Justin Bieber's <i>Believe:</i> Five Key Tracks |
- Justin Bieber's <i>Believe:</i> Five Key Tracks
- Carrie Underwood Doubles Up At CMT Music Awards
- Madonna's <i>MDNA</i> Tour 'Amazed And Shocked' Martin Solveig
- 'So You Think You Can Dance' Brings Robots, Chickens To Georgia
- Flaming Lips Enlist Grace Potter, Neon Indian In O Music Awards Record Attempt
- If Nicki Minaj Isn't Hip-Hop, Neither Is Eminem, Ed Lover Says
- Kristen Stewart Addresses Robert Pattinson Screenplay Rumors
- Kanye West, Fat Joe Channel Native Tongues On 'Pride N Joy'
- 'Django Unchained' Trailer: Five Key Scenes
- Snooki Moves Out Of 'Jersey Shore' House
- Ke$ha Previews 'Supernatural' New Track
- Beyonce, Lil Wayne Inspire NiRe AllDai's 'Boss-Bitch-Behavior'
- Emma Watson Puts On Her Best American Accent
- Kelly Clarkson Loses Weight, Finds Love, Goes Blond
- Jay-Z Doesn't Operate Outside Hip-Hop
- Kanye West And G.O.O.D. MCs Get A Murcielago For 'Mercy' Video
- Sheryl Crow's Brain Tumor: A Neurosurgeon Weighs In
- Quentin Tarantino's 'Django Unchained': Counting Down To The Trailer
- Axl Rose Robbed After Paris Concert
- Miley Cyrus And Liam Hemsworth: A Timeline Of Love
| Justin Bieber's <i>Believe:</i> Five Key Tracks Posted: 07 Jun 2012 03:53 AM PDT MTV News got the chance to listen to the June 19 release in advance and breaks down the standout tracks on the album.
Justin Bieber is leaving the sweet, puppy-love days of his My World albums behind for the glitzier and more mature Believe, which depicts him in the club, falling in love with girls and the hard beats. When he dropped the album's first single, "Boyfriend," back in March, it was clear he was making a statement, declaring, "I am man, hear me roar!" That transition is explored even further on the rest of Believe. In addition to the more mature sound, the tracks are really strong and sequenced well — they play into one another. Bieber and Usher, the album's executive producer, have managed to craft an album that almost never misses a beat. And on an album with a lot of beats, that's saying something.
Fans are treated to the singles "All Around the World," which features his "Baby" pal Ludacris, and "Boyfriend" first. They are strong setups for what's to come as the album mostly bounces between swaggerfied pop 'n' b and epic dance music. There's a ballad or two thrown in for good measure, just to keep Beliebers swooning. Having enlisted the likes of Max Martin, Rodney Jerkins, Babyface, Diplo and the Messengers to help shape the funky sound of the album, a quick glance through the album's credits proves that Bieber was incredibly hands-on as well. His name appears on nearly every song's credits. Wondering how that all shakes out? Well, before the album drops on June 19, MTV News has rounded up five standout tracks from the release. "As Long as You Love Me" "Beauty and the Beat" "Right Here" "Thought of You" "Catching Feelings" Which tracks are you most looking forward to hearing? Tell us in the comments. Related Videos Related Artists
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| Carrie Underwood Doubles Up At CMT Music Awards Posted: 07 Jun 2012 05:25 AM PDT Underwood wins Video of the Year for 'Good Girl' and Collaborative Video
"American Idol" has struggled to produce hit rock and R&B stars lately, but the show clearly has a knack for pumping out country acts. Just look at the winner's circle for Wednesday night's CMT Music Awards ceremony, where "Idol" winner Carrie Underwood took home two major honors and Scotty McCreery went home with some hardware as well. Underwood, who also performed on the broadcast hosted by Toby Keith and actress Kristen Bell, snagged her third Video of the Year honor for the "Good Girl" clip, and hit the podium once again for Collaborative Video of the Year for her work on the "Rescue Me" video with Brad Paisley.
Underwood's man, professional hockey player Mike Fisher, played the role of dutiful husband by giving his wife a big hug and kiss when she and Paisley won their award, then held her purse during the acceptance speech. Paisley had some fun, too, wrapping his arms around Fisher before taking the stage and giving him a long hug before thanking, "this beautiful woman for being in the video, or else it's just a dork walking through the desert." He concluded, "to my wife at home, there's nothing between me and Mike," to which Underwood added, "not yet!" Season 10 "Idol" champ McCreery continued his winning ways by scoring the USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year for "The Trouble With Girls," which he accepted just hours before his high school graduation ceremony. Other winners included Luke Bryan for Male Video of the Year for "I Don't Want This Night To End," Miranda Lambert for Female Video of the Year for "Over You" and Lady Antebellum for Group Video of the year for "We Owned The Night." Bryan was clearly excited about his win, saying, "When you're at this level of what we do as singers, and your fans vote, it speaks huge volumes and it's crazy to be fan-voted for an award and win it ... I don't really get caught up in trying to be cool, trying to play a part. I just freaking get so excited about this stuff and I will always enjoy it." Lambert's acceptance speech was one of the most emotional of the night. Celebrating her third straight Female Video win for the song she co-wrote with husband Blake Shelton about the death of his brother, she thanked Shelton's brother, "from heaven, for inspiring us to write this song." Thompson Square accepted the Duo Video of the Year ("I Got You") and Jason Aldean took home his first belt buckle with CMT Performance of the Year for "Tattoos On This Town." The show opened with a bang, with a video bit pitting the hosts against each other in a battle to anchor the show alone that featured cameos from Matthew McConaughey, Jon Bon Jovi, President Obama and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. "This is one of the toughest decisions I've had to make since I've been in office, but I decided I want them both," Obama said when forced to decide between the country star and the actress. Not wanting to offend any potential swing voters, Romney split the difference too, suggesting the pair work together. "See, I just put two people back to work," he joked. The show also featured performances from Willie Nelson with Toby Keith, Jamey Johnson, Darius Rucker and Zac Brown Band, as well as Paisley with Hank Williams Jr., Lambert and Journey with Rascal Flatts. Related Artists
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| Madonna's <i>MDNA</i> Tour 'Amazed And Shocked' Martin Solveig Posted: 07 Jun 2012 03:53 AM PDT 'Coming from France ... we do shows and stuff, but it's not to that level,' DJ says of the magnitude of Madonna's shows.
