MTV News |
- Jay-Z Makes Post-Baby Appearance At 40/40 Reopening
- 'Hunger Games' Stars Answer More Of Your Questions!
- Astro And L.A. Reid 'Gonna Make History'
- Miranda Cosgrove Plots Future On And Off 'iCarly'
- 'American Idol': Where Are Chris Richardson, Haley Reinhart Now?
- 'American Idol': David Leathers Jr., Phillip Phillips Wow
- Tupac Created 'Juice' Character From Life Experience
- Tiesto's 'In The Booth': Watch An Exclusive Teaser!
- 'American Idol' Experts Suggest Season 11 Upgrades
- 'Glee'-Cap: Will Pops The Question
- Fedde Le Grand Talks Remix Anthems, 'Dark Light Sessions'
- Swizz Beatz's Megaupload Draws Fire For Promos
- Evanescence Take Fans Inside 'My Heart Is Broken' Video
- Adele Responds To Reports Her Boyfriend Is Married
- Robert Pattinson Stands Tall In MTV Movie Brawl
- Shyne Determined To 'Rep' Orthodox Jewish Faith
- Tyga's 'Rack City' Is 'Beneficial' To Strippers, Wale Says
- George Lucas Brought The 'Force' To 'Red Tails,' Says Terrence Howard
- Lana Del Rey Calls Performing On Television 'Weird'
- Adele's <i>21</i> Ties <i>Titanic</i> Soundtrack With 16th Week At #1
| Jay-Z Makes Post-Baby Appearance At 40/40 Reopening Posted: 19 Jan 2012 04:43 AM PST Ashanti, Spike Lee, Irv Gotti and more of Hov's high-profile friends toast the new dad at renovated NYC club.
NEW YORK — Jay-Z has a lot to celebrate. A little over a week ago, he and wife Beyoncé welcomed daughter Blue Ivy Carter into the world, and on Wednesday night, big poppa Hov had a bit of business to attend to at the reopening of his 40/40 Club.
The stars came out and walked the red carpet before entering the redesigned sports bar. Jay's buddies Warren Buffet, Spike Lee, Steve Stoute, Kevin Liles and New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia all attended. "Hov always has big parties, so I'm definitely looking forward to going inside and mingling and jingling," Ashanti said. "We here at the reopening of the 40/40; we about to have a couple of drinks, a lot of beautiful women, New York City, the new joint — you already know," Wale said excitedly. Jigga's 40/40 closed last summer to undergo renovations and is now back with an updated look. While everyone was excited about the new club, baby Blue Ivy was a hot topic on the carpet. Ashanti couldn't be happier for the new parents, but when asked if she had caught a bit of baby fever herself, the "Foolish" singer made it clear that she isn't ready to be a mother just yet. "Oh no, boo-boo, no baby over here. I say it enough in my records," she said with a boisterous laugh. Music mogul and record producer Irv Gotti, who has three kids of his own, told MTV News that he shared some fatherly advice with his friend Jay-Z, but he wouldn't reveal any of it. "I'll keep that between me and Hov," Irv said. Then at that very moment, Jay breezed past the carpet trying to dodge reporters and flashing lights, but he did stop to give his old friend some love. After he and Gotti slapped each other five, Jay made a beeline for the 40/40 doors to get the party started. Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Hunger Games' Stars Answer More Of Your Questions! Posted: 19 Jan 2012 03:53 AM PST Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth exclusively talk survival skills, accents and most challenging scenes.
As promised, we are back with more from our exclusive interviews with "Hunger Games" stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth — and all the questions were asked by you, the fans. Last week, Lawrence, Hutcherson and Hemsworth revealed a few of the pranks pulled on set, as well as a preview of what the arena will look like onscreen. This second installment features talk about which actor is most like his or her character, details about the reaping and talk of real-life survival skills. (Minor spoilers ahead for those who haven't read Suzanne Collins' brilliant books!) Be sure to check back here next week for part three of our interviews.
@RealOrNotReal: Who among the cast is most like their "Hunger Games" character? Jennifer Lawrence: Josh. Josh is Peeta. He's charming, he's nice, he's very real and down to earth, he's not fake in any way. He just can charm anyone and anything. Josh Hutcherson: Oh, God, this is going to sound so stupid: Me, because I have literally never read a character, book or script or anything that has a character in it I connected with more than Peeta. I feel like so much of who I am is Peeta. It drove me crazy during the audition process, because I was like, "This is so me, it hurts. If I don't get this, I'm not even good at being me, so now what am I? I have no idea what to do next."
@HGTribute_Manda: What was the most difficult scene to shoot? Liam Hemsworth: The reaping stuff that we shot was pretty hard. I remember turning up to set the first day and looking out at the few hundred extras there — it looked like a prison camp. It looked so rough and really did look how I think it would be, and it was hot. It was some of the hottest weather I've ever shot in. We had extras collapsing because it was so hot out there. That was probably the hardest stuff to shoot for sure. Lawrence: I don't know if I have a most difficult scene. Really, the physical scenes, the running. Katniss doesn't really stop running throughout the whole movie, so if I'm running up a mountain in a scene, that's what we shot all day, so by the time we started acting and talking, it was like a vacation.
