MTV News |
- 'American Idol' Boots Tyler Grady, Janell Wheeler, Ashley Rodriguez, Joe Munoz
- Jay Electronica Talks Upcoming Projects With Nas, Lupe Fiasco
- John Mayer Thanks Fans For 'Believing' In Him At NYC Concert
- Kris Allen Sings 'Let It Be' On 'American Idol' For Haiti
- Rihanna 'Rude Boy' Video Director 'Wasn't Trying To Rip Anybody Off'
- Andrew Koenig Remembered By Alyssa Milano, 'Star Trek' Stars
- Adam Lambert Picks His 'American Idol' Favorite: Todrick Hall
- 'Growing Pains' Actor Andrew Koenig Found Dead
- Is Lil Wayne Leaving Twitter Already?
- Brittany Murphy Autopsy Reveals No Signs Of Alcohol Or Drug Abuse
| 'American Idol' Boots Tyler Grady, Janell Wheeler, Ashley Rodriguez, Joe Munoz Posted: 25 Feb 2010 07:20 AM PST Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta also stop by results show.
After one of the roughest first rounds in "American Idol" memory, voters appeared to get it right with the initial four eliminations of season nine. Though a few of the shakiest competitors from the debut week of live performances lived to see another day — think Tim Urban and Katie Stevens — Thursday night (February 25) marked the end of the road for Janell Wheeler, Ashley Rodriguez, Joe Muñoz and Tyler Grady. Thanks to 24 million votes, the first singers who passed into safety include a glammed-up Siobhan Magnus, cowgirl wannabe Haeley Vaughn, Michelle Delamor, Katelyn Epperly and Stevens. That left all-American Florida girl Janell Wheeler on the outs. "That sucks," she said, snapping her fingers. "I had a feeling ... definitely wrong song choice," she admitted of Heart's "What About Love," which the judges felt was too big for her voice. After a reprise of the big rock ballad — which, frankly, was not much better than Tuesday night's effort — Wheeler's journey ended with a whimper.
The next woman to go was Ashley Rodriguez, once considered a potential finalist but who was undone with a shaky cover of Leona Lewis' "Happy." That left little-known Paige Miles in the running, along with Lacey Brown, who made it despite getting lambasted for her cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide." Suddenly surging Lilly Scott, early fave Crystal Bowersox and Didi Benami also survived. Clearly disappointed, Rodriguez thanked her supporters, appearing eager to get on with her farewell performance, which, like Wheeler's, also provided proof that America got it right after another pitchy, all-over-the-place ramble through the big ballad. The men lost little-known Joe Muñoz, who didn't win many fans with his just-OK swing at Jason Mraz's "You and I Both." Most shockingly, Tim Urban, who blatantly blew it with his all-over-the-place takedown of OneRepublic's "Apologize," lived to see another day, using up another of his nine lives as he extended his stay following a last-minute bid thanks to Chris Golightly's disqualification. Also fighting another day are: big Michael Lynche, who skated through thanks to his winning energy and personality, as well as, surprisingly, John Park, who appeared to blow it with his jittery stumble through the Billie Holiday jazz standard "God Bless the Child," high-schooler Aaron Kelly and singer/dancer Todrick Hall. While Muñoz looked a bit peeved, the camera kept cutting to a baffled Urban, who clearly couldn't believe his second lightning-strike of dumb luck. Muñoz bopped around during his sing-off, but like the others, his quavery, weak vocals were proof enough that he was right where he belonged. Not surprisingly, ear and eye candy Casey James made it, as did soulful Jermaine Sellers; the apple of Simon's eye, Lee Dewyze; early front-runner Andrew Garcia; and nerve-racked Alex Lambert, who barely made it through his take on "Wonderful World" Wednesday night and will need to get his stage fright under control if he's to advance further. That left this year's only rocker, 1970s throwback Tyler Grady, on the outs after he flashed more style than substance on his cover of the Guess Who's "American Woman" on Wednesday. "I like all the judges, and I've really had a great time with them, but I feel like I didn't really get much constructive criticism during Hollywood Week, and what they told me was a little too late," he said, before halfheartedly reprising his retro-rocking showcase. He was joined by the other three rejected contestants for their goodbye video, which played over the new departure tune, original "Pop Idol" singer Will Young's "Leave Right Now." The show included the traditional cheesy opening group song, which appeared to be a lip-synch-along to a smooth-jazz version of Estelle's "American Boy," which got kind of hard to follow when all 2 dozen singers crowded onto the stage. Last year's #4 finisher, Allison Iraheta, made a return to the "Idol" stage to sing her Pink-like new ballad "Scars," sporting her signature flowing crimson hair and a ruffled black minidress. And last year's winner, Kris Allen, paid a visit to the stage as well, coming back to talk about his recent trip to Haiti with the United Nations Foundation and singing an emotional cover of the Beatles' "Let It Be," which will be available for download on iTunes as a fundraiser for earthquake relief. The semifinalists do it all over again next Tuesday and Wednesday. What did you think of Thursday night's eliminations? Did the right people get sent home? Let us know by writing your reactions below. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. |
| Jay Electronica Talks Upcoming Projects With Nas, Lupe Fiasco Posted: 26 Feb 2010 03:50 AM PST 'You can expect multiple projects this year,' MC tells Mixtape Daily.
