Technology Stuff: September 2010

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Hayley Williams On 'Glee' Salute: 'I Felt Like I Was Levitating'

Paramore's 'The Only Exception' featured on Britney Spears episode.
By James Montgomery

Paramore's Hayley Williams
Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images

On Tuesday night's Britney-riffic episode of "Glee," there was just one performance (aside from that part where Mr. Schue sang Michael McDonald in his new Corvette) that didn't center on all things Spears: Lea Michele's rather stirring rendition of Paramore's "The Only Exception," a key track off last year's Brand New Eyes album.

And while, to some, the inclusion of the song might have seemed a bit, well, odd (or, at least, "not Britney") in a lot of ways, Michele's performance — which ended with tears streaming down her face — sort of stole the show. It was a pretty powerful moment ... especially if you were the girl who wrote the song.

In the hours following the episode, Paramore's Hayley Williams took to her Twitter account to praise Michele's performance, and say that she was "so humbled" to have one of her band's tunes on the show.

Of course, MTV News wanted to get Williams' take on all this "Glee" madness. Given how nuts everything has been since the episode aired, it took her about a day to get back to us. And, not surprisingly, when she finally did, she still felt like she was floating on cloud nine.

"I can't even describe how I felt hearing one of our songs on a hit show like 'Glee,' " she wrote in an e-mail. "Lea Michele sang it beautifully, and I liked what she changed vocally. I felt like I was levitating off of my friend's couch trying to understand it was really happening!"

Yes, it really happened. And, from the looks of things, it's not going to stop happening anytime soon. On Thursday (September 30), nearly 48 hours since the episode first aired, the "Glee" version of "Exception" is holding steady on the iTunes singles chart. It's currently third, behind the Far East Movement's "Like a G6" and, naturally, the "Glee" version of Britney's "Toxic."

What did you think of the "Glee" version of "Only Exception"? Let us know in the comments!

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Britney Spears - Gimme More

Gimme More

Artist: Britney Spears
Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
Director: Jake Sarfaty
Album: Blackout

Jaime King Jaime Pressly Jamie Chung Jamie Gunns Jamie-Lynn Sigler Janet Jackson

Chris Brown's BET Awards Breakdown Divides Viewers

Some think Brown's Michael Jackson tribute was sincere, while others view it as a sympathy ploy.
By Gil Kaufman

Chris Brown performs at the 2010 BET Awards on Sunday
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images

While Chris Brown's onstage breakdown during a Michael Jackson tribute at Sunday night's BET Awards likely left many viewers speechless, MTV News readers had plenty to say about the emotional tribute to the late King of Pop.

Many commenters weighed in on an MTV News story about the performance, during which Brown executed some spot-on Jackson choreography for "Remember the Time" and "Billie Jean" while modeling some of MJ's signature looks. He then cried and was unable to get out the lyrics to the moving "Man in the Mirror."

"He left his heart on that dance floor and when those tears dropped from his face, so did the audience around the world," Music4Ever wrote. "He truly gave that his all and showed Michael that he was his idol."

Kjabbamodern called Brown's performance "amazing" and said he was spot on. "When you watched the awards you truly felt the incredible spirit he had, and when he broke down, it was truly genuine. Anyone that cannot understand that and see his true spirit is seriously NOT human. [Brown] made a mistake. ... I hope people find it in their hearts to forgive this young man."

The performance was one of the most high profile for Brown since the singer pleaded guilty last summer in connection with his attack on former girlfriend Rihanna. Since then, he has struggled to get his career back on track, meeting with disappointing sales for his album, Graffiti, and recently being forced to cancel European dates when the conviction stopped him from obtaining a work visa in the U.K.

Not everyone was convinced of the emotional sincerity of Brown's teary display. "Publicity stunt ... so funny that most of these commenters don't even remember all the backlash MJ had to endure!!" Eddie wrote. "Where was the forgiveness then? So sad that a sick person like Chris can put on a show of 'tears' to a REAL MUSICIAN'S MUSIC to get sympathy. ... His tears were for what he lost, which I pray he will never get back!!!"

