Louie Beck's Rants

Louie Beck

At the Vanity Fair party, Stewie Griffin, Russell Brand, Jimmy Kimmel and others weigh in on their favorite moments.
By Kara Warner

Russell Brand at the 2011 Academy Awards
Photo: Steve Granitz/ Getty Images

After weeks of buildup, not-so-subtle campaigns by major studios, prognosticating by critics and award season pundits, etc, the 2011 class of Oscar winners were announced on Sunday night in a predictably lengthy and star-studded telecast.

While the big stories of the night always revolve around who/what won (answer: "The King's Speech," Natalie Portman, Colin Firth, Christian Bale and Melissa Leo), when MTV News hit up the extra-exclusive hot-ticket post-Oscar Vanity Fair bash, we found there was an equal amount of buzz about the performances of first-time hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco, as well as reactions to the overall show itself. And the reviews of which were decidedly mixed.

"It was great!" "Glee" star Jane Lynch exclaimed. "I loved the opening number and thought James and Anne played off each other well."

"Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane's review, which we asked him to deliver in character Stewie Griffin wasn't quite as rosy.

"Let's see, I was disappointed that Hugh Jackman didn't sing that song," MacFarlane said in Stewie's haughty faux-British accent, recalling the moment in the show when Hathaway sang a song blaming Jackman for bailing on a supposed duet. "That was dreadful that he backed out on that poor girl like that. What a wicked man.

"Was that was what was supposed to happen? Was that for real? " MacFarlane continued, speaking as himself. "There was a lot of really uncomfortable moments, like things were kind of half-formed, you know?"

Awkward-moment master Russell Brand, who presented the award for best foreign language film with his "Arthur" co-star Helen Mirren, didn't seem to notice anything uncomfortable.

"It was wonderful," he said of the show. "I'm happy that 'The King's Speech' did well."

When asked what he thought were the funniest moments, whether intentional or not, Brand pleaded the fifth.

"I don't know. I don't judge other people because I'm spiritual," he quipped.

On the other hand, Jimmy Kimmel, who readily admitted that he prefers his awards shows full of weird moments or unplanned disasters, had no problem passing judgment on the 83rd annual telecast.

"I think Kirk Douglas was funny," he said, speaking of the 94-year-old actor's charming, but slightly drawn-out, presentation of the Best Supporting Actress trophy. "I guarantee he planned to do that."

Kimmel's pick for unintentional funny moment went to Best Supporting Actress winner Melissa Leo dropping an F-bomb mid-acceptance speech before taking Douglas' cane from him to steady herself as they walked away from the podium.

What was your favorite moment of the night? How did Anne Hathaway and James Franco do as hosts? Tell us in the comments!

Stick with MTV News on Oscar night and beyond for red-carpet fashion coverage, analysis of the winners, plus interviews, photos and more from your favorite Hollywood stars!

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658831/oscars-reactions.jhtml

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Louie Beck

Albums That Sold 1 Million Copies In The First Week

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Louie Beck

Trey Songz's Passion, Pain & Pleasure comes in close at #2.
By Gil Kaufman

Linkin Park
Photo: Warner Bros.

It was close, but Linkin Park managed to burn a bit brighter than Trey Songz on the Billboard 200, earning their latest, A Thousand Suns, the #1 spot on next week's chart thanks to sales of 241,000 and a boost from a thrilling VMA performance. According to figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan, the Rick Rubin-produced Suns outpaced Songz's Passion, Pain & Pleasure by just over 1,000 copies, with the R&B lover man's fourth CD sliding in right behind at #2 on sales of 240,000.

Both discs far outpaced the handful of other debuts in the top 10, which also include bearded country outlaw Jamey Johnson's two-disc Guitar Song (#4, 63,000), former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant's rootsy Band of Joy (#5, 49,000) and the indie label debut of Weezer, whose Hurley comes in at #6 thanks to 45,000 units moved.

Also debuting in the top 10 at #8 is the first solo album from Killers frontman Brandon Flowers, Flamingo, which sold 41,000 copies.

The usual suspects make up the rest of the top 10, with Eminem seemingly getting a post-VMA boost as sales ticked up 10 percent for his Recovery. The 89,000 copies sold land him at #3 and push Slim Shady just shy of the 2.6 million mark, making Em less than 40,000 copies shy of taking the 2010 sales championship crown from Lady Antebellum. Also holding in the top 10 are the NOW 35 compilation (#7, 41,000), Katy Perry's Teenage Dream (#9, 40,000) and Justin Bieber's My World 2.0 (#10, 36,000).

