Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Mandy Moore's 'Tangled' Heroine Not 'Typical Disney Princess'

'She's very independent,' actress/singer tells MTV News of new Rapunzel.By Kara Warner





Flynn (voiced by Zachary Levi) and Rapunzel (voiced by Mandy Moore) in "Tangled"

Photo: Disney




While the fall-to-Thanksgiving film season is usually rife with Oscar bait, it's also prime time for releasing family films. One such movie is the highly anticipated "Tangled," Disney's updated and traditionally animated take on Rapunzel, starring the vocal talents of Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi.

Kicking off our Fall Movie Preview, we bring you a delightful chat we had with the ever-gracious and lovely Moore, during which she discussed non-typical femmes fatales, singing in front of a 65-piece orchestra and Levi's powerful pipes.
MTV: How is Rapunzel different from the typical femme-fatale characters?
Mandy Moore: She's not the typical femme fatale or the typical Disney princess even, because: A) She doesn't know she's a princess. I think she sort of has this inkling that something isn't quite right in her life, [but] she's just really sort of motivated to find out what else is out there beyond this crazy tower she's lived in for 18 years. Having said that, she's very independent, she can take care of herself, and she's definitely come up with really entertaining ways to keep herself busy.
MTV: Is the Disney take on Rapunzel the same as the original fairy tale?
Moore: Pretty much. She has an overprotective mother who tells her she's not missing out on anything, and it's a big bad world out there and it's too scary and dangerous and she'll be eaten alive, literally, if she decides to venture out into the world.
MTV: What was your reaction to Disney changing the film's original title, in an effort to lure in more young boys?
Moore: I think I was initially a bit taken aback, only because people know the story of Rapunzel, so when you say you're working on "Rapunzel," it's sort of a no-brainer, you don't have to explain it to people. But as the title sort of sunk in, I understood the decision behind changing it. The movie is so great and so cute, and people are going to see the trailer and know what the story is about. I guess you sort of have to leave it up to the brains at the top. They know what they're doing.
MTV: What can you tell us about this particular story? Can you tease any romance?
Moore: She sort of comes face to face with this stranger who precariously ends up in her tower, and he's very handsome [and] he knows it. He's quite the ladies' man, if you will. Somehow, they get roped into going on this adventure together and start to see a different side of one another, and potentially a romance ensues. There's [also] a few musical moments.
MTV: What was that experience like, recording with legendary Disney composer Alan Menken?
Moore: That was fun. I'm definitely the quintessential girl who grew up watching "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin" and the like, so it was probably one of the coolest things I've done thus far, being in the studio with Alan Menken and a 65-piece orchestra. It was such a moment in time. I kept telling myself: "Just be in the moment. Remember this. You're going to want to think about this for years to come." It was really magical and sort of everything you'd want a Disney animated experience to be. As one of the players involved, I was like, "Oh my God!" ... To watch it all come to life, because so much of your job — you're looking at storyboards, you're having things explained to you, but there's nothing tangible to see or get, it has to form in your imagination, which is one of the slightly taxing parts, but also the most fun — to get to be a kid again and go into the depths of your imagination and play around. This, being there with the orchestra and hearing the score sort of come to life and what the feel of the movie was going to be at different parts was like, "Oh, OK, now I really get what we're doing." So that was definitely a moment for me. It was the first time I met Zach [Levi].
MTV: Does Zach actually sing in the film?
Moore: He does, and he's amazing! Oh my God, we had one rehearsal before we went into the studio, and I was so interested [in him], because they wanted to cast actors in the roles who could also sing, and I had no idea that he sang, and it turns out he's like a big musical-theater nut and had that in his background. He has a beautiful voice, but he has the perfect voice for something like this. He's such a sweet guy, and he's so funny in the movie, but I think his voice will astonish people, like, "Wow, where did that come from?"
From the saucy Jessica Alba in "Little Fockers" to James Franco's grueling journey in "127 Hours," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest flicks of fall 2010. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars.
Check out everything we've got on "Tangled."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.



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Back in February we provided a guide to the perfect Valentine purikura. Now purikura machines have moved on to make life even easier, offering an option to create super-cute wide eyes.read more

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Katy Perry, Usher Top Billboard's New Songs Of Summer Chart

Lady Gaga, Drake, Eminem also make top 10 of new list, which ranks biggest summer jams.By James Montgomery





Katy Perry in her "California Gurls" video

Photo: Capitol Records




It would appear, after years spent debating, deliberating, dissecting and disputing, that there is finally a better way to determine just what is the biggest Summer Jam of the year ... and of the past 25 years, too.

That's because Billboard just unveiled its brand-new Songs of the Summer chart, which ranks the Top 10 summer jams "based on actual performance on the Billboard Hot 100, from the June 12, 2010, chart date through the most-recent chart."
Not surprisingly, Katy Perry's "California Gurls" holds the top spot on the chart. After all, the song has been #1 on the Hot 100 for six straight weeks. Usher's "OMG" — which had previously nabbed the top spot on the Hot 100 — is in at #2, followed by B.o.B and Hayley Williams' "Airplanes," and the Travie McCoy/ Bruno Mars track "Billionaire." Ke$ha's "Your Love Is My Drug" rounds out the Top 5.
Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" — which won MTV's Summer Jam Sweepstakes last month — is at #6, Taio Cruz's "Break Your Heart" is at #7, Drake's "Find Your Love" is at #8, Eminem's "Not Afraid" is at #9 and Mike Posner's "Cooler Than Me" closes out the Top 10.
The "Songs of the Summer" chart will run until September 9, when Billboard will crown a champion. So it's still plenty early, which means that you probably can expect to see newer Hot 100 entries — like Eminem's hard-charging "Love the Way You Lie," which sits at #2 on the chart after just three weeks — to make a dent on the Summer chart as well. Hot 100 rankings are based on radio play and sales.
Along with the Summer chart, Billboard also unveiled a comprehensive list of the biggest summer songs of the past quarter-century, as determined by impact on the Hot 100 and something called "an inverse point system, with weeks at #1 earning the greatest value and weeks at No. 100 earning the least." For music obsessives, it's a treat. And for trivia buffs, it finally provides an answer to the question "Who had the biggest summer song in 1988?" (Steve Winwood!) So, really, everyone wins.



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Usher - Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)

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Sunday, August 29, 2010

Britney Spears On Working With Lady Gaga: 'Anything's Possible'

