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Prince Harry Inspired To Become Reggae DJ After Meeting Bob Marley's Widow

Posted 5/7/12 12:33 pm EST by in Celebrity


By Zachary Swickey

Yes, you read that correctly.

In a story more reminiscent of the ’91 comedy “King Ralph,” where American John Goodman becomes King of England, UK’s The Sun is claiming that Prince Harry is now interested in becoming a music DJ – specifically of the reggae variety following a particularly moving meeting with Bob Marley’s widow on a recent trip to Jamaica.

The Sun reports that the young royal has been stockpiling a huge vinyl music collection of reggae records from “specialist online stores.” The publication also states that Harry has been receiving helpful tips and lessons on how to mix records properly from his DJ friends.

“Harry has always been interested in music, but Jamaica was a real eye opener. He started looking into reggae as soon as he got back to the UK,” the of-course-unnamed source revealed.

Marley’s widow, Rita (who was also a member of his vocal backing group, the I Threes), also uknowingly played a part. “Meeting Rita Marley was a great inspiration too," the source continued. "She seems to have had a big impact on him.”

As rad as it may seem to picture Prince Harry blasting some Damian Marley at the House of Blues, the source says Harry’s DJ career would likely be restricted to private events (you know, being royalty and all): "He's unlikely to ever DJ in public — but if he did it'd be the party of the year."

(Given his known fondness for a good time, we kind of imagine that last part is true.)

The Royal Family has remained mum on Harry’s supposed newfound career, so we’ll remain ever so slightly skeptical for now.

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'Community' Star Alison Brie Talks New Girl Group, Covers Classics At LA Gig

Posted 5/7/12 10:09 am EST by in Music, Television


Alison Brie

By Zachary Swickey

LOS ANGELES – Alison Brie is a woman of many talents: she can act, pull off a believable British accent – as seen in the hilarious Jason Segel and Emily Blunt comedy “The Five-Year Engagement – and let us tell you, the girl can sing like a bird.

Brie already has a cult-like following of devoted fans thanks to her role as the innocent-but-spunky Annie Edison on NBC’s hit comedy “Community,” but lately she has been dabbling in musical courtesy of her work with The Girls – a pop trio she recently formed with two of her best friends, fellow actresses Cyrina Fiallo and Julianna Guill (who have both popped up on “Community” as well).

Fortunately, Brie is just as nice as her “Community” character, as she was willing to chat with MTV News on the phone a bit about her new group and how they came to be. When asked if she was already friends with her fellow bandmates before their respective appearances on “Community,” she explained that they were all in an online web series together known as “My Alibi,” which ran on ABC Family’s website. Brie described the show as a “'Breakfast Club'-type web series,” and credits it for helping her land the role of Annie because the characters are so similar.

The Girls made their debut performance in New York City – with the amazingly talented locals Jones Street Station as their backing band – and Brie revealed that they were very prepared for the gig. “We practiced a lot. We practiced for about four months – choosing songs and getting together weekly with Ludwig Goransson [a composer on “Community”] as he helped us with our harmonies,” she explained.

“But of course, on the day, liquid courage was involved,” she joked. Read More...

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'Comedy Awards' 2012: Kristin Wiig Gets Down On Stage!

Posted 5/4/12 5:06 pm EST by in comedy


By Uptin Saiidi : (@uptin)

NEW YORK - Last Saturday, NBC ran a re-run of "Saturday Night Live," but if you thought Kristin Wiig spent her night off from work going to some fancy dinner, throwing back a few drinks and messing around with her friends, you're...actually right.

But it wasn't all just fun and games. She was at Comedy Central's "Comedy Awards," which premieres Sunday night at 9 p.m. The second-annual event honors achievements in standup, TV, films and digital platforms.

The evening brought together comedic icons like Chevy Chase, Robin Williams, Chris Rock and Jim Carey, along with many of today's top comedy stars, including Jon Stewart, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Adam Scott and Maya Rudolph.

