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On Tuesday (August 24), the MTV Newsroom Blog wondered aloud if Katy Perry's just-released Teenage Dream was the best sophomore effort in the history of pop music. It's an excellent album, full of punchy pop tunes, lovely ballads and bratty kiss-offs, and it manages to eclipse Perry's debut One of the Boys in just about every way possible. But it faced stiff competition among the nine albums presented in the poll, including landmark releases by Madonna and Britney Spears as well as contemporary smashes by Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. In the end, Spears' Oops! ... I Did It Again narrowly edged out Backstreet Boys' Millennium as the winner of the poll, but the highlight of the poll was the conversations that cropped up among the readers on that particular post.

There was an especially impressive showing by the fans of the Backstreet Boys (and that's not even including MTV News pop writer and Backstreet superfan Jocelyn Vena). Many of them followed the same sentiment as Nada, who wrote, "Backstreet Boys all the way! We all can't really deny that they got the best pop music in all history!" Commenter Jenn echoed that sentiment, writing, "Backstreet Boys all the way! Nothing will ever top Millennium!"

Though she only had enough votes to get her into third place, Lady Gaga still had some vocal defenders in the comments section. "While it is true that this album is nothing to overlook, The Fame Monster is the greatest album of all time (in pop music, there are some rock albums that outclass it)," commenter Noah wrote. "[Gaga] is twenty times Katy Perry. That being said, Katy is definitely a phenomenal artist." Another commenter named Lil_Monster also wrote lovingly of Gaga's second effort. "It's not the best album in the history of pop, but [Teenage Dream] is a very good album. It's got a very teen-summer feel to it, which is what I like. Definitely something to listen to while out with your friends. Gaga, for only an eight track album, is definitely something i can listen to over and over."

There was one particular album that seemed to pop up as an oversight, as several commenters noted that Kelly Clarkson's Breakaway should have been included in the poll. Clarkson's 2004 album was indeed a smash, containing the gigantic hits "Since U Been Gone" and the title track, which managed to eclipse her debut in just about every way. Had she been included, it's certain that she would have picked up more votes than New Kids on the Block.

One of the more surprising results of the poll was how few people voted for Madonna's Like a Virgin, which regularly gets mentioned in conversations about the best albums ever made. Reader chommy agreed. "How come like no one voted for Like a Virgin?" he wrote. "One of the most iconic albums of all time? There's a reason Madonna has been in the industry for over 20 years."

What did you think of the results of the poll, which saw Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys taking the top two spots? Let us know in the comments!

Tags Katy Perry, Poll

Cee-Lo's curse-happy kiss-off single "F--- You" continues to light up the Internet (as of this morning, the original video had logged over 2.6 million views) and the Goodie Mob member and Gnarls Barkley frontman is capitalizing on his sudden viral ubiquity. He told Entertainment Weekly that he plans on putting together a second video for the clip (probably one that didn't consist entirely of the lyrics to the song) and a radio edit that will be called "Forget You." That's a good call for Cee-Lo, as it will give him the opportunity to truly capitalize on the success of the song (at the moment, you can't even buy it on iTunes), but it will be slightly disappointing that the song will become a victim to the dreaded "radio edit."

The clean version of a song is nothing new (just about every tune on this list got some sort of cleaning up), but it's always amazing when an edited song becomes big and better known in its edited form than its original. When Cee-Lo drops "Forget You," he'll find a place on the top five biggest radio edit hits of all time.

Akon, "I Wanna Love You"
Originally titled "I Wanna F--- You," Akon's biggest single would never have ascended to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 if it still had its original lyrics in tact. In this case, it's incredible how much one word can change the tone of a song, as the original version sounded dirty and lascivious while the radio edit sounded vaguely romantic.

D12, "Purple Hills"
The first single from Eminem's crew was an ode to the various pleasures of prescription drugs called "Purple Pills." But since all the talk of popping pills got everybody a little hot under the collar, the song became "Purple Hills" when it played on the radio and MTV. It's strange because not only are there still references to mushrooms and uppers, but also because the lines about "those blue and yellow purple hills" don't make a lick of sense.

Black Eyed Peas, "Let's Get It Started"
The Black Eyed Peas' "Let's Get Retarded" helped the group make the transition from living on the fringes of the hip-hop world to a mainstream pop sensation. Read more...

Tags Akon, black-eyed-peas, Cee-Lo, Censorship, D12, Eminem, moby, Weezer

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.

