Friday, December 31, 2010

Ke$ha's Cannibal: A Cheat Sheet

Singer has already scored a hit with new single 'We R Who We R.'
By Gil Kaufman


Ke$ha
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/ Getty Images

It's been a pretty phenomenal year for Ke$ha. The brash, glitter-loving club kid burst onto the scene in January with her debut album, Animal, hot on the heels of the smash debut single "Tik Tok."

In short order, she ended the chart run of Susan Boyle when Animal debuted at #1, made her first trip to the Grammy Awards, teamed up with pals 3OH!3 for another hit video with "Blah Blah Blah," dropped in on "American Idol" and hit the road with Rihanna. And that's just the first three months of the year!

But after scoring another hit with "Your Love Is My Drug" and flipping the bird to haters over their critiques of her wobbly debut on "Saturday Night Live," Ke$ha unleashed another single, "Take It Off."

For a minute, there was talk of a follow-up album that might have a country twang, not out of the question considering that she's a Nashville native and her mom penned songs for Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. But as she said at the time, "I'm also really digging being called, like, half-jokingly, a white-girl rapper. I think it's really funny, and I'm going to ride that train for a little bit."

By August, she was already plotting her next move, telling MTV News, "I'm always writing and kind of thinking of the next step. I'm still executing this record properly onstage, but the next record is definitely on my mind, and potentially in the works soon." She described waking up in Tokyo at 4 in the morning with a brainstorm for a new song and then spending seven hours making a "horrible" beat on "Garage Band" and singing and rapping into her computer.

A short time later, it was announced that her nine-song follow-up, Cannibal, would hit stores November 22 as a "companion" album to a reissue of Animal. The disc was reported to contain eight new songs produced by heavy-hitters like Max Martin, Benny Blanco and Bangladesh and to be preceded by "We R Who We R."

"This year has been carnivorous and life-changing. I have my rowdy, gorgeous fans to thank for taking me on the ride of a lifetime," Ke$ha said in a statement. "My only goal with this record is to keep them dancing. The songs on Cannibal were made to inspire people to ignore any hate or judgment and be themselves unapologetically. It's the perfect companion to Animal and I hope you guys like it. And if you don't like it — bite me."

Though a rumored hookup with Drake was false, a confirmed track list proved to have plenty of profane and silly titles, including (ahem) "C U Next Tuesday," "Sleazy," "Blow," "The Harold Song," "Cannibal," "We R," "Crazy Beautiful Life" and "Grow a Pear," plus a remix of "Animal." After winning an MTV EMA for Best New Act, the singer also locked in her first headlining affair, the Get $leazy Tour, which is slated to kick off February 15 in Portland, Oregon.

Like most major new albums, Cannibal leaked online a week before it hit shelves, perhaps the finest proof yet that Ke$ha has truly hit the big time. Only this time, after most of the songs had hit the Web, Ke$ha just posted the damn thing herself on her website and told her fans to enjoy.

"This is my album premiere, and it's top secret, and it's really fun and it's wild," Ke$ha said in a message posted on her site. "Things are going to get crazy and a little awkward, it'll be okay. Listen to it."

She's going to have plenty of major competition on the charts this week with new releases from Kanye West, Nicki Minaj and My Chemical Romance, but something tells us Ke$ha isn't that worried.

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

Related Artists

Zhang Ziyi Nikki Reed Natasha Bedingfield Audrina Patridge Simone Mütherthies

Britney Spears Producer Dr. Luke Calls Singer 'An Amazing Vehicle'

Album's co-executive producer expects new album out by early 2011.
By James Dinh


Britney Spears
Photo: Jeremy Cowart/ WireImage

While "Glee" was spot-on in its tribute to Britney Spears in September, it's safe to say her fans are ready for the real deal. The pop princess, who has remained relatively low-key since wrapping up her Circus Tour, is currently working on her new album with a few familiar faces, including producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin.

"She's such an icon, I don't want to let anyone down," Dr. Luke said last week at the Hollywood Reporter/ Billboard Film & TV Music Conference. "But most importantly, I want to make good music."

Luke said that he is anticipating that Britney's album will see an early 2011 release, and a source told THR it would hit stores before March 31.

In addition to Dr. Luke ("Circus") and Martin ("... Baby One More Time"), Darkchild and newcomer Billboard are also said to be working with Spears.

When asked if there were anything else he could reveal about the heavily guarded project, Luke wouldn't say much. "Just that I'm excited to be co-executive producing with Max Martin, the person who kind of invented Britney, and to make good music," he said. "And she's such an amazing vehicle to getting that music out to a lot of people in every country."

