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Superstar Mariah Carey Talks Anonymity, 'Obsessed'

Posted 7/24/09 12:00 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes, Music


There aren't too many artists in music who can be called legends, but Mariah Carey is definitely one of them.

I haven't had many opportunities in my career to interview her, but when the opportunity arises to chop it up with an artist who has sold over 175 million records worldwide, then it's my pleasure.

With her new album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (look out for Mariah's story behind the album title on MTV News) almost complete, it's an interesting time to catch up with MC.

Uptown at BET's "106 & Park," Mariah was premiering her new video for her remix of "Obsessed," featuring Gucci Mane, one of the hottest MCs in the game. Not enough is said about Carey's ear for hip-hop. Don't forget that she was the artist who collaborated with rappers like Jay-Z, ODB, Nas and the Lox early on in their careers. Gucci Mane is another great choice.

It's not difficult to know when Mariah is in the building. Read More...

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Katy Perry Rolls The Dice On 'Today'

Posted 7/24/09 11:11 am EST by in Music, Television


By Haley Murphy

Outside of the NBC studios, we couldn't tell if we were in Vegas or New York City as Katy Perry rocked the stage at the "Today" show's concert series this morning. No stranger to wild fashion choices, Perry showed up to Rockefeller Center in full Vegas gear. She wore a bright red sequin dress with huge dice accessories while her band wore dollar bill suits in reference to her hit song "Waking Up in Vegas." The stage was lined with all sorts of blow up fruit and sequins to match Katy's colorful style. When asked about her eccentric outfit, Katie said "Every day for me is Halloween. I am a sucker for themes."

After asking the crowd if they wanted to join her for a nap after the show (earlier in the morning, she wrote "Wow this is so exciting being up at five am. I really am so cute and personable and I think this is when my vocals are the BEST! ... not" on her Twitter page), Katy proved how awake she was with a (literally) jumpy performance of "Hot and Cold." She followed with "Waking Up in Vegas" and surprised the crowd when gold streamers launched from the stage as she sang "Shake the glitter off your clothes now."

Despite Katy's glamorous style, she was insistent on doing her own make up in between takes, and she made sure fans could take pictures with her before finishing the concert with "Thinking of You." When the guitar wouldn't fit over the dice on her dress, she said, "Now I feel really stupid. This is a stupid outfit. You can have it afterward."

(Click here for more photos of Katy Perry's performance on "Today"!)

After performing, Katy poked fun at "Today" host Matt Lauer as she put bunny ears behind him while he was on camera, only to have him return the favor. I'm not sure if she ever got that nap in, but considering how busy she is with a new album, an ongoing tour and multiple magazine cover shoots, it's doubtful. But based on her punchy early morning performance, she certainly earned it.

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'So You Think You Can Dance' Results: Requiem For Janette

Posted 7/24/09 10:39 am EST by in Music, Television


Okay, so Katie Holmes' big "So You Think You Can Dance" Judy Garland tribute was a big fat mess. Yes, she was lip-synching. And yes, her dancing was just a couple steps up from sitting. You could practically hear the Internet snickering around 8:47 p.m. last night as the routine premiered, but let's remember an important thing: It was for charity!

Katie never pretended to be a singer/dancer (although in a short interview before the performance, she did say she likes to do both) so why were we expecting the next Cyd Charisse? Mrs. Tom Cruise wanted to bring awareness to the Dizzy Feet Foundation, a non-profit Katie created with a bunch of "So You Think You Can Dance" regulars, and you know what? It worked. Ratings aren't in yet, but I won't be surprised if the "SYTYCD 100th Show Celebration" ends up one of the highest rated episodes.

If anything, I fault the producers for including Katie's routine on such a big night for the show. They brought back three Emmy-winning routines from past seasons, and this season's top 10 is arguably its most talented, so surrounded by all these stellar performances, Katie Holmes' "Soft-Shoe 101" stuck out more than Tom Cruise in Harlem. If they had premiered the performance on a regular results show, it might not have seemed as noticeably ... off.