Martin Solveig is going to be one busy guy for the next month. Most recently, the French DJ got the 2012 MTV Movie Awards crowd on their feet when he wowed everyone as the house DJ, remixing themes from classic movies like "Star Wars" and "Jaws." Solveig had a tight schedule during Movie Awards weekend, coming straight from overseas to Los Angeles for the big event. So what was Solveig up to? Well, he had just kicked off Madonna's MDNA Tour in Tel Aviv, Israel, as her opening act.
"I'm doing the opening so this is a completely different thing and so I discovered the whole show," Solveig told MTV News. "I was really amazed and shocked and there's so much going on." Solveig will be joining Madonna for several stops as she hits 26 European and Middle Eastern countries before returning to the United States on August 28 in Philadelphia. Solveig admitted that the idea of performing in front of massive crowds each night isn't the only exciting thing about being on tour, it's seeing his music come to life. "To see the music that we made in the studio all of a sudden play to a massive audience with all those productions and sets, dancers," Solveig said. "Coming from France ... we do shows and stuff, but it's not to that level. For me it's a shock." Solveig worked with Madonna on several songs off her chart-topping MDNA album, including the lead single, "Give Me All Your Luvin." "We were working with no limits. I think the only thing that she said when we started was, 'I just want people to be able to dance to my music and connect easily with my music,' and also probably to take some risks at some point," Solveig told MTV News in March. "Other than this, it was open to any kind of experimentation." On Tuesday, Madonna announced that London dubstep duo Nero will open for her on the North American leg of her world tour. Are you excited for Madonna's MDNA Tour? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos Related Artists
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| 'So You Think You Can Dance' Brings Robots, Chickens To Georgia Posted: 07 Jun 2012 05:52 AM PDT Individuality reigns at season-nine auditions in Atlanta.
There were high expectations going into the Georgia auditions for season nine of "So You Think You Can Dance" since Atlanta is home to season-eight winner Melanie Moore. And the state certainly stepped up to the challenge. But the dancers who stood out the most were those who embraced their individuality and explosive charisma. Although has already seen a diverse range of personalities, Georgia dancers exuded an infectious charisma that was heightened by the pairing of some unique dance styles. The ladies in the Dirty South kept it classy while embracing their sexy confidence. And the boys, well, they certainly charmed their way to Las Vegas.
Judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy and guest judge Debbie Allen had their work cut out for them, but there were a few dancers who stood out from the crowd: The Belly Dancer The Robot Dancer(s) The Weird Dancer The Country Dancer The Chicken Dancer The Gifted Dancer Other notable moments came from dancers like Courtney Kirby, who arrived arm-in-arm with her grandmother, a former dance teacher. When Murphy and Allen agreed that Kirby should move on to Vegas, the uninhibited grandmother asked Lythgoe, "You sure you don't want to change your mind so you don't look ridiculous?" And duo Damon Bellmon and Deon Lewis, who received terrible backlash for copying their routine from a YouTube video in their season-eight audition, returned to redeem themselves. They did so, but only Damon was pushed through all the way to Sin City. Which dancer from the Georgia auditions was your favorite?
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| Flaming Lips Enlist Grace Potter, Neon Indian In O Music Awards Record Attempt Posted: 07 Jun 2012 09:02 AM PDT Band is aiming to top Jay-Z's live concert record during the June 27 O Music Awards live stream.
It takes a village to topple a record. That seems to be the thinking behind the Flaming Lips' efforts to gather an army of musical cohorts to help them take aim at Jay-Z's record for the most live concerts in 24 hours. As part of a record attempt that will take place over 24 hours during the June 27 O Music Awards, the Lips will try to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records by playing shows in eight different cities. We can now reveal that they will get some support from an eclectic group of musicians that includes festival favorites Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, modern bluesman Gary Clark Jr., country singer Hunter Hayes, and indie rock acts Givers, New Fumes, Neon Indian, and Grimes.