Insantity wasn't feeling it either, adding, "I guess you can beat the life out of women, as long as you 'cry' at a tribute show."

Rebel was less harsh about Brown's intentions, writing, "This young man has suffered ENOUGH. Just let him move on and remember that there is not one amongst us who has never made a mistake in their life."

The night included notable performances from Alicia Keys, Eminem, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, T.I. and Diddy. But Shai182 said simply, "Chris Brown's performance was hands down the best performance of the night!!! He killed it!!!" And chickhappy23 opined, "MJ would have been proud & we know u'll hold true to your promise Chris."

MTV's readers weren't the only ones torn over the tribute from one of Jackson's most avowed young followers. The Los Angeles Times ran a poll of readers on its site, asking whether they bought Brown's performance. At press time, 39 percent said that "Chris was thinking only of Jackson and was choked up by his death," followed by 21 percent who countered, "Chris was 100% faking a breakdown to get sympathy." The rest of the vote was split between 12 percent who said, "Chris was 50% upset by Jackson's death and 50% over-acting to get sympathy," and 9 percent who thought, "Chris was 100% freaked out that he had a real singing gig again. It had nothing to do with Jackson or faking it."

Was Chris Brown's BET breakdown genuine? Continue the conversation in the comments.

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TRAILER: Bridges, Brolin and Damon in Coens? ?True Grit? (video)

Paramount slipped Apple the exclusive trailer for Ethan and Joel Coen's (pictured) "True Grit," which opens on Christmas. Matt Damon, Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin and Barry Pepper star in this new adaptation of the Charles Portis novel. It's stark and elegiac and explicitly told from the point of view of the young girl looking to avenge [...]

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Britney Spears - Gimme More

Gimme More

Artist: Britney Spears
Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
Director: Jake Sarfaty
Album: Blackout

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Little Kids Can Be Such Dicks

Two little girls called Nora "poo poo pants" today in school and made her sad. I told her the next time they say that, fire back with, "Oh yeah? At least I'm not a whore!"

Kindergarten can be brutal.

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Photos | Behind-The-Scenes: Ke$ha At 'SNL'

Behind-The-Scenes: Ke$ha At 'SNL'

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Photos | Our Favorite Britney Spears Tour Merchandise

Our Favorite Britney Spears Tour Merchandise

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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Britney Spears 'Glee' Episode Draws Record-Setting Ratings

Tribute episode brings in 13.3 million viewers.
By James Dinh

Britney Spears and Heather Morris on the set of "Glee"
Photo: FOX

Madonna's "Glee" tribute episode might have been titled "The Power of Madonna," but it was the show's tribute to Britney Spears that reigned supreme. The broadcast, which featured cameos from the pop princess herself, drew 13.3 million viewers, leading the 8 p.m. hour and posting its best-ever rating among adults 18-49.

Tuesday night's episode, appropriately titled "Britney/Brittany," had a 5.8 rating and rose 4 percent from last week's season-two premiere. The feat made history for "Glee," as it becomes the first series since NBC's "Seinfeld" in 1993 to debut as the top series of the week and then spike in ratings the following week, according to Entertainment Weekly.

The episode, which highlighted Heather Morris' character Brittany S. Pearce, revolved around the McKinley High students' fight to perform Britney Spears numbers. Through anesthesia-induced sequences, the Gleeks tapped into their inner pop star to perform renditions of the singer's hits, including " ... Baby One More Time" and "Me Against the Music."

In addition to Spears' appearances on the hit Fox show, the singer took to Twitter during the West Coast premiere to thank fans for campaigning in support of the episode. "I loved it! Thank you guys SO much for making this happen!" she tweeted. The pop princess also gave props to the many song and video re-creations, including "I'm a Slave 4 U," saying, "Slave: Oh ... My ... God ...! Those little boys are SO cute! I know how hard it is to dance with that snake! Nice job."

