MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Pop Star Brides
Related ArtistsWednesday, August 31, 2011
'Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark': The Reviews Are In!
Guy Pearce, Katie Holmes and Bailee Madison star in Guillermo del Toro's reimagined horror flick.
By Terri Schwartz
Katie Holmes in "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark"
Photo: Miramax
There are few childhood fears more common than being afraid of the dark, but Bailee Madison's character, Sally, in Guillermo del Toro and Troy Nixey's reimagining of the '70s horror flick "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" certainly has good reason to be scared. And she'll likely never want to leave anything for the tooth fairy again.
Del Toro loved the 1973 TV movie of the same name that terrified him as a small child, and set about remaking it. Hoping to scare the pants off a new generation, the "Pan's Labyrinth" director co-wrote the screenplay and produced the film and handed it off to director Nixey.
So will "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" have you leaving the lights on all night, or let you sleep like a baby this weekend? Here's what the critics had to say:
The Story
" 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark,' which puts Guy Pearce, Katie Holmes and young Bailee Madison in some serious stomach-churning, can't-bear-to-watch-it jeopardy, is really, truly, very scary. ... At least until about 30 minutes in, when you start to be distracted by the lack of logic in the storytelling and the fact that the nasty little gremlins responsible for all the bumps in the night can be offed pretty easily. Possibly a good sturdy broom would have been enough to clean them out along with the cobwebs in the corners of the Gothic manse where the film is set." — Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times
The Cast
"There isn't much for Guy Pearce to do as the tone-deaf, perennially irritated dad, but Holmes — whose acting is often overwhelmed by her Mrs. Tom Cruise fame — delivers a sensitive performance as Kim gradually builds a tender, hesitant rapport with Sally. Still, there are problems with the characters and story here that the cast can't fix. It feels as if del Toro and Robbins never clearly chose between leaving the film in the cruel, manipulative horror idiom of the '70s — in which telephones never work, cars never start, and minor coincidences and catastrophes keep the family inside the house long past the point when any ordinary idiot would have fled — or uprooting it." — Andrew O'Hehir, Salon
The Scares
"Nixey provides us with a very gradual introduction to the inhabitants of the flue, which opens over a dark, deep space. Into this space we earlier saw Emerson Blackwood fall. Or was he pulled? Exploring the area, Sally innocently checks out the grating, and we hear ominous whispers and rustlings, and glimpse the body parts of ... something. These creatures are eventually seen more clearly, which I must say is a disappointment. The mastery of CGI allow filmmakers to show just about anything they can imagine, when sometimes it's scarier to show nothing at all. Consider the timeless 'Cat People' (1942). We never saw a thing. But when the heroine goes alone for a late-night plunge in a swimming pool, she hears something growl, and pace, and nothing we could [possibly] see could improve on that scene." — Roger Ebert, The Chicago Sun-Times
The Comparison To The Original
"Reimagining the 1973 television movie that terrified him as a boy, the producer, Guillermo del Toro — who wrote the screenplay with Matthew Robbins and who has made a career transforming childhood trauma into art house shivers — may have entrusted directing duties to Troy Nixey, but his fingerprints are all over the screen. The child's-eye view (the original Sally was an adult), the mash-up of history and fairy tale, the overly fussy story — all bear his stamp, as do the richly detailed visuals and prolix tension. None of Mr. del Toro's classy fiddling, however, can improve on the original's marvelously economical scares." — Jeanette Catsoulis, The New York Times
The Final Word
"Pearce and Holmes, often fine performers, here stoop to the kind of 'Amityville Horror' acting in which every line gets highlighted and overstated. (And why is Pearce wearing a scruffy dark brush cut that looks like a wig?) Of course, it's the kind of cheesy acting you can forgive when a horror film delivers, but 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' grows less suspenseful as it goes on. The spirits, heralded by echoey whispers ('Sall-eee! Now you'll see what it's like down here!'), are a small, scurrying army of 10-inch-tall, humpbacked simian beasties who look like they came out of a CGI demo reel. There's no mystery to them, which may be why there's no fear." — Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Check out everything we've got on "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related VideosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669745/dont-be-afraid-dark-reviews.jhtml
Emmanuelle Chriqui Emmanuelle Vaugier Emmy Rossum Erica Leerhsen
Justin Bieber - Next To You
- Artist: Justin Bieber
- Label: Jive, JLG
- Director: Collin Tilley
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3187077&vid=666238
Jennifer Love Hewitt Jennifer Morrison Jennifer ODell Jennifer Scholle
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Bravo TV Will Air A Special ?Suicide Edition? Of ?The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills?
In the wake of the suicide of reality TV star Russell Armstrong, it was reported a couple of weeks ago that Bravo TV was planning to postpone the season 2 premiere of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Today we learn that Bravo has decided NOT to postpone the September 5 premiere of the new [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/g1s8293jtuU/
Justin Bieber Vintage Video: His First Meeting With Usher
Justin Timberlake also wanted to sign Bieber, 'Never Say Never' star said in 2009.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber
Photo: Brian Phares/MTV News
Just as the world was learning who Justin Bieber was, MTV News caught up with the shaggy-haired singer in September 2009. He was gearing up to release his debut album, My World, and plotting his pop-world domination. In the year and a half since that interview, Bieber has done the nearly impossible, launching himself into the pop mega-sphere.
