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"[My manager] said, 'I don't want you to panic.' And I said, 'The song leaked, didn't it?' I turned on my phone and there were texts saying, 'Congratulations.' A leak is so out of my comfort zone, but it ended up good in the end. It made me so emotional that I started crying."

-Pop starlet and country music icon Taylor Swift, talking about the way she felt when she found out that her new single "Mine" had managed to sneak out prematurely. The song will appear on her upcoming album Speak Now, which is something of a concept album in that each track represents a confession to or a confrontation with a particular person from Swift's life. For example, "Mine" is about a boy from her past. "I was reflecting back on a boy I liked at a certain time," she told Rolling Stone magazine about the story behind the song. "The song is about what it would be like if I actually let my guard down."

Though the leak of "Mine" shocked her, it seems to have worked out well for Swift. Though it was rushed to radio and iTunes at the last minute, it still impacted the Billboard Hot 100 immediately, debuting in third place in its first week (it currently sits at number eight). Speak Now, Swift's third album and her follow-up to her gazillion-selling Fearless, will hit stores on October 25. Swift will go on her normal whirlwind tour of performance and promotion, but she has no problem with that lifestyle at all. "I'm obsessed with being busy. It's hectic and nonstop," she said. "But I'm so ready."

Tags Quote, Taylor Swift

Say what you will about Fantasia's recent drama (and trust me, judging from your comments on MTV News articles, I know you all have very strong opinions on the matter), there's no denying that the girl blew the roof off of MTV Headquarters at 1515 Broadway on Monday afternoon (August 23).

It was a special show for MTV/VH1 employees, taped for VH1.com's awesome "1515 Live" series. Typically, the performances are of the acoustic variety (it's filmed in the small reception area of the 20th floor of the building — seriously), but Fantasia brought a six-piece band and her signature pipes. She was ready to make a grand statement.

I have heard a lot of cynics crying foul over the "convenience" of a headline-grabbing suicide attempt happening just weeks before her first album in four years is about to drop. (Her manager’s icky post-suicide statement that crudely promoted said album didn't help, either.) But damned if Fantasia's struggles weren't real and on full display during her brief-but-powerful four-song set.

I snuck down to the 20th floor early and caught her soundcheck. She looked healthy in a short mushroom bob wig that she jokingly called "T-Boz." After a couple half-hearted vocals just to check levels, I saw Fanny swell up with emotion. It was during "Free Yourself," from her debut album, where things got deep. "You're playin' games/ If you don't want me then don't talk to me/ Hey, go ahead and free yourself."

The band transitioned seamlessly into her current hit single "Bittersweet." Five minutes in, the song became a gospel sermon, with 'Tasia emotionally riffing, "I just got to let it go/ I just got to let it be." Cue Fantasia's tears. "I sing it from deep down inside/ I'm tired of the liars/ I'm tired of the lies,” as the backup singers continued, "Just got to let it go/ Just got to let it be."

And that was just soundcheck. The cynics might insist her theatrics are all for show. But would she have gone through the trouble of a "performance" for a soundcheck where cameras weren't rolling and the only eyeballs watching were a small VH1 crew and a ninja "Idol" geek hiding behind a column?

Throughout soundcheck (and later during her taped performance which should be up on VH1.com later this week), Fantasia had a lot of anger towards her man. Most of her riffs revolved around who we could only assume is Antwaun Cook. The singer went out of her way to call her recent relationship "a damn lie." She's been slammed in blogs as a homewrecker, but in front of VH1 cameras, Fantasia painted herself as a victim of deception, eager to shake off a no-good man who did her wrong. Even if her words might be bending the truth, the emotions bubbling to the surface were as raw and honest as they come.

Until I saw her break down three feet in front of me, I too was skeptical about her motives. Why is she in full promo mode two weeks after trying to kill herself? Shouldn't she take some time and heal? Why didn't her team cancel all her appearances and get her in full-time therapy?

But then it hit me. Fantasia's music is her therapy, and she needs it now more than ever.

What do you think of Fantasia's new album? What do you think of her performance? Let us know in the comments!

