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Related ArtistsPortia de Rossi Rachael Leigh Cook Rachel Bilson Rachel Blanchard
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Usher - There Goes My Baby
- Artist: Usher
- Label: LaFace Records, JLG
- Director: Anthony Mandler
- Album: Candy Valentine
Heavy D's Death Hits Nicki Minaj, Usher, More Celebs
'Truly gone too soon,' Usher tweets Tuesday.
By James Dinh
Heavy D arrives at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center on February 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, California
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images
<P>Hip-hop lost a rap icon when <a href="/news/articles/1674003/heavy-d-dead.jhtml">Heavy D died</a> Tuesday afternoon (November 8) at age 44, and the music industry is clearly mourning the loss. A string of stars, including <a href="/music/artist/usher/artist.jhtml">Usher</a>, <a href="/music/artist/timbaland/artist.jhtml">Timbaland</a> and <a href="/music/artist/minaj__nicki/artist.jhtml">Nicki Minaj</a>, have shared their memories of the late MC on Twitter. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:709301.id:1674015" width="240" height="211"></div><p> Usher offered his sympathy to the family of the Jamaican-born rap heavyweight, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/UsherRaymondIV/status/134038937709707264" target="_blank">tweeting</a>, "This is too heavy, I can't believe it. HEAVY D was just here. Truly gone too soon. My heart and support goes out to his family. R.I.P HEAVY." Mega-producer Timbaland couldn't even process the announcement, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Timbaland/status/134043158483959808" target="_blank">writing</a>, "I'm at a loss for words rip heavy d." After re-tweeting the late-MC's last <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/heavyd/status/133793313668071424" target="_blank">message</a> ("BE INSPIRED"), hip-hop's Harajuku Barbie also weighed in on the news. "We'll never forget you babe! #hiphopelite #RIPHeavyD," Nicki <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/NICKIMINAJ/status/134046872791810048" target="_blank">wrote</a>. From one raptress to the next, Missy Elliott <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/MissyElliott/status/134048022421176321" target="_blank">shared</a> her thoughts: "U will be missed Heavy D so many laughs we've shared but your Music is Timeless and will Always be Around 4ever Love u Heav..." Ciara <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ciara/status/134042091209752576" target="_blank">described</a> the MC as "a really nice man. Sending my condolences to him and his family!" DJ Drama and Nick Cannon reflected on the icon's impact. "Heavy D 'Who's The Man' was one of my 1st pieces of vinyl when I first started djayin," DJ Drama <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/DJDRAMA/status/134047593767505920" target="_blank">wrote</a>. "Def 1 of the first 5 records I spent $ on. RIP." Cannon said he had "just talked" to Heavy D, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/NickCannon/status/134045736227713024" target="_blank">adding</a>, "He was just encouraging me about life." "RIP TO A REAL HIP HOP LEGEND HEAVY D!" Nas <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Nas/status/134036958933549056" target="_blank">chimed</a> in. Juelz Santana <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/thejuelzsantana/status/134049100172754946" target="_blank">recalled</a> the rapper/actor's recent BET Hip Hop Awards performance. "RIP Heavy D. He was a Hip Hop Legend," he shared. "Crazy how sh-- happens. I was late 2 da BET Awards & Heavy D's Performance was 1 of da only 2 I got 2 see. Blessed 4 dat opportunity. RIP." Boyz II Men, who shared the '90s spotlight with the MC, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/BoyzIIMen/status/134038232487825408" target="_blank">sent</a> condolences to his family, writing, "UGH...heavy d..always cool as hell with us..just a sick feeling....praying for his little daughter and family." <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/mtvnews/posts/239786012747833" target="_blank"><big>Share your memories of Heavy D on Facebook.</big></a> <center><object width="451" height="279" id="kickWidget_176704_495694" name="kickWidget_176704_495694" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://serve.a-widget.com/service/getWidgetSwf.kickAction"> <!-- Firefox uses the 'data' attribute above, IE/Safari uses the param below --> <param name="movie" value="http://serve.a-widget.com/service/getWidgetSwf.kickAction"></param> <param name="FlashVars" value="affiliateSiteId=176704&widgetId=495694&width=451&height=279&autoPlay=0&playOnLoad=0&js=1&revision=110&mediaURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bet.com%2Fcontent%2Fbetcom%2Fvideo%2Fhiphopawards%2F2011%2Fperformances%2Fhha-perf-heavyd-s1%2F_jcr_content%2Fleftcol%2Fvideoplayer.mrss" ></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" ></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" ></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" ></param> </object></center></p>
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSaturday, February 25, 2012
Michael Jackson - History
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic
- Director:
Michelle Behennah Michelle Branch Michelle Malkin Michelle Obama
'X Factor' Michael Jackson Night Has Singers On Edge
Meanwhile, Paula Abdul has been absent from the set since her final group was eliminated last week.
