MTV News |
- Robert Pattinson Cries B.S. In His #1 MTV Moment
- Selena Gomez Says New Album Has 'A Lot More Depth'
- 'Lincoln Lawyer' Star Ryan Phillippe Found Violent Scene A 'Challenge'
- Karen Rodriguez Eliminated From 'American Idol'
- Lil Wayne Brings His 'Whole Clique' On I Am Music II Tour
- Exclusive: Jennifer Lawrence Officially Cast In 'Hunger Games'
- Rick Ross 'Back In The Groove' On Lil Wayne Tour
- Black Eyed Peas Debut 'Just Can't Get Enough' On 'American Idol'
- Wiz Khalifa Addresses Lil Wayne's 'Black And Yellow' Slight
- Travie McCoy Revisits Gym Class Heroes' Breakout LP For Next Project
- 'American Idol' Report Card: Stefano Langone Wins The Week
- Nicki Minaj Wants To Get Audience 'Riled Up' On Lil Wayne Tour
- Odd Future Run Wild At The Woodies: Watch Backstage Footage Now!
- Britney Spears Wanted To 'Experiment' On <I>Femme Fatale</I>
- Designer Drugs 'Tell A Story' On <i>Hardcore/Softcore</i> Album
- Lil Wayne Reveals <i>Tha Carter IV</i> Release Date: May 16
- 'Glee' Stars Chris Colfer, Darren Criss Have High Hopes For Klaine
- Britney Spears Announces Plans For New Video, Kids' Choice, More
- Selena Gomez 'Inspired' By Latest Single, 'Who Says'
| Robert Pattinson Cries B.S. In His #1 MTV Moment Posted: 18 Mar 2011 03:52 AM PDT RPattz will debut an exclusive 'Water for Elephants' clip and answer fan questions live tonight at 8:56 p.m. ET on MTV.com.
Our weeklong celebration of all things Robert Pattinson has almost reached its glorious, OME-laden conclusion with the debut of "MTV First: Robert Pattinson," our 30-minute conversation with the "Twilight" star. But before the show goes live at 8:56 p.m. ET, we've got one more favorite RPattz moment to present — our favorite one of all.
Previously, we've celebrated our first interview with him and Kristen Stewart, the duo's onstage smooch at the MTV Movie Awards, Rob's first appearance at the Oscars and his love for "Twilight"-branded personal lubrication. So what happened to nab our #1 favorite RPattz moment? Oh, just the time he uncorked a few filthy words during a live MTV News interview. It all went down last June at the "Eclipse" premiere during our red-carpet live stream. The crowd outside the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles was squealing like mad, and we wanted to know if one rumor could possibly be true: Was Pattinson really looking forward to the moment the "Twilight" franchise would be behind him? "That was such bullsh--. I am so pissed off!" he said. But Rob, man, we're live! "Oh sh--!" he cried. That's not making it better. Oh well, those are the perils and pleasures of reporting live. And as it turned out, after Pattinson declared that he'd been misquoted about being ready to leave "Twilight" behind, he went on to give us a very thoughtful answer about the prospect of life after the vampire franchise. "Anyone who says they're tired of this is completely crazy. If I ever said that, someone should just remind me of what I was doing before: just sitting around doing nothing," he said, adding, "I love doing the movies. I like all the people. I've had a great time on all of them. The cast is great. It's just weird. It's become so much a part of my life. It's like divorcing someone. I guess I'll see. Maybe it'll be great. I have no idea." Don't miss "MTV First: Robert Pattinson" tonight at 8:56 p.m. ET on MTV and MTV.com. Tune in to see RPattz introduce a new "Water for Elephants" clip, followed by a live 30-minute interview on MTV.com. Tweet questions using the hashtag #askrob to get in the conversation! Related Videos Related Photos |
| Selena Gomez Says New Album Has 'A Lot More Depth' Posted: 18 Mar 2011 03:52 AM PDT Toby Gad and Pixie Lott are contributing to album, coming this summer.
This summer, Selena Gomez will release her new album, which will feature the lead single "Who Says." And, in the short time since she released her previous album, A Year Without Rain, in September, she's managed to live a bit of life. When MTV News caught up with her, Gomez said those experiences will end up on the record. "The third record is really fun, and there's a song called 'Hit the Lights' that I love, and it's basically about every missed opportunity that you've had," she said. "But it's also a dance track. There's a lot more depth [on this album]."
Gomez took on a bigger role this time around as a writer. "I am writing, very excited," she said, teasing that her life experiences will serve as inspiration for the lyrics. "There's one song that I co-wrote with Toby Gad: It's kind of like a compliment song slash dig," she explained. "It's really fun. It's basically saying, 'I had a few people who weren't treating me right, but now I have wonderful people.' So it's like I'm thanking my friends while saying goodbye to the other people. It's very therapeutic." In addition to working with the "If I Were a Boy" hitmaker, Gomez also worked with a British pop starlet. "There is one [song] that I'm completely in love with, and it was written by Pixie Lott, who I am obsessed with," she said. "And it's my mom's favorite song. It's very sweet. It's kind of a ballad, but not really. It's basically about living in the moment; it's about enjoying right now. I'm very much enjoying right now. I'm in a good place." Are you looking forward to Selena Gomez's new album? Tell us below! Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Lincoln Lawyer' Star Ryan Phillippe Found Violent Scene A 'Challenge' Posted: 18 Mar 2011 03:52 AM PDT 'I worried about the actresses and the stunt girls,' actor says of intense confrontation.
