your head to it, but you don't really understand what you're singing."
Open the floodgates! It's Mega-Release Week, with Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Ke$ha, My Chemical Romance and Lloyd Banks all dropping new albums. Stick with MTV News for everything you need to know about the brand-new music.
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Elton John Calls Lady GaGa His Bastard Daughter!
This is equal parts HIGHlarious and SWEET!
Check out this clip of Elton John appearing on Live With Regis and Kelly, where he admits that he considers Lady GaGa the bastard daughter he never had (above)!
Awww! Such a compliment!!
And we're sure that GaGa looks up to him as though he's a FABOOSH father figure to [...]
Check out this clip of Elton John appearing on Live With Regis and Kelly, where he admits that he considers Lady GaGa the bastard daughter he never had (above)!
Awww! Such a compliment!!
And we're sure that GaGa looks up to him as though he's a FABOOSH father figure to [...]
'Deathly Hallows' Designer Reveals Scene Secrets
'Harry Potter' production designer Stuart Craig talks to MTV News about helping Harry retrieve Sword of Gryffindor from a frozen lake.By Kara Warner
Daniel Radcliffe in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1"
Photo: Warner Bros.
In the weeks leading up to the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1," fans were in a frenzy, trying to figure out just how much of the book would make the first film, which scenes would delight and disappoint, and what characters might not return ever again. And trying to get the tight-lipped folks in the Potter camp to discuss those key points was a bit of a struggle. However, now that the film has opened, MTV News has enlisted the expertise of longtime Potter production designer Stuart Craig for a few behind-the-scenes tidbits.
Much has been said of the production moving away from Hogwarts and out on multiple locations, which Craig described as a "movie on the run."
"We made a very different kind of film, which was shot a great deal on location. We traveled quite far, we built sets, and they spend a lot of time in a forest," he explained. "We built forest sets and integrated them into the real forests, so there were challenges there, as you might imagine."
Another one of the production's major challenges — and accomplishments — was shooting the sequence in which Harry retrieves the Sword of Gryffindor at the bottom of a frozen lake.
"There was a really demanding, complicated special-effects requirement there to do the ice," Craig said. "I think that all works remarkably quite well, actually. Harry breaking the ice, diving in and then subsequently strangled by the Horcrux around his neck and is struggling and can't get up quickly because of the ice above him. It's good stuff."
Which begs the question: How did Craig and his team pull off that scene, and what do they use to make the ice look so real?
"As always, well, as nearly always, there's more than one solution. The camera on top, looking from the outside down on it. It's big, thick sheets of Plexiglass with frosty texture on top of that," he revealed.
"When we're underneath, it's actually an area of wax which floats on top of the water. And wax makes very effective ice. They're tried and tested movie techniques; there are a lot. You could write a book one day, a guidebook, to the very movie techniques — frost on window panes with some Epsom salts and brown nails."
One of the great pleasures in chatting with Craig, whose credits outside the world of Harry Potter include "Ghandi," "The English Patient" and "Notting Hill," is the fact that he has such an informed perspective on the inner-workings of the industry; specifically, how advanced film-making technology is now.
"The great thing about movies these days is that you can fix everything," he said. "I have to give a talk at a film festival early next month, and I've just been looking at films that I've done in the past. In particular, 'Ghandi,' years ago in India. The thing then was: If sometimes there was a compromise, it was filmed and it was there, locked. Forever. You look at the movie 20 years later, and there it would be.
"These days, with visual effects able to do so much, you can do face replacement, you can put Dan Radcliffe's head on somebody else's body.
There's nothing they can't do, it seems. I mean, at a cost, it's not cheap, so terrible things seem to get fixed, which is very reassuring," he added, chuckling.
What was your favorite scene in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1"? Tell us in the comments below!
Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Photos
'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows - Part 1'
Daniel Radcliffe in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1"
Photo: Warner Bros.
