Monday, October 31, 2011
Ke$ha Wants 'Till The World Ends' Remix To 'Take Over Airwaves'
Singer says her collaboration with Britney Spears and Nicki Minaj made a 'supergroup of three hot, strong women.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias
Ke$ha
Photo: MTV News
Earlier this week, Britney Spears, Ke$ha and Nicki Minaj dropped their femme-fatale-friendly remix of the Spears club track "Till the World Ends." The already fun song got super-charged thanks to Minaj's cutting verses and Ke$ha's recognizable vocals.
"I'm a massive fan of both the ladies I share the track with," K told MTV News on Wednesday at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards. "I wrote 'TTWE' for Britney with [producers] Dr. Luke and Max [Martin] and she killed it and I loved it, but I just thought a supergroup of three hot, strong women could just take over the airwaves."
Ke$ha went on to give props to both the ladies. "I'm such a massive fan of Britney and I'm such a massive supporter of Nicki and a fan, and chicks sometimes don't team up. I don't know why, but I'm, like, huge on the girl power, so I just wanted to make a power girl track take over."
The remix quickly won praise from fans who seem to think the new features step up the song's game. "You know, with the three of us, I wasn't necessarily surprised [people like it] because I'm such a massive fan of Nicki Minaj and obviously with Britney I'm a fan of it, [taking] myself out of the equation," she said. "I'm just happy people like it."
So did Ke$ha (who once sang backup for Spears) feel any pressure writing a song for Britney? "There was no pressure. Writing for somebody else is really fun 'cause I consider myself a songwriter first and foremost," she explained. "So it was so much fun to put my brain in the sexy Britney Spears brain and express myself almost as if I were possessed by her."
Related ArtistsMichael Jackson - Thriller (Long Vers.)
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic Records
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HGTV, LA and Dining Room Tables
I've been watching a lot of HGTV since coming to LA. My favorite shows are House Hunters and House Hunters International. There's also another show I like to watch called For Rent, but only because it makes me angry.
When it comes to apartments/homes, I think living in New York for the past eleven years has made me bitter because there was this whiny broad on For Rent a few nights ago who was looking at a huge place—A HUGE PLACE—and was like, "There's no place for a dining room table..."
B*TCH, YOU'RE LUCKY TO GET A KITCHEN IN NEW YORK.
I hated her.
Now there's some stupid lady on House Hunters who wants a townhouse with a fireplace that she can turn on with a light switch. IT HAS TO BE A LIGHT SWITCH because she doesn't want to bend down and flip a switch on the floor.
WHO DO THESE PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE?
Anyway, I know my LA update is WAY overdue (and truth be told I wrote a long one last week but for some reason it didn't save so I lost the whole thing and I was so angry that I just said, "Ah, f*ck it," and closed the computer instead of rewriting) but to give you a quick update, I AM SO HAPPY HERE. I MEAN, I'M REALLY, REALLY HAPPY. And I think living here and watching HGTV—both of these things combined—has made me realize that New York was just beating me down. I mean, the fireplace lady—yes, she's an idiot. But there's nothing wrong with wanting a dining room table. Why did I get so mad at that lady?
Since being here, at least once a day I ask myself why I have lived in New York for so long. (It's like I had Stockholm Syndrome or something.) CALIFORNIA IS AWESOME. It's like the promised land. It's sunny all the time and there are birds and flowers everywhere. I have space out here. I have a sofa on the patio out here. I HAVE A SOFA OUTSIDE. I haven't seen one rat since I've been here. But hummingbirds? THEY ZIP BY MY HEAD EVERY DAY. I am so happy.
I'm supposed to go back to New York in November, but truth be told, I'm not sure I will.
Shakespearean Actors Recreate 'Anonymous' Director Roland Emmerich's Films
Anyone familiar with director Roland Emmerich's body of work should be able to pick up on a few common threads, namely explosions, disasters, big speeches and general epicness. After directing such large-scale thrillers like "The Day After Tomorrow," "Godzilla" and "2012," Emmerich's decision to direct a film about Shakespeare as he does in "Anonymous" is [...]
Ke$ha Celebrates National Coming Out Day
'We R Who We R' T-shirts support the Human Rights Campaign.
By Jocelyn Vena
Ke$ha's T-shirt design for National Coming Out Day
Photo: Ke$ha
Kesha has joined forces with the Human Rights Campaign to help celebrate National Coming Out Day on Tuesday (October 11).
