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Beyoncé Gets Banned From U.K. TV For Semi-Nude Perfume Ad

Posted 11/17/10 3:00 pm EST by in Music


Beyoncé has certainly called attention to her sex appeal over the course of her decade-plus career, but it has never gotten her into trouble until now. The U.K. Advertising Standards Authority has reviewed the television commercial for Beyoncé's new fragrance (which is called "Heat") and has decided that it's too hot for TV (or at least too hot for daytime TV). The decision banishes the ad to after 7:30 in the evening. In a statement, the organization said, "We considered that Beyoncé's body movements and the camera's prolonged focus on shots of her dress slipping away to partially expose her breasts created a sexually provocative ad that was unsuitable to be seen by young children."

The clip opens with Beyoncé in a bathtub, but the action quickly moves to the singer wearing a barely-there red dress that does indeed threaten to slip off her body. All the while, she sings "Fever" and appears to be able to light fires just by touching a wall. It's pretty provocative, sure, but it doesn't seem any more provocative than any of her music videos or any beer commercial run during football on Sunday afternoon. It also doesn't seem as provocative as the advertisements that Katy Perry put together for her own fragrance (which is called "Purr"), which saw her dressed up like one of the more playful members of the "Thundercats."

What do you think of Beyoncé's ad for her fragrance? Is it too hot for TV? Let us know in the comments!

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Spotted: Rihanna Visits 'The Late Show With David Letterman'

Posted 11/17/10 1:30 pm 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.

In the excitement surrounding Jimmy Fallon's collaboration with Bruce Springsteen on Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" (which has to be seen to be believed), there was another big late night moment that was missed. Over on "The Late Show With David Letterman," the host welcomed both Jay-Z and Rihanna to the show. Jigga sat down to discuss his recently-released book "Decoded," while Rihanna was on to plug her well-received new album Loud with a performance of "What's My Name?" on the show. Both stars were well-received, and both of them stopped on their way into the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York to wave to the fans who had gathered to see them arrive.

Rihanna wasn't the only star out among the people, as "American Idol" winner Lee DeWyze made his way to a taping of "Live With Regis and Kelly" in New York and "Jersey Shore" star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino signed copies of his new book "Here's the Situation" at Borders in Los Angeles. Click here for these photos as well as the entire "Spotted" archive, which features over 500 candid shots of stars like Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Adam Lambert, the Jonas Brothers and Madonna!

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Pregnant Pink Should Put These Items On Her Baby Registry

Posted 11/17/10 12:30 pm EST by in Music


By Nuzhat Naoreen

In case you haven't heard the good news, Pink announced on Wednesday's (November 17) episode of "Ellen" that she and hubby Carey Hart are expecting a baby. It may still be awhile until the little one makes his or her debut, but we figured it's never too early to start thinking about the baby registry. After all, with a rockstar mom and a BMX biker dad, this kid is sure to have a kickass nursery.

» Every newborn needs a pacifier, but why pick up something generic when you can add a little attitude? This heart design from Crazy Baby Clothing seems like it fits the bill.

» Of course, music will definitely be a huge part of Pink's child’s life, and what better to soothe his or her cries at night than the Rockabye Baby! albums, which turn popular tunes into lullabies fit for the crib. They don't have a series of Pink songs, but Pink Floyd is probably the next best thing, right?
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Inside Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy: 'Monster'

Posted 11/17/10 11:30 am EST by in Music


The release of Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, one of the most hotly-anticipated albums of the year. The 13-track LP completes something of a comeback narrative for West that began with the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards (when he was ostracized for crashing the stage during a Taylor Swift acceptance speech and went underground for a while) and was built up over the course of the past year with some key live performances, the "G.O.O.D. Friday" download series and the recently-released short film "Runaway." In fact, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is so dense and full of gems that it's necessary to take each song and break it down to its bare elements. This time around, we take a look at the references on "Monster."

Triple-double, no assists
West is referring to the phenomenon in basketball wherein a player gets more than 10 in three different statistical categories in the same game. The most common triple-double usually involves points, assists and rebounds, though since Kanye is bragging about not figuring assists into the combination, he must have racked up 10 steals (possible, considering his speed) or blocks (less likely, figuring his height).

Pharaoh
The title assigned to Egyptian rulers, including Tutankhamun. West has been using a lot of Egyptian imagery lately, including a giant chain depicting Egyptian god Horus.

