MTV News |
- Kanye West Made G.O.O.D. Fridays To Capture 'So Much Music'
- Taylor Swift Doesn't Need <i>Speak Now</i> To 'Top' <i>Fearless</i>
- Kings Of Leon Bassist Recalls Drunken 'Rock Band' Session
- Justin Bieber's 3-D Movie Trailer Debuts
- Taylor Swift's <i>Speak Now</i> Live Stream Attracts Fans Worldwide
- Kanye West's 'Runaway' Film: A High-Culture Cheat Sheet
- New 'Jersey Shore' Roommate Is 'A Breath Of Fresh Air,' JWoww Says
- T.I. Won't Be Charged In L.A. Drug Case
- Kristen Stewart Says Her Acting Has Improved 'With Every Movie'
- Kanye West's 'Runaway' Reminds Ballet Dancers Of 'Swan Lake'
- Willow Smith Reveals Her Unusual Halloween Costume
- 'Runaway' Star Selita Ebanks Recalls Her <i>Vogue</i> Rejection
- Taylor Swift <i>Speak Now</i> Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know!
- Kanye West Reveals <i>My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy</i> Details
- 'Social Network' Star Armie Hammer On Newfound Fame, Oscar Hype
- Aubrey O'Day Promises 'Rebellious' Side On New Reality Show
- How 'Paranormal Activity 2' Avoided The 'Blair Witch' Curse
- Selita Ebanks 'Humbled' By Response To Kanye West's 'Runaway'
- My Chemical Romance Have A New Drummer ... For Their Tour
- Kanye West Says Now Fans 'Understand Me Better'
| Kanye West Made G.O.O.D. Fridays To Capture 'So Much Music' Posted: 26 Oct 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'I wanna make a song called 'Futuristic Gs,' ' featuring Nas, the Chicago MC reveals of what's in the pipeline.
Don't Sleep: Necessary Notables Series: G.O.O.D. Fridays Headliner: Kanye West Key Cameos: Big Sean, Charlie Wilson, CyHi the Prynce, Lloyd Banks, Mos Def, Ryan Leslie and more. Essential Info:
So Kanye doesn't seem to know entirely what to make of the weekly deliveries he's been posting on his blog since August. According to the producer, the tracks were initially a way for him to channel his energies. "For me, I have to have G.O.O.D. Fridays," he told MTV News during a live Q&A this weekend. "To be able to put stuff out; I have to be able to perform; to do an album with Jay. I'm gonna present so much music, so many ideas, videos, theater, performance." Week after week, 'Ye has manged to keep us on our toes with an array of lineups, from Mos Def, Swizz Beatz, Raekwon and Charlie Wilson on "Lord, Lord, Lord" to RZA, Jay-Z, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz, and CyHi the Prynce on "So Appalled." Last week, he told Mixtape Daily that the impromptu recording sessions have been helping him with his rhymes since he's a natural performer and the studio setting presents him with an audience. Although he's struggled at times to hit the Friday deadlines (G.O.O.D. Saturdays doesn't have the same ring to it, you know?), the series is clearly inspiring him. And despite the pressure, West is constantly thinking of new wrinkles — like doing a track with Nas next. "Man, pressure, pressure, pressure," he admitted. "When I started that [series], I definitely wrote a check that I had to cash later. And I was gonna go out and have to make new songs on the spot. But people get so excited. Like when me, Ryan Leslie, Kid Cudi, John Legend and Lloyd Banks were all in the studio together, we literally made up that melody for 'Christian Dior Denim Flow' just right there. And I wanna make a song called 'Futuristic Gs.' I don't even know what the beat is gonna sound like, it's most likely gonna have Nas on it and we just gonna snap." Other Heat This Week » DJ Haze - Blood Is Thicker Than Water 13 For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Artists |
| Taylor Swift Doesn't Need <i>Speak Now</i> To 'Top' <i>Fearless</i> Posted: 26 Oct 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'I really, really pushed myself in making this album,' Swift tells MTV News about her latest release.
Taylor Swift released Fearless way back in the fall of 2008, hitting the top of the charts and seemingly taking home every prize in town. Now she's back with her third album, Speak Now, but the singer says she's not going to worry about whether her latest will measure up to the enormous success of her sophomore LP. "Well, being a natural over-thinker and over-analyzer of life in general, I've kind of thought about all of that and, of course, the questions are always, 'How are you possibly going to top Fearless?' And, you know, the only thing that I can possibly do in life is live life, take it as it comes at me," she explained to MTV News. "Try to process it the best way I can and make music that I'm proud of."
With two years having passed since the album's original release, we asked Taylor what she thinks of Fearless now. "I look back on Fearless and I'm proud of it. I mean, that album is a beautiful collection of memories from when I was 16, 17 and 18," she said. "And I appreciate everything I was able to do with that album and everything that was awarded to that album. I'm never going to have the unfair mind-set that I'm competing with my past work because it's just not fair to do that to yourself." As for Speak Now, Swift said she wrote many of the songs in the heat of the moment, as responses to specific experiences. But that doesn't mean she didn't suffer writer's block every once in a while. "I've experienced everything you can possibly experience while writing this album," she said. "I really, really pushed myself in making this album, so not everything flows out perfectly. Sometimes you have to really search your mind." What's your favorite song on Speak Now? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Kings Of Leon Bassist Recalls Drunken 'Rock Band' Session Posted: 26 Oct 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'I blew people's minds on the drums,' Jared Followill tells MTV News.
