MTV News |
- Best Artists Of 2011
- Best Songs Of 2011: MTV Readers React
- Machine Gun Kelly 'Grateful' To Fans For Hottest Breakthrough Win
- 'Dark Knight Rises' Prologue 'Will Have Your Jaw Drop'
- 'X Factor': Josh Krajcik Is 'The One To Beat'
- Adele Calls Best Song Of 2011 Win 'Overwhelming'
- Machine Gun Kelly Is Hottest Breakthrough MC Of 2011!
- 'Sherlock Holmes' Sequel Is 'More Sophisticated'
- Rihanna's 'We Found Love' Is MTV's #3 Song Of 2011
- Golden Globe Predictions: Brad Pitt, 'Bridesmaids' And More
- Avicii Calls #6 EDM Artist Of The Year Nod 'A Big Honor'
- Adele's 'Rolling In The Deep' Is MTV's Song Of The Year!
- Foster The People's 'Pumped Up Kicks' Is MTV's #7 Song Of 2011
- Nicki Minaj's 'Super Bass' Is MTV's #2 Song Of 2011!
- Foster The People, Florence Welch Pick Best Of 2011
- 'X Factor' Backstage: Rachel Crow's Exit Still Stings
- Lady Gaga Is <i>Forbes</i>' Top-Earning Woman In Music
- 'Amazing Spider-Man' Trailer: What We Want Next
- Katy Perry's 'One That Got Away' Ties <i>Billboard</i> Record
- 'Drive,' 'Potter' And More: My Favorite Movies Of 2011
| Posted: 14 Dec 2011 12:21 AM PST From Mother Monster to the Throne, MTV counts down the top 10 artists of the year.
In 2011, Beyoncé asked (rather rhetorically) "Who run the world?" The answer, of course, was girls, which was pretty apt, considering everywhere you looked this year, female artists were front and center, not only running the world, but flat out dominating it. Adele's had the year's best-selling album, by a long shot. Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift each moved 1 million units in a single week. Katy Perry continued to nab #1 singles, as did Rihanna and Britney Spears. Nicki Minaj broke through to the mainstream, B made the leap with 4, Christina Aguilera moved like Jagger ... the list goes on and on. Female artists did it all this year, to the point where you sort of forgot that dudes made music too. Of course, they did and truly you can't have a discussion about 2011 without mentioning Lil Wayne, Drake, Justin Bieber or Jay-Z and Kanye West's high-profile Throne project. Girls may have run the world, but the guys definitely picked their spots, and delivered big time. But who had the biggest year of all? It's a tough question to answer. Still, we've given it our best shot, organizing a brain trust to lead a roundtable — moderated by MTV's Sway — on the Best Artists of 2011. Panelists James Montgomery and Rob Markman (MTV News), Yomi Desalu and Malika Quemerais (MTV Music and Talent) and Tamar Anitai and Nicole James (MTV.com) pored over the charts, debated stuff like Facebook friends and Twitter followers and watched a ton of music videos. After some rather zesty discussions, we've come up with a list of 10 who not only defined the year, but dominated it too. Here's the first look at who made the cut, from #10 to #3. Tune in to MTV at 4:59 p.m. ET on Thursday (December 15) to find out who'll be named 2011's Artist of the Year!
10. Justin Bieber 9. Drake
8. Lil Wayne 7. Beyoncé
6. Rihanna 5. Lady Gaga
4. The Throne
3. Adele We've counted down #10 to #3, but who will come out on top in the final two? Stick with us as we reveal the Best Artist of 2011 today 4:59 p.m. ET on MTV! All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year! Related Videos |
| Best Songs Of 2011: MTV Readers React Posted: 15 Dec 2011 03:53 AM PST Music fans agree Adele 'killed 2011' with 'Rolling in the Deep,' but they have their own favorites too.
After MTV's roundtable of experts chose Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" and Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" as the top two Best Songs of 2011, music fans made their opinions heard, sharing their picks or voicing support for the chart-topping ladies and the rest of the top 10.
Adele received plenty of backup for her Song of the Year win, including from Facebook user Cavisha Brown: "Guys, Adele killed 2011 with 'Rolling in the Deep' and 'Someone Like You.' Adele for the win!" Another Facebook fan, Alvaro Maguiña, wrote, " 'Rolling in the Deep,' 'cause Adele's a boss." Even the haters couldn't deny the big-voiced singer's 2011 takeover, as Bradley Goodwin confessed, "Even though I don't like her, it's obviously Adele." "Super Bass" also got support from Minaj's Barbz and Kenz, who appeared on the fence about the MC's face-off against Adele. "What people don't understand is that Nicki is a rapper," Grant Markwell wrote on Facebook. "She didn't get her rise to fame from singing. Adele did, but on the other hand both are styles of music that are looked up to by millions. I think Nicki's rap style is very dominant, and that 'Super Bass' was a breakthrough for female rap. So I pick her..." Fans of Bruno Mars weren't too happy that hits like "The Lazy Song" and "It Will Rain" were missing from the action. Twitter user FloureandLeafe wrote, "No @BrunoMars song? Really? I don't agree 'cause bruno is a wonderful artist and he deserves to be in your list." While Britney Spears' "Till the World Ends" made Bigger Than the Sound's Top 25 Songs of 2011, her hit singles were nowhere to be found on MTV's Best of 2011 list. Team B made sure to voice their thoughts. "When it comes to awards and 'best of' charts, they ignore her," MTV.com user Alessandro ranted. "Even those who say she's great ... in the end act as if they'd never even said a word." "You forgot Britt Britt, c'mon!" Joe added. While Rihanna ruled Facebook in 2011, the pop titan landed at #3 on the list with "We Found Love." Her Navy was none too pleased that the dance anthem did not take home the title. "WTF, 'We Found Love' deserved to be number 1," helenivyork tweeted. Among the other tunes fans felt should have been part of the year-end list were Beyoncé's "Countdown," Eminem's "Lighters" and Jennifer Lopez's "On the Floor." All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year! Related Videos |
| Machine Gun Kelly 'Grateful' To Fans For Hottest Breakthrough Win Posted: 15 Dec 2011 03:53 AM PST On 'RapFix Live,' MGK presents his die-hard supporters with a hand-carved award for all their votes.