The pop singer created a special message T-shirt, featuring a purple zebra, that proclaims "We R Who We R," the title of her hit anthem about individuality. The shirts sell for $35, with all proceeds supporting the HRC's work to achieve equality for the LGBT community.
According to the HRC website, only 1,000 shirts will be produced.
Others are also using the day to bring awareness to LGBT issues. Several notable celebrities will be honored by the Equality Forum, which is hosting an event and profiling notable LGBT members in pop culture.
As LGBT History Month rolls on throughout October, Ricky Martin, Wanda Sykes, "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy and Pedro Zamora, a former "The Real World" castmember turned AIDS activist, all will be profiled by the organization.
"We're the only minority worldwide that's not taught history at home, in school or religious institutions," said Malcolm Lazin, Equality Forum's founder and executive director. "Like every group that's been marginalized, it really helps to make the case why we should take real pride in ourselves and our community."
Since launching the program five years ago, over 200 icons have been profiled, including Jane Lynch, Lady Gaga and Neil Patrick Harris. Lazin called LGBT month "empowering and life affirming."
The message comes amid increased awareness about young people being bullied, including MTV's A Thin Line campaign. The MTV film "DISconnected," which premiered Monday night, focuses on issues in a world where technology controls personal lives.
"I see the viciousness of people every day," said "Jersey Shore" star Vinny Guadagnino on the "DISconnected" after show. "I kind of want to be a soldier in the field, so to speak, and try to combat the negativity with a positive message. I want to help open people's eyes up, like this movie does, to the negativity."
Check out the Facebook page for "DISconnected."
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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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Sunday, October 30, 2011
Justin Bieber's Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes Collabos Hit The Net
Teen star's Under the Mistletoe tracks 'All I Want for Christmas' and 'Little Drummer Boy' drop in advance of album's release.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber in his "Mistletoe" video
Photo: Island/Def Jam
Hey Beliebers, you can celebrate the holidays early this year! Just days before he officially releases Under the Mistletoe, Justin Bieber is gifting fans with the early release of two high-profile duets off the November 1 album.
First off, his highly anticipated Mariah Carey collabo, an updated mix of her Christmas classic "All I Want for Christmas," made its way online. The song, posted on Rap-Up.com, opens with Bieber and Carey exchanging vocal runs. Mariah's verse, which sounds very much like the original, goes first. Then Bieber, singing in a deeper register than usual, joins in for the second verse.
The sound of Carey's original track is pretty much all there, with Bieber adding some new shine on the always-glittering holiday standard. "Mariah Carey is doing it with me! It's incredible. So excited," he told MTV News recently. "We wanted Mariah from the beginning, but we kind of thought it was really hard, so we didn't really push the idea. But she's on my label, so we reached out to some people, she got in contact with us, and Randy Jackson was actually at the studio with us, and I was like, 'Yo, you think you can help get Mariah on the Christmas album?' And he was like, 'I'm actually going to see her in New York on Monday,' and I was like 'Yo, go do that!' "
On Bieber's collaboration with Busta Rhymes on the classic "Little Drummer Boy," which was posted on Hitfix.com, the boys threw some club beats and synths over the old-school Christmas track. The song gets a bit of an edge when Bieber, a skilled drummer himself, appears as his rapper alter ego Shawty Mane.
He raps lines like "Yeah, I'm on the drum/ I'm on the snare drum/ Yeah, I'm on the beat/ 'Cause the beat goes dum/ I only spare heat 'cause I'm playing for the son/ Playing for king/ Playing for the title/ I'm surprised you didn't hear it in the Bible," while also singing the traditional lyrics from the song in between verses.
Busta comes in halfway through the song, spitting family-friendly lines in his signature rapid-fire style. "Bieber hit me back and said let's make it hot up in the winter," he raps. "I said, cool/ You know I'm gonna deliver/ Let's collaborate and make the holiday a little bigger."
"If you really think about it, it's genius, because it's rapping on a Christmas album ... and, like, I'm rapping on it. And then it's singing," he explained. "It's cool. [Busta's] got, like, a percussive voice to him [and] the beat was so crazy. I'm actually playing drums on that song, playing the snare."
The album will also include appearances by Usher, Boyz II Men and the Band Perry, as well as a number of songs featuring Bieber all on his own, including the album's lead single, "Mistletoe."
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Britney Spears - Till the World Ends
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive
- Director: Ray Kay
- Album: Femme Fatale [Deluxe Edition]
Do Foo Fighters Know Robert Pattinson From Robert Plant?
During band's rehearsal break for Sunday's Movie Awards, we put Foos to the test.
