Drake, Nicki Minaj, Usher And More At Hot 97 2010 Summer Jam
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1640945
FSU Cowgirls Gabrielle Union Garcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy
Monday, February 28, 2011
Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" Video - Watch Here!
The video for Lady Gaga’s controversial, wildly popular new single, “Born This Way,” has just been released, complete with a manifesto by the Mother Monster.
Directed by Nick Knight and choreographed by Laurie Ann Gibson, the video is vintage Gaga - elaborate, over-the-top performance art in seven-plus minutes.
We've seen her perform it at the Grammys. Now here's the official music video from the pop star. Watch it below and leave us a comment with your thoughts.
Lady Gaga - Born This Way (Full Video)
What do you think of the video for "Born This Way"?
Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/02/lady-gaga-born-this-way-video-watch-here/
Kendra Wilkinson, Others Confirmed For Dancing With the Stars
WWE star Chris Jericho, Kirstie Alley, Lil' Romeo and perpetually pregnant / divorcing tabloid mainstay Kendra Wilkinson are going Dancing With the Stars.
Six of the 11 celebrities who will appear on the show this spring, as well as their partners, have been confirmed prior to tonight's official announcement.
Those stars and the professionals partnering with them are ...
Cue the Kendra-Louis romance rumors and Kendra-Hank split rumors!
- Chris Jericho and Cheryl Burke
- Lil' Romeo and Chelsie Hightower
- Kendra Wilkinson and Louis van Amstel
- Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
- Wendy Williams and Tony Dovolani
- Disney star Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas
DWTS will officially announce the full cast tonight during The Bachelor.
Speaking of, some major Bachelor spoilers just leaked that you won't believe. Well, you won't if you believed all the spoilers this season up until now ...
New Led Zeppelin On The Way? Jason Bonham Hints At 'Jam' Sessions With Jimmy Page -- But Not Robert Plant
Drummer admits he doesn't know what will come of 'new material.'
By Chris Harris
Jason Bonham
Photo: Larry Marano/ Getty Images
On Friday morning, mere hours before he was due to take the stage with classic rockers Foreigner at Detroit's GM Renaissance Center, drummer Jason Bonham — the son of late Led Zeppelin kitman John Bonham — told Jim Johnson and Lynne Woodison of local rock station 94.7 WCSX that he'd be an ex-member of Foreigner as of September 1. But that's not the only thing he said.
Much to the delight of Led Zeppelin fans everywhere, Bonham revealed that he's been meeting up with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones in recent months and that they've been "trying to do some new material and writing."
It was the first time since Led Zeppelin announced they would re-form for a single performance (which happened late last year at London's O2 Arena, in honor of the late Ahmet Ertegün, who signed the band to Atlantic Records in 1969) that anyone connected to the band has confirmed publicly that new music could be on the horizon for the iconic rockers. While the bandmembers have stopped short of definitively ruling out such a reunion, singer Robert Plant insisted in the wake of last year's show that he intended to focus on promoting and touring behind his critically lauded album with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss, Raising Sand.
Not that Bonham knows what — if anything — will happen with the new material he's been working on with Page (who collaborated with pop singer Leona Lewis on an uneven version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love" at the Olympic closing ceremonies in Beijing on Sunday night) and Jones. He said he just shows up and takes his seat behind the kit.
"I've been over [to England] a couple of times," Bonham said. "I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do ... some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something. At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and start work on some material. When I get there, I never ask any questions. If I get a phone call to go and play, I enjoy every moment of it. Whatever it ends up as, to ever get a chance to jam with two people like that, it is a phenomenal thing for me. It's my life. It's what I've dreamed about doing."
He said it's still too early to tell what will become of these "jam" sessions, but admitted that the "possibility of doing something is in the cards. I really felt it was in the cards from the moment we walked offstage at the O2." Bonham also explained that, before there could be a Led Zep LP, "lots of politics [would need to] get ironed out," but added that recording with Zep is "something I've always wanted to do."
Bonham noticeably didn't mention frontman Plant's name during the discussion. A spokesperson for Page's management had no comment on the matter, and a spokesperson for Jones' management could not be reached by press time.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1593468/jason-bonham-hints-at-jam-sessions-with-jimmy-page.jhtml
Little Monsters React To Lady Gaga's Madison Square Garden Shows
Gaga's fans call her "empowering" and talk about their favorite moments from the shows.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
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Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year
Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff
Alison Krauss and Robert Plant accept the award for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards on Sunday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
"I'm bewildered," Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the Grammy Album of the Year award with Alison Krauss on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."
He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because Raising Sand, which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect Grammy album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.
You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history.
Really, she's the key to Sand's success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released.
And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain.
And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified.
To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.
One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album.
"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards."
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604582/plantkrauss-win-album-year-grammy.jhtml
Cate Blanchett?s Lovely Oscar Arrival
Representing Australia with pride, Cate Blanchett was seen arriving at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards this evening (February 27).
The ?Curious Case of Benjamin Button? babe looked absolutely fabulous in a lavender Givenchy haute couture dress from the Spring 2011 collection.
And while she?s not up for an Oscar this time around, Cate told press she?s proud that there are 10 Aussies in contention for an Academy Award tonight.
Ms. Blanchett gushed, ?We are a very small industry and to have so many recognized is fantastic.?
Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/academy-awards-2011/cate-blanchett%E2%80%99s-lovely-oscar-arrival-481254
Michael Jackson - Hold My Hand
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Columbia Records/SMG
- Album: Michael
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=605180
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Katy Perry Praises Beyonce In Elle
'I think diva is a great and powerful word in the sense of what Beyoncé makes it,' the pop star says in the magazine's cover story.