Taylor Momsen only just turned 17 years old, but she has already managed to infiltrate two different entertainment universes in pretty impressive ways. Of course, she is best known for her role on "Gossip Girl" (which returns for its fourth season this fall), but her current project has been even more intense (and loud). The Pretty Reckless, the punk-powered band she fronts, is about to unleash its full-length debut Light Me Up (it hits stores this Tuesday, August 31) and just wrapped up a stint on the Vans Warped Tour (where they were extremely well-received). Momsen has blossomed into quite the impressive rock and roll frontwoman, which was in full effect on Wednesday night (August 25) on "The Late Show With David Letterman." Her band ripped through their single "Make Me Wanna Die," complete with keyboard fills care of CBS Orchestra band leader Paul Shaffer. The Pretty Reckless' album could end up being one of the big sleeper hits of the season, and Momsen could be on her way to true rock stardom.

She wasn't the only star in the public eye, as "Glee" star Dianna Agron hung out with boyfriend Alex Pettyfer and Swizz Beatz and Mary J. Blige partied at Lucky Strike in New York. Click here for these photos as well as the entire "Spotted" archive, which features over 450 candid shots of stars like Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Jay-Z, the Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Adam Lambert and 50 Cent!

Tags photo, Spotted!, Taylor Momsen, The Pretty Reckless

Of all the news that came out of the build-up to Katy Perry's new album Teenage Dream (including the ultra-sexy album cover, the list of potential collaborators and early leaks like "Circle the Drain"), the most intriguing (and bizarre) was the fact that the actual packaging was going to smell like cotton candy. When Perry first announced that particular detail, it not only seemed too gimmicky but also impossible. How was she going to pull that off, and what purpose would it actually serve?

Filled with skepticism, I ducked into a store on Wednesday afternoon (August 25) to test it out for myself. After locating the album in the section reserved for new releases (of which there were few — perhaps a good sign for Perry's opening week sales), I managed to snag it. It's rare that I'm even in music stores nowadays (and not for lack of trying — were you aware that New York City doesn't even have an FYE any more?) and it's even stranger that I'd be holding a copy of a brand new CD (most of the compact discs I buy are used, and most of my new music comes either digitally or on vinyl), so even the experience of exploring album packaging was strange and unfamiliar. It's an impressive presentation (I especially like that there's no writing on the front cover) and made me feel nostalgic for the days when I would pedal my bike to the local Coconuts to pick up Smashing Pumpkins' Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness or Red Hot Chili Peppers' One Hot Minute.

With one eyebrow still cocked firmly in disbelief, I took a sniff. (I did this unselfconsciously, though now I realize it probably looked a little odd that a grown man was sniffing a CD that prominently featured a nude woman on the cover.) To my pleasant surprise, it actually does smell like cotton candy (the scent is not unlike that artificial bubblegum smell you sometimes get, which is basically the same thing).

And here's the rub: I was so taken with the experience and impressed by the gimmick that I actually bought a copy of the CD, even though I already owned a digital copy purchased the day before. I can't imagine that there will be too many people who pick up a copy of Teenage Dream based solely on the way it smells, but Perry should be satisfied to know that her nose-friendly gambit paid off in at least one unit sold.

Tags Cotton Candy, Katy Perry

For most artists, the second album is the most difficult. Even if the debut is critically acclaimed and commercially adored, there is no guarantee that the sophomore effort will have any sort of impact. Take Maxwell, whose debut album Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite was a smash hit among R&B revivalists and was ahead of the curve on the birth of neo soul. But then Maxwell dropped the follow-up Embrya in 1998. The new album was a bold exploration of jazz, prog rock, psychedelia and other experimental forms, which of course made it something of a commercial disaster. It looked like Maxwell might have been a one-and-done flash in the pan, but he recovered nicely with his third album Now, which ascended to the top of the Billboard album chart on this day in 2001.

Now was a return to the funky, soulful sounds found on Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite. While he has always been considered more of a builder of vibes than a true songwriter, the tunes on Now are the most sharp and focused of his career. "Get to Know Ya" and "Lifetime" offer deep grooves and head-nodding beats that initially seem innocuous, but upon further listens reveal a complicated artist at work.

Ironically, the best moment on Now (and perhaps the most astonishing moment of Maxwell's career) comes via a song he did not write. His cover of Kate Bush's "This Woman's Work," which first debuted on his "MTV Unplugged" special, is an astonishing interpretation of what was already a gorgeous song. Maxwell's dreamy falsetto wraps around the amorphous melody and infuses the track with a passion and grace that is enthralling.

