Friday 30 September 2011
The Skins wows audiences in Toronto
Amazing, excellent and ?well told? are some of the descriptive words coming out of Toronto after last Friday?s screening of the thriller The Skin by HAMA Films Antigua.
The Skin was one of the most anticipated films at this year?s CaribbeanTales Toronto Film Showcase 2011.
A movie review written by Elizabeth Abbott has already made its way to the popular Huffingtonpost.com, in which she says ?The Skin will make audiences want to jump out of theirs."
Romain performs with the Gatlin Brothers at the Grand Ole Opry
Reggae rising singer Romain Virgo, made history Monday night, September 19, as he performed alongside Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin brothers at the 5th annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) honours in Nashville's legendary Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry.
Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin brothers were the recipients of ACM?s Stone Pioneer Award that evening.
Demi Lovato Puts Her 'Spin' On Lil Wayne's 'How To Love'
Unbroken singer tells MTV News she 'tried to make it a little more empowering.'
By Jocelyn Vena
Demi Lovato
Photo: MTV News
Demi Lovato is back to performing live. And in addition to singing tracks off of her just-released album Unbroken, she's also dazzling crowds with her stirring first-person rendition of Lil Wayne's "How to Love."
Video of her singing the track has become a viral smash, and when MTV News caught up with the "Skyscraper" singer on Wednesday afternoon (September 21), she seemed pumped to talk about the cover. "I just loved the way that Lil Wayne took a risk doing the song 'How to Love,' and when I really listened to it, it's such a great song."
The song is about a damaged young woman who has never really known the power of true love, but finds strengths in her experiences as the song closes out. Lovato found a female empowerment theme in the single and decided to perform it as the female character. "It has such a deep meaning to it and I wanted to perform that and I put a little spin on it and tried to make it a little more empowering," she explained. "And I think it fit with the platform and the message that I have with my fans."
So, has Lovato heard from Wayne about her acoustic version? "No, I haven't," she said. "If I did, I would die of happiness."
Lovato was equally excited when we asked whether fans might soon catch her performing the track onstage with Wayne. "Oh, I don't know," she said. "Oh my gosh, that would be amazing. I've never met him in my life, so if I got to be on stage with him, I would just die."
Do you think Wayne and Demi should perform the song together? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsLady Gaga - Video Phone (Extended Remix)
- Artist: Lady Gaga
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Hype Williams
- Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce
Demi Lovato Puts Her 'Spin' On Lil Wayne's 'How To Love'
Unbroken singer tells MTV News she 'tried to make it a little more empowering.'
By Jocelyn Vena
Demi Lovato
Photo: MTV News
Demi Lovato is back to performing live. And in addition to singing tracks off of her just-released album Unbroken, she's also dazzling crowds with her stirring first-person rendition of Lil Wayne's "How to Love."
Video of her singing the track has become a viral smash, and when MTV News caught up with the "Skyscraper" singer on Wednesday afternoon (September 21), she seemed pumped to talk about the cover. "I just loved the way that Lil Wayne took a risk doing the song 'How to Love,' and when I really listened to it, it's such a great song."
The song is about a damaged young woman who has never really known the power of true love, but finds strengths in her experiences as the song closes out. Lovato found a female empowerment theme in the single and decided to perform it as the female character. "It has such a deep meaning to it and I wanted to perform that and I put a little spin on it and tried to make it a little more empowering," she explained. "And I think it fit with the platform and the message that I have with my fans."
So, has Lovato heard from Wayne about her acoustic version? "No, I haven't," she said. "If I did, I would die of happiness."
Lovato was equally excited when we asked whether fans might soon catch her performing the track onstage with Wayne. "Oh, I don't know," she said. "Oh my gosh, that would be amazing. I've never met him in my life, so if I got to be on stage with him, I would just die."
Do you think Wayne and Demi should perform the song together? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsEminem The 'Perfect Boss' For Slaughterhouse
'When he comes in and listens to songs, it's not to critique them; it's to listen,' Joell Ortiz tells MTV News.
By Rob Markman
Eminem
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
NEW YORK — For hip-hop supergroup Slaughterhouse, chemistry is key — not just among the group, but with label CEO Eminem as well. So while Royce Da 5'9", Joell Ortiz, Crooked I and Joe Budden are busy working on their Shady debut, they are also getting to know Marshall on a personal level.
On the creative side of things, Em is keeping his distance, choosing to let SH find their way during the initial recording process.
"He's kinda walking eggshells around us creatively. He's telling us basically, 'Do exactly what y'all did last time. We're just gonna do it on a bigger level. Y'all don't need me to make records; y'all can do that,' " Royce said backstage at Rock the Bells of Slim Shady's involvement. "It's more of a bonding thing. They all play basketball at the studio, and it's just them getting to know him better and making his comfort level high with them, because he met them when we signed the deal."
In January, it was announced that Eminem had signed not only Slaughterhouse, but upstart rapper Yelawolf as well, when they all appeared on the cover of XXL magazine. Before the deal, Royce was the only member of Slaughterhouse with an Eminem relationship; the two have since released their Bad Meets Evil EP this past June.
"He's a great person, and I think that's one of the things that makes me most excited about the project," Joe Budden remarked. "Being with him, you just totally forget that he's one of the dopest rappers and he's so successful. He's a great person, and he's still a humungous fan of the culture and very much in tune with what's happening."
Joell echoed a similar sentiment: "He really is a fan too, though. He's a fan of Slaughterhouse. When he comes in and listens to songs, it's not to critique them; it's to listen."
