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Neil Young Sings About 'Love And War,' In The Shadow Of Bin Laden Killing

Posted 5/4/11 4:09 pm EST by in Music


CINCINNATI — I'm not sure what I was expecting. I've seen Neil Young probably a dozen times over the years and I know the rock legend isn't one to toss out emotional statements at his shows ... beyond the ones he makes with his trusty, fuzzed-out black Stratocaster and high and shaky voice, of course. The words and music are more than enough when your catalog includes everything from "Ohio" to "Rockin' in the Free World."

But when he touched down here on Tuesday (May 3) night for his first show since the killing of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden by U.S. Navy SEALs on Sunday, I thought maybe old Neil would need to get some things off his chest. Touring in support of his excellent new solo album, Le Noise, Young silently took the stage in a pair of comfy Levi's, a black T-shirt, a white linen jacket and a beat-up straw fedora. With minimal staging aside from a giant cigar store Indian, a few Tiffany-style lamps over his baby grand and upright pianos and his favorite pump organ, I knew the night would be a minimal affair.

As much as I hoped he'd stray from the set list of chestnuts and new tunes and bust out his Todd Beamer-inspired 9/11 anthem "Let's Roll," or something from his 2006 war protest album Living with War, Young opened gently with a trio of acoustic gems: "My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)," "Tell Me Why" and "Helpless."

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John Lennon's 'Imagine': The Five Best Covers From The Past 10 Years

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


Three decades ago today, John Lennon was shot to death outside his home in New York's Dakota building, and in the time since, the world has changed immeasurably ... and not necessarily for the better.

And while fans can endlessly debate how things would've been different had Lennon lived, the iconic musician's most lasting contribution to the planet is his music — songs of hope and ideals, protest and prosperity that still contain the power to make us strive for a better tomorrow. As a testament to this, one of his best-known compositions — "Imagine" — has (and seemingly ever will be) one of the most covered songs on the planet, having been sung by everyone from David Bowie to, well, Will Farrell and Manny Pacquiao.

Over the past decade, the covers have kept rolling in. Some of them miss the mark (and the true spirit) of Lennon's original, piling on the histrionics and ignoring the true sentiment of the song. Others have shone, mostly because they kept it simple and focused on feeling above all else. So, to mark the 30th anniversary of his death, here are some of the best covers of John Lennon's "Imagine," taken from the past 10 years.

Neil Young, 2001
Recorded live at the "America: A Tribute To Heroes" telethon, which raised nearly $200 million for the United Way's September 11th Fund, it features Young backed by a stirring string section, but what resonates most is the sentiment: it's fragile, earnest and above all hauntingly bare.

Eva Cassidy, 2002
Released six years after her death, it showcases Cassidy's jaw-dropping voice above all else, which is why it's such a great version of the song. Tender and heartbreakingly simple, it sadly remains — like most of her work — vastly overlooked.

A Perfect Circle, 2004
From their eMOTIVe album (a collection of politically-charged songs released to coincide with the 2004 election), Maynard James Keenan and Co. offer up a drastically different (and downright dark) take on the tune, and the end result is dizzyingly effective. Read More...

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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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What Should Neil Young Play On The Last 'Tonight Show' Of The Conan Era?

Posted 1/21/10 5:20 pm EST by in Music, Television


Well, it's now super-official: Friday night (January 22) will be Conan O'Brien's final hour as the host of "The Tonight Show." According to a statement released by NBC, the host will be officially released from his contract on September 1, 2010, after which time he'll be able to do whatever he wants with his time. In the meantime, he's walking away with a settlement worth $32 million, with an additional $12 million going to cover his staff (many of whom relocated from New York to Los Angeles when Conan relocated). Following the Olympics, everything will return to the status quo: Jay Leno will host "The Tonight Show" at 11:35, followed by programs by Jimmy Fallon and Carson Daly.

Even though the deal wasn't hammered out until late last night, O'Brien has been treating this week as his final farewell, regularly tearing into NBC, looking back on his seven months at the helm and inviting old friends on the show for a proper goodbye. On Wednesday night's episode alone, O'Brien mocked NBC throughout his monologue, put together a sketch with no jokes that cost the network $1.5 million (due to the purchase of a Bugatti Veyron and the licensing of a Rolling Stones track), brought out all the hamsters that have been born since he took over "The Tonight Show" (in a sideways jab at Leno) and generally looked like he was hellbent on burning as many bridges as he could before he was shuffled off the air. And, irony of ironies, the ratings are up 50 percent.

