Singer left behind more than $400 million in debt.
Michael Jackson
Photo: Time Life Pictures/DMI/Time Life Pictures/Getty Im
Between album sales, movie profits, licensing arrangements and lucrative deals for Cirque du Soleil shows, the estate of late King of Pop Michael Jackson has raked in more than $300 million since the singer's shocking death in June 2009.
According to TMZ, legal documents released on Thursday reveal that executors of MJ's estate have managed to make a major dent in the more than $400 million in debt that Jackson owed at the time of his death.
The first accounting from the executors shows that they have already spent around $159 million paying back various debts, income taxes and other expenses, which include providing support for the pop star's mother, Katherine Jackson, as well as his three young children.
"Although there remain unresolved creditor claims, pending litigation and additional challenging business, tax and legal issues, and the estate is not yet in a condition to be closed, the executors have made substantial progress in reducing the estate's debt," the documents state, according to a Reuters report. Two of Jackson's longtime confidants, attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain, were named as administrators in a will sign by the pop icon.
In addition to paying to make "substantial improvements" to the Jackson family's Havenhurst estate in Encino, California, the executors also spent an undetermined amount of money on "last illness and funeral and memorial service expenses." Those costs included a $900,000 payment to the Forest Lawn Memorial cemetery where Jackson is buried and $35,000 on expenses described as "costume for memorial."
TMZ reported that not only did the famously cash-strapped Jackson have more than $400 million in debt, but his estate also owed more than $40 million to concert promoter AEG tied to the scuttled This Is It Tour, for which MJ was rehearsing when he died unexpectedly. They've also paid $27.2 million in taxes and $4 million in mortgage payments on Jackson's properties.
Despite the solid sales of the Michael album and millions of units of the singer's back catalog being sold, as well as the box office of the "This Is It" movie and DVD sales, the estate is not nearly out of the woods. TMZ noted that the administrators have received more than 65 creditors' claims, some of which are subject to "extremely high" interest rates, and there are several outstanding lawsuits against the estate in several countries.
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Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Amy Adams: From 'June Bug' To Lois Lane
We take a look at the eclectic list of roles the Oscar-nominated actress, and new Superman love interest, has played.By Eric Ditzian
Amy Adams
Photo: Getty Images
Henry Cavill might have been getting a little lonely in Metropolis. Two months after landing the role of Superman in Zack Snyder's reboot of the superhero franchise, the 27-year-old actor still hadn't found out who'd become his Lois Lane.
The answer arrived on Sunday: Amy Adams will be play the Daily Planet reporter and Superman love interest. In a statement, Snyder called Adams "one of the most versatile and respected actresses in films today." That's hardly an overstatement: The 36-year-old star has performed in indies and blockbusters, musicals and animated fare, solemn dramas and bawdy comedies. Along the way she's managed to earn three Oscar nominations, the latest for her supporting turn last year in "The Fighter."
A former Hooters waitress, Adams made her debut in 1999's "Drop Dead Gorgeous" as a dim and cheerful beauty-pageant contestant. Supporting roles on the big and small screen followed, but her next step up the Hollywood food chain didn't arrive until Steven Spielberg cast her as Leonardo DiCaprio's love interest in 2002's "Catch Me If You Can." While things were undoubtedly going well for the actress, she then took a step back from the spotlight over the next few years and only fully resurfaced in very unlikely fashion.
"June Bug," a sort of "Meet the Parents" for the art-house crowd that starred Adams as a wide-eyed gal named Ashley who's days away from giving birth and seemingly miles away from planet earth, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2005. The performance won her a special jury prize for acting — and a year later she earned her first Oscar nod for the part. The decision to avoid mainstream fare turned out to be just what Adams' career needed.
"If you love the project, you love the project, and you could be making millions of dollars and have millions of dollars to spend or no money to spend and making no money," Adams told us at the time. "But it's about the script and it's about the people and it's about the story."
From there she began mixing studio pictures ("Talladega Nights") with indie roles ("Sunshine Cleaning"), and ended up wowing critics and audiences in "Enchanted," a film that managed to breathe new life into movie musicals while at the same time paying deep respect to the genre. There was also a short but satisfying arc on "The Office" as Jim Halpert's (John Krasinski) handbag-slinging girlfriend. By the start of 2009, Adams would earn her second Oscar nod — this one for playing a 1960s-era nun in "Doubt" — and yet she couldn't quite get used to the idea that she was indeed a movie star.
"You see yourself onscreen, or you see pictures of yourself, and it can get really heady. I don't think human beings are supposed to look at themselves that much," she said in a 2009 Allure interview, adding that she used to think of herself as "homely" and "painfully small, short, with too much blue eye shadow because I thought, 'It matches my eyes, so why not?' "
Perhaps by now, following her third Oscar honor, she's more comfortable with the notion of celebrity. Hopefully. Because her star is about to rise to a whole new level. There's her turn as Jason Segel's girlfriend in "The Muppets," set to premiere later this year, and she wrapped production last year on "On the Road" opposite Kristen Stewart. In addition, she's attached to play Janis Joplin in a big-screen biopic. But none of that will compare to the exposure the new "Superman" movie will bring her when it premieres in December 2012. Snyder, for one, couldn't be happier with the choice.
"Amy has the talent to capture all of the qualities we love about Lois," he said. "[S]mart, tough, funny, warm, ambitious and, of course, beautiful."
What's your favorite Amy Adams performance? Tell us in the comments.
Amy Adams
Photo: Getty Images
Henry Cavill might have been getting a little lonely in Metropolis. Two months after landing the role of Superman in Zack Snyder's reboot of the superhero franchise, the 27-year-old actor still hadn't found out who'd become his Lois Lane.
The answer arrived on Sunday: Amy Adams will be play the Daily Planet reporter and Superman love interest. In a statement, Snyder called Adams "one of the most versatile and respected actresses in films today." That's hardly an overstatement: The 36-year-old star has performed in indies and blockbusters, musicals and animated fare, solemn dramas and bawdy comedies. Along the way she's managed to earn three Oscar nominations, the latest for her supporting turn last year in "The Fighter."
A former Hooters waitress, Adams made her debut in 1999's "Drop Dead Gorgeous" as a dim and cheerful beauty-pageant contestant. Supporting roles on the big and small screen followed, but her next step up the Hollywood food chain didn't arrive until Steven Spielberg cast her as Leonardo DiCaprio's love interest in 2002's "Catch Me If You Can." While things were undoubtedly going well for the actress, she then took a step back from the spotlight over the next few years and only fully resurfaced in very unlikely fashion.
"June Bug," a sort of "Meet the Parents" for the art-house crowd that starred Adams as a wide-eyed gal named Ashley who's days away from giving birth and seemingly miles away from planet earth, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2005. The performance won her a special jury prize for acting — and a year later she earned her first Oscar nod for the part. The decision to avoid mainstream fare turned out to be just what Adams' career needed.
"If you love the project, you love the project, and you could be making millions of dollars and have millions of dollars to spend or no money to spend and making no money," Adams told us at the time. "But it's about the script and it's about the people and it's about the story."
From there she began mixing studio pictures ("Talladega Nights") with indie roles ("Sunshine Cleaning"), and ended up wowing critics and audiences in "Enchanted," a film that managed to breathe new life into movie musicals while at the same time paying deep respect to the genre. There was also a short but satisfying arc on "The Office" as Jim Halpert's (John Krasinski) handbag-slinging girlfriend. By the start of 2009, Adams would earn her second Oscar nod — this one for playing a 1960s-era nun in "Doubt" — and yet she couldn't quite get used to the idea that she was indeed a movie star.
"You see yourself onscreen, or you see pictures of yourself, and it can get really heady. I don't think human beings are supposed to look at themselves that much," she said in a 2009 Allure interview, adding that she used to think of herself as "homely" and "painfully small, short, with too much blue eye shadow because I thought, 'It matches my eyes, so why not?' "
Perhaps by now, following her third Oscar honor, she's more comfortable with the notion of celebrity. Hopefully. Because her star is about to rise to a whole new level. There's her turn as Jason Segel's girlfriend in "The Muppets," set to premiere later this year, and she wrapped production last year on "On the Road" opposite Kristen Stewart. In addition, she's attached to play Janis Joplin in a big-screen biopic. But none of that will compare to the exposure the new "Superman" movie will bring her when it premieres in December 2012. Snyder, for one, couldn't be happier with the choice.
"Amy has the talent to capture all of the qualities we love about Lois," he said. "[S]mart, tough, funny, warm, ambitious and, of course, beautiful."
What's your favorite Amy Adams performance? Tell us in the comments.
Perez Hilton Reveals Birthday Wishes For Lady Gaga, Anti-Bullying
Celeb blogger blew out the candles at his Blue Ball Birthday Bash, telling MTV News he'll donate event proceeds to an LGBT charity.By Kelley L. Carter
Perez Hilton
Photo: Valerie Macon/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Perez Hilton had two wishes for his birthday this year.
The 33-year-old blogger, who celebrated in grand Hollywood fashion on Saturday night at a Sunset Boulevard studio in Los Angeles, says that if he has his way, two things will come to pass: Lady Gaga's Born This Way will be a super hot-selling album and teen bullying will cease.
"My birthday wish for this year is for Lady Gaga's new album, Born This Way, to sell over 1.2 million copies the first week," he said, pausing to give off a mock-sinister laugh. "That would beat Taylor Swift's 1.1-something!"
That was actually the only kind-of-mean thing the notorious blogger said at his Blue Ball Birthday Bash on Saturday. And it could be the last. Perez said he has cleaned up his act, largely due to the teen bullying that's been well-documented over the past year.
"When there was that rash of gay teenagers committing suicide last year, and the bullying that is still going on, I was so moved. So moved that I changed how I operate on my website. When it came time to do my birthday, the idea came to me to raise money for charity and, of course, I wanted it to be a LBGT organization. And of course it was important for to work with one for young people," he told MTV News.
So what does that kind of change mean? For starters, it means Perez may not have to duck celebrities anymore. He's been trying to stick to the facts, he said, and do less of the ad-libs like drawing on their paparazzi photographs. He also opened up about how he apologized to Jennifer Aniston for how he treated her over the years on his blog.
"The great thing about being the new and more positive Perez is that I, hopefully, will be having less awkward, uncomfortable, negative confrontations with people," he said. "But hey, I'm a big boy. I've done things in the past I'm not that proud of."
What do you think of Perez's birthday wishes? Tell us in the comments!
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Perez Hilton's Blue Ball Birthday Celebration
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Perez Hilton
Photo: Valerie Macon/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Perez Hilton had two wishes for his birthday this year.
The 33-year-old blogger, who celebrated in grand Hollywood fashion on Saturday night at a Sunset Boulevard studio in Los Angeles, says that if he has his way, two things will come to pass: Lady Gaga's Born This Way will be a super hot-selling album and teen bullying will cease.
"My birthday wish for this year is for Lady Gaga's new album, Born This Way, to sell over 1.2 million copies the first week," he said, pausing to give off a mock-sinister laugh. "That would beat Taylor Swift's 1.1-something!"
That was actually the only kind-of-mean thing the notorious blogger said at his Blue Ball Birthday Bash on Saturday. And it could be the last. Perez said he has cleaned up his act, largely due to the teen bullying that's been well-documented over the past year.
"When there was that rash of gay teenagers committing suicide last year, and the bullying that is still going on, I was so moved. So moved that I changed how I operate on my website. When it came time to do my birthday, the idea came to me to raise money for charity and, of course, I wanted it to be a LBGT organization. And of course it was important for to work with one for young people," he told MTV News.
So what does that kind of change mean? For starters, it means Perez may not have to duck celebrities anymore. He's been trying to stick to the facts, he said, and do less of the ad-libs like drawing on their paparazzi photographs. He also opened up about how he apologized to Jennifer Aniston for how he treated her over the years on his blog.
"The great thing about being the new and more positive Perez is that I, hopefully, will be having less awkward, uncomfortable, negative confrontations with people," he said. "But hey, I'm a big boy. I've done things in the past I'm not that proud of."
What do you think of Perez's birthday wishes? Tell us in the comments!
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Britney Spears May Release Ke$ha-Penned Track As Next Single
'Till The World Ends' expected out sometime next week.By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears
Photo: Jeremy Cowart/ WireImage
Slowly but surely, fans are getting a taste of what Britney Spears' March 29 album release, Femme Fatale, will sound like. On Wednesday, Spears slowed things down with the tease for her track "Criminal" and psyched fans up with the news that she worked with Travis Barker on the album.
Fans are speculating that the next single released will be the Ke$ha-penned track, "Till the World Ends." Art for the single's cover, in which Spears appears sitting on a couch in a sweater and heels, was posted at Deezer.com.
A 30-second snippet of the song appeared on Amazon.de, which indicates that the single will be available on March 11. The track sounds like a fist-pumping anthem, and the sample showcases Spears' electronically enhanced vocals going "Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh."
The single will reportedly drop sometime next week, according to a tweet sent out by Tampa radio station 93.3 FM. "Hearing from Jive Records that we'll have a new @BritneySpears single to play next week!"
Ke$ha recently dished about the track to Spin.com, noting that the song is about the power of an artist performing a great gig. "That song is me imagining her and any female musician touring the world," she says. "You know, when you go out, and you're having an amazing, magical night and you don't want to go to sleep and you want it to last until the world ends."
