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Destiny's Child Put Their Jelly On Top Of The Charts: Wake-Up Video

Posted 7/29/10 9:20 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


Sometimes all it takes for a song to become legendary is a single line of lyrics that becomes completely iconic. Remember when "Shake it like a Polaroid picture" (from Outkast's 2003 smash "Hey Ya") became a ubiquitous piece of pop culture slang? Or when "Drop it like it's hot" became the official catch phrase of 2004 after Snoop Dogg dropped a killer single of the same name? Destiny's Child joined those ranks when they injected the phrase "I don't think you're ready for this jelly" into the cultural lexicon with "Bootylicious," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 on this day in 2001.

"Bootylicious" was the third single to come from Destiny's Child's 2001 album Survivor (following "Independent Women Part 1" and the title track) and represented the fourth chart-topping track for the group. Written and produced by Rob Fusari, Falonte Moore and Beyoncé, the track includes a sample from Stevie Nicks' classic tune "Edge of Seventeen" (that's Nicks' guitar riff that opens the song). It's a fairly unique track in the Destiny's Child catalog because it is dominated by Kelly Rowland (she has two verses to Beyoncé's one). When it made its way to number one, it dispatched Usher's "U Remind Me" as the top song in the nation. It stayed there for two weeks before getting edged out by Alicia Keys (whose "Fallin'" lived on top for three weeks after).

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of "Bootylicious" is the fact that its video is a tribute to Michael Jackson. The three ladies replicate moves from various Jackson videos, including "Bad," "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Thriller." Check it out below, and watch out for cameos from both Stevie Nicks and Beyoncé's sister Solange.

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'So You Think You Can Dance' Recap: Robert Rises, Nobody Gets Injured

Posted 7/29/10 8:15 am EST by in Television


After a string of injuries and last week's shocking revelation that nobody would be eliminated from the competition, Wednesday night's (July 28) episode of "So You Think You Can Dance" had all the potential to be a total letdown after weeks of unexpected drama. But in getting back to business as usual and focusing on the dancing, last night's batch of performances added up to one of the strongest single episodes in the show's history. It was a truly blow away tour de force that reminded everybody why people flock to this show in the first place.

Things got off to a great start with Kent and Anya, who knocked out a stellar cha cha that the judges were very enthusiastic about (despite the fact that Mia Michaels referred to Anya's performance as being too "crunchy," which was completely inexplicable to everybody — including a visibly confused Cat Deeley).

If there was one standout dancer last night, it was Robert. He executed a sharp, intense contemporary routine with Kathryn and then later tag-teamed with Billy on a killer Bollywood number. The judges showered Robert with praise, noting that his abilities have grown exponentially since the beginning of the competition. He truly has expanded his palette as an artist and has molded himself into a true contender in this competition. After last night, it would not be a surprise at all to see him in the finals, something that could not have been said four or five weeks ago.

Of course, Robert will have competition from Adechicke, who wowed Adam Shankman with a jazz routine choreographed by Tyce Diorio. Shankman referred to Adechicke's style as "balls out dancing," which was an unusual way to express such a sentiment but accurate nonetheless. He has that deadly combination of killer technique and deep characterization, which seems like the mark of a champion.

Since nobody was sent home last week, there will be two dancers ousted this week. Jose seems like an obvious choice, as his lack of refined technique has finally caught up with him. He simply does not possess the evolved skills of the other competitors. And it seems like the end has come for Lauren, as while her solo was lovely, her Broadway routine was rather tepid. Was her solo enough to keep her ahead of the game and leave Billy behind? With only a few weeks left until a winner is decided, nothing less than perfection will do from here on out.

Who do you think is going home tonight? Let us know in the comments!

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Ke$ha's Animal Tears Apart 'Popology'

Posted 7/28/10 5:30 pm 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, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Eminem and others here.

This week, Ke$ha conquers the world.

While listening to Animal, the debut album from Ke$ha, something occurred to me: This album is exactly like the recently-leaked WikiLeaks papers about the war in Afghanistan.

No, seriously. Hear me out.

