MTV News |
- Siobhan Magnus Eliminated On 'American Idol'
- Mr. Finley Is 'Pushing' For His Hometown Of Las Vegas
- Rick Ross Calls <i>Teflon Don</i> Jay-Z Collabo 'An Atomic Bomb'
- Bret Michaels Undergoing Tests, Hopes To Resume Tour In Summer
- Shakira's 'Gypsy' Gets A Boost From Rascal Flatts On 'American Idol'
- Regina Spektor Tells Musical Stories At Sold-Out Sydney Opera House
- Sons Of Sylvia: From 'Next Great American Band' To 'American Idol'
- Trey Songz Recalls His Barbershop Days On 'When I Was 17'
- Kanye West 'Cleveland Show' Preview Pops Up Online
- 'American Idol' Experts Predict The End (Again) For Michael Lynche
| Siobhan Magnus Eliminated On 'American Idol' Posted: 28 Apr 2010 08:05 AM PDT Michael Lynche and Casey James join her in the bottom three.
It's getting to that point in season nine of "American Idol" when it gets hard to guess who will go home every week because the competition has gotten so tight. But a night after Simon Cowell compared her tortured screaming to the sound of a woman giving birth, America decided that it wasn't quite ready for an "Idol" champ as quirky as tattooed glassblower Siobhan Magnus. After charming the judges and voting public with her offbeat style sense, powerhouse vocals and sometimes sassy backtalk to the judges, Magnus' luck ran out after she closed Tuesday's show with an all-over-the-place take on Shania Twain's "Any Man of Mine."
Magnus was given the boot on a night that was packed with performances from Rascal Flatts, Shakira and Lady Antebellum, and her exit came after more than 33 million votes were lodged Tuesday. The results began with host Ryan Seacrest creating three groups of two. The first pairing included Magnus and Lee Dewyze, followed by Casey James and Michael Lynche and then Aaron Kelly and Crystal Bowersox. Cutting the tension immediately, Seacrest walked Magnus across the stage for her first trip to the bottom three, alongside Lynche and James. The first singer sent back to safety was Lynche, who dodged a bullet for the second time this season. "Tonight is different because everyone did well last night, so there's no shame in the bottom three," he said before being sent back to the couches. With James safe, that left the woman Seacrest called an "independent spirit" standing center stage in her salmon-colored miniskirt-and-tank-top combo. Saying she tried out for the show for her little sisters, Magnus hoped that she had a big impact on them. "I did my best, and I hope that I was able to show them what we're all capable of," she said, clearly holding back some emotion. Keeping her composure, Magnus went out with a typically sassy run through Aretha Franklin's "Think," which got the final five and the whole audience on their feet and clapping along. It ended, of course, with one of her signature ear-piercing screams and then some hugs for her family, who told her, "You're still our star." This being a country-themed week, the show kicked off with a live performance from twangy trio Rascal Flatts, who played their cowboy-pop ditty "Unstoppable." Along with the usual time-killing Ford video and some other promotional shenanigans, the first half of the show also featured season-four "Idol" superstar Carrie Underwood flying in from her national tour just to introduce her current opening act, the little-known brotherly band Sons of Sylvia. Bringing a harder-edge, new-wave country vibe than they displayed during their winning run last year on "The Next Great America Band," the all-black-clad Clark brothers played their debut single, "Love Left to Lose." The tune mixed straightforward radio rock with country touches, including fiddle, mandolin and rocked-out resonator guitar over a thudding backbeat. With a whole hour to fill, the next break featured ACM winners Lady Antebellum performing their triple-platinum smash "Need You Now." The Fleetwood Mac-like ballad of romantic longing that has helped propel the album of the same name to the best sales figures of any 2010 release found singers Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott trading off yearning vocals as third member Dave Haywood played along on a grand piano in the background. The night's final performance was a truly odd combo, as hip-shaker Shakira was joined by Flatts for the spare belly-dance/ boot-scooter "Gypsy," which she opened by showing off her harmonica skills. Joined by two dancers, Shakira worked her flowing red skirt and swiveled her hips as she melded her yodely vocals with the high, lonesome sound of Flatts' Gary LeVox. Next week's mentor will be Harry Connick Jr., who will lead the finalists through the songbook of Frank Sinatra. What did you think of tonight's elimination? Did Siobhan deserve to go home? Leave your comments below! 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 |
| Mr. Finley Is 'Pushing' For His Hometown Of Las Vegas Posted: 29 Apr 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'I do this music and represented for the city so long — way before I got a deal,' he tells Mixtape Daily.
