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Madonna's 'Like A Prayer' Tops The Hot 100: Wake-Up Video

Posted 4/22/10 9:00 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


It's been a good week for Madonna, as the episode of "Glee" devoted entirely to her music was a big hit. She can also celebrate that fact that on this day in 1989, her song "Like a Prayer" ascended to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the seventh Madonna song to top the chart and would remain in that position for three weeks ("Like a Prayer" was unseated by Bon Jovi's "I'll Be There For You").

"Like a Prayer" was the first single from the album of the same name. Co-written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard (her collaborator on hits like "La Isla Bonita," "Cherish" and "Who's That Girl") and featuring a bass guitar part played by "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson, "Like a Prayer" has become one of Madonna's signature songs, encapsulating everything that has made her a fascinating artist: A great dance beat, a killer vocal, a layered lyric and just the right balance of religion and sex.

The video became an instant MTV staple and a lightning rod for controversy. Directed by Mary Lambert (who was also in charge of the clips for "Like a Virgin," "Material Girl" and "Borderline"), the video features a narrative about Madonna witnessing a murder and running to the defense of the man wrongly accused of the crime. It was not only charged with racial politics (the actual killer is white while the man the police put on trial is black) but also got religious groups up in arms because of its exploitation of Catholic imagery (Madonna makes love to a saint, appears to have stigmata and walks in front of a series of burning crosses). It remains a key moment in rule-breaking videos and managed to take home the Viewer's Choice Award at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards. Even 21 years later, the song (along with the video) still resonates.

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'American Idol' Elimination Predictions: This Has To Be The End For Aaron Kelly, Right?

Posted 4/21/10 5:30 pm EST by in Music, Television


I'll admit it. Like any gambler, my initial hot streak in picking "American Idol" eliminations has run shockingly dry and I'm resorting to anything to stop the bleeding.

I'm looking for clues in what the judges are wearing, counting the amount of steps contestants take during their performances, checking their astrological charts and rearranging the letters of their names to find some numerical sign that will stem the losses and get me back on track.

But, degenerate gambler that I am, there's a part of me that just can't help letting it ride on the same greyhound one more time in the vain hope that "it's gotta come in this time, right?"

I've consulted my "Idol" experts and MTV News' own prognosticator Jim Cantiello went all-in on cowboy Casey James. His logic was that despite his good looks and solid voice, CJ has gone to the same bluesy well too many times and become a bore.

Meanwhile, MJ Santilli of MJ's Big Blog agreed that James was a dud, but she thought Kelly just didn't cut it with his tepid cover of the R. Kelly tour de force, "I Believe I Can Fly."

I’ve been burned not once, but twice by predicting that Kelly's time was up. But this time I swear it's gotta happen, so whaddya say, pal, let it ride one more time? I swear I'm good for it.

After seven weeks of "Idol" forecasting (for those of you keeping score), here are the current standings, which are getting very tight.

Gil Kaufman: 9-of-14

Jim Cantiello: 8-of-14

MJ Santilli: 7-of-14

Who do you will be going home? Leave your comments below and check back on Thursday to see how we did. And stay tuned to the MTV News "American Idol" page for all the latest news and opinions.

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Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard Has A Wicked Knuckler But Needs Some Control

Posted 4/21/10 5:00 pm EST by in Music


If this whole "rock and roll frontman" thing doesn't work out, Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard could totally find work in the bullpen for a major league team. This is because, by his own account, he's got "a pretty good arm," and has at least four pitches in his arsenal (and seriously, Mariano Rivera has been getting by on just one for more than a decade now).

And since we've already spoken to Gibbs about his love of the Seattle Mariners and his eternal quest to find a third baseman in fantasy baseball, we figured it was only appropriate if we rounded out our baseball-related coverage of the guy by giving him an unofficial scouting report. Here's our take on where he'd fit in with the 'pen.