If you are in an actual rock band, then you are typically terrible at "Rock Band" video games. For whatever the reason, that real-life fret-mashing just does not translate to hard-core button-mashing. So when you think of, say, Kings of Leon — who are most certainly an actual rock band — the first (or even second) thing that probably comes to mind isn't: "Rock Band" prodigies. And yet, you'd be wrong — sort of.
Seems that the Kings (or at least bassist Jared Followill) is pretty dominant at the game, something we found out when we asked them about the brand-new "Rock Band 3," which hit stores Tuesday (October 26). "I've done it drunkenly. I played 'Rock Band' one night at somebody's house in, like, the Hamptons," Jared laughed. "And I blew people's minds on the drums, because, if you are a musician, you kind of know how to play 'medium' [level] on every instrument, and all these people who can't play at all are like, 'What are you doing playing bass in a band? You are like a five-star drummer.' " But how do the other Kings' "Rock Band" skills rate? Turns out, we don't know — mostly because they're too scared of being shown up to even try the game. "We played one show in Kentucky, and we had an afterparty, and we were playing with, like, a couple of really cool bands. ... It was a couple years back, so it was like a club, and it was packed and all sweaty, and we were like, 'Success!' " frontman Caleb Followill smiled. "And then we went to the afterparty, and they had one of those 'Rock Bands' set up, and, like, one of the other bands went over there and was terrible. And this kid came walking up and was like [makes wild hand gestures of someone shredding on guitar], and I was like, 'I'm not even touching that.' " For more on "Rock Band," check out the Multiplayer blog, updated daily, for even more gaming coverage. Related Videos |
| Justin Bieber's 3-D Movie Trailer Debuts Posted: 25 Oct 2010 10:51 PM PDT 'That sort of 'never say never' idea is conveyed in the trailer,' director Jon Chu tells MTV News.
On Monday (October 25), at his My World Tour stop in Los Angeles, Justin Bieber debuted the trailer for his highly anticipated 3-D flick "Never Say Never," due Valentine's Day weekend 2011.
The trailer was filled with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with some of the people important in Bieber's life, including mentor Usher and manager Scott "Scooter" Braun. When MTV News spoke with the film's director, Jon Chu, he said that if Bieber's fans were tempted by what they saw in the trailer, they should love the film when it hits their local theater. "We talked about the story of us sort of going back to his life and seeing a lot of archival footage and things that have never been seen that his mom shot when he was a kid," Chu said. "We don't have as much of that in the trailer, [and] the movie uses a lot, 'cause we're finding it really fascinating to see him grow. It's one of the very few generations that have been able to be shot when they were a kid to a teenager and see all the steps of his development." Describing the film as a "documentary musical," Chu said "as in life, when you listen to music, when words aren't enough to express your emotion, it goes into song." The songs in the film were taken directly from Bieber's concert stop at Madison Square Garden. "It's really an interesting sort of pass between his real life to his music, so I think in the trailer, we break it down every step of the way in his life. Everyone said, 'It's not possible,' " Chu said. "Every step, everyone's always said, 'No, no, no, no.' And he's always said, 'Yes, yes, yes.' And that sort of 'never say never' idea is conveyed in the trailer. "That's sort of the power of our movie: to help inspire kids to follow their dreams, and anyone really, kid or adult," he added. "It's been sort of a family journey of fulfilling your destiny." What do you want to see in Bieber's 3-D movie? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Taylor Swift's <i>Speak Now</i> Live Stream Attracts Fans Worldwide Posted: 25 Oct 2010 06:15 AM PDT Swift celebrates album release with NYC mini-concert and meet-and-greet.
NEW YORK — Taylor Swift celebrated the arrival of Speak Now with a fan-filled album-release party at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan on Monday (October 25). The party not only included an amped-up performance by Swift, but also fans from around the world, who dined on sushi, mac and cheese and lobster. Swift hung out with partygoers during her meet-and-greet and seemed genuinely excited by the chance to catch up with fans on the day of her release. She hugged and took pictures with every one of them. Wearing a yellow satin dress with maroon patent heels, she not only met with her fans, but also took questions from them during the nearly hour-long live stream on MTV.com, VH1.com and CMT.com.
Fans asked about everything: What inspired the album? "For me, Speak Now was inspired by the last two years of my life ... that's why I write songs," she said before joking about whether there was anything she wouldn't write about. "Well, I thought so before this album," she laughed. "There's a little more speculation now than when I was 12." Swift sang three tracks from the new album, displaying sass and confidence during the performance of the album's title track as fans sang along to every word. She then curtsied as her fans cheered her. "This album took two years to write, two years to make ... and these are songs about stories and lessons and things that I've learned — the right way, the wrong and, in the case of this song, it's about learning a lesson a little too late," she said before kicking into one of the most buzzed-about tracks on the album, "Back to December," which is reportedly an apology to Taylor Lautner. Saying she went through "obsessive editing" while making the album, she shared, "I ended up writing this song — actually every song — alone, and that happened by circumstance. ... I've never written an entire album on my own before, so songwriting is my favorite thing. It's all what makes life make more sense to me." Playing a bedazzled acoustic guitar, Swift then went into "Mine," the first single from Speak Now. Swift took in fans' cheers as she wrapped up the song. Before the night was over, Swift announced the final winner, Savannah, who would be joining her as she flew to L.A. from NYC on Wednesday evening. "I've had such an amazing experience," Swift said to close out the night. Did you watch the live stream of Taylor's mini-concert? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kanye West's 'Runaway' Film: A High-Culture Cheat Sheet Posted: 25 Oct 2010 03:22 AM PDT We break down the highbrow inspirations behind 'Ye's short film.
