MTV News |
- Black Eyed Peas Go For 'Old-School Club Vibe' At NYC Gig
- 'Glee' Covers 'All By Myself': The Story Behind The Song
- Beastie Boys' 'Fight For Your Right Revisited' And The Art Of The Anti-Career
- Rej3ctz Dance To Their Own Drum In The New West
- Britney Spears 'Comes Alive' In The Studio, will.i.am Says
- Lady Gaga's <i>Born This Way</i> Cover Is 'Polarizing,' Perez Hilton Says
- Odd Future Bridge The 'Divide' In Hip-Hop For The New West
- Lil Wayne Shoots I Am Still Music Tour Documentary
- Daniel Radcliffe Happy Fans Cried During 'Deathly Hallows' Finale
- Taylor Lautner Compares Snow Whites Kristen Stewart And Lily Collins
- 'Harry Potter' Films Could All Get 3-D Theatrical Releases, Producers Hint
- Linkin Park Detail Ongoing Recovery Efforts In Haiti
- 'Dark Knight Rises' Adds Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard
- Rick Ross Talks 'Pandemonium' And 'Play Your Part' Videos
- 'Glee' Is Back: How Did Heather Morris Spend Her Break?
- Lady Gaga Confounds Fans With <i>Born This Way</i> Cover
- Beyonce's New Single, 'Girls (Who Run The World),' Leaks Online
- 'Hunger Games' Eyeing Elizabeth Banks For Effie Trinket
- Ryan Leslie Says 'You Be Killin' 'Em 2' Is An 'Event'
- Pusha T Set To Drop <i>Fear of God 2</i> In June
| Black Eyed Peas Go For 'Old-School Club Vibe' At NYC Gig Posted: 20 Apr 2011 03:52 AM PDT Performance airs Thursday at midnight ET on MTV.
The Black Eyed Peas are known for their over-the-top stage show, which includes fashions made from Legos or lasers and usually includes a very high production value. So when the group hit up the smaller Terminal 5 in New York City to tape a show, they decided they would focus on the music and not the antics. "Old-school club vibe, intimate, spontaneous," Fergie explained of the gig, which will air Thursday at midnight ET on MTV.
Her bandmate, Taboo, added that with such an extensive repertoire of tunes, "It's hard choosing, but you know the ones," he told MTV News before BEP took the stage for the high-octane performance. The band's unspoken leader, will.i.am, said that every time they release a new track that explodes and becomes an undeniable radio staple (which for this group happens often), they have to adjust their live show to go with the flow of their evolution as a group. "Before we had 'I Gotta Feeling,' it was like, 'We know we gotta play "Pump It" and "Let's Get It Started," ' " will.i.am explained. "We used to do 'Let's Get It Started' at the end, because that was our big finale, which didn't really make sense. And for a while, [we did] 'My Humps' and then it got to the point where we didn't want to play 'My Humps' no more. You know, 'cause 'I met a girl down at the disco,' I just didn't want to say that no more, lyrically. "It wasn't like my best lyrically, but it was fun," he continued. "It wasn't lyrical miracles, but the beat was rocking, so we throw the beat in there and just let the beat linger, but now 'I Gotta Feeling' is like 'What?' and when we perform it, in my mind, I'm like, 'Where did that song come from?' I can't believe this is us, and look at all these people singing it like it's theirs." Don't miss the Black Eyed Peas' performance Thursday at midnight ET on MTV. |
| 'Glee' Covers 'All By Myself': The Story Behind The Song Posted: 20 Apr 2011 03:52 AM PDT Guest star Charice belts Eric Carmen's 1975 power ballad in 'Night of Neglect' episode.
After weeks of being absent, both "Glee" and Charice were back at McKinley High on Tuesday. The latest installment, titled "A Night of Neglect," was the first new airing since the Fox show's March 15 "original songs" episode. It also marked the return of singer/ "Oprah Winfrey Show" phenom Charice. Last seen in the season-two opener "Audition," the 18-year-old guest star revived her role as the talented rival glee club member, Sunshine Corazon.
Wanting to prove that she wasn't a spy for Vocal Adrenaline, that she was only there to contribute to New Directions' upcoming benefit show, Sunshine took to the stage to sing the classic ballad about loneliness, "All By Myself." Of course, it's hardly the first time the song has been covered, as it's been done by everyone from Sheryl Crow to Axl Rose to Celine Dion (who recorded, arguably, the most popular rendition of the song), and even a recently eliminated "American Idol" hopeful. So we thought we'd give you a brief history of Eric Carmen's "All By Myself." Although the song is now known primarily as a cover — not to mention a karaoke staple for the especially brave — it was written and performed back in 1975 by a newly solo Eric Carmen, appearing originally on his self-titled debut album. Released on December 1, 1975, "All By Myself" had hit #2 on the Billboard chart by December 20, making it not only one of his biggest hits, but also a pop/soft-rock radio mainstay. (Carmen, once part of the Raspberries before going solo, is also behind hugely popular singles like "Hungry Eyes" from the movie "Dirty Dancing" and "Almost Paradise" from "Footloose.") During a 1991 interview, the singer/songwriter discussed how "All By Myself" was actually inspired by (and samples from) Rachmaninoff. "When I was writing that album, I was listening to my favorite music which was Rachmaninoff. 'All By Myself' incorporated a melody from his 2nd piano concerto as the verse," he said at the time. Carmen also divulged that the song had three different titles before he settled on "All By Myself," and explained that he borrowed the song's first notes from the opening verse of his other lovelorn song, "The Way We Used to Be." Granted, the song was a smash thanks to Carmen, but it took on a whole new life after Dion covered it. Dion already had hits from her 1996 certified-gold album, Falling Into You, including "Because You Loved Me" and "It's All Coming Back to Me Now." She followed suit with her soaring take on Carmen's ballad. The Canadian pop star's version, released on October 6, 1996, features the songstress hitting (and holding) the staggering high notes in the song's swelling conclusion. It topped the Hot Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Dion put the David Foster-produced song on her '99 greatest hits and 2008 compilation albums. And in that time, the song has only continued to gain in popularity. As Carmen put it, Dion's version "pretty much established 'All By Myself' as a franchise." The song has since been featured in films like "Clueless" and "Bridget Jones' Diary," as well as on television, particularly during reality competition shows. "X Factor" victor Leona Lewis sang "All By Myself" on her season's finale, while recent "American Idol" contestant Pia Toscano performed it before her controversial exit. Interestingly enough, "Glee" had already paid homage to the song last season, when Jayma Mays (as guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury) dramatically cried the chorus during the "Showmance" episode. While it did seem strange, even borderline inappropriate, that teen Charice was crooning the memorable opening lines, "When I was young/ I never needed anyone / And making love was just for fun / Those days are gone," the song's strength matched with the young singer's stirring voice made it a number to remember during "A Night of Neglect." What did you think of Charice's "Glee" cover of "All By Myself"? Tell us in the comments! |
| Beastie Boys' 'Fight For Your Right Revisited' And The Art Of The Anti-Career Posted: 20 Apr 2011 03:52 AM PDT With their new film set to premiere at midnight, Bigger Than the Sound looks back at the Beasties' authentic but odd history.