Machine Gun Kelly is having a Rocky Balboa moment. After he was named MTV News' Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011 on Wednesday's "RapFix Live," the Cleveland rapper hopped on Skype to check in with Sway and thank his fans for all their support. He even presented them with an award of their own.
"I can't explain how grateful I am for all those kids who sat there and got in voting circles and sat there for hours and hours and did votes upon votes," MGK said of his fans, who voted for him in the week-long poll that started December 7. "I know that we have probably the least amount of fans, but like I told my fans: Heart is always gonna prevail over connections and who these people know and who tweets what." It was then that MGK held up a red piece of wood with the words: "Congratulations to the Breakthrough Fans of 2011, EST" carved into it. "I stayed up last night," the Bad Boy rapper said. "I couldn't go get a plaque made, so I went and got a piece of wood and carved in it, and so we want to present this to the fans." The competition was tough, and ever since the fan-driven Hottest Breakthrough poll opened on the RapFix blog last week, Kells was jockeying for the #1 position, fighting off Lil Twist and Mac Miller. A$AP Rocky, Future, French Montana, Freddie Gibbs, Kendrick Lamar, Meek Mill and Roscoe Dash were also in contention, but in the end, it was MGK who held the crown after hundreds of thousands of votes were tallied. When all the math was complete, MGK finished with 44 percent of the vote. Miller, whose Blue Slide Park debuted at #1 last month, was an early favorite. Twist, who finished in the #2 spot with 39 percent of the vote, proved to be MGK's most formidable competition, thanks to his die-hard fans, Young Money team and best friend Justin Bieber, who all tweeted in support. Next up, Kells would like to release his debut album, which he revealed he has already finished recording. But before he signed off, he couldn't help but thank his fans once again. "To the fans, this is a huge thing for the world," Machine Gun Kelly said, feeling inspired by the movie "Rocky," which he said he had been watching earlier in the day. "We just knocked out Apollo Creed, and I just want to thank all my fans for being ringside with me." All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year! Related Videos |
| 'Dark Knight Rises' Prologue 'Will Have Your Jaw Drop' Posted: 15 Dec 2011 03:53 AM PST Lucky fans who screened six-minute preview in NYC tell MTV News they love the action but can't understand what Bane is saying.
NEW YORK — Fans came out in droves Wednesday for a chance to take an early look at the first six minutes of Christopher Nolan's final Batman film, "The Dark Knight Rises."
The prologue screened as a part of a viral marketing campaign, which involved fans reading through "leaked" CIA documents and finding coordinates for cities around the world. When all the pieces fell into place, a secret website, OperationEarlyBird.com, revealed the locations and times for prologue screenings. A line formed early outside the AMC Loews Lincoln 13 on the Upper West Side, and the excitement was palpable. The anticipation only grew as fans filed into the IMAX theater to await the six-minute preview. Once the preview ended, the crowd applauded and demanded a second viewing, to no avail. Outside the theater, the most common reaction to the footage was jubilation, but some fans expressed reservations about Tom Hardy's voice as Bane. "I thought it was really good," Tom Dichiara told MTV News. "It was a lot of action, good opening sequence. You can't really understand a whole lot of what Bane says, though." "The action was crazy," Brian Sansone said. "They did sh-- in 'The Dark Knight' that I had never seen before, and they blew me away again. A lot more action-packed, just as intricate, just as crazy. If the rest of the movie is like that, they got my money." "I loved it. Christopher Nolan just did an ingenious scene, a great action scene, something that will have your jaw drop. It was pretty amazing just watching it on the screen, saying, 'I never thought that would be possible,' " said Tyler Rice, who liked Bane's voice but struggled to understand it as well. "Bane's voice sounded awesome, but you can't understand what he's saying. He had about two clear lines you can hear what he's saying. Otherwise, it just sounded like awesome gibberish. It kind of sounds like Buffalo Bill [from 'Silence of the Lambs']." 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. |
| 'X Factor': Josh Krajcik Is 'The One To Beat' Posted: 14 Dec 2011 07:27 AM PST Melanie Amaro also shines, while Marcus Canty's take on George Michael is dubbed 'grotesque' by Simon Cowell.
With the images of a broken-down Rachel Crow still fresh on everyone's minds, "The X Factor" continued Wednesday (December 14) with its final four contestants pushing toward next week's finale. Melanie Amaro and Josh Krajcik came out looking the strongest, seemingly leaving L.A. Reid's two remaining contestants — Chris Rene and perpetual bottom-dweller Marcus Canty — vying for the final spot in next week's three-way finale.