Spears' manager, Adam Leber, also showed his appreciation for the episode, which spawned multiple trending topics on Twitter. "So glad you guys loved the GLEE episode! The Overwhelming worldwide response has been insane.3 of the top 10 worldwide trending topics.Sick! Big big big thank you to Ryan Murphy, the incredible cast and Brit's fans for making it happen...."

After such success, it wouldn't be surprising if the rumors of a second Spears-devoted episode came true, since "Britney/Brittany" only included hits from the first few years of the singer's career.

Did you catch the Britney Spears-themed episode last night? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Chris Pine in talks to star in Alex Kurtzman?s ?Welcome to People?

Chris Pine is in preliminary discussions to take the lead in the DreamWorks drama ?Welcome to People,? the directorial debut of ?Star Trek? and ?Transformers? co-screenwriter Alex Kurtzman. ?People? follows a man who must deliver $150,000 in cash to an alcoholic sister he didn?t know he had after the death of their father. Without telling her [...]

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Beyoncé - Sweet Dreams

Sweet Dreams

Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia, Music World Music
Director: Adria Petty
Album: I Am... Sasha Fierce

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Ne-Yo Calls Potential Lady Gaga Collabo 'Intriguing'

'Would I jump into her world? Would I pull her into mine?' he says to MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Tim Kash

Ne-Yo
Photo: Kim Schier / MTV News

While Lady Gaga has worked with everyone from RedOne and Akon to Teddy Riley and Rodney Jerkins, she sticks to a pretty tight-knit group of collaborators when it comes to her albums, including the forthcoming Born This Way. But that doesn't mean singer/songwriter Ne-Yo hasn't been trying to get in the studio with the "Bad Romance" songstress.

"We've been talking to Gaga's people about some stuff," he said. "Gaga's very difficult to get a hold of as of late, for obvious reasons. She's very busy. We've been talking to her people about doing some stuff."

Ne-Yo is best known for working with artists like Rihanna and Beyoncé and crafting pop-influenced R&B tunes. So how would he apply his hitmaking formula to the dance queen's music? "I have no idea! That's kind of the intriguing thing that I have no idea what that song would sound like," he said. "Like, would I jump into her world? Would I pull her into mine? I don't know, but I feel like it would be interesting to see. Maybe we should get a camera crew over when that happens."

While a Gaga collabo isn't a sure thing, Ne-Yo has confirmed that he's working with Beyoncé on her next album.

"The thing about working with Beyoncé is that she definitely has her own agenda," the "Irreplaceable" songwriter said. "She's an artist that knows exactly what she wants to do.

"She's going to give you directions [like] 'Here's where I'm going, so here's where I need you to be,' " Ne-Yo explained. "And, you know, I'm a person that follows direction well. [And she'll be like], 'So this is the sound, this is the vibe; make it happen.' And I write and she likes it or she doesn't. And in this case she did, and there you have it."

Would you like to hear a Ne-Yo and Gaga collabo? Let us know in the comments!

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Black Metal Goes Surfing Emperor Style

A YouTube user who calls himself MrMeddled has posted an outrageously amazing surf rock version of Emperor's black metal song 'I am the Black Wizard.' Almost as entertaining as the interpretation/transformation is the accompanying text, which reads in part:
"In 1959, Chip Ihsahn and Rocky Samoth met on the beach in California. They shared a love [...]

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Lady Gaga's Born This Way Is Her 'Freedom Album,' Producer Says

RedOne says the upcoming Born This Way is 'too good to talk about.'
By Jocelyn Vena

Lady Gaga
Photo: Getty Images

Why will Lady Gaga's forthcoming Born This Way album "piss people off"?

Gaga's main man, producer and songwriter RedOne, thinks it might be because the album is all about the artist's liberation. "I think it's more of her freedom album. It's like freedom this album ... it's her album!" he told MTV News.

But trying to squeeze any more details out of the "Bad Romance" producer proved difficult. He remained tight-lipped about details, mostly because he feels the album, which Gaga has noted will veer toward bitter and political, isn't ready for everyday talk just yet.

