Thursday, May 31, 2012
Joey Lawrence: My Daughters Talk Loud, Like Me
"They're very passionate; they talk a lot. They talk real loud, which is sort of my M.O. I guess," he tells PEOPLE with a laugh.
Around the Web?
Happy Thursday! Give our afternoon links a click: Are mothers hampering their daughters’ math skills? ? TIME The not-so-bad treats to indulge in at the ice cream truck ? lilSugar.com The difference between normal pregnancy symptoms and danger signs ? FitPregnancy.com U.S. has second-highest child poverty rate ? HuffPost Parents Should babies be naked at [...]
Will Black Keys Team Up With Ke$ha? First They Want Jim Nabors
The duo sat down with MTV News in Berlin to discuss a pair of unlikely collaborations.
By James Montgomery
<P>Theirs is a relationship that has spanned time and Twitter, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/keshasuxx/status/77286418598211584" target="_blank">seafood</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/keshasuxx/status/157523381602889728" target="_blank">shaving</a>, but over the years, the unlikely bond between the <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/black_keys/artist.jhtml">Black Keys</a> and <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/id_3213641/artist.jhtml">Ke$ha</a> has grown to become something <i>more</i>: a genuine friendship, marked with the occasional trespassing charge.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Would The Black Keys Ever Collaborate With Ke$ha?" id="vid:731631.id:1678505" width="240" height="211"></div><p></P><P>"We're friends with her, we've known her since way before she was famous, before she was even a singer, I guess," Keys drummer Patrick Carney told MTV News. "When she was 16 years old, she used to sneak into our shows. We kind of became friends with her by kicking her out of our backstage room, over and over again. She actually has snuck into shows in L.A., San Diego, Coachella ..."</P><P>"She snuck in and [got] kicked out of one show, like, <i>five</i> times," frontman Dan Auerbach added. "[She] snuck in through the kitchen. I don't know if she's such a big fan; she just likes breaking the rules."</P><P>So, when MTV News sat down with the 'Keys in Berlin during the premiere of their <a href="/news/articles/1678662/black-keys-gold-on-the-ceiling-music-video.jhtml">"Gold on the Ceiling"</a> video, we had to ask if their friendship with Ke$ha would take the next step: an actual musical collaboration. It's not all that far-fetched, considering both Ke$h and Auerbach live in Nashville ("I see her every once in a while flying by in her T-Top [convertible]," Auerbach laughed), and recently, the glittery one has logged studio time with <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/keshasuxx/status/160846424609787906" target="_blank">the Flaming Lips</a>. So, could we see a team-up on the next Black Keys album?</P><P>"I guess, I don't know," Carney said. "We don't really do that many collaborations, really."</P><P>OK, so if a Ke$ha collabo isn't in the cards, just who would the 'Keys like to work with next? Well, as it turns out, they've got their eyes set on landing a very big star for the next record ... even if they mistakenly believe he's deceased.</P><P>"We both want to work with Jim Nabors very badly, but apparently he's not with us anymore," Carney said. Oh, <a href="http://www.jimnabors.com/" target="_blank">but he is.</a> Which means that, much like Nabors, the dream is alive. The Ke$ha collabo? Eh, probably not so much.</P><P><i>Should the Black Keys hit the studio with Ke$ha? Leave your comment below!</i></p>
Related Videos Related ArtistsBritney Spears, Jessica Simpson And The Art Of The Second Act
Above the Buzz examines how these former pop princesses serve as examples of how stars can re-brand themselves again and again.
By Jocelyn Vena
<P>Both <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/spears_britney/artist.jhtml">Britney Spears</a> and <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/simpson_jessica/artist.jhtml">Jessica Simpson</a> dominated headlines this week. Not since the late '90s have these two duked it out for so much media coverage.</P><P>However there's a remarkable difference in what's happening today to what was happening then: Then, everyone was talking about their music and their pop star personas. Where Britney was a Lolita who proclaimed virginity while dancing provocatively in belly-baring tops, Jessica was innocent and sweet and didn't dare anger her minister daddy. Jessica released songs that put her big voice on display, and Brit focused on songs that put eyes on her dazzling dance moves and her ear for dance beats.</P><P>A lot has changes in the years since then. What's interesting is that, despite their seemingly different personalities, in retrospect, they have a lot more in common than was initially apparent: They are both down-home country girls who have built empires that few can touch. Both have had very public career highs met with very public personal lows. Both have loved <a href="/news/articles/1683993/boy-band-allegiances.jhtml">boy banders.</a> Both have even documented their lives on reality shows, albeit with very different outcomes.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="'We All Are Authentic'" id="vid:493178.id:1633959" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>With almost 15 years separating the women they are now from those girls they were then, it seems they are looking to change it up.</P><P>At a time where the pop world is filled with plenty of younger pop princesses looking for their time to shine, Britney and Jessica seem comfortable enough with their own musical legacies to let them all have their moments. And, they should be at ease. They have both been incredibly successful in that world, having sold millions of albums, had huge radio singles and made music that is uniquely their own. And while Simpson has let her music take a back seat to other projects in the past few years, Spears is still a working singer who sells out tours and tops the charts.</P><P>These days, Jessica seems focused on maintaining the post-pop star second act she launched several years back. She's a fashion mogul with a billion-dollar empire that has outfitted fashionistas with reasonably priced essentials like platforms and bags. She also judges up-and-coming fashion talent on NBC's "Fashion Star," sharing with new designers her own wisdom on breaking into the industry. But, always savvy enough to keep people guessing, she's expanded her brand even further.</P><P>Now, she is also the latest <a href="/news/articles/1684326/jessica-simpson-baby-beyonce.jhtml">mommy mogul</a>. Jessica just added another gig to her post-pop star career — that of the A-list mom. Just this week, she welcomed her first child, <a href="/news/articles/1684216/jessica-simpson-baby-girl-maxwell-drew-johnson.jhtml">Maxwell Drew</a>, into the world. We expect she'll use that experience to re-launch herself yet again. We should expect fashion lines for stylish toddlers. And who wouldn't want to see a reality show that follows the new mom and her family?