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Lady Gaga Meets The Yankees And Mets, But Where Should Her Fandom Lie?

Posted 6/21/10 1:30 pm EST by in Music


One of the biggest baseball stories over the weekend wasn't the latest dominant performance from Washington Nationals rookie pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg or Manny Ramirez's return to Fenway Park for the first time since he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers two years ago. Rather, it was the strange headlines grabbed by Lady Gaga, who attended the New York City "Subway Series" on Friday night (June 18). Following the game (while wearing little more than underwear and a Yankees jersey), Gaga made her way into the Yankees clubhouse to drink some whiskey and visit with a handful of the players. She was asked to leave, which lead many to believe that she had been banned from the place. But Yankees general manager Brian Cashman clarified the team's official stance on Sunday (June 20). "She's not banned," he said. "Celebrities aren't banned. If Michael Jordan showed up here he would have access (to the clubhouse), but not after a loss."

With that clarified, and with the knowledge that she was photographed at the Mets' stadium just a few weeks ago, it begs the question: Is Gaga a Yankees fan or a Mets fan? As a New Yorker, she should know that one cannot go through life being a fan of both, and eventually she'll have to make a call. Luckily, we can help her based on some key criteria.

Uniforms
Since Gaga is so fashion conscious, uniforms are probably important to her. The Yankees present a classic look with the pinstripes and the stark, simple color scheme. The Mets are a little more playful with their colors (blue, orange and black, which tend not to blend very well) but their logo is slightly less iconic and direct.
Advantage: Yankees

Mascot
Mr. Met is a baseball legend who is constantly smiling (even when the Mets are tanking) and is recognized worldwide. The Yankees don't have a mascot, though they did experiment with an unholy creature named Dandy, who was (mercifully) killed off after only three seasons.
Advantage: Mets
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Celebrate The First Day Of Summer With Will Smith, Bruce Springsteen And ... Danzig?

Posted 6/21/10 1:00 pm EST by in Music


If you feel just a little bit more sunshiney and free today, it's because it's the first official day of summer. Though the heat has been up for quite a while, summer blockbusters have been on screens since March and baseball is nearly at its halfway point, the true start of the season (at least as far as the calendar is concerned) is today. And though the readers of MTV News have decided that the official song of this summer is Lady Gaga's "Alejandro," there are a whole bunch of summer tunes that need to be broken out in honor of the fresh season.

That's why we've crafted the video playlist below. The theme is simple: It is officially the first day of summer, and we're only talking about songs that have the word "summer" in the title. Amazingly, not all of those songs are completely about trips to the beach, barbecues and general seasonal hedonism. In fact, some of them are downright dark. Danzig's "Dirty Black Summer" is one such tune, a track that presents the season as one of dread and decay. Death Cab for Cutie's "Summer Skin" turns the summer months into a period of longing and melancholy, while Patti Smith's "Summer Cannibals" creates an air of desperation and danger. And of course "Cruel Summer," one of the most iconic summer songs ever, is about the harshness of the season (especially if you're a foxy lady).

But of course, there are plenty of fun-in-the-sun tunes, including Kid Rock's "All Summer Long," Animal Collective's "Summertime Clothes" and Bryan Adams' "Summer of '69." No summertime mix is complete without the definitive summer jam: DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince's "Summertime," the only tune in history to ever truly capture what it feels like to be on the make and care free.

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MTV's World Cup Of Rock: Brazil Vs. Spain

Posted 6/21/10 12:00 pm EST by in Music


It's MTV's World Cup of Rock! The World Cup is the greatest sporting event on the planet, a super-sized stage where legends are born with every strike of the ball, where infamy is just a moment away and where the dreams of millions live or die by the minute. That's why, in the spirit of the 2010 MTV Musical March Madness competition, we've created "The World Cup (Of Rock)," a FIFA-style tournament that takes 16 of the biggest nations — rock-wise (sorry Algeria) — and pits them against one another to determine just which is the most rockingly awesome. Heavyweights like the U.S.A., England, France and Germany are all here, but so are a handful of surprisingly strong sleeper countries. As the Cup progresses, we'll be unveiling the match-ups, and it's up to you to vote your favorites through. In the end, only one nation will be left standing: the world champion of rock.

