Rabu, 12 Mei 2010

MTV News

MTV News

Crystal Bowersox Shines On 'American Idol' Movie Night

Posted: 11 May 2010 07:08 AM PDT

'After that performance, you, Crystal, are back in the game,' critiqued judge Simon Cowell.
By Eric Ditzian


Crystal Bowersox on "American Idol" Tuesday
Photo: FOX

Would it be a blockbuster or a bomb? That was the key question heading into Songs of the Cinema Night on Tuesday's (May 11) "American Idol," a theme whose approved song list heavily favored a perplexing mix of tunes from golden oldies, '80s action flicks and Disney cartoons. And while this Hollywood-centric episode might not be the stuff of awards-season glory, the "Idol" crew handled themselves well in front of the camera. Crystal Bowersox shined like a seasoned A-lister and made Lee Dewyze look like a breakout star during their duet. Meanwhile, Casey James and Michael Lynche proved they just might not be bankable solo stars at this point in the competition.

Dewyze got the night started with "Kiss From a Rose," a nod back to season eight contestant Danny Gokey, thanks to mentor Jamie Foxx. During the pre-performance video, the Oscar-winning actor got up in Dewyze's face as he did with Gokey last year, giving the singer what Foxx called the Michael Mann treatment (a reference to the famously intense director of "Miami Vice" and "Collateral"). "Yeah, it's different," said a visibly uncomfortable Dewyze of his mentor's approach.

Dewyze brought that unease to the stage during his straightforward take on Seal's hit from "Batman Forever." His higher register was simply not up to the song's requirements. Ellen DeGeneres alone was impressed with the rendition. Randy Jackson wanted to see more of a rocker attitude and more of an effort to switch up the song's arrangement, while Simon Cowell laid down one of his most dreaded analogies: "That was verging on — I'm afraid to say — karaoke," the Brit judge said.

And so the night proceeded on from karaoke to what DeGeneres mockingly dubbed "one of the classic, great movies of all time." Yes, Michael Lynche selected a tune from "Free Willy," one sung by Michael Jackson but nonetheless made famous in a movie about a boy's enduring friendship with an Orca whale. Foxx was not impressed during rehearsals, nor were the judges when they heard his live version.

Backed by a choir and with a lovely gospel vibe to the song, Big Mike sounded perfectly lovely. But Kara DioGuardi nailed it when she said, "You played it safe. What you did tonight, you can do in your sleep."

Just as Kara wished Lynche had done something in the vein of past R&B performances like "This Woman's Work," Jackson wondered why Big Mike abandoned what is so clearly his strongest genre. "You're an R&B dude," said the disappointed judge. "I wish you'd chosen something R&B."

Next came the first duet of the season, as Dewyze and Crystal Bowersox teamed up onstage. Facing each other with guitars sandwiched between them, they traded and shared lyrics from "Falling Slowly," a beautiful number from "Once." It marked a welcome return to form for Dewyze and a stunning debut for MamaSox. His growly tone contrasted nicely with her innate bluesiness.

The judges then took turns trading superlatives to describe the performance. "One of my favorite moments from the entire season," said DioGuardi, seconds before Cowell declared, "I don't know if I'd call that a good song. I'd call that a fantastic song."

It was a tough act to follow, but as they say in showbiz, the show must go on. And on came Casey James with a ukulele and a bluegrass-tinged take on "Mrs. Robinson," the Simon & Garfunkel classic from "The Graduate." Foxx seemed to be channeling DioGuardi when he asked the singer to seduce him during rehearsals. The seduction didn't necessarily pay off.

"For me, this is you fighting to stay in the competition," DioGuardi said as she pointed out how Casey's more comfortable standing back and rocking out. "For me this was actually a good choice."

That was less of a compliment than it might sound in print. Cowell was more direct when he said, "I didn't think the song or the performance had the substance required on this important night for you. ... I thought it was a little bit lazy and I think you could have made more of an impact."

After the break, Bowersox headed back onstage for a country-rock version of Kenny Loggins' "I'm Alright" from the comedy "Caddyshack." Like the movie, her rehearsal was marked by some foul language. But by the time of her live performance, MamaSox had found her form.

The judges feted the 24-year-old for switching the song up far more than any of the other contestants dared during their performances. Both DioGuardi and DeGeneres announced that she "made it better." Cowell, who had criticized Bowersox in recent weeks, welcomed her back by saying, "After that performance, you, Crystal, are back in the game."

To finish up the night, Big Mike and James sauntered back onstage for another guitar duet. Though it lacked the energy on display during Bowersox and Dewyze's performance, their take on Bryan Adams' "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" from the movie "Don Juan DeMarco" was still far better than either man's individual effort.

"The duets tonight were incredible," said DioGuardi, summing up the judges consensus. "They were better than all of the solo performances."

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Who do you think had the best performance on "Idol" Tuesday night? Let us know in the comments below!

Crystal Bowersox's 'American Idol' Success Foretold At 1997 Talent Show

Posted: 12 May 2010 04:37 AM PDT

'You'll see her one day on television,' then-principal Dan Kalo is heard saying on video of Bowersox's middle-school performance.
By Gil Kaufman


Crystal Bowersox
Photo: MTV News

Toledo, OHIO — Not many people can legitimately claim to have predicted that season nine "American Idol" contender Crystal Bowersox would be a TV star some day. But Dan Kalo can. Kalo, you see, was the principal at Oak Harbor Middle School near Toledo, Ohio, from 1984 to 2001, during which time Bowersox attended the school, and he famously predicted that she'd make it big.

"She was just so good and it was such a surprise to see this young girl, who was kind of shy and never brought a lot of attention to herself, play a song in front of an auditorium packed with 500 people," said Kalo of Bowersox's performance at the school's annual talent competition in 1997, when the singer was in seventh grade.

MTV News recently traveled to Oak Harbor, where current principal Marie Wittman proudly played the video of Bowersox's winning performance, which earned her a cash prize and the first boost of confidence in her then-blossoming music career. In the clip — shot by a parent in the audience — Bowersox is seated on a chair wearing a blue jumper and white turtleneck, her hair in a blonde bob, performing a scatting, acoustic jazz version of Jewel's "You Were Meant for Me."