Each singer was given two songs apiece to strut their stuff for America. Beginning with a switched-up version of Mariah Carey's "Hero," Amaro was able to overcome her cheesy staging, which made her look like she was performing in a community theater's version of heaven. The song was called "bloody fantastic" by Cowell, while her second song — a rendition of the classic "Feelin' Good" — was dubbed by her mentor her best performance yet in the competition. Reid agreed, calling Amaro "the greatest female that's ever graced this stage." Burrito maker Josh Krajcik flexed a little of his Krajcik Magic, starting with the Beatles' "Come Together" and closing the show with a piano-and-vocal take on the Leonard Cohen standard "Hallelujah." "I think it would be a massive shame if you don't make the final next week," Cowell told the 30-year-old, while a nearly-in-tears Paula Abdul remarked, "If it were the finals, you're the one to beat." (Reid was not as sold, and told Krajcik his "Hallelujah" "lacked excitement.") Chris Rene somehow took on both Mark McGrath and Alicia Keys on Wednesday, diving into Sugar Ray's "Fly" and Keys' "No One" in the span of the show. In both, his spirit was trumped over his abilities, and the judges said he made them feel good, calling that just as important as vocal prowess. "Stardom is not about singing," Reid told him, "it's about lovability, and you have lovability. Am I right?" Well, McGrath would certainly agree. That left Canty, who has landed in the bottom two each of the last three weeks, a fate Reid tried to spin by dubbing him "three-time Save Me Song champion Marcus Canty." Canty's first song was a routine spin through Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You," while his final performance — a clubbed-to-death take on George Michael's "Careless Whisper" — prompted Cowell's most stinging evisceration of the entire season. Cowell called it "horrific" and "grotesque" and compared it to a Las Vegas show in 1983. "It's not your fault, but this was a joke. An absolute joke, and you deserve better than that. That was as bad as I've ever seen." Reid, on the other hand, praised his contestant, telling Canty that rather than an underdog, "Tonight, you look more like a champion." But it's not up to Reid or any of the other judges, for that matter; this week, voting is entirely in the hands of the viewers. One singer will get sent home during Thursday's results show, which is set to feature performances by Florence and the Machine and "X Factor" judge Nicole Scherzinger. Who do you think is going through to next week's final? Let us know in the comments! |
| Adele Calls Best Song Of 2011 Win 'Overwhelming' Posted: 14 Dec 2011 03:06 AM PST Singer emails MTV to say thanks for her 'Rolling in the Deep' topping our year-end list.
On Wednesday (December 14), Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" bested the likes of Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass," Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" and Katy Perry's "Firework" to be named MTV's Best Song of 2011. And while that news isn't exactly shocking to anyone who listened to the radio/ watched TV/ got on the Internet at any point this year, it was a surprise to Adele herself, who emailed MTV News — and included a photo of her kissing her newly won hardware — to express her gratitude and continued amazement at the deeply personal song's success.
"Thank you very much for your support!" she wrote. "It's overwhelming how many people my life has resonated with. I find it quite hard to wrap my head around it." To that end, though "Deep" was not only the year's best-selling song (and her 21 the year's best-selling album), Adele just can't seem to comprehend how the tune has come to mean so much to so many. After all, she was writing about her own failed relationship, and though she wanted the song to be the lead single from 21, she never thought it would end up being more than a critic's fave, let alone MTV's Song of the Year. "I was pretty insistent it be a single. But I thought it would be more a tastemaker vibe than a hit," she wrote. "I loved the song the minute I wrote it. The melody and the beat added some conviction to it. I think that's why people have connected with it." Though she's currently recuperating from her recent throat surgery, Adele closed her email by promising big things on the horizon (and sending us holiday well-wishes). There's talk of a full-blown arena tour and, of course, her expected triumph at February's Grammys. In fact, if you thought 2011 was huge, just wait until 2012. "Happy holidays," she wrote. "And see you next year." All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year! Related Videos |
| Machine Gun Kelly Is Hottest Breakthrough MC Of 2011! Posted: 14 Dec 2011 02:07 AM PST The people have spoken, and MGK has beat out Lil Twist and Mac Miller in MTV News' annual poll.
Hate it or love it, the underdog is on top! Since he first began to make noise with his 2010 mixtape Lace Up, Machine Gun Kelly has worked his way into hip-hop's collective consciousness. It wasn't always pretty (see MGK's August flash-mob arrest or his tiff with Yelawolf), but it's always been passionate.
Now, thanks to that passion, Machine Gun Kelly can stand alone as MTV News' Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011, it was revealed on "RapFix Live." The competition was tough, and ever since the fan-driven Hottest Breakthrough poll opened on the RapFix blog last week, Kells was jockeying for the #1 position, fighting off Lil Twist and Mac Miller. A$AP Rocky, Future, French Montana, Freddie Gibbs, Kendrick Lamar, Meek Mill and Roscoe Dash were also in contention, but in the end, it was MGK who held the crown after hundreds of thousands of votes were tallied. When all the math was complete, MGK finished with 44 percent of the vote. Miller, whose Blue Slide Park debuted at #1 last month, was an early favorite. Twist, who finished in the #2 spot with 39 percent of the vote, proved to be MGK's most formidable competition, thanks to his die-hard fans, Young Money team and best friend Justin Bieber, who all tweeted in support. In August, MGK appeared on "RapFix Live" and announced that he had signed with Diddy's storied Bad Boy label, but rather than try to force him into the marketplace before his time, it was decided that the record company would continue to grow Kells organically. One of the things that first impressed Puff was Kelly's dedicated fanbase, the same one that voted him the Hottest Breakthrough MC. "He has just such a movement, just hundreds and thousands of loyal fans that came from the place he came from in different parts of the country," Diddy gushed during that "RapFix Live" appearance. "He wasn't always the coolest kid in school, and just the process of growing up and the problems that they all encounter, they relate to him in such a way." Influenced by DMX, Cleveland's Machine Gun Kelly began battle-rapping around 2004 while he was still in high school. His passion grew from the corner ciphers to the studio, where he would lay tracks for his 2006 mixtape, Stamp of Approval. Back then, the MC (who got the Machine Gun part of his moniker because of his rapid-fire raps) was just getting his feet wet. In 2010, MGK would drop two mixtapes, 100 Words and Runnin' and, his most notable tape, Lace Up. From there, the energetic spitter would develop his following thanks to his spirited live performances. From the very beginning of the competition, MGK had his eyes set on the #1 spot. "To be considered for the Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011, it's obviously an honor, but I want to be the hottest. I've never been comfortable with sharing anything: I was a single child," Machine Gun Kelly said on "RapFix Live." Congratulations, MGK! Who did you vote for in the Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011 poll? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Sherlock Holmes' Sequel Is 'More Sophisticated' Posted: 14 Dec 2011 03:24 AM PST 'We all raised our game, creatively,' director Guy Ritchie tells MTV News of 'Game of Shadows.'