It was a brief stay in the top 10 for singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, whose Kaleidoscope Heart tumbles 11 spots in week two to land at #12 as sales dropped off by 69 percent to 28,000.

One act that undoubtedly got the VMA bump was England's Florence and the Machine, with Lungs rocketing up 30 spots to #14 as sales picked up by 165 percent to 21,000 following the band's thrilling performance at the MTV awards show. Drake, Lady Gaga and Usher also saw modest post-VMA sales gains.

Godsmack singer Sully Erna makes it to #24 with his solo album, Avalon (14,000), and moody rockers the Walkmen are just behind at #27 with Lisbon (13,000). Psychedelic collective Of Montreal hit #34 with False Priest (11,000). Much further down the line, reunited indie legends Superchunk scared up nearly 6,000 buyers for their first studio album in nine years, Majesty Shredding (#85).

Linkin Park did their thing on the iTunes charts as well, taking the top spot, followed by Songz, Eminem, Johnson, Flowers, the online-only release of the latest Kings of Leon album, Come Around Sundown (#6), Bareilles, Florence and the Machine, Weezer and Mumford & Sons' Sigh No More.

Though iTunes does not release sales data, you can be sure Rihanna was celebrating her latest chart topper on the site's singles chart with the Doritos-ad jingle "Only Girl (In the World)," which pushes Bruno Mars' "Just the Way You Are" down to #2. There was little movement on the chart, with Usher hanging around at #3 with "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love," followed by Perry's "Teenage Dream," Nelly's "Just a Dream," Far East Movement's "Like a G6," Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie," Flo Rida's "Club Can't Handle Me," Taio Cruz's "Dyamite" and Enrique Iglesias' fist-pumping "I Like It."

There will undoubtedly be more shuffling at the top of the Billboard chart next week with new albums from Maroon 5, Selena Gomez, John Legend and the Roots, the Zac Brown Band and Santana.

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Louie Beck

The track, 'Things Get Worse,' features Em revisiting his Slim Shady persona.
By Jayson Rodriguez

B.o.B
Photo: Atlantic

Holy split personality!

An unreleased Eminem and Bobby Ray collaboration was unearthed online Thursday (February 24) that finds the two MCs tapping into their respective manic alter egos, Slim Shady and B.o.B

The mid-tempo track, "Things Get Worse," harkens back to Em's early days and his button-pushing rhymes.

"Note to Jessica Simpson, let's go with the tuna casserole," Eminem raps in one of the verses. "'Cause I used to love her hooters, now Carmen Electra's cuter/ Strap an extension cord to her arm and electrocute her/ I'm off my f---ing meds but I'm on an electric scooter/ I might just scoot by and shoot my mom in the neck with Rugers/ Spit in Jason's face while I vomit on Freddy Krueger/ They can't even get Jeffrey Dahmer to pet the cougar."

"There's no need to say sh-- you already know, the question is just how far will this go," B.o.B chants on the chorus. "'Cause I will never lay down and I will never let up."

"I guess things are gonna get much worse 'fore they get better," Em chimes in.

The song appeared on the blog of one of B.o.B's managers, but there was no message indicating where the track will wind up or how long ago it was recorded.

After scoring three top 10 hits on the pop charts with his debut album, B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray, the rapper/singer said he wanted to return to his more lyrical roots before starting his next project.

In December, he released a mixtape, No Genre, that reminded his early supporters of his abilities, which he displays capably on "Things Get Worse."

"I pass by people on the street, they seem like sleeping zombies," he raps. "Stiffer than a therapeutic pair of jeans you running/ So can you hear me coming?/ Eminem, this beat is absolutely disgusting/ It's probably got diseases on it."

It's not the first time the two stars have appeared on the same track, as Eminem also was featured on B.o.B's Grammy-nominated "Airplanes, Part II" remix.

Have you heard Eminem and B.o.B's "Things Get Worse" collaboration? If so, share your opinion in the comments.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658606/things-get-worse-eminem-bob.jhtml

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Louie Beck

Drop That

Artist: Flo Rida
Label: E1 Music, Poe Boy Music Group
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Louie Beck

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Louie Beck

Thinking Of You (Extended Version)

Artist: Katy Perry
Label: Capitol Records
Album: One of the Boys

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3274550&vid=363915

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Louie Beck

'This year, all the success, all the doors that have been opened have really taken me by surprise,' he tells MTV News of his own Grammy chances.
By Kelley L. Carter, with reporting by James Lacsina

B.o.B at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday
Photo: James Lacsina

B.o.B is ready to hit the stage.

