Yvonne Strzechowski Zhang Ziyi Zoe Saldana Zooey Deschanel Aaliyah
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Lady Gaga 'Started To Cry' When She First Heard 'Marry The Night'
'Imagine if Bruce Springsteen had a baby with Whitney Houston — that's what it is,' she says of Fernando Garibay-produced Born This Way track.
By MTV News staff
Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV News
Lady Gaga has been working with producer Fernando Garibay for years, with the first fruits of their labor being the Fame Monster deep cut "Dance in the Dark." But, as Lady Gaga put it in MTV's "Inside the Outside" documentary that premiered Thursday, the pair had yet to "conceive" a hit record when she began work on Born This Way.
That all changed when Gaga heard the church-bell-filled sounds Garibay had concocted while on the road for the Monster Ball Tour.
"He goes, 'Your show is a religion and your fans are a cult,' " Gaga recalled. "It's this epic music. It's just so big. And I started to cry. He said, 'What's wrong?' And I said, 'I can't believe that you hear me so big.' "
Gaga sat down, and lyrics for what would become the Born This Way track "Marry the Night" just started pouring out: "I'm gonna marry the night/ I won't give up on my life."
"It's like Whitney, but imagine if Bruce Springsteen had a baby with Whitney Houston — that's what it is," she said. "And that was it! We made a baby. Finally. After all that fornication, miserably long and tedious, Fernando and I finally conceived."
When MTV News sat down with Garibay, he told his side of the "Marry the Night" conception. "I just kind of got on the American leg of the tour — this was after Australia — and she goes, 'I want to write another song that can define where I'm at with this album and my life.' "
So Garibay listened again to their first collaboration, "Dance in the Dark," and tried to top that energy. "I remember being backstage and hearing the concert start, so I go out there and hear 'Dance in the Dark' open up the whole concert, and I wanted to outdo that feeling. I wanted to outdo that moment that opens up the show. I'm just that way."
Garibay did his thing while Gaga was onstage doing hers. "I go back to the studio bus; I'm just like working on parts, working on parts, and then, two hours later, she comes offstage, and she goes, 'Do you have something to play me?' " he said. "And I go, 'I do, actually. It's a little different, but I think you'll like it.'
"So I played her the instrumental for 'Marry the Night,' and she goes, 'I love it, but can you change this?' So she starts changing around a few chords, and then she goes, 'Open up a mic.' ... She starts laying down the whole song, like, off the cuff. She didn't have time to live with it. She kind of meditated a few minutes, and then it's like, 'OK, I'm ready. Let's go.' And right offstage, using the energy of that crowd and going into the studio, it was amazing. I can't compare it to anything."
That incomparable feeling was exactly what Gaga was aiming for with Garibay: "I kept saying to him, 'I don't want to do anything I've done before, I don't want to sound like anything I've done before, I don't want to feel like anything I've done before. I want it to be new.' "
Do you think "Marry the Night" tops "Dance in the Dark"? Let us know in the comments!
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Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic Records
- Director: n/a
- Album: Moonwalker
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Bright Eyes at Sasquatch 2011
The Who: Bright Eyes (8:15pm Saturday at the Main Stage) What you should know: Bright Eyes is the band fronted by the musical mastermind from Nebraska known as Conor Oberst. Oberst is also responsible for that little record label know as Saddle Creek. What you may have missed: The hour set was almost the respective [...]
Arielle Kebbel Ashanti Ashlee Simpson Ashley Greene Ashley Olsen
Prince William & Kate Middleton Do ?Vanity Fair? Magazine
Prince William and Kate Middleton, the newly hitched Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are featured on the cover and in the pages of the new issue of Vanity Fair magazine. This particular issue does not feature an interview with the young royals (that I’m aware of) but it does cover the couple’s royal wedding in [...]
Lindsay Lohan Lindsay Price Lisa Marie Lisa Snowdon Liz Phair
Y LUV: BeatCrave Fav
Y LUV is a funky, indie rock band from Los Angeles, California. Their sound is fun and energetic, yet it is layered with an ambient melody that distances their sound from the typical LA indie rock band. “All Night” is�reminiscent�of driving down highway 1 in the evening, a timeless track that engages new listeners on [...]
Shania Twain Shanna Moakler Shannon Elizabeth Shannyn Sossamon Shiri Appleby
Exciting News
I have all but abandoned this blog and, for that, I am sorry. I am, however, going to get back to it because... wait for it, wait for it... I'm moving to LA for six months starting in June and I'm going to share every dirty detail with you!
You see, Mark and my good friend Patty are executive producers of a new television show that will be taping in New York from June to November. Instead of him getting his own apartment here, we thought it would be more fun to trade places. It's going to be like The Holiday and I get to be Kate Winslet. I'M GOING TO HAVE A CAR AND EVERYTHING. (Watch. Out.)
