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Sunday, July 31, 2011
Britney Spears - Piece of Me
Piece of Me
Artist: Britney Spears
Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
Director: Wayne Isham
Album: Blackout
Artist: Britney Spears
Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
Director: Wayne Isham
Album: Blackout
Janet Jackson Thrills Fans With Greatest Hits, Michael Tribute At Radio City
Singer covered songs ranging from classic 'Pleasure Principle' to 2008's 'Feedback' at New York show.By Vaughn Schoonmaker
Janet Jackson (file)
Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images
NEW YORK — Often imitated, never duplicated, Janet Jackson's outbursts of meticulous choreography, sassy exclamations and smoldering gazes into the audience kept them on their feet for the entire two-hour set of her greatest hits at Radio City Music Hall. Monday night marked the last of three sold-out shows at the historic venue on her monumental Number Ones: Up Close and Personal Tour.
Up-and-coming boy band Mindless Behavior opened the show with songs including "#1 Girl," "Future" and their debut single, "My Girl." With their Usher-esque dance moves and shouts like "Where the ladies at?" the boys brought the tween girls out of hiding, judging by the shrill screams escaping various corner of the music hall.
At 9:00 sharp, the lights went down and Janet's fans were on the edge of their seats, watching music videos for "The Best Things in Life Are Free" and "Rhythm Nation" projected on big screens across the venue. A small shadow drifted toward center stage, and when the colorful lights came up, Jackson, wrapped in a shoulder-padded catsuit, complete with slick short hair, blasted into "The Pleasure Principle," dancing as hard and intensely choreographed as she did when the song first came out in the 1980s.
With barely a spare second between songs, Janet dazzled her way through her biggest hits, including "Miss You Much," "All for You" and "Nasty," and more recent hits like 2008's "Feedback."
Videos displayed during Jackson's costume changes included vintage clips from "Diff'rent Strokes," a funny scene from "Poetic Justice" where Jackson slyly rejects the advances of Tupac Shakur's character, and a rather heavy scene, as Jackson's character in "Why Did I Get Married" destroys her husband's house with a golf club, screaming hysterically.
Considering the tough couple of years the Jackson family has faced, the dark moments in the video seemed fitting, and everyone was beside themselves with bittersweet joy when Michael Jackson's face popped up on the big screen and she performed their hit single "Scream."
Janet emerged for her encore in a tight white one-piece disco suit, and performed "Diamonds," "Make Me" and "Together Again," which appeared to be the biggest hit of the evening. As Jackson graciously bowed out, her straight face transitioned into a smirk, suggesting that despite the hard times she has experienced recently, we can expect to see this singing and dancing pop legend shine far into the future.
"Its amazing!" Janet fan Elena Mercantini gleamed afterward. "It's like she's still 20 years old!"
"She's hot, she's amazing and she's still got it after all these years" added Alison Klinger of Long Island. "Best concert I've ever been to!"
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Janet Jackson (file)
Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images
NEW YORK — Often imitated, never duplicated, Janet Jackson's outbursts of meticulous choreography, sassy exclamations and smoldering gazes into the audience kept them on their feet for the entire two-hour set of her greatest hits at Radio City Music Hall. Monday night marked the last of three sold-out shows at the historic venue on her monumental Number Ones: Up Close and Personal Tour.
Up-and-coming boy band Mindless Behavior opened the show with songs including "#1 Girl," "Future" and their debut single, "My Girl." With their Usher-esque dance moves and shouts like "Where the ladies at?" the boys brought the tween girls out of hiding, judging by the shrill screams escaping various corner of the music hall.
At 9:00 sharp, the lights went down and Janet's fans were on the edge of their seats, watching music videos for "The Best Things in Life Are Free" and "Rhythm Nation" projected on big screens across the venue. A small shadow drifted toward center stage, and when the colorful lights came up, Jackson, wrapped in a shoulder-padded catsuit, complete with slick short hair, blasted into "The Pleasure Principle," dancing as hard and intensely choreographed as she did when the song first came out in the 1980s.
With barely a spare second between songs, Janet dazzled her way through her biggest hits, including "Miss You Much," "All for You" and "Nasty," and more recent hits like 2008's "Feedback."
Videos displayed during Jackson's costume changes included vintage clips from "Diff'rent Strokes," a funny scene from "Poetic Justice" where Jackson slyly rejects the advances of Tupac Shakur's character, and a rather heavy scene, as Jackson's character in "Why Did I Get Married" destroys her husband's house with a golf club, screaming hysterically.
Considering the tough couple of years the Jackson family has faced, the dark moments in the video seemed fitting, and everyone was beside themselves with bittersweet joy when Michael Jackson's face popped up on the big screen and she performed their hit single "Scream."
Janet emerged for her encore in a tight white one-piece disco suit, and performed "Diamonds," "Make Me" and "Together Again," which appeared to be the biggest hit of the evening. As Jackson graciously bowed out, her straight face transitioned into a smirk, suggesting that despite the hard times she has experienced recently, we can expect to see this singing and dancing pop legend shine far into the future.
"Its amazing!" Janet fan Elena Mercantini gleamed afterward. "It's like she's still 20 years old!"
"She's hot, she's amazing and she's still got it after all these years" added Alison Klinger of Long Island. "Best concert I've ever been to!"
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'Attack The Block' Aliens 'Unlike Anything You've Seen'
Director Joe Cornish tells MTV News that 'Starship Troopers' and 'Gremlins' provided unlikely inspiration for alien-invasion flick.By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
"Attack The Block"
Photo: Studio Canal
Although there are some big Hollywood names among this weekend's new releases "Cowboys & Aliens" and "Crazy, Stupid, Love.," there is an equally intriguing, if slightly lesser-known film hitting select theaters called "Attack the Block."
What sets "Block" apart from all of the others is that it was shot on a small budget and features a cast of mostly unknown actors. MTV News recently caught up with first-time feature director Joe Cornish to find out how he accomplished so much with so little, and why he thinks his alien-invasion action movie is the best of the summer.
"You're right to observe that this movie cost probably the amount that one of Bruce Willis' shoes cost," Cornish joked when asked about the challenges of working on a limited film budget. "Like I say, that was something that excited me; I wanted to do ambitious stuff in an inventive way."
Cornish explained that he and his crew took a unique approach to their aliens, drawing inspiration from a couple of unexpected cult favorites like "Starship Troopers" and "Gremlins."
"We have an alien design we're proud of. It's unusual. It's very different. It's unlike anything you've seen before," he promised. "I like when movies withhold the monster, but I also like — 'Starship Troopers' is one of my favorite films, and there comes a point in that movie or in 'Gremlins,' where they just show the monster and it becomes about quantity," he said. "We designed our monster in such a way that we could do that. So we don't hide it for the whole movie, we expose it and you see them in numbers and in force."
Newcomer actor John Boyega said the film is a thrill ride full of unexpected surprises ... and warm hugs?
"We were put at ease by [co-star] Nick Frost's constant hugs and his words of advice and Joe Cornish's enthusiasm on set," Boyega said. "It was great to work on that project, it was a great experience," he added. "It just felt like a fun ride."
Check out everything we've got on "Attack the Block."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
"Attack The Block"
Photo: Studio Canal
Although there are some big Hollywood names among this weekend's new releases "Cowboys & Aliens" and "Crazy, Stupid, Love.," there is an equally intriguing, if slightly lesser-known film hitting select theaters called "Attack the Block."
What sets "Block" apart from all of the others is that it was shot on a small budget and features a cast of mostly unknown actors. MTV News recently caught up with first-time feature director Joe Cornish to find out how he accomplished so much with so little, and why he thinks his alien-invasion action movie is the best of the summer.
"You're right to observe that this movie cost probably the amount that one of Bruce Willis' shoes cost," Cornish joked when asked about the challenges of working on a limited film budget. "Like I say, that was something that excited me; I wanted to do ambitious stuff in an inventive way."
Cornish explained that he and his crew took a unique approach to their aliens, drawing inspiration from a couple of unexpected cult favorites like "Starship Troopers" and "Gremlins."
"We have an alien design we're proud of. It's unusual. It's very different. It's unlike anything you've seen before," he promised. "I like when movies withhold the monster, but I also like — 'Starship Troopers' is one of my favorite films, and there comes a point in that movie or in 'Gremlins,' where they just show the monster and it becomes about quantity," he said. "We designed our monster in such a way that we could do that. So we don't hide it for the whole movie, we expose it and you see them in numbers and in force."
Newcomer actor John Boyega said the film is a thrill ride full of unexpected surprises ... and warm hugs?
"We were put at ease by [co-star] Nick Frost's constant hugs and his words of advice and Joe Cornish's enthusiasm on set," Boyega said. "It was great to work on that project, it was a great experience," he added. "It just felt like a fun ride."
Check out everything we've got on "Attack the Block."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Thandie Newton The Avatars of Second Life The Pussycat Dolls Thora Birch
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Michael Jackson Estate Rakes In $310 Million To Date
Singer left behind more than $400 million in debt.
Michael Jackson
Photo: Time Life Pictures/DMI/Time Life Pictures/Getty Im
Between album sales, movie profits, licensing arrangements and lucrative deals for Cirque du Soleil shows, the estate of late King of Pop Michael Jackson has raked in more than $300 million since the singer's shocking death in June 2009.
According to TMZ, legal documents released on Thursday reveal that executors of MJ's estate have managed to make a major dent in the more than $400 million in debt that Jackson owed at the time of his death.
The first accounting from the executors shows that they have already spent around $159 million paying back various debts, income taxes and other expenses, which include providing support for the pop star's mother, Katherine Jackson, as well as his three young children.
"Although there remain unresolved creditor claims, pending litigation and additional challenging business, tax and legal issues, and the estate is not yet in a condition to be closed, the executors have made substantial progress in reducing the estate's debt," the documents state, according to a Reuters report. Two of Jackson's longtime confidants, attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain, were named as administrators in a will sign by the pop icon.
In addition to paying to make "substantial improvements" to the Jackson family's Havenhurst estate in Encino, California, the executors also spent an undetermined amount of money on "last illness and funeral and memorial service expenses." Those costs included a $900,000 payment to the Forest Lawn Memorial cemetery where Jackson is buried and $35,000 on expenses described as "costume for memorial."
TMZ reported that not only did the famously cash-strapped Jackson have more than $400 million in debt, but his estate also owed more than $40 million to concert promoter AEG tied to the scuttled This Is It Tour, for which MJ was rehearsing when he died unexpectedly. They've also paid $27.2 million in taxes and $4 million in mortgage payments on Jackson's properties.
Despite the solid sales of the Michael album and millions of units of the singer's back catalog being sold, as well as the box office of the "This Is It" movie and DVD sales, the estate is not nearly out of the woods. TMZ noted that the administrators have received more than 65 creditors' claims, some of which are subject to "extremely high" interest rates, and there are several outstanding lawsuits against the estate in several countries.
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Michael Jackson
Photo: Time Life Pictures/DMI/Time Life Pictures/Getty Im
Between album sales, movie profits, licensing arrangements and lucrative deals for Cirque du Soleil shows, the estate of late King of Pop Michael Jackson has raked in more than $300 million since the singer's shocking death in June 2009.
According to TMZ, legal documents released on Thursday reveal that executors of MJ's estate have managed to make a major dent in the more than $400 million in debt that Jackson owed at the time of his death.
The first accounting from the executors shows that they have already spent around $159 million paying back various debts, income taxes and other expenses, which include providing support for the pop star's mother, Katherine Jackson, as well as his three young children.
"Although there remain unresolved creditor claims, pending litigation and additional challenging business, tax and legal issues, and the estate is not yet in a condition to be closed, the executors have made substantial progress in reducing the estate's debt," the documents state, according to a Reuters report. Two of Jackson's longtime confidants, attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain, were named as administrators in a will sign by the pop icon.
In addition to paying to make "substantial improvements" to the Jackson family's Havenhurst estate in Encino, California, the executors also spent an undetermined amount of money on "last illness and funeral and memorial service expenses." Those costs included a $900,000 payment to the Forest Lawn Memorial cemetery where Jackson is buried and $35,000 on expenses described as "costume for memorial."
TMZ reported that not only did the famously cash-strapped Jackson have more than $400 million in debt, but his estate also owed more than $40 million to concert promoter AEG tied to the scuttled This Is It Tour, for which MJ was rehearsing when he died unexpectedly. They've also paid $27.2 million in taxes and $4 million in mortgage payments on Jackson's properties.
Despite the solid sales of the Michael album and millions of units of the singer's back catalog being sold, as well as the box office of the "This Is It" movie and DVD sales, the estate is not nearly out of the woods. TMZ noted that the administrators have received more than 65 creditors' claims, some of which are subject to "extremely high" interest rates, and there are several outstanding lawsuits against the estate in several countries.
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Nicki Minaj Is A 'Great Artist,' Britney Spears Says
'I think she has a distinct sound when she raps,' Spears says of Femme Fatale Tour opening act.By Christina Garibaldi
Britney Spears
Photo: MTV News
When the news that Britney Spears was taking MC Nicki Minaj on the road with her hit, fans — and Brit herself — couldn't have been more excited. The Femme Fatale Tour is now in full swing, with both women bringing their A-game to each performance. And along the way, it seems as if these two have sparked a friendship.
"I think she's great," Spears told MTV News of Minaj. "She's a great artist in every way and I'm really happy for her."
Minaj, who is nominated for three Video Music Awards, brings her own flair to the girl-power tour, adding her eccentric style, her fiery wigs and, of course, her signature beats.
"I think she has a distinct sound when she raps," Spears said. "It really stands out and sets her apart from everyone else. I'm happy she's able to be on tour with me because that's just amazing."
Last month, we caught up with Minaj just before she hit the road with the pop veteran, and she was ready to take that distinct sound to a whole new fanbase.
"I'm just trying to put more theater on that stage. So much to me is music, but it's also about putting on a show, so that's my goal: to truly put on a show and incorporate theater and dance," Minaj said.
And if you're lucky, you might just catch Spears and Minaj teaming up for a special performance of the remix for "Till the World Ends."
"At the end of the show, the last song she comes on every once in awhile," Spears said of Minaj joining her onstage. "Not every show, but it's usually special when she does it."
Will you see Britney and Nicki on tour this summer? Let us know in the comments.
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Britney Spears
Photo: MTV News
When the news that Britney Spears was taking MC Nicki Minaj on the road with her hit, fans — and Brit herself — couldn't have been more excited. The Femme Fatale Tour is now in full swing, with both women bringing their A-game to each performance. And along the way, it seems as if these two have sparked a friendship.
"I think she's great," Spears told MTV News of Minaj. "She's a great artist in every way and I'm really happy for her."
Minaj, who is nominated for three Video Music Awards, brings her own flair to the girl-power tour, adding her eccentric style, her fiery wigs and, of course, her signature beats.
"I think she has a distinct sound when she raps," Spears said. "It really stands out and sets her apart from everyone else. I'm happy she's able to be on tour with me because that's just amazing."
Last month, we caught up with Minaj just before she hit the road with the pop veteran, and she was ready to take that distinct sound to a whole new fanbase.
"I'm just trying to put more theater on that stage. So much to me is music, but it's also about putting on a show, so that's my goal: to truly put on a show and incorporate theater and dance," Minaj said.
And if you're lucky, you might just catch Spears and Minaj teaming up for a special performance of the remix for "Till the World Ends."
"At the end of the show, the last song she comes on every once in awhile," Spears said of Minaj joining her onstage. "Not every show, but it's usually special when she does it."
Will you see Britney and Nicki on tour this summer? Let us know in the comments.