If you've caught a trailer for the upcoming "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," which hits theaters Friday, you might have noticed that there is a lot going on. Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and Watson (Jude Law) have carried their bromance over from the 2009 original, with Holmes having issues with Watson's pending marriage and his wily love interest Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams).
Work-wise, the curiously successful Holmes and Watson duo now have to contend with a mysterious new female character (Noomi Rapace) and a formidable and familiar future supervillain, Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris). When MTV News caught up with Downey and director Guy Ritchie, we asked them to explain what new excitement "Game of Shadows" offers that we didn't see in the first film. "I think it's a superior product, and I'm very tough on these sorts of things," Downey said. "I think we return to one of the great original face-offs-with-a-supervillain stories in Arthur Conan Doyle's lexicon, and I think that it's a little bit more thoughtful. I think the female roles are much more central. It's a more nicely balanced bit of entertainment." Ritchie admitted that the success of the first film meant he had pleased audiences enough that he could make this movie for himself in a way, zeroing in on his sensibilities and what he likes in an action film.
"We all raised our game, creatively. Rob and the rest of the team took it pretty seriously. We think we're onto something here, and we don't want to take it for granted," Ritchie explained. "We try to give you a more sophisticated plot and more sophisticated action. All in all, we tried to basically put this film on 'roids." Check out everything we've got on "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Rihanna's 'We Found Love' Is MTV's #3 Song Of 2011 Posted: 14 Dec 2011 03:17 AM PST Talk That Talk leadoff broke records and quickly became a definitive single for the unstoppable star.
Rihanna's "We Found Love" didn't have that many days on the calendar to make an impact — after all, it was just released in October. But that didn't stop it from being the chart monster of the fall as well as #3 on MTV's Best Songs of 2011. It was a classic upon arrival, a song that immediately felt like it had been here forever instead of just three short months. The leadoff single from Talk That Talk is where Rihanna fully embraced EDM. Produced by Calvin Harris, "We Found Love" is a swirling party track about love and loss, the rare song that manages to be sad and joyous all at once. And it is a pinnacle of the pop/dance crossover, a throwback to '90s raves that could make even the most stoic lover of pop want to break out a glow stick and just dance. MTV correspondent Sway Calloway moderated a spirited roundtable discussion with some of our very own experts: James Montgomery and Rob Markman (MTV News), Yomi Desalu and Malika Quemerais (MTV Music and Talent) and Tamar Anitai and Nicole James (MTV.com). The panel managed to narrow down the Best Songs of 2011, with "We Found Love" besting top 10 tracks from the Throne, Chris Brown and Katy Perry.
"That song came out and went to #1, and when a song has that kind of impact that quickly, it deserves to be recognized," Quemerais said during the discussion. Montgomery went even further in his personal Top 25 Songs of 2011 column: "A few weeks ago, someone told me 'We Found Love' would ultimately end up being Rihanna's signature hit, and at the time, I sort of laughed him off. But the more I think about it, he may be right. Or at least on the right track. "From the icy synth strains to Calvin Harris' hard-charging pre-chorus, it most certainly is the song that best represents pop, circa 2011, and given RiRi's standing in the field, perhaps in time, it will become her set-closing number too. For now, at least, I'm content to bask in "Love" 's masterful mix of the carnal and, well, the club." Get more of Montgomery's personal picks for the Top Songs of the Year! Beyond being a definitive pop dance track, "WFL" was also a historic single for Rihanna. "Love" just completed its climb to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, giving Rihanna her 11th #1 hit, which puts her one ahead of Stevie Wonder and Janet Jackson. "It's the symbolic one that breaks the record and she gets credit for that," Markman said during the debate. Our panel of experts thinks there's no stopping "We Found Love" from dominating the year ahead. "I think this song is going to carry over into much of 2012," Anitai said. "Then maybe it will be on next year's list," Montgomery added.
All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Golden Globe Predictions: Brad Pitt, 'Bridesmaids' And More Posted: 14 Dec 2011 02:38 AM PST We think Meryl Streep, 'The Help' and George Clooney will definitely snag Globes nominations Thursday.
