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Spotted: Heidi Montag Rehearses For Miss Universe

Posted 8/20/09 1:08 pm EST by in Music, Television


MTV star Heidi Montag rehearsed for her big appearance at the Miss Universe pageant, which airs live this Sunday (August 23) from the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas. She worked through moves for her hotly-anticipated dance number that will accompany her performance of her new single "Body Language," which was just released on iTunes. The Miss Universe pageant will also feature performances from Kelly Rowland and Flo Rida.

"Body Language" borrows a sample from Yaz's "Situation" and features the chorus "Read my body language/ I do what you like/ So prove that you're right/ Control me." It comes from her upcoming self-titled album, which is due out at the end of September. Montag is also currently on the cover of Playboy.

Also spotted around the world yesterday: John Mayer exits a sushi restaurant in Los Angeles, the All-American Rejects rock a gig in Sydney and the cast of "Glee" visit a mall in Philadelphia. Click here for these photos plus "Spotted!" shots of Beyoncé, Madonna, the Jonas Brothers, Paris Hilton, Russell Brand and Bono!

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The J To The Z Of Jay-Z: Jigga Who?

Posted 8/20/09 12:23 pm EST by in Music


Since he first dropped his debut album in 1996, Jay-Z became an instant classic on the hip-hop scene. Now that he is about to drop his 11th album The Blueprint 3, MTV takes a look back at the history of one of the greatest artists in rap history.

It's strange to think about just how long Jay-Z has been in the rap game. Jigga has spent his entire career reinventing the way people approach hip-hop and living on the cutting edge, so it always seems like he's eternally young. But before he became Hova and Iceberg Slim, Jay-Z was just another rapper from Brooklyn who provided support for another MC named Jaz-O. Jigga first appeared on MTV on an episode of "Yo! MTV Raps" in 1989. Though he was not yet out of his teens, Jigga already had a confident voice that shone through on his debut Reasonable Doubt. He got by as a rapper's rapper for a few years, becoming the favorite MC among people already in the game.

But everything changed in 1998 when he dropped Vol. 2 ... Hard Knock Life and scored with the smash hits "Can I Get A..." and "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)." From there it was hit after hit until he decided to hang it up in 2003 following the release of The Black Album. Following a stint as the president of Def Jam Records (where he nursed the early careers of Ne-Yo and Rihanna), Jay returned with Kingdom Come, squashed his beef with Nas and returned to his place as the definitive MC of a generation.

So that's where Jay-Z has come from, and The Blueprint 3 is what's next. Be sure to check out Newsroom every day up until that album's release on September 11 for the latest entry in "The J to the Z of Jay-Z."

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EXCLUSIVE: Jasper James' 'Rocket' Video Premiere

Posted 8/20/09 11:30 am EST by in Music


It's difficult to put Jasper James into a category. Is she a rapper or a DJ? Is she a dance music provocateur or a whacked-out performance artist? Is she transcendent or merely a genius? One thing is clear: In the ever-weirdening world of dance-infused electro-hop, it takes somebody forward-thinking to stay ahead of the curve, and James is from the future. Her debut album Vibrator dropped in January and has slowly been building a buzz, mainly because James has a reputation for being an electrifying performer who has her feet both in the dance world and the rock universe.

James' cousin is a member of the Isley Brothers and her father provided security for artists like Sammy Davis, Jr. and Tom Jones, so she has grown up surrounded by music. It makes her eclectic brew make sense: There's plenty of hip-hop and glam disco in there, but she also has a little bit of Vegas showmanship and R&B romanticism amidst her pulsating rhythms. She's ready to take the next step in the video for her single "Rocket," which was directed by Darcy Totten and Ned Stressen-Rueter and gets its world premiere today here in the Newsroom. Shot in various clubs and studios across New York City, the clip captures the spastic energy of James' music and, according to James, cost all of $10 (which was used to "tip the bartender"). Enjoy the barrage of dance moves, '80s references and fantastic fashion choices provided by "two fabulous drag queens."

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Miley Cyrus Celebrates 'Party In The U.S.A.' Chart Debut, Newborn Kittens

Posted 8/20/09 10:46 am EST by in Music


Miley Cyrus has a lot to celebrate this week: Her new single "Party in the U.S.A." made a stellar debut at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the controversy over her pole dance at last week's Teen Choice Awards appears to have blown over. But perhaps her greatest joy this week comes from her enthusiasm for the animal kingdom, as her cat gave birth to kittens. Cyrus celebrated via Twitter late last night. "Look what GOD brought me," she tweeted. "My cat Nala had kitties!!!" She even posted an adorable photo of her with one of her newborn pals.

Cyrus even looked to her Internet followers for suggestions. "What should I name em?" she asked the Twitter nation. So far, she hasn't provided any insight into names she may have settled on, though mother cat Nala is likely named after Simba's love interest in "The Lion King."

