MTV News |
- 'New Moon' Soundtrack: A Track-By-Track Breakdown
- Adam Lambert Promises 'Glam Is Back' With His Debut Album
- Exclusive: Gucci Mane Starts A Mixtape <i>Cold War</i>
- Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah, More To Appear At Black Girls Rock! Awards
- Bella Cullen Project's Chandler Nash Ventures Into Non-'Twilight' Territory
- Michael Jackson Collaborators Were 'Clueless' About Singer's Alleged Addiction
- Wisin Y Yandel Call 50 Cent And T-Pain Collabos 'Necessary'
- Lupe Fiasco's 'New Moon' Bonus Track Inspired By 'Chaotic Love Story'
- Cheryl Burke Talks 'Dancing With The Stars' Michael Jackson Tribute
| 'New Moon' Soundtrack: A Track-By-Track Breakdown Posted: 16 Oct 2009 02:44 AM PDT We go through the tunes included in the second 'Twilight' film.
The "Twilight" soundtrack — featuring music from Paramore, Linkin Park and some guy named — has, to date, sold nearly 2.3 million copies in the U.S. alone and has been a rare bright spot for the music business in these dire times (well, it and Taylor Swift albums). Compared with Taylor, the "New Moon" soundtrack — which was rush-released on Friday (October 16) to combat early leaks — boasts contributions from the likes of Thom Yorke, Lykke Li and Grizzly Bear (not to mention a first single from Death Cab For Cutie), is pretty dark. It is, as I wrote earlier this week "Music for the masses — or at least the masses who wear glasses and own record players and bought tickets to the Pavement reunion."
Indeed, music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas has compiled what many are calling the indie album of the year, and it's hard to argue with that claim. Opening with a pair of straightforward jangly/jittery indie tunes, Death Cab's "Meet Me On the Equinox," (which, if you are alive, you've heard by now) and Band of Skulls' "My Friends," the "New Moon" soundtrack quickly downshifts with Thom Yorke's buzzing "Hearing Damage" and Lykke Li's ethereal "Possibility," two thoroughly angsty, artfully sparse standouts that would seem out of place, if not for the murky waters that follow. The Killers channel Lou Reed on the somber "A White Demon Love Song," which slowly builds to a minor crescendo (and one seriously slippery) guitar solo. Singer/songwriter Anna Marie gets all breathy on "Satellite Heart" and indie icons Bon Iver and St. Vincent do what they do best — churchly, ghostly stuff — on "Rosyln." The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club do their dark and windswept best with "Done All Wrong," Grizzly Bear's "Slow Life" is hazy, dreamy atmospheric pop and the Editors' "No Sound But the Wind" is a piano-laden ballad buoyed by frontman Tom Smith's brooding baritone. Of course, there are a few moments of light scattered throughout the darkness. "Twilight" faves Muse contribute a remixed version of "I Belong To You" (the original can be found on their just-released album The Resistance) and it's very much a Muse tune, all stadium-sized vocals and fist-pumping guitars. The Hurricane Bells' "Monster" surges along on a super-skuzzed guitar line, Sea Wolf's "The Violet Hour" is classic swoony indie-pop and OK Go chime in with "Shooting the Moon," which, with its timpani punch and oddball sound effects, is an unexpected highlight, sounding very much like a mid-decade Flaming Lips' cast-off. All in all, it's a very fine soundtrack. But it's also a decidedly left-of-center one, full of minor-key contributions from comparatively left-field artists. Here's to hoping it introduces those artists to millions of new and rabid fans ... Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: New Moon." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Adam Lambert Promises 'Glam Is Back' With His Debut Album Posted: 16 Oct 2009 02:54 AM PDT 'American Idol' runner-up reveals new song titles, collaborators; online report claims Adam taped a segment for 'Oprah.'