By Jim Cantiello
Michael Jackson in the video for "Hold My Hand"
Photo: Sony Music Entertainment
<P><i>MTV News' own Jim Cantiello is exclusively covering "The X Factor" rehearsals. Read on for his fly-on-the-wall backstage report!</i> <b>LOS ANGELES</b> — "The X Factor" top seven are back on the lot after their first (and only) mini-vacation of the season. And as the Thanksgiving tryptophan wears off, the anxiety of another double elimination is setting in. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:714741" width="240" height="211"></div><p> Adding to the stress? "The X Factor" is tackling the songs of <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jackson_michael/artist.jhtml">Michael Jackson</a> on Wednesday night (November 30), on the 29th anniversary of <i>Thriller</i>'s release, no less. One of the contestants is so stressed over the theme he's emerged as a total perfectionist. During Monday's rehearsals, he had already nixed multiple arrangements the show had provided him. "This is the most unprepared I've felt on a Monday," he said to his mentor as they rushed out of Stage 36. There was a camera crew chasing them to capture the drama — as well as the ensuing late-night emergency meeting with the vocal coaches — so don't be surprised if some of this intense footage ends up in your living room. (This afternoon's dress rehearsal went swimmingly, for the record.) Meanwhile, one contestant had a full-on battle with his/her mentor over a chair. The mentor said, "Sit and sing." The contestant said, "Again?! How about I do something on my feet for Michael Jackson week?" Another mentor came to the defense of the contestant. In the end, the contestant is sitting after all. Don't worry, contestant. The eerie arrangement of an MJ classic is what folks are going to be buzzing about. No one will care if you sit or stand. In the control room, I spied one of the bigwigs utter the word "brilliant!" after the contestant's dress rehearsal. Another hot topic: wardrobe! When paying homage to one of the biggest music icons ever, it's tempting for the stylists to include clothing nods to Michael's various looks. But several singers are worried they'll look too much like Jackson impersonators, which has caused many a headache in the wardrobe trailer. But stylist June Ambrose is still able to keep things light in the midst of the drama. While waiting around for a contestant's last-minute fitting, she started an impromptu MJ dance party on the lot. Crotch grabs and "woo" included! Lastly, Paula Abdul's sunny energy has been noticeably absent on the CBS lot now that all her groups have been eliminated. She went from being the most hands-on mentor to an on-set ghost. "The X Factor" family can't wait to welcome her back for her first live show as strictly a judge. What do you think she's been doing with her newfound free time? <b>You can catch Jim on the "X Factor Pepsi Pre-Show," streaming at 7 p.m. ET tonight on <a href="http://www.thexfactorusa.com/" target="_blank">TheXFactorUSA.com</a>!</b></p>
Related Artists'Cosmopolis' Isn't For 'Team Edward Girls,' Jay Baruchel Says
Robert Pattinson's co-star describes the David Cronenberg film to MTV News as 'an exceedingly strange movie.'
By Kevin P. Sullivan
Robert Pattinson and Sarah Gadon in "Cosmopolis"
Photo: Caitlin Cronenberg's Twitter
David Cronenberg's next film, "Cosmopolis," may have won MTV's Movie Brawl thanks to the support of die-hard Robert Pattinson fans, but one of his co-stars told MTV News the film will be far from what Twilighters are expecting.
While promoting "Goon," a film he stars in and co-wrote, Jay Baruchel shared his experiences working for a short period of time on the Manhattan set of "Cosmopolis." Unfortunately for the Pattinson fans out there, according to Baruchel, Cronenberg's next movie might be too strange for them.
"An exceedingly strange movie," Baruchel said, describing "Cosmopolis." "All the Team Edward girls won't be seeing this one, I don't think."
For Baruchel, working with Cronenberg — who made a name for himself with horror films — was a dream come true. "Basically, it was that Cronenberg is a hero of mine. I'm a Canadian boy. I love horror. That's all I want to do," Baruchel said. "If you're a Canadian horror fan, Cronenberg's the Holy Grail."
The opportunity for Baruchel came about in a rather mundane way, but his reaction to it was anything but. "I was in Manhattan last year, keeping my lady company, and they called up and were like, 'Hey, do you want to do two days on this new Cronenberg?' I said, 'Yep!' 'Wait, wait. We'll send you the script.' I couldn't care less; what I'm playing is a means to an end. I just want to go and film-nerd-out about 'Videodrome' with him for two days."
The actual experience of working with Cronenberg did not disappoint. "Not only did I get to go and be a fly on the wall for two days and watch one of my heroes do his thing, I actually had the pleasure being directed by him," Baruchel said. "Coolest thing ever."
Check out everything we've got on "Cosmopolis."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related PhotosMichelle Rodriguez Michelle Trachtenberg Mila Kunis Milla Jovovich
Nick Jonas Talks 'Dynamite' Bromance With John Stamos
'He's everybody's Uncle Jesse,' singer/actor jokes to MTV News about 'Full House' alum.