Fans familiar with actor Ryan Phillippe's body of work might be surprised with his performance in his new film "The Lincoln Lawyer." In the movie, Phillippe plays Louis Roulet, a young man who is introduced to the audience as someone wrongly convicted of murder. We later learn that Phillippe's character, who at first appears to be tortured and innocent, is not all he seems to be. Without getting too far into spoiler territory (although there are a few very minor spoilers to follow), when MTV News sat down with Phillippe during the film's press day recently, we asked him what it took to get into the head of a suspected murderer — particularly an intense scene that required Phillippe to become violent with a woman.
"Well, if there was an uncomfortable point shooting the film or something that was a challenge, it was that [scene] for me," he said. "Because I'm very sensitive. I have three sisters, I have a daughter, and so the idea of roughing up a woman is completely disgusting to me," he revealed. "I worried about the actresses and the stunt girls." Phillippe went on to say that he felt like a monster shooting that particular scene, but that it became a powerful aspect of the film, as was intended in the script. "It's part of the story and you have to get yourself there and be that guy," he said. Naturally, that type of person is not someone Phillippe identifies with, but he said he enjoyed the opportunity to tackle a role that was so far removed from himself. "It keeps me engaged and I love exploring the mind-set of someone that's completely different," he said. "I grew up lower-middle-class, so my parents struggled to pay the bills. So I'm not this guy from privilege and from access and wealth," he explained. "But I do like trying to figure out who that is." Check out everything we've got on "The Lincoln Lawyer." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Karen Rodriguez Eliminated From 'American Idol' Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:34 AM PDT Naima Adedapo and Haley Reinhart join her in the bottom three, while Black Eyed Peas and Lee DeWyze perform.
"Love Will Lead You Back" paved a path straight to elimination for Karen Rodriguez, who was shown the door on Thursday's (March 17) elimination episode of "American Idol." The 21-year-old bilingual-singing New Yorker, who was praised by Steven Tyler for her "ethnic what-it-is-ness" on Wednesday's performance episode, pleaded her case before the judges when asking them to use the season's one save to spare her another week. "I know I can do so much better, and I know you guys believe in me," she said, fighting back tears, after a Hail Mary rendition of Mariah Carey's "Hero." But it wasn't enough: While Randy Jackson said the decision was not unanimous, the judges decided not to let Rodriguez sing another day in the competition.
It was Rodriguez's second straight trip to the bottom three, real estate she shared this week with Naima Adedapo and Haley Reinhart. Adedapo was the first to be shown mercy by host Ryan Seacrest, leaving Reinhart and Rodriguez behind to face the music. Ultimately it was Rodriguez -- who performed Taylor Dayne's 1990 hit "Love Will Lead You Back" on Wednesday's show, while wearing a sci-fi silver miniskirt and a Snooki-like pouf atop her head -- that came up on the short end of America's votes. During the teary goodbye, Rodriguez was consoled by the three judges, as well as her fellow contestants. When they were sent to the bottom three earlier in the show, neither Reinhart nor Adedapo seemed very surprised with their fates. Reinhart, who in a winding speech explained that she ultimately sees herself combining "rock and funk and blues" into one style (note: she sang Whitney Houston's "I'm Your Baby Tonight" this week), gave a sighing "yippee!" when Seacrest told her she might be in the bottom three. Later, she mock dusted off her chair before sitting down in the same seat she held the week prior. Adedapo, who mouthed "wonder who?" when she was told it was either her or theweek-winning Stefano Langone in the bottom three, practically marched to her seat before Seacrest even read the results. Call it the curse of the ladies: So far this season, a male has yet to land in the bottom of the bunch. Thia Megia thought she was going to see the wrath of the bottom three and explained to the judges that she's got more in her than she's shown thus far. "If you guys put me through, I'll do so much better," she said. "I can show so much more." She survived another week, but she should be held to her promise to step things up a notch beyond the bland balladry she's shown to date. Everyone else was safe to sit back and watch the show, which squeezed in performances by the Black Eyed Peas (who dedicated their new single "Just Can't Get Enough" to "our friends in Japan") and "American Idol" season-nine winner Lee DeWyze, who performed the sleepy, John Mayer-like ballad "Beautiful Like You" from his album Live It Up. The show opened with a medley of Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild" (sang by the guys) and Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" (the girls), a cheeky homage to the week's songs-from-your-birth-year theme. Were you surprised to see Karen go? Let us know in the comments! Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday on MTV.com, following the "American Idol" results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. |
| Lil Wayne Brings His 'Whole Clique' On I Am Music II Tour Posted: 17 Mar 2011 05:08 AM PDT With Nicki Minaj, Lil Twist and others on the road with him, Wayne says he's got 'the toughest team in the game right now.'