</P><P>It seems that, like Simpson, Spears might be looking to take a break from music for a moment. Having already given birth to two sons and tried her hand at the worlds of fashion and beauty, Spears is now a frontrunner to <a href="/news/articles/1684320/x-factor-judges-miley-cyrus-britney-spears.jhtml">judge "X Factor."</a> Her own experiences in the industry certainly make her the perfect candidate to give advice on the ups and downs of pop superstardom. She's experienced both with the entire world watching. While Spears' other projects (clothing line, fragrances) have generally been overshadowed by her music career, this rumored gig might be the first one to take the attention away from her pop fame while using it for all it's worth.</P><P>Spears is probably up for the gig because she is basically the heir to the <a href="/news/articles/1681693/madonna-above-the-buzz-pop-queen.jhtml">Madonna legacy</a>. She truly understands how to be a pop star. And the rumors that she might join Simon Cowell on the show seem to be intriguing Spears' critics and non-devotees more than anything she's done in the past few years. Spears might have found her perfect next chapter.</P><P>Right now, it's unclear how these new career paths will shape the future for Simpson and Spears — musically and otherwise. But, as has always been the case for them, no one doubts they will redefine what it means to be a female pop star. They are women who aren't willing to go quietly into the night. For Spears and Simpson, it seems they want it all or nothing. And, who can blame them?</P><P><i>What would you like to see Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson do next? Share your thoughts below!</i></P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Britney Hits The Studio With will.i.am" id="vid:638813.id:1661123" width="415" height="255"></div><p></p>
Related Videos Related ArtistsEmma Stone Emma Watson Emmanuelle Chriqui Emmanuelle Vaugier
Whitney Houston And Michael Jackson's Deaths: Gone Too Soon
'You will always remember where you were ... when you heard the news,' Simon Cowell says, echoing the sentiments after Jackson's death.
By Tomika L. Anderson
<P>Few people will forget where they were when they heard that the King of Pop, <a href="/news/articles/1614744/michael-jackson-dies-at-50.jhtml">Michael Jackson, had died</a> in June 2009. And now, the same can be said for 1980s and '90s <a href="/news/articles/1679029/whitney-houston-dead.jhtml">Queen of Pop Whitney Houston</a>.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Celebrities React To Whitney Houston's Passing" id="vid:733106.id:1679030" width="240" height="211"></div><p></P><P>The beloved, long-suffering singer died Saturday inside a Beverly Hills hotel room, hours before she was expected to attend a <a href="/news/articles/1679046/whitney-houston-dies-grammys-clive-davis.jhtml">pre-Grammy Awards party thrown by her longtime mentor Clive Davis</a>.</P><P>And while the official cause of death is yet unknown — what's been speculated so far is that <a href="/news/articles/1679049/whitney-houston-dies-details.jhtml">Houston may have drowned</a> in the bathtub after taking prescription drugs, including Xanax — given her very public struggle with substance abuse, depression and anxiety over the past decade, it's hard not to conclude that some drug- or alcohol-related accident may have been to blame.</P><P>It's much like, most recently, British singer Amy Winehouse and the late, great Michael Jackson before her, who died after taking a fatal cocktail of propofol and two other drugs. Also like Jackson, Houston's sudden death — at the age of 48 — has stopped the world in its tracks, an enormous, one-of-a-kind musical flame forever extinguished.</P><P>Even Jackson's brother, Jermaine — who was first introduced to Houston years ago by Clive Davis at the same Beverly Hills Hilton where the singer passed away — could not help but draw the comparison. In an interview with CNN overnight, he paid tribute to the two fallen musical giants. "They shared a lot of success in the late '80s and they were great friends," he said. "I'm happy and honored to have been a part of their lives."</P><P>And oh, what lives they led: Like Jackson — who died at just 50 years old, after years of struggling with personal demons — Houston, too, had an intensely profound and everlasting impact on the world of entertainment.</P><P>Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson and countless other chart-topping entertainers have all name-checked her as their musical mentor, icon and inspiration: To date, she is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with more than 170 million albums, songs and videos sold.</P><P>In her lifetime, Houston achieved what precious few of them have or ever will — stacking an astonishing 415 awards, including six Grammys, two Emmys, 22 American Music Awards, 30 <i>Billboard</i> Awards.</P><P>Her voice, in its prime, was a national treasure.</P><P>"X Factor" mastermind Simon Cowell may have summed it up the best: On "Piers Morgan Tonight," he said, "She was one of the greatest voices in our lifetime. Whitney was the number one singer that other singers want to emulate. People like that can't be manufactured. They've either got, it or they don't."</P><P>He added, "You will always remember where you were and what you were doing when you heard the news."</P><P>Like Michael before her, gone too soon.</P><P><center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:733107/cp~id%3D1679030%26vid%3D733107%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A733107%26instance%3Dmtv" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed></center></P><P><b>MTV News' Sway and James Montgomery will be live from the <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/grammys/">Grammys</a> red carpet tonight starting at 5 p.m. ET to get reactions from music's biggest stars on the death of Whitney Houston. Watch reactions and remembrances at MTV.com.</b></P><P><I>Share your condolences with Whitney's family and friends on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mtvnews/posts/381732435187118&rdquo" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page.</I></p>
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsWednesday, May 30, 2012
Britney Spears - Hold It Against Me
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive, Zomba Label Group
- Director: Jonas Akerlund
Ween May Be Gone, But Their 'Good Run' Lives On
With the band (apparently) calling it quits after 25 years, Bigger Than the Sound offers a eulogy.