On Sunday (June 20), the Brazilian national soccer team took down a game but ultimately over-matched Ivory Coast squad in a contentious and physical affair. They have already advanced in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but they are having a harder time in the World Cup of Rock, as they are currently being overwhelmed by Japan and Germany in their first two games in what is fast becoming the group of death. Can they salvage a victory against the debuting Spanish team?

Brazil vs. Spain
Brazil's pedigree is solid, as they deliver enough dance, metal and psychedelic Latin rock to build a strong, diverse team in the World Cup of Rock. But they've been taken down so far in bad match-ups with dominant players. Their opponents in Spain are no pushovers either, as they deliver solid international flavor with Alejandro Sanz, David Bisbal and the Iglesias family (with father Julio coaching son Enrique at striker). Who will score a victory here? Only you can decide!

Be sure to vote in all the games in the MTV World Cup of Rock! Which nation's stars rock the hardest and best? Only you can decide!

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Backstreet Boys Team Up With New Kids On The Block In New York, Leave Me Devastated

Posted 6/21/10 11:00 am EST by in Music


Somehow the New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys plotted against me. I don't know how this happened. I've only showed my unwavering support to both bands over the span of two decades. And, yet on Saturday night (June 19) in New York City, those two bands decided to hit the stage together — yes together — to perform, and yet no one told me about it.

When the New Kids played Radio City Music Hall over the weekend they decided to cover BSB's classic hit, "I Want It That Way." During the cover (or at least from what I can ascertain from the video posted below, since, you know I somehow wasn't there myself), the boys of Backstreet joined them on stage for the song. Cue the seemingly endless screams of joy (none of which came from me since, you know, I wasn't there). And then BSB played "Shape of My Heart," which is an amazing song and just might be my favorite track ever from the Boys.

"As for TONIGHT'S Concert... BACKSTREET BOYS got my respect forever!" Donnie Wahlberg later tweeted. "That was awesome! What a night!... My heart is full."

Is my heart full? It is — full of sadness and disappointment and regret. Am I devastated? Yes. Will I forgive either band for not including me in this magic? I am not sure. Do I want to cry as I watch the footage? A little bit. Do they owe me? Big time.
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Eminem, Drake, Jay-Z Bring Hip-Hop To The 'Late Night Lineup'

Posted 6/21/10 10:00 am EST by in Music


It's no mystery that two of the biggest music releases of the season are hitting stores within a week of one another. Last Tuesday saw the release of Thank Me Later, the eagerly-anticipated debut from the Canadian actor-turned-buzzed-about-MC Drake. This week sees the arrival of Eminem's latest album Recovery, the back-to-basics retort to his 2009 album Relapse. Hip-hop is on a high right now, which is why talk show bookers have embraced a form that generally gets ignored in late-night circles (unless you're watching Jimmy Fallon). This week's biggest highlight is on "The Late Show with David Letterman," as he will welcome both Eminem and Jay-Z on Friday (June 25). The pair will provide a possible preview to their tag-team concerts coming up at the end of the summer. It's sure to be a killer evening.

Meanwhile, Drake will bust out one of the hot tracks from Thank Me Later on Wednesday night's (June 23) edition of "The Tonight Show." Host Jay Leno will also welcome Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings on Thursday (June 24) and will see his week bookended by the "American Idol" runner-ups, with Crystal Bowersox on Monday (June 21) and Lee DeWyze on Friday. Drake will also make an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Thursday.

Jimmy Fallon's show doesn't have Eminem or Drake, but he will still bring the funk (after all, the Roots are the house band). Travie McCoy will perform on Monday's show, while Macy Gray will visit Wednesday and MGMT will bring their party on Thursday. Even the lower-profile shows will have a bit of hip-hop, as Chelsea Handler will welcome Lil Jon to Friday's episode of "Chelsea Lately" and George Lopez will have (no joke) Kid N' Play on his show Thursday night.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing on TV this week? Let us know in the comments!

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Guided By Voices Release Bee Thousand: Wake-Up Video

Posted 6/21/10 9:00 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


There is a certain type of indie rock aficionado out there who is particularly committed to a single band. A single man, really, as Guided By Voices have gone through a handful of changes in personnel, with only frontman/songwriter/mastermind Robert Pollard consistently around for every release. Being a fan of Guided By Voices requires a great deal of devotion simply because Pollard is such a complicated artist. He is a bit of a workaholic, and writing and recording appears to be something of a compulsion for him. Conservatively speaking, there have been no fewer than 16 studio albums that bear the Guided By Voices name, and that isn't counting the multi-disc, multi-volume Suitcase series of outtakes, any live albums, split EPs or albums credited to Pollard as a solo artist. It's a tremendous amount of material to keep track of, and finding a starting point is almost impossible. But on this day in 1994, Pollard made it a little bit easier for fans to break in by releasing the best, most consistent album Guided By Voices have ever produced in Bee Thousand.