Fire Starter: Mr. Finley Mr. Finley is hoping that the old slogan "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" doesn't hold true for much longer. Well, at least when it comes to his career. The 26-year-old and his team, K.A.M.P. Wess, have been making music for years in Sin City, building up a local fanbase. A breakthrough came last summer when Finley and K.A.M.P. Wess signed a record deal through Ghet-O-Vision/ Def Jam. Although it's taken some time to get the project off the ground, Finley is coming with a double-fisted assault of singles and videos for "Blowin Dat Endo," a smoker's anthem, and a dedication track for his hometown, "Sin City."
"My father was out in the streets from before I was born until I was 17 years old," Finley told Mixtape Daily. Pops Finley was actually grooming his son to be a singer, the MC said. "He was running the streets. I got older cousins and little cousins, they still out there running the streets. They're still carrying on this Finley name. If you get your name checked out [by police], you automatically in trouble out here. It don't stand for nothing good as far as the law and all of that sh-- is concerned. I'm just trying to clean my family name up and show we stand for something more." When Finley goes to the 'hood, though, all his homies still call him "Weas," short for "Weas Mac." The abbreviated "Weas," he said, comes from the nickname he was tagged with as a teenager: "Weasel." It turns out the young Mr. Finley had developed a reputation for taking other guys' girlfriends. But chasing the ladies was just a pastime — Finley's real diversion was chasing dollars. And when it came to the concrete, he was accepted on both sides of the turf. "My father, he started one of the only Blood gangs out here, but I didn't really grow up with my father," Finley said. Raised with his grandparents, the Vegas rapper admitted it was sometimes crowded, with upward of 15 cousins living under the same roof. "I grew up with my mother, [who] grew up in a Crip neighborhood. All my friends that I grew up with since kindergarten grew up and had older brothers that were already Crips. These was my n---as, so it was only the natural thing to do. Me and Pops, we bumped heads when he found out I was a Crip and all that, but we love each other. "But I do this music and represented for the city so long — way before I got a deal. So what I'm doing, everybody sees. All the people that grew up in the 'hood I grew up in, the Westside, they gonna ride with me. They know I'm pushing for them." Finley's debut, The Talented Mr. Finley, has no release date yet. For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Videos |
| Rick Ross Calls <i>Teflon Don</i> Jay-Z Collabo 'An Atomic Bomb' Posted: 28 Apr 2010 02:04 AM PDT The Bawse denies rumors that the new Jay duet is 'Maybach Music 3.'
Swizz Beatz-designed Christian Louboutin white shoes, a black motorcycle jacket specially made by Fubu and a white tank top you could find at any swap meet or flea market — Rick Ross had his swagger up on the set of his F. Gary Gray-directed video for "Super High."
The clip plays off the film "Easy Rider" and finds the Miami native scooping up sexy Stacey Dash like ice cream from Cold Stone. Ross woos her from her biker beau. During some downtime on the set, Ross explained that he's trying to keep a lot of the ins and outs of his June 29 LP Teflon Don on lock until it drops, but the Bawse did disclose more about his collaboration with Jay-Z. "The majority of the details of the album I've been trying to keep under wraps so the fans can savor the music that much more," Ross said. "I most definitely have confirmed Jay-Z being on the album. [The song] is like an atomic bomb. I'm just waiting to push the button. Shout-out to Roc Nation. Shout-out to Kanye West." Ross said he and Jay recorded the song in Sin City as Jigga's tour was coming to a close. "The funny thing is the way the record was done," Ross said. "I followed him to a few Blueprint 3 Tour dates. I was chillin' in the back, smoked out. As soon as he gets offstage, we was chillin', vibing. His last date, which was in Vegas, he killed the show. We left the show, went to Tao for the afterparty. It was 30 bottles of Ace of Spades [champagne]. He left there, went and killed the craps table, the poker table. Then we got in the studio, and he laced me. It was the most phenomenal verse. "It's not 'Maybach Music 3,' " Ross revealed. "You could kill the rumors. This is something totally unexpected, and we talking that talk. I'm just excited, man. I'm expecting big things from this Teflon Don project." Are you excited to hear new music from Rick Ross? Let us know in the comments below! Related Artists |
| Bret Michaels Undergoing Tests, Hopes To Resume Tour In Summer Posted: 28 Apr 2010 05:05 AM PDT 'We will then continue with all scheduled dates throughout the summer and fall,' a statement says.