Since the show wasn't live, the nominees and winners are already easy to find. But it wasn't so much who won as what happened after they won that brought the real entertainment.

There was an onstage tribute to "SNL's" Weekend Update and lifetime achievement awards went to Don Rickles and Williams, but one of the most memorable moments came during one of Kristin Wiig’s several wins. Toward the end of the show, she and her "Bridesmaids" co-writer Annie Mumolo accepted an award for “Comedy Screenplay” but got distracted over who would get custody of the trophy. The tiff eventually escalated, with the two ending up on their hands and knees in a full-on roll/wrestle/make-out session.

Ya know, just a typical Saturday night off for Wiig.

The 2012 Comedy Awards

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Jimmy Fallon Reveals Cheeky Blow Your Pants Off Album Cover On 'Late Night'

Posted 5/4/12 12:27 pm EST by in comedy, Music, Television


jimmy falon

By Zachary Swickey

Jimmy Fallon took advantage of his “Late Night” hosting gig at NBC to unveil the cover for his upcoming comedy album, Blow Your Pants Off. Fallon has recruited some of the top names in music, including Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, Paul McCartney, and Justin Timberlake to name a few, for his first release in a decade.

Fallon’s comically risqué cover is a bit, shall we say, cheeky, as he bares his bum while laying on a bearskin rug, wine in hand, with a fire crackling in the background. A very strategically placed sticker with the release date – June 12 – blocks any view of the good stuff, but Fallon claims purchased copies will be scandalously sticker-less.

The unique cover is sure to raise some eyebrows, incite moments of laughter and probably upset a few people. Drumming mastermind Questlove could barely contain himself as he got a case of the chuckles when the cover was revealed.

Fallon discussed his album cover choice on his show, joking, “I don’t remember taking this photo at all. It's just a guy relaxing at home with a nice glass of wine. Starts listening to the album and his pants blew off."

“I don't know if this is my butt or a stunt butt. There's rumors going around that it's the 'Mona Lisa' of album covers,” Fallon continued.

You’ll have to wait until June 12 to see all of Fallon’s goodies and, you know, hear what kind of funny jams he's concocted with some of the most legendary names in the music biz.

Watch:

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Britney, Demi, Miley, Avril: MTV Newsroom Weighs In On The Next 'X Factor' Judge!

Posted 5/3/12 4:22 pm EST by in the x factor


Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus and Avril Lavigne's names all continue to circulate as the next possible judge on "The X Factor." Yesterday, our very own James Montgomery broke down the strengths and weaknesses of each of the ladies.

Now, it's time for the MTV Newsroom to weigh in.

Rya

Rya Backer, Segment Producer

Ever since I watched the “Stay Strong” documentary on her, I've been obsessed with Demi Lovato. She's so talented and warm and willing to put herself out there! The contestants and audience will love her for it.

Ade

Ade Mangum, Segment Producer

Let's be real. Everyone would want to see Britney as the new "X Factor" judge. Why? Who doesn't want to tune in just to hear what she'll say next ... informative or embarrassing? It'll generate Twitter trending topics, slang and we might even start using the term "you've been Spear'd." Let's get Brit on there!

Liz

Elizabeth Lancaster, Production Associate

I think Britney Spears is the best contender for a judge. She has been in the business the longest, and has been the most successful at it. Her experiences, both good and bad, give her insight she can pass on to up and comers. She has the most to offer!

Matt

Matt Harper, Senior Producer

Why does 'X Factor' feel it needs to replace Paula and Nicole with another pop star? Out of the four shortlisted potential judges, the one with the most singing talent is the least recognizable name (Demi), and the most famous one is in no position to be giving singing critiques (Britney). I would love to see someone who has had genuine music success, but could also keep a straight face while giving out singing/career advice (Mary J Blige? Nora Jones?). Hell, if they stepped out of the box a bit and got someone who wasn’t just a generic female pop star, I might consider watching. I’m putting my vote in now for R. Kelly.

