MTV News |
- Exclusive: Nicki Minaj In Talks To Join Britney Spears' Tour
- Lil Wayne Hasn't Applied For Visa, Rep Says
- Was Pia Toscano's Exit The Most Shocking In 'American Idol' History?
- Jay-Z's Locker Room Visit Costs New Jersey Nets $50,000
- Gucci Mane Arrested For Pushing A Woman Out Of A Moving Vehicle
- Ryan Reynolds Explains His 'Extraordinary' 'Green Lantern' Character Arc
- Nicki Minaj To Auction Off Pink Camera For Japanese Disaster Relief
- 'X-Men Origins: Deadpool' Finds Its Director: Tim Miller
- 'Harry Potter' Documentary In The Works, Producers Reveal
- 'Your Highness' Director Reveals Some 'Nasty' Deleted Scenes
- Oh Land Says 'Son Of A Gun' Is A 'Metaphor' For 'Dangerous' Love
- Pia Toscano Had A 'Weird Feeling' She Was Going Home On 'American Idol'
- Sander Van Doorn 'In A Whistling Mood' When He Recorded 'Koko'
- Jim Jonsin Keeps Busy With 'American Idol,' Wiz Khalifa, Eminem
- 'Arthur' Leading Ladies Muse On Film's 'Charming' Billionaire Drunk
- Britney Spears Didn't Write <i>Femme Fatale</i> Tracks: Does It Matter?
- Pia Toscano's Early Exit Shakes Up 'American Idol' Odds
- Cam'ron, Vado Talk <i>Gunz 'n Butta,</i> 'Hey Muma' Video
- 'Your Highness': The Reviews Are In!
| Exclusive: Nicki Minaj In Talks To Join Britney Spears' Tour Posted: 08 Apr 2011 08:42 AM PDT Young Money MC has been a rumored front-runner since Enrique Iglesias dropped out.
NEW YORK — Nicki Minaj confirmed to MTV News that she is in talks to join Britney Spears on her upcoming tour. We caught up with the Young Money princess before she performed at Casio's TRYX OUT: NYC 2011 Launch Party at the Best Buy Theater on Thursday night.
"I am in talks of joining Britney Spears, yeah," Minaj said in the British accent of her Martha alter ego. "I'm in talks about a lot of things, ya know. I don't know — oops, I did it again." Rumors of the possibility of Minaj becoming the opening act on the singer's tour promoting Femme Fatale began circulating shortly after Enrique Iglesias dropped out of the lineup. Nicki is currently on the Lil Wayne-headlined I Am Still Music Tour, but that concludes May 1 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, while the Spears tour is scheduled to kick off June 17 in Sacramento, California. The hectic travel schedule — Nicki is set to fly out right after the Best Buy Theater performance to rejoin the I Am Still Music Tour on Friday (April 8) in Greensboro, North Carolina — is the Queens MC's only qualm about hitting the road. "I'm getting sick every other day," she said. "That's the one downside. I keep my dressing room warm, and then of course when we go out to the stage area, it's freezing cold, and then when we do the afterparty, it's cold. And then flying and stuff like that. That's the only downside about touring. It's just to keep your physical health in order. I was just recuperating from being sick last night and then we flew out here; the plane was freezing, and I think I got sick again. That's the only downside — that's the only one." Would you like to see Nicki on Britney's tour? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Lil Wayne Hasn't Applied For Visa, Rep Says Posted: 08 Apr 2011 01:58 AM PDT I Am Still Music Tour rep tells MTV News, 'No visa was ever filed.'
Reports that Lil Wayne is banned from touring Europe due to his inability to obtain a travel visa because of his criminal record are false, MTV News has learned. While the eight months Weezy spent in prison will surely be considered when he seeks to enter the United Kingdom to perform, a representative told us the Young Money CEO has not yet applied for a visa. "No visa was ever filed, nor were there any tour dates announced or tickets sold," a rep from Weezy's tour told MTV News. "Lil Wayne is currently headlining his I Am Still Music Tour across the U.S. and Canada with plans to extend the tour through North America this summer. We hope to bring the I Am Still Music Tour to the U.K. in the later half of the year." For now, the domestic leg of the tour is set to end May 1 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. News of Wayne's intent to extend the tour might affect the talks his current opening act, Nicki Minaj, is having with the Britney Spears camp about joining her Femme Fatale Tour in June. When Wayne does apply for a visa, history might not be on his side. In 2007, Snoop Dogg was denied an entry visa and was forced to cancel British dates of his European One Love Peace Tour. Snoop's unfriendly treatment stemmed from an altercation in Heathrow Airport the previous year. However, an immigration judge overturned Snoop's ban the next year. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Was Pia Toscano's Exit The Most Shocking In 'American Idol' History? Posted: 07 Apr 2011 10:31 PM PDT Experts say Pia's ninth-place finish is up there with Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry, Tamyra Gray.
For die-hard "American Idol" fans, every week's elimination is a gut-punch, a "c'mon, really?" moment where they can't believe America didn't vote to keep their favorite singer on the show.
