Lady Gaga Performs With Yoko Ono In L.A.
Related ArtistsFriday, December 31, 2010
Eminem's 'Love The Way You Lie' Is MTV News' #9 Song Of 2010
Rihanna collaboration topped the charts and got real, landing it high on our Top 25 songs of the year.
By James Montgomery
Eminem
Photo: John Shearer/ Getty Images
Last week, MTV News kicked off our countdown of the Top 25 Songs of 2010, an all-encompassing list that has already included the likes of Rick Ross and Robyn, Lady Gaga and Kanye West, to name just a few. Now, we're pulling the curtain back on our pick for #9 ... Eminem and Rihanna's massive "Love the Way You Lie," a song that resonated with both fans and critics alike, mostly because it was unafraid to get unspeakably real.
For more than a decade now, Eminem has always operated with a safety net: his Slim Shady alter ego. Slim says and does the kind of things that normal people can't (or don't), dealing almost exclusively in wanton acts of violence and/or depravity and never, ever apologizing for any of it. At times, the act has been so convincing that you're not quite sure if Em is Slim Shady, which is how he's been able to get away with songs like "Kim" (in which he stuffs his wife in the trunk of his car), "Kill You" (where he rapes his own mother) and even "3 a.m." (the one where he goes on a pill-addled murder spree).
Because of Slim, no matter how brutal or unflinching Eminem's subject matter, his fans have always been able to laugh it away, even if, deep down inside, that darkness still terrifies them. "That isn't really Eminem," the logic goes. "It's Slim Shady. It's different."
But in 2010, Eminem changed things up. He got sober, he got serious and — for the most part — he shelved the Slim Shady character altogether. It was a bold, if not necessary, move, and the end result was Recovery, an album that has wowed critics and fans alike, thanks in no small part to the complete absence of that alter ego. Instead, we all got to see Em as his most honest, his most brutal ... and, in the case of "Love the Way You Lie," his darkest.
On the surface, "Lie" is an unblinking, unyielding examination of a relationship gone horribly awry, a rapidly descending tale of two lovers who cannot live without each other, and seem destined to die because of it. It's a masterwork of unfiltered angst, full of violence (both real and imagined) and threats (or promises), and the fact that it resonated to such a degree with the record-buying public — it was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks — is both a testament to its power and more terrifying than a dozen songs about stuffing someone in a trunk.
But no matter how you choose to analyze the song and its success, you cannot deny the fact that the song works mostly because it's so terribly real. When Em screams "Next time/ There will be no next time," you can't help but believe that he's telling the truth, no matter how frightening that may be, and you get the creeping suspicion that he's actually shouted that threat to someone very close to him at some point in his past. Perhaps even more terrifying is the fact that he follows that line up with "I apologize." You cannot write a song any better than that, because that's how this kind of thing happens in real life.
And though she might seem an odd choice to sing the hook, Rihanna more than holds her own against Eminem's bluster. She returns serve, her rage and heartbreak are equally as tangible as his ... once again, because you get the feeling (well, or you know for a fact) that she's been in situations like this before. Sadly, there's no substitute for experience.
"Love the Way You Lie" is about many things, most of which are very bad. But it's also a testament to Eminem's courage and willingness to put it all on the line, his gifted skills as a storyteller and his deft ability to turn his gaze inward. For the first time, he sheds Slim Shady and walks the tightrope without the aid of a safety net, a balancing act that's scarier — and more thrilling — than a dozen ax murders. For better or worse.
Where would you place Eminem and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie" among the top songs of 2010? Let us know in the comments!
MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 countdown continues. Make sure to keep checking back to see what song we've named #1, and don't forget to share your picks with us in the comments below!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653618/20101206/eminem.jhtml
Rihanna - Run This Town with Rihanna and Kanye West
Run This Town with Rihanna and Kanye West
- Artist: Rihanna
- Label: Roc Nation
- Director: Anthony Mandler
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1940303&vid=429303
Christina Aguilera Jessica Simpson Britney Spears Faith Hill
Pamela Anderson PETA ad banned at Hong Kong Airport
Pamela Anderson has made a new video promoting PETA causes with an airport security checkpoint theme. But Hong Kong Airport won't be playing the video, because it has been deemed too racy.
"Given the groping that you see at security checkpoints and the nudity that you see in body scans we're surprised that our lighthearted ad was deemed too risqu�", said Jason Baker, PETA Asia's vice president.
Watch the video at PETA's official website.