By James Montgomery
Dean Ween
Photo: Chris McKay/ WireImage
In my review of Ween's 2007 album La Cucaracha (which also happens to be the last time they were mentioned on this website), I referred to them as "musical cockroaches," the kind of scurrying, scrounging band that — much like the titular (and totally gross) arthropod on the record's cover — was capable of surviving nuclear holocausts and subsisting on a bar of soap for weeks at a time.
"In essence, Ween are indestructible," I wrote. "They will be here long after you and I are gone."
It turns out, I was wrong about that last point. Because on Tuesday, Aaron Freeman, better known to bong-rippers and Scotchgard-huffers everywhere as Gene Ween, told Rolling Stone that he was retiring the mantle and ending Ween, saying, simply, "It's been a long time; 25 years. It was a good run."
Of course, this apparently came as a surprise to Freeman's partner for the past quarter-century, Mickey "Dean Ween" Melchiondo, who reportedly wrote on his private Facebook page that the band's breakup "is news to me, all I can say for now I guess." There's been no official announcement on Ween's site, and as late as 2010, the duo were talking about entering the studio to begin work on the follow-up to Cucaracha, though, from the sound of things, those sessions probably didn't go all that well ... if they ever happened at all.
But if this really is the end of the band, well, most fans probably saw it coming. After an infamous onstage meltdown at a Ween show last year, Freeman entered rehab (and just released a solo album, Marvelous Clouds), and in recent years, Melchiondo has devoted most of his time to his side-job as a fishing guide (he describes himself as both a "pretty good conversationalist" and "fully insured"). Still, none of that makes the news any less of a bummer, especially for folks like me, who grew up with Ween, got sh--faced at their live shows — a genuine rite of passage for any fan — spent endless smoky nights dissecting their wildly divergent back catalog and, as a result, would go on to process popular music through their own uniquely cracked spectrum. Freeman is right: It was a good run.
And that's why it's taken me almost a day to write this column. After all, how does one encapsulate their 25-year career, which began in eighth-grade typing class and has encompassed tape-machine schlock, bizarre, brain-addled semi-hits — 1993's "Push Th' Little Daisys" — critical acclaim and Pizza Hut commercials (and master classes in old-school country & western, nautical prog, Beatles-y psych, Buffett-y calypso and, uh, Philly Soul, to name just a few of the dozens of genres they've skewered)? Because of all that, they most certainly rank up there as one of weirdest acts of all time, earning their rightful place alongside the likes of Zappa, Spike Jones, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and Captain Beefheart ... though, to me, Ween were always something more: They were an entry point to all that oddity, the first of their kind. The moment I heard "Dr. Rock" or "The Stallion, Pt. 1" (from 1991's The Pod), I could practically feel my musical consciousness being expanded, and from that moment on, everything was different. In a lot of ways, Ween made me.
I followed them through every twist and turn, often as puzzled as I was delighted (12 Golden Country Greats and The Mollusk remain two of my favorite albums ever). But through it all, Ween remained an important band for me, an old favorite, a reminder of the good times when I didn't know better and when it was socially acceptable to wear basketball shorts and sit cross-legged in smoky dorm rooms all day long. And while nothing I write can effectively eulogize them, I do think that, in closing, it's important to defend them in one regard: No matter what anyone tells you, Ween were never a "joke" band. They were a terrific band, one adept at doing anything — mostly because they wanted to — and brilliant enough to carry it out to the nth degree.
