Kamis, 11 November 2010

MTV News

MTV News


The Situation On 'Jersey Shore' Fame: 'I'm Just Happy To Be Here'

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 03:52 AM PST

'I just love being in front of the camera,' reality star tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Jim Cantiello


Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino
Photo: Jessica Prucinsky/ MTV News

A year ago, Mike Sorrentino was a dude who just hung out at the Jersey Shore for the fun of it. Now, the Situation is a guy who hangs out there for his job as a star of the show that made the place known around the world. So, at what point did the Sitch know he was famous?

"Maybe when I started to get on the covers of magazines and stuff like that," he explained to MTV News. "But, you know what? I'm just happy to be here."

He also said now that he's gotten a sense of what life is like with a camera in your face, he kind of likes it.

"I've realized what I want to do in life in that I just love being in front of the camera," he said. "I love being an entertainer. It's almost been a lifelong journey to find out what I wanted to do. I'm so happy to be here, and everything's been going great. I have the Situation book, the guide to being a 'Situation.' "

So, what will Sitch wannabes learn from "Here's the Situation: A Guide to Creeping on Chicks, Avoiding Grenades, and Getting in Your GTL on the Jersey Shore"?

"It's a humorous self-help guide, in a way," the Sitch told MTV News. "I just took that lighthearted look, like I was on 'Jersey Shore' with the 'GTL' and the 'FTD's and the 'GFA,' and I kind of brought it to a book."

Have you read "Here's the Situation"? Give us your review in the comments below!

Related Videos

'Harry Potter' Actor Tom Felton Recalls Draco Malfoy's Best Moments

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 03:52 AM PST

'Getting punched by Hermione, that one gets brought up a bit with me,' he sighs to MTV News.
By Kara Warner


Tom Felton
Photo: MTV News

From "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" to "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2," there is more than a decade of production, eight films and billions upon billions of box-office dollars earned. There are countless moments to highlight and analyze over the next few months between "Deathly Hallows - Part 1" and "Part 2," the final chapter in the world of Harry Potter.

Here at MTV News, we've been celebrating the unparalleled success and fan fervor for the films with a series of photo galleries and best-of lists, the most recent being a look back at one of Daniel Radcliffe and Tom Felton's first onscreen appearances, as well as a compilation of Potter hotties, young and not-as-young.

In the spirit of reminiscence, when we caught up with Felton, we asked him to give us a rundown of Draco Malfoy's best (and worst) moments.

"One of my favorite ones from the early days was the dueling scene when [Harry and Draco] were up on the table from 'The Chamber of Secrets,' " Felton recalled. "I think that was a lot of fun, doing our own stunts at 13 or 14. That was pretty exciting.

"And of course the last one we did, 'The Half-Blood Prince' was just so much fun as a whole project. The fight in the bathroom was a lot of fun as well. They rigged the whole bathroom up, and we tore it to pieces within two days," he said. "That was exciting."

Another moment that was exciting — more for Draco haters than supporters — was when Felton took a punch to the face from Emma Watson's feisty Hermione Granger.

"Getting punched by Hermione, that one gets brought up a bit with me," Felton admitted of the infamous "Prisoner of Azkaban" scene. "A lot of street cred was lost on that film," he sighed.

What was your favorite Draco moment? Let us know in the comments!

It's Harry Potter Week at MTV News! Stick with us all week for interviews, photos, videos and much more about your favorite boy wizard before "Deathly Hallows - Part 1" hits theaters November 19.

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Related Videos Related Photos

Busta Rhymes Backs Long Island Upstart Reek Da Villain

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 03:52 AM PST

Rookie tells Mixtape Daily he has 'a lot of weight on my shoulders' to rep his hometown.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway


Busta Rhymes
Photo: Taylor Hill/ Getty Images

Fire Starter: Reek Da Villain

The Big Apple is bubbling again, with Lloyd Banks leading the way, spitting that gritty New York type of rhyme. The Queens star is holding down his borough, but he has plenty of company heating up the rest of the NYC streets, from a reinvigorated Saigon (what up, Rich Nice?) to Vado to upstart Fred the Godson.

Busta Rhymes' latest protégé, Reek Da Villain, is making a lot of noise coming out of Long Island, a spot we haven't had a heat-tossing MC from in a while.

The Strong Island representative has been burning it up with his spastic "Mechanic," featuring Bus-a-Bus and Swizz Beatz. Reek has managed to keep company with some big names, recruiting DJ Khaled, Cam'ron, Method Man, Vado and Nelly for the remix.

"I'm just blessed, because being a new person in the game, I'm rapping with guys that are already solidified and stars," Reek told Mixtape Daily. "And the way they greet me and treat me, as if I'm a regular. I'm going around being around thugs on the block, and now it's a bunch of guys that are millionaires and superstars that are becoming a part of my day-to-day."

He's following in the footsteps of some heavyweights from Long Island, including De La Soul, Rakim, Public Enemy and Keith Murray.

"Back when I was growing up, it was beautiful, 'cause you could be in your town and see someone like a Busta Rhymes or Rakim come through. Now it's like a deserted land. We haven't had an artist in the game since Keith Murray. It's not pressure, but I got a lot of weight on my shoulders."

Reek is hoping to ease that pressure with his future selections, from a Gangsta Grillz mixtape with DJ Drama, a project with Mick Boogie and the upstart's plans to remake Nas' Illmatic.

"We really just trying to heat up the momentum and build up the steam," Reek said. "So when my big homie gets ready to head into these offices, he can throw some weight around."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

Related Videos

'Unstoppable' Star Chris Pine Found Denzel Washington 'Inspiring'

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 03:52 AM PST

'For me, the inspiring thing was to work with Denzel and Tony,' Pine says of Oscar winner, director Tony Scott.
By Kara Warner


Chris Pine
Photo: MTV News

When Chris Pine signed on to make "Unstoppable," he knew he was getting the chance to tell an amazing story.

The film, opening Friday, is loosely based on the true story of two railway workers who set out on something of a suicide mission to stop an out-of-control train loaded with hazardous chemicals from crashing into a small town. But even more than great storytelling, Pine relished the chance to work with Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott.