The 16-year-old star has been tweeting from the studio and preparing for a North American tour that launches on September 14 (conveniently, the day after the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, where her video for "7 Things" is nominated for Best Editing) in Portland, Oregon. Her new EP The Time of Our Lives is set to be released on August 31. The EP will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart as a tie-in to her new clothing line.

But more importantly: What should Cyrus name her kittens? It's not certain how many she is working with, but perhaps Joe, Kevin and Nick would be appropriate? What about Achy and Breaky? If you've got better ideas, drop them in the comments below.

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Happy Birthday, Fred Durst: Wake-Up Video

Posted 8/20/09 9:00 am EST by in Music, Wake-Up Video


Today we celebrate the birth of one of the more controversial performers of the last two decades. Fred Durst, the red-hatted frontman of Limp Bizkit, turns 39 years old today. Back in 1997, Durst's band stormed onto the rock scene with a bristling mix of metal, hardcore, hip-hop and Red Hot Chili Peppers-esque sex funk. The group first gained attention with their extra-loud cover of George Michael's "Faith," but they made the crossover into superstardom with 1999's Significant Other (which featured the hits "Nookie" and "Break Stuff"). Durst became a staple on "TRL" and — along with his friends in Korn — built a tiny nation of disaffected suburban youth.

His career has not been without controversy. In addition to being accused of inciting riots at Woodstock '99, Durst has had public altercations with stars like Creed's Scott Stapp and Stone Temple Pilots' Scott Weiland, while he's claimed in public to have had sexual relationships with Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. (There was also an unfortunate sex tape incident.)

The turn of the millennium wasn't kind to Limp Bizkit. Despite the success of Chocolate Starfish and the Hotdog Flavored Water, the band produced a pair of albums that landed with a thud and had to deal with the departure of guitarist and muse Wes Borland. But Durst made hay getting involved in film. A longtime director of Limp Bizkit videos (as well as clips for Korn, Cold and Staind), Durst has directed two feature films: The surprisingly sensitive "The Education of Charlie Banks" and the underrated football film "The Longshots." He's currently touring with the reunited Limp Bizkit (once again featuring Borland on guitar) and plans on releasing a new album once the run wraps up. Here's hoping he gets back to the business of making videos, for as "N 2 Gether Now" proves, he has a knack for it.

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Dave Navarro (Temporarily) Joins Smashing Pumpkins

Posted 8/19/09 6:10 pm EST by in Music


By Cara Alwill

Billy Corgan announced on the Smashing Pumpkins' official Web site yesterday that he has officially hired a new drummer, and today he reveals more news regarding the band's immediate future. It looks like Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro will be heading out on tour with the Pumpkins at the end of this month, along with Mark Weitz of '60s psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock. The dates are a part of Corgan's Sky Saxon tribute band, which he is calling the "Spirit in the Sky" tour.

In an official statement Corgan released on the band's site, he shares the details. "Some exciting news to add as well, as Dave Navarro and Mark Weitz have joined the tour. Dave sadly can't play San Diego with us, so hopefully we can find an Ace up our sleeve somewhere to fill in. It's gonna be crowded onstage, that's for sure with Mike and Kerry on drums, Mark on bass, Dave and I on guitar, and Mark #2 on keys. Whoa..." Corgan wrote.

Navarro began expressing his enthusiasm for the Pumpkins' song "Superchrist" via Twitter, tweeting that it is "awesome on so many levels." That message clearly stuck with Corgan, who has invited Navarro out on the road for a set of intimate club dates, taking place at the end of August in Southern California.

Could this meeting of two alt-rock icons usher in a full-on early '90s nostalgia trip? We'll have to wait and see. One thing is for sure: Corgan seems to have a lot of tricks up his sleeve. It will be interesting to see what's next for this musical three-ring circus — and whether or not those two famously cantankerous performers can actually share the same stage.

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'Saved By The Bell' Reunion Update: Mr. Belding Sings 'Brown Eyed Girl'

Posted 8/19/09 5:53 pm EST by in Music, Television


Clearly, the universe keeps wanting the former members of the "Saved by the Bell" cast to come back into our lives. First there was Jimmy Fallon and Mark-Paul Gosselaar's fantastically elaborate sketch that resurrected the Zack Morris character. That was followed by the cover of People magazine that brought together several members of the cast to swap stories about the good old days (a reunion that happened despite the fact that Tiffani Thiesson is really busy).

