MTV News |
- Amy Winehouse, In Memoriam: 'Troubled' Wasn't The Right Word
- Amy Winehouse Dead
- 'Man Of Steel' Henry Cavill Reacts To Production Delay
- 'Glee' Cast Remembers Amy Winehouse
- Kristen Stewart Feels 'Strong' In 'Snow White' Armor
- Taylor Lautner 'Excited' For 'Breaking Dawn' Honeymoon
- Amy Winehouse Remembered By Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, More
- Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson Talk 'Adventures Of Tintin'
| Amy Winehouse, In Memoriam: 'Troubled' Wasn't The Right Word Posted: 23 Jul 2011 04:22 AM PDT Iconic British singer was found dead in her home on Saturday.
"Troubled" was the adjective most commonly used to describe Amy Winehouse, the dynamic British belter who rose to international prominence thanks to her defiant 2006 single "Rehab" and the near-constant coverage of her sundry of personal problems (drug addiction, public punch-ups, onstage meltdowns, to name just a few). But in light of Winehouse's death on Saturday (July 23), it's clear that "troubled" doesn't quite fit; perhaps "haunted" is a better choice.
Because Winehouse was vexed in ways that were beyond troublesome; she was pursued by specters in life — addiction, love, even the paparazzi, against whom she obtained an anti-harassment injunction in 2009. And in death — her body was discovered Saturday in her home in London, under conditions which police are calling "unexplained" — it appears those specters finally caught up with her. There was a darkness to Winehouse, a quality that went beyond the tabloid pages or her low-cut dresses or her frequent binges on drugs and alcohol. It was most apparent in her voice, smoky and smoldering and, at times, savage, but always imperceptibly pained too, just like Billie Holiday or Janis Joplin or even Kurt Cobain. It's no wonder then that like those talents, she found solace — and, ultimately, escape — in controlled substances. Anything to numb the pain. It remains to be seen whether Winehouse's struggles will come to define her life; at minimum, they'll forever be mentioned whenever folks talk about her legacy. Unlike other members of the so-called "27 Club" (of which she is now, sadly, a member), her recordings were relatively few — just two full-length albums and a handful of guest appearances — but it is perhaps a testament to their power that she's already being mentioned in the same breath as Joplin or Cobain. Go beyond the eerily prescient sentiments of "Rehab," to the slow-burning transcendence of "You Know I'm No Good," "Back To Black" or "Tears Dry on Their Own," and you'll discover that Winehouse was a true artist ... and a truly pained one.
And, as is the case with all the true greats, Winehouse became an icon, almost overnight. Her tattooed arms and towering beehive made her an instant antidote to the Britneys and Christinas that had for too long dominated the pop-music landscape, and her constant run-ins and flare-ups (and lack of concern for her public image) made her a true rebel in every sense of the word. She seemingly was not of this era, a throwback to a time both more glamorous and gritty than we could possibly remember. And because of that, no matter where she went or what she did, we couldn't take our eyes off her. Of course, it didn't hurt matters that Back to Black sold like gangbusters, and her success paved the way for several retro-leaning stars, including Lily Allen, Duffy and, most notably, Adele, the Brit who currently dominates both sides of the Atlantic. And, in some ways, maybe that will be her endearing legacy: She was the one who changed it all, and nearly six years after the release of her breakout album, we're still feeling the effects of that change. And yet, despite all of that, in the years following Back to Black's release, Winehouse was never truly able to escape her ghosts. Her trips to rehab facilities were nearly as numerous as her arrests, and her live performances became increasingly erratic. In some ways, it seemed like she knew she'd never follow-up that album's success, and maybe she didn't want to. And perhaps it's fitting that she never will. And, fittingly, in death, Winehouse has now cemented her status alongside all of the other sublimely talented, supremely pained stars gone too early. Carrying a weariness beyond her years, hers was a story that is sadly repeated all too often in music and one that, more often than not, usually ends the same way. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Posted: 22 Jul 2011 10:12 PM PDT 'Rehab' singer's body discovered in her London apartment, publicist confirms.
Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London apartment Saturday (July 23), her publicist confirmed to CNN. The U.K. singer was 27 years old. A press release from Metropolitan Police does not specify Winehouse by name, but reads: "Police were called by London Ambulance Service to an address in Camden Square NW1 shortly before 16.05 hours today, Saturday 23 July, following reports of a woman found deceased. On arrival officers found the body of a 27-year-old female who was pronounced dead at the scene. Inquiries continue into the circumstances of death. At this early stage it is being treated as unexplained."
Click for photos of Amy Winehouse's life and career. Winehouse canceled her European tour last month, and has long struggled with substance abuse. On June 18, Winehouse performed the first show of that European tour at Forest Fest in Belgrade, Serbia, but things went terribly wrong. The Brit songstress reportedly showed up more than an hour late and then once there, she repeatedly left the stage mid-performance. Winehouse forgot lyrics to her songs and even dropped the mic as a disgruntled crowd of 20,000 booed her set. After the show, she canceled festival appearances in Turkey and Greece. Apart from her touring plans, Winehouse was also reportedly working on the follow-up to her award-winning Back to Black, but a concrete release date for the album was never established.
Earlier Saturday, Winehouse's management team released a statement confirming she was pulling out of all gigs to concentrate on her recovery: "Amy Winehouse is withdrawing from all scheduled performances. Everyone involved wishes to do everything they can to help her return to her best and she will be given as long as it takes for this to happen." Read what Rihanna, Usher and more said about Winehouse on Twitter. Amy Jade Winehouse, born September 14, 1983, exploded onto the U.K. scene in 2003 with her debut album, Frank, which was nominated for the Mercury Prize, the award given to the year's best British or Irish album. After a string of well-received festival gigs and an Ivor Novello songwriting award, she began work on the album that would make her an international star: Back to Black, released Stateside in 2007. Teaming with producers Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson (and the New-York based Dap Kings ensemble), Winehouse crafted a sound that was heavily indebted to the girl groups of the 1950s and '60s and, when combined with her smoky vocals and towering beehive hairstyle, served as a welcome antidote to the electronic-based pop music of the day. Buoyed by the success of iconic single "Rehab" — and Winehouse's near-constant coverage in the tabloids — Back To Black became a worldwide phenomenon, topping the charts in the U.K. (where it would be the year's best-selling album) and earning Winehouse five Grammys, including Record and Song of the Year and Best New Artist. Following the success of Back to Black, Winehouse toured the world, and began a star-crossed (and much-covered) relationship with a former video-production assistant named Blake Fielder-Civil. Around the same time, several media outlets began reporting extensively on the couple's drug use and, in 2008, Fielder-Civil served time in prison after an altercation with a bar owner. During this period, Winehouse also had several run-ins with the law, including a 2007 arrest for possession of marijuana in Bergen, Norway, a "common assault" charge in early 2008 and, most famously, a May 2008 arrest stemming from a video of her smoking what appeared to be crack cocaine. She avoided jail time in each instance but, at the urging of her father, the singer made several attempts to get clean, repeatedly checking herself into rehabilitation facilities. Her last stint in rehab reportedly took place in May of 2011. During all of this, Winehouse had also begun working on the follow-up to Back to Black, heading to the island of St. Lucia with Remi to record tracks. In July 2010, Winehouse made a surprise appearance at a Ronson show in London, flubbing the lines to the producer's song "Valerie." A few days later, she told the U.K.'s Metro newspaper that the new album was due in January and would follow in the footsteps of Black's retro leanings. She recorded a version of Lesley Gore's "It's My Party" for legendary producer Quincy Jones' Q: Soul Bossa Nostra album, and was also tapped to sing with Tony Bennett on his upcoming Duets II album, which is due in September. In the hours following her death, Winehouse's American record label, Universal Republic, said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted musician, artist and performer. Our prayers go out to Amy's family, friends and fans at this difficult time." Shocked? Saddened? React To Her Death With Us On Facebook Share your condolences with Amy Winehouse's family and friends in the comments below. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Man Of Steel' Henry Cavill Reacts To Production Delay Posted: 23 Jul 2011 05:56 AM PDT At Comic-Con 2011, actor also tells MTV News about meeting Russell Crowe, his co-star in Zack Snyder's Superman reboot.
