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Nicki Minaj's Hair, Drake's Mom And Lady Gaga's Egg: Snooki's Favorite Grammy Moments

Posted 2/14/11 11:00 am EST by in Grammys

The 53rd Grammy Awards were full of stellar performances, big upsets and more than a few delightful surprises. But Sunday night's (February 13) excitement got started even before the curtain raised at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, as the Grammy Awards red carpet was a hive of superstar activity. MTV News was live on the scene with a two-hour live streaming show called "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys," which brought together MTV News' veteran voice Sway and "Jersey Shore" breakout star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi (with a handful of cameos by MTV News' James Montgomery). The trio talked to all the big stars, including Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, B.o.b and Jennifer Hudson.

(Click here for photos of Snooki and Sway on the red carpet with all the top Grammy stars, including Nicki Minaj, Bruno Mars, Drake and Jennifer Lopez!)

But what were Snooki's favorite moments from her co-hosting job as an MTV News correspondent? After the show, she talked to Sway and Montgomery about her top moments.

"Top three favorite moments? Talking to Nicki Minaj," Snooki said. "She recognized me, so that was crazy." That meet-up was particularly interesting, as not only was Minaj's hair taller than Snooki, but the chart-topping rapper also grabbed a handful of Snooki's cleavage during the interview.

Snooki also noted that she very much enjoyed talking to Drake's mom (who was the Best New Artist-nominated rapper's date at the show. But Snooki's most favorite moment of the red carpet celebration was the highlight for a lot of people present. "Seeing Lady Gaga in the egg and having her wave hello to us," Snooki added. "That was insane."

(Click here for photos of Snooki and Sway on the red carpet with all the top Grammy stars, including Nicki Minaj, Bruno Mars, Drake and Jennifer Lopez!)

What was your favorite moment from "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys"? Let us know in the comments!

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Lady Gaga's Grammy Night In Photos: Eggs, Costume Changes And Willow Smith

Posted 2/14/11 10:00 am EST by in Grammys

Lady Gaga was nominated for half a dozen prizes at Sunday night's (February 13) 53rd Grammy Awards, and the envelope-pushing pop star walked away with three victories. Her incredible single "Bad Romance" scored two wins (for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Short Form Music Video) while her album The Fame Monster picked up the gold for Best Pop Vocal Album.

(Click here for pictures from Lady Gaga's night at the 53rd Grammy Awards, including her eye-popping entrance and her photo ops with Usher and Willow Smith!)

But in between receiving awards, Gaga kept busy. After making the evening's biggest red carpet entrance (which saw her carried into the Staples Center in an egg-shaped vessel that was carried by a series of scantily-clad servants), Gaga took the stage during the show's first hour to deliver an electric version of her just-released new single "Born This Way." Surrounded by dancers, Gaga found the song's heavy groove and even added a pipe organ solo for good measure.

While she was in the audience, there always seemed to be a flurry of activity surrounding her. In between meeting Usher and Justin Bieber (who gave her a hug following her victory for Best Pop Vocal Album), she managed to squeeze in a costume change and even found time to bond with Willow Smith.

(Click here for pictures from Lady Gaga's night at the 53rd Grammy Awards, including her eye-popping entrance and her photo ops with Usher and Willow Smith!)

Though she came up short on three awards (most notably losing Album of the Year to Arcade Fire), Lady Gaga certainly walked away from the Grammy Awards a winner. And with Born This Way on the horizon, those victories will keep on coming.

What was your favorite Lady Gaga moment of the 53rd Grammy Awards? Let us know in the comments!

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Arcade Fire's The Suburbs Wins Album Of The Year: Wake-Up Video

Posted 2/14/11 9:00 am EST by in Wake-Up Video

Sunday night's (February 13) 53rd Grammy Awards were full of surprises, from Esperanza Spalding's Best New Artist victory to Mick Jagger's alarmingly sharp performance during his tribute to the late Solomon Burke. But the show saved the biggest shocker for last, as Arcade Fire's The Suburbs took home the hardware for Album of the Year. The Canadian band, who had the smallest profile of any artist nominated in the category, scored the victory in between their two electric performances — including one that ended the show.

It's been something of a long time coming for Arcade Fire, who have been nominated for several Grammys in the past but have never won. Their 2004 debut Funeral was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album in 2006 (it lost to the White Stripes' Get Behind Me Satan) and their sophomore release Neon Bible got a nod for the same award in 2008 (they were bested a second time by the White Stripes, who won for Icky Thump). In a strange twist, Arcade Fire's The Suburbs were also nominated for Best Alternative Music Album this year, though it lost to the Black Keys' Brothers. (How an album could be the best overall but not in the Alternative category is a mystery, but so are many of the decisions made by Grammy voters.)