"For me, the inspiring thing was to work with Denzel and Tony," Pine recently told MTV News. "And it just happened to be on a movie called 'Unstoppable.' If you really want to know why I did it, it was to work with two guys I'd watched and respected for years," he said.

Pine added that stepping onto set with an actor as celebrated as Washington was rather humbling.

"It's very intimidating, probably more so than any other experience," he admitted. "I wanted to bring my A-game because I knew I was going toe-to-toe with one of the best of all time."

Another aspect of the production that required Pine to bring his A-game was the stunt work, which involved some pretty "hairy stuff."

"You're working with actual trains, obviously, so there's no CG, there's nothing fake about it," the actor said. "There are trains going really fast, and you have to hang off trains or jump on the train, and thank god we had a wonderful stunt team behind us." And, he added, "I had a great stunt double. I would try to do everything I could within reason, but once it got really hairy, that's when I stepped back and went to video village, got my seat, got my drink and watched the action unfold with everybody else."

Are you excited to see how the actors tackled the stunt work in "Unstoppable"? Tell us in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Unstoppable."

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

Kanye West's 'Today' Show Interview Previewed

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 10:21 PM PST

New York Times says unedited footage 'appears not to align completely' with West's version of events.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Matt Lauer and Kanye West on the "Today" show Tuesday
Photo: NBC

On Tuesday night, Kanye West took to Twitter to proclaim that he's done with all future press, after taping a "Today" segment with NBC anchor Matt Lauer thatthursday rubbed the MC the wrong way. However, on Wednesday The New York Times reported that, in unedited footage of the interview, West's account of the sit-down appears somewhat inconsistent with what the video shows.

"While I was trying to give the interview they started playing the 'MTV' under me with audio!!!!!!!," West tweeted Tuesday, referring to video of Yeezy's much-ballyhooed drama with Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV VMAs. "I don't mess with Matt Lauer or the Today Show ... and that's a very nice way for me to put it! ... HE TRIED TO FORCE MY ANSWERS. IT WAS VERY BRUTAL AND I CAME THERE WITH ONLY POSITIVE INTENT ... I feel very alone very used very tortured very forced very misunderstood very hollow very very misused ... I don't trust anyone but myself! Everyone has an agenda. I don't do press anymore. I can't be everything to everybody anymore ... I can't be everybody's hero and villain savior and sinner Christian and anti Christ! ... I can't take anymore advice!!! I create, I'm creative, I have a good heart, everyone will see and understand one day."

According to the Times, 'Ye gets testy when footage of the incident is played during his interview, but Lauer obligingly reduces the audio.

"Yo, how am I supposed to talk?" West says. "I'm hearing it while I'm trying to talk."

Yeezy also appears irritated when footage is played of Lauer's recent interview with President George Bush, in which the former head of state dubs West's 2005 declaration that the leader "doesn't care about black people," one of "the most disgusting moments in my presidency."

"I didn't need you guys to prompt my emotions," West tells Lauer during his taping. "I don't need all the jazz."

"Today" show representatives confirmed to the Times that the interview is slated to air Thursday (November 11) and said in a statement, "We look forward to airing Matt Lauer's interview with Kanye West."

What do you think about West's drama with the "Today" show? Let us know in the comments!

Related Artists

Taylor Swift Performs 'Back To December' At CMA Awards

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 07:40 AM PST

Singer plays piano in street-scene set.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Taylor Swift performs at the 44th annual CMA Awards
Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Hot on the heels of her massive Speak Now debut, Taylor Swift turned in a mellow performance of the album's single "Back to December" at the 44th annual CMA Awards on Wednesday night (November 10).

Following an intro from "Country Strong" actress Leighton Meester, Swift appeared onstage behind a large, sleek grand piano on an elevated platform. With an iron gate and dimly lit street lamps flanking a string section, the set had a turn-of-the-century vibe. Donning a long, white, empire-waist gown, red lipstick and her blond curls swept into an updo, Swift gave a measured performance of the ballad. Snowflakes fell from the ceiling as the singer closed the ethereal performance.

"So this is me swallowing my pride/ Standing in front of you saying 'I'm sorry' for that night/ And I go back to December all the time/ It turns out freedom ain't nothing/ Missing you, wishing I'd realized what I had when you were mine/ I'd go back to December, turn around and make it all right/ I go back to December all the time," Swift sang in the chorus.

Swift recently broke down the track to MTV News, saying it was an apology for her "careless" actions in a relationship.

"Well, I've always sort of written songs about situations in life, things that needed to be said," she said. "I write songs about people who deserve to have songs written about them, and whatever they need to hear, whatever is the right thing to say to that person, ends up being said.

"I've never felt the need to apologize in a song before. But in the last two years I've experienced a lot, [including] a lot of different kinds of learning lessons," she said. "And sometimes you learn a lesson too late and at that point you need to apologize because you were careless."

What did you think of Taylor Swift's performance on the CMA Awards? Let us know in the comments!

Related Photos Related Artists

Is Kanye West Really Done With The Media After 'Today' Show Rant?

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 12:45 AM PST

'He is trying to reinvent himself, and he is doing it in a very aggressive manner,' one PR expert tells MTV News.
By James Montgomery


Kanye West appears on the "Today" show
Photo: NBC

In the 14 months since his infamous run-in with Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West has maintained a rather contentious relationship with the media, one that has gone from a self-imposed blackout to tentative courting to whatever it is that happened late Tuesday (November 9), when 'Ye took to Twitter to express his frustrations with the "Today" show after they played a snippet of their interview with him over images of the Swift incident.

"While I was trying to give the interview they started playing the 'MTV' under me with audio!!!!!!!" West wrote. "I don't mess with Matt Lauer or the 'Today' Show ... and that's a very nice way for me to put it! ... HE TRIED TO FORCE MY ANSWERS. IT WAS VERY BRUTAL AND I CAME THERE WITH ONLY POSITIVE INTENT."

It would appear, for the time being at least, that West is once again done with the media — especially since, as he wrote in one tweet, "I don't do press anymore" — and while it may seem like that situation won't change, those who know the public-relations game best think otherwise.

"I think [West's Twitter rant] is an understandable reaction," Michael Levine, who runs his own PR firm and formerly repped Michael Jackson, told MTV News. "When somebody has had a run of great success, they do not respond well to being crucified in the media. ... They become like deer in the headlights. They get frozen."