"To be honest with you, I think that this album that she's making is too precious to talk about. When it comes out you'll hear and you'll make your choice," he said. "I think you're gonna love it. But I think it's too precious for me to talk about it. It's crazy."

RedOne said that as far as he knows there will be no Beyoncé-type collaborations on Born This Way. But he reiterated that he's always stepping up his game with each album.

"I said with everything I do I want to shock people. Honestly, it's like whatever I do, I always want to shock people sonically, lyrically with the writer, anything that's gonna get the reaction," he said. "And so when it comes to her album, I mean honestly, I really think it's too precious, it's too good to talk about. I don't want to talk about it at all. I just want to save it. I'll let her talk about it. It's her. It's her presenting Gaga. I'm the producer, but she's the artist.

"Whatever happens later is going to happen," he said about which of his tracks might make the final cut. "I can't say I'm doing this or I'm doing that. It's a surprise. I want to leave it like that."

What are you expecting from Born This Way? Let us know in the comments!

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Unreleased Michael Jackson Music On The Way, Rodney Jerkins Says

'It's definitely going to come, but it takes time,' says producer, who worked with King of Pop on Invincible.
By James Dinh

Michael Jackson
Photo: Time Life Pictures/DMI/Time Life Pictures/Getty Im

Michael Jackson had a wealth of unreleased songs in the vaults at the time of his death last year, but very little has since seen the light of day. Producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, who worked with the King of Pop on his 2001 album Invincible, revealed that he is about to work on a project with unreleased material from Jackson.

"I'm about to work on an unreleased project that we're talking about doing right now," Darkchild revealed in a chat with VladTV. "It's definitely going to come, but it takes time. You got to do a lot of the red tape but there's definitely going to be an unreleased Michael Jackson [album]. There's definitely going to be stuff to come and hopefully I'll be a part of that."

Darkchild later spoke about how working with the entertainer had always been a childhood dream of his.

"It was a blessing. It was definitely a goal of mine as a kid. When I first wanted to be producer, at 11 years old, on a little piece of paper [I] was like, 'One day I wanna work with Michael Jackson.' I just believe that God granted my wish," he said. "I had the chance to work with him. We became friends. Of course, we miss him dearly. He was truly the greatest."

Last year, former Sony Music boss Tommy Mottola revealed to Time magazine that unpublished Jackson music could date back decades. "Let's say 12 or 13 songs end up on the album; Michael could have possibly recorded 15, 20 or 30 songs," Mottola explained. "This would probably go for every album he recorded and probably predating [Sony] to his Motown days."

Jackson was reportedly working on a comeback album at the time of his death with contemporary R&B producers like Akon, Ne-Yo and Will.I.Am. He was also in talks to hit the studio with everybody from Kanye West to T-Pain to Chris Brown.

Based on a recent report from Reuters, more music from Jackson would only further increase music sales for the singer. The entertainer's music has raked in $430 million in sales since June 2009.

An album wasn't the only unfinished project Jackson had on his plate at the time of his death last June. The King of Pop had asked then-newcomer Lady Gaga to open his This Is It shows in London. "I guess I can speak about it now. I was actually asked to open for Michael on his tour. We were going to open for him at the O2," she revealed earlier this year.

Would you be excited to hear unreleased music from the King of Pop? Tell us your thoughts below!

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Ronnie James Dio Dead at 67

Today, the heavy metal world lost a true legend. Ronnie James Dio, who most recently fronted the Black Sabbath-without-Ozzy band Heaven & Hell, lost his battle with stomach cancer at 7:45 a.m. PST. He was 67.
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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Britney Spears & Jason Trawick Together Again In SoCal

Yay!! Britwick Lives!! When last we saw photos of Britney Spears and her hot man Jason Trawick, they were making their way back to SoCal after an extended 2-week vacation together in Hawaii. It is my understanding that Jason accompanied Britney and her sons to Disneyland a week later but Britwick were not photographed together. [...]