The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive The reception Jay Electronica has been getting from fans during his U.K. tour has been just as enthusiastic as his feedback Stateside. Fans and critics still love "Exhibit C" and some of Jay's other underground gems. People are clamoring for the street CD Act II and the official LP Act III, and Jay said he's going to deliver both of those projects and more this year.
"It's still Act II. Act III, the official album, which 'Exhibit A' and 'Exhibit C' are a part of [as well as] 'Dear Moleskin,' " Jay said in Europe earlier this week. "Me and Mos [Def] have a project that we're doing, me and Guilty Simpson have a project that we're doing. I would like to do a project with Lupe — [Fiasco] we're going to do a project at some point. Me and Nas have a project that we're doing. I'm just trying. I'm in the process of working and connecting. I don't really feel like a song or an album is the end-all, be-all to what we're doing. "You can expect my album this year," he added. "You can expect multiple projects this year. We're going to do a lot this year." Electronica is focused on responsibilities outside of rap, including raising a baby daughter with singer Erykah Badu. "Dealing with a lot personally, that not necessarily takes me away from my music, because it comes through in my music as well. But as a person trying to grow and figure out how to handle things, learn and be a man — all that's a part of the process too. It's hard to put a release date on those type of things when you're factoring those things in." The New Orleans native said that "Exhibit A" producer Just Blaze will produce 65 percent of his solo debut. Jay's commanding mic presence and wordplay have captured the ears of many, and he said he has no choice but to come with sustaining lyrics like "I make the devil hit his knees and say, 'To our father' " — he's a product of his golden-era-of-rap influences. "The lyricism in my music — I come from a different era," he explained. "I was born in '76. I was raised in the '80s. I'm an '80s baby. LL Cool J was the first person that inspired me to rhyme. I have a lot of bragging in my rhymes. LL was my first enlightenment. If you would have asked me this two years ago, I would have said lyricism was lacking. Like somebody would say Soulja Boy ... you would say he's not a lyricist, right? If you took a poll and said, 'Is Soulja Boy a lyricist?' People would say no, right? But it's not the words, it's energy of what he does that's the lyrics. It's not the lyrics — the energy of it is the connector. The energy of it is greater than the words of it. In a sense, lyrics has been lacking in the contest of grammar and vocabulary, but the spirit and energy of it is never gone — or else the complete genre of hip-hop is gone." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. |
| John Mayer Thanks Fans For 'Believing' In Him At NYC Concert Posted: 25 Feb 2010 10:53 PM PST 'It's a clean me now, people, clean me,' he tells Madison Square Garden crowd weeks after controversial Playboy comments.
NEW YORK — The fans at Madison Square Garden didn't let a little snow keep them from John Mayer's sold-out concert on Thursday night (February 25). Mayer has also had some adversity come his way over the past few weeks, after the backlash from his controversial comments in Playboy magazine. Mayer took a moment onstage to thank his fans for believing in him through the uproar. "I hate to come off like an a--hole ever, and thank you guys for believing that I am not an a--hole," he told the crowd. "Never, ever in my entire life did I ever think that it would be a good idea to be an a--hole. But you know what? There's plenty of a--holes who think the same thing, so I have to thank you." Mayer said he's ready for a fresh start: "It's a clean me now, people, clean me." When Mayer wasn't thanking his fans for braving the elements, he and his five-piece band were rocking out the stage to a set list of songs from his current album, Battle Studies, as well as hits from his past, including "Waiting on the World to Change" and "Your Body Is a Wonderland." He even succumbed to a section of cheering fans calling out for him to perform "City Love" from his breakthrough 2001 album, Room for Squares. Even if the public isn't convinced by his numerous apologies, Mayer had the Madison Square Garden concertgoers on their feet from show-opener "Heartbreak Warfare" to his encore — snow boots and all. The singer/songwriter even checked in with the crowd on Twitter after the show: "MSG crowd, will you tweet me when you get home safe? It's bad out. Oh and HOLY SHNIKES. You were unreal tonight." Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kris Allen Sings 'Let It Be' On 'American Idol' For Haiti Posted: 25 Feb 2010 07:20 AM PST Song will be available on iTunes with proceeds going to earthquake relief.