Who do you think would be perfect for the role? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter @MTVNews!

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Gotye Dreams Of Working With Kate Bush, Talks Newfound Wealth

Posted 5/3/12 2:09 pm EST by in Music


gotye

By Zachary Swickey

Belgian-Australian swooner Gotye, real name Wouter De Backer, has been making a splash in the United States with his hit "Somebody That I used to Know," a high profile musical guest spot on “SNL” and a public tiff with hit show “Glee.” Now, in a new interview with NME, the singer reveals his dream collaborator and he also dishes on what life is like when you have money for a change.

When asked who his dream collab would be, he immediately responded, “I got to say idols of mine like Kate Bush, she's amazing. But then again, when you've idolized someone like that over the years, it's hard to meet them and treat them like a regular person."

As one can imagine, Gotye has also managed to receive some hefty royalty checks from impressive sales and radio spins of “Somebody That I Used to Know” off his new album Making Mirrors (not to mention money made from licensing his music for commercials).

When asked about his newfound wealth and what he plans to do with it, he coyly responded, “Even with a bigger balance in my bank account, it's not like I'm planning to splurge on property or anything. It'll be more like if I want to work with someone and they happen to live in Canada, I can fly over there and actually spend a few weeks there, which is quite luxurious to me."

He continued: "I'm not thinking about moving house, I might build a proper studio though. I used a barn last time and I've dismantled that set-up. People have asked me before what I'm going to splurge on and if it's anything it'll be something musical like an organ or something for my girlfriend."

Sounds like quite the gent to us!

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Mariah Carey Announces New Song And It's Coming To Cannes This Summer!

Posted 5/3/12 12:48 pm EST by in Mariah Carey, Movies


Mariah Carey

By Elizabeth Lancaster

Mariah Carey fans can let out a sigh of relief! Everyone’s favorite diva has just announced she is back to doing what she does best – making music!

The songstress took to her Facebook page yesterday to announce she has recently written and recorded a new track. "Lil' excited to share with you that I wrote and recorded a song for Lee Daniels' new movie 'The Paperboy' called Mesmerized! Hope to play it for you very soon," she wrote.

Between her recent work as an actress and the birth of her twins, Mariah has been a busy lady and has slowed way down on musical releases. We think fans everywhere will agree a Mariah-worthy hit is long overdue!

Daniels and Carey have worked together previously in a variety of capacities, most memorably on his Oscar-nominated film “Precious” in 2009, where Mariah surprised everyone with her skillful performance as a social worker in Harlem during the late-'80s.

“The Paperboy” follows a reporter's return to his hometown to start an investigation of a death row inmate's case. Carey is not the only superstar attached to the film, which is set to premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival later this month. The cast includes heavy hitters such as Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey and John Cusack.

With this star-studded cast, Lee Daniel’s direction and Mariah Carey to serenade, how could audiences not be mesmerized?

Are you excited to hear Mariah’s new song? Let us know in the comments below.

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D'Angelo Sets First Stateside Performance In Over A Decade

Posted 5/3/12 12:10 pm EST by in Music, Tour Dates


D'Angelo

By Zachary Swickey

Nearly a year ago, we reported that smooth R&B crooner D’Angelo was finally in the studio working on a new album when we were tipped off by the Roots’ drummer Questlove’s Twitter account, and now the singer is finally plotting his return to the stage with his first U.S. concert in over a decade at the 2012 Essence Music Festival.

D’Angelo's been a virtual recluse for the last ten-plus years, but he is confirmed to be part of the opening night festivities at the New Orleans festival, which runs from July 6 to July 8, with Trey Songz, Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, and many others also set to appear.

The singer has slowly been returning to public life and gave live performing a test drive with a handful of dates in Europe earlier this year. Review were thankfully glowing and suggest that the singer has definitely still got it. He even performed two (reportedly pretty slick) new tracks, “The Charade” and “Sugar Daddy.”