A bit nervous at times, Bowersox nevertheless plays and sings the song with conviction, and at the end, when the prizes are being distributed, Kalo can be heard saying, "Kids, you saw her here first at Oak Harbor Junior High. You'll see her one day on television: Crystal Bowersox."

Kalo, who now lives in Florida, hasn't seen the video in more than a decade, but he distinctly remembers how impressed he was with Bowersox at the show, which was one of the school's last pre-Christmas events before holiday break.

"When I found out she was on 'American Idol,' I had this flashback to junior high school and when I would see her walking in the halls and how well-liked she was," said Kalo, who could not remember Bowersox ever getting into trouble or even getting detention for being late to class. "What's funny is that we had excellent band and choir programs and she participated in those, but I don't remember her ever having a solo, and I attended every performance." Though he watched "Idol" only occasionally in prior seasons, Kalo said he's been glued to every episode this year.

Current principal Wittman, whose office is covered with University of Michigan spirit gear, said she first saw the Bowersox video a month ago when she walked in on a teacher showing it in art class. As it turned out, his son had been in the same talent show and he recently realized Bowersox, 24, was on the tape as well. "I walked down and he was showing the video and [I said], 'Oh my goodness,' " she said. "And [he said], 'Listen to Dan.' When he [Kalo] made that prediction, I was like, 'That is incredible. So insightful.' "

The school's cheerleaders recently painted nearly every storefront window in downtown Oak Harbor, and Wittman said the recognition has done wonders for morale in the small town near Ottawa County where Bowersox grew up. The unemployment rate here is at more than 19 percent, almost 10 points higher than the state average.

Bowersox's run on "Idol" has energized the school, which was awash in red MamaSox-boosting shirts last Wednesday (May 5). Wittman also used the singer's success to help inspire her current students to do well on their recent Ohio achievement tests by showing the talent-show clip. "I can actually play off of Crystal's success because she was very driven at a young age and has worked so hard," said Wittman. Wittman's husband, Jerry, happened to stop an MTV crew an hour later in downtown Oak Harbor to proudly play a CD of original Bowersox songs on his car stereo outside one of the shops with the sanctioned Crystal graffiti on the windows.

"I told the students that with hard work and dedication and all of those good things, that they will be successful some day, that they never know where their dreams can take them," principal Wittman said.

"She's a small-town girl, we're small-town people, and so all this recognition is not something that we're used to," she said, pointing to a 1999 yearbook on her desk with a picture of Crystal as an eighth grader, when she was named "most likely to someday be a famous artist or sculptor."

Walking the halls of the school, just outside the doors of the auditorium where Bowersox performed that award-winning Jewel song, eighth-grade math teacher John McKitrick recalled the first time he heard Crystal sing. McKitrick was the swim coach back then and Crystal was on his team. "After swim meets, our bus rides were quite ... hectic," he said, recalling how hard it was to quiet down the boisterous junior high kids after a meet. "But Crystal, usually around Christmastime, would sing Christmas songs on our bus rides and the kids would pretty much get quiet the whole bus ride home. And we'd have Crystal sing us from one point to the next point. The bus rides were always so much more enjoyable with Crystal singing."

Related Photos

Cory Gunz Explains Delay In Signing With Lil Wayne's Young Money Label

Posted: 12 May 2010 04:37 AM PDT

'I got nothing but respect for him. Free Wayne,' Gunz says of his new boss, in Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid


Cory Gunz
Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

Well, it took a few years, but Cory Gunz has finally signed to Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment. We all thought years ago — in the wake of Gunz dropping lyrics for Weezy's Tha Carter III blockbuster "A Millie" (Gunz's bars never made the album as originally planned, but it did land on mixtapes) — that Cory was going to be down with the team. ... But there was the matter of the Bronx native's recording deal with Def Jam and then President Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter.

"[There were] miscommunication issues," Cory said recently in New York about why he's just now getting down with YM and CM. "Me and other ventures, a bunch of other paperwork. [Years ago] Wayne took time out of his schedule. He was promoting Tha Carter II and he took time out of his schedule to come from 'TRL' and '106 [and Park]' and come to Sony studio; Shot out to Just Blaze. He took that and remixed it. Wayne did that for free back then. It was a situation that was supposed to go down before, but I was in paperwork with Hov at the time. One thing led to another. I was freed up and he reached out by the powers that be and now I'm here [on his label]. History is about to be made. He just kept it 100. I got nothing but respect for him. Free Wayne."

"Shout out to Wayne," he added. "Shout out to the whole Young Money family. Shout out to Mack Maine. Everybody. It's definitely official. Young Money/ Cash Money. Shout out to Wayne for giving me a shot. He kept it real. All I'mma say, that this is it. This is what it is. Everybody just better get ready."

Cory has been recording a bunch of material for an album that he had planned to title God Forgives, I Don't. That LP is now going to be an EP and will be preceded by a gaggle of mixtapes. Cory's Young Money debut LP still has no title, but Weezy will steer the ship once he gets home from prison later this year.

"Definitely. Wayne is gonna executive-produce the album," he explained. "I trust his insight. He's going to be overseeing everything. I'm gonna keep doing the things I been doing. I think that's what's gotten me noticed. I'mma just keep my grind moving. Whatever ventures I can do, I'm bringing my family through. My whole team is gonna eat. I'm just telling everybody to get ready."

Cory will have no problem getting acclimated into his new family. He has relationships with quite of few of his teammates already.

"I haven't met Nicki [Minaj] yet," Gunz said. "Me and [Drake] met a while back when they was doing the I Am Music Tour in Arizona. I went over there with Shaquille, and Drake shouted me out [onstage]. It was something he didn't have to do. The fact he did that way before [I was on Young Money], I was humbled by that. As far as Jae Millz, me and Millz — had a relationship before all of this. I went on my first road tour with Millz. I talk to Chuckee and Twist a lot. Mack, of course, I talk to. Gudda is family, Short [Dawg]. Shout out to T-Streets too."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines or follow the Mixtape Daily team on Twitter: @shaheemreid and @mongosladenyc.

