MTV News |
- Jennifer Lopez Teases 'American Idol' Performance
- Nick Jonas 'Loving' Brother Joe's Solo Album
- James Durbin Weeps, Scotty McCreery Wows On 'American Idol'
- Consequence Confirms He Wrote Lyrics For Kanye West
- Haley Reinhart Takes An 'Idol' Risk On Lady Gaga's 'You And I'
- Lil B Addresses Controversial Osama Bin Laden Tweet
- Lady Gaga Unveils Bilingual 'Americano' In Mexico
- 'Breaking Dawn' Star Michael Sheen Teases 'Extraordinary' Battle Scene
- 'Glee' 3-D Concert Movie In The Works
- 'Fast Five' Director Expects Superstar Cast Back For Sequel
- 'American Idol' Preview: Can James Durbin Win This Thing?
- Beyonce Releases New 'Run The World (Girls)' Video Teaser
- Katy Perry To Release 'Last Friday Night' As Next Single
- Big Boi Calls Modest Mouse Collabo 'A Hodgepodge Of Funkiness'
- Rick Gonzalez Credits Big Pun, Tupac For Rap Career As Realm Reality
- 'Glee'-Cap: Fleetwood Mac And Mr. Tubbington Spread 'Rumors'
- Kris Allen High School Gig Puts Spotlight On Music Education
- The Situation Signs MTV Series-Development Deal
| Jennifer Lopez Teases 'American Idol' Performance Posted: 05 May 2011 03:52 AM PDT As for 'Idol' predictions, the judge says, 'The voting's pretty close, and it could be anybody.'
Jennifer Lopez will bring the Love? to the "American Idol" stage Thursday night (May 5) when the show's sole female judge performs and shows the newbies how it's done. "You can expect some fun; I don't want to give away too much. But you know we're gonna go out there, we're gonna do our thing," she told MTV News on Tuesday, the same day she dropped her new album, Love? "It's going to be a lot of fun. I don't even want to tell you what song we're doing, I just want you to watch."
Lopez put her judging hat back on for MTV News when we tried to press her to make some sort of prediction about who might win the grand prize and be dubbed this year's American Idol. "I don't know, and I'm not making any predictions, but I think what would be exciting is maybe a James Durbin/ Haley [Reinhart] sing-off could be pretty exciting. Then I think it could be good having Scotty [McCreery] and Lauren [Alaina], the two country kids battling it out too, so I don't know," she said. "But then again, I love Jacob [Lusk], so you never know. It seems like America really loves him too. "I've said this from the beginning: It's anybody's game. And I really still feel that way," she continued. "I think the voting's pretty close, and it could be anybody. It really is in America's hands. I am just a spectator." With talk that she might get her own singing competition series, the singer does say she's loved every moment on "Idol," regardless of what the future holds. "I loved doing 'American Idol' this season," she gushed. "I loved it. I had the best time. The great thing for me, at this moment, is that there's a lot going on. There's a lot of possibilities, and I'm open to every single one of them." What song do you hope Jennifer will sing on "Idol"? Share your picks in the comments! Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Nick Jonas 'Loving' Brother Joe's Solo Album Posted: 05 May 2011 03:52 AM PDT 'There's so many different sounds,' youngest JoBro says.
The Jonas Brothers are busy with solo projects these days: Nick Jonas is cooking up tunes for singers like Charice, and his older brother Joe is putting the finishing touches on his forthcoming solo record.
While fans are dying to know what the album sounds like, Nick's had the chance to hear it for himself. And, not surprisingly, he thinks it's pretty great. "Joe's record's really coming together nicely," Nick told MTV News. "It's been kind of a process for him to create it, and he's taking his time, which I think is important. But it's really a quality record. I listened to it in the car, and I was just loving it." Joe has made it clear that the album will have a more urban, electro club vibe to it, a deviation from the Jonas Brothers' signature pop-rock sound. Nick explained that the people Joe's worked with on the album have certainly helped carve out its sonic path. "There's so many different sounds, and yet it's still consistent because it was produced by Danja and Rob Knox (Britney Spears, T.I.), who have just done some amazing work," Nick said. "And I'm excited for him. I think he'll have a great year, and [I'm] looking forward to people hearing the music." Joe has been working on the album for quite some time now and really had people buzzing when he was spotted in the studio working on a song with Chris Brown called "See No More." "He's got thousands of songs," Joe said of Brown. "He's always in the studio, and to work with him is really fun. We were able to collaborate really well together, and the vibe in the studio was really chill: just two musicians writing together." What do you expect Joe Jonas' album to sound like? Tell us below! |
| James Durbin Weeps, Scotty McCreery Wows On 'American Idol' Posted: 04 May 2011 07:34 AM PDT Plus, Haley Reinhart redeems herself with bluesy 'House of the Rising Sun' on Then and Now-themed night.
The theme for Wednesday night's (May 4) top-five "American Idol" performance show was Then and Now, and the remaining contestants went out of their way to let viewers know exactly what musical pocket they've settled into with their song choices. Helping to guide them along was Grammy-winning superstar Sheryl Crow. And while some, like front-runners Scotty McCreery and James Durbin, hit a pair of home runs — including a Durbin performance that was one of the most emotional in "Idol" history — frequent bottom-three dweller Haley Reinhart stumbled in the judges' eyes with an unreleased Lady Gaga song, only to storm back into their hearts with a show-closing, vocal-fireworks display.