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TeenNick's ' '90s Are All That' Frenzy Is 'Crazy,' Kenan Thompson Says
Former 'All That' and 'Kenan & Kel' star talks about block, also featuring 'Clarissa Explains It All' and 'Doug.'By Jocelyn Vena
Kenan Thompson in an episode of "All That"
Photo: Nickelodeon
The world was feeling nostalgic this week when a block of '90s Nickelodeon series debuted on TeenNick. "All That," "Clarissa Explains It All," "Kenan & Kel" and "Doug" hit the airwaves Monday night at midnight, and for two hours, everyone was transported back to a wackier time in TV history during the aptly titled "The '90s Are All That."
Former "All That" and "Kenan & Kel" star Kenan Thompson told MTV News the incredible public response is "very exciting." Of his initial reaction to the news that his old shows would find a new home on the air, he said, "I thought it was crazy. It was very complimentary and felt really nice of them to do that, and it's all fan requested and then that made it even better."
The shows are getting the late-night treatment, and Thompson said it's the perfect time for 20-something's to feel nostalgic. "We're all at that age now where we're night owls; everybody's up anyway," he said. "It's a good idea for a spot. It's crazy that it's working because it's like 10-year-old material that's holding up against these shows."
The shows might be a fun trip back in time for adults now, but the "Saturday Night Live" actor said that back then, the content was all about "kids rule." "That's always made kids feel good watching it," he said. "We were doing relatable material, and it wasn't so forced. We just happened to be kids doing stuff."
The airing of the four shows, which all pre-date social networking, became such an overnight sensation that it caused an uproar on Twitter with various memes related to the shows (such as character names) all becoming Twitter trends. The ratings have also held their own against staple late-night talk shows. The idea is a hit, and Thompson is grateful for all the love.
It's a feeling he also had back in the day when he was busy working on both "All That" and "Kenan & Kel." "Me, personally, I was just happy to be there. I wanted to be an actor from a very young age, and it was just an awesome time," he explained. "It was my first TV gig. It was like a very, very cherished moment in life.
"I have tons [of memories]. It's funny to see everyone all grown up now," he added. "It's crazy. It's funny to watch life progress and then to be thrown back into the mid-'90s, it's cool."
Which is your favorite '90s Nick series? Tell us in the comments below!
Kenan Thompson in an episode of "All That"
Photo: Nickelodeon
The world was feeling nostalgic this week when a block of '90s Nickelodeon series debuted on TeenNick. "All That," "Clarissa Explains It All," "Kenan & Kel" and "Doug" hit the airwaves Monday night at midnight, and for two hours, everyone was transported back to a wackier time in TV history during the aptly titled "The '90s Are All That."
Former "All That" and "Kenan & Kel" star Kenan Thompson told MTV News the incredible public response is "very exciting." Of his initial reaction to the news that his old shows would find a new home on the air, he said, "I thought it was crazy. It was very complimentary and felt really nice of them to do that, and it's all fan requested and then that made it even better."
The shows are getting the late-night treatment, and Thompson said it's the perfect time for 20-something's to feel nostalgic. "We're all at that age now where we're night owls; everybody's up anyway," he said. "It's a good idea for a spot. It's crazy that it's working because it's like 10-year-old material that's holding up against these shows."
The shows might be a fun trip back in time for adults now, but the "Saturday Night Live" actor said that back then, the content was all about "kids rule." "That's always made kids feel good watching it," he said. "We were doing relatable material, and it wasn't so forced. We just happened to be kids doing stuff."
The airing of the four shows, which all pre-date social networking, became such an overnight sensation that it caused an uproar on Twitter with various memes related to the shows (such as character names) all becoming Twitter trends. The ratings have also held their own against staple late-night talk shows. The idea is a hit, and Thompson is grateful for all the love.
It's a feeling he also had back in the day when he was busy working on both "All That" and "Kenan & Kel." "Me, personally, I was just happy to be there. I wanted to be an actor from a very young age, and it was just an awesome time," he explained. "It was my first TV gig. It was like a very, very cherished moment in life.
"I have tons [of memories]. It's funny to see everyone all grown up now," he added. "It's crazy. It's funny to watch life progress and then to be thrown back into the mid-'90s, it's cool."
Which is your favorite '90s Nick series? Tell us in the comments below!
Robert Pattinson's Edward 'Becomes A Man' In 'Breaking Dawn'
Director Bill Condon says 'Twilight' star deftly tackles finale's most emotional scenes.By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Robert Pattinson
Photo: Summit Entertainment
"Twilight" fans who've already read the best-selling books upon which the films are based have a sense of what to expect from the final two films when they hit theaters. Specifically, what emotional ups and downs will unfold onscreen, and which characters will be most impacted.
"Breaking Dawn" director Bill Condon recently revealed to MTV News what he predicts will be the most emotional moments in the final installments. He also opened up about how stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have tackled the acting challenges presented to their characters, Bella and Edward. (Spoilers ahead for those who haven't read the books.)
"There's this really quiet moment when Bella discovers that she's pregnant and Edward leaves the room having said, 'Carlisle will get that thing out of you,' " Condon recalled, "and she realizes, 'Oh my god, I've got trouble ahead.'
"Edward, the person she's been longing for all this time is actually on the other side of this very basic issue about this baby that's growing inside of her, and she puts all that aside and she turns and she has a moment where she catches herself in this mirror. It's actually a scene, just Kristen alone, where she falls in love with the idea of being a mother and it's just simple, but I think it's very moving."
Condon went on to say that Pattinson's work in the film is equally moving, noting how much he has evolved as an actor. "[Edward] really becomes an adult [in this film]," Condon said. "In the beginning, he has this beautiful toast to [Bella] where he talks about, 'You're so lucky if you find that one person who can see you for who you are and still accept you and allow you to move beyond who you've been.' And that's what Rob does in this movie," the director added, "He sort of puts aside Edward's self-loathing and all that stuff and actually becomes a man.
"So at the end, when Bella's given birth and she's died and he's trying to bring her back, there is stuff in there where the camera just holds him for a long time where he's just doing everything he can think of to make her live and to beg her to live," Condon revealed. "It's just really powerful."
Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Robert Pattinson
Photo: Summit Entertainment
"Twilight" fans who've already read the best-selling books upon which the films are based have a sense of what to expect from the final two films when they hit theaters. Specifically, what emotional ups and downs will unfold onscreen, and which characters will be most impacted.
"Breaking Dawn" director Bill Condon recently revealed to MTV News what he predicts will be the most emotional moments in the final installments. He also opened up about how stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have tackled the acting challenges presented to their characters, Bella and Edward. (Spoilers ahead for those who haven't read the books.)
"There's this really quiet moment when Bella discovers that she's pregnant and Edward leaves the room having said, 'Carlisle will get that thing out of you,' " Condon recalled, "and she realizes, 'Oh my god, I've got trouble ahead.'
"Edward, the person she's been longing for all this time is actually on the other side of this very basic issue about this baby that's growing inside of her, and she puts all that aside and she turns and she has a moment where she catches herself in this mirror. It's actually a scene, just Kristen alone, where she falls in love with the idea of being a mother and it's just simple, but I think it's very moving."
Condon went on to say that Pattinson's work in the film is equally moving, noting how much he has evolved as an actor. "[Edward] really becomes an adult [in this film]," Condon said. "In the beginning, he has this beautiful toast to [Bella] where he talks about, 'You're so lucky if you find that one person who can see you for who you are and still accept you and allow you to move beyond who you've been.' And that's what Rob does in this movie," the director added, "He sort of puts aside Edward's self-loathing and all that stuff and actually becomes a man.
"So at the end, when Bella's given birth and she's died and he's trying to bring her back, there is stuff in there where the camera just holds him for a long time where he's just doing everything he can think of to make her live and to beg her to live," Condon revealed. "It's just really powerful."
Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Chuckie Will Debut Michael Jackson Remix In Miami
Official 'Hollywood Tonight' remix coming to Miami Music Week.By Akshay Bhansali
Chuckie
Photo: Jason Ano/ One and Only Productions
Leaving the South by Southwest festival, Lavo New York and Las Vegas' Marquee in his wake, house DJ Chuckie has his sights set on the week ahead. With Miami Music Week now upon us, Chuckie plans to seize the opportunity to debut new material. Fans will be tickled to know the Dutch producer has tracks in the can with Kelly Rowland and T-Pain, but when MTV News caught up with him Friday in New York, Chuckie shared the achievement of which he's most proud.
"I did a Michael Jackson remix, which was really scary — to touch Michael Jackson vocals," Chuckie said. "I did this remix for this track 'Hollywood Tonight.' I couldn't say it for a minute: The label called me, and they said, 'You can't say nothing about this. It's kind of a secret project.' It's gonna come out anytime now."
"Hollywood Tonight" was originally produced by Teddy Riley for Jackson's posthumous Michael album, and Chuckie's mix of the song will be the sole official remix of the track.
"I will play it Miami," Chuckie revealed. "I told them this is the best week to launch the remix. So it feels really good. I'm the only one remixing that Michael Jackson track, and they are considering it a single. For me, especially, it's an honor to remix the King of Pop because he died on my birthday."
So, will the mix be a thundering Chuckie Dutch house banger or will it have a melodic progressive house feel, like his Marquee remix of Diddy-Dirty Money's "I Hate That You Love Me"? Well, according to the "Let the Bass Kick" producer, fans will be getting a healthy dose of both.
"I had to bring in the raucous," Chuckie confessed. "Yeah, I did the Chuckie flavor, but then again, I wanted to make it really musical, so I went progressive (house) on it."
Chuckie will be performing twice at Miami Music Week: at the Cr2 Records Party at Wall Lounge on Wednesday, and then headlining "No Sugar Added" at Nikki Beach on Friday.
Are you excited to hear Chuckie's remix of Michael Jackson's "Hollywood Tonight"? Let us know in the comments below!
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Chuckie
Photo: Jason Ano/ One and Only Productions
Leaving the South by Southwest festival, Lavo New York and Las Vegas' Marquee in his wake, house DJ Chuckie has his sights set on the week ahead. With Miami Music Week now upon us, Chuckie plans to seize the opportunity to debut new material. Fans will be tickled to know the Dutch producer has tracks in the can with Kelly Rowland and T-Pain, but when MTV News caught up with him Friday in New York, Chuckie shared the achievement of which he's most proud.
"I did a Michael Jackson remix, which was really scary — to touch Michael Jackson vocals," Chuckie said. "I did this remix for this track 'Hollywood Tonight.' I couldn't say it for a minute: The label called me, and they said, 'You can't say nothing about this. It's kind of a secret project.' It's gonna come out anytime now."
"Hollywood Tonight" was originally produced by Teddy Riley for Jackson's posthumous Michael album, and Chuckie's mix of the song will be the sole official remix of the track.
"I will play it Miami," Chuckie revealed. "I told them this is the best week to launch the remix. So it feels really good. I'm the only one remixing that Michael Jackson track, and they are considering it a single. For me, especially, it's an honor to remix the King of Pop because he died on my birthday."
So, will the mix be a thundering Chuckie Dutch house banger or will it have a melodic progressive house feel, like his Marquee remix of Diddy-Dirty Money's "I Hate That You Love Me"? Well, according to the "Let the Bass Kick" producer, fans will be getting a healthy dose of both.
"I had to bring in the raucous," Chuckie confessed. "Yeah, I did the Chuckie flavor, but then again, I wanted to make it really musical, so I went progressive (house) on it."
Chuckie will be performing twice at Miami Music Week: at the Cr2 Records Party at Wall Lounge on Wednesday, and then headlining "No Sugar Added" at Nikki Beach on Friday.
Are you excited to hear Chuckie's remix of Michael Jackson's "Hollywood Tonight"? Let us know in the comments below!
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David Beckham & Sons Enjoy The Beaches Of Malibu, CA
David Beckham took his 3 eldest children — Brooklyn Joseph, Romeo James and Cruz David — for a fun playdate at the beach in Malibu, CA this week for an afternoon of wet and wild fun. As you can see, Becks got into the water to go boogie boarding with Brooklyn, while the younger boys [...]
Friday, July 29, 2011
'New Year's Eve' Trailer's Five Surprising Hookups
Zac Efron, Jessica Biel and many others look for love in the Garry Marshall-directed rom-com.By Jocelyn Vena
Ashton Kutcher and Lea Michele in 'New Years Eve'
Photo: WireImage
The trailer for "New Year's Eve" has hit the streets, and the sugary sweet holiday flick has managed to pair up some of the most surprising A-listers in Hollywood. With a cast boasting big names like Zac Efron, Sarah Jessica Parker, Halle Berry, Lea Michele, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel and Ashton Kutcher, just to name a few, director Garry Marshall certainly had the chance to throw the audience a curveball in the couples department.
In this sequel to "Valentine's Day," all the pretty people are in the Big Apple as the biggest party of the year is about to go off. Everyone is looking for love and hoping that when the clock strikes midnight, the new year will bring them new hope. The trailer teases some of the hookups that are set to take place.
Lea Michele and Ashton Kutcher seem an unlikely couple, but when Lea spouts the somewhat cheesy "Oh, come on, we need to do something to get you out of your New Year's Eve funk" to Ashton's pessimistic character, it's like the rom-com movie gods created these two for each other.
Jon Bon Jovi might be the perfect medicine for Katherine Heigl's angry-girl shtick that's teased in the trailer. When she slaps him and he just flashes her that big smile, well, what girl wouldn't melt.
And who knew Zac Efron liked older women? The trailer teases Michelle Pfeiffer and Efron's cutesy, cross-generational love affair. Is it platonic? Will they hook up? Only time will tell.
On paper, the idea that Hilary Swank and Ludacris would play a couple in this flick seems a little off the beaten path, but the tease to their endearing, supportive story line proves that love knows no boundaries for this odd couple.
Perhaps the most expected duo in the whole trailer is Jessica Biel and "Saturday Night Live" Weekend Update host Seth Meyers. And this film answers an interesting question: What would the spawn of Jessica Biel and Seth Meyers look like?
"New Year's Eve" is set to hit theaters in December, of course.
Which couple did you love most from the movie's trailer? Tell us in the comments!
Check out everything we've got on "New Year's Eve."
Ashton Kutcher and Lea Michele in 'New Years Eve'
Photo: WireImage
The trailer for "New Year's Eve" has hit the streets, and the sugary sweet holiday flick has managed to pair up some of the most surprising A-listers in Hollywood. With a cast boasting big names like Zac Efron, Sarah Jessica Parker, Halle Berry, Lea Michele, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel and Ashton Kutcher, just to name a few, director Garry Marshall certainly had the chance to throw the audience a curveball in the couples department.
In this sequel to "Valentine's Day," all the pretty people are in the Big Apple as the biggest party of the year is about to go off. Everyone is looking for love and hoping that when the clock strikes midnight, the new year will bring them new hope. The trailer teases some of the hookups that are set to take place.
Lea Michele and Ashton Kutcher seem an unlikely couple, but when Lea spouts the somewhat cheesy "Oh, come on, we need to do something to get you out of your New Year's Eve funk" to Ashton's pessimistic character, it's like the rom-com movie gods created these two for each other.
Jon Bon Jovi might be the perfect medicine for Katherine Heigl's angry-girl shtick that's teased in the trailer. When she slaps him and he just flashes her that big smile, well, what girl wouldn't melt.
And who knew Zac Efron liked older women? The trailer teases Michelle Pfeiffer and Efron's cutesy, cross-generational love affair. Is it platonic? Will they hook up? Only time will tell.
On paper, the idea that Hilary Swank and Ludacris would play a couple in this flick seems a little off the beaten path, but the tease to their endearing, supportive story line proves that love knows no boundaries for this odd couple.
Perhaps the most expected duo in the whole trailer is Jessica Biel and "Saturday Night Live" Weekend Update host Seth Meyers. And this film answers an interesting question: What would the spawn of Jessica Biel and Seth Meyers look like?
"New Year's Eve" is set to hit theaters in December, of course.
Which couple did you love most from the movie's trailer? Tell us in the comments!
Check out everything we've got on "New Year's Eve."
'Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes' Stars Give Apes Top Billing
Tom Felton, James Franco and other castmembers say come for the apes, stay for the story ... or just the apes.By Kara Warner
Freida Pinto and James Franco at the "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" premiere
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images
HOLLYWOOD — There is enough intrigue, presumed destruction and primate shenanigans in the trailers for "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" to entice more than just the fans of the 1968 original into theaters when the film opens next week. But when MTV News caught up with the principal castmembers at the Hollywood premiere on Thursday, we asked them to sell us on a few more of the film's must-see elements, aside from their furry co-stars. Basically, if people come to see the apes, what will make them stay?
"Wow, James [Franco], Freida [Pinto], Andy [Serkis], everyone else," Tom Felton said, speaking to his co-stars' appeal. "There is a mixture of CGI and special effects that we've never seen onscreen before, along with a strong story and a strong message: Humans can't play God too much. We should not overstep our boundaries when it comes to manipulating Mother Nature."
Pinto countered that it's all about the apes. "I think this is one of few films that really give them a voice as well," she said. "Of course, 'Planet of the Apes' did as well, but 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' gives them a voice in a very revolutionary way."
One of the prominent primate voices heard is that of Caesar, played by seasoned motion-capture performer Andy Serkis, who, according to Franco, is the main reason why the film is any good.
"The apes, I think Andy Serkis and WETA should get top billing," Franco said. "They stole the show; they're incredible."
Actor John Lithgow, who plays the father of Franco's character, was the only one who thought folks will start out loving the apes and leave loving the humans.
"They [will] stay for the people, and the extent to which the apes become people," he said. "It's a story, it's a great story, that's why they stay."
Check out everything we've got on "Rise of the Planet of the Apes."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related Photos
'Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes' Premiere
Freida Pinto and James Franco at the "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" premiere
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images
HOLLYWOOD — There is enough intrigue, presumed destruction and primate shenanigans in the trailers for "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" to entice more than just the fans of the 1968 original into theaters when the film opens next week. But when MTV News caught up with the principal castmembers at the Hollywood premiere on Thursday, we asked them to sell us on a few more of the film's must-see elements, aside from their furry co-stars. Basically, if people come to see the apes, what will make them stay?
"Wow, James [Franco], Freida [Pinto], Andy [Serkis], everyone else," Tom Felton said, speaking to his co-stars' appeal. "There is a mixture of CGI and special effects that we've never seen onscreen before, along with a strong story and a strong message: Humans can't play God too much. We should not overstep our boundaries when it comes to manipulating Mother Nature."
Pinto countered that it's all about the apes. "I think this is one of few films that really give them a voice as well," she said. "Of course, 'Planet of the Apes' did as well, but 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' gives them a voice in a very revolutionary way."
One of the prominent primate voices heard is that of Caesar, played by seasoned motion-capture performer Andy Serkis, who, according to Franco, is the main reason why the film is any good.
"The apes, I think Andy Serkis and WETA should get top billing," Franco said. "They stole the show; they're incredible."
Actor John Lithgow, who plays the father of Franco's character, was the only one who thought folks will start out loving the apes and leave loving the humans.
"They [will] stay for the people, and the extent to which the apes become people," he said. "It's a story, it's a great story, that's why they stay."
Check out everything we've got on "Rise of the Planet of the Apes."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related Photos
'Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes' Premiere
Photos | 2010 BET Awards Show Highlights
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Thursday, July 28, 2011
Window Shopping
Yesterday was a bizzy day for David and me. We decided to go car shopping in the late afternoon and then met up with our friends Tam and Rob for a late dinner in West Hollywood. I think we made a decision on the car but … not sure yet. As for our hang session [...]
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Britney Spears, Adele And More Best Songs Of 2011 (So Far)
Tracks from Beyoncé, Katy Perry and Kreayshawn also make Bigger Than the Sound's midyear report card.By James Montgomery
Best Songs of 2011 (so far)
Photo: MTV News
Last week, when I listed the Best Albums of 2011 (So Far), I expected to receive a fair amount of acrimony (it's what happens when you eschew Britney Spears in favor of F---ed Up's David Comes to Life), and, of course, I did.
But mixed in with all the hate were a few requests for me to do a similar list of my favorite songs too. So, not wanting to disappoint my fans (Hi, Mom!), I've done just that: Here are my picks for the Best Songs of 2011 (So Far), 20 tracks that have defined the first half of the year for me. Not all of them were actually released in 2011, but all of them have managed to make an impact in some way, be it on the charts, the blogs or in the ever-expanding "weird song" quadrant of my mind.
What's your pick for the Best Song of the Year (So Far)? Vote now in our Newsroom poll!
I'm sure you'll take issue with some of my selections, so if there's a song I've missed, let me know about it in the comments below. And, yes, just to head you off at the pass, Britney made the list this time around. So, without further ado, here's my top 20:
20. My Morning Jacket, "Holdin' on to Black Metal": Or, as you probably know it, "the song that includes portions of Kwan Jai and Kwan Jit Sriprajan's 'E-Saew Tam Punha Huajai.' " Delightfully oddball sorta-funk/ Siamese soul from Louisville, Kentucky.
19. Beastie Boys, "Make Some Noise": Vocal nods to their License to Ill party phase. Rattling boom-bap from their Check Your Head days. Cowbell break courtesy of Paul's Boutique. Welcome back. To the future.
18. Peter Bjorn and John, "Second Chance": Airtight Swedes ditch the whistling and plow headlong into rollicking, retro-leaning rock. The chorus may not be better than "Young Folks," but, hey, there's a guitar solo!
17. Cage the Elephant, "Around My Head": Hey, you guys like the Pixies? Cool, I do too! Maybe we can hang out sometime?
16. Against Me!, "Russian Spies": Searing, surging punk from Gainesville, Florida, lifers Against Me!, it proves that their time on Sire Records didn't soften them one bit. It only made them more resolute. And, strangely, sadder too.
15. Black Lips, "Modern Art": Without question, the best song you'll hear all year about taking drugs and looking at art. Oh, like you haven't tried it.
14. Lil Wayne (featuring Cory Gunz), "6 Foot 7 Foot": I can't even begin to comprehend the ongoing drama between Wayne and producer Bangladesh, but there's no denying the fact that both men are better off together. Knotty and slightly seizure-inducing, like "A Milli" times, well, a million.
13. YACHT, "Dystopia (The Earth Is on Fire)": Every day the sky gets lower (lowerlowerlower!). And every day the flames get higher (higherhigherhigher!). So, with apologies to Rock Master Scott and the Dynamic Three, the disco duo just decide to let the mother----er burn.
12. Chris Brown, "Beautiful People": Regardless of what you may think of Breezy, you probably cannot deny the sublimely subtle genius of this track. Then again, maybe you can. And, y'know, your loss.
11. Washed Out, "Eyes Be Closed": Massively ebbing and echoing bed-tronica (don't call it "chillwave") from some dude in Perry, Georgia. Bonus: Sounds nothing like Perry, Georgia.
10. Beyoncé, "Run the World (Girls)": I am an unabashed fan of "crazy" Beyoncé (you know, the one who shows up on tracks like "Ring the Alarm," "Get Me Bodied" and, of course, "Single Ladies"), so there's no way I could overlook "Girls," the single craziest moment on her decidedly straightforward 4 album. From the Major Lazer sample to the Warrior Princess video to the part where she growls "Houston, Texas, babay," it may have confounded some of her fans, but to me, it was psychotic pop perfection.
9. Bright Eyes, "Ladder Song": For as much noise as Conor Oberst is capable of making, it's the quieter moments where his rickety, ramshackle genius really shines through. And "Ladder Song" — a heartbreakingly raw tribute to a friend who committed suicide — is among his quietest. And his best. Backed by little more than a piano and a handful of otherworldly noises, Oberst plumbs the depths of despair, his voice reedy, wavering, but pure and, when he reaches bottom, discovers there are small beauties that make life worth living. It's too bad, he ultimately laments, that his friend didn't discover them too. You won't hear a more achingly beautiful song this year, I promise.
8. Lykke Li, "Get Some": Bewitching, otherworldly single from Li's Wounded Rhymes album, it would be sexy even if she wasn't calling herself your prostitute. The drums thump, the bass vibrates and the guitar stings — and then Li pushes the whole thing over the top with her smoldering, sumptuous vocals. The kind of song that requires a cigarette and a cold shower after repeat listens.
7. Foster the People, "Pumped Up Kicks": The year's catchiest rock tune was actually last year's catchiest too; it just took people a while to catch on. Hazy, loping and scratchy like a mohair sweater, it recalls a headier era, when bands wrote ultra-hooky singles about ultra-dark subject matter (Eels' "Novocaine for the Soul," the Smashing Pumpkins "Today," etc.) and no one seemed to care. Also known as the 1990s.
6. Kreayshawn, "Gucci Gucci": Either the smartest song of 2011 or the dumbest, the beauty of "Gucci Gucci" — and Bay Area "Based Goddess" Kreayshawn, for that matter — lies in the fact that it's probably both, but it doesn't care one bit. Folks can kvetch about sticky subjects like "authenticity," but I prefer to just listen to the music: the goofy horror-movie synth squiggle, the dollops of low-end whomp, the part where Kreay claims to have swag coming out her ovaries — it's all good. Even if it's not.
5. Nicola Roberts, "Beat of My Drum": Sublimely saccharine single from erstwhile Girls Aloud member that mashes together every notable pop moment from recent history, yet somehow manages to be better than the sum of its parts. Dancehall rhythms? Check. Drum breaks? Yep. Electro-vocal tics? And how. It's all courtesy of producers Diplo and Dimitri Tikovoi, though the real power lies in the supercharged sing-a-long chorus — arguably the year's best — where the whole thing comes together into a head-spinning rush and Roberts positively blossoms. She should go solo more often.
4. Katy Perry (featuring Kanye West), "ET": The California Gurl turns space-pop princess, with glorious results. "ET" bloops and bleeps like a satellite in eternal, icy orbit (or a malfunctioning digital watch), and the chorus burns like Spacelab descending through the atmosphere. Also, it's about sex. Sure, 'Ye's verses may be phoned in — he'll probe you if you'll let him — but even they can't dim the wattage of this brightly shining star. Appropriately, it's become a galactic hit, though one can't help but wonder what would've happened if Three 6 Mafia had gotten their hands on it first.
3. Britney Spears, "Till the World Ends": The final stage of grief is acceptance, after all.
2. Lady Gaga, "Heavy Metal Lover": It's buried toward the back of Born This Way, an odd choice considering it's far and away the best song on the album (even better than "The Edge of Glory.") A masterful mix of "Transformers"-sized techno whomp and supple, slipstream synthesizers, it pulses and twitches, expands and contracts and, quiet as it's kept, is probably the best example of what we all hoped BTW would be. As an added bonus, "I want your whiskey mouth/ All over my blond south" may very well be the line of the year too.
1. Adele, "Rolling in the Deep": Unquestionably the song of 2011, a crackling, breathy thing that roils along on a stubby guitar line and some primal pounding, then positively roars to life the second the chorus hits. There's little else at play here, but when you're building with blocks like Rick Rubin's raw production and Adele's prodigious pipes (and the powerful range of emotions they conjure up), they sky really is the limit. The fact that it's a crossover smash (true story, this weekend I heard it 10 times on three different radio stations) is merely icing on top of the cake at this point, not to mention a blow against the creeping, Auto-Tuned insurgency that threatens our nation's airwaves. Sometimes all it takes is one deceptively, devastatingly simple song to turn the tide.
What did we miss? Share your picks in the comments below!
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Best Songs of 2011 (so far)
Photo: MTV News
Last week, when I listed the Best Albums of 2011 (So Far), I expected to receive a fair amount of acrimony (it's what happens when you eschew Britney Spears in favor of F---ed Up's David Comes to Life), and, of course, I did.
But mixed in with all the hate were a few requests for me to do a similar list of my favorite songs too. So, not wanting to disappoint my fans (Hi, Mom!), I've done just that: Here are my picks for the Best Songs of 2011 (So Far), 20 tracks that have defined the first half of the year for me. Not all of them were actually released in 2011, but all of them have managed to make an impact in some way, be it on the charts, the blogs or in the ever-expanding "weird song" quadrant of my mind.
What's your pick for the Best Song of the Year (So Far)? Vote now in our Newsroom poll!
I'm sure you'll take issue with some of my selections, so if there's a song I've missed, let me know about it in the comments below. And, yes, just to head you off at the pass, Britney made the list this time around. So, without further ado, here's my top 20:
20. My Morning Jacket, "Holdin' on to Black Metal": Or, as you probably know it, "the song that includes portions of Kwan Jai and Kwan Jit Sriprajan's 'E-Saew Tam Punha Huajai.' " Delightfully oddball sorta-funk/ Siamese soul from Louisville, Kentucky.
19. Beastie Boys, "Make Some Noise": Vocal nods to their License to Ill party phase. Rattling boom-bap from their Check Your Head days. Cowbell break courtesy of Paul's Boutique. Welcome back. To the future.
18. Peter Bjorn and John, "Second Chance": Airtight Swedes ditch the whistling and plow headlong into rollicking, retro-leaning rock. The chorus may not be better than "Young Folks," but, hey, there's a guitar solo!
17. Cage the Elephant, "Around My Head": Hey, you guys like the Pixies? Cool, I do too! Maybe we can hang out sometime?
16. Against Me!, "Russian Spies": Searing, surging punk from Gainesville, Florida, lifers Against Me!, it proves that their time on Sire Records didn't soften them one bit. It only made them more resolute. And, strangely, sadder too.
15. Black Lips, "Modern Art": Without question, the best song you'll hear all year about taking drugs and looking at art. Oh, like you haven't tried it.
14. Lil Wayne (featuring Cory Gunz), "6 Foot 7 Foot": I can't even begin to comprehend the ongoing drama between Wayne and producer Bangladesh, but there's no denying the fact that both men are better off together. Knotty and slightly seizure-inducing, like "A Milli" times, well, a million.
13. YACHT, "Dystopia (The Earth Is on Fire)": Every day the sky gets lower (lowerlowerlower!). And every day the flames get higher (higherhigherhigher!). So, with apologies to Rock Master Scott and the Dynamic Three, the disco duo just decide to let the mother----er burn.
12. Chris Brown, "Beautiful People": Regardless of what you may think of Breezy, you probably cannot deny the sublimely subtle genius of this track. Then again, maybe you can. And, y'know, your loss.
11. Washed Out, "Eyes Be Closed": Massively ebbing and echoing bed-tronica (don't call it "chillwave") from some dude in Perry, Georgia. Bonus: Sounds nothing like Perry, Georgia.
10. Beyoncé, "Run the World (Girls)": I am an unabashed fan of "crazy" Beyoncé (you know, the one who shows up on tracks like "Ring the Alarm," "Get Me Bodied" and, of course, "Single Ladies"), so there's no way I could overlook "Girls," the single craziest moment on her decidedly straightforward 4 album. From the Major Lazer sample to the Warrior Princess video to the part where she growls "Houston, Texas, babay," it may have confounded some of her fans, but to me, it was psychotic pop perfection.
9. Bright Eyes, "Ladder Song": For as much noise as Conor Oberst is capable of making, it's the quieter moments where his rickety, ramshackle genius really shines through. And "Ladder Song" — a heartbreakingly raw tribute to a friend who committed suicide — is among his quietest. And his best. Backed by little more than a piano and a handful of otherworldly noises, Oberst plumbs the depths of despair, his voice reedy, wavering, but pure and, when he reaches bottom, discovers there are small beauties that make life worth living. It's too bad, he ultimately laments, that his friend didn't discover them too. You won't hear a more achingly beautiful song this year, I promise.
8. Lykke Li, "Get Some": Bewitching, otherworldly single from Li's Wounded Rhymes album, it would be sexy even if she wasn't calling herself your prostitute. The drums thump, the bass vibrates and the guitar stings — and then Li pushes the whole thing over the top with her smoldering, sumptuous vocals. The kind of song that requires a cigarette and a cold shower after repeat listens.