Ke$ha recently told Paper magazine that she would be willing to work on a country album but is "really digging being called, like half-jokingly, a white-girl rapper. I think it's really funny and I'm going to ride that train for a little bit." That's an incredible thing to admit. The thing about the WikiLeaks documents is that they don't really disclose any facts that people didn't already know. It's a lot of information that was already out there and reported on. But the fact that the government is on the record acknowledging it is a pretty big deal. It's one thing for everybody to know that something is true, but it's another thing for the party in question to admit that said thing is true.

Ke$ha's statements about shifting her personality are a lot like that. Everybody pretty much knew that she was a construction of her own design, a hyped-up, extra-loud version of a pop star who covers herself in glitter and rolls around in adrenaline-pumping pop constructions put together by the most talented songwriting ninjas of the day. But for her to actually come out and say, "Hey! It's all a ruse!" makes it feel a little more real.

Under normal circumstances, that would be a big problem. Read More...

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Happy Birthday, Soulja Boy!

Posted 7/28/10 4:30 pm EST by in Music


Under normal circumstances, we would suggest that you raise a glass to today's birthday boy. Unfortunately, Soulja Boy is only 20, which means he's still a year away from legally enjoying a celebratory glass of Cristal. But that shouldn't stop him from enjoying his 20th birthday. It shouldn't be difficult, as Soulja clearly knows how to have a good time.

For a guy who is only 20 years old, he has crammed in an awful lot of highlights into his career. He first burst onto the scene in 2007, when his single "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" stormed the charts, took over the radio and turned the concept of the "Superman" into one of the most entertaining pieces of new slang in a generation. Though Soulja could have easily been dismissed as a novelty act, he continued to deliver top-shelf singles like "Kiss Me Thru the Phone" and "Turn My Swag On" (both of which came from his 2008 album iSouljaBoyTellem). He is currently gearing up for the release of his third album, which includes the singles "Pretty Boy Swag" and the forthcoming "Speakers Going Hammer" (which was produced by Drake and Eminem collaborator Boi-1da).

To celebrate Soulja's upcoming album, his already-deep catalog of hits and, of course, his turning one year older, check out the clip for "Let Me Get Em," one of his early hits.

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Nicki Minaj Says You Have To Cheat To Beat Her: The MTV News Quote Of The Day

Posted 7/28/10 3:30 pm EST by in Music


"I felt like mostly everyone would normally make themselves win in the end. I wanted show that the only way I could be beat is if you cheat. If you cheat! If you play fair and square, I'm gonna win. It's my little way of looking at it. Also, I felt it was almost heart-wrenching to see it. I made myself this nice girl in the video and you bond with the character. You know what I mean. You see her die. I wanted people to talk about it in the end. 'Why did she make that decision?' I wanted them to cry."

-Rising rapper Nicki Minaj, explaining to MTV News why she decided to end her new video with her own death. In the clip for Minaj's hit "Your Love," the MC plays a martial arts student who clashes with another woman over the love of their sensei (played by Michael Jai White), and in the end, she ends up getting slain. It's a twist that is becoming an theme among the Young Money crew, as labelmate Drake also ended a video (the phenomenally cinematic "Find Your Love") with his own death earlier this year.

"Your Love" comes from Minaj's upcoming debut album, which is set to drop on November 23. According to Minaj, it's coming together nicely, though it still doesn't have a title. "Maybe we should call it ... The Album," she wondered aloud. "Nicki Minaj: The Album," she continued before abandoning the idea. "I don't know. It'll come."

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Eminem And Ludacris Should Collaborate, According To Readers

Posted 7/28/10 2:30 pm EST by in Music


In one of the tightest Billboard races in recent memory, Eminem's Recovery narrowly edged out Rick Ross' Teflon Don to stay in the top position on the chart. It's Eminem's fifth straight week on top, bringing the total sales of Recovery up to 1,700,000 copies sold. Ross held his own with 176,000 copies shifted in his first week, but he couldn't knock Eminem out of the top spot. Will Fat Joe or Avenged Sevenfold find a way to climb up top next week? Will Ricky Rozay find his way top the top in his second week? Will the premiere of the video for Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" kick start another sales surge that keeps Eminem on top for the rest of the summer? The album chart hasn't been this compelling in years, and it feels good to speculate again.