I'm looking forward to a change of scenery and have other friends out there besides him. Also, the movie is being released at the end of September, so it will be fun to be out there for that.
So anyway, that's what I've been up to—planning all this and getting ready for my (temporary) move. Stay tuned!
Lauren Conrad Lauren German LeAnn Rimes Leeann Tweeden Leelee Sobieski
Monday, May 30, 2011
Maria Shriver & Kids Spend Memorial Day Weekend At The Beach
"Nothing could be greater than going to hit up the Malibu house," Patrick Shriver, 17, tweeted on Saturday (May 28) before heading to the beach for a much needed vacay with his siblings and mother, Maria Shriver.
Though the family has certainly been through a lot since news of dad Arnold Schwarzenegger's affair and lovechild rocked their parents' marriage and took the media by storm, the children, led by their mother's example, reminded fans & followers that there are many other families who deserve that attention, and sacrifice so much for the sake of our freedom.
Are You Wearing A Dress? Are You Sure?
How many times have you seen a garment at the store and wondered, Is that supposed to be worn as a shirt or a dress? And how many times have you seen a woman come to the wrong conclusion? This helpful flowchart should give you a leg up in determining if what you're wearing is really meant to be worn like that. [Buzzfeed]
Amy Cobb Amy Smart Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi?
Likes or Yikes? Oprah's Farewell, 'American Idol' and an 'X-Factor' Shake-Up
Chime in on the week's hottest stories!
Vanessa Minnillo Vanessa Simmons Veronica Kay Veronika Va?eková Victoria Beckham
'Hangover Part II' Stars Call Bangkok A 'Tropical Metropolis'
'It's just so colorful and eclectic and stimulating and overwhelming,' Ed Helms tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner
Zach Galifianakis in "The Hangover Part II"
Photo: Warner Bros
For those getting ready to see "The Hangover Part II" this weekend, there are a few things we'd like you to know about the film before settling into your seat with your popcorn.
First, check out our handy cheat sheet on the film. Next, we have a few fun details straight from the stars themselves — Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis — who have discussed Cooper's head-shaving skills and promised "a lot more comedy" in the second installment.
There is also the new-and-improved setting of Bangkok, Thailand. When we caught up with the actors recently, we asked them to describe filming on location in Bangkok.
"Bangkok is a tropical metropolis," Helms said. "It is very hot and steamy, incredibly urban, [there are] huge skyscrapers mixed in with abject poverty right tucked around it. It's totally mind-blowing."
"[It's a] Buddhist culture," Cooper jumped in. "Buddhist/Muslim."
"It's just an unbelievably dense place," Helms continued. "And it's just so colorful and eclectic and stimulating and overwhelming that even as a tourist with nothing to do but have fun, it's overwhelming. When you're trying to work there, it's brutal."
The boys then briefly debated how many people live in the city: 9 million, according to Helms, 12 million, according to Galifianakis (according to the U.N., it's 9.3 million).
"It also sounds like a 13-year-old tourist named everything," Galifianakis added with a grin, before naming a few familiar Bangkok-ian colloquialisms. "Bangkok, ladyboy, pu pu platter," he listed, trailing off into a few giggles.
Check out everything we've got on "The Hangover Part II."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Usher - Spotlight
- Artist: Usher
- Label: Warner Bros. Records, Asylum, Mizay Ent
- Director: Benny Boom
- Album: The State vs. Radric Davis
Tara Conner Tara Reed Tara Reid Taryn Manning Tatiana Zavialova
'Hangover Part II': The Reviews Are In!
'The stock dismissal 'more of the same' has rarely been more accurately applied to a sequel,' one reviewer writes.
By Eric Ditzian
Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis in "The Hangover Part II"
Photo: Warner Bros.
By this point, if anyone is still doubting whether "The Hangover Part II" will be a massive worldwide hit, Wednesday's midnight screenings should quiet skeptics. Warner Bros. announced that the follow-up to 2009's record-smashing hit roped in $10.4 million in those early showings, setting a new midnight opening record for an R-rated film on its way to what many are predicting will become a $125 million opening over the five-day holiday weekend.