The attention to detail on albums like White Pepper or Mollusk was the kind of thing only true musicians (and music aficionados) could muster — if Ween were gonna do a prog record, you'd better believe it was gonna sound like a prog record — and that held true to the very end. On what might very well end up being their final album track (the smooth-jazz-slaying "Your Party," from La Cucaracha), not only did they nail the buttocks-clenching uprightness of the genre, but they went out and got none other than David Sanborn to play satin-sheet sax on the thing. That goes beyond mere humor; it's pure genius.
And that's what Ween were, to me, and to a whole lot of other people too: musical geniuses. They just managed to hide it for 25 years — though those of us who worship at the altar of the Boognish knew otherwise. Ween may not have lasted forever, but the memories they've soundtracked certainly will. It's a Brown day, indeed.
Related ArtistsEmmanuelle Chriqui Emmanuelle Vaugier Emmy Rossum Erica Leerhsen
Usher's 'Climax' Is 'Not About Sex'
Looking 4 Myself single is about reaching 'a place where you're gonna dive in or let it go,' Usher explains on 'MTV First.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway
<P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/usher/artist.jhtml">Usher</a> admits that "over the last three years of my life, it's no secret I went through some heavy transitions." And he's not joking. In 2009, he filed for a <a href="/news/articles/1613894/usher-files-divorce.jhtml">divorce from his wife</a>, Tameka Foster, after <a href="/news/articles/1566367/usher-gets-married-after-all.jhtml">marrying her in 2007</a>. In the lead-up to the split, their relationship certainly came with drama, including a rift with his mother and a major health scare for Foster during a 2009 trip to Brazil.</P><P>And even with his divorce finalized, Usher is still in and out of court dealing with custody issues over their two sons, Usher and Naviyd. However, he is ready to put all that drama aside now that he's purged those emotions for his June 12 album release, the aptly titled <a href="/news/articles/1685178/usher-looking-4-myself.jhtml"><i>Looking 4 Myself</i></a>.</P><P>"There's an emotional side to it. Over the last three years of my life, it's no secret I went through some heavy transitions and in that I really came out new," he told MTV News during "MTV First." "I came out feeling a sense of entitlement and a sense of ownership of all of that I went through to become better and in being able to survive it.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Usher Gets Shot In His 'Climax' Performance" id="vid:767991.id:1685137" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>"So I was looking for something in the music," he continued. "I was looking for something in life. I was looking for something in it has always been right here. It has always been there. So I kind of used the music as a dairy in a way, but a creative, artistic, art-in-motion diary."</P><P>But, Usher is no stranger to putting his drama to music. With albums titled <i>Confessions</i> and <i>Raymond v. Raymond,</i> he has always put his personal business right where people can hear it.</P><P>"Oddly, I've unfortunately left my life an open book," he said. "So every record people would assume that each and every detail is specific, even the videos."</P><P>That includes his most recent clip for "Climax," which follows jilted lover Usher as he contemplates shooting his girl's other man. Soon, he charges in the house, and a gunshot is fired off. What's unclear is whether it's reality or just Usher's fantasy.</P><P>"OK, I'm not sitting out in front of somebody's house and shoot up the crib, just so you know," he joked. " 'Climax' was an interpretation to really give people a better understanding 'cause I felt like people really looked at the record for what you heard first, which was 'Climax'. So, people thought 'sex.' It's not about sex. Well, climax is about sex, but not the song. Just so we're clear."</P><P>The Diplo-produced track actually has more to do with the events of the last few years of his life than events in the bedroom. "The song is really about kind of the crescendo of a relationship, where you've reached a place where you're gonna dive in or let it go," he said. "And the 'Climax' is what it is."</p>
Related Videos Related ArtistsJustin Bieber: 'I Can't Not Dance Battle Usher'
Bieber's mentor and dance-off foe will debut his new track 'Twisted' on 'MTV First: Usher,' airing tonight at 7:54 p.m. on MTV.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway
<P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/bieber_justin/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a> and his mentor, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/usher/artist.jhtml">Usher</a>, believe it or not, have engaged in a dance-off or two. While Bieber is certainly known for his ability to cut a rug, he noted that his pal has the smoother of the dance moves.</P><P>"Dance-offs? We had one the other night. He did this little show in New York," Bieber explained to MTV News earlier this month about facing off against Usher during his stint in the off-Broadway <a href="/news/articles/1685172/usher-fuerza-bruta-rehearsal.jhtml">"Fuerza Bruta" in April</a>. "Mid-show, he comes in the middle of the dance floor and does a dance battle with me. And I'm like 'I'm too tired for this.' He pulls out moves and I can't <i>not</i> dance battle Usher.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Usher Continues To Mentor Justin Bieber" id="vid:765694.id:1684329" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>"So I go in there, do my whole thing," he recalled. "I'm pretty sure I lost, but it's all good."</P><P>When they aren't battling it out on the dance floor, it seems Usher is offering up some sage advice to the 18-year-old singer. "He's just given me the advice of 'Always keep the people that were there in the beginning, keep them with you because those are the people that really care. They want to see you succeed,' " he said. "I think that's probably pretty much the main thing he's always told me."</P><P>Usher has even more to share about working with his superstar mentee. He will open up during <a href="/news/articles/1685095/usher-twisted-climax-scream-mtv-premiere.jhtml">"MTV First: Usher,"</a> set to take place tonight at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV. He will introduce exclusive footage from "Fuerza Bruta" and his new single, the Pharrell-produced "Twisted," and will stick around for an interview with MTV News' Sway Calloway to discuss it all, including his new June release, <a href="/news/articles/1685178/usher-looking-4-myself.jhtml"><i>Looking 4 Myself</i></a>, on MTV.com afterward. Fans can submit questions via MTV.com or Twitter @MTVNews with the hashtag #MTVFirst or #AskUsher.</P><P><b>Don't miss "MTV First: Usher" tonight at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV, followed by an interview with the singer on MTV.com!</b></p>
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Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic Records
- Director: n/a
- Album: Basia on Broadway
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Musical March Madness 2012: Video Highlights
The world's best bands duke it out for ultimate rock supremacy. Will your favorite band be crowned the winner? It's up to YOU.
