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| Barack Obama Makes An 'American Promise' During Acceptance Speech Posted: 28 Aug 2008 11:41 PM PDT First black major-party candidate gives historical speech to 70,000 people in Denver.
DENVER — With the burden of history on his shoulders and the expectations of more than 70,000 filling the air, Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama turned a page in American politics Thursday night (August 28) with an acceptance speech that set out to do nothing less than deliver what he called the new "American Promise." On the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s landmark "I Have a Dream" speech, Obama strode onto the stage at Denver's Invesco Field and accepted his party's nomination with a 50-minute address that was part personal history, part repudiation of the past eight years of Republican rule and mostly about a pledge to deliver on the steady mantra of his improbable 18-month rise to his party's highest calling: the promise of change.
"America, we are better than these last eight years," Obama said to thunderous applause and a sea of waving American flags and signs bearing the word "change." "We are a better country than this." He later added: "Change happens because the American people demand it — because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time. America, this is one of those moments. I believe that as hard as it will be, the change we need is coming." Without a hint of the pressure borne of the enormity of the moment, Obama also delivered on the specifics of his plan to change America, combating the criticism that had dogged his campaign for many months — that it was more about Hollywood flash than concrete policies. He spoke about his plans for reducing taxes for most middle-class Americans, cutting the nation's addiction to foreign oil, helping college students pay for their schooling, investing in alternative energy, ending the war in Iraq and providing equal pay for equal work. "Our government should work for us, not against us," Obama said. "It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity, not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing to work. That's the promise of America — the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise and fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper. "That's the promise we need to keep. That's the change we need right now." Given the location, the home of football's Denver Broncos, it was fitting that the speech occasionally felt more like a Super Bowl than a political event. In addition to a succession of speeches and video packages telling Obama's story, the day was full of music, with interludes featuring everything from recordings of Motown classics by Aretha Franklin blasting over the speakers to a performance by Will.I.Am in all black and John Legend in all white, singing the Obama-boosting anthem "Yes We Can." A short time later, Sheryl Crow came out to perform a mini-set around dinnertime that included the Dalai Lama-inspired "Out of Our heads" and her venue-appropriate anthem of change "A Change Will Do You Good." In addition, Stevie Wonder performed a few songs, and in what might have been a first at a presidential nomination acceptance speech, the boisterous crowd broke out in the wave several times before Obama began his speech and greeted a number of applause lines from the day's speakers with a thunderous stomp of the metal bleachers that likely put the dozens of snipers and lookouts posted all across the top perimeter of the stadium a bit on edge. The bowl of the stadium slowly filled up over the course of the afternoon as the more than six-hour program capping the four-day convention ramped up to Obama's speech, with thousands of attendees waiting to enter through very tight security checkpoints in a line that snaked more than five miles long. As he has before, Obama praised Republican rival Senator John McCain's service to America, but he said that while he couldn't claim McCain didn't care what was going on in the lives of average Americans, " I just think he doesn't know. Why else would he define middle-class as someone making under $5 million per year?" he said to a chorus of knowing nods and shame-on-you flag flicks. "It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it." Making a plea to all Americans — red state, blue state, Democrat, Republican, independent — Obama admitted that he isn't the likeliest candidate for president. "I don't fit the typical pedigree, and I haven't spent my career in the halls of Washington. But I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the naysayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me. It's been about you." According to CNN, in a statement released after the speech, the McCain campaign called Obama's charges "misleading" and said the address was fundamentally at odds with what it called Obama's "meager record." Referring to the white-columned structure of the stage, meant to resemble a Washington government building, McCain's statement said, "When the temple comes down, the fireworks end, and the words are over, the facts remain: Senator Obama still has no record of bipartisanship, still opposes offshore drilling, still voted to