The cause of rocker Bret Michaels' brain hemorrhage from last week hasn't been discovered, but his return to the stage is already in the works. It's possible that the current "Celebrity Apprentice" contestant could even be back rocking the house by the end of May. The 47-year-old former Poison frontman has been in the hospital since Thursday, recovering from the hemorrhage (which came on the heels of an April 12 emergency appendectomy), and he most recently was upgraded from critical to stable condition. A statement from his website thanks fans for their continued support and the well-wishes, and also says that the rocker is responding well to tests and treatments. More information on Michaels' condition is expected to be released on Monday, as he's undergoing tests to determine the exact cause of the rupture. "While Bret is recovering we obviously have some shows that are being rescheduled. We are working to reschedule dates from now until May 21. At this time we are planning to resume the tour May 26 in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, provided there are no further complications or setbacks," the statement read. "We will then continue with all scheduled dates throughout the summer and fall, including the June and July tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Look for additional information in the days and weeks to come." The statement also told fans who hold tickets to rescheduled shows that theirs will be honored on the new dates. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Shakira's 'Gypsy' Gets A Boost From Rascal Flatts On 'American Idol' Posted: 28 Apr 2010 08:05 AM PDT Singer plays the harmonica, harmonizes with Gary LeVox for free-sprit performance.
Shakira busted out her best Stevie Nicks ensemble during "American Idol" to perform her new single, "Gypsy," with a little help from Rascal Flatts. The free-spirit singer — wearing a sparkly tank top, dangling earrings and a floor-length red skirt — started the song out on harmonica. During the first verse, she was joined by some interpretive backup dancers and even threw in some moves herself.
Rascal Flatts singer Gary LeVox then chimed in with backing vocals. As the pair harmonized, they headed to a platform behind the "Idol" judges and Shakira showed off some of her trademark hip-swiveling. She even pulled the harmonica back out to close up the song. After the performance, host Ryan Seacrest said what most of the viewers were probably thinking: "Gary LeVox and Shakira — I never thought I'd see that!" He also had a tough question for the Flatts frontman: "What was it like to move your hips with her?" "I recommend to him to wear a skirt, but he refused," Shakira chimed in. Rascal Flatts kicked off the "Idol" elimination episode by performing their new single, "Unstoppable," in place of a top-six group number. Back in February, Shakira released a steamy video for "Gypsy" starring Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal. The video, like the song paired with it, has a much more organic vibe than other tracks from Shakira's 2009 album She Wolf. Directed by frequent Shakira collaborator Jaume de Laiguana, the video tells a love story that plays out on a desert backdrop. It's an ideal setting for the romance between the smiling Shakira and her often-shirtless tennis pro to unfold. What did you think of Shakira's collaboration with Rascal Flatts? Let us know in the comments below! 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 |
| Regina Spektor Tells Musical Stories At Sold-Out Sydney Opera House Posted: 28 Apr 2010 08:05 AM PDT 'It's so amazing not to play by yourself,' she told her devoted Australian fans.
SYDNEY, Australia — The warm night in Sydney was the perfect backdrop for the sun-drenched tunes from Regina Spektor's most recent effort, Far. The cathedral-like Sydney Opera House only added to the ambience. The Brooklyn songstress took the stage Wednesday night (April 28), greeting the mostly female sold-out crowd, which rejoiced at the first notes of "Calculation" (the opening track on Far). Although the singer/songwriter was far from home, the audience proved to be more than familiar with her material. Fans shouted requests and "I love yous" between songs but were silent whenever Spektor, on piano, marched through a track. The set continued with more selections from her 2009 album, including "Eet" and a peppier version of "Folding Chair." By the third song, the crowd had grown giddy, waiting for Spektor to address them directly. During a quiet moment, spontaneous giggling erupted and seemed to spread. Regina responded: "I feel like I have some lipstick on my nose." The singer reached back into her catalog for "Ode to Divorce," an oldie that highlighted the concert hall's brilliant acoustics. Spektor's voice sounded so close, it was as if you were sitting beside her on the piano bench. She followed that up with the frantic "Machine" and "Laughing With," which drew extra cheers. The remainder of the evening was peppered with crowd favorites and a back-and-forth with the audience. After the crowd clapped along to "Better," a fan begged, "Tell us a story, Regina!" That drew a clever response from Spektor: "I am. I'm telling stories all night long!" While she spent most of the night at the keys, Regina finally got up for "Dance Anthem of the 80s" (also from Far), strapping on a guitar as she recalled "The Simpsons" episode where Homer goes to rock-and-roll summer camp. As the nearly two-hour show drew to a close, Regina told the crowd, "It's so amazing to play here, and it's so amazing not to play by yourself," referring to the devoted fans who came to see her. In case anyone wasn't sufficiently impressed, Spektor returned for a five-song encore. Fans showed they had her back, filling in when Regina forgot a few of the lyrics to "Samson." That exchange brought to mind the words from "Eet," sung earlier in the evening: "It's like forgetting the words to your favorite song/ You can't believe it, you were always singing along." What do you think of Regina's most recent album, Far? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Sons Of Sylvia: From 'Next Great American Band' To 'American Idol' Posted: 28 Apr 2010 08:05 AM PDT The trio, previously known as the Clark Brothers, have opened for Carrie Underwood on her current tour.