Sasquatch
A legendary creature that is supposed to be half-man and half-ape. Also known as Bigfoot.
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Jimmy Fallon Teams With Bruce Springsteen As Neil Young For 'Whip My Hair'

Posted 11/17/10 10:31 am EST by in Music


While Conan O'Brien has stolen most of the headlines regarding late night television of late, Jimmy Fallon continues to evolve into one of the more brilliant minds operating in the late night hours (much in the same way O'Brien did during his original run at 12:35). On Tuesday night's (November 16) episode of "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," the host combined his love for music with his appreciation for meta-comedy and his ability to craft viral videos into one stunning sequence that saw him assume his Neil Young character (a stunning re-creation) and perform a Young-ified version of Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair."

The sketch got an extra kick in the pants when Bruce Springsteen (who was the show's only guest, in celebration of his recently-released anniversary edition of Darkness on the Edge of Town and the unearthed demos compilation The Promise) came out dressed as the '70s version of himself to provide backing vocals. It was funny on several different levels, but it was also a stunning performance (a testament to Fallon's abilities as both a comedian and a musician).

Springsteen's appearance was especially inspired, as the glue holding on his fake beard was clearly visible and he played up the inflated version of his '70s persona perfectly. The rest of Fallon's show was just as great for Springsteen fans, as it featured a prolonged conversation with Springsteen (as well as longtime sideman Steven Van Zandt) as well as Bruce's performances of "Because the Night" and "Save My Love" (backed, of course, by the Roots). It's the latest in a long line of late night musical stunts for Fallon, who also recently lit the Internet on fire with a collaboration between actor Jeff Goldblum and rapper Biz Markie on the classic "Just a Friend."

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The Offspring Get 'Fly,' Indulge In Americana: Wake-Up Video

Posted 11/17/10 9:30 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


When Green Day ushered in the next wave of punk with Dookie back in 1994, they opened the floodgates for a number of bands who broke through to the mainstream. In addition to Rancid and (later) Blink-182, by far the biggest success of that next wave was the Offspring. Built from the wreckage of Los Angeles hardcore and stoned California skate punk, the Offspring crashed radio and MTV with head-banging shout-alongs like "Self Esteem" and "Come Out and Play (Keep 'Em Separated)," which pushed their 1994 album Smash to multi-platinum status. After signing to a major label and stumbling a bit with their 1997 follow-up Ixnay on the Hombre, the band returned to the upper echelons of the Billboard charts with Americana, which was released on this day in 1998.

Americana saw the Offspring expanding on their core sound and adding elements of metal and prog rock to their buzzsaw approach. The clearest expansion came on the massive single "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)," a punchy, funky blast of sneering bile aimed at wannabe gangsters (who at the time were threatening to take over all of popular culture). Lead singer Dexter Holland used his adenoidal wail to paint a picture of a kid hopping on ever hip-hop trend available, and the video (directed by McG) furthered the image by dressing up a pasty loser in a Fubu jersey and baggy pants while he danced around his suburban wasteland. It was a pretty sharp piece of satire dressed up as a novelty song, and it ended up being the Offspring's biggest hit (and their most profound impact on popular culture). Ironically, the very kids Holland was mocking seemed to dig the song the most, but that doesn't stop it from remaining bratty and punchy today.


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Winter Music Conference Shifts, Ultra Music Festival Stays Put In 2011

Posted 11/17/10 8:30 am EST by in Music


By Adam Stewart

On Tuesday afternoon (November 16), a pair of press releases went out to fans, artists and industry folk in the electronic dance music universe, informing them that March would either be a really awesome or really confusing month for the community, depending on how you look at it. In a surprising shocker, the official Winter Music Conference press department distributed their 2011 WMC press release indicating that the official dates for the annual Miami conclave would be a full two weeks earlier than expected, starting Tuesday, March 8 and running through Saturday, March 12. That's no big deal, right? Other than the fact that WMC has taken last week in March for all past years in recent memory, the only real damage done was to those who already booked their early bird plane tickets.

Fast forward to around three hours later when Ultra Music Festival distributed their press release indicating that the massive three-day event (which last year drew over 100,000 per day) would hold its ground and remain entrenched in the last weekend in March. That's where the problems begin. With artist, labels and fans now potentially torn between two very different sets of dates (with two huge franchise names behind them), when will the real party take place?

The controversy played out on Twitter almost immediately. Steve Angello of the Swedish House Mafia recently told MTV News that he is moving full steam ahead with his annual Size party for what he thought would be WMC week at the end of March. However, based on his tweets today, his plans aren't changing. "People, I won't be in Miami 8th - 12th," he wrote. "I'm having my Size part the last week of March. And most of the people I know will be there." Kaskade added, "#WMC - R.I.P. - It was a good run, we will miss ya! Now we can just start calling it what it really is: Spring Break. Guidos Unite!"

