Brittany Murphy Cameron Diaz Carrie Underwood Danica Patrick
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens: Independence Day Couple
Usher Most Admires Justin Bieber's 'Excitement And Innocence'
Bieber's mentor tells MTV News the teen sensation has 'so much more in store for the future.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Tim Kash
Usher and Justin Bieber at the 2010 AMAs
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
With so much accomplished in 2010, Justin Bieber has certainly set the bar high for 2011. But the teen singer is already gearing up for next year. Bieber will not only release his much-anticipated 3-D flick, "Never Say Never", but he has also teased that he'd like to release an album of all-new material sometime later next year.
His mentor, Usher, thinks that at this point, the sky's the limit.
"As far as music and entertainment, that's the beginning," Usher told MTV News at Sunday's AMAs, where Bieber performed and took home four awards.
"There's so much more in store for the future, or at least there's a ton of things we can do and will, and with the support of his fans who will continue to just grow and grow and grow."
At 16, Bieber has accomplished what few manage with many more years in the music business, but Usher said he wants to ensure that Bieber doesn't stop enjoying it all as his popularity continues to grow and his schedule gets busier.
Asked what he admires most about Justin, Usher said, "His excitement and innocence in it. And I don't mean that in a light way because I think that he's absolutely enjoying every moment of it, as any young man his age would, but in a different way because [of] the hard work that has gone in and led to the dream that has become a reality. And every time you have an opportunity do something incredible, I tell him to do his best and be conscious that what you're doing today should last forever and eternity."
What did you think of Justin's AMA performance on Sunday? Tell us in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652855/20101122/bieber_justin.jhtml
Blowing Leaves
So, how cool is being a kid?
My brother-in-law was blowing leaves this weekend and Jack and Nora thought it was the greatest thing ever. I love this photo because they don't have a care in the world. Very lucky kids.
(For the record, Jack doesn't run around in leggings; he had them on underneath his Halloween costume.)
One more favorite:
Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2010/10/31/blowing-leaves.html
Leslie Nielsen, Irvin Kershner And Christmas Trees In Today's Twitter-Wood
Leslie Nielsen's death prompted a full day's worth of reactions in Twitter-Wood today, both from fans respectful enough not to call him "Shirley" and those who thought he would prefer to be remembered by that name. Dane Cook dedicated a show to him, while Brian Posehn shared his favorite Nielsen anecdote, and Olivia Wilde just [...]
Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/11/29/leslie-nielsen-irvin-kershner-christmas-trees-twitter-wood/
Monday, November 29, 2010
2009 Celebrity Babies
Stella McCartney welcomes a girl! See the stars who've welcomed new bundles of joy
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/2009-celebrity-babies/1-b-16266
'Harry Potter' Composer Takes Us Inside 'Deathly Hallows' Score
'That's quite a challenge to know that every single note that you write will be heard,' Alexandre Desplat tells MTV News of global 'Potter' audience.
By Kara Warner
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
Photo: Warner Bros.
With "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1" continuing to rake in major box-office cash, the fan appetite for all things Potter has yet to be satisfied. Here at MTV News, we're doing our part to serve the public's Potter thirst by getting fans as close to the action as possible. First with juicy interviews and fun videos, and now with a few behind-the-scenes features that highlight the nuts and bolts of Potter filmmaking.
In this latest installment, we turn our attention toward what is heard, not seen: the film's score, created by celebrated and highly sought-after composer Alexandre Desplat. When MTV News caught up with the very busy man (in the past five years, he has composed scores for at least four films per year, including "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Fantastic Mr. Fox," to name a few), we talked about incorporating John Williams' very distinct theme into his own work and how the fantastical elements in the world of Potter allowed the introduction of new, unique instruments.
MTV: With so many projects on your plate, when do you sleep?
Alexandre Desplat: Well, because I was expecting your phone call, I was on the edge of actually taking a five-minute nap, because it's been a long day and I don't sleep much, honestly. It's a crazy life because I've always dreamed of being a film composer. I've never dreamed of being a concert composer or an opera composer; I wanted to work for movies, and now I have all these incredible projects coming towards me. ... And all these films, of course, they collide because they're late or they're early, and so I have no life. I just work 18 hours a day, every day. And I don't go on holidays. And so, I guess I will die young. [Laughs.]
MTV: In jumping on a "Harry Potter" film, which has had several different composers over the course of seven films, how do you go about incorporating John Williams' very distinct theme, while still making it your own?
