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| Christina Aguilera Discusses Her <i>New</i> New Look And Sound Posted: 13 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST 'It's got a very pop-art feel, visually,' singer says of her new direction.
The last time we saw Christina Aguilera, she was masquerading as a singing, dancing Vargas girl, a 1940s pinup re-imagined as a 2000s pop princess. Since her last album, well ... let's just say things are a little bit different. Because when Aguilera unveiled her brand new look at the 2008 Video Music Awards, it was as if that retro queen had been packed into a capsule and rocketed headlong into the future. Gone were the soft curls and pleated skirts, replaced instead with impossibly angular bangs, thigh-high boots and enough pleather to make Catwoman blush.
It was, to coin a term, "future fetish." And when MTV News sat down with Aguilera last week in Los Angeles to talk about her greatest-hits album, Keeps Getting Better, and her "futuristic" new record, we decided to run our new phrase by her ... and, surprise, surprise, she sort of liked it. "I wanted to give [fans] a little sneak preview of what's to come [with the VMA performance]. The vein of the new material is a futuristic take on what is inspiring me at the moment ... and it's got a very pop-art feel, visually," she explained. "[There's a] throwback to Andy Warhol and all the colors and vividness and bright boldness that was in that artwork. I'm a big collector of pop art and graffiti art at this point, too — D*Face and Banksy, also Roy Lichtenstein ... and it's been very fun venturing off into that zone." Of course, there are plenty of folks out there who couldn't help but notice that Xtina's new look was also slightly influenced by a more, uh, "contemporary" source, electro-pop sensation Lady Gaga, right down to the penchant for patent leather and the raccoon eye makeup (you can judge for yourself over in our Newsroom blog). But Aguilera just laughs those comparisons off. And though she name-drops artists like Sia and Goldfrapp as big inspirations for her current look and sound, she's quick to point out that she's not terribly focused on the current state of music. Rather, she's styled herself in a manner that pays homage to artists from the past, all while looking towards the future too. "I was very inspired by the look and feel of that [pop-art] genre, your Jane Birkins, your Blondies, females who have come before who have done this so many times and so well — almost as an homage to them," she explained. "Also, speaking of Warhol, Nico from the Velvet Underground ... so it all kind of ties in to a pop-art feel and twist, with a mod look. But a futuristic taste of what's to come." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Miley Cyrus Spoofs Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Video -- Swapping Zombies For Paparazzi Posted: 13 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST 'I needed a serious massage afterward,' she says of 'Fly on the Wall' clip's intense choreography.
Miley Cyrus might not be dating Nick Jonas anymore, but that doesn't mean their paths don't cross once in a while. For her new "Fly on the Wall" video, the teen star hooked up with Philip Andelman, who also directed the Jonas Brothers' "Lovebug" clip. "I'm not sure if she did know I directed the ['Lovebug'] video and she didn't mention it on set," he told MTV News of the coincidence. But, the director said, she definitely had a very strong idea of what she wanted in the video. "I was told the song was a soft poke at the paparazzi that Miley is constantly surrounded by and that she was hoping for there to be some choreography in the video." Cyrus told us the song is about the constant attention she gets, whether she goes to the mall with a new love interest or holds a "sweet 16" bash at Disneyland. " 'Fly on the Wall' is about the media," she said. "It's about how they think they know everything about me, when they don't. They want to be a fly on my wall and watch me 24/7." The clip spoofs Michael Jackson's classic "Thriller" video, but Andelman said that instead of zombies, everyone turns into Miley's worst nightmare: prying photographers. "I didn't want to do something too serious, as I felt it would come off as her being whiny instead of playful," he said. "The gist of the concept is that she and her boyfriend are on a date, leaving a movie, when suddenly, he gets overcome by some strange cough," he revealed. "Suddenly, he turns into a paparazzo and begins chasing Miley. Soon, she is