MTV News |
- 2011 Grammy Nominations: Eminem Leads The Pack
- MTV News' Top 25 Songs Of 2010: The Countdown Begins!
- It's Britney Spears' Birthday! A Look At What's Next For Her
- Flo Rida's 'Who Dat Girl' Video Premieres -- Watch It Here!
- Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis Talk Starving, Bonding For 'Black Swan'
- Nicki Minaj Says She's Euphoric Over <i>Pink Friday</i> Sales
- Where Does Kanye West's <i>Fantasy</i> Rank Among Biggest 2010 Debuts?
- Grammy Nominations Concert: Katy Perry And Justin Bieber Perform, Earn Nods
- Alicia Keys Talks Sacrificing Her Digital Life On World AIDS Day
- Natalie Portman Recalls 'Awkward' Mila Kunis Sex Scene In 'Black Swan'
- 30 Seconds To Mars' Jared Leto Clears Up 'Hurricane' Controversy
- Curren$y Calls Himself 'A Living Mission Statement'
- Britney Spears' Manager Denies Jason Trawick Abuse Reports
- Lady Gaga To Release First <I>Born This Way</I> Single In February
- Quentin Tarantino Fears His 'Big Chin' Will Be Roast Target
- B.o.B Plans 'A Little Bit Of Magic' For Grammy Nominations Concert
- Rick Ross Gets Bloody In Kanye West's 'Monster' Video
- Kanye West Tops <I>Billboard</I> Chart With <I>My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy</I>
- Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis Recall 'Black Swan' Sacrifices At Premiere
- The Truth Behind James Franco's 'Inside The Actors Studio' Frenzy
| 2011 Grammy Nominations: Eminem Leads The Pack Posted: 02 Dec 2010 09:07 AM PST Bruno Mars, Jay-Z, Lady Antebellum and Lady Gaga trail Em's 10 nods.
At this point, perhaps we can officially declare Eminem's comeback to be complete. He's already got the year's best-selling album (and a pair of the biggest singles), and now, well, he's the most-nominated artist of the 53rd annual Grammy Awards. On Wednesday night (December 1), Em picked up a staggering 10 Grammy nods, including Song and Record of the Year (for "Love the Way You Lie") and Album of the Year (for Recovery, which is also up for Rap Album of the Year). He also scored noms for Best Rap Solo Performance (for "Not Afraid"), Pop Collaboration With Vocals (for his turn on B.o.B's "Airplanes Part II") and Best Rap Song (for "Lie"). Following (not so) closely behind him is Bruno Mars, who landed seven nominations, followed by Jay-Z, Lady Antebellum and Lady Gaga, who earned six apiece. B.o.B and John Legend are among the names who will head into the Grammys with five noms. The complete nominations for the 53rd annual Grammys: Album of the Year Record of the Year Best New Artist Song of the Year Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals Best Dance Recording Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals Best Hard Rock Performance Best Rock Song Best Alternative Music Album Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals Best Contemporary R&B Album Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Best Rap Song Best Rap Album Best Country Collaboration With Vocals Best Country Song Best Country Album Best Americana Album Best Traditional Blues Album Did your favorites get nominated? Share your thoughts in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| MTV News' Top 25 Songs Of 2010: The Countdown Begins! Posted: 02 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST We unveil our favorite tracks of the year, starting with 25 through 18.
In 2010, we fell in love with guys named Alejandro and Gurls from California. We learned how to Dougie and Blow Money Fast, shouted F--- You and Oh My God, wished on Airplanes in the night sky, Loved the Way You Lie and got Fancy. We marveled at the Power one man possessed and pined openly for the Only Girl (In the World). In short, we lived vicariously through music — and 2010 was a heck of a year to do so. But in a year with so many genuinely great songs, what was the greatest? It's a tough question to answer, but we decided to give it a try. Over the past month, we asked the MTV News staff to come up with their own list of their 25 favorite songs of 2010; they didn't have to be singles and, really, they didn't even have to be released in 2010. We were looking for any song that made an impact this year, be it commercially, culturally or critically. When we finally received all the lists, we had proof of just what a year it was: Our staffers ended up picking more than 300 different songs from some 200 artists, and it was up to a select few to tabulate the results and create a top 25. Using a point system — the #1 song on each list received 25 points, the #25 song received 1 point — we spent the next few weeks whittling down the lists. Finally, after some frantic addition (math was never our strong suit) and some rather spirited debate, we had our list — and we feel it's a great one, full of songs by artists both big and small, yet all impactful in some way. It wasn't easy, but we got it done. This week, we'll roll out numbers 25-11, and then on Monday, we'll begin to unveil our top 10. Oh, and we're interested in seeing your lists too. Feel free to add them in the comments below. But now, without further ado, let's look back on the year that was, by kicking off our countdown of the Top 25 Songs of 2010. 25. Rick Ross (featuring Ne-Yo), "Super High" The debut single from Ross' Teflon Don album, "Super High" dropped in May and dazzled everyone with its mix of style (check Ne-Yo's glossy, flossy chorus) and swagger (Ross boasts about besting foes "by margins larger than Fran Tarkenton" and insists that "only fly bitches ride with the Boss"). Produced by DJ Clark Kent, it glides by swatches of both N.W.A and silky '70s R&B act Enchantment, which sort of makes it a pretty apt metaphor for Ross himself, when you think about it. 24. Swedish House Mafia, "One (Your Name)" It recalls, alternately, a blender, a rubber band, a Simon, a motorcycle and something from the "Mortal Kombat" soundtrack (and that's just in the crowd-uniting intro). But, really, "One" is the year's best club anthem, a seamless mixture of stray sounds, house stomp and monster rave hooks that packed dance floors from Iowa to Ibiza (and the Jersey Shore too). Throw in hints of acoustic guitar, piano and, uh, Pharrell Williams, and you've got a track that's practically bursting its britches, but it's a credit to the trio of Swedish stars that produced it that "One" remains slipstream-tight. Chances are, when Rihanna, Usher and Chris Brown made their respective forays into dance music, this was the track that inspired them to do so. 23. LCD Soundsystem, "I Can Change" A woozy mixture of bloopy electronics and, well, naked insecurity, "I Can Change" is, on the surface, just a come-down track from a night of excess and elation. But what makes it great is what makes all of James Murphy's songs so great: the fact that, beneath it all, there beats a very human heart, a desperate, pleading one that needs love no matter what. Lie to him, build him up and then tear him down, Murphy doesn't care, so long as he's coming home with you tonight. "It's good in the dark," he sings, but he's also smart enough to cover what happens in the light too. The end result may not be pretty, but, hey, at least he's honest. 