But from the moment Pia Toscano hit the bottom three for the first time to the jaw-dropping realization that she was going home in ninth place, Thursday night's elimination felt like an "Idol"-quake of possibly historic proportions. The contestants seemed stunned, Randy Jackson held his head and said "no, no" and then appeared to mouth an expletive, and Jennifer Lopez was brought to tears at the realization that one of the most viable female contestants in recent "Idol" history was gone and that the judges appeared to have squandered their save on commercially suspect Casey Abrams. "I'm really bummed about this. It just sucks," said longtime "Idol" watcher and TVLine.com "Idol" recapper Michael Slezak. "One of the main factors is the judges. There's been a complete absence of any kind of guidance from the judging panel, which opens up the prospect of 'vote for your favorite.' And if you pick your favorite early on, you stick with them and vote 500 times a night no matter how they perform." Slezak faulted the show for pushing viewers to vote for their favorites rather than the best performances, and he said while this might not be the most shocking "Idol" elimination of all time, it is definitely the most disappointing in the show's history. Yes, in retrospect, it was a bummer that now-successful rocker Chris Daughtry went out in fourth place ahead of eventual winner Taylor Hicks and that veteran backup singer Melinda Doolittle left in third place behind runner-up beatboxer Blake Lewis in season six. And nobody can ever forget (or forgive) the seventh-place finish of eventual Oscar and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson in season three. But Slezak said Toscano's ouster is perhaps the most troubling for what it says about the 10th season of "Idol." After seemingly getting on a roll with the fresh energy of new judges Lopez and Steven Tyler and a ratings boost and some buzz, he said the show has slid into dangerous territory over the past few weeks that may put it on a road to ruin. "At least with Tamyra [Gray] and Daughtry, they finished fourth, so there were five more weeks of performances, and you could see the full scope of what they could do," he said. "We were still finding out who Pia was. and she could have grown more, and now we'll never see that." He said after a good start and a rebound from a terrible season nine, this sets "Idol" back 20 paces because Pia felt like someone who could really sell albums, as opposed to a "cute guy" who voters will text in their support for 500 times but probably never buy an album from. Also disappointed was "Idol" blogger MJ Santilli, who said, for her, it was definitely one of the most shocking eliminations ever on the show. "It's easy to forget what a terrible contestant Jennifer Hudson was in light of her recent successes," she said of Hudson's up-and-down run on "Idol." "Daughtry's boot came toward the end of the contest, when pretty much anything can happen. Plus, by top four, it was pretty clear that Taylor Hicks was kicking his ass. I would say the same for Tamyra. Her ouster came close to the end of the competition. Kelly Clarkson had already gained momentum," she said of the other singers whose early boots have set the shock standard for the show. Santilli said Pia seemed destined for a Gray-esque boot in fourth or fifth place, because, like Gray, she was a technically proficient singer who didn't excite viewers. "But the idea of so many of Pia's fellow Idols outlasting her was unfathomable," she said. Slezak said one thing that is clear after Thursday's result is that the judges have "Pia's blood" on their hands. "For Randy to sit there slack-jawed and J.Lo to force out tears ... after the last two weeks, the idea of giving actual critiques went out the window," he said. "The last two weeks, everyone gets a gold star. When you give everyone the same gold star, it's confusing. There are nine performances in 90 minutes and a lot happens, and it's their job to give voters a sense of direction ... who is working and who might be a viable recording artist. Otherwise, why have them up there if they say everyone is great?" In other words, after lots of talk about how nobody was missing meanie go-to judge Simon Cowell this season, it seems viewers are, indeed, in need of his strong, guiding hand. Another potential problem, Slezak noted, is that after 10 seasons, the newness of voting has worn off and perhaps some voters are thinking, "Why should I vote for Pia 20 times when some teenager in her bedroom is going to text 400 times" for the cute guy? Do you think Pia's elimination is the most shocking in "Idol" history? Let us know in comment below. 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 |
| Jay-Z's Locker Room Visit Costs New Jersey Nets $50,000 Posted: 08 Apr 2011 06:01 AM PDT As a minority owner, Jay is not supposed to contact collegiate athletes who aren't draft-eligible.
The New Jersey Nets were hit with a hefty $50,000 fine following minority owner Jay-Z's impromptu visit to the locker room of Final Four squad the Kentucky Wildcats last month. The expensive slap on the wrist from NBA officials was due in part to a ruling set in stone by the league that professional team personnel must avoid any contact with collegiate athletes that are not yet draft-eligible. NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed the fine Friday (April 8) before the Nets entered a contest with nearby rival squad the New York Knicks at New Jersey's Prudential Center. CBSSports.com broke the initial news of the infraction and the NBA's investigation as video surfaced of Jay-Z congratulating Kentucky team members at the Prudential Center after the squad clinched a Final Four berth by defeating the North Carolina Tarheels. The video reportedly showed no evidence of foul play or tampering, as the players were clearly soaking up the experience of meeting one of hip-hop's most successful stars. Caught up in the revelry of the moment, it may have slipped the mogul's mind that he was in violation of the league's very strict rule by going in the locker room and greeting the players after their big win. New Jersey Nets officials expected the fine, surely a drop in the bucket for billionaire Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov, who began his takeover of the team in 2009 with the NBA, approving the sale in 2010 — giving Mr. Prohorov an 80 percent majority stake of ownership of the ball club. Related Artists |
| Gucci Mane Arrested For Pushing A Woman Out Of A Moving Vehicle Posted: 08 Apr 2011 03:39 AM PDT Rapper allegedly pushed the victim out of his car after she refused to go to a hotel with him.