Desplat: My education as a film composer, you can't not — if you like the orchestra like I do, if you are a symphonist like I am — you can't not listen to John Williams' work. So I knew, of course, his work on the "Harry Potter" films, on the early films that he did, and when it came to the theme, which is the old theme, it became just a conversation to have with the director where and how we could use it. And actually, there was not so many opportunities, just because this movie is different from the previous ones. It's not in Hogwarts anymore. It's not in the school, and they're now young adults. And the only moments where we could use it was when we wanted to refer to their childhood and to this loss of innocence, which is actually the main theme of this film. These three young adults are losing childhood, and they're moving forward to dangers and adulthood. So we've just very carefully used it here and there; not much, sadly. And actually, when I was thinking about the score and anticipating what I had to do, I was playing with this theme, because I really love it and I was happy to be able to arrange it differently.
MTV: In taking on a film like "Harry Potter" and its fantasy elements, does that enable you to bring in new musical sounds or sounds that you might not use normally? Do you have a favorite kind of unique instrument that you were able to bring in that you might not normally bring into a film score?
Desplat: Yes, there are two things that we tried to bring. It is a way of using a lot of strings, sometimes doubling the string orchestra, on top of the first one, with different lines or adding more weight to some lines. Some pieces are really literally handwritten by string players, on top, all together. Of course we use the brass and the percussion and all that. It doesn't make the sound louder, but deeper and more string-oriented. The other thing is a few elements here and there. I played some jazzy flute in a piece I wrote, and one of the percussion players, he plays this new instrument that was invented a few years ago, which is kind of in-between a steel drum and a -- what could I compare it to? -- and a gamelan that you play with your hands or with mallets. You can hear it in the "Lovegood" piece and it's also blending instruments, which I like to do, that you hear there in the score.
MTV: How many musicians did you work with on this undertaking?
Desplat: The London Symphony, which was at the peak of 105, I think. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios.
MTV: How was this experience different from the films you've done in the past?
Desplat: It was different because it was "Harry Potter," and "Harry Potter" is a global experience. It's not just a movie that your friends will see or just the French people will see or just the Brits will see. No, it's a global thing, and that's quite a challenge to know that every single note that you write will be heard. Even though I always try to make sure that my first listeners, who are actually the players and musicians who are going to perform, I want them to be challenged. I want them to respect what I write, so it's for them that I write before anything. Actors, of course, have been tailored to musically, and with the director. It's with them that I want to have this exchange, this musical bonding. So it's a big challenge to achieve, and again, it's number seven of the franchise, so it was a big thing for me.
Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related VideosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653195/20101129/story.jhtml
Anne Hathaway and James Franco to Host the 2011 Oscars!
For the second year in a row, the job of hosting the Academy Awards will be tackled by not one, but two A-list actors. While It's Complicated costars Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin handled last year's show, it's been announced that Anne Hathaway and James Franco will be at the helm of the 2011 Oscars.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences made the announcement on Monday that the two stars will team up for the big night. Oscar producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer said, "James Franco and Anne Hathaway personify the next generation of Hollywood icons -- fresh, exciting and multi-talented."
Hathaway is no stranger to the Oscars process, as the 28-year-old (who currently stars in the sexy rom-com Love and Other Drugs) helped announce the 2010 nominees and was a nominee herself in 2009 for her work in the indie drama Rachel Getting Married. She even had a taste of hosting duties when she performed a song-and-dance routine with 2009 host Hugh Jackman!
It could be a lucky night for co-host Franco, 32, who is widely considered a front-runner for his stunning work in the film 127 Hours. The quirky actor plays real-life adventurer Aron Ralston, a man who amputates his own arm in order to survive an accident. Franco's fans will find out if he's nominated for Best Actor when they are announced on Jan. 25, 2011.
Either way, we can't wait to see Franco's charm and comedic timing matched with Hathaway's grace and vocal chops. (Look out Billy Crystal, she may just do a killer opening number!)
The 83rd Annual Academy Awards will air live on ABC from the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 27, 2011.
Do you think Anne Hathaway and James Franco will make for good Oscar hosts? Chime in below!
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/anne-hathaway-and-james-franco-host-2011-oscars/1-a-301290
Britney Spears - Circus
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive
- Album: Circus
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=322811
Britney Spears Inspires Another 'Glee'-Cap Musical
Heather Morris' moves and John Stamos' grin have us breaking into song.
By Jim Cantiello
Britney Spears and Heather Morris on the set of "Glee"
Photo: FOX
From the Heather Morris-starring scene-for-scene video re-creations to the sight of Lea Michele as a sexy schoolgirl to the debut of John Stamos, this week's Britney Spears-themed episode of "Glee" has everyone talking. But it has us singing. Without further ado, here are the lyrics to this week's "Glee"-cap!
Britney
You took over this week's "Glee."
Oh, baby you can hit me
One or two more times.
But when you act,
It's all sorts of crazy wack,
It's so good to have you back,
Even though you look 39.
A full hour of hits that are yours,
But then Lea performed Paramore.
[Jim speaks: What the f--- was that about?]
Oh, Britney, take these kids on tour.
