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Nicki Minaj, Jordin Sparks Add Sizzle To Summer Tours

Posted 6/7/11 8:16 pm EST by MTV News in Music

By Vaughn Trudeau Schoonmaker

Summer is the season when music's biggest acts unleash hell on fans' bank accounts by all touring at the same time. The summer of 2011 is no exception — but what makes it special is that many of the supporting acts this season are so big that tickets become a two-for-one deal! And who doesn't love a bargain?

The biggest summer shows, and their big-name opening acts, include:

NKOTBSB with Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks will open for the much-hyped NKOTBSB tour, featuring the union of the two mega-boy bands that now compose one big "man band." The "American Idol" winner will be sure to give packed arenas their last shot of estrogen-infused power ballads and high heels before the testosterone-filled ninesome thunders in.

U2 with Florence and the Machine or Lenny Kravitz
U2 has enlisted a handful of opening talents to cover various portions of their everlasting 360 Tour. The Fray have just wrapped up their part of the tour, leaving fans the possibility of catching Florence and the Machine or Lenny Kravitz at the remaining shows.

Rihanna with Cee Lo Green and J. Cole
Cee Lo takes the stage before Rihanna and her fluffy red hair on the Loud Tour. The neo-soul singer is taking a break from judging NBC's "The Voice" to show off the voice that made him big enough to sit at the judge's table. Rapper J. Cole also adds to the volume of the Loud Tour.

Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance with Matt and Kim, Against Me or Manchester Orchestra
At different points this summer, Matt and Kim, Against Me and Manchester Orchestra will open for one of the noisiest tours of the season. Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance have joined forces to co-headline a tour that will be sure to draw in every punk in the United States and then some. "What's My Age Again?" will become an irrelevant question as the tour will surely draw teens as well as the 20- and 30-year-olds who moshed their way through Blink shows in the '90s.

Britney Spears with Nicki Minaj
After some drama with Enrique Iglesias, Nicki Minaj stepped in to add to the "femme" on Britney Spears' Femme Fatale Tour, which starts off in North America before hitting the rest of the world.

Katy Perry with Robyn
Scientists across the planet are still scratching their heads, struggling to solve the equation of how to make the ridiculously talented Robyn as famous as she should be in America. Joining Katy Perry's California Dreams Tour won't hurt, considering she has become the first artist to spend a whole year in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Other shows to catch
Don't miss Band of Horses opening for Kings of Leon, LMFAO opening for Ke$ha, and Yeasayer opening for Weezer and the Flaming Lips.

For more artists to look out for, check out our Opening Act videos.

Which opening act are you most excited to see this summer? Tell us in the comments below!

Tags jordin-sparks, nicki minaj

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'Red Riding Hood' Howls Along With Shakira, Yeasayer And Daniel Merriweather

Posted 3/11/11 10:30 am EST by Kyle Anderson in Music

A new weekend is almost upon us, which means that there are a whole bunch of new titles hitting cinemas. A new adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's classic novel "Jane Eyre" has arrived, this time with direction by Cary Fukunaga ("Sin Nombre") and starring Mia Wasikowska (you know her better as Alice from Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland"). If you need more explosions in your movies, there's "Battle: Los Angeles," an alien invasion flick that features an all out onslaught by some unfriendly beasties from space. There's a family option in the animated "Mars Needs Moms" (which features voice work from Seth Green and Joan Cusack). There are also smaller titles in "Certified Copy" (a lush drama that earned star Juliette Binoche an acting prize at Cannes), "Black Death" (a medieval horror mystery from the director of the cult hit "Severance") and "Making the Boys" (a documentary about the creation of "The Boys in the Band," a landmark play and movie for the gay rights movement).

But the big headlines of the weekend will belong to "Red Riding Hood," as it represents a big step forward for star Amanda Seyfried (who is about to elevate herself to the A list) and director Catherine Hardwicke (who is handling her first film since the first "Twilight" movie). Seyfried plays the titular girl who is hunted by a werewolf (who is in turn being hunted by Gary Oldman). It's a gorgeous, pulpy flick full of great twists that should satisfy a bunch of different entertainment urges.

In order to get yourself into the right mood for "Red Riding Hood," check out the playlist below. There are songs devoted to wolves, hoods and the color red, beginning with Daniel Merriweather's "Red."

Tags Daniel Merriweather, Rancid, Red Riding Hood, Shakira, video

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Nicki Minaj, Battles And Suckers: The Top 25 Songs Of 2010

Posted 12/8/10 4:00 pm EST by MTV News in Music

The end of 2010 is almost upon us, which is why MTV News is rounding up the Top Songs of 2010. We had over two dozen MTV News staffers submit their own personal lists of their 25 favorite songs, and from those lists we derived a master list whose top 10 will be slowly rolling out over the course of this week. Check out one of the 25 lists below, with an argument or two for the greatness of some of the under-appreciated tunes of the year.