All this box-office talk gets even more impressive when you note reviews for the film have been decidedly mixed. While the first "Hangover" won over both critics and moviegoers, the sequel is currently languishing at just a 31 percent approval at the Rotten Tomatoes review aggregator. Critics have pointed out how the second film follows the plot points of the original far too closely. They've also argued that the sequel simply isn't as funny as the first. Other reviews, however, are still getting a kick out of watching the Wolf Pack flail and fail all over again, similarities are not. Read on for a deep dive into the "Hangover Part II" reviews:
The Story
" 'The Hangover Part II' opts for the most popular cure: the hair of the dog that bit it. In other words, the sequel is almost identical to the first 'Hangover.' This time, dweeby Stu (Ed Helms), slick Phil (Bradley Cooper) and attention sponge Alan (Zach Galifianakis) are at a wedding (Stu's) in Thailand, instead of Las Vegas, but the rest is pretty much the same. The movie starts with the three waking up after a night of debauchery, with one of their pals missing, with a threatening crook on their tails and with vague knowledge of peccadilloes both sexual and chemical. Oh, and Mike Tyson is tangentially involved (Stu has a facial tattoo just like the former champ's). They spend the rest of the movie trying to make it to the wedding while piecing together clues to what happened the previous night and searching desperately for their missing bud." — Chris Hewitt, St. Paul Pioneer Press
The Laughs
"[The] laughs aren't just staged, they're superlatively engineered — even if that means, at moments, that they feel like they're falling into formatted slots. When they don't, the movie can be flat-out hilarious. As the guys begin their desperate search for a missing bank account number (they have to give it to a drug lord or he'll kill them), it's no surprise to discover that they went to a Bangkok strip bar. And when we learn what happened in that club to Stu — who hasn't shaken his tendency to fall drunkenly head over heels in love with hookers — you may see the twist coming, but you won't foresee the casual outrageousness of the dialogue, the kind that keeps on giving. Yet that sort of choke-on-your-popcorn laugh is more the exception than the rule." — Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
The Performances
"Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis slide into their roles as if they didn't go on to play other characters in the interim, although at least two of the three (Helms being the exception) have seen significant career upticks. Phil is the good-looking leader, Stu is the worry-wart nerd, and Alan is quite possibly the most loathsome individual to have crawled out from under a rock. He's not a loveable loser; he's a detestable loser — and that's where a lot of the comedy comes from. Galifianakis stole the show in 'The Hangover,' and he steals it here. Refreshingly, [director Todd] Phillips does not feel the need to give Alan a heroic moment of redemption." — James Berardinelli, ReelViews
The Comparison
"The stock dismissal 'more of the same' has rarely been more accurately applied to a sequel than to 'The Hangover Part II,' which ranks as little more than a faded copy of its predecessor superimposed on a more brightly colored background. One can understand director Todd Phillips' initial reluctance to tinker with a formula that made the 2009 romp the highest-grossing R-rated comedy ever, but the rote professionalism on display verges on cynicism, and despite some occasional sparks, this ranks as a considerable disappointment. Box office should be huge all the same." — Andrew Barker, Variety
The Final Word
That comfortable air of familiarity provided by the returning characters also extends to many of the original's more inspired bits — but to less potent effect. Still, even a milder 'Hangover' manages to deliver more laughs than most of the competition. ... In addition to that hard-to-replicate element of surprise, also in short supply here is the manic energy that made the original such a delightfully unpredictable ride. The reunited cast looks to have been up for a greater challenge, especially gonzo Galifianakis, who emerged as the breakout star of the first 'Hangover.' " — Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter
Check out everything we've got on "The Hangover Part II."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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According To Ex-Manager, Nelly Is Broke And Uses Steroids
Those are some harsh claims.
A man who is claiming he's Nelly's ex-manager is saying that the rapper is dealing with financial woes, is addicted to steroids, and even claims he abuses cocaine!
The manager, Slim, even goes on to say that Nelly is losing his home due to a gambling problem that has caused the rapper [...]
A man who is claiming he's Nelly's ex-manager is saying that the rapper is dealing with financial woes, is addicted to steroids, and even claims he abuses cocaine!
The manager, Slim, even goes on to say that Nelly is losing his home due to a gambling problem that has caused the rapper [...]
Bali Rodriguez Bar Refaeli Beyoncé Bianca Kajlich Bijou Phillips
Sunday, May 29, 2011
How Much Money Did Scotty and Lauren Make from 'American Idol'?
American Idol should be the start of a promising career for newly minted winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina. But it's also a payday in itself. So how much dough, exactly, have season 10's top two raked in thanks to their Idol stint?
As we know, the winner of the competition -- that would be McCreery, 17 -- gets the big, juicy recording contract. According to E! Online, that contract is worth $250,000. However, don't cry too much for 16-year-old Lauren! She's taking home $87,500 for her participation. Plus, when she actually records an album, that five-figure sum should jump up to the high six-figure range, probaly around $175,000.
