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| 'American Idol': The Best Of 2008, By Jim Cantiello Posted: 30 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST On the eve of the new season, we take a look back at our favorite 'American Idol' videos of 2008.
The seventh season of "American Idol" will be remembered for lots of things: for allowing contestants to play instruments, for featuring the music of the Beatles, for the nail-biting David vs. David finale, and then there was that whole "Paula Accidentally Critiques a Performance Before She Actually Saw It" debacle. But around the MTV News office, this season will be remembered as the year where we went "all in" with our coverage. With live blogs, 60-second recaps, breaking-news updates, exclusive music performances, in-depth home visits and "Idol" fanatic roundtables, MTV News had a blast dissecting every nanosecond of the pop-culture phenomenon. And without further ado, here are some of our favorite "Idol" videos produced in 2008.
"I'm Not Here to Make Friends": Jim's "Idol" Audition Video Diary Having a correspondent or a news producer audition for "American Idol" was an idea that was thrown around the office for years, and each time it came up we hit the same road block: Fox wouldn't let our cameras inside the actual audition arena. But 2008 was the year when we threw caution to the wind and set out to tell our story anyway. And boy, was I glad I got to take part! This was honestly the most fun I've ever had on a news shoot. Everyone was super-nice and willing to do just about anything to get on camera. Plus, any shoot that gives me the excuse to utter the reality-TV cliché "I'm not here to make friends" is aces in my book. "I Wouldn't Be Surprised If The Other One Wins": Simon Cowell on the "Idol" Finale Red Carpet The "American Idol" finale red carpet is always a clusterf--- of epic proportions. Unless you're "Access Hollywood" or E!, you're not scoring an interview with any of the judges or current contestants. Instead, you're stuck fighting CBS Radio and Cat Fancy magazine for a couple of minutes with previous "Idol" also-rans who are plugging their independently released new single and/or memoir and/or perfume. So imagine our delight when King Cowell stopped to talk into our microphone and drop this bomb! Even though Simon said during the finale performance show that David Archuleta had picked a better first single, he told us in this clip that he was having second thoughts about his endorsement and had been too hard on David Cook. (He echoed this sentiment live on the air just a few hours later, before Cook took home the "Idol" crown.) MTV News heard it first! Josiah Performs a New Song: "Angels Undercover" Even though Josiah Leming didn't make it to the top 24, we were obsessed with his heartbreaking backstory and undeniable talent. Apparently, so were the folks at Warner Bros. Records, who signed the singer/songwriter to a recording contract the first chance they got. The night Josiah signed with them, he wrote this gut-wrenching song called "Angels Undercover," which he played for us in May while we sat in during his recording sessions. The label reps told us this track wouldn't be on his debut album. But we like to think our emotional response (as well as the rave reviews from MTV.com users) prompted Josiah to release the Angels Undercover EP last fall. Does "Paulagate" Prove That "Idol" Is Rigged? Often, the best part about "American Idol" is the Internet commentary that surrounds it, so for our "Idol Roundtable" this year, we booked the four "Idol" bloggers whose sites we visit the most during "Idol" season. This particular segment, where we discuss the controversy surrounding PaulaGate, was my favorite, if only because I found myself in the rare position of being the least cynical person in the room. Forbidden Fruit or Brilliant Inspiration? Sure, we were stretching when we claimed that the 1980 disco-schlock musical "The Apple" was the inspiration for "American Idol." But that doesn't change the fact that "Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, who choreographed the hilariously bad flick almost 30 years ago, keeps the credit hidden from his résumé. We're onto you, Lythgoe! (Random side note: Lythgoe stepped down from "American Idol" as soon as its seventh season wrapped in order to focus on his other hit reality competition show, "So You Think You Can Dance.") In 2007, we produced a "Love Letter to 'Idol,' " where we listed all the reasons we are obsessed with the show and why we were so happy the new season was about to