Singer poses on manga-inspired Pop cover.By James Dinh





Britney Spears on the cover of <i>Pop</i>

Photo: J-Pop




From schoolgirl to toxic temptress, Britney Spears has played many characters throughout the years. But the singer took a very different approach for her photo spread in the upcoming issue of the U.K.'s Pop magazine by channeling her inner manga character. In the issue, the pop princess dished about the possibilities of a Lady Gaga collaboration and working with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami for the anime-inspired cover.
Despite Gaga overthrowing Spears as the most-followed celebrity on Twitter, the singer had no hard feelings toward pop's newest sensation. "I'm a big fan of hers," she said when asked about working with Gaga. "Anything's possible!"
A collaboration between the pop stars doesn't seem out of the question, as Gaga's mega-hit "Telephone" duet with Beyoncé was originally offered to Spears.
Donning a white wedding dress and a veil with matching gloves, Spears innocently poses in a field of flowers on the cover. In another photo, the singer trades the dress for a leg-baring getup accessorized with a red backpack.
Spears' manga-style shoot was shot by Todd Cole with art direction from Takashi Murakami, who is often referred to as the "Andy Warhol of Japan." While the spread strays from the singer's typical styling, the pop star enjoyed working with the artist. "I loved working with Takashi," she said. "I especially liked how he took high-end fashion and incorporated it with Japanese manga."
The singer's tour to Japan was what originally piqued her interest in Japanese culture. "We looked at a lot of characters and artwork before we shot, so I could get a feel for what he was looking for," she explained. "I was in Japan on my past promo tour, and I loved it."
Editor in Chief Dasha Zhukova spoke to Style.com about the singer's Japanese treatment: "She's feminine, sassy, strong-willed, determined: all the things a great Pop icon should be. Couple that with some Japanese swimsuits and a Rodarte wedding gown, and I think she is pretty much Pop personified!"
Spears couldn't wait to share her excitement for her photo shoot with fans. The pop star took to Twitter, saying, "I just saw the photos for the first time and they are beautiful. Comes out Sept. 1st. Thanks @TakashiPom -- Britney."
Aside from gracing the cover of Pop magazine, the singer has already filmed a cameo for her "Glee" tribute episode and is working on completing the follow-up to 2008's Circus.
What do you think of Britney's manga-inspired photo shoot? Would you like to hear a Britney and Gaga collabo? Share your thoughts below!



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Kanye West Fans Aren't Seeing Eye To Eye On 'See Me Now'

Fan reaction to the MC's Beyoncé-featuring single ranges from 'wack' to ' 'Ye is back!!!!'By Mawuse Ziegbe





Kanye West

Photo: Dominique Charriau/WireImage




Fans agree that Kanye West is back, but they can't seem to agree on how they feel about that. The MC unveiled his latest single, "See Me Now," on Wednesday, and since then, Kanye followers have being going back and forth about whether the track is on fire or a fail.
The song, which features soulful contributions from Beyoncé and Charlie Wilson, is expected to appear on his upcoming untitled album, but, for many, the song takes things back to the MC's debut, College Dropout.
"Wow, it reminds me of College Dropout. Good to hear 'Ye laugh!" Ezekiel wrote on West's Kanye UniverseCity blog.
Bryan C.G. agreed: "This totally feel like your Dropout days. I love it."
Some fans, such as Prolifik, are all about 'Ye reviving the strings-laden throwback soul that kicked off his recording career. "Amazing! Classic flow, classic beats," the fan wrote. "I miss that old College Dropout steez! Welcome back, 'Ye."
" 'Ye is back!!!!" Tiffany wrote. "Hip Hop needs you so much!! You're brilliant."
While lots of online commenters are feeling the song, some of the MC's fans aren't seeing the appeal of "See Me Now." "This song is hot garbage," Luis Ariza declared on West's Facebook page.
The Facebook post announcing the song scored more than 580 "likes" at press time, however, some fans were not on the "See Me Now" bandwagon. "[It's the] first song from Kanye that I have not liked," Ariza wrote.
"This song needs major work," Real Talk proclaimed on West's blog. "I want harder beats and to be able to move my feet."
Chad Jones also chimed in on Facebook: "Not feelin it. Huge Kanye fan and love the evolution in his music but the track is wack. Lyrics are nice but track is wack."
" 'Ye is the man, but this song is WEAK!!!" Wallace Leeth wrote.
Jay Yey Couture thought the G.O.O.D. Music lyricist was upstaged by fellow superstar Beyoncé and undermined by the instrumental. "Kanye will sell this fall, that's for sure. However Beyoncé made this song!!!!!" the fan typed. "Kanye had too much time to come with ... this [weak] beat ... he could have did wayyyyy better."
Yeezy might not have won over all his fans with the single, but he does have the opportunity to redeem himself on the awards-show stage: West will perform at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, which air live September 12 at 9 p.m. The appearance marks his VMA return after a notorious onstage dustup with Taylor Swift, but it appears the rapper is taking the incident in stride. West closes "See Me Now" with the ad lib, "Uncle Charlie, by the way. And I'mma let you finish, but I got Beyoncé on the track."
What do you think of "See Me Now"? Let us know in the comments below!
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12 at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for the winners from now through September 12.



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Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV Drops The Day He's Released From Prison

Wayne will also headline a homecoming concert the same day, says Young Money's Mack Maine.By Shaheem Reid





Lil Wayne

Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images




Lil Wayne's Young Money army is loading up and getting ready to unleash a wave of new music toward the end of this year and the beginning of next year. The youngest of the Young Money crew, Lil Twist and Lil Chuckee, are working the Net and the mixtape circuit, as are Jae Millz and Gudda Gudda. Tyga, who's performing shows in South Africa this week, just dropped a video for his Lil Wayne-featured "I'm On It," and of course, his Chris Brown collaboration "Deuces" is an undeniable people-propelled hit. The record was a mixtape song, but through requests and video play on MTV Jams and "106 & Park," it's become a number-one hit.
Young Money president Mack Maine says that Tyga has an official second single coming soon and is hoping the company releases his album before 2010 is over. If not, look for Tyga at the top of 2011.

The biggest Young Money releases this year, of course, are coming courtesy of the leader of the family, Lil Wayne. Weezy has a 10-song project called I Am Not a Human Being that will be released digitally on his birthday, September 27. YM has tentative plans to come right back with more Weezy on November 5. That album, of course, will be his über-anticipated Tha Carter IV, or C4 as it's been nicknamed.
"Tha Carter IV plans we had and still have are to put Tha Carter IV out the day he comes out [of prison]," Mack said Thursday in New York. "He had so many songs for Tha Carter IV, we said let's just put these 10 songs out [on I Am Not a Human Being] and double-back for Tha Carter IV. He has more songs for Tha Carter IV that are still strong."
Mack says that Wayne is deeply involved in Tha Carter IV's song selection process despite currently serving his yearlong sentence on Rikers Island.
"It's basically me, him, Baby and Cortez Bryant mapping it out," Mack explained. "We had a listening session out here. It was me, Baby and Cortez. I let [Wayne] know these are the ones we picked. He already picked six of them from back there. I let him hear it over the phone. I book him a studio session — kinda like I did for the 'Light Up' up remix with Drake. I book him a studio session and let him listen [to tracks] over the phone. 'Do you like this one?' 'Yeah?' "
While Wayne shot a slew of videos for guest spots on other artists' songs and for his Rebirth LP before he went to prison, Weezy did not get to film videos for I Am Not a Human Being or Carter IV, which by no means is stifling plans for the releases. "Right Above It" (originally a track for Carter IV) is the first single for ... Human Being and has been released to radio. Meanwhile, Mack says the camp is thinking about not putting any music from Carter IV out prior to the release. They're toying with the idea of letting the fans be surprised when they purchase the project.
"We might just drop the album that day," Mack said of C4. "Just hope it don't leak out and drop it that day. I think it would be crazy, the anticipation."
Right now, Wayne has a tentative release date from prison of November 5. Not only does Young Money want to drop Carter IV that day, they want to hold a welcome-home concert that night, which Wayne would headline.
"That's where we are aiming for now," Mack explained. "I think the [Madison Square] Garden would be perfect. I wanna keep it Young Money. I think we can hold our own. As far as his set, it would be nice to have features and cameos on his set. As far as who opens for him, it'll be a no-brainer, Young Money could hold it down. Just have the big features on Wayne's set. He's gonna have a show, then go to the studio. I just had a birthday recently. I had four parties for my birthday. For him, it's no telling how that week would go, how that month would go. Five months [would go]. We're gonna party like when Frank came home in 'King of New York.' We're gonna go crazy."
Also in November, the 23rd to be exact, comes Nicki Minaj's debut Pink Friday. Drake is already working on another album as well as a mixtape, and according to Mack, it's "real possible" that Drizzy's sophomore LP will come before next summer.
While Mack has been aggressively carrying out his duties as an executive, let's not forget he's still an artist. He has a new single out called "All in One Swipe" featuring the Birdman, Rick Ross and Chu. Mack's new mixtape and album are currently in production.
This Sunday, MTV Jams will debut Mack's new video "I'm From New Orleans," a collaboration with Lucci Lou and T@, which will be featured during a daylong celebration called "Louisiana Love." On the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, MTV Jams is celebrating the life and the strength of the survivors of the hurricane.
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Usher - There Goes My Baby