While Adam Lambert's debut album doesn't hit stores for more than a month, the "American Idol" runner-up is offering fans some hints about what they can expect. In the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, Lambert says he was influenced by the Killers and Muse for the yet-untitled LP. "It's as if a '70s time capsule blasted off into space and you're watching it through a holographic filter," he said. "That's my big vision. ... Glam is back, mother----ers." Lambert told the magazine that he struggled while deciding on a sound for the album. "When I got off the 'Idol' tour, I had a little identity crisis," he explained. "I was like, 'What do I wanna do?' " Lambert worked with Rob Cavallo and former Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins on "Music Again" and has a song written by Pink and Max Martin, "What Do You Want From Me?" "It works on a relationship level, but I also relate to the sense of talking to the public," he said. "Like, 'This whole thing's a little freaked out, but please have faith in me, because I won't disappoint you.' " He wrote the song "Strut" with "Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi, and he said, "It's a Gary Glitter/ T.Rex-type empowerment lyric. You're not gonna find love and happiness unless you let your hair down and strut your stuff." Lambert co-wrote "Loaded Smile" with Linda Perry, and it's not quite as glittery as "Strut." "It's a bit dark, with all the vocals in falsetto," he said. "It feels like you're floating in space." The album will span many genres, Lambert said, so he doesn't get stuck in one lane. "I don't think an album has to have one sound. ... I don't like boxing myself into a genre," he said. "But if I had to pick one major style, the classic-rock stuff is where I was most comfortable on the show — or at least that's what people saw me as the most. "I wanna rock, I want people to dance, I want people to cry, I want people to smile and laugh," he said. "I wanna play dress-up!" In other Lambert news, according to MJsBigBlog.com, Lambert is filming an interview with Oprah Winfrey to air on an upcoming episode of her talk show. The blog reports that the audience for the episode will be comprised of reality-TV fans who were asked to submit questions for Lambert. He'll be interviewed via Skype from Los Angeles. Reps for the show hadn't responded to MTV News' call to confirm by press time. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Exclusive: Gucci Mane Starts A Mixtape <i>Cold War</i> Posted: 16 Oct 2009 09:48 AM PDT DJ Drama, DJ Holiday and DJ Scream will drop the three-part series on Saturday.
DJ Drama made a very mysterious call to the Mixtape Daily family on Thursday. He said that something huge is going down this Saturday night.
"People need to be near a computer on 10/17 at 10:17 p.m. — DJ Drama, DJ Scream and DJ Holiday, The Cold War, a three-part series, three tapes," Drama said, calling the new mixtape series "very worldly. It'll definitely make sense. Look for some big records on there. All original [songs]." On Friday (October 16), DJ Holiday brought more clarity to the situation, telling MTV News that The Cold War series stars none other than one Gucci Mane. "Gucci wants to flood the streets, takeover," DJ Holiday said. "The mixtape is called The Cold War, and it'll be a three-part series, [subtitled] Guccimerica, Great Brrritain and BurrRussia. They're droppin' Saturday at 10:17 p.m." So why all the 10-17 references? According to Holiday, it's the name of the apartment building where Gucci grew up and the name of his new label. Holiday is the first DJ signed to the company. Holiday has the DJ duties for BurrRussia, while Scream is commandeering Great Brrritain and Drama is handling Guccimerica. "All the covers will coincide with each other and go together like a puzzle," Holiday added. "Eventually, we'll put out one big CD with 30 songs." "Me and Gucci ain't really ran into each other since he got out," Scream said of his involvement in the project. "I got a phone call out of the blue. Actually [it was from Warner Music's] Coach K, like, 'You ready to work?' I said, 'Of course.' We got up, and I did my part." Gucci has 10 new songs on each mixtape of the series, Holiday explained. And it seems like Gucci's time in the studio does not stop. He just dropped a mixtape with DJ Drama called The Burrprint (The Movie 3-D) with all-new material last weekend. Shawty Lo also revealed that around Halloween, he and Gucci are putting out a mixtape called Fright Night. Related Artists |
| Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah, More To Appear At Black Girls Rock! Awards Posted: 16 Oct 2009 03:39 AM PDT 'I'm a firm believer that if you save any woman, you save the world,' Blige says of the charity event.
NEW YORK — Mary J. Blige aims to inspire and empower women through her songs and charitable efforts, so it's fitting that the legendary singer is among several honorees — including actress Raven-Symoné, model Naomi Campbell and Queen Latifah — at the Black Girls Rock! Awards on Saturday. The fourth-annual fundraiser, hosted by Regina King and Tracee Ellis Ross, salutes those who are proud to be positive role models for at-risk girls of color, among other achievements. "I am one of those women, so they're gonna call on me," Blige said. "Black Girls Rock! reached out to my people and asked that I be involved — I guess because of the foundation I created called FFawn [Foundation For the Advancement of Women Now].