Back in the summer of 1992, I wasn't really concerned with the Beastie Boys' legacy. I wasn't aware of the seismic shift they had undergone with Check Your Head or the to-the-brink-and-back journey they'd taken just to make the album. Instead, I was focused on getting my Dickies to sag just so and tracking down a pom-pom beanie like MCA wore on the album's cover. So deep was my Beastie-mania that I was willing to wear a knit cap and khakis in July. In Florida. And I wasn't alone (at least not in my high school). Because in 1992, everyone I knew lived and breathed the Beastie Boys, and their fantastically rattling comeback album Check Your Head. Of course, at the time, none of us really knew it was a comeback album; we just thought it was the coolest thing we'd ever heard — a fuzzy, funky think that sounded like nothing else on the radio — and, by proxy, the Beasties were the coolest guys on the planet (or, at least, the coolest guys in suburban Orlando). They dressed like skaters, they were obsessed with the ABA and creaky badasses like Richard Holmes and the Ohio Players, and they channeled the swagger of everyone from Columbo to Dolemite. They were, whether they knew it or not, the underground railroad of hip. If you wanted to know what was cool, and you wanted to know before anyone else, you went to the Beastie Boys.
It's only years later that I realize that prescient coolness is what has made the Beastie Boys what they are today: a band whose career rivals any other. They have been together in their current incarnation for nearly 30 years and have released a slew of albums, the overwhelming majority of which are very good (their latest, The Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, is due May 3), but it's not their longevity or their back catalog that have earned them respect; it's their unerring ability to continuously reinvent themselves, seemingly at will, and without ever getting snagged the way so many of their contemporaries have. In 1986, with License to Ill, they were party-hearty terrors. On 1989's epochal Paul's Boutique, they were stony sample-meisters. Check Your Head saw them zigging at a time when others were zagging; rather than join the debate over just how the '90s would sound, they decided to head back to the '70s (Head remains a decidedly lo-fi thing to this day). Sure, 1994's Ill Communication was in the same vein, but there also emerged a newfound consciousness, one they'd explore more fully with their series of Tibetan Freedom Concerts. In '98, with Hello Nasty (and the accompanying "Intergalactic" video), they got a jump on the Kid Robot "designer toy" fetish that broke through to the mainstream late in the 2000s. And on 2004's To the 5 Boroughs, they returned to their hip-hop roots and celebrated the city in which they live (though, to be honest, the less said about this album the better). In between all that, they released EPs that saw them dabble in hardcore punk and jazzy instrumentals (to name just a few), but never once did anyone bring up the question of authenticity. And there's a reason for that — the same reason they've become the revered act they are today. No matter how they reimagined themselves, it always came from the same place: the heart. There is an unquestionable authenticity to everything the Beastie Boys do, because they're not doing it to be contrary or successful; they're doing it because it's what they want to do. And it's only now that people seem to realize just how influential that authenticity really is. At midnight Wednesday — on MTV2, mtvU, VH1 Classic and Palladia — they'll premiere "Fight for Your Right Revisited," a short film/ career retrospective that includes plenty of nods to their past — it tells the wholly imagined story of what happened after 1987's legendary "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)" video — but also features cameos by a whole lot of "f--- it, let's do something funny" actors like Will Ferrell and Danny McBride, who were 19 and 11, respectively, when the original video premiered and probably couldn't help but have been influenced by its sublimely stoopid sentiments, not to mention everything that came after. So, in a lot of ways, Ferrell and McBride are a lot like you or I. They were drawn to the Beastie Boys because they sensed in them something revelatory and real, and they stuck around because neither of those things ever changed. Of course, leave it to the Beasties to turn the convention of career retrospection on its ear. Rather than release some deluxe edition of License, they've instead made an incredibly insular short film that rewrites history with each frame. It's deceptively brilliant, really. And the same can be said for the B-Boys themselves. Without really trying, they've fashioned the kind of anti-career that many aspire to, yet few ever attain. And no matter where they go from here, you'll know it'll be someplace else entirely. Even if they're just doing it for themselves. Don't miss "Fight for Your Right Revisisted" on Wednesday at midnight on MTV2, mtvU, VH1 Classic and Palladia. |
| Rej3ctz Dance To Their Own Drum In The New West Posted: 20 Apr 2011 03:52 AM PDT Cali trio who created the 'cat daddy' tell MTV News they're more than just dancing MCs -- they're 'renaissance artists.'
MTV News' New West Week coverage obviously entails focusing on the music coming out of the surging L.A. hip-hop scene, but the movement's fashion and dance culture also deserves special attention too. That's where Cali trio the Rej3ctz — Mowii (South Central), Pee Wee (Inglewood) and Bounce (Compton) — glide into the picture. The trio already have a fan in Chris Brown, who appeared in their video for "Cat Daddy," also the name of their latest dance, which has been spreading like wildfire thanks to a viral video that has banked more than 21 million YouTube views.