Beginning June 27, the O Music Awards will play out across all of MTV's screens and linear networks in the form of the world's first 24-hour award-show live stream via a historic and hectic bus ride through the Mississippi Delta, the birthplace of rock and roll. Two-time O Music Award nominees and multiple Grammy winners Flaming Lips will board a vintage tour bus named Endeavor and zigzag across the region in an attempt to break the world record currently held by Jay-Z for the most live concerts in 24 hours. More support acts will be named soon, and each will play a full set before making way for the Lips to take the stage for their mini-sets with unique collaborations and special guests. Tickets for the shows go on sale Thursday (June 7) and can be purchased through the individual venues. Partial proceeds from the show will be donated to VH1's Save the Music Foundation. Also, the entire show will be streamed live on OMusicAwards.com and accessible on all platforms including mobile and tablets. "I don't remember if I was asked or if I volunteered. ... But I've accepted the job of not driving but commandeering the Magical Mystery Merry Prankster bus," Lips frontman Wayne Coyne told MTV News. "I've accepted the attempt at breaking the world record of performing eight shows in 24 hours. And I've explained to the music freaks at MTV, VH1 and CMT that I am not a host. ... But I always liked the way Jerry Lewis would get all sweaty toward the end of his yearly telethon. To play and sing Flaming Lips songs at eight in the morning, well ... I'm open to new experiences." During the 24-hour live stream, 24 awards will be presented to winners. Fans can vote now up until the show via the O Music Awards website in a wide assortment of categories that include Must Follow Artist on Twitter, Best Online Concert Experience, Most Adorable Viral Star, Fan Army FTW, Best Music App and Digital Genius Award. Nearly 10 million votes have been cast since voting kicked off on May 23. You never know what's going to happen on the live stream, where the Lips will be constantly "on," as cameras follow them on the bus, on the stage and everywhere in between. Along the way, the band will meet up with fans and presenters who will dole out awards and, of course, deal with all the pitfalls and unexpected detours that a multi-state road trip entails — flat tires, stops at musical monuments, and perhaps the occasional music-making special guests and hitchhikers. The day before the big show, June 26, the Lips will release a physical version of The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends, the previously digital-only album featuring unique collaborations with Yoko Ono, Nick Cave, Bon Iver, Ke$ha and an exclusive new track recorded with Ghostland Observatory's Aaron Behrens. The Flaming Lips O Music Awards itinerary: » 6/27 - Memphis, TN @ Handy Park (New Fumes) The full list of nominees can be seen over on the O Music Awards official site. Additional performers and presenters for the June 27 show will be announced in the coming weeks.
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| If Nicki Minaj Isn't Hip-Hop, Neither Is Eminem, Ed Lover Says Posted: 06 Jun 2012 05:52 AM PDT But Doctor Dre tells 'RapFix Live' Nicki should have played Summer Jam: 'You go out there and you perform for your fans.'
When it comes to Nicki Minaj versus Hot 97, it's hard not to have an opinion. And, of course, Sunday's Summer Jam drama came up during Wednesday's (June 6) "RapFix Live." During the special episode, MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway shared hosting duties with "Yo! MTV Raps" legends Ed Lover and Doctor Dre, who weighed in on the situation. "You can't look at anybody that crosses over and achieves pop appeal as a sellout, because that's what you're trying to do when you put a record out," Ed Lover said. "So if Nicki Minaj ain't real hip-hop, then Public Enemy wasn't real hip-hop, then Run-DMC wasn't real hip-hop, then Eminem ain't real hip-hop."
After Hot 97 DJ Peter Rosenberg criticized Nicki's "Starships" single, suggesting the track wasn't real hip-hop, Minaj's Young Money boss Lil Wayne decided to cancel the Summer Jam performance. According to Doctor Dre, that's a no-no: The show must go on. "First of all, Nicki Minaj was the only one who ruined 55,000 fans' expectations of the night. It has nothing to do with Rosenberg. You go out there and you perform for your fans," he said. While Dre feels that Nicki should have performed that night, he also believes Rosenberg was out of line. "We have too many what I call 'semi-super experts' who always try to redefine hip-hop from its infancy," he argued. In the late 1990s, Ed and Dre hosted "Yo! MTV Raps," and on Thursday, they will be the subjects of VH1's new Rock Doc "Yo: The Story of Yo! MTV Raps." During their iconic run, they've interviewed artists such as 2Pac, the Notorious B.I.G. and Rakim, just to name a few. They've seen many artists come and go. "She's an artist whether I like her or I don't like her. My daughter loves her and thinks that she's the world, and that's the case," Dre said before issuing a challenge to Rosenberg. "You make your record and get in the ring and let's see how you react, whether you start to sell out or not." Where do you stand in the Young Money/ Summer Jam drama? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Related Videos Related Artists
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| Kristen Stewart Addresses Robert Pattinson Screenplay Rumors Posted: 06 Jun 2012 04:33 AM PDT 'Snow White and the Huntsman' actress also addresses rumors of a fairy-tale sequel with MTV News.
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have been co-stars both on- and offscreen. Now, with their wildly successful film franchise coming to a close, are the stars behind Edward Cullen and Bella Swan exploring another film project together? When MTV News caught up with Stewart at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards, we asked her to address Pattinson's reported quotes to Belgium outlet Ciné Télé Revue that the pair were working on a script together. "We are constantly working," she said, "but no."