Last year's "American Idol" champ, Kris Allen, paid a return visit to his old haunt Thursday night (February 25) to discuss his recent trip to earthquake-ravaged Haiti and perform on the show without being judged for the first time since his surprise win. Allen visited Haiti last week with the United Nations Foundation, and upon his return, he recorded a cover of the legendary Beatles ballad "Let It Be," which he performed Thursday in front of footage from his trip. "There's a lot of devastation, a lot of destruction ... but there's a lot of hope, there's a lot of organizations there that are building things back, and I think it's going to be better than it was," Allen said about the conditions on the island.
One of the big concerns now, Allen said, is the upcoming rainy season. "The rainy season is actually bad, because it comes, and there's not a lot of shelter now, and the shelter they do have is not very waterproof," he said. "And with water comes diseases and all that stuff, it's really bad. So they need a lot of help, for sure." Allen's performance of "Let It Be" was immediately available on iTunes after the show, with all proceeds going to Haiti relief. Viewers were also encouraged to go to AmericanIdol.com to make credit-card donations or to text the word "Idol" to 20222 and reply "yes" when prompted to donate $10. Over footage of the destruction in Haiti and his time spent helping children on the island, Allen stood in a stark spotlight center stage, strumming his acoustic guitar and singing an emotional cover of the iconic rock ballad to the accompaniment of a grand piano. Before taking the stage, Allen talked to MTV News about how he hit upon covering the Beatles classic for the project. "It was actually because we were looking through [my] album and we were like, 'What song could we sing?' We can't sing 'Live Like We're Dying,' " he explained of the single from his debut album. "And I didn't feel like I connected with anything else that would inspire people to give something. ... So I was like, 'What can I do that would be moving to somebody?' And my friend Cale [who played piano with Allen during the performance] actually was like, 'What if you did "Let It Be?" ' I feel like it would be a really moving kind of thing." Allen said the song has always touched him, whether it was the 1970 original from the band's final studio album or the version in the 2007 Beatles tribute movie "Across the Universe." "That song has so much power," he said. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. |
| Rihanna 'Rude Boy' Video Director 'Wasn't Trying To Rip Anybody Off' Posted: 25 Feb 2010 02:32 AM PST 'We're all inspired by similar elements and it came together in that way,' Melina Matsoukas says of comparisons to M.I.A.'s 'Boyz' clip.
As soon at Rihanna's new colorful, sassy video for "Rude Boy" hit the Internet, fans and music lovers couldn't help but compare it to M.I.A.'s video for "Boyz." However, that reaction isn't one that the star or the video's director, Melina Matsoukas, had even considered while they were shooting the clip.
"I mean, you know that the video lends from a lot of Rasta culture and '80s Atari vibe and that's what we went with too," Matsoukas said. "And then afterward I was like, 'Oh, this sucks. They tore down my video.' And her video's great too. It definitely wasn't trying to rip anybody off at all — it was just our approach and the animation stuff, it had a similar vibe. We've seen that before with Grace Jones and Andy Warhol, so I don't know if anybody can lay claim to anything. We're all inspired by similar elements and it came together in that way." With nods to Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, the pop-art inspired video is a far cry from the pair's work on "Hard" — but as soon as they wrapped the latter, they knew they had to work together again. "I mean, 'Hard' was our first time together," the director explained. "[Rihanna] will try anything, which is always great because you have a lot of artists who won't do what you need them to do. She'll go there and I definitely wanted to bring that part of her out — that fun side." Rihanna's daring fashion sense is also exhibited in the video. "She loves crazy outfits! She loves the fashion. The stylist was actually my best friend. And Rihanna's one of the only artists that will take it there and wear it and wear it well," Matsoukas gushed. "That part is always fun. Nothing looks bad on her, so that's even more fun. She goes with it and she really challenges you to take it a step further with the status quo." Related Artists |
| Andrew Koenig Remembered By Alyssa Milano, 'Star Trek' Stars Posted: 25 Feb 2010 08:08 AM PST 'My deepest sympathies to Andrew Koenig's family,' tweeted William Shatner, who co-starred with the 'Growing Pains' actor's dad on 'Star Trek.'