@p1nklov3er: Is it hard to hide your accent? Hemsworth: It gets easier and easier. I work with accent coaches a lot and try to do my best to get the Australian out of there. Australians grow up with a lot of American TV; we watch the same movies you watch, so it's not as alien for an Australian to do an American accent as it is for an American to do an Australian accent, because you guys don't grow up hearing our accents. It's in the back of your mind, but it's practice, practice, practice. @eringabin: In a postapocalyptic world, what would your most valuable survival skill be? Hutcherson: I think I'd be pretty good at building a fort. I have a lot of experience with that when I was a kid. I built a lot of forts back in the day, so I think my expertise would be in the architecture and design of our shelter. @OttoRivera: Have you met Suzanne Collins? Hemsworth: I haven't met her, but I've spoken to her on the phone a few times, and she's really, really lovely. She's obviously tremendously smart, and I love her books, so she's been a big part of collaborating on the script. ... I think everyone involved in the production wanted it to be true to the story, so she's been involved a lot. @eringabin: Did you get any injuries during filming? Hutcherson: Not anything too crazy in the injury department. There were the classic bumps and bruises from running through the woods and forest, the big fight scene at the end with myself and Katniss and Cato on top of the Cornucopia, which itself lends itself to having more injuries than other times, but it was pretty good all in all, nothing too serious. All month long, the stars of "The Hunger Games" will be answering your Twitter questions, exclusively for MTV News. Check back every Thursday in January for more answers from Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth! Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos |
| Astro And L.A. Reid 'Gonna Make History' Posted: 19 Jan 2012 03:53 AM PST Former 'X-Factor' contestant talks about Epic Records deal on 'RapFix Live': 'I'm real comfortable working with L.A.'
Astro is living his dream. After the news broke that the "X Factor" standout signed with L.A. Reid at Epic Records, the 15-year-old Brooklyn, New York, whiz kid appeared on MTV's "RapFix Live" to talk with Sway about the deal. "A lot of people probably predicted it, but yeah, I'm signed," Astro said, throwing his hands up in a celebratory moment.
Signing with his "X Factor" mentor seemed like the obvious next step after Astro was booted from the singing competition in December, but there were some rumors that the budding MC would sign with Jay-Z's Roc Nation. Though he readily admits he's a fan of Hov, Astro shot down those rumors soon after they first surfaced. "I'm real comfortable working with L.A., and the first time he met me, he told me I could do TV shows, and he believed in me," Astro shared. "That's what I respect the most about him. He's responsible for a lot of the stars in the game today, so the fact that I have a man like him helping me with my career, it means a lot." As a contestant on "X Factor," Astro never lacked confidence. Now, with his deal in place, he has the highest hopes. "We're gonna make history," he proclaimed. "Now I'm just working on the album. I'm excited. I can say that now. That's pretty weird, but I can finally say, 'Yeah, I'm working on an album.' " Will Astro's debut album be a success? Sound off below! Related Videos |
| Miranda Cosgrove Plots Future On And Off 'iCarly' Posted: 19 Jan 2012 03:53 AM PST 'I wouldn't want to do it for too long,' Nick star tells MTV News.
Miley Cyrus said goodbye to Hannah Montana. Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez both also bid fond farewells to their small-screen alter-egos, Sonny and Alex, respectively.
With a whole generation of tween dreams moving on to whatever the future holds for them (including fruitful music and film careers), "iCarly" star Miranda Cosgrove is opening up about how much longer she might star on her hit TV series. "It's one of those things where I feel like I grew up doing the show because I've been doing it since I was 13, and now I'm 18," the Nick star told MTV News recently when she stopped by to chat about an episode that featured first lady Michelle Obama. "And I've just known the people on my show for such a long time, and I love getting to make it, and I'd want to do it forever." Regardless of how long the show could potentially last, Cosgrove is already planning for the future. This fall, she'll head to the University of Southern California to study theater. "At the same time, I don't want to do too many episodes because I feel like it's a special thing," she explained. "I wouldn't want to do it for too long." Until then, however, there's still another season of "iCarly" to tape, and there's a lot to look forward to on that front. "We're just getting started to start the next season, so I'm not really sure what's going to come, because it's sort of a surprise for all of us even," she said. "But I've heard Carly's getting a boyfriend, so that's exciting, and we're gonna have some more musical guests, some big, different musical artists." Noting she'd love to get Katy Perry on the show, she added, "There are a lot of different musical acts that I love, so it's fun whenever we get to have music in an episode." |
| 'American Idol': Where Are Chris Richardson, Haley Reinhart Now? Posted: 19 Jan 2012 03:53 AM PST We also take a look back at Sanjaya Malakar, David Archuleta, Stefano Langone and other 'Idol' standouts from seasons six through 10.
After Wednesday night's "American Idol" season 11 premiere, you've gotten a glimpse at the talent pool and spotted some potential superstars-in-the-making. But what about the last 10 seasons of singers? We already looked back at standouts from "Idol" seasons one through five, and now we're walking down memory lane to see what the alumni from seasons six through 10 have going on:
Season Six The One You Shouldn't Count Out Just Yet: Chris Richardson impressed some hip-hop bigwigs in 2011 after appearing on Tyga's single "Far Away" — so much so that the fifth-placer was signed to Cash Money Records days ago, meaning the dude who famously told Simon Cowell "Nasally is a form of singing" is now in the same label family as Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj and Drake. Whoa! The Goofy One: Sanjaya Malakar released a cover of Squeeze's "Tempted" in 2011, but all promotion stopped shortly after his mother was left in a coma when a car struck her as she was crossing a Manhattan street. Updates on her condition have been few and far between, and authorities have yet to track down the driver who hit her and sped off. Malakar remains positive on his Twitter feed as he gears up for the new year. On an up note, Sanjaya superfan Ashley Ferl (a.k.a. "Crying Girl") reportedly auditioned for "Idol" this season. Will her tryout make it on the air? Season Seven The Goofy One: Adorkable runner-up David "Oh My Heck" Archlueta may not be selling albums the way he did post-"Idol," but he's still a big star in Asia, where he racks up huge appearance fees. Once he wraps a starring role on a miniseries in the Philippines (!), Archie's taking two years off to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Season Eight The One We Can't Stop Rooting For: So Kris Allen hasn't had the massive career of most other winners, and yeah, he's pretty low-key compared to some of his season eight pals, but hear us out! "Live Like We're Dying" showed he has serious radio potential, his rocking live shows prove he has musical chops, and his co-writes on a handful of other stars' albums are evidence that the industry ain't even close to being done with him. Something tells us his time out of the spotlight writing upward of 80 songs will result in a killer sophomore-album sneak attack in 2012. The Goofy One: Diablo Cody's fave, semifinalist Alex Wagner-Trugman, quietly inked a deal with an indie and is headed to the studio to record an album's worth of haunting original tunes influenced by Nick Drake and his own warped sense of humor. Season Nine Season 10 The One We Can't Stop Rooting For: Resident growler Haley Reinhart will release her debut single March 1 through Interscope Records. Details are scarce, but we've heard through the grapevine that the song is really good and awesomely old-school. The Goofy One: Bearded jokester Casey Abrams recently announced that he was signed to legendary jazz label Concord Music Group in a charmingly silly way — by posting a cute lil' original ditty called "I Got Signed." The One You Shouldn't Count Out Just Yet: Stefano Langone never quite found his footing on the "Idol" stage, but a star was born on the American Idols Live! Tour, where he scored rave reviews for his pitch-perfect set. (Taking off his shirt probably gained him a few fans too.) At a Trevor Project benefit dinner in December, Langone's "O Holy Night" received a rousing standing ovation from the crowd of (usually jaded) industry heavyweights. Now, the cutie pie is signed to Disney's Hollywood Records alongside Selena Gomez, the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus. Who will emerge as the next "Idol" breakthrough? Share your predictions from Wednesday night's premiere in the comments below! Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. |
| 'American Idol': David Leathers Jr., Phillip Phillips Wow Posted: 18 Jan 2012 08:16 AM PST Gabi Carrubba, Shannon Magrane and Amy Brumfield also stand out during Savannah, Georgia, auditions.
