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'The Ruins' Star Brianna Taylor Says Chris Daughtry Should Have Won 'American Idol'

Posted 10/21/09 6:30 pm EST by in Music, Television


Last week was a big one for musician and reality show veteran Brianna Taylor. Sure, she was eliminated from "The Ruins," the latest "Real World/Road Rules Challenge" on MTV. But there was a silver lining, as she released her debut full-length album Fireworks at the Fairground. It's a stirring collection of singer-songwriter tunes that borrow elements of rock and electronic music for a heady pop brew.

Adding to Taylor's big week, she also stopped by the MTV Newsroom to chat with reality show expert Jim Cantiello. She played a pair of acoustic songs and also discussed her experience on "The Real World: Hollywood" and "The Ruins," her musical inspirations and her brief time on the fifth season of "American Idol" (she made it to Hollywood but was sent home when the finalists were selected). Because Cantiello is our resident "Idol" expert, he got some dirt on a handful of the high-profile contestants.

"Katherine McPhee's got a great voice. Taylor Hicks ... we all know what happened to him," she told Cantiello. "He's an awesome performer, but I think there were others on the show that had that spark. Chris Daughtry, namely." She added that Elliott Yamin was a grossly undervalued contestant on that show. "I didn't really know about that guy, but you can't judge a book by it's cover. Look at Susan Boyle," she said. "But I heard his voice, and it's seriously touched by an angel." She looks back on her brief "Idol" run with fondness, but adds, "'American Idol' was different, and I would have loved to see Daughtry win." All's well that ends well for Taylor, however, as Fireworks at the Fairground is in stores now.

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Adam Lambert's 'Time For Miracles' Video: The Oh Snap! Poll

Posted 10/21/09 5:22 pm EST by in Music, Oh Snap Poll


In the wee hours of the morning, Adam Lambert unleashed the music video for "Time for Miracles," his debut single that is on the soundtrack to the forthcoming disaster film "2012." The clip borrows a lot of the destruction imagery from the film and places Lambert in the middle of the chaos. It's a big, bold, cinematic introduction for the "American Idol" runner-up and is an appropriate accompaniment to the classic-sounding power ballad.

MTV News' James Montgomery and Jim Cantiello already weighed in with their opinions (they are both fans of the clip and compare it to the video for Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" (which came from the 1998 summer blockbuster "Armageddon"), except better. But what we really want to know is what the public thinks, which is why we grabbed our parachutes, crashed through the 29th floor window of MTV News and landed in Times Square so we could talk to some fans about "Time for Miracles."

The hopelessly unscientific results are in, and it appears as though most of the public (or at least the people waiting in line to catch John Mayer and Kristin Davis on a new episode of "It's On with Alexa Chung") endorsed Lambert's video. 71 percent of the people polled gave "Time for Miracles" the thumbs up, with many commenting on the greatness of the effects and the overall feel of the presentation. Those opposed were mostly down on the song, as they thought it wasn't a good fit for Lambert (a concern Cantiello shares). But overall, the video is a winner.

What do you think: Is "Time for Miracles" an early candidate for a 2010 VMA, or should Lambert have left the fireballs at home? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or head over to Your.MTV.com to make your voice heard!

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Tokio Hotel Frontman Wants To Shimmer In The Sun: The MTV News Quote Of The Day

Posted 10/21/09 5:02 pm EST by in Music


"It would be the perfect role for me. That's kind of my dream thing to play a vampire. I always loved vampire movies, but I never had the right script. ... I had a lot of offers from different movies, but they weren't the right things. I think [a 'Twilight' film] would be the perfect movie. I don't know if I'm talented in those things, though. I never tried it. We were in one movie when we were 6 years old, and it was not really good. Robert Pattinson is definitely a better actor than me."

-Tokio Hotel frontman Bill Kaulitz, discussing his cinematic aspirations. The singer told MTV News that he has often thought about exploring his undead, blood-sucking side. "I was at a Halloween party when I was really young, and I was a vampire," he said. "And then I started to wear makeup and stuff. That was the whole beginning. That was the whole story." The band is currently supporting their new album Humanoid, which features the hit single and video "Automatic."

Check out "The Evolution of Tokio Hotel"!

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'Michael Jackson's This Is It' Preview: The King Of Pop Rehearses 'Human Nature'

Posted 10/21/09 4:10 pm EST by in Movies, Music


"Michael Jackson's This Is It" opens next week, and the anticipation continues to grow. Ticket sales keep surging and the principals involved are talking all about it. But what will be shown in the film, and how is it constructed? There are more clues emerging in a handful of clips that have surfaced.