SAN DIEGO — Plenty of fans were surprised when news broke that the release date for Zack Snyder's Superman reboot, "Man of Steel," was pushed back six months to June 14, 2013 — but none more so than the would-be superhero himself, Henry Cavill.
"They broke it to me gently," he told MTV News on Saturday (July 23) at San Diego Comic-Con. "I was just told the other day. It's OK, it's nothing to do with me. That's stuff which I have no control over. I just focus on the character and do my job." Speaking of stepping into the shoes of the iconic superhero — or tights, rather — Cavill said he's "prepared enough" but anxious to start production. "I'm really raring to go," he said. "It's exciting, humbling, and about time to get started." Of course, Cavill couldn't divulge many details about the upcoming shoot or what his fellow cast members may or may not be doing in the film, but he did provide a delightful anecdote about his first meeting with co-star Russell Crowe (who is playing his father, Jor-El). Cavill recounted one of the very early days in his acting career when he worked as an extra in a film Crowe was shooting at his school. "I walked up to Russell, shook his hand, and said 'I'm thinking of becoming an actor. What advice do you have?' He said to me ... No, I won't say what he said," Cavil said with a smile, indicating that his response might have included a swear word or two. "Two days later, I received an Aussie rugby jersey, a [CD] and a signed picture from 'Gladiator' [with a note that read] 'Dear Henry, A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, Russell.' Cut to 11 years later, at what is the high point of my career, and here we are." Check out everything we've got on "Man of Steel." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Videos |
| 'Glee' Cast Remembers Amy Winehouse Posted: 23 Jul 2011 07:52 AM PDT 'She definitely brought back a lot of soul to mainstream,' Darren Criss says.
SAN DIEGO -- The news of Amy Winehouse's tragic death continued to shock the world Saturday (July 23), with many of the 27-year-old's celebrity fans taking to Twitter and Facebook to express their sadness in learning of the troubled singer's passing. "Glee" cast members Darren Criss, Jenna Ushkowitz, Harry Shum Jr. and Dot Marie Jones joined in the thousands of Winehouse mourners devastated by the loss.
"She's paved the way for so many artists, so at least every artist can pay homage to her in some way," Ushkowitz told MTV News at Comic-Con 2011. "Hopefully they will," she said, adding, "It's just so tragic: She was so young and so talented." Criss said, "She definitely brought back a lot of soul to mainstream, and it's really unfortunate to see her go, but I think she'll live on in other artists who will follow [with] the same soul." Shum Jr. added, "She had a voice that couldn't be duplicated. It's a tragedy." Marie Jones said she hopes more attention is paid to Winehouse's legacy as an artist than to her personal struggles. "I hope everybody focuses on what she did and did so well and not the tragedy," she said. "God bless her and her family. She did so much." "In a short period of time," Shum Jr. added. "[At age] 27, it's really sad," Marie Jones concluded. Though some news outlets are reporting a drug overdose as the suspected cause of Winehouse's death, autopsy reports aren't scheduled to be released until Sunday. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kristen Stewart Feels 'Strong' In 'Snow White' Armor Posted: 23 Jul 2011 07:37 AM PDT At Comic-Con, 'Snow White and the Huntsman' cast preview costumes.
SAN DIEGO — Kristen Stewart may be the fairest of them all, but her Snow White that was unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday (July 23) certainly doesn't look like a damsel in distress.