By Jocelyn Vena
Nick Jonas
Photo: MTV News
Nick Jonas is currently playing Finch, the lead role in Broadway's "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," following in the footsteps of an elite group of singers and actors, including Matthew Broderick, Ralph Macchio and, most recently, Darren Criss and Daniel Radcliffe.
But Jonas finds himself channeling a few other actors — one of whom he happens to be besties with — for his performance.
"I'm a big fan of Bobby Morse; he was the original, and he was in the movie. I love his work in the movie," he said, before joking, "I obviously didn't get to see him when he was Finch in the '60s. But I really loved his performance [in the movie], and John Stamos is a friend of mine and also played this role back in 1995."
In case you're wondering how Stamos and Jonas know each other, they both appeared in "Hairspray" at the Hollywood Bowl last year and have stayed in touch since.
"He came and saw the show and overall is a pretty hilarious guy," Jonas said. "So it's been fun, and I hope that I can meet Bobby Morse one day. Stamos actually sent me a picture of he and Bobby Morse to kind of rub it in my face, so I'm a bit jealous.
"[Me and] Stamos? It's like dynamite," Jonas continued of their bromance. "We watch a lot of YouTube videos. We talk about music quite a bit. He's a big music fan. He's a really good dude. He's been really kind through the whole process, because he played the role. He knows what it takes to do it. [It's a] cool older-brother type vibe in that sense. He's everybody's Uncle Jesse."
Do you want to hang with Nick and John? Let us know in the comments!
Related Videos Related Artists2012 Oscar Predictions: Best Director
With nominees ranging from Oscar winner Martin Scorsese to rising star Michel Hazanavicius, we put forth who should win as well as who will.
By Kara Warner
Martin Scorsese, Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz on the set of "Hugo"
Photo: Jaap Buitendijk/ GK Films
For the most part, the Best Director nominees for this year's Academy Awards are a delightfully eclectic but expected bunch, save for a much-discussed alleged snub of industry legend and three-time Oscar winner Steven Spielberg for "War Horse." And for all the love "The Help" has received, there was none for its newbie director Tate Taylor. The chosen five nominees are: Martin Scorsese for "Hugo," Woody Allen for "Midnight in Paris," Terrence Malick for "The Tree of Life," Alexander Payne for "The Descendants" and rising star Michel Hazanavicius for "The Artist."
One could make the "It takes a village ..." argument about filmmaking, but when it comes down to it, a film's director is responsible for the finished product, whether it's good or bad. This year's nominees have made five individually beautiful and moving films, each more than deserving of the Best Director distinction.
But who will win? Hazanavicius and "The Artist" have arguably the most momentum going into the big show on Sunday but face stiff competition from industry favorites Scorsese and Allen, along with the highly respected Malick and Payne.
Who Will Win: Martin Scorsese, but only by a slim margin! As mentioned previously, this one is a tough call. It comes down to the excitement for and love surrounding newcomer Michel Hazanavicius and the excitement for and love surrounding Scorsese for making his first family-friendly film — and a very well-received one to boot. I think the Academy will award Scorsese for "Hugo" to encourage him to flex those family-friendly muscles again.
Who Should Win: Going out on a limb for Woody Allen, because "Midnight in Paris" was one of my absolute favorite films of the year, and the prolific writer/director hasn't taken home a Best Director prize since 1978's crowd-pleaser "Annie Hall." Not all of Allen's films are Best Picture or Best Director caliber, but "Paris" definitely is.
The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Stick with us for everything you need to know leading up to the awards show, and on Sunday, February 26, tune in to MTV.com at 5 p.m. ET for our two-and-a-half-hour red-carpet live stream and updates on the night's big winners. To join the live conversation, tweet @MTVNews with the hashtag #Oscars.