Lil Wayne is a superstar act, but the New Orleans MC isn't just a solo package. When he hits the stage at his I Am Music II showcase, he has his Young Money crew in tow, including Nicki Minaj, Lil Twist, Mack Maine, Jae Millz and Shanell. It's a lesson the Cash Money Records artist learned from watching Bad Boy and Roc-A-Fella treks in the past.
"That's where I get my little oomph from, when I bring my whole clique out there, and I want them to be heard," Wayne told MTV News. "I remember when [Bad Boy] had Total, Biggie, Ma$e, Junior Mafia, all of them other people. Then you think of the Roc. We're more so like the Roc. 'Cause Jay always had artists the world didn't know, but he put them on the proper song and everybody knows the song. But this time around, I want you to know the song, I want you to know the person, I want you to know us. And it's no secret about it, I got the toughest team in the game right now and later." On Wednesday, Weezy kicked off the sequel to his successful I Am Music Tour. The show is set to run for 31 days, and throughout, he'll be joined by Rick Ross and Travis Barker with DJ Mix Master Mike. Drake, Tyga and the rest of Wayne's YM family are expected to drop in for select dates. Wayne is touring in support of his forthcoming Tha Carter IV album, which he says is due in stores and online May 16. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Exclusive: Jennifer Lawrence Officially Cast In 'Hunger Games' Posted: 17 Mar 2011 02:06 AM PDT Author Suzanne Collins gives Oscar-nominated actress her blessing to play Katniss Everdeen.
At long last, after seemingly endless debate, speculation and rumors, MTV News has received exclusive confirmation that Jennifer Lawrence has landed the highly coveted role of Katniss Everdeen in the big-screen adaptation of "The Hunger Games."
According to Lionsgate, the 20-year-old actress is a fitting choice due to her "meteoric ascent" to Hollywood stardom with her Oscar-nominated role in "Winter's Bone," to be followed by roles in Matthew Vaughn's "X Men: First Class" and "The Beaver," directed by Jodie Foster. "Hunger Games" author Suzanne Collins has already given Lawrence's casting her blessing, via a statement from the studio. "Jennifer's just an incredible actress," Collins said. "So powerful, vulnerable, beautiful, unforgiving and brave. I never thought we'd find somebody this perfect for the role. And I can't wait for everyone to see her play it." Director Gary Ross also praised his lead actress: "I'm so excited to work with Jen and see her bring this character to life. Katniss requires a young actress with strength, depth, complexity, tenderness, and power. There are very few people alive who can bring that to a role. Jen brings it in spades. She's going to be an amazing Katniss." The movie, based on Collins' dystopian best-seller about children forced to compete in a fight-to-the-death battle, is slated to hit theaters March 23, 2012. What do you think of the casting? Share your thoughts in the comments! For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Photos |
| Rick Ross 'Back In The Groove' On Lil Wayne Tour Posted: 17 Mar 2011 04:33 AM PDT 'To see this type of tour come together ... it's a great experience,' Ross says.
Lil Wayne knows how to throw a party. For his first concert run since being released from prison late last year, the New Orleans MC invited a slew of acts along for the outing, from his protégé Nicki Minaj to veteran rocker Travis Barker with Mix Master Mike to Miami don Rick Ross. The lineup is impressive, and Lil Wayne isn't the only one who's excited — his tourmates share his enthusiasm for the outing.
"What's been different so far, it's just being back in the groove," Ross told MTV about Wayne and company "I've really just been reflecting. I went overseas on tour with Jay-Z and now it's like coming back full circle. I'm still a student of the game, still want to go learn music. And to be in this position to see this type of tour come together and us go from sitting down talking about the possibility to seeing it sold out, it's a great experience." The I Am Music II Tour kicked off on Wednesday night in Providence, Rhode Island. The 31-date trek is scheduled to end next month after stops in Atlanta, Miami and Philadelphia, among other cities. Wayne is expected to be joined by various members of his Young Money crew during the tour, including Drake. Wayne told MTV News his set — which includes time for YM members Nicki Minaj, Lil Twist, Mack Maine, Jae Millz and Shanell to perform — was patterned after Bad Boy and Roc-A-Fella tours of the past. "That's where I get my little oomph from, when I bring my whole clique out there, and I want them to be heard," Wayne explained. "I remember when [Bad Boy] had Total, Biggie, Ma$e, Junior Mafia, all of them other people. Then you think of the Roc. We're more so like the Roc. 'Cause Jay always had artists the world didn't know, but he put them on the proper song and everybody knows the song. But this time around, I want you to know the song, I want you to know the person, I want you to know us. And it's no secret about it, I got the toughest team in the game right now and later." Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Black Eyed Peas Debut 'Just Can't Get Enough' On 'American Idol' Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:06 AM PDT 'This song is about love and strength and is dedicated to our friends in Japan,' will.i.am says before performance.