By Ryan J. Downey, with reporting by Jim Cantiello
The Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl
Photo: MTV News
UNIVERSAL CITY, California — Hard rock, heavy metal, hardcore and punk have long gone hand-in-hand with evil wizards, magic, vampires and werewolves. And with a collective sub-cultural pedigree that includes stints in the Germs, No Use for a Name, Sunny Day Real Estate, Scream and some band called Nirvana, you'd think the Foo Fighters — set to perform at Sunday's Movie Awards — would know their "Potter" from their Zeppelin. Certainly they can recognize a "wand" reference and pinpoint its origin?
Right? Before we put MTV News' magically crafted trivia to the band, it seemed safe to assume the Foos would accurately distinguish between the words of Harry Potter, a "Twilight" character and Led Zeppelin. But was their underground nerd cred blown to shreds? Read on — and click the video! — to see how the Foo Fighters fared when we caught up with them on the Universal Studios lot, shortly after they finished rehearsing their Movie Awards performance.
Our own Jim Cantiello played dungeon master as Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Taylor Hawkins, Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear were given a series of semi-famous lines and asked whether they originated with "Harry Potter," the "Twilight Saga" or the lyrics of hard-rock pioneers Led Zeppelin.
Here's a sampling of a few of those one-liners:
» "The elder wand, the most powerful wand ever made."
» "Why don't you let me be yours ever truly? Can I make your garden grow?"
» "You're lying, Dolores! You mustn't tell lies!"
Can you guess whether the lines above came from the "Potter" flicks, "Twilight" or Robert Plant?
Watch as the Foos try their best to do exactly that. Then tune in to the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday to catch the Foo Fighters rock the stage with their new single, "Walk."
Will wizards, vampires or dream thieves steal the 2011 MTV Movie Awards? Find out June 5, when the 20th annual show airs live at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Tune in at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT that night for the "America's Best Dance Crew" finale and Movie Awards pre-show, loaded with live action from the red carpet, exclusive movie clips and a special edition of "After Hours."
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Usher Gets 'Emotional' On David Guetta's 'Without You'
DJ/producer calls their collabo the 'biggest record' on his just-released Nothing but the Beat.
By Akshay Bhansali
Usher
Photo: Todd Williamson/ WireImage
David Guetta recently told MTV News that the Usher collabo "Without You" is the "biggest record" on his just-released Nothing but the Beat.
It's a rather bold statement, considering his latest album also features Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, will.i.am, Akon, Timbaland, Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Hudson, just to name a few. But Guetta has a soft spot for the cinematic team-up with Ush, which he says is equal parts sentimental and hands-in-the-air euphoric.
"It's just totally emotional," Guetta said. "Some of the record is a proper ballad, and then it goes to that crazy dance beat. It's perfect for him, because he's famous for his ballads. And he's also now famous for those big club records that he comes with. He's an amazing dancer, so I felt like he was the artist that I needed."
Usher and Guetta first previewed the song in Ibiza, Spain, earlier this summer, with the crowd demanding an encore performance of the sure-to-be-hit song.
"It was amazing," Guetta gushed. "We were not supposed to do this. I always do these kinds of stupid things, playing records when I'm not supposed to play them. And Usher was so excited for this time to be in Ibiza performing in front of those people. He called me onstage and said, 'Come on. Let's do it.' So we did it, and, yeah, they loved it. We had to do it again! They asked for one more."
For some, the combination of Usher and Guetta might seem out of left field. While the DJ/producer works with a variety of artists, he has a pretty tight-knit musical family — but it may come as a surprise that Guetta has known Usher the longest.
"I actually speak very often about how thankful I am to will.i.am because he called me to produce 'I Gotta Feeling'; Akon, when we started to work together, because I wasn't famous in America; Kelly Rowland and all those guys that came to me when I was not known yet," Guetta said. "But I have to say that the very first time when someone big from America asked me if I want to work with him, it was Usher. Like, a really long time ago, but we never had the time to do it. So I was so happy to be finally in the studio with him, because he spotted me when I was really not famous yet."
Usher and Guetta already shot the video for "Without You" in Ibiza. The song will follow up Guetta's current single, "Little Bad Girl," which features Ludacris and Taio Cruz.
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Britney Spears Drops Official 'Till The World Ends' Remix
New track with Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha follows leaked version, plus Brit tweets single's cover art.
By Jocelyn Vena
The "Till the World Ends" Femme Fatale remix
Photo: Jive
Just days after it was leaked on Friday, Britney Spears and her femme fatales, Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha, dropped their official remix of "Till the World Ends."