22. Yeasayer, "O.N.E." What happens when one of Brooklyn's brightest bands decides: "Screw this, let's make a pop record?" "O.N.E.," of course. A sumptuous, supple and sublimely silly tune — on an album, Odd Blood, that's full of them — "O.N.E." worms along on undulating synth lines, funky fretwork and a downright sexxxy falsetto yelp, and somewhere along the way, it also manages to transform itself into the picture-perfect pop song, for the 22nd century and beyond. All of which is a rather bookish way of saying Britney, Katy and Gaga wish they could pull something like this off. 21. Robyn, "Hang With Me" Robyn's best songs are always her most bittersweet, and "Hang With Me" is no exception. A rather fragile, heartbreaking exploration of those first tentative steps into (or out of) love, it's also a starry, synthy super-ballad, an electro-pop wonder that just keeps chiming along until the chorus hits, the joy overloads and everything is right with the world. Robyn cautions us not to fall "recklessly, headlessly" in love with her, but when she makes songs as good as "Hang With Me," it's sort of difficult not to. 20. The National, "Bloodbuzz Ohio" White-collar angst from blue-collar barflies, "Bloodbuzz" is the sound of all that is terrifying and unyielding in adulthood, a weary warbler practically bowed under with the unspoken regrets of anyone who's ever been up against the wall or in too deep. Matt Berninger is at his boozy, woozy best, mumbling the year's most perfectly crushing line — "I still owe money to the money I owe" — while the guitars fret beneath him and the water continues to rise. There's no stopping the inevitable, after all. 19. Alicia Keys, "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" A simmering, downright serpentine track that pulses on little more than a barebones back track, noirish piano chords and — above all else — Keys' breathless, deft vocals, "Un-Thinkable" is the rare example of a megastar stripping it all away and just being brave. And it packs the kind of wallop no amount of studio trickery could muster as a result. Keys is laying it all on the line here, and she's doing it because she deserves it. Or at least she thinks she does. And that caveat is the key: She's the rare talent who's also willing to admit that she has doubts, which makes her — and this song — all the more impactful. 18. Chris Brown, "Deuces" Unapologetic, brash and, sure, even cocky, "Deuces" is Chris Brown's "FU" to the world, and truth be told, he's at his absolute best when he's angry. In theory, the song is little more than a supremely swaggering kiss-off to a nagging ex, but when he sings, "I'm movin' on to something better," you can't help but think that's also addressing everyone who's vilified him over the past 18 months — and that's probably the point. He knows you're mad, but so what? MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 countdown continues Friday, when we reveal 17 through 11 on our list. The top 10 begins rolling out Monday, so make sure to keep checking back to see what song we've named #1. And don't forget to share your picks in the comments below! |
| It's Britney Spears' Birthday! A Look At What's Next For Her Posted: 02 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST Spears, who turns 29 on Thursday (December 2), hints about new tracks.
Britney Spears remained relatively low-key in 2010. She was too busy recording her new album, a follow-up to 2008's Circus, to do much more than make an appearance on an episode of "Glee" dedicated to her. As 2010 comes to a close, and Spears blows out another candle on her birthday cake — she turns 29 on Thursday (December 2) — fans are readying to hear some new jams from the pop princess. In November, Spears' manager, Adam Leber, revealed that she would be recording a track with "... Baby One More Time" mastermind Max Martin, as well as fellow superproducer Dr. Luke, calling the tune a likely "smash." He also shared that the album would sound "progressive" and that ''it'll be a departure from what you've heard" in the past. In mid-November, she tweeted about the Martin/Luke track, writing, "Just finished recording a monster with @TheDoctorLuke and #MaxMartin. Get ready..." And Dr. Luke, while not specifying that he's referring to Britney, in a not-so-subtle hint tweeted last week, "Time to get this song out the door and out to mix.. I think you know what artist i'm talking Bout... Right???" While not much has been confirmed about the album or when it might be released, several producers have talked about working on songs for the singer. "We can start one way and end up a totally different way. I really don't know," Danja said earlier this year. "I'm definitely gonna do my part and try to make it hard-hitting, up-tempo, high-energy. That's what I think we need, and that's what I'm gonna shoot for." Send birthday wishes to Britney in the comments section below! Related Photos |
| Flo Rida's 'Who Dat Girl' Video Premieres -- Watch It Here! Posted: 02 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST Rapper throws a massive bash after his digital girl comes to life in new clip featuring Akon.
Flo Rida has a penchant for making party jams, from his breakout hit "Get Low" to "Right Round." But for his latest, "Who Dat Girl" featuring Akon, the Sunshine State native may have taken his partying ways too far.