With Luke and Martin helming the project, fans may expect to hear Spears sounding like the producers' frequent collaborators Katy Perry and Ke$ha. But there have also been indications that Brit will take a fresher approach. Last month, Spears' manager Adam Leber spoke to Entertainment Weekly about her next album, promising that it will introduce a "progressive" sound from the pop star.

''It'll be a departure from what you've heard,'' he added.

What producers would you like to see Britney team up with? Sound off below!

Related Photos Related Artists

Cameron Richardson Chandra West Kasey Chambers Megan Ewing Kristanna Loken

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs ? Household Goods

As we approach 2011, let’s talk about bands that we think/hope are going to explode like what next year. And then let’s talk about bands that we really hope release a whole bunch of new music in 2011 because everything we’ve heard from them thus far has been pretty incredible/amazing/every other word you can use to describe awesome. Yes, of course we’re talking about Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. We first heard about Orlando Higginbottom’s musical project earlier this summer when we heard the fantastic tune “Garden” and we knew that TEED was going toread more and hear the song


Tara Reid Coco Lee Katy Perry Vinessa Shaw Rebecca Romijn

'Twilight Saga' Star Jackson Rathbone Launching Record Label

Rathbone's label may release the upcoming album from his own band, 100 Monkeys, in addition to other artists' music.
By Terri Schwartz


Jackson Rathbone
Photo: Damian Vaca/ MTV News

Because filming a blockbuster film, working on a new album and going on tour apparently aren't keeping him busy enough, Jackson Rathbone has decided to set up his own record label, too. In an interview with Zooey magazine, Rathbone revealed that he'll soon be known for the artists he helps develop, as well as for his acting and his own music.

The multitasking star best known for portraying of Jasper Hale in "The Twilight Saga" is currently filming "Breaking Dawn" in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and also is working on finishing his next album with his rock group, 100 Monkeys. His fellow bandmates went with him to the movie set so that they could complete the album and kick off a 10-day tour starting after Christmas. 100 Monkeys member Jerad Anderson confirmed to MTV News that Rathbone would indeed be starting a record label, through which he'll release material by other artists.

"We might be putting the [100 Monkeys] record out on this label," Anderson reported. "We haven't collectively decided as a band yet."

The group also scored "Girlfriend," an indie flick featuring Rathbone and Anderson that made its premiere in September at the Toronto International Film Festival. They haven't received official confirmation whether the movie will play at the 2011 South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, but considering 100 Monkeys will be performing during that festival, Anderson said, "It's very likely." He added, "The movie has momentum coming from a successful debut [in] Toronto. "

When the band embarks on their tour after the holiday, MTV cameras will be on the bus documenting the behind the scenes of 100 Monkeys' daily adventures. "Should be interesting..." Anderson said. MTV has already gotten an inside look into the life of the group thanks to some Web diaries that Rathbone recorded. Rathbone also has been hard at work on the set of McG's new Web series, "Aim High."

And, of course, filming continues on "Breaking Dawn," as the final two installments of "The Twilight Saga" inch closer to completion. The first official picture from the film hit the Internet in November, and some paparazzi photos have been released of and the Volturi in costume.

Check out everything we've got on

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Samantha Mumba Busy Philipps Thora Birch Jennifer Garner Poppy Montgomery

Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Zombie Pop Stars

MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Zombie Pop Stars

Related Artists

Amber Valletta Paris Hilton Victoria Pratt Shakara Ledard Vanessa Marcil

Usher, Ke$ha And More Help Dance Music Go Pop In 2010

But is it here to stay? Our music-industry experts weigh in.
By Akshay Bhansali


Ke$ha
Photo: Andreas Rentz/ Getty Images

In 2010, pop princesses, R&B icons and chart-dominating newcomers all danced to the same beat. Not only did dance music go pop, but pop music caught the club-music bug.

Between Katy Perry's "Firework," Ke$ha's "We R Who We R," Rihanna's "Only Girl (In the World)," Enrique Iglesias' "I Like It," Usher's "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" and "OMG" and countless other singles, established artists definitely looked to dance beats for surefire hits. And two of this year's biggest success stories in music were Jason Derülo and Taio Cruz; could there be a soul left in this country who hasn't heard "Dynamite" or "In My Head"?

The love went both ways, with dance music's biggest stars finding mainstream success this year. Dance-music maestro deadmau5 took up house-artist duties at this year's VMAs, and Swedish House Mafia and Usher teamed up for a medley of their gems at the American Music Awards.

So how did this happen? We caught up with some music-industry experts to get their takes.