The win for Album of the Year wraps up an incredible run for Arcade Fire, who saw their album debut at the top of the Billboard chart (an amazing feat for a band on an independent label) and who headlined Lollapalooza and sold out Madison Square Garden. In honor of their big win (and the huge chart bump they are likely to pick up this week), check out the video for the title track to The Suburbs, which proves that they're not only musical geniuses but visual innovators as well.


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Did Eminem, Lady Gaga, Arcade Fire Or Justin Bieber Have The Best Grammy Performance?

Posted 2/14/11 8:00 am EST by in Grammys

On Sunday night (February 13), the 53rd Grammy Awards unleashed a series of extra-memorable moments, including multiple wins by Lady Gaga and Eminem, Arcade Fire's upset victory in the Album of the Year category and some amazing presenter pairings (including the tag team of Selena Gomez and Donnie Wahlberg). But the biggest headlines came out of the cavalcade of performances over the course of the show's three-and-a-half hours, including stunning presentations from artists both young (Arcade Fire, Muse, Justin Bieber) and less young (Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Barbra Streisand).

Though most everybody put forth an astounding effort during the show, which performance stood tallest as the evening's best? Here's a reminder of what you might have missed.

Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Florence Welch, Martina McBride and Yolanda Adams
The evening kicked off with a tribute to Aretha Franklin, care of some of the biggest voices in pop music. Welch was especially electric, proving that she belonged alongside the rest of the divas.

Lady Gaga
Her royal weirdness did not disappoint, as her performance of "Born This Way" featured some killer dance movies and an even deadlier pipe organ solo.

Muse
The winners of the Best Rock Album award tore through yet another smoking version of "Uprising."

B.o.B, Bruno Mars and Janelle Monae
In what might have been the night's most eclectic performance, Mars proved himself to be one of the hardest-working guys in the business, as he moved from piano to vocals to drums.

Lady Antebellum
The night's biggest winners not only delivered their smash "Need You Now" (for the second straight year) but also paid tribute to Teddy Pendergrass.

Miranda Lambert
Country's next big crossover sensation proved why she was about to pop with a smooth take on her "The House That Built Me."

Justin Bieber, Usher and Jaden Smith
Bieber certainly had a big weekend, as not only did his movie rake in $30 million but he also performed a jumpy version of "Never Say Never" with Smith. Usher's "OMG" was just icing on the cake.

Bob Dylan, Mumford & Sons and Avett Brothers
Roots rock lived as two of the indie world's grittiest acts laid out some sweet musicianship before everybody jammed on Dylan's "Maggie's Farm" (complete with always-excellent harmonica solo).

Cee Lo Green, Gwyneth Paltrow and the Muppets
Two words: Peacock suit. Also: Muppets!

Mick Jagger
In the evening's most surprisingly thrilling performance, the Rolling Stones frontman made his Grammy debut in a tribute to late soul legend Solomon Burke.

John Mayer, Keith Urban and Norah Jones
In an impromptu performance, Mayer, Urban and Jones laid out a quick, spry version of "Jolene" as a tribute to Lifetime Achievement Award winner Dolly Parton.

Barbra Streisand
The legendary diva brought back "Evergreen," which won a Grammy way back in 1978.

Katy Perry
In a performance dedicated to "all the Valentine lovers," Perry proved she could hold her own both as a balladeer and as a sugar-coated pop princess.

Eminem, Rihanna and Dr. Dre
Dre's return to the Grammy stage was epic, as "Love the Way You Lie" gave way to "I Need a Doctor."

Rihanna and Drake
Rihanna pulled double duty on Sunday night, as her second performance (this time with Drake on "What's My Name") was just as passionate as her turn on "Love the Way You Lie."

Arcade Fire
Just before they won Album of the Year, Arcade Fire delivered a sweaty, ballsy performance accompanied by a bunch of guys on BMX bikes.

So which one was the best? Vote in the poll below and leave your arguments in the comments!

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Justin Bieber's Grammy Night, From The Red Carpet To Backstage!