According to Levine, West's reaction to the "Today" show incident is actually part of the game the rapper has been playing ever since the Swift incident in '09: a large-scale reinvention plan that isn't always pretty but is always on, even when West is saying he'll never speak to the media again.

"We're living in a culture now where a rumor unanswered in 24 hours becomes true. The best defense is offense, and the only offense is relentless," Levine said. "He is trying to reinvent himself, and he is doing it in a very aggressive manner, in an effort to turn around some soured public perception around about him ... and I think that's a necessity, because I think people had turned off to him."

And while he isn't working with West, Levine said that if he were, he'd tell him to stay the course; to focus on his music and block out all the other distractions. And, most importantly, stay away from Twitter.

"I think he's in a place where the conversation is starting to change. We'll have to see if he's going to be able to do it. I think the ranting about how unfair the media is needs to stop," Levine said. "I think he's got to also now get back to more of what he's known for: the musical performances. Change the conversation, and stay off the Twitter."

What do you think of Kanye's latest rant? Let us know in the comments!

Related Artists

CMA Awards Ruled By Country Couple Miranda Lambert And Blake Shelton

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 10:28 PM PST

Lady Antebellum also pick up awards, Taylor Swift and Gwyneth Paltrow perform.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Miranda Lambert accepts the Female Vocalist of the Year award from Loretta Lynn at the 44th annual CMA Awards
Photo: Bryan Bedder/WireImage

The hosts of the 44th annual CMA Awards, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, didn't just stick behind a podium and toss good-natured digs at their fellow country music luminaries. Instead, the superstars kicked off the show with a high-octane performance of Underwood's "Songs Like This," they showed why they were both up for CMA awards, in addition to being tapped to MC the festivities.

Sporting a sparkly silver and black jacket with black cropped pants, Underwood strutted around the stage with a take-charge attitude as she belted the lyrics, which blast a no-good, ex-flame, until she encountered her co-host, Brad Paisley, who fired off a searing guitar solo. Then an appearance by hitmaker and CMA nominee Keith Urban, who plucked away on his banjo, kicked up the star power.

Following Underwood's super-quick change into a silver minidress, the hosts headed back onstage, and set the tone of the evening with some light-hearted banter, taking shots at the BP oil spill and Tiger Woods, and showing Taylor Swift love for her chart-busting, first-week Speak Now haul. The duo also gave a shout-out to country newbie Gwyneth Paltrow, who was readying to make her live, singing debut later in the evening. Referencing her well-known music connection via her rock-star husband Chris Martin, Paisley joked, "Can you get me two Coldplay tickets?" Underwood followed up with, "Can you make it four?" Paisley also name-checked pop phenomenon Lady Gaga, pretending to confuse Lady Antebellum — who later won two awards, including Vocal Group of the Year — for the quirky superstar, strumming twangy versions of "Paparazzi" and "Alejandro," and asking, "Are you guys gonna wear your meat suits tonight?"

No one showed up in fleshy fashions, but the night was packed with plenty of A-list performances. Chart-topping trio Rascal Flatts performed their let's-get-married jam "Why Wait" under a "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign, shouting-out the renowned quickie-marriage city.

Blake Shelton performed his dance floor-packing number "All About Tonight" on a platform in the middle of the arena surrounded by fans. A sea of hands shot in the air when the crooner sang "I'm gonna do my best to dance with every girl in this bar."

After "The House That Built Me" won Song of the year, Shelton's fiance and nine-time nominee, Miranda Lambert, hit the stage with "That's the Way That the World Goes 'Round." Bursts of fog rolled downstage as the chorus kicked in, and the country darling grooved in a silvery, fringe skirt that matched the sable tassels of her set piece. In one of the show's many moments of levity, when the camera cut to Shelton, he playfully mimed that his soon-to-be-wife was crazy.

Despite the jokes, the night turned out to be big for both Lambert and Shelton who each picked up multiple awards. Lambert, who was also celebrating her birthday, led the wins with three trophies, including Female Vocalist of the year and Album of the year, while Shelton picked up two, including Male Vocalist of the year.

Country great George Strait, who has won the most CMA awards ever, took the stage for "The Breath You Take," and gave an earnest performance in a classic black suit under blue spotlights.

After accepting the award for New Artist of the year from last year's victor Darius Rucker, Zac Brown Band took the stage for "As She's Walking Away." Playing in a set reminiscent of a vaudeville theater, the collective strummed along until country great Alan Jackson stepped from behind a burnt-orange curtain, eliciting screams from the crowd. The crooner manned vocal duties for the second verse and Jimmy De Martini followed up with a hearty violin solo.

Kenny Chesney played his football ode "The Boys of Fall" as scenes gridiron scenes, including images of a young Chesney on the field, played out on the monitor.

After an introduction from "Country Strong" actress Leighton Meester, Taylor Swift played "Back to December" on a sleek grand piano, backed by a string section in an elegant turn-of-the-century set.

Sugarland, who picked up the award for Vocal Duo of the year for the fourth year in a row, turned out a plucky rendition of "Stuck Like Glue" in a retro, carnival-themed set, with Jennifer Nettles trotting about in a tutu and sparkly tunic like a doll.

Country superstar Keith Urban returned to the stage, this time rocking his uptempo new single "Put You in a Song." Urban was followed by a performance from country icon Reba McEntire, who dispensed with the theatrics in favor of a straightforward rendition of "If I Were a Boy." Singing with no band onstage, donning a glittery black dress with her signature red hair flowing to her shoulders, the legendary vocalist's performance scored a standing ovation.

A few crossover artists hit the stage as well. "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson joined Jason Aldean for his song "Don't You Wanna Stay," from My Kinda Party. Sporting a brown jacket with generous fringe, Kid Rock launched his impassioned rendition of "Born Free" at the piano, and later ripped the mic, becoming one of the relative newcomers to country music to score a standing ovation.

Co-host Brad Paisley paid tribute to his music predecessors, flashing images of greats such as Tammy Wynette and Conway Twitty during his new song, "This is Country Music," while Dierks Bentley turned out a fiddle-heavy performance of "Up on the Ridge."