Gucci Mane is in trouble with the law yet again. The Atlanta rapper was arrested Friday (April 8) and charged with a misdemeanor count of battery for allegedly pushing a woman out of a moving vehicle back in January. WSB-TV Atlanta is reporting that Gucci (born Radric Davis) was arrested while visiting his probation officer at the Georgia Department of Corrections Probation Office by the DeKalb County Fugitive Squad. MTV News obtained the incident report from the DeKalb County police, and the details are eye-opening. On the morning of January 28, the victim, a a 36-year-old Atlanta resident, was at the South DeKalb Mall when she was approached by a male driving a white Hummer who turned out to be Gucci Mane. The victim says Gucci asked if she wanted to get breakfast and she entered the vehicle after agreeing. However, once in the vehicle, Gucci allegedly offered the victim $150 to "go to the hotel." It is when she refused and asked to be returned to the mall that the rapper allegedly leaned over to open the passenger side door and proceeded to shove her out of the car, after several tries, while the vehicle was in motion. According to the report, the victim "had redness on her left side/back area." Although she had never met the "Lemonade" rapper before, she stated that she was familiar with his music and "recognized an 'ice cream cone' tattoo on the suspect's face." According to Mekka Parrish of the DeKalb County Police Department, the warrant stemmed from an April 1 court date, where it was likely issued. These latest charges may lead to another jail sentence for Gucci Mane, who was released from Fulton County Jail after serving six months of a yearlong sentence for a parole violation on an aggravated assault conviction. Although the crime he is currently charged with is a misdemeanor, Gucci will probably be charged with violating his parole again. Gucci is currently being held at the DeKalb County Jail on $5,000 bond and will face a judge on Saturday. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Ryan Reynolds Explains His 'Extraordinary' 'Green Lantern' Character Arc Posted: 08 Apr 2011 05:06 AM PDT 'When we meet Hal Jordan, he's a cocky, sarcastic, arrogant type of guy and he's given this extraordinary gift,' he tells MTV News.
The first time we see Ryan Reynolds' Hal Jordan in the trailer for "Green Lantern," he wakes up in bed next to a woman he doesn't seem to have known for long. "Make yourself at home," he tells her as he rushes out. "There's water in the tap." A gracious host he's not. That trailer introduction to Jordan is a fairly accurate representation of the test-pilot we meet in the beginning of the upcoming film, before an encounter with an intergalactic visitor gifts him with a power ring that turns Jordan into a superhero.
"When we meet Hal Jordan, he's a cocky, sarcastic, arrogant type of guy and he's given this extraordinary gift," Reynolds told MTV News at CinemaCon recently. "Rather than [have] that amplify those character traits, he's in fact humbled by it and given purpose in his life, which is what he lacked." Audiences won't have to wait too long before Jordan undergoes that transformation. "We're into it [early]," Reynolds said. "It's an accelerated process. You don't really want the movie to start in the third act." Jordan isn't the only character who will experience a full-scale reinvention. In the new movie, Sinestro (Mark Strong) is a faithful member of the Green Lantern Corps that Jordan joins. But as DC Comics fans know, Sinestro will eventually take a dark turn — one that will be hinted at in the film. "You definitely feel it. But he's an ally in this film," Reynolds said. He added about Jordan's relationship with Sinestro, "I would say it's contentious. Humans are looked down upon by a lot of the Green Lanterns — they're kind of a sub-species." Check out everything we've got on "Green Lantern." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Videos |
| Nicki Minaj To Auction Off Pink Camera For Japanese Disaster Relief Posted: 08 Apr 2011 04:13 AM PDT 'It's dope to launch a camera, but we can also give back,' she tells MTV News at Casio's TRYX OUT: NYC 2011 launch party.
Beyond being the hottest female rap artist in some time, Young Money starlet Nicki Minaj also has a heart as big as her ever-growing fame. MTV News caught up with the Pink Friday rapper as she wrapped up a Thursday evening performance at Casio's TRYX OUT: NYC 2011 launch party at the Best Buy Theater in New York. Minaj — currently traveling with Young Money Records boss Lil Wayne, Maybach Music Group head honcho Rick Ross and rocker Travis Barker on the I Am Still Music Tour — spoke on how she got involved with the Casio camera line launch and also assisting in upcoming relief efforts in Japan by auctioning off an autographed and fittingly pink version of the TRYX camera.
"[Casio] told us about an amazing product they were launching and asked if I wanted to be a part of it. I was like, 'Yeah, of course.' I did a little bit of research on it and learned how to use it," Minaj said. "I'm not a big electronics person usually, but it's really sleek, it's real sexy, and of course I want to be a part of it." In a later portion of the interview, Nicki revealed to MTV News that not only does she have her own exclusive pink version of the TRYX camera, but that she will auction it off to help aid in disaster relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Japan. "This is the Casio TRYX, and this is my baby. This pink — I don't think this one is in stores yet. I'm going to beg them to put this color in stores because the Barbs and the Ken Barbs need this one," she said. "I'm actually auctioning this one off for the tsunami relief in Japan. I'm really super excited. It's dope to launch a camera, but we can also give back. So hopefully we'll see how well this goes, and it will all go to helping the people out in Japan who are dealing with the disaster." Minaj has recently been in talks with pop star Britney Spears as a possible replacement for Enrique Iglesias on Spears' Femme Fatale Tour. Related Artists |
| 'X-Men Origins: Deadpool' Finds Its Director: Tim Miller Posted: 08 Apr 2011 03:48 AM PDT This will be the visual-effects expert's full-length directing debut.