Drake Recalls Being An 'eBay Guru' On 'When I Was 17'

Posted: 12 May 2010 04:37 AM PDT

"I used to call him up and be like, 'Yo, what are you doing?,' ' friend remembers.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Drake
Photo: MTV News

You might say Drake is obsessed with the ladies these days, but back before he was a burgeoning superstar he was obsessed with something else you might be surprised by.

"When I was 17, I was heavy on eBay," Drake reveals during the next episode of MTV's new show "When I Was 17," which airs Saturday at 11 a.m. and also features Queen Latifah and Olympic softball player Jennie Finch. "I was a beast. I was like an eBay guru." It was a different time for Drake then; he wasn't the hottest rapper in the game busy with ladies tossing their undergarments his way.

Instead, he was a supporting actor on teen hit "Degrassi: The Next Generation" and living a life that was nearly as normal as any other kid. His online hobby, however, wasn't supported by his friends, who thought it was a bit strange.

"I used to call him up and be like, 'Yo, what are you doing?,' " childhood friend Niko explains dismissively with a puzzled face. "And he'd be like, 'Shopping on eBay.' "

According to the rapper, he was involved in a few scandals. He sold items on the online auction site just as often as he bought them. To hear Drake tell it, though, everything he pushed online wasn't always on the up and up. And as for his own purchases? Well, let's just say today they might be considered as crime too.

"Mostly it as just clothes, electronics, jerseys and velour suits," Drake says. "I look back now and it's all hideous."

"When I Was 17" — this week featuring Drake, Queen Latifah and Jennie Finch — airs Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV.

Gael Garcia Bernal: My 'Letters To Juliet' Character Isn't A Jerk

Posted: 12 May 2010 04:37 AM PDT

'I wouldn't judge him,' actor says of playing Amanda Seyfried's fiancé.
By Jocelyn Vena


Gael Garcia Bernal
Photo: MTV News

Female fans will probably have a hard time deciding who Amanda Seyfried's character, Sophie, should wind up with in "Letters to Juliet," opening Friday. In fact, Sophie herself is torn between her cute, but somewhat self-absorbed fiancé, Victor (Gael García Bernal), and the equally cute, yet cynical Brit she meets on a trip to Verona, Italy, Charlie (Christopher Egan).

García Bernal made the case for Victor, a chef who seems to have good intentions in his relationship with Sophie, but admitted that, in "Letters," the couple doesn't connect quite as well as they should.

"[My] character, I think, is actually very concentrated on the things he likes and the thing is, right now, his girlfriend is not able to follow him and share with him that excitement," he told MTV News of a plot line that involves Victor opening his own restaurant. "So, I think they just kind of meet at that point. I wouldn't call him a jerk, actually."

While the actor conceded that Victor could use some pointers in the romance department, he praised the character's devotion to his work.

"He knows his stuff. He knows a lot about what he's doing, more than any of us know about cooking, the Italian culture," García Bernal said. "I wouldn't judge him. I don't like judging characters at all morally."

García Bernal soaked up the Italian culture while shooting in the city of Verona. "[I did the film] just to have fun ... to enjoy working with the group of actors that were here," he said. "To spend some time in Italy, I had a lot of fun doing it."

Do you think it's romantic when a guy can cook, like Gael's character? Tell us in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Letters to Juliet." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Related Videos Related Photos

Drake Was 'Fearless' In Making 'Find Your Love' Video, Director Says

Posted: 11 May 2010 02:41 AM PDT

'It's kind of like the anti-love love story,' Anthony Mandler says.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Drake
Photo: Young Money Entertainment

As both a newcomer and budding superstar, Drake draws a high level of scrutiny toward himself with each new song or video he releases.

That trend continued Tuesday (May 11) with the premiere of his latest clip, "Find Your Love," directed by Anthony Mandler.

"It's unbelievable the amount of attention that he garners," Mandler told MTV News. "Since the video dropped, I think I've received 200 e-mails, Facebook questions, tweets. There's a fascination with him and there's certainly been a void in music that he's come to fill."

According to Mandler, Drake's allure lies in his ability to fit in across various groups. That idea was at the heart of the two clips he's helmed for Drake, "Over" and "Find Your Love." For their collaboration, he explained, the two played against the convention of who Drake may or may not be.

"I think part of that is the kind of way he works across genres, the way he works across tonalities: Is he black, is he white, he's aligned with Wayne and the streets, but he's a nice guy from Toronto," Mandler said. "And that really was the theme with 'Over.' Especially with the album and the dualities in the music to come, in one song he rhymes and another song he sings, the artists he's working with — he's very hard to pin down.

"Part of the objective of making this video was to do that same twist again, to give you something unexpected, not only tonality with the song but with the video thematically. It's kind of like the anti-love love story."

In the video, Drake is advised to get out of dodge when he tries to woo the love interest of a local gang lord. He ignores the words of the elder Jamaican sage and instead ventures into the ghettos of "Gully Side" to see his leading lady once more. As Drake and the man speak, words run across the screen warning of the perils of unknowingly taking things too far.

"It's really about crossing lines, what was said in the first scene," Mandler said about Drake's chase for love. "It's about really understanding what's right and what's wrong and it's really easy to lose that when you're the center of attention."

The director said the idea of "Find Your Love" was to serve as a follow-up to "Over," which he felt helped to clear the slate of everything pre-Thank Me Later, Drake's forthcoming debut album. The video was to feature visuals that begin a new story in the young rapper's life. Mandler applauded Drake's efforts in making the clip happen.

"He did it fearlessly," Mandler beamed. "He did it without any sign of hesitation. That was incredible. He wanted to do something that went further with the song, that took the essence of the song but communicated it with imagery that made people think, rather than go up the middle and make an obvious R&B video. That's completely not who Drake is."

What do you think of the story behind Drake's video? Let us know in the comments!