Although there have been a slew of award nominations announced in recent weeks, things kicked into high gear Wednesday (December 14) with the Screen Actors Guild nods and go into overdrive Thursday when the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announces the Golden Globe nominees. We've gathered our thoughts about whose names will be read bright and early Thursday morning — the shoo-ins and the should-bes. Best Motion Picture - Drama Should-bes: "Warrior," "Moneyball," "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" The HFPA loves A-list stars, and what better way to guarantee their attendance at your ceremony than with a nomination? "The Help" is a clear fave, "Descendants" means George Clooney and "Hugo" and "War Horse" mean big-time directors. "Moneyball" would bring Brad Pitt — who would bring Angelina Jolie, maybe. "Potter" deserves a nomination for the franchise's astounding success. Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical Should-bes: "The Beginners" and "50/50" There are always a few great surprises at the Globes, particularly with the Best Comedy or Musical category. It opens up the field and allows for a few fun entries, including all of the above. The HFPA loves Woody Allen, but both "Bridesmaids" and "The Artist" have great momentum. Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama Should-bes: Michael Fassbender in "Shame," Ryan Gosling in "Drive" and Gary Oldman in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" So many heavy-hitters to choose from! The critics love Fassbender and Gosling this year, so it will be interesting to see if the HFPA also feels the love for the popular young men. And Oldman is a perennial favorite, despite being snubbed by SAG. Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy Should-bes: Joseph Gordon-Levitt in "50/50," Steve Carell in "Crazy Stupid Love" and Brendan Gleeson in "The Guard" Dujardin is a serious front-runner, and the HFPA almost always nominates Depp, no matter the critical and box-office reception of the qualifying film in question. Gordon-Levitt is one of the most talented actors working right now, and his wonderful performance in "50/50" deserves recognition. Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama Should-bes: Glenn Close in "Albert Nobbs" and Kirsten Dunst in "Melancholia" Such strong, stalwart contenders here who gave well-received and compelling performances in a variety of films. It will be very interesting to see if the HFPA goes for iconic favorites or new-ish blood, particularly since several of these films have not yet been widely released. Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy Should-bes: Kristen Wiig in "Bridesmaids" This category is more difficult to predict than the Drama category, which might mean it will lend itself to a couple of pleasant surprises. Best Supporting Actor Should-bes: Nick Nolte in "Warrior" and Albert Brooks in "Drive" We included this category for the sole purpose of trying to draw more attention to "Warrior" and Nolte's scene-stealing, kick-to-the-gut/ tug-on-the-heartstrings performance. And Brooks' turn in "Drive" also deserves a nod while we're at it. Best Supporting Actress McCarthy and Spencer will likely be battling it out for this one come show time in January, although all the hype for "The Artist" could be great for Bejo. And Chastain deserves an award for being so good in so many movies this year. Best Director Should-bes: Alexander Payne for "The Descendants" and Michel Hazanavicius for "The Artist" Yes Angelina Jolie is a Shoo-in. As we mentioned before, the HFPA loves their star power, and Jolie's directorial debut is a powerful, unrelenting drama about the Bosnian war. A historically based war drama directed by an A-list actress? Shoo-in — as are Spielberg and Scorsese. We want Allen to be a shoo-in, along with Payne and Hazanavicius. Best Original Score Should-bes: Michael Giacchino for "Super 8," Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," Cliff Martinez for "Drive" and Alexandre Desplat for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" Fellow score nerds can visit our list of the year's 10 best scores for further analysis, but Williams, Shore and Bource are likely front-runners. The should-bes are equally worthy; it's difficult to know what moved the HFPA musically this year. Best Television Series - Drama Thanks to the out-of-the-box, groundbreaking programming spearheaded by cable networks like HBO, and Showtime, basic cable networks have stepped up their game as well in recent years, bringing us fascinatingly complex characters and equally compelling story lines. This year's best of the best offers a mix of lust, power and deceit in "Thrones," "Revenge" and "The Good Wife" and paranoid, damaged antiheroes in "Homeland," "Breaking Bad." Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical "Modern Family" has been on an award-winning roll with its unique, talented and diverse cast, but "30 Rock" is still noteworthy, as rumors of a final season swirl. "Glee" has taken a tumble in the ratings but brings in the key 18-24 demographic, along with hit newbie "The New Girl." And FX's often R-rated, testosterone-fueled, consistently hilarious sitcom about a bunch of dudes who are obsessed with fantasy football deserves a nod for ingenuity, plain and simple. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Avicii Calls #6 EDM Artist Of The Year Nod 'A Big Honor' Posted: 14 Dec 2011 03:06 AM PST '2011 was the best year of my life, with so many new experiences,' dance-music superstar tells MTV News.
2011 just keeps getting better for Avicii. The 22-year-old (born Tim Bergling) has had a marquee year, to say the least, and to add to his list of accolades, he's landed at #6 on MTV's Best EDM Artists of 2011 list. Earlier this week, Avicii took some time out of his insane tour schedule to talk to MTV News and thank his loyal following.
"It was obviously a big honor for me," Bergling told MTV News. "I feel very humbled by the support that my fans have shown me this year." Avicii's massive success has made him one of the most sought-after live acts on the planet, hitting quite literally every corner of the globe, wooing masses of fans along the way. And with his upcoming sold-out New Year's Eve show in New York City, he's capping the year with a bang. Playing a 135,000-square-foot room on the Hudson River flanked by rising stars Arty and Swanky Tunes, Avicii will have a fitting finale to the year when he became a household name. "2011 was the best year of my life, with so many new experiences," he said. "Just looking back at it, I feel so fortunate to have been able to visit all of these places and meet all of these different people." "Levels" was one of the most recognizable tunes of the year across all genres, and "Sunshine," his Grammy-nominated co-production with EDM vet David Guetta, is a club smash. Add a massive collection of unreleased, "show only" tracks and bootlegs to an already-impressive catalog and it's easy to see the impact he's had on the scene. The future is indeed bright for the young Swede, and he's already getting his ducks in line for a busy year ahead. "2012 is looking packed already with gigs and production time," he said. "I'm looking forward to being able to keep doing what I've been doing this past year." All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Adele's 'Rolling In The Deep' Is MTV's Song Of The Year! Posted: 14 Dec 2011 02:01 AM PST British belter's hit tops MTV's list of the Best Songs of 2011.
Was there any doubt? Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" has topped MTV's Best Songs of 2011. The megahit so dominated 2011 that calling it the Song of the Year is putting it mildly. And we're not just talking commercially — though it was the year's best-selling track — or critically, mostly because focusing on those details fails to tell the whole story.