By Jocelyn Vena
Katy Perry on the March issue of <i>Elle</i>
Photo: Carter Smith/Elle
Katy Perry not only glams up for the new issue of Elle, but she also gets real. The singer — who is gearing up for a big performance on this Sunday's Grammy Awards — dishes on diva behavior, discusses her personal life and even reveals how much she weighs in the fashion magazine's latest cover story.
"I feel like I'm at a point in my life right now where I could potentially stick around," Perry says about her outlook on being a pop star. "I don't feel like a diva, but I think diva is a great and powerful word in the sense of what Beyoncé makes it. And maybe I can't be Beyoncé, but maybe I can be Cyndi Lauper. I mean be like her, not be her. That would just be weird."
The singer also admits to having some ambitions outside of the entertainment world. "I think some people will die on the stage, and I'm not so sure I want to do that. Like, I want to have kids!" she explains. "I'm totally fine with saying that. I think some people are scared because they're worried it's going to ruin their career, but I want to live a full life."
That full life, these days, includes her hubby, Russell Brand, who she says is her perfect better half. "Everything clicked really fast. We kind of instantly got past all the surfacey stuff. And ever since then, there hasn't been a dull moment," she says. "We both needed balance, and we give that to each other. It wasn't about me taming him, which is what everyone always says — it was about timing."
Perry doesn't hold back at all, revealing details about her weight that very few celebrities seem willing to share with the world. "I was shaped like a square at one time. I was! I'm generally around 130 pounds, which is totally fine for me," she confesses. "But when I was a kid, I was the same height and weighed more like 145. And I had enormous boobs that I didn't know what to do with, so I wore minimizers, which were not cute. Those thick-ass straps! I got made fun of for the over-the-shoulder boulder holder ... and all I wanted was to look like Kate Moss. Little did I know ... that these things would come in handy someday."
What do you think about Katy's Elle confessions? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657471/katy-perry-praises-beyonce-elle.jhtml
James Van Der Beek Up the Parenting Creek
"She's brilliant," the actor, 33, laughs to PEOPLE. "Easily smarter than the father, already! Way smarter than me!"
Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/6rYTq_FT5h4/
New 'Never Say Never' Clip Shows Justin Bieber Singing With Fan
The 'Director's Fan Cut' teaser captures the teen sensation performing an acoustic version of 'Baby' with a young girl.
By Eric Ditzian
Justin Bieber in the new "Never Say Never" clip
Photo: Paramount
Earlier this week, "Never Say Never" director Jon Chu promised MTV News that his new "Director's Fan Cut" of Justin Bieber's 3-D flick would deliver 40 minutes of fresh footage, including different songs (such as "Favorite Girl"), some more shirtless shots of the teen singer ("Maybe some abs!") and extra scenes of him interacting with fans.
With the recut movie hitting theaters on Friday (February 25), Paramount Pictures has released a clip showing just that: the Biebs hanging out with some of his young fanatical followers. The 71-second promo shows Bieber — pre-haircut, of course — at an intimate gathering in Phoenix. While the pop star gives an acoustic performance on a small stage, his fans beg him to play "Baby," but he jokes, "I don't know that song."
He then declares to a very young fan, "I'll only sing 'Baby' if you come up here and sing it with me." Cue the cuteness. The girl sits on his lap and together they belt out the hit single.
This isn't the first time we've seen Bieber show off an easy, breezy way with his youngest fans. Last year, he popped up on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" to surprise a 3-year-old Belieber named Cody who'd become an Internet sensation after her sister posted a video of her crying over the teen heartthrob on YouTube. As he tweeted later, "Makin faces with Cody!"
The re-released "Never Say Never" represents an effort both to goose box-office receipts three weeks after the film's initial opening and to feed the Beliebers' seemingly insatiable appetite for anything and everything connected to the star.
"We originally had a two-and-a-half-hour version of the movie, which we obviously couldn't release," Chu explained to us. "So we started to think about putting stuff back in that didn't have to do with our story but that we knew people would love."
Are you planning to go see the "Director's Fan Cut" of "Never Say Never"? Let us know in the comments.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658725/justin-bieber-never-say-never-clip.jhtml
Gisele Bündchen Giuliana DePandi Giulianna Ramirez Grace Park
Adele's 21 Set To Debut At #1
Projected big sales come after a slew of the singer's tour dates had to be moved to larger venues.
By Alex Chapman
Adele
Photo: Jon Furniss/ WireImage
Fame has never been Adele's top priority, but these days, there's no stopping the singer's rapid rise in popularity.
Adele's star is only growing brighter on both sides of the pond. According to the singer's website, a slew of her U.S. tour dates had to be moved to bigger venues to meet popular demand (she even added extra gigs in New York). In addition, according to Reuters, her latest album, 21, is projected to move as many as 300,000 copies by Sunday, guaranteeing a #1 debut in America.
The 22-year-old has mentioned in the past that she has no desire to share the celebrity of her contemporaries. "I was just thinking, imagine being someone like Cheryl Cole or Katy Perry or Gaga, where you've got to be conniving to have a normal day," Adele told Britain's The Sun earlier this month. "That scares the life out of me. I don't think I'd be able to carry on doing music if it got to that point. I don't think it ever will -- I don't think I'm the kind of artist where that will happen."
The singer/songwriter has also mentioned that she prefers a smaller scene to an outsize stadium. "I can't do arenas because I'm not [Lady Gaga]," Adele was recently quoted as saying.
But don't let the singer's seemingly reserved mentality fool you: Adele wants her music to cross over to the States, even if she doesn't desire the forceful spotlight that follows. "It's a big deal in England," Adele told MTV News of success in America. "I didn't think I'd ever release a record here."
Have you checked out Adele's latest album? Share your reviews in the comments!