Of course, the People cover was missing two key elements: Dustin "Screech" Diamond and Dennis "Mr. Belding" Haskins. Diamond was probably off filming another sex tape or trying to salvage his tell-all book, but what was Haskins up to? It turns out he was probably singing karaoke. Haskins is a fixture in the Los Angeles karaoke scene, and on September 1 he'll release Karaoke With Your Favorite Principal, Dennis Haskins, a.k.a. Mr. Belding. The seven track album features Haskins singing along to some of his favorite tunes, like Billy Joel's "Piano Man," Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" and Alice Cooper's "School's Out." Based on live footage of one of his performances, Haskins plays rather fast and loose with the tunes and drops in his own interludes between lines of the songs. Haskins seems to have missed an opportunity here, though. If he's going to identify himself as "Mr. Belding," why not do an entire album of songs from "Saved by the Bell"? He could run through the classic theme song, the workout tune performed by Hot Sundae and that song about friendship that was originally played by Zack Attack. With the soundtrack album to the show long out of print, Haskins could have resurrected those classic moments in a time when the world is craving more "Saved by the Bell" input. Then again, "Friends in Low Places" rarely gets old.

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Katy Perry Is Certain Lady Gaga Is Not A Hermaphrodite: The MTV Quote Of The Day

Posted 8/19/09 5:27 pm EST by in Music


"It's all very calculated. She knows what she's doing. She put something in her knickers, a mini strap-on. Bless her if she does have a di--, but I am certain she doesn't."

-2009 MTV Video Music Awards nominee Katy Perry, speaking about the widespread Internet rumor that fellow VMA nominee Lady Gaga was packing a gun as well as a holster. Gaga has been playing fast and loose with her sexuality lately, giving a very candid interview to Out magazine about how she is "inclined toward a more gay lifestyle." Perry is no stranger to teasing about her sexuality as well — after all, her breakout his was called "I Kissed a Girl." She just wrapped up a series of shows in Australia and is headed to Europe for some shows, while Gaga is wrapping up a run through Israel. Both neo-divas will be at Radio City Music Hall for the Video Music Awards on September 13.

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Reality Show Seeks Michael Jackson Dance Impersonators

Posted 8/19/09 5:05 pm EST by in Music, Television


When you really think about it, there aren't that many reality show ideas left. Just look at the recent glut of hybrid shows that combine two or more already-in-existence programs, like "Dance Your A** Off" ("So You Think You Can Dance" meets "The Biggest Loser") and "More to Love" ("The Bachelor" plus "Celebrity Fit Club"). But every once in a while, an idea comes along that makes perfect sense. Though it's really just a variation on "So You Think You Can Dance," the upcoming BBC show "Move Like Michael Jackson" (or "Move Like Jacko," depending on which direction they go in) is an excellent idea. It will seek to find the greatest dancers who can recreate classic Jackson dance routines. There is no singing involved — all the contestants need is a grasp of the Moonwalk (and probably a pair of slightly-too-short black pants). In fact, according to a British tabloid, the show is even trying to recruit La Toya or Jermaine Jackson — both of whom gained notoriety in the U.K. as contestants on "Celebrity Big Brother" — to be judges on the show.

The show is still pending approval, but is likely to be produced on British television this fall (and knowing the way TV works, will probably be imported or adapted in this country soon after that). It begs the question: What is the hardest of the Michael Jackson dance moves — the one that will separate the professional pop-and-lockers from the amateur booty shakers? Is it the Moonwalk or that strange anti-gravity lean he had in his arsenal? Leave your theories in the comments or submit your audition tape at Your.MTV.com.

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Mariah Carey Covered The Wrong Foreigner Song

Posted 8/19/09 3:08 pm EST by in Music


The next single from Mariah Carey's upcoming album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel has been announced, and it's epic. Carey will unleash her cover of Foreigner's classic 1984 ballad "I Want to Know What Love Is," one of the most iconic song of the '80s. Many will write off "I Want to Know What Love Is" as one of the schlockiest songs every written, but it's secretly brilliant. In fact, Carey should really take it a step further and record an entire album of late '70s/ early '80s ballads. She has already covered Journey's "Open Arms" (on her 1995 album Daydream), so she might as well do her own version of "Don't Stop Believing" (or "Any Way You Want It" if she's feeling cheeky). Styx's "Come Sail Away"? Why not? REO Speedwagon's "Keep On Loving You"? Yes please. "Hold On Loosely" by .38 Special? Absolutely! Since Carey's voice is so high and versatile to begin with, she can wrap herself around the vocal stylings of Steve Perry and Dennis DeYoung without much fuss. And just for argument's sake, she might as well add a Rush song in there too (if only because she's got the same range as Geddy Lee, though can you imagine Carey singing the Ayn Rand-inspired lyrics of "Freewill"?).

Those are all excellent ideas, and though "I Want to Know What Love Is" was an excellent choice, she really should have covered "Hot Blooded" instead. Even better, she should have covered their acoustic version, a bongo-riffic performance if there ever was one. So come on, Mariah — give us a fever of a hundred and three!

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