On Thursday night's (March 17) "American Idol" results show, Ryan Seacrest teased that the winner of this season could soon go head-to-head on the charts with the Black Eyed Peas, who hit the stage to perform their new single, "Just Can't Get Enough," for the first time. "This song is about love and strength and is dedicated to our friends in Japan," will.i.am said from behind a piano before the dance track kicked in.
Fergie opened the song, sitting atop the all-white piano and wearing a white halter dress, singing the first few notes of the new track. Eventually will, dressed in a white suit, stood up from behind the piano and joined her onstage to sing, while the other Peas members, apl.de.ap and Taboo, also dressed in white, danced, sang and rapped alongside them. Behind them onstage, string players performed, dancers twirled about and couples acted out skits. They ended the performance by jumping around and encouraging the audience to leap to their feet and clap along. BEP have been doing their best to help relief efforts in Japan. The song's video, which premiered on Wednesday, was also dedicated to the embattled island nation, where the group shot the clip just one week before the earthquake and tsunami struck. At the beginning of the video, this message runs across the screen: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the people of Japan. We love you." This wasn't the first "American Idol" appearance for the Black Eyed Peas. They performed "Boom Boom Pow" during the season-eight finale, when Kris Allen was crowned the winner, and they've also helped out during the show's "Idol Gives Back" special. What did you think of the Peas' "Idol" performance? Let us know in the comments! Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday on MTV.com, following the "American Idol" results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Artists |
| Wiz Khalifa Addresses Lil Wayne's 'Black And Yellow' Slight Posted: 17 Mar 2011 06:35 AM PDT 'I don't know why anybody would make it personal,' rapper tells MTV News at South by Southwest.
AUSTIN, Texas — Last month, during an appearance on ESPN, Lil Wayne discussed Wiz Khalifa's massive Pittsburgh Steelers anthem "Black and Yellow" without actually mentioning Wiz himself. Some speculated that Weezy's slight was intentional, a bit of revenge for Wiz taking shots at Young Money artist Tyga. Khalifa didn't see it that way, instead describing the omission as "a missed opportunity."
It was a tellingly vague response, so when MTV News caught up with Wiz backstage at the mtvU Woodie Awards, we asked him to clarify his remarks. Was he returning fire at Wayne? "Nah, not really," Khalifa said. "[I meant] an opportunity lost, but, you know, I feel like people have a chance to speak out and acknowledge younger people or people who are grinding and coming up in the game, and they don't always take the opportunity. That's all that was." In fact, Wiz said that, if anything, he was taking the opportunity to address everyone who has slept on him in recent months. "There's plenty of people who've missed that opportunity, there's plenty of people who went back and taken that opportunity when they missed it," he said. "It's never too late. It wasn't anything negative; it just is what it is. That's the type of person I am. I'm a realistic person, so I tend to say realistic things." And to further drive home the point that he wasn't singling out Wayne, Khalifa said he'd most definitely want to work with him in the future and that he's already moved on from the whole incident. "I don't know why anybody would make it personal, you know?" he laughed. What did you think of Wayne not mentioning Wiz by name? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Travie McCoy Revisits Gym Class Heroes' Breakout LP For Next Project Posted: 17 Mar 2011 04:02 AM PDT Frontman is 'trying to capture the innocence' of 2005's The Papercut Chronicles on in-the-works sequel.
Whenever a group finds success with an album, all eyes — and ears — tend to fall on the records that follow.
But Travie McCoy, the frontman for Gym Class Heroes — a group that found heavy radio rotation in 2007, thanks to their Supertramp-infused single "Cupid's Chokehold/Breakfast in America" from The Papercut Chronicles — hopes fans have been paying close attention to the band's previous efforts. McCoy, whose 2010 solo effort, Lazarus, spawned "Billionaire," the massive collaboration with Bruno Mars, discussed why Gym Class Heroes' past will be an intricate part of their in-the-works new album. "If anybody who picked up our last record — [2008's] The Quilt — knows, there's a line in a song called 'Don't Tell Me It's Over' [in which] I say, ' '08 is gonna be great, imagine 2011,' " the singer said, adding, "So, get ready: The Papercut Chronicles 2 is coming." And in case the title weren't indication enough, fans can expect a lot of the same vibe that helped the band become 2007 VMA winners for Best New Artist. "The new record — hence the name — is a throwback to our first record and just trying to capture the innocence that that record had," McCoy said. "It was our first full album," McCoy said of the original Papercut Chronicles, "so, in a sense, we had our entire lives to create it." Still, while the frontman revisited the 2005 record, it wasn't always an easy process. "I listened back to it a bunch of times to try and get my head in the zone I was in when I was writing that record. And it's hard for me to listen to it. ... I was so young and my voice was really high." But it's not just listening to their prior work that's setting the wheels in motion for their fourth studio album. McCoy, who said they are looking to record their new material this summer, have "a good 25, 26 demos and they just keep growing." The singer and his bandmates will then "pick and pull from those songs and refine them and then create the album." Are you looking forward to Gym Class Heroes upcoming album? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'American Idol' Report Card: Stefano Langone Wins The Week Posted: 17 Mar 2011 09:42 AM PDT The rest of the top 12 are letting their grades slip performing songs from the year they were born.
