Thursday, September 30, 2010
Will Natalie Portman Play Lois Lane In The New Superman Film?
Little Kids Can Be Such Dicks
Two little girls called Nora "poo poo pants" today in school and made her sad. I told her the next time they say that, fire back with, "Oh yeah? At least I'm not a whore!"
Kindergarten can be brutal.
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Justin Bieber's 'U Smile' Video Premieres This Week
Bieber will release the video 'in 3 days,' he tweeted Monday.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber
Photo: Getty Images
Justin Bieber will premiere the video for his latest single, "U Smile," this week. The singer tweeted the release announcement and gave Beliebers some insight into the clip.
"In 3 days U SMILE video comes," he wrote early Monday (September 27). "And I took the opportunity 2 make a video 4 the fans, about a fan, and how we could fall IN LOVE. Love Grows. #LoveGrows."
Bieber continued to discuss love and the possibility of dating a fan, tweeting, "U know u wake up and you go online sometimes and see your words twisted or isolated from the whole meaning. It is frustrating.... ...you become guarded. Sometimes u don't know who to trust. U say one thing to someone and it comes out totally different.... ....that is why i like twitter. i can say it how it is. no one twisting things so people want to know where it is," he explained. "My fans and i we LOVE EACH OTHER. But to be IN LOVE with someone u need to get to know them personally I get asked all the time would I date a fan and my answer I would date whoever I fall IN LOVE with, and yes that could be a fan."
The singer is reportedly currently dating singer Jasmine Villegas, who's opening for him on his My World tour.
Earlier this month, Bieber was spotted shooting the video for "U Smile," which was directed by Alfredo Flores. In photos from the shoot posted on Idolator, Bieber is shown dressed all in black, trying to woo a teenage girl near a run-down movie theater. Back in March, he explained that the song was a great vintage-tinged track. "It really is a throwback to the great records I listened to growing up. ... I wrote it for all my fans who got me here," he wrote.
Bieber also spoke to MTV News in March about working on the track alongside songwriters Jerry Duplessis, Arden Altino and Dan August Rigo. "I worked with August. I got him. He's a really good writer," the singer said. "The song is amazing. We really love the song, so we decided to cut it. It's really amazing."
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- Label: Swan Song
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Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Jay-Z Will Not Replace Mathew Knowles as Beyonce's Manager
Knowles denies rumors that he will no longer manage Beyonce's career.
By James Dinh
Beyoncé
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ WireImage
Jay-Z may be Beyoncé's husband, but the hip-hop heavyweight will not be managing the pop star anytime soon. According to a statement posted by the singer's management website, Music World Entertainment, Beyoncé's father, Mathew Knowles is not being replaced by Jay-Z or anyone else as her manager.
"Contrary to false rumors online, Beyoncé and her manager Mathew Knowles unequivocally have had and continue to have a close personal and business relationship. Mathew Knowles is the sole and exclusive manager of Beyoncé," the statement reads.
Mathew Knowles has always played an important part in his daughter's career, dating all the way back to her days in Destiny's Child. When the group split in 2005, Mathew continued managing Beyoncé as well as Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. But Rowland and Williams recently parted ways with Knowles and his Music World Entertainment team. Earlier this year, he also denied claims that the trio were in talks to reunite Destiny's Child.
In addition to refuting the online rumors, the management company confirmed that the singer is working on upcoming music projects. "Furthermore, Beyoncé is readying the release of her new, highly anticipated DVD and has started the recording process for her new album," the statement concluded.
One producer that the singer may be reuniting with for her next record is Ne-Yo. The pair previously worked together on her hit single "Irreplaceable" back in 2006. Just last week, the soon-to-be father tweeted, "Mornin' NY!!! Studio with Mary J Blige last night, Beyonce tonight. I LOVE MY JOB!!! Shout out Jerry Wonder!!"
How do you think Mathew Knowles does at managing Beyoncé? Share your thoughts below.
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Lady Gaga's VMA Meat Dress To Become 'Jerky'
Designer Franc Fernandez says headline-making dress will be preserved and archived.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Lady Gaga's meat dress is among the most outrageous outfits the superstar has ever sported. She's rocked cigarette-adorned shades, teetered on freakishly high Alexander McQueen heels and posed in flame-throwing undergarments, so topping herself in the what-is-she-wearing-now? department is definitely an achievement.
The songstress is rarely seen in the same thing twice, but an ensemble crafted from raw meat isn't the type of look the wearer can keep around — without risking the smell of decaying beef in one's closet — let alone bust the thing out for another flesh-frock-appropriate occasion.