The "Twilight Saga" actress took to the stage to promote "Snow White and the Huntsman" in Hall H alongside her co-stars Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron and Sam Claflin, producer Joe Roth and director Rupert Sanders. Unfortunately, there was no footage to show since the flick doesn't start shooting until next week, but the cast did bring some first looks at the costume design and general feel of the movie. Stewart's Snow White doesn't have a yellow and blue dress, and there's not a bow to be seen. Instead, she was decked out in a full suit of armor and sported a giant shield with a white tree emblazoned on it. Her Prince Charming, played by Claflin, was similarly dressed, though he teased that his prince was not as sweet as he might have been in previous incarnations. As the titular Huntsman, Hemsworth looked a bit ragged and dirty with his axe and commoner's clothes. When asked what it took to get him in costume for that, he joked that it required "about four or five of hours of rolling around in the mud, four days of drinking" and for the clothes to be dug up "from the backyard in Australia." The evil stepmother, played by Theron, was as imposing as anyone could have been hoped for. Theron looked like a more badass version of the evil queen from the classic Disney cartoon, with a braided blonde coif on her head and a dagger in hand. "This, as a fable, she sort of just starts off as a bad person, so it was important to understand [why she is the way she is]," Theron explained about her character. "A lot of her circumstances will kind of bleed into her actions ... She's a serial killer; I'm pretty much preparing to play a serial killer." This will be one of Stewart's first roles outside of "The Twilight Saga," and Roth said part of the draw of casting her was to be the one who helped her expand as an actress. For Stewart, it was the chance to play a tougher role. "It's not a little girl sitting by a well with little tweety birds telling her what to do and where to go," she said of her character. "[The costume] makes you feel kind of strong occasionally, sometimes, but I kind of feel tiny, my pinhead sticks out of these enormous things." Check out everything we've got on "Snow White and the Huntsman." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Taylor Lautner 'Excited' For 'Breaking Dawn' Honeymoon Posted: 23 Jul 2011 01:19 AM PDT At Comic-Con 2011, 'Twilight' star also discusses imprinting scene.
SAN DIEGO — This year's San Diego Comic-Con has been akin to celebrating Christmas in July for "Twilight" fans. Those lucky enough to catch the highly anticipated "Breaking Dawn" panel Thursday were treated to roughly seven minutes of footage, as well as the appearance of all of their favorite cast members.
MTV News chatted with Taylor Lautner briefly about the Comic-Con experience, as well as how he approached the much-discussed imprinting scene. "It's tough. I think the best way is to just go off the book," Lautner said. "People ask me questions all the time about imprinting, and I just want to say, 'Read the book: It explains it all.' It's very complicated," he added. "I can't wait for everyone to see it. I think they'll be pleased." Lautner also continued to heap praise on his young co-star Mackenzie Foy, who plays Edward and Bella's daughter, Renesmee. "The great thing with Mackenzie is she is the nicest girl," he said. "She's so outgoing. Everybody on that set loved her. She's really talented. I can't wait for everyone to see her; she's not [featured] until the second one, though," he pointed out. In regard to which scene he's most looking forward to seeing in the finished film, Lautner echoed the sentiments of plenty of fans before him. "I'm excited to see the honeymoon stuff — come on," he said with a smile. "There's a lot of good stuff." He added, "I'm super proud of the movie. I think everybody's really happy with it. It's great to be back at Comic-Con because we weren't here for 'Eclipse,' so it's been a little while, so I can't wait to see all the fans again." 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 Videos Related Photos |
| Amy Winehouse Remembered By Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, More Posted: 23 Jul 2011 01:29 AM PDT 'RIP Amy Winehouse. May she finally find peace,' Perry writes. 'I am genuinely heartbroken about this,' Rihanna tweets.
As news spread that 27-year-old Amy Winehouse was dead, stars immediately tweeted their shocked reactions and remorse over the lost talent. Katy Perry, who touches down in Boise, Idaho, this weekend as part of her California Dreams Tour, tweeted her condolences, writing, "RIP Amy Winehouse. May she finally find peace."
Nicki Minaj, who is also on the road as part of Britney Spears' Femme Fatale jaunt, took to Twitter and expressed disbelief at the news of Winehouse's passing. "Please tell me Amy Winehouse didn't die," wrote the Young Money MC, who's set to hit the stage in Florida on Saturday (July 23). "Is this some sick joke?" "I am genuinely heartbroken about this," wrote Rihanna, who continued to express her shock over multiple tweets. "Dear God have mercy!!! I am SICK about this right now!" In another, she wrote "U made a MAJAH impression on this industry and throughout the world, in such a short space of time...too short!" Usher reflected on Winehouse, who he had known: "I'm so sad to hear the horrible news of Amy Winehouse's death. I'm so happy I knew you Amy...Rest Well. Gone Too Soon...we'll miss you!!"" Frequent tweeter Kim Kardashian used her 140 characters to send prayers: "I just heard the news that Amy Winehouse passed away. What a true talent. I pray she's in a better place & at peace."