Related Artists

Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst: The Chocolate Starfish Gets Humble

Posted: 12 May 2010 04:37 AM PDT

The singer we met this week was worlds away from his former self, in Bigger Than the Sound.
By James Montgomery


Fred Durst
Photo: Jeff Vespa/ WireImage

Think back, if you can, to the nightmarish state of rock and roll in the late '90s. Recall the thudding riffs, the macho posturing, the turntablists. Shudder at the memory of Woodstock '99, the Family Values Tour, and moshpits filled with red-faced, shirtless frat guys all looking to abuse and/or murder you. Recoil from the terror. The dread. The Puddle of Mudd. It was a tough time, indeed.

Now, think even harder ... what's the first image that comes to your with mind?

Chances are, it's a dude. He is probably wearing a blood-red Yankees cap, turned backwards on his skull. He is probably crouched, wildly gesturing, the crotch of his baggy sweats nearly scraping the floor. He is probably angry at seemingly nothing — and everything — all at once. He is almost definitely Fred Durst.

Because, more than anyone (or anything), fairly or unfairly, Durst represented most of the above. He was misogynistic, mean-spirited and egotistical. He picked fights, burned bridges, and stomped on anyone who got in his way. He rhymed "Nookie" with "Cookie," and did it loudly and proudly. Basically, he was "rap-rock" personified, an outwardly lunk-headed, ham-fisted dude who elbowed his way to the top of the mountain. And when the genre that he embodied dropped off, Durst was left in the lurch.

And here's the thing: Fred Durst knows all of this. Or, at least, I think he does. Because when I met him (and his Limp Bizkit mates) Recently, he was none of the things I mentioned above. Instead, he was soft-spoken. Slightly goofy. Strangely Zen. And most of all, incredibly humble. Time and reality seem to have tamed him.

Of course, this is all based on the 45 minutes I spent talking to him, and everything he told me about Limp Bizkit's new album, the rather excellently titled Gold Cobra (which, strangely, still does not have a release date), but I don't think I'm that off-base. It's the first album to feature the band's full lineup in more than a decade, one that Durst calls their "full circle" affair. Making it meant mending the bridges he had so roughly busted up during his heyday, apologizing to his bandmates, and realizing — probably for the first time ever — that the world does not revolve solely around him.

And sure, the first song we've heard off the album — "Why Try," currently streaming on the band's official site — is very much a Limp Bizkit-y affair (one in which Durst refers to himself as "the pirate pimp"), and yes, the presumed first single is called "Douchebag," but those are merely superficial details. Durst admits that the former was born out of in-studio collaborations and the latter is actually a song about bullies. It would seem the shoe is on the other foot.

But that's not all. Durst spoke at length about the "unspoken language" that he and his bandmates share, a "magical" connection that he couldn't have with anyone else. He mentioned the pure intent behind Cobra, a renewed focus the band had lost in their later years ("It's controlled chaos now ... there's an intent behind it"). He heaped praise on guitarist Wes Borland's work on "Douchebag," and beamed about the "melodic stuff" on the album. But most of all, he repeatedly talked about the fun he's having these days, about the energy the band is receiving from the crowds they're playing for. Make no mistake about it, Durst is amazed — and a bit flattered — that his fans have stuck with him through all of this. He is taking nothing for granted.

And, at the end of our interview, he made a point of showing me the (then-unreleased) artwork for Cobra on his iPhone. You've probably seen it by now. It's a painting, done by Borland, of a giant cobra, rearing up in a cave, with a bikini-clad babe nestled in its coils. As Durst was dialing it up, he couldn't help but laugh, mostly because he was so excited by the artwork (and, of course, the sheer WTF-ness of titling an album Gold Cobra). It was an oddly telling moment, not to mention a really genuine one; the kind of thing I'd never expect from a guy with his reputation. But it only further illustrates my point: Fred Durst, the former Enfant terrible of rap rock, is actually a pretty humble guy these days. He laughed. He smiled. He even wore his ballcap forward the whole time.

His image may not be what it was, and perhaps that's beside the point. Fred Durst isn't the monster you probably think he is, at least not anymore. He's been through the ringer, he's heard all the jokes, and he's better for all of it. And while he still may do it all for the nookie, he no longer derives satisfaction in instructing you to stick it up your (yeah).

Justin Bieber Says He Has 'No Clue' Why Girls Scream At Him

Posted: 11 May 2010 02:11 AM PDT

'It's pretty hard to comprehend,' singer tells Oprah.
By Jocelyn Vena


Justin Bieber on "The Oprah Winfrey Show"
Photo: Harpo

In less than a year, Justin Bieber has gone from Internet sensation to full-blown pop star. And, the 16-year-old stopped by "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Tuesday (May 11) to admit that he's still trying to comprehend his fame and success.

"It's been pretty crazy coming from a little town in Canada and now being able to travel the world and do what I love," he told Oprah. "I was just posting videos online for fun. I never really thought this was possible, so I never really dreamed of it."

"He's got such a great team of people around him," his mom, Pattie, said on the show. "[They] protect his character and treat him like a kid and make sure that he stays grounded and has fun. I think I would worry more if he was in high school where I wouldn't know what he was doing, whereas now I know who he's with and where he is all the time."

Bieber, who is currently filming a video for "Somebody to Love," is quick to add that the people in his entourage are a tight-knit set and that he's careful about who is added to that group. "We're really skeptical who we let on our team. We've grown to be kind of like a family. It's been incredible," he explained.

To ensure that he isn't too inundated by the trappings of his new superstardom, Bieber takes off one day a week to be a normal kid.

"We try to take off at least one day a week for me to be a regular kid, go play basketball, hang out with my friends and, you know, just do what I like to do," he explained. "Sometimes for that day I just sleep all day because the six days before I'm exhausted."

And while he usually spends his off days doing more "normal" things like basketball, sometimes he also gets the normal treatment when his mom grounds him.

"My mom takes things that I really like, like my computer, my phone. She takes my phone away for a couple of days and I'm like, 'Oh, I need that!' " he said, adding there's no way he could get out of it by saying that he's Justin Bieber. He added, "She'll slap me in the face!"

But, unlike most teen boys, they don't have screaming girls following them everywhere they go. "It's pretty hard to comprehend. Like everything's just kind of surreal," he said, adding "I have no clue!" why they scream at him.

