Borys Kit
Chase has recruited his former "Sopranos" actor to serve as serve as music supervisor and exec producer on his film directing debut.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
David Chase and Steven Van Zandt reunite for his ?60s-set musical drama (exclusive)
Jay A. Fernandez,
Borys Kit
Chase has recruited his former "Sopranos" actor to serve as serve as music supervisor and exec producer on his film directing debut. 
Borys Kit
Chase has recruited his former "Sopranos" actor to serve as serve as music supervisor and exec producer on his film directing debut.
Britney Spears - Gimme More
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
- Director: Jake Sarfaty
- Album: Blackout
Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday Track List Revealed
Kanye West, Drake, Eminem, Rihanna and Natasha Bedingfield make appearances on MC's debut LP.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Nicki Minaj
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Young Money spitter Nicki Minaj has already revealed that her hotly-anticipated debut, Pink Friday, will feature a collabo with hip-hop heavyweight Eminem, as well as contributions from her colorful alter egos. However, the album's recently unveiled track list shows that the "Right Thru Me" hitmaker has corralled an A-list roster of features for her major-label maiden voyage.
"Blazin," a collaboration with "genius" MC Kanye West, appears on the track list for the deluxe version of Friday, which hit iTunes Saturday. Rihanna, who teamed up with Minaj for the Loud collaboration "Raining Men," returns the favor on the track "Fly." The will.i.am-assisted single "Check It Out" and "Moment 4 Life," featuring Minaj's labelmate and ex-Twitter husband Drake, also appear on the album. Perhaps one of the more surprising guests is British songstress Natasha Bedingfield, who lends her skills to "Last Chance."
Minaj, who gave MTV News a preview of the album's vibe with a freestyle during "RapFix Live" last week, has built her mainstream career by consistently knocking out powerhouse features for everyone from Trey Songz to Diddy. Even though she's ready to run the game with her solo work, the breakout femcee has maintained she's down to work with anyone who can contribute to an inventive collabo. While entertaining the idea of jumping on a track with fellow music original Lady Gaga, Minaj insisted she wouldn't pass up a partnership with potential.
"I'm inspired by her creativity," Minaj said during her recent "RapFix Live" interview. "The women in the game, I never say I would never work with them because, in fact, if there's an opportunity for me to work with them, and it's a way that we can kill the game and do something crazy, why would I turn that down?"
Here's the track list for Pink Friday, which is slated to hit stores November 22.
1. I'm The Best
2. Roman's Revenge (featuring Eminem)
3. Did It On 'Em
4. Right Thru Me
5. Fly (featuring Rihanna)
6. Save Me
7. Moment 4 Life (featuring Drake)
8. Check It Out (featuring will.i.am)
9. Blazin (featuring Kanye West)
10. Here I Am
11. Dear Old Nicki
12. Your Love
13. Last Chance (featuring Natasha Bedingfield)
14. Super Bass
15. Blow Ya Mind
16. Muny
17. Girls Fall Like Dominoes [Bonus Track]
What song you looking forward to hearing from Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday? Let us know in the comments!
Related Videos Related Artists'Glee' Takes On Britney Spears
A Photo Of Kanye West?s Penis ?Comes Out?
For the past few weeks there’s been talk of a Kanye West penis picture that has been floating around and today Media Takeout got their hands on said photo and present to the world an intimate and NSFW side of Kanye that few have had the pleasure to see: Remember those lil NEKKID pics of [...]
Katharine McPhee Katharine Towne Katherine Heigl Katie Cassidy
Hugh Jackman Hits The Hay In NYC
Despite the fact that NYC is currently dealing with a massive infestation of bed bugs right now, Hugh Jackman thought it would be a good idea to lay down on a discarded mattress he encountered on the street while out for a stroll with his daughter Ava Eliot: Now, I love me some Hugh Jackman [...]
Britney Spears' Best Pre-'Glee' Comedy Moments
Before she hits up 'Glee,' relive her small-screen history.
By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears and Josh Radnor on "How I Met Your Mother"
Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS ©2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All
Tuesday night's (September 28) "Glee" episode is all about Britney Spears. While fans and the show's stars are excited to see the singer light up the screen in the appropriately titled "Britney/Brittany" episode, it's hardly the first time Spears has performed for a laugh on the small screen (and we're not talking about her docu-series "Britney & Kevin: Chaotic").
Spears brought the funny in a show-opening appearance on the 2009 VMAs, her top 10 list on "Late Night With David Letterman" and on "Saturday Night Live," especially during her stints as the show's host in 2000 and 2002.
In 1999, Britney Spears stopped by "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" to teach Melissa Joan Hart a lesson or two about loneliness, fame and the proper way to do choreography. The duo also hooked up for Spears' "(You Drive Me) Crazy" video from the soundtrack for Hart's movie "Drive Me Crazy," which featured "Entourage" star Adrian Grenier.
Spears was one of the many pop stars to stop by "Will & Grace" when she made an appearance on the show in 2006. She showed off her Southern accent and comedic flair as closeted lesbian Amber Louise.
The singer proved she was funny once again when she appeared on "How I Met Your Mother" in 2008. Her People's Choice-nominated cameo (she was up for Favorite Scene-Stealing Guest Star) had fans rooting for her again after a difficult period in her personal life. She hit the small screen as Abby, a receptionist with a grudge against Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) after he forgot to call her after they, uh, went out.
What was your favorite small-screen moment for Britney Spears? Let us know in the comments!
Related ArtistsSaturday, October 30, 2010
TV Ad For Norwegian Deaf Metal
This image, which nicely compliments the video below, is for a 1993 metal comp that featured some pretty ripping bands, including Eucharist, Dissection, Impaler, At the Gates, Pitchshifter and Therion, along with a bunch of groups we've never heard of. Good luck tracking it down. But before you try, check out this Norwegian TV ad [...]
Natalie Imbruglia Natalie Portman Natalie Zea Natasha Bedingfield
Winners of Tokyo Best Eats 2010
Best soba: Honmura An?s Tenzaru soba
This tasteful little soba shop puts detail first. And it keeps it simple. Honmura's dining room is modern and elegant. Raw concrete surfaces combine with thick wooden slabs for tables. Contemporary art and fresh flowers add life. But it's in the food where it really counts.
Satterwhite?s most highly recommended option, and our winner for best soba dish, is the tenzaru soba -- a bamboo tray piled with cold soba noodles along with prawn tempura. ?It comes with tempura-fried pumpkin, nori seaweed, enoki mushrooms, and a big plump prawn thoughtfully sliced into three pieces,? says Satterwhite.
Melissa George Melissa Howard Melissa Joan Hart Melissa Rycroft
Ozzy Osbourne, Yusuf Islam Duel At Jon Stewart Rally
The O'Jays also hit the stage at Stewart and Stephen Colbert's 'Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Ozzy Osbourne and Yusuf Islam at the "Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear"
Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Thousands of fans crowded the National Mall in Washington DC Saturday (October 30) for Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's "Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear," and the two politician-skewering funnymen trotted out a slew of legends to entertain the crowd.
About midway through the show, which already featured a nearly 40-minute set from John Legend and The Roots, Stewart announced the next performer, Yusuf Islam. The folk icon formerly known as Cat Stevens, hit the stage with an acoustic rendition of "Peace Train." However, instead of letting Yusuf placidly strum along, Colbert stormed the stage, ranting about the song's message of harmony. The satirical pundit then proclaimed, "My train is arriving at the stage now and the conductor has an important announcement to make!"
Colbert did a fine job of busting up the performance, and cleared the way for a surprise appearance from one of rock and roll's greatest show-stoppers: Ozzy Osbourne. Decked out in a black ensemble with his signature colored glasses, the Prince of Darkness screamed as he took the stage and led the band through the metal classic "Crazy Train."
However, before Osbourne could finish, Stewart snatched the mic and reprised the whole interrupting-the-rock-legend-thing, spewing protests like, "I will not get on that train! I am not comfortable on that train!" Stewart commanded Yusuf to start up again with "Peace Train," until Colbert jumped in, saying, "I'm gonna pull the emergency brake on this rainbow, moonbeam choo-choo!" Osbourne and Yusuf went back and forth, volleying metal and folk classics about trains, until both gave up the fight, embraced each other and left the stage.
But the audience wasn't left without a stellar performance from some music legends. Colbert and Stewart paced about, lamenting the lack of singers to belt train-related hits, until a line from the smooth chorus of the O'Jays "Love Train" wafted through the air.
"Is that the sound of Philadelphia?" Stewart wondered.
Colbert queried, "Was that the sweet Philly soul?"
It sure was. The legendary soul group then took the stage in slick white suits, busting easy throwback moves to their 1973 single to the delight of the crowd.
What did you think of the "Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear"? Let us know in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsMichael Jackson - Thriller (Long Vers.)
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic Records
- Album: Thriller [Bonus Tracks]
Photos | The 2010 Grammy Awards Red Carpet
The 2010 Grammy Awards Red Carpet
Related ArtistsLeslie Bega Leslie Bibb Lil\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\' Kim Lily Allen
Friday, October 29, 2010
Mary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers
'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll
Mary J. Blige
Photo: MTV News
You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.
In early February, reports began circulating that Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven," working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her Stronger With Each Tear album, due Monday.
But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering another Zeppelin classic — the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" — for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the Essence Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine.
"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' — it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."
Blige also said she recorded another new song — a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" — for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon.
"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.
Related ArtistsKe$ha's Cannibal Track List: No Drake, Plenty Of Dirty Puns
'Animal' remix and eight new songs feature production by Max Martin, Benny Blanco and Bangladesh.
By James Montgomery
Ke$ha
Photo: Jemal Countess/ Getty Images
On November 22, Ke$ha will return with Cannibal, the mini-LP/ maxi-EP "companion" piece to her platinum-plus debut disc, Animal.
Much like Lady Gaga's The Fame Monster, Cannibal will be sold both as a standalone album and as part of a deluxe reissue of Animal. According to a press release from Ke$ha's label, RCA, there are eight new songs on the album (including smash first single "We R Who We R") — produced by the likes of Max Martin, Benny Blanco and Bangladesh — and a new remix.
Earlier this week, a rumored track list for Cannibal began making the rounds, featuring songs like "Rumblin'," "Glitter and Glamour" and "Strong," a supposed team-up with Drake. It sounded rather promising, but, unfortunately, it was also untrue.
On Thursday (October 28), RCA sent MTV News the actual track listing for Cannibal, and while it doesn't feature any cameos by Drake (or anyone else), there is a song called — ahem — "C U Next Tuesday," which promises to be a rather interesting listen.
Other tracks include "Sleazy," "Blow," "The Harold Song" (perhaps a spiritual sequel of sorts to the Animal track "Stephen"?) and the pun-a-riffic "Grow a Pear."
In an interview earlier this month with Entertainment Weekly, Ke$ha said she aimed to create "[a] youthful and irreverent movement of the kids" with Cannibal, and describes the music on the disc as good, positive and "fun as sh--." And judging by the song titles alone, we're inclined to believe her.
The track list for Ke$ha's Cannibal, according to RCA Records:
» 1. "Cannibal"
» 2. "We R Who We R"
» 3. "Sleazy"
» 4. "Blow"
» 5. "The Harold Song"
» 6. "Crazy Beautiful Life"
» 7. "Grow a Pear"
» 8. "C U Next Tuesday"
» 9. "Animal (Billboard remix)"
Will you be picking up Cannibal? Tell us in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsKe$ha Goes 'Hard' On New Single, 'We R Who We R'
Singer keeps the party going with first single from Cannibal.
By Jocelyn Vena
Ke$ha
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
Ke$ha has found a chart-topping formula — combine killer beats with lyrics about super-fun parties and hot pants. And her latest single, "We R Who We R," certainly fits that mold.
The track, the first single off her November 22 release Cannibal, hit the Internet on Thursday (October 14). It's another uber-fun tune about how awesome it is to dance the night away, with Ke$ha singing on the chorus: "Tonight we're going hard/ Just like the world is ours/ We're tearing it apart/ You know we're superstars/ we are who we are."
While the song doesn't veer much from prior club bangers like "Tik Tok" and "Take It Off," the singer admits that "We R" is in part inspired by the recent rash of suicides among gay youth. "I wanted to inspire people to be themselves," she told EW.com. "It's a celebration of any sort of quirks or eccentricities."
In January, Ke$ha released her debut album Animal and it went straight to the top of the charts. Cannibal — a nine-song set that features collaborations with Max Martin, Benny Blanco and Bangladesh — is set to be released both on its own and as a bundle with Animal.
"I don't want to go away!" she said. "I feel like I'm creating this hopefully very youthful and irreverent movement of the kids, of, like, adolescence. I feel like the parents don't get it, but the kids get it. And they deserve to have more good, positive music ... It's fun as sh--! So I wanted to give [my fans] that."
The Seventeen cover girl also tweeted a message to her fans about the tune: "WE R WHO WE R! on the radio today you guys like??? dancin liiiiike were dumbbbb we be forever younggggg."
Related Artists
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
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsKim Kardashian Says NYC Guys Have A 'Different Vibe'
Newly relocated reality vixen tells 'The Seven' she 'loves' New York.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Kim Kardashian
Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/ Getty Images
Reality siren and California girl Kim Kardashian has ditched the West Coast to romp through the streets of New York, big sis in tow, for her upcoming TV show "Kourtney and Kim Take Manhattan." The starlet recently said she's feeling her new digs — despite not finding a lot success on the dating scene.
"I haven't really met a lot of East Coast guys, but the energy here is such a different vibe," Kardashian said during a sit-down with MTV's "The Seven," which aired Thursday (October 28). "I really love it here on the East Coast."
The bicoastal socialite, who chatted with reporters at New York City's Macy's store for an event promoting her fragrance, did admit that she's run into some trouble since she took up residence in the Big Apple. Kardashian recalled her encounter with a fan — and his unhinged lady friend — at one of the city's hot spots that left her doused with a cocktail and sparked the ire of her protective friends and family.
"A fan came up and wanted a picture with me, and he was a little drunk, but I took the picture. [Then] his drunk, crazy girlfriend walked up and went crazy and totally thought that he was flirting with me, and it just wasn't the case," she said.
The drink-flinging girlfriend's antics caught the attention of some key members of Kardashian's entourage.
"She threw a drink on me, and [sister] Khloé saw, like, from a distance, and went crazy. Then Scott, my sister [Kourtney]'s boyfriend, got involved," she said. "We just all left, it was so crazy."
Kardashian pegged the incident as a uniquely NYC experience.
"As crazy as it is at home in L.A., that's never happened," she said.
What do you think of Kim Kardashian moving to New York? Let us know in the comments!
Don't miss "The Seven" every weekday at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.
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.
?My heart is broken,? said his wife and manager, Wendy Dio in a statement. ?Many, many friends and family were [...]
?My heart is broken,? said his wife and manager, Wendy Dio in a statement. ?Many, many friends and family were [...]
Stone Temple Pilots Reunited In Hopes Of Opening For Led Zeppelin, Bassist Says
'If time allows, there will definitely be new music,' Robert DeLeo adds of STP's future.
By Chris Harris
Stone Temple Pilots' Robert DeLeo and Scott Weiland
Photo: Charley Gallay/ Getty Images
There are a number of reasons why Stone Temple Pilots decided to reunite after nearly five years apart — some are obvious, and others, not so much.
Of course, the financial windfall of reviving the grunge stalwarts for an extensive U.S. tour was too good to pass up, and bassist Robert DeLeo readily admits as much. And then there are the fans, the ones who had been with STP since the very beginning as well as those who discovered the band only after it first split back in 2003 and who, woefully, have yet to catch the Pilots live.
On a more personal level, though, Stone Temple Pilots' resurrection was purely selfish, and very much an anticipatory (not to mention optimistic) move on the band's part: If, after the months and months of rumors and denials, there ever is a full-on Led Zeppelin reunion tour, STP wanted to be ready to offer their services as an opening act.
"Believe me, that was one of the reasons," laughed DeLeo. "We thought, 'We should get together now, in case Zeppelin does tour.' I'm serious, man. That would be one hell of a bill: STP and Led Zeppelin. I mean, we could play a doghouse, out in the middle of the ocean, and if I got to play with Zeppelin, that would be a highlight of my life."
Yes, DeLeo — and the rest of the band — had several reservations about raising STP from the dead — a feat DeLeo jokingly referred to as "Mission Impossible." For the band's members, the idea of regrouping was terrifying at first, but with time, the boys settled their differences and tried to think positive.
"For me, it was about putting down some of the things that I was used to getting bitten by," explained the bassist — who, with guitar-playing brother Dean DeLeo, has been collaborating with Peter Frampton on material for his next LP. "After you get bitten, it's hard to go back. I wanted to go into this with an open frame of mind and a positive attitude and just have fun with it. We should have fun with it, which God knows we didn't always have with our career when we were younger. If that's all I can say, and that's what I can get out of this reunion, great.
"I think I speak for all of us when I say there's a lot of unfinished business that we didn't get around to the first go," he continued. "Enough time has gone by, and it feels really good to be back. I don't really want to put too much thought into how it feels — I'm just kind of going with it and keeping a good positive attitude about it. I just needed to get over the things that we all needed to get over, and that's been working so far. If everyone shows up and does this thing, I think it's going to be really amazing."
DeLeo claims that during recent rehearsals, STP were "sounding as good as ever," and he credits sobriety as part of the reason the band's in tip-top shape.
"My brother's going on four years of sobriety," he said. "We have a lot more clarity in the band now, and I think with clarity comes appreciation. I saw that the other night, when we played [a secret gig in Los Angeles]. I saw it in my eyes, and in the eyes of the rest of the band. There's a lot more rock in this band now."
As for an STP record, DeLeo is not 100 percent sure that's going to happen. The goal for STP over the next few weeks, he said, is to reacquaint themselves with their songbook and prepare for their return to the road. Once the band is back in that mindset, the bassist said new STP material is very possible.
"I've always got stuff written, and there's always a long list of songs that are always there — it's a matter of timing," DeLeo said. "If time allows, there will definitely be new music. I think it would be silly not to release new music. I'd like to believe we still have a writing relationship, but the first step is getting reacquainted with what we know."
While STP were on hiatus, frontman Scott Weiland teamed up with Velvet Revolver, and the DeLeo brothers joined forces with Filter's Richard Patrick for Army of Anyone — who are now on hiatus after releasing a poorly received self-titled LP. Does DeLeo foresee an AOA reunion somewhere down the line?
"You never know," he said. "It's just like STP — I didn't know if I was going to return. Whether we get back together and do anything, I think we made a great record, bottom line. That's all that matters to me. If we make another one, I want to make sure it's great, and that applies to STP and anything I do. But I was pretty heartbroken over [the feeble response to AOA's album]."
Related Photos Related ArtistsVanessa Minnillo Vanessa Simmons Veronica Kay Victoria Beckham
Jay-Z, Beyonce, Usher Support Alicia Keys At AIDS Charity Ball
Jay, Janelle Monae, Swizz Beatz were among performers at Keys' 8th annual Keep a Child Alive event.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Hillary Crosley
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images
Alicia Keys has proven to be as selfless in real life as she is in song.
The singer held her 8th annual Keep a Child Alive Black Ball event in New York on Thursday night. The fundraiser brought out Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Usher, Jay Sean, Janelle Monae, Jennifer Hudson, Whitney Houston and more.
Jay-Z and Keys' husband, Swizz Beatz, performed "On to the Next One," and Jay later performed "Empire State of Mind." Monae also hit the stage, as did Keys and Sade, who performed a duet, "Love Is Stronger Than Pride."
"It's my heart and soul," Keys told MTV News about the organization she co-founded. "Since the beginning, we've been very driven to do incredible work. I'm proud to show what four to five women who are very dedicated can do."
The organization benefits children and families who have been affected by AIDS but can't afford to purchase medicine; the event reportedly helped raise $2.4 million.
This year, Keep a Child Alive introduced the "Buy Life" T-shirt. The shirt features a large barcode on the garment; donors can buy the shirt and scan the code with their smart phones to make a donation to the charity. Every time the code is scanned by a phone, a donation goes through. Ryan Seacrest, Kim Kardashian and Katie Holmes are among the celebrity spokespeople appearing in ads for the shirt.
"It's like a dream to me to be among these people singing and performing, and opening people's eyes to what Keep a Child Alive can do," Keys said.
Related ArtistsUsher's OMG Tour To Launch In November
Usher's 25-date arena tour will start on November 10 in Seattle.
By Gil Kaufman
Usher
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ WireImage
Usher will reward his fans' patience in November when he finally kicks off the long-awaited tour in support of his platinum Raymond v. Raymond album. Though it won't feature Chris Brown as recently rumored, Usher is promising a major show for the 25-date North American arena tour that kicks off on November 10 in Seattle.
"Songs like 'OMG,' 'DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love,' 'There Goes My Baby,' 'Papers,' 'Daddy's Home,' 'Lil Freak' with Nicki Minaj and 'Hot Tottie' with Jay-Z have dominated the airwaves since last February," said Randy Phillips, president & CEO of AEG Live, the promoter behind the tour. "Now is the time for one of our greatest entertainers to go live and we are thrilled to be part of the ultimate Usher experience. Usher is bringing his fans an evening they will not soon forget. This will be the 'Must See' concert tour of 2010!"
The singer, who is on tap to perform at Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards, will be on the road through late December, hitting major cities from Las Vegas and Los Angeles to Dallas, Detroit, Chicago and Boston, wrapping things up on December 18 with a show at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut.
Tickets will go on sale beginning September 17, with more information on opening acts and tour details available at Usherworld.com.
Dates for the OMG Tour:
» November 10 - Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
» November 12 - Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arenabr
» November 13 - Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Baybr
» November 14 - Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
» November 17 - San Diego, CA @ Sports Arena
» November 18 - Los Angeles, CA @ STAPLES Center
» November 19 - Phoenix, AZ @ Jobing.com Arena
» November 23 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
» November 24 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
» November 26 - St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
» November 27 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
» November 29 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
» November 30 - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
» December 2 - Detroit, MI @ TBD
» December 3 - Chicago, IL @ Allstate Arena
» December 5 - Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
» December 7 - Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum
» December 8 - Baltimore, MD @ 1st Mariner Arena
» December 10 - Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
» December 11 - Norfolk, VA @ Scope Arena
» December 13 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
» December 14 - Boston, MA @ TD Garden
» December 16 - Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
» December 17 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
» December 18 - Hartford, CT @ XL Center
Joanne Montanez Jodi Lyn Keefe Jolene Blalock Jordana Brewster
Lady Gaga Postpones Paris Shows Due To Strikes
Singer pushes back dates, citing fuel/transportation concerns amid refinery workers' protests.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Lady Gaga's French fans will have to wait until the end of the year to catch the Monster Ball spectacle in concert. The pop superstar's tour backer, Live Nation, announced Wednesday (October 20) that her Paris dates, scheduled near the end of the month, will be pushed back as a result of ongoing strikes in the region.
"As a result of the logistical difficulties due to the strikes in France, Live Nation today announced that the Lady Gaga performances in Paris at Bercy previously scheduled for this Friday and Saturday 22 & 23 October are postponed until 19 & 20 December, 2010," read a statement posted on the star's website.
The European nation has been in the throes of civil upheaval for weeks since French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a proposal to bump the minimum retirement age up from 60 to 62 and raise the age that citizens can receive pension benefits from 65 to 67. Many workers have gone on strike, including employees of France's oil refineries, leading to fuel shortages throughout the country.
"Unfortunately, as there is no certainty that the trucks can make it to the Bercy for this weekend's shows, the Lady Gaga performances are now postponed," the statement continued. "The December 19th concert will replace the 22-October show and December 20th concert will replace the 23-October performance."
According to the statement, Gaga's little monsters have until mid-November to turn in tickets for a refund or swap out a new ticket for either of the winter dates.
"Fans with tickets to the rescheduled shows must exchange their tickets or claim for refund from now through November 14th at their point of purchase," the statement read. "Tickets dated October 22 and 23 will not be valid at the new dates." The statement concluded with "Lady Gaga apologizes to her fans for any inconvenience."
The postponed dates are a setback for an acclaimed global trek that has racked up cash around the world. Gaga's tour is projected to pull in roughly $200 million when it winds down in April 2011.
Are you upset that Gaga has postponed her Paris shows? Sound off in the comments!
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Thursday, October 28, 2010
Gorillaz In My Midst
Tonight is gonna be fun … tonight, David and I will be making our way to the Gibson Amphitheater at Universal City to see Gorillaz LIVE in concert: I’ve only seen Gorillaz live in concert once, many years ago in Toronto, CA on their first tour. I have been a huge fan of their music [...]
'Batman 3' Will Be Called 'The Dark Knight Rises'
Director Christopher Nolan adds that Riddler will not appear in third 'Batman' film.
By Josh Wigler
Christian Bale in "The Dark Knight"
Photo: Warner Bros.
In 2012, the Dark Knight will rise.
At long last, Christopher Nolan third "Batman" film. And as was the case with "The Dark Knight," the very mention of Batman himself is nowhere to be found. Instead, the critically acclaimed director of "Memento" and "Inception" will call his next film "The Dark Knight Rises."
Nolan confirmed the title in an interview with The Los Angeles Times, adding that the developing comic book adaptation will not have a role for the Riddler. The famous Batman rogue has long been considered a leading candidate to be the villain in "The Dark Knight Rises," with actors including Joseph Gordon-Levitt rumored for the part. But Nolan ended the debate with one rather definitive statement: "It won't be the Riddler."
In addition to confirming the title and removing one possible villain from the pool, Nolan stated that Warner Bros. executives have agreed with the director's desire to avoid 3-D for the third "Batman" film. Instead, "The Dark Knight Rises" will employ "high-definition approaches and IMAX cameras to strike out on a different cinematic path than the stereoscopic technology that, for better or worse, has become the dominant conversation in the blockbuster sector."
The pieces are certainly falling into place for "The Dark Knight Rises." Not only has Nolan announced the film's new title, he's also started the hunt for new actors. Earlier this month, his "Inception" collaborator Tom Hardy landed an unidentified lead role, with many assuming that he's taking on a villainous part. With his secret identity preserved, only one thing is certain about Hardy's character: He's not the Riddler.
"We'll use many of the same characters as we have all along, and we'll be introducing some new ones," the director said.
"The Dark Knight Rises" is scheduled to hit theaters on July 20, 2012. Shooting begins in April in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Check out everything we've got on "The Dark Knight Rises."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Ke$ha To Perform At American Music Awards
They join previously announced performers Christina Aguilera, Pink and Usher.
By Gil Kaufman
Justin Bieber
Photo: Jeffrey Ufberg/ Getty Images
The star power at the upcoming American Music Awards just got kicked up a notch — or 20. In addition to the previously announced performance from Christina Aguilera, the November 21 show at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles will feature the debut AMA appearances from three of music's hottest young stars.
Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Ke$ha will all perform at the show alongside a roster of veteran acts including Bon Jovi, Pink and Usher. Fittingly, all three newbies are also nominated for Artist of the Year, a category that features heavy-hitters Eminem and Lady Gaga as well. Em and Lady Antebellum lead all nominees with five apiece.
"As a small-town kid from Canada, I never imagined that I would be nominated for AMAs, let alone be performing on the show," Bieber said, according to The Associated Press, which added that the 16-year-old professed to feel "extremely humbled and honored" by the invitation to play the show.
More presenters and performers will be announced in coming weeks.
"Justin, Katy and Ke$ha have been on the top of the charts all year long. We are happy to see each of them make their own AMA history," AMA producer Larry Klein said in a statement announcing the additions. Bieber is nominated in four categories overall, while Ke$ha and Perry are up for three awards.
Winners will be determined by online voting at AMA.ABC.com.
Who are you most excited to see perform at the AMAs? Let us know in the comments!
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David Arquette, who has split from his wife and TV producing partner Courteney Cox, just can’t seem to keep his big mouth shut when it comes to discussing matters pertaining to the end of his marriage … which is why big TV shows keep booking him for interviews. Today, Live with Regis & Kelly was [...]
Michael Jackson's Nephew Austin Brown Releases First Single
'I can't help where I come from, but I love where I come from, so I just do music and I create,' Austin Brown says.
By Steven Roberts
Austin Brown
Photo: MTV News
The name Austin Brown may not ring any bells, but he is the youngest son of Rebbie "Centipede" Jackson, and, of course, the nephew of the late Michael Jackson. Brown, a talented and versatile singer, songwriter, producer and dancer, is ready to carry on the Jackson family business for the next generation. But he isn't necessarily looking to live off the family's fame.
"Music is in my heart," Brown said. "It's what I love to do. I can't help where I come from, but I love where I come from, so I just do music and I create."
Brown said he grew up listening to everything from Boyz II Men and George Michael to the Beatles. And while such a diverse musical taste isn't uncommon with the iPod generation of today, the singer said he loved to sit around and dissect what makes each artist special. He'd listen and wonder what about the Beatles inspired Brian Wilson's (of the Beach Boys) work, which in turn inspired the Beatles.
Brown also loves to perform, which he said started when his mom first took him onstage. "She was doing a show in Japan and I was about 3," said Brown. "When I first looked up, there was all of these things onstage — gargoyles and all this weird stuff at the club. And I got scared and kind of ran off, but I paused when I ran off. So my mom tried it again the next day, and I danced my heart off after that."
Some 20 years later, Brown has teamed up with super-producer Rodney Jerkins and is set to release his debut album, 85. The title represents what Brown has learned from music throughout his life.
"He had the vision," explained Jerkins. "He said, 'It's going to be called 85.' Why 85? 'Because that was the year I was born and in '85 this artist came out, and the music sounded like this. We've got to be inspired by this.' The whole thing we kept trying to do was create a sound that makes you want to dance and feel good."
The album's first single, "Target Practice," debuted Monday on Brown's website, and the video will follow. Brown said it doesn't look anything short of stunning.
"It was directed by a man by the name of Tom DeSanto, who is the producer of 'Transformers' and 'X-Men,' and it was such a blessing to get him for my first video," he said.
"He's downplaying it for me," Jerkins said. "Your first video and you've got the producer of 'Transformers'? How did you get him from the movie world? Most people go from making music videos to the movie world. He's coming from the movie world to the video world."
What do you think of Brown's new single, "Target Practice"? Tell us in the comments below.
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New Treatment Center Encourages Clients to Rock Out on Premesis
Roll over Betty Ford and tell Promises the news. A new rehab center in South Central, Pennsylvania called Clarity Way is providing its clients the use of an in-house recording studio and a music therapist. So now drug-addled artists can try to get clean and be productive at the same time.
The studio, which is equipped [...]
The studio, which is equipped [...]
Justin Bieber Fans Rave Over 'Classic' 3-D Trailer
'It feels like it's more of a documentary,' one fan says after preview of 'Never Say Never' clip at concert in L.A.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias
Justin Bieber's "Never Say Never"
Photo: Paramount
Some lucky Justin Bieber fans got the first glimpse of what to expect from his 3-D movie when he premiered the trailer for "Never Say Never" during his My World Tour stop in Los Angeles on Monday night. And the verdict from the fans MTV News spoke with can be summed up in one word: amazing.
"He said, 'Hey L.A., we have a special surprise for you. Something no one else has seen yet and you're only seeing it here tonight,' " Nicole Reddin recalled after the Staples Center concert. "And everyone was super excited. It feels like it's more of a documentary. It's a little bit more real than the things you see. It's a lot more [that] you get to know him and that's what we want to see."
Priestly Cleveland gave the trailer a glowing review. "It's the trailer for his movie, which is actually coming out Valentine's Day weekend. ... I loved it," she said. "My favorite part of the trailer was definitely when he was younger and singing and playing the guitar. I loved it ... it was cute, classic."
Added Juliana En, "It shows a bunch of baby pictures of him while he's growing up and pictures of him backstage just, like, doing random stuff."
The preview had special meaning for another longtime Belieber. "I remember when I used to watch Justin Bieber on YouTube before he got famous and I was totally a fan," Rachel Kelly said. "So this is really exciting."
"Never Say Never" won't hit theaters until February, but the singer's fans plan to keep busy until the flick's release date.
"I can't wait to see it," Cleveland told us. "In the meantime, I'm just gonna keep going on YouTube."
What do you think of the "Never Say Never" trailer? Tell us in the comments!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsWednesday, October 27, 2010
New Treatment Center Encourages Clients to Rock Out on Premesis
Roll over Betty Ford and tell Promises the news. A new rehab center in South Central, Pennsylvania called Clarity Way is providing its clients the use of an in-house recording studio and a music therapist. So now drug-addled artists can try to get clean and be productive at the same time.
The studio, which is equipped [...]
The studio, which is equipped [...]
Britney Spears - Gimme More
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
- Director: Jake Sarfaty
- Album: Blackout
Britney Spears - Radar
- Artist: Britney Spears
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