Like Em, SH are celebrated for their complex lyricism. It is that lyrical dexterity where the quartet's bond with their CEO lies. "Me, personally, I really like getting his input. If I got five, 10 minutes to holla at him on something that I want to holla about, I'm just gonna seek input," Crooked I said. "It's a lot of artists out there that are signed to super-mega-stars and they can't even have that conversation."
There isn't a set date for Slaughterhouse's upcoming album, but during his "RapFix Live" appearance in August, Royce hoped to have a first single out by December.
No matter the release, as of now, Slaughterhouse believe Shady is the perfect label for them. "I just feel like he's the perfect boss for this group, and we couldn't have a better home," Ortiz said.
What are you expecting from Slaughterhouse's Shady debut? Let us know in the comments!
'Twilight' Newcomers The Joy Formidable Surprised By Spot On Soundtrack
'I haven't seen the films,' frontwoman Ritzy Bryan confesses, despite landing lead-off track on 'Breaking Dawn' soundtrack.
By James Montgomery
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1"
Photo: Summit Entertainment
There are some bands prepared for the increased attention that a spot on a "Twilight" soundtrack brings. And then there are bands like voluminous rockers the Joy Formidable who, despite snagging the opening slot on the upcoming "Breaking Dawn" soundtrack, remain blissfully unaware of everything to come. Or, really, everything about the "Twilight" series, for that matter.
"I can't say I've ever read one. I haven't seen the films either, but I have heard the soundtracks, and I was familiar with some of the songs, you know, Metric and the Black Keys," frontwoman Ritzy Bryan told MTV News. "So I was more aware of the musical side of 'Twilight' than I was the books or the movies. Actually, I know very little [about the books]. I know they're about vampires, and I know they've connected very much with an audience ... so they're obviously much enjoyed by a lot of people."
And yet, despite all that, their contribution to the "Breaking Dawn" soundtrack — a ringing, downright desperate song called "Endtapes" that will be the album's lead-off track — fits seamlessly; mostly because, as Bryan explained, it is very much about the themes that remain central to the "Twilight" series.
"The song was written at the same time as our album, and because of that, it has a lot of the tone and the feel of the album. And those songs, there's a lot of turbulence going on, and it definitely chronicles a year that was very turbulent on one hand, but you know, it's me trying to push for that hope and that sense of optimism," she said. "It's a song that captures that spirit. It's a song about the frustration of not being able to have closure on a difficult situation."
And given that, unlike fellow "Breaking Dawn" artist Christina Perri, she's basically oblivious to the entire "Twilight" phenomenon, Bryan has no idea where "Endtapes" will be used in the upcoming "Breaking Dawn" film ... shoot, she's not even sure she and her bandmates will get invited to the premiere. That doesn't mean they wouldn't go, of course.
"I don't know anything about that! If we get an invite, I wouldn't mind going to the cinema. I haven't been to the cinema for such a long time," she laughed. "We've been perpetually on the road for about a year and a half, and we watch lots and lots of DVDs in our van, but a trip to the cinema would be wonderful. I would have to do some laundry, but that would be fine!"
Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Thursday 29 September 2011
Kristen Stewart Dons 'Snow White' Armor In New Photos
Pics show Stewart filming battle scene on beach in Wales.
By Jocelyn Vena
Kristen Stewart as "Snow White"
Photo: Universal
Kristen Stewart looks like she's ready for battle. Some photos of the "Twilight" star on the set of "Snow White and the Huntsman" have hit the Internet. In them, Stewart is wearing her previously teased armor as she films scenes at Marloes Sands Beach in Pembrokeshire Wales, U.K., this week.
Photos on Screenrant.com show the actress riding a white horse alongside a group of extras dressed as medieval soldiers. They are riding through the water for what appears to be some sort of battle scene.
In some on-set candids, the ponytail-sporting actress laughs and walks around the set of the Rupert Sanders-directed flick. Stewart recently debuted her longer locks for the film at London Fashion Week. No signs of co-stars Charlize Theron (the Evil Queen), Chris Hemsworth (the Huntsman) or Sam Claflin (Prince Charming) in the new photos. The film is expected to open June 1, 2012.
"It's not a little girl sitting by a well with little tweety birds telling her what to do and where to go," Stewart told MTV News of her character. "[The costume] makes you feel kind of strong occasionally, sometimes, but I kind of feel tiny, my pinhead sticks out of these enormous things."
Her tough look has even been approved by that other "Snow White" movie director, Tarsem, who recently gushed over her battle-ready look. "She's gorgeous," he told MTV News. "She's great."
The film centers around the struggle between Snow White and the Evil Queen, who, jealous of Snow White's beauty, wants to destroy her. The catch is that Snow White has been training with the Huntsman, who has been ordered to kill her. And in true fairy-tale form, Prince Charming is enamored with Snow White.
"This, as a fable, she sort of just starts off as a bad person, so it was important to understand [why she is the way she is]," Theron explained about her character. "A lot of her circumstances will kind of bleed into her actions. ... She's a serial killer; I'm pretty much preparing to play a serial killer."
Check out everything we've got on "Snow White and the Huntsman."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related PhotosRihanna Announces Fall Release For New Album
Pop singer hints that the studio effort will include dubstep influences.
By James Dinh
Rihanna
Photo: James Devaney/WireImage
After teasing details about her upcoming album earlier this week, Rihanna continued delivering details about the record on Friday (September 16) when she tweeted that her sixth studio album will drop this fall.