Related Artists

Crystal Bowersox And Lee Dewyze Earn High Praise From 'American Idol' Judges With 'Falling Slowly'

Posted: 11 May 2010 07:08 AM PDT

The pair's duet on song from 'Once' has judges raving on movie night.
By Kara Warner


Crystal Bowersox and Lee Dewyze
Photo: FOX

Tuesday''s "American Idol"" was to be, in the words of Ryan Seacrest, "a theme fit for a star," and all about paying tribute to the movies. And with cool-as-a-cucumber mentor Jamie Foxx and several interesting song selections in tow, the Top 4 gave it their all. Sort of.

The judges agreed that the evening's two duets, "Falling Slowly" by Crystal Bowersox and Lee Dewyze; and "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" by Michael Lynche and Casey James, were better than the contestants' solo performances. And there's not much question that Crystal and Lee's dueling-guitar version of the Oscar-winning "Once" tune sung by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová shined the brightest.

The judges wholeheartedly agreed. Randy Jackson said, "Great song by two great singers!" Ellen chimed in, "You're the new Captain and Tenille." Kara agreed, "One of my favorite moments of the entire season. you brought out the best in both of you, that's what duets are about," and Simon even heaped praise, saying, "I wouldn't call that good, I'd call it fantastic."

After their performance, Lee and Crystal hemmed and hawed about how awkward it felt to be gazing into each other's eyes while strumming and singing, but that brought about an adorable Bowersox reveal that she has a "musical crush" on Lee anyway, so it was a fitting pairing.

So why was this song a good fit? To begin with, the movie from which it originates, "Once," is about two musicians who fall in love with each other.

They meet randomly, discover a shared love of music, record an album, toy with a romantic relationship, then ultimately part ways. In real life the film's co-stars, who were friends before making the film, became romantically involved during filming, which makes the story all the more sweet. And on top of that, the film was made on a shoestring budget (only about $160,000) and Hansard and Irglová went on to win the 2008 Academy Award for Best Song with one of the most heartfelt acceptance speeches in recent Oscar memory.

Given that backstory, it's hard to imagine Bowersox and DeWyze's performance doing the original justice, but the judges and "Idol" audience seemed to heartily approve.

What did you think? Which songs were your favorites? Who do you think will be eliminated tomorrow? Let us know in the comments below!

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' , where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Gucci Mane To Be Released From Jail Wednesday

Posted: 11 May 2010 04:44 AM PDT

MC is expected to hold press conference immediately after his release.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by MTV News staff


Gucci Mane
Photo: Rick Diamond/ Getty Images

Gucci Mane is set to be freed from prison on Wednesday, just six months into a one-year sentence for a parole violation, and a rep for the MC told MTV News that the rapper will hold a press conference immediately upon his release.

According to a spokesperson for Georgia's Fulton County Jail, however, the rapper's release time on Wednesday is yet to be confirmed.

The spokesperson told MTV News on Tuesday (May 11) that Gucci Mane will be subject to routine check for any warrants that may have been issued during his incarceration. Pending the result of the check, he will be free to walk out of the facility. The actual time of his release, though, will be determined based on the backlog of prisoners also being released on that particular day.

Gucci was sent to prison in November of last year after violating his probation for a second time, resulting in him being forced to finish a suspended sentence that he had already served six months of in 2008.

Upon his last release from jail, the rapper picked up his frantic work pace and once again hit the mixtape circuit hard, increasing his profile to its highest point and resulting in a nod on the 2009 MTV News' Hottest MC list.

During his imprisonment, Gucci Mane has kept himself just as busy.

His most recent album, The State Vs. Radric Davis was released to critical acclaim and another project, The BurrrPrint 2HD, was partially recorded behind bars and presented via his new label, 1017 Brick Squad.

At press time, the nature of the rapper's press conference was unclear; it's believed Gucci Mane will address the recent firing of his manager and booking agency. Both entities drew fire in an that alleged improper business tactics.

In a press release earlier this month, Gucci Mane announced the formation of a new team that will guide his career, consisting of First Avenue Management, the CAA agency, and business manager David Bolno.

Related Artists

Drake's 'Find Your Love' Video: What Are The Jamaican Characters Saying?

Posted: 11 May 2010 04:44 AM PDT

We decipher what's going on in the Young Money MC's latest clip.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by Hanif Sumner


Photo: Young Money

Lost in translation? During Drake's adventure in the clip for "Find Your Love," the rapper was warned not to chase the top shotta's girl — but he still ran after leading lady Maliah Michel. But what exactly was the sage advice he turned down? The thick accents in the video make it difficult to tell — but MTV News got the lowdown.

"Consciously speaking, that girl there is trouble," the elder Jamaican man tells Drake as the video opens. "That girl is going to make you get yourself in serious trouble."

Drake ignores the words and the man gets a bit more serious with his warning.

"Hey, skipper, I'm telling you — see if you look at that country side there, at Jamaica," he says. "That man there named Puffy is a bad man — a bad man. You don't want to get involved or you'll be dead. Take me serious, that man is a bad man, mad man — that man kills people. You just come here; you don't really know it. You don't want to get involved with him."

The man then assures Drake he doesn't want to get involved in a world like that and that he should focus on his album and his music. However, Drake still refuses to listen and ventures back into into town to find his love interest. The video then rewinds back to when Drake and Michel first encounter each other; Mavado, who plays the ganglord, has men on lookout who spot the rapper talking to Michel, his woman.

The rude boys watch Drake and their boss' girl leave the party for a romantic liaison on the beach. After the pair take off, one of Mavado's goons races via motorcycle to tell his boss about what happened. They talk about the "brown boy" who has been in town causing trouble.

"Get my dog them," Mavado tells his underling. "Tell them we are going on the road."

As Drake arrives at the house Michel is located in "Gully Side," Mavado and his men creep up behind him and capture the rapper. The final scene features Drake bound by rope as Mavado coldly informs him he's crossed the line.

"Aight, so you want come to Jamaica and look at my woman? You hear me. Here. Done. Do it," he says as he hands the gun over to Michel to finish Drake. "Anything you want that's in Jamaica belongs to the gully cat."