He's been performing one of the hottest songs all year long, so it's only appropriate that he and Bruno Mars perform it one more time at Wednesday night's (December 1) Grammy Nominations Concert at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles. Earlier Wednesday, the rapper performed "Don't Let Me Fall" on his own and, later, his big hit "Nothin' on You" with Bruno Mars.

"It was a really good way to kick it off and be more involved with the overall experience," he said of the concert.

B.o.B said he doesn't have too many expectations about how the Grammy nominations might shake out, considering that this is his first year being involved. When asked if he might do something a bit different for his performance during the nominations special, the "Magic" MC joked, "Just a little bit of magic."

Bobby Ray has some predictions for his colleagues when it comes to Grammy night: "I think Cee Lo and Bruno Mars could win because of their musicality and what they brought."

But what about the rapper's own chances? "If Bruno is nominated, I probably might be nominated also. It's kind of a win-win situation for both of us," he said of his collaborator. "This year, all the success, all the doors that have been opened have really taken me by surprise."

The nominations special airs Wednesday night on CBS at 10 ET/PT. The 53rd annual Grammys air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 13, and will be broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Stick with MTV News for everything about the Grammys, including nominations and reactions from the artists.

What do you think of B.o.B's chances for the Grammy nominations? Let us know in the comments!

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Louie Beck

The period drama seems poised to take the Best Picture crown once promised to 'The Social Network.'
By Eric Ditzian

Colin Firth in "The King's Speech"
Photo: Weinstein Company

If the 83rd Academy Awards had been held a month ago, shortly after the critics groups had doled out their prizes and the final glasses of champagne had been drained at the Golden Globes, "The Social Network" would almost certainly have nabbed Oscar's Best Picture statue. After all, David Fincher's film about the salacious founding of Facebook hardly encountered a critics group it didn't woo and win over, before going on to earn four Globes, including Best Motion Picture - Drama. What could possibly stand between "Social Network" and the Academy's top honor?

As it turns out, another month. And another biopic, this one telling a story that begins some 80 years ago and resembling a far more traditional Oscar film than Fincher's exploration of youth and digital beauty. "The King's Speech" bounced back from its Globe defeats (it nabbed just one of seven nominations, with Colin Firth taking top dramatic actor) and secured important wins from the Producers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild.

So much for creating a big tent with the inclusion of 10 Best Picture nominees. Like last year, we find ourselves watching a two-horse race that, at this point, might not be all that close. Kudos to "Toy Story 3," "Winter's Bone" and "Inception," but their nominations are kind of the equivalent of pity invites to a kid's birthday party: Sure, the birthday boy was forced to request the pleasure of your company, but he's not going to pretend you're anything more than a seat-filler. Our man Oscar holds the most exclusive birthday party in Hollywood, and its voters like it that way.

What's interesting this year is the nature of the two-horse race. In 2010, it came down to a decision between a populist fave in "Avatar" that made a gazillion dollars at the box office and a critics' darling in "The Hurt Locker" that maybe six people saw in the theater. Both "Social Network" and "King's Speech," meanwhile, have almost identical box-office grosses and high-90s ratings at the Rotten Tomatoes review aggregator. The difference between the two is that "King's Speech" is the kind of film that could have been an Oscar nominee a decade ago — or a half-century ago — whereas "Social Network," in everything from story line to subtext to soundtrack, is directly plugged into 2011.

That's not to suggest "King's Speech" is some musty relic of yesteryear, nor that contemporary relevancy is a requirement for Oscar glory. The key, rather, is that the best film should win. And if you ask us, the finest film of the year is "Social Network." But as in so many years past — from how "Gladiator" bested "Traffic" to the way "Shakespeare in Love" beat out, well, geez, take your pick! — the best film of the year doesn't always receive that Oscar honor.

We can talk about momentum, we can indentify vital precursor wins, we can cite all manner of historical facts and we can lament fuddy-duddy voters. None of it seems to matter. On Sunday night, it appears, a very good film but hardly the year's best will win Best Picture. Let's offer our early congratulations to "The King's Speech."

Which Oscar contender should take Best Picture? Share your pick in the comments!

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!

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658643/oscars-kings-speech-best-picture.jhtml

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Louie Beck

LP bandmate lives next door to 'Saw' producer Mark Burg.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Matt Elias

Chester Bennington
Photo: MTV News

For the devoted Linkin Park fans out there, it might have come as a surprise to learn that frontman Chester Bennington was trying his hand at acting with a role in "Saw 3D." And while it's not his first film appearance — he had cameos in the two "Crank" films — in "Saw," he plays an actual character named Evan.

