Demi Lovato is working hard on her new, as-yet-untitled album. The first single from the Sept. 20 release, “Skyscraper,” dropped earlier this month and was a hit with fans and supporters of the recovering young singer, debuting in the Billboard top ten. Its buzzed-about video was directed by Mark Pellington, the man behind clips from Alice in Chains, Bruce Springsteen, INXS, Nine Inch Nails, Public Enemy and, most famously, Pearl Jam’s 1993 MTV VMA Best Video-winning “Jeremy.”

So that’s weird (in a good way)!

The former Disney diva is currently in the studio working on tracks with Timbaland and Missy Elliott. That’s right, not Dr. Luke or RedOne or The-Dream … Timbaland and Missy Elliott. (Which is also kind of strange, isn’t it?)

These guys are pros, of course, and are sure to deliver the goods, but the entire endeavor feels straight out of the early aughts. Maybe that’s what she’s going for? After years of crafting very successful teen pop, Lovato is ready to change things up, and let’s face it, moving from the “Camp Rock” soundtrack to a Dr. Luke jam isn’t much of a change. (It’s pretty much the same trajectory Britney Spears et al took after leaving their Disney days behind … except the Dr. Luke of 1999 was Max Martin.) So she decided to go in a different direction. Go, Demi!

But it got us thinking about where young Lovato was when her most recent collaborators were first making their mark on the music industry. Let’s take a look. Read More...

Tags , ,

Timbaland and Missy Elliott are kind of a dream team, having put their spastic, edgy stamp on artists like Aaliyah and Destiny's Child. So when Demi Lovato tweeted on Monday night that she was hitting the studio with them, her fans responded with delight that the "Skyscraper" singer was working with the two masterminds on her September release.

"@ddlovato Nice meeting u at the studio tonight! I know ya gonna do ya thang! Working the late hrs! Lol Have fun!" Missy tweeted after the late night jam fest, before taking some questions from fans about what it was like working with the singer.

"@DaRealsebastian she cool peeps! Like we go way bk! Lol! Sweet person! Very talented! Thanks 4 introducing us G!" she told one fan. She also shared, "@ddlovatofan55 Thank u LOVATICS! I C yall *BIGHUGS* 2 all yall!" And had this nugget, "@ddlovatofan55 yes she is very talented. And cool peeps!"

Timbaland was equally enchanted by the singer and what she brought to the session, even sharing that the pair had recorded vocals for the track. "4 this demi and timbo duet yall really need 2 thank my brother @darealsebastian and @byrd757 4 makin this happen. now lets make history," he wrote on Twitter. "yo @ddlovato you killed dat song i gave u. i just pick 2 more for you from one of the producer out my camp @wizz_dumb for u to do 2morrow."

So, how did the song turn out? Read More...

Tags , , ,

Loving Demi Lovato's new song, "Skyscraper"? Well you're not alone! It seems that most of Hollywood agrees with you.

On Tuesday, the same day that Demi dropped the personal ballad, a slew of A-listers took to Twitter to send their love to Demi for putting out the track, which is about finding courage and strength after a difficult period in life. Given everything Demi's been through, it’s a very fitting theme for her big comeback track.

So, who exactly loves the song? Well, Demi's pal, Selena Gomez does. She tweeted, "SO, SO proud of @ddlovato #skyscraper Incredible, beautiful and so inspiring…"

Oh, yeah, Katy Perry really, really likes it too. "The new song Skyscraper by @ddlovato is pure perfection," she tweeted. "Her voice is one of the BEST undiscovered beauties. Can't wait for the full record."

One of Demi’s idols, Kelly Clarkson, also loved the song, writing, "Ooh while on iTunes I bought Demi Lovato's new song ‘Skyscraper’ .....cool song and her voice sounds rad!"

They weren't the only ones loving the song. Read More...

Tags , , ,

Demi Lovato released the art work for her new single, "Skyscraper," over the weekend. It marks the beginning of Demi's musical comeback after she was released from treatment earlier this year. She's already got a music video in the bag (she tweeted that news recently) and the beachy cover art for the song, to us at least, signifies a more adult step in Demi's career.

A rep for the singer said more information regarding the track will be coming down the pipeline later this week, but Demi has already given hints as to what the song might sound like. While she looks like she might be leaning toward the adult contemporary country sounds of Shania Twain, Demi certainly isn't ready for that step in her life. At least that's what we're inferring from an interview the singer gave us last year. Read More...