Apparently, the dress hasn't been tossed out or repurposed as tartare for some adventurous eater. After the beef dress' headline-snagging debut at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, the look will be preserved and saved, presumably to provide inspiration for some far-out designer's future sartorial creation.
"The dress will go through a process where it becomes a sort of 'jerky' and will be archived," designer Franc Fernandez told E! Online.
However, don't expect Gaga to bring back the look and shake up another awards show in, say, a jerky jumpsuit anytime soon. Fernandez recently explained to the MTV Style blog that, even though the dress may not decompose, it's still just a single-use outfit.
"The meat dries out, rather than rotting. It becomes jerky," Fernandez said. "But it shouldn't be worn again."
Just like Gaga should leave the jerky-fied dress in the past, Fernandez insisted he's not going to hook up anyone else with carcass couture in the future.
"I think it's just that — it's just the meat dress," Fernandez observed. "There's not going to be meat dresses in the future. This was made for a specific purpose. It's what it is."
Would you like to see Lady Gaga's jerky dress? Let us know in the comments!
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Lady Gaga 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Speech 'Resonated' With Maine Crowd
'She wasn't paid to come here and speak; she did it because she felt like she needed to,' one supporter tells MTV News at rally.
By James Montgomery
Lady Gaga
Photo: Cliff Kucine/ Getty Images
PORTLAND, Maine — On Monday, thousands packed into Deering Oaks Park to witness Lady Gaga's rather spur-of-the-moment speech in support of the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." Many of them were students at the nearby University of Southern Maine, active in the school's Center for Sexualities and Gender Diversity, and they were understandably amazed that one of the biggest pop stars on the planet had come to their town to speak on their behalf.
But, as MTV News learned in speaking with some of them, the event had a much deeper meaning too. As it turns out, many of them also had a personal stake in the ongoing debate over "don't ask" — which failed to get enough Senate votes on Tuesday (September 21) to spur a formal debate — and to have Gaga in their corner meant more than they could express.
"Her speech really resonated with me because, actually, this summer, I thought about joining the military, but because I'm gay, I can't," USM student Kelly Golek said. "If it's repealed, there's a very good chance I will [enlist]. So I thought this whole event was amazing, because you really don't see something like this. Like, what other pop star would come out and do this? She's very brave, and I was totally moved by that speech."
"It really resonated with me, because I've actually been considering the military, because I took my ASVAB [military aptitude exam], and I got an incredibly high score, so I could basically do anything I wanted to in the Navy," Ellen McDonald said. "But because I'm a lesbian, I'm not able to do that at the moment. So, [her speech] really touched me, because those are my hopes and dreams."
And even those who weren't prohibited from serving openly still felt a personal connection to Gaga's speech, because, the way they see it, she's lending her voice to the voiceless.
"She wasn't paid to come here and speak; she did it because she felt like she needed to. [She said] 'I'm coming to Maine ... be there,' " Chris Johnson said. "It makes you feel like you have a voice, because she takes the issue and says, 'I will be your voice, because I know you're not being heard right now.' She's the voice of this generation that's not old enough to vote, but we have different points of view from the generation that raised us."
"There are celebrities that do things to help humanity, but Lady Gaga really does things," USM student Marepheen Berry said. "She has a way of putting forth her messages. She shocks people, and that's what I like about her: She shocks people, and it really opens up their eyes and turns heads."
Of course, there were also those in the crowd who, while active in the fight to repeal "don't ask," were mainly there to see Lady Gaga. And, really, can you blame them?
"I think it's unbelievable. I was in shock when we first heard. I don't even know how to describe it," USM freshman Joseph Sibley laughed. "When we found out, I was like, 'There's no way, nobody ever comes to Maine, and nobody ever talks to us.' ... And I'm glad I came. It was awesome."
What do you think about Gaga's rally against "don't ask, don't tell"? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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Jay-Z, Eminem Joined By Kanye West, Beyonce, Others At Yankee Stadium
Drake, Chris Martin, Nicki Minaj also appear at first New York stop of Home and Home tour.
By Shaheem Reid
Eminem and Jay-Z perform at Yankee Stadium on Monday
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
NEW YORK — A year ago, Jay-Z showed why he's music's Emperor of the Empire State with a historic charity concert at Madison Square Garden, which Jay called "the house that Hovie built." On Monday night, "the God MC" took his mastery of performance to the front stoop of Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, Yankee Stadium. And because that's no setting in which to go small, he brought out special guests like Kanye West, Drake, Chris Martin, Swizz Beatz, Nicki Minaj and, of course, Beyoncé.