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Photos | What Beyonce Might Be Like At Home

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Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj And More VMA Virgins

Sunday is a big night for these first-time nominees and performers.
By Kelley L. Carter

Justin Bieber
Photo: Robyn Beck/ Getty Images

Be gentle with these guys — it's their first time as nominees or performers at the MTV Video Music Awards. Here's a look at this year's VMA virgins and where you'll see them come Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Ke$ha
It was almost impossible to turn the radio on and not hear Kesha's party-happy pop track "Tik Tok" over the past year. (She also did the background vocals on Flo Rida's ubiquitous "Right Round.") The singer is up for Best New Artist, and she'll present an award Sunday. "This is such a monumental thing for me to be nominated, because it really means people do really like what I'm doing," she said.

Nicki Minaj
Lil Wayne's wig-loving protégé will perform during the VMA pre-show on Sunday, and perhaps the mixtape diva will give us a taste of her forthcoming debut album, Pink Friday. "Obviously, this is something everybody dreamed of being part of, and I'm no exception to that rule," she said. "I just feel like this is my coming-out party. This is major for an artist with no album out."

Cascada
Natalie Horler fronts this German Eurodance group, and along with DJ Manian and Yanou, the band will make their VMA debut Sunday. They'll be competing in the newly revamped Dance Music Video category. Earlier this year, it was announced that they were the second-most-downloaded dance artists of all time. Who's the most downloaded? French DJ David Guetta, which brings us to our next rookie ...

David Guetta
The French DJ is responsible for sweating up dance floors, both international and domestic, and he finally nabs his first VMA for "Sexy Chick," featuring Akon.

B.o.B
The Atlanta rapper is up for five VMAs, and he'll take the stage for the first time.

Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine's Florence Welch is bringing her funked-out, soulful vocals to the VMA stage this year, where she's up for four awards.

Jason Derülo
The pop singer feels like he already won at the VMAs. Last year, he attended the awards, but he sat in the back of the house. "This year, I'm nominated for two awards. It's incredible," said the singer, who has opened for Lady Gaga. "I've watched these awards my whole entire life, so to finally be a part of it is a dream come true. Pinch me, please." Derülo will be taking the stage with VMA house artist Deadmau5.

Justin Bieber
Bieber presented a VMA with Ke$ha at the 2009 show, but this year, he's up for Best New Artist and is set to perform.

Deadmau5
In case you're wondering, it's pronounced "dead mouse" (real name: Joel Thomas Zimmerman), and he's a Canadian house producer. He'll be working as this year's house artist.

Chelsea Handler
The comedian is the first woman to host the VMAs since 1994. Prepare for laughter beyond belief from the E! talk-show hostess.

Drake
The Toronto rapper (and Lil Wayne protégé) is up for three Moonmen; he'll also perform at the VMAs for the first time.

Robyn
Fresh off a tour with Kelis, Robyn, a Swedish pop singer, will perform with deadmau5 on Sunday at the VMAs.

Bruno Mars
Up for one VMA (along with collaborator B.o.B), Bruno Mars will also perform for the first time at the VMAs.

Who's your favorite VMA virgin? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through Sunday.

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VIDEO: Darren Aronofsky talks about making a ?disturbing? ballet film

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THR's Matt Belloni talked to Darren Aronofsky up at Toronto about "Black Swan," and you can see that video below the jump. I saw "Black Swan" up at Telluride and was enraptured by its visually stunning look at female sexual panic. Yes, the dark film polarized audiences a bit, but I definitely hooked into its lurid [...]

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'Wall Street' Brings In Box-Office Bucks

'Money Never Sleeps' takes $7 million in theaters on Friday.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Michael Douglas and Shia LaBeouf in "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps"
Photo: 20th Century Fox

The Box-Office Top Five

#1 "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" ($7 million)
#2 "The Town" ($5 million)
#3 "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" ($4.6 million)
#4 "Easy A" ($3.6 million)
#5 "You Again" ($2.8 million)

Proving money still talks — at least, to moviegoers — "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" took the top spot at the Friday box office. Michael Douglas' return as Gordon Gekko, 23 years after he powered the cautionary money, power and success tale of the original "Wall Street," rang up $7 million in ticket sales.