[Jim speaks: Seriously, Heather Morris did Britney better than Britney ever did Britney.
Clip: Santana says, "Leave Britney alone!"
Jim: Sorry!]
[To the tune of "... Baby One More Time"]
Oh, Stamos, Stamos,
How was I supposed to know
That you and "Glee" are besties?
Oh, Stamos, Stamos,
You're not singing "Kokomo."
No love for Uncle Jesse.
Mating with crazy eyes,
They're dating,
Schuester's fading,
Student's masturbating,
Oh, that's gross!
John Stamos has a dentist chair.
He gives "Glee" kids
So much sweet air.
When they go under,
They lose their mind.
Drugs are sublime!
Then it becomes Britney time!
[To the tune of "Everytime"]
Videos redone
Are so much fun,
But baby
Everytime "Glee" tributes
The plot falls by the wayside.
They just want you to buy
lots more soundtracks, baby.
"Glee" is structured like a porn.
They talk and then perform.
Scenes are shoehorned
Who needs story, baby?!
[Jim takes a hit of nitrous oxide, collapses.]
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1648975/20100929/spears_britney.jhtml
Justin Bieber Schedules Sneak-Peek Screenings Of 3-D Flick
'They'll be surprised just to see I'm a regular person,' he tells MTV News of 'Never Say Never.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with additional reporting by Tim Kash
"Never Say Never" poster
Photo: Paramount
Justin Bieber is already getting fans excited for the release of his 3-D flick, "Never Say Never." The singer will hold special sneak-peek screenings of the flick on February 9, two days before it opens nationwide.
Need more details? Well, the screenings will be held at 6 p.m. at specially selected movie theaters across the country. Additionally, fans can get their tickets to the concert-film event starting on November 29. Bieber lovers who purchase passes also will receive official movie merchandise like a souvenir VIP lanyard, a glow stick, a bracelet and purple 3-D glasses.
"Everyone thinks this is going to be another 3-D concert movie, but it's anything but that," Justin Bieber said in a statement about the event. "It's a story of how my family, friends and the fans helped me get here and every day are helping me live an impossible dream. That's why I want them to see it first."
When MTV News caught up with Bieber at the American Music Awards on Sunday night, he revealed what fans can expect from the flick. "They'll be surprised just to see I'm a regular person," he said. "I'm a regular teenage boy. I like girls and I like to hang out with my friends. It's gonna be taking them into my world, but also like it's their world cause it's just normal."
These recent comments about the flick echo ones Bieber shared with us last month. "I want to let people know there's a lot of people that are discouraging in life and that will tell you you can't do something, but you just got to remember that the sky's the limit," he told us. "You're able to do whatever you set your mind to as long as you remember to keep God first and stay grounded. So I think the movie really explains that, and it's really inspiring."
Do you plan to get tickets to the advance screenings of Justin's 3-D film? Let us know in the comments.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652811/20101122/bieber_justin.jhtml
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Keri Hilson & Rick Ross' "The Way You Love Me" Video+Kelis & Knight See Yo Gabba Gabba LIVE!
Miss Keri Baby is back with a brand new video. She went the movieish route this time around with her "The Way You Love Me" video ft. Rick Ross. Oh, and Dawn Richard of Dirty Money has a cameo too.
Check it, plus candids of Kelis and her baby Knight when you read on...
I see somebody's sexing it up for this one.
And a few days ago, Kelis brought baby Knight to see Yo Gabba Gabba LIVE in Cali. Apparently lots of celeb parentsand their kiddies were in tow that night:
They grow up so fast!
And she brought her boo Wale Ogunleye (who was released from the Texans a few weeks ago) along too. Cute!
Ke$ha - Blah Blah Blah
- Artist: Ke$ha
- Label: RCA
- Director: Brendan Malloy
- Album: Animal [Clean]
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3213641&vid=487452
Kourtney Kardashian's Day Out with Her Two Main Men
Not far removed from their peanut butter allergy scare, Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick were spotted out with son Mason in Calabasas, CA on Saturday afternoon (November 27).
The adorable trio kicked things off by fueling up with lunch at Marmalade Cafe at "The Commons" before spending about 45 minutes browsing the offerings at a jewelry store.
Prior to the relaxing family outing, Kourtney fit in a little time with her E! reality star mother, Kris Jenner, as she tweeted, "It feels like Sunday! With my mom and Mason running errands!"
A few days prior, Miss kardashian was sure to send her well-wishes on the Turkey Day holiday, as she excitedly wrote, "Happy thanksgiving!!!!! Mason's first makes it ever so special. I'm ready for my mom's sweet potato souffl�. Yum yum. What r u thankful for?"