Related Videos Related PhotosBeyonce Looks 'Sexy' Post-Baby, Destiny's Child Vets Say
Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland say the new mom looks 'amazing' and that Blue Ivy is 'beautiful.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kelly Marino
Beyonce attends the after party following Jay-Z's concert at Carnegie Hall to benefit The United Way Of New York City and the Shawn Carter Foundation at the 40 / 40 Club on February 6, 2012 in New York City.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images
<P>Earlier this week, new mom <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyoncé</a> stepped out to debut her post-baby body for the first time. Decked out one night in a <a href="/news/articles/1678726/beyonce-post-baby-appearance-blue-ivy.jhtml">body-hugging red number</a> and another in a <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/02/08/beyonce-photos-carnegie-hall-night-two ">glittering black cocktail dress</a>, B was out in full force to support her hubby <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jay_z/artist.jhtml">Jay-Z</a> when he took the stage for a two-night engagement at New York's famed <a href="/news/articles/1678669/jay-z-carnegie-hall.jhtml">Carnegie Hall</a>. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:732758" width="240" height="211"></div><p> B certainly left her fans speechless with her ability to bounce back to hotness just a month after giving birth to baby Blue Ivy, and her former Destiny's Child pals were equally floored. Michelle Williams dished to MTV News, "Man, "She looks fantastic, amazing, amazing, amazing. I wasn't surprised because even before she was pregnant she had a six pack, she was very toned. So, obviously it just went back very quickly." Fellow DC gal pal Kelly Rowland also can't handle how Beyoncé is bringing sexy back one hot dress at a time. "She looks fantastic. She looks fantastic. I told her she looks so hot!" Rowland exclaimed. "She looks so hot — just even sexier. Love her!" And Williams noted that it's not just Beyoncé who is doing well these days, but so is 1-month-old Blue. "Absolutely! Absolutely [I've seen everyone]!" she said. "Everybody's doing fantastic, amazing." <a href="/news/articles/1677833/kelly-rowland-blue-ivy-carter-beautiful.jhtml">Williams' sentiments about Blue Ivy</a> mirror those of comments Rowland previously made about J and B's glory. "She's absolutely beautiful!" Rowland said back in January. "And I say that with such a huge grin! I'm so excited. "We all just stared at her," she added about meeting the baby for the first time. "I just stared at her. She is so beautiful." <center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:725377/cp~id%3D1676907%26vid%3D725377%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A725377%26instance%3Dmtv" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed></center> <i>Are you excited to see pictures of Blue Ivy? Leave your comments below!</i></p>
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsFriday, February 24, 2012
'American Idol': You Had Me, Then You Lost Me
After 11 season, this faithful viewer might be trading 'Idol' in for new models 'The X Factor' and 'The Voice.'
By Gil Kaufman
Ryan Seacrest with the top 24 of "American Idol"
Photo: Fox
I'm a loyalist at heart. Back in the day, I watched "The X Files," the original "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "The O.C." until the bitter end, convincing myself that my patience would be rewarded well after the shark had jumped.
But after slogging through another interminable pair of "American Idol" cut-down episodes Wednesday and Thursday, I think I'm finally throwing in the towel.
I've been there since episode one with "Idol," reveling in the joy of Kelly Clarkson's win, cheering Ruben Studdard to his well-deserved crown and scratching my head when clearly inferior champs like Taylor Hicks, Lee DeWyze and Kris Allen took the top prize.
Just a week before the season 11 live shows start, though, "Idol" has lost me, perhaps for good. The bottom line is that the show just feels like it's on auto-pilot, from the bored looks on the faces of celebrity judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez to the predictable plotlines and not-so-clever editing tricks intended to keep our interest up through the early rounds.
It was bad enough a few weeks ago when an entire episode of the group rounds went by without any discernible footage of, you know, singing. The biggest plot point that week was the exploitation of a sick teenage girl passing out and falling off the stage, which was used as a cruel cliffhanger.
On Wednesday night, we got yet another rehash of the previous audition rounds along with mostly truncated looks at the singer's final Las Vegas performances (most of which were bland, if not downright boring) before they had to make the long walk to the judgment chairs. Thursday night was more of the same. Sole original judge Randy Jackson seemed to run out of creative ways to torture the painfully eager singers with purposely vague platitudes about how hard it is to cut them at this point, purposely mangling his words to keep them on the edge of confusion.
Watching this spectacle, I just asked myself, "Do I even care if Heejun Han or Reed Grimm make it?" "Do I need to see Jermaine Jones cry again?" "Who is Chase Likens and why haven't I even seen him up until now?"
In my long experience with "Idol" and writing about music, none of them seem like winner material, in the same way that such paint-by-numbers soul mamas like Jen Hirsch, Elise Testone, Erika Van Pelt, Shannon Magrane and stage mom'd Brielle Von Hugel fail to excite. And making Adam Brock — a weepy white dad who brags about singing like a black woman while using his dead grandfather's handkerchief as a pity prop at every turn — a cliffhanger for Thursday night's episode just seems pointless. This guy has no chance to win, and if he does, well, "Idol" has way bigger problems.
In fact, the only contestant in the mix at this point who seems even halfway relevant in today's music biz is skunk-mohawked former castoff Colton Dixon, but he hasn't gotten nearly as much love as Phil Phillips, whose twitchy Dave Matthews impersonation has already grown unbearably irritating. Even 15-year-old Eben Franckewitz seems promising, but I can already tell his "story line" will be that despite lots of experience on the musical-theater stage, the judges are going to hammer him for his nerves.
Before Wednesday night's episode aired, I was already firmly in line with Entertainment Weekly columnist Mark Harris, who wrote an opinion piece in the February 24 issue about how he was switching sides. "The opening weeks of 'Idol' traffic in humiliation and tears — the neediness of the young, desperate to be extracted from the mob; the familiar weariness of the judges; the talentless clowns pimped as sneerworthy sideshows," he wrote. "But the opening weeks of 'The Voice' are about hope and discovery."