After a detour into sensitive singer/songwriter land last week, rocker Durbin was back in his bombastic lane with 30 Second to Mars' "Closer to the Edge." Crow did a duet with Durbin to get him in the groove and lead mentor Jimmy Iovine dubbed it the perfect song choice. James started out a bit shaky, his vocals flat and a tad tinny, but after pumping up the room and rising up into his head voice, he walked out into the crowd and doled out the high-fives, working the stage like an arena-rock veteran. With pyro shooting off behind him, he made a clear attempt to reach the folks all the way in the back of the room. "I think you kicked that song's ass," said Steven Tyler, deeming JD ready to rock stadiums. Jennifer Lopez agreed, saying "it's yours to take," and Randy Jackson liked how it made Durbin feel contemporary and took him out of his 1980s hard rock zone. Jacob Lusk was feeling confident about his chances of winning and proved it by taking on Jordin Sparks' "No Air." Crow deemed the tune difficult, but felt good about Lusk's chances of nailing it, even though he was attempting to sing both the Sparks and Chris Brown parts. Lusk was in fine voice, using his breathy falsetto to its full power and adding a funky body wave to his repertoire, but the solo duet was a bit awkward. J.Lo's always liked his showmanship and called his voice one of the best ever on the show, but said she wondered what his career might look like. If the Sparks song was it, she counseled him to stick with that sound. "I don't think that's the direction for you," countered Randy, saying it was mostly sharp and was a mistake to sing both parts. "I don't see you as Chris Brown or Jordin Sparks," he added, saying Lusk should focus on being a more Luther Vandross-style crooner. Teen Lauren Alaina chose Carrie Underwood's "Flat on the Floor," and Crow suggested she stand still and just belt it! Wearing a sassy outfit with silver tassels hanging around her waist, Alaina took their advice and shimmied in place while putting all her sass and country swagger into the fiddle-rocking tune for one of her strongest performances to date. "That is the direction for you!" Jackson said, psyched about the fun, energetic side Lauren showed. Tyler agreed and Lopez said, simply, "You ate that up!" It was back in the down-home groove for McCreery with Montgomery-Gentry's gritty rocker "Gone." The first few lines were delivered in his signature baritone — with a bit of stilted over-enunciation — but once he broke into the chorus, Scotty looked and sounded like a future Grand Ole Opry veteran as he owned the song and put some kicky emotion into it. "Up to now you've been like a puritan, but I swear to God I saw you dance with the devil tonight, and that's a good thing ... that showed a whole other side of you," offered Tyler to Jackson's utter confusion. Lopez said Scotty just owned the stage and whooped about his growling, by which she meant the good kind, not the Casey Abrams kind. Talk about a coup. Iovine gave Haley Reinhart the as-yet-unreleased Born This Way Lady Gaga tune "You & I," and with Gaga's blessing, she played it as a jazzy torch song. With a seductive purr and her trademark guttural growl, Reinhart bumped and grinded her way across the stage and sang the tune like a show-stopping, hands-in-the-air bluesy encore at a 5,000-seat theater. Though she loved some moments in the song, Lopez wasn't sure about the choice of the unreleased tune and felt it didn't showcase Reinhart's gifts. Jackson agreed that picking a song no one knows was risky, but Tyler said it did spotlight her strengths. "I think you're just one perfect song away from being an 'American Idol,' " the Aerosmith singer offered. Durbin couldn't stop crying listening to the sensitive piano ballad "Without You" by late Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson. Choked up thinking about his son and fiancée, Durbin was clearly emotionally invested in the tune, belting out the line "I can't live if living is without you," putting on a heart-stopping performance that ended with a beautiful note and a trickle of tears. Maybe all the notes were not spot-on, but Randy said it was "emotionally perfect" and said after that bravura performance, it is James' contest to lose. "That was just as beautiful as it gets," Tyler agreed. With that hard act to follow, Lusk went with Iovine's suggestion of "Love Hurts," a hit for rockers Nazareth in 1976. Playing the tune as a swelling, soulful diva ballad, J.Lusk poured his heart and gospel stomping power into a lush arrangement accented by a harp and sharp brass accents. "Everybody got lost in you because you got lost in the song," said Tyler, who thought it had the usual Jacob overkill, but still came off well. After a shaky first song, Randy felt Lusk redeemed himself and speculated that final towering note was the highest ever on "Idol." Alaina's second song was an "AI" classic, the Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody." Looking like a 1950s girl singer in a flowing, white-and-blue gown, Alaina did her best to make the oldie feel contemporary amid a tepid, doo-wop arrangement, sometimes struggling to find the melody but ending strong with some forceful vocals. Lopez couldn't even judge, calling it just a beautiful song sung beautifully and Randy said it was a nice, tender moment for the teen singer. Elvis fanatic McCreery stayed true to himself and chose Presley's "Always on My Mind." Slowing the song wayyyy down, McCreery likely melted hearts coast to coast with his sincere, seductive country crooner take on the tune. Lopez thought Scotty's two performances of the night perfectly showed off his rock-to-a-soft-place range. "This is what you do, what you love ... and you do it so well," Randy said, encouraging the 17-year-old to stick with the horse that got him there. Needing a home run, Reinhart went with another "Idol" staple, the Animals' "House of the Rising Sun." Crow suggested Haley come out and perform a cappella at first. Sitting on a stool in dramatic spotlight and singing the song in a smoldering, echo-laden voice, Haley testified her way through the lyrics as if playing a midnight set at a Southside Chicago blues club, seemingly redeeming herself. Randy said she came all the way back and then some, putting on the best performance of the night. "Sweet and sour, raspy, I can really relate to that. That really sells a song and I think you sold everybody tonight," Tyler said. Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos |
| Consequence Confirms He Wrote Lyrics For Kanye West Posted: 04 May 2011 07:14 AM PDT 'It is true I participated in writing with Kanye,' Cons says on Wednesday's 'RapFix Live.'