backed into a corner with nowhere to turn and the paparazzi approaching, when suddenly, instead of attacking or photographing her, they break into choreography." Miley said making the video and spoofing her life was a blast. "I definitely had some fun," she said. "I needed a serious massage afterward. It has a great dance number, and it's super-fun." While "Fly on the Wall" is her favorite track on Breakout, Cyrus thought she needed to wait a bit before releasing the single. "It was originally going to be the first single. But instead, I thought '7 Things' was a better introduction to my entire album," she said. " 'Fly on the Wall' is very catchy and fun to dance to. It's one of my favorite songs on the album." It's that kind of business sense that Andelman thinks will help keep Cyrus relevant for years to come, no matter what she sets her sights on next. "She was this incredible bouncing ball of energy," he said. "The second she's on set, you know it, because there is literally a whirlwind of giddiness that whooshes around her. "She's got a really, really quick wit that keeps you on your toes," he added. "You can't pull a fast one on her, unfortunately, and she knows it!" That youthful effervescence lends itself to Cyrus' ever-growing résumé, Andelman said. "Every day, it seems like she adds another project to her already-busy schedule," the director said. "I think what is so remarkable about her now is that she has a-million-and-one projects in a-million-and-one different directions. ... It's really astounding. Heck, she might just become the nation's greatest potter next year — wouldn't surprise me at all!" Unlike Brett Ratner, who directed Cyrus in her VMA-nominated "7 Things" video and compared her to Madonna, Andelman likens Cyrus to an unexpected celebrity. "She is constantly cracking jokes, constantly jumping up and down," he said. "I could not imagine someone having more energy than her. She's like a mini, female Jim Carrey." Related Artists |
| Kanye West Remembers Donda, Opens Up About Family Plans Posted: 12 Nov 2008 01:11 AM PST On the anniversary of his mother's death, West says, 'She influenced me to do exactly what I want to do.'
Kanye West may be at the pinnacle of his career, but the rapper admits that it means nothing if you've got no one to call your own. "It's lonely at the top," he told reporters Tuesday at a London listening party for his new album, 808s & Heartbreak, People.com reports. "Losing my mom, having no woman in my life to support me — I feel like I'm on my own and can only express it through my music." West, who split from his fiancée Alexis Phifer in April, added that he'd love to start a family soon but that he's having a hard time finding a woman to settle down with. "I want to have kids," he said. "But I want to have the right girl too — someone who really cares about me. When I'm in a club, girls are super-calculating, planning every step."
Since losing his mom, Donda West, just over a year ago, West said he's been "depressed, down." He also places the blame for his mother's death on himself and his rapid rise to fame. "I feel like I moved to California, then my mom moved to California, and she did stuff she wouldn't have done if we'd stayed in Chicago," he said. "If I'd never made it in the music business, it never would've happened." However, he said the lessons she taught him remain. "She influenced me to do exactly what I want to do," he explained. "With my mom's passing, I learned that ... you can't let people box you in. You gotta do what you want to do." He said he's recently taken solace in many of his celebrity friends. "I ran into Beyoncé Knowles, Paul McCartney, [at the MTV Europe Music Awards and] I felt comfortable," he said. "Rejuvenated." Although West admitted that he lives in a fishbowl and that the constant media spotlight can be a lot to handle at times, he assured everyone that he's going to be just fine. "I'm an alien. The only place I can be alone is my hotel room — I can't even go to the grocery store," West added. "But don't feel sorry for me — I just did a shoot for Louis Vuitton. Don't worry about me; I'll be OK in the end." Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'American Idol' Alum Josiah Leming Says Recording Album Has Been 'Humbling' Posted: 12 Nov 2008 08:04 AM PST The once-cocky contestant says he's learned to listen to other people's advice and be 'a bit more mature about things.'
There is probably no one on the planet who wants Josiah Leming's debut album to come out more than Josiah Leming himself. And he has his reasons.