In the chat, Bieber recalled how he and his manager, Scooter Braun, met and eventually got big names interested in signing the teen.
"My manager found me on YouTube. He flew me out to Atlanta for the first time — I'd never actually been on a plane before. He flew me to Atlanta where i was going to the studio to meet some people," he recalled.
"And Usher happened to roll up in his Range Rover. I ran up to him, and I was like, 'Usher, I love your songs. Want me to sing you one?' The politest possible way he could say no, he did. ... I took the hint. I didn't get to sing for him: He had to run into a studio session."
But later, Usher was beckoning the teen back to the ATL. "He actually watched my videos — after my manager got to talking to him — and was like, 'I should have let this kid sing,' and flew me back to Atlanta where I got to sing for him in a proper setting. A week later, I had a meeting with Justin Timberlake, who also wanted to sign me, so they both kind of wanted me."
As the story goes, Bieber went with Usher, and the two never looked back.
"As far as Usher being my mentor, he's definitely given me words of wisdom. I hear it from everybody, but definitely to hear it from Usher is great, just to stay humble and grounded is very important," he explained.
"There's a lot of people, especially young stars, that have gone down the wrong path, and I definitely plan to stay humble and stay grounded and keep my family first, because that stuff really is important in life."
On Friday, Justin Bieber's 3-D documentary, "Never Say Never," opens. The film takes a look at how the teen star worked to hit it big. MTV News has been chatting with him along the way, from the time he first burst on the scene in 2009 until now, as he embarks on a huge 2011 that will include a tour and more new music.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657425/justin-bieber-usher-video.jhtml
Monday, August 29, 2011
Justin Bieber - Next To You
- Artist: Justin Bieber
- Label: Jive, JLG
- Director: Collin Tilley
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3187077&vid=666238
Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle Carla Campbell Carla Gugino
Beyonce Strips Down For '1+1' Video
B gets sexy and artistic in self-directed clip.
By Rob Markman
Beyonce in her music video for "1+1"
Photo: Columbia
She may not know much about algebra, but when it comes to music videos, Beyoncé's expertise is unmatched.
On Thursday (August 25), Queen B premiered the video for her power ballad "1+1" on E!, just days before her performance at MTV's 2011 VMAs. The clip -- which was directed by Beyoncé, Laurent Briet and Ed Burke -- is the third from her 4 LP and the first in a series of story-driven videos from the album.
As the acoustic guitar strings are plucked and black screen fades in, Beyoncé comes into focus. She stands with blond hair draped just below her exposed shoulders. The honey-dipped diva glistens with a top coat of glitter all over her body. Looking as sexy as ever, turning her head from right to left with her eyes fixed off-camera, the sultry singer starts her vocal seduction. "If I ain't got nothin', I got you," she belts out.
Caressing herself, the former Destiny's Child siren sexes it up for the camera as she starts to disrobe, pulling off the spaghetti straps from her champagne-colored dress. Things get even hotter when the bare-bodied B coyly plays in a cascading waterfall, pushing her lips out just far enough to get wet.
The video sports psychedelic light effects and symmetrical camera tricks selling sex as art. The choreography is a far cry from the standard Beyoncé dance routines, which more often than not feature high-powered steps, swaying hips and her patented bootylicious shake. Instead, B settles for ballet-style steps, moving in a leotard and long, flowing cape. Her principal love interest is nondescript, and while his muscular arms grip the singer's body before taking her through a series of dips and bends, he remains mostly in the background.
Clearly, the emotion is too much for her. Halfway through, the love-struck star begins to cry tears of joy before she begs her Romeo to make love to her on the song's vocal finale.
As far as Beyoncé videos go, "1+1" will most likely remain under the radar in comparison to the highlights in her high-budgeted reel, which includes clips like "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and "Crazy in Love." But much like the song, the visuals for "1+1" shouldn't be measured in terms of size, but rather in emotive presentation and subdued sexiness.
The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday, August 28, from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year's highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669721/beyonce-one-plus-one-music-video.jhtml
Lady Gaga, Beyonce Win Early VMAs
Gaga's 'Born This Way' took home Best Video With a Message early Sunday night.
By Eric Ditzian
Lady Gaga
Photo: Getty Images
Lady Gaga — trailblazer in yet another pop culture realm! The singer's "Born This Way" won the first-ever Moonman for Best Video With a Message at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday evening.
"I'm really proud of the 'Born This Way' video, and for it to be nominated is an absolute honor," Gaga earlier told MTV News.
The winner of the Best Video With a Message award, devoted to videos where music and social activism unite with positive messages that delve into some of the biggest issues of the day, was announced during the black carpet Pre-Show — just one of a handful of early awards.
Adele won big, taking home three professional awards. She bested Gaga, Katy Perry and Kanye West to win Best Art Direction for "Rolling in the Deep." The Brit chanteuse's video also took Editing (over 'Ye and 30 Seconds to Mars) and Cinematography (over Beyoncé and Eminem). But Beyoncé and Katy didn't head into the Nokia Theatre for the main show empty handed.