On Wednesday afternoon (May 4), former G.O.O.D. Music artist Consequence stopped by "RapFix Live" and revealed to Sway that he has written lyrics for his ex-label boss, Kanye West, and sometimes didn't receive credit for his work. "It is true I participated in writing with Kanye. You could read it on credits on 808s and Heartbreaks, College Dropout. Every album that he's had, I've been involved from a creative aspect in writing of songs," Cons said. "Check the credits, I get that publishing."
It has been long speculated that Kanye West didn't write all of his rhymes. Chicago MC Rhymefest was credited as a writer on the Louis Vuitton Don's Grammy-Award winning single "Jesus Walks," though he didn't appear vocally on the 2004 track. On Wednesday, Consequence shed more light and even went on to say he hasn't always gotten his proper due. "One record that I never got credit for which always stuck out in my mind was that I helped out with some of the rhymes from 'Champion,' " Cons said of the 2007 song that appeared 'Ye's Graduation LP. The line in question: "We were sorta like Will Smith and his son/ In the movie; I ain't talkin' about the rich one." "That was my brain thought," Cons said of the rhymes. "I mean, there's a lot of joints [that were not credited]." At the time, Consequence claims that he had no problem helping West with his writing, but when it came time to put out his sophomore album, Cons TV, Kanye didn't offer the same helping hand with regard to getting his album released. 'Ye, along with Consequence's cousin Q-Tip, were the executive producers for the unreleased LP. Part of his beef with Kanye is what he paints as the one-sided nature of his and West's relationship. "At one point, Kanye wasn't even doing any music after the Taylor Swift situation, it's documented he went to Europe," Cons said, alluding to 'Ye's 2009 MTV VMAs outburst. "In the midst of all that, I was left hanging. "As a man, you can't hang your fate on no other man, but when you think the man is your brother and you talk about every other single situation known to man, you would think it would dawn on somebody to say, 'Hey, let me make sure this all right, let me make sure my guy is good.' If I'm not your guy, that's fine; let's just have clarity on it." Consequence has since severed ties with Kanye West and G.O.O.D. Music and went on to start his own company, Band Camp. Cons also told MTV News's "RapFix live" that Cons TV is now called Get Even, but before that album drops, he'll be releasing his Movies on Demand 3 mixtape in either late May or early June. Share your thoughts on Cons' comments about Kanye below. For More on Consequence and the G.O.O.D. Music saga, stay tuned to MTV News and our RapFix blog. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Haley Reinhart Takes An 'Idol' Risk On Lady Gaga's 'You And I' Posted: 04 May 2011 07:54 AM PDT But her rendition of unreleased Born This Way track mostly fails to impress 'American Idol' judges.
Eyebrows were immediately raised on Wednesday's (May 4) "American Idol" when host Ryan Seacrest announced Haley Reinhart would be taking on an "unreleased Lady Gaga song." Did Reinhart get early access to Born This Way? Was she sifting through Gaga's hard drive and pillaging for rare demos and B-sides? Not quite: Turned out she'd be taking on "You and I," which Gaga has been performing in concert on her Monster's Ball Tour stops for the better part of the last year and which she debuted last June at Elton John's White Tie and Tiara Ball fundraiser in England.
