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| Jonas Brothers Say Recording Leaves Little Time For Love
March 19, 2009 at 12:52 pm
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| Trio hope fourth album, due June 15, shows musical maturity.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Jonas Brothers
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images In the middle of recording their fourth album, the Jonas Brothers revealed that they hope the new material will show fans and critics that they're growing as musicians. "This album is taking steps," Nick Jonas told reporters in a conference call. "We're trying to learn as much as we can, continuing to grow." The guys are once again working with their longtime producer, John Fields, and cite Elvis Costello, the Zutons, Kings of Leon and even Neil Diamond as influences for the record (due June 15). Kevin described the overall message as "the same old Jonas Brothers, in a sense," but added that it would have "different musical instruments that are going to add and build to the sound we already have," including horns and strings. "[The album is] our journal in songs," Nick said, adding that the tracks are about "things we've gone through, personal experiences we get inspiration from. We've also been working on trying to use metaphors ... to kind of mask a literal thing that happens to us." The guys didn't reveal the name of their upcoming album, but the new issue of Rolling Stone reports a tentative title of Lines, Vines and Trying Times. With nine songs finished, the guys said they have "a few more to go." Eventually the brothers did get to the good stuff — their love lives — revealing that their busy schedule, which includes an upcoming summer tour, makes it hard for them to date. But, they said, they do manage to make time occasionally. "We've got a lot going on in our lives, and I think for us, we're focused on that," Nick said. "And we keep a little time for dating, but for the most part we're focused on working on the TV show — we just finished that — and now with this new tour. We're really trying to connect with our fans. They're the most important thing in the world to us." Related Artists |
| Fred Durst Looks Back At His Relationship With Britney Spears
March 19, 2009 at 12:36 pm
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| Limp Bizkit frontman says of Spears, 'I always stay true to my heart and true to everything I did, and my intentions.'
By Brian Jacks 
Fred Durst
Photo: Jeff Vespa/ WireImage Fred Durst is a lot of things, but he's apparently not one to hold a grudge. The outspoken artist recently made peace with guitarist Wes Borland to re-form the classic Limp Bizkit lineup, and if he has anything to say about it, Britney Spears could be next. The story begins in 2003 when Spears tapped Durst to pen songs for her next album. The collaboration then allegedly turned into a romantic fling, with Durst telling fans in a statement that Spears "happens to be a person that I [wouldn't] have thought could make me feel this way." In the resulting paparazzi firestorm that followed, the exact details of the relationship became muddled. On "TRL," Spears declared not only were they not dating, but that she barely knew the Bizkit frontman. Durst then took to the airwaves, telling Howard Stern that it was "unbelievable about this crap she's saying," and swearing on his child's "blue eyes" that he was telling the truth. Whatever transpired, life quickly moved on. Spears married her hometown sweetheart and divorced after 55 hours, before marrying Kevin Federline and divorcing him two years later. Durst, for his part, continued making music and pursuing a directing career (his latest film, "The Education of Charlie Banks," stars Jesse Eisenberg and Jason Ritter and opens March 27). But the alleged Durst/Spears dalliance remains a curious sidenote in both artists' careers. So, six years later, what does Durst make of the situation? "It just became a fiasco of madness," he told MTV News this week. "[But] I always stay true to my heart and true to everything I did and my intentions, and I am in no way a liar." The confusion over the affair still remains with Durst, and the rocker points to the episode as one of the first in a long line of erratic episodes for Spears. "I look back on it as very interesting [in terms of] how things have been sort of unraveling for her since," he said. "[But] it is what it is. I can sleep at night knowing I made decisions that I wanted to make. [Still], I'm a supporter. I was then, I guess I am now. "Her own decisions and different things in her life, people can judge her all they want, but she has an extreme presence and when she's giving it, it's really good," he continued. "I don't think you can really write her off and I just think it'd be silly for people to think that they could. Everything kind of works in cycles and I think she's an example of how those things work." For Durst, summing up the incident may all boil down to one underlying theme. "I just guess at the time it was taboo for a guy like me to be associated with a gal like her," he laughs. Check back Monday when MTV News talks with Durst about his new film, "The Education of Charlie Banks." Related Artists |