Shakira, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum and Sons of Sylvia — wait, who? Millions of Americans could be forgiven if they weren't familiar with the handsome brotherly trio who performed on Wednesday night's (April 28) "American Idol" elimination show, where Siobhan Magnus got the boot. But if you've been paying attention for the past three years, you might just recognize brothers Ashley, Austin and Adam Clark. They've been opening for good pal Carrie Underwood — who helicoptered in from her tour just to introduce them on "Idol" — on her current tour, and they played backup in her touring band right after she won season four. They were also the winners of the first and only season of "Idol" spinoff "The Next Great American Band," back when they were known as the Clark Brothers. After years of trying to make it in Nashville and Hollywood, that win landed them a contract with Interscope Records and a management deal with 19 Entertainment, which explains how they landed on "Idol." Kind of. "We never tried out for 'Idol,' but we've been watching it all the time and ... man, it's like a dream, we were so pumped," said guitarist Austin, 26, the youngest of the trio, who are three of 11 kids born to their preacher parents. (Yes, their mom's name is Sylvia.) The band of brothers performed their debut single, "Love Left to Lose," from their just-released debut album, Revelation, on "Idol," and Austin said the experience was a mind-blower. The tune mixed straightforward radio rock with country touches, including fiddle, mandolin and rocked-out resonator guitar over a thudding backbeat. The swirly, urgent rock ballad was co-written and produced by the boys' second cousin and good pal, OneRepublic hitmaker Ryan Tedder, who gave it his signature wide-open, yearning sound and instantly alluring hooks. "I can't believe it's happening," Austin said of their rocket ride to fame after years of hard work. "It feels like a childhood dream as far as: start a band, get a record out and being on tour. All of this is actually happening. I wake up every day baffled." Though they've had reality-show experience, Austin said pre-taping their "Idol" performance was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. "It's surreal up there," he said. "You see the big 'American Idol' logo, things are spinning around. [I was thinking] 'I've watched the show and now it's my turn.' You're just thinking about not screwing up." Though they didn't have a chance to meet any of this year's finalists — and haven't really had time to watch the show since they're busy on the road with Underwood — Austin said it was probably a good thing the judges weren't around when they visited the set. "If Simon would have critiqued us, we would have been nervous!" What did you think of Sons of Sylvia's performance? Let us know in the comments! Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos |
| Trey Songz Recalls His Barbershop Days On 'When I Was 17' Posted: 28 Apr 2010 01:50 AM PDT 'I cut everybody's hair for the prom,' the singer says on new MTV show, premiering Saturday.
We all know Trey Songz is a ladies man, but the extent of his devotion to the opposite sex hasn't truly been revealed until now.
"When I was 17 I did my girlfriend's eyebrows," the singer confesses during the premiere of MTV's new show "When I Was 17," which premieres Saturday at 11 a.m. and also features Khloe Kardashian and Perez Hilton. But to be fair, Trey Songz was a barber-in-training at the time, keeping the fellas and the ladies looking sharp. It all started when he devised a plan to receive early dismissal from school and enrolled in a trade that he thought he would be able to take lightly. Instead, the Virgina native found himself with an intense schedule that included learning the finer points of hair care, from cutting heads to, well, waxing eyebrows. His skills eventually became so in demand that his friends lined up at his house to score haircuts before prom. "I cut everybody's hair for the prom," he recalled. "That whole week of prom, like every day, probably at least five to 10 guys would come over to the house to get a shape-up," his cousin Jay chimed in. The downside to his popularity with his clippers resulted in some hotheaded customers — literally! "My clippers got so hot, I remember I messed my homeboy's head up so bad," he recalled, smiling. "He had scars for, like, the next two days. [Traces his hair line to show where the damage was done.] All that. My bad." "When I Was 17" — this week featuring Trey Songz, Khloe Kardashian and Perez Hilton — premieres Saturday (May 1) at 11 a.m. on MTV. Related Artists |
| Kanye West 'Cleveland Show' Preview Pops Up Online Posted: 28 Apr 2010 04:33 AM PDT 'Kenny' West challenges Cleveland Jr. to Auto-Tune-assisted rap-off in upcoming episode.