By Rya Backer

1. "OMG," Usher
This is just the best song ever, and I want to listen to it on loop for the rest of my life so I can always be in a constant state of joy.

2. "In a House With No Mirrors (You Never Get Old)," Gruff Rhys
I really like the story behind this song. Gruff Rhys (lead singer of Wales' Super Furry Animals) went to find his uncle, a forgotten rock star, in Patagonia and subsequently released a documentary about the search. Not to spoil everything, but they reunited and subsequently recorded this track. The song itself is very simple (no crazy solos, no wild time signature changes), just a few meaningful (seriously, think about that title!) lyrics and a catchy guitar-driven melody.

3. "Thieves in the Night," Hot Chip

4. "Lucky," Holy F---

5. "Bang Bang Bang," Mark Ronson

6. "Black Sheep," Suckers
I first got to know Suckers when we went on a "First Date" to a fondue restaurant, but we've since become pals in real life. I'm really happy for all the success they've earned since our meeting, and I'm really happy "Black Sheep" was their first single off their great album Wild Smile. It was always a live favorite of mine because of singer Quinn Walker's lyrical attack on the chorus, and the recorded version sounds even better.

7. "Tell 'Em," Sleigh Bells
Read More...

Tags Battles, nicki minaj, Top 25 Songs of 2010, Usher

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Usher, Yeasayer And Kanye West: The Top 25 Songs Of 2010

Posted 12/8/10 11:00 am EST by MTV News in Music

By Joel Hanek

1. "Power," Kanye West
2010 is Kanye's year. Just to illustrate how far this man has risen, two presidents have directly commented on his actions. After his incident at the 2009 VMAs, he disappeared, and everyone anticipated that the loquacious West would have some retort to his vilification. Months of silence passed when all of a sudden in May he dropped "Power." The Internets promptly exploded. The song is eclectic without sacrificing being organic or risking contrivance as it bounces from powerful African-influenced chants to heavy guitar riffs to a vocal sample from the classic prog-rock band King Crimson. But the lyrics are the reason why "Power" is my song of the year. While it may or may not be a response to his actions at the 2009 VMAs, West was aware people would make it such regardless. The song is an unapologetic acknowledgment of having done wrong while simultaneously an admission of having a heavy conscience. It is the pop music version of "Henry IV," with Mr. West lamenting "uneasy lies the head that holds the crown." Or it's just a really good song.

2. "O.N.E.," Yeasayer
When I first heard this song, I thought the lyrics were "Hold me like the phone/ Hold me like you used to/ Control me like you used to" only to then later find out they actually sing "Hold me like before." While I prefer my own interpretation of the lyrics with the metaphor about possession, I still think this is one of the best songs of this year. It's a sexy-sensitive-indie-pop-dance-rock-ballad that will be stuck in your head for days.

3. "Dancing On My Own," Robyn

4. "F--- You," Cee-Lo Green

5. "On Our Own," Diamond Rings
My friends Brendan and CJ recommended Diamond Rings and I fell in love instantly. I think if Morrissey, Lady Gaga, Ian Curtis and Adam Lambert all made a baby it would be something like Diamond Rings. The band is actually just one person who, with just a couple keyboards, a guitar, and a laptop produces some of the catchiest and moving synth-pop anthems this side of 2000. I have a feeling that if he plays his career-cards right, 2011 could be a good year for this fellow.

6. "Telephone," Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé

7. "Monster," Kanye West featuring Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Rick Ross and Bon Iver

8. "Crossfire," Brandon Flowers

9. "Tightrope," Janelle Monae

10. "Bulletproof," La Roux

11. "Stylo," Gorillaz featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack

12. "OMG," Usher
Even though this song is infectious, I believe "OMG" still ranks behind will.i.am's other big release this year.
Read More...

Tags Kanye West, Top 25 Songs of 2010, Usher, Yeasayer

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Fantasia, Deerhunter And Janelle Monae: The Top 25 Songs Of 2010

Posted 12/7/10 4:00 pm EST by Jim Cantiello in Music

Don't let "Blah Blah Blah" fool you — 2010 was an awesome year for music. When I was asked to contribute a list of my 25 favorite songs to James Montgomery and Kyle Anderson (who were compiling a master list for the department using fancy math stuffs), my first draft was well over 100 songs. (Seriously!) From singles by "Idol" faves like Adam Lambert, Kris Allen and Fantasia to deep cuts from Detroit lo-fi punk bands like Tyvek, artists from all walks of life and genres stepped up their games big time, making my bank account suffer and my iPod hard drive sweat from being stuffed to the max.