Source: http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/visit/pamela-anderson-peta-ad-banned-hong-kong-airport-962918
Strange Elvis Searches on the Internet
Google and the other search engines have been very instrumental in helping people discover ElvisBlog. With over 380 articles covering every Elvis subject imaginable, ElvisBlog comes up high on just about any search topic fans type in ? even the stupid ones.
Source: http://www.elvisblog.net/blog/_archives/2010/11/6/4673002.html
John Mellencamp and Wife End Marriage
Filed under: John Mellencamp, Celebrity Justice
John Mellencamp is ending his marriage of 20 years. John and his wife, Elaine Mellencamp , a model, have split, although his rep isn't saying if they've filed divorce papers yet. The couple says they "are proud of their 20 years together and are very… Read moreSource: http://www.tmz.com/2010/12/30/john-mellancamp-divorce-wife-20-years-indiana/
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Shakira's 'Loca' Video: Watch An Exclusive Preview!
Singer goes guerrilla for clip, which features a madcap dash around Barcelona.
By James Montgomery
Shakira in her music video for "Loca"
Photo: Sony
In her previous videos, Shakira's gone global, game-set-match and, after shooting "She Wolf," probably to the chiropractor. And now, in her new video for "Loca," she's gone guerrilla.
Shot run-and-gun style in Barcelona last month, the "Loca" clip follows Shakira and her crew on a madcap dash around the city — including scenes shot in a public fountain and on the back of a motorcycle, which got her in hot water with local authorities. Thanks to all that, it's a decidedly different turn from her past efforts, most of which were big-budget affairs, and all of which avoided getting her in trouble with the law.
"Loca" — which features a cameo by British rapper Dizzee Rascal — is the first single off her new album, Sale El Sol (due October 19), and while the full video won't premiere until Wednesday on MTV.com, you can watch an exclusive 30-second sneak peek right now. There's roller skating, frolicking in a fountain, (very public) costume changes, motorcycle riding and — of course — a whole lot of hip-shaking, too. It's sexy, cheeky and, yes, even a little bit crazy, but then again, what Shakira video isn't? And while "Loca" may be a departure from her previous clips, what makes it great is the simple fact that none of her pop contemporaries — not even Lady Gaga — would dare try something like this. And that's why we love her so much.
But why are you reading this? Have a look at our exclusive preview of "Loca" right now, and make sure to check back on Wednesday for the full experience. Trust us, it's worth it.
Are you excited for Shakira's "Loca" video? Let us know in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1648783/20100927/shakira.jhtml
Ronald Isley, Anita Baker Honored At Soul Train Awards
Rihanna, Eminem, Usher, B.o.B, Alicia Keys among winners at event celebrating 40th anniversary of classic music show.
By Joel Hanek and Gil Kaufman
Anita Baker at the 2010 Soul Train Awards
Photo: Moses Robinson/ Getty Images
Only at the Soul Train Awards could you have a tribute to R&B icons such as Anita Baker and Ronald Isley alongside a segment in which rap legend Doug E. Fresh attempts to teach CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer how to do the Dougie.
It was that kind of night at the 2010 Soul Train Awards, as rookies, veterans and legends came together in Atlanta for the second annual event — which was taped November 10 and aired Sunday night on BET. The show, hosted once again by Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, featured a night of performances from some of the biggest names in soul and R&B.
Host Howard told MTV News that the show is meant to be an extension of the long-running and legendary '70s TV series that brought soul, disco, R&B and rap stars into viewers' living rooms. "It reminds me of the advancement black people have made over the years because 'Soul Train' really was the beginning of that Black Power movement when we could actually see ourselves — and to have an awards show based upon that 'Soul Train' — it's headed somewhere," Howard said. "We have a black president now. The country seems to be more tolerant towards the diversity inside of it so it seems like the train is moving well down the tracks."
The awards show marked the 40th anniversary of the classic music showcase hosted by Don Cornelius, and celebrated the careers of Baker and Isley, while handing out trophies to such contemporary stars as B.o.B (Song of the Year for "Nothing on You"), Melanie Fiona (Best New Artist), Eminem and Rihanna (Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year for "Love the Way You Lie"), Usher (Album of the Year for Raymond vs. Raymond) and Alicia Keys (Record of the Year for "Unthinkable [I'm Ready]" and Best Female R&B Soul Artist).
Though top winners such as Trey Songz, Usher, Ciara, Eminem and Rihanna were not in the house, Blitzer graciously agreed to accept Slim Shady's award for him, joking, "Who better to accept this award on behalf of Eminem ... I know he's thrilled."