One such clip shows various rehearsals of Jackson's 1983 hit "Human Nature." In it, Jackson is shown talking to director Kenny Ortega (who was overseeing the "This Is It" concerts and ended up putting the film together) about the various dance cues he would be dropping into the song. It's fascinating to watch Jackson work, as even though he was supposedly in great pain during those rehearsals, his dance moves are incredibly sharp and his voice is strong. The verses on "Human Nature" are meant to sound sweet and loose, but when he gets to those falsetto croons on the bridge, it becomes truly magical.

"Michael Jackson's This Is It" will probably take the same sort of approach, seamlessly melding together many different performances into one seamless whole. Also inspiring? The clip above lets Jackson do the talking and allows the footage to act as its own narrative.

It's incredible to watch Jackson do even the simplest moves. When he hits the line, "If this town is just an apple/ Then let me take a bite," he mimes ripping into a piece of fruit. It's an obvious move, sure, but it is still fascinating and sort of chilling. "Michael Jackson's This Is It" will clearly be a huge sales juggernaut, but it also appears as though it will be a fitting epitaph to a remarkable career.

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Mariah Carey Inspiration Foreigner Ring Opening Bell At Stock Exchange

Posted 10/21/09 3:30 pm EST by in Music


If for some reason the stock market takes a huge leap one way or another (it's currently up 33 points today), all credit can be handed over to the band who inspired Mariah Carey's current single. Foreigner took the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to kick off today's trading day. Guitarist Mick Jones and singer Kelly Hansen did the honors.

The band has been experiencing a bit of a renaissance recently, as their classic tune "I Want to Know What Love Is" is serving as the current single from Carey's latest hit album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. The track is currently climbing the Billboard Hot 100, which makes it the second time it has ascended up that chart (Foreigner hit the top of said chart in 1984 with their original version). The band was on the floor of the NYSE as part of a promotion for their new album Can't Slow Down, which features one disc of new tracks and a second of remixed classics.

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AFI Complete Their Glam Transformation, Cover David Bowie's 'Ziggy Stardust'

Posted 10/21/09 2:24 pm EST by in Music


Two weeks ago, AFI stopped by the MTV Newsroom to talk about their new album Crash Love, their tour and awesome fan club. We didn't get very deep into their new look, but anybody familiar with the band need only look at frontman Davey Havok to realize that they've shed some of the gloomy goth of previous efforts in favor of a more glam look. (In the their new single "Medicate," Havok looks a little like Scott Weiland.) Crash Love certainly reflects that new direction, as the new songs have a certain pop sheen and a more theatrical quality to them than the arena hardcore of records like Decemberunderground.

But they've gone one better on their current tour. The group hit up their own official blog a few days ago to share a free download of a song they recorded during soundcheck: A cover of David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust." Bowie's classic 1972 tells the story of the main character from his concept album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and features one of the most recognizable riffs in rock. The AFI version plays it pretty straight: The amps are turned up loud for the big hook, and Havok is clearly having fun wrapping his elastic voice around Bowie's twisty phrases and vocal lines. (The lyrics weren't entirely perfect, though: He admits at the end of the track that he sang "the fries tried to break our bones." The actual word is "fly.")

Sadly, the group had to cancel their concert tonight in Scranton, Pennsylvania, citing illness. (Hopefully they'll still be able to attend Friday night's Ulalume Festival, which MTV News will be attending.) Though "Zigggy Stardust" hasn't popped up in any AFI live shows on this tour, the Bowie cover would be a great addition to their songbook. The track is currently available for as a free download — just another way the band looks out for the Despair Faction.

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Turn Your Pumpkin Into Robert Pattinson, Win A Prize!

Posted 10/21/09 1:39 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes


We're only a month out from the release of the vampire-heavy movie "New Moon" and a mere ten days from Halloween, and we've been trying to figure out the best way to celebrate both of those events simultaneously. Luckily, the folks over at Hollywood Crush have figured out a way to bring it all together and give away some excellent swag as well. They're hosting a contest to decide who can do the best job carving Robert Pattinson's face into a Halloween pumpkin. All you need is a pumpkin, a carving knife and a little creativity.

The winner will receive his or her very own Pattinson-centric post on Hollywood Crush as well as a copy of "Scene It? Twilight."

Entering is simple: Just turn your pumpkin into the spitting image of Edward Cullen, snap a picture of it and post it to Your.MTV.com (make sure you label it "Rob O'Lantern Contest") by this Friday, October 23. The intrepid experts at Hollywood Crush will appraise the best entries and name the winner on Friday, October 30 (just in time for the spookiest night of the year).

So take a good look at the photo of RPattz above (or check out any of the others housed at Hollywood Crush), grab your knife, scoop out that pumpkin and carve Robert Pattinson's face into it. Remember: You only have until Friday!

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R.I.P. Rumpus, The 'Poker Face' Great Dane

Posted 10/21/09 12:55 pm EST by in Music


Sad news to report this afternoon: Rumpus, the Harlequin Great Dane best known for his role in Lady Gaga's iconic "Poker Face" video, died earlier this month after taking a hike (an actual one, not the metaphoric kind) in his hometown of Los Angeles. He was just five years old.