When MTV News caught up with Bennington recently, we asked him how he (figuratively) ended up in such a bloody mess.

"It's a funny story. Mark Burg, the producer of the 'Saw' films, he lives next to one of my bandmates in Linkin Park, and when he moved in and they got to meet each other, my bandmate brought up to Mark that I'm a huge fan of the 'Saw' films," Bennington explained. "I've literally, every time they come out, I'm [there on] opening day.

"I love the movies, so [I'm] very enthusiastic about it," Bennington continued. "And so, he was like, 'This is going to be so great. Chester's going to be so stoked that you're my neighbor. He loves the movies.' And from that conversation, Mark then said, 'Well, do you think he'd want to be in one of the movies?' The answer was a 'F--- yeah, are you kidding? I want to do that.' So that's how it evolved, and eventually this role came along and kind of fit."

Bennington added that the 3-D factor upped the action/gore ante a bit — to the point that his wife almost lost it.

"It was really cool," Bennington said of his gory scenes. "At one point, I was filming a part of the scene, and my wife was watching, and we're both huge fans, so we're watching. We've seen all the crazy crap that's happening in all these crazy movies. So, she's watching, and when we're filming this particular scene, she actually almost threw up. So I knew that we were doing something right if it made her want to puke."

Check out everything we've got on "Saw 3D."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Louie Beck

LP bandmate lives next door to 'Saw' producer Mark Burg.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Matt Elias

Chester Bennington
Photo: MTV News

For the devoted Linkin Park fans out there, it might have come as a surprise to learn that frontman Chester Bennington was trying his hand at acting with a role in "Saw 3D." And while it's not his first film appearance — he had cameos in the two "Crank" films — in "Saw," he plays an actual character named Evan.

When MTV News caught up with Bennington recently, we asked him how he (figuratively) ended up in such a bloody mess.

"It's a funny story. Mark Burg, the producer of the 'Saw' films, he lives next to one of my bandmates in Linkin Park, and when he moved in and they got to meet each other, my bandmate brought up to Mark that I'm a huge fan of the 'Saw' films," Bennington explained. "I've literally, every time they come out, I'm [there on] opening day.

"I love the movies, so [I'm] very enthusiastic about it," Bennington continued. "And so, he was like, 'This is going to be so great. Chester's going to be so stoked that you're my neighbor. He loves the movies.' And from that conversation, Mark then said, 'Well, do you think he'd want to be in one of the movies?' The answer was a 'F--- yeah, are you kidding? I want to do that.' So that's how it evolved, and eventually this role came along and kind of fit."

Bennington added that the 3-D factor upped the action/gore ante a bit — to the point that his wife almost lost it.

"It was really cool," Bennington said of his gory scenes. "At one point, I was filming a part of the scene, and my wife was watching, and we're both huge fans, so we're watching. We've seen all the crazy crap that's happening in all these crazy movies. So, she's watching, and when we're filming this particular scene, she actually almost threw up. So I knew that we were doing something right if it made her want to puke."

Check out everything we've got on "Saw 3D."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651065/linkin-parks-chester-bennington-explains-how-ended-up-saw-3d.jhtml

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Louie Beck

Pompadour-sporting stars rock medley of 'Grenade,' 'Nothin' on You' and 'Cold War.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Bruno Mars performs during the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards
Photo: The Recording Academy/CBS

Bruno Mars headed into Grammy night on top, with seven nominations under his belt for his singing and songwriting efforts. He has already scored snaps for his studio work, but on Sunday night, the 25-year-old Doo-Wops & Hooligans crooner showcased his stage skills with fellow promising genre-bending stars B.o.B and Janelle Monáe.

Following a string intro, Mars helmed the keys and gently crooned a softer version of his #1 smash with B.o.B, "Nothin' on You." The ATL hitmaker then took the mic, rocking a dapper old-school look and adding a scholarly touch with a monocle as he sang and rhymed the lyrics. Monáe kept the menswear theme going in a voluminous cape, quietly chiming in at a clear podium as B.o.B turned to croon to her.

Check out pictures from the Grammy show here.

Suddenly, a faux mid-century black-and-white broadcast introducing Mars took over the screen, and then the live telecast switched to a retro two-tone look. Mars looked perfectly in place as he belted a slowed-down yet soul-injected version of his own #1 single "Grenade," with B.o.B on the piano. A crew of background singers helped transform the pop hit into a doo-wop effort, complete with a few stuttering dance steps; Mars even got on his knees during the bluesy arrangement in a move that would have made legendary funkateer James Brown proud.