Weaving through a series of skits involving magic tricks and jovial bickering by the hosts, the performance-heavy program delivered on talent. R. Kelly opened by teasing the crowd with his classic "Bump n' Grind," then diving into his new single "When a Woman Loves" — transforming the song from a slow jam into an all-out '50s rock-and-roll epic. Ne-Yo kept the show moving with a showcase of his singles from this year, including "Champagne Life" and "One in a Million."
The tribute to Baker featured an all-star cast, with artists like Chrisette Michele, Goapele, Lalah Hathaway, Dionne Farris, Kem, Tamia, Faith Evans and El DeBarge covering a medley of the singer's greatest hits. Baker told the crowd that the biggest honor of the night for her was that real musicians were performing live with an actual band. "It's amazing because you've got children behind you singing 'Rapture' — it's lovely," she said, adding, "Let's do it again!"
Ronald Isley, co-founder and lead singer of the Isley Brothers, also received a special homage that featured Jeffrey Osborne, Freddy Jackson, DeBarge, Tank, Eric Benet, Bilal and Peabo Bryson. Isley also came out to perform his own medley of hits and was joined onstage by Chanté Moore and R. Kelly for a rendition of "Contagious," their 2002 single that featured the Isleys. In addition, Cee Lo Green closed the show with a duet on the Isleys' classic 1959 hit, "Shout."
Among the event's other highlights was Cee Lo's performance of his smash "Forget You," which took place on a golden stage that resembled a cross between Kanye's Egyptian fusion and an OK Go video, and found the singer gliding down conveyor belts while belting his number.
Erykah Badu delivered a stripped-down version of her 2010 breakout "Window Seat" that featured the singer perched on the floor over a web of lights while appearing to orchestrate the vibrations of light flickers with her hands.
Soul singer Eric Benet performed "Sometimes a Cry" — a song that Lil Wayne cited as one of his favorites while in prison — bringing down the house with a soaring falsetto that bested his studio rendition of the track.
The evening's other performers included Bruno Mars, who sang his new hit "Grenade," and Jazmine Sullivan, who did a medley of "10 Seconds" and "Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)."
Did you watch the 2010 Soul Train Awards? Tell us about your favorite highlights in the comments.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653131/20101129/rihanna.jhtml
Anne Hathaway Britney Spears Jennifer Love Hewitt Mariah Carey
Lady Gaga 'Excited' As Fame Monster Named Top-Selling 2010 Album
Gaga beats out Eminem and Justin Bieber on year-end worldwide chart.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Gabriel Bouys/ Getty Images
Lady Gaga certainly had a massive 2010 and she's ending it with another chart accomplishment. The singer's The Fame Monster has topped the 2010 United World Chart, a list compiled by German website Media Traffic that tallies worldwide album sales collected from a variety of international sources.
The Mother Monster landed at the top of the chart after her little monsters around the globe bought a total of 5.8 million copies of her massive album. And Gaga is extremely grateful for the achievement.
"THE FAME MONSTER was named the best-selling album of 2010!" she wrote on Twitter. "I'm so excited for the future, believe + work hard, you will achieve your dreams."
But, Gaga wasn't the only artist garnering big global albums sales this year. Coming in at a close second on the chart was Eminem. The rapper sold 5.7 million copies of his Recovery album. And landing in third place is Justin Bieber, whose combined sales of My World and My World 2.0 totaled 5.6 million.
Gaga's monster year also landed her at #14 on Forbes magazine's 2010 list of top-earning stars. The singer pulled in a whopping $62 million from music sales, concerts and other income sources.
To close out her eventful 2010, Lady Gaga will make a big announcement come this New Year's Eve. Over the holiday weekend, she tweeted that she'd be sharing with her fans some news about her 2011 album release, Born This Way.
"Merry Christmas little monsters! I love you with all my heart," she wrote. "My gift to you is a BORN THIS WAY announcement Midnight on NEW YEARS EVE. -MM."
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654975/20101228/lady_gaga.jhtml
Shakira - Underneath Your Clothes
- Artist: Shakira
- Label: Epic
- Director: Herb Ritts
- Album: Laundry Service
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=504144&vid=186653
As Miley Cyrus Turns 18, What's Next?
Find out what the birthday girl has planned for 2011.
By Jocelyn Vena
Miley Cyrus at her 18th birthday on Sunday
Photo: Jeff Vespa/MC/WireImage
Miley Cyrus is 18. The "Hannah Montana" star is finally able to vote, and that means she has a whole future ahead of her in the world of music and movies. As 2010 wraps up, it seems that 2011 will be just as busy for the teen star, and while she's taking a break from music (not that you'd be able to tell, thanks to her bevy of music videos and awards-show performances), she has a bustling film career for fans to follow in the coming 12 months.