"American Idol" kicked off its 11th season Wednesday (January 18) with auditions in Savannah, Georgia, and Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez were in a very giving mood when it came to handing out Golden Tickets. In all, 42 singers were given the green light to Hollywood, as the show placed an overwhelming emphasis on true competitors rather than gag auditions. The mood of the show was sunny and positive, a far cry from the days of Simon Cowell, when acid-tongued barbs were the order of the day.
The evening started with David Leathers Jr., a wayfarer-clad 17-year-old who claimed his nickname among his friends is "Mr. Steal Your Girl." But his most defining characteristic was bluntly pointed out by Lopez: "You look like you're 12," she told the singer. However, the Fayetteville, North Carolina, resident impressed the judges with his version of 21st Century's "Remember the Rain" and later with Michael Jackson's "Never Can Say Goodbye." "Nice, nice, that's beautiful," Tyler told him, while Jackson followed up with, "Dude, we love you, man. You're through to Hollywood." Whether he looks 12 or not, you'll be seeing more of him in the future. Despite her visible nerves, Gabi Carrubba, a 16-year-old tap dancer from North Haven, Connecticut, wowed the judges with her version of Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning." Lopez compared her voice control to that of Luther Vandross, and Tyler told her she "nailed" the audition. "You were born to do this!" Jackson beamed, sending her through to the Hollywood round. Shannon Magrane, daughter of former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Joe Magrane, graduated to Hollywood on the strength of her version of Etta James' "Something's Got a Hold on Me," which is sampled in both Avicii's "Levels" and Flo Rida's "Good Feeling." She was complimented for her "nerves of steel" by Jackson, and her father should have been complimented on his patience after not jumping Tyler when he called the 15-year-old "hot, humid and happening." It was the most awkward moment in an otherwise smooth show. The season got its first good backstory out of Amy Brumfield, a 24-year-old who lives in a tent "way out in the middle of the woods" in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. She spoke of her struggles and inability to afford a "$100-a-week hotel room," thus her humble tent. But she's content: "I'd rather be outdoors and happy than indoors and miserable," Brumfield explained. And when she sang Alicia Keys' "Superwoman," she was immediately sent off to Hollywood. "So positively yes," Tyler told her. "Out of a tent and into Hollywood — what a story!" Perhaps the evening's most memorable contestant, or at least the one with the most instant name recognition, was 20-year-old Phillip Phillips of Leesburg, Georgia. The Southern singer was so physically expressive that Lopez commented, "It's like you have electricity going through your body or something!" He punched up not only a raw, emotional version of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition," but also a Southern-fried, front-porch rendition of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" that would have ripped the screen door off the audition room, if there was one to be ripped off. Phillip Phillips: Remember that name. As if you can forget it. Other singers given the go-ahead to Hollywood on Wednesday's show included Ashlee Altise, a 28-year-old from Kinston, North Carolina, who sang the Beatles' "Come Together" and is apt to express herself through "joy dancing"; W.T. Thompson, a 25-year-old former prison worker from tiny Appomattox, Virginia, who quit his job in order to audition and won two out of three "yes" votes with his version of Little Big Town's "Boondocks"; NBA dancer Brittany Kerr, a 24-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, who sang Joss Stone's "Spoiled" and whose stunning good looks had Jackson and Tyler's attention long before she ever sang a note; Schyler and Colton Dixon, two siblings from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who both tried out last year and were denied but made it through this time; Lauren Mink, a 25-year-old from Winchester, Kentucky, whose version of Gwyneth Paltrow's "Country Strong" gave Lopez "goosies!"; Stephanie Renae, a 15-year-old from Orange Park, Florida, who got two out of three "yes" votes for her version of Carrie Underwood's "Inside Your Heaven"; 15-year-old Brianna Faulk of Monroe, Georgia, who passed through on the strength of her version of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"; 20-year-old Atlanta resident Neco Starr, who sang Bruno Mars' "Grenade"; 28-year-old vocal coach Elise Testone, who was dubbed a "spitfire" by Lopez for her take on Janis Joplin's "Get It While You Can"; and Franklin, Tennessee, 15-year-old Molly Hunt. The news wasn't as good for 26-year-old Shaun Kraisman of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, whose take on the Chi-Lites' "Oh Girl" did not earn him a pass to Hollywood. But given that he was able to showcase his dead-on impression of Ryan Seacrest, he may be the one singer on Wednesday's show who is almost guaranteed an appearance on this year's "Idol" finale. What did you think of Wednesday's "American Idol" premiere? Let us know in the comments! Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. |
| Tupac Created 'Juice' Character From Life Experience Posted: 18 Jan 2012 06:45 AM PST 'Bishop didn't make Tupac; Tupac made Bishop,' Treach tells 'RapFix Live' 20 years after film's release.