Posted 2/14/11 12:02 am EST by in Grammys

Justin Bieber may not have come away with one of the evening's most coveted awards (he lost the Best New Artist prize to Esperanza Spalding), but that doesn't mean his experience at the 53rd Grammy Awards was anything less than stellar. The 16-year-old Canadian singing sensation certainly seemed to be having fun while in attendance at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. His performance, which included an acoustic rendition of "Baby," a smoking run through "Never Say Never" (with rap assistance courtesy of fellow underage star and friend Jaden Smith) and yet another high-profile performance of Usher's "OMG" (which also included a guest spot from Bieber right at the end). Bieber's minutes on stage were some of the most electric of the night.

(Click here for photos from Justin Bieber's night at the 53rd Grammy Awards, from the red carpet to backstage and beyond!)

But he didn't stop there, as the singer made his way around the venue with the grace and style of a veteran. Dressed in a white tuxedo and armed with a seat in the front row, Bieber was clearly visible for most of the show, and he could often be seen conversing with Usher (who was seated just to his right). During the breaks, Bieber made a habit of circulating, hanging out with his parents, chatting with Usher and Smith and even making his way over to pay his respects to Lady Gaga (who got a Bieber-sized hug for her efforts). He also spent some quality time with fashion plate and fellow Atlanta native Cee Lo Green, whose on-stage costume proved to be one of the most popular of the evening.

(Click here for photos from Justin Bieber's night at the 53rd Grammy Awards, from the red carpet to backstage and beyond!)

What was your favorite Justin Bieber moment from the 53rd Grammy Awards? Let us know in the comments!

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The 53rd Grammy Awards — The Live Blog!

Posted 2/13/11 7:45 pm EST by in Grammys

Welcome to the 53rd Grammy Awards, which will be featuring appearances and performances from some of the biggest names in music. Those names include Eminem (who leads all nominees and who could make history this evening), Lady Gaga (fresh off the premiere of her new single "Born This Way"), Rihanna, Drake, Arcade Fire, Cee Lo Green, Justin Bieber (who is currently in a knock-down, drag-out box office battle with Adam Sandler's "Just Go With It" for the coveted first place spot), Muse, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson and Bob Dylan (just for good measure). It promises to be an eventful, historic night, and the MTV Newsroom Blog is going to be right on top of all the most outstanding performances, biggest awards upsets and most incredible Grammy moments. The show always features a number of surprises (both scheduled and not), so it should be a fantastically entertaining three-and-a-half hours.

(Click here for all the best photos from the 53rd Grammy Awards red carpet, featuring Nicki Minaj, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and others!)

So grab a snack, crack open a cold beverage and follow along with the official Grammy Awards live blog. Between the broadcast and the MTV News correspondents on the ground (including Sway and James Montgomery), it should be jam-packed full of reports, observations and behind-the-scenes tidbits that are sure to make your Grammy experience complete.

11:28: Well, that was an unusual evening, wasn't it? Stay tuned to this space and to MTV News for all the latest backstage gossip, interviews with the winners (and losers), tales from the after-parties and all the analysis from one of music's biggest nights. Thanks for hanging out!

11:26: It has been a crazy year for Arcade Fire, who went to number one on the Billboard chart, headlined Lollapalooza and sold out Madison Square Garden. With this victory, they are now not just a cult favorite — they're one of the biggest bands in the world.

11:24: In an astounding upset, Arcade Fire grab the Grammy for Album of the Year. They seems genuinely shocked at the development. They thank Canada and return to their instruments to play the show out. "We're gonna play another song, because we love music," Win Butler says.

11:22: Were people really clamoring for Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson to get back together? In any event, they're here to give out the prize for Album of the Year.

11:14: The crowd at the Staples Center has no idea what they are looking at, partially because of the weirdness of Arcade Fire and partially because of those strobe lights.

11:11: Jason Segel welcomes us to the Grammys over three hours into the show. He's here to pull back the curtain on Arcade Fire, who as we've been reminded all night are making their Grammy Awards debut.

11:06: The only thing left tonight is Arcade Fire's performance and the award for Album of the Year. Who is going to take home the top prize of the night? Will Lady Antebellum continue their streak?

11:04: Congratulations to Lady Antebellum and "Need You Now." They're totally going to win Album of the Year, aren't they?

11:02: Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony come out to give out the hardware for Record of the Year. This should go to Cee Lo, Eminem or Jay-Z, right?

11:01: Drake's verse in "What's My Name" is pretty filthy, isn't it? Also, are they reenacting "The Wicker Man" behind Rihanna?

10:58: Diddy (who has won three Grammys himself) introduces Rihanna and Drake, who are staging "What's My Name" around a giant bonfire. There has been an awful lot of fire tonight, right?