Cyrus recently wrapped her Ashley Greene co-starring flick "LOL: Laughing Out Loud," which saw the star not only filming Stateside but also in Paris. The movie follows teens who rely on the Internet to socialize, leaving their parents (Miley's mom is played by Demi Moore) confused by the modern relationships their children are in.
"[Miley] is a true professional, and she truly has a wonderful family," Moore said about her teen co-star. "It really shows." The veteran actress plays the overbearing, confounded mom of Cyrus' character, who gets freaked out after accidentally reading her daughter's journal and finding out just how out of touch they have become.
Miley is also getting ready for some action for her next role in the flick "So Undercover," where she'll play "a tough, street-smart private eye hired by the FBI to go undercover in a college sorority." The flick means that the star will have to learn to fight for the role.
"She's basically this chick who grows up as a super tomboy, and she's an FBI agent and gets thrown into a bunch of girls that she doesn't understand because she's been around her dad, who's been in the FBI his whole life," Miley explained. "And basically, by having to go undercover and be someone that she's not, she kind of finds the person she is, because she realizes she doesn't have to carry the weight on her shoulder of what her dad was, and she can be her own person."
While Miley has finished shooting "Hannah Montana," her hit Disney series won't go off the air until 2011. "I think that she's growing with the show, and I think it's such a great platform for her," her pal Selena Gomez told MTV News about the star's plans to walk away. "And she's lived up to it as wonderfully as she could, and I think she continues to carry it, but she's ready for other things."
Until then, Cyrus will hang out with her family for her big day, something that she was looking forward to the last time we spoke with her.
"I'm not going to go crazy; [just] have a fun party and then maybe take a vacation with my family ... because that would be really cool. I think we need time to all be together," she said. "So that would be rad if we could all go to the beach or something. ... [I have] no idea [where we're going]; somewhere near water. I'm a water baby; I have to be near the water and I love doing scuba and going out and being on a boat."
Share your birthday wishes for Miley in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652879/20101122/cyrus__miley.jhtml
Anne Hathaway Britney Spears Jennifer Love Hewitt Mariah Carey
Elvis' High School Memorabilia
A few months ago, I wrote an article for Elvis International magazine titled ?Elvis? High School Yearbook.? A copy of this highly desired collectible was sold at an Elvis auction this summer, and the auction website showed pictures of every Elvis reference, picture, and signature in the yearbook.
Source: http://www.elvisblog.net/blog/_archives/2010/11/20/4682135.html
Picture Disc Rarities
Back in the heyday of vinyl LP albums, the picture disc was a unique variation highly sought by some collectors. Instead of a plain old black disc, you get a record with a picture of the singer in vibrant color.
Source: http://www.elvisblog.net/blog/_archives/2010/11/27/4690059.html
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Justin Bieber, Snoop, Shakira And More Tweet About World Cup Final
Will.I.Am, Paris and Perez Hilton and others post excitement over Spain's win over the Netherlands.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Justin Bieber
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images
As Spain took home its first-ever FIFA World Cup win on Sunday, stars of all kinds took to Twitter to reflect on the final match of the global soccer tourney.
British songstress Estelle shouted out the Spanish team, tweeting, "Spain were...on dis ting!!!!! Congrats!!!"
Justin Bieber apparently enjoyed the matchup between Spain and the Netherlands, tweeting, "wow...SPAIN!! great game...nothing to be ashamed of." The Spanish team may have reigned victorious but the Canadian teen showed love to the Netherlands as well. "True champions on both sides," Bieber wrote.
Some stars shared their eager anticipation of the final match with their Twitter followers. Paris Hilton, who was still taking in the games after a run-in with local police over alleged marijuana possession, sent out a picture of an illuminated stadium before the match kicked off.
Will.I.Am tweeted his support for the Spaniards before the game: "Spain, please be victorious tonight against Holland...(Pay back for beating my Brazilian team)."
Three hours later, as "La Furia Roja" scored the winning goal in overtime, the Peas producer typed, "Vamos Spain...victory."
Gossip-monger Perez Hilton tweeted a similarly succinct message, typing, "Olé! #ESP," after the team walked away with the win.
Snoop Dogg, who has been active on his Twitter page about the World Cup hullabaloo, apparently wasn't able to catch the game live and tweeted Sunday, "I land at 2:30 pm pst in Vegas need to watch the game when I get there. Hook me up wit the replay or download link for the game."