When "Juice" was released 20 years ago on January 17, 1992, the performance of noted rapper but first-time actor Tupac Shakur took critics by surprise. The socially aware, politically driven MC lit up the screen as fiery, gun-crazed thug Bishop. It was a departure from the rapper hip-hop had come to know through more positive songs like "Brenda's Got a Baby." A year after "Juice" premiered, 'Pac went on to release his second album, Strictly 4 My N.-.-.-.A.Z., before experiencing legal trouble, then a serious rap beef with the Notorious B.I.G. a few years after that and, of course, his murder in 1996. Some believe that after "Juice," Tupac took on the persona of the fictional and troublesome Bishop, and as a result, his life experienced a downward spiral.
Not the case, said 'Pac's friend, "Juice" co-star and Naughty by Nature rapper Treach. "I would definitely disagree with it," Treach said without reservation when he appeared on Wednesday's (January 18) episode of "RapFix Live." "Bishop didn't make Tupac; Tupac made Bishop." Treach — who appeared in the film and, along with Naughty by Nature, contributed the '90s rap hit "Uptown Anthem" to the movie's soundtrack — revealed that he originally read for the role of Bishop. Things didn't go so well, however, and when Shakur auditioned immediately after him, Treach knew his buddy would get the film's starring role. Tupac's mother and father were both members of the Black Panther Party, and Treach believes that 'Pac's exposure to the progressive and militant movement helped prep him for the role."He grew up a soldier; he grew up learning different lessons on the streets that not even I had known about," he said. "He knew different stuff from different facets of life," Treach added. "That's what made him be able to get into that character like that and make that character seem so real, because he had his own life experiences that made him phenomenal at bringing that out through the music and through the film." What do you think of 'Pac's performance in "Juice"? Let us know in the comments. Check out everything we've got on "Juice." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Tiesto's 'In The Booth': Watch An Exclusive Teaser! Posted: 18 Jan 2012 04:21 AM PST EDM star's new Web series debuts Thursday.
Hobnobbing with NFL elite. Hosting private-plane parties high in the sky. Setting a U.S. DJ attendance record in front of 26,000 fans. Launching a fashion line. It's the stuff legends are made of — or just everyday life for dance-music icon Tiësto.
So it should make total sense that the Dutch EDM star is now set to share his globetrotting adventures with his millions of fans around the world. Premiering Thursday, "In the Booth" is a 10-episode digital series that will bring fans closer to the man born Tijs Verwest than ever before. Tiësto first revealed the series to MTV News when we caught up with him while headlining Boom, Belgium's Tomorrowland Festival. "It's more for the people to get to know a little more about what I do," Tiësto said. "Not just the DJing, but also going backstage and stuff. Just the way I live. It's more about the lifestyle of Tiësto. "Expect the unexpected," he added. "I never know what's going to happen on a [given] day. You can have a crazy party on a jet with Swedish House Mafia or you can end up in Russia in the middle of nowhere at an afterparty." Indeed, "In the Booth" will take fans on an up-close-and-personal ride alongside Tiësto before, during and after he performs at the biggest festivals, exclusive parties and nightclubs around the world. Through it all, fans will be treated to commentary and seldom-heard stories from one of dance music's most decorated veterans, as can be seen in the first-and-only teaser brought to you exclusively by MTV News.
In the clip, Tiësto shares a page from his diary: a story of how even the biggest DJ in the world can be double-booked — on two continents! With a gig commitment in Paris, how could Tiësto turn down a friend in need in Marrakech, Morocco? Especially if that friend is the gentleman who "runs Morocco." Bring on the jet! "In the Booth" will consist of 10 digital episodes, each approximately five to seven minutes long, and is co-executive-produced by Tiësto and Believe Entertainment Group, the New York digital entertainment company behind "The LeBrons" with LeBron James, "MommyCast" and "Tiger Beat Entertainment," the upcoming series with Jennifer Lopez. "In the Booth" will be available on Tiësto's YouTube channel on Thursday. Related Artists |
| 'American Idol' Experts Suggest Season 11 Upgrades Posted: 18 Jan 2012 12:10 AM PST Shorter audition episodes and less judge talk are among suggestions.
It's hard to know what needs fixing on a show that has held the #1 spot in the ratings for seven consecutive seasons. But every year around this time, Monday morning quarterbacks line up to suggest ways for "American Idol" to get its groove back. Yes, "Idol" is starting to look gray around the temples in comparison to hipper, flashier competitors such as "X Factor" and "The Voice." But maybe that's the way producers want it, and unlike last season — when they dropped the age cutoff to 15, added new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, took the top 60 to Las Vegas and returned the "wild card" round — there has been no hint yet that big changes are slated for season 11, which kicks off Wednesday night (January 18) with the first audition episode.