As E! points out, this means that second-place Idol winner Alaina is getting a better contract than the first-place winner of NBC's The Voice, who is promised a $100,000 recording deal. (Of course, that winner also gets a personal celebrity advocate in the mentor they've chosen; we bet a few lunch dates with Christina Aguilera or Cee Lo Green could really boost an upstart's career.) And then there's the super-lucky winner of Fox's The X Factor, who will bring home the biggest prize in reality TV history: a $5 million record deal.
In case you were wondering, Lauren and Scott will not be spending their shared winnings on a big American Idol wedding. Alaina cleared up rumors of a budding romance during a radio interview on Thursday morning.
"No, we're not (dating)," said Alaina. "I was kidding about it last night a lot, but we're just friends."
As for the kisses she planted on "Scotty the Body," that was "just so happy and in the moment" that she got carried away. Too bad -- we think Steven Tyler would make a fabulous maid of honor.
Ana Paula Lemes Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris
M-Bone's Family, Fans Remember Cali Swag Star At Funeral
'I never got to tell him this: He taught me a lot,' groupmate Yung tearfully tells M-Bone's mourners.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Kelly Marino
The remaining members of Cali Swag District at M-Bone's funeral on Friday
Photo: MTV News
On Friday (May 27), family, friends and fans paid their respects to rising hip-hop star Mante "M-Bone" Talbert of Cali Swag District at an Inglewood, California, funeral open to the public. The 22-year-old, who was born September 17, 1988, was gunned down in a drive-by shooting on May 15 in his hometown of Inglewood.
More than 2,000 people, including Talbert's grandmother, uncle and the three remaining members of Cali Swag, attended M-Bone's funeral at the Faithful Central Bible Church. Talbert, who made his mark as one-fourth of CSD, will be remembered by the hip-hop community as the group's energetic dancer. Bone was most famous for doing the Dougie, a 1980s dance that found new life thanks to the quartet's 2010 platinum hit "Teach Me How to Dougie."
CSD member Yung spoke at the funeral about his fallen friend's impact. "I never knew anybody's body can move that way before I met M-Bone," he said to the crowd while sobbing. "Since the sixth grade, me and him been dancing together, but I never got to tell him this: He taught me a lot."
While the service was no doubt emotional, as loved ones mourned the life of M-Bone, some friends, like Pee Wee of the hip-hop group the Rejectz, urged people to remember the positive aspects of his life. "We lost a great person, but it shouldn't be no tears. We should be celebrating, turning it up," he told MTV News.
After the service, M-Bone was laid to rest.
At approximately 10:30 p.m. PT on May 15, police were called to the 400 block of La Brea Avenue in Inglewood. When they arrived on the scene, they founded Talbert seated in the driver's seat of his vehicle with two gunshot wounds to the head. Witness accounts confirm that a gunman pulled up alongside M-Bone in a separate vehicle and let off at least two rounds.
MTV News reached out to the homicide division of the Inglewood Police Department early Friday and learned that there have been no arrests and there are no suspects in connection with M-Bone's murder.
The Inglewood Police Department is asking anyone with information to come forward and call its homicide division at (310) 412-5246 or its 24-hour anonymous hotline at (888) 41 CRIME, or (888) 412-7463.
Share your thoughts for M-Bone's friends and family in the comments.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsAmanda Swisten Amber Arbucci Amber Brkich Amber Heard Amber Valletta
Windows Phone 7: A Smart Cell Phone for Busy Parents
Courtesy Windows In this age of everyone and their uncle owning a smart phone it can be pretty tricky to know what kind to get. So many choices, so little time, right? Well, maybe it will help if we tell you that we?ve never seen a phone that?s more fun than a Windows Phone 7. [...]
Giuliana DePandi Giulianna Ramirez Grace Park Gretha Cavazzoni Gwen Stefani
Guess Who?
Who is this adorable celeb tot?
Hint: Baby has a big family!
Leave your best guess in the comments. We'll reveal the answer later.
Josie Maran Joss Stone Jules Asner Julia Stiles Julianne Hough
Robert Pattinson In 'Cosmopolis': First Look!
RPattz and co-star Sarah Gadon appear to be in the back of a cab in photo from David Cronenberg movie.
By Eric Ditzian
Robert Pattinson and Sarah Gadon in "Cosmopolis"
Photo: Caitlin Cronenberg's Twitter
Robert Pattinson spent eight months on the set of "Breaking Dawn" and was immediately pulled from the set to begin his whirlwind press duties for "Water for Elephants" last month. After perhaps just enough time to take a quick nap, RPattz is now back on a new set: "Cosmopolis," director David Cronenberg's adaptation of the slim Don DeLillo novel.
