Chris Brown And Usher Perform In Jamaica
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Thursday, June 30, 2011
'Transformers 3' Box Office: How High Can It Go?
'Dark of the Moon' might not make as much as 'Revenge of the Fallen,' but that doesn't make it a failure.
By Eric Ditzian
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
Photo: Paramount Pictures
Last month, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" corralled $92.2 million over its opening weekend — the highest total of 2011. How could Jack Sparrow possibly complain? Well, that lofty sum was still well below the openings of both 2006's "Dead Man's Chest" ($135.6 million) and 2007's "At World's End" ($114.7).
The fact is, even the most robust of movie franchises tend to wane in terms of box-office bucks; the familiar pattern is a first film that sets the stage, a second installment that cashes in on the anticipation and then subsequent offerings that can't continue the upward trend. Such is the case with "Transformers."
There's much to celebrate with "Dark of the Moon," which enjoyed a first-day gross on Wednesday of $42.5 million (when you count midnight screenings), beating the first-day pull of "On Stranger Tides" (a Friday release, no less). That puts the third "Transformers" film on track for a seven-day debut of as much as $200 million or more. So why might Optimus Prime be dissatisfied with that opening? "Revenge of the Fallen" opened to $62 million on a Wednesday in 2009, on its way to a one-week total of almost $240 million.
Yet any dissatisfaction must be tempered with historical box-office perspective. "The fact that 'T3' didn't measure up to 'T2' isn't really a surprise, as the fatigue factor finally caught up to the franchise," said Jeff Bock, box-office analyst for Exhibitor Relations. "This is the case for most films series as they reach the threequel. Plus, it didn't help 'Transformers' that the second film was, for the most part, trashed by critics, fans and even the filmmakers."
While "Dark of the Moon" is off to a comparatively slow start, some industry observers believe it could pick up over the holiday weekend. "Everything we're seeing on Facebook and Twitter indicates that word-of-mouth is extremely positive," said Phil Contrino, editor of Boxoffice.com. "It's still a bit early to rush to judgment on how well this is going to hold up over the holiday frame. It could explode in a big way over the weekend."
Perhaps. Or not. There's no doubt the franchise took a public-opinion hit after the second film. And while the third one offers perhaps the finest use of 3-D since "Avatar," it comes at a time when audiences are battling back against a host of shoddy 3-D offerings by simply not paying the extra bucks for another dimension. "Dark of the Moon" is a victim of the three-dimensional failings of "Clash of the Titans."
At the same time, we can't ignore the worldwide situation. Globally, "Dark of the Moon" might well eclipse the $836 million total of "Revenge of the Fallen" (just as "On Stranger Tides" could end up being the biggest "Pirates" flick when international grosses are factored in). Thus, Optimus rejoices!
So where does all this leave "Transformers" going forward? Both star Shia LaBeouf and director Michael Bay have declared, in no uncertain terms, that they plan to end their involvement with the series after three films. Both creatively and financially, that might not be such a bad thing.
"This franchise needs new blood and a new angle going forward," Bock said, going on to suggest the fourth film needs to leave the familiar environs of Earth behind and deeply explore the robot alien's home planet. "Maybe a trip to Cybertron will be the spark 'Transformers 4' needs. Don't bring it to us, we'll come to you! But we will likely have to wait three to four years."
Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Slash Light Up Super Bowl XLV Halftime Show
Foursome is joined by special guests and tons of lights for smash-hit medley.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Black Eyed Peas perform during the Super Bowl XLV halftime show
Photo: Getty Images
The Black Eyed Peas promised a party at the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday (February 6), and the pop supernovas definitely delivered, with a performance teeming with lights, dancers and surprise appearances from celebrity pals.
Following a Chatter.com commercial that showed animated versions of the Peas showing off their social-media skills, the group kicked things off with their 2009 smash "I Gotta Feeling," descending from the ceiling on illuminated platforms onto a stage surrounded by a cluster of dancers clad in white bodysuits. The foursome led the team of fist-pumping troops in "Tron"-like getups, with Taboo sporting an outfit covered in flashing lights, will.i.am rocking a shiny hairpiece, Apl.de.ap wearing huge bright studs and Fergie vamping it up in bling-laden shoulder pads.
When the speaker-busting bass of "Boom Boom Pow" dropped, the dancers dispersed across the field to create arrow-shaped formations as the glow-in-the-dark lights on their suits illuminated the stadium. Then rumored surprise guest Slash of Guns N' Roses rose from below the stage for a "Sweet Child O' Mine" duet with Fergie. The GNR great rocked a finger-searing solo in a studded version of his signature black top hat as more angular platforms and dancers moved across the gridiron. The platforms were bearing scores of marching-band musicians who blasted their horns and pounded away on their drums as the Peas went into "Pump It" and blue lights splashed across the production.
Quick streams of fog heralded the arrival of the Peas' second surprise guest, Usher, who swooped in on a long chain to bust out his will.i.am-assisted joint "OMG." Rocking a sparkly collar on an otherwise all-white ensemble, the R&B hitmaker cranked out several counts of energetic choreography, enlivening moves from his "OMG" video and at one point jumping over Will and landing in a split.
A spray of pyro ushered in the collective's breakout 2003 hit "Where Is the Love?" as the oddly shaped platforms spelled out the word "Love" in bright-red letters. The team of dancers, which appeared to have multiplied to over 100, formed hearts across the field as will updated the lyrics of the smash with lines like, "Obama, let's get these educated."
Then the group jumped ahead to their most recent single, 2010's "The Time (Dirty Bit)," as several back up hoofers rocking cubed helmets joined the Peas onstage and dancers lined up along the gridiron to simultaneously bust out the Running Man, a move which drew cheers from the crowd.
The platinum-selling Peas wrapped up the performance with a reprise of "I Gotta Feeling," as the quartet triumphantly signed off amid of blitz of fog, firepower and flashing lights.
Ripping the halftime show was clearly a touching moment for will, who tweeted beforehand, "Me and apl started the peas when we were 16 yesterday we were dreamin now were livin it. Wow. I'm not crying out of sadness or nervousness its joy and pride and memories and the journey."
And once the crew left the stage, the frontman was not only proud, but pumped. "That was so freakin sick," he wrote. "Wow...!!!"