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658784/adele-21-tour.jhtml
Lindsay Lohan Will Give Her First Post-Rehab Interview To ?Extra!? TV
Lindsay Lohan, who (absent the errant tweet here and there) has remained relatively quiet since since she got out of rehab last month and just weeks ago was charged with felony grand theft. Extra! TV has announced that they have scored the FIRST interview with L. Lo since her release from rehab and subsequent legal [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/lJw-qDYHu18/
Michelle Behennah Michelle Branch Michelle Malkin Michelle Obama
Extreme Musicians Tell Child Where Babies Come From
You can spit raw pig organs out into the crowd, play blast beats at deafening volume or wear enough corpse paint to clog your pores until next Halloween, but the real test of whether a musician has balls of steel can b tested most effectively by an eight year old kid asking them where babies [...]
Source: http://blog.mtvmusic.com/2010/05/28/death-metal-icons-explain/
Katy Perry Praises Beyonce In Elle
'I think diva is a great and powerful word in the sense of what Beyoncé makes it,' the pop star says in the magazine's cover story.
By Jocelyn Vena
Katy Perry on the March issue of <i>Elle</i>
Photo: Carter Smith/Elle
Katy Perry not only glams up for the new issue of Elle, but she also gets real. The singer — who is gearing up for a big performance on this Sunday's Grammy Awards — dishes on diva behavior, discusses her personal life and even reveals how much she weighs in the fashion magazine's latest cover story.
"I feel like I'm at a point in my life right now where I could potentially stick around," Perry says about her outlook on being a pop star. "I don't feel like a diva, but I think diva is a great and powerful word in the sense of what Beyoncé makes it. And maybe I can't be Beyoncé, but maybe I can be Cyndi Lauper. I mean be like her, not be her. That would just be weird."
The singer also admits to having some ambitions outside of the entertainment world. "I think some people will die on the stage, and I'm not so sure I want to do that. Like, I want to have kids!" she explains. "I'm totally fine with saying that. I think some people are scared because they're worried it's going to ruin their career, but I want to live a full life."
That full life, these days, includes her hubby, Russell Brand, who she says is her perfect better half. "Everything clicked really fast. We kind of instantly got past all the surfacey stuff. And ever since then, there hasn't been a dull moment," she says. "We both needed balance, and we give that to each other. It wasn't about me taming him, which is what everyone always says — it was about timing."
Perry doesn't hold back at all, revealing details about her weight that very few celebrities seem willing to share with the world. "I was shaped like a square at one time. I was! I'm generally around 130 pounds, which is totally fine for me," she confesses. "But when I was a kid, I was the same height and weighed more like 145. And I had enormous boobs that I didn't know what to do with, so I wore minimizers, which were not cute. Those thick-ass straps! I got made fun of for the over-the-shoulder boulder holder ... and all I wanted was to look like Kate Moss. Little did I know ... that these things would come in handy someday."
What do you think about Katy's Elle confessions? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657471/katy-perry-praises-beyonce-elle.jhtml
Britney Spears - 3
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive, Jive Label Group
- Director: Diane Martel
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=452061
Saturday, February 26, 2011
'Hall Pass' Leads Friday Box Office
Comedy bags $4.6 million; Nic Cage's 'Drive Angry' flops in ninth place.
By Shawn Adler
Jason Sudeikis and Owen Wilson in "Hall Pass"
Photo: Warner Bros.
Oscar weekend is typically a time for movie insiders to recognize high-brow, dramatic fare. But no matter who takes home the statues Sunday night, it's the raunchy, hilarious team behind flicks like "There's Something About Mary" and "Kingpin" who are taking home the gold.
"Hall Pass," starring Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis, topped all comers at the Friday-night box office with an estimated $4.6 million from 2,950 screens. If form holds, it will be the first # 1 opening for writing/directing duo Peter and Bobby Farrelly since 2000's "Me, Myself and Irene."
Not far behind in second place, Liam Neeson's "Unknown" managed to punch up nearly $3.9 million from 3,043 screens in its second week of release. Two years after dominating the February box office with "Taken," the secretly badass star should push "Unknown" past $40 million total by the end of the weekend.
While America's love affair with Neeson waxes, however, its relationship with Nicolas Cage may have waned irrevocably. New release "Drive Angry," featuring the Oscar winner turned action star's latest wackadoo performance, was good enough for only $1.6 million and ninth place. The weak opening is the latest in a string of recent flops for Cage, including "Season of the Witch" and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice."
In third place, "Just Go With It" starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston pulled in $3.3 million. Rounding out the top five, "Gnomeo and Juliet" and "I Am Number Four" earned $3.16 million and $3.14 million, respectively.
With a new "Director's Fan Cut", out this weekend only, Justin Bieber managed to hold strong at sixth place, as his 3-D concert flick "Never Say Never" scored $2.7 million. The flick's cumulative gross should breeze past $60 million this weekend.
Among Oscar hopefuls, "The King's Speech" (eighth place) continued its impressive run. The presumptive favorite at the Academy Awards brought its total to $108 million with a $1.9 million Friday haul.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658790/hall-pass-leads-friday-box-office.jhtml
New Led Zeppelin On The Way? Jason Bonham Hints At 'Jam' Sessions With Jimmy Page -- But Not Robert Plant
Drummer admits he doesn't know what will come of 'new material.'
By Chris Harris
Jason Bonham
Photo: Larry Marano/ Getty Images
On Friday morning, mere hours before he was due to take the stage with classic rockers Foreigner at Detroit's GM Renaissance Center, drummer Jason Bonham — the son of late Led Zeppelin kitman John Bonham — told Jim Johnson and Lynne Woodison of local rock station 94.7 WCSX that he'd be an ex-member of Foreigner as of September 1. But that's not the only thing he said.
Much to the delight of Led Zeppelin fans everywhere, Bonham revealed that he's been meeting up with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones in recent months and that they've been "trying to do some new material and writing."