Of course, there is his mother's ongoing battle with cancer, which he spoke about when MTV News traveled to his hometown of Morristown, Tennessee, earlier this year. There is also his very genuine belief that he is on some sort of musical mission to make his songs heard. And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention his need to prove all his detractors wrong. It seems there are plenty of folks out there who see Leming as nothing more than a teary-eyed pretender, a little kid with a big ego who is clearly in over his head. He thinks they would like nothing better than to see him fail. "There's a song on my album called 'They Say,' which I wrote quite a while back," said Leming, who added that the album is also tentatively titled They Say. "It basically goes out to everybody who doesn't believe and everybody who doesn't feel like I'm ready or prepared to go the direction I'm going, which is absolutely anybody and everybody." And it's in moments like this that you catch a glimpse of the old Josiah — the fresh-faced, slightly cocky kid from rural Tennessee, the one who wouldn't take "no" for an answer, slept in his car and dismissed the band on "American Idol." It's a fleeting moment, of course, because for the most part, that Josiah is gone. He was shelved on the day Leming inked a major-label deal with Warner Music Group's Reprise Records and realized that flying off the handle, raging against the machine and biting the hand that feeds him are no longer options. "It's definitely taken a personal re-evaluation," he said. "I've had to grow up. I'm not a kid anymore. I can't be running around, sticking my hands in sh--, you know? I've got to be a bit more mature about things, and handle things the right way. Because I'm not only in the public eye, I'm in the eye of a lot of people who are putting a lot of effort, time, passion and money into me. If I f--- up, it makes my label look bad, it makes the management look bad, it makes the fans look bad. So, really, a lot of responsibility has been added. "There was a huge learning curve, and I can't say that I've figured everything out, but I've experienced a lot of growth in my songwriting and my ability to be open-minded to other people's things," he continued. "At first I was like, 'Ah, f--- this, I don't want your ideas, I want to do this by myself,' but you can't be like that. I don't need yes-men; I need people who are going to keep me level, and it's been nice. I've had the right balance, which helps too." The recording process has been "humbling," he said, though it has given him the opportunity to see the world and work with some of the best producers in the business in both London and Los Angeles. The album was recently rumored to be the subject of a legal dispute with "Idol" producers, but a spokesperson for the show denied that there was any attempt to block the album's release, which Leming hopes will be in January. A preview EP, Angels Undercover, is streaming on his MySpace page, and he hopes to finish the rest of the album in December. "This is a very kind of intense moment in my life, where I have one chance to put my first foot in the door, musically, so there's a lot of things going on," he said. "It was one of the best experiences of my life, actually. Being in London, and recording my first album for a major label, what more could a kid ask for? And then I got back, and there have been ups and downs. It's been hard as hell sometimes, and things have gone smooth. It's kind of a day-to-day thing, but we're getting there." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos |
| Jonas Brothers Romance Update: Joe Moves From Taylor Swift To 'Lovebug' Star Camilla Belle Posted: 12 Nov 2008 08:45 AM PST Group told 'Lovebug' director, 'We are absolutely in love with Camilla Belle.'
Anyone who read what the Jonas Brothers said about Camilla Belle, who stars in their recent video for "Lovebug," will probably not be surprised that the actress is now rumored to be dating one of them. "They met on the set of his music video," an unnamed source told People.com. "All the guys always had thought she was really pretty and that's why they asked her to be in it."
Last month, video director Phillip Andelman recalled to MTV News, "They told me they know it's a long shot, but 'we are absolutely in love with Camilla Belle.' And sure enough, it worked out." People reported that the two want to keep the relationship under wraps. "They are not public about it but they've just been hanging out with their friends and Joe's brothers," a source told the site. "They are very private about it. "She's a really good girl and it seems they share a lot of the same characteristics and morals." Of course, the news comes hot on the heels of Jonas' breakup with country singer Taylor Swift, who has spoken publicly about the split. On Monday, she told MTV News that they haven't spoken since the breakup, adding, "With this situation, I feel like I owed it to my fans to be like, 'Look, it happened, you weren't crazy,' and address it. And I addressed it, and, you know, that's a chapter in my life that's closed now." The source also told People that Jonas, 19, and Belle, 22, began dating after their work on the video wrapped, which lends credence to Andelman's assertion that that there were no romantic dalliances on set. He joked, "It was a canoodle-free set!" Related Artists |
| Suge Knight Sues Kanye West Over Lost Earring, Shooting Posted: 12 Nov 2008 06:58 AM PST Death Row co-founder took a bullet at rapper's 2005 pre-VMA party.