After more than a week of pleas from his family and friends and exhaustive police searches, "Growing Pains" actor Andrew Koenig was found dead Thursday (February 25) in a Vancouver park. The 41-year-old suffered from depression, and a police spokeswoman confirmed at a news conference that all signs pointed to suicide. Famous friends of the actor, who most notably played Richard "Boner" Stabone on the '80s sitcom "Growing Pains," responded to the tragic news online. "RIP Andrew Koenig, missing since Valentine's Day, was found dead in Vancouver, Canada," fellow '80s child star Alyssa Milano tweeted. She also urged her followers to help anyone they know with similar issues to Koenig's: "If you know someone suffering from depression, please do everything in your power to get them help. R.I.P. Andrew." With Andrew's dad, Walter Koenig, part of the original "Star Trek" cast and Andrew himself a guest star on "Deep Space Nine," many members of the sci-fi franchise's family reached out online. William Shatner offered condolences to his onetime co-star for the loss of his son. "My deepest sympathies to Andrew Koenig's family," he tweeted. "I will grieve with them." "Star Trek: Next Generation" star LeVar Burton also took to Twitter: "Offering prayers for Walter & Judy Koenig as well as their beloved son, Andrew..." Wil Wheaton, who also starred on "Next Generation," was stunned by the news. "Oh my god," he tweeted. "I just heard that Andrew Koenig's body has been found in Vancouver. He was only 41. My heart goes out to his family." Milano offered some comfort to her fellow grieving tweeters. "~GROUP HUG~ Get in," she wrote. |
| Adam Lambert Picks His 'American Idol' Favorite: Todrick Hall Posted: 25 Feb 2010 03:19 AM PST Last year's runner-up also tweets support for Casey James and Andrew Garcia.
Not one for holding his tongue, "American Idol" alum Adam Lambert tweeted about his favorite contestant of the new season: Todrick Hall. "[Todrick is] def gonna surprise us!! Mad talent!! Def the full package," Lambert tweeted. And the "Whataya Want From Me" singer didn't stop before congratulating competitors Casey James and Andrew Garcia as well. "Casey is def the real deal. Authentic. Andrew Garcia's too," he added. While each of the contestants has their own strengths, Hall and Lambert come from the same musical-theater background. Lambert brought his performance experience from the Los Angeles cast of "Wicked" to "American Idol." On the other hand, Hall, a 24-year-old "actor/playwright" from Arlington, Texas, acted beside "Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino in Oprah Winfrey's "The Color Purple" and was part of the Disney World productions of "High School Musical 2" and "Beauty and the Beast." Lambert's Twitter support is also a bit nostalgic, considering "Idol" alumni like Kelly Clarkson joined Team Lambert last year. Season-five finalist Chris Daughtry also put in his two cents about the men on Twitter, simply writing, "Ouch...that's all," after Wednesday night's live-performance show. Lambert's opinion on Hall didn't quite match our top 12 men's report card. Instead, James' acoustic version of Bryan Adams' "Heaven" put him on top. We voted Hall's take on Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" as satisfactory, but the kid showed guts. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Growing Pains' Actor Andrew Koenig Found Dead Posted: 25 Feb 2010 04:53 AM PST His body was found in a Vancouver park on Thursday afternoon, according to CNN.