I'm always trying to convert non-believers to the church of "SYTYCD" for its never-ending display of talent. The dancers are in top shape, the choreographers create unforgettable routines on a week to week basis (this season alone has delivered at least 10 [] jaw-dropping dances I won't forget). So to have so many people tune in for a lackluster vanity performance bums me out. I'd rather people focus on the three stellar routines from "SYTYCD" past (or the moving breast cancer dance which premiered Wednesday) and just file this Katie Holmes space oddity in the same part of the brain that remembers K-Fed's Teen Choice Awards debut, Rob Lowe's "Snow White" Oscar duet and Bindi Irwin rap song on "Today."

Besides, the real tragedy last night had nothing to do with a celebrity trying to dance. Janette and Jason got booted last night! Now that's an outrage.

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Jay-Z's 'Run This Town' Debuts

Posted 7/24/09 9:25 am EST by in Music


For some reason, the "retirements" of public figures rarely stick. Professional wrestlers rarely stay away from the ring. Athletes like Brett Favre and Roger Clemens just keep coming back. Rappers are never not signing off. Usually, it's just a terrible PR ploy and often backfires. But one retirement the world is glad didn't stick is Jay-Z's. The Black Album was supposed to be Jigga's sign-off, but he has since returned to keep knocking everybody else out of the park. With two albums under his belt, Hova is now ready to revisit The Blueprint, one of the hip-hop icon's signature releases. The Blueprint 3 hits in September and MTV has spent most of the summer bobbing its collective head to "D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)," but the first official single from the album hits this morning, and it's a doozy: It's called "Run This Town" and features heavy-hitting guest stars Rihanna (who returns the favor for Jigga's guest spot on "Umbrella") and Kanye West (who produced a majority of The Blueprint 3, as well as the original Blueprint).

The original rumor was that Jay's first single was going to be a collaboration with Drake, but that idea was scrapped in favor of "Run This Town." It joins other lead singles like "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," "Change Clothes" and "Who You Wit" in Jay-Z's personal hall of fame. The beat is fueled by a wicked guitar riff, military drums and a subtle piano groove. "This is Roc nation/ Pledge your allegiance," Jigga raps in his opening verse. Rihanna's spot on the hook is killer as well, and the way she moans "Who gon' run this town tonight?" perfectly balances desperation and swagger. As for Kanye, it's good to hear him rapping again after months of crooning, and he nails a handful of great couplets, including "We give a damn about the drama that you do bring/ I'm just trying to change the color on your mood ring." Jigga's back and throwing down the gauntlet, which means 50 Cent and Weezy have their work cut out for them.

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Apollo 11 Returns To Earth: Wake-Up Video

Posted 7/24/09 9:00 am EST by in Music, Wake-Up Video


Today marks the 40 year anniversary of one of the more remarkable aspects of the Apollo 11 moon landing: The return to Earth. The trick to space travel isn't really the exit from the atmosphere (have you seen the size of those rocket boosters?) but rather coming back to the planet without burning up or crash landing. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were nearly marooned on the moon after collecting several dozen pounds of rocks, as Aldrin accidentally broke a circuit breaker that powered the engine that would give their craft a jump off the satellite's surface into orbit. (As the story goes, Aldrin used a pen to repair the switch — just like MacGuyver!) Once they were able to get back into orbit, they rendezvoused with pilot Michael Collins (who remained in orbit) and headed back home. On the return trip, the trio briefly lost communication with NASA but ultimately the trip home was uneventful, ending with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

The astronauts left behind a commemorative plaque, an American flag, a golden olive branch (symbolizing peace) and a disc containing messages from four American presidents and 73 other world leaders. It was an important moment: Though the United States was mired in the mess that was the war in Vietnam, the world was brought together — however briefly — by the wonder of human exploration and the miracle of science.

So just as we did on Monday, the MTV Newsroom tips its cyber-hat once again in the direction of Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins and the entire support team that made the moon landing possible. It remains one of the most remarkable feats in human history, and their return home was no less impressive than the actual walk on the surface of the moon. Ozzy Osbourne probably didn't have NASA in mind when he wrote "Back on Earth," but it's as appropriate a sentiment as any.