Spears' longtime manager Larry Rudolph recently told MTV News that he's super-excited about the next single off Femme Fatale. "I don't think I've been this excited about releasing a Britney single in many, many years," he said. "It's that good. That's all I'm gonna say about it at the moment. I haven't heard a final mix of it, but I should get it in the next day or two. So far, what I've heard is just extraordinary. It really is amazing. Her fans will be very happy with it. I'm trying hard to get it out before the album comes out."
For those keeping count, it's not the first time Ke$ha and Spears have worked together. Ke$ha appeared on the Circus song "Lace and Leather." "I just did backgrounds for her 'cause I was so broke. I needed to pay my rent," she shared back in 2009. "I got a few bucks. No, [I didn't meet her]. I just did backups for her."
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Britney Spears
Photo: Jeremy Cowart/ WireImage
Slowly but surely, fans are getting a taste of what Britney Spears' March 29 album release, Femme Fatale, will sound like. On Wednesday, Spears slowed things down with the tease for her track "Criminal" and psyched fans up with the news that she worked with Travis Barker on the album.
Fans are speculating that the next single released will be the Ke$ha-penned track, "Till the World Ends." Art for the single's cover, in which Spears appears sitting on a couch in a sweater and heels, was posted at Deezer.com.
A 30-second snippet of the song appeared on Amazon.de, which indicates that the single will be available on March 11. The track sounds like a fist-pumping anthem, and the sample showcases Spears' electronically enhanced vocals going "Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh."
The single will reportedly drop sometime next week, according to a tweet sent out by Tampa radio station 93.3 FM. "Hearing from Jive Records that we'll have a new @BritneySpears single to play next week!"
Ke$ha recently dished about the track to Spin.com, noting that the song is about the power of an artist performing a great gig. "That song is me imagining her and any female musician touring the world," she says. "You know, when you go out, and you're having an amazing, magical night and you don't want to go to sleep and you want it to last until the world ends."
Spears' longtime manager Larry Rudolph recently told MTV News that he's super-excited about the next single off Femme Fatale. "I don't think I've been this excited about releasing a Britney single in many, many years," he said. "It's that good. That's all I'm gonna say about it at the moment. I haven't heard a final mix of it, but I should get it in the next day or two. So far, what I've heard is just extraordinary. It really is amazing. Her fans will be very happy with it. I'm trying hard to get it out before the album comes out."
For those keeping count, it's not the first time Ke$ha and Spears have worked together. Ke$ha appeared on the Circus song "Lace and Leather." "I just did backgrounds for her 'cause I was so broke. I needed to pay my rent," she shared back in 2009. "I got a few bucks. No, [I didn't meet her]. I just did backups for her."
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Marla Sokoloff Marley Shelton Mary Elizabeth Winstead Megan Ewing
Monday, March 28, 2011
Les News, 032811
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules was the #1 movie at the box office this weekend. Which baby sings Justin Bieber‘s Baby better … THIS one or THIS one? Idolator is giving away a premium copy of Britney Spears‘s new album Femme Fatale HERE! Young Dutch fans love Justin Bieber. Chewbacca is making a [...]
Stone Temple Pilots Reunited In Hopes Of Opening For Led Zeppelin, Bassist Says
'If time allows, there will definitely be new music,' Robert DeLeo adds of STP's future.By Chris Harris
Stone Temple Pilots' Robert DeLeo and Scott Weiland
Photo: Charley Gallay/ Getty Images
There are a number of reasons why Stone Temple Pilots decided to reunite after nearly five years apart — some are obvious, and others, not so much.
Of course, the financial windfall of reviving the grunge stalwarts for an extensive U.S. tour was too good to pass up, and bassist Robert DeLeo readily admits as much. And then there are the fans, the ones who had been with STP since the very beginning as well as those who discovered the band only after it first split back in 2003 and who, woefully, have yet to catch the Pilots live.
On a more personal level, though, Stone Temple Pilots' resurrection was purely selfish, and very much an anticipatory (not to mention optimistic) move on the band's part: If, after the months and months of rumors and denials, there ever is a full-on Led Zeppelin reunion tour, STP wanted to be ready to offer their services as an opening act.
"Believe me, that was one of the reasons," laughed DeLeo. "We thought, 'We should get together now, in case Zeppelin does tour.' I'm serious, man. That would be one hell of a bill: STP and Led Zeppelin. I mean, we could play a doghouse, out in the middle of the ocean, and if I got to play with Zeppelin, that would be a highlight of my life."
Yes, DeLeo — and the rest of the band — had several reservations about raising STP from the dead — a feat DeLeo jokingly referred to as "Mission Impossible." For the band's members, the idea of regrouping was terrifying at first, but with time, the boys settled their differences and tried to think positive.
"For me, it was about putting down some of the things that I was used to getting bitten by," explained the bassist — who, with guitar-playing brother Dean DeLeo, has been collaborating with Peter Frampton on material for his next LP. "After you get bitten, it's hard to go back. I wanted to go into this with an open frame of mind and a positive attitude and just have fun with it. We should have fun with it, which God knows we didn't always have with our career when we were younger. If that's all I can say, and that's what I can get out of this reunion, great.
"I think I speak for all of us when I say there's a lot of unfinished business that we didn't get around to the first go," he continued. "Enough time has gone by, and it feels really good to be back. I don't really want to put too much thought into how it feels — I'm just kind of going with it and keeping a good positive attitude about it. I just needed to get over the things that we all needed to get over, and that's been working so far. If everyone shows up and does this thing, I think it's going to be really amazing."
DeLeo claims that during recent rehearsals, STP were "sounding as good as ever," and he credits sobriety as part of the reason the band's in tip-top shape.
"My brother's going on four years of sobriety," he said. "We have a lot more clarity in the band now, and I think with clarity comes appreciation. I saw that the other night, when we played [a secret gig in Los Angeles]. I saw it in my eyes, and in the eyes of the rest of the band. There's a lot more rock in this band now."
As for an STP record, DeLeo is not 100 percent sure that's going to happen. The goal for STP over the next few weeks, he said, is to reacquaint themselves with their songbook and prepare for their return to the road. Once the band is back in that mindset, the bassist said new STP material is very possible.
"I've always got stuff written, and there's always a long list of songs that are always there — it's a matter of timing," DeLeo said. "If time allows, there will definitely be new music. I think it would be silly not to release new music. I'd like to believe we still have a writing relationship, but the first step is getting reacquainted with what we know."
While STP were on hiatus, frontman Scott Weiland teamed up with Velvet Revolver, and the DeLeo brothers joined forces with Filter's Richard Patrick for Army of Anyone — who are now on hiatus after releasing a poorly received self-titled LP. Does DeLeo foresee an AOA reunion somewhere down the line?
"You never know," he said. "It's just like STP — I didn't know if I was going to return. Whether we get back together and do anything, I think we made a great record, bottom line. That's all that matters to me. If we make another one, I want to make sure it's great, and that applies to STP and anything I do. But I was pretty heartbroken over [the feeble response to AOA's album]."
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Stone Temple Pilots' Robert DeLeo and Scott Weiland
Photo: Charley Gallay/ Getty Images
There are a number of reasons why Stone Temple Pilots decided to reunite after nearly five years apart — some are obvious, and others, not so much.
Of course, the financial windfall of reviving the grunge stalwarts for an extensive U.S. tour was too good to pass up, and bassist Robert DeLeo readily admits as much. And then there are the fans, the ones who had been with STP since the very beginning as well as those who discovered the band only after it first split back in 2003 and who, woefully, have yet to catch the Pilots live.
On a more personal level, though, Stone Temple Pilots' resurrection was purely selfish, and very much an anticipatory (not to mention optimistic) move on the band's part: If, after the months and months of rumors and denials, there ever is a full-on Led Zeppelin reunion tour, STP wanted to be ready to offer their services as an opening act.
"Believe me, that was one of the reasons," laughed DeLeo. "We thought, 'We should get together now, in case Zeppelin does tour.' I'm serious, man. That would be one hell of a bill: STP and Led Zeppelin. I mean, we could play a doghouse, out in the middle of the ocean, and if I got to play with Zeppelin, that would be a highlight of my life."
Yes, DeLeo — and the rest of the band — had several reservations about raising STP from the dead — a feat DeLeo jokingly referred to as "Mission Impossible." For the band's members, the idea of regrouping was terrifying at first, but with time, the boys settled their differences and tried to think positive.
"For me, it was about putting down some of the things that I was used to getting bitten by," explained the bassist — who, with guitar-playing brother Dean DeLeo, has been collaborating with Peter Frampton on material for his next LP. "After you get bitten, it's hard to go back. I wanted to go into this with an open frame of mind and a positive attitude and just have fun with it. We should have fun with it, which God knows we didn't always have with our career when we were younger. If that's all I can say, and that's what I can get out of this reunion, great.
"I think I speak for all of us when I say there's a lot of unfinished business that we didn't get around to the first go," he continued. "Enough time has gone by, and it feels really good to be back. I don't really want to put too much thought into how it feels — I'm just kind of going with it and keeping a good positive attitude about it. I just needed to get over the things that we all needed to get over, and that's been working so far. If everyone shows up and does this thing, I think it's going to be really amazing."
DeLeo claims that during recent rehearsals, STP were "sounding as good as ever," and he credits sobriety as part of the reason the band's in tip-top shape.
"My brother's going on four years of sobriety," he said. "We have a lot more clarity in the band now, and I think with clarity comes appreciation. I saw that the other night, when we played [a secret gig in Los Angeles]. I saw it in my eyes, and in the eyes of the rest of the band. There's a lot more rock in this band now."
As for an STP record, DeLeo is not 100 percent sure that's going to happen. The goal for STP over the next few weeks, he said, is to reacquaint themselves with their songbook and prepare for their return to the road. Once the band is back in that mindset, the bassist said new STP material is very possible.
"I've always got stuff written, and there's always a long list of songs that are always there — it's a matter of timing," DeLeo said. "If time allows, there will definitely be new music. I think it would be silly not to release new music. I'd like to believe we still have a writing relationship, but the first step is getting reacquainted with what we know."
While STP were on hiatus, frontman Scott Weiland teamed up with Velvet Revolver, and the DeLeo brothers joined forces with Filter's Richard Patrick for Army of Anyone — who are now on hiatus after releasing a poorly received self-titled LP. Does DeLeo foresee an AOA reunion somewhere down the line?
"You never know," he said. "It's just like STP — I didn't know if I was going to return. Whether we get back together and do anything, I think we made a great record, bottom line. That's all that matters to me. If we make another one, I want to make sure it's great, and that applies to STP and anything I do. But I was pretty heartbroken over [the feeble response to AOA's album]."
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Portia de Rossi Rachael Leigh Cook Rachel Bilson Rachel Blanchard
Japan earthquake aid book crowd-sourced in just seven days
Within a week of
the earthquake and tsunami that killed tens of thousands in the Tohoku region
of northeastern Japan on March 11, an enterprising group of Tokyo bloggers and Twitter users had
begun an ambitious project to both produce a creative documentation of the
disaster and raise funds to help the survivors.
Fast forward
seven days to March 25 and the group?s book of short stories -- 2:46, or
#QuakeBook from its Twitter origins-- was ready to hit the digital presses and send funds flowing to
the Japanese Red Cross.read more
the earthquake and tsunami that killed tens of thousands in the Tohoku region
of northeastern Japan on March 11, an enterprising group of Tokyo bloggers and Twitter users had
begun an ambitious project to both produce a creative documentation of the
disaster and raise funds to help the survivors.
Fast forward
seven days to March 25 and the group?s book of short stories -- 2:46, or
#QuakeBook from its Twitter origins-- was ready to hit the digital presses and send funds flowing to
the Japanese Red Cross.read more
IFC Films Grabs U.S. Rights to 'Flypaper'
Jay A. Fernandez IFC Films has acquired U.S. rights to the robbery comedy "Flypaper," which had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January. "Hangover" scribes Jon Lucas and Scott Moore wrote the screenplay, and Rob Minkoff directed.read more
Melissa Howard Melissa Joan Hart Melissa Rycroft Melissa Sagemiller
Michael Jackson Doctor Conrad Murray's Trial To Be Televised
Judge rules that camera will be allowed in the courtroom for manslaughter case.By Gil Kaufman
Conrad Murray
Photo: AFP/ Getty Images
For what promises to be one of the most bizarre and riveting legal proceedings in years, a Los Angeles judge ruled on Monday that a television camera will be allowed in the courtroom when Michael Jackson's doctor goes on trial for involuntary manslaughter.
Reuters reported that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, approved the presence of a camera in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray as long as it does not interfere with the proceedings in the closely watched case.
The judge asked for the "absolute least-intrusive placement" of a TV camera in the courtroom, but blocked cameras from documenting jury selection.
Pastor also announced that he would bump up the opening date of the trail by four days to March 24, at which point jury selection will begin. Murray, who faces up to four years in prison if convicted, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the trial is expected to last around six weeks.
Cardiologist Murray was hired to be Jackson's personal physician in the run-up to the King of Pop's planned 50-date comeback series of shows at London's O2 arena in the summer of 2009. The doctor told police that he provided Jackson, 50, with sedatives and the surgical anesthetic propofol in order to combat the singer's chronic insomnia. He said he did so on the morning of June 25, 2009, when Jackson died of what a coroner deemed acute propofol poisoning.
TMZ reported on Tuesday (February 8) that Murray's lawyers plan to argue that Jackson was already in weak health before he died and that it's unfair to blame propofol for his passing. Unnamed sources close to the case told the gossip site that at the time of his death, Jackson's body was already failing him in part because concert promoter AEG Live had "driven [him] over the edge" with a rigorous rehearsal schedule for the shows.