The Rej3ctz aren't just dancers moonlighting as rappers though. They insist they have too many talents to limit themselves to just those titles. They're also prominent members of Cali's party scene. "We created something called 'renaissance artist,' " Mowii told MTV News. "So for all those who like to tell people [no] and destroy their dreams. Nah, we are the renaissance artists. It means you have the art, the life, the style of fashion, to do what you want, no matter what anybody says. That's why we're renaissance artists. That's why we're directing, that's why we're choreographing, that's why we're making up our own dances, our own lane, our own style." Dances have always been a part of hip-hop culture — from the running man to the Soulja Boy dance — and the Rej3ctz are embracing their dance-floor talents. In recent years, dances with accompanying songs have become hugely popular, including Cali Swag District's "Teach Me How to Dougie" and the New Boyz's "You're a Jerk." (Cali natives Audio Push also dropped "Teach Me How to Jerk.") Besides the cat daddy dance and its accompanying song, off their TheFUNKtion vs theKICKback mixtape, the Rej3ctz also claim to have created all the fancy moves coming out of the West Coast like jerkin' or whatever spastic motion kids in colorful gear are performing. "Currently, all the dances that came from the West, the Rej3ctz have made them up. Period," Mowii said. "We were doing music and dancing at the time. And the New Boyz called us over and were like, 'Yo, bro, we realized we was using your dance and we respect y'all enough to invite you all out, so please show some support,' so I was like, 'Ben J and Legacy, man, you got it.' So, we hopped up that morning and went out to support their video." For now, the Rej3ctz are continuing to spin their popularity into bigger opportunities. They're set to be featured in the forthcoming Mario Van Peebles-directed film "We the Party." The acclaimed director also helmed their video for "Cat Daddy 2.0," which is based on the group's audition for "We the Party." No matter how busy their schedules get, the always dazzlingly dressed Rej3ctz plan on having a good time. "I think people are at a point where they're like, 'Let's have fun,' " Mowii said. "Let's have fun, let's stop doing too much, man. There's too many killings going on right now, too much violence around the world," he added. "It's too serious right now. People aren't talking about something real. Let's have fun ... thank you." Stick with us all week as MTV News turns the spotlight on the New West, including a special edition of "RapFix Live" with Cali's own Tyga on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com. We're bringing you the next wave of hip-hop acts helping restore faith in the L.A. rap scene. From groups like Odd Future to rising MCs like Dom Kennedy, we'll bring you up close and personal to these artists as they carve their own lanes in the post-gangsta rap era. Keep it locked here for the next week for more on the West Coast up-and-comers! Related Videos |
| Britney Spears 'Comes Alive' In The Studio, will.i.am Says Posted: 19 Apr 2011 02:02 AM PDT 'She was like a little kid,' the 'Big Fat Bass' producer recalls to MTV News of giddy, 'giggling' Spears.
When will.i.am hit the studio with Britney Spears for her Femme Fatale track "Big Fat Bass," the producer and Black Eyed Peas frontman said the singer was completely engrossed in the recording process. "[I discovered] her love for music. I never seen anyone, like, come alive, full of excitement and giggling and laughing behind the mic," will recalled to MTV News. "She was like a little kid when she was recording the song and it just brought the whole atmosphere, it changed the whole atmosphere when someone really loves music. So it was great working with her."
Spears expressed a similar sentiment about recording her chart-topping album during her recent "I Am the Femme Fatale" MTV special, which featured a cameo by will.i.am, who was finishing up the party track at the time. "When you're in the studio, you're just really focused, you're really in your head and in your ears and on the notes," she explains in the show. "And when you're performing, it's more a connection on the outside and more of — like a tiger and more in your body." Both Brit and will are now industry vets so the BEP singer said he didn't have much advice for the star. "When someone's excited to go out and just do it, what advice? You don't need no advice. She's just turned on right now. She is [like], 'I like this part right here.' When I say [on the song], 'You all better get ready for the kick drum,' she was already anticipating what she was going to do onstage when that beat broke down," he explained. "Adding that type of perspective ... when we we're recording it, you don't need to give nobody [like Britney] advice." What's your favorite Femme Fatale track? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga's <i>Born This Way</i> Cover Is 'Polarizing,' Perez Hilton Says Posted: 19 Apr 2011 02:04 AM PDT 'She loves that people are talking about it,' gossip blogger tells MTV News.
When Lady Gaga tweeted the Born This Way album art over the weekend, fans were a bit surprised by the cover photo, which features Gaga as a motorcycle/human hybrid. Was it a joke? Was it for real? Well, it was for real, and even days later, everyone's still talking. "They were definitely divisive and it was a polarizing image," Gaga's pal Perez Hilton told MTV News. "I knew it would really get a reaction out of people, and that was her intent. She could have easily gone for something expected, but that's the beautiful thing about Gaga." The gossip blogger said the Nick Knight image's intention was to get people buzzing, whether or not that buzz ended up in the Mother Monster's favor. He even offered some insight into the photo's message, which has been lost on some of Gaga's Little Monsters. "She always wants to keep people guessing, and I think the cover works on many different levels," he explained. "Literally, she was born that way, [like] some kind of mutant freak. There's a lot of energy in that picture." He adds that the vibe captured in the image will also find its way into the music on the May 23 album release. "There's something very metal [about it and] 'Judas' [which was released last week] gives a taste of that dance/metal feeling," he said. "Once the album comes out and they listen to the music, the artwork will make more sense. She loves that people are talking about it." What do you think of the album cover? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Odd Future Bridge The 'Divide' In Hip-Hop For The New West Posted: 19 Apr 2011 05:33 AM PDT Fader's editor in chief calls the eclectic collective's rise 'a special moment.'