"We are!" her "Snow White and the Huntsman" co-star Chris Hemsworth chimed in. " 'Snow White and the Huntsman 2' written by us, and it might be more of a straight-to-video version if they let us write it." "No, no," Stewart replied. Hemsworth defended his statement: "If they let us write it! If they let us write it." "It'll be better," she said. "Our version? We've basically written it. No, I'm kidding. We're gonna write the second one, all of us [in the cast]." "We are," Hemsworth agreed. "It's gonna be a group kind of exercise. Everyone just closes their eyes and start scribbling and then whatever's on that page, [that's the script]." Talk surrounding a "Snow White" sequel was previously reported back in April, when Universal was said to have approached screenwriter David Koepp about penning a script. Stewart told MTV News last year that she's "over the moon" about this project and would "love" to work on more films if the franchise continues. While the movie's director, Rupert Sanders, said the fairy-tale princess could go dark in a sequel, Stewart remains skeptical. "Well, I'm not saying anything. Nothing at all," she laughed. "Let's undermine our entire lead character in the very second [film]. It's like, 'No, that's my whole [thing].' It would be so weird to [make her darker]. It would break me, which would probably be interesting to watch." "But then we have to rebuild you, which is exciting," Hemsworth added. "That's the third one, the rebuilding," Stewart replied. "See how far in the future she lives?" the Aussie actor said, addressing us. "Never in the moment." Well, she is coming off four films, soon to be five, with "The Twilight Saga." And Hemsworth conceded, "She's done this before, hasn't she?" Check out everything we've got on "Snow White and the Huntsman." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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| Kanye West, Fat Joe Channel Native Tongues On 'Pride N Joy' Posted: 06 Jun 2012 05:18 AM PDT Fat Joe tells MTV News his latest single is 'what hip-hop is supposed to be.'
During the early 1990s, the Native Tongues was one of rap's most influential collectives. Comprised of groups A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and Jungle Brothers, the crew collaborated on beloved hip-hop tracks like De La's "Buddy" and "A Roller Skating Jam Named 'Saturdays'." It's unifying tracks like those that inspired Fat Joe's latest single "Pride N Joy." "That's exactly what it was," Fat Joe said of the song's Native Tongues comparisons. "It was like Native Tongues, it was like crazy, everybody was in there, and that's what hip-hop is supposed to be."
The track was produced by Kanye West and brought Miguel, Roscoe Dash, Jadakiss, Mos Def, Busta Rhymes and DJ Khaled all together in the studio. It was Yeezy who put the plan in motion. " 'Ye hit me up and said, 'Yo Joe, it's time.' He don't even get on the phone, so when he said it was time, I flew into New York," Joe explained while backstage at Hot 97's Summer Jam concert on Sunday. "We were up in there working in the lab for like three, four days." Originally the track featured a bridge sung by R&B stars Trey Songz and Miguel, but West felt the song was better served with a harder rap vibe. "He was like, 'Yo we gotta turn it into hip-hop, we gotta chant the hook. He called a bunch of people, I called a bunch of people, they came down," Crack said. "And even if she all about the money, I don't really care," the MCs chant in unison while clapping their hands. "We was all in there together and it was an ill vibe," the Terror Squad leader said describing the scene in the studio. "We brought the microphone outside the studio and no Styrofoam [sound proofing] and everybody together just going in." Though he is already two singles deep ("Pride N Joy" and the Chris Brown-assisted "Another Round"), Joe isn't going to rush his eleventh album. There is currently no release date. "I'm taking it back to the '80s, when artists where putting out like four singles in a row," he said. "That way you smash 'em and the fans officially know, 'Yo, this dude got nothin' but hits on this thing, I'ma go cop the album.' " What do you think of "Pride N Joy"? Is it "what hip-hop is supposed to be"? Leave your comment below! Related Artists
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| 'Django Unchained' Trailer: Five Key Scenes Posted: 06 Jun 2012 04:37 AM PDT Sneak peek gives us a closer look at Quentin Tarantino's wholly original next film.
You have never seen a cowboy movie quite like this. Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained" is a western unlike any other. For starters, it doesn't take place in the Old West, but in the pre-Civil War South. Secondly, it stars Jamie Foxx as a freed slave, out to save his wife from servitude. But what else would you expect from Tarantino? The first trailer from "Django Unchained" hit the Web on Wednesday (June 6), and we've taken the opportunity to break it down for you into our five key scenes.
Django Is Off The Chain It's Good to Be King The Bloody Cotton Leo Has Our Attention The "D" Is Silent A fun fact about that last shot: it actually contains two Djangos. The man to the right of Foxx is Franco Nero, the man who starred in the spaghetti Western "Django," Tarantino's inspiration for the title. Check out everything we've got on "Django Unchained." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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| Snooki Moves Out Of 'Jersey Shore' House Posted: 06 Jun 2012 05:52 AM PDT 'They're starting to take those next steps into adulthood,' an MTV executive said of Snooki's new next-door digs.
The Smush Room is no place to raise a baby. That might explain why pregnant Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi has moved out of the "Jersey Shore" house and into an adjacent space where she can focus on impending mommyhood. "It's not a prison," MTV's executive VP of programming and head of production, Chris Linn told Entertainment Weekly about the legendary "Shore" house. "I know she's concerned about the perception of her being a pregnant woman in a party house. I think that's a common experience among a group of friends when somebody gets pregnant. This is an opportunity to see how she deals with it and how the rest of the house deals with it. The show has always been about following what's really happening in their lives."