When one of the Barbados beauty's Twitter followers asked, "When's the next album due?" Rihanna exuberantly replied, "THIS FALL!!!!!"
With the singer's celebratory party anthem "Cheers" currently riding high on radio airwaves, Rihanna hinted that the forthcoming LP may include dubstep influences as heard on her 2009 effort Rated R. "You KNOW how I been lovin Dubstep since Rated R," she tweeted.
Don't expect the songstress to take a break from the biz anytime soon either. Asked if she can take some time off, the 23-year-old chart topper wrote, "Yes, when I'm tired!!!"
Collaborators for the forthcoming project began dishing details on the LP months ago. Back in July, producer Verse Simmonds, who worked on the Rihanna's reggae-infused hit "Man Down," talked to MTV News' Mixtape Daily about the album's progress.
"From what I understand, she's closing the album up now, and we did two records for her that she really, really loved, and I'm really excited about them as well," Simmonds said. "They are records that we wrote and produced as the Jugganauts."
Simmonds admitted that he was "99.999 percent" his Jugganauts' contributions will make the final cut, adding that his tunes on the LP will not sound similar to "Man Down."
Are you excited for Rihanna's new album? Tell us in the comments.
Related ArtistsMichael Jackson - History
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic
- Album: HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
Where Will Bruno Mars' 'Rain' Fall In 'Breaking Dawn'?
MTV News takes a closer listen to 'It Will Rain' for lyrical clues about its placement in the film.
By Jocelyn Vena and Amy Wilkinson
Bruno Mars
Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images
On Tuesday (September 27), Bruno Mars dropped the sweeping, heartbreaking "It Will Rain," the lead single from the "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" soundtrack, which drops November 8.
The Smeezingtons-produced song is all about the pain someone feels when they are deeply in love. On it, Mars croons tortured lines like "There's no religion that could save me/ No matter how long my knees are on the floor/ So keep in mind all the sacrifices I'm making/ To keep you by my side/ And keep you from walking out the door."
While Twilighters will have to wait until November 18 to find out where the song will be featured in the flick, there are several lyrical cues that offer hints. Hit play on the embedded video as we talk through the song, then read on for a deeper exploration.
The Wedding
Of course it won't appear in the actual wedding scene, like when Bella walks down the aisle, but lines like "I'll never be your mother's favorite/ Your daddy can't even look me in the eye/ If I was in their shoes I'd be doing the same/ Say, 'There goes my little girl/ Walking with that troublesome guy' " certainly mirror Charlie's feelings about the nuptials.
Jacob's Goodbye
When Mars sings, "Don't you say goodbye/ Don't you say goodbye/ I'll pick up these broken pieces till I'm bleeding/ If that'll make it right," it seems to mimic the heartbreak Jacob feels as he sees Bella marry another man and says goodbye to her once more.
The Honeymoon
Sure, the song is about heartbreak and pain, but the sexy, sultry nature of the track could make for the right kind of mood-setter as Bella and Edward finally get it on.
The Pregnancy
As Mars cries, " 'Cause there'll be no sunlight/If I lose you, baby/ There'll be no clear skies/ If I lose you, baby/ And just like the clouds, my eyes will do the same/ If you walk away, every day it'll rain," it mirrors Edward's angst as he thinks he might lose Bella if she has their child, a vampire/human hybrid.
Where do you think Bruno's song would fit? Share your ideas in the comments!
Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Photos Related ArtistsChristina Aguilera - Ain't No Other Man
- Artist: Christina Aguilera
- Label: RCA
- Director: Joel Gallen
- Album: Back to Basics
Beyonce, Jay Z Celebrate VMA Baby News Backstage
B gathers with well-wishers -- including her Destiny's Child girls and Kanye -- declaring 'I'm free!' after onstage pregnancy reveal.
By Kara Warner
Beyoncé at the 2011 VMAs
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Another year, another unbelievably action-packed Video Music Awards. As expected, viewers were treated to mind-blowing performances and several jaw-dropping surprises. The most unexpected moment came courtesy of Beyoncé Knowles, who not so subtly announced to the world that she and husband Jay-Z are expecting their first child.
When B unbuttoned her sparkly jacket and rubbed her belly with a knowing smile, after which the camera panned to a visibly elated Jay-Z and Kanye West cheering from the audience, the Nokia Theatre was bursting with warm and fuzzy well-wishes for the soon-to-be parents. And that very public moment of celebration was just the beginning.
When Beyoncé returned backstage to her dressing room, she was greeted by a team of people who enveloped the visibly happy star with hugs, cheers and congratulations.
Click for photos of Beyoncé's big VMA night.
"I'm free!" she said to one of the well-wishers, indicating that she and Jay are thrilled to not have to keep such a big secret any longer. "We're all free!" she said to the group.
A few minutes after her arrival backstage, she was joined by her husband, a very excited West (whose first words upon entering the dressing-room area were "Where is Beyoncé?" as if he could not wait to give B a huge hug) and her former Destiny's Child ladies, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Even with the doors to their dressing rooms closed, the applause and whoops of joy could be heard everywhere backstage.
"That was an eventful night, to say the least," Jay, still smiling, said to some of the revelers in the hallway, who continued to shower him with congratulations and hugs.
The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards have wrapped, but the real action is just getting started! Stick with MTV News for winners, fashion pics, video and behind-the-scenes stories about everything that went down. Visit VMA.MTV.com for the latest.
Justin Bieber And Selena Gomez's Arena Date: How Much Did It Cost?