Watch, Pass, or Rent Movie Reviews: Love & Other Drugs, Tangled, Burlesque, and The King's Speech
Need some help choosing a movie to see this weekend? Luckily we've got all your bases covered, so let us guide you through the latest releases - we've got reviews for Love & Other Drugs, Burlesque, Tangled, and The King's Speech.
Wesley Snipes & DMX Jail Updates + Eve Covers "Inked" Magazine
Wesley Snipes and DMX both had recent updates in their cases. We've got the deets, plus Eve's Inked magazine cover pic when you read on...
Eve landed the cover of the December/January edition of Inked Magazine. Inside, she says that her mother hated her famous claw print tattoos. She says, "My mom said it was the tackiest thing she'd ever seen, yet years later it was her mom who insisted she not remove them. Hey, you don't mess with your trademark, right?"
Eve also reveals that she's trying to erase her bad girl image with appearances on 'Glee' and a new VH1 reality show 'Single Ladies'. SHe had a bad girl image? Oh. She commented, "I hate it when people say, The old Eve, the old Eve. No! I can't pretend to be that girl anymore, if I did people would see that and be like, Why is she trying to be that same person?"
Since her TV show 'Eve' debuted, seems like she has pretty much replaced her old 'bad girl' image. But whatevs. The magazine hits stands November 30th.
In other news:
Wesley Snipes asked his judge to order that Snipes remains free on bail while appealing his latest tax convictions. The judge has ordered prosecutors to respond to Snipes newest appeal by Tuesday. Snipes attorney's say that his 'ongoing and successful movie projects' are a major reason that he should remain free on bail.
Snipes' bail was denied last week when a judge ordered him to go to prison after he lost another appeal. The deadline for his next appeal is December 28th. After being convicted in 2008, Wesley has always managed a way to avoid jail time.
DMX appeared in a Phoenix court Wednesday to defend charges about violating his probation. Prosecutors claim that X violated his probation by using cocaine, Oxycontin, failed to submit a drug test, and drove with a suspended license.
The rapper was arrested last Thursday and held without bond. DMX denied violating his probation Wednesday and his next hearing is set for December 9th.
Dude always seems to be in and out of prison smh. Let's hope he get's it together before he's locked up for good.
Source: http://theybf.com/2010/11/26/wesley-snipes-dmx-jail-updates-eve-covers-inked-magazine
Brittany Murphy Cameron Diaz Carrie Underwood Danica Patrick
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Why I Drink
I'm drinking "pink lemonade" at my mom's house right now. Too many nights here might turn me into a closet drunk. All I have to say is one day this miniature Yorkie will be mine.?
Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2010/9/21/why-i-drink.html
OH REALLY: Kim K. & Halle's Ex Gabriel Get Stuffed...Together...On Thanksgiving [PICS]
Well if you thought those courtside canoodle pics of Kim Kardashian and Halle Berry's ex and baby daddy Gabriel Aubrey from last week were just coincidental, this ish right here proves otherwise.
The twosome--who are rumored to have been dating for a few weeks--were spotted leaving a post-Thanksgiving dinner movie last night in L.A. We've got the pics of the two sneaking into a Rolls Royce Ghost when you read on...
Kim and Gabriel had Thanksgiving dinner with Kim's whole fam earlier in the evening. And then hit up Christina Aguilera's Burlesque together last night. Kim tweeted: "We stuffed ourselves!" I'm sure you did Kimmy...
I shouldn't be shocked by this. But sadly, I am. Interesting...
Photos via SPLASH
Beyonce Says She Wants To 'Make My Own Genre Of Music'
Singer is in the studio working on Sasha Fierce follow-up.
By Gil Kaufman
Beyoncé
Photo: Getty Images
Beyoncé doesn't have that much left to prove in her career. She's a megaplatinum artist, an accomplished actress, half of one of the most successful musical couples in history and a fashion icon.
But on the follow-up to her smash 2008 Grammy-winning album I Am ... Sasha Fierce, the singer is aiming to carve an entirely new lane for herself.
"I love to dance, I love to sing, and I'm actually in the studio now writing songs and producing," the singer told "Entertainment Tonight" from the set of a new commercial she's filming for Vizio televisions. "I have a lot of live instruments that I'm putting into the tracks to try to change the sound and make my own genre of music." The commercial will debut on Thanksgiving day, just after the singer rocks prime-time TV with an ABC Thanksgiving special entitled "I Am ... World Tour."
Among the producers and songwriters working with Beyoncé on the new, as-yet-untitled album is Ne-Yo, who helped write one of the 29-year-old singer's biggest hits, "Irreplaceable."
Ne-Yo told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Beyoncé's fourth solo effort is "coming along nicely. I can't speak too much on it, but it's another direction for her, and she's carving out her own niche. ... In a minute nobody will be in Beyoncé's lane. They really can't get in her lane now, but they really can't get in her lane after this album."