7. Foster the People, "Pumped Up Kicks": The year's catchiest rock tune was actually last year's catchiest too; it just took people a while to catch on. Hazy, loping and scratchy like a mohair sweater, it recalls a headier era, when bands wrote ultra-hooky singles about ultra-dark subject matter (Eels' "Novocaine for the Soul," the Smashing Pumpkins "Today," etc.) and no one seemed to care. Also known as the 1990s.
6. Kreayshawn, "Gucci Gucci": Either the smartest song of 2011 or the dumbest, the beauty of "Gucci Gucci" — and Bay Area "Based Goddess" Kreayshawn, for that matter — lies in the fact that it's probably both, but it doesn't care one bit. Folks can kvetch about sticky subjects like "authenticity," but I prefer to just listen to the music: the goofy horror-movie synth squiggle, the dollops of low-end whomp, the part where Kreay claims to have swag coming out her ovaries — it's all good. Even if it's not.
5. Nicola Roberts, "Beat of My Drum": Sublimely saccharine single from erstwhile Girls Aloud member that mashes together every notable pop moment from recent history, yet somehow manages to be better than the sum of its parts. Dancehall rhythms? Check. Drum breaks? Yep. Electro-vocal tics? And how. It's all courtesy of producers Diplo and Dimitri Tikovoi, though the real power lies in the supercharged sing-a-long chorus — arguably the year's best — where the whole thing comes together into a head-spinning rush and Roberts positively blossoms. She should go solo more often.
4. Katy Perry (featuring Kanye West), "ET": The California Gurl turns space-pop princess, with glorious results. "ET" bloops and bleeps like a satellite in eternal, icy orbit (or a malfunctioning digital watch), and the chorus burns like Spacelab descending through the atmosphere. Also, it's about sex. Sure, 'Ye's verses may be phoned in — he'll probe you if you'll let him — but even they can't dim the wattage of this brightly shining star. Appropriately, it's become a galactic hit, though one can't help but wonder what would've happened if Three 6 Mafia had gotten their hands on it first.
3. Britney Spears, "Till the World Ends": The final stage of grief is acceptance, after all.
2. Lady Gaga, "Heavy Metal Lover": It's buried toward the back of Born This Way, an odd choice considering it's far and away the best song on the album (even better than "The Edge of Glory.") A masterful mix of "Transformers"-sized techno whomp and supple, slipstream synthesizers, it pulses and twitches, expands and contracts and, quiet as it's kept, is probably the best example of what we all hoped BTW would be. As an added bonus, "I want your whiskey mouth/ All over my blond south" may very well be the line of the year too.
1. Adele, "Rolling in the Deep": Unquestionably the song of 2011, a crackling, breathy thing that roils along on a stubby guitar line and some primal pounding, then positively roars to life the second the chorus hits. There's little else at play here, but when you're building with blocks like Rick Rubin's raw production and Adele's prodigious pipes (and the powerful range of emotions they conjure up), they sky really is the limit. The fact that it's a crossover smash (true story, this weekend I heard it 10 times on three different radio stations) is merely icing on top of the cake at this point, not to mention a blow against the creeping, Auto-Tuned insurgency that threatens our nation's airwaves. Sometimes all it takes is one deceptively, devastatingly simple song to turn the tide.
What did we miss? Share your picks in the comments below!
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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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Led Zeppelin
Foreigner
Michael Jackson's Family Upset With James Durbin Over 'American Idol' Pepsi Quip
'We were shocked to see this,' read the Jacksons' message; Durbin tweeted an apology on Thursday.By Gil Kaufman
James Durbin performs on "American Idol" on Wednesday
Photo: Michael Becker/ Fox
Some people might argue that it's patently unfair to take rank amateurs, put them on the biggest show on TV and then expose them to potential worldwide ridicule every week. Because it's one thing to tune in to "American Idol" from your living room or play shows at the local wings joint, it's another thing entirely when you get up on that stage and open your mouth with tens of millions watching and listening.
James Durbin learned this lesson the hard way this week when he made what he thought was an innocent crack about not setting himself on fire during his pyro-tastic cover of Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" on Wednesday night.
Asked by host Ryan Seacrest if he was worried about dancing around among the flames shooting up from the piano onstage, Durbin joked, "I have a lot of hairspray in my hair to keep it from jumping around — so much so, the one thing I was worried about was having a 'Pepsi moment.' "
The seemingly innocent crack was a reference to the 1984 on-set accident in which late pop icon Michael Jackson was badly burned during the shooting of a Pepsi commercial by some wayward pyro effects. The serious burns he suffered in the incident allegedly led to his longtime addiction to pain medication and prescription drugs.
The Jackson family was not amused by the quip and sent a statement to TMZ on Thursday.
"We were shocked to see this. It's nothing to make light of and everybody should be focusing on who was responsible for Michael's death," read the statement. Family patriarch Joseph Jackson also was reportedly miffed that "Idol" producers did not cut the comment from the West Coast feed of the show.
Durbin defended his slip-up in a tweet, which has since been scrubbed from the singer's official "Idol" Twitter feed, that explained, "For anyone talkin ... I said pepsi NOT MJ! I have no disrespect for Michael. I grew up singing his art. I guess youll take it how you want it." He later added, "Talkin about MJs passing is too soon. Making a reference to an incident 25 years ago..not too soon. The stab was at pepsi people."
It's worth noting that Pepsi's bitter rival, Coca-Cola, is the main "Idol" sponsor, a fact that Seacrest reminded Durbin of in an awkward moment after the comment on the show.
What did you think of James Durbin's "Pepsi" quip? Tell us in the comments.
Related Artists
Michael Jackson
James Durbin performs on "American Idol" on Wednesday
Photo: Michael Becker/ Fox
Some people might argue that it's patently unfair to take rank amateurs, put them on the biggest show on TV and then expose them to potential worldwide ridicule every week. Because it's one thing to tune in to "American Idol" from your living room or play shows at the local wings joint, it's another thing entirely when you get up on that stage and open your mouth with tens of millions watching and listening.
James Durbin learned this lesson the hard way this week when he made what he thought was an innocent crack about not setting himself on fire during his pyro-tastic cover of Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" on Wednesday night.
Asked by host Ryan Seacrest if he was worried about dancing around among the flames shooting up from the piano onstage, Durbin joked, "I have a lot of hairspray in my hair to keep it from jumping around — so much so, the one thing I was worried about was having a 'Pepsi moment.' "
The seemingly innocent crack was a reference to the 1984 on-set accident in which late pop icon Michael Jackson was badly burned during the shooting of a Pepsi commercial by some wayward pyro effects. The serious burns he suffered in the incident allegedly led to his longtime addiction to pain medication and prescription drugs.
The Jackson family was not amused by the quip and sent a statement to TMZ on Thursday.
"We were shocked to see this. It's nothing to make light of and everybody should be focusing on who was responsible for Michael's death," read the statement. Family patriarch Joseph Jackson also was reportedly miffed that "Idol" producers did not cut the comment from the West Coast feed of the show.
Durbin defended his slip-up in a tweet, which has since been scrubbed from the singer's official "Idol" Twitter feed, that explained, "For anyone talkin ... I said pepsi NOT MJ! I have no disrespect for Michael. I grew up singing his art. I guess youll take it how you want it." He later added, "Talkin about MJs passing is too soon. Making a reference to an incident 25 years ago..not too soon. The stab was at pepsi people."
It's worth noting that Pepsi's bitter rival, Coca-Cola, is the main "Idol" sponsor, a fact that Seacrest reminded Durbin of in an awkward moment after the comment on the show.
What did you think of James Durbin's "Pepsi" quip? Tell us in the comments.
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Portia de Rossi Rachael Leigh Cook Rachel Bilson Rachel Blanchard
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Watch: Anderson Cooper Releases A Trailer For His New Talk Show ?Anderson?
Anderson Cooper, in his quest to become the new Oprah Winfrey, is readying the debut of his new daytime talk show — titled simply Anderson — and has released a short video trailer for the show. In the clip, Anderson shows us that he is just a regular guy … who happens to have a [...]
Usher - Moving Mountains
Moving Mountains
Artist: Usher
Label: LaFace Records/Zomba Label Group
Director: The Brothers Strauss
Album: Here I Stand
Artist: Usher
Label: LaFace Records/Zomba Label Group
Director: The Brothers Strauss
Album: Here I Stand
'Amazing Spider-Man' Andrew Garfield Feels 'Great Deal' Of Pressure
'Marc Webb has a forensic emotional eye,' co-star Rhys Ifans says about film's director.By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Andrew Garfield
Photo: Columbia Pictures
Any actor who takes on a role in a big-screen adaptation of a beloved comic book knows that he or she has a lot to live up to with regard to fan expectations. For Andrew Garfield, that pressure for "The Amazing Spider-Man" is doubly intense, for not only does he have to contend with that character's lengthy history in the comics, but with Tobey Maguire's well-received performance in the three Sam Raimi-directed "Spider-Man" movies as well.
Garfield recently told MTV News he feels the pressure. "I feel a great deal of weight. I can't speak for [my co-stars] but I feel like we all know how important it is to so many people," he explained. "It's equally as important to us, so I think it's impossible to not feel a certain amount of weight. But to kind of juxtapose that, I think we all feel incredibly excited because we worked really hard to make [director] Marc Webb's vision and Stan Lee's original vision, and the essence of that character come to life again for an audience in a different way," he said.
With regard to what separates "The Amazing Spider-Man" from Maguire and Raimi's work, Garfield's co-star Rhys Ifans said Webb's vision for the film is different.
"I think the films that have come before have been great, but what makes this one different is that Marc Webb has a forensic emotional eye," he explained. "So for all the flights and fancies that a superhero film delivers, inevitably there is a human domesticity to this that hopefully will make people leave the cinema loving their parents."
In addition to feeling the love for blood relations, Garfield said it's always great to watch a little guy take on the bigger guys. "I'm skinny, if you haven't noticed," he said with a smile. "I love the idea of a skinny guy beating the crap out of big guys, just as pure personal fantasy fulfillment for myself. I think a lot of other skinny guys and skinny girls like me are going to hopefully watch a skinny guy in a red and blue suit beating the crap out of big guys and really enjoy that."
One aspect of filming he did not enjoy, however, was his personal trainer's intensity. While Garfield appreciated the increased muscle tone, he didn't love the process. "My personal trainer, Armando, who I hate more than anyone in the universe: If you're watching, Armando, I hate you," he joked to our camera.
Now that we know Garfield won't be taking up professional weight lifting anytime soon, we asked if he was able to accept another equally intense aspect of becoming Spider-Man: wearing the suit.
Garfield admitted there was only one moment throughout the entire filming process in which he felt fully comfortable in it.
"I was in a changing room on my own, and I could be honest with myself," he said of the first time he zipped into the red and blue costume. "I was really moved by it because no one else was around. It was genuinely very emotional, and it felt surreal," he revealed. "That was the only moment where it felt like I was Spider-Man. Throughout the shoot, throughout filming, I never felt like it. I felt like I was trying to live up to the symbol of Spider-Man. That was the moment where I got a glimpse: 'Oh boy, I'm wearing this.' "
Check out everything we've got on "The Amazing Spider-Man."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
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MTV News' Comic-Con Takeover With Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone & Eliza Dushku
Andrew Garfield
Photo: Columbia Pictures
Any actor who takes on a role in a big-screen adaptation of a beloved comic book knows that he or she has a lot to live up to with regard to fan expectations. For Andrew Garfield, that pressure for "The Amazing Spider-Man" is doubly intense, for not only does he have to contend with that character's lengthy history in the comics, but with Tobey Maguire's well-received performance in the three Sam Raimi-directed "Spider-Man" movies as well.
Garfield recently told MTV News he feels the pressure. "I feel a great deal of weight. I can't speak for [my co-stars] but I feel like we all know how important it is to so many people," he explained. "It's equally as important to us, so I think it's impossible to not feel a certain amount of weight. But to kind of juxtapose that, I think we all feel incredibly excited because we worked really hard to make [director] Marc Webb's vision and Stan Lee's original vision, and the essence of that character come to life again for an audience in a different way," he said.
With regard to what separates "The Amazing Spider-Man" from Maguire and Raimi's work, Garfield's co-star Rhys Ifans said Webb's vision for the film is different.
"I think the films that have come before have been great, but what makes this one different is that Marc Webb has a forensic emotional eye," he explained. "So for all the flights and fancies that a superhero film delivers, inevitably there is a human domesticity to this that hopefully will make people leave the cinema loving their parents."
In addition to feeling the love for blood relations, Garfield said it's always great to watch a little guy take on the bigger guys. "I'm skinny, if you haven't noticed," he said with a smile. "I love the idea of a skinny guy beating the crap out of big guys, just as pure personal fantasy fulfillment for myself. I think a lot of other skinny guys and skinny girls like me are going to hopefully watch a skinny guy in a red and blue suit beating the crap out of big guys and really enjoy that."
One aspect of filming he did not enjoy, however, was his personal trainer's intensity. While Garfield appreciated the increased muscle tone, he didn't love the process. "My personal trainer, Armando, who I hate more than anyone in the universe: If you're watching, Armando, I hate you," he joked to our camera.
Now that we know Garfield won't be taking up professional weight lifting anytime soon, we asked if he was able to accept another equally intense aspect of becoming Spider-Man: wearing the suit.
Garfield admitted there was only one moment throughout the entire filming process in which he felt fully comfortable in it.
"I was in a changing room on my own, and I could be honest with myself," he said of the first time he zipped into the red and blue costume. "I was really moved by it because no one else was around. It was genuinely very emotional, and it felt surreal," he revealed. "That was the only moment where it felt like I was Spider-Man. Throughout the shoot, throughout filming, I never felt like it. I felt like I was trying to live up to the symbol of Spider-Man. That was the moment where I got a glimpse: 'Oh boy, I'm wearing this.' "
Check out everything we've got on "The Amazing Spider-Man."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
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MTV News' Comic-Con Takeover With Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone & Eliza Dushku
Justin Bieber, Chris Brown Spotted In Studio Together
Pair has previously worked on two tracks together, 'Up' and 'Next to You.'By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber and Chris Brown
Photo: Getty/WireImage
Pals Justin Bieber and Chris Brown were spotted heading into a studio together on Monday. According to Rap-Up.com, the singers met up at the Record Plant in Hollywood.
"Studio. #NEWMUSIC," Bieber tweeted early Tuesday morning, leading us to believe the session was for his next album.
Previously Bieber told MTV News that he wanted to focus less on features for his next album, but given the fact that Brown recently wrote a track for Joe Jonas, it's possible he may have just been assisting with some writing.
The rumored session marks the latest collaboration for the pair, who have appeared on two tracks together in the past. First, they remixed Bieber's slow jam "Up," then Bieber jumped on Brown's ballad "Next to You."
Bieber's producer, Danja, told Rap-Up.com that he's aiming for an "edgier" sound for the 17-year-old's next release. "What I'm creating for him I think is definitely a more mature sound. That's where he's headed now," he explained.
Earlier this year, Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, revealed some other names the pop star hopes to get into the studio with, including Drake, a collaboration Bieber hinted at last year.
Bieber is also reportedly working with Kanye West. "Him and Kanye [West] had a call today about a song they're trying to work on together," Braun said. "Kanye wants to produce a bunch of songs for the new album."
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Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber and Chris Brown
Photo: Getty/WireImage
Pals Justin Bieber and Chris Brown were spotted heading into a studio together on Monday. According to Rap-Up.com, the singers met up at the Record Plant in Hollywood.
"Studio. #NEWMUSIC," Bieber tweeted early Tuesday morning, leading us to believe the session was for his next album.
Previously Bieber told MTV News that he wanted to focus less on features for his next album, but given the fact that Brown recently wrote a track for Joe Jonas, it's possible he may have just been assisting with some writing.