Then Monáe stepped up for her ArchAndroid cut "Cold War" in her trademark button-down shirt-and-slacks outfit. Mars hopped on the drums as the lights flashed, fog rolled in and Monáe added her own vocal pyrotechnics to the mix. The songstress then took the performance from retro to rowdy by sailing into the audience for a brief crowd-surf as B.o.B strummed away on the guitar. The upstart trio's upbeat set scored a standing ovation.

Last year, Mars was floored when he first heard he'd racked up seven nods, but added that scoring accolades isn't even his favorite part of his hitmaking gig.

"The funnest part of our job is that we don't know who we're working with next," Mars told MTV News in December about working his songwriting and production crew the Smeezingtons. "We're fans and students of music, and we just love to work with whoever wants to work, whoever wants to write a song. Rock, hip-hop, R&B — we just want to do music. And we're happy just doing that."

What did you think of Bruno Mars' Grammy performance? Let us know in the comments!

For Grammy Awards winners list, analysis, interviews, fashion and more, stick with MTV News during the big show and beyond.

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Another week is over and another huge batch of stories and events have unfolded in the pop culture universe. There was a new music video from Dr. Dre, a new hair style for Justin Bieber and a new group of people to vote for on "American Idol." And for those of you who are movie [...]

Source: http://newsroom.mtv.com/2011/02/25/justin-bieber-haircut-thom-yorke/

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Louie Beck

Gerard Way says new album Danger Days is an 'allegory for the music industry.'
By James Montgomery

My Chemical Romance
Photo: MTV News

Much has been made about the path My Chemical Romance took in making Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, a two-year odyssey that saw them record an entire album, scrap it and part ways with drummer Bob Bryar.

But for all the drama that went into Danger Days, MCR frontman Gerard Way can trace the entire album's genesis back to one single moment: the making of their "Desolation Row" video, which they shot for Zack Snyder's "Watchmen" film in late 2008.

"In a weird way, yeah, 'Watchmen' was [the beginning]. ... It's kind of funny, because [we] had a weird experience with making that video. There's always early signs," Way told MTV News on Monday. "I remember somebody in that audience when we were shooting that video saying, 'Wow, is your new stuff going to sound like this? Because I've never been into you guys, but if it sounds like this, I'm into it.' And I remember kind of thinking — and I should've really paid attention to the signs — like, 'Well, I'm not doing this for you to all of a sudden like us, 'cause we're kind of playing tough.'

"Like, to me, that would be the ultimate pandering," he continued. "And I kind of feel like the first attempt at the record, in a strange way, was that. It was like saying, 'Oh, we can be a straight rock band; we're not going to irritate you with the way you look anymore, or what we're saying. We're not going to challenge any ideas, we're just going to be so straight ... and do what we do great — write great songs — but we're going to do that so much that we're no longer a threat. And once we're no longer a threat, maybe there will be less noise, maybe there will be less opposition.' So Danger Days was a fight against those feelings."

And so, Way got busy creating an entire world, retrofitting the "Killjoys" comic book he had been working on as MCR's newest, most purposeful effort to date. To him, Danger Days isn't a concept record like Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge or The Black Parade. It's something deeper, bigger and more important: it's a rallying cry.

"It's not a concept record with a story. It's just a complete allegory. Even the existence of Battery City and these Zones outside of it — they're very dangerous to live in — Battery City is very safe and clean, and you're living outside of it just to be free," he explained. "It's a complete allegory for the music industry, for the state of music. Rock kind of has to get its legs back and take back a lot of real estate, and I think that's what Danger Days is trying to do."

Open the floodgates! It's Mega-Release Week, with Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Ke$ha, My Chemical Romance and Lloyd Banks all dropping new albums. Stick with MTV News for everything you need to know about the brand-new music.

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Louie Beck

Cyrus says she 'can't wait to see' her friend Christina Aguilera perform in the all-star Grammy tribute to Aretha Franklin.
By Vanessa WhiteWolf, with additional reporting from Sway

Miley Cyrus at Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party on Saturday
Photo: Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — Some of the entertainment world's biggest stars gathered at the Beverly Hilton hotel on Saturday night for the annual Clive Davis and the Recording Academy's Pre-Grammy Gala. And on the evening before the 53rd annual Grammy Awards, the big show was all anybody was talking about on the golden carpet.

Check out photos of Cee Lo, R. Kelly and Jennifer Hudon performing at Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party.