One of the biggest moments of the night went down when multiple generations of female singers turned out for an all-star tribute to music icon Loretta Lynn. Oscar-winning actress Sissy Spacek, who played Lynn in the 1980 movie "Coal Miner's Daughter," introduced the tribute, which included Lambert and Sheryl Crow and Lynn herself, who was welcomed with a standing ovation mid-song. After the performance, Lynn and Spacek presented Lambert with the award for Female Vocalist of the year, her third trophy of the night. The star became emotional when accepting the trophy from the country legend and thanked her for her pioneering efforts.

The much-anticipated CMA debut of Gwyneth Paltrow also ended in a standing ovation, as the Oscar-winner belted the bold, strong notes of the title song to her upcoming movie, "Country Strong."

Co-host Brad Paisley capped off the night, accepting the award for Entertainer of the Year, and despite being a CMA Awards veteran with over 50 previous nominations, got emotional when speaking about the devotion of the fans, who roared with support throughout his acceptance speech.

What did you think of the CMA Awards? Let us know in the comments!

Related Photos

Janet Jackson Has Drake, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga On Her iPod

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 02:17 AM PST

Her 'For Colored Girls' co-stars also share their musical faves, in Mixtape Daily.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Kara Warner


Janet Jackson
Photo: MTV News

Celebrity Favorites: Janet Jackson, Kimberly Elise and Thandie Newton

Although the ladies of Tyler Perry's "For Colored Girls" had to embrace pain and confront harsh realities to channel the characters in the movie script, from an adaptation of playwright Ntozake Shange's 1974 Broadway hit "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf," offscreen, the cast was as cool as Janet Jackson's character in the film.

"She's someone who has no time for niceties, really," Jackson told MTV News of her role. "That was a tough thing for me, to drop the 'please' and the 'thank you,' just trying to get into the role, get into her head and doing that at home and in my world, that was kind of tough, but eventually it happened. [Laughs.] She has her walls up, for sure."

OK, maybe the lovely ladies of Perry's film weren't that cool. But when the camera wasn't rolling, Jackson, Kimberly Elise and Thandie Newton spent plenty of time listening to music.

"I enjoy listening to Drake, I enjoy listening to Bruno Mars," Jackson revealed. "I enjoy listening to Gaga."

"I love Citizen Cope," Elise added. "Anything Citizen Cope-y. I like Matt and Kim; they're different."

Newton noted a track from Amos Lee's discography, "Long Line of Pain," from the blues singer's Supply and Demand album, as a song she kept loaded in her iPod during filming.

"I'm a huge fan of TV on the Radio," Newton said. "A bit of Afro-Punk. I like a bit of Amos Lee, one of his songs, 'Long Line of Pain,' really reminded me of the movie. That was a part of my 'For Colored Girls' playlist. How we can inherit pain unless we intercept the cycle. We're just passing it forward. Thank you, Amos Lee."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

Related Artists

Gwyneth Paltrow Belts 'Country Strong' During CMA Debut

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 08:12 AM PST

Actress/singer gets standing ovation at awards show.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Fans are used to checking out Gwyneth Paltrow as a red-carpet regular, Oscar-winning screen vet, Jay-Z and Beyonc+é pal and aficionado. But down-home, country crooner? Not so much.

With her turn as a Nashville great overcoming drug addiction opposite Tim McGraw in "Country Strong," which slated to hit theaters next year, Paltrow is using the upcoming months to prove she's got serious vocal chops. So Wednesday night (November 10) the "Iron Man" actress chose one of the biggest nights in Country music, the CMA Awards, to demonstrate her mic skills.

Joined by country veteran Vince Gill, Paltrow made her live singing debut with the track "Country Strong," from the movie's soundtrack. With her wavy blonde locks and a dark clingy minidress, Paltrow looked ready to rock another red carpet appearance. But she boldly hit the song's high notes with a steady, even voice like a country pro. Paltrow became visibly more comfortable as she knocked down the second verse, belting, "I may lose, but I'll always keep my faith, 'cause I'm country strong!" With images of clouds moving through the monitors and Gill looking on with a smile, Paltrow received a standing ovation.

In May, Paltrow, who also contributes a few songs to the movie's soundtrack — including a number penned by her rock-star husband, Chris Martin of Coldplay — sounded off about her "Country Strong" role to MTV News, describing the effort as a difficult task that she said she thought worked.

"I played a country music singer. It's all new original work. It was incredible," Paltrow said of the flick, which also stars fellow singer/actress Leighton Meester. "I had to learn how to play guitar, and I took singing lessons. It was a real challenge, but I felt like I pretty much pulled it off."

The CMAs won't be the last time Paltrow shows off her pipes on network television. The star is slated to bust out a PG version of Cee Lo Green's raunchy, retro-tinged smash "F--- You" on Fox's musical juggernaut "Glee" on Tuesday. The show's creator gushed about Paltrow's vocal prowess to the BBC in September.

"Gwyneth is a great singer," Ryan Murphy said. "She's done it a little bit, but I really want to show it off and show everyone how great she is."

What did you think of Gwyneth Paltrow's performance on the CMA Awards? Tell us in the comments!

Related Photos

Kanye West And George W. Bush: A Timeline

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 03:31 AM PST

MTV News leads you from Kanye's Hurricane Katrina telethon outburst to Bush's memoir and beyond.
By Gil Kaufman


Mike Myers and Kanye West during the Hurricane Katrina telethon in September 2005
Photo: NBC

Presidents tend to have a lot on their minds, especially the past two White House occupants. From two wars to Hurricane Katrina, the blown-out Gulf of Mexico oil well, terrorist attacks and the worst financial crisis of our lifetimes, the plates of former President George W. Bush and current commander in chief Barack Obama are plenty full.

So it was a bit surprising to learn in the new memoir by Bush, "Decision Points," that a quip from rapper Kanye West represented the "low point" of his eight-year presidency. Though the two men have never met (as far as we can tell) and have little or nothing in common, over the past two weeks, their names have become inextricably linked as each has made pointed and/or conciliatory comments about the other.

How did we get to this point?