It was the first time since Led Zeppelin announced they would re-form for a single performance (which happened late last year at London's O2 Arena, in honor of the late Ahmet Ertegün, who signed the band to Atlantic Records in 1969) that anyone connected to the band has confirmed publicly that new music could be on the horizon for the iconic rockers. While the bandmembers have stopped short of definitively ruling out such a reunion, singer Robert Plant insisted in the wake of last year's show that he intended to focus on promoting and touring behind his critically lauded album with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss, Raising Sand.
Not that Bonham knows what — if anything — will happen with the new material he's been working on with Page (who collaborated with pop singer Leona Lewis on an uneven version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love" at the Olympic closing ceremonies in Beijing on Sunday night) and Jones. He said he just shows up and takes his seat behind the kit.
"I've been over [to England] a couple of times," Bonham said. "I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do ... some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something. At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and start work on some material. When I get there, I never ask any questions. If I get a phone call to go and play, I enjoy every moment of it. Whatever it ends up as, to ever get a chance to jam with two people like that, it is a phenomenal thing for me. It's my life. It's what I've dreamed about doing."
He said it's still too early to tell what will become of these "jam" sessions, but admitted that the "possibility of doing something is in the cards. I really felt it was in the cards from the moment we walked offstage at the O2." Bonham also explained that, before there could be a Led Zep LP, "lots of politics [would need to] get ironed out," but added that recording with Zep is "something I've always wanted to do."
Bonham noticeably didn't mention frontman Plant's name during the discussion. A spokesperson for Page's management had no comment on the matter, and a spokesperson for Jones' management could not be reached by press time.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1593468/jason-bonham-hints-at-jam-sessions-with-jimmy-page.jhtml
Justin Bieber Is 'Really Growing Up,' Says 'Never Say Never' Director
Jon M. Chu says teen star is 'learning how to interact with people.'
By Eric Ditzian
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
MTV News first interviewed Justin Bieber in September of 2009, when the pint-size pop singer was on the cusp of breaking beyond his core audience into mainstream pop stardom. Then 15 years old and relatively new to the national media spotlight, Bieber wasn't nervous so much as generally tentative, a bit clipped and repetitive in his answers.
When Bieber walked into the MTV Newsroom earlier this month to promote the difference in his on-camera demeanor couldn't have been more different: He projected a breezy confidence, at times humorous or eye-on-the-prize focused, and was engaging throughout.
That Bieber has truly matured — not just as an artist, but as a person — isn't apparent only to those who occasionally cross his path. Jon M. Chu, who directed and began working with the singer in August, has noticed the change as well.
"With the movie and going to the Grammys and being respected on so many different levels beyond just his own fanbase, he's really growing up and learning how to interact with people," Chu said.
The director said he noted a great difference in the young star's disposition following the completion of his seven-month, 86-show tour.
"He's just had time to rest," said Chu, who started shooting "Never Say Never" as Bieber was in the midst of that nonstop North American tour. At first, Bieber was standoffish. Only gradually did the two establish a close creative partnership.
"Half of it was just me gaining trust with him because I was in his face with a camera," Chu said. "It was very much like 'Almost Famous,' where I was just on the bus and he didn't really want me there. Once we got past that, we were fine."
Have you noticed a change in Justin Bieber? Tell us below!
Check out everything we've got on "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and Justin Bieber updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658527/justin-bieber-never-say-never.jhtml
Shannon Elizabeth Shannyn Sossamon Shiri Appleby Sienna Guillory
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.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1610709/adam-lamberts-whole-lotta-love-story-behind-cover.jhtml
Stone Temple Pilots Reunited In Hopes Of Opening For Led Zeppelin, Bassist Says
'If time allows, there will definitely be new music,' Robert DeLeo adds of STP's future.
By Chris Harris
Stone Temple Pilots' Robert DeLeo and Scott Weiland
Photo: Charley Gallay/ Getty Images
There are a number of reasons why Stone Temple Pilots decided to reunite after nearly five years apart — some are obvious, and others, not so much.
Of course, the financial windfall of reviving the grunge stalwarts for an extensive U.S. tour was too good to pass up, and bassist Robert DeLeo readily admits as much. And then there are the fans, the ones who had been with STP since the very beginning as well as those who discovered the band only after it first split back in 2003 and who, woefully, have yet to catch the Pilots live.
On a more personal level, though, Stone Temple Pilots' resurrection was purely selfish, and very much an anticipatory (not to mention optimistic) move on the band's part: If, after the months and months of rumors and denials, there ever is a full-on Led Zeppelin reunion tour, STP wanted to be ready to offer their services as an opening act.
"Believe me, that was one of the reasons," laughed DeLeo. "We thought, 'We should get together now, in case Zeppelin does tour.' I'm serious, man. That would be one hell of a bill: STP and Led Zeppelin. I mean, we could play a doghouse, out in the middle of the ocean, and if I got to play with Zeppelin, that would be a highlight of my life."
Yes, DeLeo — and the rest of the band — had several reservations about raising STP from the dead — a feat DeLeo jokingly referred to as "Mission Impossible." For the band's members, the idea of regrouping was terrifying at first, but with time, the boys settled their differences and tried to think positive.
"For me, it was about putting down some of the things that I was used to getting bitten by," explained the bassist — who, with guitar-playing brother Dean DeLeo, has been collaborating with Peter Frampton on material for his next LP. "After you get bitten, it's hard to go back. I wanted to go into this with an open frame of mind and a positive attitude and just have fun with it. We should have fun with it, which God knows we didn't always have with our career when we were younger. If that's all I can say, and that's what I can get out of this reunion, great.