Murray's lawyers reportedly plan to call witnesses to say that Jackson was not showing up for rehearsals and when he did he showed "clear signs" of frail health. They also reportedly plan to argue that it was Jackson who administered the final, fatal dose of propofol to himself while Murray was out of the room.
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Conrad Murray
Photo: AFP/ Getty Images
For what promises to be one of the most bizarre and riveting legal proceedings in years, a Los Angeles judge ruled on Monday that a television camera will be allowed in the courtroom when Michael Jackson's doctor goes on trial for involuntary manslaughter.
Reuters reported that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, approved the presence of a camera in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray as long as it does not interfere with the proceedings in the closely watched case.
The judge asked for the "absolute least-intrusive placement" of a TV camera in the courtroom, but blocked cameras from documenting jury selection.
Pastor also announced that he would bump up the opening date of the trail by four days to March 24, at which point jury selection will begin. Murray, who faces up to four years in prison if convicted, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the trial is expected to last around six weeks.
Cardiologist Murray was hired to be Jackson's personal physician in the run-up to the King of Pop's planned 50-date comeback series of shows at London's O2 arena in the summer of 2009. The doctor told police that he provided Jackson, 50, with sedatives and the surgical anesthetic propofol in order to combat the singer's chronic insomnia. He said he did so on the morning of June 25, 2009, when Jackson died of what a coroner deemed acute propofol poisoning.
TMZ reported on Tuesday (February 8) that Murray's lawyers plan to argue that Jackson was already in weak health before he died and that it's unfair to blame propofol for his passing. Unnamed sources close to the case told the gossip site that at the time of his death, Jackson's body was already failing him in part because concert promoter AEG Live had "driven [him] over the edge" with a rigorous rehearsal schedule for the shows.
Murray's lawyers reportedly plan to call witnesses to say that Jackson was not showing up for rehearsals and when he did he showed "clear signs" of frail health. They also reportedly plan to argue that it was Jackson who administered the final, fatal dose of propofol to himself while Murray was out of the room.
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Chris Brown Recalls Making Justin Bieber 'Kind Of Mad'
F.A.M.E. singer was late to their 'Next 2 You' recording session.By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Rebecca Thomas
Chris Brown
Photo: MTV News
Aside from his latest controversy, Chris Brown is back with F.A.M.E., which stands for "Forgiving All My Enemies" and "Fans Are My Everything." On the new album, Brown has some choice features from stars such as Lil Wayne, Tyga, Ludacris and Justin Bieber.
"Working with Wayne is always incredible," said Brown, whose "Beautiful People" video premiered Tuesday on MTV's "The Seven." "I've had Wayne on every single album I've done. ... Being able to work with these guys is incredible. I build most of my collaborations off of just the relationships that I've built with these guys over the years and then new relationships, like Justin Bieber."
Brown told MTV News that it was awesome getting Bieber on board for "Next 2 You." Brown became interested in featuring the teen star on his album after the duo worked on the remix to Bieber's track "Up," which was featured on Never Say Never - The Remixes.
"Being able to collab with [Bieber] was great," Brown said. "He's a young, energetic cat, so being able to work with him, with the fanbase he has, was incredible. I know a lot of little girls are going to love this record.
"I wouldn't say [he's] my protégé. He's doing his thing at a young age, and I was doing mine at a young age, so being able to see him come up is dope."
Brown explained that the two of them didn't quite get into the studio together, however.
"I actually stood him up on accident," Brown recalled. "He was kind of mad ... I was all the way on the other side of town handling some business, 'girl business,' and I was rushing back, and by that time, he's like, 'Man, I'm leaving, bro. I did it — just check it out.' And I looked at it and listened to it and I was like, 'Man, this is crazy.' ... He's a great kid."
Which F.A.M.E. collaboration are you most looking forward to hearing? Tell us below!
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Aside from his latest controversy, Chris Brown is back with F.A.M.E., which stands for "Forgiving All My Enemies" and "Fans Are My Everything." On the new album, Brown has some choice features from stars such as Lil Wayne, Tyga, Ludacris and Justin Bieber.
"Working with Wayne is always incredible," said Brown, whose "Beautiful People" video premiered Tuesday on MTV's "The Seven." "I've had Wayne on every single album I've done. ... Being able to work with these guys is incredible. I build most of my collaborations off of just the relationships that I've built with these guys over the years and then new relationships, like Justin Bieber."
Brown told MTV News that it was awesome getting Bieber on board for "Next 2 You." Brown became interested in featuring the teen star on his album after the duo worked on the remix to Bieber's track "Up," which was featured on Never Say Never - The Remixes.
"Being able to collab with [Bieber] was great," Brown said. "He's a young, energetic cat, so being able to work with him, with the fanbase he has, was incredible. I know a lot of little girls are going to love this record.
"I wouldn't say [he's] my protégé. He's doing his thing at a young age, and I was doing mine at a young age, so being able to see him come up is dope."
Brown explained that the two of them didn't quite get into the studio together, however.
"I actually stood him up on accident," Brown recalled. "He was kind of mad ... I was all the way on the other side of town handling some business, 'girl business,' and I was rushing back, and by that time, he's like, 'Man, I'm leaving, bro. I did it — just check it out.' And I looked at it and listened to it and I was like, 'Man, this is crazy.' ... He's a great kid."
Which F.A.M.E. collaboration are you most looking forward to hearing? Tell us below!
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Taylor Lautner, Justin Timberlake Vie For 'Best Line' MTV Movie Award Nods
'Eclipse,' 'Social Network' stars and more may snag nominations in the new category as voting begins today. By Eric Ditzian
Taylor Lautner in "Eclipse"
Photo: Summit
New MTV Movie Award categories come and go. Best Kiss has been around since the beginning ("My Girl" co-star Anna Chlumsky and Macaulay Culkin were the inaugural winners in 1992), while Sexiest Performance and Best Virtual Performance lasted just a year (congrats, Jessica Alba and Gollum!).
For the 2011 show, one new category joins the field: Best Line From a Movie. Folks like Justin Timberlake ("Social Network"), Taylor Lautner ("Eclipse") and Leonardo DiCaprio ("Inception") will compete to make the final list of nominees.
We should add, however, that we've seen something like this before. For two years at the turn of the millennium, we presented a category called Best Line. Robert De Niro won that first year for asking Ben Stiller in "Meet the Parents," "Are you a pothead, Focker?" The next year, "Legally Blonde" star Reese Witherspoon triumphed for delivering this line to Selma Blair: "Oh, I like your outfit too, except when I dress up as a frigid bitch, I try not to look so constipated."
While comedic movie lines won twice in the past, there's no telling what's going to happen this year. Potential nominees are both young ("Grown Ups" star Alexys Nycole Sanchez: "I want to get chocolate wasted!") and, well, not as young ("Tron: Legacy" star Jeff Bridges: "You're really ruining my Zen thing"). There are laugh lines ("With no power, comes no responsibility," Aaron Johnson said in "Kick Ass") and deadly serious ones ("If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you'd have invented Facebook," Jesse Eisenberg declared in "The Social Network"). A few quotes are a little too dirty to print in full ("It's in the shape of a giant co--," cracks Chloë Moretz in "Kick Ass"). And then there are two "Eclipse" quotes facing off against each other: Lautner ("Let's face it, I'm hotter than you") versus Robert Pattinson ("Doesn't he own a shirt?").
Which lines will make the final list of nominees? It's up to you, and voting is already under way at MovieAwards.MTV.com. Polls for Best Line From a Movie and the rest of the categories will stay open through April 5. After the final nominees are announced, another round of voting will kick off on May 3 and run through June 4. But voting for Best Movie will remain open during the awards show itself.
The 20th annual MTV Movie Awards will air live on Sunday, June 5, at 9 p.m. ET from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Taylor Lautner in "Eclipse"
Photo: Summit
New MTV Movie Award categories come and go. Best Kiss has been around since the beginning ("My Girl" co-star Anna Chlumsky and Macaulay Culkin were the inaugural winners in 1992), while Sexiest Performance and Best Virtual Performance lasted just a year (congrats, Jessica Alba and Gollum!).
For the 2011 show, one new category joins the field: Best Line From a Movie. Folks like Justin Timberlake ("Social Network"), Taylor Lautner ("Eclipse") and Leonardo DiCaprio ("Inception") will compete to make the final list of nominees.
We should add, however, that we've seen something like this before. For two years at the turn of the millennium, we presented a category called Best Line. Robert De Niro won that first year for asking Ben Stiller in "Meet the Parents," "Are you a pothead, Focker?" The next year, "Legally Blonde" star Reese Witherspoon triumphed for delivering this line to Selma Blair: "Oh, I like your outfit too, except when I dress up as a frigid bitch, I try not to look so constipated."
While comedic movie lines won twice in the past, there's no telling what's going to happen this year. Potential nominees are both young ("Grown Ups" star Alexys Nycole Sanchez: "I want to get chocolate wasted!") and, well, not as young ("Tron: Legacy" star Jeff Bridges: "You're really ruining my Zen thing"). There are laugh lines ("With no power, comes no responsibility," Aaron Johnson said in "Kick Ass") and deadly serious ones ("If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you'd have invented Facebook," Jesse Eisenberg declared in "The Social Network"). A few quotes are a little too dirty to print in full ("It's in the shape of a giant co--," cracks Chloë Moretz in "Kick Ass"). And then there are two "Eclipse" quotes facing off against each other: Lautner ("Let's face it, I'm hotter than you") versus Robert Pattinson ("Doesn't he own a shirt?").
Which lines will make the final list of nominees? It's up to you, and voting is already under way at MovieAwards.MTV.com. Polls for Best Line From a Movie and the rest of the categories will stay open through April 5. After the final nominees are announced, another round of voting will kick off on May 3 and run through June 4. But voting for Best Movie will remain open during the awards show itself.
The 20th annual MTV Movie Awards will air live on Sunday, June 5, at 9 p.m. ET from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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David Guetta Brings F.M.I.F. Party To Miami Music Week
Guetta and his wife, Cathy, present their 'F--- Me I'm Famous' brand in the U.S.By Akshay Bhansali
David Guetta
Photo: MTV News
MIAMI — French beatsmith David Guetta and his wife Cathy plan to launch their clubber power-party brand in the U.S. in a big way. Called "F--- Me I'm Famous," it's named after the electronic dance music party that takes place every year as part of the summer EDM circuit in Ibiza, Spain.
On Saturday (March 26) at Club Mansion in Miami, Cathy and David delivered a brand debut of sorts for attendees of Miami Music Week. The Guettas and record label EMI have signed a global partnership to promote F.M.I.F. events around the world, and they're banking on seeing it blossom here in the States.
With frequent collaborator and friend will.i.am and Dutch house-music producer Sidney Sampson by his side, David Guetta took to the decks just after 1 a.m. Saturday and charged into a vicious Afrojack tune, followed by his hit single "One Love" and "Gettin' Over You," the chorus of which fans in the house knew by heart. As Guetta dropped out the sound, the audience belted out Fergie's vocals without missing a beat.
After spinning hit singles "Sexy Chick" and Flo Rida's "Club Can't Handle Me," Guetta dropped in his fiery mix of Far East Movement's "Like a G6," a joint the DJ/producer has no plans to release but which he's shared with lil' brother Afrojack for their touring gigs. The Black Eyed Peas "Boom Boom Pow" followed.
Notably, will.i.am joined DG onstage to repeatedly lend the vocal "Everybody!" and a set of freestyle bars on what's possibly a new song, a banger with a progressive break that peaks into a driving house tune after LMFAO vocals announce, "I'm David Guetta, bitch!"
So club fans, rejoice: More F--- Me I'm Famous parties are right around the corner. When we caught up with Guetta on Friday afternoon, he was pleased to announce the brand has found a home in Las Vegas.
"I'm super-excited about this, the F--- Me I'm Famous party," Guetta said. "I'm taking over Vegas. This is gonna be crazy. We are starting a pool party at Wet Republic, and that's gonna be every Sunday.
"It's the first time we are gonna do a residency like this, except in Ibiza. We're gonna do also three really big concerts at the Joint [at the Vegas Hard Rock Hotel & Casino]. We have one for Memorial Day. That's gonna be a big thing. We're gonna come with the whole production from Europe. So this is probably an important moment for our brand, F--- Me I'm Famous, starting to find a life and a home in America.
The F--- Me I'm Famous party at Wet Republic in Las Vegas will open April 10 and run Sundays through May 1, according to Wet Republic Las Vegas' website.
Be sure to follow our MTV News Crew (@AdamMTVNews and @ASBhansali) for all of the Miami Music Week action!
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MIAMI — French beatsmith David Guetta and his wife Cathy plan to launch their clubber power-party brand in the U.S. in a big way. Called "F--- Me I'm Famous," it's named after the electronic dance music party that takes place every year as part of the summer EDM circuit in Ibiza, Spain.
On Saturday (March 26) at Club Mansion in Miami, Cathy and David delivered a brand debut of sorts for attendees of Miami Music Week. The Guettas and record label EMI have signed a global partnership to promote F.M.I.F. events around the world, and they're banking on seeing it blossom here in the States.