Another cash-grabbing flick, "The Town," also scored big with audiences, landing in the second-place slot. The film, which follows vault looters (Ben Affleck), ladies (Blake Lively and Rebecca Hall) and the law (Jon Hamm) as they get caught up in the nefarious Boston bank-robbing underworld, made $5 million. The haul brings the movie's total estimated tally to just over $38 million since its debut last Friday.

The Friday top five wasn't all about money grubbing and shady ethics. The animated feature "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" debuted in third place. Adapted from the children's book series by author Kathryn Lasky, and boasting voice-over performances from Helen Mirren and Geoffrey Rush, the kid-friendly fantasy flick raked in an estimated $4.6 million.

The high-school comedy "Easy A" continued to turn in good marks at the box office. Featuring a cast of young Hollywood names, including Emma Stone, Penn Badgley and Amanda Bynes, the flick pulled in $3.6 million during its second Friday on screens.

Rounding out the top five with a tale of post-high school awkwardness is "You Again." Audiences plunked down $2.8 million to catch Kristen Bell's turn as a successful PR professional grappling with the fact that her brother's fiancé is her onetime schoolyard nemesis.

Check out everything we've got on "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," "The Town" and "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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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.

Who Is Rockin? Some New Braids On Set?

Can you guess which A-List actor was spotted on the set of his big budget action/adventure sequel film rockin’ some pretty serious braids in his hair? Thankfully these braids are just temporarily put in to help him dress in costume. Do you know who it is? Find out if you’re right, after the jump … [...]

Jennifer Scholle Jennifer Sky Jenny McCarthy Jessica Alba Jessica Biel Jessica Cauffiel

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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Monday, September 27, 2010

Beyoncé - Sweet Dreams

Sweet Dreams

Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia, Music World Music
Director: Adria Petty
Album: I Am... Sasha Fierce

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Justin Bieber Says 'Girlfriends Are Trouble'

Pop star admits he doesn't have much time for dating right now.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Tim Kash

Justin Bieber at the VMAs on Sunday
Photo: Rachel Goldner/ MTV News

Now that Justin Bieber properly took over the VMAs, lined up a bunch of projects and even announced the release date for his forthcoming 3-D movie, one might think he would want to find that special someone to share his days with. But just moments after winning his Best New Artist VMA on Sunday, the 16-year-old megastar explained that he's too busy for love right now.

"I mean, girlfriends are trouble at this age," he explained to MTV News. "Girls are fun to hang out with but, like, having that one steady girl ... we're constantly traveling and one girl's not gonna really [work]. You can't really have one girl. I don't really have any crushes at the moment."

With so much going on in his life, the "U Smile" singer is just trying to balance his career and personal life. "Right now, the best thing is [that we're] just teenagers having fun doing what we love," he explained. "We're just staying ourselves and remaining humble."

With his "Never Say Never" collaborator Jaden Smith by his side, Bieber revealed that he and the Smith family may work together again in the future, with Bieber possibly working with Will Smith on his next project. However, Bieber kept the details sparse, saying, "We're trying to figure something out."

In addition to trying to re-team with pal Jaden and family, Bieber said that for his next album, he wants to work with his friend and fellow Canadian Drake. "[It'll] probably [come out] fourth quarter next year," he said. "Drake is gonna be on that album. I'm not sure [who else]. I'm gonna ask him if he can get [Lil] Wayne on there."

The Moonmen have all been handed out and the stars have gone home, but there's plenty of 2010 MTV Video Music Awards news, interviews, behind-the-scenes scoop, party reports and more still to come, so keep it locked on MTVNews.com.

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4 affordable hotels for travelers who call Mumbai or Pune their second home

As the director of York Winery, a young wine company based in Nasik, Ravi Gurnani spends around eight to 10 days a month in Mumbai kibitzing with clients, holding tastings and staging promotions for the wines.

"Traveling a lot for work does often involve missing out on the comforts of home. So I've come to demand a home away from home... a place nice enough for a good night's sleep, but that's not too hard on the pocket."