Eminem can chalk up at least part of his success to the collaborations on Recovery, including tag team efforts with Rihanna, Pink and Lil Wayne. On Tuesday (July 27), we asked who Slim Shady's next collaborator should be, and in something of a surprise, Ludacris topped the voting with 40 percent of the total vote. People seemed to be really enthusiastic about Em and Luda coming together on a rapid-fire smash that would complete Eminem's down south trifecta (which includes T.I. and Weezy).

Nicki Minaj ended up in second place, which was not particularly surprising considering she is currently enjoying a massive hit with "Your Love." She finished with 25 percent of the total vote, just ahead of Katy Perry (who nabbed 13 percent). In another shocking twist, Justin Bieber earned himself eight percent, ahead of both the Clipse (six percent) and Ross (five percent).

What producer would you pair up with Ludacris and Eminem? Let us know in the comments!

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Goo Goo Dolls Marry Classics With Fresh Tunes In New Jersey

Posted 7/28/10 1:30 pm EST by in Music


By Jenna Shulman

Who says rock stars could get outdated? As a 21-year-old college student, people were surprised to hear that I am a huge Goo Goo Dolls fan. After all, we're talking about a band that was formed in 1986, which was before I was even born. Additionally, they've been relatively short on hits over the past few years. Regardless, my appreciation for their talent has always stayed true, and this was proved by my attendance at their concert at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey on Tuesday night (July 27).

After a solid opening set from Switchfoot (whose singles "Meant to Live" and "Dare You to Move" charged the crowd), the Goo Goo Dolls got right down to the business of promoting new music opening their set their new single "The Sweetest Lie" (from the upcoming album Something for the Rest of Us, due to hit stores on August 31). Though it was probably foreign to many of the fans in the crowd, they came to their feet regardless and swayed and danced until the set was over.

"Big Machine" came next, which was the cue for frontman Johnny Rzeznik to take over the stage. The energy built with "Slide," the band's smash single from 1998's Dizzy Up the Girl. That was the moment that Rzeznik got the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand.

"You guys like your f---king roll and roll!" Rzeznik shouted, surveying the masses gathered to hear his band. Normally, a group is rewarded with passive allowance whenever they play new stuff at a summer show (especially when the new songs aren't yet available), but the five new tracks that the band rolled out were greeted like old favorites (including the standout song "Not Broken," which they broke out during the encore and seems destined to be a hit). But the real buzz came when they dipped into their back catalog, especially towards the end of the set when "Iris" and "Broadway" tore down the house.

My only complaint? The band didn't really spice up many of their songs. They tend to shy away from jams (not surprising, especially given the group's punk roots), which means that most of the tunes sound exactly like they do on the albums. Still, Rzeznik kept the energy high and replaced improvisation with razor-sharp execution and an easy-going, let's-have-a-party attitude.

While wrapping up the show, Rzeznik said, "Do your duty as an American and go buy that record," referring to his band's new album. He can rest assured that he convinced at least one person to do just that.

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Gwyneth Paltrow Drops 'Country Strong'

Posted 7/28/10 12:30 pm EST by in Music


As one half of one of one of the most high-profile (and award-winning) celebrity couples in the world, Gwyneth Paltrow isn't normally the one in charge of creating music. She leaves that up to husband Chris Martin, frontman for the massively popular band Coldplay. Paltrow usually sticks to starring in films like the "Iron Man" series, "Proof," "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" and "Shakespeare in Love" (for which she won an Academy Award) and for reaching out to fans via her online newsletter Goop.

But for her latest film, Paltrow will be spreading into Martin's territory. In the upcoming "Country Strong" (which hits theaters in December), Paltrow plays a country singer who attempts to resurrect her career with the help of her husband (Tim McGraw), an up-and-coming songwriter (Garrett Hedlund of "Tron: Legacy" fame) and a fresh new face on the country scene (Leighton Meester). As part of the film, Paltrow has recorded a brand-new song called "Country Strong" that will be released as a single. It just premiered on the Internet, and you can listen to it here.