| Steve-O Talks About His Future On 'Dancing With The Stars'
March 19, 2009 at 12:14 pm
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| Actor says, 'I'm gonna be fine,' after Belinda Carlisle was ejected.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Lacey Schwimmer and Steve-O on "Dancing With The Stars"
Photo: ABC Thanks to Belinda Carlisle going home Steve-O has lived to dance another day on "Dancing With the Stars." But, it's been a rough ride so far for the MTV star, who in just his second week of dancing has already been injured. "I'm gonna be fine," he told "Access Hollywood" regarding an injury he suffered before getting the chance to dance on the show Monday evening. Although he didn't get a chance to dance — and despite only receiving a 14-out-30 score from the judges based on a rehearsal performance — Steve-O is still in the competition. He said that he currently is suffering from a hematoma. "In layman's terms, it means I grew a third butt cheek," he said. "A sprained vessel ... I have a pinched nerve and my back is [sprained]." On Tuesday, Steve-O blogged about the injury, blaming it on "poor judgment" since he continued to dance despite already having been feeling bad in the days leading up to it. "Physically, I feel pretty good today. If I get the opportunity, I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be able to learn and perform a great 'fox trot' routine," he blogged. "With 20/20 hindsight, I must admit that I exercised very poor judgment yesterday." In the blog post, Steve-O admitted that he should have been more careful when rehearsing. "Jumping flat onto a bad back with a microphone pack strapped to it was sensationally idiotic, especially after Lacey told me what a bad idea she thought it was," he wrote. Related Videos |
| The Decemberists Wail; Peter Bjorn And John Flail: SXSW '09
March 19, 2009 at 10:00 am
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| Colin Meloy's newly expanded crew set the bar high on the first day of South by Southwest.
By James Montgomery, with additional reporting by Christopher "CJ" Smith and Matt Harper 
The Decemberists perform at Stubb's Bar-B-Q in Austin, Texas on Wednesday
Photo: MTV News AUSTIN, Texas — When the Decemberists, hyper-literate indie laureates of the Pacific Northwest, made the leap to the majors in 2006, they responded to criticism from the holier-than-thous with The Crane Wife, a conceptual long-player based on a Japanese folk tale and stuffed to the gills with proggy jams and planetarium-ready organ solos. The intent, it would seem, was to silence their detractors by making possibly the majorest of major-label debuts. It's not clear who's angered them this time around, butboy, are they pissed. At least judging by their new album, The Hazards of Love, that is. Because, on Wednesday night at South By Southwest, the Decemberists unleashed Hazards upon the masses, playing the album in its entirety to a thoroughly slack-jawed crowd at venerable Austin rock spot Stubb's Bar-B-Q. This was certainly ambitious. After all, their new album rocks harder and stretches the conceptual angle further than anything the Decemberists have ever done before. It's less twee folk, more, well, everything else. Which translated into much soloing, some serious riffing and at least one guitar line nicked from Bon Jovi. There were five drummers simultaneously pounding, two ethereal singers emoting and one prerecorded children's choir. It was over-the-top, it was theatrical, and it was, to say the least, a rather epic way to kick off SXSW 2009. Expanded to a seven-piece with the addition of female singers Becky Stark (frontwoman of Lavender Diamond) and Shara Worden (a.k.a. My Brightest Diamond) — who portrayed two of Hazards' central characters, the pure-hearted heroine Margaret and the villainous Forest Queen — the Decemberists displayed newfound punch, hammering out downright Metallic chords and skittering Yes-y super-prog on the album's multipart title suite, and working out knotty rhythms on songs like "The Queen's Rebuke" (which showcased Worden's epic pipes). For the sneering "The Rake's Song," they employed five drummers, just because ... well, because why not? Throughout, frontman Colin Meloy and guitarist Chris Funk traded solos (and smiles), while multifaceted multi-instrumentalist Jenny Conlee added meaty organ lines and, in quieter moments, somber accordion. And though their ranks were swollen, the