The rumored session marks the latest collaboration for the pair, who have appeared on two tracks together in the past. First, they remixed Bieber's slow jam "Up," then Bieber jumped on Brown's ballad "Next to You."
Bieber's producer, Danja, told Rap-Up.com that he's aiming for an "edgier" sound for the 17-year-old's next release. "What I'm creating for him I think is definitely a more mature sound. That's where he's headed now," he explained.
Earlier this year, Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, revealed some other names the pop star hopes to get into the studio with, including Drake, a collaboration Bieber hinted at last year.
Bieber is also reportedly working with Kanye West. "Him and Kanye [West] had a call today about a song they're trying to work on together," Braun said. "Kanye wants to produce a bunch of songs for the new album."
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Milla Jovovich Minka Kelly Minki van der Westhuizen Miranda Kerr
'Breaking Dawn' Stars Recall Mud And Cold During Wedding Scene
'It was picture-perfect,' Ashley Greene says of the shoot, despite trying conditions.By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Ashley Greene and Nikki Reed
Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images
As anticipation for the wedding scene in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1" continues to build, it's hard to imagine it could possibly live up to the high expectations of "Twilight" fans. But the saga's stars assure us that it will, in fact, be a spectacle worthy of Bella and Edward, even if it didn't always look that way when they were filming it.
"Have you ever been to an awards show and you're like, 'Wow, on TV that looks much bigger, but then this is just sort of life that we're living?' " Nikki Reed asked when MTV caught up with her at San Diego Comic-Con. "We were shooting [the wedding], and I remember thinking that. I remember going, 'When I see this onscreen, it is going to feel epic. But I know what it's like to be here right now.' "
Since the wedding was filmed in Vancouver, a place whose weather mirrors the Washington location in the books, it was freezing and wet on the set. Reed said that the ladies' stilettos got stuck in the mud, and the hems of their gowns got dirty while shooting the outdoor sequence.
"There were really beautiful elements to it," Ashley Greene added. "Like, if you took out the fact that it was so cold and just looked at it like a picture, it was picture-perfect."
Fortunately, Greene at least got a chance to contribute to the final design for her bridesmaids dress. She and director Bill Condon exchanged ideas back and forth until they finally decided on a look for her fashionista character Alice.
"[Alice] is from the 1920s-ish, and so I thought her dress should have a little bit of that feel," Greene explained. "Other people had different visions, so we kind of put everything together, and I think it's something that you haven't seen before."
Fans already got a glimpse of the wedding in the "Breaking Dawn" theatrical trailer that premiered during the MTV Movie Awards, but we'll have to wait until November to see it in all its glory.
Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Ashley Greene and Nikki Reed
Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images
As anticipation for the wedding scene in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1" continues to build, it's hard to imagine it could possibly live up to the high expectations of "Twilight" fans. But the saga's stars assure us that it will, in fact, be a spectacle worthy of Bella and Edward, even if it didn't always look that way when they were filming it.
"Have you ever been to an awards show and you're like, 'Wow, on TV that looks much bigger, but then this is just sort of life that we're living?' " Nikki Reed asked when MTV caught up with her at San Diego Comic-Con. "We were shooting [the wedding], and I remember thinking that. I remember going, 'When I see this onscreen, it is going to feel epic. But I know what it's like to be here right now.' "
Since the wedding was filmed in Vancouver, a place whose weather mirrors the Washington location in the books, it was freezing and wet on the set. Reed said that the ladies' stilettos got stuck in the mud, and the hems of their gowns got dirty while shooting the outdoor sequence.
"There were really beautiful elements to it," Ashley Greene added. "Like, if you took out the fact that it was so cold and just looked at it like a picture, it was picture-perfect."
Fortunately, Greene at least got a chance to contribute to the final design for her bridesmaids dress. She and director Bill Condon exchanged ideas back and forth until they finally decided on a look for her fashionista character Alice.
"[Alice] is from the 1920s-ish, and so I thought her dress should have a little bit of that feel," Greene explained. "Other people had different visions, so we kind of put everything together, and I think it's something that you haven't seen before."
Fans already got a glimpse of the wedding in the "Breaking Dawn" theatrical trailer that premiered during the MTV Movie Awards, but we'll have to wait until November to see it in all its glory.
Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Videos
Geeking Out At 2011 San Diego Comic-Con
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Britney Spears Says She'd Love To Tour With Usher
In her 'Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale' special, she calls the 'OMG' singer 'really hot right now.'By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Sway Calloway and Britney Spears
Photo: MTV News & Docs
What do Britney Spears and Usher have in common? Well, they are both global superstars with a back catalogue of tunes that have kept fans dancing for a really long time and they both recently hooked up with will.i.am for tracks on their latest releases (the Black Eyed Peas mastermind worked on the pop vixen's Femme Fatale tune "Big Fat Bass"). And, if Spears has her way, she and the "OMG" singer could be hitting the road together.
When Spears sat down to talk with Sway Calloway for her "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale" special — airing Sunday (April 3) at 9 p.m. ET on MTV — the singer revealed that Usher is first on her list of artists she'd like to join her on tour.
"Oh, I'm so excited. I'm really excited about going on tour, very," she explained about her forthcoming summer trek, which happens to have a spot open on the bill now that Enrique Iglesias has pulled out of the gig. "I think Usher's really great right now. I think he's really hot right now. That would be cool [to tour with him]."
The North American road trip is expected to kick off June 17 in Sacramento, California, and will run for 26 dates, winding up on August 13 in Toronto. More details will be announced soon.
The "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale" special is a mixture of behind-the-scenes footage of the singer as she wraps up production on her album, which dropped this week, as well as an inside look at her life and fans. In addition, those who couldn't make Spears' recent nightclub show in Las Vegas will get to see her as she takes the stage in her latest pop incarnation.
Don't miss "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale," airing Sunday (April 3) at 9 p.m. ET on MTV.
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Exclusive Preview Clips Of 'Britney Spears: I Am The Femme Fatale'
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Usher
Sway Calloway and Britney Spears
Photo: MTV News & Docs
What do Britney Spears and Usher have in common? Well, they are both global superstars with a back catalogue of tunes that have kept fans dancing for a really long time and they both recently hooked up with will.i.am for tracks on their latest releases (the Black Eyed Peas mastermind worked on the pop vixen's Femme Fatale tune "Big Fat Bass"). And, if Spears has her way, she and the "OMG" singer could be hitting the road together.
When Spears sat down to talk with Sway Calloway for her "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale" special — airing Sunday (April 3) at 9 p.m. ET on MTV — the singer revealed that Usher is first on her list of artists she'd like to join her on tour.
"Oh, I'm so excited. I'm really excited about going on tour, very," she explained about her forthcoming summer trek, which happens to have a spot open on the bill now that Enrique Iglesias has pulled out of the gig. "I think Usher's really great right now. I think he's really hot right now. That would be cool [to tour with him]."
The North American road trip is expected to kick off June 17 in Sacramento, California, and will run for 26 dates, winding up on August 13 in Toronto. More details will be announced soon.
The "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale" special is a mixture of behind-the-scenes footage of the singer as she wraps up production on her album, which dropped this week, as well as an inside look at her life and fans. In addition, those who couldn't make Spears' recent nightclub show in Las Vegas will get to see her as she takes the stage in her latest pop incarnation.
Don't miss "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale," airing Sunday (April 3) at 9 p.m. ET on MTV.
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Exclusive Preview Clips Of 'Britney Spears: I Am The Femme Fatale'
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Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Justin Bieber Joins Selena Gomez Onstage
'Had a #greatnight and surprised the people,' Bieber tweeted after California show.By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez (file)
Photo: Getty Images
Selena Gomez played a show on Sunday night at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, California. And mid-concert, her fans got a big surprise as Gomez's beau, Justin Bieber, took the stage.
Video posted on Celebuzz.com shows Bieber giving his lady love a big hug before launching into an acoustic version of Justin Timberlake's classic breakup ode, "Cry Me a River." He also reportedly sang "Favorite Girl."
Bieber even took to Twitter to tell Gomez that he thought she did a great job onstage. "Had a #greatnight and surprised the people. felt good to be on stage. nothing is changing that. #REAL," he wrote.
"@selenagomez u did great tonight. proud of u."
Bieber, who recently revealed that he was taking a bit of a summer break, also added that as nice as it was to be onstage again, he is even more enthusiastic about the new album he's working on.
"More excited than ever to get back in the studio and make this #newalbum," he wrote. "Miss the tour and want to give u all new music.
#BELIEVE I do this because i love music. #REAL."
Earlier in the weekend, and offered a big "thank you" to her fans on Twitter. "HappyBirthdaySelena is a trending topic," she wrote. "Thank you all so much for a great birthday. Thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes, I love you all."
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How Justin Bieber Should Spend His Summer Vacation
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Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez (file)
Photo: Getty Images
Selena Gomez played a show on Sunday night at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, California. And mid-concert, her fans got a big surprise as Gomez's beau, Justin Bieber, took the stage.
Video posted on Celebuzz.com shows Bieber giving his lady love a big hug before launching into an acoustic version of Justin Timberlake's classic breakup ode, "Cry Me a River." He also reportedly sang "Favorite Girl."
Bieber even took to Twitter to tell Gomez that he thought she did a great job onstage. "Had a #greatnight and surprised the people. felt good to be on stage. nothing is changing that. #REAL," he wrote.
"@selenagomez u did great tonight. proud of u."
Bieber, who recently revealed that he was taking a bit of a summer break, also added that as nice as it was to be onstage again, he is even more enthusiastic about the new album he's working on.
"More excited than ever to get back in the studio and make this #newalbum," he wrote. "Miss the tour and want to give u all new music.
#BELIEVE I do this because i love music. #REAL."
Earlier in the weekend, and offered a big "thank you" to her fans on Twitter. "HappyBirthdaySelena is a trending topic," she wrote. "Thank you all so much for a great birthday. Thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes, I love you all."
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Justin Bieber
Jennifer Garner Jennifer Gimenez Jennifer Love Hewitt Jennifer Morrison
Beyonc� - Diva
Diva
Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia, Music World Music
Director: Melina
Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce
Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia, Music World Music
Director: Melina
Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce
Monday, July 25, 2011
Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Pop Star Brides
MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Pop Star Brides
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Lady Gaga Teases Mermaid-Themed Music Video
Gaga says that her mermaid alter-ego, Yuyi, 'is in incubation' and may be born in her next clip.By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Getty Images
Lady Gaga is still doing her part to make mermaids the next big thing in mythological creature trends. Though she went with a lo-fi, '80s-esque video for "The Edge of Glory" instead of her rumored "fishy" theme, there's a chance she could go under the sea for a different clip.
"I haven't been excited about a video like this in a really long time," she said on a Taiwanese talk show recently, refusing to name the title of the fourth single off of Born This Way.
"The relation of the video to my real life, as well as to my dream of the future, is really what makes it so special," she said on the show. "Part of what Born This Way is all about is choosing to live halfway between reality and fantasy at all times, and how anyone can do that. So this video really, really challenges that idea and also celebrates it. And it's very exciting.
"I will also say that Yuyi is in incubation, for anyone who knows what that means," she added, referring to the name she's given to her mermaid alter ego that she first unveiled during her performance for France's "Le Grand Journal" in June. "Yuyi may just be born in the next video."
Gaga teased that her next single would surprise fans during a Twitter Q&A last week, leading to many a guessing game and wish list.
"I don't want to ruin the surprise! It's very unexpected. Working on the video now," she said. "Next single coming in a bit."
A rep for Gaga has not responded to MTV News' request for comment regarding the next single.
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Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga
Photo: Getty Images
Lady Gaga is still doing her part to make mermaids the next big thing in mythological creature trends. Though she went with a lo-fi, '80s-esque video for "The Edge of Glory" instead of her rumored "fishy" theme, there's a chance she could go under the sea for a different clip.
"I haven't been excited about a video like this in a really long time," she said on a Taiwanese talk show recently, refusing to name the title of the fourth single off of Born This Way.
"The relation of the video to my real life, as well as to my dream of the future, is really what makes it so special," she said on the show. "Part of what Born This Way is all about is choosing to live halfway between reality and fantasy at all times, and how anyone can do that. So this video really, really challenges that idea and also celebrates it. And it's very exciting.
"I will also say that Yuyi is in incubation, for anyone who knows what that means," she added, referring to the name she's given to her mermaid alter ego that she first unveiled during her performance for France's "Le Grand Journal" in June. "Yuyi may just be born in the next video."
Gaga teased that her next single would surprise fans during a Twitter Q&A last week, leading to many a guessing game and wish list.
"I don't want to ruin the surprise! It's very unexpected. Working on the video now," she said. "Next single coming in a bit."
A rep for Gaga has not responded to MTV News' request for comment regarding the next single.
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Lady Gaga
Usher Says New 'Rev Pop' Project Is A 'Movement'
Singer teases his new project by pointing to past hits like 'Yeah!' and 'OMG.'By James Montgomery
Usher
Photo: MTV News
With the success of songs like "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love," "Hot Tottie" and "OMG," Usher had himself a fairly massive 2010. But rather than rest on his laurels, he's looking to build on his big year, not with an album, but with a "movement."
It's something he's calling "Rev Pop" — or, simply, "Rev" — and though he's already teased his idea in a video with David Guetta (Akon is also involved), he has yet to speak in full about it. So when MTV News caught up with Ush before the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles at the (Belvedere) RED launch party, we asked him about his next musical endeavor. And though he didn't reveal much, he did let it be known that "Rev" isn't exactly something new. In fact, he's been doing it for a while now.
"I'll give it to you this way: At a later date, I'll tell you more about Rev Pop, but if I were to give you a flash: I've done it before, I did it with 'Yeah!' " he said, "taking a cultural experience, and also worldwide recognition of a feeling, and putting the soul in the middle of it. Not allowing it to shift heavily to R&B genre, or pop. I did it again with 'OMG,' once again putting the soul in the middle of it, which was an electric-pop experience, with the soul.
"It's bringing those elements together to tell a story, that was born here," he said, gesturing toward his heart, "And that's what Rev Pop is. There's more, I mean, I could really elaborate, but that's just what I'm going to tell you right now. 'Rev' is what it's called ... the movement is called Rev."
Usher wouldn't say just when his fans would be getting their first taste of Rev, but whenever they do, it sounds like they're going to be impressed ... if not a little shocked.
"Stay alive," he smiled, "Because you're definitely going to be in for a surprise."
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Usher
Usher
Photo: MTV News
With the success of songs like "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love," "Hot Tottie" and "OMG," Usher had himself a fairly massive 2010. But rather than rest on his laurels, he's looking to build on his big year, not with an album, but with a "movement."
It's something he's calling "Rev Pop" — or, simply, "Rev" — and though he's already teased his idea in a video with David Guetta (Akon is also involved), he has yet to speak in full about it. So when MTV News caught up with Ush before the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles at the (Belvedere) RED launch party, we asked him about his next musical endeavor. And though he didn't reveal much, he did let it be known that "Rev" isn't exactly something new. In fact, he's been doing it for a while now.
"I'll give it to you this way: At a later date, I'll tell you more about Rev Pop, but if I were to give you a flash: I've done it before, I did it with 'Yeah!' " he said, "taking a cultural experience, and also worldwide recognition of a feeling, and putting the soul in the middle of it. Not allowing it to shift heavily to R&B genre, or pop. I did it again with 'OMG,' once again putting the soul in the middle of it, which was an electric-pop experience, with the soul.
"It's bringing those elements together to tell a story, that was born here," he said, gesturing toward his heart, "And that's what Rev Pop is. There's more, I mean, I could really elaborate, but that's just what I'm going to tell you right now. 'Rev' is what it's called ... the movement is called Rev."
Usher wouldn't say just when his fans would be getting their first taste of Rev, but whenever they do, it sounds like they're going to be impressed ... if not a little shocked.