What did you think of the Black Eyed Peas' Super Bowl performance? Let us know in the comments!
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Beyonc� - Ego (Remix)
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Beyonce, Frank Gatson
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=401347
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Britney Spears? Beyonce? Fans Pick Their Best Albums Of 2011 (So Far)
You can vote for your favorite album of the year over on the Newsroom blog!
By James Montgomery
Britney Spears' Femme Fatale
Photo: Jive
On Wednesday, I published my picks for the Best Albums of 2011 (So Far), a list that included the likes of Lady Gaga, Eminem, the Foo Fighters and Adele, but not Beyoncé, Britney Spears or Chris Brown.
And while I definitely heard some complaints about the albums I did include (Born This Way was too low, 21 was too high, Hell: The Sequel should've been in the top 10, etc.), it seems that the overwhelming majority of folks out there had a bigger problem with the albums I didn't — namely, Femme Fatale, 4 and F.A.M.E.
So, in the interest of fairness, we launched a poll over on our Newsroom blog and asked you to vote for your favorite album from the first-half of 2011; so far, more than 18,000 votes have been cast, and Born This Way leads Femme Fatale by a slim margin. But if you haven't cast your ballot yet, don't fret, because the poll will remain open until Thursday (June 30) at midnight ET.
Vote for your favorite 2011 album right now in our Newsroom poll!
But if you remain undecided, well, then we've got some compelling arguments for you: Comments and — very open — campaigning (plus some actual compliments) from MTV.com readers and Facebook users, each making a case for their favorite album of 2011. Of course, if you feel like sounding off with your picks, do it in the comments section below. And now, on with the acrimony!
"How could you forget Britney Spears? Femme Fatale was the most anticipated album of the year. The thing I hate is that Britney doesn't get recognized enough. Femme Fatale is the best album!" — IfUSeekPeanut:)
"You guys would put Lady Gaga [on the list] and not include Britney's Femme Fatale album! I'm sorry, but despite all of the Auto-Tune and lack of song writing, it's still one of the best dance albums of the new millennium! Gaga ... OMFG, don't even get me started, her album is NOT all that! JUST 'cause she writes her own songs doesn't make them the best songs lyrically! [And] Beyoncél's 4 is not even included? Completely DELUSIONAL list!" — Tony Moreira
"Wow. Femme Fatale gets praises from pretty much everyone in the music industry and it doesn't make the list. Lady Gaga makes sales ... okay, [but] she has yet to top Britney's records (even when she pretty much gave away Born This Way)." — Jdtgu
"Adele is good but all her songs are about breakups, which is depressing, She does deserve some Grammys. And where the f--- is FEMME FATALE? Britney Spears is NOWHERE HERE? That's insane!" — jonny A.
"I was listenin' to Adele back in '07 and never looked back and I always kinda thought maybe she will be the big star she deserves to be. Her album 21 is so honest and real and vulnerable. I'm sorry but I don't think there is any album out or coming out that will be able to compare. [Also], so glad y'all shed a light on Lykke Li's album. She is a very underrated artist. I didn't think she could do better than Youth Novels, but, damn she did the damn thing on Wounded Rhymes. [It's] another classic from Lykke Li." — Mark Anthony Sanchez
"I love that there aren't just mainstream artists on this list, but I will say Femme Fatale doesn't deserve to be on it. I'm not bashing the girl because some of her songs are good (they still weren't written or conceived by her) but it's not anywhere close to these albums. I do love Adele, but I think Gaga basically murdered everyone with her album." — L3M0NAQUA
"I loved Adele's new album! Also I loved Chris Brown's new album too! Britney's was awesome!" — Kayla Copes
"Okay, so let's start voting for people with some real talent, not people that can put on a show. FOO FIGHTERS AND ADELE. There's the talent." — Carrie Heuberger
"Sorry, but you obviously placed Adele's voice at #2 and NOT her mediocre album. Yes, it WILL get the Grammys it deserves BUT it would be a dead-boring album without her strong voice ... In my opinion Adele is ranked too high, but can you blame [the writer] for ranking a HUGE voice at #2 ? Born This Way, well, it could be higher BUT it is a COMPLETE honor that it is the ONLY album from a mainstream pop artist that made it to NUMBER FREAKING FOUR!" — Spyros Venturis
What do you think? Let us know in the comments or vote in our Newsroom poll.
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Lady Gaga's Meat Dress Stays Fresh At Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
It's 'definitely one of the stranger pieces' on display, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame curator Jim Henke tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga at the 2010 VMAs
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images
Oh, that meat dress! Nearly a year after Lady Gaga wore it at the MTV Video Music Awards, the costume made of various cuts of meat that designer Franc Fernandez and stylist Nicola Formichetti put together is still making headlines.
On Thursday (June 16), that dress will join the "Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power'' exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, where it will sit on display along with Gaga's childhood piano and Armani Prive orbit gown, which she wore to the 2011 Grammys, until February 2012.
"I was talking to Lady Gaga's managers, and this is probably around November [of last year], and basically talked about different things, and we talked about the meat dress and we thought it would be great to add it to the exhibit just because of all the notoriety it has, so that's basically how it came about," RRHOF chief curator Jim Henke told MTV News. "We thought the meat dress would really be cool."
So, how will the folks at the Rock Hall keep it fresh until it wraps up its stint there? "It's going to be in a case and we are putting some canisters in there to control the humidity, and then we have this other canister that soaks up the glutens," he explained. "But it's in a sealed case and we have the gels to control the environment in there."
However, it took some work to get it to the point where it can hang around the Rock Hall along with a number of other high-profile memorabilia without seeming super-gross. Henke explained, "We went back to Franc Fernandez ... ultimately what we decided to do, we sent it to a taxidermist, they put it into a meat locker and then we started working on it and created this [chemical] solution and treated it with that.
"And then they had a body form, and when it was still wet, they put it on the body form and then it dried on there," he continued. "And then they had to do a little bit of painting to bring it back and give it a little bit more color."
Gaga hasn't been shy about making the dress into jerky or wanting to have her extensive wardrobe in a museum, as she shared on "The Graham Norton Show." "I keep everything and dream of having a museum of all my clothes. I have an archive house for all my clothes," she said. "[The dress has] been jerked. It stank. It was fabulous. I never want to talk to anyone at those big celebrity functions because I feel awkward, and it was great — because it stunk, I didn't have to talk to anyone."