With frequent collaborator and friend will.i.am and Dutch house-music producer Sidney Sampson by his side, David Guetta took to the decks just after 1 a.m. Saturday and charged into a vicious Afrojack tune, followed by his hit single "One Love" and "Gettin' Over You," the chorus of which fans in the house knew by heart. As Guetta dropped out the sound, the audience belted out Fergie's vocals without missing a beat.
After spinning hit singles "Sexy Chick" and Flo Rida's "Club Can't Handle Me," Guetta dropped in his fiery mix of Far East Movement's "Like a G6," a joint the DJ/producer has no plans to release but which he's shared with lil' brother Afrojack for their touring gigs. The Black Eyed Peas "Boom Boom Pow" followed.
Notably, will.i.am joined DG onstage to repeatedly lend the vocal "Everybody!" and a set of freestyle bars on what's possibly a new song, a banger with a progressive break that peaks into a driving house tune after LMFAO vocals announce, "I'm David Guetta, bitch!"
So club fans, rejoice: More F--- Me I'm Famous parties are right around the corner. When we caught up with Guetta on Friday afternoon, he was pleased to announce the brand has found a home in Las Vegas.
"I'm super-excited about this, the F--- Me I'm Famous party," Guetta said. "I'm taking over Vegas. This is gonna be crazy. We are starting a pool party at Wet Republic, and that's gonna be every Sunday.
"It's the first time we are gonna do a residency like this, except in Ibiza. We're gonna do also three really big concerts at the Joint [at the Vegas Hard Rock Hotel & Casino]. We have one for Memorial Day. That's gonna be a big thing. We're gonna come with the whole production from Europe. So this is probably an important moment for our brand, F--- Me I'm Famous, starting to find a life and a home in America.
The F--- Me I'm Famous party at Wet Republic in Las Vegas will open April 10 and run Sundays through May 1, according to Wet Republic Las Vegas' website.
Be sure to follow our MTV News Crew (@AdamMTVNews and @ASBhansali) for all of the Miami Music Week action!
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Erin Carufel Lands Role in 'Gone' Thriller (Exclusive)
Daniel Miller Amanda Seyfried also stars in the Lakeshore Entertainment and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment production.read more
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IFC Films Grabs U.S. Rights to 'Flypaper'
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New Led Zeppelin On The Way? Jason Bonham Hints At 'Jam' Sessions With Jimmy Page -- But Not Robert Plant
Drummer admits he doesn't know what will come of 'new material.'By Chris Harris
Jason Bonham
Photo: Larry Marano/ Getty Images
On Friday morning, mere hours before he was due to take the stage with classic rockers Foreigner at Detroit's GM Renaissance Center, drummer Jason Bonham — the son of late Led Zeppelin kitman John Bonham — told Jim Johnson and Lynne Woodison of local rock station 94.7 WCSX that he'd be an ex-member of Foreigner as of September 1. But that's not the only thing he said.
Much to the delight of Led Zeppelin fans everywhere, Bonham revealed that he's been meeting up with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones in recent months and that they've been "trying to do some new material and writing."
It was the first time since Led Zeppelin announced they would re-form for a single performance (which happened late last year at London's O2 Arena, in honor of the late Ahmet Ertegün, who signed the band to Atlantic Records in 1969) that anyone connected to the band has confirmed publicly that new music could be on the horizon for the iconic rockers. While the bandmembers have stopped short of definitively ruling out such a reunion, singer Robert Plant insisted in the wake of last year's show that he intended to focus on promoting and touring behind his critically lauded album with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss, Raising Sand.
Not that Bonham knows what — if anything — will happen with the new material he's been working on with Page (who collaborated with pop singer Leona Lewis on an uneven version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love" at the Olympic closing ceremonies in Beijing on Sunday night) and Jones. He said he just shows up and takes his seat behind the kit.
"I've been over [to England] a couple of times," Bonham said. "I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do ... some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something. At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and start work on some material. When I get there, I never ask any questions. If I get a phone call to go and play, I enjoy every moment of it. Whatever it ends up as, to ever get a chance to jam with two people like that, it is a phenomenal thing for me. It's my life. It's what I've dreamed about doing."
He said it's still too early to tell what will become of these "jam" sessions, but admitted that the "possibility of doing something is in the cards. I really felt it was in the cards from the moment we walked offstage at the O2." Bonham also explained that, before there could be a Led Zep LP, "lots of politics [would need to] get ironed out," but added that recording with Zep is "something I've always wanted to do."
Bonham noticeably didn't mention frontman Plant's name during the discussion. A spokesperson for Page's management had no comment on the matter, and a spokesperson for Jones' management could not be reached by press time.
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Photo: Larry Marano/ Getty Images
On Friday morning, mere hours before he was due to take the stage with classic rockers Foreigner at Detroit's GM Renaissance Center, drummer Jason Bonham — the son of late Led Zeppelin kitman John Bonham — told Jim Johnson and Lynne Woodison of local rock station 94.7 WCSX that he'd be an ex-member of Foreigner as of September 1. But that's not the only thing he said.
Much to the delight of Led Zeppelin fans everywhere, Bonham revealed that he's been meeting up with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones in recent months and that they've been "trying to do some new material and writing."
It was the first time since Led Zeppelin announced they would re-form for a single performance (which happened late last year at London's O2 Arena, in honor of the late Ahmet Ertegün, who signed the band to Atlantic Records in 1969) that anyone connected to the band has confirmed publicly that new music could be on the horizon for the iconic rockers. While the bandmembers have stopped short of definitively ruling out such a reunion, singer Robert Plant insisted in the wake of last year's show that he intended to focus on promoting and touring behind his critically lauded album with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss, Raising Sand.
Not that Bonham knows what — if anything — will happen with the new material he's been working on with Page (who collaborated with pop singer Leona Lewis on an uneven version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love" at the Olympic closing ceremonies in Beijing on Sunday night) and Jones. He said he just shows up and takes his seat behind the kit.
"I've been over [to England] a couple of times," Bonham said. "I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do ... some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something. At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and start work on some material. When I get there, I never ask any questions. If I get a phone call to go and play, I enjoy every moment of it. Whatever it ends up as, to ever get a chance to jam with two people like that, it is a phenomenal thing for me. It's my life. It's what I've dreamed about doing."
He said it's still too early to tell what will become of these "jam" sessions, but admitted that the "possibility of doing something is in the cards. I really felt it was in the cards from the moment we walked offstage at the O2." Bonham also explained that, before there could be a Led Zep LP, "lots of politics [would need to] get ironed out," but added that recording with Zep is "something I've always wanted to do."
Bonham noticeably didn't mention frontman Plant's name during the discussion. A spokesperson for Page's management had no comment on the matter, and a spokesperson for Jones' management could not be reached by press time.
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Kim Kardashian playboy nude photo leaked
BREAKING NEWS!
A photo of Kim Kardashian?s playboy photoshoot has been leaked. The photoshoot wasn?t supposed to appear to viewers until December. It is rumored that this will be the biggest playboy spread ever?..
BREAKING NEWS!
A photo of Kim Kardashian?s playboy photoshoot has been leaked. The photoshoot wasn?t supposed to appear to viewers until December. It is rumored that this will be the biggest playboy spread ever?..
Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi? Ana Paula Lemes
Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Slash Light Up Super Bowl XLV Halftime Show
Foursome is joined by special guests and tons of lights for smash-hit medley. By Mawuse Ziegbe
Black Eyed Peas perform during the Super Bowl XLV halftime show
Photo: Getty Images
The Black Eyed Peas promised a party at the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday (February 6), and the pop supernovas definitely delivered, with a performance teeming with lights, dancers and surprise appearances from celebrity pals.
Following a Chatter.com commercial that showed animated versions of the Peas showing off their social-media skills, the group kicked things off with their 2009 smash "I Gotta Feeling," descending from the ceiling on illuminated platforms onto a stage surrounded by a cluster of dancers clad in white bodysuits. The foursome led the team of fist-pumping troops in "Tron"-like getups, with Taboo sporting an outfit covered in flashing lights, will.i.am rocking a shiny hairpiece, Apl.de.ap wearing huge bright studs and Fergie vamping it up in bling-laden shoulder pads.
When the speaker-busting bass of "Boom Boom Pow" dropped, the dancers dispersed across the field to create arrow-shaped formations as the glow-in-the-dark lights on their suits illuminated the stadium. Then rumored surprise guest Slash of Guns N' Roses rose from below the stage for a "Sweet Child O' Mine" duet with Fergie. The GNR great rocked a finger-searing solo in a studded version of his signature black top hat as more angular platforms and dancers moved across the gridiron. The platforms were bearing scores of marching-band musicians who blasted their horns and pounded away on their drums as the Peas went into "Pump It" and blue lights splashed across the production.
Quick streams of fog heralded the arrival of the Peas' second surprise guest, Usher, who swooped in on a long chain to bust out his will.i.am-assisted joint "OMG." Rocking a sparkly collar on an otherwise all-white ensemble, the R&B hitmaker cranked out several counts of energetic choreography, enlivening moves from his "OMG" video and at one point jumping over Will and landing in a split.
A spray of pyro ushered in the collective's breakout 2003 hit "Where Is the Love?" as the oddly shaped platforms spelled out the word "Love" in bright-red letters. The team of dancers, which appeared to have multiplied to over 100, formed hearts across the field as will updated the lyrics of the smash with lines like, "Obama, let's get these educated."
Then the group jumped ahead to their most recent single, 2010's "The Time (Dirty Bit)," as several back up hoofers rocking cubed helmets joined the Peas onstage and dancers lined up along the gridiron to simultaneously bust out the Running Man, a move which drew cheers from the crowd.
The platinum-selling Peas wrapped up the performance with a reprise of "I Gotta Feeling," as the quartet triumphantly signed off amid of blitz of fog, firepower and flashing lights.
Ripping the halftime show was clearly a touching moment for will, who tweeted beforehand, "Me and apl started the peas when we were 16 yesterday we were dreamin now were livin it. Wow. I'm not crying out of sadness or nervousness its joy and pride and memories and the journey."
And once the crew left the stage, the frontman was not only proud, but pumped. "That was so freakin sick," he wrote. "Wow...!!!"
What did you think of the Black Eyed Peas' Super Bowl performance? Let us know in the comments!
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Photo: Getty Images
The Black Eyed Peas promised a party at the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday (February 6), and the pop supernovas definitely delivered, with a performance teeming with lights, dancers and surprise appearances from celebrity pals.
Following a Chatter.com commercial that showed animated versions of the Peas showing off their social-media skills, the group kicked things off with their 2009 smash "I Gotta Feeling," descending from the ceiling on illuminated platforms onto a stage surrounded by a cluster of dancers clad in white bodysuits. The foursome led the team of fist-pumping troops in "Tron"-like getups, with Taboo sporting an outfit covered in flashing lights, will.i.am rocking a shiny hairpiece, Apl.de.ap wearing huge bright studs and Fergie vamping it up in bling-laden shoulder pads.
When the speaker-busting bass of "Boom Boom Pow" dropped, the dancers dispersed across the field to create arrow-shaped formations as the glow-in-the-dark lights on their suits illuminated the stadium. Then rumored surprise guest Slash of Guns N' Roses rose from below the stage for a "Sweet Child O' Mine" duet with Fergie. The GNR great rocked a finger-searing solo in a studded version of his signature black top hat as more angular platforms and dancers moved across the gridiron. The platforms were bearing scores of marching-band musicians who blasted their horns and pounded away on their drums as the Peas went into "Pump It" and blue lights splashed across the production.
Quick streams of fog heralded the arrival of the Peas' second surprise guest, Usher, who swooped in on a long chain to bust out his will.i.am-assisted joint "OMG." Rocking a sparkly collar on an otherwise all-white ensemble, the R&B hitmaker cranked out several counts of energetic choreography, enlivening moves from his "OMG" video and at one point jumping over Will and landing in a split.
A spray of pyro ushered in the collective's breakout 2003 hit "Where Is the Love?" as the oddly shaped platforms spelled out the word "Love" in bright-red letters. The team of dancers, which appeared to have multiplied to over 100, formed hearts across the field as will updated the lyrics of the smash with lines like, "Obama, let's get these educated."
Then the group jumped ahead to their most recent single, 2010's "The Time (Dirty Bit)," as several back up hoofers rocking cubed helmets joined the Peas onstage and dancers lined up along the gridiron to simultaneously bust out the Running Man, a move which drew cheers from the crowd.
The platinum-selling Peas wrapped up the performance with a reprise of "I Gotta Feeling," as the quartet triumphantly signed off amid of blitz of fog, firepower and flashing lights.
Ripping the halftime show was clearly a touching moment for will, who tweeted beforehand, "Me and apl started the peas when we were 16 yesterday we were dreamin now were livin it. Wow. I'm not crying out of sadness or nervousness its joy and pride and memories and the journey."
And once the crew left the stage, the frontman was not only proud, but pumped. "That was so freakin sick," he wrote. "Wow...!!!"
What did you think of the Black Eyed Peas' Super Bowl performance? Let us know in the comments!
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'Hunger Games' Experts Weigh In: Who Should Play Peeta?
Josh Hutcherson, Alex Pettyfer and Hunter Parrish appear to be the front-runners, but nothing is confirmed yet.By Christina Garibaldi
Alex Pettyfer
Photo: Getty Images
Last week, MTV News exclusively revealed that Oscar-nominated actress Jennifer Lawrence landed the highly coveted role of Katniss Everdeen in the film adaptation of "The Hunger Games." Experts and fans were mixed on the thought of the tall, blond 20-year-old taking on the role of the 16-year-old, dark-haired heroine, but it seems like Jennifer can rest easy for now, since the debate has shifted to who will play fellow Hunger Games competitor Peeta.