Arm Strength
"I'm not like a 90-mph fastball kind of guy, but I can hit 70 on radar gun," Gibbard says. "I hit 70 one time on a radar guy at one of those pitch-and-throw kind of things. I have a pretty good arm for somebody who's not a baseball player."

That reminds us a lot of burly former reliever Ray King, who wouldn't blow you away with his fastball, but pitched to contact. Also, current Milwaukee Brewers' closer Trevor Hoffman, who tops out in the mid-80s with his heater. Read More...

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'American Idol' Reject Katie Stevens Finally Puts Connecticut On The Map

Posted 4/21/10 4:30 pm EST by in Music


"American Idol" contestant Katie Stevens had a lofty goal on the show. In an early episode, the 17-year-old from Middlebury, Connecticut, told America she hoped to put her home state on the map.

The bubbly teen stopped by MTV News (along with fellow eliminated "Idol" Andrew Garcia) to chat about that now-famous Connecticut quote and much more.

Did you know that Katie taught herself to play the piano and the guitar? You'd never think it from her "Idol" run. "My whole thing is I had, they called it 'David Archuleta Syndrome' because David Archuleta would always go into rehearsals saying 'I can't play the piano.' And he really could!" she said. "And that was me. I was like, 'I can't do this, I'm gonna go on stage and I'm gonna mess up immediately and I'm gonna flop and not focus on my voice.' But I'm gonna play the piano with 'Let It Be' on tour."

Fans shouldn't be too surprised Katie will be covering "Let It Be" on tour. It was, after all, her best-received performance on the show. But for Stevens, that particular episode was special to her for other reasons. "I liked that week not only because it was a good performance and because it was heartfelt, but because in the [pre-performance video] packages they showed our personalities," Stevens said. "I was really upset that America sees us for literally five minutes. That's not a lot of time to connect with us."

She looks forward to connecting to fans this summer on the "American Idols Live!" tour, where she'll continue to write original songs with the hopes of heading into a recording studio later this year. (College is also on the horizon: The high school senior has been accepted into several universities but she won't be able to begin school until next January thanks to the "Idol" schedule.)

So about that whole "put Connecticut on the map" thing. Katie may not have won "Idol," but I wanted to give her the chance to say she definitely achieved her goal. As you'll see in the video below, MTV News can make dreams come true. Watch Katie literally put Connecticut "on the map!"

Are you excited to see Katie play piano on tour? What do you think of "David Archuleta Syndrome?" And how does Katie stack up with other famous Connecticutters? Leave a comment below or tweet me (and follow me!) @jambajim.

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Christina Aguilera Is Still Naked: The MTV News Quote Of The Day

Posted 4/21/10 3:50 pm EST by in Music


"I think it's important that [Max] sees mommy not be ashamed for her sexuality. We're art collectors, there are a lot of female nudes around the house. Max will be growing up in a house where it's just the norm. It's only weird when you shame it. I'm more confident and comfortable in my own skin. I think I'm even a more sexual Christina."

-Singer, pop star and mother Christina Aguilera, discussing how she handles her sexuality around her two-year-old son Max. The singer, whose new album Bionic drops on June 8, spoke to Atlanta radio station Q100 on Tuesday morning (April 20). Aguilera explained that even though her and husband Jordan Bratman are parents now, they still enjoy "naked Sundays," a practice they have been doing for years. "That's part of the change of having a child for me — seeing your body do these things you never thought possible," she said. "When you have a baby, you go through a period where your body is not your own. It becomes for your child and that's it. Once you bounce back from that and kind of get your body body back. I feel better than ever. It's a great feeling."

Aguilera is currently focused on the impending release of Bionic, a likely tour and the upcoming release of the film "Burlesque," but she isn't ruling out more children down the line. "I would love that one day, but not right now," she said. "Eventually, I would like to give Max a brother or a sister."