The highly anticipated (if slightly delayed and problem-plagued) "Deadpool" movie has officially been assigned a director, VFX expert Tim Miller. According to Deadline, 20th Century Fox selected Miller to helm the pic due to his extensive background in visual effects. (Miller worked on "X-Men," "X2," "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" and "Night at the Museum"). "X-Men Origins: Deadpool" will be Miller's first time directing a full-length feature film.
Although the casting announcements have not yet been made, Ryan Reynolds, who portrayed the mouthy mercenary in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," is expected to star. He recently told MTV News that he hopes the movie gets into production soon. "Worry not," Reynolds told MTV News. "I want it to happen. I just feel like when it does happen, it has to be done the exact right way. I've been a part of it for way, way too long, and it has to be done extremely well. "There's a lot I could say about it right now, but there are moving parts that I really want to see to fruition and I want to see them happen, so I don't want to get into and put the cart before the horse," he added. "So we'll see." However, Reynolds was quick to indicate that the delays aren't due to any problems with the script. In fact, the screenplay by "Zombieland" writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick is, well, perfect. "The script is exactly where I want it to be," he said. "[The script is], tonally speaking, perfect." Since Reynolds has said in the past that he'd only do "Deadpool" or zombie cop movie "R.I.P.D.," this announcement and forward movement by Fox — and the fact that Reynolds' co-star just dropped out of "R.I.P.D." — might help nudge the "Green Lantern" star toward officially signing on for "Deadpool." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Photos |
| 'Harry Potter' Documentary In The Works, Producers Reveal Posted: 08 Apr 2011 03:02 AM PDT David Heyman and David Baron tell MTV News that Morgan Matthews shot behind the scenes on 'Deathly Hallows' set.
Fear not, "Potter" fans! Though the film franchise comes to a close in July with the release of "Deathly Hallows, Part 2," there will be plenty more opportunities to revisit the work of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and their cohorts.
Producers David Heyman and David Baron revealed to MTV News that Morgan Matthews, an award-winning British filmmaker, shot a documentary on the set of "Deathly Hallows" that will be coming out after the final installment of the franchise itself. "He went behind the scenes and had incredible access to talent and crew and has made a documentary that is not yet complete, which shows the challenges of making the film — the tolls it takes on actors and crew," Baron said. "It's not just pure gloss and everybody's happy. It's real. ... At the same time, it's really, really funny." Baron went on to describe one such scene in the unfinished doc. "Morgan comes in to interview Dan in his dressing room, and Dan says, 'Will you wait one second? I want to watch the 2:50 at Doncaster,' which is a horse race. He says, 'Yeah, I bet on it.' 'How much?' 'Ten quid.' And the horse, of course, comes in way behind the pack." In addition to the documentary, Heyman and Baron said fans can also expect, down the line, to check out behind-the-scenes footage stretching back to 2001's "Sorcerer's Stone." "It was a very well-documented production. We had a crew filming behind the scenes for the entire production, which is unheard of — and that's been for all the films," Baron explained. "There is material, and we'll see how it's used. I'm sure Warner Bros. will package it in some form or another." Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'Your Highness' Director Reveals Some 'Nasty' Deleted Scenes Posted: 08 Apr 2011 02:35 AM PDT 'Justin Theroux's character, Leezar, lays an egg and a little dragon fetus comes out of it,' David Gordon Green says of one sequence.
Given the unpredictable and improvisational nature of filming comedies — particularly those that involve jokesters Danny McBride, James Franco and director David Gordon Green ("Pineapple Express," "Eastbound and Down") — it seems like a fair amount of material filmed for "Your Highness" was left on the cutting-room floor. When MTV News caught up with the director recently, we asked him what omitted scenes might appear as part of the special features section on DVD/Blu-ray.
"There's a lot of deleted scenes; all of them because we knew the movie needed to adhere to certain rules," Gordon Green explained. "There was a really funny sequence that's a musical sequence in the middle of the movie, of James on the quest, singing a song to Belladonna who is Zooey Deschanel, up in the tower," he explained. "[She] is singing back to her love to come and rescue her, and it's really funny but it was one of the things when we test-screened the movie, we identified that as a point that broke the rules of the movie and it almost seemed like a 'Saturday Night Live' sketch," he continued. "It was really, really funny on its own, but within the rules of the movie, it all of the sudden feels false. So there are things like that that I definitely want to put on the DVD because they're really enjoyable and I'm really proud of the work that we did to make it happen," he said, adding that a few things felt a little too over-the-top, even for them. "We had another scene where Justin Theroux's character, Leezar, lays an egg and a little dragon fetus comes out of it," he recalled. "Literally, a massive nasty explosion of green goo comes out of his butt, followed by a disgusting egg and a little half-formed fetus, so things like that just felt [like] it was a little excessive in going for something that was heightened and gimmicky," he said. "[But] that stuff is really fun to watch." Check out everything we've got on "Your Highness." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Oh Land Says 'Son Of A Gun' Is A 'Metaphor' For 'Dangerous' Love Posted: 08 Apr 2011 03:16 AM PDT 'It's a love story about being in a relationship with a person who's kind of destructive, but you keep coming back,' she tells MTV News.