Reinhart was given the song by "Idol" mentor Jimmy Iovine, who heads up Gaga's record label and who thought Reinhart could put a nice spin on the song. Prior to the performance, Reinhart said she wanted to get Gaga's approval before going ahead with it, so that she didn't "step on anybody's toes." (Or maybe she just wanted to talk to Gaga.) Gaga gave her the green light, according to Reinhart. "She was excited about it as well," Reinhart said. "And I was like, 'You know what? I'm gonna go for it.' " While Reinhart rehearsed the song, guest mentor Sheryl Crow called her decision to take on a song that many might not know "super bold." But Iovine — who said Reinhart "laces" the song — was confident in his encouragement of Reinhart. "She's got it," he said "And taking on this song is just another way of showing you that she's got it." Reinhart began her performance sprawled out on the stage's steps, aided only by a piano. She sang the song's opening line — "It's been a long time since I came around/ It's been a long time but I'm back in town" — with a bluesy, boozy swagger. By song's end, she was trading runs with a chorus of three backup singers and seemed to have the moment that Crow predicted she'd have with the song. Then the judges piped in. The look of concern was evident on Jennifer Lopez's face, and she began by softening the blow with a compliment: "I loved the way you sounded," she said, "especially at the end." But then she laid into Reinhart for taking on what she perceived as an unknown song, and even cut into Jimmy Iovine for recommending she do it. "I'm just not sure that was the best advice that Jimmy gave you," she chided, saying she should have taken on something that "showcased you in a better way." Reinhart — who has thrice landed in the bottom three this season — looked dejected following Lopez's criticism, and then Randy Jackson weighed in, calling "You and I" "not that great a song." "I don't know if this whole thing did you any favors," he said. However, Steven Tyler — who's not exactly the hardest-hitting member of the judges' panel — was positive in his review. "I loved it," he said, paraphrasing the T-shirt he wore that spelled LOVE in capital letters. "I love what you do." He went on to say Reinhart was "just one perfect song away from being an 'American Idol,' " and advised her to find that song. Onstage, Seacrest asked Reinhart what she thought of her decision to take on "You and I." Mock-stroking her chin as if in deep thought, Reinhart questioned whether it was worth taking the risk, but ultimately seemed at peace with her decision. "Hey, it was an opportunity, and I took it," she said. Meanwhile, others were quick to defend the singer online. Reacting to the judges' drubbing, "Idol" tweeter and expert MJ Santilli posted from @mjsbigblog, writing, "I can't effing believe this garbage... VOTING FOR HALEY TIL MY FINGERS BLEED." What did you think of Haley's performance of "You and I"? Let us know in the comments! Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos |
| Lil B Addresses Controversial Osama Bin Laden Tweet Posted: 04 May 2011 08:08 AM PDT 'I don't support violence at all,' B says on 'RapFix Live.'
When news surfaced over the weekend that fugitive terrorist Osama Bin Laden was assassinated at the hands of American soldiers, several recording artists and notable figures offered a variety of opinions using the fast-moving social network Twitter. One of hip-hop's most popular and compelling figures, Lil B showed some compassion toward the Bin Laden family on his Twitter account, provoking raised eyebrows and new controversy.
In the tweet B said, "[Just] because they say osama is dead dosent mean thats a good thing osama has family to that probably loves him alot as well - Lil B," leading to several re-tweets of the star's controversial words and causing some to decry the rapper. On Wednesday's (May 4) edition of "RapFix Live," Lil B sat with MTV News senior hip-hop writer Rob Markman to discuss the finer points of the tweet, and the Berkeley rapper didn't flinch under the glare of the hot lights (and Markman's direct line of questioning). "First thing, I haven't been too informed on the Osama Bin Laden situation," Lil B admitted. "When I like to get information, I like to have 100 percent truth." Lil B elaborated in his typical rambling fashion. "Like before I even say something, I like to know what I'm talking about. With Osama, first, I wasn't looking. I mean, I haven't really been paying attention to it. I wanted to know what drove Osama Bin Laden to feel this way. Just the person that I am, I like to sometimes take a deep breath and assess before I judge." Lil B made his best attempt to explain the impetus of his tweet by saying, "If somebody, and god bless everyone on 9/11, if somebody hurt my family like that for no reason. I don't know if that was Osama. Whoever is watching this that really knows the truth, I want somebody to tell me what really went on. I can't celebrate. I don't support violence at all, I don't support war." Lil B's upcoming album, I'm Gay, which has sparked its own controversy, is slated for a 2011 release. What do you think of Lil B's statements? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga Unveils Bilingual 'Americano' In Mexico Posted: 04 May 2011 12:26 AM PDT New Born This Way song has Gaga 'living on the edge of the law.'
Lady Gaga picked the perfect place to unveil yet another song from her upcoming Born This Way album. During a show in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Tuesday night, Mother Monster did a slow, sexy flamenco seduction at the piano as she pulled back the curtain on the funky bilingual outlaw love tune "Americano." A YouTube video of the performance shows Gaga sitting at a piano, playing the song's seductive Latin melody and opening with some lines in Spanish about her rebel spirit: "Mis canciones son de la revolucion/ Mi corazon late por mi generacion," she sings at the outset, which translates to "My songs are of the revolution/ My heart beats for my generation." The next bit will surely cause some serious discussion in Gagaland, as the singer teases, "If you love me/ We can marry on the West Coast/ On a Wednesday/ En el verano o en agosto (in the summer or in August)." The emphatic chorus has her repeating the phrase "I don't speak your language, oh no," with mentions of Jesus ("Jesus Cristo") and the titular "Americano," before she busts into a section where she growls "Aaaahhh America, Americano" repeatedly. By the end, Gaga seems ready to hop on the controversial motorcycle on the cover of Born This Way and hit the road for some "Born to be Wild" action, as she warns, "Don't you try to catch me/ No, no, no/ I'm living on the edge of/ Living on the edge of the law, law, law." After mostly performing on piano, the band kicks in, joining her for a full-on Latin jazz breakdown to bring the tune home. Tell us your thoughts on "Americano" in the comments below. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Breaking Dawn' Star Michael Sheen Teases 'Extraordinary' Battle Scene Posted: 04 May 2011 04:43 AM PDT 'We spent something like four or five weeks shooting that scene,' he tells MTV News.