raise taxes on those making just $42,000 per year, and still voted against funds for American troops in harm's way. The fact remains: Barack Obama is still not ready to be president." The buzz afterward inside the stadium, however, was palpable, as attendees streaming out said they felt they had witnessed a generational watershed. Kristi Detwiller, 23, of Austin, Texas, came to Denver with the College Democrats of America and said she began crying at the end of the address. "America is sinking, and he's going to be the one that lifts us back up," she said of the message she took away from the speech, which she predicted could one day have a resonance similar to King's landmark civil-rights address. For Albuquerque, New Mexico, native Vanessa Nielsen, 29, who was carrying an infant on her chest as her dreadlocked husband pushed their toddler in a stroller, Obama's words were worth the trip. "And we're worth that. Ultimately, this isn't about Barack. It is so much about our future and what we're going to do. I'm so impassioned right now. He really is for the people, and that's why people are feeling so excited. I've never been so excited about a candidate before." As the cheers grew to a din and the audience rose to its feet and swung their flags and placards, Obama's voice rose with the lines "America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate and so many veterans to care for. ... America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise — that American promise — and in the words of scripture, hold firmly, without wavering, to hope that we confess." The evening ended with a blast of red, white and blue fireworks from the stadium's rafters, patriotic streamers and confetti raining down and whoops of "yes we can" from the crowd as Obama's family mingled with that of his vice-presidential pick, Senator Joe Biden. "Nobody has every seen something like this before," said Camille Rivera, 29, who came from the Bronx, New York, to see the speech. "From Martin Luther King's speech to where we are now, who would have ever thought that a person of color would be sitting at the doorsteps of the White House to become president of the United States?"
Don't miss out on the action: MTV News and our Street Team '08 will be on the ground at both conventions to sort through all the speeches, streamers and ceremony to find the information you need to choose our next president. And head to Choose or Lose for nonstop coverage of the 2008 presidential election. And after history is made in Denver, MTV News will help you make sense of it all in "Obama Decoded," premiering Friday, August 29 at 7:30. Related Photos | ||
| Pete Wentz, Big Boi, More Share Their Blow-By-Blow Thoughts On Barack Obama's Speech Posted: 28 Aug 2008 07:21 AM PDT A host of artists live-blogged the historic event in our Newsroom blog!
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| Miley Cyrus, Michael Phelps, Lindsay Lohan, 'High School Musical' Stars Named As 2008 VMA Presenters Posted: 27 Aug 2008 10:06 PM PDT Scarlett Johansson, Ciara, Christopher Mintz-Plasse will also be handing out Moonmen.
He walked away from this summer's Olympic Games with a record-setting eight gold medals. So what's swimming sensation Michael Phelps going to do next? Well, after his requisite trip to Disney World — he'll be heading out to Los Angeles' Paramount Pictures Studios on September 7 to hand out a Moonman or two during the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. MTV revealed Thursday (August 28) that Phelps, Miley Cyrus, Lindsay Lohan, Ciara, Scarlett Johansson, "Superbad" scene-stealer Christopher Mintz-Plasse and "High School Musical" stars Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens will be presenters at the show, which will air live at 9 p.m ET. They'll join "Twilight" stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, who were also announced as presenters on Tuesday. Additionally, it was announced that DJ AM and Blink-182 kitman Travis Barker will be mixing live drum beats to scratched records throughout the evening. Later in the show, the pair will team up with Katy Perry, T-Pain, Lupe Fiasco, the Ting Tings and other special guests to perform new and past MTV hits as part of a special celebration of the VMAs' 25th birthday. The news follows the recent announcements that Rihanna, Pink, T.I., Kid Rock, Paramore, Lil Wayne and the Jonas Brothers will be taking the VMA stage this year. Additional presenters and performers will be announced in the coming days. This year's VMAs will be hosted by British comic and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" co-star Russell Brand. Your job's not over yet! Now that you've helped us pick the nominees for this year's Video Music Awards, head to VMA.MTV.com to vote for your favorite in the Best New Artist category. While you're there, check out the latest additions to the performer and presenter lineups, see the best (and worst) of VMA fashion and much more before the show airs live September 7 at 9 p.m. ET. Related Videos Related Artists | ||
| Fat Joe Calls Daddy Yankee A 'Sellout' For Endorsing John McCain Posted: 28 Aug 2008 03:18 AM PDT 'I feel real disgusted that Daddy Yankee would do that,' Barack Obama-backing rapper tells MTV News.