Oh Land (born Nanna Øland Fabricius) decided to just use her middle name for the stage, and with good reason. "You don't know whether it was a girl or a boy or a band and in that way, people would just pay attention to the music," the Danish singer told MTV News when we caught up with her recently in New York City's Tribeca.
Of course, with her unique voice and electronic-inspired pop tracks, it's hard to imagine anyone overlooking Oh Land's music. "I think my music has become a mix of all the ... sounds that I've been hearing growing up," she said, citing her parents — both classical musicians — and her discovery of electronic acts like Portishead and Massive Attack at the age of 12 as major influences. "And, of course, it's blended into being my unique mix." That unusual sonic mix makes up her self-titled debut, which was released in March. Its lead single, "Son of a Gun," is a spritely track with a lilting, infectious chorus. The accompanying video has just been put into rotation on MTV and features Oh Land in two different aspects: one angular and dark, the other bathed in warm light with the singer sporting flowing hair. "I wanted the video to show the two different states that you can get in when you are in love with someone," she explained of the clip, which was shot last year in Brooklyn. The polarity of the desire to be loved and the joys of being in love (the light) and the desire to protect oneself from being hurt and celebrating independence (the dark) plays out in the visual. " 'Son of a Gun' I wrote in L.A.," Oh Land said. "It's a love story about being in a relationship with a person who's kind of destructive, but you keep coming back because you can't let it go. And then I liked that it was also a metaphor for how we orbit around the sun." Musing on the song's focus, she added, "The sun is a really beautiful thing: a sunset, a sunrise is spectacular. But it's also something we need to protect ourselves against, because it can burn you and it can be dangerous." What do you think of Oh Land's "Son of a Gun" video? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Pia Toscano Had A 'Weird Feeling' She Was Going Home On 'American Idol' Posted: 08 Apr 2011 12:54 AM PDT Singer expects to make a pop/R&B album, hopefully with this season's 'Idol' mentors.
While the rest of us may have been shocked that Pia Toscano was sent home on "American Idol" on Thursday night, the New York makeup artist and five-time "Idol" auditioner said Friday that she had a sense the end was near. "The night before, I had a weird feeling in my stomach," said Toscano, even though she felt good about her attempt at Tina Turner's "River Deep, Mountain High." The raven-haired singer said she admitted to her parents Wednesday night that she had a feeling she would wind up in the bottom three, but they told her not to sweat it and that she should just be confident. "I kind of, like, expected it."
But, like so many "Idol" finalists, Toscano said she wouldn't have changed anything she did on the show, even taking on the dreaded "big three" of Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion, a challenge the judges have consistently warned contestants about. "I like to challenge myself and take risks," she said, explaining that she grew up listening to and loving those divas and thought her attempts at their songs went over well. After weeks of hearing from the judges that she needed to show them another look, Toscano went uptempo during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame episode on Wednesday night and, wouldn't you know it, that's the week she got booted. When asked if the judges overemphasize the need for contestants to change things up and show other sides of their personality, Toscano said she didn't think they did and that she doesn't blame anyone for her downfall. "The judges were absolutely right; I needed to change it up. ... I was really excited about this performance," she said, adding that when she performed back in New York, she was actually doing more uptempo material than the sweeping ballads she became known for on "Idol." If anything, what it might have come down to is the fact that, despite years of stage work, Pia is still admittedly a bit uncomfortable onstage and prone to bouts of stage fright. She was so shaken, in fact, after the cameras stopped rolling on Thursday's emotional elimination show that she had to be helped off the stage by two staff paramedics after she had trouble catching her breath. Though leaving is bittersweet, Toscano was amazed and heartened by the support she's gotten from a number of celebrities — from Tom Hanks to Snooki — and said "it just blew my mind" to see judge Jennifer Lopez shedding tears at her departure. She also revealed that in the commercial break before the news, fellow bottom-three dweller Stefano Langone kept trying to convince her that he was the one going home. For now, she plans to return home to New York and spend time with her family and then maybe move out to Los Angeles to pursue singing, acting and musical theater. If she had to guess what her major-label debut might sound like, Toscano said it would definitely "be in the pop genre with an R&B influence." She predicted a mix of big power ballads and dance hits, hopefully produced by such "Idol" mentors as Rodney Jerkins, Ron Fair and Ryan Tedder. Facing yet another season where there are only two women left in the top eight, with several men tipped to possibly win, Toscano was asked if a woman can ever win "Idol" again. "Definitely," she said. "It's anybody's game right now." Though voting has clearly been driven by young teen girls lately, Toscano said every remaining contestant has their own unique, strong voice and a good shot at taking the crown. Sure, it's disappointing, but everything happens for a reason, right? "I'm happy that everything happened the way that it did," Toscano said. 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 |
| Sander Van Doorn 'In A Whistling Mood' When He Recorded 'Koko' Posted: 08 Apr 2011 02:27 AM PDT Dutch DJ/producer gears up for an artist album, collaborates with Laidback Luke on upcoming track.