In the weeks leading up to the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1," fans were in a frenzy, trying to figure out just how much of the book would make the first film, which scenes would delight and disappoint, and what characters might not return ever again. And trying to get the tight-lipped folks in the Potter camp to discuss those key points was a bit of a struggle. However, now that the film has opened, MTV News has enlisted the expertise of longtime Potter production designer Stuart Craig for a few behind-the-scenes tidbits.
Much has been said of the production moving away from Hogwarts and out on multiple locations, which Craig described as a "movie on the run."
"We made a very different kind of film, which was shot a great deal on location. We traveled quite far, we built sets, and they spend a lot of time in a forest," he explained. "We built forest sets and integrated them into the real forests, so there were challenges there, as you might imagine."
Another one of the production's major challenges — and accomplishments — was shooting the sequence in which Harry retrieves the Sword of Gryffindor at the bottom of a frozen lake.
"There was a really demanding, complicated special-effects requirement there to do the ice," Craig said. "I think that all works remarkably quite well, actually. Harry breaking the ice, diving in and then subsequently strangled by the Horcrux around his neck and is struggling and can't get up quickly because of the ice above him. It's good stuff."
Which begs the question: How did Craig and his team pull off that scene, and what do they use to make the ice look so real?
"As always, well, as nearly always, there's more than one solution. The camera on top, looking from the outside down on it. It's big, thick sheets of Plexiglass with frosty texture on top of that," he revealed.
"When we're underneath, it's actually an area of wax which floats on top of the water. And wax makes very effective ice. They're tried and tested movie techniques; there are a lot. You could write a book one day, a guidebook, to the very movie techniques — frost on window panes with some Epsom salts and brown nails."
One of the great pleasures in chatting with Craig, whose credits outside the world of Harry Potter include "Ghandi," "The English Patient" and "Notting Hill," is the fact that he has such an informed perspective on the inner-workings of the industry; specifically, how advanced film-making technology is now.
"The great thing about movies these days is that you can fix everything," he said. "I have to give a talk at a film festival early next month, and I've just been looking at films that I've done in the past. In particular, 'Ghandi,' years ago in India. The thing then was: If sometimes there was a compromise, it was filmed and it was there, locked. Forever. You look at the movie 20 years later, and there it would be.
"These days, with visual effects able to do so much, you can do face replacement, you can put Dan Radcliffe's head on somebody else's body.
There's nothing they can't do, it seems. I mean, at a cost, it's not cheap, so terrible things seem to get fixed, which is very reassuring," he added, chuckling.
What was your favorite scene in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1"? Tell us in the comments below!
Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Photos | MTV News' 2009 Women Of The Year: #6 Britney Spears
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Label: Columbia, Music World Music
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Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce [Deluxe Edition]
Artist: Beyoncé
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'Burlesque' Is About The 'Tease,' Cher Says
Plus: We badger co-star Stanley Tucci about why he doesn't get a song-and-dance number in the film.By Kara Warner
Cher
Photo: MTV News
After weeks of seeing those titillating "Burlesque" billboards and TV spots, the movie is finally here! For those looking for something fun to see this holiday weekend — specifically a musical with a little sugar and spice, plus Cher, Christina Aguilera and a lot of eye candy — then this is the movie for you.
And despite the stars' admissions to a few unsexy moments during production, it's safe to say that the majority of the film is sexy, sassy fun. But don't take our word for it; take Cher's. When we caught up with the legendary star recently and sly, quick-witted co-star Stanley Tucci, they gave us a rundown on what sexy is all about: chest hair.
To better set up this scenario, it should be noted that when MTV News walked into the interview room, Cher and Tucci were involved in a playful exchange about whether Tucci should button more buttons on his shirt.
"I can see the little 'I think I'm sexy,' because you've got the button happening," Cher told Tucci about his chest hair peeking out of his shirt.
"Oh, the button, yeah. Oh, I can't [button it up]. That would be sad," he quipped.
"Also, the hair is pushing the shirt away, so you've got to let it out," Cher shot back.
"That's right," Tucci said, opening his collar wider. "That's right, baby."