After kicking off in Detroit two weeks ago, Jay and Eminem's Home and Home concerts landed on the Jiggaman's soil for shows on Monday and Tuesday (September 14). This time, after J. Cole opened, Slim Shady shook the stadium in the second slot, with special guests the G-Unit and Dr. Dre. Then Jay took over with a bevy of surprises and a catalog of hard-line hits.
"Before I start this piece, let me say, rest in peace to the boss, George [Steinbrenner]," Hov began, freestyling a reference to the late Yankees owner after commencing his program with the "Dynasty Intro."
"By the time we sliding home/ I hope we playing in the dome," he continued rapping.
During "Run This Town," Jay asked, "Where you at, boy?" And out came 2010 VMA closer Kanye West in a red suit. The roar was thunderous for the Louis Vuitton Don, who also rocked a huge gold link chain.
They followed up with the first live performance of the "Power" remix — where all 50,000-plus people did the soulful "power clap" — and "Monster." There was no Rick Ross on the latter, but 'Ye and Hov brought out Nicki Minaj, who was showered with love from her hometown.
Hov said that since they were in New York, he couldn't let Kanye off the hook that easy. West told the audience he was going to "take them back." The Chicago-born icon then crushed the concert with "Can't Tell Me Nothing" and a follow-up haymaker of the stadium-friendly "Good Life."
"It's one of the most unbelievable feelings in the world, being from New York and being in Yankee stadium," Jay said about the night.
"That's how you feel, New York City?" Hov continued, in response to the crowd's overwhelming cheers. "New York City, is that how you feel tonight? I can't believe this sh--!"
Jay's next guest was Bronx native Swizz Beatz, who was also celebrating his birthday. What a present!
Further along in his set list, Jay rolled out his jaw-dropping verse from "Free Mason." Like in most of his shows, the Jiggaman constantly spoke to the crowd. "Just because you question religion doesn't mean you don't believe in God," he said after his rumor-admonishing verse. "Don't let anybody scare you into having their beliefs. Be a muthaf---in' renegade."
Out came Eminem for their classic colossal meeting of the minds. No matter how many times they perform "Renegade," it's still surreal to see the two biggest names in rap stand unified, side by side.
Memphis Bleek then came out for a parade of familiar Jay knockers, including "U Don't Know," "99 Problems" and "Big Pimpin'."
There was a tribute to hip-hop's gone-but-not-forgotten greats that included B.I.G., D12's Proof, Pimp C and Tupac Shakur. Monday was the 14th anniversary of Pac's tragic death.
Chris Martin from Coldplay came out to sing the hook on "Heart of the City." Martin was crisp and soulful on the mic. Jay kicked the graceful lines to "Most Kingz," and then Martin took the energy up a few levels with "Viva la Vida."
"I used to rule the world," the crowd sang. "Seas would rise/ When I gave the word/ Now in the morning I sleep alone/ Sweep the streets I used to own/ I used to roll the dice/ Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes."
Hov then told his DJ to throw on any song, and out came Drake for "Miss Me."
"Tellllllll me/ What's really going / Drizzy back up in this bitch/ What's happenin!!!" Drake came on rapping. The approval for the 23-year-old was vibrant.
"Say, 'Free Weezy!' " Drake commanded during Lil Wayne's verse. Jay and Drizzy then let the mics explode with "Light Up."
Not letting the audience catch their breath, Beyoncé came out for "Forever Young."
"One word, Beyoncé, make some noise," Jay said about his wife. "That girl baaad! That girl tough!"
After "Already Home" came "Empire State of Mind." No Alicia Keys, but Roc Nation artist Bridget Kelly was on her A-game with the vocals. Not that it mattered, because the NYC crowd drowned the song out.
"This is better than any Grammy. Better than any MTV award," Jay said about being able to rock his city.
He then went into overtime with a barrage of classics such as "Jigga My N---a" and "Izzo."
He told the fans he wasn't going anywhere and continued to keep the energy high with "Where I'm From" and "Dirt Off Your Shoulder." Most of the sold-out crowd stayed until the very end, which featured Jay doing the Linkin Park mash-up version of "Encore."
"This night was like a gift for me," said the man who seemingly has everything. "I hope I returned it tenfold."
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Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Coldplay, Led Zeppelin Album Covers Featured On New British Stamps
Album art from Pink Floyd, Blur and David Bowie also included.
By James Montgomery
Coldplay's new British stamps
Photo: Royal Mail
On Thursday (January 7), the U.K.'s Royal Mail unveiled a series of 10 new stamps, honoring the most iconic album covers of the past 40 years.
The albums featured in the new series are the Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed, Led Zeppelin's IV, David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, The Clash's London Calling, New Order's Power, Corruption and Lies, Primal Scream's Screamadelica, Pink Floyd's The Division Bell, Blur's Parklife and — the most recent album on to make the cut — Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head.