That move is just one of the changes Linn said viewers will see when the sixth season of "Shore" hits the air. As Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino told MTV News in an exclusive interview, he's hitting the shore clean and sober for the first time and plans on making it out to the usual hotspots like Karma while keeping the partying to a minimum. Jenni "JWoww" Farley is in a committed relationship with her beloved tattooed gorilla, Roger and Snooki's sidekick, Deena Cortese is spoken for as well. "They're starting to take those next steps into adulthood," said Linn. "What's going to be different this season is how much their lives had changed." The "Shore" kids made their Seaside Heights home-away-from-home last week after an 11-month hiatus, the longest in the show's history. And, after just a few days in the house, as promised, Snooki packed up her fuzzy slippers and beloved Crocodilly and moved next door. Though it's the fighting, drinking and hook-ups that have made "Shore" an international sensation, Linn said producers are not worried about the big life changes their cast has gone through over the past year. "I don't think anybody expected Snooki to be the one to blaze that trail, but she is, and it's going to change the dynamic with everybody else," Linn said. "She's just as funny, if not funnier, than she's ever been." Among the other changes: a planned skydiving excursion had to be scrapped due to Snooki's pregnancy, but executive producer SallyAnn Salsano said that doesn't mean we'll suddenly be watching Vinnie and Pauly D sitting around reading Proust and discussing the European financial crisis. She said the upcoming season will be "a different kind of entertaining," with lots of jokes about Snooki's pregnancy and Mike's sobriety. "It's like a high school sex-ed video gone insane," she said. Related Videos
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| Ke$ha Previews 'Supernatural' New Track Posted: 06 Jun 2012 03:21 AM PDT Producer Dr. Luke unveils a snippet of a song from her upcoming album.
It's not exactly "balls-out irreverent rock and roll" — quite the opposite, in fact — but with one 40-second snippet, Ke$ha is serving notice that her new album is most definitely going to be a departure. On Wednesday (June 6), frequent Ke$h collaborator Dr. Luke gave fans a sneak peek at a song from her long-in-the-works new album, an all-too-brief preview that features her cooing about a lover's prowess — "When you take my body to the stars/ I believe it/ Boy, this love is supernatural/ Can you feel it?" over a bed of shimmering synths and knotty bass that gradually builds to a twisting, rapidly contrasting electronic break.
It's the kind of high-gloss production she largely avoided on her breakthrough Animal album, and while we certainly can't figure out how the track fits in with her other collaborations (she's reportedly worked with everyone from Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne to Iggy Pop on the still-untitled new album), the new track certainly showcases her maturation. And thanks to Ke$h herself, at least we know what the new track is about: having sex with ghosts. Yes, just hours after Dr. Luke leaked the snippet, Ke$ha took to her Twitter account to mock-chastise her producer, writing: "You leaked my song about me having sexy time with a ghost, @thedoctorluke," she wrote. "Now everyone knows I get it on with ghosts!"
Somehow, that doesn't surprise us. There's still no firm release date for Ke$ha's new album, which she began working on in February. But, from the sound of one snippet, at least, it sounds like things are progressing quickly. And, apparently, ghostly. What do you think of the sneak peek? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists
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| Beyonce, Lil Wayne Inspire NiRe AllDai's 'Boss-Bitch-Behavior' Posted: 06 Jun 2012 03:36 AM PDT 'Beyoncé is the perfect example of what a solo artist should strive for,' 'Inside Out' singer/songwriter tells MTV News.
Performing at the International Dance Music Awards in Miami in March and launching her first music video for her club single "Inside Out" are just two of Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter NiRé AllDai's endeavors since first stepping out as an artist. Her journey, which today sees her selecting songs — including tracks produced by Timbaland and the Stargate camp — for her upcoming debut album, actually began as a writer for other producers and artists. "I've always been an artist," NiRé told MTV News. "But my manager was like, 'Let's work this [writer] angle,' and it worked well because I was able to build a lot of really great relationships with dope producers who ended up helping me on my project."
"I did a first single for Starshell, who was Mary J. Blige's first artist, and the single was called 'SuperLuva' [produced by Fernando Garibay]," NiRé continued. "I had a chance to write with Mary and Swizz [Beatz] and Timbaland and Dr. Dre, who's a really good friend of mine." After getting her writing chops up, meeting the right management and finding her A&R at Capitol Records, NiRé was ready to give it her all for a chance to perform for the masses. Her fearlessness, fashion and electricity are depicted vividly in her video for "Inside Out," which was directed by Hannah Lux Davis, who also directed videos for Shinedown and Anjulie, among others. NiRé is inspired by some of music's biggest, baddest stars, included among them Missy Elliott, Lil Wayne, and Beyoncé. "Beyoncé is the perfect example of what a solo artist should strive for," NiRé said. "If you want to be like 'boss-bitch-behavior'! When I'm in the gym and I'm tired and can't go anymore, I'm like, 'What would Beyoncé do?' She wouldn't stop." NiRé AllDai will release her second club single, "Hella Bad," soon, with a radio single to follow. She plans to release her as-yet-untitled debut album sometime this year, and she also has her fingers crossed for another, long-awaited opportunity. "I've been looking forward to the Detox, [album]' NiRé said. "He's a genius. We have a couple of songs on there. So Dre, please!" For more info on NiRé AllDai, check out her website. Related Artists
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| Emma Watson Puts On Her Best American Accent Posted: 06 Jun 2012 04:33 AM PDT British actress tells MTV News how she mastered the accent in 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower.'
Are you tired of watching the "Perks of Being a Wallflower" trailer yet? Neither are we! Luckily for all of us, MTV News spent some time with the very likable cast at theMTV Movie Awards on Sunday in order to glean a few tidbits about the movie, like lovely British actress Emma Watson's first time speaking in an American accent on film. When asked how she mastered the foreign-to-her dialect, Watson thanked her co-stars, Ezra Miller and Logan Lerman.
"I had these guys," Watson said, gesturing to Miller and Lerman as her accent tutors. "These guys were very supportive and they told me when I said things that didn't really sound right. I worked with a coach and I hung out." "You hung out!" Miller laughed. "She hung out, that's how she did it. She hung out." We decided to put Watson on the spot and test her skills with a request to repeat the following phrase in her best American accent: "Ryan Gosling is so hot." She did not disappoint, repeating the phrase with gusto. "That was really good," both Miller and Lerman agreed.