D’Angelo recently put to rest years of legal drama relating to his March 2010 arrest for allegedly soliciting a prostitute. He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and appears ready to move on from the incident.

For those in need of a refresher: D’Angelo’s last effort was 2000’s Voodoo, which went multiplatinum and earned the singer two Grammy Awards, including best R&B album. He became quite notorious for the music video for “Untitled (How Does It Feel)," which featured the singer serenading the camera for four minutes straight against a black backdrop while completely nude.

There has been little information on D’Angelo’s upcoming album since our initial report, but his return to the stage is a promising sign that it’s moving forward (albeit slowly but surely).

Read More...

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Pharell, Santigold And More Create Music Pins At CNNCTD Launch Event

Posted 5/2/12 5:20 pm EST by in Music


By Uptin Saiidi (@uptin)

I see you. Yeah, you. Listening to your iPod on your new Beats headphones.

You're in the zone, shutting out the world.

What makes you you isn't the physical iPod though, nor is it the headphones. It's all the tracks you’ve chosen for the iPod. You're one of a kind because you take comfort in the fact that no one in the world has the same songs you have on your device.

But for Roman Grandinetti, a DJ and entrpenuer, the physical form of the iPod as an expression of art wasn't good enough. So for the past few years he's been working with a team to create pins. That's right, the same type of pin worn at that Occupy Wall street march last month ... except different in that it’s an MP3 player that an artist can record anything on and then release them to fans.

Anything can be recorded on the pin: a song, a poem or their barking dog.

The device, called a play button, has alerady been embraced by artists including Santigold, Pharrell, Yoko Ono and Azelia Banks. Roman hopes people will wear the pins as accessories and staples of their own individuality.

Last night (May 2) in NYC’s Lower East Side, the pins of 100 "influencers" were launched at an event called CNNCTD. The name symbolizes the idea that music, fashion and art all are connected in multiple ways.

"That's what we wanted to do, we wanted to just show you how everything intertwines and how one generation can influence the next," Roman, who also was the curator of the event, said.

The art exhibit will be traveling around the world, heading next to Paris.

Josh Penn, 25, hopes that trend will not only take off but also remain a platform for emerging artists. "We defintely think that it's going to be the next medium for releasing music. We're people, we like things, we're very physical," he said. "I still carry my iPhone around with me, but there's no personality there, and this is a way to combine digital and physical."

In an industry that's gone mostly digital, it's certainly a step in the opposite direction. Of course, it's not so much a practical device, as it is a fashion accessory.

"It’s not just wearing a T-shirt, it's being able to wear the music, so it's awesome."

Would you wear a pin if your favorite artist released it? Sound off in the comments!>

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Alanis Morissette Prepping Return to Form With First Disc In Four Years, Havoc and Bright Lights

Posted 5/2/12 1:25 pm EST by in Music


Alanis

By Zachary Swickey

Former keeper of Ryan Reynold’s affection, pop-rock singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, is preparing to release a new studio album, her first since ‘08’s Flavors of Entanglement (which was inspired by her and Reynolds calling off their engagement).

Morissette’s newest effort will be her first release not on Warner Music Group with Collective Sounds releasing her seventh disc, Havoc and Bright Lights on August 28.

The "Ironic" singer seems to be taking a different (perhaps more current and commercial) direction with her latest release, teaming with UK producer Guy Sigsworth, an eclectic producer who has worked with Bjork, Madonna and helped start Seal’s career, and Joe Chiccarelli, who skews rock having helmed works for Young the Giant, The Strokes and Jazon Mraz, for the album.

We will have to wait until May 15 before the album’s first single, “Guardian,” becomes available on iTunes store (and four days later on radio). However, a new Morissette tune “Magical Child” was released just last week as part of Starbucks’ Every Mother Counts Volume 2 Mother’s Day compilation. The tune is rather lullaby-esque but might help shine some light on the direction of the singer’s new album.

Read on to listen to "Child" and check out the tracklisting for Morissette's new album. Read More...

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