For the die-hard "Twilight" fans out there that have devoured and dissected Stephenie Meyer's four-book saga over and over again, it can be difficult to get them to admit any flaws in the author's beloved tomes. However, one common discussion topic that comes up frequently is the ending to "Breaking Dawn." Without delving too deeply into details, or spoilers, for that matter, the last half of "Dawn" teases readers with the possibility of an epic vampire-on-vampire battle. And then — again, without giving too much away — the battle that occurs is not so much epic ... as anticlimactic.
When MTV News caught up with Michael Sheen as he promoted his upcoming ensemble Woody Allen film, "Midnight in Paris," we asked whether the movie will mirror the book or if things have been amped up for the big-screen adaptation. "Oh this is very amped up, yeah," Sheen revealed. "This is, I think we spent something like four or five weeks shooting that scene and it takes up a big chunk of the movie," he added. "And it's got extraordinary things going on in it, so it certainly won't be anticlimactic." Sheen's comments will hopefully be music to the ears of "Twilight" fans hoping for some actual action in those big final sequences, and they fall in line with the bits and pieces of information we've derived from other castmembers. Peter Facinelli told us a few months ago that he'd been doing some intense scene work with "a lot of vampires." "I don't want to give away too much, but if you've read the books, it's the standoff with lots of vampires in play," he said. "There's like 70 people going through the works at once. It's a little maddening, but fun." Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Photos |
| 'Glee' 3-D Concert Movie In The Works Posted: 04 May 2011 03:34 AM PDT 'Glee! Live! 3-D!' will hit theaters August 12.
To all the Gleeks out there, are you ready for your favorite small-screen musical to hit the big screen? We hope so, because 20th Century Fox is likely making dreams come true for the most devout "Glee" fans by announcing Wednesday (May 4) plans for a 3-D Glee-stravaganza in the form of "Glee! Live! 3-D!," a concert movie based on the upcoming Glee Live! In Concert! North American tour.
According to Deadline, the studio plans to follow in the footsteps of previously released and highly successful concert movies like Michael Jackson's "This Is It" and Justin Bieber's "Never Say Never" and release the film for a two-week engagement starting August 12. "Glee! Live! 3-D!" will be directed by Kevin Tancharoen, whose most recent directorial effort was the "Fame" remake. Most, but not all, of the popular cast will make appearances in the film, by way of their performances on the tour: Lea Michele (Rachel), Cory Monteith (Finn), Amber Riley (Mercedes), Chris Colfer (Kurt), Kevin McHale (Artie), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina), Mark Salling (Puck), Dianna Agron (Quinn), Naya Rivera (Santana), Heather Morris (Brittany), Harry Shum Jr. (Mike), Chord Overstreet (Sam), Darren Criss (Blaine) and Ashley Fink (Lauren). Noticeably absent from the concert lineup are standouts Matthew Morrison (Mr. Schuester), who likely has a lot going on in promoting his upcoming solo album, and Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jane Lynch (Sue Sylvester). However, since the movie is based on the concert tour, there is a good chance Morrison and Lynch will pop up along the way somewhere, especially given their surprise appearance last year at a New York City show at Radio City Music Hall last year. For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos |
| 'Fast Five' Director Expects Superstar Cast Back For Sequel Posted: 04 May 2011 02:38 AM PDT 'Now we know the audience wants the journey to continue,' Justin Lin says of giving franchise a sixth installment.
How did "Fast Five" director Justin Lin celebrate his film's epic opening weekend? With a nine-inch meatball sub that might have left him with a bit of indigestion were it not for the full-body euphoria that descended upon him when the action flicked ended up grossing $86.2 million domestically. "That's been a tradition," Lin told MTV News by phone from Taiwan, where the film just had another overseas premiere. "A producer gives me the Friday numbers. Then I shut everything down and get a big meatball sandwich and conk out." "Fast Five" stars Vin Diesel and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson didn't take in the good news in quite such a gluttonous way. "It's been so much fun traveling around with them," Lin said. "I had no idea the Rock was huge in Amsterdam! So I've gotten to joke around a lot with him on the road. And, you know, Vin and I have been talking since the fourth [movie] about trying to plant seeds for a trilogy. You do that hoping you'll earn it. The fourth one did so well and earned the fifth one. With me and Vin, now that the fifth has done well, it brings us back to that point of discussion of planting the seeds and growing it to the length we want." That means, of course, a sixth installment of the "Fast and Furious" series. And if Lin gets his wishes, the entire all-star cast from "Fast Five" — including, Diesel, Johnson, Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson — will return for the new flick. "I feel like that's appropriate," Lin said of the full cast coming back. "The sixth one, I have a very good idea of the arena we're going to be playing in. We talked about that stuff two or three years ago. And now I'll be on a plane with Paul or Tyrese, and it's just fun. When we get together, even outside of filming and talk about the characters, you don't even know if you're going to get to do it. But now we know the audience wants the journey to continue; I can sense the excitement with everyone that what we talked about is going to get to come to life." What Lin and his team are going to bring to life, the director promised, will not be a retread of franchise films past. "You sometimes get the sense that when people make sequels, they get conservative," he said. "If something worked, they do it over and over and over again. You can say whatever you want about this franchise, but we've been able to try new things and grow and evolve. We're acknowledging growth not only for the characters, but visually and stylistically. There's this theme of family, and we'll explore it in different ways." So what will this sixth film be called? Lin wasn't ready to reveal that just yet. "I'm just enjoying 'Fast Five'!" he laughed. "The fun of naming it — and we always have a lot of fun with that — will come soon enough." Check out everything we've got on "Fast Five." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| 'American Idol' Preview: Can James Durbin Win This Thing? Posted: 04 May 2011 12:14 AM PDT Top five will tackle two themes on tonight's performance show, the 1960s and the enigmatic 'now.'