Did you think Drake perished at the hands of his leading lady? Let us know in the comments below!

Related Videos Related Artists

Russell Crowe Calls 'Robin Hood' 'The Sort Of Film You Hope For'

Posted: 11 May 2010 01:06 AM PDT

'I'd be on a film set like that every day of the week if I could be," actor says.
By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Todd Gilchrist


Russel Crowe
Photo: MTV News

Russell Crowe was born in 1964 on the southern tip of New Zealand's northern island. But to hear the actor tell it, he's hopscotched through the fabric of time, fighting with gladiators in ancient Rome, shooting his way through the ganglands of the Old West and sailing treacherous waters during the reign of Napoleon.

That's no bit of exaggeration in the eyes of Crowe, a guy who likes to do his own stunts and has a fondness for the period-action flick. Thus, in years past, he's shot back through time in "Gladiator," "3:10 to Yuma" and "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World." And now he's done it again with "Robin Hood," the retelling of the iconic story of the arrow-slinging defender of the common man.

"This is the sort of film that you hope for and then you wait for because you get to step into a completely different world," Crowe told MTV News. "You actually get to time travel.

"I've been on a beach and done a cavalry charge with 130 horses into 500 men," he continued, explaining one particularly harrowing scene that comes toward the film's end. "I've been there. That's not my imagination. That's real. I'm at full tilt with that horse, stretched out over his neck. If I make a mistake, it's gonna be carnage."

The possibility of catastrophe, so it seems, is vastly more appealing than the rather humdrum experience of playing a paunchy whistleblower ("The Insider"), a grizzly reporter ("State of Play") or even a schizophrenic math wiz ("A Beautiful Mind").

"It's definitely more fun," he said. "It's an incredible thing with the movie business. Every now and then you just get to experience something that is beyond you in contemporary life. It's much more fun. And people talk about, 'Hard work doing this, hard work doing that.' It's like, 'Please!' I'd be on a film set like that every day of the week if I could be."

Check out everything we've got on "Robin Hood."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Related Videos Related Photos

Mavado On Co-Starring In Drake's 'Find Your Love' Video

Posted: 11 May 2010 06:10 AM PDT

Dancehall star says he may appear on a remix for the song.
By Rahman Dukes


Mavado
Photo: Young Money

Dancehall artist Mavado is one bad dude. In the Anthony Mandler-directed clip for Drake's latest single, "Find Your Love," the singer delivers on his promise of a threat against Drizzy, who was warned to stay away from the Boss' lady. As a result, Drake pays the ultimate price for his decision to move forward with his romantic pursuit of Mavado's leading lady (or does he? The ending of the video is left open). But when the cameras are off, Movado says he Drake are good friends.

"Me and Drake were friends for quite some time now," Mavado told MTV News on Tuesday (May 11). "He ended up coming to Jamaica together with me while I was finishing my album. And he said, 'Yo, I want to do this in Jamaica.' The video with me and Drake, it's a bit different, but trust me, it's very perfect. I'm loving that video."

Mavado's character in "Find Your Love," Puffy, is first introduced in the video at Kingston's landmark Asylum Club, although it's called "The Building" in the clip. Mavado said that's just one of the ideas he brought to the table for the dramatic clip.

"They came up with the script and I knew what they really wanted," he said. "Me and my man, we're in Jamaica and I'm on the 'Gully Side,' so I know just the perfect spot."

Contrary to the storyline in the video, which ends with Drake's capture by some of the island's most notorious thugs — a.k.a. "dogs" — Mavado said his people had nothing but love for the Canadian. "It's a good vibe on the 'Gully Side' and the part where I'm from, the people love him there."

Last month during his Away From Home Tour, Drake echoed Mavado's words "We went to this 'hood. They call it the 'gully' side' " Drake said. "It's bad out there, real bad. They had 'Young Money' sprayed on the gates, 'Drake and Wayne,' 'cause I came to shoot the video out there. I'm talking about you drive by people's homes, they had 'Drake,' 'Young Money,' 'Drake, Welcome Here,' 'Drake We Love You' — crazy sh--, man. It was so crazy. This dude was like, 'Original Weezy tha God! You tha boss! Weezy tha God!' It's crazy. They love us, 'cause we show love out there."

According to Mavado, the collaboration on "Find Your Love" is just the first offering between the pair, and fans should expect more to come.

"Me and Drake, we already been talking about it but you know, Drake is on his tour doing his thing. But I guess when it's the right time, it's going to happen. I believe it's soon. I'm supposed to do a remix for that song."

What do you think of Drake's new video? Let us know in the comments below!

Related Artists

Freddie Gibbs' 'Ghetto' Video Shows The 'Real' Gary, Indiana

Posted: 11 May 2010 05:16 AM PDT

'It was just me interacting with the people in my city,' Gibbs said of new video.
By Shaheem Reid

By now, Freddie Gibbs is very familiar with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. He's in Los Angeles quite often to conduct business. But when it came to showing his hometown of Gary, Indiana, to the world in his new video for "The Ghetto," which premiered on Monday, the lanky newcomer says gloss was not an option.

"The making of the video was easy, like a documentary or something," Freddie told MTV News Tuesday (May 11). "It was just me interacting with the people in my city. A lot of people didn't really know what Gary looked like. They just knew the Jacksons were from there. People are glad that I came with a video showing real sh-- and not some made-up party scene or a car show. I gave 'em what's true to me."

Back in January, Gibbs described the lack of opportunities in Gary, especially for an aspiring rapper. He said he felt he could open doors for others with the launch of his career.

"A lot of people in Gary work hard to try and get out," he said. "It's a depressed city, a depressed economy. It's still my home. I still live there. I got family, friends there. I feel like me putting this street music out, it's gonna shed some light on the bad parts so maybe they can be fixed. Plus, it's no music scene in Gary — we don't even have our own radio situation. Everything we got is up under Chicago. I gotta go and create the scene. Being the first dude to come out the city in the rap game is a lot of pressure. For one, people hear Gary, Indiana, and think I'm some hick from the farm. But I'm from the bricks. This is the ghetto. This ain't no cornfield."