Over the past few months, Odd Future have exploded onto the music scene, leading the charge for the New West. But though they hail from Los Angeles, the collective actually prefers to be known as "new rap group Odd Future" as opposed to "new L.A. rap group Odd Future." This penchant for not being boxed in is part of what's fueled their success, which has seen them performing at the mtvU Woodies; in the pages of nearly every skate, music and pop-culture publication; taking over "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon"; and even parodying themselves in a Funny or Die spoof.
While the last few months may have seemed like a whirlwind, the group isn't an overnight-success story. Tyler, the Creator, Domo Genesis, Hodgy Beats, Left Brain and the rest of the gang have been making noise for quite some time. They've released more than 10 albums over the last two years and made significant waves underground and on the Internet, building a substantial, loyal following thanks to their attention to lyrical detail and "I don't give a f---" attitude. "It seems like there's been kind of a divide in hip-hop, where the people that are quote-unquote lyricists are very serious about their craft and don't seem like they're having very much fun at all," said Andrew "Noz" Nosnitsky. "And the party-oriented stuff is more the guys like Waka Flocka and dudes who are like, 'Nah, I don't care about lyrics at all.' " Noz, who wrote OF's Billboard cover story, said the group appeals to people on both sides of the fence. Tyler has been vocal about his love of Waka Flocka Flame and his disdain for overly critical hip-hop heads, but his crew's lyrical prowess can't be ignored. Fader Editor in Chief Matthew Schnipper agreed that OF's mixture of bedlam and lyricism made for something special. "There's always people making good things, and there's always people running around trying to be ridiculous," Schnipper told MTV News. "When the two things come together, it's a special moment." One special moment was the group's appearance on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon." A masked Tyler and Hodgy Beats took the stage alongside the Roots to deliver an unforgettable, manic performance of Tyler's "Sandwitches." The performance garnered OF plenty of mainstream attention. "Our musical guy Jonathan said, 'Yeah, Odd Future is coming in three weeks,' and I was like, 'Nah, not that Odd Future. Maybe it's some rock band called Odd Future,' " Roots drummer ?uestlove recalled of the "Late Night" gig. "And he's like, 'No, no that Odd Future,' and the first thing I thought of was, 'Oh, damn. I'm gonna lose my job!' ... It's been a long time since something to the level of N.W.A has been that menacing and that scary." Schnipper also said Odd Future owed a lot of their success to new fans joining their circus. OF had released a bevy of free albums before they caught the mainstream's attention, leaving newcomers with a lot to catch up on. "By the time everyone jumped on them, they had already had a full body of work that had already been on the Internet and around, so I think to some degree, that's exciting, because here is somebody you didn't know about, and then you can go to page 102 on a Tumblr and 4 million mixtapes. There's a body of work there to be explored that's all pretty solid." Stick with us all week as MTV News turns the spotlight on the New West, including a special edition of "RapFix Live" with Cali's own Tyga on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com. We're bringing you the next wave of hip-hop acts helping restore faith in the L.A. rap scene. From groups like Odd Future to rising MCs like Dom Kennedy, we'll bring you up close and personal to these artists as they carve their own lanes in the post-gangsta rap era. Keep it locked here for the next week for more on the West Coast up-and-comers! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Lil Wayne Shoots I Am Still Music Tour Documentary Posted: 19 Apr 2011 02:02 AM PDT 'It's going to be real major,' Wayne says of behind-the-scenes look at his current tour.
Fans who haven't gotten a ticket to Lil Wayne's I Am Still Music Tour will still get a chance to see Weezy on the big stage after all. While backstage at his New Orleans show last week Weezy revealed to MTV News that he has been filming select dates and will compile the footage into a tour documentary similar to Jay-Z's 2000 film, Backstage, and Russell Simmons' 1995 doc The Show. "I just felt like a movie like that hasn't come out in so long," Weezy said. "At that time when they put those movies out, we as the fans were interested in what they were doing on the road. ... Nobody hasn't came around since then that was that interesting other than Young Money."
The I Am Still Music Tour, which kicked off on March 16, has already made key stops in New York and Miami, and will conclude on May 1 at the Bamboozle festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey. A source close to the Young Money camp also confirmed that DJ Scoob Doo has been shooting behind-the-scenes footage, and several cameras have been set up to film at different tour dates. While there is no word whether the film will be a theatrical release or a straight-to-DVD offering, Tunechi is confident that it will be impactful. "It's going to be real major; it's going to be real big," he said. "I will eat real nice." Related Photos Related Artists |
| Daniel Radcliffe Happy Fans Cried During 'Deathly Hallows' Finale Posted: 19 Apr 2011 01:40 AM PDT Filming the last 'Harry Potter' film also had the cast weeping, actor says.
Daniel Radcliffe hasn't seen "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2," but some of his fans have. And according to the film's producers, what those fans saw during test screenings brought many to tears. To which Radcliffe said with a laugh, "Good!" "It's the last one, for God's sake!" he recently told MTV News. "If we don't get 'em now, we don't get another chance." That is to say, after a decade of production on eight films, the boy wizard thinks the franchise is due to reap some hefty emotional payout.
After all, Radcliffe and his fellow castmembers found themselves in tears when they wrapped production on "Deathly Hallows" last year. As he told us back in June, "I didn't expect myself to get particularly emotional, but I really did, as I'm sure you'll see on the DVD extras, because we were filmed weeping like children." These days, Radcliffe is busy singing and dancing on Broadway in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" — a job far removed from the world of "Potter" he inhabited for so long. And while he remains enthusiastic about seeing the finished product, the 21-year-old can neither comprehend just how much time has passed since that final take nor pick a favorite scene from the production. "I am excited to see it," he said. "I think it will be very good. It just seems like eons ago that I finished it, so it's bizarre." In regard to there being a memorable scene that's stayed with him so many months later, he said, "I can't remember ever feeling, 'God, I was doing brilliant acting then! I nailed that!' I very rarely get moments like that." Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Taylor Lautner Compares Snow Whites Kristen Stewart And Lily Collins Posted: 18 Apr 2011 10:44 PM PDT 'They're completely different Snow Whites, so I feel like I don't have to choose one,' he tells MTV News of co-stars' upcoming projects.