Whether they take our advice or not, MTV News asked a few of our favorite "Idol" experts to make five suggestions for how "Idol" can keep the fire burning. Village Voice music editor Maura Johnston Shake up the results show: "It's so long now. I know it does well in the ratings, but two minutes of content in a 60-minute bag creates its own viewer fatigue. They could put all the Ford ads and fake suspense in there in a half-hour and use the extra half-hour for something else." Sing the same song: "When it gets down to 10 people, what if you had them all sing the same song to see the different ways they approach it?" Johnston wondered. "In the post-David Cook era, with its emphasis on artistry and transformation of songs, it would be great to see a side-by-side comparison [of the contestants' styles] to see their strengths and weaknesses." Less judges talk: "The judges should talk about themselves less. They would get mired in discussion about themselves and try to elevate themselves above the singers. The same thing happened on 'The Voice,' too, where 'Moves Like Jagger' [became bigger than the contestants]. It was great for Maroon 5 and Christina, but it took the shine off Javier [Colon]'s win." On the road: "Maybe take the show on tour for a week and bring it to New York and set it up at Radio City Music Hall and have a live audience made up of completely different people. It would be special because it would be the first time in 'Idol' history they've done this, and you'd get the same vibe because it's live on TV in front of an audience, but you'd also get a mystique surrounding it that would be a lot more charged." Hollywood Reporter music editor Shirley Halperin had some similar ideas, with a few added twists to mix it upReal talk from judges: "I would like to see them talk to the contestants the way they were talked to coming up. I want them to give more constructive advice and be more critical, but not be mean for the sake of being mean. These kids are not perfect, and if you listen to the judges' comments from last year, you would think they were." Yes, she added, Tyler and Lopez are there to, respectively, entertain with flashy wordplay and outfits, but both have had heavy doses of the realities of the music industry that Halperin said they could and should share with the budding stars. More pizzazz?: While "The X Factor" had so much flash and bang that it looked like the Grammys or VMAs every week, "Idol" has long held the spectacle aspect of performances to a minimum. "If any show should have that kind of production, it's 'Idol,' because it's the moneymaker," she said. "But 'Idol' doesn't seem interested in [messing] with the formula. They could have kicked it up any time over the past five years, but they've let the audience dictate how far they'll go. At this point, the performances still look good because they are focused on the performer, not distracting fire and dancers." Pull back the curtain: "One reason people got to know the 'X Factor' contestants is because the press and bloggers had unfettered access to them early on and it was not limited or constricted in any of the ways 'Idol' is," she said. "They're very precious about it on 'Idol,' but when we did get access to [the contestants], it allowed us to get to know them better and tell their story and get excited about them because we were invested in their backstories." While "Idol" has loosened the reins a bit over the past few years and allowed the contestants to have a light social-media presence and Twitter feeds, Halperin said the show needs to rethink their lockdown mentality. 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 |
| 'Glee'-Cap: Will Pops The Question Posted: 18 Jan 2012 12:33 AM PST And he isn't the only one — check out our musical recap of the latest episode!
Tuesday night's "Glee" was all about Will Schuester's proposal to longtime germaphobe girlfriend Emma, and since he apparently lacks any adult friends, he enlisted his glee-club "family" to help out. They pitched potential songs, ranging from a kick-ass "Moves Like Jagger/ Jumpin' Jack Flash" mash-up to a sensitive Rachel Berry cover of David Guetta and Usher's "Without You." But it was the girls' "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" that awakened Mercedes' old feelings for Trouty Mouth.
Meanwhile, Becky went after the man she loves — fellow handi-capable student Artie — and viewers sat and watched their brief relationship sour. Bummer. Bigger bummer? Finn's mom revealed the real way his soldier dad died. Biggest bummer? No Klaine. It was an intense episode filled with belly laughs, several Kleenex-grabs, synchronized swimming, random guest stars and a shocking Finn/Rachel proposal cliffhanger. And it inspired this piano ballad musical "Glee"-cap. Hit play on the embedded video above to check it out, and sing along with the lyrics. I think I hit my head while watching "Glee" this week Enter Coach NeNe Leakes Will asks the kids to pick a song for his proposal Surprise! Your dad died! I'm getting whiplash from the tone I think I hit my head while watching "Glee" this week [Jim slowly turns in a circle, occasionally touching his hair, looking like a cat paralyzed in fear.] What did you think of this week's "Glee"? Leave your thoughts in the comments! Related Videos |
| Fedde Le Grand Talks Remix Anthems, 'Dark Light Sessions' Posted: 18 Jan 2012 03:02 AM PST 'Music and the whole process of music itself should be organic,' Dutch DJ/producer tells MTV News.
A course in Fedde Le Grand 101 would have to include the hit "Put Your Hands up for Detroit" and a track that proved to be dance-floor gold for the Dutch DJ/producer, 2007's "Let Me Think About It." But Le Grand loyalists know that he scored those smashes while appeasing the underground with bombs like "Amplifier" and "Control Room." Now, he's bringing that particular alchemy to his "Dark Light Sessions," a new show on Sirius XM's Electric Area.