By
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Usher Unveils 'Nostalgic' New Song 'Twisted'
Looking 4 Myself track featuring Pharrell is classic R&B but 'very relevant,' superstar says on 'MTV First.'
By John Mitchell, with reporting by Sway Calloway
<P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/usher/artist.jhtml">Usher</a> sat down for an exclusive "MTV First" interview about his hotly anticipated upcoming release, <i>Looking 4 Myself</i>, his unconventional album-listening experience with the <a href="/news/articles/1685095/usher-twisted-climax-scream-mtv-premiere.jhtml">off-Broadway show "Fuerza Bruta"</a> and to give fans a first listen to the <i>Myself</i> track "Twisted" featuring Pharrell. He told MTV News' Sway Calloway the song is a "nostalgic record" that reflects the album's ambitious aim to represent the variety of musical experiences that have impacted the R&B superstar.</P><P>" 'Twisted' is more of a nostalgic record, so when you think about the classic R&B record, we managed a way to modernize it, even though that's very relevant," the singer said. "You hear records like Cee Lo, you hear Bruno Mars and also Andre 3000, and that sound is very relevant in this time. So this was kind of our way to tie it all together and give you something different that you probably wouldn't normally get from me."</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Usher Calls 'Twisted' A 'Nostalgic' Record" id="vid:767985.id:1685137" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>Adapting current sounds and making them his own is a theme Usher is bringing in earnest to <i>Looking 4 Myself</i> and also reflects his philosophy of how to stay in the game. The star released his self-titled debut in 1994, when he was just 16, and has gone on to sell over 65 million records worldwide and score nine #1 songs and six more top 10 hits.</P><P>As for how he's managed to stay on top for so long, Usher revealed that it's important to never be insular when it comes to music. "Life is a workout, man, it's like a treadmill, and you gotta be with it, you gotta just stay with it," he said. "For me, I've had the fortunate ability to always be mindful of other things and other people. I'm not so caught up in what I'm doing that I can't be cognizant of what other people enjoy. ... Now, I think music should be used as a channel to really allow people to have different experiences. So, this album is all about bottling up those different experiences."</P><P>The connecting tissue that's given Usher the ability to explore world music — from full-on dance tracks like his new single "Scream" and his collaboration with David Guetta, "Without You," to more classic R&B slow jams like "Climax" and the old-school spare drum beat of "Twisted" — while delivering cohesive records has been his voice, which he said brings "the essence of soul and emotion" to each record.</P><P>"All of my career is kind of an unveiling, an unfolding story, and it ain't done. There's so much more that I'm going to do, so much that I've now just been interested in and been introduced to," he continued. "I just want that experience of having this very monogamous relationship with entertainment and acting in a way where I can really, really focus and become better."</P><P>Usher's commitment to tackling the changing face of music head-on and forging new roads in entertainment as he matures — he is currently training for a Sugar Ray Leonard biopic — is the key to his success, he said, concluding, "It's all about evolution for me."</P><P><i>Share your review of "Twisted" in the comments below!</i></p>
Related Videos Related ArtistsAdam 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
<P>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 <MTVNLINK type="url" id="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/led_zeppelin/artist.jhtml">Led Zeppelin</MTVNLINK>'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."</P><P>That's the song Adam Lambert chose to sing on <a href="/news/articles/1610708/adam-allison-shine-on-idol-rock-night.jhtml">"American Idol" rock night</a> 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 <I>Rolling Stone</i> magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004.</P><P></p><div style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;"> <embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtvmusic.com:84215" width="256" height="223" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashVars="dist=http://www.mtvmusic.com" allowFullScreen="true" AllowScriptAccess="always"></embed></div><p></P><P>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 <I>Led Zeppelin II.</i> 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.</P><P>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.</P><P>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.</P><P><b>Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' <a href="/news/articles/1486475/mtv-news-american-idol.jhtml">"American Idol" page</a>, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.</b></p>
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Beyonce Serenades Michelle Obama, Cements Comeback In Atlantic City
Queen B ascends her throne during the second in a four-night run of Memorial Day weekend shows.