Having the dress in the exhibit is quite an honor and it's an interesting piece, but Henke notes this isn't the most bizarre exhibit at the RRHOF. "Definitely one of the stranger pieces," he laughed about the dress, adding, "There are some other weird things. We actually have [pioneering radio DJ] Alan Freed's ashes."
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Lady Gaga Unveils Panda Alter Ego On Japanese TV
'Gagapanda' jokes she's 'been eating a lot of bamboo this week' before revealing plans for 2012 tour, having babies and more.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga appears on the Japanese talk show "Sukkiri"
Photo: Sukkiri
Lady Gaga is currently in the planning stages for her next tour. After wrapping up her epic Monster Ball run earlier this year, Gaga teased her plans on a Japanese talk show on Tuesday (June 28).
"All over the world and I'm already planning," she said of the trek, which she expects to kick off at the top of 2012. "I'm so excited I can't even go to sleep at night."
Gaga appeared wearing a black-and-white dress, with her hair done up in two buns and her eye makeup painted in two panda-like circles. "I really like pandas," she told the hosts of her look, adding, "pandas have paws, and I always tell my fans to put their paws up. I've been eating a lot of bamboo this week," she joked. (Shortly after the appearance, the singer even began referring to herself as Gagapanda on Twitter.)
She then played a little game called "Yes or No," where she was asked questions about her popularity on Twitter, her love of cooking, her clothes and more. She later elaborated on some of the topics. "My dream is to continue to make music and tour and do as much as I can to give as much back to my fans," she said. "Personal dreams? I suppose one day I'll have panda babies."
Gaga owned up to having one major fear, however. "The only thing I really get scared of is missing out on moments with my family 'cause I travel so much, so I call my mom and dad every day," she said. Asked whether she was scared of ghosts, Gaga said, "No, we can be friends." She went on to add, "I love Japanese monster movies. I actually believe in ancestors. I have a lot of family in my past like my Aunt Joann and my grandfather that have passed on and I talk to them."
What do you think of Gaga's panda-inspired look? Tell us in the comments!
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Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Usher Says New 'Rev Pop' Project Is A 'Movement'
Singer teases his new project by pointing to past hits like 'Yeah!' and 'OMG.'
By James Montgomery
Usher
Photo: MTV News
With the success of songs like "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love," "Hot Tottie" and "OMG," Usher had himself a fairly massive 2010. But rather than rest on his laurels, he's looking to build on his big year, not with an album, but with a "movement."
It's something he's calling "Rev Pop" — or, simply, "Rev" — and though he's already teased his idea in a video with David Guetta (Akon is also involved), he has yet to speak in full about it. So when MTV News caught up with Ush before the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles at the (Belvedere) RED launch party, we asked him about his next musical endeavor. And though he didn't reveal much, he did let it be known that "Rev" isn't exactly something new. In fact, he's been doing it for a while now.
"I'll give it to you this way: At a later date, I'll tell you more about Rev Pop, but if I were to give you a flash: I've done it before, I did it with 'Yeah!' " he said, "taking a cultural experience, and also worldwide recognition of a feeling, and putting the soul in the middle of it. Not allowing it to shift heavily to R&B genre, or pop. I did it again with 'OMG,' once again putting the soul in the middle of it, which was an electric-pop experience, with the soul.
"It's bringing those elements together to tell a story, that was born here," he said, gesturing toward his heart, "And that's what Rev Pop is. There's more, I mean, I could really elaborate, but that's just what I'm going to tell you right now. 'Rev' is what it's called ... the movement is called Rev."
Usher wouldn't say just when his fans would be getting their first taste of Rev, but whenever they do, it sounds like they're going to be impressed ... if not a little shocked.
"Stay alive," he smiled, "Because you're definitely going to be in for a surprise."
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Usher, Ke$ha And More Help Dance Music Go Pop In 2010
But is it here to stay? Our music-industry experts weigh in.
By Akshay Bhansali
Ke$ha
Photo: Andreas Rentz/ Getty Images
In 2010, pop princesses, R&B icons and chart-dominating newcomers all danced to the same beat. Not only did dance music go pop, but pop music caught the club-music bug.
Between Katy Perry's "Firework," Ke$ha's "We R Who We R," Rihanna's "Only Girl (In the World)," Enrique Iglesias' "I Like It," Usher's "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" and "OMG" and countless other singles, established artists definitely looked to dance beats for surefire hits. And two of this year's biggest success stories in music were Jason Derülo and Taio Cruz; could there be a soul left in this country who hasn't heard "Dynamite" or "In My Head"?
The love went both ways, with dance music's biggest stars finding mainstream success this year. Dance-music maestro deadmau5 took up house-artist duties at this year's VMAs, and Swedish House Mafia and Usher teamed up for a medley of their gems at the American Music Awards.
So how did this happen? We caught up with some music-industry experts to get their takes.
"You definitely saw tempos go up this year," Jon Caramanica of The New York Times told MTV News. "And I think what you had are a lot of producers who are really familiar with nightclub stuff. They are familiar with Europe. Things are happening on a more global scale now."
"I think everything from Europe, and sometimes even Asia, it comes to America, and we just adopt things a little bit slower," said Jared Eng of JustJared.com. "I think it was just a change. People like different types of music at different times. And dance was of this moment."
Noah Callahan of Complex magazine added: "I think 2010 saw the merging of the pop and dance genres. Pop artists realized that there were best practices that could be borrowed from dance music. And, ultimately, [all] pop music that has been made in the past 20 years had ended up being remixed for the club by dance artists. I think they basically just cut out the middleman and went straight there."
Dance music being introduced into the hip-hop and R&B realms was particularly notable this year.
"I think David Guetta kind of at the end of last year and the beginning of this year spearheaded it," said freelance writer Julianne Escobedo Shepherd. "He produced a lot of tracks. I think as trends go, people revile 'unst-unst.' But it's just coming back around. Big-room techno was a way for people to get decadent in a year that no one could get decadent."