Miley Cyrus said she was excited to see her pal Christina Aguilera take part in the Aretha Franklin tribute — where she'll be joined by Jennifer Hudson, Florence Welch, Yolanda Adams and Martina McBride. "I got a little sneak peek of Christina when she was doing Aretha Franklin," Miley spilled. "She's a friend of mine and I can't wait to see her perform. She's always incredible. I think she's the best female vocalist. I love listening to her."

OneRepublic singer Ryan Tedder, who just worked with Hudson on a track for her new album, was one of the many celebs who said they were most looking forward to seeing the "Dreamgirls" star honor Franklin. Tedder also had a few words about Davis' pre-show bash. A frequent attendee of the annual party, he admitted that though it often can be a "high-stress environment," that wasn't the case this year. "This time I'm just here eating food. I don't even know who's playing," he laughed.

Matthew Morrison of "Glee," meanwhile, showed loyalty to one his occasional co-stars, Gwyneth Paltrow, saying he was really looking forward to seeing the actress/singer take the stage with Cee Lo Green. Although maybe his excitement was more about relief, as the two of them spent last week filming Paltrow's upcoming return to the hit TV show while he was under the weather. "I had to kiss her last week and she was like, 'You better not get me sick!' " he admitted.

Janelle Monáe, who will join B.o.B and Bruno Mars on the Grammy stage, at first coyly refused to spill any details about the performance. She eventually opened up a little, though, offering that it would be "very revolutionary."

Another performer set to hit the stage on Sunday night (February 13) with her share of famous fans is Lady Gaga. Toni Braxton enthused, "What I love about her is that you never know what to expect. She's like a jack-in-the-box!"

Vanessa Minnillo, accompanied by fiancé Nick Lachey, summed it up for the ladies in general, saying, "It's such an unexpected and nerve-wracking year for female performers."

Don't miss "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys," a red-carpet live stream kicking off Sunday (February 13) at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And stick with us all Grammy night for coverage of the red carpet, the show, the afterparties and beyond!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657823/miley-cyrus-grammy-pre-party.jhtml

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Who's That Chick?

Artist: Rihanna
Label: Astralwerks
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Album: One More Love

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Rapper thrills crowd with abbreviated version of controversial 'Roman's Revenge.'
By Rahman Dukes

Nicki Minaj performs at L.A. club Exchange during NBA All-Star weekend
Photo: MTV News

Hip-hop's Barbie took her multi-colored wigs to Hollywood last night just in time to kick off the 2011 NBA All-Star weekend.

Nicki Minaj, flanked by her sideman/homey SB, took the stage at club Exchange in downtown Los Angeles, just a few blocks from the Staples Center, where the All-Star festivities are taking place throughout the weekend.

Not long after entering the massive venue, which was filled with a sea of Barbie fans, the Queens native made a beeline for the DJ booth and swiftly grabbed the mic from DJ Biz Markie, following a set by fellow rapper Rick Ross. Ross had just finished tearing through his own hits including club anthems "B.M.F," "9 Piece," "Aston Martin Music" and "Hustlin'." But after Rozay, the Los Angeles audience got who they were waiting for.

"Where my New York people at?" Nicki asked her fans as she stepped to the stage. From there, Nicki went into her latest single, "Moment for Life," which features Young Money capo Drake. "I fly with the stars in the skies/ I am no longer trying to survive/ I believe that life is a prize/ But to live doesn't mean you're alive," Nicki rapped as the audience sang and bounced along.

But the best was yet to come.

After cutting her song short during the Drake verse, the "legendary Biz Markie," as Ross referred to the iconic MC, cued up Nicki's controversial record "Roman's Revenge" to the female MC's surprise, sending the crowd into a rage.

"I am not Jasmine, I am Aladdin/ So far ahead, these bums is laggin'/ See me in that new thing, bums is gaggin'/ I'm startin' to feel like a dungeon dragon/ Raah, raah, like a dungeon dragon," an amped Nicki rapped.

Midway through her first verse on "Roman," the MC stepped away from the stage and disappeared into the night for the final time.

There's been no word if Nicki's abrupt ending was planned or not, but regardless, fans went home happy, comfortable with every penny spent to catch a glimpse of rap's most-wanted girl.

For the remainder of the weekend, Nicki is slated to appear at a host of events including a grand finale at the same location on Sunday night featuring manager Diddy.

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In MCR's post-apocalyptic Danger Days clip, our heroes appear to be no match for their considerable foes.
By James Montgomery

Gerard Way in My Chemical Romance's "Sing" music video
Photo: Reprise Records

In the second video from their Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys album, My Chemical Romance get dark. "Sing" is not the whiplash, DayGlo mélange of sight and sound that "Na Na Na" was. No, it's far more sinister, and with good reason.