Meant to honor "the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people's lives," the series is the end result of a lengthy research process by the Royal Mail, who looked through thousands of album covers by British artists before deciding on the final list. And, during a Wednesday night BBC Radio broadcast, it was revealed that the queen herself actually approved each design.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page — who helped design the cover for IV — was on hand to celebrate the release of the stamps and recalled the mysterious nature of the album's iconic imagery.
"Almost 40 years after the album came out, nobody knows the old man who featured on the cover, nor the artist who painted him," he said. "That sort of sums up what we wanted to achieve with the album cover, which has remained both anonymous and enigmatic at the same time."
Of course, any great honor is befitting of an equally great contest, so, on the same day the stamps were made available to the general public, Coldplay decided to give one of their Rush of Blood stamps away. In a message on their official site, the band held a contest to send one lucky fan "a letter using a Coldplay stamp, postmarked with today's issue date."
"We visited our local post office earlier today and bought some of the Coldplay stamps," the message read. "Very nice they are too."
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Sally Menke, Quentin Tarantino's Editor, Found Dead
Sally Menke, a film editor known for working with the fan-favorite director on all of his movies, was found dead along a Los Angeles hiking trail on Tuesday, the L.A. Coroner's Office has confirmed to CNN.
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Monday, September 27, 2010
Usher's OMG Tour To Launch In November
Usher's 25-date arena tour will start on November 10 in Seattle.
By Gil Kaufman
Usher
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ WireImage
Usher will reward his fans' patience in November when he finally kicks off the long-awaited tour in support of his platinum Raymond v. Raymond album. Though it won't feature Chris Brown as recently rumored, Usher is promising a major show for the 25-date North American arena tour that kicks off on November 10 in Seattle.
"Songs like 'OMG,' 'DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love,' 'There Goes My Baby,' 'Papers,' 'Daddy's Home,' 'Lil Freak' with Nicki Minaj and 'Hot Tottie' with Jay-Z have dominated the airwaves since last February," said Randy Phillips, president & CEO of AEG Live, the promoter behind the tour. "Now is the time for one of our greatest entertainers to go live and we are thrilled to be part of the ultimate Usher experience. Usher is bringing his fans an evening they will not soon forget. This will be the 'Must See' concert tour of 2010!"
The singer, who is on tap to perform at Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards, will be on the road through late December, hitting major cities from Las Vegas and Los Angeles to Dallas, Detroit, Chicago and Boston, wrapping things up on December 18 with a show at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut.
Tickets will go on sale beginning September 17, with more information on opening acts and tour details available at Usherworld.com.
Dates for the OMG Tour:
» November 10 - Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
» November 12 - Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arenabr
» November 13 - Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Baybr
» November 14 - Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
» November 17 - San Diego, CA @ Sports Arena
» November 18 - Los Angeles, CA @ STAPLES Center
» November 19 - Phoenix, AZ @ Jobing.com Arena
» November 23 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
» November 24 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
» November 26 - St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
» November 27 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
» November 29 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
» November 30 - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
» December 2 - Detroit, MI @ TBD
» December 3 - Chicago, IL @ Allstate Arena
» December 5 - Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
» December 7 - Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum
» December 8 - Baltimore, MD @ 1st Mariner Arena
» December 10 - Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
» December 11 - Norfolk, VA @ Scope Arena
» December 13 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
» December 14 - Boston, MA @ TD Garden
» December 16 - Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
» December 17 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
» December 18 - Hartford, CT @ XL Center
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Godsmack Frontman Sheds Metal Rage For Ethereal Avalon
Sully Erna explains why his world-music-infused solo album is his 'baby.'
By Jon Wiederhorn
Sully Erna
Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images
Nearly five months after its release, the sonic punch of Godsmack's third album to debut at #1, The Oracle, is still leaving bruises (the latest single "Love-Hate-Sex-Pain" is perched at #15 on the Billboard Rock Songs chart) and the band is currently supporting the record on a major tour with Five Finger Death Punch and Drowning Pool. But for the moment at least, frontman Sully Erna is more excited about his recently released world-music-inflected solo album, Avalon, which debuted at #24 on this week's Billboard 200.
"Godsmack will always be my main priority. I know that, but right now, Avalon is my baby," Erna said on a break between tour dates. "It's a complete departure from Godsmack, and that's why I love it so much. As a musician, I like to express different sides of myself, and this is way more intellectual and eclectic and primal than what I usually do. It's the kind of thing you'll really want to stop what you're doing when you put it on to listen to."