"You have someone like will.i.am, who's like, 'Well, I spent all this time in Ibiza, and this is what they are doing,' and he wants to find a way to bring that into his music," Caramanica said of the Black Eyed Peas mastermind. "R&B especially became dance music. And especially with your Jason Derülos, Taio Cruzes. Guys like that would have literally been blocked at the border two years ago. That would not have made it through customs. And now all of a sudden they have #1 songs. I think will.i.am had a lot to do with that last year."
Elliott Wilson of RapRadar.com added: "It's actually even affected hip-hop. I was talking to Q-Tip, and his next record, I feel like that's gonna kind of go in that vein. I know that was also Jay-Z's thought process with Blueprint 3 at first, that he wanted to make a little bit more of a world music [vibe], a little more dancey. I think the kids today want to go to the clubs. They wanna have a good time. They wanna dance. So I think the artists of today are trying to kind of feed that audience."
"I think it's caught on this year because the people who've done it have been successful," offered Clover Hope of Vibe magazine. "Like 'OMG,' with usher, he didn't have success until he made a dance record. He had 'There Goes My Baby' and these really, like, adult-contemporary records that didn't really catch on. And then once you see that everybody is doing it and that people are liking it, they are like, 'OK, let me just try this out.' It's like Auto-Tune. Like, 'Let me see what I sound like on a record by David Guetta.' They end up liking it and doing more of it."
So does the club-music trend have staying power. According to our tastemakers, not so much.
"I do think it's a blip," Caramanica said. "I don't think that's gonna be something that lasts in America. I think this is gonna be a moment we'll all look back on and go, 'Wasn't that weird when Jason Derülo and Taio Cruz had #1 records?"
"At some point, these R&B artists will get kind of sick of it and be like, 'Let me go back to my soul background,' " Hope said. "When you actually have to say something, dance doesn't really lend itself to substance. And I think that R&B artists, they really want to talk about love and in a deep way, and to do that, you need to do, like, a soul or a traditional R&B record. I want to say that it's kind of a fad."
"I think music is very cyclical," Eng offered. "So I think dance music might be here for a little bit, but I'm sure it will phase out at some point."
Wilson called dance music "the sound of today. I think that people want more aggressive, faster beats, and I think that that probably has legs until at least next summer."
What do you think? Is dance music here to stay? Let us know in the comments!
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Usher - Trading Places
- Artist: Usher
- Label: Zomba/LaFace Records
- Director: Chris Robinson
- Album: Here I Stand
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=285678
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Justin Bieber: I'm A Country Boy
The newly minted CMT Music Award winner says he shares his mother's love of the country sound.
By Jocelyn Vena
Photo: The Insider
Before he took home the trophy for Collaborative Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards on Wednesday night, Justin Bieber professed his love for all things country on the red carpet.
"I'm really glad to be here," he told CMT, with the guys of Rascal Flatts by his side. "It's great."
It wasn't just an exciting night for him, but also for Mama Bieber, who happens to be a big country music aficionado. "It's great; it's so many people my mother admires, 'cause she loves country music, and I do too," he continued. "So it's really great to be here with Rascal Flatts."
It was on the set for his winning video, "That Should Be Me," that Bieber first cut his hair. In the end, the sacrifice of his trademark locks seemed worth it.
"Some of the fans liked it; some of the fans didn't. They were just upset he cut it," Bieber joked, nodding to Rascal Flatts' Gary LeVox.
The video for "That Should Be Me," a Never Say Never - The Remixes track (which was a reworked version of the song that first appeared on My World 2.0) is a lo-fi, behind-the-scenes, "making of the video" performance clip. But it was good enough to beat out the likes of country music superstars like Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson; Kid Rock featuring Sheryl Crow; Loretta Lynn, Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow, as well as Aaron Lewis featuring George Jones and Charlie Daniels.
"First of all, I just want to say how honored I am to be here ... with Rascal Flatts," Bieber said while accepting his first country award. "How amazing are Rascal Flatts, everybody? I want to thank my mom. I want to thank my family. And I want to thank Rascal Flatts for even jumping on the song with me."
Would you like to see Justin Bieber try out other genres of music? Talk about it in the comments!
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Tom Petty Demands That Michelle Bachmann Stop Campaigning With ?American Girl?
It?s not been the most flattering month for Republican presidential hopeful Michelle Bachmann?after insisting that John Quincy Adams was a founding father (he was around 9 years old at the time), and that serial killer John Wayne Gacy was John Wayne (really), she?s now, to quote Rolling Stone, ?gone and pissed off Tom Petty.? According [...]
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Clarence Clemons, In Memoriam: The Big Man, In More Ways Than One
The iconic sax man for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band (and Lady Gaga) towered over contemporary music for nearly five decades.
By James Montgomery
Clarence Clemons
Photo: Getty Images
Clarence Clemons was affectionately known as "The Big Man," probably because, well, he was a big man. Standing six-feet, four-inches tall -- and nearly just as wide -- he towered over Bruce Springsteen, the E Street Band, and whomever else he shared the stage with during his five-decade career, casting a shadow as formidable as it was striking (it's no wonder Bruce decided to lean on him, like some sort of lamppost, on the cover of 1975's Born To Run).
But his physical size only told part of the story. Because Clemons was also a massive talent, a saxophonist as adept at filing an arena with his booming solos as he was providing a rock-solid backbone to Springsteen's churning, yearning rock. He was the Big Man because everything ran through him, because he was capable of both taking the lead (like on "Jungleland") and laying back in the cut (like on "10th Avenue Freeze Out," where his presence definitely shapes the song, but at no point overshadows its other components), and because of the tones he charmed from his sax ... crisp and clear-eyed, grandiose yet gritty, big yet decidedly blue-collar (just like he was), no one played like Clarence did. And when he died on Saturday at the age of 69 after complications from a stroke he suffered last week, not only did we lose a mountain of a man, but an icon as well.
See photos of Clemons throughout his career.
Simply put, Clemons was the most prominent sax player in popular music. And as proof, I'll ask you to name any of his contemporaries. Chances are, you can't; not because they don't exist, but because they couldn't begin to approach his stature. He was the go-to guy when the stars needed a session hand (recording with the likes of Aretha Franklin and Twisted Sister, and performing live with everyone from the Grateful Dead to Ringo Starr,) and, more recently, Lady Gaga tapped him to perform on her Born This Way album -- he appears in her new "The Edge Of Glory" video, a move that no doubt introduced his sublime playing to a whole new generation of fans. Shoot, he even appeared on "The Simpsons," "The Wire" and "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure," where he played, fittingly enough, one of the Three Most Important People in the World.