"You definitely saw tempos go up this year," Jon Caramanica of The New York Times told MTV News. "And I think what you had are a lot of producers who are really familiar with nightclub stuff. They are familiar with Europe. Things are happening on a more global scale now."

"I think everything from Europe, and sometimes even Asia, it comes to America, and we just adopt things a little bit slower," said Jared Eng of JustJared.com. "I think it was just a change. People like different types of music at different times. And dance was of this moment."

Noah Callahan of Complex magazine added: "I think 2010 saw the merging of the pop and dance genres. Pop artists realized that there were best practices that could be borrowed from dance music. And, ultimately, [all] pop music that has been made in the past 20 years had ended up being remixed for the club by dance artists. I think they basically just cut out the middleman and went straight there."

Dance music being introduced into the hip-hop and R&B realms was particularly notable this year.

"I think David Guetta kind of at the end of last year and the beginning of this year spearheaded it," said freelance writer Julianne Escobedo Shepherd. "He produced a lot of tracks. I think as trends go, people revile 'unst-unst.' But it's just coming back around. Big-room techno was a way for people to get decadent in a year that no one could get decadent."

"You have someone like will.i.am, who's like, 'Well, I spent all this time in Ibiza, and this is what they are doing,' and he wants to find a way to bring that into his music," Caramanica said of the Black Eyed Peas mastermind. "R&B especially became dance music. And especially with your Jason Derülos, Taio Cruzes. Guys like that would have literally been blocked at the border two years ago. That would not have made it through customs. And now all of a sudden they have #1 songs. I think will.i.am had a lot to do with that last year."

Elliott Wilson of RapRadar.com added: "It's actually even affected hip-hop. I was talking to Q-Tip, and his next record, I feel like that's gonna kind of go in that vein. I know that was also Jay-Z's thought process with Blueprint 3 at first, that he wanted to make a little bit more of a world music [vibe], a little more dancey. I think the kids today want to go to the clubs. They wanna have a good time. They wanna dance. So I think the artists of today are trying to kind of feed that audience."

"I think it's caught on this year because the people who've done it have been successful," offered Clover Hope of Vibe magazine. "Like 'OMG,' with usher, he didn't have success until he made a dance record. He had 'There Goes My Baby' and these really, like, adult-contemporary records that didn't really catch on. And then once you see that everybody is doing it and that people are liking it, they are like, 'OK, let me just try this out.' It's like Auto-Tune. Like, 'Let me see what I sound like on a record by David Guetta.' They end up liking it and doing more of it."

So does the club-music trend have staying power. According to our tastemakers, not so much.

"I do think it's a blip," Caramanica said. "I don't think that's gonna be something that lasts in America. I think this is gonna be a moment we'll all look back on and go, 'Wasn't that weird when Jason Derülo and Taio Cruz had #1 records?"

"At some point, these R&B artists will get kind of sick of it and be like, 'Let me go back to my soul background,' " Hope said. "When you actually have to say something, dance doesn't really lend itself to substance. And I think that R&B artists, they really want to talk about love and in a deep way, and to do that, you need to do, like, a soul or a traditional R&B record. I want to say that it's kind of a fad."

"I think music is very cyclical," Eng offered. "So I think dance music might be here for a little bit, but I'm sure it will phase out at some point."

Wilson called dance music "the sound of today. I think that people want more aggressive, faster beats, and I think that that probably has legs until at least next summer."

What do you think? Is dance music here to stay? Let us know in the comments!

Related Videos Related Artists

Rose McGowan Bar Refaeli Jessica White Anna Friel Monica Bellucci

Britney Spears - Radar

Radar

Lindsay Lohan Heidi Klum Vogue Charlize Theron Eva Mendes

Britney Spears - Womanizer

Womanizer

Cinthia Moura Monica Potter Brittany Snow

Miami Horror ? I Look To You (Tim Fuchs Remix)

In continuing with a recent trend of posting songs that in some way reference something related to warm weather as we work our way through an exceptionally cold start to our winter in Michigan, we thought it would be nice to share this disco funky remix from Tim Fuchs and Miami Horror. If you recall from when we brought you the impossible to ignore “Holidays”, Miami Horror is way more upbeat and fun than their name might imply (they are not, in fact, a hip death metal band) and I’m notread more and hear the song


Krista Allen Hayden Panettiere Jules Asner Whitney Able Kelly Clarkson

Ke$ha - Your Love Is My Drug

Your Love Is My Drug

  • Artist: Ke$ha
  • Label: RCA
  • Director: Honey

Victoria Pratt Shakara Ledard Vanessa Marcil Rachel McAdams Kristin Cavallari

Is T-Pain Signing To Young Money?