The new version of the song was produced by Dr. Luke and Dream Machine. Brit half-whispers " 'Till the World Ends' remix" before the beat kicks in and Nicki hits her verse hard. She spits fierce lines like, "Sniff, sniff, cries/ I done slayed your whole entire f---ing life."
Then Britney's sex-kitten vocals kick in for the song's first verse. "That's Britney, bitch! I'm Nicki Minaj and that's Ke$ha," the Queens MC declares before K sings the chorus. The beat is harder, the loops are sassier and the song is grimier than the original version, which was the second single from Femme Fatale. The newly added dubstep portion takes the one from "Hold It Against Me" to a new level by adding in bass-heavy synths.
Ke$ha, of course, wrote the track for Britney, and the ladies certainly don't seem to mind sharing the spotlight with each other. The official track isn't much different than the version that leaked over the weekend, though Spears did have something brand-new to share with her fans just as the song dropped on iTunes and streamed on her website.
Spears tweeted the artwork for the single, which features the original press photo of Spears along with separate photos of Nicki on the left and Ke$ha on the right. Spears wrote, "@NickiMinaj @Keshasuxx Too much fierceness for one cover! Thanks for lending your voices girls... #TTWEREMIX — Brit"
Spears and Minaj have been hanging out a lot in the lead-up to their summer tour. They hung out at the Factory nightclub on Friday night after Minaj's show in Los Angeles. Spears later wrote, "Early rehearsal after a late night with my girl @NickiMinaj. Can't WAIT to get out on the road with you."
What do you think of the "Till the World Ends" remix? Tell us in the comments!
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Saturday, October 29, 2011
Britney Spears - I Wanna Go
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive, Zomba Label Group
- Director: Chris Marrs Pillero
- Album: Femme Fatale
No hay más Led Zeppelin
A pesar de lo dicho ayer, Peter Mensch, manager del guitarrista Jimmy Page, se retractó totalmente en eso que la banda buscaría un reemplazo al ultragenial Robert Plant para seguir rockeando y toureándola por el mundo tras su show de 2007 en el O2 Arena de Londres por el poder de la música más sexual de la historia. No habrá más Led Zeppelin, no hay planes de que lo haya.
Mensch comentó: "Led Zeppelin se acabó. Si no los vieron en el 2007, se los perdieron. Probaron reemplazantes a Robert Plant, pero nada funcionó. Se acabó. No hay planes para continuar. Francamente, ojalá todos dejaran de hablar al respecto."
Los fans no están nada contentos, especialmente los británicos, considerando los precios delirantes de las entradas del show reunión.
¿Y a ti? ¿Qué te parece todo esto?
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Happy Friday!
Celebrities With Heart Tattoos–Girls Talkin Smack Marie Osmond Hospitalized–Tonic Gossip Charlie Sheen New Show Picked Up by FX–Bitten & B0und Celebrities Find Love Online–The Celebrity [...]
Happy Friday! Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News
Stranger Danger
My sister recently had a talk with my four-year-old nephew Jack about strangers. Here's how it went:
SISTER: Now, Jack, if a stranger says, "Come here, I want to show you something," what do you do?
JACK: I turn around and run!
SISTER: If a stranger says, "Come here, I want to give you some candy," what do you do?
JACK: I turn around and run!
SISTER: If a stranger says, "Come here, I want to show you my puppy," what do you do?
JACK: Oh, I love puppies...
Friday, October 28, 2011
Exclusive: Lady Gaga 'Inspired' By HALO Honoree
Taylor Swift, Jessica Biel and David Beckham are also teamed up with teen humanitarians for TeenNick's November 6 awards show.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Nickelodeon
The TeenNick HALO Awards are weeks away from kicking off, but the celebrities involved are already spreading the word. In a new PSA for the event, airing November 6, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, David Beckham and Jessica Biel have joined forces to let viewers know about the show.
"Anti-bullying became something that I am now very passionate about," Lady Gaga said in a statement about being involved with the show. "I was bullied in school, and for a very long time, I kept those feelings inside. Today, I feel grateful and happy that I was able to get through these struggles and have friends, family and people around that inspired me — people like Emily-Anne."
Emily-Anne Rigal, 17, has been paired with Gaga thanks to her work to help stop bullying. She started the WeStopHate.org website, helping to shed light on the cause.
Swift will be paired with 19-year-old James O'Dwyer, who started the Magnolia Disaster Relief, an aid program that aims to offer relief to rural areas hit by tornadoes.