In the meantime, producer Jim Jonsin, who produced her song "Sweet Dreams," has also said he has some new directions in mind for Beyoncé. "I'd like to take it even more Depeche Mode-ish, like '80s electro with just some hard drums," he told Rap-Up TV. "I'd love to go there."
That fits with what songwriter Sean "The Pen" Garrett recently told Entertainment Weekly. Garrett, who was behind such hits as "Video Phone," "Diva" and "Upgrade U," said that he was slated to hit the studio with Beyoncé in September and that the results would be hard-hitting.
"I think we are doing a lot of uptempo records for this one," he said. "She's in such a good place right now in life that she is interested in making party music, definitely."
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652659/20101119/knowles_beyonce.jhtml
City Dog Magazine
Bev's friend Wrigley gave her a subscription to City Dog magazine. She can't stop reading. Thanks Wrigley!
Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2010/11/2/city-dog-magazine.html
City Dog Magazine
Bev's friend Wrigley gave her a subscription to City Dog magazine. She can't stop reading. Thanks Wrigley!
Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2010/11/2/city-dog-magazine.html
Friday, November 26, 2010
Ke$ha Says Rihanna 'Meant Absolutely No Offense'
'I'm so used to the media flipping my words around,' singer tells Complex.
By James Dinh
Ke$ha on the December 2010 issue of <i>Complex</i>
Photo: Complex
Pop-star rivalry has been around for years. Whether it was Britney vs. Christina or Mariah vs. Whitney, there's always been an underlying competition between your favorite female pop singers. But don't expect any animosity between today's stars, at least not from Ke$ha.
The wilding-out singer, who's the latest Complex cover girl, spoke with the magazine about her pop-star peers, including Rihanna, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.
"I actually think that's cool," the singer said of the female stars she's being compared to. "Out of that group of chicks, I'm the new bitch on the block, so I'm still getting used to being compared to some of the biggest pop stars in the world, but I don't take any offense to it. That just means people know my records."
Earlier this year, Ke$ha teamed up with Rihanna for the Barbadian bombshell's girl-power trek, the Last Girl on Earth Tour. Despite the duo's pairing, the blogosphere went into a fury when Rihanna recently revealed that she "didn't want the generic pop record that Ke$ha or Lady Gaga or Katy Perry could do."
The party-loving pop star admitted that she hadn't even read the quote, suggesting that the media may have taken Rih's comments out of context.
"I'm so used to the media flipping my words around that I'm sure she meant absolutely no offense to me or Katy or Gaga," said the singer. "Rihanna and me are totally cool, we were just on tour together, and I know that she and Katy are good friends. I don't take any offense because I'm sure it's bullsh-- anyway."
Based on the garbage-bag ensemble she wore to this year's MTV Video Music Awards, it seems that Ke$ha could care less about other people's opinions. "I was trying to look super-hot," she said. "I like to poke fun at when people make fun of me, because I don't take myself that seriously. People say I'm 'garbage chic,' so I thought I'd take it to the next level and make a garbage bag super f---ing chic — and I succeeded!"
As for now, the singer is focusing on her recently released Cannibal, a companion album to her debut, Animal.
Do you think there's competition between any of today's pop stars? Share your thoughts below!
Open the floodgates! It's Mega-Release Week, with Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Ke$ha, My Chemical Romance and Lloyd Banks all dropping new albums. Stick with MTV News for everything you need to know about the brand-new music.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653073/20101124/kesha_.jhtml
Dane Cook Sizes Up New-Release Rivals Kanye West, Justin Bieber, More
Comedian drops I Did My Best - Greatest Hits the same week as new albums from Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha and a load of other megastars.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Matt Elias
Dane Cook
Photo: Getty Images
With all the hype surrounding MTV News' musical Mega-Release Week — Bieber! Kanye! Nicki! Ke$ha! Jay-Z! MCR! — you might not be aware of yet another album hitting stores this week: Dane Cook's I Did My Best - Greatest Hits.
Lucky for us, the man behind the album stopped by our office to discuss his just-released comedic stylings, as well as his thoughts on the other big albums dropping this week. So why release a greatest-hits album?
"I've been doing stand-up comedy 20 years altogether — ten years of recording tracks and club sets and arena sets," Cook explained. "So I thought it would be a great way to close out the decade, a great 'thank you' to fans to say, 'These are the high-water marks that we shared,' remaster it, make it sound great. To new fans that are always discovering me saying, 'Where do I start?,' this is really the collection of what I think are the highlight moments," he said.
And for the die-hard fans out there who already have some of those greatest hits, he included a bunch of unreleased tracks on the album as well. "There's something for everyone on there," he assured us.
Regarding his competition in the new-releases category, we asked Cook to share his thoughts on some of the big names. First up, Kanye West. "Never heard of him. What is he about?" Cook deadpanned. "Kan-J? Kanye? I'm just going to call him West. That's great. I'll definitely look him up."