With production under way, Cronenberg's daughter has posted the first look at Pattinson and Sarah Gadon in character. The photo appears to capture the duo in a cab, though the great majority of the action, or lack thereof, in the book takes place in a limousine. Pattinson plays Eric Packer, a young and rich asset manager who, over the course of one day, manages to lose millions of dollars yet remain oddly detached from it all as his limo plods through horrendous New York City traffic. Gadon portrays Elise, a rich and beautiful heiress who is married to Packer but who doesn't seem to care for him very much at all and who certainly won't sleep with him.
"I had read the script about eight months ago and thought, 'Wow, this is something that hasn't been made in a long time,' "Pattinson told MTV News in March. "Which I think, like 'Water for Elephants' as well, I'm just trying to find that kind of stuff, because what else is the point? There's so much generic, everything's the same. So you might as well attempt to try something different."
When we caught up with him again in April, Rob revealed that he'd been working with a dialect coach to achieve a "very specific accent." But he still hadn't spoken with Gadon about the upcoming project. "I've seen a couple of things she's done," he said. "She's really good."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Lady Gaga Beats Oprah On Forbes Celebrity 100 List
Justin Bieber debuts behind the ladies at #3 on this year's power tally.
By Gil Kaufman
Lady Gaga
Photo: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images
Lady Gaga has had a good year. The evidence is pretty obvious: She's sold millions of albums and downloads, headlined a major world tour, made the cover of nearly every magazine and recorded one of the most anticipated albums in ages.
But what really says you're having the best year ever? Leaping over Oprah Winfrey on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list in the same year that the Queen of All Media launched a new network and wound down the most popular daytime talker in the history of the medium.
Lady Gaga topped the list released by Forbes on Wednesday, leaping four spots from last year on the ranking of entertainment industry power, fueled by earnings, media visibility and social media popularity. It's only the third time in seven years that anyone has moved past Winfrey on the list, and Gaga did it by earning $90 million from her Monster Ball tour, rolling up 32 million Facebook fans and becoming the first star to corral 10 million Twitter followers.
All those Little Monsters helped her sell 1 million digital downloads of the title track from the just-leaked Born This Way in five days. They also bought MAC makeup, Monster headphones and Virgin Mobile phones that were endorsed by Gaga (and featured in her videos). Her Monster Ball tour grossed $170 million from 137 shows; she's sold 15 million albums worldwide and has endorsement deals with Polaroid, Monster Cable and PlentyofFish.com. Also, a Russian billionaire reportedly paid $1 million to appear in the "Alejandro" video.
"Lady Gaga beat Oprah this year because of her social media power. She can use Twitter and Facebook to work the 'little monsters' into a frenzy that leads to record sales and media attention," Forbes editor Dorothy Pomerantz told Reuters. "She's the best example of how celebrities will need to manage their careers in the coming years."
With her syndicated "The Oprah Winfrey Show" ending its legendary run next week after 25 years, Winfrey didn't fall far to #2, thanks to estimated earnings of $290 million. Her wealth came in as a result of the fees from her show, as well as the programs from the stars she's created, including Rachel Ray and Dr. Oz.
Justin Bieber is the youngest person on the list, debuting on the tally at an impressive #3, courtesy of an estimated $53 million in earnings from concerts (which bring in $600,000 a night), music sales and the "Never Say Never" movie, which grossed close to $100 million at the global box office and is now out on DVD.
Irish rock legends U2 are at #4 with $195 million, mostly due to their 360 Tour, which became the highest-grossing tour in history last year, with estimated grosses of $700 million by the time it wraps up this summer.
At #5 is Sir Elton John, who grossed $204 million for 102 concerts over the past year. Rounding out the top 10 are disgraced golfer Tiger Woods, Taylor Swift, veteran Jersey rockers Bon Jovi, "X Factor" boss Simon Cowell and Miami Heat star LeBron James.
Other notables: Angelina Jolie (#11), list newcomer Katy Perry (#12), Johnny Depp (#13), Leonardo DiCaprio (#15), the Black Eyed Peas (#16), "American Idol" host and media mogul Ryan Seacrest (#24), former TV star Charlie Sheen (#28), Beyoncé (#29), Usher (#32), Muse (#34), Jay-Z (#38), "Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez (#50), Diddy (#52), Robert Pattinson (#53), Kristen Stewart (#63), Eminem (#71), Kanye West (#76) and Lil Wayne (#85).
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Michael Jackson - Heal the World
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic
- Album: Dangerous
Kerry Suseck Kim Kardashian Kim Smith Kim Yoon-jin Kirsten Dunst
Michael Jackson's Family Upset With James Durbin Over 'American Idol' Pepsi Quip
'We were shocked to see this,' read the Jacksons' message; Durbin tweeted an apology on Thursday.