"I think James and I have a lot in common, and I'm really glad I got to meet and surprise him at my concert," Swift said. "Judging from the things he's been able to accomplish, he's one of those people who does the work without looking for or taking any of the credit.
"What really impressed me about James is how he stepped up to the line as soon as he heard that people were in trouble," she continued. "He saw first-hand how their lives had been destroyed and instead of getting frozen in that moment, he posted a message on Facebook to rally anyone who could bring supplies and food to those who lost their homes in tornados."
Meanwhile, Biel is paired with Shanoah Washington, an 18-year-old who created the Sista2Sista program, which aims to motivate young women. Finally, Beckham was paired with Kyle Weiss, 18, who started the organization FUNDaFIELD, which builds soccer fields in Africa.
The show will be hosted by Nick Cannon. It all takes place at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on October 26. The broadcast will air November 6 on Nick at Nite, with an encore November 7 on TeenNick.
Don't miss the TeenNick HALO Awards on Sunday, November 6, on Nick at Nite.
Related ArtistsChris Brown, Beyonce Lead Soul Train Award Nods
Kanye West, Kelly Rowland and Adele also nab multiple nominations for November 27 show.
By Jocelyn Vena
Chris Brown
Photo: Steve Granitz / Getty Images
Chris Brown is up for the most nominations at the Soul Train Awards with five nods. Following closely behind are "Party" and "Lift Off" collaborators Beyoncé and Kanye West with five nominations each. Also making a strong showing in the nominations are Kelly Rowland and Adele, who nabbed three nods apiece.
Brown is up for Best Male R&B/Soul Artist against Trey Songz, Cee Lo Green, R. Kelly, Eric Benet and Miguel, as well as Album of the Year and Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year ("Look at Me Now"), where he faces off against West ("All of the Lights"), Nicki Minaj ("Moment for Life"), Lupe Fiasco ("Out of My Head") and Jay-Z and Kanye West ("Otis").
West landed two more nods for Song of the Year ("All of the Lights") as well as Album of the Year for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, alongside Trey Songz ( Passion Pain & Pleasure), Adele (21), Chris Brown (F.A.M.E.), Jill Scott (Light of the Sun), Beyoncé (4) and his joint LP with Jay-Z ( Watch The Throne).
Beyoncé also landed nominations in Record of the Year ("Best Thing I Never Had"), Best Dance Performance ("Run the World (Girls)") and Best Female R&B/Soul Artist. Fellow former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland is also nominated.
The show tapes November 17 in Atlanta and will premiere on CENTRIC and BET on November 27. Cedric "The Entertainer" has been tapped to host, and Jill Scott, Mindless Behavior, Robin Thicke, Lloyd, Miguel, Melanie Fiona and Keith Sweat will be among the performers taking the stage.
Complete Soul Train Awards nominations:
Best New Artist
» Bruno Mars
» Marsha Ambrosius
» Miguel
» Frank Ocean
Best Male R&B/Soul Artist
» Trey Songz
» Chris Brown
» Cee Lo Green
» R. Kelly
» Eric Benet
» Miguel
Centric Award
» Ledisi
» Raphael Saddiq
» Bilal
» Anthony David
» Aloe Blacc
Best Caribbean Performance
» "Bend Over" - Machel Montano
» "Man Down" - Rihanna
» "Delilah" - Movado
» "Wotless" - Kes The Band
» "Summertime" - Vybz Kartel
Best Gospel Performance
» "I Smile" - Kirk Franklin
» "Walking" - Mary Mary
» "Heaven Hear My Heart" - Trin-I-Tee 5:7
» "I Believe" - James Fortune feat. Shawn McLemore
» "More" - Cece Winans
Album of the Year
» Passion Pain & Pleasure - Trey Songz
» 21 - Adele
» F.A.M.E. - Chris Brown
» Light of the Sun - Jill Scott
» 4 - Beyoncé » Watch the Throne - Jay Z/Kanye West
Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year
» Moment for Life - Nicki Minaj
» All of the Lights - Kanye West
» Look at Me Now - Chris Brown (featuring Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne)
» Out of My Head - Lupe Fiasco
» Otis - Jay Z/Kanye West
Best Female R&B/Soul Artist
» Kelly Rowland
» Beyoncé
» Marsha Ambrosius
» Jennifer Hudson
» Jill Scott
» Mary J. Blige
Song of the Year
» "So In Love" - Jill Scott (featuring Anthony Hamilton)
» "Motivation" - Kelly Rowland (featuring Lil Wayne)
» "Sure Thing" - Miguel
» "Rolling in the Deep" - Adele
» "She Ain't You" - Chris Brown
» "All of the Lights" - Kanye West
Record of the Year (The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award)
» "Rolling in the Deep" - Adele
» "Far Away" - Marsha Ambrosius
» "Best Thing I Never Had" - Beyoncé
» "Good Man" - Raphael Saddiq
» "Hold My Hand" (duet with Akon) - Michael Jackson
Best Dance Performance
» "Motivation" - Kelly Rowland
» "Only Girl in the World"/"What's My Name" - Rihanna
» "Run the World (Girls)" - Beyoncé
» "She Ain't You" - Chris Brown
» "Walking" - Mary Mary
» "Pretty Girl Rock" - Keri Hilson
Mary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers
'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll
Mary J. Blige
Photo: MTV News
You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.