"FFAWN is about empowering women — to educate them, encourage them," she continued. "Get your confidence and self-esteem up. I'm a firm believer that if you save any woman, you save the world, because women are the nurturers. We're the reason why things grow and are born. Why wouldn't you call me? My whole movement has been ... about 'OK, all right, I need some help out here.' But I had no idea everyone else needed help more than I did. That was my movement. That began my movement." Blige's crusade to help out her sisters dates back to when she was a youngster. "When I was a child, I never seen any women ever treated well: black, white, hispanic," she explained. "I'm definitely gonna talk about a lot of what I'm telling about now," she said of her speech at the ceremony. "I always have to go into my childhood to explain to people why this is so important to me. It's really important because of what I grew up in. I never seen a black woman treated well, not ever. My grandparents, when I was a kid, I saw them [treated well], but they're old — we just know what we see when they're old. But as far as women in their 30s — when I'm a child and seeing my parents and my aunts, not one woman treated well, ever. My whole thing when I was a kid was to not see another woman suffer when I get older. [At the show] I'm going into detail and going in detail. Why? Why 'Black Girls Rock'? Black girls rock because we have it the hardest. We have it the hardest because our testimonies are stronger probably than anybody on the earth." Related Artists |
| Bella Cullen Project's Chandler Nash Ventures Into Non-'Twilight' Territory Posted: 16 Oct 2009 04:50 AM PDT Now that the band has broken up, singer/songwriter Nash is free to get personal on solo project.
As the "Twilight" phenomenon has exploded over the past year, so has the world of Twilight music, with artists like the Twilight Music Girls and Mitch Hansen regularly performing odes to Edward and Bella in front of sizeable, adoring audiences. Unfortunately, we're sad to report that one of the most popular of these bands has decided to break up. The Bella Cullen Project, an endearing trio of teenage Texas girls who won over fans (and Stephenie Meyer herself) with songs like "Sexy Vampire," announced on their MySpace page recently that they've decided to go their separate ways.
But the girls remain friends, and with singer/songwriter Chandler Nash (@chandlernash on Twitter) the only one who intends to pursue a music career, she is hard at work on her debut solo album. Recently, we hopped on the phone with Chandler to get the latest scoop on the breakup and where the Bella Cullens go from here. MTV: Chandler, how's it going? Chandler Nash: I've been doing pretty good. A lot is new! MTV: We were so shocked by the news. What happened with the Bella Cullen Project? Nash: Well, we've been doing this for, like, three years, since we were 13, so it's basically been our whole life. I guess we just got worn out, and a lot of us had different interests, so we withdrew away from it. It's not anything that happened between the band — we just didn't want to devote our high school careers toward that anymore. MTV: So no hard feelings between you guys? Nash: Oh, no, definitely not. Actually, with some of the songs on my new solo album, Tori's helping me co-write. So there are no hard feelings at all. MTV: At what point did you decide that you wanted to go solo? Nash: I think I've always wanted to do this with my life. Tori and Ally, even though they love music, they didn't want to do that as their career. ... With all of our opportunities as the Bella Cullen Project, it started opening my eyes to what I wanted and what I was looking forward to in my life. MTV: So were you feeling them out for a while on whether they'd let you go solo? Nash: Yeah, it was kind of like that. I love them to death, and they love the "Twilight" conventions as much as I do. I just wanted to see if I could do it on my own. MTV: Tell us about the solo album. Nash: It's definitely a lot more me, because it doesn't have all three of us adding our different styles into it. And it's not all "Twilight." MTV: Really? Nash: Yeah, my one song on there that's "Twilight"-related is "Forevermore," which is on our second album of the Bella Cullen Project. I've redone it and rocked out a little bit more. I wrote all the lyrics [on the new album]. It's all about my experiences, what I'm going through. It's really cool to have your own music, that's not always about a book series. MTV: Tell us about a few of the songs. Nash: I have one song called "Heartbreak," which is about love and things like that. It means a lot to me, and it turned out really good in the studio. Tori wrote a song called "Drowning" that is about some of her experiences. Of course, if I feel like writing about "Twilight" again, I'll do it. It's just easier to have that license to do and write whatever you want. MTV: Any ballpark figure of when the album will come out? Nash: I have no clue. It really just depends on how quickly I write. [Laughs.] No pressure or anything. MTV: Were there any tears shed when you guys decided to call it quits? Nash: A little bit, yeah. All of our teenage years, until now, have been circled around this fandom and all the people. Of course we're going to miss all the people we've met at conventions and all of our fans that have been so supportive. It's hard to let go of something that has been such an important part of your life. Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: New Moon." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Michael Jackson Collaborators Were 'Clueless' About Singer's Alleged Addiction Posted: 15 Oct 2009 10:00 PM PDT 'He had his A game, so you didn't really question it,' choreographer Travis Payne tells Entertainment Weekly.