Now that you've finally seen Kanye West's ultra-arty "Runaway" film, you're probably wondering what it really means. We might not be able to tell you exactly what was going on in Kanye's brain when he made the film, but we can help you pick out some of the highbrow references within. And there are an awful lot of them.
We've done things like this in the past for big-ticket videos like Lady Gaga's "Telephone" and My Chemical Romance's "Na Na Na," but those were pop-culture cheat sheets." For "Runaway" — an ambitious film with equally ambitious influences — we've gone even deeper. What follows is our high-culture cheat sheet, an alphabetized, exhaustively researched list of all the painters, dance troupes and conceptual performance artists 'Ye references in the video. It may not help you understand the film any better, but it will certainly make you sound smarter at your next cocktail party. So, from Yemi Akinyemi to Leonardo da Vinci, here's our artful guide to Kanye West's "Runaway": Akinyemi, Yemi: Czech-born choreographer responsible for the elaborate dance sequence in "Runaway." Also runs the JAD Dance company in Prague. Beecroft, Vanessa: Italian contemporary artist who specializes in large-scale performance-art pieces, most of which feature nude female models. The phoenix in "Runaway" is indebted to her work, as is the film's dinner sequence, which is reminiscent of her controversial "Last Supper" piece, which featured African immigrants wearing suits and seated at a banquet table laden with chicken. Breuning, Olaf: Swiss-born artist who works in several mediums. In "Runaway," his photograph "Smoke Bombs" — which shows a series of smoke bombs emitting multi-hued plumes — is recalled in the scene of a child running toward the camera while holding a flare aloft. Cirque Garuda: Czechoslovakian performance troupe specializing in acrobatics and pyrotechnics. Several of their members can be seen whirling around West and the phoenix in the lead-up to the "All of the Lights"/ Michael Jackson scene. Corbijn, Anton: Famed Dutch photographer and director. His video for Joy Division's "Atmosphere," which features hooded figures prostrating themselves before images of late frontman Ian Curtis, clearly influenced the "Runaway" Michael Jackson parade scene. Or, if you prefer to call them Klansmen, well, Corbijn famously featured a little girl wearing a Klan robe in his iconic video for Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box." Crewdson, Gregory: American photographer famous for his elaborately staged, supremely surreal portraits of suburban life. Many scenes in "Runaway" — particularly those in which the phoenix sits contemplatively in West's backyard — seem to have been taken directly from his portfolio. Dia de los Muertos: Holiday celebrated in Mexico (and, in varying forms, throughout the rest of the world) to remember family members and friends who have died. Often, parades are held, featuring towering skeletons, marching bands and papier-mâché skulls (called calavera), all of which sort of remind us of the Michael Jackson parade in "Runaway." Guo-Qiang, Cai: Chinese contemporary artist famed for his gunpowder drawings and so-called "explosion events," large-scale performance pieces in which stuff is blown up, usually in unison, leaving only smoke and charred earth in its wake. Since roughly one-third of "Runaway" is slow-motion shots of explosions and fireworks, the connection is easy. Koons, Jeff: American artist and prankster famed for his garish reproductions of banal, household items and a series of life-size, porcelain-and-gold-leaf statues of Michael Jackson cuddling his pet chimp, Bubbles (one of which sold for $5.6 million in a Sotheby's auction). The giant Jackson head in the "Runaway" parade scene looks strangely similar to the head of Koons' sculptures. Kubrick, Stanley: Hugely important American filmmaker who West himself cited as an influence on "Runaway." Case in point, the languid tracking shots, slightly off-kilter framing or even the elaborate dinner sequence, all of which recall Kubrick films like "The Shining," "Barry Lyndon" and "Eyes Wide Shut." Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Arguably the greatest composer to ever live. A portion of his unfinished "Requiem" piece can be heard playing at the beginning of "Runaway." MTX Tatra V8: Czech-produced "supercar" with gull-wing doors and an engine positioned over the rear axle. Not surprisingly, they are incredibly fast and exceedingly rare. The National Theatre: Vaunted Czechoslovakian institution that is home to three artistic ensembles: opera, drama and ballet. A handful of ballerinas in "Runaway" are also members of the National Theatre's 2010 ensemble, including Jade Clayton and Ivanna Illeyenko. Phoenix: Mythological firebird referenced in early works by the Persians, Greeks, Egyptians and Chinese. Known for its colorful plumage, the phoenix lives for anywhere from 500 to 1,000 years, at which time it builds a nest for itself and ignites. A new phoenix arises out of the ashes. Subsequently, it has become a symbol for rebirth, immortality and renewal. And the namesake of the capital of Arizona. "Swan Lake": Celebrated Russian ballet about a princess transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. In the third act, said evil sorcerer tricks a kind-hearted prince into confessing his love for his daughter by dressing her as a black swan. Kind of like all the ballerinas in "Runaway." Tarsem: Indian director famous for his artfully abstract, hyper-detailed and lavishly staged productions, most notably R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religon" video, which seems to have influenced the cinematography — and some of the biblical body language of the dinner guests — in the "Runaway" dinner scene. Von Trier, Lars: Danish filmmaker famous for his artful, oft-brutal films, perhaps none more artful (or brutal) than 2009's "Antichrist," which — much like "Runaway" — features a scene with a deer that doesn't seem all that afraid of humans. Of course, unlike "Antichrist," the deer in "Runaway" doesn't have a dead fawn hanging halfway out of its womb. Da Vinci, Leonardo: Italian-born painter, sculptor, architect, scientist and mathematician (to name just a few of his endeavors) who created famed works like "The Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper." The latter work is referenced in the "Runaway" dinner scene, most obviously in the hushed conversations of the guests and Kanye, who, of course, is seated at the very center, just like Jesus. Did we miss anything? Share the high-culture references you noticed. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| New 'Jersey Shore' Roommate Is 'A Breath Of Fresh Air,' JWoww Says Posted: 25 Oct 2010 05:06 AM PDT 'There's a lot of stuff that went on,' she teases of season three.