For Dutch DJ and producer Sander van Doorn, 2011 is shaping up to be the brightest year in his already impressive career. He's traveling the globe on his Dusk Til Doorn Tour, all while pumping out monster smashes along the way. Coming off dates at Australia's Future Music Festival, Chile's permutation of the renowned Sensation party and a Massive Week in Miami, van Doorn is poised to blaze a trail with his massive new single "Koko," blending trance with big-room house and an infectious hook provided by a little bit of SVD's signature ingenuity.
"There's a whistle in the track," van Doorn told MTV News in Miami. "I did it myself. I was in a whistling mood! So that was the basis of the track. I sent it out to a lot of DJs, like Sebastian Ingrosso, Axwell, but also to Tijs [Tiësto] and Armin [van Buuren], so basically everybody is playing it right now. I'm really happy with that. It has quite a summery feel to it, so it works well in Miami." Indeed, "Koko" was a buzz track during Ultra week — as well as a favorite of our Newsroom blog commenters in a recent poll — and it's just one of many big things to come from our Dutch friend. "I'm actually producing an artist album," he said. "[I'm] doing a lot more collaborations" — including one with Laidback Luke, which he said they recently completed. "It's housey-meets-a bit of a dubstep baseline. It's got this melody as well, so it's kind of like myself meeting Laidback Luke; two worlds [coming] together, and it's a brilliant mix. It's not like a dubstep beat; it's more just the sounds used in making dubstep." But dubstep riffs aren't the only sounds van Doorn has been experimenting with in recent months. The typically instrumental-only producer had great success with "Love Is Darkness," which, similar to Swedish House Mafia's "Save the World," melds an indie-rock vibe with dance music. "I first heard ['Save the World'] when I was actually backstage after my set [at Future Music Festival] and I went to check Steve [Angello] playing it out," he recalled. "He dropped it there for the first time, and I absolutely loved the track. It's got a bit of a rocky background to it, and I think 'Love Is Darkness' has, like, a more rocky, indie feel to it as well." That indie feeling also translated into the music video for the track. "We wrote the script for how ['Love Is Darkness'] made us feel," he explained. "I really personally love the video clip from the Verve, 'Bittersweet Symphony,' so we kind of used it for a mood setup on that track." Van Doorn also told MTV News that a video for "Koko" will be on the way in the near future. But until then, Sander will be busy on his Dusk Til Doorn Tour, including Friday's night's (April 8) set, where he'll makes his bimonthly appearance as a resident at Las Vegas' Marquee nightclub. Will you be at any of Sander's upcoming shows? Let us know in the comments below — and don't forget to get your hands on "Koko" when it's released on April 26! |
| Jim Jonsin Keeps Busy With 'American Idol,' Wiz Khalifa, Eminem Posted: 08 Apr 2011 01:52 AM PDT Producer tells Mixtape Daily he's working with Shady Records' Yelawolf.
Mixtape Daily: Jim Jonsin Jim Jonsin says he's in bed by midnight, but considering his schedule, we have a tough time believing him. One of the Grammy-winning producer and music executive's latest gigs is mentoring contestants on the current, 10th season of "American Idol." The Brooklyn native's job duties include cutting full cover songs within a week's time that are then sold on iTunes.
"I'm into artist development, so I like taking an artist brand new and working with them and teaching them new things and watching them grow," Jonsin told Mixtape Daily. "They're having to grow at lightning speed. With the music producers injected into this now, now they're really at hard knocks, right? Not only do you have to build this performance, but now you have to record a song. And record an amazing song that's gotta go on iTunes for sale and it reflects you and you being an artist." Looking at his production discography, it's clear Jonsin's career is nothing short of amazing itself. The former engineer for Slip-N-Slide Records has gone on to produce tracks for artists including T.I., Kelly Rowland, Usher and Lil Wayne, winning a Grammy for 2008's "Lollipop." Some new jacks have benefited from Jonsin's studio touch too. Wiz Khalifa's "On My Level" from his just-released debut, Rolling Papers, is a Jonsin creation. "He's got that Snoop Dogg vibe with his own twist, Jay-Z kinda," Jonsin said. "Working with Wiz, it was good. He's kind of a traditional hip-hop artist, which I love most, mixed with this edgy skater-punk spirit. He definitely blends with my character: I like that." Jonsin also speaks highly of B.o.B. The ATL rapper/singer/songwriter's B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray was released on Jonsin's Rebel Rock label in conjunction with Atlantic Records and Grand Hustle Records. B.o.B and Jonsin have started working on the gold-selling album's follow-up. "His last album kind of reflects who he is, but he's growing into something new," Jonsin said. "I'm waiting for what he brings us back when we go back in the studio — he's got some ideas — to kind of see the direction he's going in. We're letting him lead that. He's really talented. The guy produces, writes, he does a lot of his own stuff. I think his album will reflect that. I think this album will have a lot of his own work on it. We're waiting on him to give us the direction. "I think there'll be less features on this album, more him singing and rapping. Definitely less features: He wants to showcase himself more, put out more of his own ideas." Another artist Jonsin is working with — Roc Nation's J. Cole — surely has plenty of ideas, even if he has yet to release an album. "He's that traditional hip-hop. I'm trying to give it a little Jim Jonsin, a little crossover, a little rock," Jonsin said. "Some of the stuff we did was more traditional hip-hop with just a little edge to it, some rock in it. So I think we're going to stick to that and see what happens." Jonsin's schedule is also booked with working with 50 Cent for the first time and with Eminem on his latest Shady Records signee's forthcoming album. "That's going to be fun," Jonsin said. "We're working for Yelawolf's project. It's all about Yela. We're going to actually produce together. I get to work with Eminem producing records." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Artists |
| 'Arthur' Leading Ladies Muse On Film's 'Charming' Billionaire Drunk Posted: 08 Apr 2011 02:15 AM PDT 'If he came into a party I was in, I would be out of that party so fast,' Helen Mirren laughs to MTV News about Russell Brand's character.