In the clip, MCR's Killjoys roll into Battery City and launch an assault on the headquarters of Better Living Industries. The goal is to rescue the mysterious girl who was taken from them at the conclusion of "Na Na Na," and there's a pretty good chance it's a suicide mission: The Killjoys are hopelessly outmanned and overwhelmingly outgunned, and they know it. This probably won't end well and — if you haven't seen the video yet, skip ahead to the next paragraph — it doesn't. The Killjoys are cut down, and while the girl they set out to save does escape (thanks to Dr. Death Defying), it looks as if it's curtains for our heroes. Maybe.

Ultimately, "Sing" shows us just how dire a situation the Killjoys are up against, how daunting the challenge of overcoming Better Living Industries (and their leader, Korse). The odds are stacked against them. Gone is the free-spirited abandon (and blink-and-you'll-miss-them pop-culture nods) of "Na Na Na" — though to be fair, there are references to "Star Wars" and Snake Plissken to be found — replaced with a palate of murky grays and pale fluorescents. The sun seemingly does not shine in Battery City. The future is bleak indeed.

The overall feel of the video is a tribute to MCR frontman Gerard Way, who co-directed "Sing" with P.R. Brown. They know how to create an ominous, post-apocalyptic tone, one that sends shivers down your spine. There's not much fun to be had here but, as is the case with most great second acts ("The Empire Strikes Back," for example), good times really aren't the goal: This is a video that expands the Killjoy universe, that explains just how impossible — or suicidal — their mission really is. That it ends on a bummer is practically par for the course.

And yet, I have a pretty good feeling the Killjoys will return for the third Danger Days video, whatever it may be (perhaps "The Only Hope for Me is You"?) And I still suspect that, despite overwhelming odds, they'll probably triumph nonetheless. The good guys usually win in the third act, after all. I just hope they don't go the Lucas route and work some Ewoks into the mix.

What did you think of MCR's new video for "Sing"? Tell us in the comments!

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'Jersey Shore' star Pauly D will DJ at the Palms, as Pitbull and Jason Derülo round out the lineup kicking off March 6.
By Jayson Rodriguez

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Photo: Rostrum Records

Wiz Khalifa, Pitbull, Lupe Fiasco and Jason Derülo will help get the party rocking this year at MTV's Spring Break 2011 in Las Vegas. They'll be joined by "Jersey Shore" star Pauly D, who'll hold down the DJ duties at the Palms Casino Resort.

The festivities are scheduled to run March 6 through March 9 and air on MTV, MTV2 and mtvU. The aforementioned artists join Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Eminem and the Notorious B.I.G. in the pantheon of standout MTV Spring Break performers.

This is the second consecutive year MTV will venture to Sin City for spring break. Last year, Ludacris, B.o.B and Bruno Mars helped ignite the party in Las Vegas after 2009's voyage to Panama City Beach in Florida. The famed Palms Casino Resort has also played host to the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, season 12 of the "Real World" in 2002 and 2005's "Summer on the Strip."

"Palms Casino Resort is thrilled to host MTV Spring Break 2011," Palms owner George Maloof said in a statement. "MTV and Palms are creating the ultimate destination for thousands of college students to kick back and enjoy some much-deserved time off. Between the pool parties and the live performances, this should be a spring break experience like no other."

In addition to Pauly D, Deena Nicole Cortese will also be on hand for the fun, as she co-hosts the "Jersey Shore" 10 Spot party.

Are you looking forward to spring break this year? Share your plans in the comments section!

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Bieber's quotes about rape and abortion continue to stir up controversy.
By Gil Kaufman

Justin Bieber on the March 2011 cover of <i>Rolling Stone</i>
Photo: Terry Richardson/ Wenner Media

The new issue of Rolling Stone magazine raised eyebrows for a number of reasons. Not only does it feature a cover image of teen dream Justin Bieber with his signature mop top teased up into spikes, but the accompanying interview has the controversy-shy 16-year-old "Never Say Never" singer weighing in on a number of contentious topics, including abortion.

When RollingStone.com posted excerpts from the cover story on Tuesday, it initially left out a key phrase that is included in the print edition of the mag that slightly misrepresented Bieber's feelings on sex, pregnancy and abortion.

In the article, the writer states that Bieber is "definitely" against abortion, quoting him as saying, "I really don't believe in abortion. ... I think [an embryo] is a human. It's like killing a baby." When the writer asks if that also refers to incidents of rape, Bieber replies, "Um ... well I think that's just really sad. ..."