The lead vocals on Oracle are instantly recognizable as Erna. The rest of the album is more otherworldly, flush with tribal drumming, plaintive acoustic guitar strums, layered vocal harmonies and gliding cello. Many of the songs ache with vulnerability, others shimmer with a near-goth mysticism. In loose terms, the album sounds like acoustic Alice in Chains and Led Zeppelin (Erna's two favorite bands), combined with elements of Jethro Tull, Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd and Dead Can Dance.
The approach isn't entirely unprecedented for Erna. Over the years, Godsmack have released tribal and acoustic songs such as "Voodoo" and "Serenity," and in 2004 the band released the unplugged album The Other Side. With Avalon, however, Erna takes his fascination with Native American, African and Brazilian percussion, ethereal keyboards and monochromatic jams to new heights.
"The hardest thing about doing this record was finding a common pulse, because all the songs were written over a number of years and they're all different," Erna says. "I really wanted this to be something that flows together as a single body of work, not just a bunch of singles, so it was kind of a challenge to make everything connect. If I owned a record store and I got this album, I wouldn't know where to put it because it's not like anything else that's out there."
Avalon features a multitude of guest musicians, including Dead Can Dance percussionist Niall Gregory, multi-octave vocalist Lisa Guyer and Bulgarian cellist Irina Chirkova, who provide extra flair and dynamics.
"I met Niall at a Dead Can Dance show, and we kept in touch," Erna said. "I was reluctant to approach him at first, because I didn't know if this was something he'd be interested in, but he was totally into it, and that gave me a lot of confidence. Lisa is a friend who I met years ago who has an amazing voice, and she lent so much to the album."
As cohesively as the majestic song "Sinner's Prayer" flows together with the haunting "The Departed" or the melancholy guitar ballad "My Light," Oracle was neither smooth nor easy to create. Erna started arranging songs in late 2007 and spent over a year recording the album at Sanctum Sound studio in Boston and mixing at Serenity West studio in Hollywood.
"It was definitely a process, and it was sometimes a pain in the neck," Erna said. "Scheduling everything was really tough. I'd be arranging and composing something, and I'd realize you need a cello player for a certain part, so it's a matter of calling the right person in to do their parts and making sure they're available. That happened over and over. But everyone on there is a top-notch player and together we recorded a beautiful album."
What do you think about Sully's new sound on Avalon? Let us know in the comments!
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Beyonce Says She's 'A Feminist, In A Way'
Singer also talks about retiring alter ego Sasha Fierce and starting a family, in You magazine.
By James Dinh
Beyoncé
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ Getty Images
Whether it's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" or the Destiny's Child classic "Independent Women," most of Beyoncé's catalog consists of strong female-empowerment anthems. So it's no surprise that the singer considers herself to be a feminist.
In an interview with the U.K.'s You magazine, the pop star opens up about the importance of female companionship, not needing to hide behind Sasha Fierce and her much-talked-about baby plans.
"I think I am a feminist, in a way. It's not something I consciously decided I was going to be; perhaps it's because I grew up in a singing group with other women, and that was so helpful to me," she told the magazine. "It kept me out of so much trouble and out of bad relationships. My friendships with my girls are just so much a part of me that there are things I am never going to do that would upset that bond. I never want to betray that friendship, because I love being a woman and I love being a friend to other women."
Most recently, Beyoncé has certainly made her share of female friends in the industry. In the past year, the singer has collaborated with Lady Gaga ("Video Phone" and "Telephone") and Alicia Keys ("Put It in a Love Song").
While the singer might always have female besties, there's one thing she's cut out of the picture: alter ego Sasha Fierce. Earlier this year, the pop star revealed that she "killed" Sasha, and now she said the alter-ego absence is due to her newfound self-awareness.
"I don't need Sasha so much anymore, because these days, I know who I am. It takes time to figure out who you are, and I am still discovering different things about myself. As I am exposed to different experiences, I think, 'Oh, I like this. I didn't know I liked this,' " she explained. "That's the journey of life that is so exciting. More and more, I know who I am, I know what I like, I know what I want, and that makes me feel so free."
In fact, B already has her eye on some personal life goals. "My ambition is to continue to learn about the world and to eventually have a family," she said. And while Beyoncé remained coy about when she and husband Jay-Z will expand the Carter family, she hinted that there's really "no dates, no times" to motherhood. "It will happen when I am ready."
What is your favorite Beyoncé female-empowerment anthem? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Related Photos Related ArtistsLady Gaga 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Speech 'Resonated' With Maine Crowd
'She wasn't paid to come here and speak; she did it because she felt like she needed to,' one supporter tells MTV News at rally.