In essence, he said, we're at a tipping point where NBC's upstart show is winning the race not by copying the template of "Idol," but by purposely running in the other direction. The "Voice" judges are relevant musicians of today from varying genres with a sharp, entertaining rapport that crackles and brings a fresh energy to the show. That show starts from day one with good to great singers from varying backgrounds, singing mostly contemporary chart hits, who are eager to get help from those who are still charting today. Meanwhile, the "Idol" judges are riding the fumes of their fading careers as they continue to struggle to apply their hard-earned lessons in the music biz to mostly teenage strivers who can't relate to their mother or father's favorite singers.
The leading contestants so far this year on "Idol" fall into two or three predictable camps: overreaching, throwback R&B belters, quirky imitators of no-longer-relatable stars or ultra-twangy country gals. Where are the edgy R&B divas like Rihanna? The cute boy singers like Justin Bieber? The hip-hop-influenced Drake wannabes? Hell, where are the Carrie Underwoods who can deftly mix pop and country? "The X Factor" and "The Voice" eagerly embrace singers of every color, style and persuasion. So are you telling me that there was not one woman of color out of the tens of thousands who auditioned worthy of the semifinal round? Have we become a nation of (almost exclusively) blond, female Mariah/Christina copycats?
Just look at the talent that has already been signed in the wake of the first "Factor" season: a legitimately powerful soul diva in winner Melanie Amaro, a fascinating redemption story in rapper/crooner Chris Rene, contemporary R&B singer Marcus Canty, white blues man Josh Krajcik, high school cutie Rachel Crow and buzzed-about teen rapper Astro, any one of whom could legitimately blow up.
Meanwhile, the first 24 semifinalists put through by "Idol" this week are almost without exception as blandly interchangeable (and old-fashioned) as Lopez's spangly tops. And the "surprise" extra boy to be named later is one of the most tired tropes in the "Idol" dream factory bag of tricks.
Sure, it's very early in the process and nobody knows what could happen. But if you recall, even in the audition stage it was already clear that eventual season-eight runner-up Adam Lambert was destined to be one of the most exciting, unusual performers in the show's history. It's not like season-one "Voice" winner Javier Colon has set the world on fire, but at least that show focuses on mentoring and nurturing talent of any age, shape and style, rather than serving up cookie-cutter slot fillers.
The sense of hope, discovery and optimism that Harris said permeates "The Voice" is wholly lacking on "Idol," which feels more and more like a dated reality competition and less like a singing showcase. Tear-jerking backstories aside, it's hard to see how any of these singers is going to win America over, not to mention make a case for idolatry or even above-average chart success.
It's been a fun ride, "Idol," but unless you can prove to me that you can read the writing on the wall, I'm afraid my TiVo is going to be reprogrammed to NBC from now on.
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Related Photos'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' Track List Revealed
First single from Trent Reznor/ Atticus Ross soundtrack is Karen O cover of Led Zeppelin song.
By Gil Kaufman
Rooney Mara in "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo"
Photo: Giles Keyte/Columbia Pictures
<P>You kind of can't go wrong when the soundtrack you've put together for one of the most eagerly anticipated literary adaptations in years kicks off <a href="/music/artist/yeah_yeah_yeahs/artist.jhtml">Yeah Yeah Yeahs</a> singer Karen O's take on <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/led_zeppelin/artist.jhtml">Led Zeppelin</a>'s "Immigrant Song." </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:693384" width="240" height="211"></div><p> Fans heard the throbbing industrial take on the rock classic cooked up by former Nine Inch Nails mastermind and O when a trailer for the David Fincher-directed "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" leaked back in May. And on Thursday, Oscar-winning industrial-rocker-turned-film composer Reznor and musical partner Atticus Ross unveiled the full track list for their "Tattoo" score album. The follow-up to their award-winning "The Social Network" score was a labor of love, according to a <a href="http://nin.com/?id=102677" target="_blank">post</a> Reznor put up on the NIN site on Thursday announcing the disc. "For the last fourteen months Atticus and I have been hard at work on David Fincher's 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,' " he wrote about the American version of the tale of pierced and punished hacker <a href="/news/articles/1655879/rooney-mara-dragon-tattoo.jhtml">Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara)</a> and her muckraking journalist compatriot <a href="/news/articles/1667542/daniel-craig-rooney-mara-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo.jhtml">Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig)</a>. "We laughed, we cried, we lost our minds and in the process made some of the most beautiful and disturbing music of our careers. The result is a sprawling three-hour opus." The album will be released on iTunes on December 9 in two versions. Right now, you can download the Karen O song on iTunes when you pre-order the 39-track album. That download purchase will also give you a link to the <a href="/news/articles/1675297/girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-trailer-extended.jhtml">eight-minute "Dragon Tattoo" trailer</a>, for which Reznor and Ross created a unique score. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:674399" width="240" height="211"></div><p> But, if you visit the <a href="http://www.nullco.com/GDT/usd.php" target="_blank">NIN online store</a>, Reznor is offering the soundtrack in a variety of forms, from a free six-track sampler to a deluxe 3,000-piece limited-edition signed $300 package with your choice of MP3 formats; the full album on six pieces of 180 gram vinyl; a deluxe book package with a metal cover; an exclusive custom 8 GB metal razor blade USB drive pendant containing the full album; and a fold-out poster. The full album score track list is as follows: <br> <b>»</b> "Immigrant Song" (Led Zeppelin cover) [ft. Karen O]<br> <b>»</b> "She Reminds Me of You"<br> <b>»</b> "People Lie All the Time"<br> <b>»</b> "Pinned and Mounted"<br> <b>»</b> "Perihelion"<br> <b>»</b> "What If We Could?"<br> <b>»</b> "With the Flies"<br> <b>»</b> "Hidden in Snow"<br> <b>»</b> "A Thousand Details"<br> <b>»</b> "One Particular Moment"<br> <b>»</b> "I Can't Take It Anymore"<br> <b>»</b> "How Brittle the Bones"<br> <b>»</b> "Please Take Your Hand Away"<br> <b>»</b> "Cut Into Pieces"<br> <b>»</b> "The Splinter"<br> <b>»</b> "An Itch"<br> <b>»</b> "Hypomania"<br> <b>»</b> "Under the Midnight Sun"<br> <b>»</b> "Aphelion"<br> <b>»</b> "You're Here"<br> <b>»</b> "The Same as the Others"<br> <b>»</b> "A Pause for Reflection"<br> <b>»</b> "While Waiting"<br> <b>»</b> "The Seconds Drag"<br> <b>»</b> "Later Into the Night"<br> <b>»</b> "Parallel Timeline With Alternate Outcome"<br> <b>»</b> "Another Way of Caring"<br> <b>»</b> "A Viable Construct"<br> <b>»</b> "Revealed in the Thaw"<br> <b>»</b> "Millennia"<br> <b>»</b> "We Could Wait Forever"<br> <b>»</b> "Oraculum"<br> <b>»</b> "Great Bird of Prey"<br> <b>»</b> "The Heretics"<br> <b>»</b> "A Pair of Doves"<br> <b>»</b> "Infiltrator"<br> <b>»</b> "The Sound of Forgetting"<br> <b>»</b> "Of Secrets"<br> <b>»</b> "Is Your Love Strong Enough?" (Bryan Ferry cover) <b>Check out everything we've got on <a href="http://www.mtv.com/movies/movie/456914/moviemain.jhtml">"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."</a> For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit <a href="http://moviesblog.mtv.com/">MTVMoviesBlog.com</a>.</b></p>
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Michael Jackson - Beat It
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic Records
- Director: Bob Giraldi
- Album: If Ever...
Charisma Carpenter Charli Baltimore Charlies Angels Charlize Theron
Britney Spears 'In A Good Place,' Kevin Federline Says
K-Fed says he's 'totally happy' for his ex-wife as pop star celebrates engagement in Las Vegas.
By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears and Jason Trawick in Las Vegas
Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage
<P>Britney Spears spent the weekend celebrating her <a href="/news/articles/1676120/britney-spears-is-engaged.jhtml">engagement to Jason Trawick</a> in Las Vegas with friends and family. On Friday, hours after the news of their impending marriage was confirmed, the singer took to her Facebook page to make it official, changing her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/britney" target="_blank">relationship status</a> to "engaged." </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:720382" width="240" height="211"></div><p> She also shared with her fans on Twitter just how excited she is to be tying the knot with longtime boyfriend Trawick. "Still glowing!" she <a href="http://twitter.com/britneyspears" target="_blank">wrote</a>. "About to jump on a plane to Planet Hollywood in Vegas. Throwing a Bday Party for Jason at Chateau Night Club. So fun. Xxoo. And celebrate they did. <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20554744,00.html" target="_blank">People.com</a> reported that the couple and her two sons checked into Planet Hollywood before making their first public appearance since the news broke. Spears rocked not only a body-hugging Hervé Léger bandage dress, but also her Neil Lane engagement ring. The couple shared dinner and dancing at two Sin City hotspots, Sugar Factory's Chocolate Lounge and Paris' Chateau Nightclub. "Tonight was one of the most magical nights of my life," she later wrote on Twitter. "Such an amazing time with my new fiance and our closest friends and family. #Blessed" While Spears was celebrating, her ex-husband Kevin Federline sent out his well-wishes. "I'm really happy for her — I think he's a great guy," he told <a href="http://tvweek.ninemsn.com.au/blog.aspx?blogentryid=963715&showcomments=true" target="_blank"><i>TV Week</i> magazine</a> while filming the reality show "Excess Baggage" in Australia. "She's happy; she's doing really well. I want to say she's in a good place. I haven't spoken to her much since I've been over here, both of us have been busy with her being on tour, but I do know from talking to the kids and talking to the kids' teachers that they're doing really good. It's a good step in the right direction. I'm totally happy for her." And Federline doesn't seem to have any hard feelings toward Trawick. "He's a really good guy, I've heard a lot about him," he added. "I've spoken to him quite a few times as of now. He seems like a really good guy. The kids speak highly of him [and] her family loves him." <div style="background-color:#000000;width:428px;"><div style="padding:4px;"><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:702567/cp~id%3D1672881%26vid%3D702567%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A702567" width="420" height="236" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed></div></div> <i>Share your well-wishes for Britney and Jason in the comments!</i></p>
Related Photos Related ArtistsSimon Cowell Squashes Beyonce, Mariah Carey 'X Factor' Rumors
Judge also takes shot at 'The Voice,' asking, 'How many artists have they discovered?'