Decemberists were by no means lumbering. Some of their finest moments on Wednesday came when they stripped things down, like the twangy guitar and accordion of "Isn't It a Lovely Night," or album (and set) closer "The Hazards of Love 4," a duet between Meloy and Stark, featuring gently swooning guitars and sparkly chimes. And as the final chords echoed from the stage, Meloy and co. hugged, shared a laugh and exhaled. They knew they had walked the musical tightrope and the crowd did too, lavishing them with cheers and applause. It was a brand-new look for the Decemberists — rocking, swaggering and over-the-top — and it was way better than most opening-night SXSW gigs should be. It was a lovely night, indeed. Of course, across town at Vice, things were going down exactly like they were supposed to on the first night of South By: rather terribly. Sharing the stage at a "Rock Band"-sponsored shindig with bands like Glasvegas and the Von Bondies, Swedish popsters Peter Bjorn and John were supposed to be one of Wednesday's "can't miss" acts, especially since they were going to be debuting songs from their upcoming album Living Thing. But rather than follow the Decemberists' lead and go for the gusto, PB&J just crashed and burned, delivering a set that veered wildly between "woefully unprepared" and "annoyingly disinterested." They battled through a myriad of tech issues (or at least they tried to), they stopped songs midway through, and when they were playing, it was clear that they'd rather be back home in Stockholm. And when the audience turned on them, they laughed off the boos, which only further agitated the well-lubed masses and led to some rather amazing shouted put-downs ("Play like you f---ing care!" and "This would never happen in a video game!" being the two best). Oh, and they didn't play "Young Folks." Or maybe they did. We sort of stopped paying attention. Other quick highlights from the first full day of SXSW: A raw and rumbling set from Black Keys' frontman Dan Auerbach at the Parish, and a massive multiband bonanza at Red 7, featuring much-buzzed lo-fi punk Wavves, lo-fi-turned-hi-fi punks the Thermals and much-buzzed new-gazers the Pains of Being Pure at Heart. MTV News will be all over the South by Southwest festival this week, with blogs, articles and video on all the gigs, the artists and the scene! Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'American Idol' Recap: Alexis Grace Edged Out Of Top 10
March 19, 2009 at 9:02 am
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| 'Jolene' singer won't be joining other finalists on summer tour.
By Gil Kaufman 
Alexis Grace, Michael Sarver and Ryan Seacrest on "American Idol" on Wednesday
Photo: Michael Becker/ Getty Images/ Fox Unlike last week, the four "American Idol" judges actually considered using their one-time-only save on Wednesday night to spare a contestant from elimination. But in the end, pint-sized powerhouse Alexis Grace's second attempt to impress them with her cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene" just didn't do the trick. It was a sad ending for the 21-year-old judges' favorite, who should have flourished during Grand Ole Opry week considering she's an avowed country-music fan from Memphis, Tennessee. But 31 million votes and the judges' decision to hold onto their lifeline will keep the young mother from spending the summer on the road with her fellow finalists. It was a long night for Grace, who first had to participate in the obligatory, embarrassing sing-along — this week, to Elvis Presley's bouncy "Trouble" — followed by the other necessary piece of official business, the Ford music video. This time, the promotional clip was cued to OK Go's "Here It Goes Again" and involved the contestants having a water-balloon fight on a city street, which ... well, we're not sure what it had to do with the Grand Ole Opry. Then it was time to start handing out the good news/ bad news. First to pass into safety — and onto this summer's "Idol" tour of the top 10 contenders — was Danny Gokey, followed by fellow judges' fave Lil Rounds and suddenly resurgent Anoop Desai, who redeemed himself on Tuesday night after a disastrous Michael Jackson week performance that nearly saw him sent home. Teenager Allison Iraheta and Texas roughneck Michael Sarver were the first to take seats in the bottom three after performances that split the judges. But confirmed for the summer tour were Scott MacIntyre and Megan Joy (who has reportedly dropped her ex-husband's last name, Corkrey). Like Desai, Matt Giraud had a come-from-behind night on Tuesday and got a ticket to the tour, along with Kris Allen and Adam Lambert, who survived despite Simon Cowell calling his Middle Eastern-tinged take on Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" simply "dreadful." That left Alexis Grace center stage in the