According to a jeweler who just crafted a Nappy Boy/ Young Money piece, T-Pain is heading to the hitmaking crew.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


T-Pain
Photo: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Will the king of Auto-Tune soon rock some Young Money-approved jewels? Judging by the footage of some bling that recently hit the Web, T-Pain may be the newest member of Wayne's crew.

In a video that surfaced online Thursday (December 30), jeweler Gabriel Jacobs, who has created rock-laden pieces for Birdman, 50 Cent and more, shows off a hefty ruby-and-black-diamond-studded piece in the shape of the New York Yankees-inspired Young Money logo that also features what appear to be tiny Nappy Boy insignias (the mark of Pain's label) along the sides. Jacobs says in the clip that he crafted the king-size ice, which he says costs about $40,000 alone and almost $100,000 with the chain, because Pain is signing with Weezy's camp.

A rep for T-Pain did not respond to MTV News' request for comment at press time.

A T-Pain move to Young Money would continue the Auto-Tune crooner's longstanding musical relationship with Weezy. Wayne and T-Pain have already charted together with collabos like Weezy's Tha Carter III single "Got Money" and Pain's Thr33 Ringz cut "Can't Believe It," which both dropped in 2008. The dreadlocked duo have also maintained that they plan to put out a joint album, an effort Pain told MTV News in March was temporarily thwarted by Weezy's eight-month prison bid.

"The T-Wayne album, we're actually gonna wait until he gets out," Pain said about Weezy's jail time. "He has so much going on. He has Rebirth out right now. I don't wanna interrupt that. We just gonna wait until he gets out to really get in on that. We recorded a bunch of songs. But, right now, it's time for him and his personal sh--. We definitely got an album's worth of material, but it's only an album's worth. It's nothing to pick from. We just got an album. We can put out whatever we feel like and say, 'Hey, this is T-Wayne's album,' or we can actually try to make it good. Like we're actually trying to make an album and say, 'This is the good T-Wayne album.' Rather than just record 12 songs and say, 'Here you go, mutha----as! I know you want it. You gonna buy it anyway, just 'cause you think it's good.' "

For Wayne's part, the MC has said that the collabo-friendly stars "both have the same energy" when he explained their similarities to MTV News in 2008.

"I don't sleep. If you ask anybody, I don't sleep. I think it's the cousin of death. As much as you sleep, you're impersonating death to me. He don't sleep. I play all day. He plays all day and all night. The connection is crazy," he said. "He loves to be creative, he loves to work; I love to create, I love to work. He really wants people to respect his rapping; I really want people to respect my harmonizing."

Do you think T-Pain should sign with Young Money? Let us know in the comments!

Related Artists

Larissa Meek Gina Carano Sanaa Lathan Ana Beatriz Barros Maria Menounos

Thursday, December 30, 2010

HIM:In Venere Veritas

? Older revision Revision as of 05:42, December 31, 2010
Line 21: Line 21:
Let's fall apart together now
Let's fall apart together now
-
There's a method to our sadness  
+
There is a method to our sadness
-
As we drag the mirrored ball and chain
+
As we drag the mirror ball and chain
Through the twilight again
Through the twilight again
Dressed up in shame
Dressed up in shame
Line 35: Line 35:
In Venere veritas
In Venere veritas
-
We are begging for a reflection from an un-shuttered heart  
+
We are begging for a reflection from
-
To find and chase us over the edge
+
An unshuttered heart to
 +
Blind and chase us over the edge
Have no fear
Have no fear
Line 48: Line 49:
These are the wounds that are not meant to heal at all
These are the wounds that are not meant to heal at all
-
Let's fall apart together now
 
Let's fall apart together now
Let's fall apart together now
</lyrics>
</lyrics>

Ana Hickmann Mischa Barton Jamie Lynn Sigler Stacy Keibler Rihanna

Photos | Chris Brown And Usher Perform In Jamaica

Chris Brown And Usher Perform In Jamaica

Related Artists

Nichole Robinson Monet Mazur Rozonda Thomas Rachel Weisz Miranda Kerr

Beyonc&#233; - Halo

Halo

Mila Kunis Samaire Armstrong Selita Ebanks Michael Michele Marisa Tomei

Photos | Jay-Z, Beyonce, Bieber And More Nominated For 2010 BET Awards

Jay-Z, Beyonce, Bieber And More Nominated For 2010 BET Awards

Related Artists

Marley Shelton Thalía Brooke Burke Thandie Newton Liz Phair

Michael Jackson - Thriller (Long Vers.)

Thriller (Long Vers.)