"It's definitely going to be someone close to her age," Down With the Capitol administrator Theresa Morgan told MTV News. "I think it will make it easier to cast someone for Peeta."
Many names have already been thrown into the mix, including "The Kids Are All Right" star Josh Hutcherson, who confessed he has met with director Gary Ross. "I love Peeta," Hutcherson told Entertainment Weekly. "The character is so much who I am — self-deprecating, a people person. And he'd be such a great character to play!"
Hutcherson seems to be a front-runner for the District 12 male tribute, but he will have some stiff competition from Alex Pettyfer and fan favorite Hunter Parrish.
"We love Josh Hutcherson," the Hob administrator Megan Scott said. "There's Alex, who I really like, but Hunter is a huge fan favorite. When I think of these guys with Jennifer, they all go well together."
"Our whole site thinks Hunter will be perfect," Morgan said. "He looks the role and acts the role. A lot of people are thinking he sounds like Peeta."
Ross might agree, since Parrish recently told E! Online he has met with the movie's producers. "I'd be grateful to get the opportunity," he said. "Like, really grateful. It would be amazing."
Not everyone's convinced that these leading contenders are right for the coveted "Hunger Games" role.
"My favorite for Peeta is Callan McAuliffe," Mockingjay.net administrator Kimmy West said about the "I Am Number Four" newcomer. "I think he has the acting chops, he's relatively unknown, and he has that warm quality that Peeta has."
Who do you think should get the role of Peeta in "The Hunger Games"? Tell us in the comments below!
Check out everything we've got on "Hunger Games."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Alex Pettyfer
Photo: Getty Images
Last week, MTV News exclusively revealed that Oscar-nominated actress Jennifer Lawrence landed the highly coveted role of Katniss Everdeen in the film adaptation of "The Hunger Games." Experts and fans were mixed on the thought of the tall, blond 20-year-old taking on the role of the 16-year-old, dark-haired heroine, but it seems like Jennifer can rest easy for now, since the debate has shifted to who will play fellow Hunger Games competitor Peeta.
"It's definitely going to be someone close to her age," Down With the Capitol administrator Theresa Morgan told MTV News. "I think it will make it easier to cast someone for Peeta."
Many names have already been thrown into the mix, including "The Kids Are All Right" star Josh Hutcherson, who confessed he has met with director Gary Ross. "I love Peeta," Hutcherson told Entertainment Weekly. "The character is so much who I am — self-deprecating, a people person. And he'd be such a great character to play!"
Hutcherson seems to be a front-runner for the District 12 male tribute, but he will have some stiff competition from Alex Pettyfer and fan favorite Hunter Parrish.
"We love Josh Hutcherson," the Hob administrator Megan Scott said. "There's Alex, who I really like, but Hunter is a huge fan favorite. When I think of these guys with Jennifer, they all go well together."
"Our whole site thinks Hunter will be perfect," Morgan said. "He looks the role and acts the role. A lot of people are thinking he sounds like Peeta."
Ross might agree, since Parrish recently told E! Online he has met with the movie's producers. "I'd be grateful to get the opportunity," he said. "Like, really grateful. It would be amazing."
Not everyone's convinced that these leading contenders are right for the coveted "Hunger Games" role.
"My favorite for Peeta is Callan McAuliffe," Mockingjay.net administrator Kimmy West said about the "I Am Number Four" newcomer. "I think he has the acting chops, he's relatively unknown, and he has that warm quality that Peeta has."
Who do you think should get the role of Peeta in "The Hunger Games"? Tell us in the comments below!
Check out everything we've got on "Hunger Games."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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New Treatment Center Encourages Clients to Rock Out on Premesis
Roll over Betty Ford and tell Promises the news. A new rehab center in South Central, Pennsylvania called Clarity Way is providing its clients the use of an in-house recording studio and a music therapist. So now drug-addled artists can try to get clean and be productive at the same time.
The studio, which is equipped [...]
The studio, which is equipped [...]
Donald Sutherland Unequivocally Denies 'Don't Look Now' Sex (Again)
Jay A. Fernandez On Tuesday, I wrote a post that quotes from Peter Bart's forthcoming book about how the author claims that he watched Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie having actual sex during the filming of "Don't Look Now." Sutherland, through his publicist, denies this (again) in strong terms. As does producer Peter Katz.read more
Friday, March 25, 2011
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Lady Gaga To Direct 'Judas' Video With Laurieann Gibson
During Google fan interview, the pop star also talks about Born This Way cut inspired by the death of her grandfather.By James Dinh
Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
As promised, Lady Gaga joined forces with Google on Tuesday to answer a string of fan-generated questions for an hour-long interview posted on YouTube called "Musicians@Google Presents: Google Goes Gaga."
While the pop star dished on a range of topics, including her upcoming album, Born This Way, and aspiring-singers-turned-viral-YouTube stars (yes, she mentioned Rebecca Black), the most exciting news she shared with her fans was that she'll be directing the video for her next single, "Judas," alongside creative director Laurieann Gibson.
"I'm very excited. Actually, I can exclusively reveal here at Google that I will be making my directorial debut with Laurieann Gibson, directing this video with her ourselves," the singer said to the cheers of the interview's live audience.
Keeping in line with the song's title, Mother Monster also admitted that the clip will include religious imagery. "It's no surprise, I'm sure, to many of you, that Judas is a man of the biblical senses, so expect to see some symbolism in this video," she said.
Gaga also gave fans a taste of the club track's lyrics by offering a few lines from the song. "When he comes to me, I am ready/ I'll wash his feet with my hair if he needs/ Forgive him when his tongue lies through his brain/ Even after three times, he betrays me/ I'll bring him down, a king with no crown," she recited.
Gaga explained that "Judas," which she produced along with RedOne, talks about confronting one's demons. "You have to look into what is haunting you and you need to look into forgiving yourself in order to move on," she said. "And it's really fun to dance to and sounds like it could be a pop priest record."
She also described a track off her "avant-garde techno rock" LP called "Edge of Glory." Recalling the loss of her grandfather last year, Gaga revealed that she wrote the tune at an emotional moment at the piano while taking tequila shots with her father. "The song's about your last moment on Earth, the moment of truth. The edge of glory is that moment right before you leave the Earth," she said.
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Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
As promised, Lady Gaga joined forces with Google on Tuesday to answer a string of fan-generated questions for an hour-long interview posted on YouTube called "Musicians@Google Presents: Google Goes Gaga."
While the pop star dished on a range of topics, including her upcoming album, Born This Way, and aspiring-singers-turned-viral-YouTube stars (yes, she mentioned Rebecca Black), the most exciting news she shared with her fans was that she'll be directing the video for her next single, "Judas," alongside creative director Laurieann Gibson.
"I'm very excited. Actually, I can exclusively reveal here at Google that I will be making my directorial debut with Laurieann Gibson, directing this video with her ourselves," the singer said to the cheers of the interview's live audience.
Keeping in line with the song's title, Mother Monster also admitted that the clip will include religious imagery. "It's no surprise, I'm sure, to many of you, that Judas is a man of the biblical senses, so expect to see some symbolism in this video," she said.
Gaga also gave fans a taste of the club track's lyrics by offering a few lines from the song. "When he comes to me, I am ready/ I'll wash his feet with my hair if he needs/ Forgive him when his tongue lies through his brain/ Even after three times, he betrays me/ I'll bring him down, a king with no crown," she recited.
Gaga explained that "Judas," which she produced along with RedOne, talks about confronting one's demons. "You have to look into what is haunting you and you need to look into forgiving yourself in order to move on," she said. "And it's really fun to dance to and sounds like it could be a pop priest record."
She also described a track off her "avant-garde techno rock" LP called "Edge of Glory." Recalling the loss of her grandfather last year, Gaga revealed that she wrote the tune at an emotional moment at the piano while taking tequila shots with her father. "The song's about your last moment on Earth, the moment of truth. The edge of glory is that moment right before you leave the Earth," she said.
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Robert Pattinson Says Mackenzie Foy Is Cashing In On 'Breaking Dawn' Set
Pattinson and Kristen Stewart fork over dough whenever they swear in front of their young co-star — which happens a lot.By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
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Photo: MTV News
For those who weren't able to tune into our "MTV First: Robert Pattinson" live interview on Friday (March 18), the range of topics covered during our exclusive 30-minute sit-down interview with the "Water for Elephants" and "Twilight" star ran the gamut from a look back at our first MTV interview with him, an RPattz hairstyle retrospective and, of course, a few details about "Breaking Dawn: Part 1."
We particularly wanted Pattinson's thoughts about his young co-star Mackenzie Foy, who is playing the much buzzed-about role of Renesmee, Edward and Bella's daughter.
Robert Pattinson
Photo: MTV News
For those who weren't able to tune into our "MTV First: Robert Pattinson" live interview on Friday (March 18), the range of topics covered during our exclusive 30-minute sit-down interview with the "Water for Elephants" and "Twilight" star ran the gamut from a look back at our first MTV interview with him, an RPattz hairstyle retrospective and, of course, a few details about "Breaking Dawn: Part 1."
We particularly wanted Pattinson's thoughts about his young co-star Mackenzie Foy, who is playing the much buzzed-about role of Renesmee, Edward and Bella's daughter.
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Thursday, March 24, 2011
Is Beyonce Almost Finished With Her New Album?
'I probably won't get on this album, but hopefully the next one,' singer/songwriter Sia says of song she pitched for Beyonce's new album.By James Dinh
Beyoncé
Photo: Michael Loccisano/ Getty Images
As Britney Spears and Lady Gaga gear up to release new albums, there's another pop heavyweight who may offer them some friendly competition: Beyoncé. Details surrounding the singer's next album remain scarce, but according to a few of the project's collaborators, Bey is almost finished recording the follow-up to 2008's I Am ... Sasha Fierce and has managed to hit the studio with an extensive list of producers.
After gushing about her high hopes for working with Beyoncé, Australian songstress Sia revealed that she told B's behind-the-scenes team that she wanted to lend a creative hand for the new album. "So I just said to all the producers, writers, everyone, help me make this happen, and then Diplo e-mailed me and said, 'where are you in the world right now? would you be interested in flying to New York? I'm writing with Beyoncé,' and I was like, 'Yesss!' " the singer told MTV Australia.
Despite Diplo's offer, Sia said she was unable to fly out because of schedule conflicts, but is in the process of pitching songs to Beyoncé. When asked if her submissions were for Beyoncé's forthcoming LP, Sia said, "Well, there's only one song left for this album, so I probably won't get on this album, but hopefully the next one. That's my dream, that's my goal."
Sia isn't the only collaborator that has suggested Beyoncé is close to wrapping up studio sessions for the project. Sleigh Bells have confirmed working with the singer, but are weary on whether their work with the songstress will make the final cut. Speaking with NME.com, guitarist Derek Miller admitted, "I actually have no idea if the collaboration will ever be released."
While Miller remained tight-lipped on details regarding the song (or songs?), the Sleigh Bells bandmate confessed that the collabo is just one of her many musical partnerships, saying, "Beyoncé works with whoever she wants to work with, probably 30 or 40 producers. It's a totally different world from what I'm used to. So for me, it's just exciting to hear something that I worked on but I can't really say any more than that."
Sia and the Sleigh Bells join a long list of other collaborators who have been tapped to work on Beyoncé's new album, including Ne-Yo, S1, Jim Jonsin, Sean "The Pen" Garrett, The-Dream and Tricky Stewart.
Who do you want to see Beyoncé collaborate with on her new album? Share your suggestions in the comments.
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Photo: Michael Loccisano/ Getty Images
As Britney Spears and Lady Gaga gear up to release new albums, there's another pop heavyweight who may offer them some friendly competition: Beyoncé. Details surrounding the singer's next album remain scarce, but according to a few of the project's collaborators, Bey is almost finished recording the follow-up to 2008's I Am ... Sasha Fierce and has managed to hit the studio with an extensive list of producers.
After gushing about her high hopes for working with Beyoncé, Australian songstress Sia revealed that she told B's behind-the-scenes team that she wanted to lend a creative hand for the new album. "So I just said to all the producers, writers, everyone, help me make this happen, and then Diplo e-mailed me and said, 'where are you in the world right now? would you be interested in flying to New York? I'm writing with Beyoncé,' and I was like, 'Yesss!' " the singer told MTV Australia.
Despite Diplo's offer, Sia said she was unable to fly out because of schedule conflicts, but is in the process of pitching songs to Beyoncé. When asked if her submissions were for Beyoncé's forthcoming LP, Sia said, "Well, there's only one song left for this album, so I probably won't get on this album, but hopefully the next one. That's my dream, that's my goal."
Sia isn't the only collaborator that has suggested Beyoncé is close to wrapping up studio sessions for the project. Sleigh Bells have confirmed working with the singer, but are weary on whether their work with the songstress will make the final cut. Speaking with NME.com, guitarist Derek Miller admitted, "I actually have no idea if the collaboration will ever be released."
While Miller remained tight-lipped on details regarding the song (or songs?), the Sleigh Bells bandmate confessed that the collabo is just one of her many musical partnerships, saying, "Beyoncé works with whoever she wants to work with, probably 30 or 40 producers. It's a totally different world from what I'm used to. So for me, it's just exciting to hear something that I worked on but I can't really say any more than that."