Scores of other loyal #WMC hash-taggers voiced (and continue to voice) their mostly unhappy take on the situation as well. While most of the chatter right now leans toward the majority making their own unofficial WMC pilgrimage at the end of March, it's still too early to tell which entity will score the biggest acts and hottest events.

What do you make of the divide between the Winter Music Conference and the Ultra Music Festival? Which will you end up going to? Let us know in the comments!

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The 'Dancing With The Stars' Situation: Brandy Voted Off In Yet Another Shocker

Posted 11/17/10 7:30 am EST by in Television


As predicted, Tuesday night's (November 16) episode of "Dancing With the Stars" was a controversial one for the record books that featured the elimination of a contestant who seemed like a sure thing for the finals only a few weeks ago. When the final votes were counted regarding who would be competing in next week's big finale for the right to take home the "Dancing With the Stars" trophy, Brandy found herself on the outside looking in. That means that "Dirty Dancing" actress Jennifer Grey, Disney star Kyle Massey and political scion Bristol Palin will go head-to-head-to-head for all the marbles next week.

Brandy's elimination is extra devastating if only because it seemed like she genuinely wanted to win. She carried herself with a certain amount of competitive fire that really drove her surge to the top of the heap. While Grey has been a great competitor, you can't say the same for either Massey (who has been improving his game quite a bit but doesn't seem particularly engaged in the actual competition aspect of the show) or Palin (who really doesn't look like she wants to be there at all). You almost have to feel bad for Palin, as it almost seems like she knows that better dancers have gone home in her stead and that she doesn't belong in the finals.

The rest of the results show was fleshed out by appearances from Annie Lennox and Enrique Iglesias, but certainly the best moment of the show came when Brandy was announced as the eliminated contestant and the producers cut to a crowd shot that featured Monica giving her former "The Boy Is Mine" collaborator a standing ovation.

Who do you think will win "Dancing With the Stars"? Let us know in the comments!

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Inside Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy: 'All Of The Lights'

Posted 11/16/10 5:00 pm EST by in Music


The release of Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, one of the most hotly-anticipated albums of the year. The 13-track LP completes something of a comeback narrative for West that began with the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards (when he was ostracized for crashing the stage during a Taylor Swift acceptance speech and went underground for a while) and was built up over the course of the past year with some key live performances, the "G.O.O.D. Friday" download series and the recently-released short film "Runaway." In fact, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is so dense and full of gems that it's necessary to take each song and break it down to its bare elements. This time around, we take a look at the references on "All of the Lights."

For a five minute song that features a dozen or so special guests (plus its own intro track), "All of the Lights" actually doesn't have a whole lot in the way of references. Still, there are a few lyrical pop culture references worth diving into.

"MJ gone"
West's tribute to the late Michael Jackson, who tragically passed away in 2009 just before he was supposed to mount a series of comeback shows in London. West contributed to Jackson's Thriller 25 album (which celebrated the 25th anniversary of Thriller), crafting a new mix of "Billie Jean."

Borders
Second-largest brick-and-mortar book store chain in the country (behind Barnes & Noble) that also used to feature extensive music sections (back when people bought music in stores). Often found in suburban strip malls. A logical hangout for intellectual high school students who also like sipping lattes.

Ghetto University
Not actually an accredited higher learning institution.

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Paramore's 'Playing God' Video: The Key Scene

Posted 11/16/10 4:00 pm EST by in Music


A little over a year ago, Paramore released their third album Brand New Eyes, a darker, more mature, more tumultuous collection of tunes than anything the band had ever done. As is often the case with music that is a bit more intense, the collection of videos associated with the singles from Brand New Eyes have been roundly excellent. They began things with the minimalist intensity of "Ignorance," graduated to the cinematic grandeur of "Brick by Boring Brick" and "The Only Exception" and got more intimate with "Careful." Their latest clip, "Playing God," actually seems to bring together all of those previous elements into a single excellent video.

The clip for "Playing God" (which premiered earlier today on Paramore's official Web site) opens with singer Hayley Williams sitting in her actual car in front of her actual house in Franklin, Tennessee. (We know these are legit because MTV News went there last year.) She makes her way to her basement where the rest of her band members are tied up with rope. She circles them and taunts them with the song's chorus: "Next time you point a finger/ I'll point you to the mirror."

The action cuts between Williams singing at the other members of Paramore and a scene in Williams' dining room that sees her giving her band mates tea that she has poisoned. In the video's key scene, not only does she sit passively over her dead compatriots but also wears a killer pair of sunglasses.

Paramore are currently in the U.K. whipping through another tour, but they'll be back in Tennessee next week to celebrate Thanksgiving before hitting a handful of holiday radio festivals in the month of December (including stops in Los Angeles and at New York's Madison Square Garden).

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