It all started back in September 2005, when Kanye went off-script during the all-star Hurricane Katrina telethon and said, "George Bush doesn't care about black people," airing his thoughts about the sitting president's reaction to the devastation in the Gulf Coast. Bush didn't respond to the slam at the time, but it clearly made an impact on him, since five years later, he devotes space in his book to talking about how that comment impacted him.

In a November 2 interview with NBC, Bush said that comment marked the most "disgusting moment" in his presidency, saying he didn't appreciate it then and doesn't appreciate it now. Kanye called in to a Houston radio station the next day and apologized for the comments, saying, "I definitely can understand the way he feels to be accused of being a racist in any way, because the same thing happened to me," he said, referring to criticism he got following his 2009 bum-rush of Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards. "I got accused of being a racist, and ... with both situations it was a lack of compassion that America saw in that situation."

Then, on Monday, Bush's interview with "Today" show host Matt Lauer aired in its entirety in prime time, and Kanye followed up by taping his own sit-down with Lauer the next day, which hasn't aired in full yet.

But on Wednesday (November 10), Kanye took to his Twitter account to express his rage at how he was portrayed in a clip of his Lauer interview.

"I went up there to express how I was empathetic to Bush because I labeled him a racist, and years later I got labeled as a racist," West tweeted early Wednesday morning. "While I was trying to give the interview they started playing the 'MTV' under me with audio!!!!!!!," he added, before firing off a string of emotionally charged tweets about his hurt feelings over the interview. "I don't mess with Matt Lauer or the Today Show ... and that's a very nice way for me to put it! ... HE TRIED TO FORCE MY ANSWERS. IT WAS VERY BRUTAL AND I CAME THERE WITH ONLY POSITIVE INTENT ... I feel very alone very used very tortured very forced very misunderstood very hollow very very misused ... I don't trust anyone but myself! Everyone has an agenda. I don't do press anymore. I can't be everything to everybody anymore ... I can't be everybody's hero and villain savior and sinner Christian and anti Christ! ... I can't take anymore advice!!! I create, I'm creative, I have a good heart, everyone will see and understand one day."

Lauer rolled a bit of his interview with West during Bush's appearance on Wednesday's "Today" show, and this time, the former president said he is not "a hater" and does not hate West.

So, for now, it seems Bush and West have put their beef aside, though the same can't be said for Yeezy and Lauer.

Demi Lovato 'Should Be Commended' For Getting Help, Dr. Drew Says

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 04:28 AM PST

Addiction expert discusses troubled starlet on MTV's 'The Seven.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Demi Lovato
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

As reports continue to swirl about Demi Lovato's ongoing troubles, addiction specialist and "Celebrity Rehab" host Dr. Drew Pinsky recently said the Disney star deserves to be acknowledged for attempting to resolve her issues.

"Demi should be commended for having gone for treatment and help," Dr. Drew said during a sit-down on MTV's "The Seven" on Wednesday (November 10). "Just because somebody has a medical problem, we shouldn't, in any way, judge or condemn them. We should really acknowledge and really support them for being a good role model for taking care of themselves."

Ever since Lovato left her tour with the Jonas Brothers last week to deal with "emotional and physical issues," speculation about the nature of the teen starlet's struggles, which have included reports of cutting and substance abuse, has dominated the media. Dr. Drew maintained that, according to what he has heard about Lovato's condition, drugs and alcohol do not seem to have come into play.

"It sounds like she may have been admitted to a psychiatric hospital because the kinds of issues that are being discussed are around depression, cutting — really psychiatric issues," Dr. Drew said about the star, who is recuperating at the Timberline Knolls treatment center in Illinois, according to reports cited by "The Seven." "Unless she was doing drugs, she's not going to rehab. Rehab is for chemical dependency exclusively."

Lovato's rep also shot down rumors Wednesday that the star was struggling with substance-abuse issues.

"Demi Lovato is not in treatment for drug or alcohol addiction," her spokesperson said in a statement. "As we have said since she entered treatment last week, Demi decided to seek help for emotional and physical issues she has battled throughout her life. She has taken this step in order to get her life in order."

Dr. Drew said that among the issues that may have contributed to Lovato's current struggles is the lack of normalcy the teen star has been afforded as a globe-trotting, superstar entertainer.

"Young kids that don't have a chance to really go through the usual developmental milestones and develop with their peers and to have a simple life, it can be problematic for [some of them]. It pulls them out of the usual experiences that kids need to grow up," he said. "They tend to always blame themselves and internalize whatever is going on in their life. So now you do that to a 16-year-old, and you've got real trouble."

Dr. Drew insisted that Lovato must put her recovery before her work in order to successfully overcome this difficult period.

"The important thing for Demi when she has finished treatment, whatever treatment it is she has received, is that she have adequate and thorough follow-up care, follows the direction of her team of professionals and that she doesn't return to work too prematurely," he said. "The number-one reason my patients that are celebrities get in trouble is they go back to work because they make a lot of money for themselves and other people. It's very gratifying, but it takes them out of their treatment."

Share your well-wishes for Demi in the comments.

Don't miss "The Seven" every weekday at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.

Related Artists

Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum Among Top CMA Awards Winners

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 08:55 AM PST

Blake Shelton also took home hardware during Wednesday night's live broadcast.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Miranda Lambert accepts the Female Vocalist of the Year award from Loretta Lynn at the 44th Annual CMA Awards
Photo: Bryan Bedder/WireImage

The 44th annual CMA Awards went down Wednesday night (November 10), and honored the biggest names in country music. The night was an especially good one for engaged couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, who will have to clear off extra mantle space for their new hardware. Shelton won two awards, including Male Vocalist of the Year, while his soon-to-be-wife landed three (the songwriters for her hit single "The House That Built Me" also nabbed an award). Lady Antebellum also took home two awards.

Check out the full winners list below:

Entertainer of the Year
Brad Paisley

Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert

Male Vocalist of the Year
Blake Shelton

New Artist of the Year
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum

Vocal Duo of the Year
Sugarland

Single of the Year
"Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum
Producers: Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum
Label: Capitol Records Nashville

Album of the Year
Revolution by Miranda Lambert
Producers: Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Label: Columbia Nashville

Song of the Year
"The House That Built Me" by Miranda Lambert
Songwriters: Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin

Musical Event of the Year
"Hillbilly Bone" by Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
Label: Reprise Records

Music Video of the Year
"The House That Built Me" by Miranda Lambert
Director: Trey Fanjoy

Musician of the Year
Mac McAnally
Instrument: Guitar

Did your favorites win at the CMA Awards? Let us know in the comments!