Before we dive into this week's "American Idol" report card, we need to pause and award a special gold star to Steven Tyler, whose commentary on Wednesday night — replete with rhyming phrases, butchered metaphors and one instance of nonsensical, if oddly well-intentioned, racial profiling — keep us glued to the telly through some snooze-inducing performances. Who cares if his commendations didn't always line up with objective reality? We'd tune in any day of the week to hear the Aerosmith frontman suggest that one singer has a "sorcerer's grasp of melody" and highlight another singer's "ethnic what-it-is-ness." Yet just as we hand out that gold star to Tyler — and plan to dole out a few more — there are far too many contestants who earned themselves some demerits on Wednesday. It doesn't matter if they were sick or sleepy or just simply misguided in their song choices from the year they were born — there's no hiding from our "Idol" report card. Let's get on with it! Excellent Stefano Langone: On a generally weak evening in "Idol" land, Stefano finds himself at the top of the class, despite his pretaped diss of "Funky Cold Medina." Harsh! Stefano's got a silky smooth voice, confidence for days, and he popped off some top-notch runs during Simply Red's "If You Don't Know Me By Now." Then he went ahead and sealed the deal with that bear-hug with his mom. Now, all he's got to do is apologize to Tone Loc. Good Pia Toscano: From judges to Jimmy Iovine to the voting public, everyone has been waiting for Pia to bust out something that isn't a capital-B ballad. Who knew the moment she'd finally go up-tempo-ish would be with a rendition of Whitney Houston's "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"? Sure, it had a bit of a cruise-ship cabaret feel, and her outfit would have been a better fit on "The Love Boat" than "American Idol," but her vocals were, as always, on point Scotty McCreery: Iovine spoke up for an army of frustrated viewers when he said he's not trying to change Scotty, just have him grow and get better. If only! Nothing approaching growth took place during his version of Travis Tritt's "Can I Trust You With My Heart." One note at the end snuck out of Scotty's comfort zone before he reeled the vocals back in. The North Carolina native can probably coast into the finals without growing in any meaningful way, but where's the fun in that? Lauren Alaina: Wacked-out on Nyquil though she may have been, Lauren showed no ill effects once she stepped up onstage (the same cannot be said for her pre-performance interview, when the only thing she seemed to be able to giggle-slur at Ryan Seacrest was, "Look at yooooooooooooou!"). Precocious and confident, Lauren bounced back from a subpar performance last week and solidified her fan-favorite status during Melissa Etheridge's "I'm the Only One." Satisfactory James Durbin: He got off to a very shaky start and never really recovered; we blame the absurd tail/scarf thingamabob James once again attached to his hiney. Last week, when he left that piece of flair in his dressing room, the guy slayed us with an emotional ode to Paul McCartney. This time around, he split the difference between vulnerable rocker and hair-metal circus act, and it didn't work. Oh, and he seemed to hint that he'd be around until the finale several months down the road. Cocky ain't a good look. Be humble and be great. On Wednesday, James, you were neither. Paul McDonald: We know Paul was sick, but was he also suffering from vertigo? Perhaps chronic dizziness is the key to explaining that marionette-meets-drunken-sailor dancing style. More distracting than those moves, though, were his lackluster vocals. He's still got the most distinctive voice on the show, and we hope he doesn't land in the bottom three this week. We hope by next week, Paul's on the mend and ready to wow us again as he did earlier in the month with Rod Stewart's "Maggie May." Haley Reinhart: Randy Jackson echoed what we've been wondering for a while: What kind of artist is Haley? She seems the least fully-formed of anyone on the show. Perhaps the pressure of trying to figure out exactly who she is got to her. Haley was nervous from the get-go and couldn't keep up with the tempo of Whitney Houston's "I'm Your Baby Tonight." Will that lipstick debacle earn her some sympathy votes? Fingers crossed! Because we continue to think she's got a lot of potential and a beautiful instrument, and if she sticks around long enough, she just might surprise us one of these days. Casey Abrams: Man, we loved the song choice of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" before we even heard a note. We thought we were in for a creative arrangement — perhaps something as inspired as Andrew Garcia's re-jiggering of "Straight Up" last year. What we got instead was a cover you'd hear in any basement in any suburb, where a bunch of middle-school kids are rocking out before dinnertime. We won't even get started on his singing, if we can call it that, because we're still haunted by that crazy-eyed look on his face as he raced to keep up with this grunge classic. Unsatisfactory Naima Adedapo: Uh-oh. We've been rooting for Naima, if only because she offers up a sense of artistic unpredictability in a season that is sorely lacking it. We even defended her take last week on Rihanna's "Umbrella"; it was a mess, but at least it was a compelling mess. This week, her homage to Tina Turner was too sloppy to endorse, and we suspect she'll end up in the bottom three. Her flavor may be crazy, but her vocals, alas, are cuckoo. Thia Megia: Back in the day, we used to fall asleep when someone popped "Pocahontas" into the living room VCR. Visions of those somnolent evenings came tip-toeing back to us when Thia voluntarily — voluntarily! — chose to sing a tune from that Disney flick. Last year, we used to ding Katie Stevens for insisting on becoming the oldest, mustiest teenager the world has ever seen. Thia is giving Stevens a run for her money in 2011. Oh, and enough with the ballads! We have a feeling she's safe for a few more weeks, so we hope she takes a cue from Pia and shows us some artistic range. Karen Rodriguez: Looking like the lovechild of Snooki and General Zod, Karen insisted again on toggling between English and Spanish, as if lingual dexterity might mask her vocal shortcomings. After a trip to the bottom three last week, Karen just might be the odd woman out on elimination night. Jacob Lusk: Listening to Jacob sing is like riding a rickety roller coaster: kinda fun, mostly terrifying. There's no denying he communicates genuine emotion while singing; the problem is that the emotion he often inspires in listeners is fear. Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday on MTV.com, following the "American Idol" results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Nicki Minaj Wants To Get Audience 'Riled Up' On Lil Wayne Tour Posted: 17 Mar 2011 04:20 AM PDT 'At the end of the day, it's hip-hop. Let's not get that misconstrued or anything,' Pink Friday star says.