MTV News recently caught up with the Flamingo Recordings founder, and he talked about the kickoff of "Sessions" last November. Le Grand also opened up about his big 2011, detailing how he'll top himself in the months to come. "Not everyone can come to your shows," Le Grand told us of creating the radio series, which launched its third installment last Friday; the next is due mid-February. "I think it's such a great way to show or let people hear your view on music at the moment, because it's very current." The advent of "Dark Light Sessions" was a fitting cap to a major year for Le Grand, whose massive re-works topped the Beatport.com charts on more than one occasion. His 2011 was highlighted by remixes of Coldplay's "Paradise" and his summer anthem "So Much Love," a remix of "Love's Such a Wonderful Thing" by the Real Thing. Of "So Much Love," Le Grand explained, "I found the original sample from the '70s band. I just loved the re-work Tom Bangalter did before it was one of my favorite tracks. So, for me, it only made sense to put it more in a 'now' kind of way, so I could play it again. We were able to clear the original sample and that's how it started." While sampling and bootlegging are key tools for the thriving dance music industry, the SOPA (or Stop Online Piracy Act) legislation could have far-reaching consequences for the genre. Le Grand said he encourages practices like sampling, though, and the growing desire to reincarnate classic dance tunes. As an example, he pointed out Arno Cost's "Body Rum," which is derived from a bootleg of Le Grand's "Metrum." "I actually only support it. I play that edit; I think it's great," he said. "Music and the whole process of music itself should be organic," he added. "I had the same thing about two years ago with a track I did called 'Amplifier.' Someone put a vocal on it and it kind of went its own way. So I think it's great that things keep evolving and recycling that way." But it isn't just bootlegs and remixes that are keeping Le Grand busy these days. Along with label co-founder and fellow producer Funkerman, the Flamingo Recordings imprint has helped usher in some of the most influential music the genre has heard in years, staying away from the all-too-familiar progressive house blueprint. Joining Flamingo alumni such as Baggi Begovic, Rene Amesz and vocalist Mitch Crown is recent sensation Deniz Koyu, whose records are currently smashing eardrums the world over. When Le Grand first heard Koyu's "Grunge," he assumed he had been signed for years. "My mind was just blown by the sound and everything. It's a record that works really well and still has a coolness to it," he said. Le Grand and Koyu have been busy in the studio with Johan Wedal getting ready for the release their latest three-way collaboration, "New Day." And one can only imagine who the boys brought into the studio behind closed doors "I have a whole lot of people I'd love to work with," Le Grand said, listing Sia and Janelle Monáe as possibilities. "I just want to be in the studio with as many people as I can. But I think if you plan something, it doesn't work out. If you just go in there, jam and just make something that everyone likes, that's when the best stuff comes out. Otherwise, it sounds forced. It's an organic thing, and that's how it should come out." What are your favorite Fedde Le Grand hits? Let us know in the comments below! Related Artists |
| Swizz Beatz's Megaupload Draws Fire For Promos Posted: 18 Jan 2012 03:13 AM PST Universal Music Group issues take-down notice for videos starring Kanye West, Diddy and will.i.am
Swizz Beatz has a number of different hustles: record producer, rapper and shoe designer. It turns out the Bronx-born hitmaker is also the CEO of the file-sharing site Megaupload, which at the moment has drawn a bit of fire from Universal Music Group, the record company where Swizz was once signed. In an effort to raise the company's profile, Megaupload has been releasing video testimonials from big-name artists like Kanye West, Diddy, will.i.am and Swizz's wife, Alicia Keys, along with celebrities like Kim Kardashian. In the promotional videos, the big-name stars express their support of the site, which allows users to send large media files — sometimes pirated materials such as entire movies and albums. According to the New York Post, Universal Music Group issued a take-down notice to YouTube, one of the sites where the promotional videos appeared. UMG is claiming that none of their artists (Kanye West, Diddy and will.i.am) were authorized to appear in the clips. Swizz's company contends that no individual artist ever filed a take-down. "We have never received any word that any artist has [individually] filed a take-down ... [we have] legally binding agreements with the performers that appear in the video ... They promised that they had the rights to enter into that agreement and it's not interfering with any third-party rights," a Megaupload rep told the Post. While it wasn't widely known that Swizz Beatz served as CEO, his name and title is listed on the "About Us" page on the Megaupload website. Related Artists |
| Evanescence Take Fans Inside 'My Heart Is Broken' Video Posted: 18 Jan 2012 12:00 AM PST Clip doesn't premiere until Tuesday, but you can get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look right now!
Last month, Evanescence invited MTV News to the set of their "My Heart Is Broken" video, where frontwoman Amy Lee told us about the dreamlike inspiration behind the clip (the 1988 British horror film "Paperhouse") and the nightmarish reasons she wrote the song in the first place: namely, the ongoing issue of sex trafficking.
"A lot of times when I write, I just sort of make up words, and something will stick, and I'll be like, 'Oh, that's from my subconscious. That's what I need to write the song about,' " she explained. "And that's sort of what happened [with the song]. I was like, 'I think I'm writing about this thing; it's on my heart,' just imagining being in such a trapped place and how that might feel, so the song was actually inspired by that idea." So obviously, the video means an awful lot to Lee and her bandmates — which is why they chose to work with noted director and photographer Dean Karr, who filled the video with imagery that recalls both dreams and nightmares. And though the full "My Heart Is Broken" video doesn't premiere until Tuesday, Evanescence is giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the clip's creation, with a making-of clip they sent exclusively to MTV News. As you'll see — and hear — making "My Heart Is Broken" was a labor of love, for both the band and their director, one filled with fiber optics, elaborate costumes and, of course, striking, surreal imagery. But why don't you just have a look for yourself: Above, direct from Evanescence to you, is an exclusive look at the making of "My Heart Is Broken." What are you expecting from the new Evanescence video? Let us know in the comments below! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Adele Responds To Reports Her Boyfriend Is Married Posted: 18 Jan 2012 12:24 AM PST 'This is the first and last time I will comment on the details of my relationship with Simon,' singer says in a blog post.
Adele knows the pen is mightier than the sword. After online reports suggested that her boyfriend Simon Konecki is still married to stylist Clary Fisher, the 21 singer quickly took to her blog to clear up any rumors about her relationship.
"This is the first and last time I will comment on the details of my relationship with Simon," she wrote on her blog. "Contrary to reports and headlines in the press today, Simon is divorced and has been for 4 years. Everyone in our lives separately and together wish us nothing but the best, and vice versa." Adele's 36-year-old boyfriend has a 5-year-old daughter with Fisher. "These are the facts. Take care and see you all in February xx," she concluded. Earlier this month, Adele and Konecki were spotted in Florida. And after surgery on her vocal cords, the Brit is currently readying a return to the stage next month with a rumored performance at the Grammys on February 12, where she is up for six prizes. With the bad comes the good for Adele. This week, she celebrates her 16th non-consecutive week at the top of the Billboard 200 for her year-old album, 21, tying with the massively successful "Titanic" soundtrack. Related Artists |
| Robert Pattinson Stands Tall In MTV Movie Brawl Posted: 17 Jan 2012 11:06 PM PST Fans support RPattz's 'Cosmopolis' over 'Breaking Dawn - Part 2,' advancing the indie film to the Final Four.