A regular guy would have dropped serious coin to rent out the Staples Center for a romantic night out.
By Gil Kaufman
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez (file)
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
Membership has its privileges, and when the club you're in is the elite pop star society, there isn't much you can't get your hands on. That's why a teenager like Justin Bieber was able to swing the swankiest surprise date of all time with his squeeze Selena Gomez on Friday night when he treated her to dinner and a movie at the Staples Center.
Now, before you get any ideas. The 20,000-seat home of the Los Angeles Lakers (and countless major concerts) is not available to just any Joe Schmo. No, Bieber reportedly got the keys to the palace for free because he's sold the joint out three times and owner AEG Live figured they'd throw him a bone. Which got us thinking: What would it cost to treat your sweetie to a Bieber-esque night of steak and "Titanic"?
Check out photos of Justin and Selena.
As you might imagine, the powers-that-be at Staples weren't really willing to spill the beans, but we crunched some numbers on our own and here's what we were able to figure:
$475,000: That's how much it would cost you to buy a high-end VIP luxury suite for 14 at the Staples Center, which would get you about 2,500 tickets a year to Lakers, Clippers and Sparks basketball games; L.A. Kings hockey games; concerts; lectures; X Games; and wrestling matches. Given that the venue holds 20,000, we can only imagine a one-night rental would run you well into the six figures.
$200-plus: Bieber ordered steaks and pasta from the exclusive members-only Lexus Club at Staples, a 130-capacity high-end dining area where even the buffet will run you $57.
Priceless: The lucky couple reportedly watched "Titanic" on their date. Now, most men would try to save a few bucks and rent the regular DVD, but given JB's clear baller tendencies, is it safe to assume he called James Cameron and finagled an early copy of the 3-D anniversary Blu-ray edition that is due out in April?
$299 to $1,199: The price of renting an inflatable, 32- to 40-foot portable movie screen from FunFlicks.com for a special event. That is, assuming the Biebs did not make Gomez crane her neck and watch the whole movie on the Center's Jumbotron.
194: That's how many minutes "Titanic" would run if JB didn't have a remote that would allow him and Selena to skip some of the hours of extras.
2:30 a.m.: That's about how late into the morning the couple would have had to stay at Staples in order to watch all of "Titanic," assuming they started it as soon as they arrived at 11 p.m. and had it running during their meal.
$300,000: The amount Bieber pulls in nightly at each one of his concerts.
$53 million: That's how much Bieber banked in 2010. In other words, don't sweat it: He can afford this kind of date every night of the year if he wants to.
What do you think of Justin's date idea for Selena? Tell us in the comments!
Black Eyed Peas, Jennifer Hudson Added To Michael Forever Tribute
Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and many others will also participate in the Jamie Foxx-hosted show on October 8.
By Gil Kaufman
The Black Eyed Peas
Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/ Getty Images
As the October 8 date approaches, the Michael Forever tribute concert in Cardiff, Wales, in honor of late pop icon Michael Jackson has added two more headliners. On Friday (September 23), the Black Eyed Peas joined a lineup that is also slated to feature performances by Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Leona Lewis, Ne-Yo, Craig David, Pixie Lott, Alexandra Burke, Alien Ant Farm and Motown legend Smokey Robinson.
The show, which is being presented by Jackson's mother, Katherine, along with some but not all of the King of Pop's siblings (and without the sanction of his estate), will be hosted by Oscar winner Jamie Foxx. Pregnant pop queen Beyoncé will appear in some form at the show via a pre-taped satellite segment.
A press release also announced that Oscar-winning singer Jennifer Hudson has been added to the lineup as well.
In a statement, Peas co-founder will.i.am — who spent time in the studio with Jackson prior to the singer's June 2009 death — said of his band's participation, "This show is going to be an incredibly personal and moving evening for me. Remember that Michael's music, his great, great songs, have been an inspiration to my whole life and certainly formed the soundtrack to my childhood. When I was a little kid of six or seven growing up in Los Angeles, there was Michael recording Thriller, and all his early hits, just a few miles away across town — obviously I didn't know him at that time, but I loved him as a fan."
One of the members of the original Jackson Five, sibling Marlon Jackson, will be on hand, and he expressed his excitement about the addition of the Peas. "We're all really delighted and touched that the Black Eyed Peas are able to come and take part " he said. "My brother rated Will.i.am and the original things he does in music very highly. I guess you could say it was a case of mutual respect."
Some members of the Jackson family, including siblings Janet, Jermaine and Randy, have complained about the timing of the show, which will take place in the midst of the manslaughter trial of Jackson's physician Dr. Conrad Murray.
Related Photos Related ArtistsMichael Jackson's Family Upset With James Durbin Over 'American Idol' Pepsi Quip
'We were shocked to see this,' read the Jacksons' message; Durbin tweeted an apology on Thursday.
By Gil Kaufman
James Durbin performs on "American Idol" on Wednesday
Photo: Michael Becker/ Fox
Some people might argue that it's patently unfair to take rank amateurs, put them on the biggest show on TV and then expose them to potential worldwide ridicule every week. Because it's one thing to tune in to "American Idol" from your living room or play shows at the local wings joint, it's another thing entirely when you get up on that stage and open your mouth with tens of millions watching and listening.
James Durbin learned this lesson the hard way this week when he made what he thought was an innocent crack about not setting himself on fire during his pyro-tastic cover of Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" on Wednesday night.