Tags American Idol, fantasia, video

Pop music is a fickle mistress, and even though she can show an artist all sorts of devotion the first time around, she can just as easily shun that same artist the second time around. In the music business, the second album is always the hardest one to pull off, as the expectations tend to be high, the time constraints are usually even tighter and the audience tends to move on pretty quickly. But it seems like these rules do not apply to Katy Perry, who drops her sophomore release Teenage Dream today. In the wake of the success of her smash debut One of the Boys, Perry came back fighting with the chart-topping "California Gurls" and the rapidly-rising "Teenage Dream," and the rest of the album is similarly incredible.

The thing that really puts Teenage Dream over the top is its consistency. There are no real weak tracks to be found (though if you don't think Perry is much of a balladeer, you'll probably take issue with two or three of these), and it's a good mix of over-the-top tracks (like the sex-crazed "Peacock"), party tunes ("Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)"), kiss-offs ("Circle the Drain") and sweet old-school pop creations ("E.T."). In fact, it's quite possible that Teenage Dream is the best second effort in pop music history.

It's amazing how many classic pop artists have second albums that are sort of middling. Michael Jackson shouldn't really be held to it, but his sophomore release was Ben, which isn't very good. Same goes for sister Janet, whose second album Dream Street has largely been forgotten. Even Mariah Carey's second album Emotions is in the good-but-not-great category.

There are some heavy hitters, though. Britney Spears' second album Oops! ... I Did It Again is roundly considered her best work, while ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake's second effort (FutureSex/LoveSounds) is considered a modern classic. Perry even has competition from her contemporaries like Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga. But the most intriguing match-up is with Madonna, whose Like a Virgin often shows up on lists of the best pop records ever made. It's an incredible collection of songs that ended up being indescribably influential, and the stakes were awfully high coming off the success of her self-titled debut (which has more hits than you remember, including "Lucky Star," "Holiday" and "Borderline").

But we'll let you be the judge. Who has the best second album in pop music history? Cast your vote below and let us know your arguments (or anything we might have missed) in the comments.

Tags 'nsync, backstreet boys, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Poll

In case you don't have an aunt in Indiana who emails you these things (or, if you already own one and don't have the Internet in your cat-filled lair), there's a brand-new Snuggie commercial out there, one that features septuagenarians (and a dog) dancing along to a reinterpreted version of Los Del Rio's "Macarena."

And while we suppose the pairing of the Snuggie — a product designed for those who find operating the remote while wearing a blanket too complex — with a song best known for its ability to get shut-ins to dance at weddings was inevitable, the so-called "Snugarena" commercial still leaves us feeling somewhat empty inside. Why? Mostly because there are so many songs out there that would've been a better fit for the "blanket with sleeves" (and the people who wear them).

So the next time the folks at Snuggie, Inc are feeling inspired to make a commercial, perhaps they'll choose one of these classic tunes — most of which we've already adapted for their purposes, and all of which (we feel) capture the essence of what wearing a sleeved blanket is all about. If we missed a song, let us know in the comments below. After all, thanks to your Snuggie, your hands are free to type away. Or finish tying the noose. Either/or.

» "What's My Name? (Snug Doggy Dogg)"

» "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Snuggie!)"

» "The Perfect Snug"

» "The Snugs Don't Work"
Read more...

Tags Los Del Rio, Macarena, snuggies

Legendarily influential comedian George Carlin's signature bit surrounded the seven words you were not allowed to say on television (ironically, that list has eroded a bit since the routine first premiered). Those same taboo words also apply to pop music, which still frowns on dreaded curse words. But just because you aren't allowed to hear them on the radio doesn't mean that musicians don't keep dropping f-bombs (which is why your local station is filled to the brim with "clean" edits of your favorite tunes). Gnarls Barkley and Goodie Mob member Cee-Lo bypassed the radio edit game entirely when he dropped his latest single "F--- You" over the weekend. It became an immediate viral hit, notching well over a million streams on YouTube and instantly building buzz for Cee-Lo's forthcoming album The Lady Killer.

With the instant success of "F--- You" (a soul-driven throwback that features the amazing chorus "I see you driving 'round town with the girl I love/ And I'm like f--- you/ Ooh, ooh, ooh"), Cee-Lo joins the ranks of the biggest and best songs to also employ the dreaded f-word in the title.