For some people, the idea of meeting and hanging out with a hapless, immature and perpetually drunk billionaire sounds like a great time. For others, not so much. Such is the case with the leading ladies of "Arthur," in which Russell Brand stars as the aforementioned reckless billionaire, with Helen Mirren playing his very patient nanny, Hobson, and Greta Gerwig his love interest, Naomi.
When MTV News caught up with Mirren and Gerwig recently, we asked them how they would react to meeting Arthur in real life. "Oh, [I would] fall in love with him," Gerwig enthused. "He's so funny! I don't know, it's hard to separate [Brand from his character, but Arthur] is so funny and charming and crazy, who wouldn't?" she reasoned. "I think that's the point of the movie." Mirren, on the other hand, didn't think meeting Arthur would be quite as much fun. "I think if I met Arthur, I just would have no time for him whatsoever," she said. "If he came into a party I was in, I would be out of that party so fast," she said with a chuckle. "But, maybe I'd bump into him somewhere and be charmed by him, but I would certainly never find myself in a position of looking after him." Speaking to the idea of employing the esteemed Oscar-winner as a nanny, Brand, naturally, was very keen on the concept." Helen Mirren, who plays Hobson, my nanny, in this lovely, fun-filled film 'Arthur,' would be a bloody good nanny," Brand told us. "She's fantastic at looking after you; she has authority and sensitivity." Check out everything we've got on "Arthur." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Britney Spears Didn't Write <i>Femme Fatale</i> Tracks: Does It Matter? Posted: 08 Apr 2011 12:13 AM PDT Ke$ha, Ryan Tedder and other Spears songwriters defend the pop 'icon' from criticism that she didn't pen songs on her latest release.
Britney Spears launched her career as a fresh face with the perfect amount of girl-next-door charm and sex appeal and rocketed her way up to pop superstardom. She followed her debut, ... Baby One More Time,with a series of chart-topping albums, including her latest release, Femme Fatale. And while fans are loving the new album, some critics are making a fuss over Spears' lack of songwriting credits. Spears didn't write any of the tracks on her 1999 debut, but by her second album, Oops! ... I Did It Again, she had was making some songwriting contributions. Over the course of five albums, she has co-written 17 tracks, including hit singles "Everytime" and "Me Against the Music." With Femme Fatale, Brit left the writing to others. And many industry insiders are defending the star for not taking credit for work she didn't do on Femme Fatale. Songwriter Heather Bright, who wrote the track "Trouble for Me" on Spears' latest, gave Spears credit for not pushing to get credit for a song she had nothing to do with. "I would just like to address one thing! The media is talking trash about how Britney didn't write any of the songs on her album ... HELLO! Wake up everybody! NONE OF THESE ARTISTS WRITE THEIR OWN SONGS!!!!!!" she wrote, before slamming a laundry list of stars who do seek credit for songs they don't write. Bright also praised pop stars who in fact write their own songs. Like Bright, Ke$ha, who penned the Femme Fatale track "Till the World Ends," defended the pop star. Not writing any songs on the album doesn't make Britney any less of an artist, Ke$ha said. "I think people should be themselves and be their own artist, whatever that means for her," Ke$ha said in an interview with MTV Canada. "She's an amazing singer, an amazing performer and she's an icon. I don't think that that means she has to write. I do write my own music, some people don't and it doesn't at all make them any less of a brilliant artist, obviously, in her case, an icon." While Spears didn't write for her current album, she explained that it was important to pick songs that were right for her. "I really like to choose songs that empower people and make them feel good about themselves, first and foremost. I have a team of people that I work with, Max Martin and Dr. Luke, that are amazing producers," she told MTV News recently. "They bring me a load of songs but usually I'm very quick with the way I work and the type of songs that I like. And if I like it, then I'll record it." "Gasoline" songwriter Claude Kelly told us that Spears always knows what's best for her. "She's very, very much in control of what she records, how she sounds, how she portrays herself on the record," Kelly said of Britney's process. "There's no grand master puppeteering — that's kind of a myth. She knows what she's going to cut. She's not going to sing anything she doesn't want to and she has this amazing ability when she gets behind the mic. It's like eye of the tiger." Songwriter and One Republic frontman Ryan Tedder also gave props to Spears for not taking credit for music she had nothing to do with. "I love that Britney does that. She knows where she is, and she shows up to the studio and says, 'What am I singing today guys? Okay, cool! Let me look at it,' " he said. "So to me it's whatever, be thankful for what you have." Do you think Britney is less of a pop star because she doesn't write her own songs? Sound off in the comments. Related Artists |
| Pia Toscano's Early Exit Shakes Up 'American Idol' Odds Posted: 08 Apr 2011 01:52 AM PDT Bodog now has Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina as the favorites to win season 10.