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I've lived in New York now for over ten years now and I've ever been to the New York Public Library until today. Mark is in town and wanted to meet someplace where we could work, so I said, "How about the library?" I've always been meaning to go there but never have.
Anyway, long story short, it smelled like feet and body funk. It was gross. I don't think I'll ever go back. And I'm terrified of bed bugs at the moment, so of course I thought the joint was crawling with them. I shook myself out on the street when I left just to be safe.

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Usher Calls 'Hot Tottie,' Featuring Jay-Z, 'Incredible'

'Videos, we're in the process of working on that as well,' he tells MTV News of his Versus plans.By Shaheem Reid, with reporting by James "FLX" Smith





Usher

Photo: MTV News




Usher's life is all about balance right now. We caught up with him at the World Leadership Awards earlier this month in Atlanta, and he gave us a glimpse into his busy schedule.

"If it's not philanthropy, it's music," he said at the event for his New Look Foundation, which just raised $150,000 for a mobile clinic that will go to Haiti. "If it's not music, it's making sure I got the kids and dropping them off. I'm like super dad right now. The tour is the next step. May do a little acting. I'm definitely in the process of producing a few things, but it's staying busy. If it's not fragrance, then it's lifestyle. If it's cars — I mean owning, not just driving — it's a little bit of everything."
As far as his music goes, his latest song, the Jay-Z-featuring "Hot Tottie," is in heavy radio rotation. The record — whose name is a variation on a hot toddy mixed drink — is just a taste of the heat Usher has to offer on his upcoming EP, Versus.
"In terms of 'Hot Tottie,' it's another incredible record that's gonna be part of the re-release of Raymond v. Raymond [called] Versus," he said. "There's a few more. You guys check it out. Videos, we're in the process of working on that as well."
Versus is slated to drop Tuesday.
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Saturday, August 28, 2010

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Lady Gaga Close To Besting Britney Spears In Twitter Followers

Spears is the world's top tweeter, but Gaga is hot on her heels.By Mawuse Ziegbe





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Photo: Kristian Dowling/ Getty Images




Lady Gaga's near-dominance of all things social media is reaching a pivotal point: Mother Monster is poised to topple Britney Spears as the most-followed Twitter user.
According to the social-media website FameCount, which tracks the most popular entities on sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, Spears is the world's top tweeter, with more than 5.6 million followers, but Gaga is right on her heels. As of Thursday afternoon (August 19), Spears' followers numbered 5,646,028, while Gaga's online army of "little monsters" was 5,635,460 strong. The ranking could switch very soon, since Gaga has netted around 600,000 new followers this month, while Spears pulled in about 200,000. The site also lists Gaga as the most popular online entity worldwide, with more than 16 million Facebook fans and 330,000 YouTube subscribers.
Gaga's pre-eminent Twitter status is just the latest milestone marking the pop phenom's powerful viral presence. Last month, Gaga soared past the leader of the free world, President Obama, in Facebook fans. The "Alejandro" singer was also the first living person to notch 10 million fans on the intensely popular social-networking website.
Despite runaway online popularity that rivals her chart-topping music sales, Gaga still has to fend off competition from other pop stars. In July, Justin Bieber bested Gaga for the most-watched music video on YouTube with more than 245,746,720 views for the Ludacris-assisted collabo "Baby." Gaga's futuristic-disco extravaganza "Bad Romance" was close behind with 245,596,709. Bieber has since widened the gap, however, with "Baby" scoring 292,285,435 views to Gaga's 264,533,336 YouTube spins at press time.
Gaga's viral presence is undeniable, but the singer's outsize fan support has yielded results in the form of cold hard cash as well. After circling the globe on her Monster Ball Tour since November of last year, the seat-filling tour is on track to gross $200 million worldwide by April 2011.
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'Machete' Cast Thinks Lindsay Lohan's 'Gonna Be All Right'

Lohan's co-stars praise the performance by the actress, who recently left rehab.By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kara Warner





Jessica Alba, Danny Trejo and Michelle Rodriguez at the "Machete" premiere

Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images




Most of the cast of "Machete" was on hand in Los Angeles on Wednesday (August 25) to celebrate the premiere of their B-movie-inspired, Robert Rodriguez-directed flick. But one of the film's stars was noticeably absent: Lindsay Lohan, who had been released from rehab a day earlier. The young actress' road to recovery was on the mind of her co-stars.

"You know what, I just care about her as a person," Don Johnson told MTV News on the red carpet. "God bless her and she's gonna do fine." That sentiment was mirrored by Danny Trejo, who added, "Get home, girl! You're gonna be all right. She's gonna be fine. She knows what to do."
Another one of the flick's stars, Cheech Marin, wanted to let Lohan know he supports her, and that he hopes this incident will be a catalyst for her getting her life back on track. "I wish her all the best. I mean, she's a talented young actress," he said. "Hopefully, she won't let her personal life overwhelm her professional life ... at some point, you gotta be responsible."
Michelle Rodriguez felt that publicly wishing Lindsay the best would not just benefit her former co-star. "I just think everybody should have in mind that when you wish the best for people around you, it only makes your country, your society, your culture better," she explained. "So I think that we should all just respect the evolutionary paths of people and as much as we possibly can wish for the better, for light."
Earlier in the night, Jessica Alba praised Lohan, saying, "She's so good in this movie. I can't wait for people to see [her in] it."
Praise for Lohan's performance also came from the film's director. "She's awesome in the movie. That's what they'll see: the actress behind all that paparazzi nonsense that follows her and won't leave her alone," Robert Rodriguez said. "They'll get to see her and say, 'Oh, that's why we follow her around.' "
Check out everything we've got on "Machete."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.



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BREAKING NEWS!