Up until a few days ago, it was easy to assume that Senator Barack Obama is the overwhelming favorite presidential candidate of music-makers from urban communities. MCs such as Jay-Z, Nas, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Common and Diddy have all openly said that the Illinois politician needs to be the next man in the White House. The King of Reggaetón, however, has a different opinion.
Daddy Yankee surprised many earlier this week when he showed up at a Phoenix high school and gave a glowing recommendation for Republican Senator John McCain. "I believe in his ideals and his proposals to lead this nation," Yankee said. "He's been a fighter for the Hispanic community." The news of Yankee's endorsement left a sour taste in the mouth of one of the Hispanic community's most visible and verbal leaders: Fat Joe. "Put this in the MTV News headline: 'Fat Joe Says Daddy Yankee Is a Sellout,' " the MC said via phone from Denver, where he's attending the Democratic National Convention. "Just like that! I gotta go in. I'm talking to little cousins that like [Yankee] and all that, and they're starting to believe that John McCain is [the best candidate]. I can't have that. "I opened the newspaper and got sick to my stomach," Joe continued. "I felt like I wanted to vomit when I seen that. The reason why I called him a sellout is because I feel he did that for a [publicity] look, rather than the issues that are affecting his people that look up to him. How could you want John McCain in office when George Bush and the Republicans already have half a million people losing their homes in foreclosure? We're fighting an unjust war. It's the Latinos and black kids up in the frontlines, fighting that war. ... We over here trying to take the troops out of Iraq and bring peace. This guy immediately wants war. If not with Iraq or Afghanistan, he'll start a new one with Iran. I feel real disgusted that Daddy Yankee would do that. Either he did that for a look, or he's just not educated on politics." Joe said he's more than willing to educate Yankee on each of the politicians' platforms. "If he believes John McCain is the better candidate for the Latinos," Joe said, "we could sit down. Even if he wants to get into a debate, we can debate anywhere — New York, Puerto Rico." The Grammy-nominated lyricist is especially enthralled with Obama's promise for improved and universal health care. That issue still hits home for the rap veteran. "Like I said, with me, my whole philosophy on blacks and Latinos is: We're all one," he said. "We're in the same ghettos, same inner cities, and we're suffering from the same problems. Every problem the blacks have, the Latinos have. There's two systems of health care: the one for the rich that's really good, then there's the one for the inner city, where they leave ladies in the emergency room unattended for 24 hours until they drop dead. ... People don't even check on her hours after she's dead. This is normal stuff. This is what's happening in the U.S." Joe blames inferior health care for a tragedy he and his family suffered years ago. "My own sister — to me she was murdered by doctors," he claimed. "She was having a baby in the Bronx, and they gave her an epidural — a normal procedure that was supposed to numb her from the waist down. They numbed her from the waist up, because they had amateurs learning in the Bronx hospitals. Not even real doctors — students murdered my sister in the inner city, in the Bronx. I love what Barack is doing with the heath care system. Once he gets universal health care for everybody, then we gotta step up our system to make it the best in the world." Joe arrived in Denver on Wednesday after performing in New York City with the