bottom three, where she remained with Sarver as Iraheta was swiftly waved back to safety. When the judges were asked before the elimination if they would use their single season save for either remaining contestant, Cowell said one of them might merit it. With Sarver waved to safety, Grace was left facing elimination. Cowell revealed that she was the one they'd consider saving, so her performance would be the deciding factor. Grace gave Dolly Parton's iconic "Jolene" another try, pouring her heart and soul into the song, her voice filled with a pleading edge and a defiance that sometimes led to her vocals cracking. But despite spookily resonant lyrics ("My happiness depends on you/ And whatever you decide to do"), the judges were unmoved. "We're kind of unanimous on this, it was good, but it wasn't good enough," Cowell said. "Thank you for the opportunity," Grace responded, keeping her emotions in check. "I learned a lot about myself and me as a singer. I wish I could have done better, but, you know, things happen for a reason." The show also featured performances by Brad Paisley, performing his new single, "Then," and former "Idol" Carrie Underwood, who took the stage with this week's mentor, Randy Travis, for a duet of his #1 1988 hit "I Told You So". The song also appeared on Underwood's smash album Carnival Ride. Just months after a country DJ in Cincinnati created an unofficial mash-up of the two versions that became a radio sensation, the duo recorded an official version that was made available after Wednesday night's performance. For the second time this season, "Idol" will be bumped to a Wednesday/ Thursday schedule next week because of a presidential address on Tuesday night. The top 10 will celebrate 50 years of Motown on Wednesday, with performances on Thursday by Motown icon Smokey Robinson and former "Idol" winner Ruben Studdard, who will sing his new Stargate-produced single, "Together." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Fat Joe Inspired By His Wife On 'One,' Featuring Akon
March 19, 2009 at 7:54 am
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| Jealous Ones Still Envy 2, due in May, also features Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Lil' Kim.
By Shaheem Reid 
Fat Joe
Photo: Johnny Nunez/ WireImage Fat Joe feels as royal as Eddie Murphy in "Coming to America" every time he steps foot in the motherland. "Africa, what a lovely place," Joe beamed of the continent. He performs out there several times a year. The Bronx native's new single, "One," features one of Joe's peers who is adored in Africa: Akon. "It's feeling great, man," Joe said of the response he's been getting from the record. "The video looks beautiful. Akon, it was an honor to work with him. We've been friends for years and featured on tracks together. We finally got our own record together. He's the King of Africa. I'm the Prince of Africa. I get nothing but love from Africa. The people are amazing. It was a natural thing for me and 'Kon to get together and make a song." "One" is all about finding that special soul mate, and Joe said he looked to his happy marriage for inspiration. "It's inspired by life a lot," he described. "As I listen to it, I think about the relationship with my wife and how we came a long way. At the same time, it's everybody's life. It's the working man's life. It's related to everybody. Everybody feels that way. We all want somebody." Joe said the key to marriage is working with your spouse to grow. "A lot of work," he said. "Anybody who's successful a long number of years, it took a lot of work, perseverance to not quit, to not give up on each other and say, 'Yo, we love each other. We're going to be together forever.' Everybody that gets married hopes to be in love and be together forever, but you gotta work. It's real work. It's great, though." Joe's work ethic is also strong in his career. His new album, Jealous Ones Still Envy 2 (J.O.S.E. 2), due May 19, is the sequel to his highest-selling LP to date. "This record has so many hits, I promise you," he said. "People still deny me, so I just hit them with a new thing I called 'force fields.' You can't stop them, you can't break them." T-Pain appears on "Put You in the Game," and "Hey Joe" is an all-out gladiator rap record with assaulting lyrics and a wicked beat to match. Meanwhile, Raekwon the Chef checks in on "Ice Cream," a sex anthem of sorts. That record shouldn't be confused with Rae's '90s classic "Ice Cream." They don't sound anything alike. Joe also introduces some new talent on the album, like O.Z., along with Lil' Kim, Ron Browz and Lil Wayne. Related Artists |
| Video From Notorious B.I.G.'s Final Party Hits Web
March 19, 2009 at 3:53 am
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| Vibe Awards afterparty was also featured in a scene from the Biggie biopic 'Notorious.'