Times are tough for Death Row Records co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight. The once high-flying gangsta-rap impresario recently filed for bankruptcy, and this summer, he had to sit idly by while his company's assets were sold at auction. Now, TMZ is reporting that as part of his October 30 bankruptcy filing, Knight is blaming Kanye West for the loss of a beloved 15-carat diamond stud earring that was stolen from him three years ago. According to a lawsuit filed by Knight against West and some of his partners on September 12, the label boss blames 'Ye for allowing someone to smuggle a gun past security at the rapper's 2005 pre-VMA party in Miami, the same party where some unknown person shot Knight in the leg. "It was reasonably foreseeable to defendants that the party would present a dangerous environment with the possibility of weapons (including firearms) being used by or against party guests given the well-known feuds that have at times pitched East Coast rap and hip-hop stars against West Coast rap and hip-hop stars, some of whom would be attending the party with their associates," the suit reads, adding that "certain hip-hop artists who were invited to the party ... were known not to be friendly to Mr. Knight." During the scuffle, Knight — who says he attended the party with a "false sense of security" — claims someone shot him in the upper right leg, shattering his bone and requiring surgery, months of physical therapy and continued mental pain and suffering and loss of income. He also says that he lost a $135,000 diamond stud earring, which was retrieved by someone who identified himself as an employee, and who assured Knight the earring would be returned, though it was not. Knight believes the person worked for West or one of the other defendants in the suit. Knight requests that the earring either be returned or replaced, as he has been "deprived of the use and enjoyment of the earring" since the August 2005 incident. A spokesperson for West could not be reached for comment at press time. Related Artists |
| 'Twilight' Soundtrack Bites Into AC/DC's <i>Billboard</i> Reign Posted: 11 Nov 2008 10:40 PM PST Vampire fans snatched up album, which features tracks by Linkin Park, Paramore, Perry Farrell and more.
After two weeks at #1, AC/DC's Black Ice — which has already broken the 1 million-sold barrier — has been bitten by the "Twilight" phenomenon. The vampire flick opens next Friday, but before hitting the local cineplex, fans of the much-anticipated adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's novel hit their local record stores to pick up a copy of the movie's soundtrack, which features tracks by Muse, Perry Farrell, Paramore and Linkin Park. The "Twilight" soundtrack debuts at #1 on next week's Billboard albums sales chart, having sold about 164,700 copies in its first week on store shelves. It becomes the year's third soundtrack to top the chart, following this summer's "Mamma Mia" soundtrack and the "Juno" set, which was released in 2007, but climbed to #1 in January. According to the latest sales totals compiled by Nielsen SoundScan, AC/DC's latest falls one spot to #2, with 159,500 week-three scans reported. "Twilight" was among 17 new releases impacting next week's chart, and one of four to enter in the top 10. Following the soundtrack to "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," which holds at #3 with just under 110,000 sold, Hinder's Take It to the Limit bows at #4, after selling 81,400 units. Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli's Incanto opens at #8 with 62,200 copies scanned, and country star Brad Paisley's Play debuts at #9 with 53,700 sold. Meanwhile, Pink's Funhouse drops three spots to #5, with 72,900 scans, while John Legend's Evolver falls two positions to #6, selling another 72,000 copies. T.I.'s Paper Trail holds for a second week at #7, thanks to almost 68,800 scans. Rascal Flatts' Greatest Hits, Volume 1 rounds things out at #10, with 39,100 sold. A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip enters the chart at #11, after selling 34,200-plus copies of his latest, Renaissance, while Sarah Brightman's Winter Symphony debuts at #38, with 13,500 sold. Shiny Toy Guns' Season of Poison follows at #47, with sales reported at 12,200, and rapper UNK's Second Season makes its debut at #104, with 5,200 copies sold. Travis' Ode to J. Smith follows at #122, with week-one sales reported at about 4,600, while Switchfoot's The Best Yet trails at #123, with 4,500 sold. Related Artists |
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