By Rebecca Thomas
<P><b>ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey</b> — The "year of 4" continues.</P><P>Four months after giving birth to her first child — an arrival announced last August <a href="/news/articles/1669858/beyonce-vma-performance.jhtml">at the MTV VMAs</a> — <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyoncé</a> returned to the stage Saturday night, on the second of a four-night run in this East Coast resort city. And it was a spectacular fitting her rising icon status.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Beyonce Gets Back To Business, Kicks Off Summer!" id="vid:785342" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>So what kinds of clues get 20somethings calling you "the greatest performer" of your generation? Well, it's in the details. For one, Revel, the sparkling, 6.3-million-square-foot beachfront destination that played host to <a href="/news/articles/1685877/beyonce-memorial-day-atlantic-city-concert.jhtml">Beyoncé's comeback</a>, devoted a channel on its guest-room flat-screen TVs solely to B-related content: no weather broadcasts, nary a "Housewife" and no commercial breaks; just videos, all-star performances and more, all through Memorial Day weekend. It was evident in the distance traveled, too, with fans telling MTV News they'd made cross-country pilgrimages, while still others came from as far as Tokyo and South Africa to hail Queen B.</P><P>But those are just the hints, peripheral proof. The presence of First Lady Michelle Obama at last night's concert left little doubt that the little girl from Houston, who joined a girl group and then struck out on her own, had seen another benchmark in her relatively young career. After <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/04/13/michelle-obama-thanks-beyonce-for-letter">exchanging letters</a> in recent months, with each calling the other a role model for girls, Obama turned up in a sleeveless green sheath waving like royalty from a balcony in Ovation Hall.</P><P>A little after 10 p.m., as the pounding opening march from "End of Time" kicked in, Beyoncé appeared in silhouette; the sequins were hard to make out but the wind-blown mane was <i>impossible</i> to miss. Finally, B, stunning in hot pink Stuart Weitzman heels and a beaded body suit, appeared on the massive stage backed by her dancers.</P><P>"Atlantic City, snap your fingers," she commanded, launching into "Love on Top." Without missing a step of the New Edition-inspired choreography, B powered through the song's modulations in an extended vocal showcase. Then she took an exaggerated pause, as if to catch her breath (or to bask in the adulation?), before belting out a final coda. The 30-year-old's comeback was officially under way.</P><P>Pushing through hits from her debut solo effort, including "Naughty Boy" and the dancehall-infused "Baby Boy," and <i>Sasha Fierce</i> smashes like "Diva," B defied all post-partum laws as she kept pace with Frank Gatson's acrobatic dance style. ("Y'all don't know how hard I had to work. I had to lose 60 pounds!" she laughed to the crowd later. "They had me eating lettuce.") And just as songs like "Single Ladies" and "Run the World (Girls)" are meant to serve as empowerment manuals for women, it became clear last night that Beyoncé's choreography is meant to do the same: a series of sensual quickstep moves that revolve around the hips and legs. It showed in the Fosse-style swing and formations on songs like "Get Me Bodied," and the strut-heavy footwork on "Freakum Dress."</P><P>"Sasha Fierce disappeared, but y'all bringing her back," B joked midway through the euphoric two-hour set.</P><P>For one of our favorite numbers, "Party," the <i>4</i> singer donned full-on showgirl regalia in a heady rendition that saw confetti coming from the roof and dice-shaped beach balls being tossed through the crowd as dancers in large feathered headdresses magically turned up in the aisles.</P><P>There were ballads, of course, at Ovation Hall, the more memorable among them a tribute to Whitney Houston and a cover of Lauryn Hill's classic "Ex Factor." And if Beyoncé reminded us of what we've lost in those gut-wrenching covers — she proved, too, that she's more than ready to carry the weight on her shoulders.</P><P><i>Share your reviews of Beyoncé's Revel shows in the comments!</i></p>
Related Photos Related ArtistsMonday, May 28, 2012
Michael Jackson - They Don't Care About Us
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: MJJ
- Director: Spike Lee
- Album: So Many Stars
'Glee' Michael Jackson Episode: Rumored Set List Leaks
Perez Hilton reports that January 24 episode includes a 'Beat It' and 'Billie Jean' mash-up.