10:53: Eminem picks up another award for Best Rap Album (it's the fifth of his career in this category). He gives props to Rihanna, Dr. Dre, his producers, the fans and Detroit.

10:50: Nicki Minaj and will.i.am are here to give out the prize for Best Rap Album. Nicki's hair is crazy sick. And so is B.o.B's red dinner jacket.

10:46: Kris Kristofferson comes out to introduce Barbra Streisand (who was MusiCares' Person of the Year). Streisand — who hasn't lost much in the vocal department — to sing "Evergreen," which won a Grammy way back in 1978.

10:42: During the break, Lady Gaga returned to her seat and received an embrace from none other than Justin Bieber. A great meeting between two of the biggest stars on the planet and a true Grammy moment.
Read More...

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Eminem's Ad, Lady Gaga's Song And Grammy Madness: This Week's Deep Cuts

Posted 2/11/11 5:30 pm EST by in Deep Cuts

It may be Friday, but things are just getting warmed up here in the MTV Newsroom. We'll be tracking Justin Bieber's movie "Never Say Never" all weekend, and we're also in Los Angeles for the 53rd Grammy Awards, where we'll be backstage, at the parties and on the red carpet all weekend. MTV News will be live online at MTV.com (and right here on the MTV Newsroom Blog) this Sunday, February 13 at 6 p.m. for "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys," a red-carpet live stream. They'll be talking to all the biggest stars, getting predictions and taking a look at all the best fashions from one of music's biggest nights.

In the meantime, be sure to check out all the stuff you might have missed this week on the MTV Newsroom Blog, and come back on Sunday night (February 13) for the official Grammys live blog.

» The week began with the Super Bowl, one of the biggest cultural events of the year. The Green Bay Packers won the game, but Eminem won the commercial Olympics.

» At halftime of the Super Bowl, the Black Eyed Peas brought a light and sound spectacular that featured an extra-loud drop-in from Slash.

» After he won the Super Bowl MVP, Aaron Rodgers celebrated with a heavyweight championship belt.

» The one lasting talking point after the Super Bowl? Christina Aguilera's unfortunate lyric flub during "The Star-Spangled Banner."

» Want to know what Grammy categories are the most contentious? Interested in some Grammy flashbacks? Everything you have ever wanted is right here.
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Great Grammy Moments: Eminem And Elton John Bury The Hatchet

Posted 2/11/11 3:30 pm EST by in Grammys

The 53rd Grammy Awards are upon us, and music's biggest, most prestigious awards show will feature a number of killer performances, appearances and potential acceptance speeches from the likes of Eminem, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Cee Lo Green, Muse, Arcade Fire, B.o.B, Justin Bieber, Lady Antebellum, Jay-Z and scores of others. In order to appreciate what's to come, every day the MTV Newsroom Blog will deliver a classic moment in the history of the Grammy Awards. Today's installment: Eminem and Elton John kick everything up a notch.

As far as the hard data is concerned, the big winners at the 43rd Grammy Awards — held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 21, 2001 — were Steely Dan, who collected three trophies that night (including Album of the Year for their comeback album Two Against Nature). But the biggest moment of that evening belonged to Eminem, whose performance of "Stan" (featuring an assist from Elton John) turned into the greatest moment in the history of the Grammy Awards.

Eminem had been a lightning rod ever since his debut album The Slim Shady LP dropped in 1999, but the storm surrounding him because especially intense following 2000's The Marshall Mathers LP. Though it contained some of the rapper's biggest pop hits (including the massive "The Real Slim Shady"), it also contained plenty of lyrics that alluded to violence, sexism, drug use and homophobia. It was the latter that got Em into the most trouble, and in fact the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation actually protested the Grammy Awards in 2001 because of Eminem's participation.

Though he continuously stated that not all of his lyrics were to be taken seriously, Eminem knew that actions spoke louder than words. So when the time came for the chorus to kick in on his hit "Stan," the curtain revealed that Elton John had been tapped to provide those vocals for the evening (on the album, they were done by Dido). After a powerful, moving performance of the song (about an obsessed fan whose psyche falls apart), the two music icons embraced in a symbolic burying of the hatchet. It was a meaningful, memorable moment that brought people together via the power of music — something that every Grammy Awards hopes to accomplish.

Don't miss "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys," a red-carpet live stream kicking off Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And stick with us all Grammy night for coverage of the red carpet, the show, the afterparties and beyond!