During four months of intense Los Angeles rehearsals for Michael Jackson's planned triumphant 50-show comeback bid in London, his collaborators had no idea the pop icon was struggling with an alleged prescription-drug addiction that would ultimately prove fatal. In the issue of Entertainment Weekly that hits newsstands Friday (October 16), the cover story focuses on the preparations for the "This Is It" documentary chronicling those final rehearsals. While Jackson's collaborators were worried about the 50-year-old singer's health during rehearsals — they feared that he wasn't eating enough, that he was too thin and that he might not be strong enough for the grueling preparations and months of shows — they said they didn't see any real cause for alarm. "Michael would come in and say, 'I didn't sleep last night.' But then we'd be on set and you'd see he had his A game, so you didn't really question it," choreographer Travis Payne said. Tour director Kenny Ortega, who also directed the "High School Musical" movies, said that when it came to the singer's alleged abuse of prescription drugs, "Honestly, we were clueless." In the wake of Jackson's June death from what the coroner deemed "acute propofol intoxication" — referring to the surgical anesthetic that Jackson reportedly used as a sleep aid to combat chronic insomnia — questions have been raised about how much his inner circle knew about his alleged battle with prescription medication. Randy Phillips, president of AEG Live, the promoter of the London concerts, told the magazine that on the day Jackson died, he followed the ambulance to the emergency room and watched as paramedics struggled to revive the singer. "I'll never forget this: There were all these people running around, frantically trying to revive him. [Jackson's personal physician] Dr. Murray was in there, and he was completely a mess," Phillips said. "A nurse came out and said, 'Where is Mrs. Jackson?' Michael's parents weren't there yet — they'd gotten lost. They'd gone to St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica. The nurse said, 'He's on life support.' I said, 'What exactly does that mean?' She told us he was brain dead but still breathing." Meanwhile, as the doctors struggled to bring Jackson back, his creative team at the Staples Center across town was waiting to hear official information on what was going on. On the day Jackson died, June 25, the team was scheduled to rehearse an elaborate magic illusion that would serve as the transition between the songs "Dirty Diana" and "Beat It." When word came that Jackson had died, Payne said it sent a chill through the room. "There was just this general feeling of numbness," he said. "People didn't know how to process it." Ever since, friends, family and collaborators have struggled to make sense of the self-proclaimed King of Pop. "I was in awe of his talent, but at the same time I pitied him, because I felt his life was so unfulfilled," Phillips said. "He had been almost chased into this isolation." Payne added, "I knew Michael led a very lonely life at times, just because of the nature of who he was. But I choose to focus on the fact that now Michael is not suffering. Now he doesn't have this daily struggle he had to be who he was. And the world is going to have his music and his art forever." "This Is It" will open for a limited two-week engagement on October 28, with a two-disc compilation CD due out the day before. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Wisin Y Yandel Call 50 Cent And T-Pain Collabos 'Necessary' Posted: 16 Oct 2009 01:44 AM PDT 'We're trying to do big things,' Wisin says of bringing together hip-hop and Latin worlds.
When Wisin y Yandel teamed up with 50 Cent on a track for their La Revolución album, it seemed to be an odd pairing. But "Mujeres in the Club" shot to the top of the Latin charts and is nominated for Best Urban Song at next month's Latin Grammys. The reggaetón giants say that kind of validation only paves the way for more hip-hop and Latin collaborations. (They also got some from validation at Thursday's Los Premios MTV, where they took home two of the night's biggest awards.)