Asked by host Ryan Seacrest if he was worried about dancing around among the flames shooting up from the piano onstage, Durbin joked, "I have a lot of hairspray in my hair to keep it from jumping around — so much so, the one thing I was worried about was having a 'Pepsi moment.' "
The seemingly innocent crack was a reference to the 1984 on-set accident in which late pop icon Michael Jackson was badly burned during the shooting of a Pepsi commercial by some wayward pyro effects. The serious burns he suffered in the incident allegedly led to his longtime addiction to pain medication and prescription drugs.
The Jackson family was not amused by the quip and sent a statement to TMZ on Thursday.
"We were shocked to see this. It's nothing to make light of and everybody should be focusing on who was responsible for Michael's death," read the statement. Family patriarch Joseph Jackson also was reportedly miffed that "Idol" producers did not cut the comment from the West Coast feed of the show.
Durbin defended his slip-up in a tweet, which has since been scrubbed from the singer's official "Idol" Twitter feed, that explained, "For anyone talkin ... I said pepsi NOT MJ! I have no disrespect for Michael. I grew up singing his art. I guess youll take it how you want it." He later added, "Talkin about MJs passing is too soon. Making a reference to an incident 25 years ago..not too soon. The stab was at pepsi people."
It's worth noting that Pepsi's bitter rival, Coca-Cola, is the main "Idol" sponsor, a fact that Seacrest reminded Durbin of in an awkward moment after the comment on the show.
What did you think of James Durbin's "Pepsi" quip? Tell us in the comments.
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Wednesday 28 September 2011
Lady Gaga Honors Jamey Rodemeyer At iHeartRadio Festival
Gay teen committed suicide last weekend after suffering years of bullying.
By Gil Kaufman
Lady Gaga performs at the iHeartRadio Music Festival
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Just days after once again speaking out against bullying, Lady Gaga dedicated a moving version of "Hair" to teen Jamey Rodemeyer at the iHeartRadio music festival in Las Vegas on Saturday. The gay teen committed suicide last week after enduring years of bullying by his school peers, inspiring Gaga to tweet that she was going to meet with President Obama to encourage him to pass legislation outlawing bullying.
Following up on her promise, Gaga attended an Obama fundraiser in Los Angeles over the weekend, where a source told MTV News last week that she was expected to bring up the topic if the two were able to get a moment together. According to The Associated Press, Gaga was among the guests at an intimate Sunday night gathering at the home of Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg, wearing a sleeveless gown and high heels. A spokesperson for Gaga had not returned requests for comment at press time inquiring about whether the meeting of the minds had taken place.
The two-night iHeartRadio festival unfolded at the MGM Grand in Vegas and featured sets from Jay-Z, the Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, David Guetta, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lopez and Usher.
For photos of Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and others at the iHeartRadio festival, click here.
"We lost a Little Monster this week," Gaga said of the 14-year-old Rodemeyer during the show, as a picture of the teen was shown on a screen onstage. "I wrote this record about how your identity is really all you've got when you're in school ... so tonight, Jamey, I know you're up there looking at us, and you're not a victim ... you're a lesson to all of us. I know it's a bit of a downer, but sometimes the right thing is more important than the music."
The Amherst Police Department has opened a criminal investigation into Rodemeyer's death and is considering harassment, cyberharassment and hate crimes charges against a number of teens who may have been involved in bullying Jamey.
Related Photos Related ArtistsMichael Jackson Estate Threatens Legal Action Over Tribute Concert
'Michael Forever' concert rescinds invitation for Kiss to perform following complaints from estate and fans.
By Gil Kaufman
Michael Jackson in the video for "Hold My Hand"
Photo: Sony Music Entertainment
Several weeks after announcing their intention to celebrate the life of Michael Jackson with an all-star concert called "Michael Jackson Forever," the initial lineup for the October 8 show at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, was revealed last week.
According to promoters, the Michael Forever show is slated to feature such stars as Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Motown legend Smokey Robinson, in addition to less globally popular talents, including Alexandra Burke, Pixie Lott, Leona Lewis, JLS, Craig David, Alien Ant Farm and a pair of Jackson-related groups, 3T and the Jackson Brothers.
The one thing the event does not have, however, is the approval of Jackson's powerful estate, which had kept silent about the show put together by parents Joseph and Katherine Jackson, along with siblings Jackie, Tito, Marlon, LaToya and Rebbie. Brothers Jermaine and Randy have not been involved in the plans and have publicly objected to the event because it falls in the middle of the involuntary manslaughter trial of Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray.
On Tuesday (August 16) a spokesperson for the estate — which has handled all of Jackson's affairs since his 2009 death — confirmed that estate lawyer Howard Weitzman sent a letter to concert organizers last week raising some pointed questions about the show.
"I represent the Executors of the Estate of Michael Jackson. As the legal caretakers of Michael's intellectual property, we believe it is our duty to contact you directly regarding the growing number of questions that have been addressed to the Estate, as well as multiple concerns that have emerged in recent days," reads the letter.
After reminding organizers that the estate is the only entity that can sign off on the use of Jackson's image or his intellectual property — the concert's website is careful not to feature any images of the singer or samples of his music — the letter said the estate was "especially disappointed" by the announcement on Monday that greasepaint rockers Kiss have been added to the bill.
Specifically, the beef was that outspoken Kiss bassist Gene Simmons has made a number of disparaging comments about Jackson in the past. "It was extraordinarily embarrassing when no sooner had you announced this 'news' that [Simmons] would participate in your concert that TMZ posted an item noting that Mr. Simmons called Michael Jackson ... a child molester, notwithstanding the fact that Michael was acquitted by a jury," read the letter.