"It's gotta be free, it's gotta run wild," Cher added.
With a break in the friendly banter, we told Tucci that with all the song-and-dance action in the film, we were disappointed that his character doesn't have his own number.
"No, believe me, you're not," he said, which made Cher laugh out loud.
"Everybody keeps asking that question!" she exclaimed.
"If there had been, there would have been real disappointment," Tucci insisted.
Surely with all the downtime on set, he picked up a few things, like some dance moves.
"I did, but I got shots for those," he joked. "No, I'm not a singer, I'm not a singer."
Very well. We then turned the conversation back to the subject at hand — "Burlesque" — and Cher's take on what makes the film's style of dance sexy without being all about sex.
"Burlesque itself is more about tease," Cher said. "It's more about what you think is going to happen, not necessarily what's happening. It's kind of fun."
Check out everything we've got on "Burlesque."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Photo: MTV News
After weeks of seeing those titillating "Burlesque" billboards and TV spots, the movie is finally here! For those looking for something fun to see this holiday weekend — specifically a musical with a little sugar and spice, plus Cher, Christina Aguilera and a lot of eye candy — then this is the movie for you.
And despite the stars' admissions to a few unsexy moments during production, it's safe to say that the majority of the film is sexy, sassy fun. But don't take our word for it; take Cher's. When we caught up with the legendary star recently and sly, quick-witted co-star Stanley Tucci, they gave us a rundown on what sexy is all about: chest hair.
To better set up this scenario, it should be noted that when MTV News walked into the interview room, Cher and Tucci were involved in a playful exchange about whether Tucci should button more buttons on his shirt.
"I can see the little 'I think I'm sexy,' because you've got the button happening," Cher told Tucci about his chest hair peeking out of his shirt.
"Oh, the button, yeah. Oh, I can't [button it up]. That would be sad," he quipped.
"Also, the hair is pushing the shirt away, so you've got to let it out," Cher shot back.
"That's right," Tucci said, opening his collar wider. "That's right, baby."
"It's gotta be free, it's gotta run wild," Cher added.
With a break in the friendly banter, we told Tucci that with all the song-and-dance action in the film, we were disappointed that his character doesn't have his own number.
"No, believe me, you're not," he said, which made Cher laugh out loud.
"Everybody keeps asking that question!" she exclaimed.
"If there had been, there would have been real disappointment," Tucci insisted.
Surely with all the downtime on set, he picked up a few things, like some dance moves.
"I did, but I got shots for those," he joked. "No, I'm not a singer, I'm not a singer."
Very well. We then turned the conversation back to the subject at hand — "Burlesque" — and Cher's take on what makes the film's style of dance sexy without being all about sex.
"Burlesque itself is more about tease," Cher said. "It's more about what you think is going to happen, not necessarily what's happening. It's kind of fun."
Check out everything we've got on "Burlesque."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Michael Jackson - History
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Artist: Michael Jackson
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Album: HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
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Adam Lambert's 'Whole Lotta Love': The Story Behind The Cover
Glam rocker tackled the legendary 1970 Led Zeppelin song for 'American Idol' rock night.By Gil Kaufman
Adam Lambert performs "Whole Lotta Love" on "American Idol" on Tuesday
Photo: R. Mickshaw/Getty Images/ Fox
Imagine a freight train speeding toward you at midnight. Or a rockslide barreling down a hill as you try to outrace it. That's the feeling of the ominous, chugging Jimmy Page riff that kicks off Led Zeppelin's 1970 Stonehenge of rock, "Whole Lotta Love." And that's before singer Robert Plant leans into one of the nastiest, ecstatic rock screams this side of the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again."
That's the song Adam Lambert chose to sing on "American Idol" rock night Tuesday (May 5), and, needless to say, it was a challenge that the eyeliner-loving Los Angeles stage veteran was more than up for, hitting a series of high notes and rock screams that would have made Plant proud. It was a risky maneuver that paid off for Lambert, who chose a tune that came in at #75 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004.