In early February, reports began circulating that Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven," working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her Stronger With Each Tear album, due Monday.
But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering another Zeppelin classic — the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" — for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the Essence Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine.
"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' — it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."
Blige also said she recorded another new song — a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" — for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon.
"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.
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Watch: Spooky Halloween Ideas
iVoice Liz Henry shares her family's frightfully fun tips for creating that spooky Halloween spirit with costumes, movies, decor and more!
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Lady Gaga Holds Elaborate New Delhi Press Conference
She loves to interact with her fans, and earlier today (October 28) Lady Gaga held an elaborate press conference in New Delhi, India.
The ?Born this Way? songstress showed off her tattoos in a multi-colored one-shoulder dress with oversized black sunglasses and a tightly-wrapped hair bun as she sipped on tea while announcing her upcoming concert as part of the Formula One festivities at the Taj Mansingh Hotel.
While in India, Gaga has been living in the lap of luxury with a 3500 square foot presidential suite at the world famous Taj Mahal.
Mother Monster will enjoy a master bed/bathroom, private pantry, library, workout facility, and various other niceties prior to her performance on October 30th at the Lap Club after-party.
Stranger Danger
My sister recently had a talk with my four-year-old nephew Jack about strangers. Here's how it went:
SISTER: Now, Jack, if a stranger says, "Come here, I want to show you something," what do you do?
JACK: I turn around and run!
SISTER: If a stranger says, "Come here, I want to give you some candy," what do you do?
JACK: I turn around and run!
SISTER: If a stranger says, "Come here, I want to show you my puppy," what do you do?
JACK: Oh, I love puppies...
Thursday, October 27, 2011
What's Your Number? Premiere!
The What's Your Number? premiere is tonight in Los Angeles! I have my dress and I'm super excited!
I'm gong to be tweeting live from the red carpet at 6:30 PM PST for US Weekly magazine, so make sure to follow them and me on Twitter:
Justin Bieber, Usher Drop Christmas Track
'The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)' debuted on Ryan Seacrest's radio show Monday morning.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber in the "Mistletoe" video
Photo: Island Def Jam
On November 1, Justin Bieber will take his fans Under the Mistletoe on his holiday album. But he's giving them an early treat by releasing his Usher duet, "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)," on Monday (October 24).
The song dropped on Ryan Seacrest's radio show. Its vibe is reminiscent of '90s R&B tracks, and it sounds a lot like it could have been recorded by Boyz II Men, who also appear on the album.
The Christmas classic is all about the little joys of the holiday season, including the family get-togethers, the food and Santa bringing presents to children. The song, one of the classics that appears on the album, hits iTunes on Monday. Bieber and Usher previously appeared together on "Somebody to Love" off My World 2.0.
"Justin and I did the classic record 'Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.' This record is going to be remembered for years to come," Usher told Seacrest on Monday morning. "It's a record that has always been one of my favorites, and I'm happy that I was able to share it with Justin, and for us to put it out. The album is full of surprises. Justin's Under the Mistletoe is going to be incredible!"
In the lead-up to the release, Bieber released some behind-the-scenes footage of his mentor and him in the studio working on the song. He also shared that he had another surprise in store for his fans. Just one week after dropping the video for "Mistletoe," he tweeted, "Up early to shoot another video for #UNDERTHEMISTLETOE #Nov1st but something else is out this morning...."
In addition to Usher, Under the Mistletoe will also feature appearances from the Band Perry, Busta Rhymes, Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey, who re-recorded her classic "All I Want for Christmas" for the album.