A photo of Kim Kardashian?s playboy photoshoot has been leaked. The photoshoot wasn?t supposed to appear to viewers until December. It is rumored that this will be the biggest playboy spread ever?..
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Ne-Yo 'Doesn't Know What To Do' With Songs He Wrote For Michael Jackson

'I can't sell them on to someone else, as that would be disrespectful,' the singer said.By James Dinh





Ne-Yo

Photo: Getty Images




While producer Rodney Jerkins is expecting to begin work on an album of unreleased Michael Jackson music, Ne-Yo, on the other hand, isn't sure what to do with the material he wrote for the late King of Pop before MJ's death last year. The R&B singer/songwriter told Australia's Daily Telegraph that he was sending Jackson three or four drafts a week prior to his unexpected death. More than a year later, Ne-Yo now still stands at a crossroads as he contemplates what to do with the songs he created specifically for the one and only MJ.
"I can't sell them on to someone else, as that would be disrespectful, but I also think it might be disrespectful to bring them out myself. So I don't know, I'll sit on them and wait. It's definitely quality music but they were songs written absolutely for Michael Jackson."
According to the newspaper, Jackson hand-picked Ne-Yo as well as Black Eyed Peas producer Will.I.Am to work on his comeback album. It was only a matter of time before Ne-Yo was met face to face with his musical idol.
"I felt quite bad, as I'd allowed what the media had done to his name and image to have me thinking, 'OK, what's this about to be? Is this going to be weird?' " he recalled. "But he walked in a black suit and some sunglasses and was a genuine, nice guy. And it wasn't because he wanted something from me, he just had no reason other than to be a decent guy."
During their meeting, the duo talked about the current state of the music industry, something Ne-Yo says Jackson wasn't too pleased with. "He believed what was wrong with a lot of music today is that people aren't singing about anything. If it's not about a party or sex then it's about money, and there's not really much to that."
Ne-Yo, who has penned hits for Beyoncé and Rihanna as well as himself, explained that the entertainer wanted songs that were "melodic and meaningful." "Michael told me the melodies needed to be the ones you heard once and could sing back, and the lyrics needed to have meaning and depth," he said.
Unfortunately, Ne-Yo's submissions weren't recorded by Jackson, because the singer put his album on hold to rehearse for his This Is It concert series at London's 02 Arena before passing away.
But Ne-Yo has hope that one day he'll figure out what to do with the Jackson tracks. "Hopefully the songs will see the light of day, it just has to be the right way," he said.
What do you think Ne-Yo should do with the songs he created for Michael Jackson? Should he keep them locked up or let someone else give them a try? Let us know what you think below!



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Taylor Momsen Says Rihanna Quote Was Taken Out Of Context

Taylor Momsen was quoted slamming Rihanna a few days ago in her Spin magazine interview, but she says the quote was cut up to sound catty.
?I love Rihanna. I think she?s awesome. I really do,? Taylor said. ?People take quotes and they cut out the middle section ? the compliment part ? and put a comma and make you sound really rude.
?I was comparing the difference between rock and pop and talking about the market,?
Taylor says she's a fan of Rihanna's, even though she listens to rock more than pop:
?I think Rihanna?s awesome,?
?I listen to more rock music than pop music, but she definitely has a cool vibe going. She makes great pop records,?
Think her "people" made her back track on this one? Or was it really a misquote? Did you catch Taylor and her band performing on Letterman? What'd you think?
Photos by WENN
















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Friday, August 27, 2010

Usher Calls 'Hot Tottie,' Featuring Jay-Z, 'Incredible'

'Videos, we're in the process of working on that as well,' he tells MTV News of his Versus plans.By Shaheem Reid, with reporting by James "FLX" Smith





Usher

Photo: MTV News




Usher's life is all about balance right now. We caught up with him at the World Leadership Awards earlier this month in Atlanta, and he gave us a glimpse into his busy schedule.

"If it's not philanthropy, it's music," he said at the event for his New Look Foundation, which just raised $150,000 for a mobile clinic that will go to Haiti. "If it's not music, it's making sure I got the kids and dropping them off. I'm like super dad right now. The tour is the next step. May do a little acting. I'm definitely in the process of producing a few things, but it's staying busy. If it's not fragrance, then it's lifestyle. If it's cars — I mean owning, not just driving — it's a little bit of everything."
As far as his music goes, his latest song, the Jay-Z-featuring "Hot Tottie," is in heavy radio rotation. The record — whose name is a variation on a hot toddy mixed drink — is just a taste of the heat Usher has to offer on his upcoming EP, Versus.
"In terms of 'Hot Tottie,' it's another incredible record that's gonna be part of the re-release of Raymond v. Raymond [called] Versus," he said. "There's a few more. You guys check it out. Videos, we're in the process of working on that as well."
Versus is slated to drop Tuesday.
Are you excited to hear new music from Usher on the upcoming EP? Let us know in the comments!



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Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV Drops The Day He's Released From Prison

Wayne will also headline a homecoming concert the same day, says Young Money's Mack Maine.By Shaheem Reid





Lil Wayne

Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images




Lil Wayne's Young Money army is loading up and getting ready to unleash a wave of new music toward the end of this year and the beginning of next year. The youngest of the Young Money crew, Lil Twist and Lil Chuckee, are working the Net and the mixtape circuit, as are Jae Millz and Gudda Gudda. Tyga, who's performing shows in South Africa this week, just dropped a video for his Lil Wayne-featured "I'm On It," and of course, his Chris Brown collaboration "Deuces" is an undeniable people-propelled hit. The record was a mixtape song, but through requests and video play on MTV Jams and "106 & Park," it's become a number-one hit.
Young Money president Mack Maine says that Tyga has an official second single coming soon and is hoping the company releases his album before 2010 is over. If not, look for Tyga at the top of 2011.

The biggest Young Money releases this year, of course, are coming courtesy of the leader of the family, Lil Wayne. Weezy has a 10-song project called I Am Not a Human Being that will be released digitally on his birthday, September 27. YM has tentative plans to come right back with more Weezy on November 5. That album, of course, will be his über-anticipated Tha Carter IV, or C4 as it's been nicknamed.
"Tha Carter IV plans we had and still have are to put Tha Carter IV out the day he comes out [of prison]," Mack said Thursday in New York. "He had so many songs for Tha Carter IV, we said let's just put these 10 songs out [on I Am Not a Human Being] and double-back for Tha Carter IV. He has more songs for Tha Carter IV that are still strong."
Mack says that Wayne is deeply involved in Tha Carter IV's song selection process despite currently serving his yearlong sentence on Rikers Island.
"It's basically me, him, Baby and Cortez Bryant mapping it out," Mack explained. "We had a listening session out here. It was me, Baby and Cortez. I let [Wayne] know these are the ones we picked. He already picked six of them from back there. I let him hear it over the phone. I book him a studio session — kinda like I did for the 'Light Up' up remix with Drake. I book him a studio session and let him listen [to tracks] over the phone. 'Do you like this one?' 'Yeah?' "
While Wayne shot a slew of videos for guest spots on other artists' songs and for his Rebirth LP before he went to prison, Weezy did not get to film videos for I Am Not a Human Being or Carter IV, which by no means is stifling plans for the releases. "Right Above It" (originally a track for Carter IV) is the first single for ... Human Being and has been released to radio. Meanwhile, Mack says the camp is thinking about not putting any music from Carter IV out prior to the release. They're toying with the idea of letting the fans be surprised when they purchase the project.
"We might just drop the album that day," Mack said of C4. "Just hope it don't leak out and drop it that day. I think it would be crazy, the anticipation."
Right now, Wayne has a tentative release date from prison of November 5. Not only does Young Money want to drop Carter IV that day, they want to hold a welcome-home concert that night, which Wayne would headline.
"That's where we are aiming for now," Mack explained. "I think the [Madison Square] Garden would be perfect. I wanna keep it Young Money. I think we can hold our own. As far as his set, it would be nice to have features and cameos on his set. As far as who opens for him, it'll be a no-brainer, Young Money could hold it down. Just have the big features on Wayne's set. He's gonna have a show, then go to the studio. I just had a birthday recently. I had four parties for my birthday. For him, it's no telling how that week would go, how that month would go. Five months [would go]. We're gonna party like when Frank came home in 'King of New York.' We're gonna go crazy."
Also in November, the 23rd to be exact, comes Nicki Minaj's debut Pink Friday. Drake is already working on another album as well as a mixtape, and according to Mack, it's "real possible" that Drizzy's sophomore LP will come before next summer.
While Mack has been aggressively carrying out his duties as an executive, let's not forget he's still an artist. He has a new single out called "All in One Swipe" featuring the Birdman, Rick Ross and Chu. Mack's new mixtape and album are currently in production.
This Sunday, MTV Jams will debut Mack's new video "I'm From New Orleans," a collaboration with Lucci Lou and T@, which will be featured during a daylong celebration called "Louisiana Love." On the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, MTV Jams is celebrating the life and the strength of the survivors of the hurricane.
What do you think about Carter IV possibly dropping right when Wayne gets out? Let us know in the comments!