Remember Clemons with us on Facebook.
In passing, he leaves behind a catalog that's nearly as massive as his frame: not only his notable guest appearances, but several solo albums (and records he cut with backing bands like the Temple of Soul and the Red Bank Rockers) and, of course, the myriad of albums he cut with Springsteen and the E Street Band. And it's on those recordings -- starting with 1973's Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. and continuing right on through 2009's Working on a Dream and last year's reissue The Promise -- where Clemons not only shone the brightest, but also showcased the reason why he earned his "Big Man" nickname. Sure, he burns on songs like "Badlands" and "Born To Run," but listen to his work on songs like "Prove It All Night" and "Dancing in the Dark" (to name six dozen) ... the times where he proves to be the Bigger Man, letting his fellow bandmates get their share, too.
Rarely has there been a player so soulful and selfless ... one so secure in his own status that he was willing to let others shine. It's why Clarence Clemons will forever be known as "The Big Man," and why, even in death, he still casts a formidable shadow over popular music and popular culture. He was the sax man's sax man. To paraphrase Springsteen on "Freeze Out," not only was the change was made uptown when the Big Man joined the band, but the mould was broken, too.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666007/clarence-clemons-career-dead-dies-69.jhtml
Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi Ana Paula Lemes Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello
Ke$ha - Take It Off
- Artist: Ke$ha
- Label: RCA
- Director: Paul Hunter, Dori Oskowitz
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3213641&vid=549666
Christina DaRe Christina Milian Christina Ricci Chyler Leigh Ciara
Los Angeles
I'm here! I'm here! And I saw my first gang-banger get arrested yesterday so I feel like a total Angeleno.
I'm getting ready to go to the gym (again, like a total Angeleno!) so I will update later about my run-ins with Alexander Skarsgard, Pauly Shore, and Jeremy or Jason London (I'm not sure which one it was and seeing if I could force him to do drugs to find out seemed unfair. Besides, as it turned out, he was telling the truth?)
Anyhoo, I've got a lot to tell you about gardening! (Did you know if you get dirt wet it turns into mud? Yuck.)
And bumpers! (They don't bump off anything... they go, "Scraaaaaaaatch!")
And there's probably more but, again, I have to go because I have to get to the gym!
Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/6/9/los-angeles.html
Anna Friel Anna Kournikova Anna Paquin AnnaLynne McCord Anne Marie Kortright
'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon' Is The End For Shia LaBeouf
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" may or may not be the end of the "Transformers" franchise on the big-screen ? I'm betting on "may not," for what it's worth ? but it's definitely the end for Sam Witwicky.
Like Michael Bay before him, Shia LaBeouf has long said that he's not likely to return to the [...]
Like Michael Bay before him, Shia LaBeouf has long said that he's not likely to return to the [...]
Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/06/28/transformers-dark-of-the-moon-shia-labeouf/
Giuliana DePandi Giulianna Ramirez Grace Park Gretha Cavazzoni Gwen Stefani
Ke$ha, Adam Lambert, Ne-Yo Have A Few Royal Wedding Gift Ideas
From 'guyliner' to American delicacies like Uncrustables, Kathy Griffin, Mike Posner and more tell us what they'd get Will and Kate.
By Terri Schwartz
Kate Middleton and Prince William
Photo: Ben Stansall/ Getty Images
What kind of wedding gift do you give the royal couple who has everything?
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is on Friday (April 29), so MTV News reached out to some of our favorite Hollywood celebrities — from Ke$ha to Adam Lambert. Fortunately, they had some solid ideas!
"I haven't met them, so it would be kind of awkward," the "Tik Tok" singer admitted to MTV News. "I might paint them something. Maybe I'll paint them a guitar."
Like Ke$ha, other celebs had suggestions that were from the heart, even if they weren't the most practical.
"I will go out on a limb and say these two individuals maybe haven't had Uncrustables before in their life. I would get them a strawberry Uncrustable," Mike Posner said about the pastry.
David Cook followed up on the all-American food idea. "I feel like they have everything except maybe they probably don't have an Applebee's gift card. I'll go [with an] Applebee's gift card," the "American Idol" alum said.
Other stars said they'd gift the British prince and soon-to-be-princess with an item they were personally best known for.
"I'd probably buy William some eyeliner," Lambert said. "He could do that, he could rock that look. I think."
Ne-Yo was more empathetic, saying he would give gifts that could help shield them from photographers and blend in with everyday people. "Three years' supply of sunglasses. Yeah, put them on. A bunch of baseball caps, throw those on, and try to move around like regular people," the singer said. "I can't imagine what it would be like having to live under that big of a magnifying glass your whole life ... and fake mustaches, that's what I'd give them."
Brooke Burke went the more traditional route, saying she would get Will and Kate a journal to record the big event. "I would ask them to really take the time to write down thoughts and phrases and wishes," Burke said. "And not really to lose sight of how they feel about each other now and to really hold on to that feeling."
Kathy Griffin had good intentions but the comedian couldn't resist a puke joke.
"If I had to get the royal couple a gift, I would get them the Royal Couple Vomit Bag, which someone sent me a photo of," Griffin told us. "So you can actually buy vomit bags with their image on it, and I think that that is an honor and I hope that they see it as such."
What would you give to William and Kate? Share your ideas in the comments section!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662928/royal-wedding-gift-ideas.jhtml
Cristina Dumitru Daisy Fuentes Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick Daniella Alonso
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Usher - Moving Mountains
- Artist: Usher
- Label: LaFace Records/Zomba Label Group
- Director: The Brothers Strauss
- Album: Here I Stand
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=235341
Christina Aguilera Christina Applegate Christina DaRe Christina Milian Christina Ricci
'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon' Premiere Marks 'Graduation Day'
'I wish I could have worn one of those funny hats, dude,' Shia LaBeouf jokes to MTV News at NYC debut.