Related Photos Related Artists

Wiz Khalifa Drops New Track, 'Huey Newton,' Via Twitter

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 02:58 AM PST

Recently arrested Wiz raps about 'fast living, good weed, bad women' on track featuring Curren$y.
By Steven Roberts


Wiz Khalifa
Photo: Rostrum Records

Getting arrested on Monday after police seized marijuana from his tour bus hasn't slowed down Wiz Khalifa. The Pittsburgh MC, who was released on Tuesday, was soon back to business as usual. Tweeting his signature "waken ... baken" tweet, he thanked fans for their love and support and joked that his wrist still hurt.

The same day of his release, Wiz teased his Taylor Gang that he would release a song with his "broseph," Curren$y. He finally rewarded fans on Wednesday afternoon (November 10), dropping a new song, "Huey Newton," via his Twitter page.

It's unclear whether the song was recorded before or after his release, as the track makes no overt mention of the MC's recent arrest, but Wiz does make familiar references to his favorite everyday activities.

"Fast living, good weed, bad women/ Rolling up joints with hash in 'em/ True pothead/ Do everything last minute," he raps.

The song samples the rock band Toto's 1982 #1 hit "Africa," and while it's named after the co-founder of the Black Panther Party, the duo make no allusion to Newton nor the organization's sociopolitical work. It does, however, boast some clever lines referencing '80s pop culture by Curren$y.

"Michael Knight/ Got ya bitches on the bus playing 'Excite Bike'/ Roll somethin'/ You ain't just here to be a bad bitch/ Spitta's the originator, high rappin' aircraft sh--/ Goose died tryin' to fly a jet/ Word to Maverick," Wiz's partner in rhyme spits.

As for Wiz's legal troubles, a spokesperson for the Pitt County Detention Center confirmed to MTV News that Khalifa (born Cameron Thomaz) was booked into the jail at around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. The rapper posted $300,000 bail and was freed from detention at around 8 a.m. ET, along with one other unnamed member of his entourage. Wiz is now charged with a felony count of trafficking in marijuana, a felony count of maintaining a dwelling/vehicle/place for sale or storage of marijuana and one misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Police allegedly seized more than 60 grams of pot during the bust, or the equivalent of about 2 ounces.

What do you think of Wiz and Curren$y's new track, "Huey Newton"? Tell us in the comments!

Related Videos Related Artists

Swedish House Mafia Talk Greatest-Hits LP <i>Until One</i>

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 06:05 AM PST

'Swedish House Mafia obviously consists of us, solo and together, and we wanted to reflect that on the album,' Axwell tells MTV News.
By Akshay Bhansali


Swedish House Mafia
Photo: MTV News

On a particularly chilly afternoon in New York recently, international DJ/producer superstars Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso and Steve Angello, collectively Swedish House Mafia, paid MTV News a visit at our Times Square headquarters. The trio have certainly arrived in America, riding a colossal two-year surge in popularity, which is the subject of their new documentary, "Take One."

"Most of the stuff that's happened to us this year, I don't think we can grasp, because it's been so fast," Axwell confessed. "We thought 2009 was the peak: 'That sh-- doesn't get better than this.' But then it did."

Each producer is an accomplished veteran of the dance-music world, putting out their own super-singles and mixes and commanding tens of thousands of fans at shows around the world. But since childhood best buds Angello and Ingrosso joined forces with Axwell under the Mafia banner, their brand has been propelled into the upper echelon: 100,000 fans in attendance at Ultra Music Festival and 185,000 at Electric Daisy Carnival, both this year.

Just last month, fans voted the collective #24 on the DJ Mag top 100 poll (a popularity barometer for DJs around the world), certainly the first time a collective placed on the chart along with its individual members having their own placement (Axwell #10, Angello #14 and Ingrosso #16).

"The thing was, you weren't supposed to be able to vote [for] Swedish House Mafia," Angello said. "It was supposed to be split. I don't know how it worked."

"I don't know what happened," Axwell agreed. "But even so, we're just really happy to be on there. It just shows that we do something right: individually and as Swedish House Mafia."

And their rise in popularity certainly has not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, the trio signed a record deal with EMI in the U.S., and their DJ Mag results came in just days after the release of their first album, Until One, a greatest-hits collection that also serves as the soundtrack of their documentary.

"Swedish House Mafia obviously consists of us, solo and together," Axwell said. "And we wanted to reflect that on the album. We have SHM songs, some of my biggest songs, Sebastian's songs and Steve's songs. And we've never made albums by ourselves as well, so we figured, 'Let's bring it all together in one.' "

Until One offers popular collective songs "Leave the World Behind" (the group's '09 hit with Laidback Luke and Deborah Cox), "One" (featuring Pharrell Williams) and their latest single "Miami 2 Ibiza" (featuring British rapper Tinie Tempah and named the "hottest record in the world" by BBC Radio tastemaker Zane Lowe in August) in addition to hits by the individual members.

The DVD for "Take One," documenting the group's recording process, will be available for purchase November 30.

Will you check out Swedish House Mafia's documentary? Let us know in the comments!

Related Videos Related Artists

T-Pain Says Michael Jackson Asked Him To Rework 'P.Y.T.'

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 04:28 AM PST

'It was a mission, something I had to do,' he tells MTV News.
By Hillary Crosley, with reporting by Sway Calloway


T-Pain
Photo: MTV News

Just before Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine, spoke to Oprah Winfrey on Monday, T-Pain told MTV News' Sway about reworking the musical icon's classic track "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)." The cut is on Quincy Jones' Q: Soul Bossa Nostra LP, which hit stores Tuesday.

"Aw, man, it was a mission, something I had to do, something Jackson asked me to do himself," Pain said at Lil Wayne's welcome-home party in Miami. "So it was basically a mission carried out by Quincy Jones. I think it's gonna be cool, 'cause, you know, before Jackson passed away, he was gonna do a tribute album of himself. It was gonna be everybody remaking his songs, and he was gonna be featured on the songs."