Eminem, "Just Don't Give a F---"
Slim Shady's first big break came when his first EP began to nab some underground buzz, mostly on the back of the song "Just Don't Give a F---," which is not only a profane statement of purpose but also acts as a diss track against Pete Nice, MC Serch, Everlast and Vanilla Ice. Ironically, though Eminem constantly says "f---" during the song, the one word that is edited on both the dirty and clean versions is "raped."

Eamon, "F--- It (I Don't Want You Back)"
R&B crooner Eamon scored a gigantic worldwide hit with this track in 2004. Not only did he top the charts in eight different countries (including Australia, Germany, Ireland and the U.K.) but he also found himself in the Guiness Book of World Records for "Most expletives in a #1 song."

Akon, "I Wanna F--- You"
Never one for subtlety, Akon decided to put it all out there for his 2006 chart-topping tag-team with Snoop Dogg. Of course, it ended up becoming "I Wanna Love You" when it hit the radio, but the real version is infinitely dirtier than the clean version would suggest.

N.W.A, "F--- Tha Police"
Could the sentiment behind N.W.A's signature song be expressed any other way?
Read more...

Tags Cee-Lo, Profanity

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.

The last time we heard new music from Mariah Carey was last year's Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, and though the buzz that surrounded the first single "Obsessed" has not stuck around, Carey continues to drop singles from it (the most recent being the well-received one-two punch of "Up Out My Face" and "Angels Cry") and play shows all over the world (she is an international superstar, after all). She took her act to the Barretos International Rodeo in Brazil on Sunday (August 22) wearing a T-shirt that read "If You Like Fun You'll Love Me." She plowed through her massive box of hits and may or may not have fueled more pregnancy rumors (which husband Nick Cannon continues to deny, most recently on his radio show on Monday).

Carey wasn't the only star getting outside her comfort zone, as "True Blood" stars Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin got married in Malibu and Miranda Cosgrove paid a visit to the Governor's Ball in Los Angeles. Click here for these photos as well as the entire "Spotted" archive, which features nearly 500 candid shots of stars like Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, the Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry, Jay-Z, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Eminem, Jessica Simpson, Madonna, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, 50 Cent, Diddy and Adam Lambert!

Tags Mariah Carey, nick-cannon, photo, Spotted!

If you have been searching for a brilliant, theatrical, bombastic display of sheer sexuality and rock and roll aggression, you have had access to two options this summer. The first is Lady Gaga's jaw-dropping Monster Ball, which has been crossing the country delivering all of her hits plus a steady diet of fireworks, props, special effects and battles with a giant octopus. Your other choice is Kiss, who have been spending the summer doing what they do best: Turning their amplifiers really, really loud and blasting out hit after hit amidst pyro, confetti cannons, fake blood and an overwhelming sense of joy. Over the weekend, those two worlds collided when Gaga paused to snap a photo with the men from Kiss, finally bringing together two of the most iconic acts in music today (and in Kiss' case, of all time).

Gaga's photo with the band reinforces the fact that no matter who you are or what you're doing, Gene Simmons probably had a hand in it. Despite the fact that his songs have often been written off as empty bombast, Simmons has managed to spin an impressive career out of a handful of fist-pumping songs, giant boots and a healthy dose of grease paint. But despite the naysaying, plenty of accomplished artists have endorsed Kiss' work (either actively or passively). In addition to Gaga, Kiss have received co-signs from the likes of Bob Dylan (Simmons co-wrote a song with him in 1992 that was later released in 2004), Taylor Swift (her and her friends dressed up like Kiss and bum rushed the stage during a Keith Urban set) and Frank Zappa (he co-wrote "Black Tongue" with Simmons), as well as countless nods in the movie world (the film "Detroit Rock City," most of the best jokes in "Role Models). It seems that no matter who you are or what you are doing, a nod to the original Monsters of Rock is never all that far away.

Is it too much to hope that Gaga will team up with the men of Kiss in the future? Or that perhaps Gene and company will cover "Poker Face" one of these days? If anybody two artists understand each other, it's certainly Gaga and Kiss.

What would you like to see in a Lady Gaga collaboration with Kiss? Let us know in the comments!