By Shaheem Reid 
Notorious B.I.G. and Diddy at the Soul Train Awards in March 1997
Photo: Jim Smeal/ Getty Images In the film "Notorious," we got a glimpse of the fateful party the Notorious B.I.G., J.U.N.I.O.R. Mafia, Diddy and others attended in Los Angeles at the Petersen Automotive Museum after the Vibe Awards the night of Biggie's death. From all firsthand accounts, the 1997 party was legendary. Everyone danced the night away and popped bottles. Big's "Hypnotize" spun incessantly. No one had any idea that tragedy awaited them. Footage of the party has recently surfaced on the Net, and true to the stories from 12 years ago, heavy revelry abounds. More than seven minutes from an amateur recording of the party show highlights such as Puff Daddy dancing to "All About the Benjamins" surrounded by a circle of women, along with various crowd shots of stars such as Missy Elliott, Irv Gotti, DJ Klark Kent, DJ Clue, Chris Tucker and Ginuwine. The party spinner, identified as DJ Ace, shouts out people such as Da Brat, Aaliyah and Jermaine Dupri. A note at the bottom of the screen said Biggie himself refused to be videotaped. While the party was in L.A., the time on the tape seems to be in Eastern Time. Big left the party at 12:30 p.m. and was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m., but the video has everyone partying at 1:30 a.m. The party was actually shut down before that because it was too crowded. "Notorious" earned $21 million in its first weekend at the box office. Fox Searchlight will release the DVD on April 21. In addition to an unrated version of the film, special features include commentary from Big's managers, mother Voletta Wallace and the filmmakers. There are also extras on Big's lyrics, the "Biggie Boot Camp" that the actors in the movie had to go through to prepare for their parts and extended concert-scene footage. Related Artists |
| The-Dream Pays Homage To R. Kelly On Love Vs. Money
March 19, 2009 at 2:57 am
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| One track mimics Kells' style, while another namedrops 12 Play.
By Jayson Rodriguez 
The-Dream
Photo: MTV News As a songwriter, The-Dream has crafted most of his hits for women, including Beyoncé ("Single Ladies [Put a Ring on It]"), Rihanna ("Umbrella") and Mariah Carey ("Touch My Body"). But the Atlanta native also knows how to stay in touch with his masculine side when it comes to penning hits. The-Dream's latest album, Love vs. Money, features a couple of songs that the Pied Piper R&B, R. Kelly, would sound more appropriate belting out. "Sweat It Out," with lyrics like "Girl, call up Tisha, your beautician/ 'Cause your hair is gon' need fixin'," echoes the Chicago singer's sound, from topic to style. But that's exactly the point, according to The-Dream. He even specifically sang the track like R. Kelly would, he said. "I know that 'Sweat It Out' sounds like Kelly," he told MTV News. "I knew it as soon as I started to write it. I was like, 'Hmm, this is a song that R. Kelly would probably write. And it's about something that he would probably write about. I'm gonna sing it kinda close to how he would sing it.' It's no different than if you were taking a song from the '60s and re-enacting it today. I'm gonna sing this record that Sam Cooke did called 'Chain Gang.' How are you gonna sing it, like Dream or like Sam Cooke? You're probably gonna sing it like how Sam Cooke would sing it. ... [R. Kelly] is a generation right before me, so he's definitely a major influence on my music." The Def Jam crooner also has another song on his album that pays homage to that influence. "Kelly's 12 Play," which was produced by Dream's musical partner Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, features the singer wooing a lady with R. Kelly's seminal solo album 12 Play. The-Dream sprinkles some familiar Kelly ad-libs throughout the song and in the end, gives a shout-out to the controversial star. "She like, 'Thank you, Dream'/ I'm like, 'No, thank you, Kells,' " he sings. "I talk a lot about branding and what artists' brands are," The-Dream said. "What we forget is that we actually are just a soundtrack of everyone else's life. So sometimes you need to go to those certain places to do those certain songs for the people that are listening." Related Artists |
| Alexis Grace Was Glad 'American Idol' Judges Even Considered Saving Her
March 19, 2009 at 2:42 am
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| Castoff also talks about Randy forgetting her name, last week's phone-number controversy and more.