With Nicki Minaj, Cook pretended that we were asking about something suggestive — "Oh, no, I'm thinking of a ménage a trois that I once had" — but then praised the talents of that "guy or girl."
What about Ke$ha and Justin Bieber? "Ke$ha is like mini-Gaga," Cook said. "I think whatever outfits Gaga doesn't end up using, she probably just gets those and spins them into hits.
"Justin Bieber is, first of all, he's adorable," he said, sincerely. "That Bieber hair that caught on for a little bit, and he enchants the little girls. That 2- to 5-year-old demographic I think is really where he's at. And he's going to have a really long career, or until they turn 8 or 9," he quipped. "As long as they stay 2 to 5, I think that kid's going to be around for a long time."
Open the floodgates! It's Mega-Release Week, with Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Ke$ha, My Chemical Romance and Lloyd Banks all dropping new albums. Stick with MTV News for everything you need to know about the brand-new music.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653025/20101123/west_kanye.jhtml
Britney Spears - 3
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive, Jive Label Group
- Director: Diane Martel
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=452061
'Deathly Hallows' Designer Reveals Scene Secrets
'Harry Potter' production designer Stuart Craig talks to MTV News about helping Harry retrieve Sword of Gryffindor from a frozen lake.
By Kara Warner
Daniel Radcliffe in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1"
Photo: Warner Bros.
In the weeks leading up to the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1," fans were in a frenzy, trying to figure out just how much of the book would make the first film, which scenes would delight and disappoint, and what characters might not return ever again. And trying to get the tight-lipped folks in the Potter camp to discuss those key points was a bit of a struggle. However, now that the film has opened, MTV News has enlisted the expertise of longtime Potter production designer Stuart Craig for a few behind-the-scenes tidbits.
Much has been said of the production moving away from Hogwarts and out on multiple locations, which Craig described as a "movie on the run."
"We made a very different kind of film, which was shot a great deal on location. We traveled quite far, we built sets, and they spend a lot of time in a forest," he explained. "We built forest sets and integrated them into the real forests, so there were challenges there, as you might imagine."
Another one of the production's major challenges — and accomplishments — was shooting the sequence in which Harry retrieves the Sword of Gryffindor at the bottom of a frozen lake.
"There was a really demanding, complicated special-effects requirement there to do the ice," Craig said. "I think that all works remarkably quite well, actually. Harry breaking the ice, diving in and then subsequently strangled by the Horcrux around his neck and is struggling and can't get up quickly because of the ice above him. It's good stuff."
Which begs the question: How did Craig and his team pull off that scene, and what do they use to make the ice look so real?
"As always, well, as nearly always, there's more than one solution. The camera on top, looking from the outside down on it. It's big, thick sheets of Plexiglass with frosty texture on top of that," he revealed.
"When we're underneath, it's actually an area of wax which floats on top of the water. And wax makes very effective ice. They're tried and tested movie techniques; there are a lot. You could write a book one day, a guidebook, to the very movie techniques — frost on window panes with some Epsom salts and brown nails."
One of the great pleasures in chatting with Craig, whose credits outside the world of Harry Potter include "Ghandi," "The English Patient" and "Notting Hill," is the fact that he has such an informed perspective on the inner-workings of the industry; specifically, how advanced film-making technology is now.
"The great thing about movies these days is that you can fix everything," he said. "I have to give a talk at a film festival early next month, and I've just been looking at films that I've done in the past. In particular, 'Ghandi,' years ago in India. The thing then was: If sometimes there was a compromise, it was filmed and it was there, locked. Forever. You look at the movie 20 years later, and there it would be.
"These days, with visual effects able to do so much, you can do face replacement, you can put Dan Radcliffe's head on somebody else's body. There's nothing they can't do, it seems. I mean, at a cost, it's not cheap, so terrible things seem to get fixed, which is very reassuring," he added, chuckling.
What was your favorite scene in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1"? Tell us in the comments below!
Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1."
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Beyonce's Perfume Commercial Banned From Daytime Broadcast In U.K.
Singer's spot for Heat is not to air before 7:30 p.m. due to its 'sexually provocative' imagery.
By James Dinh
Beyonce in her ad for Heat
Photo: Coty UK
Whether through her music videos or concerts, Beyoncé has always used her sex appeal as part of her pop-star allure. But is she too sexy? The U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority thinks so. The singer's television spot for her fragrance, Heat, was recently banned from daytime rotation due to its "sexually provocative" imagery.
In a statement posted on its website, the advertising watchdog said that it has received several complaints about the spot, which was aired throughout the day during family programming and will now only be shown after 7:30 p.m. While the organization noted that the ad was unlikely to harm an older audience, it deemed the spot unsuitable for all-ages viewing. "We considered that Beyoncé's body movements and the camera's prolonged focus on shots of her dress slipping away to partially expose her breasts created a sexually provocative ad that was unsuitable to be seen by young children," the ASA said.