Tags kiss, Lady Gaga, photo

The original run of "MTV Unplugged" began way back in 1989 as a showcase for bands who wanted to show off their musicianship via the power of acoustic guitars. Though the initial batch of acts treated the show with a sort of hushed reverence, bands eventually cottoned onto the idea that you could still go a little crazy even though the volume was turned way down. Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder hopped around the set during his band's show-closing performance of "Porch," LL Cool J got the normally sedate audience out of their seats and Nirvana played fast and loose with the crowd and their friends. On this day in 1996, Oasis recorded one of the strangest (and best) episodes in the show's history.

By the time the summer of 1996 rolled around, Oasis had successfully made the transition from Britpop curiosity to full-on international sensation. Their second album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? was a gigantic hit in this country, and both "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back in Anger" had found their way into heavy rotation on radio and on MTV. It made sense that they would be drafted for an episode of "MTV Unplugged," as they had a dynamic back catalog and were known for the ongoing feud between brothers and co-frontmen Liam and Noel Gallagher (a rivalry that often played out live in concert). But when it came time to sit down and play the songs, Liam begged off, citing a sore throat. That left Noel to handle all of the singing duties, and the result was probably one of the best shows the group ever played during their peak. Liam was still in the building, of course — he sat in a balcony and drank, smoked and heckled throughout the performance.

Oasis never quite got back to the heights of their '90s peak, though their 21st century output should be considered underrated. "The Shock of the Lightning" — from the group's 2008 album Dig Out Your Soul — should be considered Exhibit A.

Tags MTV Unplugged, Oasis, 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 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 Choreography category.

For some artists, choreography is everything. The dancing and movement that gets incorporated in music videos are often the first chance a star has to show off his or her moves to the world. A look at past winners in the Best Choreography category at the MTV Video Music Awards reveals an incredible list of some of the best dancers in pop music, like Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake and, uh, Beck.

This year's nominees represent the best and the brightest in choreography. Laurieann Gibson is nominated twice for her work on Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" and "Telephone." Gaga makes another appearance in a third nominated clip: Beyoncé's "Video Phone," choreographed by Frank Gatson Jr., Phlex and Bryan Tanaka. Rounding out the category are Janelle Monae & The Memphis Jookin Community (for Janelle Monae's stellar "Tightrope") and Aakomon "AJ" (for Usher's "OMG"). While the Monae clip is pretty amazing and woefully underrated, the moves in Gaga's "Bad Romance" seem to have entered into the zeitgeist (just take a look at the number of parodies and tributes that have popped up on YouTube). Like many things at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, it seems like the Best Choreography prize will be coming up Gaga.

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 video-music-awards, VMAs

Really, you should be listening to music every day, but thanks to Twitter, Monday has become the best day of the week to discover new songs, show some love to the tune currently dominating your iPod playlist and quietly judge the listening habits of your closest friends. Yes, it's #MusicMonday, one of Twitter's most enduring trending topics. Hence "MTV News' #MusicMonday," a weekly look at the songs your favorite stars are currently crushing on.

This week, Plain White T's invite you to hop on board with AM Taxi.

The men of Plain White T's know what it's like to score a gigantic hit, and they'd like to be able to pass that along to some friends and colleagues. That's why when they stopped by the MTV News office last week to chat about their new album Wonders of the Younger and their new single and video "Rhythm of Love," they kept their #MusicMonday endorsement close to home.

"The band AM Taxi, from Chicago," frontman Tom Higgenson told MTV News. "They just put a record out on Virgin and they were on Warped Tour all summer. They've been friends of ours for a while and they just really blew me away with this record. It's amazing."

Higgenson later favorably compared AM Taxi's brand of rugged, sweaty, passionate punk to similar work by the Gaslight Anthem, the New Jersey-based critics' darlings who are equal parts Hüsker Dü and Bruce Springsteen. AM Taxi (originally known as American Taxi) began as a side project of Lucky Boys Confusion, and their debut album We Don't Stand a Chance dropped in June and is one of the most underrated records of the year.

What's your #MusicMonday jam? Let us know in the comments!

Tags #MusicMonday, AM Taxi, plain-white-ts, video