Jackson fansite MJ4Justice was flooded with negative comments about the addition of Kiss, announced on Monday by Katherine Jackson on CNN, and has called for a boycott of the show. The concert's Facebook page has also been inundated with concerns over the booking of Kiss.
And the complaints worked. On Tuesday, the concert's promoter, Global Live Events, canceled Kiss' "invitation" to appear in the show. "We have listened to Michael's fans and are grateful to have been alerted to these unfortunate statements by Gene Simmons," CEO Chris Hunt said in a statement. "Under the circumstances we fully agree that even though Kiss is a band Michael admired we have no choice but to rescind our invitation to them to appear in our tribute concert. We offer our sincerest apologies to Mrs. Jackson and the family for this oversight — our primary concern must be to do justice to Michael's memory, and to put on a tribute that the family and the fans will find suitable and fit for a King, our King of Pop."
The estate also expressed concerns about the promotion of the concert as a charity event, noting that it is using Jackson's "good name" to promote contributions, when the charitable element of the show is voluntary. "It appears from your interviews and from your website that none of the (approximately $90-$390) per person ticket price is committed to charitable causes," the letter states. The estate asked for clarity on to whom the charitable contributions are going , as well as an explanation of the small type clause that says that refunds will not be offered if "50% or more of the number of contracted artists attend and perform."
A spokesperson for the concert had not returned requests for comment about the donations at press time. Tickets are being distributed in lottery fashion, with fans asked to register for the chance to buy them in order to, "avoid the usual frantic rush and confusion when tickets for big events go on sale," according to the concert's website.
"Michael Jackson always made sure his fans were treated to concert experiences so spectacular that they would remember the evening for the rest of their lives," lawyer Weitzman concluded. "He always treated his fans with the utmost respect. In light of the questions raised above and the confusion surrounding this 'event,' we are extremely concerned about Michael's legacy, his fans and the public-at-large." The letter asks promoter Global Live to address those concerns and those of the singer's fans as soon as possible.
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Usher - Fed Up (featuring Usher, Young Jeezy, Drake, Rick Ross)
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'Twilight' Fan Christina Perri Pens 'A Love Song To Edward And Bella'
Admitted 'Twi-Hard' is 'unbelievably honored' that 'A Thousand Years' made the 'Breaking Dawn - Part 1' soundtrack.
By James Montgomery
Christina Perri
Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/ Getty Images
For any artist, getting a song on a "Twilight" soundtrack is a pretty big deal. But for Christina Perri, whose "A Thousand Years" made the cut for the upcoming "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" album, well, "pretty big deal" is an understatement.
Perri is — to put it mildly — rather obsessed with the series, as she told MTV News on Tuesday (September 27).
"Yes, I am 1,000 percent a 'Twilight' fan. I can't even deny that I am actually, in fact, a Twi-Hard and have a 'Twilight' tattoo," she laughed, also revealing that she's Team Edward. "I got a tattoo on my wrist that says 'bitten,' and it's written in the font of all the book titles. So, yes, I am of one the big, geeky fans."
For Perri, who already found success with her hit "Jar of Hearts," landing "Breaking Dawn" was a career-defining moment, not to mention a dream come true. Especially since, until the final track list was revealed Monday, she had no idea if her song made the cut.
"I'll never forget going to the screening of the movie. But, for me, having this opportunity is also such a wild card, because it's Hollywood, and you never really know. ... I wasn't even sure I was going to be on it until yesterday, when I saw it in print," she laughed. "So I tried not to get hyped out, because it's one of my favorite movies, one of my favorite books, one of my favorite soundtracks, and that could potentially freak out the little songwriter in me.
"So I tried to put that aside and take it one step at a time, went to see the movie and cried like a baby, because it's so good, and I felt so lucky to be there," she continued. "And then went home and wrote a love song to Edward and Bella ... and to have it be chosen, I'm unbelievably honored."
She wrote that love song based less on the screening she attended ("It wasn't finished," Perri said. "But I still cried. Seriously, that's how good it is") and more on the emotions she felt reading Stephenie Meyer's series ... in particular, the star-crossed love affair between Edward and Bella.
"When we went to watch the screening, they told us to see where there was temporary music added and just jump into those scenes a little harder," she explained. "But I'm fortunately a fan of the movie and the characters, and I feel like, by reading these books, I can step into that feeling that Edward and Bella have for each other. So [songwriter] David Hodges and I sat down, and it just came out in one afternoon. I feel like it was all meant to happen; I feel like it was all waiting inside me, waiting to come out."
While she doesn't know where "A Thousand Years" will be used in "Breaking Dawn," Perri said it's not all that important to her. She's just counting down the days until the film's premiere, when, finally, she'll get to hear her song on the big screen. And after that, all bets are off.
"For me, personally, this is one of my dreams coming true. And the fact that it's on the soundtrack, I'm seeing it, but I'm not sure I'm quite believing it," she said. "I have a feeling when I'm sitting in the theater with the cast, and the movie comes on and my song happens, that I'm probably at that moment either going to combust with excitement or finally believe it and probably cry a little."
Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsLady Gaga Goes Topless In Latest 'You And I' Fashion Film
Singer appears as the 'Bride' in the clip, which dropped late Tuesday.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: James Devaney/WireImage
Two down, four more to go. On Tuesday night, Lady Gaga tweeted out her latest "Yoü and I" fashion film. After portraying "Nymph" in the first one, Gaga portrays the black-clad Bride in the latest installment, which she tweeted out to her Little Monsters.
The Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin-directed clip features Gaga wearing her outfit from the opening scenes of the proper "Yoü and I" video in which she stands at the cornfield crossroads.
During the two-minute, 28-second clip, Gaga dances around in her black chiffon outfit, slowly stripping away her blond wig and couture. By the end, she's topless, with her hands covering her breasts. Some of Gaga's monsters and pals make an appearance in the video as well, including blink-and-miss-it appearances from her video co-star "Vampire Diaries" actor Taylor Kinney and her stylist Nicola Formichetti.
The black-and-white clip also has funny, kitschy moments showing Gaga smiling, laughing and making funny faces for the camera. The videos were shot while Mother Monster and her entire Haus were in Nebraska earlier this summer working on the Laurieann Gibson-directed clip.
Each of the six films will focus on one of Gaga's characters in the original video, which includes her mermaid incarnation, Yuyi and her male alter ego, Jo Calderone. "We built a studio in a pigsty and worked for three days with her constantly coming off set to us and filming with us and taking pictures," Inez told MTV News. "What's incredible in there is that this is Gaga as herself, in the character that she is, related to the 'Yoü and I' video, and it's purely her."
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Adele, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber Land New Guinness Records
Rihanna, Lil Wayne, Black Eyed Peas and 'Glee' also get new entries in the 'Guinness Book of World Records.'
By Gil Kaufman
Lady Gaga
Photo: Getty Images
Adele has been on a record-setting tear all year and now the British songbird can claim to be a "Guinness Book of World Records" champ. The upcoming 2012 edition of the book reveals that the "Rolling in the Deep" singer is in good company, as Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Willow Smith and Justin Bieber also set some high-water marks over the past 12 months.
Adele can count three records, including first female to land two singles and two albums in the U.K. top five simultaneously — which only the Beatles had achieved before in 1963. Her breakthrough second CD, 21, claimed the record as the first album in U.K. chart history to sell 3 million copies in one calendar year.
She also logged the most consecutive weeks with the #1 album in the U.K. for a solo female with 11 weeks at the top — beating a record previously held by Madonna's The Immaculate Collection — and most cumulative weeks with a U.K. #1 for a solo female (18), beating out both Alanis Morissette and Shania Twain, who shared the previous record at 11 weeks.
Lady Gaga's social media predominance was rewarded, landing her the Most Followers on Twitter crown with 11,259,372 as of June 29 (she's currently at 13,469,754). In addition, "Poker Face" was honored for Most Weeks on U.S. Digital Hot Songs chart at 83 weeks. Gaga made the book last year for having the most consecutive weeks on the U.K. chart and being the most searched-for woman on the Internet.
Some other new records:
Justin Bieber: The singer's "Baby" was dubbed the Most Popular Video of Any Kind Online, thanks to 463,820,304 views as of February 16, 2011.
The Black Eyed Peas: The Biggest Selling Download in the U.K. is "I Gotta Feeling," the first-ever track to go over 1 million downloads in England.
J.K. Rowling: The "Harry Potter" author is lauded for being the First Billionaire Author thanks to sales of more than 400 million copies of the books worldwide.
"Glee": The hit show scored the Most Hit Singles in a Calendar Year with 48 making it into the U.K. top 75 in 2011, breaking their previous record of 45 hits in 2010.
Rihanna: First Female to have U.K. #1 singles in five consecutive years (2007-2011), from "Rude Boy" to her most recent, "Only Girl (In the World)." Only Elvis and the Beatles have had more U.K. #1 singles in consecutive years.
Willow Smith: The Youngest Transatlantic Top 20 Artist, thanks to "Whip My Hair" hitting the top 20 when she was only 10 years old.
Lil Wayne: Most U.S. Hot 100 Hits by a Rap Artist with 64 between 1999 and 2010.
U2: Highest Grossing Music Tour for the 360 outing, which by April 2011 had raked in more than $539 million for 110 shows between July 2009 and July 2011.
Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists'Moneyball': The Reviews Are In!
Critics herald the baseball flick as 'the prime Brad Pitt movie.'
By Kara Warner
Brad Pitt in "Moneyball"
Photo: Columbia TriStar
On paper, "Moneyball" is a movie that sells itself. It's based on a best-selling book about our national pastime, the screenplay for which was adapted by Oscar winners Aaron Sorkin and Steve Zaillian, and it stars Brad Pitt, in all his handsome, charming splendor, as Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane. Throw in a killer supporting cast that includes Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman and several real-life ball players, and you've got the makings of a hit.
With a 94 percent certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, "Moneyball" seems to be a solid winner with critics. So take an early seventh-inning stretch and settle in for some sports clichés as we sort through the "Moneyball" reviews!