The Doggfather apparently got a link hook-up and later tweeted a picture of himself onstage with the caption, "Live at the Pokerstars party in Vegas for WSOP and rockin the red n [yellow] spain jersey."
Shakira, who brought her power-shimmy to both the opening and closing concerts at this year's World Cup, tweeted a picture of her and South African native Charlize Theron in a post-game embrace with the caption, "With Charlize Theron celebrating at the end of the world cup!"
Nicky Hilton, who hung out in the African nation with her sister Paris, showed love to the first-time winners but also acknowledged the first-time host country. "Congratulations to South Africa for putting on a brilliant World Cup and being such an amazing host!"
Were you tweeting with your friends during the World Cup? Share your favorite reactions in the comments below.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1643453/20100712/bieber_justin.jhtml
Shakira Goes 'Loca' In New Guerrilla-Style Video
The Colombian star roller-skates, hip-shakes and fountain-dives for crazy clip.
By James Montgomery
Shakira in the "Loca" music video
Photo: Epic
For nearly two decades now, either due to her multinational leanings (the Colombian's music is as indebted to Latin American rhythms as it is to Arabic dance, Euro disco and red-white-and-blue rock) or because she is sort of insane (see last year's She Wolf album), Shakira has managed to carve out her own, rather indefinable niche in pop music.
On Wednesday (September 29), she premiered the video for "Loca," the first single off her upcoming Sale el Sol album (due October 19). And while it's not exactly a unique artistic endeavor — it echoes sentiments already expressed by the likes of Matt & Kim (in their "Lessons Learned" clip) and Erykah Badu (in her firestormy "Window Seat" vid) — it's still undoubtedly her ... mostly because none of her high-gloss pop contemporaries would ever dare attempt something like it.
Shot run-and-gun style in Barcelona, "Loca" follows Shakira and her crew — which includes a few cameramen and, somewhat improbably, British rapper Dizzee Rascal — on a madcap adventure that includes roller-skating, public wardrobe changes, motorcycle cruising, an illicit hop in a public fountain (a move that landed her in hot, uh, water with local authorities) and, of course, plenty of hip shaking. It's a decidedly guerrilla endeavor that appears to have been done on a budget hovering around zero (aside from a performance scene, the entire thing appears to have been shot on handheld cameras). The Britneys, Beyoncés and Gagas would probably never make something like this ... and yet, here it works, mostly because, well, it just sort of seems like the kind of thing Shakira would do.
For that alone, she deserves to be praised. Because unlike Matt & Kim (or Erykah Badu, really), Shakira has plenty to lose. Her albums are big events, things that resonate across continents, and it would be rather easy (or, at least, expected) for her to come out of the gate with a big-budget, glossy pop video. Instead, we get "Loca," which is none of those things, and is probably better because of that.
And though it features some near-nudity and some illegal activity, the thing that resonates most about the "Loca" video is that none of that bad behavior is played up for shock value. Instead, it all helps match the kinetic, herky-jerky energy of the song itself. "Loca" is the rare video that doesn't attempt to outshine the song it's based on. Instead, it complements it. This is a very lively song, after all, so what better way to capture that than with a very lively video?
There's a calculated madness to the "Loca" video, a vibrant, unchained energy, the kind very few artists can conjure up, no matter how big the budget. And, come to think of it, that's a pretty accurate way of summing up Shakira's entire career. It's called synergy, people.
What do you think of Shakira's "Loca" video? Share your reviews in the comments.
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1648978/20100929/shakira.jhtml
Elvis Presley Blog ? A New Look
Today I changed the theme for the Elvis Presley Blog and I hope you all will like it. The previous theme felt a little too busy for me and I wanted to find something more simple and straight forward. Something that focussed on content more then the theme. I hope I?ve found it with this [...]
Elvis Presley Blog – A New Look is a post from: My Elvis Presley Blog
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/myElvisPresleyBlog/~3/WaRZLEYQWgU/elvis-presley-blog-a-new-look
Vivid Honcho May Save Octomom from Foreclosure
Filed under: Octomom, Steve Hirsch
Octomom 's knight in shining armor may be none other than Vivid Entertainment honcho, Steve Hirsch . TMZ has learned Hirsch may save Nadya Suleman 's home by buying the $450,000 note that became delinquent more than 2 months ago. As TMZ first reported,… Read moreTuesday, December 28, 2010
LeAnn Rimes -- Check Out My MASSIVE ROCK!