In a lot of ways, "Deep" was bigger than all that. It was a genuine cultural touchstone, the rare zeitgeist-seizing thing that kept crossing genres and platforms and demographics (quick, try to name somewhere you didn't hear it) until there really were no borders left to bust. It was a complete throwback, a reminder of an era when folks actually bought music and one single could drive an album for months and months. It was the rarest of phenomena in these increasingly temporal times, an actual defining piece of work — not just for Adele, but for the entirety of 2011. Try as hard as you might, you probably can't name the biggest song of 2010, but in 10 years' time, you'll still remember that "Rolling in the Deep" owned 2011. That accomplishment is all the more noteworthy when you consider that "Deep" dared to focus on emotions that fall outside the usual parlance of pop, circa 2011. It is not about partying or falling in love or material excesses. It does not try to be uplifting or inspiring. There is not a single Will Ferrell sample to be heard anywhere. It is, simply put, a total bummer of a breakup tune, with Adele sifting through the ashes of her failed relationship, the scorned lover who can't help but lament that, really, "We could've had it all." Of course, she's not exactly a shrinking violet, either, and "Deep" seethes with genuine anger too. No matter how classy her voice may be, there's nothing quite as real as her promise to "lay your sh-- bare." It strips away the artifice and adjectives and exposes the raw nerve that pulsates within anyone who's ever had their heart broken. And, really, that's everyone.
So given that sentiment, perhaps it's not exactly shocking that "Deep" was such a massive hit. Then again, given everything else, maybe it is. A deceptively simple song, it rolls along on little more than a stubby guitar line and pounding, primal drums and yet it packs a 10-megaton wallop, thanks entirely to some ugly emotional bloodletting and Adele's sonorous, searing pipes. When she hits that chorus, you not only feel her pain, you can relate to it. That's what sets the truly great songs apart from just the good ones, and "Rolling in the Deep" is unquestionably a great song, one that you'll remember for years to come. Which is why simply calling it the Song of the Year is selling it short; it's something bigger entirely. Consider it the anthem to end all anthems, the feel-bad song of our time, the antidote for the Auto-Tuned masses. But maybe it's best just to call it Adele's coronation into the ranks of the all-time greats. She's now and forever the Queen of Pain. Long may she reign. Was Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" your Song of the Year? Let us know in the comments! All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Foster The People's 'Pumped Up Kicks' Is MTV's #7 Song Of 2011 Posted: 14 Dec 2011 02:31 AM PST The groove made it a standout on both rock and pop charts, while the lyrics about a school shooting took us all by surprise.
Foster the People's "Pumped Up Kicks," a hazy, fuzzy track with that immediately identifiable creeping bass line, became an unexpected summer smash this year. The groove was infectious and stood out in a season dominated by dance singles. But what was so surprising was the dark message played out in the lyrics.
While early fans of the tune latched on to what sounded like a cheery chorus, it often took a second or third listen for them to consider what the L.A. trio were actually saying: "All the other kids with the pumped up kicks/ You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun," FTP frontman Mark Foster sings on the hook. MTV correspondent Sway Calloway moderated a spirited roundtable discussion with some of our very own experts: James Montgomery and Rob Markman (MTV News), Yomi Desalu and Malika Quemerais (MTV Music and Talent) and Tamar Anitai and Nicole James (MTV.com). The panel managed to narrow down the Best Songs of 2011, with "Kicks" besting top 10 tracks from the Throne, Chris Brown and Katy Perry. "You listen to it and you like the beat, and then you listen to the lyrics and you're like, 'Oh my God, what is this about?' " MTV News senior writer James Montgomery said. " 'Kicks' is really about bullying, and the tragedy that bullying produces ... if that kid retaliates in a nasty way; both sides end up being harmed," Foster told MTV News over the summer.
"I like to tell a different type of story, lyrically, than what the music is expressing, because it brings another layer to the story itself," he added. "I wrote it a block away from the beach, and I was working at a music house — Mophonics, a place where I composed for ads and stuff — and I think that had some influence on the sound." "It was one of those songs that you heard everywhere. It was catchy as heck. You haven't really gotten too many songs in the last couple of years that stand out in such a major way on the rock side and the top 40 pop side," Yomi Desalu, of MTV's Music and Talent team, said. The success of the song certainly took the band by surprise. "We like the song, but we had no idea it would spread around the world the way that it has," Foster admitted. Summer may be over but the song still proves contagious, ranked as the #4 most popular tune in the U.S. on popular social networking site Spotify as well as one of the top 10 Most Shared Songs of 2011 on Facebook. All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Nicki Minaj's 'Super Bass' Is MTV's #2 Song Of 2011! Posted: 14 Dec 2011 02:01 AM PST Nicki's bouncy hit ruled radio and left a cultural impact.
It wasn't Pink Friday's first single — hell, it wasn't even technically on the album's proper track list! — but Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" was voted #2 on MTV's Best Songs of 2011 list. Though Nicki's album was released in November 2010, "Super Bass" — which was produced by Kane Beatz and co-written by Ester Dean — didn't emerge as a single until May. The decision to drop the track as the album's seventh single was a no-brainer. After being prompted to request a song during a radio interview with Nashville's 107.5, Taylor Swift answered, "Can I play album cuts?" She then began to explain to listeners how she had been listening to "Super Bass" on repeat, before Swift rapped lyrics to the song on air.