Game the previous night. He was moved by speeches on consecutive evenings by Hillary and Bill Clinton. "That was beautiful, man," he said. "I'm a huge fan of the Clintons. I love Hillary; I love Bill. They hit home runs out the park. I was so excited when Bill was speaking. It reminded me of why I love him. He's articulate, so smart. Greatest president of our era. When he was here, we had peace. Yasser Arafat of Palestine and the prime minister of Israel, shaking hands and hugging, bringing peace in the Middle East, not war! Everybody had jobs. The economy was growing. George Bush and the Republicans turned the whole country around to where our dollar is worth half the Euro dollar. Your man John McCain wants to continue the same tactics of the Bush organization. Why should my man Daddy Yankee be endorsing McCain? This is the only urban guy in the universe to endorse John McCain. You got people who look up to [Yankee] — young teenagers that look up to him and might make the wrong choice. John McCain is the wrong thing to do. I don't think the Republicans care much about minorities. I can't believe [Yankee] went and endorsed this guy." Fat Joe would also like to change the perception of his country in the eyes of the rest of the world. "I travel the world doing shows, and people hate the United States because of the policies of George Bush," he explained. "Years ago, you would go overseas, and the people would praise you and love the United States. I feel Barack Obama is the one person who could bring not just the United States, but the world together. I was in Africa two days ago, and I seen people with 'I Love Obama' on their bumper sticker. He just spoke to 200,000 people in Germany." Now more than ever, Joe said he realizes the importance of participating in this upcoming election. "Fat Joe says it's not an option to vote," he insisted. "We have to vote and change this country around. Everybody has to get out there and register. I'm not asking, I'm telling you to go vote. I'm forcing you." A rep for Daddy Yankee said the MC is out of the country and won't be available for comment until next week.
Don't miss out on the action: MTV News and our Street Team '08 will be on the ground at both conventions to sort through all the speeches, streamers and ceremony to find the information you need to choose our next president. And head to Choose or Lose for nonstop coverage of the 2008 presidential election. And after history is made in Denver, MTV News will help you make sense of it all in "Obama Decoded," premiering Friday, August 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Related Artists | ||
| 'Twilight' Author Stephenie Meyer To Direct Vampire-Free Jack's Mannequin Video Posted: 28 Aug 2008 04:27 AM PDT 'I'm quickly becoming super-aware of how big of a deal it is,' JM's Andrew McMahon says of 'Twilight' series.
To the casual observer, a team-up between Stephenie Meyer, author of the best-selling "Twilight" book series, and Andrew McMahon, the singer/songwriter known as Jack's Mannequin, doesn't seem to make much sense. But luckily, fans of both tend to be anything but casual. So, in some way, the following news shouldn't come as a shock to those who worship at the altar of Edward Cullen or the Mannequin: Meyer has been tapped to direct the video for "The Resolution," the first single from JM's upcoming album The Glass Passenger (due September 30). Production is set to get under way next week in Los Angeles and is based on a treatment Meyer wrote. And while details on the project are difficult to come by, McMahon himself told MTV News that fans can be on the lookout for "a good amount of water," some fictional aquatic creatures but — sadly — a grand total of zero vampires.