Filed under: LeAnn Rimes, Eddie Cibrian, Paparazzi Photo, Hook Ups
It's a good thing LeAnn Rimes works out -- because the newly engaged singer hit LAX with fiance Eddie Cibrian and she needed all of her strength to carry that GIGANTIC diamond on her finger. Eddie popped the question a few days ago -- and if you're… Read moreSource: http://www.tmz.com/2010/12/28/leann-rimes-engagement-ring-eddie-cibrian-lax-photo/
Top 10 Breakout Stars Of 2010
Every year Hollywood shows off plenty of fresh talent on the big screen, and 2010 was no exception. Young breakout stars took the movie world by storm in films such as "The Social Network," "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Karate Kid." And, even if their film wasn't the biggest box office it, the young leads [...]
Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/12/28/breakout-stars-2010/
Lady Gaga Dishes On Born This Way During London Show
During her concert on Friday, the pop star said her upcoming album 'doesn't have a bunch of rock ballads,' confirmed that it will feature 'You and I.'
By James Dinh
Lady Gaga (file)
Photo: Derek Storm/ Splash News
Throughout the year, Lady Gaga has not only talked up her forthcoming album, Born This Way, but she's also previewed a few new tracks that may or may not appear on the release. On songs like "You and I" and "Living on the Radio," Gaga strays from her usual dance-hit formula to explore a more Elton John-esque sound. However, during her recent Monster Ball Tour stop at London's O2 Arena on Friday, the pop star told the roaring audience that the project won't be full of too many piano-driven ballads.
After asking concertgoers if they wanted to hear a new song, Mother Monster said, "Want to hear 'You and I'? This one is going to be on Born This Way. It's one of my favorites. The album doesn't have a bunch of rock ballads or anything, but this is one of them."
Following her chit-chat with the audience, Gaga launched into tune, which finds the singer recalling a reunion with a lover.
"There's something, something about this place/ Something about lonely nights and my lipstick on your face/ Something, something about my cool Nebraska guy/ Yeah something about/ Baby you and I," she sang while pounding away on her piano.
In the midst of her "You and I" performance, the songbird took time to give herself props for the originality and creativity she puts into her material.
"Now I don't know if you know this, but for those of you who don't know, I write all my own music," she announced. "Every single lyric, melody and note was created by me. I am not manufactured. I'm a bad cat and coming for you 'cause I believe in you and I."
Later on in the song, she added, "It's not that I don't like to be humble, it's just that pop music has a pretty bad rap," before indulging in some of her usual impulsive piano antics.
Gaga's Little Monsters can expect to hear even more new tunes as early as February. Just a few weeks ago, she told fan site Lady-Gaga.net that the lead single from Born This Way will be released that month, while comparing the album to "bad kids going to church, having fun on a high level."
What kind of tracks are you looking forward to hear on Born This Way? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654614/20101220/lady_gaga.jhtml
Unusual Christmas Gifts at Find-me-a-gift
Find-me-a-gift asked: At Find-Me-A-Gift, we pride ourselves on having the most incredible range of Unusual Christmas Gifts known to man! Whether you?re looking for an Unusual Christmas Gift for your mum, an Unusual Christmas Gift for your brother, an Unusual Christmas Gift for your friend or an Unusual Christmas Gift for a girlfriend, Find-Me-A-Gift can [...]
Hanoi?s trendiest caf�s
Hanoi?s caf� culture is a fusion of old French Indochina and modern, colorful imports from the West. It gives Hanoian caf�s a unique brand of kitsch and craziness unlike anywhere else.
Hanging out in caf�s is a national pastime that consumes life both on and off the pavement from early morning until late, late at night.
Fashions and trends blow through Hanoi?s streets as quickly as most establishments can keep up. Some things of course are timeless; suitcase-sized street tea stalls, for example, are as permanent as they are ubiquitous.
Elsewhere, a fluidity and transience flows through the city; caf�s on the cutting-edge of culture constantly have to reinvent themselves in order to attract the latest impressionable crowd of Hanoi?s coffee drinkers.
Source: http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/drink/citypulse/sublime-delicious-390555
Lady Gaga To Make Born This Way Announcement New Year's Eve
'My gift to you is a BORN THIS WAY announcement Midnight on NEW YEARS EVE,' she writes in a Christmas tweet.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ Getty Images
Lady Gaga is kicking 2011 off with a bang. The singer shared with her little monsters that, come New Year's Eve, she will have a special announcement for her loyal fans about her upcoming album, Born This Way.