start. But after the '07 season unfolded in a depressingly underwhelming manner (Haley Scarnato? J.Lo as a singing coach?! Sanjaya??), we felt it was necessary to give the object of our affection some tough love. Sadly, the 2008 season was still a bit of a drag (Neil Diamond night? Really?) But all hope's not lost. Of the four suggestions we gave in our ultimatum, "Idol" seems to be heeding our advice, revamping the show in 2009 with a new judge (which will give Simon a reason to step up his game), a new audition process (less freaks, more backstories for the top 36), and the promise that they're going to feature the best talent yet. But don't they say that every year? This was the first of our many shoots with the "Idol" castoff. It was just days after his "Idol" rejection episode aired, and we raced down to Tennessee to catch up with the young troubadour, who was back living at his folks' place. The stories we wrote and produced about Josiah always scored well with our audience — in some cases, a Josiah Leming story snagged more page views than one about David Cook or David Archuleta — which goes to show that you don't even have to make it to the semifinals in order to win a sizeable fanbase. At one point in this interview, Josiah told us, "[I'm] definitely trying to live down the whole 'homeless' kid livin' in his car who cries a lot." Ironically, his record label plans on playing that up in a huge way in 2009, when Leming's full-length debut album is released alongside a feature documentary all about the singer's home life. David Archuleta: Where Did He Come From? "American Idol" is a lot like a political campaign, and the contestant's high school is a lot like their campaign headquarters. We loved catching up with David Archuleta's current classmates, but it was our chat with his childhood vocal coach that really opened our eyes. After our interview, he played us a brilliant demo of "Imagine" that Archie recorded when he was only 12 years old, half a decade before he pulled that song out of his back pocket on TV and floored all of us — the viewers, the judges, the other contestants — with one of the best performances in "Idol" history! Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos |
| T.I.'s 'Swagger Like Us' Collabo And More Top Underground Songs Of 2008 Posted: 30 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST Big Boi, Shawty Lo and Joe Budden also make the list.
"No one on the corner got swagger like these four guys." Lil Wayne was correct; it was an event, a milestone — Weezy, Jay-Z, Kanye West and T.I. on "Swagger Like Us." The record brought together a cross section of cities on wax and four out of the top-10 MCs in the game. "No one on the corner got swagger like us." Hell yeah, M.I.A. — the track's producer Kanye West used her voice as a secret weapon, another musical firearm to go along with that sumo-heavy bass and marching-band drum line. It arrived out of nowhere (leaked several weeks before its strategically planned debut) and immediately became an anthem for sports teams and anybody in the club. The record also became a favorite of some MCs to freestyle on, trying to prove they too belonged on the all-star track. "Swagger" might have been our Hip-Hop Song of the Year (an honor that went to Lil Wayne's "A Milli" instead) if the vision for the record were fully realized — there was no video and not even a proper live performance with all four of its stars. Still, it makes the top spot on our list of Underground Joints of '08 ("Swagger" was released as a single on iTunes prior to coming out on T.I.'s Paper Trail.) Here's a list of seven other songs you may have slept on but definitely need to have in heavy rotation. Eight Essential Underground Joints of '08 1. T.I. and Jay-Z (featuring Lil Wayne and Kanye West) - "Swagger Like Us" Honorable Mentions »Gucci Mane (featuring Yo Gotti and Yung Ralph) - "Bricks" |
| T.I., Ludacris, Young Jeezy Warm Up Chilly New York At 'Holiday Bash '08' Posted: 29 Dec 2008 09:30 AM PST Locals Jim Jones and Ludacris also perform at Hot 97-sponsored show.
UNIONDALE, New York — The King of the South helped warm up a chilly Nassau Coliseum in Long Island on Saturday night. T.I. performed at New York radio station Hot 97's "Holiday Bash 2008," which featured a slate of Southern rap royalty (also Young Jeezy and Ludacris) along with hometown favorites Jim Jones and Busta Rhymes. Jones set off the festivities (which were hosted by Hot 97's Angie Martinez and DJ Enuff) with his hits "We Fly High (Ballin')" and "Pop Champagne," featuring his Dipset homie Juelz Santana.