By John Mitchell
Simon Cowell
Photo: FOX
<P>Simon Cowell is finally opening up about the cast shakeups on "The X Factor" as well as about rumors that two <i>very</i> famous divas are in talks to join Fox's reality singing competition. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:698604.id:1672066" width="240" height="211"></div><p> Late last month, it was announced that judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones had been <a href="/news/articles/1678191/paula-abdul-exits-x-factor.jhtml">fired from "X Factor"</a> and would be replaced in its second season. The announcement came as a shock to fans, but Cowell tells <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/simon-cowell-x-factor-firings-voice-287806" target="_blank">"Extra"</a> in an interview airing Wednesday (February 8) that the decision was a long time coming and was ultimately made "at the beginning of the year — and we were told it had to happen straight away." While her dismissal came as a surprise, Cowell says Abdul "was very gracious" about it. "She understands it's business," Cowell said of his real-life friend. "It's never personal." Scherzinger, according to Cowell, was "disappointed" with the producers' decision to replace her. But the former Pussycat Doll insisted in a new <a href="http://www.accesshollywood.com/nicole-scherzinger-talks-x-factor-departure-i-have-no-regrets_article_60184" target="_blank">"Access Hollywood"</a> interview that she "had a wonderful experience on the show." "What happened? Well, all I know is that I gave 110 percent to that show," she said. "I know everybody's talking about it, they're saying good, bad, they love me or hate me, but the one thing you can't say is that I didn't give it my all." Cowell also used his time with "Extra" to squash rumors that Beyoncé or Mariah Carey might be joining the "X Factor" team when it returns to Fox later this year. He seemed particularly amused by <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/08/idUS114237084820120208" target="_blank">talk</a> that the show was offering Beyoncé a nine-figure contract to join the judges' table. "The budget for the show is $100 million. That would never ever happen. It's absolute nonsense," he told "Extra." "No one is going to pay $100 million for someone. I genuinely haven't had a conversation with her about it. Not at all." The same can be said for Carey, who Cowell said he likes very much and would be a fine addition to the show but is an impractical choice because of the long hours involved. "I adore her, love her," he said. "But you can't expect someone who has just had two kids [and] has a record career to make the kind of commitment we would need on this show." "X Factor" did not perform as strongly as expected in the ratings last fall, which many feel precipitated the planned revamp, though the ever-cool Cowell is not sweating the competition. In this latest interview, Cowell took on "The Voice," which returned to NBC after the Super Bowl and delivered big ratings, saying the makeup of his judging panel is what sets "X Factor" apart. "I would ask how many records have they made, how many artists have they discovered?" Cowell asked of "The Voice" mentors Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. "That's where we have to be different on the judging panel. It's very important that you have people on the panel that have actually signed and made artists successful all over the world, not just have made hit records yourself."</p>
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Whitney Houston And Michael Jackson's Deaths: Gone Too Soon
'You will always remember where you were ... when you heard the news,' Simon Cowell says, echoing the sentiments after Jackson's death.