The Story
"A sports-centric come-from-behind drama that harbors profound truths under its self-effacing grin of an exterior, 'Moneyball' is a movie of such loping, unforced ease and solid entertainment value that it's easy to take its gifts for granted. [Director Bennett] Miller barely puts a foot wrong in bringing to life the tale of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane, who in 2002 — competing against teams with three times his payroll — sought to rebuild the slumping A's and revolutionize baseball recruiting using 'Sabermetrics,' a system by which players are chosen based on who gets on base most often. That approach sounds so simple as to be self-evident. But in 'Moneyball,' such logic runs afoul of Beane's old-school scouts, who are played in the movie by a colorfully grizzled collection of character actors and some real-life baseball veterans. Their banter, in which they refer to players' jaw lines and girlfriends while they decide whom to hire, lends 'Moneyball' a thoroughly enjoyable through-line of tough, vernacular wit. What's more, that plain-spoken charm couches a far deeper conceptual point: that objective truth not only exists but matters, even at a time when it's continually being trumped by superstition, 'feelings' and irrational belief." — Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post
The Brad Pitt Factor
"If Pitt's role in 'Moneyball' is more of a conventional star turn than his career-shifting performance as the stern 1950s father in 'The Tree of Life' (for which he emphatically deserves awards but won't win any), it's still terrific. He's on-screen in almost every scene, often filling it up in extreme close-up, and captures the bluff, buff and shrewd Beane, a washed-up jock who embraced an unorthodox statistical philosophy through sheer necessity, with great wit and physicality. (Let me throw in that 'Moneyball' is a delirious study of bad early-2000s guy fashions and haircuts, which may elude some of the audience but is definitely conscious.) Let me hasten to assure you that 'Moneyball' isn't all that much of a baseball movie, although fans of the national pastime will of course rush to see it. It's a prime Brad Pitt movie — arguably the prime Brad Pitt movie — and an American fable about a battered but lovable divorced dad who defies conventional wisdom and beats the odds." — Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com
The Book-to-Film Comparison
"The big-screen adaptation of Michael Lewis' engaging 2003 book is also filled with compromises. Someone crammed 'Major League'-style sports clichés into a more nuanced story about baseball and progress — and then tried to fit a Brad Pitt star vehicle inside of that. The result is an interesting but frustrating near-miss. Chronology and context are mucked with liberally. This happens in almost every sports movie based on real events, although A's fans will be blown away that Tim Hudson, Barry Zito and Mark Mulder and their combined 57 wins in 2002 are scrubbed from existence here. Of the three, only Hudson gets a cameo, and he blows his start." — Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle
The Final Word, Pro-Con Style
"Bennett Miller's' Moneyball' — adapted by Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian from the nonfiction book by Michael Lewis — is a sports movie for people who don't like sports movies. I know this is true because I enjoyed it. ... Cinematographer Wally Pfister's deliberately unglamorous presentation of the A's dilapidated clubhouse is a long way from the gold-and-sepia tones of Barry Levinson's 'The Natural.' 'You can't help but be romantic about baseball,' Billy observes to Peter, even as he's being reviled by his own organization for his supposedly bloodless reliance on the stats. It's to the director's credit, and Pitt's, that 'Moneyball' is anything but bloodless — in its own quiet, unspectacular way, this movie courses with life." — Dana Stevens, Slate.com
"The downside of Pitt's triumph is that it unbalances the movie, throwing more of the focus on Billy than the team. To put 'Moneyball' over the fence, Miller and his writers needed to make something else hit home: the meaning of the on-base percentage. What does it say about a player who can't throw far, can't steal a base, rarely hits a ball over the fence, and yet can be as great an asset as a future Hall of Famer? Instead of answering that question — and dramatizing how wins can be built from unflashy players working in sync under a manager who understands 'small ball' — Miller shifts into montage mode (They won! They won again! They're on a streak!), as if Beane and Brand had written a computer program that was running to its inevitable conclusion. That, of course, leaves the team's manager, Art Howe (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, maybe to pay Miller back for helping him win an Oscar in 'Capote'), a cipher, a nonpresence on and off the field. 'Moneyball' has everything but team spirit." — David Edelstein, New York
Check out everything we've got on "Moneyball."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related VideosMaroon 5 Go Retro In New 'Moves Like Jagger' Video
Christina Aguilera appears in new clip, along with archival footage of Mick Jagger himself.
By Kara Warner
Adam Levine of Maroon 5 on the set of "Moves Like Jagger"
Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera are taking viewers on a nostalgic romp through the '70s in their new video for "Moves Like Jagger." The four-and-a-half-minute clip, which debuted Tuesday (August 9), takes place at the historic L.A. Theatre and, as the song title suggests, features a lot of people trying to move like Mick Jagger.
The Jonas Åkerlund-directed clip opens with black-and-white footage of the theater, shots of work crews assembling lighting and equipment onstage and groups of extras getting into costume, warming up for a shoot. This is followed by classic footage of Jagger, during which a reporter asks the iconic Rolling Stones frontman how long he plans to make music.
"I don't know. I never thought I'd be doing it for two years even," a young Jagger says, as the opening whistles of the Maroon 5 song kick in, throughout which a slew of Jagger look-alikes are shown dancing up to a central microphone, interlaced with archival footage of Jagger himself and shots of bandmembers James Valentine, Jesse Carmichael, Michael Madden and Matt Flynn rocking out on their instruments. Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine eventually takes center stage to start singing wearing nothing but snug-fitting polyester pants and his colorful tattoos.
True to its name, the video is mostly a mash-up of people trying to move like Jagger, including Levine. When Aguilera makes her brief appearance, she fits right into the retro feel with mascara-heavy lashes and a floppy hat. We don't see her Jagger moves, though.
For the eagle-eyed fans out there, watch out for the cheeky "Who the f--- is Mick Jagger?" T-shirt Levine and several extras sport at various moments in the clip. For Levine and his bandmates, the song and video are all about exposing a new generation to the rock legend.
"We were lucky enough to get Mick's endorsement [for the video], as far as him giving us access to a bunch of different footage that's so cool," Levine told MTV News when we visited the video's set last month. "Not many people have seen [it], especially a newer generation of people that don't know so much about how incredible he was."
What do you think of the video? Share your reviews in the comments below!
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