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'American Idol' Reject Andrew Garcia's Rad Bromance With Lee DeWyze

Posted 4/21/10 3:10 pm EST by in Music


"American Idol" has had its fair share of bromances over the years: Kris and Adam, David Cook and Michael Johns, Jason Castro and Bob Marley, Bo Bice and his hair's flat iron. We can add season nine's Lee DeWyze and Andrew Garcia to that impressive list.

Fans worried that the bromance will cool off now that Garcia is off the show (Andrew was cut alongside Connecticut's Katie Stevens last week) should breathe easy. When Garcia and Stevens stopped by to chat with MTV News, it was clear that LeeAndrew is here to stay.

"If there was a contest, it would beat all bromances known to man," Stevens declared. But Garcia objects to the B word. "Lee's my family. It's not a bromance. He's really my brother," he said before adding, "I miss him just talking about him. Can we please just move on to the next subject?" Garcia jokingly whimpered.

I got to the bottom of all the DeWyze/Garcia buddy stories, from what their "Danny Gokey baby" lovechild would actually look like to their "silly" theme song to their non-stop texting. (As you can see, Katie Stevens is downright giddy discussing their friendship.)

So check out our chat below and let us know which "Idol" bromance you think reigns supreme! And for more "Idol" talk, follow me on Twitter @jambajim!

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The Jonas Brothers Love Fan Art, Especially If It Involves 007

Posted 4/21/10 2:20 pm EST by in Music


While there are many fans out there who would love a photo or portrait with the brothers Jonas, it seems that the guys are also fans of celebrities. When MTV News wondered what big celeb they'd love to get on their show "Jonas," all three brothers very excitedly pitched getting James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, on the show. And from there, we learned a lot about the guys' taste in art.

"He's the man. I just think he's a great guy," Joe confessed. "Um no [I haven't ever met him], but I have a portrait of him."

It turns out that Joe was very wrong, and his brothers were quick to step in and correct him. Nick countered, "We met him!"

Joe then remember meeting him and added, "Oh, we have, but a fan painted a picture [of us]. It's in my house. It's me and my roommates and Daniel Craig. It's pretty cool."

Nick agreed that the painting did have some unbelievably good qualities. "It's an amazing painting. They're like in the clouds. It's pretty amazing," he said, also revealing, "I asked her [to make me one]. She's from the U.K. I asked her to paint me and Babe Ruth and she's like 'Who's that?' But they don't have baseball over there. So it's OK! I understand."

What star would you like to see guest on the Jonas Brothers' "Jonas" show? What celebrity would you pair them up with in a piece of art? Let us know in the comments!

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Did Crystal Bowersox Have The Best 'American Idol' Performance Of All Time?

Posted 4/21/10 1:30 pm EST by in Music


On Tuesday night's episode of "American Idol," Crystal Bowersox did something that she normally does every single week on the show: She looked like the eventual winner. But something else happened during her stunning, teary-eyed performance of "People Get Ready," and that was she elevated herself to the rare echelon of "American Idol" contestants who are in the conversation for the title of "Greatest 'Idol' Performance of All Time." It was honest, soulful and made for tremendous television.

MTV News "American Idol" expert Jim Cantiello doesn't quite think that the Bowersox performance was the best ever (she missed too many notes for that), but it definitely gets mentioned in the list that includes such key "Idol" moments as Kelly Clarkson's "Stuff Like That There," Fantasia Barrino's "Summertime," Bo Bice's "In a Dream" and David Cook's "Billie Jean."

Attaining "American Idol" immortality requires more than just being able to hit the notes. A killer performance is obviously key, but there are more criteria. Context is important, especially if the contestant in question has come through a series of poor performances or has recovered from some sort of personal struggle. Song selection is also key. After struggling to find her voice, Melinda Doolittle managed to find the absolutely perfect song for her in "My Funny Valentine," and Clay Aiken's take on "Build Me Up Buttercup" proved that he had a fun side and could play fast and loose with songs.