When season three of "Jersey Shore" kicks off, there will be a new kid in town. While the surroundings will be similar (the cast will be back in Jersey), fans of the show will finally meet Deena Nicole Cortese after hearing so much about her. While details about the season were hard to get out of JWoww, she did open up about having Cortese join the show, saying the new roomie brought that certain something the crew was lacking. "She was like a breath of fresh air, very bubbly," she said. "Something we really needed in the house. That being said, the house changed. There's a lot of stuff that went on. I can't give you anything! It's so long away before you get to see it!"
Back in August, MTV News caught up with Cortese, who admitted that her relaxed attitude works great with the rest of the crew. "I'm different, because I'm just a personable person. I don't take things to heart. People can make fun of me till the day I die, and I will just take it in and be like, 'Yeah, you know what? Whatever,' " Cortese laughed. "I just don't care what people think, and I think that's what everybody in the house loves about me. They can bust on me all the time, and the next day I'll just be like, 'All right, get real.' " With production on season three wrapped, JWoww admits that she's down for a lot more "Jersey Shore" in her future, if it's in the cards. "I got a couple more in me for 'Jersey Shore,' " she laughed. "So I don't want that to go anywhere!" Are you looking forward to a new "Jersey Shore" castmember? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos |
| T.I. Won't Be Charged In L.A. Drug Case Posted: 25 Oct 2010 01:07 AM PDT Rapper is slated to begin prison sentence next week for probation violation.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office has declined to file charges against T.I. following his arrest September 1 on alleged drug possession. According to DA office spokeswoman Jane Robinson, her office rejected the filing of misdemeanor charges in part because the rapper (born Clifford Harris) has already been sentenced to serve prison time for a probation violation in connection with the arrest. According to the Charge Evaluation Worksheet filed Monday morning (October 25) in Los Angeles, "D [defendant] is the driver of a car stopped for traffic violation. Deputy smells marijuana and searches car and occupants for source of odor. Deputy finds 4 pills of ecstasy in D's pants. Deputies also find marijuana in car and other narcotics in possession of one of the passengers. D is on federal probation in Georgia and has already been sentenced to 10 months [ed. 11 months] in prison for violation stemming from this arrest. Given amount of facts above, case rejected." A spokesperson for T.I. said he is scheduled to turn himself in to begin his prison sentence next Monday. It was unknown at press time how the latest stint behind bars will affect the upcoming release of T.I.'s long-awaited King Uncaged, which the MC recorded during his supervised release from his previous prison bid. Robinson would not comment on a TMZ report attributed to unidentified "law enforcement sources" that there were "significant legal issues" over the probable cause claimed by police that led to the arrest of the rapper and his wife, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle. "Cops claimed they smelled marijuana but no pot was ever booked into evidence," TMZ reported. "And, we're told ... T.I. was pulled out of his $250,000 Maybach immediately after he made the illegal U-turn and prior to any registration check." T.I. was sentenced to 11 months in prison October 15 by a federal judge at a probation hearing, during which the Atlanta MC was found to have violated the terms of his supervised release. The prosecution sought to send T.I. back to prison for two years, but the rapper pleaded with the judge to lessen his punishment and instead help him with his drug dependency, which was not specified. According to police documents obtained by several media outlets leading up to the hearing, at the time of his arrest, the rapper tested positive for opiates, was in possession of Ecstasy and was also associating with a felon, who was present in his vehicle during the bust, also in violation of the terms of T.I.'s probation of federal felony gun charges. T.I. was released from a halfway house earlier this year after serving seven months in a low-security facility in Arkansas. The prison time stemmed from an October 2007 arrest when T.I., a convicted felon, attempted to purchase illegal firearms. He was able to reach a unique plea deal at the time — upon the condition that he would speak to youth, complete community service and be placed under house arrest — and he was sentenced to a year and a day in prison. After his release, he was placed on strict probation. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kristen Stewart Says Her Acting Has Improved 'With Every Movie' Posted: 25 Oct 2010 03:43 AM PDT 'It's always really hard to say why you've progressed as an actor,' she tells MTV News.
During the filming of "Welcome to the Rileys" — Kristen Stewart's new film in which she plays a runaway-turned-stripper — the "Twilight" superstar experienced a few things she did not anticipate. The prime examples were an offer to take a job as a stripper and getting into the head of such a different character.
Other unexplored territory for Stewart is that she seems to be growing more comfortable in her own skin and, in turn, growing as an actress. When MTV News asked her how she sees her performances now, versus her early work, Stewart wasn't quite sure how to answer. "I don't know, man," she said. "I really don't know." But upon further rumination, Stewart said that, while she still gets hung up on the "little things," she also feels that she has grown as an actor with every film she's made. "I could sit here and bring up little things that I wish I didn't [do], little things that kill me, stuff that maybe other people don't see but stuff that is very apparent to me," Stewart explained of her tics. "It was so everything that it should be," she said of her experience making "Rileys." "If I did bring my little things to it, we did share a few personality aspects. I think that's maybe why I was hired. It was a stretch, because obviously I live nothing like she lives, but it's always really hard to say why you've progressed as an actor. I feel like I've gotten better with every movie." Check out everything we've got on "Welcome to the Rileys." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Kanye West's 'Runaway' Reminds Ballet Dancers Of 'Swan Lake' Posted: 25 Oct 2010 04:33 AM PDT 'The manner that they ran out really looked a little bit like 'Swan Lake,' ' one dancer tells MTV News of the ballerinas' entrance.