Some of my song picks ended up making the final MTV News list, but a lot of them didn't. (Because my co-workers are idiots. I mean ... because music is subjective?) So peep my personal list of 2010's finest songs below. I even wrote a few words for a handful of my choices, but avoided songs written about so eloquently already.

25. "Teenage Dream," Katy Perry

24. "Real Love," Beach House

23. "Always Remember Me," Ry Cuming

22. "Animal," Neon Trees

21. "Denver," Clem Snide
Long after Clem Snide had their moment in the sun (their claim to fame: the theme song to the second season of "Ed"), singer/songwriter/front-man Eef Barzelay is still digging deep to tell new stories. This one's a breakup ballad about an on-the-way lovechild in the titular city, with Barzelay bellowing out high notes like a wounded animal. "Denver" might be the saddest ditty this under-appreciated artist has ever committed to tape. Fun fact: Barzelay is offering to write a song about you for $100 on his website. If it's half as good as "Denver," it's the biggest bargain on the Internet.

20. "Mean," Taylor Swift

19. "A/B Machines," Sleigh Bells
Blistering surf guitars. Bowel-disrupting bass. Ear-raping distortion. Two lines ("Got my 'A' machines on the table/ Got my 'B' machines in the drawer") that are repeated like a mantra. And just when you think it has shown its hand, a woman shrieks. I've probably lost 50 percent of my hearing thanks to having this track on repeat for the majority of 2010. It was worth it.

18. "All to All," Broken Social Scene

17. "Crazy for You," Best Coast

16. "New York Is Killing Me," Gil Scott-Heron
Read More...

Tags Top 25 Songs of 2010

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Kanye West, Drake And Chris Brown: The Top 25 Songs Of 2010

Posted 12/7/10 10:30 am EST by Kyle Anderson in Music

By Steven Roberts

25. "It Kills Me," Melanie Fiona

24. "X.X.X.O," M.I.A.

23. "O.N.E.," Yeasayer

22. "Hit," LCD Soundsystem

21. "Barbara Streisand," Duck Sauce
Every year, there's one novelty song that captivates the masses, and your aunt asks you how to do the song's dance. No offense to A-Trak and Armand van Helden, but "Teach Me How to Dougie" easily wins that distinction. But if you wanted to see a bunch of New York City kids go ape on the dance floor, put on "Barbara Streisand."

20. "Lemonade," Gucci Mane

19. "Miss Me," Drake featuring Lil Wayne

18. "Shutterbug," Big Boi

17. "Window Seat," Erykah Badu

16. "Bulletproof," La Roux

15. "Pon De Floor," Major Lazer

14. "On to the Next One," Jay-Z featuring Swizz Beatz

13. "Rhinestone Eyes," Gorillaz

12. "Monster," Kanye West featuring Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross and Jay-Z

11. "Deuces," Chris Brown and Tyga featuring Kevin McCall
Following his highly publicized guilty plea for assault, Chris Brown has been forced to find another avenue to get his music out. In 2010, he teamed up with one of Young Money's brightest (and often slept-on) members in Tyga to release the mixtape Fan of a Fan. The tape and Brown's huge fan base helped to re-energize his career. "Deuces" was the tape's stand-out track, and it showed that his talent couldn't be denied.
Read More...

Tags Chris Brown, drake, Kanye West, La Roux, Top 25 Songs of 2010

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Spotted: Pink And Bette Midler Come Out In Support Of Human Rights Campaign

Posted 10/11/10 2:00 pm EST by MTV News 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 case you didn't know, today (October 11) is National Coming Out Day, a celebration of gay people being able to live openly in public as who they are and to raise awareness for gay rights issues (which lately are as vital — and as divisive — as ever). As a preamble to today's celebration, the Human Rights Campaign hosted their annual national dinner at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The high-profile guest list included singer Ricky Martin, Oscar-winning actress Mo'Nique, "Modern Family" star Jesse Tyler Ferguson and the dynamic duo of envelope-pushing pop star Pink and living legend (and former VMA host) Bette Midler. The evening was a celebration of equality and encouraged discussion about a number of current issues, from the recent bullying epidemic to marriage rights.

Pink and Midler weren't the only stars putting themselves out there, as a cavalcade of eclectic bands and artists (including Yeasayer, Norah Jones, Phish and the Flaming Lips) descended on Texas for the annual Austin City Limits Festival and Ozzy and Kanye West hosted another screening of "Runaway" in Sydney, Australia. 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, Jay-Z, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Madonna, the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Eminem and 50 Cent!

Tags bette midler, photo, Pink, Spotted!