By Katie Byrne 
Alexis Grace on Thursday's "Idol"
Photo: Michael Becker/ Getty Images The judges asked Alexis Grace to "dirty it up" at her first "American Idol" audition, and the 21-year-old from Memphis, Tennessee, came through. Grace showed up to Hollywood week with an edgy look to match her soulful vocals and took the competition by storm. But her seemingly unstoppable run to at least the top 10 came to an end with her country-week performance of Dolly Parton's "Jolene." We caught up with the pint-size mom to talk about last week's phone-number debacle, why Randy Jackson couldn't remember her name and much more. Q: Is it especially disappointing that you were cut during country week since you're from Tennessee? A: It totally is. I feel kind of like I let my state down, you know? I'm from the South, and we're supposed to do country well, and I think I actually sing country pretty good. So it was a disappointment. I kind of let them down a little bit. But I can redeem myself. Q: When you sang "Jolene" again during the results show, were you thinking about the judges' comments that you needed to be edgier? A: No, I think it was just what I was feeling the second night. I just went up there and sang what I was feeling. It wasn't like I was trying to be anything or do anything a certain way. I just wanted to show them that I wanted to stay. Q: Do you think it would've helped if you could have performed any of your past songs for the judges' save instead of just the one from that week? A: Probably. I'm gonna be honest — I think it could have. I think if I sang the first song that I sang, "I Never Loved a Man," that maybe I would still be there. I think that "Jolene" is a beautiful song, and I love to sing it. I don't think it was their favorite performance. I didn't get to really show them and remind them again why they picked me or why America picked me. Yeah, I probably would've chosen a different song if I could. Q: What did the top 13 think of the "judges' save"? A: We actually think it's a good idea. In years past, Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry and all the rest of the people who we thought could have gotten through far but didn't — it's there to help people who need a second chance. We thought it was a good idea. Q: Did it make you feel better or worse knowing that the judges considered using their "save" on you? A: I liked the fact that they told me that they were thinking about saving me, because it let me know that they actually believed in me and that they think that I can do it. Q: Do you think you were treated unfairly when you were given a new phone number last week? A: I didn't even think about it, honestly. I just went up there and sang my song. If [the voters] liked me, then they'd pay attention to the number. I don't even think about issues like that. Q: Are you upset that you won't be joining the top 10 on the American Idols Live Tour? A: I'm really disappointed about that. I would've loved to have gone on tour, especially with all those guys. I'm really close with them, and I know that they're going to do really well, and it would've been fun to do some duets with some of those people too. But there will be other tours. Q: Did it bother you when Randy accidentally called you "Allison" during the results show? A: A little bit. But I think that's because that's just his personality, maybe? Not because I'm forgettable — hopefully not! I made a face when he said "Allison." I was like, "Hmmm, my name's Alexis." Q: Did you feel like you had to try a little bit harder because guys outnumbered girls in the top 13? A: Yeah, of course you do, if there's only four girls and however many guys. You really have to do your part and show those little girls out there who are voting for all the boys that, "Hey, we're still here too!" Q: What kind of music do you want to release? A: Some soul mixed in with blues and country. Kind of like the three combined together. Joss Stone mixed with Carrie Underwood with Sheryl Crow. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos | | |  |
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