MTV News |
- Lady Gaga's 'Alejandro' Video Might Not Top 'Telephone,' But Why Should It?
- Green Day Want To 'Keep Adding' Earlier Songs To 'Rock Band'
- Katy Perry's Reaction To Lady Gaga's 'Alejandro' Surprises Perez Hilton
- Kanye West Treats Chicago High Schools To Private Concerts
- Styles P Says The LOX Are In The Studio For Group Album, Solo LPs
- Donald Trump Dreamed Of Playing In The Majors, On 'When I Was 17'
- 'The Hills' Recap: Brody And McKaela Are Over
- How Did President Obama End Up At Kalamazoo Central's Graduation?
- Eminem Admits Being Jealous Of Lil Wayne, Kanye West On 'Talkin' 2 Myself'
- 'Glee' Finale Recap: Don't Stop Believin'
- Lady Gaga's 'Alejandro' Video: A Guide To Its Madonna References
- Drake Says He And Lil Wayne Are Planning A Joint Album
- Did Katy Perry Dis Lady Gaga's 'Alejandro' Video?
- 50 Cent Weighs In On Lil' Kim/ Nicki Minaj Flap
- Eminem, Lil Wayne Trade Tough-Guy Rhymes On 'No Love'
- Lady Gaga Fans Call 'Alejandro' Video 'Brilliant,' 'Scary'
- Lindsay Lohan Posts Bail After SCRAM Violation
- Diddy Calls Rick Ross 'A Very Unique Artist, ' Applauds New Mixtape
- Heidi Montag Files For Separation From Spencer Pratt
- Christina Aguilera Says <i>Bionic</i> Is About Fun And The Future
| Lady Gaga's 'Alejandro' Video Might Not Top 'Telephone,' But Why Should It? Posted: 09 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT Gaga may have reached a point in her career where not even she can top herself, in Bigger Than the Sound.
Sometimes, being Lady Gaga must be a bummer. Take the Tuesday premiere of her much-anticipated "Alejandro" video: Though it features more odes to Brecht than a sixpenny opera and singlehandedly broke Twitter when it debuted, it's being called a Madonna knockoff by some (check the comments on this Entertainment Weekly story), "pretentious" by others (see the comments on this CNN.com piece) and even a "disappointment" by some fans. While I don't think those reactions are particularly warranted (or particularly fair), they prove what Gaga is up against these days. After a meteoric, improbable rise to the top of the pop universe, she may have finally reached the point in her career where not even she can top herself. It happens to all the greats — it's just never happened this quickly.
Case in point, people's biggest qualm with "Alejandro" seems to be that it's not "Telephone." They complain that it's long, redundant and self-indulgent — and all these things are funny to me, because they're the same problems people had with "Telephone" when it was first released. Only now (in the span of just three short months), it's viewed as her classic, the one against which all other Gaga clips shall be judged. Shoot, "Alejandro" doesn't even have the product placement "Telephone" did (remember how much people raged about that?), and yet folks are already rushing to bury it. Of course, the "Telephone" comparisons aren't fair. After all, the videos have nothing in common aside from the fact that they were released consecutively. But they do carry some weight, because it's entirely possible that that video represented Gaga at the absolute peak of her powers and abilities. After months of hype, it premiered live on E!. It stretched past the nine-minute mark. It was violent. Gratuitous. Insane. Not to mention awesome. Certainly the most memorable video in recent memory. People talked about it for weeks. Analyzed every frame. Debated its content. It was sensational. And a sensation. "Alejandro," although a fine, arty and expensive-looking thing, drew the unenviable task of having to follow all that. Which is not to say that it's not a great video, because it certainly is. And to that end, if any other artist released it, they would have been lauded as brilliant for breathing life back into music videos. But since it's Gaga's name at the top, "Alejandro" was greeted with muted applause, perhaps even a stifled yawn or two. This is what happens when you're (arguably) the biggest pop star on the planet, and you've made a career out of titillating, tweaking and breaking boundaries. People are always going to be wondering what's next. And eventually, well, you reach a point where nothing you do can top your last stunt. And, yes, I realize that the majority of Gaga's "little monsters" positively loved "Alejandro." But then again, they love everything she does. They don't really count in the grand scheme of things. Take a look at the bigger picture. It really seems that, for the first time I can certainly remember, a fair amount of critics and fans — be they casual or die-hard — are willing to step forward and say that they were less-than-impressed. This is a key moment in Lady Gaga's career. Short of setting herself on fire in her next video — probably something she's considered — I don't know what she can do for an encore. And even then, people will probably say she's just doing the same thing she did in the "Bad Romance" video. It's not really fair, nor is it justified, but one day after its premiere, for all its gloss and glamour, "Alejandro" is already looking like it could be Lady Gaga's first shark-jumping, fridge-nuking moment. Perhaps even her first misfire. This is the downside to continually churning out jaw-dropping work. Eventually, the jaws just don't drop as far as they used to. Gaga has spent the past two years becoming an international icon, the first truly massive star of the 21st century. Now, she might have to deal with the reality that she just can't impress forever. Then again, let's just wait three months for the premiere of her next music video — I can't wait to hear what people will be saying about "Alejandro" then. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Or steampunk-inspired harness. Whatever. Questions? Concerns? Hit me up at BTTS@MTVStaff.com. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Green Day Want To 'Keep Adding' Earlier Songs To 'Rock Band' Posted: 09 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'It would be great to see songs from 39/Smooth and Kerplunk,' frontman Billie Joe Armstrong says of new game's track list.
When you've got a discography that stretches all the way back to 1989, cramming all of it into one video game is sort of tough. That was exactly the problem facing Green Day when they partnered with the publishers of the "Rock Band" franchise — there was just too much music. So while the just-released "Green Day: Rock Band" features 47 tracks spanning the band's entire career, it opens to their breakout 1994 album, Dookie, which any astute GD fan can tell you was actually their third studio record. But some omissions might prove to be temporary, according to the guys in the band.