Wow. Just ... wow. In an upset for the ages, "Cosmopolis" defeated "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" in the Elite Eight round of the 2012 MTV Movie Brawl. Let us count the ways this is shocking. One, it's a freaking "Twilight" film, one in a franchise that has so far grossed $2.5 billion worldwide and has catalyzed 2.5 trillion fever dreams in teen bedrooms around the globe. Two, "Cosmopolis" is a little indie based on a slim, highbrow novel by Don DeLillo, a writer who has, without a doubt, changed the face of postmodern literature but whose themes, characters and erudition don't exactly make him a likely Twi-fan fave. And three, "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" had thus far stormed through the Movie Brawl, dispatching challengers with ease and becoming the odds-on favorite to win the entire tournament.
But a curious thing happened — and its name is Robert Pattinson. Fans banded together, deciding to support, in "Cosmopolis," RPattz's new work (a possible post-vampire breakout role under the direction of David Cronenberg), rather than his been-there, sucked-that performance in a "Twilight" flick. The result, after almost 400,000 votes, was a decisive victory for "Cosmopolis." "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" will have to find some way to console itself (perhaps a mega opening in the fall will help), while Pattinson's upcoming film moves on to face "The Dark Knight Rises" in the Final Four. "TDKR," for its part, has shown a remarkable resurgence, repeatedly fending off challengers and, in the Elite Eight, besting "Dark Shadows," the Johnny Depp adaptation that at one time seemed like a Movie Brawl dark horse. On the other side of the bracket, the story continues to be Daniel Radcliffe's "Woman in Black," a seven-seed that followed up an upset victory over Kristen Stewart's "Snow White and the Huntsman" with an impressive win over "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." That contest literally was decided in the final few minutes of voting. When the dust cleared, another franchise had fallen at the feet of an indie flick led by a young international superstar. "The Hunger Games," meanwhile, straight up embarrassed "John Carter" in the Elite Eight, setting up what is going to be a compelling Final Four battle. Let's take a look.
East Region West Region What are you waiting for? Your must-see movie needs your support. It's time to show character, poise and heart. Vote for your picks now at MTV Movie Brawl 2012! Related Videos |
| Shyne Determined To 'Rep' Orthodox Jewish Faith Posted: 17 Jan 2012 11:50 PM PST 'I rep this tribe of Judah till the very end,' Po tells MTV News of converting to Judaism.
The Shyne we see today is a far cry from the troubled rap youth that we saw in 2000 walking in and out of court, donning a suit and oversize baseball cap. During his almost-nine-year prison stint for assault and gun possession, Shyne became closer to his Jewish faith. Now we see him with long side curls and traditional Orthodox garb, bearing the Star of David. It's nothing new, Shyne says.
"This ain't no 'Shyne got out and went to Jerusalem and became religious.' God and man is a never-ending struggle. We're in the struggle to do what's right," Shyne told MTV News of his faith. "I've been on this journey." The rapper is less concerned about the latest trends in rap than he is about working on strengthening his relationship with God. "This is how King David wore his hair," Shyne said of his payos. "That's who I want to be. I don't really want to be like anybody else. I don't want to be like one of these big fools. I don't want to be like none of these guys on TV. I don't want to be like — definitely none of these rappers. "I want to be like King David so that's how I wear my hair. I rep this tribe of Judah till the very end and that's what it's hitting for," he said, tugging on his robe. Shyne continues to release new music. On January 13, he dropped an elongated version of Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV "Outro" and on Tuesday revealed that he and Diddy have made amends. Can a musical collaboration be next? "As far as Puff is concerned, that's been a long time coming," Shyne exclusively told MTV News of the conversation he and the Bad Boy CEO had earlier this month. "He had reached out to me twice while I was in the pen, but I just wasn't ready for it." The rapper wouldn't speak on the details of his and Comb's conversation, but he did say that the two plan to meet face to face in Paris in the coming weeks. Related Artists |
| Tyga's 'Rack City' Is 'Beneficial' To Strippers, Wale Says Posted: 17 Jan 2012 11:47 PM PST 'I'm just happy that I can be a part of a record that's making so many young, ambitious dancers so much money,' Wale quips on remix video set.
Radio, music videos, mixtapes and digital presence are all fine gauges of what's hot in hip-hop, but the set lists at gentlemen's clubs should never be overlooked. At the moment, Tyga's "Rack City" seems to be the current strip-club crown holder, and now with the remix video featuring Wale and Fabolous coming, the record doesn't appear to be losing steam any time soon.
"I'm just happy that I can be a part of a record that's influencing and making so many young, ambitious dancers so much money," Wale playfully told MTV News from the set of Tyga's remix video in Miami. This past Friday, Tyga gathered Wale and Fab to shoot their portion of the "Rack City" video. On set, the trio joked about how the track keeps strip clubs open for business. "I think it's important that we continue to make songs like this, because it's keeping the whole game of ... ," Wale started before completely losing his train of thought. "The cycle of the economy," Loso chimed in. "It's very beneficial to so many young women across the country," Wale picked back up. "The strip clubs are stress relief. Welcome to Rack City!" Tyga just nodded in agreement. "Everything they said," he added with a laugh. The DJ Mustard-produced track is slated to appear on Tyga's upcoming Young Money debut Careless World. The song's original was adapted from the "Grand Theft Auto" series of video games. In the clip, which weaves a campy crime tale with performance shots, Tyga plays an out-of-luck bandit who steals from the fictional Rack City's underworld boss, Mr. Rose. What are you expecting from the "Rack City" remix video? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| George Lucas Brought The 'Force' To 'Red Tails,' Says Terrence Howard Posted: 17 Jan 2012 11:43 PM PST Director has wanted to bring story of Tuskegee Airmen to big screen for nearly 25 years.