Don't get it twisted: Nicki Minaj is an MC first and foremost, she says. Forget the theatrics, 'cause when she gets onstage, she wants to pump energy into the crowd. And to do that, she goes back to her roots. "You always want to start the show and get everybody riled up," she told MTV News during the kickoff to Lil Wayne's I Am Music II Tour. "At the end of the day, it's hip-hop. Let's not get that misconstrued or anything. People see the way I'm dressed and forget what I'm really doing. Why I'm really here is 'cause I write my raps. Why I'm really here is because I'm an MC. Why I'm really here is because I can go toe-to-toe with dudes. So we want to start the show off saying, Yep, this is Nicki Minaj and this is what I do."
And the Pink Friday star certainly does do those things. She arrived onstage Wednesday night with a booming introduction courtesy of the film "Gladiator." From there, she launched into a spirited rendition of her Lil' Kim dis track, "Roman's Revenge." Later on, she moved on to her pop fare, including "Your Love" and "Right Thru Me." But the Queens rapper said she wanted to start the proceedings off by reminding everyone of the artist she was when Lil Wayne first discovered her rapping on a DVD. When we spoke to Wayne about signing Minaj, he told us how she developed into an artist who can hold her own. "I can't front, I just thought she was going to be the new female MC that none of these other female MCs can touch," Wayne told MTV News about Nicki. "But now, she's blossomed into a megastar with this new attitude and this style. Now when I talk to her, I just tell her, 'Do what you do, baby.' I used to be able to go into the studio and say, 'Nah, don't say that, don't say that.' You know, 'That was better.' Now, do what you do, baby. I don't have a clue about what you're doing right now, but it's working, do it." Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Odd Future Run Wild At The Woodies: Watch Backstage Footage Now! Posted: 16 Mar 2011 11:21 PM PDT MTV News is with the L.A. collective as they take over Texas for South by Southwest.
AUSTIN, Texas — If you've seen any of their performances — like, for example, their reign of terror last month on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" — then you probably knew what to expect from oddball L.A. rap collective Odd Future at the mtvU Woodie Awards on Wednesday: It was definitely going to be memorable, probably to the point of psychological scarring.
And while what we got during the show was most certainly, well, odd (a pair of furry mascots, two beefy security guards, one masked little person, garden gnomes, rainbows and a whole lot of growling, to be precise), there was also a focused, snarling intensity to their set — perhaps due to the fact that, in their first South by Southwest, despite the thousands of other bands in attendance, Odd Future knew they were the center of attention. That much was apparent from the minute they arrived at Woodies rehearsals. Between photo-ops with Wiz Khalifa, hugs from Zoe Kravitz and onstage shout-outs from Pete Wentz, OF put on a show both on camera and off, tearing across the stage during rehearsals and then, minutes before stepping into the spotlight for their performance, pacing the backstage hallways, snarling and swearing, psyching themselves up, much to the delight (and terror) of those around them. (As one stagehand joked, "This is the best bar mitzvah I've ever been to.") Much like last month, MTV News' cameras were there, following the Odd Future crew every step of the way. And while we'll be rolling out more in the coming days, in honor of their Woodies performance, here's Odd Future seconds before stepping onstage. What did you think of Odd Future's performance? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos |
| Britney Spears Wanted To 'Experiment' On <I>Femme Fatale</I> Posted: 17 Mar 2011 01:54 AM PDT 'I really wanted to play with my voice and change up my sound,' she tells Rolling Stone.