By Gil Kaufman
James Durbin performs on "American Idol" on Wednesday
Photo: Michael Becker/ Fox
Some people might argue that it's patently unfair to take rank amateurs, put them on the biggest show on TV and then expose them to potential worldwide ridicule every week. Because it's one thing to tune in to "American Idol" from your living room or play shows at the local wings joint, it's another thing entirely when you get up on that stage and open your mouth with tens of millions watching and listening.
James Durbin learned this lesson the hard way this week when he made what he thought was an innocent crack about not setting himself on fire during his pyro-tastic cover of Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" on Wednesday night.
Asked by host Ryan Seacrest if he was worried about dancing around among the flames shooting up from the piano onstage, Durbin joked, "I have a lot of hairspray in my hair to keep it from jumping around — so much so, the one thing I was worried about was having a 'Pepsi moment.' "
The seemingly innocent crack was a reference to the 1984 on-set accident in which late pop icon Michael Jackson was badly burned during the shooting of a Pepsi commercial by some wayward pyro effects. The serious burns he suffered in the incident allegedly led to his longtime addiction to pain medication and prescription drugs.
The Jackson family was not amused by the quip and sent a statement to TMZ on Thursday.
"We were shocked to see this. It's nothing to make light of and everybody should be focusing on who was responsible for Michael's death," read the statement. Family patriarch Joseph Jackson also was reportedly miffed that "Idol" producers did not cut the comment from the West Coast feed of the show.
Durbin defended his slip-up in a tweet, which has since been scrubbed from the singer's official "Idol" Twitter feed, that explained, "For anyone talkin ... I said pepsi NOT MJ! I have no disrespect for Michael. I grew up singing his art. I guess youll take it how you want it." He later added, "Talkin about MJs passing is too soon. Making a reference to an incident 25 years ago..not too soon. The stab was at pepsi people."
It's worth noting that Pepsi's bitter rival, Coca-Cola, is the main "Idol" sponsor, a fact that Seacrest reminded Durbin of in an awkward moment after the comment on the show.
What did you think of James Durbin's "Pepsi" quip? Tell us in the comments.
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Saturday, May 28, 2011
Cheryl Cole Asks For "X Factor" Dismissal Explanation
Having headed back to Britain after being dismissed as an "X Factor" U.S. judge, Cheryl Cole was reportedly secluded in a secret location while speaking about her firing for the first time.
According to The Mirror, the former Girls Aloud singer was even pondering an exit from the UK version of the show - as she's been given an ultimatum by ITV bosses in regards to getting back to the her duties on the popular music competition show.
The Mirror report goes on to tell that Miss Cole opened up to a friend while asking, ?Why did Simon Cowell do this to me??
Cheryl is also said to be at a loss as to why the U.S. "X Factor" dismissal took place, saying, ?I still haven?t been given a reason."
As for the ultimatum in regards to her UK TV duties, Simon is said to have chastised Cheryl about her ruing over the failed go in the States.
Cowell reportedly told her, ?Do you want �another job on more money? It?s a simple question: Yes or No?"
An ITV insider added, "She?s been told to grow up and pick yourself up or you?ll lose the British show too. It?s tough, but we start filming the UK program on Wednesday. No one is bigger than the show, that?s what she has to realize. If �Cheryl doesn?t want to do it we?ll just go on without her. It?s very worrying that she?s �refusing to engage with us. We need a dialogue but she won?t answer the phone. Cheryl needs to call us. She needs to call home.?
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Selena Gomez Producer Weighs In On Britney Spears Songwriting Rumors
Kevin Rudolf says the work he's doing on Gomez's new album 'has nothing to do with Britney.'
By Jocelyn Vena
Selena Gomez
Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images
Last week, "Round and Round" producer Kevin Rudolf was quoted as praising not one but three tracks Britney Spears reportedly penned for Selena Gomez's new album. But when MTV News spoke to Rudolf recently, he denied knowing anything about the tracks Britney wrote for Gomez.
"I honestly don't know anything about it," he said. "I never said that ... I don't know. I didn't hear anything about it. I'm doing some stuff for it [Gomez's album], but it has nothing to do with Britney," he said.
Well, with that rumor cleared up, he went on to describe what he and Gomez are actually up to in the studio, which includes writing "a great song. As far as the new stuff goes, it's about trying to write a great song and hope it's something she connects with, really. It's not that deep. It's really hard to guess where people are in their lives, and I don't try to do that. If I'm writing for someone, I get a sense of what they're about and then I do what I would do," he explained. "I think it's gonna honestly be more straight, not straight dance, but straight pop; hopefully really great songs."