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Jay Hernandez Says He 'Grew Up Watching' 'Takers' Co-Star Matt Dillon

'I've seen him in, I don't even know how many films,' Hernandez says.By Shaheem Reid





Jay Hernandez

Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images




Actor Jay Hernandez didn't get a chance to appear in too many scenes with the "bad guys" of the film "Takers." His character, detective Eddie Hatcher, spends a considerable amount of time with his onscreen partner Jack Welles — played by Matt Dillon — trying to crack a bank-heist case.
Hernandez says he had a ball working with Dillon, the O.G. of the ensemble cast, which also includes as the gang of Takers: T.I., Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Hayden Christensen, Chris Brown and Michael Ealy.
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Chris Cornell Filling In For Robert Plant On Led Zeppelin Tour? That's News To Him

'I have not been approached to fill in for Robert Plant on the Zeppelin tour, but that isn't to say I won't be,' singer says.By Chris Harris





Chris Cornell

Photo: MTV News




Former Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell has spoken out for the first time about rumors that he's been asked to fill in for Robert Plant on a proposed Led Zeppelin reunion tour. The trek would feature original guitarist Jimmy Page, original bassist John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham taking over on drums for his late father, John Bonham.
Cornell has been mentioned — along with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, White Stripes mastermind Jack White and Alter Bridge's Myles Kennedy — as a potential Plant fill-in. Plant has already said that he wouldn't take part in the tour.


"I have not been approached so far to fill in for Robert Plant on the upcoming Zeppelin tour, but that isn't to say I won't be," Cornell told MTV News. "I've heard that from about 200 people now, and it might be one of those situations where it's just an online rumor or it might be true. But if you see anyone from Led Zeppelin around, let me know. I think I should actually fill in for Jimmy Page on the Robert Plant/ Alison Krauss tour."
Cornell's denial comes just a day after Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford confirmed reports that frontman Steven Tyler recently met with Zeppelin for an impromptu jam session. "They did it for fun," Whitford said during an appearance on the syndicated show "Todd N Tyler Radio Empire." "I actually think Jimmy wanted Steven to come over and play a little bit because I think he was trying to light a fire under Robert."
Rumors of a Zeppelin reunion tour have abounded since the iconic band played a single reunion set last year at London's O2 Arena. Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider added fuel to the fire last month when he revealed that the group was thinking of touring, with or without Plant.
According to Snider, the rest of the band told Plant, " 'We're all rehearsed, we're ready to go. Here's a gazillion dollars on the table. If you don't do it, we're going out with this kid [Myles Kennedy].' "
"And he can sing the sh-- out of Zeppelin," Snider added. "They're going to hope that Robert, at the last minute, will go, 'OK,' and step in."
In a recent interview, Jones told BBC Radio Devon that a new singer was being sought to take over for Plant. "We are trying out a couple of singers," he said. "We want to do it. It's sounding great, and we want to get on and get out there."
But Jones insists that he, Page and Bonham aren't interested in finding a Plant clone. "It's got to be right," he said. "There's no point in just finding another Robert. You could get that out of a tribute band, but we don't want to be our own tribute band. There would be a record and a tour, but everyone has to be onboard."
Of course, even if Zeppelin were to approach him, Cornell might be too busy to take over vocals for the band. His upcoming Timbaland-produced solo LP, Scream, will be released within the next few months. Cornell told MTV News last month that some of his fans might consider Scream something of a departure, but he doesn't see it that way.
"It makes me happy that there's this perception that I have a group of fans that I'm now sort of throwing a curve at and what their reaction will be," he said. "But I've been in this situation so many times already. When I put out [1999's] Euphoria Morning, my main goal was to create an album that sounded like nothing I'd done in Soundgarden, and I did that. I also had that with Temple of the Dog, where I showed up with songs that weren't necessarily riff-based. And then, of course, the pairing of me and members of Rage Against the Machine had everyone sort of speculating about what that would sound like.
"It feels like I've done this so many times that when it's presented to me as being a departure, I feel that's a misconception," he added. "I feel like that's my theme at this point."



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'Machete' Stars Pick Their Badass Allies

Jessica Alba goes with 'genius and amazing' director Robert Rodriguez, along with co-star Michelle Rodriguez.By Kara Warner





Jessica Alba, Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez and Robert Rodriguez at the "Machete" premiere

Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images




Those familiar with the trailer for Robert Rodriguez's new film "Machete" — which started out as a fake preview in "Grindhouse" and eventually inspired the full-length feature — know to expect high-octane action sequences, blood and, thanks to Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez, badass babes.
Wednesday night's special screening of the anticipated "Mexploitation" flick kept up with the high-octane and badass aspects, as Rodriguez and his cast arrived in pimped-out low-riders to the Orpheum Theatre in downtown L.A. Given the rebellious and revolutionary nature of Machete the character, and his trajectory in the film, we asked the stars who they would choose as an ally in a revolution.

Don Johnson went with a founding father and a famous rebel. "I like George Washington," Johnson said. "He did a good job. Fidel [Castro], he did a good job." Johnson also singled out Machete himself, Danny Trejo. "He's good with a knife," he said. "Weird huh?"
Trejo went a different route: with his leading ladies. "Jessica Alba or Michelle Rodriguez," he said, highlighting the ladies' feisty fighting skills. "In this movie, they're both badasses. They're both bad-gorgeous-asses."
Alba also picked a leading lady as her ally. "Michelle [Rodriguez]!" she said. "[Michelle's character in the movie] and Robert Rodriguez," she added, as her director joined in the interview. "Because he's a genius and he's amazing." (Alba also revealed that Rodriguez is an amazing cook, which enhances his ally appeal.)
"I'd have to say Danny [Trejo]," Rodriguez said. "You know why? Because he's got loyalty in his eyes. He looks like the kind of guy that will take survival seriously, protection seriously, love seriously."
Cheech Marin agreed: "Danny Trejo, man, he's the baddest. He's great in this movie."
There you have it. Choice revolution ally: Danny Trejo. Who would you want to be by your side in a revolution? Leave your ideas in the comments!
Check out everything we've got on "Machete."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.