Tags

Selena GomezIt seems like TV wizard and star of "Wizards of Waverly Place," Selena Gomez, and movie werewolf Taylor Lautner are making it work despite coming from two very different enchanted fictional backgrounds. The pair was spotted together again, this time not ducking from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.

People.com has a photo of the two young actors jumping around and laughing as they take some time out to meet up in Vancouver, where Taylor is shooting "New Moon" and Selena is working on her new flick, "Ramona and Beezus."

We just have to wonder what Selena's good friend, Demi Lovato, has to say about the whole thing. When asked by MTV News if she'd like to have a song on the "New Moon" soundtrack, Selena's BFF said she'd love to. "Edward Cullen — I would write a love song to him," she said, before giddily hinting that she might actually be on Team Jacob, "Or Jacob Black!"


Well, we hope that Demi's "Twilight" fandom doesn't turn their friendship into a rivalry. Besides, now there are plenty of werewolves to go around.

Tags , ,

Demi LovatoBy Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Christina Garibaldi

Sure, there were many memorable moments during Monday night's "Kids' Inaugural: We Are the Future" concert.

There was Miley Cyrus' costume change. The Jonas Brothers performed some delightful tunes and made the audience swoon. There was Sasha and Malia Obama, there with their mom Michelle, dancing in the audience and onstage with the Jonas Brothers as they played "Burnin' Up" during the show's closing. Read More...

By Nicole Guanlao

Some have criticized Disney stars for being "too Disney" and anti-rock and roll, but judging from tonight's "Kids' Inaugural: We Are the Future" concert on the Disney Channel, my girls Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato seemed to be rocking out with the best of them.

There was fist-pumping and some head-banging action mixed in there. Demi even did some weird "Matrix" move, which can be quite difficult in black booties. Miley rocked out in her T-shirt, while Demi sported a gold sequin top.

Before her rockin' performance, Cyrus kicked off the concert in a dress that seemed more fitting for her mom than for the 16-year-old pop superstar. While it might have been a fashion misstep, we still love Miley.

The Jonas Brothers are also on the bill for the kids-only inaugural celebration. Can they top the girls? To see where your favorite stars will be for other upcoming D.C. events, check out our inauguration lineup.


Miley and Demi both had great performances, but who do you think filled the rock-star role best? Who had the best rock-and-roll moves? Let us know!

Tags , ,

Jocelyn VenaWe here at MTV News are a pretty diverse bunch, so the views expressed by some in our more official-type year-end lists (like James Montgomery's Top 25 Albums and Best Songs, and the Mixtape Monday Awards) are not necessarily shared by the rest of the newsroom. So, this week we gave everyone else a chance to chime in with their own lists and explain (or defend) their choices. You'll find the staff faves of 2008 all together here.

By Jocelyn Vena, Writer

Let's face it, 2008 was the year of the pop artist. And, since I am the resident pop expert around these parts, I decided to make my top 10 list all about the greatest pop albums to hit the charts in the last 12 months.

10. Pink, Funhouse: Her tough-girl attitude paid off with this album. She performed her single, "So What," at the VMAs and soon after, it was everywhere. Read More...

Tags , , , , , , , , ,

Demi Lovato

By Todd Brown

On Friday evening, just moments before her show, I sat down with Demi Lovato, the teen that many are calling the next Miley Cyrus. But just to be clear, she has no intention of being the next Miley Cyrus, she just wants to be Demi. Of course, she can dance, sing, act, and work a crowd just as well as Miley, but she does it in a style all her own. Demi and I talked for more than 20 minutes about her career, growing up working in the business (she started when she was eight), her passion to create, her music, her acting, how she handles being a teen star, and much more. Demi might only be 15, (turning 16 in August), but she has the sensibility and poise of a showbiz veteran. I was especially impressed with her determination to remain grounded. We will have much more on the interview later this week.

Minutes after the interview concluded, we all hopped into a waiting SUV and rushed off to Hollywood, where Demi was performing a solo show at the Roxy that night. We were late for soundcheck, the car was flying through LA traffic to make it to the venue, the doors were to open in less than 10 minutes, screaming tweens, teens and their parents were lined up for a few blocks outside the venue — and all the while Demi was sitting in the back of SUV, with headphones on and in her own world, calm, relaxed, and ready to perform.

Check back later this week to watch highlights from Demi’s performance and hear more from the interview.

Tags ,