Once Rudolf wraps up work with Gomez, he has some other big projects up his sleeve. "I'm working on a lot of new stuff. I'm really excited about another album of my own that I'm working on. I think I get typecast outside of the producer world as rock/rap, the Cash Money thing or with Wayne on the track. It's really not what I'm about at all. It's one side of me that came out in the beginning," he said. "I really want to use this album to transform people's visions of myself ... more organic, more heartfelt."
Rudolf also teased about helping out Wayne on his forthcoming Tha Carter IV album. "I mean it's awesome [that Wayne's back]. The thing about Wayne is he's been the most supportive person at Cash Money. He's really on my side and he's just really backed me up since day one. And I really appreciate him for that," he said. "Obviously, Baby and Slim found me there and they kind of, I guess, discovered me, but Wayne always wanted to get on the tracks and always wants me to bring him stuff. ... We're working on some stuff for Tha Carter IV and it's all good stuff."
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Adam Lambert's 'Whole Lotta Love': The Story Behind The Cover
Glam rocker tackled the legendary 1970 Led Zeppelin song for 'American Idol' rock night.
By Gil Kaufman
Adam Lambert performs "Whole Lotta Love" on "American Idol" on Tuesday
Photo: R. Mickshaw/Getty Images/ Fox
Imagine a freight train speeding toward you at midnight. Or a rockslide barreling down a hill as you try to outrace it. That's the feeling of the ominous, chugging Jimmy Page riff that kicks off Led Zeppelin's 1970 Stonehenge of rock, "Whole Lotta Love." And that's before singer Robert Plant leans into one of the nastiest, ecstatic rock screams this side of the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again."
That's the song Adam Lambert chose to sing on "American Idol" rock night Tuesday (May 5), and, needless to say, it was a challenge that the eyeliner-loving Los Angeles stage veteran was more than up for, hitting a series of high notes and rock screams that would have made Plant proud. It was a risky maneuver that paid off for Lambert, who chose a tune that came in at #75 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004.
The legendary British rock act recorded the tribute to Chicago blues icon Willie Dixon during their second U.S. tour after working it out in their live show, including it on their 1969 classic album Led Zeppelin II. Like many of the songs Zeppelin performed early in their career, "Love" was a blues standard turned on its head with a heavy dose of crunching psychedelic guitar and thundering drums, courtesy of late drummer John Bonham. The song was based on a 1962 tune by another blues forefather, Muddy Waters, called "You Need Love," which was penned by Dixon.
For Zeppelin's version, Plant customized the lyrics by adding some lyrical quotes from a few other songs Dixon wrote for Howlin' Wolf, "Back Door Man" and "Shake For Me," nailing the tricky vocal in a single take. It was also inspired by 1966's "You Need Loving" from the British rock group the Small Faces, for whom Zeppelin had great affection, but they also did not credit Dixon for his part in writing the original lyrics. The song became Zeppelin's first U.S. single and their only U.S. top 10 hit. Though their manager would not let them release singles in the U.K. because he thought it cannibalized album sales, the song was finally released as the band's only British single in 1997.
Dixon sued Zeppelin over the song in 1985, claiming it borrowed too heavily from his "You Need Love," and Zeppelin reached an agreement with him, with Dixon using the money he received to set up a program that provided musical instruments for schools. A cornerstone of heavy rock, the tune -- which was the theme song for the long-running British countdown show "Top of the Pops" in the 1970s and '80s -- has been covered by dozens of artists over the years, from Tina Turner and Ben Harper to Prince, Slash, Leona Lewis, Train's Pat Monahan, the London Symphony Orchestra and Jane's Addiction.
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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Tony Romo & Candace Crawford Getting Married This Weekend!
Tony Romo & Candace Crawford Getting Married This Weekend!
Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Romo is set to wed sports reporter Candace Crawford this weekend in Dallas! Tony Romo and Candace Crawford, who is a former Miss Missouri and sister to actor Chace Crawford, will have an intimate wedding at the historic venue Arlington Hall. Romo and Candace began dating after his split with singer Jessica [...]
Tony Romo & Candace Crawford Getting Married This Weekend! Stupid Celebrities GossipStupid Celebrities Gossip News
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Beyonc� - Run The World (Girls)
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia
- Director: Francis Lawrence
Rachel Nichols Rachel Perry Rachel Weisz Radha Mitchell Raquel Alessi
Pippa Middleton: Shopping in Chelsea
Getting used to having her picture taken on a daily basis, Pippa Middleton was spotted out in London, England on Friday (May 27).
The brunette beauty looked lovely in nude heels, a trendy dress and beige jacket as she made her way out of a shop and past the paparazzi.
In other news, it?s no secret that Pippa has sky-rocketed to the spotlight ever since she stepped foot out of the car at the Westminster Abbey just ahead of sister Kate?s marriage to Prince William.