So much so that in the video, Flo watches as a woman actually comes to life from his computer screen. "The story line basically, I'm on the computer, me and my colleague, and we actually spill some alcohol on the computer," the rapper told MTV News. "And the young lady pops out, you know, just to make it interesting and clever. She's around the house and we just throw a big, huge party and at the end of the video she disappears." The clip premiered on Thursday (December 2) exclusively on MTV, MTV2, mtvU, MTV Jams and MTV.com. And the track is from the lyricist's latest album, Only One Flo (Part 1), which dropped earlier this week and features production by Dr. Luke and David Guetta, among a host of platinum-generating beatsmiths. Guetta and Flo Rida teamed up for the album's first single, "Club Can't Handle Me." "David Guetta has been a guy who I look up to," Flo told MTV News over the summer. "He's definitely been big around the world and has always been there to let me know that my music is hot, and vice versa. So I definitely appreciate doing this big record with him." What do you think of Flo Rida's latest single? Share your reviews in the comments! |
| Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis Talk Starving, Bonding For 'Black Swan' Posted: 02 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST 'Suddenly we were on set together in tutus, emaciated and tired,' Portman recalls of commiserating with co-star.
Much has been made of the sweaty sex scene in "Black Swan" between Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, two longtime friends who had to strip down for some bumping-and-grinding in the name of art.
But let's be clear about one thing: It can hardly be said that the friends spent the entire shoot in lesbian-love mode (the aforementioned scene was filmed in just one day). Rather, Portman and Kunis spent the majority of the production engaging in bonding of another kind: commiserating about how freaking hungry they were, as both women had to shed weight to play world-class ballerinas. "Mila and I had had 'sweatpants nights' watching 'Top Chef,' and suddenly we were on set together in tutus, emaciated and tired," Portman told MTV News at the "Black Swan" red-carpet premiere on Tuesday night. So much for the glamorous life of a Hollywood actress. The process of losing the weight, which included a restrictive diet and hard-core dance training, took months — both before and during the shoot. As Kunis put it, "It was months and months and I was always hungry." But the friends got through it together, and afterward they gorged. "The second they were like, 'You can eat now,' I ate everything in two minutes," Kunis said, adding that her first post-"Black Swan" meal took place at an airport food court. "Panda Express at JFK. I'm a classy broad." As physically demanding as the movie was, Portman told us that it brought the two of them closer. "It's interesting always to see someone working who you only know socially," she said. "It's great to see someone do so beautifully in a work context after you know they're just a fun, cool person." Will you see "Black Swan" when it opens? Tell us in the comments! Check out everything we've got on "Black Swan." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Nicki Minaj Says She's Euphoric Over <i>Pink Friday</i> Sales Posted: 01 Dec 2010 01:48 AM PST 'I feel this weird calm feeling,' the 'Right Thru Me' MC tells MTV News after #2 chart debut.
After all of the frenzy leading up to Nicki Minaj's full-length release, the much-anticipated debut landed a plum #2 spot on the Billboard albums chart. So how does she feel now? "I feel this weird calm feeling," the Queens lyricist told MTV News by phone on Wednesday (December 1).
The rapper moved 375,000 copies of Pink Friday — bested only by the 496,000 copies Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy sold — making her the first female MC in more than a decade to debut with that kind of tally. (Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill sold 423,000 in its first week.) "I'm just so grateful and kind of still in shock. These numbers haven't been put up since 1998," she continued, referring to Hill's debut. "It just makes me feel proud of my team, proud of my fans, everyone who has had something to do with my dreams. Finally, we are seeing this dream come to fruition. It feels incredible." Off the strength of her rapidly growing fanbase of Barbies and Ken Barbs, Minaj earned more first-week sales than recent projects by notable stars like Rihanna and Ne-Yo. Up next, the Lil Wayne protégé will shoot videos for Pink Friday's "Moment 4 Life" featuring Drake and "Save Me"; at the top of the year, she'll shoot clips for "Fly" featuring Rihanna and "Girls Fall Like Dominos." "Now I can promote the body of work," Nicki said of her album. "I feel like I gave birth to my baby, now I'm gonna teach it how to walk and how to talk and spoil the baby." Which Nicki Minaj video are you most eager to see? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Where Does Kanye West's <i>Fantasy</i> Rank Among Biggest 2010 Debuts? Posted: 01 Dec 2010 03:58 AM PST Taylor Swift's Speak Now leads the pack with more than a million sold in its first week.
By now, you're probably aware that Kanye West is once again king of the Billboard albums chart, as his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy sold nearly 496,000 copies to grab the top spot. Fantasy is West's fourth straight album to debut at #1, and its first-week numbers are most definitely eye-popping — but they're not the biggest of 2010.
That honor actually goes to someone with whom West is well-acquainted, Taylor Swift, whose Speak Now scored the year's biggest debut, selling an incredible 1,046,718 copies in its first week back in late October. Eminem's massive Recovery — which is the best-selling album of 2010, with more than 3 million copies moved — is next, as it sold more than 741,000 copies when it was released in June. Soldier of Love, Sade's first album in nearly a decade, posted the year's third-highest debut, selling nearly 502,000 copies in February. West's Dark Twisted Fantasy is up next at #4, followed by Lady Antebellum's Need You Now, which sold nearly 481,000 copies in its first week. Rounding out the top 10 are Drake's Thank Me Later (#6, nearly 447,000 copies), Nicki Minaj's just-released Pink Friday (#7, 375,000 copies), Usher's Raymond v. Raymond (#8, 329,000 copies), Susan Boyle's The Gift (#9, nearly 318,000) and Justin Bieber's My World 2.0 (#10, nearly 283,000 copies sold). Falling just outside the top 10 are the year's two biggest rock debuts: Jack Johnson, whose To the Sea sold nearly 243,000 copies when it was released in June, and Linkin Park, who sold more than 241,000 copies of their A Thousand Suns album in September. Have you checked out Kanye's new album? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Grammy Nominations Concert: Katy Perry And Justin Bieber Perform, Earn Nods Posted: 01 Dec 2010 08:53 AM PST B.o.B, Bruno Mars and Train also hit the stage for the nominations special.