Tags maxwell, video

The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards are fast approaching, which means that in only a few weeks you'll be treated to an excellent night of performances and appearances by the likes of Eminem, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Drake, Florence and the Machine, B.o.B and Deadmau5 (who will serve as the house DJ at the show). While people tend to remember the classic performances and the unhinged moments, the coveted Moonman is the reason why people show up and tune in. This year, there are 16 categories wherein some of the biggest music stars in the universe will compete for the coolest trophy in awards shows. Today, we take a look at the nominees in the Best Art Direction category.

The MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction might be the most esoteric of all the Moonmen handed out, if only because it's so difficult to quantify what makes great art direction. It's a measurement of overall excellent, with the most colorful, visually creative, aesthetically stunning clip usually taking the prize. That will be easy this time around, as the five videos nominated in this category all create incredibly deep worlds that feel completely lived-in and thoroughly thought out, whether they are based in relative reality (the abandoned streets of Los Angeles in 30 Seconds to Mars' "Kings and Queens"), highly stylized alternate worlds (Beyoncé's "Video Phone") or fantastic dystopias (Eminem's "Not Afraid"). Those three clips will get competition from Florence and the Machine's "Dog Days Are Over" and Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance."

In the past, the winner of Best Art Direction typically contains visual cues that have rarely been seen in the past. For example, Gaga's "Paparazzi" took home the prize in 2009, as that clip featured sets, costumes and effects that were fully integrated into the narrative and the vibe of the song. Other past winners include Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Dani California" in 2006, Outkast's "Hey Ya!" in 2004, Michael and Janet Jackson's "Scream" in 1995, Nirvana's "Heart Shaped Box" in 1994 and Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" in 1987.

Based on those past winners, it seems like the video that goes the most over-the-top is destined to win, which is why Beyoncé's "Video Phone" appears to have this one in the bag. But she could easily see a challenge from "Bad Romance" and "Dog Days Are Over," as both of those clips are visually striking and seem to created entirely different universes in which the artists can explore and play. To find out who reigns supreme in the Best Art Direction category, you'll just have to watch.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12 at 9 p.m. ET.

Tags Better Know a Category, video-music-awards, VMAs

By Kara Warner

Say what you will about John Mayer, but underneath all the tabloid noise and nonsense, the man knows how to play a live show. More importantly, he understands his public perception and how to work it to his advantage, which he did with tremendous, self-deprecating aplomb during his concert in Irvine, California on Tuesday night (August 24).

After warming up the pleasantly diverse crowd (especially diverse for Irvine) with tracks from his multi-platinum albums Battle Studies, Room for Squares and Continuum, he threw in a little Jimi Hendrix (complete with crazy guitar solo action) in the form of "Voodoo Child."

Mayer followed those tunes with the standard, "How you feeling, Irvine?" crowd pleasantries, but then took a few minutes to showcase the aforementioned aplomb, with a highly amusing monologue that segued into "Perfectly Lonely."

He began this little interlude by thanking the crowd for his current financial security. "Thanks to you all, I'm a rich motherf---er," and then went into how visiting L.A. means dealing with the paparazzi (which he called his "cottage industry"), Googling himself to see what unflattering photos turn up and fielding questions about his love life.

"I'm completely single," Mayer told the crowd, addressing the ever-present rumors and speculation about his relationship status. He then went into TMI-territory, revealing that the only constant in his life is a morning ritual of watching Internet porn and searching for a specific brunette on RedTube. "That is the dirty truth," he said, daring the press to write that story (well, here it is, John).

Other highlights from his lively show included a brief, jazzy cover of Katy Perry's "California Girls" and some show-stopping, behind-the-back, on-the-floor guitar soloing during "Gravity." (The latter was later topped by Mayer's bandmate Robbie McIntosh, after which Mayer said, "I just got my ass kicked! Robbie, you aren't supposed to play a better guitar solo than me!") The true highlight? Mayer's fantastic cover of "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey, which Mayer played over his "Half of My Heart" and created a smooth blend of the two songs. It's moments like that — equal parts technical virtuosity and musical goofiness — that keep Mayer fans (myself included) looking past the tabloid stories and porn talk into the heart of the songs.

Tags Concerts, John-Mayer

The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards are only a few weeks away. The biggest party of the year features nominated clips by Lady Gaga, Eminem, Jay-Z, Ke$ha and Katy Perry and will feature performances by Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Drake, B.o.B and Florence and the Machine (with many more to be announced). In order to properly prepare yourself for what's to come, every day the MTV Newsroom Blog will deliver a classic moment in the history of the MTV Video Music Awards. Today's installment: Busta Rhymes makes a new best friend.