Sia and the Sleigh Bells join a long list of other collaborators who have been tapped to work on Beyoncé's new album, including Ne-Yo, S1, Jim Jonsin, Sean "The Pen" Garrett, The-Dream and Tricky Stewart.
Who do you want to see Beyoncé collaborate with on her new album? Share your suggestions in the comments.
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Duran Duran Celebrate The Release Of Their New Album With An ?Unstaged? Show In LA
Duran Duran, one of THE most iconic bands of the 1980′s and beyond, are celebrating the release of their new album All You Need Is Now (which was released yesterday on CD and in digital form) with a special concert here in downtown LA tonight at the Mayan Theater. Duran Duran is kicking off the [...]
Eliza Dushku Lands A New TV Show On CBS
Buffyverse alum Eliza Dushku (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel) has announced on her official Facebook profile that she is coming back to TV this Fall. Eliza, who last starred on the Joss Whedon show Dollhouse on Fox, broke the news yesterday that she will be filming a comedy pilot with Damon Wayans for CBS. As [...]
'American Idol' Motown Preview: Will Casey Abrams Bounce Back?
Naima Adedapo and Haley Reinhart hope to avoid a return trip to the bottom three this week.By Eric Ditzian
Casey Abrams performs on 'American Idol'
Photo: Fox
There was a time when a Motown-themed evening was an "American Idol" institution. Kelly Clarkson delivered such a dizzying take on Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "You're All I Need to Get By" in season one that a bewildered Simon Cowell tried on a Southern accent and told her, "As they say in Texas, y'all did a great job!" Ruben Studdard soared with the Four Tops the next year, and then Fantasia, also trying on a Gaye tune, wowed the judges on her way to the title.
Future seasons would ditch Motown as a whole for specific artists like Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross, but there remains a vast trove of "Idol" history for singers to mine as both cautionary tales and I-hope-I-can-sound-so-damn-good aspirations. And as the Motown theme returns Wednesday night (March 23) for the first time since season eight, contestants would be wise to consult those reality-show history books before taking the stage.
Folks who aren't exactly R&B- and soul-inclined, like James Durbin, should note that there are ample risks when it comes to reinventing these classic songs. Just ask Scott MacIntyre, whose honky-tonk rendition of the Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love" had Cowell referencing the song's lyrics: "How much more can I take?" Other, more thematically conversant season 10 crooners — Jacob Lusk, we're looking in your direction — might find salvation in Motown.
Or not. Anything can happen when the show goes live. Here's what we'll be looking for from each singer.
Casey Abrams
We're not sure if we should blame a hospital visit or simply a misguided arrangement, but Abrams' middle-school-garage-band take on Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was a rare misfire for the guy. We hope he's healthy, ditches heavy instrumentation and concentrates on busting out those soulful growls of his. Though we've criticized him in the past for predictable performances — low-key intros, wild-eyed conclusions — this week we want Abrams to stay within his comfort zone. Bring on those wacky body contortions and that groovy groaning, bro!
Haley Reinhart
With two straight appearances in the bottom three, Haley's lucky to have survived this far; she'll have to pull off a stunner this week to avoid a trip back to that ignominious territory. But she might be in luck because Motown week will give Haley a chance to embrace her bluesy DNA. It remains to be seen, however, if she'll embrace that strength or continue her weekly trend of trying on — and then quickly discarding — different artistic identities.
Jacob Lusk
Restraint should be Jacob's mantra this week, one he repeats over and over before taking the stage. The last few weeks, it's seemed like he's been trying to disgorge an epic, cancel-the-show-because-this-kid's-a-winner performance, and the result has been frightening to watch and difficult to hear. Whatever he goes with — perhaps taking a page from Studdard with some Stevie Wonder or Four Tops — Jacob has got to rein himself and sing with the passion (not the agony) that first made him a contestant to watch.
James Durbin
Durbin need not worry that Motown tunes won't be kind to his vocal abilities. Adam Lambert switched up the Miracles' "Tracks of My Tears" in 2009 and even had Smokey Robinson applauding. The 22-year-old just needs to realize he's not at his best when rockin' hard and that ramping down his manic energy — not to mention his squealing — is his best recipe for "Idol" success.
Lauren Alaina
Props to Lauren for bouncing back from her first down week with a savvy cover of Melissa Etheridge's "I'm the Only One." One of her biggest assets — above and beyond a killer instrument and the worshipful attention of "Idol" producers — is an ability to pick the right tune. So we're not concerned about Lauren's song choice. What we'll be keeping an ear out for is how successfully she melds her pop-country-rock stylings with Motown music.
Naima Adedapo
Before she began to second-guess herself — Rihanna one week, Tina Turner the next — we would have imagined Motown week to be an opportunity for Naima to shine. Now we fear she's too artistically confused to go with her creative gut. So instead of giving us something slow and jazzy and unique, we fear Naima might try to reach for something — the Supremes, perhaps — that she doesn't have the chops to pull off.
Paul McDonald
Paul zoomed to the upper echelon of the competition in the show's top 24 phase, but after two lackluster performances, we're wondering if he actually belongs even in the top half of the remaining 11 singers. We hope Paul shows us our second-guessing is unfounded this week. Anything by Marvin Gaye could be the perfect vehicle to do just that.
Pia Toscano
Pia finally inched, however reluctantly, away from ballad territory last week with a little vigorous Whitney Houston action. Now we'd like to see her bust out fully. And that doesn't mean she has to sacrifice showing off her powerful vocals. The Supremes would be an excellent choice for her, unlike Naima — something familiar and upbeat, like "You Can't Hurry Love."
Scotty McCreery
Motown night presents Scotty with his most interesting challenge to date. Will he impose a mainstream country vibe on a Marvin Gaye tune? Will he take this opportunity to show us another side — or at least the hint of one? How amazing would it be to hear him present a deeply soulful yet still country-strong take on the Miracles or the Temptations?
Stefano Langone
With Paul stumbling and Casey coming off a subpar performance, Stefano has a chance to capitalize on his best-in-class showing last week and show he's a true contender. This smooth-voiced 22-year-old stumbled earlier in the season with Stevie Wonder, but we're inclined to blame the cheesy arrangement more than anything else. He actually managed to channel Stevie's voice quite well. But he's been there, done that — so Stevie is off limits. No matter the cover he chooses, Stefano's goal should be to avoid a hammy, distracting arrangement and let those vocals ring.
Thia Megia
The 16-year-old Disney princess has got nowhere to go but up after last week. We'd tell her to avoid a ballad. We'd ask her kindly to start acting her age, rather than like a crusty lounge act, but even when she picked a Disney tune, it sounded like something from an era before the existence of music television. So, in the end, we'll just say this: Go out there and have fun, because this might be the last week you get the chance.
Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday on MTV.com, following the "American Idol" results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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Casey Abrams performs on 'American Idol'
Photo: Fox
There was a time when a Motown-themed evening was an "American Idol" institution. Kelly Clarkson delivered such a dizzying take on Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "You're All I Need to Get By" in season one that a bewildered Simon Cowell tried on a Southern accent and told her, "As they say in Texas, y'all did a great job!" Ruben Studdard soared with the Four Tops the next year, and then Fantasia, also trying on a Gaye tune, wowed the judges on her way to the title.
Future seasons would ditch Motown as a whole for specific artists like Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross, but there remains a vast trove of "Idol" history for singers to mine as both cautionary tales and I-hope-I-can-sound-so-damn-good aspirations. And as the Motown theme returns Wednesday night (March 23) for the first time since season eight, contestants would be wise to consult those reality-show history books before taking the stage.
Folks who aren't exactly R&B- and soul-inclined, like James Durbin, should note that there are ample risks when it comes to reinventing these classic songs. Just ask Scott MacIntyre, whose honky-tonk rendition of the Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love" had Cowell referencing the song's lyrics: "How much more can I take?" Other, more thematically conversant season 10 crooners — Jacob Lusk, we're looking in your direction — might find salvation in Motown.
Or not. Anything can happen when the show goes live. Here's what we'll be looking for from each singer.
Casey Abrams
We're not sure if we should blame a hospital visit or simply a misguided arrangement, but Abrams' middle-school-garage-band take on Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was a rare misfire for the guy. We hope he's healthy, ditches heavy instrumentation and concentrates on busting out those soulful growls of his. Though we've criticized him in the past for predictable performances — low-key intros, wild-eyed conclusions — this week we want Abrams to stay within his comfort zone. Bring on those wacky body contortions and that groovy groaning, bro!
Haley Reinhart
With two straight appearances in the bottom three, Haley's lucky to have survived this far; she'll have to pull off a stunner this week to avoid a trip back to that ignominious territory. But she might be in luck because Motown week will give Haley a chance to embrace her bluesy DNA. It remains to be seen, however, if she'll embrace that strength or continue her weekly trend of trying on — and then quickly discarding — different artistic identities.
Jacob Lusk
Restraint should be Jacob's mantra this week, one he repeats over and over before taking the stage. The last few weeks, it's seemed like he's been trying to disgorge an epic, cancel-the-show-because-this-kid's-a-winner performance, and the result has been frightening to watch and difficult to hear. Whatever he goes with — perhaps taking a page from Studdard with some Stevie Wonder or Four Tops — Jacob has got to rein himself and sing with the passion (not the agony) that first made him a contestant to watch.
James Durbin
Durbin need not worry that Motown tunes won't be kind to his vocal abilities. Adam Lambert switched up the Miracles' "Tracks of My Tears" in 2009 and even had Smokey Robinson applauding. The 22-year-old just needs to realize he's not at his best when rockin' hard and that ramping down his manic energy — not to mention his squealing — is his best recipe for "Idol" success.
Lauren Alaina
Props to Lauren for bouncing back from her first down week with a savvy cover of Melissa Etheridge's "I'm the Only One." One of her biggest assets — above and beyond a killer instrument and the worshipful attention of "Idol" producers — is an ability to pick the right tune. So we're not concerned about Lauren's song choice. What we'll be keeping an ear out for is how successfully she melds her pop-country-rock stylings with Motown music.
Naima Adedapo
Before she began to second-guess herself — Rihanna one week, Tina Turner the next — we would have imagined Motown week to be an opportunity for Naima to shine. Now we fear she's too artistically confused to go with her creative gut. So instead of giving us something slow and jazzy and unique, we fear Naima might try to reach for something — the Supremes, perhaps — that she doesn't have the chops to pull off.
Paul McDonald
Paul zoomed to the upper echelon of the competition in the show's top 24 phase, but after two lackluster performances, we're wondering if he actually belongs even in the top half of the remaining 11 singers. We hope Paul shows us our second-guessing is unfounded this week. Anything by Marvin Gaye could be the perfect vehicle to do just that.
Pia Toscano
Pia finally inched, however reluctantly, away from ballad territory last week with a little vigorous Whitney Houston action. Now we'd like to see her bust out fully. And that doesn't mean she has to sacrifice showing off her powerful vocals. The Supremes would be an excellent choice for her, unlike Naima — something familiar and upbeat, like "You Can't Hurry Love."
Scotty McCreery
Motown night presents Scotty with his most interesting challenge to date. Will he impose a mainstream country vibe on a Marvin Gaye tune? Will he take this opportunity to show us another side — or at least the hint of one? How amazing would it be to hear him present a deeply soulful yet still country-strong take on the Miracles or the Temptations?
Stefano Langone
With Paul stumbling and Casey coming off a subpar performance, Stefano has a chance to capitalize on his best-in-class showing last week and show he's a true contender. This smooth-voiced 22-year-old stumbled earlier in the season with Stevie Wonder, but we're inclined to blame the cheesy arrangement more than anything else. He actually managed to channel Stevie's voice quite well. But he's been there, done that — so Stevie is off limits. No matter the cover he chooses, Stefano's goal should be to avoid a hammy, distracting arrangement and let those vocals ring.
Thia Megia
The 16-year-old Disney princess has got nowhere to go but up after last week. We'd tell her to avoid a ballad. We'd ask her kindly to start acting her age, rather than like a crusty lounge act, but even when she picked a Disney tune, it sounded like something from an era before the existence of music television. So, in the end, we'll just say this: Go out there and have fun, because this might be the last week you get the chance.
Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday on MTV.com, following the "American Idol" results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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Mak.Tub Music: Launch pad for desi dance DJs
To set the story in context -- 2010 saw the publication of the first anthology of Indian electronic music, titled "HUB". It counted 10 record labels to represent all of South Asian electronica, of which two-year-old Mak.Tub Music was one.
Mak.Tub is an independent electronic music label that launches high-quality dancefloor tunes, founded by Jalebee Cartel DJ/producer Arjun Vagale and his label-managing counterpart Nicolas Silvano, who is based in Uruguay.
read more
Mak.Tub is an independent electronic music label that launches high-quality dancefloor tunes, founded by Jalebee Cartel DJ/producer Arjun Vagale and his label-managing counterpart Nicolas Silvano, who is based in Uruguay.
read more
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Photos | The 2010 Soul Train Awards Nominees
The 2010 Soul Train Awards Nominees
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Justin Bieber Vintage Video: His First Meeting With Usher
Justin Timberlake also wanted to sign Bieber, 'Never Say Never' star said in 2009.By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber
Photo: Brian Phares/MTV News
Just as the world was learning who Justin Bieber was, MTV News caught up with the shaggy-haired singer in September 2009. He was gearing up to release his debut album, My World, and plotting his pop-world domination. In the year and a half since that interview, Bieber has done the nearly impossible, launching himself into the pop mega-sphere.