Pia Toscano's early exit from "American Idol" has shocked experts, celebs and fans. And, as it turns out, it was also a shock to a group of folks who don't get shocked all that often: oddsmakers.
It seems that, in the wake of Toscano's elimination, the brain trust at Bodog's sportsbook has been forced to rejigger their odds. For weeks, they slowly moved her up the list of likely "Idol" winners — she originally opened as a 14/1 long shot, but heading into Wednesday night's show, she was a 2/1 favorite to take home the crown — and now that she's out, they've anointed Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina as the new co-favorites. Bodog gives both singers 5/2 odds at winning "Idol," followed by James Durbin at 4/1. Haley Reinhart gets 15/2 odds, Casey Abrams gets 8/1 and Paul McDonald is in at 12/1. Jacob Lusk and Stefano Langone bring up the rear, getting 14/1 and 20/1 odds, respectively. And though they were forced to re-shuffle, the folks at Bodog have let the initial shock of Toscano's departure wear off. Because, as they put it, no matter how hard anyone tries, it's often impossible to make sense of the whims of "Idol" voters. "From the beginning of the season, Pia Toscano had been a popular bet who ... was a clear favorite to win it all," Bodog sportsbook manager Richard Gardner said. "It may be a shock that she was sent home, but with all the contestants putting on a solid performance the other night and the track record that this show has for voting the wrong people through, I am not surprised at all." 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 |
| Cam'ron, Vado Talk <i>Gunz 'n Butta,</i> 'Hey Muma' Video Posted: 08 Apr 2011 01:52 AM PDT 'That's like, 'What up mami? What's poppin'?' ' Vado explains to MTV News about club single from Diplomat duo's April 19 album.
Harlem rapper Cam'ron and his protégé Vado are gearing up to drop their briefly delayed collaborative album, Gunz 'n Butta, on April 19. MTV News caught up with the ever-confident rappers at famed New York nightclub Don Hill's, the set of the video for their single "Hey Muma." Vado may have landed a recording deal with Interscope Records but it's still business as usual for the Diplomats pair when it comes to making music. Cam'ron plans to release his next solo album, Killa Season 2, by the end of the year and Vado expects to release Slime Flu 2, the sequel to his retail mixtape, by the summer. "It's done, though. It's definitely sick for y'all," Vado told us.
For now, the focus is on Gunz 'n Butta and the Skitzo-produced, dance-floor shaker "Hey Muma." "That's like, 'What up mami? What's poppin'?' " Vado said of the song's title. "Not your 'mommy' like your moms, but a 'mami.' Shout-out to the Latina females, got it from them. There's a few mumas in here. It's the video shoot, so we went and got all the fresh mumas in N.Y. — from Broadway to Brooklyn." Gunz 'n Butta was originally scheduled to arrive in 2010, but once it was delayed, Cam and Vado used the extra time to continue to make tweaks. "We been ready for a minute," Cam'ron said. "We keep updating it, making sure the songs are up to date and everything. Me and Vado do so much music that that's why we throw out a lot of mixtapes. We did like four or five mixtapes [ourselves] but if you go on the street, it's like 800 of them. People take our songs and make they own mixtapes. But we definitely, definitely been ready for this to come out. It's going to be classic." Cam also mentioned that Boss of All Bosses 3, the follow up to the DJ Drama-hosted Boss of All Bosses 2.5, is done and will be out sometime after the release of Gunz 'n Butta. A video for another song from the album, "Stop It 5," has already been shot in Miami and Harlem. About that rumored Interscope deal, Cam reiterated that the Diplomats have to take care of prior recording obligations before any contract can be finalized. But he expressed relief that Dipset are finally starting to cut through the music industry red tape. "That's beautiful right now, I ain't even going to lie, man," Killa said. "Clear skies man." Jim Jones has said that a new Diplomats EP, Independence Day, will be released July 4. What are you expecting from Cam and Vado? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Your Highness': The Reviews Are In! Posted: 08 Apr 2011 01:52 AM PDT Critics are divided over Danny McBride and James Franco's epic stoner comedy.
The critics don't know quite what to do with "Your Highness." Some have tagged it a worthy successor to the stoner comedy legacy, one that reaches back to swords-and-sandals epics but is still very much in keeping with contemporary comedic traditions. Far more critics, though, argue that the jokes fall flat, the story is kind of a mess, and the performances — especially considering the presence of two recent Oscar nominees in Natalie Portman and James Franco — are nothing short of puzzling. Will you agree? Read on for a deep dive into some "Your Highness" reviews and decide for yourself.
The Story The Laughs The Performances The Comparisons The Final Word Check out everything we've got on "Your Highness." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
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