Chloë Sevigny Janet Jackson Georgianna Robertson Reese Witherspoon Jordana Brewster

Photos | 'Forbes' Magazine's Top-Earning Musicians Of 2010

'Forbes' Magazine's Top-Earning Musicians Of 2010

Related Artists

Mia Kirshner Elisabeth Röhm Lily Allen Emmanuelle Chriqui Anna Faris

Natalie Portman, Reese Witherspoon, More Round Out December Love Report

This month was full of celebrity engagements, weddings and a few breakups.
By Jocelyn Vena


Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

December has been an interesting month for Hollywood in the love department. There have been several shocking splits and even more engagements, with one seemingly pouring in every hour on the hour. Let's also not forget that some couples tied the knot. As December wraps up, MTV News is taking a look back on a busy month for love.

The Engagements

Tony Romo and TV sports reporter Candice Crawford (sister of Chace Crawford) kicked off engagement-palooza earlier this month when they announced they were going to marry. Quickly all of Hollywood joined suit with LeAnn Rimes, Lily Allen and Ginnifer Goodwin all getting engaged.

Two of Hollywood's most famous actresses also announced their engagements this month. Reese Witherspoon announced Tuesday that she will marry Hollywood agent Jim Toth, and Natalie Portman had a lot of good news, sharing that she is set to marry "Black Swan" ballet dancer Benjamin Millepied and that the two are expecting a baby.

The Weddings

Nicole Richie and Joel Madden married in mid-December after having four years and two kids together. We assume they just wanted to make sure they really liked each other before they said "I do."

On Tuesday we learned that Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky tied the knot. And finally, "Lord of the Rings" actor Billy Boyd also married this month.

The Breakups

It was surprising to hear that Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds were divorcing after two years of marriage, but the couple confirmed the news in mid-December. Equally shocking was the news that Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens were separating after several years as one of young Hollywood's favorite couples.

Filming for the upcoming season of "Dexter" might be a little awkward now that the show's star, Michael C. Hall, and his TV sister, Jennifer Carpenter, are divorcing. And just this week, fans learned that Rihanna and her baseball beau, Matt Kemp, decided to split because of their busy schedules.

Which December hookup or breakup most surprised you? Tell us in the comments below!

Related Photos

Michelle Rodriguez Mena Suvari Georgina Grenville

Amadou & Mariam ? Sabali (Miike Snow Remix)

Let me count the ways that this remix got me real excited. First off, we all know that I am among the biggest Miike Snow fans in town and that I love their remixes just as much as their original tunes, so a new Miike Snow remix was smile worthy on its own. But Amadou & Mariam are another act that hold a special place in my musical memory, as their 2009 Bonnaroo performance was near the bottom of my list as I had no idea who they were but turned out to be one ofread more and hear the song


Ali Larter Angelina Jolie Erica Leerhsen Angela Marcello Paz Vega

Wise Blood ? Loud Mouths

Let me start out by warning you that this song is definitely not for everyone. If you are afraid of something that is a little out there and a lot different, then you may want to look elsewhere. But if you aren’t afraid to listen to something a little outside of the box, written by a 21 year old from Pittsburgh who just so happens to be a cemetery undertaker by day, then you might want to check out Christopher Laufman aka Wise Blood. “Loud Mouths” starts and ends with a mish mash of various samplesread more and hear the song


Melania Trump Summer Glau Mía Maestro Virginie Ledoyen Lindsay Lohan

Dave Grohl, Josh Homme, John Paul Jones Unveil Supergroup

Them Crooked Vultures make their debut with a post-Lollapalooza set.
By James Montgomery


Dave Grohl (file)
Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

Officially, Lollapalooza ended Sunday night in Chicago's Grant Park, with dueling sets from the Killers and Jane's Addiction. Unofficially, it ended very early Monday morning, across town at venerable rock club the Metro, with a surprise show by Them Crooked Vultures.

To the unfamiliar, the Vultures might seem like an odd choice to close out Lolla weekend ... until you realize that they're made up of Foo Fighters frontman/ former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, Queens of the Stone Age mastermind Josh Homme and Led Zeppelin legend John Paul Jones. And their gig at the Metro was their world premiere.

According to some reports, the Vultures actually turned down Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell's request to replace the Beastie Boys as headliners at the festival, opting to debut in front of some 1,100 super-psyched fans at the Metro, rather than 75,000 in Grant Park (tickets for the gig were announced via Foo Fighter/ QOTSA fan clubs). Meaning that, in a lot of ways, this was the most sought-after ticket in town.