"I think I speak for all of us when I say there's a lot of unfinished business that we didn't get around to the first go," he continued. "Enough time has gone by, and it feels really good to be back. I don't really want to put too much thought into how it feels — I'm just kind of going with it and keeping a good positive attitude about it. I just needed to get over the things that we all needed to get over, and that's been working so far. If everyone shows up and does this thing, I think it's going to be really amazing."
DeLeo claims that during recent rehearsals, STP were "sounding as good as ever," and he credits sobriety as part of the reason the band's in tip-top shape.
"My brother's going on four years of sobriety," he said. "We have a lot more clarity in the band now, and I think with clarity comes appreciation. I saw that the other night, when we played [a secret gig in Los Angeles]. I saw it in my eyes, and in the eyes of the rest of the band. There's a lot more rock in this band now."
As for an STP record, DeLeo is not 100 percent sure that's going to happen. The goal for STP over the next few weeks, he said, is to reacquaint themselves with their songbook and prepare for their return to the road. Once the band is back in that mindset, the bassist said new STP material is very possible.
"I've always got stuff written, and there's always a long list of songs that are always there — it's a matter of timing," DeLeo said. "If time allows, there will definitely be new music. I think it would be silly not to release new music. I'd like to believe we still have a writing relationship, but the first step is getting reacquainted with what we know."
While STP were on hiatus, frontman Scott Weiland teamed up with Velvet Revolver, and the DeLeo brothers joined forces with Filter's Richard Patrick for Army of Anyone — who are now on hiatus after releasing a poorly received self-titled LP. Does DeLeo foresee an AOA reunion somewhere down the line?
"You never know," he said. "It's just like STP — I didn't know if I was going to return. Whether we get back together and do anything, I think we made a great record, bottom line. That's all that matters to me. If we make another one, I want to make sure it's great, and that applies to STP and anything I do. But I was pretty heartbroken over [the feeble response to AOA's album]."
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1586020/stone-temple-pilots-reunited-tour-with-zeppelin.jhtml
Ke$ha - Tik Tok
- Artist: Ke$ha
- Label: RCA
- Director: Syndrome
- Album: Animal [Clean]
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3213641&vid=445445
Genelle Frenoy Georgianna Robertson Georgina Grenville Gina Carano
BRAVO?s Bethenny Ever After *PREMIERE* ? Airing THIS Monday Feb 28th
Bethenny, Jason and baby Bryn are back! Jump right on in to the crazy and stressful day-to-day as Bethenny tries to juggle her business, her baby, and her in-laws, proving to be a challenge right from the get-go. As Bethenny and Jason head out of New York City for a visit to Jason’s parents, the [...]
Friday, February 25, 2011
Oscars Best And Worst Fashions: Experts Weigh In!
MTV News asked a pair of fashion-industry notables to share their choices for the best and worst looks in Oscars history.
By Jocelyn Vena
Miley Cyrus at the 2010 Oscars
Photo: Getty Images
The Academy Awards are just days away and that means that soon enough some of Hollywood's biggest names will be hitting the red carpet while donning some of the most haute couture they can get their hands on. But, before they hit the carpet, MTV News reached out to some fashion-world experts and asked them to weigh in on the event's best and worst looks ever, which the stars perhaps should take note of before they decide on what to wear.
We caught up with fashion-industry maven and People's Revolution founder Kelly Cutrone, as well as Faran Krentcil, digital director at Nylon magazine, who divulged their favorite and least favorite looks from Oscars history.
Best
Cameron Diaz in Oscar de la Renta, 2010:
Both Cutrone and Krentchil agreed that this was a winning look for the star. "On another actress it might have looked a little overdone, but Cameron managed to make the dress look like it was just lying on her bedroom floor, and she grabbed it on her way out of the bath. That's true star power, isn't it?" Krentcil explained.
Maggie Gyllenhaal in Dries Van Noten, 2010:
"I think that it's not that hard to put a beautiful dress on a girl and get away with it, and then there are people who really understand it ... I think that Maggie Gyllenhaal was a great example of that," Cutrone revealed. "Dries was not obvious; it's an inside brand. It's really about beauty and aesthetic."
Miley Cyrus in Jenny Packham, 2010:
Cutrone felt that Miley's look bridged the singer/actress from, well, tween star to teen star. She explained, "The truth of the matter is she has gone from a Disney star to a Vanity Fair cover girl and it brought it back to the middle. [She] really shined."
Natalie Portman in Lanvin, 2005:
"This dress was slightly see-through and the color of a gasping sea monster," Krentcil recalled of the outfit. "And its floaty shape and grey-blue-green-purple shimmer made it beyond chic."
Anne Hathaway in Valentino, 2009:
Krentcil didn't have much more to say than "yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes," about why the beaded, white sheath worked so well for this year's Oscars co-host.
Worst
Charlize Theron in Dior, 2010:
"She looked ridiculous and she's so beautiful. She deserved to wear something better," Cutrone noted, adding about the outdated nature of the dress, "It looked like a Gaultier throwback piece, not like Dior. I didn't know Nancy Reagan was working for Dior."
Jennifer Lopez in Giorgio Armani Privé, 2010:
"All those angular pieces, they look bizarre, and I'm hoping that this season we get rid of the asymmetrical art pieces," Cutrone explained about the Gaga-esque style J. Lo wore.
Angelina Jolie, 2000:
Jolie went gothy that year and Krentcil explained that "the whole thing was so Addams Family weird, when she started making out with her brother, we were too distracted to notice."
Gwyneth Paltrow in Alexander McQueen, 2002:
While noting that Paltrow's Ralph Lauren dress in 1999 tops her list for great looks, Krentcil said about her 2002 look, "The thing is, the dress would have worked without the bun hair and the weird chunky necklace — go with a practically bare face and loose, wavy tresses and all of a sudden, everyone would have wondered why they weren't as cool as Gwyneth."