More than a week after "Growing Pains" actor Andrew Koenig went missing, his body has been found in Vancouver, CNN is reporting. An unnamed source, who reportedly spoke to Koenig's father, told CNN that the body found in Vancouver's Stanley Park on Thursday (February 25) at around noon is the 41-year-old. A news conference is expected for later Thursday, and various reports are saying that his parents — including "Star Trek" icon Walter Koenig — may attend. Fans, media and authorities alike had all come together over the last week in search of Koenig, who vanished on Valentine's Day and then missed a flight home to Los Angeles two days later. Reports later leaked that Vancouver police classified the actor as being "despondent" upon his disappearance, that he had suffered from depression, and had mailed a letter to his father before vanishing that gave the family cause for concern. As friends and family feared the worst, his Hollywood peers, including Alyssa Milano, Kevin Smith, Alyson Hannigan and Sarah Silverman, all used Twitter to voice concern and ask for help locating the actor. Joshua Andrew Koenig was born August 17, 1968, and worked as an actor, film director, editor and writer. He was best known for playing troublemaking teen Richard "Boner" Stabone on the ABC sitcom "Growing Pains," starring Kirk Cameron — who sent out his own desperate plea for Koenig's safe reappearance recently. In the years since the hit sitcom went off the air, Koenig had a small role on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," voiced the Joker in a fan film called "Batman: Dead End" and wrote and directed the 2004 short film "Woman in a Green Dress." If the reports are true, Koenig's last professional work is believed to be alongside "Twilight" star Jackson Rathbone in the experimental indie film "DaZe: Vol. Too - NonSeNse." |
| Is Lil Wayne Leaving Twitter Already? Posted: 24 Feb 2010 10:54 PM PST Rapper threatens to quit after negative feedback on his philosophical tweets.
Less than a week after officially joining Twitter, it looks like Lil Wayne may now give up on the micro-blogging service. He sent word on Thursday (February 25) that he's going to stop using Twitter because the feedback led him to believe his messages weren't wanted. "Gunna stop with the tweets now that I see they're so unliked," Wayne wrote. "It's a mirror of my thoughts, and obviously my thoughts aren't [welcome]. Sorry." The rapper has only posted 18 times so far, but the sporadic tweets have been a mix of testing the waters and cryptic dispatches that are as loaded as his rhymes. "Love is a road without signs, yet we still drive bekuz we kan only imagine what's ahead," he wrote on Wednesday. While the Cash Money Records superstar's presence on Twitter has been supported by many — he already has over 172,000 followers — it appears he's been reading responses to his tweets that aren't very flattering. Comedian Lil Duval has joked about the rapper's philosophical tweets at Wayne's expense. "I just found out Lil Wayne has a Twitter," he wrote. "I just read his page, and I don't have a clue bout what he's talking 'bout." Duval then started the hash tag #LilWayneDeepTweets. "When walking thru a path we see................the road," the comedian wrote, mocking Wayne's style. Other Twitter members then followed with an array of imitated Lil Wayne tweets. "I stood outside," the 305 wrote. "Does that make me outstanding?" But Wayne's fans have rallied with #weezydontleave. "You got me up at 3.30AM," DorinaFbaby, a fan from Australia, wrote. "Barely awake beggin you to stay!" Next week, the rapper is expected to be sentenced to one year in prison after reaching a plead deal in his 2007 gun case. Wayne pleaded guilty to attempted gun possession and was set to begin his incarceration earlier this month, but a judge allowed a postponement due to dental surgery Wayne needed. Last week, he underwent eight root canals in one day. What do you think of Lil Wayne's tweets? Should he stay on Twitter? Let us know in the comments below! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Brittany Murphy Autopsy Reveals No Signs Of Alcohol Or Drug Abuse Posted: 25 Feb 2010 06:31 AM PST Actress died from a combination of prescription drugs.
Brittany Murphy died from a combination of pneumonia, anemia and prescription medication, according to the Los Angeles Coroner's report released Thursday (February 25). The report's findings should dispel gossip that the "8 Mile" and "Clueless" actress abused alcohol and illegal drugs or was dangerously underweight. The pattern of the elevated levels of drugs in her blood "suggest treatment of symptoms of a cold or other respiratory infection," the report reads. "There is no history of alcohol or drug abuse" and "the body appears well developed, normally muscular and slim but not excessively thin." The 84-page report said that hydrocodone and acetaminophen — both components of Vicodin — were present in her bloodstream, as well as chemicals that are active ingredients in drugstore medicine and some inhalers. Murphy top-lined star vehicles like "Uptown Girls" and "Little Black Book," appeared in the comic book flick "Sin City" and voiced a main character on Fox's long-running "King of the Hill." She was found unresponsive in her Hollywood Hills home Deccember 20. She was 32. Both her husband and mother attempted to revive her. She was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The coroner ruled her death accidental but preventable. Murphy had several projects in the works at the time of her death. "Something Wicked" and "Abandoned," co-starring Dean Cain, had both finished shooting. Related Photos |
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