Taylor Lautner is living a fairy tale — two of them, to be exact. Two of the 19-year-old actor's co-stars have lined up separate "Snow White" projects — Kristen Stewart in Universal's "Snow White and the Huntsman" and Lily Collins in Relativity Media's "Snow White" — a casting quirk that had Lautner saying in a recent interview with MTV News, "It's crazy!"
So which project (and which actress) has Lautner's allegiance? Unsurprisingly, both his "Twilight" co-star and his "Abduction" leading lady. "I'm lucky, because they're completely different Snow Whites, so I feel like I don't have to choose one," he said. "They're completely different stories, and the Snow Whites themselves are totally different." Lautner's not kidding. Collins' version, co-starring Julia Roberts as the evil queen, will be directed by Tarsem Singh, who described his vision to us thusly: "It's actually like if you looked at Gaudi's architecture, based in England, done like a turn-of-the-century Russian film by an Indian guy." Stewart's project, "Snow White and the Huntsman," stars Charlize Theron as the evil queen and is said to focus more heavily on action and to tweak the familiar tale so Snow White is on the run and protected by the Huntsman. Both flicks are slated to hit theaters next year. Meanwhile, Collins has also signed on to star in an adaptation of "City of Bones," the first book in the best-selling young-adult series "The Mortal Instruments." Lautner certainly has some experience with bringing wildly popular novels to the big screen, but he said there's not much advice he can give her — because, as he told us, she doesn't need any. "I don't know if I need to give her advice," Lautner said. "She's going to be able to handle it just fine. I'm very excited." While he may not dole out any tips, Collins learned a ton from Lautner during the "Abduction" shoot. "I would watch the way he deals with his fans. It's incredible," she told us in January. "We'd be shooting at nights where we finish at 7 in the morning, and one night, we had 600 fans in the middle of nowhere in Pittsburgh waiting outside, and it was probably almost 5 in the morning, and he went out and signed every single autograph. He was always there to be with his fans and to make sure they knew he appreciated them." Check out everything we've got on "Abduction." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'Harry Potter' Films Could All Get 3-D Theatrical Releases, Producers Hint Posted: 19 Apr 2011 03:58 AM PDT 'I suspect the studio is going to be reluctant to let it die,' David Heyman tells MTV News.
"Harry Potter" producers may have ditched plans to release "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1" in 3-D last November, but they haven't abandoned bringing three dimensions to the film. The flick is currently being converted to 3-D for a Blu-ray release. What's more, we just might see the rest of the franchise get the 3-D treatment too. "We're doing 3-D for the DVD of '7, Part 1,' and there's been no discussion of anything else yet," producer David Heyman told MTV News recently. "But I suspect the studio is going to be reluctant to let it die, and if there's an opportunity to maybe enrich ... "
Heyman left it at that, but those hints jibe with what he told us as far back as March 2010, when he said of converting the entire series, "I'm sure it's just a matter of time." For now, filmmakers are racing to finish "Deathly Hallows, Part 2" ahead of the July release and working on the conversion of the first part for the Blu-ray. "We're very pleased with the way 'Part 1' is going — the 3-D for the Blu-ray," producer David Barron said. "It's really exciting, really involved." "I was surprised at how wonderful it is," Heyman added. "It is different in some ways [than the theatrical release], but it's enriching." Additionally, they're continuing to work on theatrical 3-D effects for "Part 1," a process that has not yet been finished. "We haven't completed the first part in 3-D for film release, for theatrical," Barron said. "The quality is quite different," Heyman explained. "It's much easier, in a way, to do 3-D for a smaller screen than it is for a bigger screen." Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos |
| Linkin Park Detail Ongoing Recovery Efforts In Haiti Posted: 19 Apr 2011 01:04 AM PDT Bassist Dave 'Phoenix' Farrell visits earthquake-ravaged country.
More than a year has passed since an earthquake ravaged Haiti, and, as is sadly the case with disasters like this, the focus of the world has shifted elsewhere, despite the fact that the recovery effort is still very much ongoing. But one group who hasn't forgotten about the Haitian people is Linkin Park, who, through their Music for Relief charity — and in conjunction with the United Nations Foundation — are working to bring light to the nation ... literally. They've begun a program to build solar-powered lights in many displacement camps (which are home to more than 1 million Haitians), and last week, though they were set to film a video for their new single "Iridescent," the band sent bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell down to Port-au-Prince to check on the progress.
"I just got back from Haiti last night," Farrell said on the Los Angeles set of "Iridescent." "I had gone over there to check on what we had been working on with Music for Relief, in conjunction with the United Nations Foundation. We've basically been working to install some solar-powered lighting in some of the camps there ... the camp in particular that we visited had 40,000 people ... and no electricity. "So, at night, women and children are very susceptible to violence, rape, all kinds of really awful things, even when they're doing something as simple as trying to go to use the latrines, the restrooms, et cetera," Farrell continued. "We've been putting solar-powered lighting in strategic areas, and we've found that not only has that lowered the crime rate, but it's given the camps a place where kids can go and play in the evenings, and, in addition to that, we have students studying and reading at the lights at night." And though Farrell said that he was "amazed" by the resiliency and spirit of the Haitian people, he realizes that bringing the nation back from the brink is an ongoing process — one that's going to take a lot longer than most could imagine. But, with his bandmates, the U.N. and his fellow musicians at his side, Farrell is confident that, eventually, Haiti will recover. "We've always felt like music is a very inspiring and uniting force, and with Music for Relief, we've always wanted it to be something that's more," he said. "It's not supposed to be 'Linkin Park for Relief': It is really supposed to be 'Music for Relief.' We've always felt that with a united group of people, you can do a lot more than just as individuals." Related Artists |
| 'Dark Knight Rises' Adds Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard Posted: 19 Apr 2011 12:05 AM PDT Actors rejoin 'Inception' director Christopher Nolan for 'Batman' film.