The legendary British rock act recorded the tribute to Chicago blues icon Willie Dixon during their second U.S. tour after working it out in their live show, including it on their 1969 classic album Led Zeppelin II. Like many of the songs Zeppelin performed early in their career, "Love" was a blues standard turned on its head with a heavy dose of crunching psychedelic guitar and thundering drums, courtesy of late drummer John Bonham. The song was based on a 1962 tune by another blues forefather, Muddy Waters, called "You Need Love," which was penned by Dixon.
For Zeppelin's version, Plant customized the lyrics by adding some lyrical quotes from a few other songs Dixon wrote for Howlin' Wolf, "Back Door Man" and "Shake For Me," nailing the tricky vocal in a single take. It was also inspired by 1966's "You Need Loving" from the British rock group the Small Faces, for whom Zeppelin had great affection, but they also did not credit Dixon for his part in writing the original lyrics. The song became Zeppelin's first U.S. single and their only U.S. top 10 hit. Though their manager would not let them release singles in the U.K. because he thought it cannibalized album sales, the song was finally released as the band's only British single in 1997.
Dixon sued Zeppelin over the song in 1985, claiming it borrowed too heavily from his "You Need Love," and Zeppelin reached an agreement with him, with Dixon using the money he received to set up a program that provided musical instruments for schools. A cornerstone of heavy rock, the tune -- which was the theme song for the long-running British countdown show "Top of the Pops" in the 1970s and '80s -- has been covered by dozens of artists over the years, from Tina Turner and Ben Harper to Prince, Slash, Leona Lewis, Train's Pat Monahan, the London Symphony Orchestra and Jane's Addiction.
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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Adam Lambert performs "Whole Lotta Love" on "American Idol" on Tuesday
Photo: R. Mickshaw/Getty Images/ Fox
Imagine a freight train speeding toward you at midnight. Or a rockslide barreling down a hill as you try to outrace it. That's the feeling of the ominous, chugging Jimmy Page riff that kicks off Led Zeppelin's 1970 Stonehenge of rock, "Whole Lotta Love." And that's before singer Robert Plant leans into one of the nastiest, ecstatic rock screams this side of the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again."
That's the song Adam Lambert chose to sing on "American Idol" rock night Tuesday (May 5), and, needless to say, it was a challenge that the eyeliner-loving Los Angeles stage veteran was more than up for, hitting a series of high notes and rock screams that would have made Plant proud. It was a risky maneuver that paid off for Lambert, who chose a tune that came in at #75 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004.
The legendary British rock act recorded the tribute to Chicago blues icon Willie Dixon during their second U.S. tour after working it out in their live show, including it on their 1969 classic album Led Zeppelin II. Like many of the songs Zeppelin performed early in their career, "Love" was a blues standard turned on its head with a heavy dose of crunching psychedelic guitar and thundering drums, courtesy of late drummer John Bonham. The song was based on a 1962 tune by another blues forefather, Muddy Waters, called "You Need Love," which was penned by Dixon.
For Zeppelin's version, Plant customized the lyrics by adding some lyrical quotes from a few other songs Dixon wrote for Howlin' Wolf, "Back Door Man" and "Shake For Me," nailing the tricky vocal in a single take. It was also inspired by 1966's "You Need Loving" from the British rock group the Small Faces, for whom Zeppelin had great affection, but they also did not credit Dixon for his part in writing the original lyrics. The song became Zeppelin's first U.S. single and their only U.S. top 10 hit. Though their manager would not let them release singles in the U.K. because he thought it cannibalized album sales, the song was finally released as the band's only British single in 1997.
Dixon sued Zeppelin over the song in 1985, claiming it borrowed too heavily from his "You Need Love," and Zeppelin reached an agreement with him, with Dixon using the money he received to set up a program that provided musical instruments for schools. A cornerstone of heavy rock, the tune -- which was the theme song for the long-running British countdown show "Top of the Pops" in the 1970s and '80s -- has been covered by dozens of artists over the years, from Tina Turner and Ben Harper to Prince, Slash, Leona Lewis, Train's Pat Monahan, the London Symphony Orchestra and Jane's Addiction.