Friday night's lineup is set, with Will Ferrell, Tom Hanks and Neil Young booked as guests. Ferrell and Hanks both appeared on the first week of "The Tonight Show" back when Conan started, so there's a certain poetic symmetry to their appearances on the show. As for Neil Young, Conan's a big fan (Young did a week-long residency on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" back in 2005). Will Conan facilitate the first duet between Neil Young and Jimmy "Neil Young" Fallon as his final exit? Or will Young simply drop in, raise hell and end the show on a high note? And what song should he perform? Since Pearl Jam acted as Conan's first musical guest on "The Tonight Show," why not bring them back for a team-up on "Rockin' in the Free World"? Should he whip out something poetic like "Hey Hey My My (Into the Black)"? Or perhaps the tone will be more solemn ("Heart of Gold" would make for an awfully melancholy but gorgeous exit).

What do you think? What Neil Young song should end the Conan O'Brien era on "The Tonight Show"? Let us know in the comments or tweet us @mtvnews!

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'Pants On The Ground' Gets The Neil Young Tribute Treatment From Jimmy Fallon

Posted 1/15/10 8:04 am EST by in Music, Television


Throughout all the chaos and excitement that has been taking over the late-night community, everybody has been asking what will happen to Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno and Carson Daly. But as a handful of people pointed out on Twitter yesterday, nobody seems to be inquiring about the future of Jimmy Fallon. Perhaps the reason is because Fallon has mostly stayed out of the sticky fray while Leno, O'Brien, David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel all trade barbs. But perhaps it has more to do with the fact that Fallon's show has been steadily improving and it seems impossible that he'll go anywhere.

Case in point: While most of the late-night hosts kept devoting their shows to the future of "The Tonight Show," Fallon put together a segment that did everything a top-shelf comedy program is supposed to do. The host resurrected his spot-on Neil Young impression (last seen crooning the theme song to "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" a few months back) to deliver another spot-on impression of the rock legend. His cover of choice this time around? "Pants on the Ground," the instant hit originally written and performed by Larry Platt on Wednesday night's episode of "American Idol."

The thing that really makes the above video work is the total earnestness with which Fallon delivers the tune. When he was on "Saturday Night Live," he gained a reputation as the guy who could never keep it together during sketches, and even on his show he sometimes seems flustered. But he's like Brando when he slips into the guise of Young. Even though it'll probably end once the schedules get shuffled around for good, it definitely seems like we've stumbled into an accidental golden age for late-night comedy, and Fallon is more than happy to contribute.

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Pearl Harbor Day Lives In Infamy: Wake-Up Video

Posted 12/7/09 9:00 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


There are a handful of dates in American history that are held as turning points in the nation's philosophical direction. July 4. November 23. September 11. December 7 is one of those days, as it marks the day that Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, an event that dragged the United States kicking and screaming into World War II. Prior to the attack in Hawaii, the U.S. had taken an isolationist stance, as the effects of the Great Depression were only just starting to lift and the toll taken by the first World War seemed to great to bear a second time. A total of 353 aircraft descended on Pearl Harbor as a preventative attack, as the Japanese wanted to keep the American Pacific fleet in check while they took over the Dutch East Indies. The blitzkrieg took out dozens of ships and nearly 200 aircraft and killed just over 2,400 soldiers.

The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt went to Congress and gave one of the most memorable speeches in American political history. "Yesterday, December 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of American was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces by the Empire of Japan," he said. Just a few hours later, Congress made a formal declaration of war and the U.S. found themselves engaged in a conflict that would last four years (and would ultimately free the world).

The date has indeed lived in infamy, as every December 7 the U.S. recognizes Pearl Harbor day. It isn't just meant to remember the lives that were lost, but to acknowledge that the world is a typically unstable place, and that peace is not a given but something that must be worked at and earned. So reflect on peace and loss today with the help of Neil Young.