Taking the stage just after midnight, the Vultures — Grohl on drums (of course), Homme on guitar and vocals, Jones on bass and keys and frequent QOTSA contributor Alain Johannes on guitar — ripped through 12 songs in 80 minutes, all taken from their upcoming debut, which may or may not be called Never Deserved the Future, and may or may not be hitting stores on October 23 (early "promo" videos touting both those facts were revealed over the weekend to be hoaxes perpetrated by QOTSA fans).

The songs, with appropriately Homme-ian titles like "Scumbag Blues," "Mind Eraser (No Chaser)," "Caligulove" and "Interlude w/Ludes," sounded pretty much how you'd expect, given the band's pedigree. They rocked, hard — Chicago Tribune critic Greg Kot described them as "fresh, invigorating and just plain nasty" — delving off into psychedelic, reverb-filled excursions and exploring proggy territory, "both of the old-school Yes variety, and the more modern Tool flavor," according to the Chicago Sun-Times' Jim DeRogatis.

It's not known if Monday's Metro performance was a one-off event for the Vultures — there have been whispers of a full-blown tour, but a spokesperson for Homme had not responded to MTV News' request for comment at press time. Nor was it clear whether or not they'll have an album out in October.

Early Monday, a Crooked Vultures Twitter account, which had previously posted links to the band's official-looking Web site and the Metro's online ticketing site — posted a link to what appears to be the group's first bit of official merchandise: a Deserve the Future T-shirt. Cost: $30.

Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists

Denise Richards Jennifer Sky Samantha Mathis Samantha Morton Grace Park

Ke$ha's Cannibal: A Cheat Sheet

Singer has already scored a hit with new single 'We R Who We R.'
By Gil Kaufman


Ke$ha
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/ Getty Images

It's been a pretty phenomenal year for Ke$ha. The brash, glitter-loving club kid burst onto the scene in January with her debut album, Animal, hot on the heels of the smash debut single "Tik Tok."

In short order, she ended the chart run of Susan Boyle when Animal debuted at #1, made her first trip to the Grammy Awards, teamed up with pals 3OH!3 for another hit video with "Blah Blah Blah," dropped in on "American Idol" and hit the road with Rihanna. And that's just the first three months of the year!

But after scoring another hit with "Your Love Is My Drug" and flipping the bird to haters over their critiques of her wobbly debut on "Saturday Night Live," Ke$ha unleashed another single, "Take It Off."

For a minute, there was talk of a follow-up album that might have a country twang, not out of the question considering that she's a Nashville native and her mom penned songs for Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. But as she said at the time, "I'm also really digging being called, like, half-jokingly, a white-girl rapper. I think it's really funny, and I'm going to ride that train for a little bit."

By August, she was already plotting her next move, telling MTV News, "I'm always writing and kind of thinking of the next step. I'm still executing this record properly onstage, but the next record is definitely on my mind, and potentially in the works soon." She described waking up in Tokyo at 4 in the morning with a brainstorm for a new song and then spending seven hours making a "horrible" beat on "Garage Band" and singing and rapping into her computer.

A short time later, it was announced that her nine-song follow-up, Cannibal, would hit stores November 22 as a "companion" album to a reissue of Animal. The disc was reported to contain eight new songs produced by heavy-hitters like Max Martin, Benny Blanco and Bangladesh and to be preceded by "We R Who We R."

"This year has been carnivorous and life-changing. I have my rowdy, gorgeous fans to thank for taking me on the ride of a lifetime," Ke$ha said in a statement. "My only goal with this record is to keep them dancing. The songs on Cannibal were made to inspire people to ignore any hate or judgment and be themselves unapologetically. It's the perfect companion to Animal and I hope you guys like it. And if you don't like it — bite me."

Though a rumored hookup with Drake was false, a confirmed track list proved to have plenty of profane and silly titles, including (ahem) "C U Next Tuesday," "Sleazy," "Blow," "The Harold Song," "Cannibal," "We R," "Crazy Beautiful Life" and "Grow a Pear," plus a remix of "Animal." After winning an MTV EMA for Best New Act, the singer also locked in her first headlining affair, the Get $leazy Tour, which is slated to kick off February 15 in Portland, Oregon.

Like most major new albums, Cannibal leaked online a week before it hit shelves, perhaps the finest proof yet that Ke$ha has truly hit the big time. Only this time, after most of the songs had hit the Web, Ke$ha just posted the damn thing herself on her website and told her fans to enjoy.

"This is my album premiere, and it's top secret, and it's really fun and it's wild," Ke$ha said in a message posted on her site. "Things are going to get crazy and a little awkward, it'll be okay. Listen to it."

She's going to have plenty of major competition on the charts this week with new releases from Kanye West, Nicki Minaj and My Chemical Romance, but something tells us Ke$ha isn't that worried.