Beyoncé nabbed Choreography for "Run the World (Girls)," beating out Gaga's "Judas," Britney Spears' "Till the World Ends" and Bruno Mars' "The Lazy Song." Perry, meanwhile, who entered the night as the most-nominated artist, secured Special Effects for "E.T."
"Even teasing people with different images from 'E.T.,' people are so perplexed," Perry told MTV News back in March. "They're like, 'Katy Perry, you're supposed to be Betty Boop! You're supposed to be wearing pink!' It's exciting to be able to push my audience, to be like, 'There's always more, I've got all of this hidden up my sleeve that I've really longed to show people.'"
The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday from Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year's highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669826/lady-gaga-best-video-with-a-message-vma.jhtml
Justin Bieber And Selena Gomez: A VMA Love Story
Superstar couple had the ultimate date night on Sunday, including a sweet black-carpet kiss.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber kisses Selena Gomez backstage at the 2011 VMAs
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic
Young love ruled the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. Justin Bieber and girlfriend Selena Gomez had the ultimate date night, and the entire world was watching.
It all kicked off when the black-carpet VMA Pre-Show started on Sunday (August 28); the couple's adorableness would have viewers "awww"-ing throughout the night. Gomez, who was doing a stint as the pre-show co-host, spoke to a number of celebrities, including Britney Spears and bestie Demi Lovato, but things really got interesting when the Biebs showed up.
Bieber -- wearing glasses, red pants, leopard-print kicks and a tuxedo jacket -- stopped to chat with Gomez, who was decked out in a lacey black mini-dress.
"I have a snake. I have red pants and cheetah shoes. My snake's name is Johnson," he said when Gomez asked about his outfit.
The singer/actress continued to press him in the most professional way about his Best Male Video nod, and Bieber played it cool standing next to his girl. "I'm just excited to be in the category with such amazing people," he told her.
Bieber, a long time Beyoncé fan, admitted he was excited to see her perform, as well as Kanye West and Jay-Z. While Selena tried hard to remain professional, Bieber made their encounter even more adorable when he leaned in to kiss her cheek.
Click for backstage photos of Justin and Selena from the VMAs.
By the time the show started, Beyoncé and Jay-Z had announced their own good news, but the young pop stars were a bit less coy about their romance. In fact, despite Kim Kardashian's best efforts to flirt with Bieber as she presented him with the Moonman for Best Male Video for "U Smile," it was clear from the way he kissed Selena as he made his way to the stage that he only has eyes for one girl.
The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards have wrapped, but the real action is just getting started! Stick with MTV News for winners, fashion pics, video and behind-the-scenes stories about everything that went down. Visit VMA.MTV.com for the latest.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669881/vmas-justin-bieber-selena-gomez.jhtml
Beyonc� - Ego (Remix)
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Beyonce, Frank Gatson
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=401347
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Watch: Joseph Gordon-Levitt Performs A Cover Of ?Lithium? By Nirvana
Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt made his way up to Seattle, WA this week to perform at one of his HitRECord events and decided to bust out his guitar and sing a song for the folks in the audience. JGL decided to perform a cover of the song Lithium by Nirvana … and he did a pretty [...]
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Ke$ha, Black Eyed Peas, More Featured In O Music Awards Roundtable Debate
Music-video director Wayne Isham will join Most Innovative Video debate, which streams live Monday on OMusicAwards.com and MTV.com.
By MTV News Staff
Ke$ha
Photo: Noel Vasquez/ Getty Images
Ever since they were first announced, the O Music Awards have proudly proclaimed themselves the untraditional alternative to the staid world of red carpets, acceptance speeches and celebrity glad-handing.
And for further proof of that point, consider the following: Though the inaugural O Music Awards won't premiere until April 28, the first award will be handed out on Monday at 4 p.m. ET ... and it's a big one.
For weeks, fans have been voting for the Most Innovative Music Video through the O Music Awards official site, and on Monday — in a roundtable debate moderated by MTV News' James Montgomery — a winner will be crowned.
The O Music Awards Debate for the Most Innovative Music Video, presented by FUZE®, will stream live on OMusicAwards.com and MTV.com. Joining Montgomery around the table will be acclaimed video director Wayne Isham, Mashable's Brenna Ehrlich and some super-secret celebrity guests.
The Black Eyed Peas, Ke$ha, My Chemical Romance and more will also take part in the discussion about just what makes a video truly innovative, and the folks who are nominated for the award — a list that includes Arcade Fire, Robyn, OK Go and Andy Grammer — will also Skype in to make the case for why their video deserves to be named Most Innovative.
On Monday morning, the original list of 10 nominees will be whittled down to the top five vote-getters, and then, during the debate, our roundtable and the Internet audience will cut that list down to the final three. At the very end, we'll announce the winner of the very first O Music Award for Most Innovative Video.
The inaugural O Music Awards will stream live from Las Vegas at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on OMusicAwards.com. Tune in to see who will reign supreme in categories like Most Viral Dance, Funniest Music Short and NSFW Music Video!
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662511/o-music-awards-most-innovative-video.jhtml
Jessica Cauffiel Jessica Paré Jessica Simpson Zooey Deschanel
Dimmu Borgir Release Live DVD; Plus Led Zeppelin, Brujeria, & More News That Rules, In Metal File
'It shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums,' guitarist says.