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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Tuesday, November 23, 2010
AMA 2010 Performance Highlights
Taylor Swift performs at the 2010 American Music Awards
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New Led Zeppelin On The Way? Jason Bonham Hints At 'Jam' Sessions With Jimmy Page -- But Not Robert Plant
Drummer admits he doesn't know what will come of 'new material.'By Chris Harris
Jason Bonham
Photo: Larry Marano/ Getty Images
On Friday morning, mere hours before he was due to take the stage with classic rockers Foreigner at Detroit's GM Renaissance Center, drummer Jason Bonham — the son of late Led Zeppelin kitman John Bonham — told Jim Johnson and Lynne Woodison of local rock station 94.7 WCSX that he'd be an ex-member of Foreigner as of September 1. But that's not the only thing he said.
Much to the delight of Led Zeppelin fans everywhere, Bonham revealed that he's been meeting up with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones in recent months and that they've been "trying to do some new material and writing."
It was the first time since Led Zeppelin announced they would re-form for a single performance (which happened late last year at London's O2 Arena, in honor of the late Ahmet Ertegün, who signed the band to Atlantic Records in 1969) that anyone connected to the band has confirmed publicly that new music could be on the horizon for the iconic rockers. While the bandmembers have stopped short of definitively ruling out such a reunion, singer Robert Plant insisted in the wake of last year's show that he intended to focus on promoting and touring behind his critically lauded album with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss, Raising Sand.
Not that Bonham knows what — if anything — will happen with the new material he's been working on with Page (who collaborated with pop singer Leona Lewis on an uneven version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love" at the Olympic closing ceremonies in Beijing on Sunday night) and Jones. He said he just shows up and takes his seat behind the kit.
"I've been over [to England] a couple of times," Bonham said. "I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do ... some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something. At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and start work on some material. When I get there, I never ask any questions. If I get a phone call to go and play, I enjoy every moment of it. Whatever it ends up as, to ever get a chance to jam with two people like that, it is a phenomenal thing for me. It's my life. It's what I've dreamed about doing."
He said it's still too early to tell what will become of these "jam" sessions, but admitted that the "possibility of doing something is in the cards. I really felt it was in the cards from the moment we walked offstage at the O2." Bonham also explained that, before there could be a Led Zep LP, "lots of politics [would need to] get ironed out," but added that recording with Zep is "something I've always wanted to do."
Bonham noticeably didn't mention frontman Plant's name during the discussion. A spokesperson for Page's management had no comment on the matter, and a spokesperson for Jones' management could not be reached by press time.
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Jason Bonham
Photo: Larry Marano/ Getty Images
On Friday morning, mere hours before he was due to take the stage with classic rockers Foreigner at Detroit's GM Renaissance Center, drummer Jason Bonham — the son of late Led Zeppelin kitman John Bonham — told Jim Johnson and Lynne Woodison of local rock station 94.7 WCSX that he'd be an ex-member of Foreigner as of September 1. But that's not the only thing he said.
Much to the delight of Led Zeppelin fans everywhere, Bonham revealed that he's been meeting up with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones in recent months and that they've been "trying to do some new material and writing."
It was the first time since Led Zeppelin announced they would re-form for a single performance (which happened late last year at London's O2 Arena, in honor of the late Ahmet Ertegün, who signed the band to Atlantic Records in 1969) that anyone connected to the band has confirmed publicly that new music could be on the horizon for the iconic rockers. While the bandmembers have stopped short of definitively ruling out such a reunion, singer Robert Plant insisted in the wake of last year's show that he intended to focus on promoting and touring behind his critically lauded album with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss, Raising Sand.
Not that Bonham knows what — if anything — will happen with the new material he's been working on with Page (who collaborated with pop singer Leona Lewis on an uneven version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love" at the Olympic closing ceremonies in Beijing on Sunday night) and Jones. He said he just shows up and takes his seat behind the kit.