Nicki would go on to credit Swift with helping make the song popular and even performed it with the country star during an August concert at L.A.'s Staples Center. "Taylor Swift did her little interview about 'Super Bass,' and [it] took off in the States with the people sort of knowing it," Minaj said in an interview with L.A. radio station 102.7 KIIS-FM. "It's just really uncanny how all that stuff happens," she added. "We didn't plan it like that." The Pink Friday bonus song from the album's deluxe edition had all the right ingredients. There's the bright and airy guitar intro, which eventually builds into a full pop affair complete with a knocking 808 and, of course, that patented bass drum. Lyrically, Nicki threw a shout-out to 1980s rap legend Slick Rick and threatened to slap a chick all in an effort to woo her drug-dealing crush. Typically, cheery-sounding pop hits aren't so edgy, but the Harajuku Barbie has successfully elbowed her way into the spotlight alongside starlets like Katy Perry and Taylor Swift — and has done it her way. "Super Bass" peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the rap chart, but more than its chart positioning was the song's impact. One YouTube search of "Super Bass" will uncover the VMA-winning video for the single, of course, but also thousands of covers from artists like Selena Gomez and Karmin with ?uestlove and various renditions from fans as well. Who can forget the pink princess Sophia Grace Brownlee's cute performance vid which eventually clocked over 25 million views? The clip became so popular that in October, Ellen DeGeneres invited the young Sophia onto her television show and introduced her to Minaj, making one of the year's most memorable television moments. If you had a pulse in 2011, surely you felt that boom-ba-boom-boom bass! All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year! |
| Foster The People, Florence Welch Pick Best Of 2011 Posted: 14 Dec 2011 12:41 AM PST As MTV unveils our year-end favorites, we ask 'Pumped Up Kicks' rockers and Florence and the Machine frontwoman for theirs.
In 2011, we saw new acts break through to the big time and formerly new ones continue on their paths toward superstardom. We welcomed the likes of the Weeknd and Frank Ocean to the party and watched with pride as Drake and Adele marched on to greatness. But of all the year's brand-new stars, few broke out to the degree that L.A. rock trio Foster the People did, thanks in no small part to the success of their smash hit "Pumped Up Kicks," #7 on MTV's Best Songs of 2011. Of all the returning stars, none returned with the power and grace of Florence and the Machine, who wowed critics and fans with their sophomore album, Ceremonials, and stirring single "Shake It Out."
So, as MTV looks back on 2011, we're reaching out to a host of acts — who not only dominated the past 12 months, but also came to define them — to get their take on the year in music. And who better to ask than Foster and Florence, two artists who did both ... and then some? We spoke to both bands about their favorite songs, albums and artists of 2011, and the rather diverse range of answers sort of sums up the year rather nicely. After all, outside of Adele, was there anything we could all agree on? "I'd say probably my favorite album of the year is Bon Iver's new album, and I hope he sweeps the Grammys, because the guy's just killing it right now," Foster's Cubbie Fink said. "We're competing with him!" frontman Mark Foster laughed. "And I hope he wins!" Fink said. "I've listened to that album on repeat all year. It's really amazing." As far as their favorite artist? Well, Iver ranks pretty high, but of all the acts they listened to this year, none resonated with Foster the People quite like Swedish electro act Little Dragon. "They've been a favorite band of mine for a while, and we've got to play with them a couple times this year and see them live in a bunch of different settings," Foster's Mark Pontius said. "I'm always just so inspired by them live, and the new record that came out this year [Ritual Union] is pretty fantastic as well."
Florence Welch was inspired this year by the magnificent murk of Canadian R&B producer/singer Abel Tesfaye, better known as the Weeknd. "My favorite song of the year was the Weeknd, 'High for This,' " she said. "That was this year, [right]? I've been obsessively listening to that song for the past few days on repeat. I must've listened to it about 700 times." Of course, when it comes to her favorite artists of 2011, Welch kept things close to home, choosing a pair of British bands — one of which didn't even release an album this year. "I'm really into this English band called the Alpines; I think they're really good," she said. "And I've just heard some of the Maccabees' new stuff, and I'm so excited about their new record coming out, because from the first song I've heard, it just sounds amazing. I'm such a big fan of theirs, so I'm really looking forward to that." All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year! Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'X Factor' Backstage: Rachel Crow's Exit Still Stings Posted: 14 Dec 2011 02:12 AM PST Nicole Scherzinger puts last week's drama behind her to focus on Josh Krajcik and her results-show performance.
MTV News' own Jim Cantiello is exclusively covering "The X Factor" rehearsals. Read on for his fly-on-the-wall backstage report!
LOS ANGELES — One week after one of the most dramatic eliminations in reality-TV history, the energy on the "X Factor" set is still uneasy. Rachel Crow's sunny presence is noticeably absent from backstage, with the remaining four contestants taking the semifinals deadly serious. The $5 million contract is on everyone's minds, and they're not letting anything distract them — not even Rachel's shocking exit. Meanwhile, the judge who facilitated Rachel's booting, Nicole Scherzinger, was still visibly upset days after the results show. Her main-show interview, normally shot right outside the stage doors, was relocated to a quiet third-floor area for extra privacy. She couldn't even talk about the incident in complete sentences until Tuesday. But now she's focused on making her remaining contestant, Josh Krajcik, the first U.S. "X Factor" winner, as well as prepping a brand-new single she'll be debuting live on Thursday night's results show. The million-dollar question: Will the audience that booed Nicole a week ago be receptive to a performance? We'll know soon enough! Nicole doesn't have to stress about any more hairy decisions. From here on out, the judges have zero voting power. It's just America's vote, and the contestants are nervous that they won't have their mentors in their corner when the results are revealed. Adding to the stress: a mystery bug that's making its way around the crew. Both Chris Rene and Marcus Canty have suffered through the X-virus in previous weeks. Now the show's last remaining female, Melanie Amaro, has been floored with it. She was more than 30 minutes late to press interviews on Monday and she barely got through her interviews with the main show, yet when it was time to hit the stage for rehearsal, you'd never know she was battling a bug. Musically, expect some exciting things from all four contestants. Chris Rene is trying his hand at a new instrument. Josh is determined to put his unique stamp on a song we've all heard on reality singing competitions several times before. Despite being in the bottom two three weeks in a row, Marcus refuses to give up and is rehearsing harder than ever. And Melanie has been practicing a power note that may shatter your windows. And finally, "The X Factor" was able to secure private dressing rooms for the remaining four contenders, but the show won't let their egos get too big. After two days, they had to give them up for another production. The Cowell giveth and the Cowell taketh away. Catch Jim on "The X Factor Pepsi Preshow Live," streaming at 7 p.m. ET tonight on TheXFactorUSA.com! |
| Lady Gaga Is <i>Forbes</i>' Top-Earning Woman In Music Posted: 14 Dec 2011 01:33 AM PST Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Celine Dion and Adele round out the top five.