The Tallahassee, Florida, native says he wasn't the only Konvict artist included on the Jackson tribute project.

"It was gonna be Akon and him, me and him, Robin Thicke and him," T-Pain said. "So after I left his house — I had the pleasure of meeting him — I got a call from his lawyer, [who] passed away, too, right after him ... saying he wanted me to redo that song on the tribute album, and then he passed away. Then I guess Quincy Jones was just keeping the legacy going."

T-Pain said Jackson asked him to join the tribute project because of a certain bar jam.

"He said he had to meet me because 'Bartender' is the only song that he had sent somebody to the record store to get for him," said a proud Pain. "So that helped me out with the rest of my life!"

Jones' Q album also features remakes of the musical legend's classic "Secret Garden" as well as "You Put a Move on My Heart," which introduced the world to singer, and NBA star Grant Hill's wife, Tamia.

Are you surprised Michael Jackson was a closet T-Pain fan? Let us know in the comments!

Related Artists

Rihanna 'Loved' Working With Kanye West On 'All Of The Lights'

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 03:18 AM PST

When Rihanna heard an early version of the album, the posse cut was 'one of my favorite songs.'
By James Montgomery


Rihanna
Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images

MADRID — For months now, Kanye West has been giving fans a taste of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy through his G.O.O.D. Friday initiative, but for Rihanna, he rolled out his entire album — a move that had just as much to do with their friendship as it did with convincing her to jump on a track.

"[Kanye] actually played his album to me, like, three months ago, and 'All of the Lights,' that was one of my favorite songs," Rihanna told MTV News at the 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards on Sunday. "So when he asked me to come up to the studio at 2 o'clock in the morning, I had to, because I loved it, I knew it was that song."

Rihanna, of course, lent her vocals to the hook of West's massive posse cut "All of the Lights," which also features contributions from (deep breath) Alicia Keys, John Legend, The-Dream, Fergie, Kid Cudi, Elton John, Ryan Leslie, Charlie Wilson, Tony Williams and La Roux's Elly Jackson.

The track — which is featured prominently in West's "Runaway" film — leaked last week, joining a number of other tracks from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy that have debuted before the album's release. In addition to the singles "Power" and "Runaway," "Devil in a New Dress" and "Monster" (both of which were featured first as G.O.O.D. Friday tracks) will also appear on Fantasy.

The album, due November 22, will feature five different covers, which West unveiled last week during a Ustream broadcast.

An edited, performance-heavy version of the 2010 EMA show will be broadcast Friday at 9 p.m. ET on MTV.

Related Videos Related Artists

Taylor Swift Dominates Charts Again With <I>Speak Now</I>

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 10:04 PM PST

Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas II You debuts at #4 on Billboard 200.
By Gil Kaufman


Taylor Swift's <i>Speak Now</i>
Photo: Big Machine

Even with a second-week sales drop of nearly 70 percent, Taylor Swift will still easily top the Billboard 200 with her third album, Speak Now. After moving an impressive million-plus in its debut, Now's second-week sales of 320,000 easily beat the debut of country singer Jason Aldean's My Kinda Party, which comes in at #2 on next week's chart with sales of 193,000, according to figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan.

And, in just two weeks, Swift has already slipped into fifth place on the list of best-selling albums of the year, with nearly 1.4 million copies blowing out the door. The top 10 featured three other debuts, including a #4 bow from Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas II You (55,000), Neil Diamond's Dreams (#8, 35,000) and Brad Paisley's Hits Alive (#9, 31,000).

The rest of the top 10 are Sugarland's Incredible Machine (#3, 60,000), Lil Wayne's I Am Not a Human Being (#5, 45,000), Kings of Leon's Come Around Sundown (#6, 40,000), Eminem's Recovery (#7, 38,000) and Elton John and Leon Russell's Union (#10, 27,000).

The latest slice of psychedelic hip-hop from Pharrell's N.E.R.D., Nothing, winds up at #21 (20,000). Meanwhile, rockers Escape the Fate debut at #25 with their self-titled album (18,000), Matt & Kim notched a #30 bow with Sidewalks (17,000), and Good Charlotte are just behind at #31 with Cardiology (17,000).

Other new faces included the Weezer compilation of previously unreleased songs, Death to False Metal (#48, 10,000), and the reissue of that band's landmark second album, Pinkerton (#73, 6,000).

Swift also dominates the iTunes albums chart again, topping the list, followed by Aldean, Matt & Kim, Kings of Leon, Mumford & Sons' Sigh No More, then Punk Goes Pop, Vol. 3, Carey's Christmas album, Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, pre-orders for Rihanna's Loud and Lil Wayne.

On the iTunes singles chart, Rihanna was tops with her Drake collabo "What's My Name?," beating out the smash Ke$ha hit "We R Who We R" and the super-sticky "Like a G6" from Far East Movement. iTunes does not provide sales figures, but it was another good week for Pink, who held in at #4 with "Raise Your Glass," followed by Rihanna again with "Only Girl (In the World)," Katy Perry's "Firework," Nelly's still-strong "Just a Dream," Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair," Trey Songz's "Bottoms Up" and Bruno Mars' "Just the Way You Are."

Swift will probably have to cede the top spot next week with the arrival of reality-TV singing sensation Susan Boyle's second album, along with new efforts from Cudi, Cee Lo Green, Bon Jovi, Reba McEntire and the deluxe repackaging of 30 Seconds to Mars' This Is War.

Related Videos Related Artists

Nicki Minaj On Fellow Female MCs: 'Can't We All Just Get Along?'

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 11:14 PM PST

'People think that I'm the 'hated female rapper,' ' she tells Perez Hilton.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Nicki Minaj
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Nicki Minaj and Lil' Kim may be involved in a tiff, but that doesn't mean the Lil Wayne protégé doesn't get along with any other female rappers.

In an interview with gossip blogger Perez Hilton, Nicki revealed that she gets along just fine with her female peers.

"There are many female rappers that I get along with," she said. "There have so many female rappers that have congratulated me and given me genuine love, from Trina, who is my darling, to Missy Elliott to Queen Latifah to Foxy Brown to Remy Ma. It goes on and on, and that's what people don't understand.