By Josh Wigler
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Shia LaBeouf attend the "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" premiere in New York City
Photo: Getty Images
Mark your calendars, boys and girls: June 28, 2011, is officially "Transformers" Day in New York City, as announced at Tuesday night's red-carpet premiere of "Dark of the Moon," the third (and potentially final) installment in Michael Bay's robot-smashing, record-obliterating blockbuster trilogy.
On one hand, it was an event packed with more excitement and enthusiasm than a downtown Chicago brawl between Optimus Prime and his Decepticon rivals. On the other, it was bittersweet.
"It feels like graduation day, you know?" Shia LaBeouf told MTV News about his feelings on the night of the premiere. "I never went to college. I spent all of my college years on the set. This is my graduation. I wish I could have worn one of those funny hats, dude."
But even LaBeouf was able to make light of the situation. Asked what he'd wear underneath his graduation gown, he laughed: "Nothing. A unitard. A leopard unitard and a graduation hat."
For Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, the Victoria's Secret model making her acting debut and replacing former leading lady Megan Fox in the process, this was the crowning achievement of an already-breathtaking experience.
"It's blowing my mind to be here right now," she said of the premiere, which took place in a packed stretch of New York's famous Times Square. "I'll never, ever forget the last couple of weeks. It's been a dream come true. You see all of your hard work paying off. Look at all of these amazing people that [came out to] support this movie. It's really humbling."
Humbling (and probably overwhelming) isn't a surprising reaction, considering the presence of hundreds upon hundreds of "Transformers" fans holding signs like "I <3 Bumblebee" and "Shia, It's My Birthday!" in the crowd. For actor Ken Jeong, who's making a big leap from his "Hangover" comedy roots into the significantly more action-oriented "Transformers" universe, his experience wasn't just humbling, but mind-blowing.
"It's out-of-body," he said. "I can't really even process it right now. I make my living doing comedies — lately nude scenes in R-rated comedies — so for me to have a part in this movie in any capacity is truly one of the greatest moments of my career."
For months, those involved with "Dark of the Moon" have proudly declared their third "Transformers" film as the very best in the series. And on the night of the premiere, the stars maintained that sentiment.
"We worked really hard to deliver a full experience, and I think Michael pulled it off," producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura said. "The third act in this movie is the best third act of the series. It did two things: One, the scale is off the charts. But the human beings also have a purpose to them that we were never able to accomplish before. I think that emotional identity with the characters and the way we didn't have that before [is great]."
Tyrese Gibson, returning to the series for a third time as special-ops soldier Epps, had to tip his hat to Bay as well. "Michael Bay, if you're looking at this interview, you're not the emotional type at all, but I'm proud of you, sir," the "Fast Five" star said. "You really, really delivered on this, man. Believe it or not, Michael on this one was very in tune with the fans. He was on the Internet, reading all of the comments and everything that went down with 'Transformers 2.' Compliments to the chef, man. He really, really delivered."
For Bay — who, like Shia, says that this is his last go with the Autobots — the night was something of a send-off as well. But it was just the final night in a long leg of goodbyes, as the "Transformers" crew has traveled to Germany and Russia and now back to the good old US of A to bid adieu to the "Moon."
"We've been traveling the globe, but this is what we came for," Bay said. "This is really fun. Yes, you do get tired, all right, but this is awesome. This is a moment in life you can't [miss]. It's fun."
But even if this might be the last time Bay and LaBeouf get together for a grand "Transformers" event such as this, there's at least one person — the new kid on the block, as it were — who's ready to keep going.
"I'd love to do another film!" Huntington-Whiteley enthused. "Making this movie, we had such fun. It's the hardest I've ever worked and probably ever will work. It's hot, it's dirty, it's sweaty, it's exhilarating. I've been around the best comedians and the best actors in the business. The best director and the best crew. They all became my family, and I thank them very much for supporting me."
Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666577/transformers-dark-of-the-moon-new-york-premiere.jhtml
Jessica Paré Jessica Simpson Zooey Deschanel Aaliyah Abbie Cornish
What's Your Number? Website
The website for WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? is finally up!
http://www.whatsyournumbermovie.com/
And the official Facebook page!
http://www.facebook.com/whatsyournumbermovie
And the official YouTube channel!
http://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialNumberMovie
Also, here's the trailer!
Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/5/5/whats-your-number-website.html
Justin Bieber, Chris Brown's 'Next 2 U' Video Leaks
Early cut of clip depicts dramatic love stories for both singers intertwined with apocalyptic theme.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber
Photo: Getty
Director Colin Tilley promised that the video for Chris Brown and Justin Bieber's "Next 2 U" would be "big," and a leaked early cut of the video is just that.
The whole thing plays out like a movie, complete with dialogue, drama, lots of action, and of course, singing and dancing. It opens with Brown and his love interest dancing, kissing and joking around with one another. Justin Bieber is then seen hugging and kissing his girlfriend and telling her, "I've been waiting for you all day," before presenting her with a necklace. Things get dark when the pair are caught together by her dad, who then takes her away.
"I told you not to see him again," he tells his daughter. Bieber's story is intercut with Brown's. Brown is dreaming of his girl when he looks outside and sees that the world appears to be ending around them. Cars are exploding and people are running around in a panic.
As the destruction continues, Brown stands in the street singing the love song. Meanwhile, Bieber stands on a rooftop, pining for his lady, also singing the tune.
More shots of each of the happy couples play as reminders of times when things weren't so uncertain. Viewers are reminded of the destruction by the song's lyrics, "One day when the sky is falling/ I'll be standing right next to you/ Right next to you." The couples do eventually make their way back to one another, but it's not all peachy keen when they do. Just as Brown finally meets up with his love interest after running through the streets, she's hit by a car.
As the video closes out, a big dance break takes place as Bieber's lady runs around trying to find him. They meet up on the roof where he was singing, and it appears that both couples will somehow survive their tragedies.
Before the video leaked, Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, seemed confident that fans wouldn't be disappointed by the clip. He tweeted, "Just saw a rough cut of the #NEXT2YOU video with @justinbieber and @chrisbrown ! @ColinTilley is goin' in!!"