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

Related Artists

Katy Perry Vinessa Shaw Rebecca Romijn Nadine Velazquez Pink

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Talk:The Boys Next Door:Shivers

? Older revision Revision as of 06:35, December 30, 2010
Line 1: Line 1:
-
<!--
 
-
NOTE: A blank Song Info template will be created automatically when you save this page. Please return to edit mode afterwards, change the parameters as applicable and delete this comment. Thank you!
 
-
-->
 
{{Star Box}}
{{Star Box}}
-
{{Song Rank|Green}}
+
{{Song Rank|bronze}}
{{Song Info
{{Song Info
|album    = unknown
|album    = unknown
-
|video    = unknown
+
|video    = done
-
|audio    = unknown
+
|audio    = done
-
|language  = unknown
+
|language  = done
|asin      = unknown
|asin      = unknown
|iTunes    = unknown
|iTunes    = unknown
-
|wikipedia = unknown
+
|wikipedia = done
|credits  = unknown
|credits  = unknown
}}
}}

January Jones Christina DaRe Malin Akerman Melissa Joan Hart Bianca Kajlich

Britney Spears - 2008 Video Of The Year: Britney Spears "Piece of Me

2008 Video Of The Year: Britney Spears "Piece of Me

Ana Hickmann Mischa Barton Jamie Lynn Sigler Stacy Keibler Rihanna

'Lord Of The Rings' Star Billy Boyd Marries Ali McKinnon

Actor who played Pippin in trilogy weds Wednesday (December 29).
By Terri Schwartz


Billy Boyd
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Love continued to linger in the air Wednesday (December 29) as Billy Boyd, best known as Pippin the hobbit in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Ali McKinnon.

Though he earned international fame and legions of fans for a quest for a different One Ring, The Evening Times reports Boyd kept the wedding very small and intimate.

Boyd and McKinnon met in 2002 at a pantomime (British winter musical comedy theater) she was appearing in. The two have a 4-year-old son, Jack, and have been living together in Glasgow's West End for several years.

The Evening Times reports the two were married at Oran Mor, just around the corner from their home. The venue sounds like something straight out of Middle Earth, but it's actually a converted church that was turned into a cultural center including a couple of restaurants and bars, a nightclub and, of course, a beautiful private-events space.

Oran Mor wedding coordinator Louise Turner said she'd met with the couple a few times and "they have been lovely to deal with." She said only 30 friends and family members attended the ceremony, and the reception was planned for about 160. "It's not a massive bash, and it will be quite intimate," Turner said.

The "Rings" cast has stayed close since the premiere of "Return of the King" in 2003, and the U.K.'s Daily Mail posted a picture of Elijah Wood and Dominic Monaghan flanking the happy groom at the ceremony.

In addition to his role in the three "Lord of the Rings" films, Boyd won acclaim for his roles in "The Stone of Destiny," "The Flying Scotsman" and "On a Clear Day." He was named Britain's most eligible bachelor, placing ahead of Prince William, who got engaged this year.

Send your well-wishes to the couple in the comments section below!

Garcelle Beauvais Kristy Swanson Ali Campoverdi Giuliana DePandi Pamela Anderson

Matthew Morrison Calls Lindsay Lohan 'Fair Game' For 'Glee' Jabs

'I don't think anyone gets away from the 'Glee' scathing,' Morrison tells 'Access Hollywood' about recent episode's Lohan ribbing.
By James Dinh


Matthew Morrison
Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Lindsay Lohan's trials and tribulations have landed the starlet at the center of sideswipe jokes and as inspiration for future films. While the actress may not be too pleased with the wisecracking and mockery, "Glee" star Matthew Morrison thinks the 24-year-old actress should lighten up a bit.

"Access Hollywood" recently caught up with the "Glee" actor, who admitted that his show's recent Lohan sideswipe is just another instance of the series' usual humor, which often intertwines pop culture references.

"You know, when it comes to 'Glee,' I think everyone is fair game," Morrison told host Maria Menounos. "We poke fun at ourselves all the time. I don't think anyone really gets away from the 'Glee' scathing." He then added, "Sorry Lindsay."

Just last month, Lohan's mother, Dina, slammed the aforementioned "Glee" episode, which featured guest star Gwyneth Paltrow's character, Holly Holliday, poking fun at the troubled star. During the scene, Holliday gives a lecture in which she says, "Lindsey [sic] Lohan is totally crazy, right?" in Spanish. The ridicule continues when Holliday quizzes the class on numbers by asking, "How many times has Lindsay Lohan been to rehab?"