"People think that I'm the 'hated female rapper,' " Nicki continued. "But a lot of the girls have shown me a lot of love and behind the scenes have said, 'Congratulations, keep up the good work.' Can't we all just get along?"

Lil' Kim has been launching not-so-subtle digs at the rising upstart for some time now. Nicki, on the other hand, has mostly kept her cool. But the charismatic lyricist fired back at Kim recently on her Eminem-assisted track, "Roman's Revenge." On the number, Nicki seems to be taking a swipe at the former Notorious B.I.G. squeeze.

"Word, that bitch mad 'cause I took the spot?/ Well, bitch, if you ain't sh---ing, then get off the pot/ Got some n---as out in Brooklyn that'll off your top," Minaj rhymes on the track.

Over the weekend, Lil' Kim responded in a verbal tirade at a concert in Queens, New York. "I got more love from Queens than this bitch do!" Kim shouted to the crowd. "I will erase this bitch's Social Security number. First of all, I don't even need a record right now, I'll kill that bitch with my old sh--!"

When Perez pressed Minaj about her relationship with other artists with whom she might not get along, the Pink Friday star brushed off any femcees who take issue with her style.

"Maybe they'll just learn to just get over it," she said.

Do you hope Nicki and Kim will reconcile? Let us know in the comments!

Related Artists

Ke$ha: Outcast Icon And Unlikeliest Of Comeback Stories

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 01:12 AM PST

'We R Who We R' singer fended off haters and ascended to pop-star status by sticking to her guns, in Bigger Than the Sound.
By James Montgomery


Ke$ha
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

MADRID Ke$ha is sitting on a stool deep inside the cavernous, white-tiled guts of Madrid's Caja Magica, a sparkling, vaguely "THX 1183"-y complex that was built for tennis tournaments and the city's pro basketball team, but on this night is playing host to the 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards.

She is dressed like an extra from an old Busta Rhymes video — think "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" — covered in neon fishnets and DayGlo body paint, bright-yellow false lashes leaping a good 3 inches off her lids. She's holding a plastic cup filled with what she describes as "apple juice" (but which smells very much like whiskey) and waving to no one in particular, spilling some of that juice on the tile floor with each wild gesture. No one seems to mind.

She is smiling like crazy, and whenever she does, you catch a glimpse of her gold-capped tooth, a rather inspired — if slightly anachronistic — bit of flair that flies in the face of modern dentistry and sort of makes her look like a pirate. I think about bringing this up, but I don't because at the moment, Ke$ha appears to be incredibly, unbelievably happy, which may have something to do with the apple juice or the fact that she's just bested the likes of Justin Bieber and B.o.B for the Best New Act award, the first thing she's won, she tells me, since being voted "most likely to become a serial killer" in high school.

That statement is somewhat fitting because, much like everything else in this scene — the slightly drunk, glow-in-the-dark pop star; the oddly sterile confines of the Caja Magica; the gold tooth — it doesn't make an ounce of sense. But then I realize that nothing about Ke$ha makes much sense these days because somehow, in spite of her countless doubters and detractors, she has managed to become an actual pop star. Not just the kind who sells lots of albums but, like Lady Gaga and Madonna, the kind that wields tremendous influence and even manages to use some of her power for good.

She has undergone perhaps the most unlikely of transformations in recent history, morphing from a hard-partying pop oddity into an actual icon, a champion for those on the fringes of society, a hero to outcasts around the world. And, much like everything in her rather bizarre career, she's done it without really trying at all.

And yes, I am aware that she is still the same girl who wears garbage bags to award shows and claims to be psychic and even has a song on her new Cannibal album called "C U Next Tuesday," but there's no denying that, right now, Ke$ha is on an upswing, both professionally and personally. "We R Who We R," the first single from Cannibal, not only debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, but has also become an outcast anthem, which, as she told Entertainment Weekly, was precisely the reason she wrote it.

Moreover, she won that EMA — voted on by fans, which means she outgunned the Beliebers of the world to get it — and will launch a North American tour early next year. More important, even former adversaries like Perez Hilton seem to have nothing but good things to say about her these days. It may not be a stretch to say that, at this very moment, everybody loves Ke$ha.

And, yet, she is seemingly the exact same person who bombed on "Saturday Night Live" and had amassed so many haters that she was compelled to address the issue in an interview with me earlier this year. Nothing about her has changed — quite the opposite, in fact — and yet, by simply sticking to her guns, Ke$ha has won. I am not exactly sure how this happened, but she has staged an improbable comeback without any of the pitfalls that usually precede an improbable comeback; no rehab, shaving her head, attacking an SUV with an umbrella, etc.

And, in the process, she's not only answered her critics, but she's proven that she's no one-hit wonder. Ke$ha's already on to her second act and she'll probably have a third and fourth too.

It is the unlikeliest of developments, and yet, it is happening right now. Either we, as a society, have come full circle — to the point where we no longer criticize those who dare stray outside the norm — or Ke$ha has single-handedly shifted the entire paradigm ... by doing nothing at all. Either way, I can't explain it, but I wonder if Ke$ha can. So, as our interview begins, I ask her if she's aware that she has suddenly become everyone's favorite pop star. Turns out she is, although, like everyone else, she seems to be mystified as to why.

"I was under the assumption that everyone hated me, for a long time, and then I stopped going on the Internet. And since then, about six months ago, apparently people have started liking me," she laughs. "I have no idea why. ... I hope it continues, because I'm not innately a douche bag, I don't think — maybe I am — so hopefully people are starting to see that. I like to do stupid sh-- sometimes, but I'm not mean or a douche."

As she says it, I realize it doesn't make any sense at all. No one ever accused Ke$ha of being a douche bag (or of being mean). But it hardly matters. In fact, her statement is oddly perfect. It's impossible to figure out what's happening with Ke$ha these days, but it's never been better. She'll keep dressing up in DayGlo outfits and drinking apple juice. She'll continue doing "stupid sh--," and we'll all try our best to keep up. Traditionally, these things usually don't happen this way, but then again, nothing about Ke$ha is traditional. At all.

What is it about Ke$ha? If you've recently come around, tell us why in the comments!

Related Artists

Tidak ada komentar: