Thursday, December 29, 2011
Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year1604582
Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
"I'm bewildered," Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the
You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history. Really, she's the key to Sand's success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released. And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain. And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified. To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals. One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album. "At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards."
Related Videos Related ArtistsKe$ha Celebrates National Coming Out Day1672294
'We R Who We R' T-shirts support the Human Rights Campaign.
By Jocelyn Vena
Ke$ha design of t-shirts National Coming Out Day
Photo: Ke$ha
Kesha has joined forces with the Human Rights Campaign to help celebrate National Coming Out Day on Tuesday (October 11). The pop singer created a special message T-shirt, featuring a purple zebra, that proclaims "We R Who We R," the title of her hit anthem about individuality. The shirts sell for $35, with all proceeds supporting the HRC's work to achieve equality for the LGBT community. According to the HRC website, only 1,000 shirts will be produced. Others are also using the day to bring awareness to LGBT issues. Several notable celebrities will be honored by the Equality Forum, which is hosting an event and profiling notable LGBT members in pop culture. As LGBT History Month rolls on throughout October, Ricky Martin, Wanda Sykes, "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy and Pedro Zamora, a former "The Real World" castmember turned AIDS activist, all will be profiled by the organization. "We're the only minority worldwide that's not taught history at home, in school or religious institutions," said Malcolm Lazin, Equality Forum's founder and executive director. "Like every group that's been marginalized, it really helps to make the case why we should take real pride in ourselves and our community." Since launching the program five years ago, over 200 icons have been profiled, including Jane Lynch, Lady Gaga and Neil Patrick Harris. Lazin called LGBT month "empowering and life affirming." The message comes amid increased awareness about young people being bullied, including MTV's A Thin Line campaign. The MTV film "DISconnected," which premiered Monday night, focuses on issues in a world where technology controls personal lives. "I see the viciousness of people every day," said "Jersey Shore" star Vinny Guadagnino on the "DISconnected" after show. "I kind of want to be a soldier in the field, so to speak, and try to combat the negativity with a positive message. I want to help open people's eyes up, like this movie does, to the negativity." Check out the Facebook page for "DISconnected."
Related Videos Related ArtistsUsher - DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love
- Artist: Usher
- Label: LaFace
- Director:
- Album: The Number of Magic
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Wednesday, December 28, 2011
'Magic Mike' First Look: Channing Tatum Hits The Stage
If you ever wondered what a Steven Soderbergh stripper movie might look like (and come on, I know I'm not the only one out there who's wondered about that) well, wonder no more.
The Academy Award-winning director's upcoming film about hot dudes who take their clothes off for money ? "Magic Mike," perhaps better known [...]
The Academy Award-winning director's upcoming film about hot dudes who take their clothes off for money ? "Magic Mike," perhaps better known [...]
Demi Lovato Slams Disney Over Eating Disorder Joke
Demi Lovato Slams Disney Over Eating Disorder Joke
Demi Lovato launched a verbal attack on Disney after they aired a joke about eating disorders on one of their shows. The singer and actress, [...]
Demi Lovato Slams Disney Over Eating Disorder Joke Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News
Jennifer Gimenez Jennifer Love Hewitt Jennifer Morrison Jennifer Dell
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