This week, "American Idol" thrusts us into a temporal and philosophical conundrum as we try to suss out what exactly producers mean by "now." For that of-the-moment adverb is one-half of Wednesday's (May 4) musical theme, which will have the final five contestants singing two songs each. The other half is straightforward, if unimaginative, enough: the 1960s. But "now"? Are we talking about tunes currently on the radio or the Billboard Hot 100? Songs penned this year or this decade or this millennium? Or, like the nature of the space-time continuum itself, is there something ultimately unknowable and thus, up to individual interpretation, about just what "now" truly means? Ugh, our heads are starting to hurt! Let us turn our attention instead to Casey Abrams, who exited the "Idol" stage in a tornado of growls and grunts and promises to "do everything I can to get myself out there and bring jazz back." We've been hard on Casey in recent weeks. Perhaps more so than we should have been, if only because we so often beg contestants to give us something fresh and unexpected, and then dismiss them when they do. Take one look at a YouTube video he uploaded last year — in which he not only sings but plays guitar, bass, drums, piano and clarinet — and you'll know the kid is a true musical talent, as well as a loveable goofball. Dude, we wish you well, now and forever (whatever that means in the "Idol" universe these days). So, too, are we wishing for the top five to build on last week's generally impressive performances and pop off another standout show. Here's where the singers stand at this point and what each one will have to deliver on Wednesday. Lauren Alaina James Durbin Jacob Lusk Scotty McCreery Haley Reinhart Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Beyonce Releases New 'Run The World (Girls)' Video Teaser Posted: 03 May 2011 11:08 PM PDT Models are dystopian-chic in new preview.
Beyoncé is teasing fans with a 20-second sneak peek of the video for "Run the World (Girls)," the lead single from her forthcoming album, set for release this year. B is nowhere to be seen in the tease, but the clip certainly gives fans a taste of the video's sexiness. Leggy ladies, from all walks of life, mug for the camera as they hang out in the desert. They saunter, prance, hang out on bikes and look generally over everything, all while being totally hot. The fashions are mostly funky chic: lots of black, lots of fur and lots of hot pants. A previous glimpse into the post-apocalyptic video showed the remains of what once was (a rusty car, a newspaper) before Beyoncé appears in all her glory, decked out in white and riding a horse. Fans can also piece together some parts of the video thanks to leaked photos. B had been seen sporting white Givenchy couture in mid-April and then she looked both fierce and regal waving a "B" flag for anther setup, where she seemed to be commanding some sort of army. Director Francis Lawrence didn't reveal too much to us when MTV News talked to him a few weeks back, but he did give some details about what fans should expect from the video, which was shot last month in California. "It'll be big, it'll probably be one of the bigger Beyoncé music videos ever done," he said. "And, I can say that I think the song is unbelievable." He added, "I think the video's gonna be really fun and cool and different for her." What are you expecting from the video? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Katy Perry To Release 'Last Friday Night' As Next Single Posted: 04 May 2011 08:25 AM PDT Singer tweets that video for track could 'break the Internet.'
For those of you wondering what the next single off Katy Perry's Teenage Dream would be, the wait is over. Perry is set to release the party jam "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" as the album's next single. "Recognize that face? Katy reveals her official album artwork for the 'Last Friday Night (TGIF)' Remixes!" the message on her Facebook page reads. The photo features Katy in nerdy gear, including mouth guard and glasses, and was taken when she hosted the Teen Choice Awards last summer. The image is surrounded by '80s-style neon colors and swirly graphics. Apparently a video has also been shot for the track, although there are no details yet. Perry tweeted, "I told someone about my new music video I just filmed & they responded with 'wow, that's gonna break the internet.' ... Should I knock on wood?" The song involves Perry recounting the debauched fun she and her pals had last Friday night. "Last Friday night/ Yeah, we danced on tabletops/ And we took too many shots/ Think we kissed but I forgot/ Last Friday night/ Yeah, we maxed our credit cards/ And got kicked out of the bar/ So we hit the boulevard," she sings. On the chorus, she continues, "Last Friday night/ We went streaking in the park/ Skinny-dipping in the dark/ Then had a ménage à trois/ Last Friday night/ Yeah, I think we broke the law/ Always say we're gonna stop-op/ Whoa-oh-oah." The song was produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin. Perry co-wrote the track with Bonnie McKee, Martin and Luke. This is the fifth single off Teenage Dream, which dropped last summer. Previous hits off the album include "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," "Firework," and "E.T." Related Photos Related Artists |
| Big Boi Calls Modest Mouse Collabo 'A Hodgepodge Of Funkiness' Posted: 03 May 2011 10:30 PM PDT Oddball pairing isn't all that odd to Big Boi, who describes the new songs as 'jamming.'