And now a new online study revealed that Pippa?s popularity is surpassing that of Kate?s. Brian Merron, an analyst with Kantar Media Intelligence, explained, ?Her rise has been meteoric, to the extent that two weeks after the wedding Pippa overtakes Kate in our media survey. With the media focus now moving on from the newlyweds it's safe to say that Pippa Middleton's celebrity status is well and truly set to climb and climb."
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Guess Who Had a Hole in Her Tights?
Happy holiday weekend! Time to play.
Question 1 of 5
Guess who wore rebellious ripped tights? Brooke Burns Busy Philipps Cameron Diaz Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle
Friday, May 27, 2011
Beyonc� Releases The Tracklist For Her New Album ?4?
Last week we got our first look at the album artwork for Beyonc�‘s upcoming new album 4, due out at the end of June. Today we learn the tracklist for the 12 song album … which seems short considering how long B‘s album tracklists usually are. It is presumed that this is the tracklist for [...]
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Les News, 052611
First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Jill Biden pay a visit to Sesame Street. It’s ok, cuz WE know that Kellan Lutz is hot. Water on the Moon? Can you really raise a baby to be genderless? Um, duh, strippers work the poles on NYC subways. Click HERE to meet your new American Idol. [...]
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Michael Jackson Wrongful Death Suit Vs. AEG Can Proceed, Judge Rules
Katherine Jackson and family are pursuing a claim against concert promoter.
By Gil Kaufman
Michael Jackson
When he was alive, Michael Jackson was forever embroiled in a series of complex and expensive-sounding lawsuits. But even in death, the late King of Pop is the subject of major legal action. None could potentially be bigger than the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the pop icon's mother, Katherine Jackson, against concert promotion giant AEG Live.
Reuters reported that a Los Angeles judge ruled on Wednesday that the civil lawsuit can go forward. It will proceed in parallel with the criminal case against Jackson's physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson's June 2009 death from an overdose of the powerful surgical anesthetic propofol. Murray is the only person charged in Jackson's death and he is currently awaiting trial in that matter.
Katherine Jackson's lawsuit — filed in September on behalf of her and Jackson's three young children — accuses AEG of being responsible for the medical decisions made by Murray, whose salary was paid by the touring company behind Jackson's attempted "This Is It" comeback shows in London. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Yvette Palazuelos denied a motion on Wednesday by AEG to dismiss Katherine Jackson's suit, but warned Jackson's attorneys that they would need to show evidence of "fraud, negligent infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy" in order to win the case.
The judge has already said she doubts they can prove the latter charge, because the suit does not detail any agreement between Murray and AEG to break the law in providing medical care to Jackson.
"If the object was to get him to rehearsals, I don't see that as a wrongful or illegal act," the judge said. A lawyer for AEG told the judge that the company could not have predicted beforehand that Murray's medical decisions would result in Jackson's death. Court papers also show that AEG "did not choose to hire Murray" and had only participated in negotiations to bring him on as an independent contractor. Michael, who had previously been treated by Murray in Las Vegas, was reportedly the one who suggested the cardiologist serve as his personal, on-call physician during the "This Is It" rehearsals and shows.
Katherine Jackson's attorney recently dropped choreographer Kenny Ortega from the lawsuit based on new information they received about his actions. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 22, just six days before Murray is due back in court for his trial. Jackson's father, Joseph, has twice attempted to file a wrongful death suit in the matter, though his is focused on Murray and the Las Vegas pharmacy that supplied the propofol, not AEG Live.
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Pippa Middleton Wraps Up a Long Work Week With Shopping
Pippa Middleton treated herself to a bit of retail therapy today after work in London. She is fresh off a fashionable five-day stretch in her office that saw her decked out in chic dresses from Zara and fun summery tops. Her sister, Kate, is likewise setting trends with her rare public appearances. The beige Reiss dress Kate Middleton wore to meet the Obamas on Tuesday has also sold out! The worldwide fame that Pippa found following Kate's wedding to Prince William last month has even prompted rumors about a Middleton presence on TV. There are rumors of Pippa Middleton appearing on the OWN channel, Oprah Winfrey's new network, or some sort of tribute to her on the next season of Glee.
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Actress Bryce Dallas Howard Expecting Second Child
Actress Bryce Dallas Howard Expecting Second Child
Actress Bryce Dallas Howard and her hubby Seth Gabel are expecting a second child! Bryce Dallas Howard is the daughter of director Ron Howard, who was famous for his stint on “Happy Days”. The actress and her “Nip/Tuck” actor husband already have a four-year-old son named Theo.� And now Bryce and Seth are ready to [...]
Actress Bryce Dallas Howard Expecting Second Child Stupid Celebrities GossipStupid Celebrities Gossip News
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