By James Montgomery
Lady Gaga
Photo: Cliff Kucine/ Getty Images
PORTLAND, Maine — On Monday, thousands packed into Deering Oaks Park to witness Lady Gaga's rather spur-of-the-moment speech in support of the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." Many of them were students at the nearby University of Southern Maine, active in the school's Center for Sexualities and Gender Diversity, and they were understandably amazed that one of the biggest pop stars on the planet had come to their town to speak on their behalf.
But, as MTV News learned in speaking with some of them, the event had a much deeper meaning too. As it turns out, many of them also had a personal stake in the ongoing debate over "don't ask" — which failed to get enough Senate votes on Tuesday (September 21) to spur a formal debate — and to have Gaga in their corner meant more than they could express.
"Her speech really resonated with me because, actually, this summer, I thought about joining the military, but because I'm gay, I can't," USM student Kelly Golek said. "If it's repealed, there's a very good chance I will [enlist]. So I thought this whole event was amazing, because you really don't see something like this. Like, what other pop star would come out and do this? She's very brave, and I was totally moved by that speech."
"It really resonated with me, because I've actually been considering the military, because I took my ASVAB [military aptitude exam], and I got an incredibly high score, so I could basically do anything I wanted to in the Navy," Ellen McDonald said. "But because I'm a lesbian, I'm not able to do that at the moment. So, [her speech] really touched me, because those are my hopes and dreams."
And even those who weren't prohibited from serving openly still felt a personal connection to Gaga's speech, because, the way they see it, she's lending her voice to the voiceless.
"She wasn't paid to come here and speak; she did it because she felt like she needed to. [She said] 'I'm coming to Maine ... be there,' " Chris Johnson said. "It makes you feel like you have a voice, because she takes the issue and says, 'I will be your voice, because I know you're not being heard right now.' She's the voice of this generation that's not old enough to vote, but we have different points of view from the generation that raised us."
"There are celebrities that do things to help humanity, but Lady Gaga really does things," USM student Marepheen Berry said. "She has a way of putting forth her messages. She shocks people, and that's what I like about her: She shocks people, and it really opens up their eyes and turns heads."
Of course, there were also those in the crowd who, while active in the fight to repeal "don't ask," were mainly there to see Lady Gaga. And, really, can you blame them?
"I think it's unbelievable. I was in shock when we first heard. I don't even know how to describe it," USM freshman Joseph Sibley laughed. "When we found out, I was like, 'There's no way, nobody ever comes to Maine, and nobody ever talks to us.' ... And I'm glad I came. It was awesome."
What do you think about Gaga's rally against "don't ask, don't tell"? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Related Videos Related Artists'Green Lantern' Star Ryan Reynolds Talks Sequel Possibilities
'The first one has got to land and people have got to see it and have to have that appetite for a sequel,' he tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Ryan Reynolds
Photo: Getty Images
Aside from the buzz about Ryan Reynolds' claustrophobia-inducing performance in the upcoming thriller "Buried" — for which Reynolds filmed all his scenes within the confines of a wooden coffin — the news about the actor has been almost entirely focused on his superheroic efforts in "Wolverine," a possible Deadpool spin-off and "Green Lantern."
When MTV News caught up with him recently, we couldn't help but ask about possible "Lantern" sequels, as well as which comic book authors he found most helpful in getting into the character of Hal Jordan.
"It's a pretty big universe; there's a lot to explore," Reynolds said of the "Green Lantern" sequel possibilities. "There's a lot to explore with Hal, then without him. You could do a couple movies with Hal and then move on to Guy Gardner or Kyle Rayner or any of those guys."
More "Lantern" without Hal Jordan — and Reynolds? Surely the busy actor isn't ready to give up his ring that quickly.
"Look, I'm saying in success, let's not put the cart before the horse," Reynolds said, emphasizing the fact that the first movie has to come out and be a hit before he can start talking about sequels. "In success, you do another movie, you do two, great. I think [the idea of two sequels] is fantastic, but the first one has got to land and people have got to see it and have to have that appetite for a sequel."
Fair enough. Regarding his go-to source for "Lantern" research, Reynolds cited famed DC writer/ current Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns.
"Geoff Johns is it," Reynolds said. "His 'Secret Origins' book was the one I kind of used as the bible for this. It's an easy thing to reference, because it's an origin story as well. That was the one I sort of stuck to."
Check out everything we've got on "Green Lantern."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
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Justin Bieber Snapped Kissing 'Baby' Video Co-Star
Photos of Bieber locking lips with tourmate Jasmine Villegas in backseat of a car pop up online.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber may have recently insisted he's too busy for girls, but he seems to have found time in his schedule for one lucky girl. The pop star was reportedly snapped kissing his "Baby" video co-star and current My World Tour opening act, Jasmine Villegas.