According to TMZ, Rumpus' death was unexpected. His owner, Suzzane Kelleher-Duckett, told the Web site that the award-winning show dog appeared to be in good health, and showed no signs of injury after taking a lengthy hike. As such, an autopsy was performed on his body and results are expected soon.

Rumpus appeared poolside (along with his mother, Lava) in Gaga's Video Music Award-nominated "Poker Face" video, and also made cameos in her "Love Game," "Paparazzi" and "Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)" clips, too. TMZ reported that he was also scheduled to appear in Gaga's upcoming "Bad Romance" video, but that role will now go to Lava instead.

According to the Web site run by Rumpus' breeder, Pacific Coast Harlequins, he enjoyed "hiking and trail riding … hit[ting] the trails 2-6 miles every day, rain or shine," and had recently filmed a commercial for Cesar dog food. He had also just sired a litter of six puppies with a fellow champion Dane named Gracie.

Those who worked with Rumpus recalled a star-crossed dog whose unbridled energy and free spirit made him a much sought-after talent. But those same eccentricities also came with a price. Just last month, "Poker Face" director Ray Kay told MTV News that he and Rumpus had a volatile relationship during their shoot, one that threatened to shut down the production entirely. But that, when the dog was on, there was no one better to work with. Or, you know, something like that.

"Never work with animals or children, that's the age-old Hollywood rule, and it's true. Things just don't go according to plan when you work with them, and that was true in our situation here. Those dogs just wouldn't sit still, and they wouldn't do what we wanted them to do," Kay told MTV News. "So there were two dog trainers on each side of the shot, trying to hold the dogs down in the position they were supposed to be in, but they just kept getting up, or like looking in the wrong direction … so, actually, we never got the shot in-camera the way it's shown in the video. We had to combine different takes of the dogs to get the shot the way it was in the video. "

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Pink Turns To Twitter For Halloween Costume Suggestions

Posted 10/21/09 12:27 pm EST by in Music


Pink is currently bringing her Funhouse tour through Europe (she has a show in Glasgow tonight), but her mind is also on Halloween. The theatrical singer takes the forthcoming holiday seriously, and she turned to her over 600,000 Twitter followers for suggestions on what she should do for a costume this year. "What should I be for Halloween?" she tweeted. "I have a show that day, so the costume would just be for me, in my hotel room. I'd still go all out though."

She checked back in a little while later to weigh on some of the suggestions. "You are all insane," she tweeted. "A penguin? I like the glowstick one." She also noted that although she likes the idea of being a character from "True Blood," it's not quite what she is looking for. "I bet there will be 10 gazillion Sookie Stackhouses," she wrote. "I don't have that cool gap in my teeth. I wanna be a cheese ball."

It's uncertain whether Pink is simply looking for a costume that is cheesy or if she actually wants to dress up like a round orange snack food. Regardless, here are a few suggestions for Pink's costume dilemma.

» A Volturi Guard: Everybody's wild for vampires — especially the ones from "Twilight." So why not get ahead of the curve on the release of "New Moon" and dress like one of the Volturi? Hollywood Crush even has the complete guide.

» Octomom: Take eight vacuum cleaner hoses, affix them to the front of your mom jeans and voila! An incredibly lazy but funny and topical costume.
Read More...

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Adam Lambert And Lady Gaga Join The Pantheon Of Great Superstar Collabos

Posted 10/21/09 11:42 am EST by in Music


Even though Adam Lambert's new single just debuted and his first video just hit the Web, that news has still be slightly overshadowed by the fact that the "American Idol" runner-up is collaborating with none other than Lady Gaga. Yesterday, Lambert announced via Twitter that he had spent some time in the studio with Gaga, recording a song that she wrote for his debut album For Your Entertainment (which hits stores on November 23). "Yes it's true: I spent yesterday in the studio w the insanely talented and creative Lady Gaga recording a song that she wrote!" he tweeted. "I love her!" Later, Lambert added, "Gaga wrote the song a while ago, and she thought it would be a good fit for me. It's a solo track. I feel so honored and lucky to be asked. Gaga just gets it, ya know?"

The Gaga/Lambert connection represents an incredible union of talent, essentially bringing together two of the biggest names in pop music right now. Collaborations are a dime a dozen, but something like this doesn't come along very often: A tag-team effort that brings together two massive names. They join a handful of top-shelf hook-ups: Jay-Z has a galaxy of huge collaborations (including Alicia Keys, and Linkin Park), David Bowie and Queen got together for the massive single "Under Pressure" and Michael and Janet Jackson collaborated for "Scream." Click here for a look at 10 great superstar collaborations, including Britney and Madonna, Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney and Dylan and the Dead!

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