Kate Winslet, 1998:
"Kate Winslet was my favorite actress in high school, so I was really disappointed when she showed up in an Oscar gown that looked like Maria Von Trapp had made it from the Sound of Music curtains," Krentcil explained. "Fortunately, her Yves Saint Laurent dress last year was so amazing, it exonerated this bummer of a gown."
Will it be a regal evening for "The King's Speech"? Can "The Social Network" dial up Oscar gold? Don't miss MTV News' "2011 Oscars Live" at 6 p.m. Sunday, February 27, when we'll be chatting with your favorite Hollywood stars live from the red carpet on MTVNews.com, and stick with us all Oscar night for winners, interviews, photos and more!
Related Videos Related PhotosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658633/oscars-fashion.jhtml
James Van Der Beek Up the Parenting Creek
"She's brilliant," the actor, 33, laughs to PEOPLE. "Easily smarter than the father, already! Way smarter than me!"
Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/6rYTq_FT5h4/
Poppy Montgomery Portia de Rossi Rachael Leigh Cook Rachel Bilson
Kanye West Abortion Tweets Revealed
People are fuming about Kayne West?s abortion Tweets and rightfully so. If you have not heard about the crap that West was talking then my friends you need to keep reading as I will reveal just what he had to say about the controversial topic. I must warn you though very explicit language is used [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/eOWaOPi0s0o/
Michael Jackson Estate Rakes In $310 Million To Date
Singer left behind more than $400 million in debt.
Michael Jackson
Photo: Time Life Pictures/DMI/Time Life Pictures/Getty Im
Between album sales, movie profits, licensing arrangements and lucrative deals for Cirque du Soleil shows, the estate of late King of Pop Michael Jackson has raked in more than $300 million since the singer's shocking death in June 2009.
According to TMZ, legal documents released on Thursday reveal that executors of MJ's estate have managed to make a major dent in the more than $400 million in debt that Jackson owed at the time of his death.
The first accounting from the executors shows that they have already spent around $159 million paying back various debts, income taxes and other expenses, which include providing support for the pop star's mother, Katherine Jackson, as well as his three young children.
"Although there remain unresolved creditor claims, pending litigation and additional challenging business, tax and legal issues, and the estate is not yet in a condition to be closed, the executors have made substantial progress in reducing the estate's debt," the documents state, according to a Reuters report. Two of Jackson's longtime confidants, attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain, were named as administrators in a will sign by the pop icon.
In addition to paying to make "substantial improvements" to the Jackson family's Havenhurst estate in Encino, California, the executors also spent an undetermined amount of money on "last illness and funeral and memorial service expenses." Those costs included a $900,000 payment to the Forest Lawn Memorial cemetery where Jackson is buried and $35,000 on expenses described as "costume for memorial."
TMZ reported that not only did the famously cash-strapped Jackson have more than $400 million in debt, but his estate also owed more than $40 million to concert promoter AEG tied to the scuttled This Is It Tour, for which MJ was rehearsing when he died unexpectedly. They've also paid $27.2 million in taxes and $4 million in mortgage payments on Jackson's properties.
Despite the solid sales of the Michael album and millions of units of the singer's back catalog being sold, as well as the box office of the "This Is It" movie and DVD sales, the estate is not nearly out of the woods. TMZ noted that the administrators have received more than 65 creditors' claims, some of which are subject to "extremely high" interest rates, and there are several outstanding lawsuits against the estate in several countries.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658290/michael-jackson-estate.jhtml
Kristin Davis Is 'Not So Into' A 'Sex And The City' Prequel
Actress says adaptation of Candace Bushnell's 'Carrie Diaries' would be 'kind of freaky.'
By Eric Ditzian
Kristin Davis
Photo: Christopher Peterson/ BuzzFoto/ FilmMagic
That makes two of 'em. First Sarah Jessica Parker let it be known that she doesn't think the idea of a rumored "Sex and the City" prequel is such a hot idea. Now her co-star on the big and small screen, Kristin Davis, has joined her in putting down the rumored project.
"Not so into the prequel movie," she told E! Online. "Because we're us and we've discussed our history in the show already so for all of our fervent fans who listen to what we say, why would we rewrite that? And then have like different people with our names? It's kind of freaky."
Earlier this month, reports suggested that studio execs were discussing an adaptation of "The Carrie Diaries," Candace Bushnell's 2010 novel that follows Carrie Bradshaw before she arrived in the Big Apple. Writer/director Michael Patrick King was said to be eying Blake Lively to take on the Bradshaw role in what was described as not an '80s flashback flick, but a more contemporary vision of the character's younger selves. Lively has since denied she'd be starring in the film.
While the first "Sex and the City" movie became an international smash hit in 2008, grossing over $400 million at the worldwide box office, last summer's follow-up ended up a critical punching bag and failed to cross the $100 million mark domestically. Nonetheless, Parker and Davis are holding out hope for a third film.
"I don't think we can pretend to go back. It's creating two histories," Parker told the Los Angeles Times of the prequel idea, but added of a third film featuring the established cast, "I think there's one more story to tell. I know there is."
Said Davis, "I'm always hopeful, and I always believe there's another story to tell because these are these women's lives, so why wouldn't there be another chapter. [But] I don't know if it will happen."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658582/kristin-davis-sex-and-the-city-prequel.jhtml
Michelle Rodriguez Michelle Trachtenberg Mila Kunis Milla Jovovich
Britney Spears Makes Your Body Pop On Femme Fatale Teaser
Producer Dr. Luke gives fans a snippet of 'How I Roll' from Brit's March 29 album.
By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears' <i>Femme Fatale</i>
Photo: Jive
Judging by the snippets we've heard from Femme Fatale, Britney Spears is ready to dance. Late Wednesday night, Spears' producer Dr. Luke tweeted out another tease for the track "How I Roll."