"Yeah, there are no vampires in the treatment. There may be a mermaid, but I'm not sure. I don't want to give away too much, because we're letting [Meyer] run with her vision. ... I mean, I will say there's a good amount of water in the video and ... what else can I say?" he said Thursday (August 28). "It's cool. It's not some sort of exposé on my life. ... It's nice to know we're going to make a video for the sake of making a video. [We're] making something that's kind of fantastic and different and exciting but isn't about the song specifically, and it isn't about me specifically." Of course, as any "Twilight" fan will tell you, Meyer is an avid music fan — she posts playlists on her Web site that are meant to be sorta-scores to each of her books — and she's long been a proponent of McMahon's work. So the collaboration seems like even more of a no-brainer — to everyone except for McMahon, that is. Seems he's still relatively new to the whole "Twilight" phenomenon. "I'm quickly becoming super-aware of how big of a deal it is. I'm partway into 'Twilight' now. ... I found out about Stephenie through a close friend, who told me, 'I don't know if you know this, but you're referenced in a couple of places on Stephenie's Web site as being a musical inspiration for what she does,' and I was obviously incredibly flattered, especially considering the finger she has on a lot of pop culture," he said. "So we were getting to this place where we were getting video treatments, and we had seen a lot of good things, but nothing that was really jumping out at us. And I was talking to someone at the label, and I said, 'You know, let's try to do something different. Let's approach this video in a completely different way, like, rather than going out to a bunch of video directors and trying to do business as usual, let's try and come up with something clever.' And immediately, Stephenie Meyer came to my head. "So I said, 'Can I reach out to her and see if she'd be interested in writing for the video and coming out and directing it?' And we got her music, and she was fantastic, and we've been working with her ever since," he continued. "And it works so well, because [with my music], I always try to create something super-visual and create a backdrop where people can take a bunch of experiences but relate them. And she's done that in a huge way with her books." But now that he's indoctrinated in the ways of "Twilight," is McMahon bummed out that the video for "Resolution" isn't going to feature a single bloodsucker? Not at all. In fact, he's just happy that Meyer is onboard for the project. After all, she is rather busy these days. "She seems genuinely enthusiastic about it. She's in the middle of editing her film right now, so I guess the implication is that she's excited because she's taking time away from her baby to make it," McMahon laughed. "But, like I said, I'm most excited because, when I was making this album, I wanted to find someone who was really talented and get them to write a treatment and just leave it alone and let it fly. And that's exactly what we're doing here." Every Tuesday is "Twilight" Tuesday here at MTV News! Check back here each and every week for the hottest scoop on the film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's beloved vampire series, and we'll still bring you breaking "Twilight" news throughout the rest of the week. And make sure you check out the MTV Movies Blog for our ongoing "Twilight" discussions each and every day. Check out everything we've got on "Twilight." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Artists | ||
| T-Pain Gets Some Heat For Turning Gospel Song Into 'Alcoholic Anthem' Posted: 28 Aug 2008 05:00 AM PDT Singer had to sit down with Kirk Franklin after tequila-soaked version of 'Silver and Gold' leaked online.
When it comes to knowing what to sing on hooks, T-Pain's word has been the gospel for singers and rappers alike the past couple of years. However, a recent track of his had gospel-music fans thinking he lost his mind. A Pain cut called "Silver and Gold" leaked to the Internet a few months back, with the Tallahassee, Florida, native singing about the effects of blending clear and colored Patrón tequila together for consumption. "You'll be hanging, swanging, drinking two types of Patrón," he sings. "I done mixed up silver and gold/ I done mixed up silver and gold/ I'mma tryin' to get drunk before this party/ Somebody's gonna have to carry me home/ I done drank the silver and gold." While Pain's following ate it up, non-secular-music kingpin Kirk Franklin had to put a call into the young singer. Franklin debuted the original "Silver and Gold" on his 1993 Kirk Franklin and the Family album. The gospel version goes: "Silver and gold/ Silver and gold/ I'd rather have Jesus than silver and gold/ No fame or fortune/ Nor riches untold/ I'd rather have Jesus than silver and gold." "It was never supposed to be on my album," Pain said Tuesday in the MTV News office, wearing a purple top hat and matching shirt. "The record, it got leaked, then me and Kirk Franklin had to talk. He was doing most of the talking. He was saying it wasn't no disrespect. He was saying he knows how songs get leaked. He had it happen to him before. He said he wasn't a saint, and it wasn't like he never did nothing wrong. It's not like [Kirk] said I did something wrong. He said if I was gonna go with it, just change the melody. 