"That nomination confirms what I've said all along, which is that these collaborations are necessary," Wisin told MTV News. "50 Cent was never nominated for a Latin Grammy. Then he works with Wisin y Yandel, and he scores a nomination. And there's a good chance that he'll win, because that song is an international hit." The unlikely pairing came about when the multiplatinum duo released a Spanish remix of G-Unit's "Rider Pt. 2," which became a surprise dance hit. 50 later performed the song live at one of the group's sold-out concerts, thrilling their fans and planting the seed for them to work together on an original track. Not content to stop there, Wisin y Yandel continue to break boundaries on their upcoming La Evolución re-release, working with big-name artists like Akon and Auto-Tune king T-Pain, who appears on their latest single, "Imaginate." "After working with 50 Cent, I think this collaboration was inevitable," Wisin said. "T-Pain is an artist that's been around for a while, and he puts out hits. So we really needed to work together, I think, for him to break into the Latin market. ... We're both leaders, and we're trying to do big things." "They wanted to do something with me, and I wanted to do something with them," added T-Pain, who recently shot the music video with the group in L.A. "It's going to put them in my world and help put me in their world." And Wisin y Yandel's musical revolución seems to be catching on, as a growing number of urban acts are crossing over into the Latin market. Akon, 50 Cent, T-Pain, Ludacris, Rihanna, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys, who currently has a top 10 hit with Latin pop singer Alejandro Sanz, can all boast appearances on Spanish-language songs. And if 50 Cent and Wisin y Yandel were to win a Latin Grammy next month, there's no question that number would increase. The duo are currently on the last leg of their first major U.S. tour, which has featured numerous guest appearances: Akon in Atlanta, T-Pain in Miami and 50 Cent in New York. "We saw 50 in NY, and, as you can imagine, he's super happy about the nomination," Yandel said. "He's also had the opportunity to come to our shows and feel that energy from the Latin crowd. And he's sincere in his desire to work in the Latin market. So I think Latino audiences will continue to support him." Related Artists |
| Lupe Fiasco's 'New Moon' Bonus Track Inspired By 'Chaotic Love Story' Posted: 16 Oct 2009 12:53 AM PDT 'It's more on the rock side of my musical catalog,' he blogs about iTunes-exclusive song 'Solar Midnite.'
If you headed out to your local record store Friday (October 16) to pick up a copy of the "New Moon" soundtrack on the first day of its release, you have a CD packed with fresh cuts from Muse, Death Cab for Cutie, Thom Yorke, the Killers and others. What you didn't get — and what you won't hear unless you download the soundtrack from iTunes — are songs from Lupe Fiasco, APM Orchestra and the Magic Numbers and Amadou & Mariam. In a post on his MySpace page, Lupe opened up about the creative process behind the track, called "Solar Midnite," and why it's such a unique tune for him. " 'Solar Midnite' is my first commercial release that I actually produced as well as wrote," he said in the post. "The 'New Moon' team asked me if I could do a song specifically for the film." That invitation led to an opportunity that would make any "Twilight" fan's head explode: Lupe got to see "New Moon" before its November 20 release date. "They invited me to an early screening of the unfinished film, from which I pulled different elements that I thought would translate into a great song," he wrote. "I pulled in vocalist and bassist Graham Burris and acclaimed musician Matt Nelson to help fill out my vision musically and ... 'Solar Midnite' was born." Lupe's track, as well as the other iTunes exclusives from APM and Magic Numbers, will play onscreen in "New Moon." The movie, of course, deals with a tricky love triangle between Bella Swan, Edward Cullen and Jacob Black. Lupe's tune taps right into such emotional complications. "The song basically deals with the chaotic love story that takes place between the characters," he said. "It's more on the rock side of my musical catalog and comes straight from my die-hard fanhood of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Anthony Kiedis, one of my favorite rappers." Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: New Moon." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Cheryl Burke Talks 'Dancing With The Stars' Michael Jackson Tribute Posted: 16 Oct 2009 12:13 AM PDT 'He was a huge influence for me in my dancing career,' Burke says.
Since his death in June, Michael Jackson has received a number of tributes on television, including a Janet Jackson-helmed performance at this year's MTV Video Music Awards. The next tribute will come from "Dancing With the Stars," which will devote a portion of next Tuesday's episode to the King of Pop, according to The Associated Press. Professional dancer and choreographer Cheryl Burke (who was paired with former Representative Tom DeLay this season) told MTV News that the project has been very personal for her.
"He was a huge influence for me in my dancing career," she said on the red carpet of last night's Los Premios MTV awards show. "I think a lot of us professional dancers can say the same. So we're really excited about it." Burke said that she has had a hand in the choreography, which will involve all 16 of the pros on the show. Several eras of Jackson's career will be incorporated into the final product, and a total of three songs will be featured. Though Burke didn't divulge which songs would be included on the show, she did share her personal favorite. "'Thriller' is one of my favorites of all time," she said. For Burke, it's a dream come true, but not without a significant amount of tension. "I just did an interview with La Toya Jackson, and she was like, 'Cheryl, don't let us down!' So, you know, no pressure!" Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
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