After months of rumors and speculation, "The Dark Knight Rises" has officially named two more members to its already-impressive cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard. Both actors have long been assumed to have joined Christopher Nolan's third highly anticipated "Batman" film, but were not confirmed in an official capacity. According to the announcement from Warner Bros., Gordon-Levitt will play John Blake, a Gotham City beat cop assigned to special duty under the command of Commissioner Gordon. Cotillard will appear as Miranda Tate, a Wayne Enterprises board member eager to help a still-grieving Bruce Wayne resume his father's philanthropic endeavors for Gotham. Curiously enough, both characters are brand-new to the world of the Caped Crusader: They did not appear in the DC comic upon which the film and character are based. Nolan, who worked with Gordon-Levitt and Cotillard on last summer's blockbuster "Inception," said about the film's new additions, "When you collaborate with people as talented as Marion and Joe, it comes as no surprise that you would want to repeat the experience. I immediately thought of them for the roles of Miranda and Blake, and I am looking forward to working with both of them again." "The Dark Knight Rises" is set to begin production soon in Pittsburgh, a departure from Chicago, the setting used for Gotham in Nolan's "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight." Gordon-Levitt and Cotillard join recently added actors Diego Klattenhoff, Daniel Sunjata, Ben Gorman, Josh Pence and Juno Temple, in addition to fellow "Batman" newcomers Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy. Check out everything we've got on "The Dark Knight Rises." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Photos |
| Rick Ross Talks 'Pandemonium' And 'Play Your Part' Videos Posted: 18 Apr 2011 11:55 PM PDT 'We actually filmed three videos in one day,' Ross boasts to MTV News about busy stretch, which also included DJ Khaled's 'Welcome to My Hood.'
Since Rick Ross put together his new Maybach Music Group roster, the Bawse has been working overtime.
Ross has been scooping up artists for his Warner Bros.-distributed MMG label, recording for the imprint's first compilation (Self Made, Vol.1) and filming music videos at a rapid pace. In an interview with MTV News, Ross spoke about his work ethic, boasting that he shot a trio of music videos within a 24-hour time span. Two of the clips — "Pandemonium," featuring Ross' new recruits Wale and Meek Mill, and "Play Your Part" — will appear on Self Made, Vol.1. "We actually filmed three videos in one day," Ross said backstage at the New Orleans stop on Lil Wayne's I Am Still Music Tour. "We filmed 'Play Your Part' and 'Pandemonium.' We actually filmed all the way until 7 a.m., until it was time to go shoot [DJ] Khaled's 'Welcome to My Hood' [video]." For Rick, the inspiration behind "Pandemonium," which is this week's MTV Jam of the Week, was simple: "We started in the back, now we the MCs in the front, and that was the way that we all felt. You know, Meek Mill just being released from jail, his whole situation, his father being slain, just his whole story just [smelled] like triumph. Wale's story and us all sitting in the room and us all believing in our abilities." "Play Your Part" features Chester French frontman D.A. Wallach singing on the hook. "I sent him the track, and he put an incredible chorus on there and it was swagged out," Ross said. "And when he came to the video, it was just the energy he brought. It was super cool." Self Made, Vol.1 hits stores May 24. What do you think of Ross' Maybach Music Group lineup? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Glee' Is Back: How Did Heather Morris Spend Her Break? Posted: 18 Apr 2011 11:22 PM PDT She and roomie Ashley Lendzion team up on short-film projects, like 'The Elevator' and Funny or Die's 'Nuthin' but a 'Glee' Thang.'
For those of you eagerly awaiting Tuesday night's (April 19) "Glee" return, MTV News has a special treat to tide you over. Think of it as an appetizer, if you will, featuring the one and only Heather Morris (a.k.a. Brittany S. Pierce) and her roommate/ fellow actress/ filmmaking partner Ashley Lendzion.
In their spare time, the two ladies have been hard at work on their own film projects, including the most excellent "Nuthin' but a 'Glee' Thang" video for Funny or Die (which they wrote themselves), as well as two short films, "The Elevator," and the upcoming "Andy Made a Friend." MTV News was lucky enough to catch up with Morris and Lendzion recently to find out more about their cinematic endeavors and, as you'll see in the accompanying video, the results of our chat were both informative and hilarious. "We met in acting school, at Playhouse West in North Hollywood," Lendzion revealed. "We met in class together, and we were both excited about writing and doing things," Morris added. The ladies explained that they were particularly inspired by Michael Cera and Charlyne Yi's movie "Paper Heart" and decided the night after seeing it that they should be making their own films, too, the first of which was Morris' directorial debut, "The Elevator." " 'The Elevator' is a short film about this guy Nate. He is scared of elevators, and he sees this girl one day [played by Morris] and he keeps seeing her on the elevator, and he can't seem to find her anywhere else," Lendzion said. "His attention is shifted towards her because her cell phone ringtone is his go-to karaoke song. He doesn't know what to do, and he recruits the help of his crazy roommate, Louise, played by me, she tries to coax him through and get him on an elevator." In describing their writing process, the ladies joked that their ideas come from the same place. "She's the brains," Morris said of Lendzion, adding, "We share a brain. It works out." Morris and Lendzion then playfully demonstrated their brainstorming "process" for us, which included drawing pictures and yelling out random ideas back and forth. "With writing, we were just bouncing [ideas off each other]," Morris said. "We knew exactly the story we wanted to go with, so that was really easy to write," Lendzion said of "The Elevator." "Which is awesome, because that can be hard, writing with someone else." "The Elevator" is making the festival rounds, but for those who want to see more of the film, you can visit Lendzion's website and YouTube channel, as well as the short film's Facebook page. What do you think of Heather and Ashley's creative collabos? Let us know in the comments! For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. |
| Lady Gaga Confounds Fans With <i>Born This Way</i> Cover Posted: 19 Apr 2011 06:24 AM PDT "I don't really understand what the album cover has to do with the theme of the album," writes one fan.