Last week, when Big Boi tweeted that he was "camped out in the lab" with Modest Mouse, the news was greeted with a resounding "WTF?!?" from fans of not only the Mouse, but Outkast as well.
But, as Big Boi told MTV News, the idea of teaming up with Modest Mouse made perfect sense to him. "I've been a fan of the band for a minute. ... We're all musicians and producers and artists, and it's just like a big-ass brainstorm, a brain-stormin', tsunami, typhoon, tectonic-plates-movin' kind of thing," he said. "We do all types of music, so to get the chance to jam with a jammin'-ass band, I knew it was going to be cool. We had a vibe too. We made a couple of records that are just jamming. It's a hodgepodge of funkiness." Working with longtime producer Chris Carmouche, Big Boi and Modest Mouse spent nearly a week in the rapper's Stankonia Studios ("We was live from Stankonia, baby, they had to come catch the vibe," Boi laughed), jamming, recording and, most importantly, vibing. "[Modest Mouse frontman] Isaac [Brock] and I were talking about our lives, different backgrounds, how he grew up, talking about music, different songs," Big Boi explained. "He gave me backstories on different songs they did, like 'Wild Pack of Family Dogs,' gave me stories on that. It was a real chill atmosphere, so it was basically just kicking it around the studio, just chopping it up. We was in here doing 14-hour days. ... It was all day long. We'd jam, we'd talk, we'd jam some more. It was a real cool experience." And though he wouldn't reveal much about the songs they recorded — Carmouche, who sat in on the interview, described one track as "enchanted and enlightened," another as "hard-core" and a third as "kind of funky" — or, really, when anyone will get to hear them, Big Boi promised that they'll appeal to fans of both acts. And he gives his word that, no matter how out-there the collaboration may seem, the result is definitely going to be worth it. "Mainly, me and Chris are acting as producers on the record. I'm not rapping on anything, as of yet. ... It's their music. I'm also a producer, as well as an artist, but I'm not just going to jump on something just to jump on it, you know?" he said. "The fans don't have to worry. There's nothing like, 'Oh, Modest Mouse, there's some rapping going on the album!' If there needs to be some rapping on there, I will destroy it, but right now, we're just really marinating with the music to see where everything's going to go. ... Just know this mother----er is jamming, man. Believe me." What are you expecting from Big Boi's collabo with Modest Mouse? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Rick Gonzalez Credits Big Pun, Tupac For Rap Career As Realm Reality Posted: 03 May 2011 11:18 PM PDT The Invisible Man mixtape coming May 24, Gonzalez tells Mixtape Daily.
Celebrity Favorites: Rick Gonzalez Actor Rick Gonzalez is best known for his roles in movies like "Coach Carter," "Old School" and the 2007 crime drama "Illegal Tender," but there is a musical side to him that his fans might not know. Realm Reality is Gonzalez's rap alter-ego that he developed back in 1998, and while he is most famous for his Hollywood accomplishments, he insists that his hip-hop aspirations are deep-rooted.
"It's always been a part of me, and acting will always be there too, so it's not like I'm embarking and leaving one for the other," Gonzalez — who grew up in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York — told Mixtape Daily. "It's a perfect marriage because the world of hip-hop and what I do, it lends itself and gives me the time I need to devote to it, and at the same time, I can still read scripts and audition for things and be a part of films." So, from where does he draw his MCing inspiration? The first rapper he credits is the late Big Pun. "He dropped Capital Punishment, and that cemented the deal for me," Gonzalez said. "He basically told me by dropping that album that anyone that looks like me and comes from where I come from can do what I do." There are others however: The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Nas, Mobb Deep and the late rapper/actor Tupac Shakur round out his faves. It's with 'Pac that he finds the deepest connection. "I was a huge Tupac Shakur fan because I was drawn to his passion," Gonzalez said. "Technically, as a rapper, he probably wasn't the best. But the way he conveyed his emotion and who he was as an actor made me really connect with him." On the acting side, Gonzalez is set to appear in the upcoming horror flick "Emergo," and musically, as Realm Reality, he is putting the finishing touches on his The Invisible Man mixtape, which is scheduled to be released online at RealmReality.net on May 24. For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Videos |
| 'Glee'-Cap: Fleetwood Mac And Mr. Tubbington Spread 'Rumors' Posted: 04 May 2011 07:33 AM PDT This week's Rumours-themed episode was so well-paced, we hardly noticed the gratuitous little kids.