"I've been over [to England] a couple of times," Bonham said. "I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do ... some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something. At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and start work on some material. When I get there, I never ask any questions. If I get a phone call to go and play, I enjoy every moment of it. Whatever it ends up as, to ever get a chance to jam with two people like that, it is a phenomenal thing for me. It's my life. It's what I've dreamed about doing."
He said it's still too early to tell what will become of these "jam" sessions, but admitted that the "possibility of doing something is in the cards. I really felt it was in the cards from the moment we walked offstage at the O2." Bonham also explained that, before there could be a Led Zep LP, "lots of politics [would need to] get ironed out," but added that recording with Zep is "something I've always wanted to do."
Bonham noticeably didn't mention frontman Plant's name during the discussion. A spokesperson for Page's management had no comment on the matter, and a spokesperson for Jones' management could not be reached by press time.
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Christina Aguilera Holds Hands With ?Friend? Matthew Rutler
A couple of weeks ago we saw a photo of newly single Christina Aguilera in the close company of a new male friend named Matthew Rutler who is rumored to be her new romantic interest. It was reported that the couple had gone on a double date with friends Nicole Richie and Joel Madden. Over [...]
Ke$ha Tells 'The Story Of The $' In Funny Or Die Parody Video
Skit traces singer's dollar-sign name back to a pizza-store sign.By James Dinh
Ke$ha in her Funny or Die parody video
Photo: Funny Or Die
Ke$ha is perhaps as well-known for her unusually spelled name as her hard party-girl lyrics and sexy-grunge attire. And thankfully, she seems to have quite a sense of humor about the former. The pop star teamed up with comedy video website Funny or Die to tell "The Story of the $."
In somber, TV documentary tones and dressed in all black, Ke$ha tells the traumatic story of a childhood birthday party at a fast food pizza chain. "I used to be Kesha with an S, instead of a dollar sign, and then one year I had my birthday party at Shakey's Pizza," she says, almost shedding tears. "On the sign, the big sign where they write 'Happy birthday,' they replaced the S with a dollar sign."
After a dramatic reenactment of the sign, the video then turns to Joe Trundle, an employee at the pizza joint, who recalls the day they didn't have any more S letters to hang up. "Yeah, I remember that day," he confesses. "We had a special going on sausage, salami and sundried tomatoes pizza so we were just all out of S's."
Fans get a glimpse inside of Ke$ha's real career aspirations as she reveals, "It ruined my life. I wanted to be a CPA, but you know who H&R Block doesn't hire? People with dollar signs in their name. I pretty much had to be a pop star."
The singer appears relieved when the interviewer brings her back to the same Shakey's Pizza location, in hopes of restoring her proper spelling. But she's met with another unpleasant surprise when the sign shows "KESH4."
"We have an artichoke and anchovy pizza today, so we ran out of A's," the employee tells a heartbroken Ke$ha. After lashing out at Trundle, "Tik Tok," begins to play as the shattered the singer forever known for her dollar sign name gets back into her black limo.
What did you think of Ke$ha's Funny Or Die skit? Share your comments below!
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Ke$ha in her Funny or Die parody video
Photo: Funny Or Die
Ke$ha is perhaps as well-known for her unusually spelled name as her hard party-girl lyrics and sexy-grunge attire. And thankfully, she seems to have quite a sense of humor about the former. The pop star teamed up with comedy video website Funny or Die to tell "The Story of the $."
In somber, TV documentary tones and dressed in all black, Ke$ha tells the traumatic story of a childhood birthday party at a fast food pizza chain. "I used to be Kesha with an S, instead of a dollar sign, and then one year I had my birthday party at Shakey's Pizza," she says, almost shedding tears. "On the sign, the big sign where they write 'Happy birthday,' they replaced the S with a dollar sign."
After a dramatic reenactment of the sign, the video then turns to Joe Trundle, an employee at the pizza joint, who recalls the day they didn't have any more S letters to hang up. "Yeah, I remember that day," he confesses. "We had a special going on sausage, salami and sundried tomatoes pizza so we were just all out of S's."