She tweeted over the weekend: "Merry Christmas little monsters! I love you with all my heart. My gift to you is a BORN THIS WAY announcement Midnight on NEW YEARS EVE. -MM."
The Mother Monster didn't reveal anything else about the announcement but did react to a fan-made video sending Christmas love to the superstar. "This is so darling!" she wrote. "You make me so happy, Im sending you monster kisses!"
Gaga had always planned to end 2010 on a high note. She shared with Rolling Stone back in June that she had every intention of making an announcement on New Year's Eve, even if what she had planned to announce was pre-empted. "I think I'm gonna get the album title tattooed on me and put out the photo," she said of her plans six months ago. "I've been working on it for months now, and I feel very strongly that it's finished right now. It came so quickly. Some artists take years; I don't. I write music every day."
Since she already revealed her album title at the VMAs, what she plans to announce on New Year's Eve is a mystery, but we're sure her fans are counting down the moments.
Gaga recently shared that the album will be her "most innovative." A single is expected in February, and the album will follow shortly thereafter.
"[The album is] a marriage of electronic music with major, epic, dare I even say, metal or rock and roll, pop, anthemic style melodies with really sledge-hammering dance beats," Gaga said. "I think that lyrically this album is more poetic ... It's really written by the fans, they really wrote it for me because every night they're funneling so much into me. So I wrote it for them. Born This Way is all about my little monsters and me, mother monster."
What do you think Gaga will unveil on New Year's Eve? Share your guesses in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654914/20101227/lady_gaga.jhtml
Adam Minter: Why the 2010 Expo mattered
Click the "Tell me about it" banner above to see more opinion pieces.
Of the 73 million people who visited Shanghai?s Expo 2010, the six-month event better known in the United States as a world?s fair, only a very small percentage ever made their way through the crowds to visit the relatively modest World Exposition Museum.
Source: http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/life/tell-me-about-it/adam-minter-2010-expo-mattered-951615
Salma Hayek Anne Hathaway Britney Spears Jennifer Love Hewitt
Monday, December 27, 2010
Shakira Opens EMA Show With Dizzee Rascal
Madrid crowd goes crazy for 'Loca' and 'Waka Waka.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Dizzee Rascal and Shakira perform at the 2010 EMA on Sunday
Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
The 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards got off to a crazy start, courtesy of a performance from hip-swiveling superstar Shakira.
The Colombian megastar opened the show with her Sale el Sol single "Loca," rallying the crowd with her signature undulating moves. Flanked by two dancers, Shakira hit the Madrid stage in a silvery bra top and fringed harem pants under neon lights. Then British grime rapper Dizzee Rascal joined the singer for his verse on the English version of the track, rocking a simply sleek black jacket and white T-shirt, and getting the crowd amped.
After "Loca," Dizzee retreated backstage as Shakira launched into her global World Cup anthem "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)," a suitable choice for an award show staged in the nation of the world soccer champs. The Spaniards showed their pride throughout the percussion-heavy jam, as mammoth flags rose from various points in the audience, and were waved above the crowd. Swirls of confetti rained on the crowd as Shakira wrapped up her high-energy set.
Her collabo with Dizzee is just one of several brushes with hip-hop the singer has explored in recent years. Shakira told MTV News in 2009 that she was trying to broaden her musical horizons by hooking up with rap artists.
"I'm never going to be a hardcore hip-hop singer," she said. "I come from Colombia, but I think music today ... it's about bringing elements that belong to different universes, even though they're opposed or similar, and making them exist in this big melting pot that the world is today. The world has shrunk, and we're just a big neighborhood, and it's kind of cool."
Shakira's set was the first in a night packed with performances from some of the world's biggest stars. Katy Perry, Linkin Park, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Kings of Leon, B.o.B, Ke$ha, Bon Jovi and more all will grace the EMA stage. The night is hosted by "Desperate Housewives" diva Eva Longoria.
The 2010 EMAs air on MTV2 on Sunday (November 7) at 9 p.m. ET, and an edited, performance-heavy version will be broadcast Friday at 9 p.m. ET on MTV.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651699/20101107/shakira.jhtml
Britney Spears Jennifer Love Hewitt Mariah Carey Elin Nordegren
Shakira - Underneath Your Clothes
- Artist: Shakira
- Label: Epic
- Director: Herb Ritts
- Album: Laundry Service
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=504144&vid=186653
Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan and Elvis
My friend Troy over at The Mystery Train Elvis Blog took exception to something I wrote in the ElvisBlog article three weeks ago. In a pictorial feature on Elvis? movie Flaming Star, I showed six Andy Warhol silkscreens created from one of the movie?s publicity photos of Elvis. Troy found it inexplicable that I dismissed the Warhol works as not art.