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MGMT's 'Congratulations' And Yeasayer's 'Madder Red' Meet In The Middle Of Puppet Death

Posted 8/25/10 2:30 pm EST by MTV News in Music

By Joel Hanek

I know that many of you reading this blog are thinking, "Hey, I'm in a critically-acclaimed indie rock band that released a pretty good album earlier this year, but now I've got a new single and I need a music video. What am I to do?" Well look no further, my friends, because we've got your answer: Puppets.

This month, Yeasayer and MGMT both released music videos featuring melancholic puppet/human misadventures with themes of love and loss (think "Mac & Me," but with more death). Yeasayer released "Madder Red," a more subdued track from the psychedelic-splashed Odd Blood as their third single from the record, while MGMT released the acoustic "Congratulations," their latest LP's title track and probably the most conventionally structured song on the unexpected sounding album. These two down-tempo tracks respectively provide the score to two tear-jerking tragedies that (spoiler alert!) ultimately end in puppet demise.

So taking a page from the experts, here's the breakdown of what you need to release your very own puppet-centric music video this year.

Choosing Your Puppet
This may seem simple, but really there's a different puppet for every job. Both Yeasayer and MGMT's videos feature creature companions that are slightly macabre and grisly at first glance but actually pretty adorable (even if they are sans fur). Yeasayer chose an amorphous mass of viscera as their puppet protagonist, while MGMT chose a vaguely human, vaguely avian quadruped. When it comes to choosing your puppet, be creative! Remember: The best puppets are always the ones that can be anthropomorphized into great sidekicks or best friends.

Casting Your Human
At the center of every tragedy there's the universal idea that everybody experiences loss. The vessel to carry this to your audience is your human. Read More...

Tags MGMT, Yeasayer

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Lollapalooza 2010 Schedule Creates Tough Calls, Easy Choices

Posted 6/8/10 3:00 pm EST by Gil Kaufman in Music

Every year around this time, the good folks behind Chicago's Lollapalooza finally unveil the daily schedule for the three-day festival by the lake. It's an occasion both exhilarating and heart-rending for ticket holders looking forward to 72 hours of musical nirvana in the shadow of the big city. Exhilarating because they can finally figure out where to be when, and heartbreaking because, inevitably, they'll realize there's no way to be in two places at once to catch their favorite acts facing off at opposite ends of the more than mile-long festival grounds.

And so, we offer you this year's allotment of musical "Sophie's Choices," which, to be honest, are not as fraught as past years (when, for instance, you had to choose between dueling headliners such as Tool and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs or Kanye West versus Nine Inch Nails).

Day one, August 6, starts out pretty chill, with a few minor nailbiters — the subdued rock of the Walkmen or the acid jazz/funk of Venezuela's Los Amigos Invisible? — as well as tough calls, including one pitting gospel great Mavis Staples against modern R&B master Raphael Saadiq. Some picks are easy, though, such as the British shoegaze sludge of the Big Pink versus the swampy rock of the Drive-By Truckers, or the New Pornographers' twisty indie pop against revived new wave veterans Devo (my picks are Big Pink and Devo), but as the night goes on, you will have to hustle.
Read More...

Tags Lollapalooza

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Yeasayer Celebrate Odd Blood With Psychedelic Dance Party

Posted 2/9/10 10:45 am EST by Christopher "CJ" Smith in Music

On Monday night, odd-job psych-rockers Yeasayer got Manhattan's sold-out Bowery Ballroom bouncing in honor of the release of their sophomore record Odd Blood. The enthusiastic crowd enjoyed the sonic explorations and bigger beats the band chose for their new album and lost their minds during the record's sure-fire hits "O.N.E." and "Ambling Alp," the former of which feels like MGMT at their best.

And that's no coincidence, as the two bands have always shared links. Both released debut records back in October 2007 and brought a ton of attention to the Brooklyn area with their expertly-crafted psych gems. MGMT were just nominated for a Grammy for their effort, but Yeasayer's All Hour Cymbals was more of a critical darling (though it never matching the sales or cultural awareness of their poppier buds) with songs that skewed less poppy and instead more raw and tribal, fusing world sounds with layered harmonies.

The Yeasayer sound isn't too different now in 2010, but Odd Blood will definitely appeal to the more sugar-friendly MGMT fans this time around, especially in the live setting. Set opener "The Children" shone brightest amongst the new material at the Bowery Ballroom, turning the room into a dance party with it's rumbling base and robotic melodies. The synth build-up in "Love Me Girl"' kept that dancier spirit alive later in the set before morphing into a Timberlake-esque funk that had the crowd popping and clicking.

You can find Odd Blood in stores now (and hear snippets and catch a full track-by-track of the album right here). Now let's see how MGMT answer with their follow-up, Congratulations, which is due on April 13.

Tags Concerts, MGMT, Yeasayer

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