Even though the Grammy Awards are still more than two months away, Eminem should probably start getting his acceptance speech ready. Or, more specifically, acceptance speeches.
Em landed three huge nominations during Wednesday night's (December 1) Grammy Nominations Concert at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles — Record and Song of the Year for his massive hit "Love the Way You Lie" and an Album of the Year nod for the equally big Recovery — making him the early favorite to take home the hardware February 13, when the Grammys will be handed out. Another early favorite is Cee Lo, whose "F--- You" scored noms for both Record and Song of the Year and — of course — country juggernauts Lady Antebellum, who matched Eminem with nominations for Record, Song and Album of the Year. Both Eminem and Lady Antebellum were expected by most to pick up nominations in the so-called "big four" categories, but that doesn't mean the Grammy nominations special was without its fair share of surprises. Katy Perry's Teenage Dream picked up a nod for Best Album, along with Lady Gaga's The Fame Monster and, in the night's most unexpected twist, indie stalwarts the Arcade Fire and their disc The Suburbs. All of those categories figure to be close, but the Grammy for Best New Artist appears to be a race between two Canadian heartthrobs: Justin Bieber and Drake, who are the presumptive favorites in a field that also includes Florence and the Machine, Mumford & Sons and Esperanza Spalding. Bieber — who appeared live via satellite from London — couldn't contain his excitement (or find the right words, for that matter) after learning he'd been nominated, telling the night's host, LL Cool J, that "It feels amazing ... I can't believe I'm in this position! I don't know what to say!" Of course, the nominations were just half of the show. In true Grammy tradition, the telecast also featured a host of high-profile performances. Perry kicked things off with a holiday-themed take on "California Gurls" (meaning she wore some ornaments in her hair) and was followed by Bruno Mars, who strummed his way through "Just the Way You Are," backed by a trilling string section and a pianist. Train performed their massive "Hey, Soul Sister" — which, rather shockingly, was shut out of the Big Four — Bieber reappeared for an acoustic version of "My Favorite Girl," and Mars teamed up with B.o.B to put a lilting spin on "Nothin' on You," which picked up a nomination for Record of the Year. Grammy nominees announced during Wednesday night's telecast: Album of the Year Record of the Year Song of the Year Best New Artist What did you think of the performances on the Grammy Nominations Concert? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos |
| Alicia Keys Talks Sacrificing Her Digital Life On World AIDS Day Posted: 01 Dec 2010 05:09 AM PST Singer tells MTV News celebrity 'Buy Life' campaign is a 'shocker' but will engage everyone in cause of HIV/AIDS awareness.
Alicia Keys walked into the CNN newsroom on Wednesday (December 1) and saw the staff swirling around working and thought the sight would make for a cool picture to send to her Twitter followers.
The thing is, she'd killed off her digital life the night before. So no TwitPic, but Keys isn't sweating it as she's leading a campaign called Buy Life to raise awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS and the many lives lost in Africa and India. The idea is for people to donate money to "buy back" hers and other celebrities' digital lives by texting donations to benefit her Keep a Child Alive organization. And the slogan is simple: You buy a digital life to save a real one. "You can really feel the energy of it, it's there," Keys told MTV News of the campaign, which has set a goal of raising $1 million before celebrity participants like Usher, Kim Kardashian and Swizz Beatz return to Twitter and Facebook. "I love that. That's what's so important about it, we're engaging everyone," Keys continued. "Not only are these incredible artists deciding to sacrifice their digital life until we collectively raise $1 million for the cause, but we're asking everyone who participates in our Twitter and Facebook and who we communicate with to be a part of it as well. I think a lot of people feel like there are things going on in the world and want to do something but [think], 'What am I supposed to do?' So it feels like people have an outlet and a way to participate. By texting, by buying Usher's life back, I think they get a bit of a shocker, but I think people will love it. And they'll pay attention and know what do to." The initiative by Keys' Keep a Child Alive was launched on Wednesday to coincide with World Aids Day. In addition to the "Un-Thinkable" singer, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Seacrest and others have also given up their digital lives. Jay Sean told MTV News that while the approach may shock, sometimes ideas like this are needed to get a message across. "I think we all sometimes turn a blind eye to things that might be depressing, too heavy," the U.K. singer said. "But sometimes you need to be really shook up and poked and prodded to do something, because the way I believe is that every human needs another human being to get some life. ... We need each other, and I feel like we should all help each other." Will you help bring your favorite celeb back to life? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Natalie Portman Recalls 'Awkward' Mila Kunis Sex Scene In 'Black Swan' Posted: 01 Dec 2010 01:04 AM PST 'I didn't really think through the fact that I was going to have to have sex with her,' she tells MTV News of suggesting her good friend for the role.