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Happy Birthday, Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda!

Posted 2/11/11 2:30 pm EST by in Music

February 11 is a pretty crazy crossroads day for birthdays, as it represents the changing of the biological calendar for the likes of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland and "Twilight" star Taylor Lautner. But for the purposes of the MTV Newsroom Blog, there's only one celebration we're having today, and it's for Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda. The mutli-talented rapper, musician and producer is now 34 years old, so make sure his slice of cake has the frosting rose on it and that his Mylar balloons are well-inflated.

Shinoda first made an impact in the music world as the rapper on Linkin Park's nü-metal debut Hybrid Theory. But as the band's sound and world view evolved (which seemed to happen almost immediately after the group got big), so did Shinoda's approach to his role (and to music as a whole). As the vocal focus shifted more to co-frontman Chester Bennington's adenoidal wails, Shinoda got more involved in programming and production (he co-produced the group's 2010 album A Thousand Suns with Rick Rubin). And to satisfy his envelope-pushing hip-hop jones, he put together Fort Minor, a next-level side project that has so far only produced a single album (though that one release, 2005's The Rising Tied, is something of a modern classic).

In fact, Shinoda has picked up a reputation as a guy who works well with outside-the-box rappers, and his production style is quit sought after. In addition to helping craft the pretty amazing Collision Course EP with Jay-Z, he has also twiddled knobs for Lupe Fiasco, Styles of Beyond, Busta Rhymes and Cypress Hill. He's one of the most dynamic talents in both rock and hip-hop, and it appears as though he's only just getting warmed up. So crank up Linkin Park's "Waiting for the End" and shout Shinoda a happy birthday.


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Eminem, Country Stars Vie For Song Of The Year: Better Know A Grammy Category

Posted 2/11/11 1:30 pm EST by in Grammys

The 53rd Grammy Awards are upon us, and they bring with them dozens of artists competing in 109 different categories. The performers on the show — which airs live on Sunday, February 13 — include Eminem, Dr. Dre, Cee Lo Green, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Drake, Arcade Fire, Justin Bieber, Miranda Lambert, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Katy Perry, Muse, B.o.B, Usher, Bob Dylan, Bruno Mars, Jaden Smith and Janelle Monae. It promises to be one of the biggest nights in the history of music, and MTV News will be bringing you wall-to-wall coverage of the big event.

But the awards are the big draw, and just as the MTV Newsroom Blog does with the MTV Video Music Awards, here are a series of guides to some of the biggest categories on the docket. This time around: Song of the Year.

In some ways, the nominees for the Grammy for Song of the Year don't necessarily reflect the year in music. For example, the nod given to Ray LaMontagne's "Beg Steal or Borrow" doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense, as LaMontagne's 2010 album with the Pariah Dogs God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise was met with neither overwhelming critical acclaim nor commercial success (though it remains a reasonable song).

The rest of the nominees seem to make a reasonable case for their inclusion. There's a chart-topping smash by two of the biggest artists in the business (Eminem and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie"), the potty-mouthed left field throwback (Cee Lo Green's "F--- You"), a true country juggernaut (Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now") and a country star on the brink of something much bigger (Miranda Lambert's "The House That Built Me"). Since Song of the Year focuses on songwriting, it's all about the quality of the song itself. So which one stands on top?

Based on recent history, Grammy voters seem to be most on board with next-level R&B tracks (Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" and Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" are among the recent winners), though they do prefer straight-ahead rock songs (of which there are none nominated this time around). Country only seems to score when the Dixie Chicks are involved, so that means that this is a dead heat between "Love the Way You Lie" and "F--- You."

And that is the very definition of a coin flip. Do the voters go with the friendly throwback vibe of "F--- You" or the slightly more dangerous sound of "Love the Way You Lie"? It's a true toss-up, and when the chips are down, it's tough to bet against Slim Shady.

Notable Winners: Billy Joel, "Just the Way You Are" (1979); The Police, "Every Breath You Take" (1984); USA For Africa, "We Are the World" (1986); Celine Dion, "My Heart Will Go On" (1999); U2, "Beautiful Day" (2001)

Notable Robberies: Eminem's "Lose Yourself" really should have beaten Luther Vandross' "Dance With My Father" in 2004, and the Grammy voters' odd love affair with Shawn Colvin's "Sunny Came Home" prevented victories by No Doubt's "Don't Speak" or R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly."

Who do you think will win the Grammy for Song of the Year? Let us know in the comments!

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