Fans get a glimpse inside of Ke$ha's real career aspirations as she reveals, "It ruined my life. I wanted to be a CPA, but you know who H&R Block doesn't hire? People with dollar signs in their name. I pretty much had to be a pop star."
The singer appears relieved when the interviewer brings her back to the same Shakey's Pizza location, in hopes of restoring her proper spelling. But she's met with another unpleasant surprise when the sign shows "KESH4."
"We have an artichoke and anchovy pizza today, so we ran out of A's," the employee tells a heartbroken Ke$ha. After lashing out at Trundle, "Tik Tok," begins to play as the shattered the singer forever known for her dollar sign name gets back into her black limo.
What did you think of Ke$ha's Funny Or Die skit? Share your comments below!
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Drake, Usher, Alicia Keys Top Soul Train Awards Nomination List
Nicki Minaj, B.o.B, Ne-Yo scored two nods apiece at this year's show set to air November 28.By Jayson Rodriguez
Alicia Keys
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images
Alicia Keys, Usher and Drake lead the list of nominees for the 2010 Soul Train Awards, it was announced on Monday (October 18).
New mother Keys and Usher are tied for the most nods with four apiece; Keys is up for Best R&B/Soul Artist Female, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Record of the Year, while Usher is up for Best R&B/Soul Artist Male, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Dance Performance.
Drake is just one nom behind the pace-setters. The Toronto lyricist scored nods in three categories: Best Hip Hop Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Record of the Year.
Nicki Minaj, Ne-Yo, B.o.B Erykah Badu, Monica, Sade and Fantasia are among the other big nominees, each scoring two nods apiece. This year's Legends Awards recipients are veteran singers Ron Isley and Anita Baker.
R. Kelly is set to open the show, hosted for a second-straight year by actor Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. Rick Ross, Cee-Lo and Keyshia Cole are among the acts scheduled to perform. The 2010 Soul Train Awards are set for November 10 at Atlanta's Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and will air November 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on BET and Centric.
Last year marked the return of the seminal awards show, founded by "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius, after a two-year hiatus. The 2009 production also took place in Atlanta and featured tributes to Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, L.A. Reid and Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds.
For the full list of nominees, visit BET.com.
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Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images
Alicia Keys, Usher and Drake lead the list of nominees for the 2010 Soul Train Awards, it was announced on Monday (October 18).
New mother Keys and Usher are tied for the most nods with four apiece; Keys is up for Best R&B/Soul Artist Female, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Record of the Year, while Usher is up for Best R&B/Soul Artist Male, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Dance Performance.
Drake is just one nom behind the pace-setters. The Toronto lyricist scored nods in three categories: Best Hip Hop Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Record of the Year.
Nicki Minaj, Ne-Yo, B.o.B Erykah Badu, Monica, Sade and Fantasia are among the other big nominees, each scoring two nods apiece. This year's Legends Awards recipients are veteran singers Ron Isley and Anita Baker.
R. Kelly is set to open the show, hosted for a second-straight year by actor Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. Rick Ross, Cee-Lo and Keyshia Cole are among the acts scheduled to perform. The 2010 Soul Train Awards are set for November 10 at Atlanta's Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and will air November 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on BET and Centric.
Last year marked the return of the seminal awards show, founded by "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius, after a two-year hiatus. The 2009 production also took place in Atlanta and featured tributes to Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, L.A. Reid and Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds.
For the full list of nominees, visit BET.com.
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Photos | 2010 American Music Awards Red Carpet
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Photos | Jay-Z, Beyonce, Bieber And More Nominated For 2010 BET Awards
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Monday, November 22, 2010
Ke$ha - My First Kiss
My First Kiss
Artist: Ke$ha
Label: Photo Finish Records
Director: Isaac Ravishankara
Artist: Ke$ha
Label: Photo Finish Records
Director: Isaac Ravishankara
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