Darren Aronofsky's much-anticipated "Black Swan," which is set to hit theaters Friday, has the movie world abuzz. The ballet flick, starring Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers, promises to be both disturbingly dark and stunningly beautiful, as the prima ballerina fights for the coveted lead role in "Swan Lake." When a new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis), vies for the top spot, Portman's character is swept into an intense psychological competition, rife with sexual connotations, including the much buzzed-about love scene between Portman and Kunis.
From what we've seen, the battle of the wills between the dancers is ruthless, and their ensuing sexual encounters are equally intense. One would be hard-pressed to believe that Portman and Kunis are, in fact, close friends in real life. When MTV News caught up with the lead actress recently, she discussed the experience of shooting such difficult scenes with someone she knew so well. Portman was quick to praise her friend in the villainous role, revealing that it had been her suggestion to Aronofsky that led to Kunis being cast in the part. "It was really crazy, because Mila and I were very good friends," she said. "And when Darren asked me, 'Who do you think could do this part? Who has sort of a similar height, coloring, physique?' I was like, 'Oh, Mila, Mila, Mila!' He met her and obviously flipped over her, and she's super talented and does an amazing job in the movie." Portman later realized what the pairing would entail, however. "I didn't really think through the fact that I was going to have to have sex with her in the movie," she admitted. The actress revealed that it was slightly uncomfortable to work on those scenes but said that having Kunis around was a positive experience as well. "It was pretty awkward. I almost feel like it would be easier to do it with someone you didn't know," she said. "But, having said that, it was great to have a friend there who, we could laugh and make jokes and get over it together." Despite Aronofsky's efforts to increase the rivalry by separating the pals on set, the pair stayed in close contact. "He didn't want us to be friends while we were shooting, because we're rivals in the movie," Portman said of the director. "So we both had to do this ballet training, but he would make it at different times, and then he would tell me, 'She's doing really well,' and then tell her, 'Natalie's doing so much better than you,' " she laughed. "But we would share the information, so we were like, 'He's messing with us. This isn't real, this isn't real.' " Check out everything we've got on "Black Swan." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| 30 Seconds To Mars' Jared Leto Clears Up 'Hurricane' Controversy Posted: 01 Dec 2010 03:13 AM PST Short film wasn't banned on MTV, contrary to reports.
On Sunday, hours before 30 Seconds to Mars' long-awaited "Hurricane" short film was set to premiere on MTV and MTV.com, Jared Leto took to his blog to post a lengthy list of "issues" an unnamed network had with the mini-movie.
The list was as detailed as it was long (sample entry: "09:17 -- Woman's finger running over other woman's bottom in G-String and touching anus -- COMPLETELY RESTRICTED"), but the point Leto was making was pretty clear. And just in case it wasn't, he spelled it out in the title of his blog post: " 'Hurricane' Banned From Television." That led to several reports stating that MTV had banned the "Hurricane" clip, which, as it turns out, wasn't actually true. In fact, the letter he posted on his blog wasn't even from MTV, as he explained Wednesday (December 1) in an e-mail to MTV News. "The standards notes I posted are not from MTV USA, they are from another channel entirely. One of MANY, actually, that sent long lists of what was required to be censored in order to secure air time around the world," he wrote. "MTV's list was actually rather light compared to others. MOST channels around the world flat out restricted us completely from any 'daytime play' at all, relegating the film to graveyard-shift viewing only." That said, "Hurricane" was pulled from MTV's on-air rotation subsequent to its premiere, but, as Leto put it, not because the network had banned the film. Rather, as he said in a separate phone interview with MTV News, "There are some edits that need to be made ... there is some footage that remained in the cut that was, I guess, overlooked." In a statement to MTV News, a spokesperson for MTV added that the channel would return "Hurricane" to its on-air lineup once the edit had been made. "Contrary to various erroneous reports, the video has not been banned from MTV," the statement read. "The video is currently available on MTV.com and will return to on-air rotation shortly." For his part, Leto remains rather mystified about the entire thing. To hear him tell it, there's nothing in "Hurricane" that's particularly controversial, and he never intended for the video to stir up this much outrage. "I never set out to make a controversial film. I didn't set out to make a film that would get banned — as it has — from several networks around the world, and restricted to nighttime broadcast," he said. "I didn't really have those things in mind, I really just set out on this journey and followed my creative instinct to tell the truth. "I think with a piece of work like this, this all becomes part of the process — whether it's a song or a show or a film — it all brings us on this journey, and, this just happens to be part of the journey of 'Hurricane,' this controversial, banned little film," he added. "I didn't expect all this to happen, but it's a good thing that it happens, only because of the conversation that it may provoke, about these sort of things, and looking at art and creative expression and weighing that against protecting the viewers from the exhibition of certain behaviors." Have you watched "Hurricane" yet? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Artists |
| Curren$y Calls Himself 'A Living Mission Statement' Posted: 01 Dec 2010 04:52 AM PST MC plans to drop three albums this year, including the just-released Pilot Talk 2.
Forget releasing multiple mixtapes in one year; what about multiple albums? New Orleans MC Curren$y has done just that, releasing his follow-up to July's Pilot Talk, appropriately titled Pilot Talk 2, on November 22.