Dina told Radar Online that her daughter was deeply hurt by the show and Paltrow's participation in it. "Lindsay is so upset with Gwyneth," Dina said. "Lindsay was watching it while in [the] Betty Ford [rehab center], then she called me and was upset and said, 'Why did she have to do that?' We are the first to make fun of ourselves in our family. And Lindsay has even done 'SNL' a few times, but Gwyneth went overboard and it was unnecessary."

While Morrison didn't express too much sympathy for Lohan, he did gush about Katie Couric's guest-starring role on the highly anticipated post-Super Bowl episode of "Glee."

When asked about the news anchor's upcoming appearance, the "Glee" star described working with Couric as "awesome." He then shared, "We did this impromptu dance together. She showed me this thing called the pretzel," before demonstrating the maneuver to Menounos.

Morrison revealed that Couric plays herself on the episode and makes a visit to McKinley High to interview Sue Sylvester (played by Jane Lynch) as part of a "20 Biggest Losers of the Year" assignment.

"I can't give away too much because there's so many amazing lines that Jane has in that scene," he explained. "The last one is the best, but I can't say it. But yeah, [Couric] played herself. She was so much fun. I love her. She's such a great energy."

Do you think Lindsay has a right to get upset over the "Glee" jabs? Share your opinion in the comments.

Related Photos Related Artists

Jamie Chung Alicia Witt Radha Mitchell Melissa Rycroft Chloë Sevigny

Britney Spears - Radar

Radar

Kate Walsh Autumn Reeser Camilla Belle Blu Cantrell Jaime King

Eric Clapton:Inside Of Me

? N�chst�ltere Version Version vom 18:24, 29 December 2010
Zeile 1: Zeile 1:
{{Song|Pilgrim (1998)|Eric Clapton|star=Green}}
{{Song|Pilgrim (1998)|Eric Clapton|star=Green}}
<lyrics>
<lyrics>
-
 
-
by Eric Clapton and Simon Climie
 
The point on the water, there's a change in the air,
The point on the water, there's a change in the air,

Emmanuelle Chriqui Anna Faris Lil Kim

Photos | Who Are The Landmarks Of The VMAs?

Who Are The Landmarks Of The VMAs?

Related Artists

Ananda Lewis Kate Bosworth Tamala Jones Yamila Diaz Alicia Keys

Photos | Led Zeppelin Reunite At London Concert

Led Zeppelin Reunite At London Concert

Related Artists

Dominique Swain Jamie Chung Alicia Witt Radha Mitchell Melissa Rycroft

Led Zeppelin - Rock and Roll

Rock and Roll

Elisha Cuthbert Ciara Rachel Hunter Heidi Montag Katharine McPhee

Photos | 'Michael Jackson's This Is It' Trailer Frames

'Michael Jackson's This Is It' Trailer Frames

Related Artists

Penélope Cruz Kristen Bell The Pussycat Dolls Isla Fisher Sophia Bush

Photos | Jay-Z, Beyonce, Bieber And More Nominated For 2010 BET Awards

Jay-Z, Beyonce, Bieber And More Nominated For 2010 BET Awards

Related Artists

Uma Thurman Alice Dodd Kate Walsh Autumn Reeser Camilla Belle

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Toro Y Moi ? Still Sound

Maybe it’s just me drinking the Kool-Aid, but yes, I admit, I’m one of those people that always clicks on the link when he sees the words “new” and “Toro Y Moi” used in the same sentence, almost regardless of context. The last time this happened, it was with “Leave Everywhere”, the song that I at first didn’t quite “get” but that soon made perfect sense to me, and one that I often found myself getting stuck in my head. And while I don’t think “Still Sound” has that memorable melody that I will be hummingread more and hear the song


Lokelani McMichael Freida Pinto Eva Longoria Susan Ward Emmy Rossum

Britney Spears - Break the Ice

Break the Ice

Connie Nielsen Melissa George Cameron Richardson Chandra West Kasey Chambers

Beyonc&#233; - Ego (Remix)

Ego (Remix)

  • Artist: Beyoncé
  • Label: Columbia, Music World Music
  • Director: Beyonce, Frank Gatson

Eva Green Lauren Conrad Arielle Kebbel Jessica Paré Leelee Sobieski

Beyonc&#233; - Ego (Remix)

Ego (Remix)

  • Artist: Beyoncé
  • Label: Columbia, Music World Music
  • Director: Beyonce, Frank Gatson

Leeann Tweeden Bali Rodriguez Izabella Miko Cameron Diaz Sofía Vergara

Usher - Lil Freak

Lil Freak

Kelly Rowland Danica Patrick Josie Maran