When Britney Spears started planning Femme Fatale, there was no doubt in her mind that she wanted to take her time and make something incredibly different from anything she's previously released. In a chat with Rolling Stone, the singer said she thinks she accomplished what she set out to do: "make a fresh-sounding album for the clubs or something that you play in your car when you're going out at night that gets you excited." "I wanted it to sound different from everything else out right now," she told the mag. "I also wanted to experiment with all the different types of music I love, which is why you hear a mixture of pop, hip-hop and dance throughout the album. I also really wanted to play with my voice and change up my sound here and there, which was really fun." Her first two singles certainly fit that bill. "Hold It Against Me" and "Till the World Ends" are sexy dance jams that are just a taste of what the album is about. "I really didn't want to record anything on this album that could be mistaken for anyone else out there. I think my first two singles, 'Hold It Against Me' and 'Till the World Ends,' sound completely different from anything else," she said. "And I think when my fans hear the rest of Femme Fatale, they'll see how fresh every song is." On the album, Spears worked with longtime collaborators Dr. Luke and Max Martin, but she also hooked up with will.i.am on the song "Big Fat Bass." "The Peas make incredibly catchy, fun pop/dance records and I love will.i.am's style," she raved. "I have always wanted to do a song with him and would love to work with him more in the future. He is so interesting." Like Spears, Luke wanted to push the boundaries for this album, and Spears described her "picky" attitude toward choosing songs, knowing that she wanted it to be "unique" from the other tracks on the radio. "I only wanted songs that I immediately connected to. I also wanted to make sure that this album was completely different from Circus or anything else I had ever recorded," she said. "I love Circus, but I wanted something darker and edgier. I also wanted to make an album and didn't want to just record a bunch of songs and put them together. I think Femme Fatale is really connected from start to finish." Are you looking forward to Britney's new music? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Designer Drugs 'Tell A Story' On <i>Hardcore/Softcore</i> Album Posted: 17 Mar 2011 05:09 AM PDT Pennsylvania dance duo are set to take the stage at SXSW and Miami's Ultra Music Festival.
It's been a long road for Pennsylvania electronic duo Designer Drugs, but for Michael Vincent Patrick and Theodore Paul Nelson, that's half the fun. Having been making music together for well over 10 years, the duo recently debuted their second album, Hardcore/Softcore, on Ultra Records and have been thrust into the ever-expanding American dance-music audience. Now, on the heels of the album's second single, "Through the Prism," featuring rapper and fellow Brooklynite Cerebral Vortex, Designer Drugs are poised to bring their unique brand of grind-house electronic to the masses Thursday night (March 17) at Austin, Texas' South by Southwest, followed by a huge set on the Live Stage at Ultra Music Festival in Miami on March 25.
"We started doing a lot of remixes and just trying to make a specific kind of music," Patrick told MTV News. "But now, with the album, we are just doing whatever we want and making more of an electronic album." "We had, like, a hundred songs and riffs," Nelson added. "And we just basically picked ones we thought were the best for the album and put them all on. We didn't really have a good idea of what we wanted to accomplish, but it ended up being what it was and we were pretty happy with it at the end." Kicking things off with the first single "Drop Down," a wobbly synth monster reminiscent of an edgy Prodigy-esque sound garnished with Gregorian chants, the vibe DD bring to the dance-music game is unique and captivating. Hardcore/Softcore brings the art of an album back to the table, melding full-length tracks with melodic interludes. "I think it kind of helped to tell a story for this album, but we didn't plan it," Patrick said. "Nothing for this album was really planned. It all kind of happened; we wrote all the music and then kind of linked it together." "We just thought, 'This sounded cool, but let's not make it an entire song; let's just kind of put it in there and see what happens,' " Nelson added. "But we do listen to a lot of old classic-rock stuff, too, like Pink Floyd and all that other stuff. So there was a little bit of influence from there." Will you be catching Designer Drugs on the Live Stage of Ultra Music Festival in Miami? Let us know in the comments below! |
| Lil Wayne Reveals <i>Tha Carter IV</i> Release Date: May 16 Posted: 17 Mar 2011 01:38 AM PDT Nicki Minaj tells MTV News she completed a verse for Weezy's album.
Lil Wayne's highly anticipated forthcoming album, Tha Carter IV, finally has an official release date: May 16. Weezy F. Baby revealed the date Wednesday, during opening night of his I Am Music II Tour in Rhode Island. "Tha Carter IV is done," Wayne told MTV News. "All they need to do is tell Tez [manager Cortez Bryant] to stop sitting on it. Tez, stop sitting on Tha Carter IV and put the album out."
Bryant, Weezy's longtime manager, was in attendance and provided the specific release date. "May 16, believe that," Wayne said. "It can come out tomorrow 'cause I'm so finished ... Tha Carter IV will be dropping May 16. If you're not doing anything, do me," he added. The album will be his first official release since he was let out of Rikers Island prison facility in November after serving eight months of a one-year sentence. Originally, there were reports the album would come out on the same day Weezy was granted his freedom, however those plans never came to fruition. The album's lead single, the Bangladesh-produced "6 Foot 7 Foot," features Young Money artist Cory Gunz. Recently, on the set of her upcoming video for "Super Bass," fellow YM artist Nicki Minaj revealed to MTV News that she completed a verse for the album. "I think Carter IV is gonna just be exceptional, of course," she said. "I think Wayne is definitely on his grind crazy right now." Are you awaiting the release of Tha Carter IV? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Glee' Stars Chris Colfer, Darren Criss Have High Hopes For Klaine Posted: 17 Mar 2011 02:04 AM PDT 'I did not eat the onions and the Chinese food,' Colfer says of preparing to shoot their big kiss.