"I have no shortage of raps, and there's no shortage of wack music in the world, so there has to be an alternative," Curren$y told MTV News. "There's people who are not so excited about what's going on with music. A lot of the times, it sounds like the same song's on the radio all day, even though it's not. Everything sounds like everything." The MC, who released his first Pilot Talk LP through Damon Dash's revitalized Roc-A-Fella label and Island Def Jam, is no stranger to the taxes of an artist's life. But Curren$y, born Shante Franklin, decided to take his career into his own hands, shying away from radio-friendly songs in favor of smoke-filled grooves like the '70s-inspired song "Famous" on his newest project. "The fact that everybody gives me so much flak for not conforming lets me know that there's a need for this," Curren$y said. "It's a break from the norm, like, 'Well, I'm gonna keep on doing this. I should give them two before it's done.' Everybody's like, 'Ah, if he would just do a song for the radio.' "I'm trying to show that there's a way to survive without playing that game, without conforming," he continued. "So the fact that I could put three albums out not conforming shows people like, 'Dude, if you think you're right, you're probably right.' Just stick to your guns and eventually it'll all line up ... I am just a living mission statement; I have to do it." The MC says that he's planning to release one more album this year, Muscle Car Chronicles, and Pilot Talk 3 will hit shelves possibly in April. Curren$y, along with Smoke DZA, Nipsey Hu$$le and Dom Kennedy, hit the road Thursday for the Smoker's Club Tour West in Seattle. What do you think about Curren$y's nonstop album releases? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Britney Spears' Manager Denies Jason Trawick Abuse Reports Posted: 01 Dec 2010 01:48 AM PST 'The recording is not Britney,' Larry Rudolph says of supposed phone conversation between Brit and ex-husband Jason Alexander.
Britney Spears' manager, Larry Rudolph, denied Star magazine and Radar Online's reports that boyfriend Jason Trawick hit the pop star. The reports are based on a supposed phone conversation recorded between Britney's ex-husband Jason Alexander and the 28-year-old star. In the recording, the man asks the woman on the other end of the line if her "fiancé" proposed to her on a beach. The woman pauses before asking, "Before or after he beat on me?" The woman goes on to say, "It is true that he [beat me], but it's not true that I accepted [his proposal]." The recording ends after the woman says, "My dad doesn't want him around me right now. My dad has a shotgun, and he's just waiting to use it." Rudolph claims that Radar Online and Star are both reporting a "fabricated" story and that legal action is planned. "This is 100 percent not true," Rudolph told Us Weekly. "The recording is not Britney." Spears and Alexander made headlines in 2004 when the hometown friends got married in a quickie Las Vegas wedding; the marriage was annulled within 55 hours. Spears was married again months later when she tied the knot with now-ex-husband Kevin Federline. News from Spears has been scarce lately, following her recent guest spot on "Glee" and buzz surrounding her next album, which is rumored for a 2011 release. |
| Lady Gaga To Release First <I>Born This Way</I> Single In February Posted: 01 Dec 2010 06:42 AM PST 'I cannot wait to play you Born This Way,' Gaga says in new message to fans.
Fans have been eagerly anticipating new music from Lady Gaga, and now Mother Monster is letting her little monsters know that the new year will bring new music from her. Gaga broke the news to fan site Lady-Gaga.net that Born This Way's first single will drop in February, and added that the album is like "bad kids going to church, having fun on a high level." "I miss you guys so much," Gaga said in a video posted on the website. "Thank you for all of your support and I cannot wait to play you Born This Way. It is killing me." Gaga recently told a crowd in Poland, where she was on her Monster Ball Tour, that the release will be "the greatest album of this decade." "I promise you, I'll never let you down. And not for nothing: The album's finished and it's f---ing really good," Gaga said from the stage. While no release date has been set for Born This Way, there has been much discussion from her camp about what this album will sound like. Her manager has said it's "incredible," while her label boss, Akon, explained that Gaga is taking things to the "next level" with this album. "If I was going to compare it to her previous work, I would definitely say it's a notch up," he said. "It's like she's slowly taking you on to this journey down this road. If she were to just drastically do it, she probably would have lost everybody from the first album, but once the sound was created and established, now we can use that as a tool to grab all the monsters and walk them down this graveyard. It's crazy. It's amazing." Related Photos Related Artists |
| Quentin Tarantino Fears His 'Big Chin' Will Be Roast Target Posted: 01 Dec 2010 02:15 AM PST 'I'm not going to give them any ammunition!' director tells MTV News before Friars Club roast.
Far too early on a rainy and cold Wednesday morning (December 1) in Midtown Manhattan, Quentin Tarantino and his friends gathered for an infamous Friars Club roast. Afterward, the Oscar-winning writer/director may no longer be friends with the folks who hurled barbs his way, but on the pre-roast red carpet, everyone was in good spirits.
As Tarantino walked the carpet before the festivities, he was determined not to let his pals know what was most "roast-able" about him. "I'm not going to give them any ammunition! If Sarah Silverman hasn't realized I have a big chin, I'm not going to bring it up right now," he laughed to MTV News. Silverman, a veteran of Comedy Central roasts, was just a few feet away and admitted, "I have no good chin jokes!" "I'm not going to feed you any right now!" he told her. OK, so he might be a little sensitive about that chin. But going after sensitive territory is exactly what roasts are all about. Just take it from director Eli Roth. "You have to find the most personal, sensitive thing that he doesn't want anybody to know and exploit it to the fullest," he explained. "When you give a speech at a roast, it should end your career. I want people to go, 'Eli went too far. That was not funny. That was sick.' I want people to be offended." Perhaps some people will be offended by the story radio shock-jock Howard Stern related to us. "[Tarantino] came on my show and was casually talking about smoking hash with Brad Pitt. Quentin went to Brad Pitt's house to convince him to be in 'Inglourious Basterds' and then they started talking about hash. I think Brad had some agreement with his wife that he wasn't going to smoke and all hell broke loose." Comedian Jeffrey Ross certainly knew what he was doing when he told us one joke he's got lined up for the roast: "Have you ever seen his forehead? His next movie is premiering on it." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| B.o.B Plans 'A Little Bit Of Magic' For Grammy Nominations Concert Posted: 01 Dec 2010 03:55 AM PST 'This year, all the success, all the doors that have been opened have really taken me by surprise,' he tells MTV News of his own Grammy chances.