"That's what's cool about the 'Rock Band' thing, is if we want to add more songs, we can do it online, in the future," drummer Tre Cool explained. "If we want to do some surprises and stuff, we can always keep adding to it." "Yeah, it would be great to see songs that are from, you know, [Green Day's 1990 debut] 39/Smooth and ['92's] Kerplunk, to come out on it," frontman Billie Joe Armstrong added. "You know, that's what's exciting ... to visit some of the older songs too." But until those older songs are made available, Green Day fans are going to have to make due with the 47 tracks that did make the cut, a list that includes all of Dookie, American Idiot and most of 21st Century Breakdown, not to mention songs from their Insomniac, Nimrod and Warning albums too. And that's part of the fun for the guys in Green Day: looking back on older tunes, and even rehearing them as "stems," remixed for the game by Chris Lord-Alge. "It's exciting for me to hear the song 'She,' and you know, that was fun to watch and play," Armstrong smiled. "And hearing the stems that they had to do with Chris Lord-Alge, who ended up doing all the different mixes for it to bring out the drums and the guitars and bass and vocals. That was really exciting too, for people to see or, to play or to hear again." MTV News is celebrating the release of "Green Day: Rock Band" with a week of special coverage. For more on the game, check out our Multiplayer blog. For a chance to win a "Rock Band" guitar signed by the guys in Green Day, head over to the MTV Newsroom blog. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Katy Perry's Reaction To Lady Gaga's 'Alejandro' Surprises Perez Hilton Posted: 09 Jun 2010 06:32 AM PDT ' 'Cheap' wasn't the most appropriate word,' says Hilton, a friend of both pop stars.
On Tuesday Lady Gaga premiered her latest over-the-top music video, "Alejandro." This time around Gaga went dark, using images of the military and religion to weave her tale of lost love in the Steven Klein-directed clip. Already, the scenes of her dressed as a nun have rubbed some the wrong way, including fellow pop star Katy Perry, whose tweet calling "blasphemy as entertainment" cheap seemed to allude to the video. That comment had Gaga's bestie and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton defending his pal, even though he says he loves both pop stars. "The Gaga video has premiered [with] a lot of reactions on both sides, love and hate," he told MTV News at the Logo NewNowNext Awards on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. "Surprisingly, one of the people who had interesting words to share about it is Katy Perry."
The gossip gangster said that Perry's tweet shouldn't be taken too seriously. "She took to her Twitter to say that blasphemy is as cheap as a comedian telling fart jokes, which I found funny because Russell Brand and Katy Perry love to tell fart jokes," he explained. "In fact, a few tweets prior to that one, Katy was joking about Russell farting in bed." But Hilton tried to remain diplomatic about the whole situation. "I am a fan of both Katy Perry and Lady Gaga and a friend to both," he said. "Everyone's entitled to their opinion. I have one and I share it. I just think that maybe the word 'cheap' wasn't the most appropriate word to describe Gaga and her video." Do you think Katy Perry is trying to start a beef with Lady Gaga? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Kanye West Treats Chicago High Schools To Private Concerts Posted: 09 Jun 2010 05:53 AM PDT Lupe Fiasco and Common joined Yeezy in rewarding public school students for their achievements this year.
Kanye West gave the students at three Chicago public schools serious incentive to keep up their grades and make it to school: the promise of a private concert. On Tuesday, the rapper's 33rd birthday, he made good on that pledge with the Kanye West Foundation's third annual Stay in School event, which found him visiting three different hometown high schools to perform a mini-concert along with pals Lupe Fiasco and Common, according to the Chicago Tribune. With the exception of a recent club appearance in Manhattan, West has been keeping a low profile for the past eight months. But he stepped back in the spotlight to reward the kids at Farragut Career Academy, John Marshall Metropolitan and Percy L. Julian High School for posting the highest gains in grades, behavior and performance among seven participating schools. In previous years, the concerts took place in area venues, but this year West and his friends played a six-song set at each school. Fiasco kicked the shows off with his hit "Superstar," followed by Common's "Universal Mind Control," according to the paper. "We want to congratulate you on the incredible job you've done in school," said Common. "Whatever you do, be the best at it." Then it was Kanye's turn to take the stage. He performed "Run This Town," "Good Life," the new song "Power" (which TV cameras were not allowed to record) and "Touch the Sky." West didn't say much to the crowd during the Farragut show, leaving most of the stage banter to Common and Fiasco, though that show did end with the more than 1,600 students — all wearing white Kanye West Foundation T-shirts — singing "Happy Birthday" to the rapper. Would the promise of a Kanye West concert get you to improve your grades? Discuss it in the comments. Related Artists |
| Styles P Says The LOX Are In The Studio For Group Album, Solo LPs Posted: 09 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'Now that we all there at the same time, it brings better energy and better thoughts,' he tells Mixtape Daily.
The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive Styles P says the LOX are cooking up a slew of products individually and collectively. All three members, Jadakiss, Sheek Louch and, of course, SP the Ghost, are recording together.
"We working on the LOX right now and all the solos at once — Sheek solo, my solo, 'Kiss solo, mixtapes. That's our plan for the summer right now," he said. "Since we all in the lab, we going in. Now that we all there at the same time, it brings better energy and better thoughts. Even while I'm working on my solo, I like that input: 'All right, P, go here with it' or 'go there with it.' 'You should do that kinda song.' I was in a Louch session the other day, and somebody was there for beats for him; he got two beats for me. It wasn't nothing there for him in the beat session, but he heard two beats he knew I would like and go in on. It makes for a better energy and better fit. We just working and making our legacy grow. LOX forever." Styles said there isn't a distinct method of choosing which songs go for the LOX album or each MC's solo project. "Follow your instincts," he said. "The first thought that pops in your head. It depends on how it go. If I hear something, I might be like, 'This is for the group, this sounds crazy.' I'll call them up, three-way: 'Listen. You like?' If one of them don't like it, then I use it for myself. If they like, we use it for the group." Although the squad is still making music, Styles said they will likely not go with the title they had revealed previously: Live, Suffer, Celebrate. "We'll probably change it, 'cause we got a lot of ideas and thoughts in our brains. "We don't let down when it comes to these bars," SP added. "We really just trying to handle our business first. Business-wise, it looks like it's being handled pretty well. We're trying to keep our heads on our shoulders and make solid music. It's well-known producers that's definitely going to be out there. But we also giving a shot to anybody with mean beats that got that LOX sound that we can appreciate and the world can appreciate." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines or follow the Mixtape Daily team on Twitter: @shaheemreid and @mongosladenyc. Related Artists |
| Donald Trump Dreamed Of Playing In The Majors, On 'When I Was 17' Posted: 09 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'I was captain of the baseball team,' the 'Apprentice' boss says on Saturday's episode.
So far this season on MTV's "When I Was 17," we've learned about Drake's awful "neck afro," and how Kevin Jonas attempted to tame his own unfortunate 'fro with a flatiron. On this Saturday's episode, Donald Trump — the real-estate mogul instantly recognizable by his signature 'do — takes us back to his teenage years, though viewers will have to tune in to find out whether he opens up about that famous mane.
We do discover, however, that the future "Apprentice" boss was a sports-obsessed teen growing up in the 1960s. "When I was 17, I loved sports," Trump says on the new episode, airing at 11 a.m. on MTV. "I was always a good athlete. I played football, baseball, soccer. I wrestled. I think the thing I liked the best was baseball." The New York City native attended an upstate military school, where he dreamed of going pro. Alas, Trump didn't have the skills to make it in the big leagues, but things seem to have turned out well for the guy, no? "I was captain of the baseball team," Trump explained. "I was supposed to be a professional baseball player. Fortunately, I decided to go into real estate instead. I played first base and I also played catcher. I was a good hitter. I just had a good time." With his days on the baseball diamond behind him, Trump is happy to spend time on his country club links. "Now I play golf," he said with a smile. "When I Was 17" — this week featuring Donald Trump, Nick Cannon and Aubrey O'Day — airs Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV. Related Artists |
| 'The Hills' Recap: Brody And McKaela Are Over Posted: 09 Jun 2010 06:20 AM PDT Meanwhile, Audrina is back to flirting with Justin Bobby.
Well, well, well. Kristin's handwringing over Brody's new lady friend was all for naught. McKaela's unexpected friendship with one of Brody's enemies continued to spell doom for their fledgling relationship during Tuesday's episode of "The Hills." It was Stephanie's birthday, and the gang convened at Bar 210 to celebrate. Well, not everyone, since Audrina's boyfriend, Ryan, was out on tour. "Now that he's not here, I've been going out," Audrina told Stephanie. "And I kind of miss that." One unexpected reveler who did show up was McKaela, who had been invited last-minute by Lo. And McKaela didn't come alone. She brought her friend Allie, whom several of the partygoers recognized immediately as the girl who allegedly broke into Brody's pad in the middle of the night to retrieve a lost ring.
As Kristin sat ever-so-close to Brody, chatting away, McKaela, who had been relegated to the opposite end of the coach with Allie, gave Kristin the evil eye. Brody ignored both McKaela and Allie to avoid any drama, but unsurprisingly, things got dramatic pretty quickly. "I don't care if you want to be single," McKaela declared, confronting Brody. "I just want respect." Brody explained that he was peeved McKaela brought Allie, and seconds later he hustled out of the bar with Kristin by his side. The next morning while at work, McKaela asked Lo if she should call Brody. "Be careful," Lo advised. McKaela dialed Brody's number, only to have her call ignored by Brody who was still in bed, watching Kristin retrieve her belongings that were scattered across his room from the night before. Later in the day, Kristin met up with Audrina to discuss the events of the night. "You guys are like soul mates," Audrina said of Brody and Kristin. Just then, Audrina's phone went off — it was Justin Bobby sending her a text. When she met up with BF Ryan later in the day, she said nothing of the text, even hinting that maybe she and Ryan shouldn't be together. "Maybe this is too much too soon," she told him. But Ryan wouldn't have any of it. "What we have is pretty rare and pretty special," he assured her. As if asking for trouble, Audrina showed up at Justin Bobby's garage to get her flirt on. "Did you tell Spikey you saw me the other night?" JB asked. Of course, Audrina hadn't. "There's certain people you see, and they're just meant," Justin Bobby said. "You can tell when two people are completely happy." Hmm... who is he talking about? Meanwhile, Kristin finally agreed to meet with McKaela to hear her side of things. Kristin warned her that Allie was bad news and then asked how things were going between her and Brody. McKaela said they were pretty much over. And just to remind her how unwelcome Allie was, Kristin left McKaela with a few parting words: "People in L.A. take advantage of sweet girls like you." What did you think of last night's "Hills"? Share your reviews 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 |
| How Did President Obama End Up At Kalamazoo Central's Graduation? Posted: 08 Jun 2010 12:53 AM PDT Michigan high school won the Race to the Top challenge and a commencement speech from Obama.
Back in February, President Obama put out a challenge to graduating seniors all over the country: Prove that you did the best job meeting his Race to the Top challenge and he would deliver the commencement address at your high school.
"Public schools that encourage systemic reform and embrace effective approaches to teaching and learning help prepare America's students to graduate ready for college and a career and enable them to out-compete any worker, anywhere in the world," the president said in a video message. "This is your opportunity to show me why your school exemplifies the best that our education system has to offer." Education Secretary Arne Duncan added that the Race to the Top challenge was a chance for the nation's schools to share their accomplishments and aspirations and for teachers, students and principals to show how they are putting education first. The key to the challenge was a four-question essay in which each school was asked to demonstrate how they were helping prepare students to meet the president's goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. More than 1,000 schools submitted applications for the honor, with the White House Domestic Policy Council and Department of Education narrowing the list of finalists down to six high schools. Then the hard work really began, as each school encouraged supporters to weigh in to help them get into the winner's circle. According to the White House, between April 26 and 29, over 170,000 short videos and essays were received from the six finalist schools, with President Obama selecting the national winner from the three high schools with the highest average ratings. The finalists included Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas; Clark Montessori in Cincinnati; Denver School of Science and Technology in Denver; Environmental Charter High School in Lawndale, California; Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan; and MAST Academy in Miami. Kalamazoo Central's "We Are the Giants" video ultimately came out on top. Backed by a community looking to rise above its economic challenges, the diverse student body of Kalamazoo Central showed that the Giants take preparing for college and a career seriously. Nearly 94 percent of Central's seniors are headed to college, and for those efforts, they got to meet the president himself, first as a group when the seniors joined him in an intimate gathering before their commencement ceremony on Monday. "It was the most amazing thing ever that could ever happen to anybody," one particularly enthusiastic student gushed, while another classmate chimed in, "That moment right there changed my life, just meeting the president." And again on the graduation stage, when each student shook President Obama's hand after he delivered his first-ever high school commencement address, as promised. In the speech, he lauded Kalamazoo Central's students for their hard work, dedication and ingenuity and called the school a model for success in the 21st century. "It gives me great confidence to know that we've got such incredible young leaders that are going to be remaking the world in so many ways," Obama said. "I'm here tonight because I think America has a lot to learn from Kalamazoo Central about what makes a successful school in this new century." Get Schooled is a national program aimed at increasing high school and college graduation rates and promoting the importance of education, developed by Viacom in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Related Videos |
| Eminem Admits Being Jealous Of Lil Wayne, Kanye West On 'Talkin' 2 Myself' Posted: 08 Jun 2010 05:12 AM PDT 'I almost made a song dissing Lil Wayne,' he raps on the Recovery track.
Eminem dived into the depths of his drug dependency for his last album, Relapse, and on his forthcoming Recovery, he continues to speak on some of the low points in his life. On the track "Talkin' 2 Myself," the Detroit MC admits being jealous of Lil Wayne's and Kanye West's rising prominence. "I went away, I guess, and opened up some lanes," Em raps on the DJ Khalil-produced number. "But there was no one who even knew I was going through growing pains/ Hate was flowing through my veins/ On the verge of going insane/ I almost made a song dissing Lil Wayne." In the song, Em later claims that the attention Wayne and Kanye were receiving while he was away prompted the intended attack. But he backed away when he realized he wouldn't have been much of an opponent, in his condition. "I would have had my ass handed to me" he spits, acknowledging his respect for their craft. Upstart singer Kobe is featured on "Talkin' 2 Myself." He's one of the few guests on Recovery, in addition to Lil Wayne, Pink and Rihanna. For the set, though, Eminem reached out to a slew of producers he never worked with before, including Just Blaze, Havoc, Boi-1da and Khalil. Recovery is slated for a June 22 release, however the project leaked to the Web on Tuesday (June 8). In the past, the rapper's recording home, Interscope Records, has shifted the album release forward to compensate for such leaks. As of press time, the label had yet to indicate whether the release date for Recovery would be moved up. Are you surprised that Eminem nearly went after Lil Wayne and Kanye West? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Glee' Finale Recap: Don't Stop Believin' Posted: 08 Jun 2010 08:58 AM PDT First season ends just the way it started: with a lot of music and a side of cheese.
Well, if the "Glee" producers intended their first-season finale to perfectly represent the season as a whole, then bravo. Much like the entire first year of the show, the uneven episode started out with a promising, action-packed plot, impressed with a couple of flashy musical numbers, then got too cheesy for its own good and petered out with an overly sentimental song.
Though it was actually titled "Journey" (get it? It's metaphorical, you guys), the episode also could have been titled "Tears" or maybe "Don't Forget Your Tissues." There was a lot of crying in this episode. When Mr. Schuester found out that Sue Sylvester was going to be a celebrity judge at regionals, he was angry. The kids, on the other hand, moped around during their regionals set-list nomination party like someone had just died, lamenting the fact that with Sue judging them, they were guaranteed to lose. It was all Schue could do not to cry, so he went to Emma for some guidance. She reminded him that loving what you're doing is more important than whether you win or lose (aww), then told him she was dating her dentist. He finally shed tears in his car, when he heard "Don't Stop Believin' " on the radio. The Journey-inspired freak-out also inspired the New Directions set list for regionals: a Journey medley. (Did you expect anything less?) In no time, the gang was at the theater decked out in gold dresses and ties, ready to impress celebrity judges Josh Groban, Olivia Newton-John, Rod Remington and Sue Sylvester (author of the upcoming memoir "I'm a Winner and You're Fat"). First up was Aural Intensity with a Groban/Newton-John medley, then New Directions. Finn told Rachel he loved her right before they went out to sing the aforementioned medley of "Faithfully," "Any Way You Want It," "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' " and a brand-new version of "Don't Stop Believin'." The group ran offstage in a euphoric state, happy with their performance. But before they could get too happy, Quinn's mom showed up and asked Quinn to forgive her for that whole disownment thing. She wanted Quinn to come home. Then Quinn's water broke. The entire crew followed their teammate to the ER, where she had her baby (with her mom, Puck and Mercedes in the delivery room) via a hilarious montage that cut between Vocal Adrenaline's showstopping performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody" and a scream-filled delivery scene. Rachel, who had stayed behind, congratulated Shelby on the performance and told her that Quinn had her baby. Inexplicably, Shelby then showed up at the hospital and stood next to Quinn and Puck while they admired their child, a girl Puck called Beth. Shelby later adopted the baby. In the judges' room, Olivia liked Vocal Adrenaline, Rod liked Aural Intensity, and Josh liked New Directions. They ganged up on Sue, saying she wasn't really a celebrity and that she was a lot like the ragtag group from her school, which caused Sue to defend New Directions. But it was all for naught when the judges came out to reveal the winner: Vocal Adrenaline; New Directions came in last. Here comes the cheesy part: Back at school, Emma was livid that Principal Figgins was disbanding the group, but Schue said there was nothing he could do about it. Emma told him some things were worth fighting for, and Schue kissed her. Rachel interrupted their conversation and brought Schue to the auditorium, where each member of the glee club told him something sappy. There was also something cloying about having won despite the judges because they had him as a teacher. Then he cried while they sang "To Sir With Love," and Sue snuck in the back of the auditorium and cried too. She has a soul after all! Sue, who actually voted New Directions first and Vocal Adrenaline last, told Schue she admired him and she didn't want to live in a world where she couldn't make fun of his hair, so she had blackmailed Figgins one last time to give glee club another year. Will broke the good news to the gang, then thanked them for all they'd done by singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with Puck. Were you glad New Directions didn't win? Were you shocked at the lack of cliffhangers? What did you think of the finale? Sound off in the comments below! Related Videos Related Photos |
| Lady Gaga's 'Alejandro' Video: A Guide To Its Madonna References Posted: 08 Jun 2010 03:00 AM PDT Aside from initial 'Vogue' comparisons, there are traces of 'Like a Prayer,' 'Human Nature' and other Material Girl clips.
When the brief preview for Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" video appeared during the singer's appearance on "Larry King Live" last week, many people immediately noticed the nod to Madonna's "Vogue." It was all there: the sharp black-and-white photography, the muscular dancing, the spartan set, the iconic hairstyle.
But as it turns out, the full version of "Alejandro" — which premiered Tuesday (June 8) — is a healthy combination of a number of different references, nods and homages to a bevy of Madonna videos. (One MTV News writer says "Alejandro" is more than just an ode to Madonna — check out his counterpoint in the Newsroom blog.) The "Vogue" references are certainly there, as Gaga spends a large chunk of the video in that same spartan set in black-and-white. But the rest of the clip features Gaga in a number of different costumes — including a red nun's habit and some sort of steampunk headgear — in a handful of different scenarios (some of which involve Nazi imagery). In addition to "Vogue," the opening sequence seems to recall Madonna's "Evita" period (when she made "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" a hit). Gaga is dressed to mourn whomever is in the casket behind her — perhaps the titular Alejandro? — and it would be easy to assume that she's attending a state funeral, which would mean Gaga flipped the gender roles in the original story of the Peróns (in reality, it was Juan who buried Eva). Later, Gaga strips to her underwear and dominates a scantily clad dancer tied to a bed. While Madonna is no stranger to the imagery surrounding bondage and submission, that image most faithfully recalls the Material Girl's "Human Nature," which saw her dressed in black pleather and dancing seductively with the assistance of ropes and a riding crop. But the biggest nod to Madonna's past certainly comes with all the religious imagery. Gaga dresses as a nun, swallows rosary beads and stands in front of a row of crosses at various points during the clip, which brings to mind Madonna's classic video for "Like a Prayer." In fact, there are even video clips of flames in the background of one of the dance scenes in "Alejandro," which could easily have been lifted wholesale from the moment in Madonna's clip when she sings among a field of flaming crosses. There are a number of other cultural references that slip out of "Alejandro" (Gaga clearly enjoys the work of film director Fritz Lang), but even the gun-barrel-sporting bra she wears at the end could be mistaken for that conical top Madonna made famous during the Blonde Ambition Tour. Of course, "Alejandro" director Steven Klein has worked as a photographer for Madonna over the past few years, so it's quite possible that these are merely the influences he has picked up while working with her. But if Gaga really is making an attempt to define herself as a next-gen Madonna who also pays homage to her elders, then there are worse paths to follow. Do you spot any other Madonna references in Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" video? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Drake Says He And Lil Wayne Are Planning A Joint Album Posted: 08 Jun 2010 06:24 AM PDT 'I went up to Rikers, and me and Wayne agreed that there will be a Lil Wayne/ Drake album,' he tells MTV's 'Sucker Free.'
A Young Angel and Young Lion LP? It's finally in the works, according to Drake. The Toronto MC said he and Lil Wayne spoke about a joint album when he visited the incarcerated star last week in prison.
"I went up to Rikers, and me and Wayne agreed that there will be a Lil Wayne/ Drake album," Drake told DJ Envy on MTV's "Sucker Free." " ... There's some things I'm excited for in my life — I'm excited to go perform certain places — but [this project] will probably be one of the most exciting things in my life, because we make music on a different level. It's just so fun, so comfortable. A whole album? To think about all the things we can do, especially if we're gonna do 15 songs. Me and him don't like to do 12, 13 [songs]. We want to do 15, 16. Yeah, Lil Wayne and Drake album." Wayne is only featured once on Drake's debut album, Thank Me Later, which drops June 15. The Cash Money superstar and Drizzy collaborated on a number of projects in the past, including Drake's mixtapes Comeback Season and So Far Gone, in addition to the Young Money compilation released last year. But this will be the first time the two MCs pair up for their own project. Last year, while on the verge of inking his deal, Drake told MTV News about his career ambitions and said Lil Wayne would be a part of them for a long time. "I plan to work with Wayne for the rest of my career, so I think it's a smart career move," he said. "You know, everybody else [on Young Money] will hopefully work out the situations, get the right people on the album. I think it was important for me to show him that I believed in him as much as he believed in me. Because a lot of months, he stuck his neck out there for me, you know with the VMAs [where Lil Wayne rapped Drake's verse from 'Money to Blow' at the beginning of his performance of 'Misunderstood'] and then 'Ransom,' and all the songs that we put out. And the things he would say in interviews, he really put himself out there for me. So I think it was only just and fair to show him that I feel the same way." For more Drake, check him out with DJ Envy on the road for Sucker Free Summer at Hartford, Connecticut's Hot Jam 9 this Sunday at noon on MTV2. Related Artists |
| Did Katy Perry Dis Lady Gaga's 'Alejandro' Video? Posted: 08 Jun 2010 06:54 AM PDT 'Using blasphemy as entertainment is as cheap as a comedian telling a fart joke,' singer tweeted.
She liked kissing a girl, but one thing Katy Perry doesn't take kindly to? Blasphemy. Katy Perry posted a message on her Twitter page Tuesday that appears to be a direct stab at Lady Gaga's just-debuted "Alejandro" video and its Madonna-like use of religious imagery. "Using blasphemy as entertainment is as cheap as a comedian telling a fart joke," Perry tweeted. Gaga's music video — which seems to reference a number of Madonna videos, including "Vogue" and "Like a Prayer" — shows the singer dressed in a red-latex nun's habit and sucking on rosary beads, and a crucifix appears during a same-sex orgy. There are also clips of flames in the background during one of the dance scenes, reminiscent of when Madonna sang among a field of flaming crosses in her "Like a Prayer" video, which sparked controversy when it was first released. While Perry has had her own controversial moments — including breakout single "I Kissed a Girl" and a sneak peek of her "California Gurls" video that features a cupcake bra that sprays frosting — she got her start in the Christian-music world and both her parents are pastors. "I was raised in a very pseudo-strict religious household where the only thing on the menu was [gospel standards like] 'Oh Happy Day,' 'His Eye Is on the Sparrow' and 'Amazing Grace' ... all eight verses of it," Perry told MTV News back in 2008. "So the New Kids on the Block are new to me now; they're not a comeback. I'm like, 'Oh, this is a cool song!' I missed out on a couple other things, but I'm catching up." What do you think of Katy's tweet? Share your thoughts in the comments. Related Photos Related Artists |
| 50 Cent Weighs In On Lil' Kim/ Nicki Minaj Flap Posted: 08 Jun 2010 01:11 AM PDT MC slams Diddy hard while saying Minaj has 'a good little thing going.'
The beef between femcees Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj has tongues wagging, Twitter aflutter and wigs flying. Bad Boy associate and former Notorious B.I.G. protégé Lil' Kim has been aiming not-so-subtle jabs at Nicki Minaj, accusing the Young Money diva of swagger-jacking her candy-colored wigs and not giving the Queen Bee the props she feels she deserves. Drake has stepped up to defend his Young Money fam, and now one of the titans of hip-hop beef, 50 Cent, has jumped into the fray. Fiddy suggests that it's not just Minaj's success that's bothering Kim — he says the pint-size star may have an issue with Diddy's alliance with Nicki. "It's probably a little more irritating to see Puffy stand next to Nicki Minaj and for him to say that [Rick] Ross reminds him of Biggie," 50 said in a video interview posted online with Power 98.3 FM in Phoenix. Lil' Kim held it down as a member of the Biggie-helmed collective Junior M.A.F.I.A. in the '90s and even fellow M.A.F.I.A. member Lil' Cease has noticed Kim and Big's influence on Minaj and Ross. And now, Diddy is managing Ross, whose larger-than-life frame and slick lyrics are reminiscent of B.I.G., and has called Minaj "one of the great ones." 50 also didn't hold back when discussing what he feels is the motivation behind Diddy's latest moves. "That's desperation on his part, 'cause his music sucks right now," said 50. "It's bad, so he's gotta kinda stay as close as he can to something else that has some momentum for it to be a'ight." 50 didn't stop there, suggesting that by aligning himself with the Miami boss and the Young Money Barbie, Diddy is trying to create buzz by association. "He's making himself cool to the people that like [Ross and Minaj]." While 50 acknowledged the similarities between Kim and Minaj's swag, he doesn't think Kim should be rattled by the obvious influences. "It's obvious ... she was inspired by some of Kim's [style]. But that's not bad. There's not a whole lot of female artists that you can make reference to, so you'll see those little influences even stronger. I think she's hot — I think she's got a good little thing going right now, as far as Nicki Minaj is concerned." What do you think of the Lil Kim/ Nicki Minaj flap? What do you think of 50's comments? Let us know in the comments below! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Eminem, Lil Wayne Trade Tough-Guy Rhymes On 'No Love' Posted: 08 Jun 2010 06:23 AM PDT Just Blaze-produced duet samples unlikely dance track 'What Is Love?'
Eminem and Lil Wayne toss lyrical salvos on their Recovery collaboration, "No Love," which arrived online Tuesday (June 8), leaked to the Web with the rest of Em's album. Just Blaze produced the angst-ridden number, which, somewhat surprisingly, samples the Haddaway dance track "What Is Love?" better known as the theme for the "Night at the Roxbury" sketches on "Saturday Night Live" than for its rap cred. On the menacing track, though, Wayne and Em swap tough-guy rhymes. "They call me a freak because I like to spit on these p-----s before I eat them," Em raps on the second verse. "Get these wack co------ers offstage/ Where's Kanye when you need him?" Later on the track, Em croons in a sing-song flow on the chorus: "It's a little too late to say that you're sorry now/ You kicked me when I was down/ But what you say ... don't hurt me." The track marks the first time the two have specifically traded rhymes as a pair on one track. On Drake's "Forever," the two guest MCs were joined by Kanye West. And although Em and Wayne appeared together on "Drop the World," off the Young Money star's rock-leaning effort, Rebirth, Wayne wasn't rapping as much as singing (aided by Auto-Tune). While traveling overseas recently, Eminem had high praise for his collaborator. The duo have long admired each other, and Wayne campaigned for years to join the Detroit MC on a track. "I've always respected what Wayne does, and Wayne, to me, is definitely one of the greatest in the game right now," Em said. What's your favorite Eminem/ Lil Wayne collaboration? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga Fans Call 'Alejandro' Video 'Brilliant,' 'Scary' Posted: 08 Jun 2010 05:34 AM PDT 'Words can't describe how awesome and revolutionary this video is!!' one fan gushes.
Lady Gaga's latest video opus, "Alejandro," is a dizzying array of provocative imagery, roping in everything from Weimar Germany to S&M to (of course) (of course) Madonna. And as expected, Gaga's dedicated army of "little monsters" hit the web to take it all in.
While the clip's moody, brooding visuals are a departure from the gleefully demented camp of hits like "Telephone" or the futuristic disco of "Bad Romance," Gaga's fans are largely into "Alejandro" 's sleek, retro vibe. The clip "had my blood boiling the whole time," reader Andrew commented, adding that the video, whose sullen imagery nods to German films of the '20s and '30s, is "cinematic genius, pure brilliance." "The video is effin' brilliant!!" reader Journey wrote, echoing fellow Gaga fan Andrew. "Gaga does it yet again — it's sleek, sexy and a bit scary. I knew she would slay." With her machine-gun bra, simulated orgies and Catholic iconography, Gaga goes for shock value in "Alejandro." Ralfy posted, "WHAT???? She makes SUCH a big statement with this video! Criticizing religion, homophobia, political repression, sexism!!! Words can't describe how awesome and revolutionary this video is!!" "Oh my gosh lady gaga wears a pair of pants for the first time," Faith observed, pointing out that the conservative wardrobe choices might prove shocking to fans accustomed to Gaga's high drama. "As crazy as she is i loveeeee lady gaga!" she added. Still, with all of the sinister, shadowy imagery, some fans were left in the dark. "I don't think the video was boring, 'cause I was like omg what is she going to do next in this video, BUT IT WAS A LITLE TOO CREEPY FOR ME! O.K. ALOTTTT!" ashcuptink13 commented. And although the '80s pop-culture references are numerous and hard to miss, Jennifer defended Gaga's penchant for paying homage. "You can say she is copying Ace of Base, Madonna, [Michael] Jackson, etc., but in my opinion she is referencing them in her own unique works of art, a wonderfully grounded and respectful gesture to those who paved the way before her." With "Alejandro," Gaga gave her fans the unexpected, which is exactly what her little monsters crave. As Samuel posted, "U do ur thang gurl GAGA>>LIVE ON MOTHER MONSTER." What did you think of Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" video? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lindsay Lohan Posts Bail After SCRAM Violation Posted: 08 Jun 2010 05:34 AM PDT L.A. judge issued a bench warrant for Lohan's arrest, which was recalled after bail was posted.
On Tuesday (June 8), a Beverly Hills judge issued an arrest warrant for Lindsay Lohan and ordered her to post $200,000 bail after she violated a court order to not consume alcohol while wearing a SCRAM alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet. According to TMZ, the warrant was recalled after bail was posted, so Lohan remains a free woman. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Marsha Revel had a session in chambers with the prosecutor and Lohan's attorney on Tuesday afternoon and made the announcement shortly thereafter. Revel called the hearing after learning that the alcohol-detection device on Lohan's ankle sent a report saying that there was a presence of alcohol late Sunday, after the actress attended the MTV Movie Awards. In court, the judge didn't talk specifics about how the actress violated the court order, which was issued May 24. Revel did double Lohan's bail from the initial $100,000 to $200,000, which is pending a July 6 hearing that will deal with whether Lohan violated the terms of her probation, stemming from a 2007 driving-under-the-influence arrest. The actress is expected to surrender to authorities as early as Wednesday and will be released on bail. TMZ reported that Lohan's bail bondsman pulled up to the Beverly Hills courthouse to post the $200,000 bail for the actress and said she forfeited the $100,000 previously posted. Lohan tweeted Tuesday that she "did not violate anything at all." MTV News caught up with Lohan on the red carpet at Sunday's MTV Movie Awards to talk about her role in an upcoming biopic of porn star Linda Lovelace and whether she was frustrated with the quality of roles being offered to her these days. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Diddy Calls Rick Ross 'A Very Unique Artist, ' Applauds New Mixtape Posted: 08 Jun 2010 04:57 AM PDT 'That Albert Anastasia [EP] is up there to me as one of the hardest mixtapes in history,' Diddy says.
On Tuesday (June 8), Diddy gave Rick Ross yet another major co-sign. "That Albert Anastasia [EP] is up there to me as one of the hardest mixtapes in history," Puff said during a Def Jam conference call with Ross and DJ Khaled.
A bold statement, but on top of being an O.G. in the game, Diddy said, he's also a connoisseur of hip-hop, so he felt very comfortable applauding Ross. "He doesn't talk about the regular stuff you hear cats talking about now," Diddy said. "Everything he talks about is from his soul and from his heart. He approaches the record from a real standpoint. You can tell he's approaching it from an honest standpoint. The tone of his voice, I've always been wanting to work with artists that have a certain vocal tone. He sounds like a giant. He is a giant, and he has that personality. "He's a very unique artist," he continued. "He's bigger than just an artist; he's a brand. That's one of the reasons I wanted to work with him, because I felt like we could do bigger and better things. Having worked with Biggie, somebody that also was talking about things from the streets — I'm not comparing him to Biggie, before we start going down that road, but I am saying that there are similarities in the mental approach of a record that I do have a familiarity with." Over the weekend in Phoenix, 50 Cent weighed in on Diddy's alliance with Ross and Nicki Minaj. He hinted that he felt Lil' Kim was justified when she said Diddy should be "ashamed" of himself for working with Minaj. "It's probably a little more irritating [for Lil' Kim] to see Puffy stand next to Nicki Minaj and for him to say that Ross reminds him of Biggie," 50 said in an interview with Power 98.3 FM. " 'Cause that's desperation on his part, 'cause his music sucks. It's bad, so he has to stay close to something else that has momentum for it to be all right." Diddy seems unfazed of any criticism he may get. He said Nicki Minaj is a hip-hop great, and during Tuesday's conference call, he made it clear he's riding with Rick Ross. "To me, how anybody ever wanna take it, he's the Biggie of the South. Anybody can take it how they wanna take it," Diddy said. "I heard his album. His album is a classic. I heard the Albert Anastasia; it has six joints y'all [DJs] should be playing right now. ... He has the most exciting music in the streets right now, and he's one of the realest n---as." Diddy and Ross belong to the new clique of artists dubbed "The Supreme Team." "Supreme Team, Puff Daddy put a movement together," Khaled said during the call. "A bunch of fly dudes getting together, getting money, making great music, keeping it 100 at all times. I'm honored to be a part of the movement. Puff Daddy, of course my right-hand Ricky Ross, Red Café, Fabolous, Busta Rhymes — the team is just thorough. A bunch of thorough people making great music. It's hard. We going in." What do you think about Diddy comparing Ross to Biggie? Sound off in the comments! Related Artists |
| Heidi Montag Files For Separation From Spencer Pratt Posted: 08 Jun 2010 01:37 AM PDT 'The Hills' star filed for legal separation from Pratt, without a lawyer, on Tuesday.
Heidi Montag filed for legal separation from husband and "The Hills" co-star Spencer Pratt on Tuesday (June 8), a court spokesperson confirmed to MTV News. Late last month, Montag moved out of the home she shared with Pratt; her rep confirmed the couple had split, calling it "a separation for now." Montag showed up to a Santa Monica, California, courthouse, where she filed the necessary paperwork, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the separation. The reality TV star has not filed divorce papers. But in filing for legal separation, Montag's "earnings will become her separate property from the date of separation," according to court papers published by TMZ. Reportedly, Montag first tried to file papers in Malibu, but discovered there was no legal outlet in which to do so. TMZ further reported that the papers, dated June 8, were handwritten by Heidi, and she did so without assistance from a lawyer; a court representative confirmed to MTV News that Montag had filed for separation ex parte "I needed some alone time," the "Hills" star told People.com of the split from Pratt last month. "There are so many lies out there about me and I just needed space — even away from my husband. I had to get away from the lies my family and supposed friends are saying about me. It's time to concentrate on myself." Montag has already found a new roommate, moving in with former "Laguna Beach" star and occasional "Hills" pal Jen Bunney. "I've always loved Spencer," Montag said of her estranged hubby, adding, "but right now we're working on things." While the couple have yet to tweet directly about their relationship troubles, Montag's rep, Lexi Vonderlieth, told CNN in May via e-mail: "As you can imagine it is crazy right now. She's trying to lay low the next couple days. What I can say is that it's a separation for now, not divorce." Do you think Heidi and Spencer are heading for divorce? Will they reconcile? Share your thoughts in the comments! Related Photos |
| Christina Aguilera Says <i>Bionic</i> Is About Fun And The Future Posted: 08 Jun 2010 02:17 AM PDT 'I haven't made a record this fun in a pop sensibility since my very first record,' she tells MTV News.
Christina Aguilera's just-released Bionic album is a whirring, wooshing, forward-thinking thing that sees the prodigiously piped pop star moving even further away from her "Genie in a Bottle" past — but, really, that was the plan all along.
Because, as Aguilera told MTV News, Bionic — which features collaborations with the likes of M.I.A., Tricky Stewart, Sia and Le Tigre, to name just a few — isn't really as much of a departure as her fans might believe. It seems she's been building toward this for a while now. "There was a taste of things to come on [2008 greatest-hits package] Keeps Gettin' Better, but the futuristic idea actually came up for a few reasons," Aguilera said. "One being the Back to Basics album, because I wanted it to be a tribute to those I was very much inspired by and what made me passionate about music, soul and jazz and blues and paying homage to those musicians and those artists and doing a modern-day interpretation of what that meant to me. So it was important for me to dive into that world and reflect elements of the '20s, '30s and '40s. "And that was a huge departure from the Stripped album. And Stripped was a huge departure from the first album," she continued. "I always make it a point to reinvent what I'm doing and take a minute, take a break in between records to really find out who I am and what I'm inspired by next." And during the break between 2006's Back to Basics and Bionic, Aguilera and husband Jordan Bratman welcomed their first child, son Max. And, as Aguilera has said in the past, becoming a mother only served as more inspiration for the new album's sonic adventures. "Since the last album, I've become a mother, which inspired me so much. When you have a child, you think of the future, you think of the next generation," she said. "And I started getting heavily into electronic music and listening to that, and I loved all the atmospheric sounds and interesting elements that had to offer. And then I dove in and reached out to these people wanting to collaborate, which is magical, and walked away with all these new friends as well." But no matter how futuristic Bionic may get — and no matter how much she's grown in the decade since she first burst onto the pop landscape — Aguilera said that, at the end of the day, it's not really all that dissimilar to her '99 self-titled debut. After all, both share one rather unique characteristic: a focus on fun, first and foremost. "The whole record is fun. I actually feel like I haven't made a record this fun in a pop sensibility since my very first record," she said. "Because I feel there's been growth and comfort within myself, and I don't have to be scared of that side of myself anymore. But it's in a much more sophisticated way that I was able to release it on this record. I'm just really proud of it, and it's exactly how I'm feeling now." What do you think of Christina's new direction on Bionic? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
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