'You can still say silver and gold.' He's got a lot of people saying stuff to him: 'How could you let T-Pain destroy a gospel song like that? How could let him talk about alcohol?' I wasn't even doing it for a mixtape or nothing. I was literally drinking and made a song. I was bored in the studio. There was nothing else to do. I made it into an alcoholic anthem, which wasn't good." Pain said that the first day "Silver and Gold" was leaked, 400,000 people had downloaded it. By then, it was too late. It even caused him some dilemmas. "It spread so fast," he said. "Everybody thought it was the first single. Somebody was putting it out as 'the first single off of T-Pain's new album Pain or Pleasure.' Somebody was just making up an album name just so they can put it out. That's why my album isn't coming out on [my] birthday no more, because I had to push it back. We had to stop that song." Pain and his record company sent out cease-and-desist orders to put "Silver and Gold" on permanent pause, but its popularity was even greater than Pain's official first single, "Can't Believe It," during its initial launch. "That pushed the single back, then we had to push the album back," Pain said. " 'Can't Believe It' was getting overtaken by 'Silver and Gold.' It was just a lot." "Can't Believe It," which features Lil Wayne, is soaring off the ground now. The video just came out, and it gives us a glimpse into Pain's playfully diabolical mind. The clip features scary-looking clowns who just want to have fun and dance, expensive trips to Aspen and "Wiscansin" and women who can contort their bodies. "It was all green-screen," Pain explained. "I just came up with it, man. I kinda stole some stuff from the last iTunes commercial. I got the same people to direct it. ... I was like, 'If we can find those people to direct my next video, it will be the best video.' I already knew, just the way I see things. "We just did a bunch of takes," he added. "Nothing has to be organized. We was like, 'We gonna do it and then see what we got outta that.' It just all came together. It took eight hours. A bunch of takes, six outfits. And the song ain't even four minutes. [The song] is basically a perspective of not settling for what you doing. You can be doing better. Even if you think you're at the peak of your career, you're at the top, it's something else you can be doing. Don't settle into what you been pretty much forced into doing." Pain's Thr33 Ringz comes out October 28, right in time for Halloween. Related Artists | ||
| John Legend, Will.I.Am, Stevie Wonder To Close Democratic National Convention Posted: 28 Aug 2008 09:00 AM PDT Sheryl Crow also reported to perform at convention's final night.
will perform at the Democratic National Convention in Denver on Thursday (August 28), the final night of the event, at which Barack Obama will accept the Democratic presidential nomination, CNN reports. The Denver Post reports that John Legend will also entertain the convention-goers. The performances are expected to take place at Invesco Field at Mile High. It's also being reported that Will.I.Am will recreate his now famous "Yes We Can" video live with a full gospel choir.
Earlier this week, MTV News caught up with the Black Eyed Peas rapper, who discussed how important Obama's speech is, not only for supporters, but for Americans. "This speech is important because the time is important," he said. "It's important, 'cause it's engaging the people who have supported him. "There's people who are going to be skeptical," he added, "but with the momentum of the victory, that's going to propel us up the hill. It's beyond just black and white. It's American — and I'm just happy to be here." Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson will sing the national anthem at the final night of the convention, according to CNN. Sheryl Crow, who is currently on tour, is expected to perform three songs early in the evening before hitting the stage at the Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend, Oregon, for her own concert. As of Wednesday, a spokesperson with the Democratic National Convention Committee would not confirm the reports. "We have not announced any entertainment for tomorrow's event at this time," the spokesperson said. Our ongoing convention reporting continues Thursday night with coverage of Obama's acceptance speech — with live blogging from Pete Wentz, Bun B, Solange Knowles and other artists at newsroom.MTV.com.
Don't miss out on the action: MTV News and our Street Team '08 will be on the ground at both conventions to sort through all the speeches, streamers and ceremony to find the information you need to choose our next president. And head to Choose or Lose for nonstop coverage of the 2008 presidential election. And after history is made in Denver, MTV News will help you make sense of it all in "Obama Decoded," premiering Friday, August 29 at 7:30. Related Artists | ||
| Can The Jonas Brothers Break Out Of The Teen-Pop Bubble? Posted: 28 Aug 2008 05:03 AM PDT Some experts say the boy band's VMA performance, nominations could accelerate mainstream success.