In the Jake Nava-directed commercial, Beyoncé plays a seductive temptress, meandering about a steamy room. As she makes her way around the area, the singer croons Little Willie John's 1956 classic "Fever."
While she remains dressed, the star's silky red dress holds close to her curves and exposes partial cleavage.
Coty UK, the company behind the fragrance, responded to the criticism, explaining that the TV spot was in line with the singer's "sexy chic style," artistically shot and consistent with many music videos.
Last year, the pop star spoke about the perfume's advertisement in an interview with WWD. "It's called Heat, so we wanted the ads to be really steamy and dewy," said the singer. "My sexiest moments are when I'm just getting out of the tub or the shower and I'm clean, so I wanted to incorporate that in the ads. The dress was this liquid-y satin. The song 'Fever' I did years ago and always loved it. [For the commercial] I got to sing it a bit more whispery, more natural."
Do you think the Beyoncé's TV spot is too sexy? Share your opinion below!
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652482/20101117/knowles_beyonce.jhtml
Mary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers
'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll
Mary J. Blige
Photo: MTV News
You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.
In early February, reports began circulating that Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven," working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her Stronger With Each Tear album, due Monday.
But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering another Zeppelin classic — the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" — for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the Essence Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine.
"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' — it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."
Blige also said she recorded another new song — a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" — for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon.
"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633563/20100309/blige_mary_j.jhtml
Thursday, November 25, 2010
My Chemical Romance Call Danger Days 'A Missile Directed At Rock And Roll'
'The best way to love rock and roll is to shoot it in the head,' band says.
By James Montgomery
My Chemical Romance
Photo: MTV News
In the four years between The Black Parade and Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys, My Chemical Romance were no strangers to the grandiose statement. It seems that, in every interview they gave, the band found a new way to describe their (then upcoming) album, calling it everything from a "very pure" bit of punk rock to — most famously — "a love letter to rock and roll".
The end result, of course, was Danger Days, an album that is both of those things (and neither), often at the same time. And yet, it has basically been defined within those parameters. So, looking back on it now, do MCR regret anything they said in the lead-up to the album?
Not really.
"It makes me laugh when I [read it now]," frontman Gerard Way said, smiling.
"Part of the problem was: We tried to define the record before we made the record. And it's not all our fault," guitarist Frank Iero added, "because everyone kept asking us, 'Oh, what's it going to be?' And when we said, 'Oh, we don't know,' they're like, 'Well, whadaya mean? What's it going to be? Can you speculate?' And it's like, 'Well, it's going to be this,' and when we found out what that is, it changed."
And that change was, of course, necessary. Both for the band's survival and the scope of the new album. In retrospect, MCR stand by everything they said about Danger Days, because, really, deep down in its chrome-plated heart, it still is "a love letter" to American rock and roll.
It's just written from My Chemical Romance's rather-unique perspective.
"At first, we said, 'It's a love letter to rock and roll,' and we found out that the best way to love rock and roll is to shoot it in the head," Iero said. "So we made a record that was like a missile directed at rock and roll.
"It just started to change and evolve, and then the band evolved at the same time. And I think that's the way you have to make a record: in a very organic way."
What do you think of Danger Days? Give us your review in the comments!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653090/20101124/my_chemical_romance.jhtml
Justin Bieber, Ke$ha, Katy Perry Pick Up Platinum Certifications
Releases by Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, B.o.B, Bruno Mars also recognized by recording-industry organization RIAA.
By James Montgomery
Justin Bieber
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ Getty Images
On Wednesday, the Recording Industry Association of America handed out their latest round of gold and platinum certifications ... and if your name was Ke$ha or Justin Bieber, well, then it was a very good day for you.
Ke$ha's Animal was certified gold (meaning it passed the 500,000-sales mark) and a spate of her digital singles went multiplatinum, with "Tik Tok" being downloaded more than 5 million times and "Your Love Is My Drug" racking up another 2 million. "Blah Blah Blah" and "Take It Off" both were certified gold, meaning that, all told, she's sold more than 8.5 million downloads to date.
Bieber earned his first-ever multiplatinum award, as the RIAA certified sales of his My World 2.0 album at more than 2 million copies. "Baby," his team-up with Ludacris, also was certified as double platinum.
Wednesday also was a great day to be the Black Eyed Peas, as their massive tune "I Gotta Feeling" was certified 6-times platinum (that's more than 6 million downloads) — making it the RIAA's highest-ever digital-song certification.