Ke$ha - My First Kiss
- Artist: Ke$ha
- Label: Photo Finish Records
- Director: Isaac Ravishankara
- Album: Streets of Gold
Michael Jackson - They Don't Care About Us
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: MJJ
- Director: Spike Lee
- Album: HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
Michael Jackson Trial Put On Hold Until Wednesday
Judge suspends trial of Dr. Conrad Murray due to a death in key witness' family.
By Gil Kaufman
Conrad Murray
Photo: Pool/ Getty Images
After taking the day off Friday just as the prosecution was preparing to wrap up its case, the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, is on hold due to the death of the father of the prosecution's final witness.
According to CNN, the Los Angeles Court public information office sent out a notice Sunday explaining that details on the resumption of the trial will be sent out "when further information is available." After two weeks of evidence attempting to portray Murray as negligent and reckless in his care for Jackson, the prosecution was close to wrapping up its part of the case when testimony was suspended Friday to allow final witness Dr. Steven Shafer to travel to a previously scheduled anesthesiology conference in Chicago.
But, en route to the conference, Shafer learned that his father had died, and he never made it to the event. Shafer, described as a highly respected anesthesiologist and pharmacologist, was expected to testify about the effects of the surgical anesthetic propofol on the human body. Jackson died as a result of propofol intoxication, and the case against Murray hinges on the prosecution's theory that the cardiologist gave the pop icon a lethal dose of the drug and then provided substandard care when Jackson went into cardiac arrest as a result.
The Associated Press reported that the trial will resume Wednesday, after the judge in the case agreed to give the defense more time to prepare their response to tests the coroner's office conducted last week on the level of the sedative lorazepam in Jackson's system.
Shafer is also expected to give a key piece of evidence to counter the defense's claim that Jackson self-administered the fatal 25mg dose of propofol through an IV catheter in his leg.
After pursuing a strategy in which the defense intended to portray Jackson as having taken the deadly dose of propofol by himself when Murray was out of the room, the doctor's legal team pivoted last week and appeared set on focusing on an allegedly self-administered overdose of lorazepam instead.
Once Shafer gives his testimony, the defense will present its case and call an estimated 15 witnesses, which could take the testimony through Friday or next Monday.
Related ArtistsWednesday, October 26, 2011
Eva Longoria's LAX Airport Security Screening
Even high-rolling Hollywood stars must obey federal regulations, and Eva Longoria was spotted going through the full body scan at the TSA security checkpoint at LAX on Wednesday (October 26).
Clad in a mostly black ensemble, the pint-sized ?Desperate Housewives? star ditched her jacket and shoes, but kept her shades on when asked to head in for the scan.
Britney Spears GIF-ting Fans With 'Criminal' Teases
One of five gifs posted online includes footage of Spears with boyfriend Jason Trawick.
By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears' "Criminal" teaser
Photo: Jive/Sony
It's a big week for music video premieres thanks to Justin Bieber, Beyoncé and Rihanna. And Britney Spears wants in on the fun too, as her "Criminal" video is also set to drop this week. Spears gave fans a taste of what to expect with a series of GIFs at Tumblr.
The five GIFs begin to weave together the story of the Chris Marrs Piliero-directed video. In one tease, Spears is all dolled up in a lacy cocktail dress as she attends a glamorous party. In another tease, Spears is seen running out of a building with gun in hand.
Another tease represents art imitating life. In it, Spears and real-life boyfriend Jason Trawick, who also plays her love interest in the video, share a kiss. The other two teases are a bit less action-oriented as she's just spotted standing around looking sexy in a black lingerie dress and twirling her hair around.
Spears looks incredibly glam in the teases for the slow jam's video, something that Piliero teased on Twitter recently. "Not a whole lot I'm allowed to say about the @britneyspears criminal vid other than that I love this video and can't wait for it to come out," he wrote. "Oh and that she looks gorgeous in it ... pretty sure it's cool for me to say that. ..."
The video is expected to drop this week, although the exact release date hasn't been announced.
Spears shot the video last month in London, right before kicking off the European leg of her Femme Fatale Tour. Little is known about the plot of the video, but when Spears was photographed carrying a prop gun on set, politicians in the U.K. accused the star of glorifying violence after the London riots. The video was shot in Hackney, which was hit hard by the August riots, and local politicians were upset by what they saw as an insensitive gesture by Spears.
"It is only a music video, but it's images like this, with pop stars glamorizing gangs, which means that some young people ... get drawn in," Hackney's Member of Parliament Diane Abbott told the ITV news program "London Tonight." "Britney should really know better."