"Stay alive," he smiled, "Because you're definitely going to be in for a surprise."
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Usher
Ke$ha, Adam Lambert, Ne-Yo Have A Few Royal Wedding Gift Ideas
From 'guyliner' to American delicacies like Uncrustables, Kathy Griffin, Mike Posner and more tell us what they'd get Will and Kate.By Terri Schwartz
Kate Middleton and Prince William
Photo: Ben Stansall/ Getty Images
What kind of wedding gift do you give the royal couple who has everything?
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is on Friday (April 29), so MTV News reached out to some of our favorite Hollywood celebrities — from Ke$ha to Adam Lambert. Fortunately, they had some solid ideas!
"I haven't met them, so it would be kind of awkward," the "Tik Tok" singer admitted to MTV News. "I might paint them something. Maybe I'll paint them a guitar."
Like Ke$ha, other celebs had suggestions that were from the heart, even if they weren't the most practical.
"I will go out on a limb and say these two individuals maybe haven't had Uncrustables before in their life. I would get them a strawberry Uncrustable," Mike Posner said about the pastry.
David Cook followed up on the all-American food idea. "I feel like they have everything except maybe they probably don't have an Applebee's gift card. I'll go [with an] Applebee's gift card," the "American Idol" alum said.
Other stars said they'd gift the British prince and soon-to-be-princess with an item they were personally best known for.
"I'd probably buy William some eyeliner," Lambert said. "He could do that, he could rock that look. I think."
Ne-Yo was more empathetic, saying he would give gifts that could help shield them from photographers and blend in with everyday people. "Three years' supply of sunglasses. Yeah, put them on. A bunch of baseball caps, throw those on, and try to move around like regular people," the singer said. "I can't imagine what it would be like having to live under that big of a magnifying glass your whole life ... and fake mustaches, that's what I'd give them."
Brooke Burke went the more traditional route, saying she would get Will and Kate a journal to record the big event. "I would ask them to really take the time to write down thoughts and phrases and wishes," Burke said. "And not really to lose sight of how they feel about each other now and to really hold on to that feeling."
Kathy Griffin had good intentions but the comedian couldn't resist a puke joke.
"If I had to get the royal couple a gift, I would get them the Royal Couple Vomit Bag, which someone sent me a photo of," Griffin told us. "So you can actually buy vomit bags with their image on it, and I think that that is an honor and I hope that they see it as such."
What would you give to William and Kate? Share your ideas in the comments section!
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Prince William And Kate Middleton: A Royal Wedding
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Adam Lambert
Ne-Yo
Kate Middleton and Prince William
Photo: Ben Stansall/ Getty Images
What kind of wedding gift do you give the royal couple who has everything?
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is on Friday (April 29), so MTV News reached out to some of our favorite Hollywood celebrities — from Ke$ha to Adam Lambert. Fortunately, they had some solid ideas!
"I haven't met them, so it would be kind of awkward," the "Tik Tok" singer admitted to MTV News. "I might paint them something. Maybe I'll paint them a guitar."
Like Ke$ha, other celebs had suggestions that were from the heart, even if they weren't the most practical.
"I will go out on a limb and say these two individuals maybe haven't had Uncrustables before in their life. I would get them a strawberry Uncrustable," Mike Posner said about the pastry.
David Cook followed up on the all-American food idea. "I feel like they have everything except maybe they probably don't have an Applebee's gift card. I'll go [with an] Applebee's gift card," the "American Idol" alum said.
Other stars said they'd gift the British prince and soon-to-be-princess with an item they were personally best known for.
"I'd probably buy William some eyeliner," Lambert said. "He could do that, he could rock that look. I think."
Ne-Yo was more empathetic, saying he would give gifts that could help shield them from photographers and blend in with everyday people. "Three years' supply of sunglasses. Yeah, put them on. A bunch of baseball caps, throw those on, and try to move around like regular people," the singer said. "I can't imagine what it would be like having to live under that big of a magnifying glass your whole life ... and fake mustaches, that's what I'd give them."
Brooke Burke went the more traditional route, saying she would get Will and Kate a journal to record the big event. "I would ask them to really take the time to write down thoughts and phrases and wishes," Burke said. "And not really to lose sight of how they feel about each other now and to really hold on to that feeling."
Kathy Griffin had good intentions but the comedian couldn't resist a puke joke.
"If I had to get the royal couple a gift, I would get them the Royal Couple Vomit Bag, which someone sent me a photo of," Griffin told us. "So you can actually buy vomit bags with their image on it, and I think that that is an honor and I hope that they see it as such."
What would you give to William and Kate? Share your ideas in the comments section!
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Prince William And Kate Middleton: A Royal Wedding
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Sunday, July 24, 2011
The San Francisco Treat
Yesterday afternoon, David and I winged our way up to San Francisco, CA to spend the weekend hanging out with his brother Aram. David’s been to SF a few times since my last visit but I haven’t been here for about 2 years now so … I’m excited to be back in the city. The [...]
A Live-Action Voltron Movie Has Been Announced
In June of 2010, we learned that a new animated series based on the original 80′s cartoon Voltron: Defender of the Universe was going into production. This week, at 2011 San Diego Comic-Con it was announced that a live-action film is also being planned. It is not yet known when the Voltron movie will hit [...]
An Evening At 28 Barbary Lane
Yesterday was a really fun day here in San Francisco. For the most part, we’ve been keeping things pretty chill but it’s been nice hanging out with David’s brother as well as some other friends we have here in the city. As we walked the streets, we came upon the American Conservatory Theater and were [...]
Gisele Bündchen Giuliana DePandi Giulianna Ramirez Grace Park
'Hobbit' Director Peter Jackson To Andy Serkis: 'Be Bold'!
There are plenty of reasons to be excited for "The Hobbit," from Peter Jackson's directorial return to Middle Earth, to the awesome-looking dwarf costumes, to the return of some fan-favorite characters like Elijah Wood's Frodo. But Andy Serkis has his own specific reason: he's Jackson's second unit director.
"He's always been aware that directing is an [...]
"He's always been aware that directing is an [...]
Tom Cruise Is Taylor Lautner's Action Idol, 'Abduction' Star Says
FROM MTV NEWS: Taylor Lautner is ready to abduct the title of Hollywood's resident action star when "Abduction" hits theaters September 23, but he didn't get there without a little inspiration from some of the genre's greatest actors.
When MTV caught up with the "Twilight Saga" star at San Diego Comic-Con this week, he revealed that [...]
When MTV caught up with the "Twilight Saga" star at San Diego Comic-Con this week, he revealed that [...]
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Photos | Lady Gaga And The Scissor Sisters Perform At Staples Center
Lady Gaga And The Scissor Sisters Perform At Staples Center
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Photos | Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez And Many More At Wango Tango 2011
Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez And Many More At Wango Tango 2011
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Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry: Who's The Most Patriotic Diva?
Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and Christina Aguilera are also in the running this Fourth of July.By John Mitchell, with additional reporting by Danielle Genet
Beyoncé
Photo: Columbia
Today is the Fourth of July — happy birthday, America! — and that means it's time to celebrate the most patriotic ladies in music! Whether they're singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" in front of millions or wearing their love of their country on their sleeve (sometimes very literally), these ladies are living the American dream.
And this isn't some arbitrary ranking, either! To determine who the most patriotic divas are, we got positively scientific (just go with it). We assessed these ladies' patriotism based on four areas. Each was awarded one point if she, A) appeared at a patriotic event or in a pro-America public service announcement, B) was photographed wearing American flag-related clothing, C) sang the national anthem at a public event or D) released an America-themed song. The lady with the most points won.
So who are the top America-lovin' ladies in music today? Check 'em out!
Britney Spears
Spears famously appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in 2000 wearing an American-flag belly shirt with a play on Uncle Sam's famous saying running beside her: "Britney Wants You!" We decided to be pretty liberal with what constitutes a patriotic event, so we are going to give Spears a combined single point for appearing at two very American (but not specifically about America) events: the NASCAR Winston Cup Pepsi 400 in 2001 and the Super Bowl XXXV halftime show.
Alas, Spears has not released a song specifically about America, despite being "Miss American Dream since I was 17." She also, curiously enough, hasn't performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" in her pop-star era. (There is a six-second YouTube clip of her performing the national anthem at age 8, but she wasn't a sanctioned diva back then.)
Score: 2
Miley Cyrus
We thought of Cyrus for this list specifically because of her good-times jam "Party in the U.S.A.," which is not only about America but weirdly became a bona fide anthem that reflected the mood in the country following the death of Osama Bin Laden.
But just when we thought we could award the young pop star only one point, we stumbled upon her PSA for the American Red Cross, asking for support in the wake of the earthquake that ravaged northern Japan earlier this year. Way to lend your celebrity to both a very American organization and an allied country in dire need, Miley!
Score: 2
Lady Gaga
America is all about being yourself. We are a melting pot, after all. And Lady Gaga is all about being herself, and she wants you to be yourself too — there's nothing more American than that!
We'd love to see her put those killer pipes to use and sing the national anthem, but she hasn't done it just yet. She does earn points, however, in the three other areas of our survey. Gaga is, interestingly, perhaps the pop star most involved in the democratic process. Last year she spoke at the National Equality March and at rallies in Maine to encourage the repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. She even appeared in a PSA for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network asking her fans to contact their senators to voice their displeasure with the policy.
On the sartorial front, she sported an American-flag bikini in her "Telephone" video. (Wouldn't you have been more surprised if we had told you that Lady Gaga had never worn the American flag?) She also has a song on her most recent album, Born This Way, called "Americano."
Score: 3
Christina Aguilera
Aguilera is known for her awesome singing voice, so it's no surprise that she has performed the national anthem at several major events, including this year's Super Bowl, where she mangled the lyrics something fierce in an uncommon bout of nervousness. (That's what it was, right? Seriously, she's done "The Star-Spangled Banner" about a thousand times!)
The "Beautiful" singer also filmed PSAs for "Rock the Vote" in 2008 to encourage young people to get out and do their duty as U.S. citizens. In the clips, she sings "America the Beautiful" a cappella while holding her newborn son Max, who is wrapped in an American flag (double points!). Yes, Aguilera herself isn't draped in the flag, but we thought we'd give her the point anyway because of her USO-themed video for "Candyman."
Score: 3
Katy Perry
Perry impresses in three of our categories. Late last year, she performed at the "USO Presents: VH1 Divas Salute the Troops" concert at Miramar, California, where she also wore an American-flag bustier. That is not the only instance of flag-waving clothing Perry has sported, however. During an appearance on British TV show James Corden's "World Cup Live!," Perry wore a latex flag dress.
Given her frequent pro-America attire, we're going to give Perry the benefit of the doubt and count her pro-tolerance anthem "Firework" as an America-themed song, because in America, all men and women are created equal, and that's basically what "Firework" is all about. Also, it's the Fourth of July, people. Fireworks!
Score: 3
Beyoncé
Was it even really a contest? Beyoncé sang (and nailed) "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 2004 Super Bowl in her hometown of Houston, Texas.
What's more American than singing the national anthem at America's most-watched sporting event? Well, perhaps being personally asked by the president to perform at his inauguration. The girl (who runs the world) was asked to sing "At Last" while Barack and Michelle Obama had their first dance as president and first lady of the United States.
Beyoncé recently released a cover of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." to benefit the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund. (Seriously, could she be more awesome?) Having worn the American flag as a dress to get down opposite Lady Gaga in the video for "Telephone," Queen B is the only diva who fulfills all our categories.
When it comes to Beyoncé and America, we could go on and on — she recently repurposed one of her hits for Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" anti-obesity campaign, and in 2001, she performed with Destiny's Child at the United We Stand: What More Can I Give? benefit concert at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. — wearing American-flag pants, we might add. But it's the Fourth of July, and we think a real patriot like B would prefer you get out and celebrate America's 235th birthday instead of celebrating her dedication to the US of A!
Score: 4 (OMG, you guys, not only is 4 B's lucky number, it's the name of her latest record!)
Who did we miss? Share your pick for the most patriotic diva in the comments below!
Related Photos
Who's The Most Patriotic Diva?
Related Artists
Beyoncé
Lady Gaga
Katy Perry
Beyoncé
Photo: Columbia
Today is the Fourth of July — happy birthday, America! — and that means it's time to celebrate the most patriotic ladies in music! Whether they're singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" in front of millions or wearing their love of their country on their sleeve (sometimes very literally), these ladies are living the American dream.
And this isn't some arbitrary ranking, either! To determine who the most patriotic divas are, we got positively scientific (just go with it). We assessed these ladies' patriotism based on four areas. Each was awarded one point if she, A) appeared at a patriotic event or in a pro-America public service announcement, B) was photographed wearing American flag-related clothing, C) sang the national anthem at a public event or D) released an America-themed song. The lady with the most points won.
So who are the top America-lovin' ladies in music today? Check 'em out!
Britney Spears
Spears famously appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in 2000 wearing an American-flag belly shirt with a play on Uncle Sam's famous saying running beside her: "Britney Wants You!" We decided to be pretty liberal with what constitutes a patriotic event, so we are going to give Spears a combined single point for appearing at two very American (but not specifically about America) events: the NASCAR Winston Cup Pepsi 400 in 2001 and the Super Bowl XXXV halftime show.
Alas, Spears has not released a song specifically about America, despite being "Miss American Dream since I was 17." She also, curiously enough, hasn't performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" in her pop-star era. (There is a six-second YouTube clip of her performing the national anthem at age 8, but she wasn't a sanctioned diva back then.)
Score: 2
Miley Cyrus
We thought of Cyrus for this list specifically because of her good-times jam "Party in the U.S.A.," which is not only about America but weirdly became a bona fide anthem that reflected the mood in the country following the death of Osama Bin Laden.
But just when we thought we could award the young pop star only one point, we stumbled upon her PSA for the American Red Cross, asking for support in the wake of the earthquake that ravaged northern Japan earlier this year. Way to lend your celebrity to both a very American organization and an allied country in dire need, Miley!
Score: 2
Lady Gaga
America is all about being yourself. We are a melting pot, after all. And Lady Gaga is all about being herself, and she wants you to be yourself too — there's nothing more American than that!
We'd love to see her put those killer pipes to use and sing the national anthem, but she hasn't done it just yet. She does earn points, however, in the three other areas of our survey. Gaga is, interestingly, perhaps the pop star most involved in the democratic process. Last year she spoke at the National Equality March and at rallies in Maine to encourage the repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. She even appeared in a PSA for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network asking her fans to contact their senators to voice their displeasure with the policy.
On the sartorial front, she sported an American-flag bikini in her "Telephone" video. (Wouldn't you have been more surprised if we had told you that Lady Gaga had never worn the American flag?) She also has a song on her most recent album, Born This Way, called "Americano."
Score: 3
Christina Aguilera
Aguilera is known for her awesome singing voice, so it's no surprise that she has performed the national anthem at several major events, including this year's Super Bowl, where she mangled the lyrics something fierce in an uncommon bout of nervousness. (That's what it was, right? Seriously, she's done "The Star-Spangled Banner" about a thousand times!)
The "Beautiful" singer also filmed PSAs for "Rock the Vote" in 2008 to encourage young people to get out and do their duty as U.S. citizens. In the clips, she sings "America the Beautiful" a cappella while holding her newborn son Max, who is wrapped in an American flag (double points!). Yes, Aguilera herself isn't draped in the flag, but we thought we'd give her the point anyway because of her USO-themed video for "Candyman."
Score: 3
Katy Perry
Perry impresses in three of our categories. Late last year, she performed at the "USO Presents: VH1 Divas Salute the Troops" concert at Miramar, California, where she also wore an American-flag bustier. That is not the only instance of flag-waving clothing Perry has sported, however. During an appearance on British TV show James Corden's "World Cup Live!," Perry wore a latex flag dress.