Ludacris, who's been known to close a show or two in his time, hit the stage earlier than expected but still put on a headliner-worthy performance. With the excited crowd chanting "Luda! Luda!" before his entrance, 'Cris spent the next 40 minutes tearing through his catalog, rolling out everything from new cuts ("Everybody Hates Chris") to classics ("Stand Up"). The highlight of DTP CEO's set came when Busta Rhymes joined the rowdy rapper onstage. Flanked by super hypeman Spliff Star and producer Ron Browz, the Busta-led trip performed the mega hit "Arab Money." As part of a special request from Luda himself, Bus-a-Bus rose the roof with a spine-rattling cover of A Tribe Called Quest's "Scenario." "2010 makes 20 years Busta Rhymes has been in the game!" the proud New York legend told the crowd before leaving the stage. Jeezy and members of his USDA clique reminded the audience why he runs the streets of ATL. Despite audio miscues throughout his set, the trap star finished with a bang as he put his stamp on the most significant event of 2008: Barack Obama's election. The Snowman heated up the venue with the celebratory track "My President," although without Nas. Last up to bat was none other than the King himself. Female concertgoers who had stayed in their seats for most of the show sprang into the aisles and screamed at the top of their lungs for Tip. The Grand hustle rapper, clad in a white tee that read "Ice Cream" and black Air Jordans, performed many of his hits from the past year. Except for a few interludes dedicated to "fake gangsta rappers" that many figured were aimed at Shawty Lo, T.I. kept the momentum set off by Luda and Jeezy, rocking songs from "PSA" to "Swing Ya Rag" to "What's Up, What's Happenin'." T.I. might be small in stature, but the MC more than held his own in Strong Island and closed out the night with a set that would have even made the King of New York, Jay-Z, proud. Related Artists |
| Zooey Deschanel Engaged To Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard Posted: 29 Dec 2008 02:02 AM PST Many gossip sites incorrectly reported that the singer/actress was engaged to AFI bassist Hunter Burgan.
Perhaps we should call them the First Couple of Indie Rock. Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard and actress/ She & Him singer Zooey Deschanel are engaged, sources confirmed to MTV News on Monday (December 29). The confirmation comes hours after many celebrity gossip sites had incorrectly reported that Deschanel was engaged to a different musician: AFI bassist Hunter Burgan. According to a "source close to the couple," cited by Us Weekly, Deschanel, 28, and Gibbard, 32, are "so thrilled. ... Zooey was swept off her feet, and Ben is so excited." In addition to her roles in films like "Elf" and "Yes Man," Deschanel fronts the critically lauded She & Him duo with singer/songwriter M. Ward. Their debut album, Volume One, was featured on several 2008 "Best Of" lists — including ours. Deschanel had previously dated actor/musician Jason Schwartzman and Mickey Madden from Maroon Five. Various Web sites are reporting that the couple have been dating for almost a year, and they shared the stage together — dueting on a cover of the Everly Brothers' "Dream" — at an Obama fundraiser in August. Deschanel's She & Him released their debut album on indie stalwart Merge Records earlier this year. Gibbard's Death Cab released a string of albums on tiny Barsuk Records from 1998-2004 (not to mention the ultra-successful Postal Service album Give Up on Sub Pop in '03) until making the leap to the majors with 2005's Plans. In May, DCFC's Narrow Stairs debuted at #1 on the Billboard albums chart. Related Artists |
| Five Wounded In Shootout Outside E-40 Show In Denver Posted: 29 Dec 2008 08:05 AM PST One victim in critical condition as police search for suspects.
Denver police are still searching for suspects in a shooting spree early Saturday morning outside a club show by Bay Area rapper E-40 that left five people injured. One of the victims was still listed in critical condition on Sunday. According to 9 News in Denver, the shootings occurred outside Club Vinyl in the downtown area just before 2 a.m. Approximately 100 people were standing outside the venue when shots rang out. Witnesses reported that the gunmen ran away after shooting into the crowd. The incident occurred as the club was closing and concertgoers were leaving, with bullets flying "everywhere," according to a security guard at a nearby hotel, which was also hit with gunfire, according to the Denver Post. One witness told KWGN News that he saw 50 or 60 patrons "running for their lives," and while police wouldn't say what triggered the incident, the eyewitness said he saw three men with guns and a knife chasing and firing at three other men. Another witness, who works at the hotel that was hit by bullets, told the Rocky Mountain News that police are at Club Vinyl three to five times a week and that fights are common at the nightspot. Police said they believe some of the victims were leaving the club at the time of the shootings, but it was unclear if all five had attended the concert. As of Sunday, no arrests had been made in the shootings, and a spokesperson for the Denver Police Department could not be reached for comment on Monday (December 29) morning for additional details. Related Artists |
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