By Tomika L. Anderson
Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston in 1988
Photo: WireImage
<P>Few people will forget where they were when they heard that the King of Pop, <a href="/news/articles/1614744/michael-jackson-dies-at-50.jhtml">Michael Jackson, had died</a> in June 2009. And now, the same can be said for 1980s and '90s <a href="/news/articles/1679029/whitney-houston-dead.jhtml">Queen of Pop Whitney Houston</a>. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:733106.id:1679030" width="240" height="211"></div><p> The beloved, long-suffering singer died Saturday inside a Beverly Hills hotel room, hours before she was expected to attend a <a href="/news/articles/1679046/whitney-houston-dies-grammys-clive-davis.jhtml">pre-Grammy Awards party thrown by her longtime mentor Clive Davis</a>. And while the official cause of death is yet unknown — what's been speculated so far is that <a href="/news/articles/1679049/whitney-houston-dies-details.jhtml">Houston may have drowned</a> in the bathtub after taking prescription drugs, including Xanax — given her very public struggle with substance abuse, depression and anxiety over the past decade, it's hard not to conclude that some drug- or alcohol-related accident may have been to blame. It's much like, most recently, British singer Amy Winehouse and the late, great Michael Jackson before her, who died after taking a fatal cocktail of propofol and two other drugs. Also like Jackson, Houston's sudden death — at the age of 48 — has stopped the world in its tracks, an enormous, one-of-a-kind musical flame forever extinguished. Even Jackson's brother, Jermaine — who was first introduced to Houston years ago by Clive Davis at the same Beverly Hills Hilton where the singer passed away — could not help but draw the comparison. In an interview with CNN overnight, he paid tribute to the two fallen musical giants. "They shared a lot of success in the late '80s and they were great friends," he said. "I'm happy and honored to have been a part of their lives." And oh, what lives they led: Like Jackson — who died at just 50 years old, after years of struggling with personal demons — Houston, too, had an intensely profound and everlasting impact on the world of entertainment. Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson and countless other chart-topping entertainers have all name-checked her as their musical mentor, icon and inspiration: To date, she is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with more than 170 million albums, songs and videos sold. In her lifetime, Houston achieved what precious few of them have or ever will — stacking an astonishing 415 awards, including six Grammys, two Emmys, 22 American Music Awards, 30 <i>Billboard</i> Awards. Her voice, in its prime, was a national treasure. "X Factor" mastermind Simon Cowell may have summed it up the best: On "Piers Morgan Tonight," he said, "She was one of the greatest voices in our lifetime. Whitney was the number one singer that other singers want to emulate. People like that can't be manufactured. They've either got, it or they don't." He added, "You will always remember where you were and what you were doing when you heard the news." Like Michael before her, gone too soon. <center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:733107/cp~id%3D1679030%26vid%3D733107%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A733107%26instance%3Dmtv" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed></center> <b>MTV News' Sway and James Montgomery will be live from the <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/grammys/">Grammys</a> red carpet tonight starting at 5 p.m. ET to get reactions from music's biggest stars on the death of Whitney Houston. Watch reactions and remembrances at MTV.com.</b> <I>Share your condolences with Whitney's family and friends on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mtvnews/posts/381732435187118&rdquo" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page.</I></p>
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Thursday, February 23, 2012
Taylor Swift, Rihanna Dress To Impress At Billboard Awards
Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha, Selena Gomez also make fashion splash on red carpet, as showgirl style rules at the Las Vegas event on Sunday night.
By Jocelyn Vena
Taylor Swift at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards
Photo: Jordan Strauss/ Getty Images
<P>On Sunday night, some of the biggest names in the music industry hit up the <a href="/news/articles/1664375/billboard-music-awards-recap-justin-bieber-selena-gomez-kiss.jhtml"><i>Billboard</i> Music Awards</a> in Las Vegas and decided that sparkles and sequins make for the perfect additions to any red carpet get-up. Well, it is Sin City after all. <a href="/music/artist/swift__taylor/artist.jhtml">Taylor Swift</a> always seems to bring some of that Nashville sparkle to any red carpet. She arrived at the show in a pale-hued, sequined Elie Saab gown. <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/minaj__nicki/artist.jhtml">Nicki Minaj</a> showed off her signature sense of style in her baby-blue, body-hugging spandex Mark Fast catsuit. <a href="/music/artist/gomez__selena/artist.jhtml">Selena Gomez</a> turned up the style dial in a sexy, cut-out black Dolce & Gabbana gown that she paired with red strappy sandals with sparkly bow detailing. Like Gomez, <a href="/music/artist/_kesha_/artist.jhtml">Ke$ha</a> opted for some cut-out detailing in her sparkly, slate-gray dress with tulle skirt. <a href="/music/artist/rihanna/artist.jhtml">Rihanna</a> looked white hot in her men's tailored Max Azria suit, which she kept sexy and feminine by not buttoning her shirt all the way. Fergie went S&M chic in her little black bandage-type dress by Hervé Léger. Nicole Kidman also wore black. She paired a casual braid hairstyle with a long black gown and Keith Urban. British pop cutie Kyle Minogue looked funky in her little black lacey dress. Inside the show, Britney Spears sat in the audience wearing a skimpy black dress of her own, her hair in loose curls, with little-to-no accessories. While some stars kept the color scheme low-key, Keri Hilson decided to stand out in her billowy little yellow dress paired with a turquoise-colored belt. Kelly Rowland showed off some of her best assets in a body-hugging, bright pink bandage dress. The fellas also looked tight on the carpet. Joe Jonas wore all black with white sneakers, Ne-Yo paired his periwinkle suit with a Yankees cap and Justin Bieber wore black tuxedo pants with a gold-lamé tuxedo jacket. <i>Which stars' styles caught your eye at the </i>Billboard<i> Music Awards? Tell us in the comments.</i></p>
Related Photos Related ArtistsChristina Aguilera Christina Applegate Christina DaRe Christina Milian
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