George Lucas made a name for himself in the late '70s and '80s with "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones," but for nearly 25 years, the director tried to bring one story to the big screen, a movie he wasn't able to make until now.
After decades in development, "Red Tails," Lucas' tale of the Tuskegee Airmen, will finally hit theaters. The story of Lucas' battle to get "Red Tails" in front of the camera only added to the significance of the story for many of the cast and crew. Terrence Howard plays Col. A.J. Bullard, one of the commanders of the Tuskegee Airmen, America's first African-American air regimen. The actor told MTV News that Lucas' passion set the tone for the entire project. "Well, he has complete control of the Force. As far as I understand it, he invented the Force," Howard said. "It's quite a moving inertia associated with it. You believe in him, and when he says something, he follows it all the way through." According to Howard, having such a strong backing force changed the way the actors approached the film and their roles. "It gives us a great deal of encouragement walking into the roles," he said. "We know that we're going to be 100 percent supported." Like any Lucas project, "Red Tails" comes with the technical wizardry that made the man a legend. "When you look at the final project and you look at these fight scenarios, you can't believe that it's not real," Howard said. "It looks tangible, and it's wonderful to be able to say 'George Lucas manned this, created this vessel that Anthony Hemingway was able to direct.' We become moving parts of this incredible armada." Do you plan to see 'Red Tails' in theaters? Let us know in the comments! Check out everything we've got on "Red Tails." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Lana Del Rey Calls Performing On Television 'Weird' Posted: 17 Jan 2012 11:06 PM PST 'Sometimes it seems more important to me than other times,' Del Rey told MTV News before her 'Saturday Night Live' debut.
Lana Del Rey's "Saturday Night Live" performance was divisive, to say the very least, as she seemed to battle nerves (and some rather shaky vocal moments), circumstances that only gave more ammunition to her critics.
Of course, to be fair, given her rather meteoric rise to the mainstream, Del Rey hasn't exactly had a ton of time to develop her stage presence, though, as previous television appearances — like this "Later Live ... with Jools Holland" performance from October — prove, she's certainly capable of much more than she showcased on "SNL" (at least vocally). Still, Del Rey will be the first to admit that she's yet to truly be at ease when it comes to performing on television. In fact, she finds the entire process to be, well, a little off-putting, as she told MTV News last week. "I find it weird ... sometimes. [It] depends on the day," Del Rey said. "You know, like, [it] depends on what's going on with my family and everyone around me. If I have other things to think about, or I'm trying to get things done for somebody else, and I'm not in my own way, then ... I'm like, 'This doesn't really matter.' Sometimes it seems more important to me than other times, I don't know." And though, at the time, she couldn't have predicted how her "SNL" performance would turn out — she said she wasn't even sure which songs she'd be singing — Del Rey said that, no matter what happened, and despite how weird she may find the entire TV experience, she's just trying to enjoy the ride. "Things are cool. They always will be, whether the music goes good or not," she said. "Like, I consider being able to sing a luxury, it doesn't run my life, it's not my main focus. I love it, I feel grateful. I'm honored to be on 'SNL' I'm happy to be here, but if I didn't have it, I'd be happy too." What did you think of Lana Del Rey's "SNL" debut? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page. |
| Adele's <i>21</i> Ties <i>Titanic</i> Soundtrack With 16th Week At #1 Posted: 18 Jan 2012 08:48 AM PST British belter's smash album catches up to 1997 blockbuster album with its 16th non-consecutive week atop the Billboard chart.
Move over, James Cameron (and Celine Dion): Adele just landed her Sweet 16th.
Yes, once again the British belter's 21 album tops the Billboard 200 chart, according to figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan, marking the 16th (non-consecutive) week it sits at #1. The mark ties it with the soundtrack to the 1997 blockbuster "Titanic," which was buoyed by Dion's massive "My Heart Will Go On." Up next for Adele? Well, first, it's Billy Ray Cyrus' Some Gave All, which topped the Billboard charts for 17 weeks in 1992, followed by Garth Brooks' Ropin' the Wind, which was #1 for 18 weeks. Then, it's the 1992 soundtrack to "The Bodyguard," which, powered by Whitney Houston's takes on "I'm Every Woman" and "I Will Always Love You," spent 20 weeks atop the Billboard albums chart. Oh, and Elvis Presley's Blue Hawaii, which also spent 20 weeks at #1. Rarefied air, indeed. 21 sold more than 104,000 copies to take the top spot, easily outpacing the week's biggest debut, the David Crowder Band's Give Us Rest, which sold nearly 51,000 copies to open at #2. The Black Keys' El Camino holds strong at #3 for a second week, selling more than 36,000 copies and moving past the 500,000 mark in total sales in the process. Drake's Take Care (nearly 32,000 copies sold) and Snow Patrol's new Fallen Empires (nearly 31,000 copies) round out the top five. Young Jeezy's TM 103: Hustlerz Ambition is in at #6, with sales of nearly 24,000 copies, followed by Rihanna's Talk That Talk at #7 (nearly 22,000 copies), Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto at #8 (nearly 20,000 copies), Nickelback's Here and Now at #9 (19,000-plus copies) and the 40th installment of the ubiquitous Now compilation, which comes in at #10 with sales of more than 17,000 copies. Outside the top 10, there were debuts by Yo Gotti, whose Live From the Kitchen sold more than 16,000 copies to open at #12, Rebelution's Peace of Mind (#13, also posting sales of more than 16,000 copies), critical darling Lana Del Rey's self-titled EP (#20, nearly 14,000 copies sold) and the soundtrack to "Joyful Noise," which bowed at #21 with sales of more than 13,000 copies. Related Artists |
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