What do you think of the rough cut of Bieber and Brown's "Next 2 U" video? Tell us in the comments.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1665295/justin-bieber-chris-brown-next-2-u-video.jhtml
Jessica Cauffiel Jessica Paré Jessica Simpson Zooey Deschanel Aaliyah
Ke$ha - Blah Blah Blah
- Artist: Ke$ha
- Label: RCA
- Director: Brendan Malloy
- Album: Animal [Clean]
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3213641&vid=487452
Dido Diora Baird Dita Von Teese Dominique Swain Donna Feldman
Britney Spears Says She'd Love To Tour With Usher
In her 'Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale' special, she calls the 'OMG' singer 'really hot right now.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Sway Calloway and Britney Spears
Photo: MTV News & Docs
What do Britney Spears and Usher have in common? Well, they are both global superstars with a back catalogue of tunes that have kept fans dancing for a really long time and they both recently hooked up with will.i.am for tracks on their latest releases (the Black Eyed Peas mastermind worked on the pop vixen's Femme Fatale tune "Big Fat Bass"). And, if Spears has her way, she and the "OMG" singer could be hitting the road together.
When Spears sat down to talk with Sway Calloway for her "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale" special — airing Sunday (April 3) at 9 p.m. ET on MTV — the singer revealed that Usher is first on her list of artists she'd like to join her on tour.
"Oh, I'm so excited. I'm really excited about going on tour, very," she explained about her forthcoming summer trek, which happens to have a spot open on the bill now that Enrique Iglesias has pulled out of the gig. "I think Usher's really great right now. I think he's really hot right now. That would be cool [to tour with him]."
The North American road trip is expected to kick off June 17 in Sacramento, California, and will run for 26 dates, winding up on August 13 in Toronto. More details will be announced soon.
The "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale" special is a mixture of behind-the-scenes footage of the singer as she wraps up production on her album, which dropped this week, as well as an inside look at her life and fans. In addition, those who couldn't make Spears' recent nightclub show in Las Vegas will get to see her as she takes the stage in her latest pop incarnation.
Don't miss "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale," airing Sunday (April 3) at 9 p.m. ET on MTV.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661036/britney-spears-tour.jhtml
Christina Aguilera Christina Applegate Christina DaRe Christina Milian Christina Ricci
Concert Picks: Lily Parlour & The Tricks, Puro Instinct, Mia Doi Todd?
And another one bites the dust… sayonara, Monday through Friday; hello, weekend. This particular recently passing solstice allows for longer days and warmer nights, and therefore more opportunities to get our ever-loving groove on. From the singer/songwriter set to an elaborate fusing together of genres, we’ve got it covered for you this weekend. Take a [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/1IGDLkoqi0s/
Elena Lyons Elisabeth Röhm Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku Emilie de Ravin
Usher To Donate Gadhafi Money To Charity
'I will be donating all of my personal proceeds...to various human rights organizations,' singer says of concert linked to Libyan dictator.
By Shawn Adler
Usher (file)
Photo: Getty Images
R&B superstar Usher announced Friday (March 4) that he was donating to various charities proceeds from appearing at a private event at St. Barts linked to Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, according to a statement made to the Associated Press.
The Grammy award winner's renouncement comes after similar announcements from singers Mariah Carey, Nelly Furtado, and Beyoncé, all of whom were revealed to have performed at private concerts linked to the Middle Eastern leader, who has faced open revolt and major political uprisings since February.
"I am sincerely troubled to learn about the circumstances surrounding the Nikki Beach St. Bart's event that took place on New Year's Eve 2009," Usher said of the concert, at which he appeared alongside Beyoncé but did not perform. "I will be donating all of my personal proceeds from that event to various human rights organizations."
Usher has already begun the process, having made a donation to Amnesty International, the AP reports. The exact size of the donation is not known.
The New Year's Eve gig was reportedly for Moammar's fourth son Muastassim, who an unnamed music industry source told MTV News has a history of throwing lavish parties "jammed" with supermodels.
Beyoncé, who sang at the event, donated all proceeds from her performance to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund, established in the wake of the Haitian earthquake.
"All monies paid to Beyoncé for her performance at a private party at Nikki Beach St. Barts on New Year's Eve 2009, including the commissions paid to her booking agency, were donated to the earthquake relief efforts for Haiti over a year ago," the "Halo" singer's publicist said in a statement to The Huffington Post. "Once it became known that the third-party promoter was linked to the Qaddafi family, the decision was made to put that payment to a good cause."
Singer Nelly Furtado tweeted February 28 that she plans to make similar amends.
"In 2007, I received 1million$ from the Gadhafi clan to perform a 45 min. show for guests at a hotel in Italy," she tweeted. "I am going to donate the $."
The leader of Libya since a successful military coup in 1969, Gadhafi has reportedly lost control of much of his country as a result of widespread uprisings. The United Nations voted unanimously to refer the dictator to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
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Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris Anna Friel Anna Kournikova
Willow and Jaden Smith?s 2011 BET Awards Style
At the 2011 BET Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, Willow Smith stylishly gave a nod to father Will Smith's popular '90s sitcom ? The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ? with a cute tee sporting the actor's likeness.
Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/5mzX8A9Zezk/
Lady Gaga - Video Phone (Extended Remix)
- Artist: Lady Gaga
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Hype Williams
- Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3061469&vid=455581
Amy Cobb Amy Smart Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi
Ian Davis: BeatCrave Fav
The other day I was listening to “In The Morning” by J. Cole featuring Drake, and I thought that the song didn’t belong in today’s music. It was old school, like Nate Dogg-type of old school. Indeed, music, or to be more specific, hop hop, is always changing (for better or worse). Today there’s a [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/AUIC_MhqSdc/
Esther Cañadas Eva Green Eva Longoria Eva Mendes Evangeline Lilly
Lady Gaga's 'Edge Of Glory': A Pop-Culture Cheat Sheet
In her newest video, Gaga pays homage to classic clips of the 1980s.
By James Montgomery
Lady Gaga
Photo: Getty Images
The first thing that strikes you about Lady Gaga's "The Edge of Glory" video is the fact that it's steeped in the rich, gauzy traditions of classic pop clips and noticeably missing any of the allegories, agendas or, uh, afterbirth of her previous work.