Lady Gaga lives to confuse. From her interstellar stage costumes to her alien-like facial ridges and meat couture, Mother Monster keeps her fans on their toes. Take, for example, the recently revealed cover art for her hotly anticipated Born This Way album. In addition to instantly spawning a legion of goofy parodies, the Gaga-as-motorcycle image has also done exactly what the pop star likely intended: set the Internet on fire with lively conversation, argument, conjecture and just a bit of unfocused rage. Here, then, are what a few of Gaga's many opinionated followers had to say about the Born This Way cover art: "I don't really understand what the album cover has to do with the theme of the album which is supposedly about being yourself (born this way)," wrote fan AB in reaction to an MTV News story on the image, a surreal assemblage depicting Gaga as the front fork of an "Easy Rider"-style chopper. "Obviously she wasn't born to be a motorcycle lol also the font on the cover and the picture was just done really bad they could have done a much better job." In a nod to the obsessive nature of Gaga fandom, however, Windrider countered with exactly why the cover makes perfect sense. "She foreshadowed this type of design perfectly in two remarks that her fans SHOULD be recalling by now: 'I don't want to be part of the machine. I want the machine to be part of me.' From her appearance on Google Talk," wrote Winrider, referencing Gaga's Google interview with fans in early March. "The second is the entire discussion with the Haus in Gagavision #42 about the covers, when they talk about the DIY aspect of cover design (e.g., 'Judas') and doing something that is a 'f--- you' to the over-commercialized graphic design aesthetic. And of course, it's Gaga doing the very LAST thing you'd expect her to do." Tamara totally agreed, dubbing the woman/machine blend a fitting metaphor for Gaga's relentless professional drive. "Gaga is so energetic and does so very much all the time ... she is a MACHINE, and an amazing, fast, stylish, revved up one at that!! Go Gaga! Nobody can top her," she wrote. And there you have it. Nothing happens by chance in GagaLand, and her fans see meaning in every word and deed. That said, not everyone was convinced. "Not too fond of the album cover but honestly, not like many album covers from other musical stars are much better," wrote Doodlebug. Vjuggalo, meanwhile, didn't think it was creepy, just "uninspired" and, frankly, a hack photoshop job with "horrible" perspective and scaling. Others were just plain confused about what the motorcycle had to do with the album title (was Gaga born ... a motorcycle?) and suggested other images that would have made more sense. "I'd rather have seen a naked newborn baby on the cover! At least it would fit," said Cathy. "I remember when album covers actually meant something, and often matched the concept of the album or album title. It is the ugliest CD/album cover I've ever seen and Lady Gaga looks like she walked off a horror movie set." Even Paul Teutul Jr., the "American Choppers" alumnus whose life is dedicated to creating monster machines, was on the fence about Gaga's metal meld. "Looking at it, I would've made it more of an integration of her into the bike. It would be more seamless. In other words, it would be her and the bike morphed," he told MTV News. "If you're Born This Way, then it almost has to look kind of mermaid-ish, in the sense that there's this fusion between the actual mechanical aspect and the human perspective. ... It's a little cut-and-paste looking. I would've done something even integrated throughout the bike that would've been more 'Lady Gaga.' " What do you think of Gaga's Born This Way album cover? Let us know in comments below. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Beyonce's New Single, 'Girls (Who Run The World),' Leaks Online Posted: 19 Apr 2011 08:14 AM PDT A demo version of the girl-power track hit the Net late Monday.
A version of Beyoncé's forthcoming single "Girls (Who Run the World)" has hit the Internet, and as you might guess from the title, it's a thumping girl-power anthem. It samples Major Lazer's "Pon de Floor" and serves as B's lead single off her forthcoming new album, set for release later this year.
A rep for the singer had not returned MTV News' request for comment regarding the leaked track or the final version's release date as of press time. The song opens with a keyboard and a heavy club beat as Beyoncé chants, "Girls!/ We run this mutha/ Girls!/ Who run the world." The club banger delivers on what Beyoncé has teased about the album: "I'm mixing every type of genre that I love and I'm inspired by every type of genre. ... I'm not in a box. It's not R&B. It's not typically pop. It's not rock. It's just everything I love all mixed together in my own little gumbo of music." Beyoncé sings in her signature staccato style on the track. "It's hot up in here/ DJ don't be scared to run this, run this back/ I'm repping for the girls who taking over the world/ Have me raise a glass for the college grads," she sings. "Boy you know you love it/ How we're smart enough to make these millions/ Strong enough to bear the children/ Then get back to business/ See, you better not play me/ Don't come here, baby/ Hope you still like me/ If you hate me," she goes on to declare. "My persuasion can build a nation/ In this hour/ Our love we can devour/ You'll do anything for me." Her vocals fade out as the song closes. But the song's message is clear. "It'll be big. It'll probably be one of the bigger Beyoncé music videos ever done," director Francis Lawrence said of the video for the song. "And I can say that I think the song is unbelievable." He added, "It is a fantastic song, so I really hope that song catches for her, and I think the video's gonna be really fun and cool and different for her." Related Artists |
| 'Hunger Games' Eyeing Elizabeth Banks For Effie Trinket Posted: 19 Apr 2011 08:53 AM PDT The '30 Rock' actress reportedly is in talks to play the escort who helps Katniss and Peeta on their dangerous journey.