B.o.B is ready to hit the stage. He's been performing one of the hottest songs all year long, so it's only appropriate that he and Bruno Mars perform it one more time at Wednesday night's (December 1) Grammy Nominations Concert at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles. Earlier Wednesday, the rapper performed "Don't Let Me Fall" on his own and, later, his big hit "Nothin' on You" with Bruno Mars. "It was a really good way to kick it off and be more involved with the overall experience," he said of the concert. B.o.B said he doesn't have too many expectations about how the Grammy nominations might shake out, considering that this is his first year being involved. When asked if he might do something a bit different for his performance during the nominations special, the "Magic" MC joked, "Just a little bit of magic." Bobby Ray has some predictions for his colleagues when it comes to Grammy night: "I think Cee Lo and Bruno Mars could win because of their musicality and what they brought." But what about the rapper's own chances? "If Bruno is nominated, I probably might be nominated also. It's kind of a win-win situation for both of us," he said of his collaborator. "This year, all the success, all the doors that have been opened have really taken me by surprise." The nominations special airs Wednesday night on CBS at 10 ET/PT. The 53rd annual Grammys air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 13, and will be broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Stick with MTV News for everything about the Grammys, including nominations and reactions from the artists. What do you think of B.o.B's chances for the Grammy nominations? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Rick Ross Gets Bloody In Kanye West's 'Monster' Video Posted: 30 Nov 2010 10:07 PM PST Behind-the-scenes footage from upcoming clip has hit the Net.
With its swaggering, snarling production work and a roster of guest stars that includes Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross and Jay-Z (rapping about Sasquatch, no less), Kanye West's "Monster" is undoubtedly one of 2010's biggest and baddest songs, so you'd probably expect the video to be equally as intense. But we're willing to bet you never thought it would be so bloody. And yet, judging from behind-the-scenes footage taken from the set of the "Monster" video, it looks like the clip won't shy away from getting gory. The footage, first posted in early November on YouTube, began picking up traction on Wednesday (December 1). In it, Ross is seen dressed in a velvet smoking jacket as he dines on a bloody hunk of meat while a (presumably) dead woman is sprawled out before him. In the background of the scene, a wall is covered in a blood-smattered tarp and another slab of meat is visible on a table. Later on, Ross performs his verse from the song while standing in a doorway, still dressed in that smoking jacket and sunglasses. West, Minaj and Jay-Z don't make an appearance in the footage, though Minaj's dressing room is shown. Also on display are several of director Jake Nava's storyboards, which are filled with photos of nude models reclining on tables. There's no word on just when the "Monster" video will premiere, and a spokesperson for West did not respond to MTV News' request for comment on the matter by press time. The song was one of the first 'Ye premiered through his G.O.O.D. Friday initiative, unveiling the track on his website back in August. In October, West confirmed to MTV News that the song would also be featured on his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album. Are you excited to see how Kanye's "Monster" video will turn out? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Kanye West Tops <I>Billboard</I> Chart With <I>My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy</I> Posted: 30 Nov 2010 10:07 PM PST Nicki Minaj a strong #2 with her debut, Pink Friday.
It's an understatement to say that Kanye West is on a roll. As predicted, 'Ye's fifth album, the hotly anticipated My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, will easily top the Billboard 200 albums chart next week, after selling a robust 496,000 copies, giving the Chicago MC his fourth #1 debut in a row. Just behind him at #2 is the debut from Young Money First Lady Nicki Minaj, who moved 375,000 copies of her Pink Friday. The pair of rap superstars lead a parade of new faces in the top 10 during the biggest week of new album releases of the year, which helped propel the top 11 discs past the six-figure mark. After nearly two years of mixtapes and guest spots on other artists' songs for Minaj and months of leaking tracks by West, the two friendly rivals prove that the traditional way of setting up albums may officially be a thing of the past. In fact, Minaj's total is one of the highest ever for a female MC's debut, falling just short of the 423,000 copies former Fugees singer Lauryn Hill scored in 1998 with her smash The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Justin Bieber's Walmart-exclusive acoustic disc, My Worlds Acoustic, comes in at #7 on sales of 115,000, with My Chemical Romance just behind at #8 (112,000) with Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. Also breaking into the top 10 is Ne-Yo, whose Libra Scale hit #9, as the in-demand singer/songwriter sold just a shade under MCR. The rest of the top 10 features Susan Boyle at #3 with The Gift (263,000), Taylor Swift's Speak Now, which moves up five spots to #4 as sales picked up by 64 percent after five weeks in stores to 241,000, putting her within spitting distance of 2 million albums sold. Jackie Evancho's O Holy Night EP falls a few spots to #5 (142,000), while Rihanna slips three to #6 with her latest, Loud (141,000), and the cast of "Glee" round out the top 10 with their first Christmas collection (108,000). Kid Rock's time in the top 10 was brief, as his classic-rock-influenced Born Free falls six spots to #11 in week two on sales of 104,000, mirroring the tumble by popera singer Josh Groban, who slips eight slots to #12 in the second week for his latest, Illuminations (99,000). Despite a digital hit with "We R Who We R," Ke$ha's second album of 2010, Cannibal, has a modest debut, landing at #15 (74,000), even as fellow pop provocateur