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Us Vs. The Moon: NASA Provides The Bombs, We Provide The Soundtrack

Posted 10/9/09 1:29 pm EST by in Music


Early Friday (October 9) morning, NASA fired the latest salvo in its ongoing war with the Mooninites, smashing a rocket into a lunar crater just because they felt like it.

OK, that's not necessarily true. The stated purpose of NASA's mission was to discover water ice buried beneath the surface of the moon, but we here in the MTV Newsroom would like to think that NASA's real intent was twofold. First, to get revenge for the infamous Mooninite invasion of Boston in 2007, and second, to remind those moon jerks that the Earth still is the big dog on the galactic block … and, well, if you can't run with the big dogs, YOU BETTER STAY ON THE PORCH.

So, in celebration of the Earth being #1 — and to rub it in the face of those lunar losers even more — we've made a playlist of our favorite "Moon" songs. Yeah, that's right, we're calling you out, Mooninites, and we await your inevitable rebuttal.

Ozzy Osbourne, "Bark at the Moon"
Prime solo-career cut from the Prince of Darkness. Featuring Jake E. Lee on lead guitar and Ozzy dressed as an awesome wolfman in the music video. Seriously, what else do you need to know?

Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Bad Moon Rising"
John Fogerty was right, there really was a bad moon on the rise … or at least there was until the folks at NASA laid down the intergalactic law. Bonus points for this song serving as the inspiration behind Chris Berman's nickname for the immortal Andre "Bad Moon" Rison.

Echo and the Bunnymen, "The Killing Moon"
Swoony, atmospheric post-punk with a message: The moon is a killer and must be stopped at all costs (or something like that). You probably remember this song from the opening sequence of "Donnie Darko," or from the roughly 10,000 cover versions that exist.

Feist, "My Moon, My Man"
Believe it or not, Canada has a space program, too (it's so adorable!), and this sexy, sumptuous tune is its official theme song. Okay, you got us: We made up the part about Canada having a space program.
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MTV News Staff Favorites Of 2008: Rya Backer's Top 10 Albums And Singles

Posted 12/30/08 2:31 pm EST by in Best Of, MTV News Staff Favorites '08


We 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 we’re giving 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 Rya Backer, Production Assistant

I'm actually on vacation right now, and am typing this on a computer that might as well be operated by foot pedal, so no fun webcam plea from me. I don't think I could pick a definitive favorite song from 2008 anyway, not because I didn't especially like anything, but because I liked too many songs! Anyway, here are my favorite albums of 2008:

10. Passion Pit, Chunk of Change EP — These guys have, like, seven songs to their name thus far. Very excited to hear what's next.

9. Neil Young, Sugar Mountain - Live at Canterbury House 1968 — I don't think this counts as a "new" album, per se, but half the bands I've listed would be nothing if it weren't for him. "Birds" and his between-song banter are heartbreaking and heartwarming, respectively.

8. The Streets, Everything Is Borrowed — Hooray! It's more A Grand Don't Come for Free than The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living!

7. Dodos, Visiter — At first, I listened to "Jodi" on repeat, then I realized there were a lot more songs on the album that were just as good.

6. Marnie Stern, This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That — Between Marnie Stern's fingerpicking and Zach Hill of my beloved Hella on drums, this album makes me feel untalented and boring; luckily, I need that kind of motivation. Read More...

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Death Cab For Cutie, Wilco, Smashing Pumpkins Join Neil Young For Bridge School Benefit

Posted 9/22/08 12:28 pm EST by in Concerts


Death Cab For CutieAs usual, the lineup for this year's Bridge School Benefit concert — which raises money for the school co-founded by Neil Young and his wife, Pegi, for children with severe physical disabilities and speech impediments — reads like an awesomely random sampling from the musical phone book.

The 22nd annual event will be held October 25 and 26 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, and will feature sets from Young, Wilco, Death Cab for Cutie, Cat Power and Jack Johnson, as well as one-day drop-ins from the Smashing Pumpkins, Norah Jones, ZZ Top and, um, Josh Groban, according to Billboard.com. Most artists play all-acoustic sets, and Young traditionally opens and closes each day, with some help from his friends, of course. Wilco and Death Cab are currently on tour with Young.

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