"I just might be feeling like giving u another snippet ..... maybe," Luke wrote. "Should it be a [producers] bloodshy and avant song??? something like that," he added before sending a link to the song.
The teaser opens with Britney cooing "ooh ahh" as beats and synths kick in. Those are jumbled with handclaps before Spears begins singing lines like, "Show your knee socks/ With tequila on the rocks/ Till you make your body pop/ To the speakers."
"In my opinion, this is her strongest album ever. It's somewhat of a departure from what she's done. It's more mature," manager Larry Rudolph told MTV News about Femme Fatale, which he even likened to a Madonna classic. "It's more of a dance record. ... This really is Britney's Ray of Light album."
Spears herself has hinted that the album will have fans dancing. "I would describe it as moody, edgy pop with A LOT of energy. I co-wrote a couple of songs. I think it's some of the best work I have ever done. There are a few mid-tempos that could be considered ballads," Spears said during a Twitter Q&A this month.
"I have a lot of history with #MaxMartin and @TheDoctorLuke so it's always fun to collaborate with them," she continued. "They make such incredible music. I'm so excited and I can't wait for you guys to hear it. I think its some of the best work I have ever done!"
What do you think of what you've heard so far from "How I Roll"? Tell us in the comments!
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658608/britney-spears-how-i-roll.jhtml
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Simon Cowell Breaks Down 'X Factor' Rules, Reveals Audition Dates
'You will have never seen a show like this before in America,' former 'American Idol' judge says in new promo.
By James Dinh
Simon Cowell
Photo: Ian Derry / FOX
While "American Idol" draws closer to the live stage of the singing competition, the U.S. version of "X Factor" will soon begin its countrywide search for the next global superstar. In a new promo for the highly anticipated competition, Simon Cowell talks about the rules for the forthcoming series, promising that America has yet to see a show like this.
"The show is basically a singing competition with a twist," the music executive says in the promo. "The auditions are open to anyone who can sing. You can be 12; you can be 112. You can be in a group; you can have 100 people in the group. It doesn't matter."
Cowell goes on to explain that the contestants are later separated into four categories: young guys, young girls, older singers and vocal groups. However, "X Factor," which premieres in September, isn't just a challenge between talented singers, but also between judges, who will mentor contestants once they make the final rounds.
"I'll assure you one thing. You will have never seen a show like this before in America and a lot is going to happen that will surprise you," Cowell continued. "But as a platform, if you're a performer, this is going to be a great opportunity for you."
In addition to the contest's age freedom, Cowell explained that contestants will have to audition in front of a live audience, saying, "If you can come out and nail it in front of 3,000 or 4,000 people, then you've got the makings of a star."
Ultimately, the former "Idol" judge said he's serious about his search for talent in America. "I'm going to come back to America and say, 'I'm serious about this' and 'I'm serious about finding talent,' " he said. "I'm going to guarantee the winner of this competition 5 million cash. It's a $5 million audition, and you're going to get the cash if you win; you just better be good."
"X Factor" audition dates, according to a press release:
» 3/27 - Los Angeles, CA @ Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
» 4/7 - Miami, FL @ Bank United Center
» 4/14 - Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
» 4/20 - Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
» 4/27 - Chicago, IL @ Sears Centre Arena
» TBA - Dallas, TX @ TBA
Are you excited for the U.S. version of "X Factor"? Tell us in the comments!
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658617/simon-cowell-x-factor.jhtml
It's Wedding Bells on ABC's 'General Hospital'
Feb 23 - After years of drama 'General Hospital' supercouple Brenda and Sonny finally got hitched this week. Actress Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo, who plays Brenda, talks about how she's happy the two finally tied the knot.
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/its-wedding-bells-abcs-general-hospital/1-h-326274
Britney Spears - 2008 Video Of The Year: Britney Spears "Piece of Me
2008 Video Of The Year: Britney Spears "Piece of Me
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
- Director: Wayne Isham
- Album: Blackout
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=421943
Bridget Moynahan Britney Spears Brittany Daniel Brittany Lee
And The Hits Just Keep On Comin?
Last night our evening’s entertainment took place at Joe’s Pub where a group of David’s friends and we took in a live show called Our Hit Parade. Weekly, a group of NYC’s finest Illuminati of the arts perform renditions of the Top 10 Songs of the Week … to much hilarity. Before we went to [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/hpHKdvW-gDo/
Minka Kelly Minki van der Westhuizen Miranda Kerr Mischa Barton
Michael Jackson's 'Moonwalker' To Get U.S. Theater Debut?
A Hollywood cinema is searching for a print of MJ's 1988 film with plans to give it a 'one night only' screening.
By James Montgomery
Michael Jackson's "Moonwalker"
Photo: Warner Bros.
Michael Jackson's short-film anthology "Moonwalker" may finally get a debut theatrical screening in the United States more than 20 years after it was released.
Back in 1988, MJ first unveiled the ambitious project, which contained several long-form videos for songs off his then-just-released Bad album, including his famous 25-minute clip for "Smooth Criminal." The film had been scheduled to be released in U.S. theaters that Christmas, but for whatever reason, that plan was scrapped. The movie was released on VHS early in 1989, and — surprise, surprise — became a massive success. But now, more than two decades after its debut, one theater is planning to give "Moonwalker" a proper premiere here in the States.
According to TMZ, Hollywood's Arclight Cinemas is actively searching for a print of the film, with plans to show it on the big screen ... for one night only.
The idea came after Jackson fans flooded Arclight's Facebook page with requests to show "Moonwalker," and the theater is now on the hunt for a copy of the flick. Even if the search is successful, there's no word on when the premiere would occur. The theater had not responded to MTV News' e-mail seeking a comment by press time.