This week's episode of "Glee" was jam-packed with an intense singing competition, original songs and a major surprise: Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren Criss) shared their first big kiss! MTV News was lucky enough to catch up with the two scene-stealers at Wednesday night's PaleyFest panel for "Glee," where we asked Colfer and Criss to give us a few details about the big scene.
"I had a Wisp (a single-use mini toothbrush) and some Chapstick and that's about it," Colfer revealed about his prep work. "I did not eat the onions and the Chinese food that they brought to set that day as a courtesy, but that's about it." Colfer also joked that his scene partner Criss did not extend him the same courtesy. "He did not, no. The boy likes Doritos and tuna, let me tell ya. No, I'm kidding," he said. Criss, who joined the cast as a series regular this season, described the kiss as a beautiful moment. "I really enjoyed it, because we've all been waiting for it," he said. "I've been waiting for it, and like I've said, the groundwork was laid down so perfectly that on the day, it felt very natural," he explained. "I was just so happy, it was like a release. Finally, we got [it]. It was building for so long, so I think the excitement that the fans felt was definitely felt in that room. It was very special." Regarding the future of their characters' relationship, both Colfer and Criss are optimistic. "I would love it to be a fantastic example," said Colfer. "Because often gay relationships in television aren't the most [realistic], except for Scotty and Kevin on 'Brothers and Sisters' — that's a great one to look up to. So, I would love for them to be the next Scotty and Kevin." "I hope they stay together," Criss said. "I hope it develops in good ways, and I hope they can continue to learn from each other and, who knows? I'm just as excited as everyone else." Related Videos |
| Britney Spears Announces Plans For New Video, Kids' Choice, More Posted: 16 Mar 2011 11:40 PM PDT Brit's site confirms "Ellen" appearances, MTV takeover day and more leading up to Femme Fatale release.
Britney Spears has become a very busy lady in the lead-up to the March 29 release of Femme Fatale. After rumors came out on Wednesday that Spears would make several appearances on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," the week her album drops, a press release posted on her website now confirms that and a few other engagements on Brit's calendar. The release also confirms that Spears will pre-tape her "Good Morning America" appearance on March 27, two days before it airs on the show. MTV will dedicate March 29 to the femme fatale herself for what is being dubbed a "Britney take-over" day on the network. Additionally, Spears will make an appearance on the Kids' Choice Awards on April 2, though there is no word on whether she'll be performing, presenting or just getting slimed. Spears is currently rehearsing for her appearances and working on the video for her second single, "Till the World Ends." It will be directed by Norwegian director and photographer Ray Kay, who has worked with Lady Gaga, the Backstreet Boys, Beyoncé and Justin Bieber. The video will be shot in L.A. No date has been set for the video's premiere. In recent weeks, Spears has been on several magazine covers (including Out and V magazine), and in interviews she has talked about wanting to try something new on the album. "I think Femme Fatale speaks for itself," Spears told V. "I worked really hard on it and spent almost two years recording it. I think it's the best album I have ever made. There's nothing to say. I'll let the music speak for itself. ... It's definitely my edgiest and most mature sound yet. "It's a little bit of [an evolution and a revolution]," she continued. "There are songs on this album that don't sound like anything else and are completely revolutionary, but I also believe this album expresses where I am today as a woman and is an evolution of who I am." Related Photos Related Artists |
| Selena Gomez 'Inspired' By Latest Single, 'Who Says' Posted: 17 Mar 2011 01:43 AM PDT 'Every time I sing this song, I'm like, 'I feel better already!' ' she tells MTV News.
On her latest single, "Who Says," Selena Gomez sings, "Who says you're not perfect?/ Who says you're not worth it?" And, as Gomez told MTV News recently, those words come from a very personal place. "The original layout of my album was, I wasn't going to release one for a while," she said; Gomez released her last album, A Year Without Rain, in September. "But I heard 'Who Says,' and I thought it was amazing, and it completely inspired me."
From there, her next album was born, and a new empowerment song joined recent outcast anthems released by Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Pink. "I felt like my fans need this song right now," Gomez said. "So I thought it was a sweet message. With bullying, with cyberbullying, with all the negativity that is in high school and dealing with things, you're already trying to figure out who you are; it doesn't help when people are constantly trying to tear you down. And I'm dealing with it, of course. I'm going through it as well." In fact, Gomez is as inspired by the song as she hopes her fans will be. "Every time I sing this song, I'm like, 'I feel better already!' " she said. "It's such a sweet song, and it's fun and empowering. "I am so happy [about recent empowerment songs], 'cause music is a universal language," she added. "And it's a quick way to get to everybody. The fact that all these artists are doing that, it's really good. I'm really happy." What do you think of Selena's new single? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
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