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Blink-182's Reunion Tour Kickoff: A Tweet-By-Tweet Recap, Plus The Full Setlist

Posted 7/24/09 7:33 am EST by in Concerts, Music


Thursday night in Las Vegas, Blink-182 finally emerged from a half-decade slumber, kicking off their reunion tour with a sold-out gig at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. It was a pretty amazing show (lots of boner jokes!), and you can read my review of it here.

But that review comes after hours of marinating, contextualizing and compartmentalizing — lots of rock-journo stuff. If you want my stream-of-consciousness take on the gig, you had to be following me on MTV News' Twitter account last night.

Luckily for you, I've decided to recap that recap, too. What follows is my unfiltered take on the show, from my first Tweet to my last. If you're a fan of 140-characters or less (and of setlists), well, this is for you.

» FYI ... doors at the #blink182 reunion tour are now OFFICIALLY OPEN. kids are going NUTS here at the Hard Rock.

» just got word #blink182 are taking the stage 'round 10pm pst (that's late on the east coast).

» okay ... Motion City Soundtrack is finishing up ... #blink182 is next!

» btw, crowd is like 55% kids, 35% wasted dudes, 10% confused neil diamond fans (vegas joke!)
Read More...

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Follow Tonight's Blink-182 Show On Twitter!

Posted 7/23/09 6:15 pm EST by in Music


MTV News' James Montgomery has been on the ground in Las Vegas all day, tracking the building anticipation for the big event tonight at the Joint at the Hard Rock Casino: The first official show of Blink-182's huge comeback tour. It's been four years since Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker his the road together as Blink-182, and the show promises to be an energetic, emotional ride with plenty of surprises — including songs the band has been working on for their upcoming new album. MTV News will have exclusive reports and clips from the show when it wraps, but if you want to follow the action as it's unfolding, you can follow James' dispatches on Twitter. Just point your browser to the official MTV News Twitter feed to get notes on the show, thoughts about the set list, instant reactions from fans and behind-the-scenes insights on one of the biggest concert events of the summer.

Though it's been a few years, the trio stayed sharp as members of various bands, and their appearances on "The Tonight Show" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" suggest that they haven't lost a step. And they're not alone, as they've brought along a number of top-shelf opening acts. Tonight's show features Motion City Soundtrack and Valencia, but other dates will have sets by Fall Out Boy, Weezer, All-American Rejects and Panic! at the Disco.

So park yourself at @mtvnews for instant updates and stay tuned to MTV News for the rest of the reports and videos from the concert.

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Blink-182 Fans Meet Mark Hoppus In Las Vegas

Posted 7/23/09 5:27 pm EST by in Concerts, Music


David Ruthven and his girlfriend had been sitting in the same spot at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino since 10 a.m.: Just outside the Starbucks, strategically located next to the parking garage, adjacent to the side doors of the Joint, the club where Blink-182 will kick off their reunion tour.

Their goal was to try and meet someone — anyone — from Blink, no matter how long they had to sit there. And then, at about 1:30 this afternoon, their patience paid off: They met Mark Hoppus.

"I kind of just looked and he was walking right there," Ruthven, who lives in Colorado but came to Las Vegas to see his girlfriend and check out tonight's Blink show, laughed. "It was kind of crazy, he just showed up, and then he started taking pictures with people."

So Ruthven, ever resourceful, leapt out of his seat and fought his way to the front of the crowd, where Hoppus (flanked by a burly bodyguard) was shaking hands and taking pics. After a minute of waiting, Ruthven and Karli Tanner (who, Ruthven pointed out, was not his girlfriend) got to shake hands with Hoppus and even got a picture.

"He was nice, just in a hurry," Ruthven said. "Still, it's cool he stopped to take pictures."

"I was super-excited! I've always wanted to meet him," Tanner added.