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'Glee' Creator On Britney Spears Cameo: 'It Was Like The President Had Come'

'I couldn't get into my own sets at one point, which I thought was hilarious,' Ryan Murphy says.By James Dinh





Heather Morris and Britney Spears on the set of "Glee"

Photo: Facebook




Britney Spears may be a pop princess, but "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy felt as if the president had stopped by the set during Spears' recent visit to William McKinley High. Murphy dished about what went down when the singer filmed her cameo for the "Britney/Brittany" episode.
"It was literally like the President had come," Murphy told E! Online. "We all had to wear wristbands. I couldn't get into my own sets at one point, which I thought was hilarious."
Murphy thought Spears was moved by the cast's admiration for her. "I think she was really impressed about how so many kids of the show do what they do because they grew up wanting to be Britney Spears," he said. "She was really sweet with them. We had a number with a bunch of 8-year-old dancers in the show and she spent a lot of time talking to them, and they did the number for her ... She was so sweet, she's great with kids, she was so awesome."
But security remained tight, Murphy said, because "everybody was sort of trying to get into the set and find out what the hell she's doing in the episode." What Spears will be doing on the show is still unknown, but a picture the singer tweeted from the set suggests that she may be playing some sort of receptionist.
Aside from hanging with the pop princess on set, the "Glee" creator also got to hear some of Spears' new material. "I got to hear some of the music she's putting out later this fall or early next year," Murphy said. "It's really a great return to form for her; the songs are amazing so I feel she's riding the crest."
And while there has been talk of Madonna tunes blaring the speaker intercoms once again, Murphy has also revealed that Britney "probably" will reprise her cameo spot on "Glee" episodes.
Last week, the singer tweeted photos of herself on set alongside Murphy and castmember Heather Morris. Posing in front of a set that looked similar to the singer's "Me Against the Music" video backdrop, Spears channeled the Madonna look that was donned in their 2003 collaboration.
What kind of character do you want to see Britney play on "Glee"? Share your thoughts in the comments below!



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Britney Spears Repertoire Has 'Glee' Cast Gleeking Out

'There are so many great Britney songs to choose from, how do you pick just one?' Naya Rivera asks.By Josh Wigler, with reporting by Kara Warner





"Glee" cast in the Lady Gaga-themed episode

Photo: FOX




The cast of "Glee" are used to mimicking some of the most iconic pop artists of our time, including Lady Gaga and Madonna. And when the show returns for its second season this fall, the castmembers will be gleeking out over another very special pop singer: none other than Britney Spears.

"The reason we're doing it is because so many of the kids on the show say, 'We grew up with Britney. We want to do Britney,' " show creator Ryan Murphy told MTV News about the upcoming Britney-themed episode.
The "You Drive Me Crazy" singer is already slated for a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo in the episode, meaning that the spotlight won't be on Spears herself. Instead, it's the adoring "Glee" cast's turn to pay tribute to one of their favorite singers, with rumors floating around that leading lady Lea Michele is set to hone in on Britney's schoolgirl days with "... Baby One More Time." And actress Heather Morris told MTV News that she wants to channel her inner "Toxic." But she's not the only castmember making requests.
"I think Kurt would sing 'Circus,' " actor Chris Colfer said when asked about the upcoming Spears-centric episode. "Just so he can wear a top hat."
Amber Riley, who plays the divalicious Mercedes Jones, laughed at Colfer's suggestion, and it's certainly hard to blame her. For her own part, Riley sees "Stronger" as a natural fit for Mercedes' boisterous, self-assured personality. "I like that song," she assessed with a nod.
Still, there are other "Glee" castmembers — like Naya Rivera, for instance — who aren't too concerned about which Britney number they end up covering. At the end of the day, there are more than enough memorable songs to go around for everybody.
"There are so many great Britney songs to choose from, how do you pick just one?" Rivera asked. "My fingers are crossed that my favorites will make the list!"
Which Britney songs would you like the "Glee" cast to perform? Tell us in the comments!



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Drake Writes A Letter To Aaliyah, Nine Years After Her Death

'We remain inspired and moved by all that you've given the world,' he writes to the late singer.By Jayson Rodriguez





Drake

Photo: FilmMagic




Drake's appreciation for Aaliyah is well-known, from the way he's spoken of the late singer in interviews to sampling her voice for his "Unforgettable" track with Young Jeezy.
In honor of the nine-year anniversary of Aaliyah's death, Drake penned a letter to the "Rock the Boat" singer that was posted on RapRadar.com.

"Dear Dana," Drake begins, referring to the singer by her middle name. "I've never lost a parent, a friend, or a lover but I will never forget this day for the rest of my life. I remember getting the news that you had passed and it connected with my heart like a clean shot from Muhammad Ali. I was crushed."
The Thank Me Later rapper went on to explain that he was one of Aaliyah's biggest fans and that he was "truly in love" with her. He complimented the star's appearance, the way she carried herself, and the confidence she communicated in her music, be it about love or heartache.
Now that he's become a professional musician, he lamented that he and Aaliyah would never get the chance to collaborate.
"But you should know, we all listen to you every day and we remain inspired and moved by all that you've given the world," he finished. "I hope I make the right life choices so I can end up in heaven where I know you rest your head. I'll continue to make music in your honor until the day we finally meet."
Share your memories of Aaliyah in the comments.



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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Britney Spears Set To Appear On 'Glee'

Creator Ryan Murphy confirms to Ryan Seacrest that pop singer will guest star on tribute episode.By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Audrey Kim





Britney Spears

Photo: Todd Williamson/ Getty Images




Lady Gaga: Check. Madonna: Check. "Glee" has featured the music of the pop stars to acclaim in its first season. Yet the show has yet to get high-profile singers Madge and Gaga to appear in person on the show. But another diva is about to change that.

On Tuesday (August 10), show creator Ryan Murphy confirmed to Ryan Seacrest that Britney Spears will make an appearance on "Glee." Now, fans are anxious to see what they'll do with the Spears discography in an episode set to air next season.
And the cast seems just as excited as the Gleeks about what's to come. Heather Morris couldn't wait to have Spears on set when MTV News spoke to her at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday.
"I get to do Britney Spears! I'm hearing rumors from other people that she's supposed to be coming ... that'd be so nerve-racking," she said. "I like 'Toxic' the best or the 'Slave' video. It was always her best performance. She's rocking! I don't care what I do."
"I mean I can't really give away songs, but I know we've seen pictures of Lea [Michele] in a sports bra," Jenna Ushkowitz added, confirming online reports that Michele would sing the classic Britney tune " ... Baby One More Time."
"Some old Britney, some new Britney, some Brittany of our Brittany from the Glee club. So it should be funny," Ushkowitz teased of featured songs. "We're really excited. I love Britney Spears."
Fans also want to know whether Matthew Morrison will go all the way and shave his head as rumored for the episode. But the only thing he would confirm is that he couldn't confirm anything.
"All rumors," Morrison told us. "I think you might be surprised. I don't think I'll be performing any [songs]. I might sing a little bit of 'Toxic,' " he shared. "I'm not sure. We haven't really got too far in the script yet, which is why I don't know too much about the head-shaving thing."
Morrison's castmate Amber Reilly is already convinced the episode will be great.
"I can tell you it's going to be a really great episode and you're going to love it," she said. "And they're doing the big hits from Britney."
Which Britney songs do you think are absolutely essential to the "Glee" tribute episode? Tell us in the comments!



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Kevin Federline Invades Miami, Florida

When last we saw Kevin Federline around these here parts, he was posting for photos with all 4 of his children (and tag along girlfriend Victoria Prince) at Disneyland here in Anaheim, CA. Today we learn that K-Fed and Vicky P. have made their way to Miami, FL to do some damage there: Ugh, it’s [...]Pamela Anderson Paris Hilton Patricia Velásquez Paula Garcés

Inflatable Furniture

There was a time in my life when I couldn't afford a sofa so I contemplated getting blow-up furniture just so I'd have something to sit on.