There is also something intangible that has to happen with an all-time great "Idol" performance, a vague feeling that says, "This person is a winner." When Kelly Clarkson busted out "Stuff Like That There" during the Top Six show in the very first season, everybody knew at that moment that Clarkson would win and was destined for greatness. That was certainly present in Bowersox's performance last night, but was the rest of her chemistry enough?

So take a look at the song selections below and vote for the one performance you think is the best of all time. Let us know in the comments if you have any write-in votes, and stay tuned for plenty more "American Idol" coverage here on the MTV Newsroom Blog and at MTV News.

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Kate Gosselin, 50 Cent And Christina Aguilera: Three To See

Posted 4/21/10 12:30 pm EST by in Music


Every morning, MTV News delivers the top news stories in music, movies and pop culture hot and fresh for your reading and watching pleasure. We then bring together a trio of the biggest headlines for "Three to See," the daily digest of the top stories making noise on our site and across the Internet.

Kate Gosselin Shuffles Off "Dancing With The Stars"
The pool on "Dancing With the Stars" was reduced to seven on Tuesday night (April 20), as reality star Kate Gosselin was sent home following several weeks of middling performances and no shortage of drama. "My gut feelings are always right, and it's OK," she said following the news of her elimination. "I had the opportunity; I'm very, very honored to have been here. I love everyone that I met. It was a great experience, and I'm sorry I'm crying. I'm a crybaby!"

50 Cent Plots Tour
Rapper 50 Cent, whose new album Black Magic is due soon, will take his show on the road starting May 28 in Cleveland, Ohio. The 19-date trek (which he has dubbed The Invitation Tour) will keep him on the road for a month, hitting theaters in Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, New York and elsewhere.

Christina Aguilera To Appear On "American Idol" Season Finale
During a radio interview on Atlanta station Star 94, Christina Aguilera announced that she will be a part of the season finale of "American Idol," scheduled to air on May 26. She also discussed her role in the upcoming film "Burlesque" and her forthcoming fourth album Bionic, which is scheduled for release on June 4.

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Savage Garden Knew They Loved 'Popology' Before They Met It

Posted 4/21/10 11:35 am EST by in Music


They say a well-rounded education is the key to success, and if that truly is the case, the my schooling is woefully incomplete when it comes to the subject of pop. That's why we bring you "Popology," the guide to modern radio-friendly stars as seen through the eyes of a guy who grew up on punk and metal. In case you missed previous installments, catch up with Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Taylor Swift and the Spice Girls here.

In this week's installment, Savage Garden confuse at least one guy.

True story: The first time I heard a Savage Garden song was in the locker room at South Windsor High School before lacrosse practice on a chilly spring day in 1997. One of my teammates had control of the burned out stereo we kept in one of the empty lockers, and he cranked up a song on the radio that he thought was awesome. "These guys sound just like Nine Inch Nails!" he declared. "It rocks!" The song in question was Savage Garden's breakout debut single "I Want You," which does indeed have some distorted guitars and dance beats but sounds nothing like anything from Pretty Hate Machine. (Also, there's that lyric about a "chicka-cherry-cola," which Trent Reznor would never go near.) A few days later, we were having a team dinner and watching MTV at one of the captain's houses, and the video for "I Want You" came on. "That's what those guys look like?" my crestfallen teammate asked. "Oh man, that is lame."

Not only does that story prove the power of music video (though in reality, most people probably had the opposite reaction as the lacrosse player), but it also points to the nature of radio in 1997. As we've discussed before, genres were splintered and there was no dominant sound across the airwaves (even Diddy-approved pop-rap was still about a year away from taking over), which allowed artists like Savage Garden to slip in undetected.

My teammate's confusion over "I Want You" is wholly justified, as it does have the sort of polished edge that could have snuck onto modern rock radio in that era (really, there wasn't much difference between "I Want You" and a latter-day Collective Soul single). But just as the video turned the tables, so did the rest of Savage Garden's self-titled debut. Read More...

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