The MTV Video Music Awards have repeatedly matched stars on stage that wouldn't necessarily run into one another any other place in the universe (like having Abigail Breslin hand an award to Avenged Sevenfold or letting Milton Berle hurl barbs at RuPaul). At the 1997 awards, no two people came from more disparate universes than Busta Rhymes (who was about to drop his stunning second solo album When Disaster Strikes) and Martha Stewart (queen of all things domestic). The "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" rapper seemed at ease with Stewart, and she returned the favor with a compliment about his hair and his unusual outfit.

The '97 show remains one of the stranger entries in the history of the VMAs. It will likely be remembered as the year that Jamiroquai cleaned up (which essentially represented the pinnacle of Jamiroquai's very existence), but fans shouldn't forget Fiona Apple's potty-mouthed acceptance speech, the Wallflowers' tag-team with Bruce Springsteen on "One Headlight," the many tributes to the late Notorious B.I.G. (who also won a Moonman posthumously) and Sting's surprise appearance to sing the chorus of "I'll Be Missing You." Will the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards be as unhinged and mind-blowing? There's only one way to find out.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12 at 9 p.m. ET.

Tags Bust Rhymes, Martha Stewart, video-music-awards, VMAs

"We wrote a song and it's not for radio, obviously, with the title. We're probably gonna have to work on that. But it was a dream session come true; that was the idea collaboration. Everyone was just putting their minds together and [we came] up with one of our favorite tracks we've ever done. He came in and we started singing it for him. And he's just, 'I love that, man. That's beautiful.' And we said, 'Let's go,' and that's all we really had — just that concept — and now it's blowing up."

-Singer and producer Bruno Mars, discussing the origin of Cee-Lo's world-beating, Internet-seizing viral hit "F--- You," which Mars had a hand in writing and producing. Mars, best known for his cameo appearances in B.o.B's "Nothin' On You" and Travie McCoy's "Billionaire," joined up with production partner Philip Lawrence (the pair, along with Ari Levin, are known as the Smeezingtons) to craft the track specifically for the Goodie Mob member and Gnarls Barkley frontman.

"Talk about the perfect marriage, we been fans of Cee-Lo for real," Mars told MTV News about the genesis of the project, a process that began nearly three years ago. "And we became labelmates and I was just feeding that to them. 'We got to get in. I know he's working on something, we got to do something.' So he comes in the session, and it was one of the most organic sessions."

The resulting track is a delightfully profane kiss-off to an ex-girlfriend (and the guy she currently drives around with), offset by a stout Motown arrangement and some bright vocal harmonies. The ride for the song isn't over yet either, as Cee-Lo is currently planning on cutting a more elaborate video for the song and crafting a radio edit called "Forget You." The track is the first single from Cee-Lo's upcoming album The Lady Killer, which will hit stores later this fall.

Tags Bruno Mars, Cee-Lo, Quote

While Millennium is technically the Backstreet Boys' third album, here in the U.S. of A., it is considered their sophomore release (a follow-up to their self-titled debut album). So, we'll let the facts slide on this one for the sake of the argument that perhaps that album, released in the spring of 1999, stands as one of the best sophomore releases in pop history, and it's not particularly surprising that it came in second place with 36 percent of the vote in the sophomore pop albums poll from Tuesday (August 24), which proposed that Katy Perry's Teenage Dream the greatest. (Perry ended up in fourth place with a mere three percent of the vote.)

Besides the fact that it contains one of the most beloved pop songs of all time ("I Want It That Way"), it also consistently delivered quality tunes, written for the most part by the pop powerhouse Max Martin (who managed to have a hand in all of the album's singles including the aforementioned "I Want It That Way," the more morose "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely," their fame-obsessed party track "Larger Than Life" and a classic BSB midtempo track "The One").

Aside from a few missteps (fine, we'll name names: "Spanish Eyes" and "The Perfect Fan"), the album gave BSB fans (and general pop fans of the time, for that matter) exactly what they wanted from Nick, Kevin, Brian, A.J. and Howie. Songs about love, songs about breakups, songs for their fans and a Nick carter solo track.

Much like the album's contemporaries like Oops… I Did It Again by Britney Spears (which narrowly finished in first place with 37 percent of the total vote) and 'NSYNC's No Strings Attached (also 2000), it would become one of the defining albums of the late '90s pop explosion. They not only played non-stop on MTV and "TRL," but also on radio and in my brain. Those albums made those artists stars that could easily rival Lady Gaga (third place, 18 percent) or Justin Bieber (less than one percent). So is Millennium the best sophomore effort of all time? 14-year-old Jocelyn would certainly make that argument.

Tags backstreet boys, britney spears, Katy Perry