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Director: Jake Nava
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Chris Brown Melts Down During BET Awards Michael Jackson Tribute

Singer dances flawlessly but is overcome by emotion when time comes to sing.By Rochell Thomas





Chris Brown at the 2010 BET Awards

Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images




When Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo and New Edition were performing tributes to Michael Jackson during last year's BET Awards show, Chris Brown was nowhere to be found, even though many felt he was an obvious choice to honor the fallen legend. Brown's assault on Rihanna several months earlier presumably kept him out of the show.

On Sunday night (June 27), Brown finally got his chance to publicly honor the man he idolized -- and while his dancing was flawless, when the time came for him to sing, he simply fell apart.
After being introduced by Jermaine Jackson, Brown beautifully channeled Michael as he danced to "Remember the Time," "Smooth Criminal" and "Billie Jean." Yet when he grabbed a mic to sing "Man in the Mirror," he choked up, visibly weeping.
"I'm gonna make a change for once in my ..." Brown's voice trailed off. He was out of breath and sounded hoarse. Tears stained his cheeks as he paced the stage, holding the microphone by his side. "This ... wind is blowing my ... Who am I to..." He clearly knew the lyrics but they failed to come out.
Brown faded in and out of the song, closing his eyes, grimacing, trying to soldier on. Whether it was the emotion of the moment or the past 16 months, Brown struggled and failed to find his voice, even though the pre-recorded backing vocals played on.
Finally, he gave up, raised a bandaged finger to the sky and fell to his knees as Michael Jackson's voice could be heard saying, "I'm starting with the man in the mirror." The camera cut from Brown to an audience member who clearly uttered "Oh my God," in shock.
The audience loudly sang the words that Brown could not. Their aid seemed to move Brown to rise from his knees and mouth the words along with Jackson's voice, while gesturing along with the mic as tears rolled down his face. In the audience, actress Taraji P. Henson could be seen mouthing, "That's all right baby," as Brown walked offstage to Jermaine Jackson, who moved to console him.
Brown's emotional performance echoed through the rest of the show. When Niecy Nash came onstage to present the Video of the Year award, she said, "When Chris Brown started crying I got choked up."
Backstage, "a lot of folks were getting misty-eyed, understanding that he was overwhelmed with emotion," BET publicist Zabrina Horton said. "Me, personally, I think 'Man in the Mirror' was great for him to do because I'm sure he still feels bad about Rihanna and wants to be forgiven. He has to make that change himself for himself and he knows that."
Later in the show, when accepting the AOL Fandemonium prize, which measures an artist's "online and mobile fan power," Brown spoke briefly.
"I didn't really prepare a speech because I didn't really think I was gonna be backstage," he said. "But bottom line, I couldn't never do this without my fans. Team Breezy, all the support I've been getting from day one.
"I just wanna say one thing,' he concluded. "I let y'all down before but I won't do it again, I promise. I love y'all, good night."
What did you think of Chris Brown's Michael Jackson tribute at the BET Awards? Let us know in the comments below.



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Katie Holmes And Adam Sandler To Make Movie Together?

In film news this week, Katie Holmes is currently being tapped as the possible female lead for a comedy movie with Adam Sandler. The movie's name is Jack and Jill and Al Pacino will also be in it.
The movie is about a twin brother and sister, both played by Sandler. The sister arrives at the brother's house for Thanksgiving in L.A. but then won't leave, causing a comical strain on the brother and his family.
Hold on. Rewind for a second. Adam is playing a girl and a boy in this movie? That should be...interesting.
Katie isn't a definite yet, but is this a project you'd be interested in seeing her do?
I'll admit that Katie isn't my absolute favorite comedic actress, but I'd still give it a shot.
Photos by Wenn.com
























Ivanka Trump Izabella Miko Izabella Scorupco Jaime King

Semi Precious Weapons Tweet-N-Greet With Fans Before Lady Gaga Tour

One lucky fan, who traveled all the way from Australia, got two free tickets for their SPW devotion.By Matt Elias





Semi Precious Weapons' Justin Tranter

Photo: MTV News




LOS ANGELES — Semi Precious Weapons are known for their unabashed stage presence, flamboyant wardrobe and, maybe most of all, undying love for their fans. So when Lady Gaga's opening act hit Los Angeles for the Monster Ball Tour, the band invited MTV News along to witness firsthand a pre-show tweet-n-greet, with a very precious prize at the end.
SPW frontman Justin Tranter explained how it all goes down: "Every single day, we announce where we're going to have our Semi Precious Street Corner. So we show up somewhere every day to give away two tickets, free tickets, to the Monster Ball."

By the time the band tweeted their location from backstage and walked across the street from the Staples Center, 30 die-hard fans were already lined up. What followed was an energetic, impromptu trivia game to award tickets to the Weapons' biggest fan.
Once they arrived, Tranter took command of the crowd to narrow down three finalists.
"What is the fourth song on our album?" Tranter asked.
" 'Statues of Ourselves,' " finalist #1 answered.
Tranter continued: "Finish the sentence: 'Rock and roll never looked so ... ' "
"Beautiful!" screamed finalist #2.
"Last question: What is his name?" Tranter asked, while pointing at the band's bassist.
"Cole!" finalist #3 shouted.
With the lightning round over, Tranter had one more declaration before he picked the lucky fan. "Now, listen, you can't hate me if you don't win tickets, because I love you all, I love you all — but one of you is going to get two tickets," Tranter said. "OK, this last part gets really fancy. Are you ready?"
He then broke into the playground-worthy selection method "eeny, meeny, miny, moe," landing on a tearful super-fan who traveled all the way from Australia.
How would you have done on SPW's trivia test? Let us know in the comments!



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Chris Brown's BET Performance Joins List Of Greatest Pop-Culture Crying Fits

Halle Berry, Kelly Clarkson, Justin Timberlake and more have had their moments.By Kyle Anderson





Chris Brown performs at the 2010 BET awards on Sunday

Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images




Despite the triumphant TV returns of Kanye West, T.I. and El DeBarge at Sunday night's 2010 BET Awards, the big headline from the show was Chris Brown's moving tribute to late superstar Michael Jackson. Brown flawlessly executed all of Jackson's most classic dance moves (including a scorching moonwalk), but when it came time to lend his voice to Jackson's "Man in the Mirror," Brown broke down in tears and could not sing, apparently overwhelmed by the emotion of the situation.