While the pair have been romantically linked for some time now, both have denied a romance. Photos of the pair caught in a lip lock were posted on TMZ on Tuesday (September 21), and it may be the evidence Bieber's fans needed to confirm the two are more than just friends. According to TMZ, the photo was snapped on September 9 in Venice, California, around the same time Bieber landed in Los Angeles for his VMA appearance.
Although the photos of the pair in the backseat of a Honda were taken weeks ago, they only recently surfaced online. According to TMZ, they were taken by a Canadian tourist who spotted the singers. A rep for Bieber could not be reached for comment.
Villegas, 16, is currently on the road with Bieber, but fans may also recognize her from her guest turn as his love interest in the bowling-themed video for "Baby." Recently signed to Sony, Villegas was once a member of the girl group School Gyrls. She also has cameos in Bieber and Sean Kingston's "Eenie Meenie" video and Kanye West's for "Jesus Walks." The teen singer also has two solo videos of her own: one for "I Own This" and the other for "Serious."
When asked about his relationship status this month, Bieber told MTV News, "I mean, girlfriends are trouble at this age. Girls are fun to hang out with but, like, having that one steady girl ... we're constantly traveling and one girl's not gonna really [work]. You can't really have one girl. I don't really have any crushes at the moment. ... Right now, the best thing is [that we're] just teenagers having fun doing what we love. We're just staying ourselves and remaining humble."
Do you think and Justin and Jasmine would make a good couple? Let us know in the comments!
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Did Lady Gaga Have Any Impact On 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Vote?
In spite of DADT vote stalling in Senate, supporters of repeal say Gaga's tireless advocacy has garnered issue global recognition.
By Gil Kaufman
Lady Gaga speaks in in Portland, Maine on Monday
Photo: Cliff Kucine/ Getty Images
There are many different ways for celebrities to leverage their notoriety to help a cause. They can play a concert, write a check, make a PSA or, as in the case of actor Sean Penn, live in a meager tent in an earthquake-ravaged country for six months and run their own relief organization. But few stars have given as much in as short a time as Lady Gaga has to the cause of repealing the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
"The reality is that on Saturday night we were looking at what we could do on Monday, knowing that even if we sent out an alert to our base of 80,000 supporters, we'd be talking to the same people," said Trevor Thomas, spokesperson for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a national organization dedicated to ending DADT. "We wanted to expand our reach and reach more people nationally and, more than anything, the two swing senators [in Maine] who could give us a chance."
The SLDN quickly hatched a plan to organize a rally in Maine on Monday in an attempt to get swing-vote Republican Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins to possibly change their votes on the repeal. That's where Lady Gaga came in. The pop icon had walked the white carpet at the VMAs with four SLDN members, shouted them out from the stage, turned her website over to the issue and posted public video pleas about the issue. When word came of this last-minute appeal, once again, she stepped up.
According to Thomas, the singer finished a show in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Sunday night, hopped on a bus and took a 15-hour ride to Maine, personally writing her address on the way.
"The dedication from her was amazing," he said. "She wrote the speech, did the research and talked to people, and it did exactly what we need to do — highlight the issue to young people and others who might not have heard about this cause. But most importantly, we did it in this key area we needed it in."
The Gaga speech garnered massive local and national coverage for the issue, with stories in the Denver Post, USA Today and The New York Times, among others. "You can work for months to place one story in the Times' print section, and even if politics prevail and we lose the vote, more people know about the DADT repeal than did yesterday," Thomas said.
And while Gaga's mighty push to lock in the necessary votes didn't save the day when the crucial Senate vote took place on Tuesday (September 21), Thomas said her help undoubtedly had a huge impact and put a global spotlight on the policy.
From the night Gaga first spoke out on the repeal at the 2010 VMAs and redirected traffic from her official website to the SLDN site until 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, Thomas said, 314,446 people clicked to the "take action" tab, which sent them to a site listing the phone numbers where U.S. senators could be reached about the vote. While it's unknown how many of those clicks turned into actual phone calls, Thomas said he was "100 percent sure" that the site would not have gotten nearly that many visits without Gaga's efforts.
The total number of visitors was nearly four times the amount of supporters SLDN had gathered pre-Gaga, but Thomas pointed out an even more impressive number. During that same two-week period, the pages on the SLDN website with background information on DADT got 520,298 page views. In contrast, during the first two weeks of the month, the site had 13,000 visitors and 30,000 page views.