Based on the novel by Stephen Chbosky (published by MTV Books), "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" follows high school freshman Charlie (Lerman) as he learns to navigate adolescence with the help of new friends Sam (Watson) and Patrick (Miller). The movie opens everywhere September 14. Check out everything we've got on "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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| Kelly Clarkson Loses Weight, Finds Love, Goes Blond Posted: 06 Jun 2012 03:21 AM PDT 'I have no desire to be super-skinny,' Stronger singer tells Redbook.
Kelly Clarkson seems to be feeling "stronger" these days thanks to a healthier lifestyle and a slimmed-down figure. In a new interview with Redbook magazine, the singer talks all about how she lost the weight but said never wants to lose too many pounds. "I do cardio. I run. I strength-train using my own body weight. I don't like free weights, because I build muscle easily," she told the magazine. "Really, what I try to instill in my fans is to be healthy and happy. I have no desire to be super-skinny." In addition to sporting a new dress size in the July issue, Clarkson has recently started rocking a new hair color. After being brunette for a while, she was photographed in London on Wednesday with a deep, honey-blond style. She's in the U.K. promoting her new single, "Dark Size," as well as her new gig as a mentor on the U.S. singing competition show "Duets."
As one of the show's coaches, Kelly definitely has wisdom to share, considering her experience as the first-ever "American Idol" winner. She will probably offer the guidance she wished she had during her time on the Fox show. "I'm going to be completely honest: I had no one looking out for me," she said. "They were looking out for the show, and it was horrible. I was 19 years old. I was smart enough to know that it wasn't about me, but that didn't make it any easier. I'm all cried out about it, but my first four years, I hated my life; I almost quit a dozen times."
These days the singer does have someone looking out for her. She met boyfriend Brandon Blackstock through her pal Reba McEntire; Blackstock is the country star's stepson. Now, the queen of breakup anthems joked that she's waiting for the other shoe to drop. "I know — where's the kick in the ass? I told my assistant that today. I said, 'I'm just waiting for something to blow up.' She said, 'No, that's what happiness is.' I'm like, 'Maybe I've never been happy!' Because Brandon does, he makes me happy." Share your thoughts on Kelly's new look in the comments section! Related Artists
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| Jay-Z Doesn't Operate Outside Hip-Hop Posted: 06 Jun 2012 02:02 AM PDT 'I see myself as part of the collective of hip-hop,' Jay-Z tells MTV News, saying his success is good for the culture.
Jay-Z's career trajectory is something else. He was once a tongue-twisting underground MC who started his own Roc-A-Fella Records independently because he couldn't secure a major-label deal. Now Hov is rap's biggest draw, turning his multilayered bars into multimillion-dollar businesses. In hip-hop, where so much worth is based on the notion of maintaining street credibility, it would be easy for someone of Jay-Z's stature to lose touch. "I'm not jaded by the whole process," Jay-Z insisted when he spoke to MTV News out in Philadelphia to announce his upcoming Made in America music festival.
On that day, Jay took the stage at the Philadelphia Museum of Art with the city's mayor, Michael Nutter, which is nothing new. On his 2009 single "On to the Next One," Jigga bragged that he had President Obama "on the text." Still, the man who once battled DMX while standing on top of a pool table is not desensitized. "I'm a fan of the journey as well," he said. To his credit, Jay has remained on top of his game on the road to becoming a global icon. Just this past weekend, he performed in Paris, where he and Kanye West rocked their infectious rap hit "N---as in Paris" 11 times in front of a star-studded crowd that included wife Beyoncé and buddy Gwyneth Paltrow. This fall, he will officially welcome an NBA franchise to his native Brooklyn as a minority owner of the Nets and curate and headline his first two-day music festival in Philly. Still, Jay doesn't see his wins as just solo victories. Each win he notches adds to hip-hop's growth. It's a "we" thing. "I see myself as part of the collective of hip-hop. I don't see myself as a thing that operates outside of it," he said. "So when I do these sort of things, I'm like, 'Man, we've come a long way.' " What's your favorite Jay-Z album? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists
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| Kanye West And G.O.O.D. MCs Get A Murcielago For 'Mercy' Video Posted: 05 Jun 2012 11:50 PM PDT Video for first Cruel Summer single is a stylized hip-hop stunt fest featuring Yeezy, Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz.
They say less is more, but Kanye West could've used a couple more Lamborghinis in his "Mercy" video, because there's no way all those G.O.O.D. MCs will fit in the clip's lone Murciélago. On Wednesday (June 6), G.O.O.D. Music dropped the video for "Mercy," the first single off of their collective Cruel Summer LP. The all-star rap crew gather in a black-and-white, art deco-inspired parking lot that houses one motorcycle, one two-door sports coupé and a whole lot of rhymes.