Of course, Ruthven's girlfriend missed out on the action — she was dropping off a handmade Blink-182 sign she and a friend had made. ("It says 'Give Us Your Drumsticks,'" her friend explained. "It always works. We have like 20 sticks.") But at least she'll have the picture to stare at. And they'll all be going to Blink's show tonight, too, after some scoring tickets off Craigslist (they paid $75 per ducat). So, all in all, a pretty great day … and proof that patience really is a virtue.

Oh, and for the record, I am told Hoppus smells "fresh and clean."

Follow tonight's Blink-182 tour kickoff show on Twitter! Follow the show live in Las Vegas at @mtvnews.

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'So You Think You Can Dance' Tackles Breast Cancer

Posted 7/23/09 5:17 pm EST by in Music, Television


Raise your hand if you watched last night's "So You Think You Can Dance." Put down the tissues first. The show featured a breathtaking tribute to breast cancer, choreographed by Tyce Diorio, that left all the studio audience and all four judges (including guest judge Ellen DeGeneres) in tears.

"So You Think You Can Dance" usually offers one "serious issue" dance per season. Last year, choreographer Jean-Marc Généreux dedicated a Viennese waltz to his daughter, Francesca, who suffers from Rett Syndrome. In 2007, Mia Michaels created a contemporary routine about her recently-deceased father. Both of those numbers left me a little cold. I appreciated that the choreographers dug deep to express themselves, but in both cases, I found the routines to border on schmaltz-town.

You could imagine my trepidation when the pre-performance taped package rolled, and Tyce very solemnly announced that the dance was about breast cancer — specifically a friend of his who is currently dealing with it. And I must admit I rolled my eyes when Melissa was costumed in a nightgown and a pink head scarf. But as soon as the dancers movement began I was sucked in. By the end, I was a blubbering mess.

Tyce Diorio (who is also in charge of Katie Holmes' big dance number in tonight's results show) crafted a stunning routine that told the story of a woman struggling with breast cancer and a partner who was trying his best to support her. Melissa (the 29-year-old ballerina who I'm always worried is gonna break a hip) and Ade (one of my faves) nailed all the complicated choreography, including several insane leaps, jumps and falls. The amount of trust Melissa had for her partner was inspiring, and it added another layer of poignancy in the piece.

Sheesh, I'm rambling and rambling. If you haven't seen the dance, then by all means watch it.

And then let us know: When is the last time you wept while watching reality TV? And do you think this dance will change the results of the show? (We still think Janette's gonna take it all.)

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Wyclef Issues A Push-Up Challenge

Posted 7/23/09 5:04 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes, Music


By Josh Rosenstrauch

I seem to keep finding myself in these interesting situations with the artists I meet. A few weeks ago, Tony Yayo suggested that I become a UFC fighter, and now Wyclef Jean has challenged me to a push-up contest.

I sat in on an interview with Wyclef at his studio in Manhattan today. I was very excited to meet him being a big fan of his music ever since he dropped "Gone Till November" back in 1997. Wyclef recently released a track that I love called "Warriorz," which is supposed to be featured on his upcoming mixtape Toussaint St. Jean. I planned on telling him how much I loved the track and was hoping maybe he would spill a little information about the tape. Needless to say, my plan was not carried out very well.

Once Wyclef walked in the room, he shook my hand and introduced himself. Before I could say anything, he stared me down and said "Do you work out?" It became clear to me at this moment we would likely not be discussing music.

He asked me if I thought I could do more push-ups than he could. Now, this was a tough question. If this were any regular guy, I likely would have responded with a quick "Yes," but this is a man whose music I have been listening since I was 9 years old. Noticing my hesitation, he told me to throw out the number that I thought I could do. I told him I could likely do about 100 consecutive. This didn't seem to faze him.

He began telling me that growing up in Haiti, he was forced to learn how to fight at a young age. He claimed to be able to do 200 consecutive push-ups. I told him I was a little skeptical of that. Wyclef then proposed the challenge. "I'm performing at the Nokia Theater in September. You have two months to train. I'm bringing you on stage and well see who can do more push-ups then."

Bring your cameras — it's going to be a showdown.

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