Following (somewhat) close behind the Peas were the likes of Katy Perry, B.o.B, Taio Cruz and Rihanna, who had their respective mega singles "California Gurls," "Airplanes," "Break Your Heart" and "Don't Stop the Music" certified as triple platinum. Perry and Rihanna also each picked up a double-platinum certification — for "Teenage Dream" and "Rude Boy," respectively — bringing their total hauls to more than 5 million units sold.
The Bruno Mars track "Just the Way You Are" was certified platinum, giving the crooner his very first solo plaque. B.o.B's "Magic" and former "American Idol" champ Kris Allen's "Live Like We're Dying" also picked up platinum certifications.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652671/20101119/bieber_justin.jhtml
Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year
Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff
Alison Krauss and Robert Plant accept the award for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards on Sunday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
"I'm bewildered," Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the Grammy Album of the Year award with Alison Krauss on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."
He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because Raising Sand, which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect Grammy album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.
You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history.
Really, she's the key to Sand's success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released.
And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain.
And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified.
To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.
One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album.
"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards."
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Scarlett Johansson Shakira The Pussycat Dolls Sandra Bullock
Beyonce's Banned Perfume Ad Defended By Company
The spot is 'intended to reflect the singer Beyoncé's personal 'sexy chic' style,' says fragrance maker Coty.
By Jocelyn Vena
Beyoncé in her ad for Heat
Photo: Coty UK
Beyoncé's steamy new ad for her perfume, Heat, recently gathered some heat of its own from the U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority — which banned the commercial from the country's daytime TV rotation because of its sexy imagery. Now the company that makes Heat is speaking out about the sanction brought against the ad, which features the singer in a skin-tight, hot-red satin minidress, touching herself and showing some skin.
In a statement from perfume maker Coty that was posted on AceShowbiz.com, the company notes that it doesn't think there's anything too explicit about the TV spot, maintaining that it is "intended to reflect the singer Beyoncé's personal 'sexy chic' style." And while Beyoncé's cleavage is exposed at certain parts of the commercial, Coty added that it's not "overtly graphic or explicitly sexual and at no point was Beyoncé naked."
The company continued, "It was aimed at a vast selection of music programs to target a young adult audience. It would therefore be consistent with the expectations of viewers of those sorts of programs."
In a statement posted on its website, the advertising watchdog said that it has received several complaints about the Jake Nava-directed spot, which initially was aired throughout the day during family programming and now only will be shown after 7:30 p.m. The organization said, "We considered that Beyoncé's body movements and the camera's prolonged focus on shots of her dress slipping away to partially expose her breasts created a sexually provocative ad that was unsuitable to be seen by young children."
Do you think Beyoncé's commercial is too sexy to air in the day? Tell us in the comments!
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652556/20101118/knowles_beyonce.jhtml
Chris Brown, Bow Wow Rock Free Thanksgiving Concert In Atlanta
Stars perform at event which hooked up locals with a turkey giveaway and carnival.
By Mawuse Ziegbe, with reporting by James "FLX" Smith
Chris Brown
Photo: MTV News
With another Thanksgiving upon us, celebrities are in the giving spirit. On Tuesday night, Chris Brown and Bow Wow kicked off some pre-Turkey Day festivities with a free concert for their Atlanta-area fans.
Decked out in a slate-gray suit and white kicks, Breezy rocked tracks like his Graffiti joint "I Can Transform Ya," flanked by similarly dapper backup dancers as he turned out his signature athletic choreography.
The "Deuces" singer said he was down to gift concertgoers with a high-octane performance just in time for the holidays.
"It was fun, I had a great time," Brown told MTV News. "I love giving back to the fans and everybody who got to come out who really don't get a chance to come out and go to concerts and things like that."
Also at the event, which was organized by beatsmith Polow Da Don and featured a carnival and turkey giveaway, was Breezy's homey and fellow hitmaker Bow Wow. The Cash Money MC said he didn't need any convincing to rock the crowd alongside his "Shortie Like Mine" collaborator — especially if it meant bringing some holiday cheer to deserving fans.
"It was only right that I came out, supported the homey," Bow said. "He called me, wanted me to come out, perform the record, shut it down, and I told him it was nothing. And on top of that, it was for a positive cause."
Coming down the pike from Breezy is the follow-up to Graffiti, which features the single "Yeah 3X." The singer updated fans about the project in September.
"I'm putting out singles a lot right now, so everything's coming together. But I definitely am gonna to say this and plug it quick: The name of my album is Fame, so make sure you check it out," he said during a stop at an Austin, Texas, radio station.
What are your Thanksgiving plans? Let us know in the comments!
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653091/20101124/brown__chris__18_.jhtml
This might sound crazy but...
I blew off my shrink appointment this morning because it was raining outside and I didn't want to get out bed, so I'm just going to show up tomorrow at the same time and pretend they got the day wrong.
Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2010/10/1/this-might-sound-crazy-but.html
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