This isn't the first time Paltrow has lent her singing pipes to a movie role, as she famously crooned karaoke tunes with Huey Lewis in the 2000 movie "Duets." As far as "Country Strong" goes, Paltrow makes for a pretty convincing stand-in for an actual country singer, as her voice has plenty of conviction and power, and she sings with just enough twang to make it sound authentic (but not so much that it sounds cartoonish). Really, it's pretty excellent, and it may end up giving her a hit on country radio, as it would sound right at home next to Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Taylor Swift. Is Paltrow destined for a bigger musical project like Scarlett Johansson or Zooey Deschanel? Time will tell, but she clearly has the chops and the resourcefulness for something bigger.

What do you think of Gwyneth Paltrow's country song? Let us know in the comments!

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Aretha Franklin Jams With Condoleeza Rice

Posted 7/28/10 11:30 am EST by in Music


The event held at Philadelphia's Mann Music Center on Tuesday night (July 27) was gong to be special no matter what. It was headlined by soul goddess Aretha Franklin, whose instrument hasn't lost a single step in four decades. And the concert, which attracted 8,000 fans, was set up to raise money for charities that provide music and the arts to inner city youth, which is as noble a cause as is out there. But it was made extra special by the appearance of former Secretary of State and classically-trained pianist Condoleeza Rice, who joined Franklin on stage for a handful of songs. She opened with a selection from a Mozart concerto and then backed up Franklin on "I Say a Little Prayer" and "My Country 'Tis of Thee."

Rice is hardly the first politician to dip her toes into the world of popular music and performance. Former President Bill Clinton was an excellent tenor saxophonist (he once jammed on "The Arsenio Hall Show"). Al Sharpton showed off his vocal chops on an episode of "Saturday Night Live," while former Attorney General John Ashcroft once performed a wacky song that he wrote called "Let the Eagles Soar."

Historically speaking, politicians have often been trained in music. Thomas Jefferson played a number of instruments (including cello), while John Quincy Adams was quite skilled at the flute. Richard Nixon was trained on the accordion (so was former presidential hopeful Ross Perot) and Woodrow Wilson was a skilled violinist. But Rice is the only political figure who appears to have actually considered music as a career (she had her sights set on being a concert pianist before getting into international relations, which is not unlike going to music theater school and ending up a rock critic instead).

"All I had seen of Dr. Rice was in a political atmosphere," Franklin said. "It just seemed foreign that she would be a classical pianist. She really does play. She's formidable."

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Spotted: Diddy Throws An M&Ms Party

Posted 7/28/10 10:30 am EST by in Music


Every day a multitude of stars wander through the halls of MTV News to talk about their latest projects and goof around with our intrepid correspondents. But sometimes we catch stars elsewhere, and that's why we put together Spotted!, a daily compendium of stars in the wild.

Benjamin Franklin once said the only certainties in life are death and taxes, but there are a few more facts that cannot be disputed. One is that M&Ms are delicious. That is an absolute that cannot be argued (especially if the dark chocolate or recently-released pretzel variations are involved). Another thing that cannot be denied? No matter where he is or what he is doing, Diddy will be both charming and entertaining. Think what you will of his music, his television appearances or his production style, but the dude has access to an unending river of charisma that flows freely from every pore of his being. That energy was on display at the "Party Like Diddy" meet and greet event at the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles on Tuesday (July 27). Diddy met with a pair of sweepstakes winners to honor Ms. Green, the most popular M&Ms character as voted by consumers of the candy. Diddy says he also plans to bring the party back east with a fete in New York.

Diddy wasn't the only star smiling on Tuesday, as the cast of "The A-Team" — including UFC star Quinton "Rampage" Jackson — at the London premiere of their summer action extravaganza and the Smashing Pumpkins performed a benefit show in Chicago. Click here for these photos as well as the entire "Spotted" archive, which features over 400 candid shots of stars like Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Jay-Z, Justin Bieber, Jessica Simpson, Rihanna, Adam Lambert, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Katy Perry and 50 Cent!

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