By Chris Harris
Dimmu Borgir's Silenoz
Photo: Nuclear Blast
On October 14, Dimmu Borgir — who just happen to be Demi Lovato's favorite black-metal band — will release a a three-disc DVD/CD set called "The Invaluable Darkness," the band's first visual offering since 2002's "World Misanthropy." Boasting live footage shot last year, during gigs in Norway, Germany and England, "The Invaluable Darkness" demonstrates the unbridled furor of seeing Dimmu live, guitarist Silenoz said.
"It shows the honest rawness and atmospheric darkness of our concerts," the Norwegian told Metal File last week, after dismissing recent online rumors that his band's next LP would be coming out through Roadrunner Records. "Basically, it shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums. It's just a different side to the band, basically."
Dimmu Borgir began thinking about "The Invaluable Darkness" two years ago, but didn't start capturing footage until last summer, Silenoz explained, adding that the band will use its current stint on the Blackest of the Black Tour — which got underway Thursday night in Miami Beach, Florida, and also features the tour's founder, Danzig, along with Moonspell, Winds of Plague and Skeletonwitch — to promote the DVD. Dimmu Borgir will not, however, use the tour to write material for their next LP.
"It's our first time on Blackest, but Glenn [Danzig] had wanted to bring us out before [on the tour], but we weren't available until now," Silenoz said. "We've done Ozzfest before, but we're looking forward to this tour more. We did the main stage on Ozzfest, playing in f--_ing broad daylight. This tour will let us play in bigger places, but at the same time showcase more of what the band's about, visually. We are going to concentrate on the tour for now. Some years ago, we tried putting [material] together on the road, but once we got home, we listened back to it, and were like, 'What the f--- is this?' So, we just scrapped it all. We find it's so much better to totally focus on one thing at a time, and then, when that's over, you move on to the next [thing]. We don't really feel like we need to rush things, anyway, so we'll just take our time, and it's going to be what it's going to be."
Dimmu Borgir hope to reconvene in late December to begin writing the follow-up to 2007's diabolically titled In Sorte Diaboli. "We have some ideas floating around already, but we haven't arranged any material yet," he said. "We'll start doing that once the touring for this DVD is over." The band's frontman, Shagrath, is also due to marry soon — he's engaged to actor Nicolas Cage's ex-girlfriend, Christina Fulton, so that may have an effect on when Dimmu finish their next album, which Silenoz said could be out this coming spring.
"I'm sure [Shagrath] won't let anything get in the way [of] the band — I think, I hope," the guitarist said. "We don't need a Yoko [Ono] situation."
While Dimmu have been at it going on 15 years now, Silenoz said he doesn't think their forthcoming material will be much of a departure from their previous black-metal offerings.
"And we have always been about more than just that term, 'black metal,' " he said. "Luckily for us, the older you get, the less concerned you get with the categorization and putting labels on your music. Things start getting more and more limitless with us, and we know that we operate within certain frames. But we try not to analyze things too much, because it's just going to be working against you in the end. When we write new stuff, we don't think about what we should write — we just get together, and put material together, and if we like it, we keep it. That's the formula, if we even have a formula."
Dimmu Borgir are definitely getting older — guitarist Galder will be missing Blackest because of a recent addition to his family, and Susperia's Cyrus will be filling in for him; while former Vader drummer Dariusz Brzozowski takes over for Hellhammer, who had to leave the band in 2007 after sustaining a neck injury that's now limited the use of his right arm. As Dimmu has gotten on in years, Silenoz admits they have failed to keep pace with some of the more extreme black-metal acts that have followed in their wake.
"We helped open doors for the more extreme bands out there," Silenoz said. "I'm sure we helped open doors for bands like Watain, [insomuch as] people that had maybe started listening to us first then went on to the more extreme stuff. Let's face it — we're not as extreme as Watain and other bands like that, but we're fine with that."
The Blackest of the Black Tour continues through November 10 in San Francisco.
The rest of the week's metal news:
Dimmu's tourmates on Blackest, Winds of Plague, have announced ex-Azusa drummer Art Cruz has joined their ranks — he replaced Jeff Tenney. According to the band's blog, "Art has already added a new spark to the band and has provided us with a solid backbone that will allow us to continue our rampage stronger than ever." ...
What the world really needs is another Led Zeppelin box set, so, on November 4, Rhino Records will issue the Led Zeppelin Definitive Collection Mini LP Replica CD box set. For just $200, you'll get 1969's Led Zeppelin, 1969's Led Zeppelin II, 1970's Led Zeppelin III, 1971's Led Zeppelin IV, 1973's Houses of the Holy, 1975's Physical Graffiti, 1976's Presence, 1976's The Song Remains the Same, 1979's In Through the Out Door and 1982's Coda, as mini-LP replicas, with artwork from the original U.K. LP sleeves. Now, you know what you can get your dad for Christmas. ...
Former Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach and current Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz have teamed up for a new project they're calling Times of Grace, and they've already started working on material for their debut album. According to Leach, "We have two songs to go and we will be finished with all of the vocals. Adam has taken lead vocals in three songs as of yet and he is doing a great job. We also worked on a track yesterday that is so epic — we trade vocals and do two different melodies at the same time. This album went from a melodic metal album to an epic mix of metal/rock/pop/shoegaze and punk. So all of your metal expectations will be incorrect — we are pushing genre boundaries." To quote "Meet the Parents," we'll look forward to that, Greg. ...