Gibbs' video was directed by Brandon "n2ition" Riley. "The Ghetto" is off of the new mixtape Str8 Killa No Filla, which drops in mid-June.

3OH!3 Celebrate 'Tonsil Hockey' In 'My First Kiss' Video

Posted: 11 May 2010 03:38 AM PDT

'I was a chubby kid with braces and I'm sure I had Cheetos all over my fingers,' Sean Foreman recalls of his first lip-lock.
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Saimon Kos


3OH!3 in an MTV News interview
Photo: MTV News

There was a time, long before the hit singles and the rather fervent female fanbase, when 3OH!3's Nathaniel Motte and Sean Foreman had to go to great lengths to get kissed. Like, really great lengths.

"My first kiss was back [in] the summer of 1998," Foreman told MTV News. "I was up in a cabin in Colorado, with a bunch of friends, and we were playing Truth or Dare, and some poor girl was dared to kiss me," he continued. "And she definitely didn't want to because I was a chubby kid with braces and I'm sure I had Cheetos all over my fingers. I think she might have declined at first, but she was forced, because it was Truth or Dare, and she ended up kissing me, and it made me very happy. I think she would've preferred to eat an earthworm or something."

As for Motte, well, he's never been kissed, which is why it's probably a good thing 3OH!3 just filmed the video for "My First Kiss," the official lead single off their upcoming Streets of Gold album.

"My first kiss, against all my moral values, was today," Motte laughed. "Because I'm not married, so I don't believe in kissing before marriage, but I had to break that for the video today. We just did my first kiss. It was thrilling."

The duo shot the clip earlier this week in New York and, as the title implies, the video features a whole lot of kissing — and not much else.

"The song is about a girl you really like, and the story line of going through your first kiss with a girl to exploring further parts of the relationship," Foreman explained. "[And] the video is a play on kissing in general, and lips, and getting close up to a bunch of lips, and people coming out of mouths and just, like, really cool transitions."

"A lot of lips. Some lip-locking, some tonsil hockey," Motte added. "Mono exchanging."

Sounds gross. The song, of course, is a collaboration with Ke$ha, and since we didn't spot her on-set, we assume she doesn't actually appear in the "Kiss" video. But the guys in 3OH!3 weren't about to deny or confirm. After all, they're not ones to kiss and tell.

They stayed firmly on topic: "I want to talk about kissing ... that's the reason we're here today," Foreman said. "We flew in some of the best lips in the world for this."

Do you think "My First Kiss" is good music to make out to? Tell us in the comments!

Related Artists

Ice Cube's 'Straight Outta L.A.' Documentary Premieres On ESPN

Posted: 11 May 2010 05:54 AM PDT

Rapper directed film about the 1980s Oakland Raiders and their influence on hip-hop culture in South-Central L.A.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Rahman Dukes


Ice Cube
Photo: Columbia

When it comes to Ice Cube's place in hip-hop history, he'll be remembered for three distinct things: his scowl, his jerry curl and his black Los Angeles Raiders cap.

Specifically, the legendary N.W.A. lyricist made the brooding football team's logo — an eye-patched pirate adorned in silver and black with crossed swords in the background — a symbol in rap lore, long before Jay-Z did the same years later with the Yankees fitted hat.

And in Cube's documentary, "Straight Outta L.A.," the veteran MC combines his two loves, rap and the Raiders, and delivers an insightful examination the tangled rise of two multimillion-dollar franchises, the Raiders and gangsta rap.

"Nothing impacted my life more than the Raiders moving to L.A.," Ice Cube told MTV News of the controversial relocation of the Oakland team in 1982. "Being in N.W.A. [at the time], we were trying to figure out what we were going to do to let people know we were a group. So we decided to wear [all] black. Then I started wearing the Raiders hats. Then, next thing you know, Eazy would show up in Raiders gear. It just became a thing."

In the production, premiering Tuesday night (May 11) on ESPN as part of their "30 for 30" film series, Cube weaves the story of the outlaw Raiders team, which won a championship with their tough style, and the poverty-stricken Southern California that spawned acts like N.W.A.

The attitude players like Howie Long and Marcus Allen brought every Sunday helped power the swagger of a young Cube, Eazy-E and Dr. Dre.

"That team represented the L.A. I knew," Cube explained. "It wasn't the 'Showtime' Lakers, where people saw the glitz and the glamour. It wasn't the '84 Olympics. It was a little more grimy, and the Raiders represented that, in South Central [where they played]. They had the whole city on lock. To me, [this project] is the true representation of music and sports."

Are you excited to watch the Ice Cube-directed "Straight Outta L.A." documentary? Let us know in the comments!

Related Artists

'The City' Star Roxy Olin Calls Nemesis Olivia Palermo 'An Obstacle'

Posted: 11 May 2010 12:24 AM PDT

'She deserves everything she gets!' Olin tells MTV News of siding with co-star Whitney Port in this season's fashion-world drama.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Christina Garibaldi


Roxy Olin
Photo: MTV

Fans of "The City" are about to see fireworks explode between Whitney Port and her nemesis Olivia Palermo. But no matter what goes down between the two girls, Port's right-hand gal, Roxy Olin, has always got Whitney's back.

"Olivia is very well dressed. I will give her credit for that, but she's hard to deal with and we butt heads," Roxy told MTV News of interacting this season with her co-star, an Elle accessories editor. "I'm definitely on Whitney's team with this and after watching it, I'm like, 'Oh, my God! You're not a nice girl and what you're willing to do [to people], and you're sabotaging someone's [fashion] line that they worked so hard [on], and have been your friend and have been in your corner.' "

Roxy warned that she, Whitney and their crew wouldn't let the headstrong Olivia walk all over them.

"It's not going to be like that anymore," Olin said. "We're not in your corner and you'll see that, and if that means drama, then bring it. She deserves everything she gets!"

Although Roxy said she is a "huge advocate for change," she was unsure about whether Olivia could change her stripes. While the girls were shooting and living out the drama of the show's third season, the "City" castmember said she hadn't realized just how devious Olivia could be until she watched the new episodes.