Recorded on the cheap in Pollard's basement while he was still teaching public school, Bee Thousand was supposed to be his swan song before hanging up the musical spurs and focusing on his family. But in recording Bee Thousand, Pollard finally found the right balance between British pub rock, '60s-era garage and just the right amount of punk rock swagger. That sound, combined with Pollard's penchant for surrealistic imagery in his lyrics, made Bee Thousand into a critically-acclaimed monster that is considered one of the landmark albums of the '90s indie movement.

The songs on Bee Thousand rarely go longer than two minutes, but one of the longer ones — "I Am a Scientist," which clocks in at a whopping two minutes and 30 seconds — is the centerpiece of the album and one of Pollard's favorite songs to play live. The video is delightfully low-fi, trippy and charming — just like Pollard himself.

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Kris Allen Fans Celebrate His Birthday With Charitable Cows

Posted 6/21/10 8:00 am EST by in Music


In honor of Kris Allen's 25th birthday, a group of fans bought him some cows. 50 cows, to be exact. But it's not like the "Live Like We're Dying" singer is going to ditch his current tour and start raising cattle (at least as far as we know). Instead, the cows purchased in Kris' name will be put to use thanks to the charity Heifer International, which tackles poverty with livestock and education. You know the Chinese proverb, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime"? It's like that, but think turf instead of surf. (And milk. Lots and lots of milk.)

The fundraising started late last week when a small group of Kris fans created a Team Heifer page called "Alright With Moo." (For the uninitiated, Kris has a catchy song on his self-titled album called "Alright With Me." You've probably had it stuck in your head thanks to those inescapable Ford commercials where Kris talks about leaves, video games and saving three cents on gas.) The initial goal for "Alright With Moo" was one cow ($500), but once word spread around Kris fan sites and "Idol" blogs, 10 cows were purchased within 12 hours. The goal was upped to one cow for every year of Kris' life: 25. How tidy!

By Friday, a birthday video tribute had been created. (Bill Gates later embedded it on his "Daily On Twitter" page, proving that the bajillionaire digs “Live Like We’re Dying” as much as the next guy.) By the time Kris had officially turned 25 early this morning, "Alright With Moo" had raised over $25,000, exceeding their initial modest goal by 5000 percent.

This isn't the first time the "Idol"-obsessed have rallied for a good cause. Earlier this year, David Archuleta fans donated thousands of dollars (and virtual cupcakes) for the Haiti Relief effort, and Adam Lambert fans spent the better part of 2009 raising a whopping $250,000 for Donors Choose. Yo, "Idol" freaks. Be more awesome. I dare you.

We have it on good authority that Kris was blown away by his fans' charitable gift. So let's all raise a glass (of milk, duh!) to toast the birthday boy, and let's give a round of applause to all those who supported the cause with awareness, tenacity and tons of moolah. (Pun intended.)

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Katy Perry, Drake And Justin Bieber: This Week's Deep Cuts

Posted 6/18/10 7:00 pm EST by in Deep Cuts


The week is over, which means it's time to watch Stephen Strasburg continue to assault the baseball world with his incredible fastball, catch a few rays at the beach, check out "Jonah Hex" at the local cineplex or just stare at the hypnotic pull of World Cup soccer (and the seductive hum of the vuvuzelas) until you puke. No matter what you choose to spend your weekend, just remember that the MTV Newsroom Blog will be back on Monday with more news, humor, lists, photos and revelations.

Did you miss anything this week? Here's a quick look at the big stories you might have missed.

» Katy Perry premiered her new video, a sugary-sweet clip for her newest single "California Girls" that revives one of the best board games ever made. Also, she took her clothes off.

» Drake finally dropped his debut album Thank Me Later and inspired a minor riot in New York City.

» Despite the chaos, Drake's Thank Me Later is an excellent album that draws from all the disparate branches on the Canadian rapper's family tree.