By Wednesday, the site added this explanation: "Due to an editing error, this rollingstone.com news item originally included an incomplete quote from our Justin Bieber cover story. The actual quote, which appears in full in the March 3 print edition of Rolling Stone, reads: 'Um. Well, I think that's really sad [referring to abortion], but everything happens for a reason. I don't know how that would be a reason. I guess I haven't been in that position, so I wouldn't be able to judge that.' For the record: Bieber was quoted correctly by writer Vanessa Grigoriadis in her feature."

The original version of the quote that appeared online did not contain the phrase "I don't know how that would be a reason."

Grigoriadis spoke to Popeater.com on Thursday about the backlash against Bieber's quotes about rape, which the story seemed to imply he thinks "happens for a reason."

"I think he meant that God has a plan," the writer told the site. "Even for the most die-hard Christian, it's hard to justify rape as part of God's plan, and harder to justify rape that leads to pregnancy and abortion. I think he was wrestling with that in his answer, which I found to be solid and logical. I think it is being widely misunderstood. He did not say that rape was part of God's plan."

Asked whether Bieber was mature for his age, Grigoriadis agreed with something Bieber's manager said about his famous client. "Scooter Braun was right when he said to me that Justin sometimes seems like a 16-year-old going on 14 and other times like a 16-year-old going on 32," she said, adding that she thought it was fair game to ask the singer about such topics as premarital sex, abortion and politics because of the cultural impact Bieber has had in his short time in the public eye.

"I think that anyone who has as much sway in popular culture as Justin should be asked all questions," she said. "I agree that he does not bring up these issues in his work at the moment, but it's possible that he will in the future, as he decides that he wants the public to know more about him."

Do you think Justin Bieber's views on serious issues like abortion and sex matter? Sound off in the comments!

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In a week that saw plenty of post-Grammy sales bumps, it's Bieber who reigns supreme.
By James Montgomery

Justin Bieber
Photo: Mark Von Holden/ WireImage

In a week in which the post-Grammy sales boom finally took hold, sending several long-dormant albums rocketing back up the charts, it was the kid who got shut out at the big show who ended up topping the charts.

Justin Bieber's Never Say Never - The Remixes debuts at #1 on next week's Billboard top 200 albums chart, giving the pop star the second chart-topping bow of his young career. The album sold more than 161,000 copies, easily surpassing Mumford & Sons' breakout Sigh No More, which benefited from the group's Grammy-night performance with Bob Dylan (and the Avett Brothers), selling nearly 133,000 copies — a 169 percent increase in sales from the previous week — to hold steady at #2.

Former chart champ the Now 37 compilation lands at #3, with sales of nearly 95,000 copies, and Lady Antebellum — who not only performed at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, but took home the awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year — posted a 205 percent sales jump, selling more than 85,000 copies to snag the #4 spot.

Grammy winner and performer Bruno Mars' Doo-Wops & Hooligans sold nearly 61,000 copies (a 55 percent burst in sales) to come in at #5, followed by a host of other Grammy beneficiaries: Eminem's Recovery at #6 (nearly 61,000 copies sold), the 2011 Grammy Nominees compilation (#7, nearly 56,000 copies sold), Bieber's My World, 2.0 (#8, more than 54,000 copies), and Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday (#9, nearly 46,000 copies). Rihanna's Loud rounds out the top 10, with sales of more than 45,000 copies sold.

That Grammy bump continues outside the top 10 too, starting with Katy Perry's Teenage Dream, which, thanks to her Grammy performance, jumped 30 percent in sales, moving nearly 42,000 units to land at #11. Surprise Album of the Year winners Arcade Fire's The Suburbs posted a 238 percent sales jump to come in at #12, selling more than 40,000 copies ... and moving past the 500,000 mark in total sales as a result.

Other winners and performers who leapt up the charts include Florence and the Machine, whose Lungs moved from #28 to #19; Cee Lo Green's The Lady Killer (from #53 to #22); Lady Gaga's The Fame (from #35 to #23); and the Black Keys' Brothers, which posted a 25 percent sales jump to grab the #24 spot.

Aside from Bieber's Never Say Never, other notable Billboard debuts include Bright Eyes' The People's Key, which opened at #12 with sales of nearly 41,000 copies, Hillsong United's Aftermath (#17, with sales of more than 27,000 copies), Ginuwine's Elgin (#30, with sales of more than 19,000 copies), and PJ Harvey's Let England Shake, which bows at #32 with sales of nearly 18,000.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658506/justin-bieber-never-say-never-remixes.jhtml

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Monday, February 28, 2011

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Friday, February 25, 2011

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Wednesday, February 23, 2011