Kanye West still has everyone talking about his epic music video/ short film "Runaway." The film's story is all about "remaking" and "expression," some experts have told MTV News.
Regarding the powerful dance sequence in the film, set to the piece's title track, MTV News recently caught up with two seasoned New York City ballet dancers, Alina Dronova and Gwyneth Muller, to get their take on 'Ye's addition of ballet into his artful mix. "I thought the part where the girls run out and they're wearing black tutus — the manner that they ran out really looked a little bit like 'Swan Lake,' " Dronova said. "In the movie, the girl represents a bird [Selita Ebanks as a phoenix], and 'Swan Lake' is also about a bird, so there was a bit of a connection there with it. I thought that was a very neat element, very interesting." Muller added that West seemed to know what he was doing, given the subtle hints to "Lake," both with the choreography and costumes worn by the dancers. "He got it pretty right, as far as their entrance into the video when they ran in, in lines of two; that is very reminiscent of 'Swan Lake,' " she said. "And the black tutus, that was interesting, because in 'Swan Lake,' the title character wears both a white tutu and a black tutu, and when she's in a black tutu, she's supposed to represent an evil character, and all of her sinister elements come out. So it was interesting that he put them in black." West told us earlier that his motivation for adding ballet to the film was tied to his love of classic dance in general. "I was just moved by the classic dance, and I just wanted to crash it against the pop music," he said. "[I love] film and actual theater, and just mixing those things together and getting as many people that are experts in their field to help me bring this vision together. That's what I'm looking for right now." What did you think of the ballet in "Runaway"? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Willow Smith Reveals Her Unusual Halloween Costume Posted: 25 Oct 2010 03:30 AM PDT 'I'm gonna be myself,' she says of her plans for Halloween, which happens to be her 10th birthday.
Although one of her musical idols has spawned one of 2010's most popular Halloween costumes, Willow Smith doesn't plan to go trick-or-treating as Lady Gaga this year. Nope, the 9-year-old upstart intends to dress up as ... herself.
"I'm gonna be myself, and I'm gonna go around the neighborhood saying, 'Do you like Willow Smith?' And then I'm gonna be like, 'Ta-da! It's me,' " the Roc Nation artist explained. While it seems a rather unusual idea for a costume, the tween singer's 10th birthday happens to fall on Halloween, and that may account, in part, for Smith's unwillingness to don a disguise. But more likely, the "Whip My Hair" singer, whose mantra is "the best thing is you," just happens to realize that it's pretty cool to be Willow. For Halloween-ers who want to follow suit, keep in mind that being Willow, à la her "Whip My Hair" video, requires a trip to your local beauty-supply outpost. From heart-shaped braids to fuchsia-frosted locks, Willow's hairdos — and those of her Warriorettes crew — would take honors at an Atlanta hair show and are key to miming her style. (A hot-glue gun and an abundance of rhinestones, studs and grommets will get you halfway there.) One rather edible-looking 'do in particular ranks as Smith's favorite from the colorful clip: "The cotton-candy one, the one with the big-old balls of cotton candy, 'cause it was very crazy." But boys and girls attempting the look should be crafty; the pink poof is synthetic and took some serious scissor-work. "We had to cut it and snip it and do all that stuff," Smith warned. What do you think of Willow's Halloween costume idea? What will you be? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Runaway' Star Selita Ebanks Recalls Her <i>Vogue</i> Rejection Posted: 25 Oct 2010 04:21 AM PDT Model-turned-actress once failed to impress editor Anna Wintour but is winning raves for her turn in Kanye West's clip.
Selita Ebanks is riding high after the overwhelmingly positive response to her performance in Kanye West's "Runaway" film — not just from fans, but from 'Ye himself, who told MTV News' Sway that the model-turned-actress "killed it." But the Victoria's Secret model's career hasn't been all roses and clover. When Ebanks sat down with Sway to talk about the film and where it fits in her career trajectory, she recalled her first (and last) meeting at Vogue magazine.
"I wore Timberland boots," she said. "I had on corduroy high-water flooded beige pants with a button-down plaid shirt. I was a tomboy," Ebanks explained of her first meeting at the famed glossy. "I remember walking in ... Trudy, from Vogue at the time, she looks at me startled and I didn't understand why. I was like, 'What up? Who am I here to meet?' " Ebanks said she was told to take her jacket off and just "be herself" and she'd be fine. She was then ushered into another room. "I walk into the office, I got maybe two steps into the room and I look and it's amazing [editor in chief] Ms. Anna Wintour. She goes [makes a dismissive wave] and dismisses me," Ebanks recalled. "Needless to say my cover did not come out, to say the least, and I have never shot Vogue magazine." The 27-year-old beauty said that rather than hold onto any bad feelings about the incident, she took it as a valuable lesson. "Now that I reflect back on it — and this goes back to my advice for these young women — [the lesson] is to always do your homework," she relayed. "Always be aware, don't just take people's word for it and walk into a room. ... I should've asked, 'Who am I here to see? Who will be in the room?' But this is something you live and you learn." What did you think of Selita's "Runaway" performance? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos |
| Taylor Swift <i>Speak Now</i> Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know! Posted: 25 Oct 2010 06:10 AM PDT MTV News digs into the juicy inspirations behind Swift's latest songs.