» The 2010 FIFA World Cup continued, as did the 2010 MTV World Cup of Rock, which saw Germany and South Korea both leap out ahead of the very even pack. Keep voting!

» Will this weekend be as great for Justin Bieber as last weekend was? Probably not, considering he spent last weekend frolicking with Kim Kardashian in the Bahamas.
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MTV's World Cup Of Rock: England Vs. U.S.A.

Posted 6/18/10 3:00 pm EST by in Music


It's MTV's World Cup of Rock! The World Cup is the greatest sporting event on the planet, a super-sized stage where legends are born with every strike of the ball, where infamy is just a moment away and where the dreams of millions live or die by the minute. That's why, in the spirit of the 2010 MTV Musical March Madness competition, we've created "The World Cup (Of Rock)," a FIFA-style tournament that takes 16 of the biggest nations — rock-wise (sorry Algeria) — and pits them against one another to determine just which is the most rockingly awesome. Heavyweights like the U.S.A., England, France and Germany are all here, but so are a handful of surprisingly strong sleeper countries. As the Cup progresses, we'll be unveiling the match-ups, and it's up to you to vote your favorites through. In the end, only one nation will be left standing: the world champion of rock.

The big-time soccer action continues during the 2010 FIFA World Cup (and continues into this weekend with key games featuring Brazil, Japan, Denmark and the Ivory Coast). But the biggest match-up might be the final one of the week in the MTV World Cup of Rock, as it features a rematch of an actual World Cup game that didn't have as satisfying an end as many might have hoped.

England vs. U.S.A.
This is the big one. Though their actual match ended in a 1-1 draw, there must be a winner in the head-to-head in the World Cup of Rock. Can the United States — which essentially invented rock and roll — overcome its former imperial master in England? It comes down to who you prefer: Bruce Springsteen or Coldplay? Foo Fighters or Radiohead? Paramore or Muse? These are important questions that can only be decided one way: By voting in the poll below!

Be sure to vote in all the games in the MTV World Cup of Rock! Which nation's stars rock the hardest and best? Only you can decide!

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Rihanna's Tour Rider: Lots Of Animal Prints, Absolutely No Sequins

Posted 6/18/10 2:39 pm EST by in Music


Forget the no brown M&M's policy, the buckets of condoms and fried chicken, Heliotrope-scented candles, odorless environments, wig rooms, organic cheeses and requests for heavy-duty fans that allow for Bon Jovi video re-enactments; most tour riders just ask for booze, clean socks and a meat plate.

But sometimes a tour rider will come along with just enough wacky requests that the good folks at The Smoking Gun just have to call it out.

Case in point: the backstage requests by Rihanna for her upcoming “Last Girl on Earth” tour, which kicks off next month in Auburn, Washington. Sure, there’s the usual stuff: a direct-dial phone, no harsh fluorescent lighting, a DSL line, heaters, humidifiers and a full-length mirror, which, oddly has to be "thin" (because who wants to look at yourself in a "fat" mirror?)

But then, there are the super-specific requirements that seem … well, you decide. We've highlighted some of the best with all CAPS, parentheses and other grammatical ephemera courtesy of Camp Rihanna. Oh, and for the record, lord help you if you ever give her anything sequined.

1 – 6ft comfortable couch – White, Cloth, Plush (No leather) (wide enough for her to stretch out on and sometimes take a nap)

6-8 Throw Pillows for Couches – Animal Print (Cheetah, Leopard)(NO sequins)

1 Large throw rug – plush and animal print (Cheetah, Leopard) … must be CLEAN, as she will walk on it barefoot.

Pipe and Drape the room in Dark Blue or Black Drapes with Icy Blue Chiffon draped nicely on top/over.

4 Small, clear, square vases with White Tulips, if in season – No Foliage (2nd choice: White Casablanca Lilies no foliage, 3rd choice: White Freesia no foliage)

Also included is a request for six Archipelago Black Forest Candles ($37.50 a piece), with the warning, “if you can’t get these, please let me know ASAP as we have a 2nd choice of candle for Ri.”

And, most importantly, and you can tell because it is in bold, underlined and all caps: “Bathroom must be spotless. Please deep clean toilet and shower.”

Now, we’ve been in our share of backstage areas and seen varying levels of cleanliness, but the fact that Rihanna has to remind venues to provide one of the planet’s biggest pop stars with a clean shower and toilet almost makes the other stuff seem like so many packs of Gold Toe sweatsocks.

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