Given her frequent pro-America attire, we're going to give Perry the benefit of the doubt and count her pro-tolerance anthem "Firework" as an America-themed song, because in America, all men and women are created equal, and that's basically what "Firework" is all about. Also, it's the Fourth of July, people. Fireworks!
Score: 3
Beyoncé
Was it even really a contest? Beyoncé sang (and nailed) "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 2004 Super Bowl in her hometown of Houston, Texas.
What's more American than singing the national anthem at America's most-watched sporting event? Well, perhaps being personally asked by the president to perform at his inauguration. The girl (who runs the world) was asked to sing "At Last" while Barack and Michelle Obama had their first dance as president and first lady of the United States.
Beyoncé recently released a cover of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." to benefit the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund. (Seriously, could she be more awesome?) Having worn the American flag as a dress to get down opposite Lady Gaga in the video for "Telephone," Queen B is the only diva who fulfills all our categories.
When it comes to Beyoncé and America, we could go on and on — she recently repurposed one of her hits for Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" anti-obesity campaign, and in 2001, she performed with Destiny's Child at the United We Stand: What More Can I Give? benefit concert at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. — wearing American-flag pants, we might add. But it's the Fourth of July, and we think a real patriot like B would prefer you get out and celebrate America's 235th birthday instead of celebrating her dedication to the US of A!
Score: 4 (OMG, you guys, not only is 4 B's lucky number, it's the name of her latest record!)
Who did we miss? Share your pick for the most patriotic diva in the comments below!
Related Photos
Who's The Most Patriotic Diva?
Related Artists
Beyoncé
Lady Gaga
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga, Adele, Others Get Record Industry Back In Black
Strong sales by female artists have put industry in positive territory for first time since 2004.By Gil Kaufman
Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Beyoncé may have been on to something with that whole "Run the World (Girls)," business after all. Though Queen B's single didn't set the world on fire, in the first half of 2011, a number of her fellow divas — Adele, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry — have helped the music business achieve something it hasn't been able to in nearly eight years: positive growth.
According to figures released on Wednesday by Nielsen SoundScan, overall album sales rose 3.6 percent to 221.5 million during the first half of this year. That marks the first time since 2004 that sales have been in the black for an industry that has suffered a decade-long slide thanks to rampant Internet piracy and slumping album sales as a result of fans cherry-picking singles on iTunes and other download services.
As we continue to hash out which songs will win this year's Summer Jam crown, a number of the female contenders are among the artists who've helped turn the sales tide, including Perry, Nicki Minaj, Adele and Gaga. (Eminem hasn't been a slouch either, thanks to his smash comeback Recovery, which recently passed the 1 million album download mark.)
Adele has already moved more than 2.5 million copies of her breakout hit 21 since February, along with 4.1 million single downloads of "Rolling in the Deep," while Gaga's Born This Way has shifted more than 1.5 million units. Perry has been doing her part as well, scoring a string of hit singles, including "E.T.," which has sold more than 4.1 million digital units this year.
Britney Spears' tourmate Minaj has the year's ninth best-selling album so far with her debut, Pink Friday, with 1.4 million in sales to date, 556,000 of which have come in this calendar year.
Like Nicki, Rihanna has helped boost numbers this year with an album that came out in late 2010. Loud has sold more than 1.3 million copies to date, 598,000 of which came in 2011.
According to Billboard, the ladies aren't alone, as British folk rock revivalists Mumford & Sons have been doing some heavy lifting too, selling 982,000 copies of their album Sigh No More so far this year. Country singer Jason Aldean's My Kinda Party has also done its part, moving 763,000 units, as has Bruno Mars' debut, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, which has sold 686,000 copies.
It's unclear at this point if the trend can sustain itself through the rest of the year. But with strong summer tour sales by Perry and rescheduled dates from Adele on the horizon, not to mention the promise of new albums from Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Jay-Z, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Willow Smith, Rick Ross, Coldplay, and "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery, the industry may just be able to breathe a (small) sigh or relief for the first time in a long time.
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The Evolution Of: Lady Gaga
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Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Beyoncé may have been on to something with that whole "Run the World (Girls)," business after all. Though Queen B's single didn't set the world on fire, in the first half of 2011, a number of her fellow divas — Adele, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry — have helped the music business achieve something it hasn't been able to in nearly eight years: positive growth.
According to figures released on Wednesday by Nielsen SoundScan, overall album sales rose 3.6 percent to 221.5 million during the first half of this year. That marks the first time since 2004 that sales have been in the black for an industry that has suffered a decade-long slide thanks to rampant Internet piracy and slumping album sales as a result of fans cherry-picking singles on iTunes and other download services.
As we continue to hash out which songs will win this year's Summer Jam crown, a number of the female contenders are among the artists who've helped turn the sales tide, including Perry, Nicki Minaj, Adele and Gaga. (Eminem hasn't been a slouch either, thanks to his smash comeback Recovery, which recently passed the 1 million album download mark.)
Adele has already moved more than 2.5 million copies of her breakout hit 21 since February, along with 4.1 million single downloads of "Rolling in the Deep," while Gaga's Born This Way has shifted more than 1.5 million units. Perry has been doing her part as well, scoring a string of hit singles, including "E.T.," which has sold more than 4.1 million digital units this year.
Britney Spears' tourmate Minaj has the year's ninth best-selling album so far with her debut, Pink Friday, with 1.4 million in sales to date, 556,000 of which have come in this calendar year.
Like Nicki, Rihanna has helped boost numbers this year with an album that came out in late 2010. Loud has sold more than 1.3 million copies to date, 598,000 of which came in 2011.
According to Billboard, the ladies aren't alone, as British folk rock revivalists Mumford & Sons have been doing some heavy lifting too, selling 982,000 copies of their album Sigh No More so far this year. Country singer Jason Aldean's My Kinda Party has also done its part, moving 763,000 units, as has Bruno Mars' debut, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, which has sold 686,000 copies.
It's unclear at this point if the trend can sustain itself through the rest of the year. But with strong summer tour sales by Perry and rescheduled dates from Adele on the horizon, not to mention the promise of new albums from Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Jay-Z, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Willow Smith, Rick Ross, Coldplay, and "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery, the industry may just be able to breathe a (small) sigh or relief for the first time in a long time.
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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy: Awkward Photos Of Celebs Blowing Kisses
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Watch: ?Drive? Releases A Red Band Trailer
Back in October of last year, we saw a few photos of Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan paling around on the LA set of their film Drive. Today we get to see the red band trailer for the finished film, due out later this year. While Gosling is known for his emotionally dramatic films, it [...]
Britney Spears - If U Seek Amy
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'Breaking Dawn' Shirtless Scenes Make Robert Pattinson 'Nervous'
'I don't want to get anyone's hopes up,' he jokes to MTV News.By Kara Warner
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1"
Photo: Andrew Cooper/ Summit Entertainment
SAN DIEGO — The most dedicated Robert Pattinson fans — those who have pored over every interview, appearance, etc. — know that when it comes to talking about himself, their favorite "Twilight" heartthrob sometimes gets a bit uncomfortable. Every time the subject comes up, he starts running his fingers through his hair and making jokes at his own expense.
At the "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" press conference before the film's San Diego Comic-Con panel on Thursday (July 21), Pattinson was asked what scene gave him the most anxiety during the "Dawn" shoot. Pattinson was forced to endure a double-dose of nerves in talking about himself and having to address the amount of shirtlessness fans will see in the film.
"The thing I was most nervous about was taking my shirt off," Pattinson admitted.
"At least he's honest!" Kristen Stewart chimed in. "That's cool."
Pattinson went on to say that even though the Edward Cullen in Stephenie Meyer's books is frequently without a shirt, he kept trying to keep himself clothed in the films.
"I've managed to have my shirt on the whole series," he said. "In the book, [Edward is shirtless] almost every three pages. [I kept thinking,] 'How can I wear a T-shirt in the sea? Or a onesie?' " Pattinson joked about trying to film his water scenes fully clothed.
"I don't want to get anyone's hopes up," Pattinson added, speaking to what fans will see of his torso in the film and preview footage. "I look like an inflatable frankfurter in some of those [scenes]."
Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1"
Photo: Andrew Cooper/ Summit Entertainment
SAN DIEGO — The most dedicated Robert Pattinson fans — those who have pored over every interview, appearance, etc. — know that when it comes to talking about himself, their favorite "Twilight" heartthrob sometimes gets a bit uncomfortable. Every time the subject comes up, he starts running his fingers through his hair and making jokes at his own expense.
At the "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" press conference before the film's San Diego Comic-Con panel on Thursday (July 21), Pattinson was asked what scene gave him the most anxiety during the "Dawn" shoot. Pattinson was forced to endure a double-dose of nerves in talking about himself and having to address the amount of shirtlessness fans will see in the film.
"The thing I was most nervous about was taking my shirt off," Pattinson admitted.
"At least he's honest!" Kristen Stewart chimed in. "That's cool."
Pattinson went on to say that even though the Edward Cullen in Stephenie Meyer's books is frequently without a shirt, he kept trying to keep himself clothed in the films.
"I've managed to have my shirt on the whole series," he said. "In the book, [Edward is shirtless] almost every three pages. [I kept thinking,] 'How can I wear a T-shirt in the sea? Or a onesie?' " Pattinson joked about trying to film his water scenes fully clothed.
"I don't want to get anyone's hopes up," Pattinson added, speaking to what fans will see of his torso in the film and preview footage. "I look like an inflatable frankfurter in some of those [scenes]."
Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Thursday, July 21, 2011
Coldplay, Led Zeppelin Album Covers Featured On New British Stamps
Album art from Pink Floyd, Blur and David Bowie also included.By James Montgomery
Coldplay's new British stamps
Photo: Royal Mail
On Thursday (January 7), the U.K.'s Royal Mail unveiled a series of 10 new stamps, honoring the most iconic album covers of the past 40 years.
The albums featured in the new series are the Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed, Led Zeppelin's IV, David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, The Clash's London Calling, New Order's Power, Corruption and Lies, Primal Scream's Screamadelica, Pink Floyd's The Division Bell, Blur's Parklife and — the most recent album on to make the cut — Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head.
Meant to honor "the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people's lives," the series is the end result of a lengthy research process by the Royal Mail, who looked through thousands of album covers by British artists before deciding on the final list. And, during a Wednesday night BBC Radio broadcast, it was revealed that the queen herself actually approved each design.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page — who helped design the cover for IV — was on hand to celebrate the release of the stamps and recalled the mysterious nature of the album's iconic imagery.
"Almost 40 years after the album came out, nobody knows the old man who featured on the cover, nor the artist who painted him," he said. "That sort of sums up what we wanted to achieve with the album cover, which has remained both anonymous and enigmatic at the same time."
Of course, any great honor is befitting of an equally great contest, so, on the same day the stamps were made available to the general public, Coldplay decided to give one of their Rush of Blood stamps away. In a message on their official site, the band held a contest to send one lucky fan "a letter using a Coldplay stamp, postmarked with today's issue date."
"We visited our local post office earlier today and bought some of the Coldplay stamps," the message read. "Very nice they are too."
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Coldplay's new British stamps
Photo: Royal Mail
On Thursday (January 7), the U.K.'s Royal Mail unveiled a series of 10 new stamps, honoring the most iconic album covers of the past 40 years.
The albums featured in the new series are the Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed, Led Zeppelin's IV, David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, The Clash's London Calling, New Order's Power, Corruption and Lies, Primal Scream's Screamadelica, Pink Floyd's The Division Bell, Blur's Parklife and — the most recent album on to make the cut — Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head.
Meant to honor "the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people's lives," the series is the end result of a lengthy research process by the Royal Mail, who looked through thousands of album covers by British artists before deciding on the final list. And, during a Wednesday night BBC Radio broadcast, it was revealed that the queen herself actually approved each design.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page — who helped design the cover for IV — was on hand to celebrate the release of the stamps and recalled the mysterious nature of the album's iconic imagery.
"Almost 40 years after the album came out, nobody knows the old man who featured on the cover, nor the artist who painted him," he said. "That sort of sums up what we wanted to achieve with the album cover, which has remained both anonymous and enigmatic at the same time."
Of course, any great honor is befitting of an equally great contest, so, on the same day the stamps were made available to the general public, Coldplay decided to give one of their Rush of Blood stamps away. In a message on their official site, the band held a contest to send one lucky fan "a letter using a Coldplay stamp, postmarked with today's issue date."
"We visited our local post office earlier today and bought some of the Coldplay stamps," the message read. "Very nice they are too."
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Dimmu Borgir Release Live DVD; Plus Led Zeppelin, Brujeria, & More News That Rules, In Metal File
'It shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums,' guitarist says.By Chris Harris
Dimmu Borgir's Silenoz
Photo: Nuclear Blast
On October 14, Dimmu Borgir — who just happen to be Demi Lovato's favorite black-metal band — will release a a three-disc DVD/CD set called "The Invaluable Darkness," the band's first visual offering since 2002's "World Misanthropy." Boasting live footage shot last year, during gigs in Norway, Germany and England, "The Invaluable Darkness" demonstrates the unbridled furor of seeing Dimmu live, guitarist Silenoz said.
"It shows the honest rawness and atmospheric darkness of our concerts," the Norwegian told Metal File last week, after dismissing recent online rumors that his band's next LP would be coming out through Roadrunner Records. "Basically, it shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums. It's just a different side to the band, basically."
Dimmu Borgir began thinking about "The Invaluable Darkness" two years ago, but didn't start capturing footage until last summer, Silenoz explained, adding that the band will use its current stint on the Blackest of the Black Tour — which got underway Thursday night in Miami Beach, Florida, and also features the tour's founder, Danzig, along with
Moonspell, Winds of Plague and Skeletonwitch — to promote the DVD. Dimmu Borgir will not, however, use the tour to write material for their next LP.
"It's our first time on Blackest, but Glenn [Danzig] had wanted to bring us out before [on the tour], but we weren't available until now," Silenoz said. "We've done Ozzfest before, but we're looking forward to this tour more. We did the main stage on Ozzfest, playing in f--_ing broad daylight. This tour will let us play in bigger places, but at the same time showcase more of what the band's about, visually. We are going to concentrate on the tour for now. Some years ago, we tried putting [material] together on the road, but once we got home, we listened back to it, and were like, 'What the f--- is this?' So, we just scrapped it all. We find it's so much better to totally focus on one thing at a time, and then, when that's over, you move on to the next [thing]. We don't really feel like we need to rush things, anyway, so we'll just take our time, and it's going to be what it's going to be."
Dimmu Borgir hope to reconvene in late December to begin writing the follow-up to 2007's diabolically titled In Sorte Diaboli. "We have some ideas floating around already, but we haven't arranged any material yet," he said. "We'll start doing that once the touring for this DVD is over." The band's frontman, Shagrath, is also due to marry soon — he's engaged to actor Nicolas Cage's ex-girlfriend, Christina Fulton, so that may have an effect on when Dimmu finish their next album, which Silenoz said could be out this coming spring.
"I'm sure [Shagrath] won't let anything get in the way [of] the band — I think, I hope," the guitarist said. "We don't need a Yoko [Ono] situation."
While Dimmu have been at it going on 15 years now, Silenoz said he doesn't think their forthcoming material will be much of a departure from their previous black-metal offerings.
"And we have always been about more than just that term, 'black metal,' " he said. "Luckily for us, the older you get, the less concerned you get with the categorization and putting labels on your music. Things start getting more and more limitless with us, and we know that we operate within certain frames. But we try not to analyze things too much, because it's just going to be working against you in the end. When we write new stuff, we don't think about what we should write — we just get together, and put material together, and if we like it, we keep it. That's the formula, if we even have a formula."
Dimmu Borgir are definitely getting older — guitarist Galder will be missing Blackest because of a recent addition to his family, and Susperia's Cyrus will be filling in for him; while former Vader drummer Dariusz Brzozowski takes over for Hellhammer, who had to leave the band in 2007 after sustaining a neck injury that's now limited the use of his right arm. As Dimmu has gotten on in years, Silenoz admits they have failed to keep pace with some of the more extreme black-metal acts that have followed in their wake.