The Funeral Pyre and Early Graves will be hitting the road together next month, starting November 7 in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dates are booked through November 21 in Hollywood. ...
The latest incarnation of Brujeria, which features Carcass frontman Jeff Walker and Napalm Death's Shane Embury, have lined up several U.S. dates for this winter. The band will begin its brief trek November 28 in Denver, and wrap things up in Dallas on December 7. ... Demiricous will be touring with the Gates of Slumber starting November 9 in Denver, for a jaunt that's scheduled to run through December 6 in Indianapolis. ...
Nearly three years after Roadrunner Records' Roadrunner United concert, which took over the Nokia Theater in New York's Times Square, the label is now releasing footage from that special night as "Roadrunner United: The Concert." The DVD, which hits stores December 9, will boast two discs and 24 live tracks, including Life of Agony's "River Runs Red," King Diamond's "Abigail," Killswitch's "My Last Serenade," Type O Negative's "Black No. 1" and Sepultura's "Refuse/Resist." ...
According to Blabbermouth, Verrot, bassist for Swedish black-metal outfit Elimi, committed suicide on October 3. In a statement, the band said, "Verrot was a very good friend, brother, an excellent bass player/musician and an important part of Elimi; we respect his decision and hope he'll find his way with the dark gods of Chaos. Let your black flame be a part of what brings forth the day of wrath."
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1596756/dimmu-borgir-release-live-dvd-set-metal-file.jhtml
Usher Collaborator Rico Love Calls Kelly Rowland's 'Motivation' 'Truly Organic'
Lil Wayne 'jumped on it,' Raymond v. Raymond writer tells Mixtape Daily.
By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Rob Markman
Rico Love
Photo: TTLL
Behind the Beats: Rico Love
If more people read the credits behind some of R&B's biggest hits, Rico Love should be a household name. Born Richard Preston Butler Jr., the former Florida A&M University student is now one of the music industry's most-sought-after singer/songwriters.
After writing hits for Usher ("There Goes My Baby"), Beyoncé ("Sweet Dreams") and Diddy-Dirty Money ("Hello Good Morning"), to name a few, one of Rico's biggest hits to date is Kelly Rowland's "Motivation."
"It came about in a truly organic way," Rico told Mixtape Daily of the Jim Jonsin-produced "Motivation." "We had this meeting in New York: myself and Sylvia [Rhone] and Kelly. And they just were saying, 'We need to find that single; we need that big single.' Everybody was asking for an uptempo, actually.
"I flew down to Miami the next day, and that Tuesday, we got back in the studio, and Jim started playing these chords, and then coming up with these little sounds — the signature sounds that Jim comes up with. I just told him to lay it like a skeleton idea, and I jumped in the booth, and I started with the verse, and I kind of sang my way all the way through the record."
Rowland, formerly of Destiny's Child, was in the studio while Rico was laying down the reference track and made her regard for the song known immediately. "Kelly was there and watched the whole process," Rico recalled. "As soon as I finished singing the demo, usually an artist wants to live with it or listen to it for a little while. She just said, 'I want to cut it right now.' So she jumped in the booth, and we cut the record."
"Motivation" became the lead single for Rowland's third album, Here I Am, which was released in April. The song, which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, features a verse from Lil Wayne.
"Lil Wayne got out of jail a few days later, and as soon as he got out of jail, [Rowland] went to see him, and he jumped on it," Rico explained. "It was the most organized situation ever. It was nothing contrived about it."
There's been nothing manufactured about Rico's accomplishments either. Starting his musical career as a rapper, he has signed former Roc-a-Fella rapper Young Chris to his Universal/Motown-distributed Division 1 label.
After leaving Florida A&M to pursue music, Rico caught the attention of Usher, and penned songs for the R&B singer, including "Throwback." Other artists soon benefitted from his songwriting, including T.I., Pleasure P and Mario. Rico takes pride in being versatile with his talents, preferring not to make specific songs intended for specific artists only.
"Sometimes, when you keep an artist in mind, you'll limit yourself," Rico explained. "You won't go a place that they probably would go because you're thinking, "Nah, she wouldn't say this," or "He wouldn't do this," or "He wouldn't say this," and "This melody is out of the way for them."
"When I get a chance to just get into the studio and just write music and just produce music and sit at the piano and tell a guy where I want to hear the chords and create the progressions and just freely make music, it's a lot more fun."
Lately, Rico has been back in the studio with Usher. In 2007, he was signed to the singer's former US Records via J Records. But his debut album was never released, and he and Usher went their separate ways.
But as Rico become a songwriting force, the two eventually started working together again. The first song they recorded was the Grammy-winning "There Goes My Baby" from 2010's Raymond v. Raymond. Now, Rico is working on Usher's forthcoming album and embracing the pressure of surpassing its predecessor's platinum sales and critical success.
"I feel like this is what separates the boys from the men," Rico said of working with Usher. "This week, we been creating records together. We had two mics, two headphones set up in the booth, and we just sit there and vibe out.
"These first few days have been amazing. We got four records cut so far that sound super amazing. I'm super excited about it. I'm just anxious for the world to hear it."