After a camera pan introduces us to the song's stars, a masked Yeezy marches across the widescreen, waving his hands and chanting, "Lamborghini mercy your chick is so thirsty" before giving way to Big Sean's introductory verse. There may have been a shortage of cars, but no shortage of MCs. A "Matrix"-like visual effect is employed to double-up and sometimes triple-up each rapper so he appears more than once in a single shot. As Big Sean charismatically acts out his verse, shaking ferociously, a second Sean dances behind him playing hypeman. The Sean doppelganger appears, disappears and then reappears playing hide and seek behind the support beams in the underground lot. During the five-and-a-half-minute "Mercy" video, there is no intricate story line or scene change; just a good old-fashioned, stylized hip-hop stunt fest. Why? Because Kanye can, that's why. Yeezy's performance is as arrogant as ever. His facial expressions match his bars, especially when he looks into the camera deadpan, while his visual clone lyrically extorts Def Jam records. "Tell 'em gimme $50 million or I'ma quit," Yeezy #2 spits while flashing the international "Give me money" sign by rubbing his thumb, index and ring fingers together. No question West is a star and worth every penny, but it's guest spitter 2 Chainz who steals the show on the song's closing verse. Leaning on a support-beam, waiting as cool as ever, the charismatic Tity Boi jumps off the column and begins spewing his bars. With his head wrapped in a long-flowing black scarf, Deuce moves his lanky frame to and fro, while his G.O.O.D. Music buddies parade behind him. By the video's close, Sean, Pusha T, Kanye and 2 Chainz come together in a single frame for a group pose before they magically disappear behind a speeding Lambo. Have mercy! What did you think of G.O.O.D. Music's "Mercy" video? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists
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| Sheryl Crow's Brain Tumor: A Neurosurgeon Weighs In Posted: 06 Jun 2012 01:38 AM PDT Dr. Alessandro Olivi tells MTV News the diagnosis shouldn't change Crow's lifestyle: 'She can still sing!'
Despite the severity of the news that Sheryl Crow has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, the good news is that the type of tumor, a meningioma, is non-cancerous. MTV News caught up with Dr. Alessandro Olivi, a professor of neurosurgery and director of the Meningioma Center at Johns Hopkins University, who spoke very positively about Crow's prognosis. "If they elected to observe it [and not perform surgery], that means the tumor is an incidental finding and considered, like it is in the majority of these cases, biologically favorable," Olivi said. "It's benign and doesn't need to come out, because it's not causing any problems and can be monitored safely." Olivi, who also serves as the vice chairman of the department of neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins, went on to say that doctors don't yet know what specifically causes the tumors, just that they tend to occur in women and that estrogen might play a role. "We don't know what causes them. We know that there is preponderance in women over men. Some people have said it's related to estrogen. There might be some receptor, but not to the point where I would say to change hormone treatment," he said. "For example, with menopause, you produce less estrogen and people are on hormone replacement. I don't consider that a reason not to do it. In other words, the correlation [between estrogen and meningioma] is loose. We don't know in reality what the cause is. The good thing is that in the vast majority, they are self-limiting, and the biological behavior is not one of an aggressive cancer." Speaking to how the tumor will affect Crow's day-to-day lifestyle moving forward, Olivi said she'll likely only need routine checkups. "She just needs to do what she is told as far as monitoring and imaging, which will probably be once every six months if everything is OK and can be moved up to once a year," he said. "But no change in lifestyle; she can still sing!" Related Artists
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| Quentin Tarantino's 'Django Unchained': Counting Down To The Trailer Posted: 06 Jun 2012 01:07 AM PDT First official look at highly anticipated flick starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz will air tonight.
Quentin Tarantino's next film, "Django Unchained," has been considered one of the most anticipated films of the year since the director revealed the controversial log line. From the beginning, it sounded like quintessential Tarantino, and one star-studded round of casting later, it's now a can't-miss movie of 2012. The first trailer for "Django" is set to premiere at 7:30 p.m. ET tonight (June 6) on "Entertainment Tonight," and if that doesn't mean something to you, it really, really should. For those unfamiliar with the story, Django, played by Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, is a newly freed slave who finds a mentor in German dentist/bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz) and must save his still-enslaved wife from an evil plantation owner (soon-to-be Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio).
Though he's flirted with the genre's conventions before, "Django Unchained" will be Tarantino's first full-on Western — but, this being a Tarantino movie, there's a twist: The story largely takes place in the pre-Civil War South, creating a new genre all together, what Tarantino calls a "Southern." Much of the look of the film, like "Inglourious Basterds" before it, borrows from the Westerns coming out of Italy during the 1960s and 1970s, the so-called "spaghetti Westerns." "Entertainment Tonight" aired a preview to the trailer Tuesday night, and the footage did not disappoint. The preview showed Foxx as Django as he's being freed from slavery by Schultz and a scene from later in the film, while the pair collects their first bounty. The same scene played for journalists at last month's Cannes Film Festival, and it contains a line sure to become one of the most remembered from the film, so keep an eye out. (Just remember: "The 'D' is silent.") The shootouts in "Django" — and oh, will there be shootouts! — are sure to have a highly stylized look to them and will likely be a centerpiece of the trailer. Based on the preview and reactions from Cannes, DiCaprio will be the one to watch, and he is on display in the short clip. After being unable to star as Hans Landa in "Basterds," DiCaprio fought for the role of the evil Calvin Candie. The role is probably the most villainous of DiCaprio's career, and he seems to be enjoying it quite a bit. Candie is a loud character that will provide DiCaprio with a ton of great lines like "Gentlemen, you had my curiosity, but now you have my attention." But make no mistake about it. Candie is a bad man, so this will definitely be a different side of DiCaprio. Expect lots of gunplay and even more DiCaprio in this first preview since these will be the centerpieces of what may be one of the more bizarre releases of the year, but knowing Tarantino, it will also be one of the most exciting. Check out everything we've got on "Django Unchained." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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| Axl Rose Robbed After Paris Concert Posted: 06 Jun 2012 01:03 AM PDT Thief reportedly stole three gold-and-diamond necklaces valued at $200,000 after frontman wrapped a Guns N' Roses show.