"We helped open doors for the more extreme bands out there," Silenoz said. "I'm sure we helped open doors for bands like Watain, [insomuch as] people that had maybe started listening to us first then went on to the more extreme stuff. Let's face it — we're not as extreme as Watain and other bands like that, but we're fine with that."
The Blackest of the Black Tour continues through November 10 in San Francisco.
The rest of the week's metal news:
Dimmu's tourmates on Blackest, Winds of Plague, have announced ex-Azusa drummer Art Cruz has joined their ranks — he replaced Jeff Tenney. According to the band's blog, "Art has already added a new spark to the band and has provided us with a solid backbone that will allow us to continue our rampage stronger than ever." ...
What the world really needs is another
Led Zeppelin box set, so, on November 4, Rhino Records will issue the Led Zeppelin Definitive Collection Mini LP Replica CD box set. For just $200, you'll get 1969's Led Zeppelin, 1969's Led Zeppelin II, 1970's Led Zeppelin III, 1971's Led Zeppelin IV, 1973's Houses of the Holy, 1975's Physical Graffiti, 1976's Presence, 1976's The Song Remains the Same, 1979's In Through the Out Door and 1982's Coda, as mini-LP replicas, with artwork from the original U.K. LP sleeves. Now, you know what you can get your dad for Christmas. ...
Former Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach and current Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz have teamed up for a new project they're calling Times of Grace, and they've already started working on material for their debut album. According to Leach, "We have two songs to go and we will be finished with all of the vocals. Adam has taken lead vocals in three songs as of yet and he is doing a great job. We also worked on a track yesterday that is so epic — we trade vocals and do two different melodies at the same time. This album went from a melodic metal album to an epic mix of metal/rock/pop/shoegaze and punk. So all of your metal expectations will be incorrect — we are pushing genre boundaries." To quote "Meet the Parents," we'll look forward to that, Greg. ...
The Funeral Pyre and Early Graves will be hitting the road together next month, starting November 7 in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dates are booked through November 21 in Hollywood. ...
The latest incarnation of Brujeria, which features Carcass frontman Jeff Walker and Napalm Death's Shane Embury, have lined up several U.S. dates for this winter. The band will begin its brief trek November 28 in Denver, and wrap things up in Dallas on December 7. ...
Demiricous will be touring with the Gates of Slumber starting November 9 in Denver, for a jaunt that's scheduled to run through December 6 in Indianapolis. ...
Nearly three years after Roadrunner Records' Roadrunner United concert, which took over the Nokia Theater in New York's Times Square, the label is now releasing footage from that special night as "Roadrunner United: The Concert." The DVD, which hits stores December 9, will boast two discs and 24 live tracks, including Life of Agony's "River Runs Red," King Diamond's "Abigail," Killswitch's "My Last Serenade," Type O Negative's "Black No. 1" and Sepultura's "Refuse/Resist." ...
According to Blabbermouth, Verrot, bassist for Swedish black-metal outfit Elimi, committed suicide on October 3. In a statement, the band said, "Verrot was a very good friend, brother, an excellent bass player/musician and an important part of Elimi; we respect his decision and hope he'll find his way with the dark gods of Chaos. Let your black flame be a part of what brings forth the day of wrath."
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Photo: Nuclear Blast
On October 14, Dimmu Borgir — who just happen to be Demi Lovato's favorite black-metal band — will release a a three-disc DVD/CD set called "The Invaluable Darkness," the band's first visual offering since 2002's "World Misanthropy." Boasting live footage shot last year, during gigs in Norway, Germany and England, "The Invaluable Darkness" demonstrates the unbridled furor of seeing Dimmu live, guitarist Silenoz said.
"It shows the honest rawness and atmospheric darkness of our concerts," the Norwegian told Metal File last week, after dismissing recent online rumors that his band's next LP would be coming out through Roadrunner Records. "Basically, it shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums. It's just a different side to the band, basically."
Dimmu Borgir began thinking about "The Invaluable Darkness" two years ago, but didn't start capturing footage until last summer, Silenoz explained, adding that the band will use its current stint on the Blackest of the Black Tour — which got underway Thursday night in Miami Beach, Florida, and also features the tour's founder, Danzig, along with
Moonspell, Winds of Plague and Skeletonwitch — to promote the DVD. Dimmu Borgir will not, however, use the tour to write material for their next LP.
"It's our first time on Blackest, but Glenn [Danzig] had wanted to bring us out before [on the tour], but we weren't available until now," Silenoz said. "We've done Ozzfest before, but we're looking forward to this tour more. We did the main stage on Ozzfest, playing in f--_ing broad daylight. This tour will let us play in bigger places, but at the same time showcase more of what the band's about, visually. We are going to concentrate on the tour for now. Some years ago, we tried putting [material] together on the road, but once we got home, we listened back to it, and were like, 'What the f--- is this?' So, we just scrapped it all. We find it's so much better to totally focus on one thing at a time, and then, when that's over, you move on to the next [thing]. We don't really feel like we need to rush things, anyway, so we'll just take our time, and it's going to be what it's going to be."
Dimmu Borgir hope to reconvene in late December to begin writing the follow-up to 2007's diabolically titled In Sorte Diaboli. "We have some ideas floating around already, but we haven't arranged any material yet," he said. "We'll start doing that once the touring for this DVD is over." The band's frontman, Shagrath, is also due to marry soon — he's engaged to actor Nicolas Cage's ex-girlfriend, Christina Fulton, so that may have an effect on when Dimmu finish their next album, which Silenoz said could be out this coming spring.
"I'm sure [Shagrath] won't let anything get in the way [of] the band — I think, I hope," the guitarist said. "We don't need a Yoko [Ono] situation."
While Dimmu have been at it going on 15 years now, Silenoz said he doesn't think their forthcoming material will be much of a departure from their previous black-metal offerings.
"And we have always been about more than just that term, 'black metal,' " he said. "Luckily for us, the older you get, the less concerned you get with the categorization and putting labels on your music. Things start getting more and more limitless with us, and we know that we operate within certain frames. But we try not to analyze things too much, because it's just going to be working against you in the end. When we write new stuff, we don't think about what we should write — we just get together, and put material together, and if we like it, we keep it. That's the formula, if we even have a formula."
Dimmu Borgir are definitely getting older — guitarist Galder will be missing Blackest because of a recent addition to his family, and Susperia's Cyrus will be filling in for him; while former Vader drummer Dariusz Brzozowski takes over for Hellhammer, who had to leave the band in 2007 after sustaining a neck injury that's now limited the use of his right arm. As Dimmu has gotten on in years, Silenoz admits they have failed to keep pace with some of the more extreme black-metal acts that have followed in their wake.
"We helped open doors for the more extreme bands out there," Silenoz said. "I'm sure we helped open doors for bands like Watain, [insomuch as] people that had maybe started listening to us first then went on to the more extreme stuff. Let's face it — we're not as extreme as Watain and other bands like that, but we're fine with that."
The Blackest of the Black Tour continues through November 10 in San Francisco.
The rest of the week's metal news:
Dimmu's tourmates on Blackest, Winds of Plague, have announced ex-Azusa drummer Art Cruz has joined their ranks — he replaced Jeff Tenney. According to the band's blog, "Art has already added a new spark to the band and has provided us with a solid backbone that will allow us to continue our rampage stronger than ever." ...
What the world really needs is another
Led Zeppelin box set, so, on November 4, Rhino Records will issue the Led Zeppelin Definitive Collection Mini LP Replica CD box set. For just $200, you'll get 1969's Led Zeppelin, 1969's Led Zeppelin II, 1970's Led Zeppelin III, 1971's Led Zeppelin IV, 1973's Houses of the Holy, 1975's Physical Graffiti, 1976's Presence, 1976's The Song Remains the Same, 1979's In Through the Out Door and 1982's Coda, as mini-LP replicas, with artwork from the original U.K. LP sleeves. Now, you know what you can get your dad for Christmas. ...
Former Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach and current Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz have teamed up for a new project they're calling Times of Grace, and they've already started working on material for their debut album. According to Leach, "We have two songs to go and we will be finished with all of the vocals. Adam has taken lead vocals in three songs as of yet and he is doing a great job. We also worked on a track yesterday that is so epic — we trade vocals and do two different melodies at the same time. This album went from a melodic metal album to an epic mix of metal/rock/pop/shoegaze and punk. So all of your metal expectations will be incorrect — we are pushing genre boundaries." To quote "Meet the Parents," we'll look forward to that, Greg. ...
The Funeral Pyre and Early Graves will be hitting the road together next month, starting November 7 in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dates are booked through November 21 in Hollywood. ...
The latest incarnation of Brujeria, which features Carcass frontman Jeff Walker and Napalm Death's Shane Embury, have lined up several U.S. dates for this winter. The band will begin its brief trek November 28 in Denver, and wrap things up in Dallas on December 7. ...
Demiricous will be touring with the Gates of Slumber starting November 9 in Denver, for a jaunt that's scheduled to run through December 6 in Indianapolis. ...
Nearly three years after Roadrunner Records' Roadrunner United concert, which took over the Nokia Theater in New York's Times Square, the label is now releasing footage from that special night as "Roadrunner United: The Concert." The DVD, which hits stores December 9, will boast two discs and 24 live tracks, including Life of Agony's "River Runs Red," King Diamond's "Abigail," Killswitch's "My Last Serenade," Type O Negative's "Black No. 1" and Sepultura's "Refuse/Resist." ...
According to Blabbermouth, Verrot, bassist for Swedish black-metal outfit Elimi, committed suicide on October 3. In a statement, the band said, "Verrot was a very good friend, brother, an excellent bass player/musician and an important part of Elimi; we respect his decision and hope he'll find his way with the dark gods of Chaos. Let your black flame be a part of what brings forth the day of wrath."
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Usher - Lil Freak
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Label: LaFace Records, JLG
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Photos | 2011 Billboard Music Awards
2011 Billboard Music Awards
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Usher - Trading Places
Trading Places
Artist: Usher
Label: Zomba/LaFace Records
Director: Chris Robinson
Album: Here I Stand
Artist: Usher
Label: Zomba/LaFace Records
Director: Chris Robinson
Album: Here I Stand
Lady Gaga? Britney Spears? Fans Pick Their 2011 Summer Jams
Katy Perry, Pitbull, Chris Brown and Adele also found support from MTV.com readers.By James Montgomery
Lady Gaga
Photo: Getty Images
Now that school's out and folks are slathering on the sunscreen, we figured it was time to take the temperature of the annual Summer Jam Sweepstakes — the race to dominate the airwaves (and your tanning playlist) during the long, hot months of the year.
So last week, we published our initial rankings in the race for the Summer Jam crown, a list that was topped by Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)," with Pitbull's "Give Me Everything" and LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" following close behind. A whole host of other big-name stars — like Eminem, Nicki Minaj, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and Adele, to name just a few — also made the cut, along with some dark-horse candidates (like Foster the People, Maroon 5 and David Guetta) who are determined to make this competition close.
Of course, our rankings had you talking too — in fact, the conversation in our comments section got so huge (we even heard from a Hall of Fame third baseman!) that we've decided to spotlight some of the best back-and-forth right now. What's your pick for the Song of Summer 2011? Here's what you had to say:
"This has been Katy's decade so far! She made pop music fun again." — Tuffy Luvvy
" 'Lighters' by Eminem, Royce and Bruno Mars all the way, baby! It's a long-shot, I know. I think Katy Perry will get it, but you never know." — lilbittaflava
"I like Katy, but 'I Wanna Go' from Britney sounds more like a summer song." — Aaron
"Britney Spears! 'I Wanna Go' just makes my summer great!" — Melissa Goulart
"Britney Spears all the way! 'I Wanna Go' all the way! I'm still in love with Pitbull's 'Give Me Everything,' and his album is amazing. Nicki Minaj's 'Super Bass' is sick, love it!" — RyanJaggerz
" 'The Edge of Glory' is a glorious pop anthem-masterpiece, no need for it to be crowned as a 'jam.' Adele's 'Rolling' is heart-touching, breathtaking and also a masterpiece." — Spyros Venturis
" 'Moves Like Jagger' by Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera is amazing!" — SuperZonic Jbsz
"Oh I couldn't believe when I saw them, thank you so much MTV for putting them on the list ... I love them, talking about of course FOSTER THE PEOPLE YEAHHHHHHH." — hotalejandro
" 'Tonight Tonight' by Hot Chelle Rae! I could party to that every day of the summer." — WhatShouldIDo?
"You guys forgot about New Boyz ft. Chris Brown, 'Better With the Lights Off,' and Lupe Fiasco ft. Trey Songz, 'Outta My Head.' " — booklady
"All these songs have that 'I've heard it all before' sound to them. Nothing special about any of the songs on the list. A lot of the 'artists' on this list would be better off working a mop at a Waffle House. It's Kanye's fault." — Mike Schmidt
What do you think? Share your Summer Jam picks in the comments below!
Related Videos
2011 Song Of Summer Battle
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Lady Gaga
Photo: Getty Images
Now that school's out and folks are slathering on the sunscreen, we figured it was time to take the temperature of the annual Summer Jam Sweepstakes — the race to dominate the airwaves (and your tanning playlist) during the long, hot months of the year.
So last week, we published our initial rankings in the race for the Summer Jam crown, a list that was topped by Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)," with Pitbull's "Give Me Everything" and LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" following close behind. A whole host of other big-name stars — like Eminem, Nicki Minaj, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and Adele, to name just a few — also made the cut, along with some dark-horse candidates (like Foster the People, Maroon 5 and David Guetta) who are determined to make this competition close.
Of course, our rankings had you talking too — in fact, the conversation in our comments section got so huge (we even heard from a Hall of Fame third baseman!) that we've decided to spotlight some of the best back-and-forth right now. What's your pick for the Song of Summer 2011? Here's what you had to say:
"This has been Katy's decade so far! She made pop music fun again." — Tuffy Luvvy
" 'Lighters' by Eminem, Royce and Bruno Mars all the way, baby! It's a long-shot, I know. I think Katy Perry will get it, but you never know." — lilbittaflava
"I like Katy, but 'I Wanna Go' from Britney sounds more like a summer song." — Aaron
"Britney Spears! 'I Wanna Go' just makes my summer great!" — Melissa Goulart
"Britney Spears all the way! 'I Wanna Go' all the way! I'm still in love with Pitbull's 'Give Me Everything,' and his album is amazing. Nicki Minaj's 'Super Bass' is sick, love it!" — RyanJaggerz
" 'The Edge of Glory' is a glorious pop anthem-masterpiece, no need for it to be crowned as a 'jam.' Adele's 'Rolling' is heart-touching, breathtaking and also a masterpiece." — Spyros Venturis
" 'Moves Like Jagger' by Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera is amazing!" — SuperZonic Jbsz
"Oh I couldn't believe when I saw them, thank you so much MTV for putting them on the list ... I love them, talking about of course FOSTER THE PEOPLE YEAHHHHHHH." — hotalejandro
" 'Tonight Tonight' by Hot Chelle Rae! I could party to that every day of the summer." — WhatShouldIDo?
"You guys forgot about New Boyz ft. Chris Brown, 'Better With the Lights Off,' and Lupe Fiasco ft. Trey Songz, 'Outta My Head.' " — booklady
"All these songs have that 'I've heard it all before' sound to them. Nothing special about any of the songs on the list. A lot of the 'artists' on this list would be better off working a mop at a Waffle House. It's Kanye's fault." — Mike Schmidt
What do you think? Share your Summer Jam picks in the comments below!
Related Videos
2011 Song Of Summer Battle
Related Artists
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Britney Spears
Minki van der Westhuizen Miranda Kerr Mischa Barton Missi Pyle
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