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'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' Wakes Weekend Box Office

Oliver Stone's financial drama cashes in; Zack Snyder's 'Guardians' fend off 'The Town.'
By Josh Wigler

Michael Douglas and Shia LaBeouf in "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps"
Photo: 20th Century Fox

If money never sleeps, nobody told that to Oliver Stone. The Academy Award-winning filmmaker withdrew from his old "Wall Street" savings account and subsequently delivered a first-place success in the form of "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps."

In the sequel, Michael Douglas reprises his iconic role of greedy moneymaker Gordon Gekko, while "Transformers" star Shia LaBeouf joins the team as Gekko's new protégé and would-be son-in-law. Despite a serious delay that pushed "Money Never Sleeps" from its original spring 2010 release date to this past weekend, Stone's latest delivered a solid $19 million opening for 20th Century Fox, proving once and for all that greed is good — at least when you have Stone and Douglas on your side.

The "Wall Street" sequel may have won first place, but it didn't steal the entire spotlight at the weekend box office. "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" was a real hoot in second place with $16.3 million, proving that director Zack Snyder can win over a young audience just as deftly as he succeeds with the older geek crowd. But the bank robbers of Ben Affleck's "The Town" gave "The Owls of Ga'Hoole" a run for their money, losing second place by a margin of less than $300,000 in its second weekend in theaters.

Newcomer "You Again" didn't make quite the same splash, landing in fifth place with $8.3 million. But the comedy starring Betty White and Kristen Bell cost only around $20 million to produce, so the film's small opening isn't as disappointing as it could be.

Upcoming Releases

Director David Fincher wants you to accept his friend request in "The Social Network," while Chloe Moretz sinks her teeth into horror fans with "Let Me In." Renee Zellweger and Bradley Cooper's "Case 39" is another thriller worth investigating.

Check out everything we've got on "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

James McAvoy Says 'The Conspirator' Has Modern-Day Relevance

Parallels between 19th-century drama and recent U.S. politics exist because the film was 'true to itself,' says McAvoy.
By Josh Wigler, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

James McAvoy
Photo: MTV News

Robert Redford's "The Conspirator" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month. The film focuses on the fallout from the 1865 assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, but the political intrigue within could be seen as relevant to present-day politics.

In the film, which hits theaters in spring 2011, fresh-faced lawyer Frederick Aiken (James McAvoy) is charged with defending the assassination conspiracy's lone female defendant, Mary Surratt (Robin Wright); over the course of the trial, Aiken becomes increasingly convinced of Surratt's innocence. Eventually, he realizes that the imprisoned woman could be serving as bait to draw out one of the conspiracy's other central figures.

Given the tenuous political climate — not to mention the political bent of Redford's other movies, like "Lions for Lambs" — it's easy to spot the similarities between the politics of "The Conspirator" and those of the past decade. But according to McAvoy, the parallels aren't intentional.

"I think when they wrote the script, they literally just wrote the script off what happened [during the trial]," the actor told MTV News. "A lot of the dialogue was lifted from speeches that were given — my closing speech, for example, and what I say in defense of Mary Surratt [were] just lifted from what [my character actually] said.

"At the end of that, we were left with a script that was incredibly resonant and relevant and kind of walked a very clear, parallel line with stuff that's been happening [in modern times], but that was only because it was true to itself; it wasn't designed to do that," he continued.

McAvoy noted that Redford's directorial ability resulted in a subtle presentation of the parallels between the politics of the mid-19th century and those of the early 21st.

"I don't think Robert felt that we shouldn't tell the story because it's resonant and relevant," he said. "What he did say is that we shouldn't be trying to look for the parallels and highlighting them, because it will be abundantly clear to the audience if they want to see them. And if they don't want to see them, they'll just get the story of something incredibly important that happened in their country anyway."