For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1667790/rico-love-kelly-rowland-motivation.jhtml
'Ghostbusters 3' Will Shoot Next Year With Or Without Bill Murray, Says Dan Aykroyd
"Ghostbusters 3" is going to begin filming next year. Sony and leading man Bill Murray just don't know it yet.
Outspoken "Ghostbusters" star Dan Aykroyd is swirling the rumor mill again, this time on "The Dennis Miller Show." He told Miller that the plan is to get the movie in front of the camera within the [...]
Outspoken "Ghostbusters" star Dan Aykroyd is swirling the rumor mill again, this time on "The Dennis Miller Show." He told Miller that the plan is to get the movie in front of the camera within the [...]
Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/08/26/ghostbusters-3-bill-murray-dan-aykroyd/
Saturday, August 27, 2011
'The Help' Defeats Remakes, Reboots, Sequels At Box Office
'Planet of the Apes' is #2 in its second week of release, with 'Fright Night' and 'Conan' trailing behind.
By Ryan J. Downey
Emma Stone in "The Help"
Photo: DreamWorks
Librarians, booksellers and English teachers, rejoice: Moviegoers overwhelmingly chose "The Help," adapted from the best-selling novel, over all of the remakes, sequels and reboots in theaters this past weekend.
"The Help" dropped just 21 percent in its second weekend of release, taking in $20.5 million (for a 12-day $71.8 million total) to become the #1 movie in America, according to studio estimates. The heavily promoted "Fright Night" remake, the "Conan" reboot and the latest "Spy Kids" all flopped.
Last week's #1 movie, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," was in second place this week with $16.3 million. The well-reviewed sci-fi film's $133.8 million total put it past where Tim Burton's critically maligned "Planet of the Apes" remake was during a similar spot in its 2001 theatrical run.
The scratch-and-sniff cards given out at screenings as part of the "aromascope" experience did nothing to take the stink off of "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World," which debuted with a franchise low of $12 million. Only 23 percent of critics on Rotten Tomatoes enjoyed filmmaker Robert Rodriguez's latest, in which he cast his "Sin City" and "Machete" veteran Jessica Alba as a "spy mom."
It's been eight years since the last "Spy Kids" movie and nearly 30 years since Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke of the lamentation of his enemies' women in the original "Conan the Barbarian." Newcomer Jason Momoa's franchise reboot (Conan originated with fantasy writer Robert E. Howard in 1932) mustered only $10 million in its debut. The 1982 "Conan" enjoyed three times the attendance when it opened.
Another flick with an '80s nostalgia bent, "Fright Night," suffered the worst opening of the weekend's new wide releases. The remake of the tongue-in-cheek "Rear Window"-like vampire flick opened at #6 with just $7.9 million, putting it behind "The Smurfs," which took in $8 million for a $117.7 million total.
The Anne Hathaway romance flick "One Day" was also new in theaters this week. Although it's playing on just 1,719 screens ("Apes," by comparison, is on 3,471), its $5.1 million opening was still low by most industry expectations.
Next weekend's new releases include the horror flick "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," which was co-written and produced by Guillermo del Toro, and the Paul Rudd comedy "Our Idiot Brother."
Check out everything we've got on "The Help" and "Rise of the Planet of the Apes."
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/1669419/the-help-box-office.jhtml
Beyonc� - Run The World (Girls)
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia
- Director: Francis Lawrence
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=654804
'Ghost Rider 2' Trailer: An Expert Analysis
'Spirit of Vengeance' sneak peek has MTV Movies team excited for what's to come from the Nicolas Cage superhero.
By Eric Ditzian and Josh Wigler
"Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance"
Photo: Columbia Pictures
The "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" trailer popped up online late last week, and what else is there to say about it other than Nicolas Cage closes out the new footage by pissing fire? Well, it turns out there's a heck of a lot left to say, which is why the MTV Movies team jumped into the comic book action for an expert commentary.
The trailer begins sweetly, with a score reminiscent of "Lost" and some epic title cards: "He fought the curse ... evil will force him ... to face his demon." But any wacky notion that directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, who also helmed the "Crank" films, have delivered a kinder, gentler Johnny Blaze is quickly dismissed when the music picks up and the flames flicker to reveal our first look at the new Ghost Rider.
It's a look the directors have spoken with us about at length. "We wanted this black skull, with this gasoline fire and this black, inky smoke to get this real feeling of explosions and fire and heat," Neveldine said at San Diego Comic-Con. "That's something we really went for: 'Let's feel the heat in this movie.' "
The grittiness of this Ghost Rider most definitely shines through in the trailer. Charcoal skull? Check. A whiff of gasoline seemingly rising off the screen? Check. Neveldine and Taylor not holding back in this trailer and delivering a full-on look at our hero right off the bat? Check. And they don't stop there, quickly showing off Ghost Rider's signature move, the Penance Stare: He looks into your eyes and makes you feel all the pain and suffering you've ever inflicted on other people. This is no fairy-tale power. This is not X-ray vision. This is a hard-core demonic power, one which was not played very well in the first film. Even in this quick shot, the Stare looks very cool.
Speaking of demonic powers, the trailer got us thinking this film might not just be a sequel to the 2007 original, but to Cage's "Drive Angry," the 3-D action flick that had the actor busting out of hell to inflict gory revenge on his enemies. Crazy talk? Sure. But since "Drive Angry" hardly performed well enough at the box office to justify a sequel, we'll take whatever we can get.