Kanye West by any other name is still not to be messed with. Just ask Cleveland Jr. from "The Cleveland Show." The animated series' soft-spoken teen puts the move on a classmate in a clip from an unaired episode circulating online. Things get interesting when Cleveland Jr. finds out his crush is dating the Chicago rapper, who voices his own character.
"It's Kenny sippin' Henny/ Rhymes slicker than Teflon," West raps, during a musical confrontation with Cleveland. "The school been high, I'm the black Zac Efron/ And when I meet a shorty, you know we going backwards/ Pulling more tail than my man John Edwards/ Lumpy, chunky, boogie-eating chump, B/ Acting out of place like Hootie singing country/ Leave my girl alone and get your own tenderoni/ Come on, who are we kidding?/ You're used to being lonely." Earlier this year, it was reported that West would appear in an episode scheduled to air May 2 on Fox. According to show co-creator Rich Appel, West is a longtime fan of "Family Guy," for which Appel was co-executive producer. "The Cleveland Show" writers developed a concept for the rapper and pitched it to him, Appel said. West, to their surprise, agreed. The multiplatinum artist, however, is less successful in his animated universe than he is in real life. "Kenny" West is still trying to find his way. In the limited preview, after serving Cleveland Jr. in rhyme, Kenny challenges the youngster to an Auto-Tune-enhanced sing-off, only to discover his counterpart can "sound like a robot" — with no aid. As of press time, the rapper was only scheduled for one guest spot. But Appel told People magazine in March that he would welcome West's return to the show anytime, heaping praise on the MC for his contributions. "We just recorded him in the booth, and he was fantastic," Appel said. "Once he read it a couple times through, he just owned the character, which I guess isn't hard since he was named Kenny West. He said he'd be glad to [be back]. I said we could write him into the next 21 episodes!" What do you think about Kanye's animated alter ego? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'American Idol' Experts Predict The End (Again) For Michael Lynche Posted: 27 Apr 2010 11:18 PM PDT Casey James and Aaron Kelly will likely join him in the bottom three.
He might have gotten the judges' save a few weeks ago, but time appears to have run out for brawny personal trainer Michael Lynche — at least according to MTV's "American Idol" experts. "I think it's finally Big Mike Lynche's time to go," said MJ Santilli, webmaster of the "Idol" fan site MJsBigBlog.com. "He sang a very competent version of [Shania Twain's] 'It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing,' but unfortunately, Aaron Kelly and Casey James, two other contestants on the cusp, stepped it up this week." Lynche got mostly positive notes from the judges — except Simon Cowell, who cryptically called the performance "wet" and "girly" — and he brought mentor Twain to tears, but even his Luther Vandross-like take on the songs might not have been enough to push him past other audience favorites. "Aaron had all the grandmas and mommies heading for the tissues first and then their phones to vote after he transformed Twain's romantic ballad, 'You've Got a Way,' into an ode to his adoptive mother," Santilli said. "And Casey James went back to the thing that works for him — wrapping his country growl around a tender ballad." Santilli thinks Kelly and James will join Lynche in the bottom three, but it will be Big Mike who gets sent home. MTV News' "Idol" expert Jim Cantiello had to agree. "All the good will from the judges' save has dissipated, and we're left with a performance that viewers may feel like they've seen before," he said. "There was a lot of hoopla from most of the judges about how well Michael connected to the song, but by the end of the episode, Casey and even Aaron managed to perform their songs in a more believable way." Yes, Twain was driven to tears by Lynche, but Cantiello isn't sure voters were moved in the same way. "Remember: The guy first went home after a similarly praised and similarly theatrical 'Eleanor Rigby,' " he recalled. Do you agree with our experts' opinions? Who do you think is going home tonight? Write in your comments below and check the Newsroom blog on Thursday morning to see how our experts did. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos |
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