Taylor Swift may have joked that her boyfriends have "fair warning" when it comes to ending up in her songs, but it seems that no one in Swift's life is off-limits. On her latest album, Speak Now, which dropped Monday (October 25), the country/'pop chanteuse is fearless in her quest to write what she knows. And while she hasn't confirmed who most of these songs are about, there's much chatter about the inspirations for the album.
Joe Jonas already had his song on Fearless with "Forever and Always," but this time around, it seems like Swift is taking a melodic jab at Jonas' ex, Camilla Belle. It was rumored that Jonas left Swift for Belle, and the lyrics of "Better Than Revenge" have led many to believe the song is about the actress. "Story starts when it was hot and it was summer," she sings (Swift and Jonas dated in the summer of 2008). Swift then weaves a tale about a girl who comes along and snatches her beau away. Belle and Jonas reportedly met on the set of his "Lovebug" video, where Swift was nowhere to be found. Swift and "Twilight" star Taylor Lautner famously dated in late 2009, and there are two tracks on the album that may give fans some insight into their relationship. It is widely believed that both "Back to December" and "Story of Us" are about the pair's romance. While "Back to December" marks the first time that Swift has ever apologized in a song, "Story of Us" is a more uptempo track on which Swift laments about all the things that could have been between her and her former lover. It was inspired by a somewhat awkward encounter with an ex at an awards show. In perhaps the most obvious reference, on the track "Dear John," Swift sings about feeling used by a boyfriend. It's widely believed that this person is John Mayer. Swift admitted that "Mine" is about a boy Swift wasn't willing to take the next step with in their relationship. There are two likely candidates: "Glee" star Cory Monteith or "You Belong With Me" co-star Lucas Till. "Mine" male lead Toby Hemingway does bear a striking resemblance to Till. She's not only addressing her love life on the album, but also her critics. She takes a scathing jab at them on the track "Mean." She also recalls the now-infamous 2009 VMA incident with Kanye West on the song "Innocent," about a man who has yet to fully realize the consequences of his actions. Which Speak Now song are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments! Don't miss "Speak Now: Taylor Swift Live From New York City," streaming live on MTV.com, CMT.com and VH1.com at 7 p.m. ET tonight! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Kanye West Reveals <i>My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy</i> Details Posted: 25 Oct 2010 01:45 AM PDT 'We got a few bonus tracks, like 'See Me Now,' 'Mama's Boy' and some bonus tracks after that,' Kanye says of forthcoming album.
Kanye West has a warning to all bootleggers, hackers and any fans who think they know what 'Ye has in store for his next LP just because of the tentative My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy track list that hit the Web. West said the songs that have leaked online don't sound anything like the versions that will actually be released on the album. When asked on Saturday which track is his favorite, West replied, "I can't say right this instant, because we're still mixing them. And we got a few bonus tracks, like 'See Me Now,' 'Mama's Boy' and some bonus tracks after that. There's like 13 or 14 songs ... maybe 'Chain Heavy' will be on there. We have to make a decision by tomorrow. So there's maybe 13 or 14 tracks, but they're way produced. Far from any bootleg, far from any hacker. A hacker, man, can't give you what I can give you once it's the whole product."'
So far, Kanye has only officially released "Power" and "Runaway," although numbers like "Monster" and "Devil in a New Dress" have seen the light of day as a part of his G.O.O.D. Friday series. "Lost in the World," however, leaked without his permission and he threatened to temporarily cancel the weekly music series as a result. In the past, the rapper has tweaked his tracks endlessly up until the last minute before he had to turn the songs over to be pressed for distribution. For "Stronger," he reworked the drums over and over, even after a video was released featuring the track. He eventually brought in Timbaland to assist with the programming. In 2007, T-Pain talked to MTV News about West's process and was amazed at how the producer brought material like "Good Life" to, well, life. "All I recorded for that song was hooks," T-Pain explained. "We did five different versions [of the chorus]. And when you hear that 'And my grandmamma ain't the only [girl] calling me baby,' that was a hook. Kanye put all them hooks together and created that song. When I heard the finished version, I was like, 'This dude is a genius.' " Which G.O.O.D. Friday tracks are you hoping to see on Fantasy? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Social Network' Star Armie Hammer On Newfound Fame, Oscar Hype Posted: 25 Oct 2010 03:22 AM PDT 'The reaction we've been getting is insane,' actor tells MTV News.
David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin were convinced they could find two Adonis-esque twins with acting chops. "The Social Network" director and the film's scribe thought for sure two such actors were somewhere out there, and that each would be able to play one of the film's real-life Winklevoss twins. But as the start of production approached, they finally had to scrap that notion and opt for just one Adonis — and a whole lot of CGI trickery.