By Jocelyn Vena
<P>"Glee" has already dedicated entire episodes to <a href="/news/articles/1637098/madonna-gives-props-glee-episode.jhtml">Madonna</a>, <a href="/news/articles/1648829/britney-spears-glee-episode-everything-need-know.jhtml">Britney Spears</a> and <a href="/news/articles/1639871/glee-lady-gaga-episode-fantastic-matthew-morrison.jhtml">Lady Gaga</a>, and come 2012, it's the King of Pop's turn.</P><P>A rumored set list for the January 24 "Glee" Michael Jackson tribute episode has hit the Web, and it features some of the late singer's greatest hits. <a href="http://perezhilton.com/2011-12-27-glee-michael-jackson-tribute-episode-setlist#.TvoRm0rkk7A" target="_blank">Perez Hilton</a> reports that 14 tracks have made the final cut, although the list has yet to be confirmed by anyone connected with the show.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="'Glee' Cast Members Talk Michael Jackson Episode" id="vid:549513.id:1645343" width="240" height="211"></div><p></P><P>The set list (along with who will perform the track) reportedly includes "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' " (Blaine), "Bad" (the New Directions and the Warblers), "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (Finn and Rachel), "Smooth Criminal" (Santana and Sebastian), "Never Can Say Goodbye" (Quinn), "In the Closet" (Brittany and Santana), "We Are the World" (the New Directions and the Warblers), "Black and White" (Puck), "Ghost"/"Monster" (New Directions), "Beat It"/"Billie Jean" (Warblers), "The Way You Make Me Feel" (Kurt) and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (Artie).</P><P>This is hardly the first time the show has paid homage to Jackson. Back in 2010, the <a href="/news/articles/1657395/glee-thriller.jhtml">New Directions performed his track "Thriller,"</a> complete with zombie garb, during an episode that aired after the Super Bowl. The show has also previously covered "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" and "Man in the Mirror."</P><P>Back in 2010, the cast of the hit Fox show had only imagined what it would be like to have an entire <a href="http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2010/08/09/glee-michael-jackson/">episode dedicated to Jackson</a>. "I would love to do a Michael Jackson episode," Amber Riley told MTV News at the time. "You know, it's so many [songs that I love], but my favorite song by him is 'Human Nature.' I love that song."</P><P>While Riley seemed psyched about the opportunity, castmate Jenna Ushkowitz found the possibility a little more daunting. "That's a scary, scary episode to do," she said. "[But] that would be absolutely amazing."</P><P><i>Are you happy with the rumored set list? What's missing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!</i></p>
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Dimmu Borgir Release Live DVD; Plus Led Zeppelin, Brujeria, & More News That Rules, In Metal File
'It shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums,' guitarist says.
By Chris Harris
<P>On October 14, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/borgir_dimmu/artist.jhtml">Dimmu Borgir</a>Dimmu Borgir — who just happen to be <a href="/news/articles/1593780/demi-lovato-metalhead-metal-file.jhtml">Demi Lovato's favorite black-metal band</a> — will release a a three-disc DVD/CD set called "The Invaluable Darkness," the band's first visual offering since 2002's "World Misanthropy." Boasting live footage shot last year, during gigs in Norway, Germany and England, "The Invaluable Darkness" demonstrates the unbridled furor of seeing Dimmu live, guitarist Silenoz said.</P><P>"It shows the honest rawness and atmospheric darkness of our concerts," the Norwegian told <i>Metal File</i> last week, after <a href="/news/articles/1596201/this-moment-make-dream-reality-metal-file.jhtml">dismissing recent online rumors that his band's next LP would be coming out through Roadrunner Records</a>. "Basically, it shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums. It's just a different side to the band, basically."</P><P>Dimmu Borgir began thinking about "The Invaluable Darkness" two years ago, but didn't start capturing footage until last summer, Silenoz explained, adding that the band will use its current stint on the Blackest of the Black Tour — which got underway Thursday night in Miami Beach, Florida, and also features the tour's founder, Danzig, along with <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/moonspell/artist.jhtml">Moonspell</a>Moonspell, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/winds_of_plague/artist.jhtml">Winds of Plague</a>Winds of Plague and Skeletonwitch — to promote the DVD. Dimmu Borgir will not, however, use the tour to write material for their next LP.</P><P>"It's our first time on Blackest, but Glenn [Danzig] had wanted to bring us out before [on the tour], but we weren't available until now," Silenoz said. "We've done Ozzfest before, but we're looking forward to this tour more. We did the main stage on Ozzfest, playing in f--_ing broad daylight. This tour will let us play in bigger places, but at the same time showcase more of what the band's about, visually. We are going to concentrate on the tour for now. Some years ago, we tried putting [material] together on the road, but once we got home, we listened back to it, and were like, 'What the f--- <i>is</i> this?' So, we just scrapped it all. We find it's so much better to totally focus on one thing at a time, and then, when that's over, you move on to the next [thing]. We don't really feel like we need to rush things, anyway, so we'll just take our time, and it's going to be what it's going to be."</P><P>Dimmu Borgir hope to reconvene in late December to begin writing the follow-up to 2007's diabolically titled <i>In Sorte Diaboli.</i> "We have some ideas floating around already, but we haven't arranged any material yet," he said. "We'll start doing that once the touring for this DVD is over." The band's frontman, Shagrath, is also due to marry soon — he's engaged to actor Nicolas Cage's ex-girlfriend, Christina Fulton, so that may have an effect on when Dimmu finish their next album, which Silenoz said could be out this coming spring.</P><P>"I'm sure [Shagrath] won't let anything get in the way [of] the band — I think, I hope," the guitarist said. "We don't need a Yoko [Ono] situation."