Katy Perry's Teenage Dream shoots up 18 slots to #16 (72,000) as sales increased by nearly 180 percent from the previous week. The soundtrack to the Christina Aguilera/Cher movie "Burlesque" matches the so-so box-office returns of that hoofing drama, with a soft debut at #18 (63,000), and G-Unit rapper Lloyd Banks has to settle for a #26 bow (44,000) for his H.F.M.2 (Hunger for More 2). It was also not stellar news for a pair of greatest-hits collections, as Pink's Greatest Hits So Far! drops 14 spots to #29 in its second week (41,000), and Jay-Z's Hits Collection sneaks into the top 50 at #43 (28,000) in its chart debut. Things are also looking grim for season-nine "American Idol" winner Lee DeWyze after his major-label debut, Live It Up, craters in its second week, nose-diving 74 slots to #93 as sales trailed off by 63 percent. DeWyze scored the worst-selling debut figures ever by an "Idol" winner last week. Over on the iTunes albums chart, it was mostly the same story, as Kanye took the #1 spot, followed by Nicki, the "Burlesque" soundtrack, the "Glee" Christmas album, Ke$ha, Rihanna, MCR, Swift, Mumford & Sons' Sigh No More and Kings of Leon's Come Around Sundown. Perry still ruled on the iTunes single tally with her latest single, "Firework," with Pink's "Raise Your Glass" just behind, Ke$ha holding at #3 with "We R" and the Black Eyed Peas hitting #4 with "The Time (Dirty Bit)." iTunes doesn't provide detailed sales results, but Rihanna was probably happy with locking down #5 with "What's My Name?" and #7 with "Only Girl (in the World)," with Bruno Mars slipping in at #6 with "Grenade." Rounding out the top 10 was Mars again at #8 with "Just the Way You Are," Far East Movement with "Like a G6" and Trey Songz with "Bottoms Up." The battle for the top will start all over again next week with the arrival of the Black Eyed Peas' The Beginning, as well as new albums from Chrisette Michele, Jazmine Sullivan, Tim McGraw and Flo Rida, as well as yet another "Glee" cast disc. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis Recall 'Black Swan' Sacrifices At Premiere Posted: 30 Nov 2010 11:47 PM PST After months of starving herself for the ballet movie, where did Kunis splurge? 'Panda Express at JFK! I'm a classy broad.'
There they were on Monday night — Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Darren Aronofsky — sweeping down the red carpet outside Wall Street's Cipriani for the Gotham Independent Film Awards. And look, they came back again the next night, this time to a glittering red carpet outside the Ziegfeld Theatre in Midtown.
Why? Because it's awards season, and the trio's film — the dark and trippy drama "Black Swan" — is a front-runner to nab all sorts of nominations and trophies in the weeks and months ahead. And so we found ourselves at the Ziegfeld with a distinct sense of déjà vu but no lack of enthusiasm — just like Aronofsky, though perhaps that was because this would be his last carpet for a while. "This is it, baby," he laughed. "I'm done. This is the Ziegfeld — we have arrived." And arrive they did. First came Kunis, in a flowing beige dress and with a broad smile on her face. Life is easier for her now that she's not on the strict diet she endured during "Black Swan." Kunis and Portman play ballerinas, and both women were forced to drop oodles of weight. As soon as production wrapped, she proceeded to happily stuff her face. Where? "Panda Express at JFK!" she told us. "I'm a classy broad." So, too, was Portman, in a black gown and her hair spilling over her shoulders. She trained for 10 months to convincingly portray a world-class dancer and admitted that she doesn't miss the days of slipping into the ballet slippers and attempting to stand on her tippy-toes. Another art form she'd love to master, however, would be tickling the ivories. "If I could have any talent, I'd play piano," she said. "I would go for classical, but I'm no pianist for now." So did Aronofsky pick up any ballet moves from observing all the hard work of his two co-stars? Apparently not. "It's way too hard. It's amazing what these people can do with their bodies. What Natalie Portman did is just very impressive," he said, adding that if he attempted a plié, "I might not stand back up!" Check out everything we've got on "Black Swan." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| The Truth Behind James Franco's 'Inside The Actors Studio' Frenzy Posted: 01 Dec 2010 01:48 AM PST 'It was bedlam,' host James Lipton confirms to MTV News.
Did James Franco really cause a near-riot recently during a taping of Bravo's "Inside the Actors Studio"? Reports over the weekend suggested hundreds showed up for the taping but were rejected and that girls in the audience were so loud host James Lipton had to stop the interview and ask for quiet.
So did Franco really cause such a frenzy? It turns out, he most certainly did, as Lipton told MTV News when we caught up with him at the "Black Swan" red-carpet premiere on Tuesday night. There's just one problem with those gossip reports, though: at no point did Lipton actually stop the interview. "The report was accurate. It was bedlam. But it said I stopped the show and told the audience to behave," he said. "Like hell I did! I was the happiest person in the house. We had a great time together." Lipton told us that in the nearly two decades since he's been conducting his "Actors Studio" interviews, he'd never witnessed such a commotion. That becomes even more impressive when you consider how many Hollywood celebs Lipton has hosted — everyone from Johnny Depp to Daniel Radcliffe. "It had never happened before, but I wasn't angry about it," Lipton said. "They made me sound like I was bawling the audience out. What nonsense!" Days after Franco's appearance on the show, which is set to air this month, news broke that the 32-year-old actor had been tapped to host the Oscars alongside Anne Hathaway. After getting to know Franco during their lengthy interview, Lipton is certain he'll do great. "It's a slam dunk," he said. "He's very clever. He's got four master's degrees, and he just signed up for his Ph.D. at Yale. He's very funny." Are you excited for Franco and Hathaway to host the Oscars? Let us know in the comments! |
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