"They were looking for twins for a long time," said Armie Hammer, the 24-year-old who got, well, both jobs. "The process for me was a little easier. I think I came along when they were starting to get desperate, and they were like, 'We just need someone who's 6'5,' and I'm like, 'I'm 6'5,' and they were like, 'Perfect!' " It wasn't the first time Hammer found himself in a wacky casting position. Back in 2007, he was tapped to play Batman in "Justice League," only to see the film collapse in the midst of the writers' strike and an inability to get a tax break from the Australian government. This time around, he kept his job — and he's being talked about as a potential Oscar nominee in the Best Supporting Actor category. His public profile, needless to say, has never been higher. "The reaction we've been getting is insane," Hammer told us when he stopped by the MTV Newsroom recently. "I first got into New York yesterday, and I was walking to go buy a hot dog at a street meat cart, which is the first thing I do whenever I come to New York. Some little old lady comes running up to me and says, 'Ah, ah, here!' and she hands me a bag of the little peanuts, and she's like, 'I love "Social Network" movie, good, good, good!' And then she runs away. And I'm like, 'Wow, this movie thing is working out. I'm getting free peanuts!' " He'll also be getting a free trip to the Oscars, as "Social Network" is expected to garner a slew of nominations, from Best Picture to Writing. And the fact that Hammer might get a nod himself blows his mind. "It's crazy. It's very insane," he said. "I feel honored, but at the same time I understand I'm riding on the extremely long coattails of David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin." Check out everything we've got on "The Social Network." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Aubrey O'Day Promises 'Rebellious' Side On New Reality Show Posted: 25 Oct 2010 02:40 AM PDT 'I really don't play by anyone's rules,' she teases about the Oxygen show.
Aubrey O'Day recently began tweeting about the filming of her upcoming Oxygen reality show. Never one to shy away from the attention or the cameras of reality TV, the former Danity Kane singer is ready to return to the small screen, and this time, the long-simmering show is all about her.
"Well, Oxygen's motto is living out loud, so I would say you're going to see Aubrey O'Day living out loud," she told MTV News at the Hard Rock Hollywood grand opening. "I don't think I've not done that, but obviously my voice is a bit outspoken, and I really don't play by anyone's rules, so I think you'll see a lot of that rebellious tendency that I have." In addition to the good ol' O'Day that we've all grown to love, the show will also focus on the singer as she tries to launch her solo music career in the wake of the drama-filled Danity Kane split. "But also [you'll] get to see what it's really like to be me and the honest truth of what I'm really like as well as on the business side," she explained. "I'm recording my first solo album, so it's following the entire recording process." She noted that while she's gone solo, there will be some familiar faces on the show: "I'm working again with my manager Johnny Wright, who was on 'Making The Band.' I'm back with Gil [Duldulao], who is Janet Jackson's choreographer, who also did Danity Kane ... so I'm back with the producers that I worked with on all of Danity Kane's music. So, we're kind of bringing the whole fabulousness of the music industry over to Oxygen, but also giving fabulous reality." Will you watch Aubrey O'Day's new Oxygen show? |
| How 'Paranormal Activity 2' Avoided The 'Blair Witch' Curse Posted: 24 Oct 2010 11:27 PM PDT Horror film draws $41.5 million in weekend ticket sales by sticking to what made the original flick a hit.
About a year after the genre-bending "Blair Witch Project" turned from a Sundance sleeper to a $250 million blockbuster, a sequel arrived in multiplexes. It didn't stay long, grossing just 19 percent of the original horror hit. For years afterward, "Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2" was held up as an example of what not to do with a breakout movie franchise. Paramount learned that lesson well. This weekend, "Paranormal Activity 2" — a follow-up to last year's pop-culture phenomenon — opened to $41.5 million in ticket sales. How did they do it? By not changing much at all. "What worked for 'Paranormal Activity 2' was that its content and marketing didn't stray too far from what made the first one such a popular hit," Gitesh Pandya of Box Office Guru said. " 'Blair Witch 2' tried too hard to be more of a regular narrative film, and its release was like a regular horror movie saturating all screens. The 'Paranormal' follow-up still had the look and feel of the first while adding to the mayhem." Whereas the second "Blair Witch" ditched its found-footage angle in favor of a more straightforward horror tale, "PA 2" stuck with what fans originally loved: a suburban couple filming the presence of a demon. When it came to marketing the sequel to a skeptical public numbed by shoddy follow-ups to beloved originals, Paramount employed a similar marketing strategy as it did in 2009: an online campaign for audiences to demand midnight screenings. "Continuity is important when you're building a franchise," said Phil Contrino, editor of BoxOffice.com. "There needs to be a cohesive vision." The result of that vision was tons of fan anticipation. "PA 2" broke the R-rated midnight record set by "Watchmen" ($4.6 million), pulling in $6.3 million during those late-night showings. By the morning, the movie was playing on 4,500 screens, and, according to Paramount, 54 percent of viewers were female. "I think this definitely turned into an unconventional date movie," Contrino said. Yet, while the $41.5 million haul is impressive, cautionary notes abound. Brandon Gray of Box Office Mojo noted that, while "PA 2" soared out of the gate, it might not end up eclipsing the original's haul. "With its Friday gross accounting for 48 percent of its weekend gross, 'Paranormal Activity 2' had one of the most Friday-loaded opening weekends ever," he wrote. "Nearly all other horror movies with similar Friday shares failed to double their opening-weekend grosses in their final tallies, suggesting that 'Paranormal Activity 2' will have a quick flame-out and make less than its predecessor." Regardless of its finishing gross, a third "Paranormal Activity" seems all but assured. And like the lesson provided by "Blair Witch 2," horror series that have spawned three or more installments, such as "Poltergeist" and "Hellraiser," offer cautionary tales about how quickly fans can turn away from cherished material. "A third film will definitely do well, but after that, it's tricky," Contrino said. "They have to make sure the sequels don't unintentionally lapse into self-parody. To make it past three films, the series will also have to evolve in some way in order to stay fresh, and that's not an easy thing to do." Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 2." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Selita Ebanks 'Humbled' By Response To Kanye West's 'Runaway' Posted: 25 Oct 2010 12:36 AM PDT 'I feel like I'm looking outside of myself, like I'm looking at someone else,' Ebanks says.