Check out everything we've got on "The Conspirator."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Usher - OMG

OMG

Artist: Usher
Label: LaFace Records, JLG
Director: Anthony Mandler
Album: Raymond V Raymond

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Britney Spears - Do Somethin'

Do Somethin'

Artist: Britney Spears
Label: BMG International
Director: Bille Woodruff/Mona Lisa
Album: My Prerogative

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Photos | 2010 BET Awards Show Highlights

2010 BET Awards Show Highlights

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Photos | Ke$ha Exclusive Photos | MTV Style

Ke$ha Exclusive Photos | MTV Style

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New 'Harry Potter' Trailer Shows Humor Along With Action

Footage features Harry's oddly dressed doppelgängers and Dobby the house elf.
By Eric Ditzian

Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"
Photo: Warner Bros.

The first trailer for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" dropped in June and kept its focus squarely on action: whirlwind spells, explosions galore and plenty of boy-wizard-vs.-Voldemort fisticuffs. The second trailer, so it seems, will add a healthy dose of whimsy to the supernatural action.

USA Today has a sneak peek at the newest trailer, which is set to arrive online early Wednesday evening (September 22), and it looks like we're going to get looks at Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his oddly dressed doppelgängers, Dobby the wrinkly-faced house elf and some wacky, warped-out, elevator-based magic. There will also, of course, be plenty of action, including a creepy glimpse of Voldemort entering the tomb of Hogwarts head honcho Dumbledore.

"These are dark times," says Bill Nighy as Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour in the trailer, according to USA Today. "Our world has faced no greater threat than it does today. But you can't fight the war on your own, Mr. Potter. [Voldemort] is too strong."

Harry's going to have plenty of help. One of the new photos shows off Harry's magical doppelgängers (variously, hilariously dressed in oversized coats and tight-fitting tops), which help our hero flee the nefarious Death Eaters. Other pics showcase Harry casting a Patronus charm while in an elevator, Harry and Hermione (Emma Watson) visiting his parents' grave, and Harry and Ron (Rupert Grint) engaged in an intense argument while Hermione looks on.

"Ron and Harry are arguing and in conflict," explained producer David Heyman. "The relationship's become frayed. The pressure is on them, and their relationship has become heightened and more intense.

"We're reaching the climax, so the relationship between the three is more intense," he added. "They're on the run, and they're not in the safe confines at Hogwarts. The pressure is on them to sort things out. It's ominous in the sense that the end is nigh."

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.

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Usher Remembers Being A 'Pizza Face' On 'When I Was 17'

'I had really, really bad acne ' he admits in Saturday's episode.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Usher on "When I Was 17"
Photo: MTV News

He's known as one of the smoothest R&B sensations to grace the stage, but when Usher was 17, he grappled with a far less flattering image.

"I went through this phase where I had really, really bad acne," the singer admits on the latest episode of "When I Was 17," premiering Saturday at 11 a.m. Usher, who was 17 in 1995, reveals with a grin that his nickname was "Pizza Face."

"His acne was so horrible," recalled one of Usher's more blunt friends, Keith. "His face was so jacked up."

Music mogul and producer Jermaine Dupri remembered how the entertainer's spotty complexion led him to shy away from the spotlight.

"He didn't want to go out. He wanted to stay in," Dupri says. "He was a little ashamed of what was going on with his face."

The singer went to extreme, and ultimately unsuccessful, lengths to disguise his breakouts.

"As a dude, you're not gonna put makeup on your face, right?" Usher said. "I tried that, it didn't even work."

He may have experimented with cosmetics and spent a few more nights at home but the multiplatinum star didn't let his acne hold him back from wooing the ladies. "I was 17, so I would still try to talk to girls [and] get past it," Usher reasoned.

He even had some smooth lines to drop when he wanted to draw attention away from his skin. " 'Don't look at that, look at my eyes, baby. I'm trying to say something real serious to you right here,' " Usher recalled, reenacting his complexion-deflecting dating moves. "I know I have pizza face, I don't care."

In the end, his skin cleared up and the singer said it was just a matter of riding out a rite passage that many teens are forced to endure.

"This is something that all 17-year-olds have to deal with," Usher said. "You can't run away from it."

— this week featuring B.o.B, Usher and Ne-Yo — premieres Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV

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