Apparently, Lady Gaga made a little bit of money this year: She tops Forbes' list of Top-Earning Women in Music in 2011. Just how much did Gaga make this past year? According to the magazine, the singer netted $90 million thanks to sales of Born This Way, her massive Monster Ball Tour and a number of endorsement deals.
But she's not the only lady making bank this year. Coming in at #2 is Taylor Swift. The country/pop superstar managed to make $45 million over the past 12 months with the never-ending success of her Speak Now album (which she released back in 2010) and her tour of the same name. Nipping at her heels is Katy Perry. The Billboard record-holder amassed $44 million with continued singles from 2010's Teenage Dream and her California Dreams Tour. Perhaps the biggest surprise in the top five is Celine Dion. The Canadian singer comes in at #4 with $19 million in earnings. The singer's success is due in part to her Las Vegas stage show. Adele squeaked into the top five at #5 with $18 million, earned mostly from the album sales from her chart-dominating 21. Alicia Keys also makes the list; Forbes reports that the singer earned $10 million, beating out her hubby Swizz Beatz for the year by $3.5 million.
Forbes compiled the list using income earned from May 2010 through May 2011. It also used data from Pollstar and RIAA, as well as interviews with industry insiders and the musicians themselves. Many of the ladies on this list also landed on MTV's Songs of the Year countdown; Gaga's "Born This Way" comes in at #5 and Perry's "Firework" sits at #10. All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year! Related Artists |
| 'Amazing Spider-Man' Trailer: What We Want Next Posted: 14 Dec 2011 01:33 AM PST Marvel Mania explores five things we want to see in the upcoming 'Spider-Man' trailer.
Superhero fans are hard-pressed to think about anything other than "The Dark Knight Rises" right now, what with the early screening of the prologue this week, the wider release of that six-minute sequence Friday and the impending arrival of a full-length trailer. But don't forget to look at the other side of the comic book aisle: Marvel's got some big moves coming your way soon with a brand-new "Amazing Spider-Man" trailer, rumored to drop as early as this week.
Whether we get an extended peek at Spidey's next adventure by end of day Friday remains to be seen, but a longer look at director Marc Webb's upcoming reboot is definitely coming our way sooner rather than later. In anticipation of that release, here are the five things we want to see from the next "Amazing Spider-Man" trailer: Another Perspective When Peter Met Gwen Bring the Funny Daddy Issues Meet the Lizard Check out everything we've got on "The Amazing Spider-Man." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Katy Perry's 'One That Got Away' Ties <i>Billboard</i> Record Posted: 13 Dec 2011 10:45 PM PST Teenage Dream now has six top-five hits, tying Janet Jackson and George Michael's record.
What do Katy Perry, Janet Jackson and George Michael all have in common? Well, aside from making catchy tunes, they are also the only three artists to spawn six top-five hits from a single album on the Hot 100 chart in Billboard history.
Thanks to Katy's latest Teenage Dream single, "The One That Got Away," jumping five spots from #9 to #4, she tied the two pop stars. It's been a while since anyone matched George and Janet. Michael did it in the mid-'80s with his album Faith, which included hits like the title track, "I Want Your Sex" and "Father Figure." Jackson followed him several years later with Rhythm Nation 1814, which launched hits like "Love Will Never Do (Without You)," "Escapade" and "Black Cat." This is hardly Perry's first Billboard record. She previously tied with Michael Jackson and his Bad album when she notched five #1 singles from her 2010 album. Those five chart-toppers are "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)," "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," "Firework" and "E.T." And now, she's set her latest record with "The One That Got Away." "This song shows a very different side of me that I haven't shown with my past singles on this record," Perry has previously said about the Teenage Dream midtempo track. "I think that everyone can relate to this song. I wrote this song about when you promise someone forever, but you end up not being able to follow through. It's a bittersweet story — hopefully, the listener learns from hearing it and never has to say they had 'The One' get away." Another Dream megahit, "Firework," sits at #10 on MTV's Best Songs of 2011 list. Perry's inspirational dance track is joined on the list by LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem," Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now," Rihanna's "We Found Love" and Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," to name a few. All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year! Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Drive,' 'Potter' And More: My Favorite Movies Of 2011 Posted: 13 Dec 2011 11:32 PM PST 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' and 'Descendants' also year-end highlights for MTV Movies' Josh Horowitz.
Any year that can includes a half-dozen superhero films and an Oscar front-runner that's a black-and-white silent film ("The Artist") needs to be given at least a bit of credit for breadth. I'll go one further and say 2011 has been a year filled with plenty of cinematic delights. Hell, if I couldn't even squeeze one of two Spielberg films or Terrence Malick's meditation on our existence on my top 10, that's got to say something.
Without any further ado, my top 10 movies of the year — completely accurate as of the moment I wrote it. (What can I say? Moods come and go.) 10. "Attack the Block" 9. "Moneyball" 8. "X-Men: First Class" 7. "50/50" 6."Take Shelter" 5."The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" 4. "The Descendants" 3. "Hugo" 2. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" 1. "Drive" All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year! Check out everything we've got on "Drive." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
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