When the spotlight was shining on Selita Ebanks this weekend during the premiere of Kanye West's "Runaway" short film, the former Victoria's Secret model wasn't exactly basking in the attention.
"I was sick at home," Ebanks told MTV News on Monday (October 25). "I watched it when everybody else watched it. I was blowing my nose but guarantee I was dancing on my bed. I was by myself, but it was OK. It was a good time to reflect and appreciate it without anybody around." Ebanks starred in "Runaway" as the phoenix, the lead character in the film, who symbolically represents the rapper's fall and rise over the past 12 months or so. The role didn't require much dialogue, but Ebanks has received praise for giving the phoenix life using her artful physical movements as a means of communication. She had to develop the phoenix herself, because, as she put it, "[Kanye] told me about the character, but he didn't give her a character." "He didn't give her a personality, so we had to sit down and I just picked his brain," Ebanks explained. "As we went along, I personally developed this character. I wanted her to seem more real and relatable and I wanted people to sympathize with her. Because it's a part of his story, so I tried to understand what the message [was] that he was trying to get across and really embody that in the phoenix, so that his story could be more understandable." Immediately following the debut of "Runaway," Kanye West told MTV News' Sway that Ebanks "killed it" during her performance. He also predicted her career would change as a result of her critically acclaimed turn in the project. Ebanks was more measured in her reaction to the praise. She plans to pursue acting but for now, she's taking things one day at a time. "It's crazy, it's like a whole different life," she said of all the praise. "I'm just really, really humbled by the amazing, positive responses that we've been getting. Looking at the film, it's crazy, because I feel like I'm looking outside of myself, like I'm looking at someone else. I have to look in the mirror to remind myself that that's me. And the fact that people have been so kind and generous with their words, it's been pretty humbling. I'm just trying to take it one day at a time. "So today is Monday and I'm loving Monday right now!" she said. What did you think of Selita's performance in "Runaway"? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| My Chemical Romance Have A New Drummer ... For Their Tour Posted: 24 Oct 2010 11:57 PM PDT Michael Pedicone, formerly of Arizona's the Bled, joined MCR for their London tour kickoff.
Earlier this year, My Chemical Romance parted ways with drummer Bob Bryar, who had played with the band since 2004 (he replaced their first drummer, Matt Pelissier). Since then, they've finished recording — and subsequently re-recording — an entire album, undergone a rather drastic DayGlo makeover, and created an impressive postapocalyptic future world to inhabit. Through it all, the stool behind the drum kit has remained empty — until Saturday, that is, when MCR launched their World Contamination Tour in London. That's when they unveiled the newest member of the Killjoys team: drummer Michael Pedicone, formerly of grinding Arizona rock outfit the Bled (who, as luck would have it, shared a stage with My Chem on the 2007 Projekt Revolution Tour). Pedicone took the stage with MCR during their show at London's HMV Apollo theater, and then, immediately following the gig, hopped on his Twitter account to introduce himself to the band's fans. "So many questions from all ya Killjoys," Pedicone wrote. "I am thrilled to be drumming in MCR exclusively and to be a part of the fam. See you all soon!" With that, Bryar's position appeared to be filled. But not so fast, Killjoys. Because while Pedicone will most certainly be manning the kit at all upcoming MCR gigs, he's by no means a full-fledged member of the band just yet. That's according to a spokesperson for My Chemical Romance's label, Reprise Records, who told MTV News that Pedicone is just a "touring" member of the band, à la James DeWees, who played keyboards for My Chem during their Black Parade touring cycle. Still, that hasn't dampened Pedicone's enthusiasm. In a series of tweets before My Chem's Manchester show, he wrote, "I've known these guys for years. Now we get to play music together for a long time to come. Get used to me!" Will you check out My Chem's World Contamination Tour? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kanye West Says Now Fans 'Understand Me Better' Posted: 24 Oct 2010 10:23 PM PDT 'They understand that my emotions come from a really honest and true and childlike innocence,' 'Ye reveals after on-air premiere of 'Runaway.'
Kanye West's return to the limelight following a self-imposed exile last year was not a rash decision. To the public, he had re-emerged the moment his rousing "Power" leaked online in late May. But for West, the release of the track was actually the culmination of his comeback; the Chicago MC's timeout was already coming to an end through a slow process of self-evaluation.
"It was bugged out to walk down the street and have an energy that people didn't like you," West told MTV News during a live Q&A on Saturday after the premiere of his short film "Runaway." "And now it's completely changed and turned around. People, it's like they understand me better. They understand that my emotions come from a really honest and true and childlike innocence and honesty. And with 'Power,' I think people were happy to hear a rap song with that level of dynamics when I came back." Initially, West was supposed to perform the track at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, one year after his Taylor Swift speech interruption made him public enemy number one. But the Chicago star and one of the awards show's executive producers thought premiering "Runaway" would make for a more true statement — particularly the song's theme of good intentions marred by mixed results. "It was very apropos of the situation," he explained. "And it spoke to the emotion that people were feeling. It's just everything is all in due time and taking steps. It's all in God's plans. Even when you make the mistakes, God will put you on the right path. I never gave up the faith and he held me through this dark period and now I see the sun shining again." After the premiere of "Runaway," Kanye West sat down with MTV News to discuss the creation and meaning of the film. Check out the entire interview. What did you think of Kanye's filmmaking debut, "Runaway"? We want to hear from you in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
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