In the chat, Bieber recalled how he and his manager, Scooter Braun, met and eventually got big names interested in signing the teen.
"My manager found me on YouTube. He flew me out to Atlanta for the first time — I'd never actually been on a plane before. He flew me to Atlanta where i was going to the studio to meet some people," he recalled.
"And Usher happened to roll up in his Range Rover. I ran up to him, and I was like, 'Usher, I love your songs. Want me to sing you one?' The politest possible way he could say no, he did. ... I took the hint. I didn't get to sing for him: He had to run into a studio session."
But later, Usher was beckoning the teen back to the ATL. "He actually watched my videos — after my manager got to talking to him — and was like, 'I should have let this kid sing,' and flew me back to Atlanta where I got to sing for him in a proper setting. A week later, I had a meeting with Justin Timberlake, who also wanted to sign me, so they both kind of wanted me."
As the story goes, Bieber went with Usher, and the two never looked back.
"As far as Usher being my mentor, he's definitely given me words of wisdom. I hear it from everybody, but definitely to hear it from Usher is great, just to stay humble and grounded is very important," he explained.
"There's a lot of people, especially young stars, that have gone down the wrong path, and I definitely plan to stay humble and stay grounded and keep my family first, because that stuff really is important in life."
On Friday, Justin Bieber's 3-D documentary, "Never Say Never," opens. The film takes a look at how the teen star worked to hit it big. MTV News has been chatting with him along the way, from the time he first burst on the scene in 2009 until now, as he embarks on a huge 2011 that will include a tour and more new music.
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Justin Bieber
Photo: Brian Phares/MTV News
Just as the world was learning who Justin Bieber was, MTV News caught up with the shaggy-haired singer in September 2009. He was gearing up to release his debut album, My World, and plotting his pop-world domination. In the year and a half since that interview, Bieber has done the nearly impossible, launching himself into the pop mega-sphere.
In the chat, Bieber recalled how he and his manager, Scooter Braun, met and eventually got big names interested in signing the teen.
"My manager found me on YouTube. He flew me out to Atlanta for the first time — I'd never actually been on a plane before. He flew me to Atlanta where i was going to the studio to meet some people," he recalled.
"And Usher happened to roll up in his Range Rover. I ran up to him, and I was like, 'Usher, I love your songs. Want me to sing you one?' The politest possible way he could say no, he did. ... I took the hint. I didn't get to sing for him: He had to run into a studio session."
But later, Usher was beckoning the teen back to the ATL. "He actually watched my videos — after my manager got to talking to him — and was like, 'I should have let this kid sing,' and flew me back to Atlanta where I got to sing for him in a proper setting. A week later, I had a meeting with Justin Timberlake, who also wanted to sign me, so they both kind of wanted me."
As the story goes, Bieber went with Usher, and the two never looked back.
"As far as Usher being my mentor, he's definitely given me words of wisdom. I hear it from everybody, but definitely to hear it from Usher is great, just to stay humble and grounded is very important," he explained.
"There's a lot of people, especially young stars, that have gone down the wrong path, and I definitely plan to stay humble and stay grounded and keep my family first, because that stuff really is important in life."
On Friday, Justin Bieber's 3-D documentary, "Never Say Never," opens. The film takes a look at how the teen star worked to hit it big. MTV News has been chatting with him along the way, from the time he first burst on the scene in 2009 until now, as he embarks on a huge 2011 that will include a tour and more new music.
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Elizabeth Taylor Mourned By Elton John, Mariah Carey, Kim Kardashian
Tito Jackson, Jane Fonda and Kimora Lee Simmons also remember the late actress.By James Dinh
Elizabeth Taylor in 1975
Photo: Getty Images
Following the news of Elizabeth Taylor's death at age 79 on Wednesday (March 23), many celebrities have publicly mourned the silver-screen icon.
"We have just lost a Hollywood giant, but more importantly we have lost an incredible human being," Elton John said in a statement that highlighted Taylor's "extraordinary talent as a young actress," "very essence of glamorous movie stardom" and "courage in standing up and speaking out about AIDS."
Also admiring Taylor's humanitarian efforts is Tito Jackson, who called the showbiz heavyweight "an impactful person in this industry and on society as a whole."
"I specifically admire her charitable efforts including bringing early awareness to HIV/AIDS," Jackson said in a statement. "Most memorable is her steadfast loyalty and unwavering friendship to my late brother Michael Jackson. Liz provided a sense of relief and comfort to my brother at various difficult times in his life, and I appreciate that, may she rest in peace."
Mariah Carey took to Twitter to mourn the loss of Taylor, writing, "R.I.P. Elizabeth Taylor an incomparable legend who will live forever."
Friend and "Blue Bird" co-star Jane Fonda also offered a simple memory: "Elizabeth, on every level, was a mensch. Kind, generous, brave."
"Elizabeth Taylor...1 of the most beautiful women n the world passed away 2day," Kimora Lee Simmons tweeted. "Her dignity, grace, beauty+talent shall b remembered always."
Kim Kardashian, who recently interviewed the late actress for the March issue of Harper's Bazaar, tweeted, "I am so saddened about the passing of Elizabeth Taylor! She will always be my idol!"
Kim's sisters followed suit with their remembrance of the actress by highlighting the starlet's ravishing beauty. "RIP to the glamour goddess Elizabeth Taylor. Thank you for sharing your life with us. Thank you for the memories," Khloé Kardashian tweeted.
"A legendary woman has left us today. The world will not be the same without her beauty, glamour, generosity, and gift of giving," Kourtney Kardashian wrote shortly after.
Barry Manilow told Us Weekly: "Elizabeth was the last great movie star. And a great human being. What I'll always remember about Elizabeth was her laugh. She would walk into a room looking like a princess and suddenly there would be this cackle that filled the room that would crack us all up. I'm so glad to have known her. It's a very sad day for me."
Share your memories of Elizabeth Taylor in the comments below.
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Elizabeth Taylor in 1975
Photo: Getty Images
Following the news of Elizabeth Taylor's death at age 79 on Wednesday (March 23), many celebrities have publicly mourned the silver-screen icon.
"We have just lost a Hollywood giant, but more importantly we have lost an incredible human being," Elton John said in a statement that highlighted Taylor's "extraordinary talent as a young actress," "very essence of glamorous movie stardom" and "courage in standing up and speaking out about AIDS."
Also admiring Taylor's humanitarian efforts is Tito Jackson, who called the showbiz heavyweight "an impactful person in this industry and on society as a whole."
"I specifically admire her charitable efforts including bringing early awareness to HIV/AIDS," Jackson said in a statement. "Most memorable is her steadfast loyalty and unwavering friendship to my late brother Michael Jackson. Liz provided a sense of relief and comfort to my brother at various difficult times in his life, and I appreciate that, may she rest in peace."
Mariah Carey took to Twitter to mourn the loss of Taylor, writing, "R.I.P. Elizabeth Taylor an incomparable legend who will live forever."
Friend and "Blue Bird" co-star Jane Fonda also offered a simple memory: "Elizabeth, on every level, was a mensch. Kind, generous, brave."
"Elizabeth Taylor...1 of the most beautiful women n the world passed away 2day," Kimora Lee Simmons tweeted. "Her dignity, grace, beauty+talent shall b remembered always."
Kim Kardashian, who recently interviewed the late actress for the March issue of Harper's Bazaar, tweeted, "I am so saddened about the passing of Elizabeth Taylor! She will always be my idol!"
Kim's sisters followed suit with their remembrance of the actress by highlighting the starlet's ravishing beauty. "RIP to the glamour goddess Elizabeth Taylor. Thank you for sharing your life with us. Thank you for the memories," Khloé Kardashian tweeted.
"A legendary woman has left us today. The world will not be the same without her beauty, glamour, generosity, and gift of giving," Kourtney Kardashian wrote shortly after.
Barry Manilow told Us Weekly: "Elizabeth was the last great movie star. And a great human being. What I'll always remember about Elizabeth was her laugh. She would walk into a room looking like a princess and suddenly there would be this cackle that filled the room that would crack us all up. I'm so glad to have known her. It's a very sad day for me."
Share your memories of Elizabeth Taylor in the comments below.
Related Videos
Remembering Elizabeth Taylor
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Red Carpet Fashions Inspired By Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor: A Life In Photos
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Beverly Has A New Boyfriend
She's had a mad crush on him ever since Halloween.
Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!
Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!
Raquel Alessi Rebecca Mader Rebecca Romijn Reese Witherspoon
Trent Reznor Talks To ?Rolling Stone? About His Oscar, New Music & His Baby Son
Academy Award-winning composer Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails, How to Destroy Angels) is interviewed in the new issue of Rolling Stone magazine. In his brief chat with the mag, Reznor opens up about how it felt to win an Oscar, he talks about new music due out this year, he reveals what music he plays [...]
Blu Cantrell Bonnie-Jill Laflin Bridget Moynahan Britney Spears
Photos | 2011 Golden Globe Awards Red Carpet
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Japanese Earthquake, Tsunami On The Minds Of Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, More
Katy Perry, Ryan Seacrest, Lindsay Lohan tweet support for those affected by the disaster.By Jocelyn Vena
Smoke rises from a construction site in Tokyo on Friday
Photo: Sankei/Getty Images
The world is still reacting to the news of an 8.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Friday (March 11). The devastating quake triggered a 10-meter tsunami that now threatens Pacific coastal areas including Hawaii and the West Coast of the United States. Celebrities have taken to Twitter to share their love and support for those affected by the natural disaster.
"I'm sending my thoughts and prayers and love to those in Japan who are hurting," Taylor Swift tweeted. Fellow pop princess Katy Perry shared a similar sentiment, writing, "My prayers go out to anyone that is being effected by the disaster in Japan. #prayforjapan."
Selena Gomez, who was just in the country, took to Facebook to express her concern. "Wow, I don't even know what to say, Japan. I was just there and you were all so wonderful to me," she wrote. "I am sending all my love, prayers and support."
Justin Bieber also tweeted about the news. "Japan is one of my favorite places on earth. ... It's an incredible culture with amazing people. My prayers go out to them. We all need to help." He added, "#prayforjapan."
"Our hearts and prayers are with all of our BSB family in Japan. We love you all so much. Please try to stay safe. ... Kisses and hugs from us!" the Backstreet Boys tweeted, with their tourmates New Kids on the Block adding, "Our thoughts are with all those around the world affected by the earthquake in Japan."
"American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest wrote on Twitter, "Glued to TV watching this unreal earthquake footage out of Japan. Sending prayers to everyone affected. Unbelievable."
As the weather threatens his home state of Hawaii, the president tweeted a strong message of support. "Sending condolences to the people of Japan, particularly those who lost loved ones in the earthquake & tsunamis. U.S. stands ready to help."
"Glee" stars Lea Michele and Amber Riley also had kind words for those affected. Michele tweeted, "So devastating to hear about the huge earthquake & tsunami [in] Japan. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone there." Riley added, "Omg my heart goes out to Japan. I pray this devastation stops."
Embattled actress Lindsay Lohan even seemed overwhelmed by the news, writing, "My mommy just woke my sister and i up to this! god bless those that are in fear."
"The images on the news are breaking my heart," Paris Hilton wrote online. "I am so worried for everyone in Japan. My thoughts are with you Japan. God bless you all."
For more information on what you can do to help with earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Japan head to MTV Act, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
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Smoke rises from a construction site in Tokyo on Friday
Photo: Sankei/Getty Images
The world is still reacting to the news of an 8.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Friday (March 11). The devastating quake triggered a 10-meter tsunami that now threatens Pacific coastal areas including Hawaii and the West Coast of the United States. Celebrities have taken to Twitter to share their love and support for those affected by the natural disaster.
"I'm sending my thoughts and prayers and love to those in Japan who are hurting," Taylor Swift tweeted. Fellow pop princess Katy Perry shared a similar sentiment, writing, "My prayers go out to anyone that is being effected by the disaster in Japan. #prayforjapan."
Selena Gomez, who was just in the country, took to Facebook to express her concern. "Wow, I don't even know what to say, Japan. I was just there and you were all so wonderful to me," she wrote. "I am sending all my love, prayers and support."
Justin Bieber also tweeted about the news. "Japan is one of my favorite places on earth. ... It's an incredible culture with amazing people. My prayers go out to them. We all need to help." He added, "#prayforjapan."
"Our hearts and prayers are with all of our BSB family in Japan. We love you all so much. Please try to stay safe. ... Kisses and hugs from us!" the Backstreet Boys tweeted, with their tourmates New Kids on the Block adding, "Our thoughts are with all those around the world affected by the earthquake in Japan."
"American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest wrote on Twitter, "Glued to TV watching this unreal earthquake footage out of Japan. Sending prayers to everyone affected. Unbelievable."
As the weather threatens his home state of Hawaii, the president tweeted a strong message of support. "Sending condolences to the people of Japan, particularly those who lost loved ones in the earthquake & tsunamis. U.S. stands ready to help."
"Glee" stars Lea Michele and Amber Riley also had kind words for those affected. Michele tweeted, "So devastating to hear about the huge earthquake & tsunami [in] Japan. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone there." Riley added, "Omg my heart goes out to Japan. I pray this devastation stops."
Embattled actress Lindsay Lohan even seemed overwhelmed by the news, writing, "My mommy just woke my sister and i up to this! god bless those that are in fear."
"The images on the news are breaking my heart," Paris Hilton wrote online. "I am so worried for everyone in Japan. My thoughts are with you Japan. God bless you all."