"There are many people who are high-profile who speak out in a positive manner on LGBT issues," Thomas said. "But the difference here is she asked, 'What can I do?' at a time when it was critically important for the passage of our bill. Not only did she say that, but she asked how and when to do it. When you look at the past couple of weeks, you see not just strategic tweets but the video address that hit days before the critical vote and which was driving many calls to the Senate switchboard. I don't know of many entertainers who at the critical moment for a bill would stop their website and direct it to a 'take action' page for a relatively small group trying to push an issue crucially important to servicemembers and those who support them."
Before Tuesday's vote, Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid — the Nevada senator exchanged DADT-related tweets last week with Gaga — said the Democratic boss welcomed Mother Monster's advocacy. "We appreciate the support of Lady Gaga and her supporters," Manley said. "Sometimes that can have an impact, especially when you are as apparently committed as she is to the cause."
Even with all of Gaga's work, CNN reported that both Collins and Snowe said Gaga's appearance at Monday's rally in Maine had no effect on their crucial votes; the final 56-43 tally helped ensure that the Senate would not open a DADT repeal discussion during its current session. Collins, in fact, supported the repeal, but told the network she felt she had to stay in line with her colleagues and vote against debate for procedural reasons.
What do you think about Gaga's efforts in the fight to repeal "don't ask, don't tell"? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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Beyoncé - Video Phone (Extended Remix)
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Hype Williams
- Album: I Am... Sasha Fierce
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Ke$ha Breaks Through To The Big Time: A VMA Cheat Sheet!
'Tik Tok' singer/nominee racked up massive digital downloads, opened for Rihanna and survived 'SNL' on road to Video Music Awards.
By James Montgomery
Ke$ha
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images
Ke$ha is, without question, one of the biggest breakout stars of 2010. A slurring, whirling, hard-partying pop oddity (who may also be a genius) with a #1 album and a boatload of hit singles to her name, not to mention more than a few enemies. She even has under her star-spangled belt, her very own, very public WTF debacle in the form of a rather, uh, divisive "Saturday Night Live" performance.
Ever since Ke$ha came stumbling into our lives last year with "Tik Tok" (we named it one of the Best Songs of 2009, by the way), she's been nothing if not consistently entertaining, if slightly confounding. She's always coming back with another massive single or eye-popping video, always saying — or wearing — something outrageous. In the process, she's made a rather indelible impact on popular culture and, earlier this month, MTV showed its recognition of that fact, rewarding her with multiple Video Music Award nominations, including nods for Best Female Video and Best New Artist.
But how did she go from unknown pop curio to one of the fastest-rising starlets on the planet? Here's a look back:
In January 2010, "Tik Tok" rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, setting a record for digital downloads in the process. That same month, she was named one of three female Artists to Watch , as part of MTV News' Pop Week 2010. Buoyed by the success of "Tik Tok," Ke$ha's debut album, Animal, opened at #1 on the Billboard albums chart, selling more than 152,000 copies and ending "Britain's Got Talent" phenom Susan Boyle's six-week run at #1. Ke$h would pay homage to Boyle soon after, declaring to MTV News that the cat-loving singer "knows how to party."
She followed up "Tik Tok" with "Blah Blah Blah," another party-ready anthem featuring her pals in 3OH!3. The song cracked the Top 10 and has sold more than 2 million digital downloads to date.
Ke$ha then took to Twitter, where she flirted with John Mayer and then drew the ire of both Britney Spears and Justin Bieber fans, after she (sorta) swiped at Britney in a demo of an old tune ("Styrofoam") and called Biebus "a tiny little baby." In both instances, she apologized ... though, not before Perez Hilton weighed in, calling her a "trash-talking train wreck."
In April, she was announced as the opening act on Rihanna's Last Girl On Earth Tour, and then got to work on another video, this one for "Your Love Is My Drug." That month, clad in a bizarre bodysuit (and later, nothing but glow-in-the-dark bodypaint), she performed a pair of songs on "SNL," a debacle which was described by some as "the worst ['SNL' performance] ever." Never one to back away from a good brawl, Ke$ha responded thusly: "F--- the cynics."
In May came the premiere of the "Drug" video — a bonanza of beards, boulders, Beatles and bodypaint — and the pop singer quickly followed that up with a cameo on 3OH!3's "My First Kiss" and yet another Animal video, this one for "Take It Off."
Later that summer, she hit the road with Rihanna, and described the dynamic duo's backstage relationship thusly: "We braid each other's hair ... naked." She then began discussing plans for a follow-up to Animal, saying she could foresee getting into country music but would definitely stay away from jazz. She also began laying the groundwork for her very own headlining tour. Oh, and of course, she revealed she's planning a fashion line, too, featuring capes and haberdashery made out of "roadkill ... and recycled feathers."
Seems strangely fitting, if you ask us.
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12 at 9 p.m. ET. Go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for the Best New Artist video through September 12.
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