We get to see plenty of Ghost Rider here, but the trailer gives us the briefest glimpse of Johnny Whitworth as Blackout. He's part human, part demon, all bad news. Whitworth is a guy to watch — hardly a household name but one who delivered an energetic supporting role in the largely forgettable "Limitless." With Neveldine and Taylor in control, there is serious potential for killer fight scenes between Blackout and Ghost Rider.
Another character we get a peek at is young Danny Ketch. Comic fans will know him as one of the guys who eventually becomes Ghost Rider. The big departure here is that Danny is a kid. In the comics, he's a young man. While this film probably won't turn into a passing of the torch from Cage's Johnny Blaze to Danny as the next Ghost Rider, it's nonetheless cool to see filmmakers laying the mythological groundwork.
The trailer ends with pure, absurd fun: Ghost Rider declaring that it feels awesome when he pees fire. That's essentially how Cage feels about the movie as a whole. "The Ghost Rider is just the coolest-looking superhero, and it has to be the one that goes to film and looks the best," the actor told us at SDCC. "I think they've achieved that with this."
Check out everything we've got on "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
Related VideosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669452/ghost-rider-2-trailer.jhtml
Charlies Angels Charlize Theron Chelsea Handler Cheryl Burke
Pet Tags
Man, I'm so irritated.
I just received four pets tags that I ordered for Bev and Mary Margaret (two for Brooklyn and two for LA) and they're all messed up. Not only did they leave off the "Margaret" on Mary Margaret's tags, but the text isn't centered correctly and runs off the right side on all four of them. (The last letter of the address is cut in half.) The tags themselves are also ugly. The edges aren't smoothed out... they look like someone just cut them from a piece of sheet metal and called it a day.
So anyway, I got them this morning on my way to Starbucks (yesterday's mail), so while I was there, I started drafting a strongly-worded letter in my head, like what I was going to say to these people when I sent them back.
And then I saw it.
In tiny print on the bottom of the invoice it said, "Our handicapped employees appreciate your order."
So now I can't send them back. If I did I'd be a total asshole.
I'm just going to order new ones from someplace else. Any recommendations?
Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/5/8/pet-tags.html
Friday, August 26, 2011
A ?Super? Villain Shows Up On The Set Of ?Man Of Steel?
Yesterday we got our first look at actor Henry Cavill in costume as Superman on the set of the upcoming reboot film Man of Steel. Today we get to see Cavill in costume again along with what looks to be actress Antje Trau in the role of Kryptonian villain Faora getting ready to do battle [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/FCYu0WM8WzA/
Gabrielle Union Garcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy Georgianna Robertson
Michael Jackson Doctor's Trial Delayed
Judge pushes start of Conrad Murray's trial back to May.
By Gil Kaufman
Conrad Murray
Photo: AFP/ Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Though Conrad Murray's lawyers had been pressing for a speedy trial, a judge in the involuntary manslaughter case against Michael Jackson's doctor ruled on Wednesday to delay opening statements in the proceedings until May.
The Associated Press reported that Murray's attorneys consented to the postponement after they discussed the matter with prosecutors and both agreed they could be ready for trial by May 9.
According to a transcript from the closed-door session, though opening statements will not begin for several months, Murray told Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor that he did not want to forfeit his right to a quick trial, but agreed to the delay if screening of prospective jurors begins as scheduled on March 24.
"It is only acceptable to me if this is not strung along over a long period of time," Murray told the justice. "I don't want to lose my constitutional right to speedy trial." Murray — who has pleaded not guilty to the charges — reportedly has been in favor of having the proceedings begin as soon as possible because he is facing financial troubles, but he said he understands that the delay is necessary to allow both sides to prepare for the trial.
Pastor consented because he said he didn't want to lose a jury pool, and believed a month-long delay might let potential jurors shuffle their schedules for the case, which could take up to two months to decide. The judge has reportedly clashed with Murray's defense team in recent weeks, pressing them for answers about why they had not turned over more witness notes and other potential evidence to prosecutors in the run-up to the trial.
Cardiologist Murray was hired to be Jackson's personal physician while the King of Pop prepared for his planned 50-date comeback series of shows at London's O2 arena in the summer of 2009. The doctor told police that he provided the then-50-year-old Jackson with sedatives and the surgical anesthetic propofol in order to combat the singer's chronic insomnia. He said he did so on the morning of June 25, 2009, when Jackson died of what a coroner deemed acute propofol poisoning.
Murray's lawyers reportedly plan to argue that Jackson was already in weak health before he died, that it's unfair to blame propofol for his passing and that, if the anesthetic was to blame, the pop superstar may have given himself the fatal dose by drinking the drug in a panic.
A status hearing in the case has been set for this Wednesday.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659100/conrad-murray-trial.jhtml
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Usher - Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)
- Artist: Usher
- Label: JLG
- Director: Chris Robinson
- Album: Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=476362
Christina DaRe Christina Milian Christina Ricci Chyler Leigh
Mixtape Daily: Rico Love, Gunplay
The platinum songwriter and producer talks about his work with Kelly Rowland and Good friend Usher.