The "Hunger Games" gang is multiplying every day, so it seems. Following the news that Hollywood newcomers Dayo Okeniyi and Amandla Stenberg have been cast as District 11 tributes Thresh and Rue, Variety brings word that a more familiar face is close to joining the production. Elizabeth Banks is in talks to star as Effie Trinket in the adaptation of Suzanne Collins' best-selling young-adult novel, the trade magazine reports. A pink-haired escort to District 12's Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, Effie accompanies the kids on their fight-to-the-death journey. A rep for Lionsgate declined to confirm the report, but said the studio hoped to have official news soon. A representative for Banks could not be reached as of press time. The 37-year-old Banks last appeared onscreen opposite Russell Crowe in the blink-and-you-missed-it thriller "The Next Three Days," and has a recurring role on NBC's "30 Rock." She'll next be seen alongside Paul Rudd in the comedy "Our Idiot Brother." While we await official word of the Banks casting, we already know that much of the cast is in place. Katniss and Peeta have already been nailed down, with Jennifer Lawrence stepping in to play lead female Katniss and Josh Hutcherson portraying her Hunger Games partner, respectively. Liam Hemsworth is set to become Gale Hawthorne, Peeta's best friend. Directed by Gary Ross and scripted by Billy Ray, "The Hunger Games," the first movie in a planned trilogy based on Collins' books, is expected to shift into production later this year. The film is slated to be released on March 23, 2012. Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Photos |
| Ryan Leslie Says 'You Be Killin' 'Em 2' Is An 'Event' Posted: 18 Apr 2011 10:07 PM PDT R. Les tells MTV News 'supergroup' partners Fabolous, Ne-Yo bless remix, 'Look at Her,' with peek at what's to come.
NEW YORK — For any girl who takes her style seriously — like, blow the rent on a striped concoction from Prada's spring/summer 2011 collection serious — 2010 was a good year for primpin'-ain't-easy rap. Big, tag-flaunting singles like Drake's "Fancy" and Rick Ross' "Super High" expressed shock, awe and appreciation for girls and their fashion. And, for coining the word "shoe-icide" alone, the Ryan Leslie-produced Fabolous single "You Be Killin' 'Em" earned monster status on that playlist.
Now, Leslie is aiming to follow up the radio smash with another heater. We ventured downtown last week and caught up with R.Les just before he headed out for his Coachella festival debut. He gave us a preview of Les Is More, his first post-Universal, indie release due July 4, teased his much-discussed supergroup and let us in on "You Be Killin' 'Em" — the sequel. "We just did a 'You Be Killin' 'Em,' part 2 called 'Look at Her,' " he said just minutes after the remix hit the Net last Tuesday. "I remember the night that we did it, we did it in-studio and then took it to Greenhouse and had [DJ] Suss-One bring it back like four, five times," Leslie smiled, reliving that night at the Soho nightspot. "I was about to leave and Suss-One was like, " 'Yo, I'mma bring it back two more times!' It's an event; it sounds like an event." Leslie has considerably slowed the driving bassline on Funeral Fab's There Is No Competition 2 original, in favor of a synthy, sultry, top-down remix that has Ne-Yo "wailing on the chorus" and Loso spitting his "usual piercing and interrupting raps." Though R.Les has been rocking his MC hat lately, Harvard-educated singer/songwriter/producer stays mainly behind the boards on this one, save for a few adlibs. Fans of the trio likely know that Ne-Yo's cameo is no accident. At least as far back as 2009, the musical threesome have been teasing a supergroup that would spawn an official release. "It's something that we've been announcing and talking about for years, I guess, now," R.Les laughed. "There's just a really great chemistry. I mean, all three [of us are] super talented, passionate, really awesome creative people, and so we're just taking our time. It needs to be organic and it needs to feel honest," he added. "When we have a body of work that we feel reflects everything that we can bring to the table collectively then I don't think it'll be a problem. I think the demand will be there and I think the music will speak for itself. Sensing they're already onto something, a confident Leslie told us, "I think if that collaboration is any indication, it's definitely gonna be a monumental project." Meanwhile, R.Les has his hands in a range of projects, including Kanye West and Jay-Z's Watch the Throne, a trilogy of cinema-style videos from Les Is More and, up next, the video for "Glory." What do you think of the remix of "You Be Killin' 'Em"? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Pusha T Set To Drop <i>Fear of God 2</i> In June Posted: 19 Apr 2011 09:59 AM PDT Along with an EP follow-up to his new mixtape, Push promises MTV News more Re-Up Gang offerings.
Pusha T is getting over any trepidation he had before the release of his Fear of God mixtape. On June 21, the younger member of heralded Virginia rap duo the Clipse will release Fear of God 2: Let Us Pray, an EP version of his tape.
The eight-track EP is set to feature bonus material, surprise guests and is being released in a partnership between G.O.O.D. Music and Re-Up Gang via Decon Records. Push A Ton first announced the news on Monday via Twitter as he dropped the video for the Hitboy-produced "My God." Fear of God is Pusha T's first solo venture and he told MTV News about the set's objectives before its release. "I came up with the title because that's what I intend to evoke out of the competition, lyrically, the fear of God," Pusha told us. "At the same time, when I started the mixtape and realized that my brother wasn't there with me the whole way, I sort of felt the fear of God myself." Malice, the other side of the Clipse equation, is not part of the G.O.O.D. Music roster but has been busy promoting his just-published book, "Wretched, Pitiful, Poor, Blind and Naked." However, Pusha confirmed that a new Clipse album will be forthcoming, but only after his solo offerings have dropped as well as a new Re-Up Gang mixtape titled Long Live the Cane. The time was just right for a Pusha solo project. "I think everything is about timing," Pusha said. "We've always been trying to stay true to what the Clipse wanted, then we also had the Re-Up Gang projects that we always been working on as far as the mixtapes and the streets and Ab-Liva. I just think it's time now." Clipse and Re-Up Gang fans need not worry about Pusha softening up his style now that he's asserting himself as a soloist and in league with Kanye West and company. "G.O.O.D. Music and Kanye in particular, he definitely wants me to be me and that's what I bring to the G.O.O.D. Music fold," Pusha said. "Everybody on G.O.O.D Music has their own specific lane and mine is definitely going to be street hip-hop to the core." Pusha has already started preparing his proper solo debut album, due sometime in the fall. "We got five joints, Kanye West-produced, amazing, amazing records," Pusha said. "Only thing we don't have is the title yet." What do you think of Pusha's Fear of God mixtape? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
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