</P><P>While Dimmu have been at it going on 15 years now, Silenoz said he doesn't think their forthcoming material will be much of a departure from their previous black-metal offerings.</P><P>"And we have always been about more than just that term, 'black metal,' " he said. "Luckily for us, the older you get, the less concerned you get with the categorization and putting labels on your music. Things start getting more and more limitless with us, and we know that we operate within certain frames. But we try not to analyze things too much, because it's just going to be working against you in the end. When we write new stuff, we don't think about what we should write — we just get together, and put material together, and if we like it, we keep it. That's the formula, if we even have a formula."</P><P>Dimmu Borgir are definitely getting older — guitarist Galder will be missing Blackest because of a recent addition to his family, and <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/susperia/artist.jhtml">Susperia's</a>Susperia's Cyrus will be filling in for him; while former <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/vader/artist.jhtml">Vader</a>Vader drummer Dariusz Brzozowski takes over for Hellhammer, who had to leave the band in 2007 after sustaining a neck injury that's now limited the use of his right arm. As Dimmu has gotten on in years, Silenoz admits they have failed to keep pace with some of the more extreme black-metal acts that have followed in their wake.</P><P>"We helped open doors for the more extreme bands out there," Silenoz said. "I'm sure we helped open doors for bands like Watain, [insomuch as] people that had maybe started listening to us first then went on to the more extreme stuff. Let's face it — we're not as extreme as Watain and other bands like that, but we're fine with that."</P><P>The Blackest of the Black Tour continues through November 10 in San Francisco.</P><P>The rest of the week's metal news:</P><P>Dimmu's tourmates on Blackest, <b>Winds of Plague</b>, have announced ex-<b>Azusa</b> drummer <b>Art Cruz</b> has joined their ranks — he replaced <b>Jeff Tenney</b>. According to the band's blog, "Art has already added a new spark to the band and has provided us with a solid backbone that will allow us to continue our rampage stronger than ever." ...</P><P>What the world really needs is another <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/led_zeppelin/artist.jhtml"><b>Led Zeppelin</b></a><b>Led Zeppelin</b> box set, so, on November 4, Rhino Records will issue the <i>Led Zeppelin Definitive Collection Mini LP Replica CD</i> box set. For just $200, you'll get 1969's <i>Led Zeppelin,</i> 1969's <i>Led Zeppelin II,</i> 1970's <i>Led Zeppelin III,</i> 1971's <i>Led Zeppelin IV,</i> 1973's <i>Houses of the Holy,</i> 1975's <i>Physical Graffiti,</i> 1976's <i>Presence,</i> 1976's <i>The Song Remains the Same,</i> 1979's <i>In Through the Out Door</i> and 1982's <i>Coda,</i> as mini-LP replicas, with artwork from the original U.K. LP sleeves. Now, you know what you can get your dad for Christmas. ...</P><P>Former <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/killswitch_engage/artist.jhtml"><b>Killswitch Engage</b></a><b>Killswitch Engage</b> frontman <b>Jesse Leach</b> and current Killswitch Engage guitarist <b>Adam Dutkiewicz</b> have teamed up for a new project they're calling <b>Times of Grace</b>, and they've already started working on material for their debut album. According to Leach, "We have two songs to go and we will be finished with all of the vocals. Adam has taken lead vocals in three songs as of yet and he is doing a great job. We also worked on a track yesterday that is so epic — we trade vocals and do two different melodies at the same time. This album went from a melodic metal album to an epic mix of metal/rock/pop/shoegaze and punk. So all of your metal expectations will be incorrect — we are pushing genre boundaries." To quote "Meet the Parents," we'll look forward to that, Greg. ...</P><P><b>The Funeral Pyre</b> and <b>Early Graves</b> will be hitting the road together next month, starting November 7 in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dates are booked through November 21 in Hollywood. ...</P><P>The latest incarnation of <b>Brujeria</b>, which features <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/carcass/artist.jhtml"><b>Carcass</b></a><b>Carcass</b> frontman <b>Jeff Walker</b> and <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/napalm_death/artist.jhtml"><b>Napalm Death's</b></a><b>Napalm Carcass's</b> <b>Shane Embury</b>, have lined up several U.S. dates for this winter. The band will begin its brief trek November 28 in Denver, and wrap things up in Dallas on December 7. ... <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/demiricous/artist.jhtml"><b>Demiricous</b></a><b>Demiricous</b> will be touring with the <b>Gates of Slumber</b> starting November 9 in Denver, for a jaunt that's scheduled to run through December 6 in Indianapolis. ...</P><P>Nearly three years after <a href="/news/articles/1518428/roadrunner-holds-all-star-anniversary-bash.jhtml">Roadrunner Records' Roadrunner United concert</a>, which took over the Nokia Theater in New York's Times Square, the label is now releasing footage from that special night as "Roadrunner United: The Concert." The DVD, which hits stores December 9, will boast two discs and 24 live tracks, including <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/life_of_agony/artist.jhtml"><b>Life of Agony's</b></a><b>Life of Agony's</b> "River Runs Red," <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/king_diamond/artist.jhtml"><b>King Diamond's</b></a><b>King Diamond's</b> "Abigail," Killswitch's "My Last Serenade," <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/type_o_negative/artist.jhtml"><b>Type O Negative's</b></a><b>Type O</p>
Related ArtistsSunday, May 27, 2012
Jennifer Lawrence & BF Nicholas Hoult Are Going Strong
Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult are still very much in love. The couple, who was spotted hanging out in London together on Thursday, is still going strong after nearly a year and a half of dating.
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