Crying in public is hardly a new phenomenon in the world of popular culture. Brown joins the list of some of the biggest stars in the world who have also broken down on television.
Halle Berry
When Berry won the Oscar for Best Actress at the 74th Annual Academy Awards in 2002 (for her work in "Monster's Ball"), she became the first African-American woman to take home the prize. That, combined with the overwhelming experience that was making the emotionally-charged "Monster's Ball" and the huge standing ovation she received, threw Berry into hysterics during her acceptance speech. "This moment is so much bigger than me," she said.
Kelly Clarkson
When Kelly Clarkson won the very first season of "American Idol," she was initially in a state of shock. Unable to express how she was feeling to the television audience who voted her the victor over Justin Guarini, she moved on to her performance of "A Moment Like This." When she hit the lyric, "I can't believe it's happening to me," she finally broke. She managed to get through the song, but to continuously apologized for her emotion.
Justin Timberlake
Ashton Kutcher's hit MTV show "Punked" certainly pushed a lot of his famous friends to the brink, but few had a reaction like Timberlake. When Kutcher's crew of actors pretended to be federal officers seizing most of his possessions for failure to pay back taxes, Timberlake flipped out and wept. Usually, Kutcher's reveal at the end of the episode throws the celebrity in question into laughing jags or fits of anger, but Timberlake was clearly just filled with relief.
Tonya Harding
Athletes cry all the time, but it's usually because of the overwhelming thrill of victory or the agony of bitter defeat. Rarely do they weep during a particular competition, but that's exactly what Harding did at the 1994 Winter Olympics. After dealing with her connection to the attack on fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan in the run-up to the games, Harding took the ice only to realize that a lace on one of her skates had broken. In between sobs, she pleaded with the judges to allow her to get new laces and start over. They allowed it, though Harding still only finished eighth.
Crystal Bowersox
The season nine "American Idol" runner-up had an extremely emotional run to the finals (including a harrowing health scare), but it took merely the presence of her father and a particularly heartfelt song to push her to tears. Bowersox slipped a handful of sobs into her performance of Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions' "People Get Ready" during Inspirational Week on the show. It was one of the many performances that put Bowersox in the discussion of the best "Idol" contestants of all time.
Tracy Morgan
The always unpredictable star of "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock" has had a tough life and a challenging career, but the mere mention of co-star Tina Fey sent Morgan on the crying train when he visited with Oprah Winfrey on an episode of her show back in April. "She's my friend. Tina is my friend. I love her," he told Winfrey as he was fighting back tears.
"Crying Girl"
There are an awful lot of "American Idol" moments on this list, aren't there? Ashley Ferl gained notoriety during the show's sixth season not as a contestant but as a particularly emotional audience member. The 13-year-old Ferl was so taken with "Idol" contestant Sanjaya Malakar's take on the Kinks' "You Really Got Me" that she sobbed uncontrollably, earning herself a great deal of screen time and the privilege of becoming an Internet meme for a while.
Did we miss any? What is the best incident of celebrity crying? And what did you think of Brown's performance? Let us know in the comments!



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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Lady Gaga Walks In Paul Stanley's Shoes

Lady Gaga was photographed backstage with KISS members Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer, and Tommy Thayer, before their concert on Friday night in New Jersey. Gaga tried on a pair of Paul Stanley's boots, which she wound up wearing through the entire concert. At least Paul's boots have an actual heel on them, not like those crazy ones she normally wears!
There were videos popping up on YouTube of fans who had taped Gaga rocking out at the concert. Their costumes are pretty similar, she could pass as an honorary member of the band! :)
Photo Credit: Dean Snowden, KISS.
Adriana Lima Adrianne Curry Adrianne Palicki Aisha Tyler

Links for 2007-10-18 [del.icio.us]

Stupid Celebrities Gossip » Myspace Drama, Riley Giles and Bree Tierney
Bree Tierney and Riley Giles get into a heated argument on Myspace after Bree started talking with the media about the two of them. You can thank lindsay Lohan for this one!

Check out the story
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Les News, 082410

Miss Mexico, Jimena Navarrete, has been crowned Miss Universe 2010. Sad news … Martin Short‘s wife Nancy Dolman passed away suddenly of natural causes. Oh, you do NOT want to make Drew Barrymore angry. Oh, you do NOT want to make Taylor Lautner angry. Jesus Luz wants to tempt you with a new ad campaign. [...]Amber Brkich Amber Heard Amber Valletta America Ferrera

Ke$ha Has 'Learned A Lot' From Rihanna On Tour

'Tik Tok' singer is 'petrified' of Last Girl on Earth Tour's Madison Square Garden stop Thursday night.By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Christina Garibaldi





Ke$ha

Photo: MTV News




Rihanna is bringing her Last Girl on Earth Tour to Madison Square Garden on Thursday night (August 12), and that means opening act Ke$ha is feeling particularly nervous. Why? Well, it's Madison Square Garden!
"I'm actually a little petrified, to be honest. It's a landmark in my career, and it's just an epic venue. ... I'm just really excited, and I'm gonna try to kill it!" she told MTV News. "It definitely means a lot for me to be playing there, especially with Rihanna, 'cause she's so incredible. It makes me feel like I'm finally arriving here!"

The girls kicked off the tour earlier this summer, and the "Tik Tok" singer said she and Rihanna have had some fun times on the road together. "It's amazing! She's just a badass," she said. "I saw her yesterday, and she spanked me — always keeping me on my toes. She's the sickest."
With all that time together, have the girls discussed working together? "I would love to. I mean, it's kind of been tossed around," she said. "There's not really much time that we've spent writing and stuff on this tour, because it's been so crazy, but it's definitely an idea I'm not opposed to."
Ke$ha said she's learning tons from Rihanna on tour. "I don't know what she would be learning from me, aside from how to look like a maniac, but I definitely learned a lot from her," she said. "I've only been performing pop music for under a year, so I'm relatively new to the arena thing. It's terrifying, so I really do, every night, watch her, and she's so graceful and so sweet and so badass."
Her best advice? "She just always has such a good attitude. You just have to own it!"
Have you checked out the Last Girl on Earth Tour? What did you think? Share your reviews in the comments!



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George Michael Pleads Guilty To Drug Charges

Troubled singer receives six-month suspension of driver's license following July car crash.By Gil Kaufman





George Michael appears at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court in London on Tuesday

Photo: Danny Martindale/ WireImage




George Michael pleaded guilty on Tuesday (August 24) to driving under the influence of drugs and possession of pot in a London courtroom, earning the former Wham! singer a six-month suspension of his driving privileges and a threat of prison time if he is caught behind the wheel while under the influence again.
According to The Associated Press, the troubled former pop star (born Georgios Panayiotou), 47, admitted that he was driving while on drugs when his car crashed into a photo shop on July 4 as he was returning from a gay pride event.
Police said they found Michael "spaced out" and sweating profusely with his pupils dilated after his car smashed into a Snappy Snaps shop in North London near his home in the early morning hours. The car's engine was still running when officers arrived, but Michael had to be woken up. Later tests showed that he had taken a "therapeutic quantity" of the antidepressant gamma-hydroxybutyrate, a.k.a. "the date rape" drug GBH, which can leave people powerless and groggy.
During his 15-minute court appearance, Michael entered a plea and Judge Robin McPhee banned the singer from driving for six months, saying he could be sent to prison if he is busted again. "It is a serious matter," McPhee said. "Your driving was extremely poor and there was an accident."
The judge noted that Michael already had one conviction on his record for a similar incident three years ago in which he was found slumped over the wheel of his car while blocking an intersection while driving under the influence.



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Ryan Murphy Confirms Britney Spears Will ?Probably? Return To ?Glee? Again

Last Wednesday we got our first look at Britney Spears on the set of Glee where she filmed her first scenes for the much-talked about Britney Spears Episode of the show which is set to air in just a few short weeks. On Thursday we got to see another photo from the Glee set on [...]Megan Ewing Megan Fox Melania Trump Melissa George

Monday, August 23, 2010

Usher - There Goes My Baby

There Goes My Baby



Artist: Usher

Label: LaFace Records, JLG
Director: Anthony Mandler
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Lady Gaga, Eminem Top VMA Nominations

The pop queen vies for a record 13 nods at the show, airing September 12.By Jocelyn Vena



The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards will feature yet another epic battle: Lady Gaga leading the nominations, with 13, followed close behind by Eminem, who has eight nods. And on September 12 at at 9 p.m ET, the pop diva and the Detroit MC will go head to head for the coveted Video of the Year Moonman.
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