Actually, what I said was that they didn?t look like art to me. I have no problem that the rest of the world considers them art. However, I?ve always heard that art was in the eye of the beholder, and I?m sorry, but I just don?t get the Warhol Elvis images. They seem drab and simplistic, and I don?t like the repetition of the same idea in so many pieces. Here?s one more Warhol Elvis creation I missed in the article. Even more repetition.
Troy also mentioned in his blog article that he had seen Warhol?s ?Triple Elvis? at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. I suspect that seeing the real work close up makes a much more favorable impression on you than does a small internet photo. So, maybe someday I?ll see one and change my mind.
Out of curiosity, I Googled ?Warhol Triple Elvis Virginia Museum Fine Arts? to learn a bit more. Then I switched the search to Google Images. I do this often. The standard Google Web search is best when hunting specific information. But Images search is best if you enjoy going to unusual websites. You just click on an interesting Elvis picture and you never know what you might find. That?s how I found a most interesting story about Bob Dylan, Andy Warhol, and one of his Elvis paintings. It was written by Fred Bal on one of his six blogs.
In 1965, the careers of Bob Dylan and Andy Warhol were kicking into high gear. They were both in New York City, so, it?s no surprise they would team up on a project. Dylan came over to Warhol?s famous Factory studio for what he called his ?screen test.? Actually, Warhol made a filmed portrait of Dylan - a 15-minute black-and-white study in stillness, silence, and emptiness. (I probably wouldn?t find that to be art, either.)
In Warhol?s studio at that time was his silkscreened painting known as either ?Silver Elvis? or ?Double Elvis.? Supposedly, Dylan decided he wanted the ?Double Elvis? as his payment for his screen test. After some haggling, Warhol reluctantly gave in. Two of Dylan?s friends quickly hustled the painting down the freight elevator before Warhol could change his mind.
Photo by Nat Finkelstein
Dylan?s people strapped this painting to the top of a station wagon and drove off. Fortunately, the ?Double Elvis? was not damaged. They probably didn?t realize just how valuable their cargo was (or would be someday), or they never would have taken the chance.
In the late 60s, Warhol started hearing rumors that Dylan had banished the ?Double Elvis? to a closet, or hung it upside down, or used it as a dart board. According to the rumors, Dylan now harbored a disdain for Warhol, after mutual friend Edie Sedgewick suffered a drug-induced death. Warhol has written, ?Dylan didn?t like me? he blamed me for Edie?s drugs.?
What Dylan actually did with the ?Double Elvis? is very weird. He traded it to his manager, Albert Grossman, for a couch. That?s right ? a couch ! Years Later, Grossman?s widow picked up a cool $750,000 for ?Double Elvis.? I hope Dylan liked his couch.
One indication that Andy Warhol?s Elvis silk-screens have reached iconic status is the fact that other creative people have Photoshopped them. Here is one that was obviously inspired by the rumor that Dylan used to throw darts at his Warhol Elvis picture.
This is one you can probably do yourself without Photoshop if you have a couple of $20 bills.
And finally, here is one that Troy at The Mystery Train blog and I can both agree on.
This is not art !!!
� 2010 Philip R Arnold, Original Elvis Blogmeister All Rights Reserved www.ElvisBlog.net
Elvis, Elvis Presley, and Graceland are registered trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Source: http://www.elvisblog.net/blog/_archives/2010/12/27/4713049.html
Miley Cyrus - 7 Things
- Artist: Miley Cyrus
- Label: Hollywood Records
- Director: Brett Ratner
- Album: Breakout
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=2408193&vid=253422
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Shanghai's best and worst of 2010
Best new eat and drink destination: Sinan Mansions
This faux-historic Xintiandi look-alike is the latest nightlife spot in the French Concession.
An impressive proportion of Shanghai?s restaurateurs are here, from Kelley Lee?s The Alchemist and The Boxing Cat to Eduardo Vargas? ChiCha pisco bar. Plus, David Laris? four-in-one building housing his takeaway brand The Funky Chicken downstairs, and Yucca, The Fat Olive and his exclusive private chef?s table 12 Chairs on the upper levels.
For Chinese cuisine, Shanghai veteran chain restaurant Xiao Nanguo has launched new upscale restaurant Maison de le?Hui.
Source: http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/play/year-preview/best-and-worst-shanghai-2010-669616
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