It's been an interesting summer for the Jonas Brothers. With a #1 album, A Little Bit Longer, and several major projects in the works — including a TV show and a movie — they've fully succeeded in causing boy-band hysteria that hasn't been seen since Justin Timberlake left 'NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys became men. With the VMAs coming up September 7 at 9 p.m. ET, the three brothers — Nick, Joe and Kevin — find themselves on the brink of mainstream success. They have two VMA nominations — including the big one, Video of the Year — and are set to perform to an audience whose demographic can skew older than their current fanbase. "Well, to the average adult, all their music may just seem like bubblegum — but when you really look at it, they've clearly grown," Kabeer Maholtra, a publicist at Girlie Action Media & Marketing, said. "They've made the move from Disney-only. They'll be playing the VMAs, which obviously has an older age demographic than Disney, so they're expanding from tweens to early teens." Girlie Action worked with the Jonas Brothers before they hooked up with Disney in early 2007. "They also seem to have an instinctive ability to market themselves — each of them has their own look that is pretty well-defined," he continued. "They're going to have long-term success because all three of them are vital to the band's popularity." This is obviously a huge year for the guys, and the VMA nominations could be the thing that launches them into the pop-culture stratosphere. Joe Jonas recognizes this as well: "It's a first year for a lot of things for us, so we just want to thank the fans." While the group originally said they'd be "Burnin' Up" the VMA stage with their hit single, reps now say their song choice for the show is top secret. The media are also excited about the Jonas Brothers, who are already sensations in the tabloid press. "I definitely think the Jonas Brothers are capable of breaking out of their teen-pop bubble," David Caplan, staff editor at People,, told MTV News. "They're a very marketable group, and their reach extends not only to teenybopper girls, but they still have fans [who are] guys and they've managed to keep their relevance because of all these other projects. They are emerging as a franchise." With the possibility of street credibility on the horizon, these guys are ready to take over the music industry. "The VMAs are going to increase their visibility with the music community and those who perceive them as the male equivalent of a Miley Cyrus," Caplan added. Could VMA weekend be the right time for the Jonas Brothers to leave their Disney image behind and push through to the mainstream? Only time will tell, but if teenage girls have their way, it just might happen. Your job's not over yet! Now that you've helped us pick the nominees for this year's Video Music Awards, head to VMA.MTV.com to vote for your favorite in the Best New Artist category. While you're there, check out the latest additions to the performer and presenter lineups, see the best (and worst) of VMA fashion and much more before the show airs live September 7 at 9 p.m. ET. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists | ||
| Lil Wayne's Dentist Makes Him Miss Arizona Court Date Posted: 28 Aug 2008 07:08 AM PDT Root-canal operations keep rapper away from hearing on felony drug and weapons charges.
Dental issues reportedly cause Lil Wayne to miss his scheduled court date on Tuesday in Yuma County, Arizona, where he faces felony drug and weapons charges stemming from his January 22 arrest. The rapper's attorney, James Tilson, said his client missed the status hearing because he is recovering from several root-canal operations and was ordered by his dentist not to fly, the Yuma Sun reports. "As a result, the court waived his appearance for that hearing," Tilson said. "He still must appear at future hearings." Lil Wayne was arrested in January after his tour bus was stopped at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Dateland, 78 miles east of Yuma. When the DEA searched the vehicle, they allegedly found nearly 105 grams of marijuana, 29 grams of cocaine, 41 grams of ecstasy and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia. They also found a .40-caliber pistol registered to Wayne, who has a concealed weapons permit in Florida. Wayne (real name: Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.) has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include one count each of possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, misconduct involving weapons, possession of drug paraphernalia, transportation and or sale of a narcotic drug, and transportation or sale of a dangerous drug. Tilson told the Sun he is planning to send the case back to the grand jury that indicted Wayne. "The grand jury came up with some charges the county attorney's office did not ask for," Tilson said. Superior Court Judge Mark Wayne Reeves, who is presiding over the rapper's case, has scheduled his next court date for October 9. Related Artists |
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