Axl Rose was robbed of $200,000 in jewelry after a Guns N' Roses concert in Paris on Tuesday. The thief reportedly made off with three of the legendary frontman's gold-and-diamond necklaces. A Paris police spokesman said that the theft occurred during a private gathering after the band's show at the city's Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy stadium. An investigation into the incident has been opened by police, who report Rose did not appear to be wearing the necklaces when the theft occurred. The theft is the latest news-making incident to plague the band's European tour. Fans at Guns N' Roses' May 31 concert at London's O2 Arena were angered when security stopped anyone wearing a T-shirt featuring former lead guitarist Slash and asked them to remove it or be denied entry to the venue. "We were told by the management not to allow anyone into the O2 Arena who is wearing a Slash T-shirt, and we are asking anyone who is to remove it, and if they refuse, they will be turned away," O2 Arena security told British music magazine NME. Rose is the only original member of Guns N' Roses that remains in the band and he recently received widespread criticism over his decision to not attend the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He said his decision was "personal" and not "meant to offend, attack or condemn" any of his former bandmates. However, in a letter posted to the band's Facebook page, Rose declared that his decision to "respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N' Roses" was principally based on who the Hall decided to induct as members of the band. "I feel we've been polite, courteous and open to an amicable solution in our efforts to work something out," Rose wrote. "Taking into consideration the history of Guns N' Roses, those who plan to attend, along with those the Hall — for reasons of their own — have chosen to include in 'our' induction ... and how those involved with the Hall have handled things ... [it] doesn't appear to be somewhere I'm actually wanted or respected." (Rose was booed in absentia by attendees at the Rock Hall induction ceremony.) Guns N' Roses are scheduled to play in Moenchengladbach, Germany, on Friday before returning to France for a series of shows in Strasbourg, Toulouse, Clisson, Montpellier and Toulon as part of their European tour, which runs through July 22.
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| Miley Cyrus And Liam Hemsworth: A Timeline Of Love Posted: 05 Jun 2012 11:09 PM PDT Before Miley and Liam walk down the aisle, MTV News walks down memory lane.
While Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth are now engaged after three years together, their road to wedded bliss has been a rocky one, with several breakups and reconciliations. Before Miley, 19, and Liam, 22, walk down the aisle, let's take a moment to walk down memory lane and remember their ups, downs and everything in between. Summer 2009: Cyrus met "The Hunger Games" star on the set of "The Last Song." They began dating shortly after she ended a nine-month relationship with model Justin Gaston and briefly reconciled with Nick Jonas.
October 2009: Soon after beginning their romance, Hemsworth was reportedly the catalyst behind Cyrus leaving Twitter. November 2009: Though they kept the romance quiet for as long as they could, it wasn't until November that Cyrus, then 16, addressed their relationship. "It sucks when your personal life becomes public," she told Seventeen magazine. "So I'm finding ways to make my personal and private life more of my life — which is one of the reasons why I deleted my Twitter. We've decided that any type of relationship that we have, we will always just keep it very DL. First and foremost, we are best friends, so that's what I tell people all the time." March 2010: Miley opened up a lot more about the Aussie actor while she was out promoting "The Last Song," telling Ellen DeGeneres she fell for him pretty quickly. She later added in an interview with Teen Vogue, "I think we're both deeper than normal people — what they think and how they feel. He's very grateful for what he has, but he doesn't let it go to his head. I'm like that too." June 2010: Cyrus sat down with MTV News and opened up about the influence Hemsworth had over her album Can't Be Tamed, which she released that month. "There are a lot of songs that are about Liam," she said, later adding, "All of them are about him in a way, but it's also about past relationships that you gotta get over and move on and just about freeing yourself from anything that you feel holds you back. Just let go of anything that's not going to help you in your future and ... always keep going forward." August 2010: While they went strong for about a year, Cyrus and Hemsworth broke-up for the first time — but they reportedly reconciled one month later. And even back then, Cyrus was denying rumors that they were engaged. November 2010: Cyrus and Hemsworth split again a few months later.
April 2011: After some time apart (and Cyrus' controversial bong video, in which she thought she saw Hemsworth at a party, in December 2010), the couple couldn't stay away from each other for very long and reunited. February 2012: In an interview with Details magazine in February 2012, Hemsworth opened up about falling for his lady love. "What happened happened, and we've been together ever since," he said of filming "The Last Song." "She makes me really happy. When you start, you want to be professional, but when you're filming those scenes with someone and pretending to love them, you're not human if you don't feel something." March 2012: This isn't the first time this year that engagement rumors have followed the couple. Cyrus and Hemsworth denied similar reports earlier this year. "I'm not engaged," Cyrus said. "I've worn this same ring on this finger since November! People just wanna find something to [talk] about! It's a topaz, people!" June 2012: Now that they are engaged — for real this time — it might be a while before the big day. They are each busy with their respective careers. He's stacking up several film projects, including "Empire State," which he's currently shooting in New Orleans. He will also film the thriller "Paranoia" with Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman and then work begins on the second "Hunger Games" flick. Meanwhile, Miley is working on a new album. All that work doesn't seem to make her less excited for this new chapter in their relationship. "I'm so happy to be engaged and look forward to a life of happiness with Liam," she said in a statement about their May 31 engagement. Share your well-wishes for the couple in the comments below! Related Photos Related Artists
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