Spears' camp shrugged off any criticism in a statement to MTV News: "The video is a fantasy story featuring Britney's boyfriend, Jason Trawick, which literally plays out the lyrics of a song written three years before the riots ever happened."
Related Photos Related ArtistsMichael Jackson Couldn't Kill Himself With Propofol, Expert Says
Last prosecution witness finishes his testimony in Dr. Conrad Murray involuntary manslaughter trial.
By Gil Kaufman
Dr. Conrad Murray
Photo: Pool/ Getty Images
The final prosecution witness in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson physician Dr. Conrad Murray finished his testimony Thursday (October 20), paving the way for the physician's defense to present their witnesses.
Once again, the jury heard from anesthesiologist and propofol expert Dr. Steven Shafer, who presented a detailed list Wednesday of the 17 errors he believed Murray made in his treatment of Jackson.
The Witness
» Dr. Steven Shafer, anesthesiologist
Key Testimony
» Shafer, who has spent 20 years studying the effects of the surgical anesthetic propofol, informed the jury that there is no way Jackson could have caused his own death by swallowing the drug. Until it abandoned the line of reasoning last week, Murray's defense team appeared to be pursuing a theory that the pop star administered the fatal dose of the drug to himself when Murray was out of the room.
» According to CBS News, Shafer's claims were meant as a response to a report from defense expert Dr. Paul White, who said Jackson may have caused his own death by swallowing propofol. But Shafer said it's impossible for any propofol that is swallowed to enter the bloodstream, which is where coroner's officials found the drug during an autopsy of Jackson.
» Shafer also said Murray's improper use of propofol -- allegedly as a sleep aid -- has made his own patients afraid of the drug. "I am asked every day I'm in the operating room ... 'Are you going to give me the drug that killed Michael Jackson?' " Shafer said.
» A large portion of Thursday's testimony was dedicated to Shafer outlining his mathematical models that simulated various levels of propofol use, as well as demonstrations of how Murray had his medical equipment set up to administer propofol to Jackson. The prosecution later summarized Shafer's testimony, reiterating the fact that in Shafer's professional opinion, Murray's multiple deviations from standard medical care were the direct cause of Jackson's death. Shafer also said Murray is responsible for "every drop of propofol and lorazepam" that ended up in Jackson's room, no matter if he administered it or not, because Murray introduced Jackson to the sedatives in the first place.
» Murray's defense team was slated to question Shafer on Friday afternoon.
Murray, who has pleaded not guilty to the felony charge of involuntary manslaughter, is facing four years in prison if convicted. But new sentencing laws in California meant to mandatorily reduce state prison overcrowding mean that, as a nonviolent offender with no prior record, he could be sentenced to county jail instead. If that is the case, his sentence could be reduced to two years and, because of overcrowding in the Los Angeles County jail, he may be allowed to serve the majority of his time under supervised house arrest.
Related Artists
Justin Bieber, Usher Drop Christmas Track
'The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)' debuted on Ryan Seacrest's radio show Monday morning.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber in the "Mistletoe" video
Photo: Island Def Jam
On November 1, Justin Bieber will take his fans Under the Mistletoe on his holiday album. But he's giving them an early treat by releasing his Usher duet, "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)," on Monday (October 24).
The song dropped on Ryan Seacrest's radio show. Its vibe is reminiscent of '90s R&B tracks, and it sounds a lot like it could have been recorded by Boyz II Men, who also appear on the album.
The Christmas classic is all about the little joys of the holiday season, including the family get-togethers, the food and Santa bringing presents to children. The song, one of the classics that appears on the album, hits iTunes on Monday. Bieber and Usher previously appeared together on "Somebody to Love" off My World 2.0.
"Justin and I did the classic record 'Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.' This record is going to be remembered for years to come," Usher told Seacrest on Monday morning. "It's a record that has always been one of my favorites, and I'm happy that I was able to share it with Justin, and for us to put it out. The album is full of surprises. Justin's Under the Mistletoe is going to be incredible!"
In the lead-up to the release, Bieber released some behind-the-scenes footage of his mentor and him in the studio working on the song. He also shared that he had another surprise in store for his fans. Just one week after dropping the video for "Mistletoe," he tweeted, "Up early to shoot another video for #UNDERTHEMISTLETOE #Nov1st but something else is out this morning...."
In addition to Usher, Under the Mistletoe will also feature appearances from the Band Perry, Busta Rhymes, Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey, who re-recorded her classic "All I Want for Christmas" for the album.
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