"I think while experiencing that [drama], we did not think [all] that was going on," Olin said of Palermo's antics. "We thought she was helping, so watching it, it's like, 'Really'? We're right about our instincts, and she's not a good person. It's cutthroat in this fashion world and she's one of our obstacles."

Teasing that Whitney and Olivia are going to have a confrontation that will leave fans wanting more, she too says that she and Olivia also come to verbal blows. "I did have a confrontation," she said. "I think you'll see it. Whitney's [confrontation] is great though. You know how sweet Whitney is ... so ..."

Who do you think will win in the Olivia vs. Whitney battle 2010? Discuss in the comments!

"The City" airs Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT after "The Hills" at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

Related Photos

'American Idol' Movie Night: What Should The Top 4 Sing?

Posted: 11 May 2010 03:07 AM PDT

Here are our top song suggestions for the remaining contestants.
By Eric Ditzian


"American Idol" Top 4
Photo: FOX

Welcome, y'all, step right this way! Take your seats for Songs of the Cinema Night on "American Idol," where every track on the approved list seems to have been selected by a 13-year-old boy circa 1987 or a middle school girl with a huge Disney crush. How else can we explain the presence of tunes from "Ghostbusters," "Caddyshack," "Top Gun," "Rocky" and "Rocky III"? And cuts off "Aladdin," "Beauty and the Beast," "The Lion King" and "Tarzan"?

It certainly can't be because those songs are good fits for the talents of Crystal Bowersox, Lee Dewyze and the rest of the "Idol" top four. Suitable tunes are few and far between for the contestants this Tuesday night (May 11), and mentor Jamie Foxx will have a tall task in front of him. Luckily he's had some practice shaping these reality-show hopefuls, having guided the singers last year during Rat Pack Week. With just one show to go until we hit the top three and begin the ever important home visits, the stakes are high going into the show. Here are our picks for the songs that best fit each singer — the songs that might have them hanging on for another week.

Crystal Bowersox: Last week, MamaSox made the very convincing argument that she needn't always chose a big, high-impact song simply because she's on "American Idol." Alas, that's wishful thinking on the part of this season's most talented contestant, one who's never seemed entirely comfortable in front of the spotlight. After two lovely, if ordinary performances, it's time for Crystal to go big again. That's why we have our eye on "I Will Always Love You," the song Whitney Houston reintroduced to the public in "The Bodyguard." But before Houston came Dolly Parton, whose country version became a hit in the '70s and which she recorded for the 1982 film, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." MamaSox should take her inspiration from Parton's version, infusing it with some Joplin-style blues. If she goes in this direction, it could be a big night for the dreadlocked 24-year-old.

Lee Dewyze: Well after the original song list was released, an updated version hit the Web. The biggest surprise? Prince's "Purple Rain." There's simply no way "Idol" producers went to the trouble of clearing this song if someone's not going to sing it. And we'd like that lucky crooner to be Dewyze. The 24-year-old has had his biggest successes with slow, expressive rock tunes. "Purple Rain" is just funky enough that it would still mesh well with the contestant we've come to know while at the same time showing us some welcome range.

Michael Lynche: Here comes our most predictable song choice: Seal's "Kiss From a Rose." The simple fact of that matter is that we think Big Mike should play it safe this week and stay well within his comfort zone. He's coming off an admirable take on Sinatra's "The Way You Look Tonight." In the past, we've seen him veer away from a jazzy, R&B vibe after a successful performance and indulge light indie-rock tuneage. That's not what works best for the contestant who most clearly wants to — needs to — win this show. He can knock "Kiss From a Rose" out of the park, and that's exactly what he should do. It's his best bet to make it into the top three.

Casey James: We had our eye on Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová's "Falling Slowly," but Kris Allen commandeered that tune last season on his way toward victory. Any comparison to the season-eight champ will not reflect well on James. The other logical choice would be the Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris," but we fear this will bring out Casey's worst, wannabe-rocker self in a burst of late-'90s radio cheesiness. For these reasons — and many more that center around his limited repertoire — we'd like to see Casey hop back on his stool with his acoustic guitar and do a slow, stripped-down version of "Don't You Forget About Me" by Simple Minds, that iconic tune from "The Breakfast Club." Just remember to lose that '80s synth keyboard.

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

Kristin Cavallari Had 'Nothing In Common' With Ex Justin Bobby

Posted: 11 May 2010 02:58 AM PDT

'The Hills' star admits to 'amazing chemistry' with co-star Brody Jenner, teases new romance.
By Jocelyn Vena


Kristin Cavallari
Photo: MTV News

Audrina Patridge has moved on from on-and-off love Justin Bobby, and now it seems that her pal and "Hills" co-star Kristin Cavallari is doing the same. Despite what appeared to be a new start for Justin and Kristin at the end of last season, season six won't see the couple taking their relationship to the next level.

"That's over. It's done. It didn't go very far," Cavallari said of JB. And the split, according to Kristin, was mutually agreed upon. "I don't think anyone's to blame for it. I think we're two completely different people. I mean at the end of the day we really have nothing in common."

"Hills" followers shouldn't worry that Kristin might be heartbroken. She's always had great chemistry with her ex-guy Brody Jenner. The newly single star could revisit that relationship, though Brody also seems to be getting close to a new lady this season.

"Micaela is new to L.A., actually," Cavallari said of Jenner's potential love interest. "But funny enough, she's sorority sisters with Lo. ... Brody and I have been hanging out a little bit. We have amazing chemistry, so we have a great time together. But I don't know. I don't know if we could ever really get back together, but Micaela's a girl that Brody started dating."

So, who else is on Kristin's radar? Fans will have to tune in to find out. "I do ... date this season, actually," she dished. "There are some good dates and there are some bad dates, which are great for TV!"

Should Kristin rekindle things with Brody or date other guys? Tell us in the comments!

"The Hills: Final Season" airs at 10 p.m. ET/PT every Tuesday followed by "The City" at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

Related Videos Related Photos
Diposting oleh computer game di 05.16

Tidak ada komentar:

Posting Komentar

Langganan: Posting Komentar (Atom)