Simply put, "Edge" is an homage to an entire genre of videos that has since gone by the wayside — namely, the eternally soft-focused, ethereal mini-movies of the 1980s, (mostly) pop productions that reimagined cityscapes as dream-like fantasy worlds, where the just-wet streets shone like mirrors, the manholes frothed with steam and no piece of fabric was left un-billowed. These were decidedly big-budget, unapologetically Hollywood things, shot on studio backlots, glowing with million-dollar lighting budgets and given extra grandeur thanks to sweeping, soaring crane shots. They made no attempt to portray reality as anything of the sort — because, much like the songs they accompanied, there was rebellion in that fantasy — or of hiding their excesses. And, not surprisingly, as the decade came to a close, and earnestness began to reign supreme, they slowly disappeared (surely, their big budgets didn't help their fate either).
But with her new clip, Gaga resurrects the epic videos of the '80s once again. And, seemingly, all at once. There truly are too many nods to the classics to list individually, and really, that's beside the point. With "The Edge of Glory," LG is paying tribute not to individual artists, but to an entire genre. Still, there are some whose influence stands above the rest, and we've combined them into one handy cheat sheet. Of course, in keeping with her tradition, not all of them come from the 1980s. Because if there's anything Lady Gaga has proven, it's that she refuses to be fenced in. Here's our list:
Bonnie Tyler: Welsh-born belter whose better-known videos (like "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero") practically set the standard for the fantastical pop videos of the 1980s. Soft focus, arching crane shots, achingly staged lighting — they're all there, and they're all on display in "Edge of Glory" too.
Blondie, "Rapture": One of the earliest examples of the ethereal '80s (it was released in 1981), the video follows Debbie Harry on a dream-like traipse through the streets of New York City, complete with guest appearances by Fab Five Freddy and a shuffling Uncle Sam (to name just a few). It makes no sense, because it's not supposed to.
Cyndi Lauper: Gaga's good friend and, along with Madonna, perhaps the premier '80s video star, Lauper's classics — be they the good-natured rebellion of "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" or the moody, arty "True Colors" — both seem like spiritual successors to "Edge."
"Fame": Epochal tale of performing-arts students living and loving in NYC during the early '80s, it's spirit and style have long influenced Gaga's work. With its dance moves and dreamy, freedom-in-the-streets scenes, "Edge" is perhaps the best example of that.
"Flashdance": Prototypical "girl finds escape in dance" film from 1983, it stars Jennifer Beals as a steelworker/dancer who dreams of a better life. Not only are the same sentiments echoed in "Edge," but Gaga pays tribute to the film's most memorable scene — where Beals reclines in a chair and is doused in water — by striking a similar pose outside her apartment building.
George Michael: Before he became known for his various, uh, exploits, Michael was the biggest British pop star of the 1980s, and as such, he churned out some appropriately huge music videos. Two of his biggest — "Father Figure" and "Careless Whisper" — seem to have influenced Gaga with their gauzy, steamy portrayals of late-night life in the big city and, in the case of "Whisper," that balls-out sax wailing.
Michael Jackson: You can't write anything about videos from the 1980s without mentioning MJ, who took the art form to rarely duplicated heights. Usually, his clips were fantastical things, but occasionally, he also got gritty, and it's those moments (videos like "The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Billie Jean") that seem to have stuck in Gaga's mind.
"Newsies": The 1992 Disney musical is most notable for its initial "flop" status and its subsequent rebirth as a cult classic. It tells the story of newsboys on strike in New York City, and in classic scenes like Christian Bale's performance of the song "Santa Fe," it takes that struggle to the twisting fire escapes of the city. Sort of like "Edge of Glory," really.
"Rent": Broadway retelling of Puccini's "La bohème," set in the Lower East Side in the early 1990s. As some have noted, Lady Gaga seems to be paying tribute to the choreography of one particular number ("Out Tonight") as she dances on the fire escape.
"West Side Story": One of the best-loved Broadway musicals of all time, "Story" was remade as a film in 1961 and went on to win a whopping 10 Oscars, including Best Picture. As you can expect, there are plenty of street scenes and fire escapes in both the film and the stage show, but perhaps the most famous is "Tonight," where the story's star-crossed lovers profess their love for one another high above the city. Sure, Maria never tears off her Versace silk, but you seemingly cannot film a scene on a fire escape without recalling this classic, and, in "Edge," there's certainly a lot of the former.
Did we miss any influences? Let us know in the comments below!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1665991/lady-gaga-edge-of-glory.jhtml
Jessica Paré Jessica Simpson Zooey Deschanel Aaliyah Abbie Cornish
Monday, June 27, 2011
Beyonce Runs The BET Awards Stage From Abroad
Superstar songstress belts 'Best Thing I Never Had' and 'The End of Time' from Glastonbury gig.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Beyoncé performs at the Glastonbury festival on Sunday
Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images
Beyoncé didn't even have to be in the building to run things.
The "Run the World (Girls)" songstress wasn't able to attend the BET Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday (June 26) but that didn't stop the diva from rocking the crowd remotely by performing via satellite from her headlining gig at the Glastonbury festival in England.
Following an introduction from Ne-Yo, Bey started off with her 4 track "Best Thing I Never Had." Sporting a dark leotard under a sequined belted jacket and ankle booties, the superstar belted the power ballad in front of a packed audience waving international flags.
Bey then segued into another spankin' new 4 cut, the Afrobeat-powered jam "The End of Time." The hitmaker worked some Motherland-inspired grooves to the dancefloor-ready track, pumping her elbows and flinging her curls about, flanked by a quartet of similarly fierce dancers with big hair and snug leotards. After some muscled-up male dancers joined the party, the songstress kicked up the energy, leading the crew through a hip-twisting dance breakdown. Bey closed the uptempo set with a screen of pyro that rained onto the stage.
Earlier this month, when tracks from the star's highly anticipated album 4 hit the Web prematurely, Bey explained the inspiration behind her booty-jiggling anthems.
"When I record music I always think about my fans singing every note and dancing to every beat. I make music to make people happy and I appreciate that everyone has been so anxious to hear my new songs."
What did you think of Beyoncé's performance at the BET Awards? Let us know in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666440/bet-awards-beyonce-glastonbury-festival.jhtml
Jamie Lynn Sigler Janet Jackson January Jones Jennie Finch Jennifer Aniston
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