For more information on what you can do to help with earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Japan head to MTV Act, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Related Artists
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Justin Bieber
Japan?s Edano makes leap from politician to Twitter trend
Anyone
following events in Japan these last few days with more than a perfunctory
effort to grasp the nuances beyond the headlines will have come across the name
of one Tokyo politician more frequently than any other -- Chief Cabinet
Secretary, Yukio Edano.The
46-year-old DPJ heavyweight has been thrust to the fore as other members of the
government have been seen to be somewhat lacking. Almost by accident, Edano has
become both the face of the ruling regime and an internet meme in Japan.
Edano?s
obvious stamina ? he appeared to be on television almost constantly during the
worst phases of the Fukushima nuclear power plant crisis and, allegedly, went almost
five days without sleep -- have made him the talk of Twitter.read more
following events in Japan these last few days with more than a perfunctory
effort to grasp the nuances beyond the headlines will have come across the name
of one Tokyo politician more frequently than any other -- Chief Cabinet
Secretary, Yukio Edano.The
46-year-old DPJ heavyweight has been thrust to the fore as other members of the
government have been seen to be somewhat lacking. Almost by accident, Edano has
become both the face of the ruling regime and an internet meme in Japan.
Edano?s
obvious stamina ? he appeared to be on television almost constantly during the
worst phases of the Fukushima nuclear power plant crisis and, allegedly, went almost
five days without sleep -- have made him the talk of Twitter.read more
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Lady Gaga Designs Japanese Tsunami Relief Wristband
Mother Monster tweets that all proceeds from sales of prayer bracelets will go to those affected by Friday's tragic disaster.By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga's Japanese tsunami relief bracelet
Photo: Bravado USA
Lady Gaga is doing her part to help those affected by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Friday (March 11). The devastating quake triggered a 10-meter tsunami and now threatens Pacific coastal areas, including Hawaii and the West Coast.
The star tweeted on Friday that she has designed a special wristband with all of the proceeds going to benefit those affected by the disaster.
"I Designed a Japan Prayer Bracelet. Buy It/Donate here and ALL proceeds will go to Tsunami Relief Efforts. Go Monsters," Gaga wrote.
She then shared a link with more information about the red-and-white bracelet on which the words "we pray for Japan" are written along with an image of a hand making Gaga's signature monster paw gesture. "Little Monsters, show your support for Japan with this 'We Pray for Japan' wristband! Choose your price to add an additional donation with your wristband," the description for the bracelet reads. "All proceeds go directly to Japan relief efforts."
Gaga is the latest celebrity to reach out and help shed light on the devastation left by the tragic events in Japan. Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Adam Lambert, Diddy and many more sent their prayers to those affected via Twitter. Britney Spears encouraged fans to donate to relief organizations, tweeting, "So tragic. My heart is breaking for Japan."
"Just heard about the huge earthquake and tsunami in Japan," Kim Kardashian wrote. "My prayers are with everyone in Japan. Seeing all of this footage in Japan is devastating! Please help the people of Japan by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation."
For more information on what you can do to help with earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Japan head to MTV Act, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Related Artists
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga's Japanese tsunami relief bracelet
Photo: Bravado USA
Lady Gaga is doing her part to help those affected by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Friday (March 11). The devastating quake triggered a 10-meter tsunami and now threatens Pacific coastal areas, including Hawaii and the West Coast.
The star tweeted on Friday that she has designed a special wristband with all of the proceeds going to benefit those affected by the disaster.
"I Designed a Japan Prayer Bracelet. Buy It/Donate here and ALL proceeds will go to Tsunami Relief Efforts. Go Monsters," Gaga wrote.
She then shared a link with more information about the red-and-white bracelet on which the words "we pray for Japan" are written along with an image of a hand making Gaga's signature monster paw gesture. "Little Monsters, show your support for Japan with this 'We Pray for Japan' wristband! Choose your price to add an additional donation with your wristband," the description for the bracelet reads. "All proceeds go directly to Japan relief efforts."
Gaga is the latest celebrity to reach out and help shed light on the devastation left by the tragic events in Japan. Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Adam Lambert, Diddy and many more sent their prayers to those affected via Twitter. Britney Spears encouraged fans to donate to relief organizations, tweeting, "So tragic. My heart is breaking for Japan."
"Just heard about the huge earthquake and tsunami in Japan," Kim Kardashian wrote. "My prayers are with everyone in Japan. Seeing all of this footage in Japan is devastating! Please help the people of Japan by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation."
For more information on what you can do to help with earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Japan head to MTV Act, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Related Artists
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga Cover Artist Maria Aragon Is A 'Born Superstar,' Fan Says
Jyll Saskin dishes to MTV News about Gaga's Toronto show set with the YouTube sensation.By Jocelyn Vena
Maria Aragon (file)
Photo: Youtube.com
On Thursday night, Mother Monster treated one of her littlest monsters to the ultimate experience by bringing her up onstage during her Toronto tour stop.
Lady Gaga sat 10-year-old Maria Aragon on her lap before they both began playing piano and singing "Born This Way." It was a moment that brought not only Gaga to tears, but fans in the audience too. One fan, Jyll Saskin, told MTV News that the moment was "really sweet."
"Maria came out looking all adorable with her fedora hat and a [stuffed] monkey. It was really cute," Saskin recalled. "So Gaga sat at the piano, pulled Maria onto her lap, and then did a beautiful, soulful rendition of 'Born This Way' together, trading off verses. Maria played the piano, while Gaga played a bit with her right hand as well. Gaga was very, very into the performance, closing her eyes and arching back a lot and definitely getting lost in the song. It was outstanding."
Gaga became visibly teary-eyed during the performance, and Saskin said she wasn't the only one. "I had tears in my eyes by the end and Gaga did, too — her mascara was visibly running down her face. After the song, Maria thanked her family ... and then told us all to stay tuned because she'd be back after 'Bad Romance.' "
As promised, Aragon did reemerge onstage. Saskin explained, "I understand that 'Bad Romance' is typically the finale, but Gaga came back to do 'Born This Way' again, similar to her Grammy performance, organ and everything. When she was at the organ part, Maria came back out and then they sang and danced the last bit together. At the end, when Gaga and the group of dancers are all together doing the 'paws-up' thing, Maria did the choreography with them. When the song was over, Gaga and Maria hugged. It was really special. I think everyone in the audience was head over heels in love with Maria by that point, but also 100 percent jealous."
Sure, fans may have envied Maria's spot onstage, but she had the full support of the little monsters in the audience, according to Saskin. "The crowd definitely loved the whole Maria bit. There were massive cheers when she came out, massive cheers when she spoke, and while she was singing 'Born This Way' at the piano with Gaga, it was so quiet in the audience; it was like everyone was in a trance. It was really magical.
"Maria is a born superstar — she spoke so eloquently and didn't seem nervous at all. I mean, she's sitting on freaking Lady Gaga's lap at the Air Canada Center, 24,000 some-odd people, and she didn't skip a beat."
While Maria's performance stood out as a highlight, Saskin also was moved during another part of the night, when the pop star showed off some acrobatic moves. " 'You and I,' I think it was my favorite of the night. Gaga was in her studded bra and underwear, and she played piano and belted it out like a pro. ... So we had Gaga, playing piano and singing, right heel on the piano, left heel balanced against a freaking guitar string. It was epic, and the song was amazing."
What do you think of Gaga and Maria's version of "Born This Way"? Tell us in the comments!
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Maria Aragon (file)
Photo: Youtube.com
On Thursday night, Mother Monster treated one of her littlest monsters to the ultimate experience by bringing her up onstage during her Toronto tour stop.
Lady Gaga sat 10-year-old Maria Aragon on her lap before they both began playing piano and singing "Born This Way." It was a moment that brought not only Gaga to tears, but fans in the audience too. One fan, Jyll Saskin, told MTV News that the moment was "really sweet."
"Maria came out looking all adorable with her fedora hat and a [stuffed] monkey. It was really cute," Saskin recalled. "So Gaga sat at the piano, pulled Maria onto her lap, and then did a beautiful, soulful rendition of 'Born This Way' together, trading off verses. Maria played the piano, while Gaga played a bit with her right hand as well. Gaga was very, very into the performance, closing her eyes and arching back a lot and definitely getting lost in the song. It was outstanding."
Gaga became visibly teary-eyed during the performance, and Saskin said she wasn't the only one. "I had tears in my eyes by the end and Gaga did, too — her mascara was visibly running down her face. After the song, Maria thanked her family ... and then told us all to stay tuned because she'd be back after 'Bad Romance.' "
As promised, Aragon did reemerge onstage. Saskin explained, "I understand that 'Bad Romance' is typically the finale, but Gaga came back to do 'Born This Way' again, similar to her Grammy performance, organ and everything. When she was at the organ part, Maria came back out and then they sang and danced the last bit together. At the end, when Gaga and the group of dancers are all together doing the 'paws-up' thing, Maria did the choreography with them. When the song was over, Gaga and Maria hugged. It was really special. I think everyone in the audience was head over heels in love with Maria by that point, but also 100 percent jealous."
Sure, fans may have envied Maria's spot onstage, but she had the full support of the little monsters in the audience, according to Saskin. "The crowd definitely loved the whole Maria bit. There were massive cheers when she came out, massive cheers when she spoke, and while she was singing 'Born This Way' at the piano with Gaga, it was so quiet in the audience; it was like everyone was in a trance. It was really magical.
"Maria is a born superstar — she spoke so eloquently and didn't seem nervous at all. I mean, she's sitting on freaking Lady Gaga's lap at the Air Canada Center, 24,000 some-odd people, and she didn't skip a beat."
While Maria's performance stood out as a highlight, Saskin also was moved during another part of the night, when the pop star showed off some acrobatic moves. " 'You and I,' I think it was my favorite of the night. Gaga was in her studded bra and underwear, and she played piano and belted it out like a pro. ... So we had Gaga, playing piano and singing, right heel on the piano, left heel balanced against a freaking guitar string. It was epic, and the song was amazing."
What do you think of Gaga and Maria's version of "Born This Way"? Tell us in the comments!
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Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, Muse Added To Grammy Show
Usher, Jaden Smith, B.o.B, Janelle Monae and Lady Antebellum will also perform on February 13.By Gil Kaufman
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While Willow Smith is the one who made music headlines with "Whip My Hair" last year, it's her brother, "Karate Kid" actor Jaden Smith, who will take the stage at the upcoming 53rd Grammy Awards in a special performance alongside Usher and Justin Bieber, with whom he collaborated on the song "Never Say Never" last summer.
The trio joins a list of new performers added to the show on Thursday (January 20) that will also include another power trifecta made up of B.o.B, Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe, according to a press release from the Recording Academy announcing the additions to the February 13 telecast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Also taking the stage next month will be nominees Muse and Lady Antebellum. They will join a roster of previously announced performers that includes Eminem, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Arcade Fire, Cee Lo Green and Miranda Lambert. It will be the first time on the Grammy performance stage for Bieber, B.o.B, Lambert, Mars, Monáe, Muse and Smith. Eminem, Green, Gaga, Perry, Usher and Lady Antebellum will be making return visits for the occasion.
While 11-time Grammy winner Eminem leads the pack in nominations this year (with 10 nods), Mars has seven nominations, and Gaga and Lady Antebellum are not far behind with six nods each. B.o.B has notched five, Perry and Green are each up for four, and Arcade Fire and Lambert are vying for three awards. Bieber, Muse, Usher and Monáe are each nominated for two Grammys.
No details of the collaborative performances were released, but the Grammy announcement promised a rare, never-before-seen event for the Mars, B.o.B and Monáe segment.
With the addition of Antebellum, all five Album of the Year nominees (Eminem, Arcade Fire, Gaga, Perry) are now scheduled to perform on the show. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.
Which Grammy performance are you most looking forward to? Talk about it in the comments!
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Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
While Willow Smith is the one who made music headlines with "Whip My Hair" last year, it's her brother, "Karate Kid" actor Jaden Smith, who will take the stage at the upcoming 53rd Grammy Awards in a special performance alongside Usher and Justin Bieber, with whom he collaborated on the song "Never Say Never" last summer.
The trio joins a list of new performers added to the show on Thursday (January 20) that will also include another power trifecta made up of B.o.B, Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe, according to a press release from the Recording Academy announcing the additions to the February 13 telecast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Also taking the stage next month will be nominees Muse and Lady Antebellum. They will join a roster of previously announced performers that includes Eminem, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Arcade Fire, Cee Lo Green and Miranda Lambert. It will be the first time on the Grammy performance stage for Bieber, B.o.B, Lambert, Mars, Monáe, Muse and Smith. Eminem, Green, Gaga, Perry, Usher and Lady Antebellum will be making return visits for the occasion.
While 11-time Grammy winner Eminem leads the pack in nominations this year (with 10 nods), Mars has seven nominations, and Gaga and Lady Antebellum are not far behind with six nods each. B.o.B has notched five, Perry and Green are each up for four, and Arcade Fire and Lambert are vying for three awards. Bieber, Muse, Usher and Monáe are each nominated for two Grammys.
No details of the collaborative performances were released, but the Grammy announcement promised a rare, never-before-seen event for the Mars, B.o.B and Monáe segment.
With the addition of Antebellum, all five Album of the Year nominees (Eminem, Arcade Fire, Gaga, Perry) are now scheduled to perform on the show. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.
Which Grammy performance are you most looking forward to? Talk about it in the comments!
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