Photo: Triple C's
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Justin Bieber Vintage Video: His First Meeting With Usher
Justin Timberlake also wanted to sign Bieber, 'Never Say Never' star said in 2009.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber
Photo: Brian Phares/MTV News
Just as the world was learning who Justin Bieber was, MTV News caught up with the shaggy-haired singer in September 2009. He was gearing up to release his debut album, My World, and plotting his pop-world domination. In the year and a half since that interview, Bieber has done the nearly impossible, launching himself into the pop mega-sphere.
In the chat, Bieber recalled how he and his manager, Scooter Braun, met and eventually got big names interested in signing the teen.
"My manager found me on YouTube. He flew me out to Atlanta for the first time — I'd never actually been on a plane before. He flew me to Atlanta where i was going to the studio to meet some people," he recalled.
"And Usher happened to roll up in his Range Rover. I ran up to him, and I was like, 'Usher, I love your songs. Want me to sing you one?' The politest possible way he could say no, he did. ... I took the hint. I didn't get to sing for him: He had to run into a studio session."
But later, Usher was beckoning the teen back to the ATL. "He actually watched my videos — after my manager got to talking to him — and was like, 'I should have let this kid sing,' and flew me back to Atlanta where I got to sing for him in a proper setting. A week later, I had a meeting with Justin Timberlake, who also wanted to sign me, so they both kind of wanted me."
As the story goes, Bieber went with Usher, and the two never looked back.
"As far as Usher being my mentor, he's definitely given me words of wisdom. I hear it from everybody, but definitely to hear it from Usher is great, just to stay humble and grounded is very important," he explained.
"There's a lot of people, especially young stars, that have gone down the wrong path, and I definitely plan to stay humble and stay grounded and keep my family first, because that stuff really is important in life."
On Friday, Justin Bieber's 3-D documentary, "Never Say Never," opens. The film takes a look at how the teen star worked to hit it big. MTV News has been chatting with him along the way, from the time he first burst on the scene in 2009 until now, as he embarks on a huge 2011 that will include a tour and more new music.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657425/justin-bieber-usher-video.jhtml
Beyonc� - If I Were A Boy
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia/Music World Music
- Director: Jake Nava
- Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=288236
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Pop The Throne: Could Britney And Gaga Team Up Too?
MTV News asks pop-music experts to weigh in on the likelihood of a joint album between pop divas, à la Jay and Kanye.
By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears
Photo: Splash News Online
With so much talk about the epic matchup of Jay-Z and Kanye West on the just-released Watch the Throne, we wondered whether something similar could ever exist in the pop world. Sure, the New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys managed to rekindle our love of boy bands with their joint tour this summer, but could two pop divas get together and drop an album in the way Hova and Yeezy have?
There have been hints of Throne-like pop collabos over the past decade thanks to ladies like Madonna and Britney Spears, and Lady Gaga and Beyoncé, but nothing as extensive as a full-length album like WTT. So, could something like that ever happen?
Well, it would take the right combination of factors.
Us Weekly Senior Music Editor Ian Drew noted that history is important. "You've got to understand that the reason this is happening is because this is a very, very long friendship — they're like brothers," Drew said of Jay and Kanye. "We've gotten tastes of this all along. This is a deep personal friendship and a labor of love between two people. I think that needs to exist first."
Perez Hilton, however, said it doesn't have to be that deep. But there does have to be a certain something between the two artists to make it work.
"I don't know if there has to be a friendship, but there definitely has to be a mutual respect, admiration and history of kind words for each other," the entertainment blogger said. "It needs to make sense and it needs to happen at the right time in their careers."
Kyle Anderson, a staff writer at Entertainment Weekly, said the only obstacle to a pop version of WTT would be the logistics of getting two pop stars, like Britney and Gaga for example, in the same place at the same time.
"Hip-hop lends itself more to collaboration because it's part of the culture," Anderson said. "Jay and Kanye have known each other for quite a while. They've had a friendship that is both professional and personal," he added. "[Pop stars'] camps would also cause a weird logistical problem ... there's so many elements" needed to make this happen.
What do the critics think of Watch the Throne?
So, who would Perez like to see try their hand at a joint album? "Someone like a Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera could probably do something like that together because they're well into their careers and that collaboration would make sense," he said. "You can't just throw any two people together. Another collaboration like Beyoncé and Lady Gaga would make sense, but I don't think that Gaga is at a point in her career yet where she would want [to]."
Like Perez, Anderson thinks a Gaga/Beyoncé album is the most likely pairing. Why? "Their aesthetics sort of mesh, they both kind of work, so I would be very interested to hear that," he said. "I think they could really put a concept together. To them, it's a two-person planet and they're the only two people on it."
Which pop stars would you like to see team up for a joint album? Share your wish list in the comments!
Related Videos- Welcome To Jay-Z And Kanye West's 'Watch The Throne' Week
- Lady Gaga: Inside The Outside
- Britney Spears: I Am The Femme Fatale
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1668899/watch-the-throne-britney-spears-lady-gaga.jhtml
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Mixtape Daily: Rico Love, Gunplay
The platinum songwriter and producer talks about his work with Kelly Rowland and Good friend Usher.
Photo: Triple C's
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Beyonc� - Halo
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Philip Andelman
- Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=332332
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