Coach Sylvester's plot to tear apart the glee club from the inside on this week's "Glee" lead to two amazing things: a fast-moving plot and an inspired episode-long tribute to Fleetwood Mac's classic Rumours. And also, we met the show's newest breakout star, Brittany's enormous cat, Mr. Tubbington. Sing along to celebrate his debut:
Fondue for two, Channeling Fox News Oh "Glee," it's great to see your quality come back Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow ... "Bartie" are through. Stakeouts for two. Sam's in a motel with his siblings and pop But oh, "Glee," it worries me that you're adding little kids Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow. Related Videos |
| Kris Allen High School Gig Puts Spotlight On Music Education Posted: 03 May 2011 10:08 PM PDT 'American Idol' champ is on mini-tour with teenage musicians.
On Monday, a group of lucky New York high school kids got their own personal Kris Allen concert in what may go down as the loudest, most rocking school assembly of 2011. The 2009 "American Idol" champ has teamed up with the Music Empowers Foundation for a unique tour with the Berklee City Music All-Star Ensemble, a group of talented teenagers who have benefited from the Berklee College of Music's program for passionate high school musicians. "They don't seem like high school kids," Allen said, praising his underage tourmates. "Obviously they're really great and musically talented and I can tell that they spend a lot of time on it. I did not spend as much time as they did [when I was their age]. They're rock stars and they know it. They just get up there and just own the stage." The eight-piece pop/rock group captivated the crowd with impressive covers of hits by the Raconteurs, Evanescence and Relient K. Then Kris joined the teen ensemble to perform a handful of tunes from his 2009 self-titled debut with interesting new arrangements. An organ solo made Allen's bluesy "Is It Over" even richer. An extended guitar run gave "Can't Stay Away" a fresh jam-band vibe. Strong female vocalists blended so well with Kris on "Live Like We're Dying" that he might want to include some girl power on album #2, which he promises to have in stores later this year. Inspired by the tour and the urban setting of his New York gig, Allen even busted out a brand-new cover for the approving high school audience. His seductive acoustic version of Ben E. King's "Stand by Me" would have sounded right at home with "Heartless" and "Falling Slowly" had he performed it on "Idol" back in season eight. "We walked in and said, 'This Is Martin Luther King Jr. High School. Maybe I should bring some soul today.' So I decided to bring the soul," Allen said. On hand to show his support (as well as provide free unsolicited sound-mixing advice) was E Street Band superstar "Little" Steven Van Zandt, who's no stranger to supporting music education himself. He told MTV News that his cause, the Rock and Roll Forever Foundation, is on track to pilot a history of rock and roll curriculum in classrooms in the next few years. "I support [music education] in every kind of way, whether it's physically putting instruments in kids' hands ... or the history side, which is what [my charity is] doing. And everything in between! Anything having to do with music [education] is great," Van Zandt said. "It keeps kids in schools." Music education awareness aside, Van Zandt and his wife, fellow "Sopranos" co-star Maureen Van Zandt, couldn't pass up the chance to watch one of their favorite "Idol" winners take the stage in the tri-state area. "I don't watch TV myself, but my wife is a like a fanatical 'American Idol' person and she turns me on to these great singers like Kris. And seeing what he did with the [Berklee City Music] kids today was fantastic," gushed van Zandt, adding, "I'm an old-school guy, so when I see someone respect the music of the past, it just kind of turns me on. And Kris had that soul when he did that Ben E. King thing today. It gives you hope." Kris Allen wraps up his hope-filled mini-tour with the Berklee City Music All-Stars Wednesday (May 4) in Washington, D.C. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos Related Artists |
| The Situation Signs MTV Series-Development Deal Posted: 04 May 2011 08:47 AM PDT 'Jersey Shore' co-stars Snooki, JWoww and Pauly D have already inked deals to create spin-off shows for MTV.
The Situation is branching out. According to a spokesperson for MTV, the "Jersey Shore" star has inked a series-development deal with the network, which will reportedly yield a pilot to be filmed later this year. No other details about the deal were available. Sitch — real name Michael Sorrentino — is just the latest "Shore" star to get the green light for a new series: Last month, MTV announced it had entered into agreements with Snooki, JWoww and Pauly D to produce spin-off shows of their own. Snooki and JWoww will be featured on one show (about the dynamic duo's life away from Seaside Heights), while Pauly will star in a series that follows his career as an international DJ. Both shows are set to debut on the network in 2012. The Situation's still-untitled project joins a long list of entrepreneurial endeavors for the man with the six-pack abs. He's already released an advice book and lent his name to a line of "protein-infused vodka," and late last year, he stopped by the MTV Newsroom to flog another pair of projects: his appropriately-titled "The Situation Workout" DVD and, of course, a collection of "shoelery" — basically, jewelry for your shoes — produced with a company called Luxury Laces. In a statement to Variety, Sorrentino said that he's "excited" about his new series, and promised that it will feature plenty of what made him famous on "Jersey Shore." "I'm excited to continue my relationship with MTV, which has been home for me for the last couple of years," he said. "I'm really grateful for all the support from my fans. Hopefully, there will be plenty more situations in the future." Related Photos |
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