Meanwhile, Ryan Seacrest showed Winehouse's impact on the music industry, singling out both Lady Gaga and Adele as those who had been influenced. "Sad to lose Amy Winehouse - incred talent. Both @LadyGaga & @OfficialAdele say Amy paved way for them." Dr. Drew focused on the singer's well-documented struggles with addiction. "SO sad, another lost to addiction. A reminder this is often a fatal condition. Recovery is possible, but sadly not for Amy Winehouse." Winehouse's American record label, Universal Republic, said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted musician, artist and performer. Our prayers go out to Amy's family, friends and fans at this difficult time." Many More Stars Are Reacting. Check Back To See Who Else Has Weighed In: Leann Rimes: "RIP Amy Winehouse. So sad to see such a talent gone and her life end in tragedy. This makes me terribly sad." Khloe Kardashian: "Wow! I just heard about Amy Winehouse passing away! Wow! So sad :( what an amazing talent" Ashton Kutcher: "Rip amy winehouse" Big Boi: "Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and now Amy Winehouse. All died aged 27. RIP to you all." Kelly Osbourne: "i cant even breath right my now im crying so hard i just lost 1 of my best friends. i love you forever Amy & will never forget the real you!" Rick Ross: "Wanted to collab w/ Amy Winehouse...r.i.p...smoking 1 in your memoryyy!!" Janelle Monae: "heart is heavy. My heart goes out 2 Amy Winehouse's family, loved ones. Praying for their strength during this time." Ricky Martin: "I just found out. I feel pain. I feel anger. Rest beautiful girl rest. You are free!" Cee Lo: "Is it true about amy?" Victoria Justice: "I'm so sad about the #amywinehouse news I heard this morning. She was 1 of my favorite artists. What a sad story, she was such a talent..." Randy Jackson: "Wow what a tragic loss today in the music world, Amy Winehouse such a talent. She will be missed" Kreayshawn: "I said she was a TIMELESS artist and a real artist because of her struggle. I'm so upset I love her! RIP Amy Winehouse" What Was Your Favorite Winehouse Song? Pay Tribute To Her Talents On Facebook Share your memories of Amy Winehouse in the comments below. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson Talk 'Adventures Of Tintin' Posted: 23 Jul 2011 12:22 AM PDT At Comic-Con, director Spielberg and producer Jackson tell MTV News about motion-capture technique.
SAN DIEGO — "The Adventures of Tintin" took San Diego Comic-Con by storm during Friday's Hall H panel, gifting fans with new footage of the upcoming motion-capture flick and surprise appearances by producer Peter Jackson and star Andy Serkis. The debuted footage was received very favorably, several news outlets reported. Jackson and director Steven Spielberg caught up with MTV News to chat about how motion capture has evolved over the years. Spielberg cited the motion capture in "The Polar Express" as what propelled the animation technique into popularity, which then culminated in its best form when James Cameron and Weta Digital applied it to "Avatar."
Was there any one scene in particular Spielberg found the most difficult to create? "I don't think it's any one scene that is tough to crack," he said. "It's the medium that has been evolving that took years of development and experimentation and trial and error." The central focus of the story is obviously the movie's namesake, Tintin, but there are plenty of other colorful characters fans should look forward to as well. Spielberg said he hopes Tintin is the biggest breakout character to come out of the flick, but Jackson said the rest of the ensemble will have a chance to shine as well. "[Comic creator] Hergé created a group of very eccentric characters," Jackson explained. "Tintin is surrounded by people — both people trying to stop him from succeeding and people who are trying to help him, who, ironically, I think cause just as much problems." One of those characters is Captain Haddock, who is voiced by Serkis. "Haddock is such a messy, chaotic character that it's quite debatable whether he helps or hinders Tintin most of the time," Jackson said. "But he gets a lot of laughs, and that's the important thing," Spielberg added with a chuckle. Check out everything we've got on "The Adventures of Tintin." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Videos |
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