However, Jackson fans might not want to hold their breath. In a follow-up story, TMZ reported that the late singer's estate had blocked Arclight's attempts to secure a print of the film, with a spokesperson for the theater telling the website: "We contacted the film's directors and producers and were finally directed to MJ's estate attorney [who] let us know the estate has the [film's] rights but have no plans to make ... prints available for rent at this time."
"Moonwalker" features videos for Jackson tracks like "Speed Demon" (directed by Claymation innovator Will Vinton), "Leave Me Alone" (which was released as a promo and won Jackson a 1989 Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form) and, as mentioned, the iconic "Criminal," which features Jackson battling a group of mobsters led by Joe Pesci.
The flick also served as the inspiration for the super-awesome Sega game "Moonwalker, which featured a digital MJ morphing into a laser-blasting robot with the aid of his chimpanzee pal, Bubbles.
Would you go see a theatrical screening of Jackson's "Moonwalker" film? Tell us in the comments.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1656298/michael-jackson-moonwalker.jhtml
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Kimberly Conrad: Hugh Hefner?s Wife, Baby Daddy
Kimberly Conrad is Hugh Hefner’s wife, actually she is now his ex as the two have finally divorced after being separated for an entire decade, crazy! So why did the former Mrs. Hefner stay with her baby daddy for so long, you find out that and more about the beautiful Kimberly below. There are even [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/bRV8UH16uHA/
Michael Jackson's 'Thriller': Story Behind The 'Glee' Cover
MJ classic is mashed up with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'Heads Will Roll' for post-Super Bowl episode.
By Aly Semigran
"Glee"
Photo: FOX
Madonna, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and now, finally, Michael Jackson. The cast of "Glee" has covered plenty of icons during their first two seasons, but it's taken 33 episodes to get around to the King of Pop.
With a huge catalog of Jackson songs, the singing, dancing students of McKinley High paid homage to the late singer with one of his biggest staples (and, arguably, the greatest music video of all time) with their take on "Thriller."
The groundbreaking single from Jackson's best-selling album of the same name was mashed up with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Heads Will Roll" for the post-Super Bowl episode (titled "The Sue Sylvester Bowl Shuffle"), featuring a zombie-fied "Glee" cast.
Bound to become a smash all over again (though with its nonstop rotation at Halloween parties and wedding receptions until the end of time, it's never truly gone away), here's a brief history of the dance/pop classic.
Released on January 23, 1984, "Thriller" was the seventh, and final, single to be released from Jackson's smash record. According to the RIAA, the album (released by Epic Records) has gone gold 29 times, narrowly edging out the Eagles' Greatest Hits 1971-1975 for the title of best-selling album of all time.
In 2009, MTV News estimated that the Thriller album was poised to go triple diamond, meaning 30 million records sold in the U.S. alone.
After Thriller's other singles (including "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and "Wanna Be Startin' Something") dominated the charts, it was time for the spooky, undeniably original track to take over. The song "Thriller" also appeared on many of Jackson's other albums, including the compilations HIStory and Number Ones.
Clocking in at a little under six minutes (though the radio edit was closer to four-and-a-half), the song features pop-music mainstays like synthesizers but shakes things up with its spooky sound effects, including creaking floors, howling and thunder.
The song was produced by Quincy Jones and written and composed by Rod Tempterton and spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #4.
But it's the music video for "Thriller" that truly made it the phenomenon it was in the '80s and continues to be today. Less a music video than a mini-motion picture, the video (over 13 minutes long and directed by John Landis) won three MTV Video Music Awards and has been named the best music video of all time by many outlets, including VH1 for the special "VH1: 100 Greatest Videos."
The chiller features Jackson in that iconic red leather jacket on a date with his girlfriend (played by Ola Ray) before things go terribly awry. After all, as Jackson (whose disclaimer at the start of the video reads, "This film in no way endorses a belief in the occult") sings in the opening line, "It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark." Cue werewolves, zombies, Vincent Price's soliloquy and one of the most memorable dance sequences ever.
The video was (no pun intended) a monster hit. As the Los Angeles Times notes, "At the height of the song's popularity, MTV would run the 14-minute 'Thriller' video twice an hour."
Choreographed by Jackson and Michael Peters (who, as the LA Times also reported, appears in the video as one of the zombies) and with makeup by Oscar-winner Rick Baker (also an undead "Thriller" extra) was made with a huge budget of an estimated $500,000.
Still, the efforts paid off. Landis (who told the "Today" show back in 2009 that no one wanted to give them the funds to make the risky vid) made the accompanying 45-minute documentary about the venture, called "The Making of Thriller." Featuring the behind-the-scenes wizardry, as well as the music video in full, it would go on to move more than 10 million copies.
Since then, the signature song and video have seen their share fair of tributes in movies (notably in the 2004 comedy"13 Going on 30") and TV ("South Park," "Family Guy," "30 Rock," among others), not to mention the countless flash mobs that have gone viral. (Remember the prisoners in the Philippines who became overnight phenomenons on YouTube?)
Even with the "Glee" number, this likely won't be the last incarnation of "Thriller." Billboard reported in October that a "Thriller" film is in the works. With a plot allegedly revolving around Price's narration, Kenny Ortega, who directed Jackson's last effort, "This Is It," will reportedly helm the project.
Since Jackson's untimely passing on June 25, 2009, the song and video's legacy continue to live on. In the week following Jackson's death, "Thriller" was the best-selling track in the U.S., with sales of 167,000 copies on the Billboard Hot Digital Singles chart.
Then, in December 2009, "Thriller" was the first music video to ever be inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. It seems "no mere mortal can resist ... the thriller" after all.
What did you think of the "Thriller" mash-up on "Glee"? Let us know in the comments!
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657395/glee-thriller.jhtml
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