Archive: March 2010 (1-10 of 106)

Mar 31 2010 03:40 PM ET

Toby Keith also surprised by his own participation in Sarah Palin's show. (LL Cool J feels his pain.)

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Categories: Country, Y'all!, Sarah Palin, Things That Really Could Have Been Avoided, Toby Keith

Mere moments after LL Cool J informed the world — and, apparently, Fox News — that he had no intention of being a part of Sarah Palin’s upcoming show, Real American Stories, the good people over at HitFix spoke to country music singer Toby Keith, who’s also featured in the show’s promos. According to HitFix, “Keith, who says he’s a registered Democrat, was not told about the usage of a past interview for Palin’s program. ‘We were never contacted by Fox,’ his rep tells Hitfix. ‘I have no idea what interview it’s taken from. They’re promoting this like it’s a brand new interview. He never sat down with Sarah Palin.’”

Unlike LL, Keith’s segment is expected to stay in the show, but we’re secretly hoping Fox will put out a press release wishing him luck on his “fledgling music career” anyway.

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Sarah Palin’s first show won’t include LL Cool J, because he says so
Lady Gaga announces new album details: ‘It is the anthem for our generation’
New Christina Aguilera, ‘Not Myself Tonight’: Listen and weigh in here!
Usher goes ‘OMG’ with will.i.am in new video: Watch it here
Justin Bieber goes to heaven in ‘Never Let You Go’ video: Watch it here

Mar 31 2010 02:52 PM ET

Sarah Palin-hosted show won't include LL Cool J, because he says so

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Categories: Hip-Hop/Rap, LL Cool J, Sarah Palin, Things That Really Could Have Been Avoided

palin-ll-cool-jImage Credit: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images; Bob Charlotte/PR PhotosBeing an upstanding citizen of the hip-hop community and being a member of the Republican party are two things that just don’t jibe. So yesterday (March 30) when Fox News announced that actor and veteran rapper LL Cool J would be on the Sarah Palin-hosted debut episode of Real American Stories this Thursday, I knew something fishy was up.

Sure enough, the Los Angeles Times has reported the man loved by ladies will not be on the show, nor did he ever plan on doing so. As the story goes, Fox News has an interview from 2008 LL gave for the network’s online project and planned to re-purpose it because his from-nothing-to-something story echoes the show’s theme.

Cool J, whose real name is James Todd Smith, immediately took to his Twitter page to clean up the mess.

“Fox lifted an old interview I gave in 2008 to someone else and are misrepresenting to the public in order to promote Sarah Palin’s Show,” he tweeted.  “WOW.”

LL wasn’t available to comment, but his rep did pass along this statement: “Contrary to what was reported, LL Cool J was never scheduled to be a guest on Real American Stories with Sarah Palin this week.  The show had planned to use an interview from 2008 that was being re-purposed without LL’s permission.  This statement is not a reflection of any feelings LL has toward Fox News or Ms. Palin, whom he has never met, rather a clarification of what we have seen published in the media.”

The Times quoted a spokeswoman for the network who said, “Real American Stories features uplifting tales about overcoming adversity and we believe Mr. Smith’s interview fit that criteria. However, as it appears that Mr. Smith does not want to be associated with a program that could serve as an inspiration to others, we are cutting his interview from the special and wish him the best with his fledgling acting career.”

So that’s that. What do you guys think? Was Mrs. Alaska trying to pull the wool over our eyes? Or was this a just simple misunderstanding? By the way, did you catch that little jab at the end? The line about “his fledgling acting career”? As one of the leads on CBS’ NCIS: Los Angeles and an actor for more than a decade, LL’s far from being a rookie. Cheap shot alert!

Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Lady Gaga announces new album details: ‘It is the anthem for our generation’
New Christina Aguilera, ‘Not Myself Tonight’: Listen and weigh in here!
Usher goes ‘OMG’ with will.i.am in new video: Watch it here
Justin Bieber goes to heaven in ‘Never Let You Go’ video: Watch it here

Mar 31 2010 02:41 PM ET

Lollapalooza’s 2010 lineup: If you want it, you’ll have to work for it

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Categories: Grunge, Let's Argue!, Lollapalooza, Music Festivals

the-strokesImage Credit: Cody SmythWant to know the lineup for your favorite annual music festival? Then you better like playing games. Not the Kobe Bryant kind, or even the Matthew Broderick kind, but, like, the slow-day-in-detention kind.

First, Bonnaroo made anxious fans wait for a MySpace cuckoo clock to announce a single artist every six minutes; now, Lollapalooza is presenting its lineup via a rock-themed game of Hangman. So far, all we’ve got to go on is “O”s, from which Rolling Stone has already extrapolated a number of featured guests, including Soundgarden, the Strokes, Devo, Spoon, The National, Gogol Bordello and Hot Chip; to confirm rumored appearances from O-less acts Lady Gaga, Green Day and Arcade Fire, you’ll have to buy another vowel. (Or more accurately, wait until the Lolla site rolls it out).

Kind of toeing the line here on the clever vs.might-hate-this matrix; I get the idea of teasing it out, but it’s a slippery slope from here to doing Sudoku for Sasquatch. Too cranky? Tell me in the comments below.

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Phish to appear on Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Exile on Main Street’ tribute week. What should they play? Who else should perform?
Erykah Badu’s “Window Seat” video stirs controversy: Is the JFK imagery offensive?
Paramore’s Hayley Williams covers Lady Gaga’s ‘Bad Romance’
Lady Gaga announces new album details: ‘It is the anthem for our generation’

Mar 31 2010 12:56 PM ET

Jay-Z protege J. Cole scores big at New York show

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Categories: Hip-Hop/Rap, J. Cole

j-coleImage Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage.comIf Jay-Z calls his most thorough lyrics “black hoodie rap,” J. Cole‘s performance last night at downtown New York’s stuffy, packed SOB’s was made for black tees. Cole, Jay’s Roc Nation protege, ran through several cuts from his 2009 mixtape The Warm Up, including “Grown Simba,” “World is Empty,” and “Dollar and a Dream II.” He later pulled Talib Kweli out of the crowd to perform the Reflection Eternal lyricist’s classic “Get By.”

The show wasn’t perfect. There were several missteps. “This so did not go how I planned it in my dreams,” he quipped after his DJ experienced a few  technical difficulties during his introduction. At other times he missed cues to start his verses, which he laughed off, making each gaffe less embarrassing and more endearing. The sold-out crowd rapped along as if the performance was captioned. The only song they couldn’t recite was the soulful and bouncy one he premiered, “Who Dat.” It likely will be the first single from the 25-year-old’s upcoming as-yet-titled first album.

In a fickle  music industry where fans eat up new artists and quickly go on to the next one, Cole’s performance suggested that he doesn’t only have next. He’s going to be around for a while.

“Sounds like some wack-ass prom line,” he tweeted after the show. “But I’ll never forget this night.”

Are you excited to hear J. Cole’s debut album? Let us know.

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Lady Gaga announces new album details: ‘It is the anthem for our generation’
New Christina Aguilera, ‘Not Myself Tonight’: Listen and weigh in here!
Usher goes ‘OMG’ with will.i.am in new video: Watch it here
Justin Bieber goes to heaven in ‘Never Let You Go’ video: Watch it here

Mar 31 2010 12:47 PM ET

Lady Gaga: Should she do the next James Bond theme song?

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Categories: Lady Gaga, Movies

craig_gagaImage Credit: Lady Gaga: Lauren Dukoff; Craig: Karen BallardCould Lady Gaga sing the next James Bond movie’s theme song? Uh, maybe. According to a report in the Sun that seems even sketchier than the U.K. tabloid’s usual standard, she’s been asked. The paper’s evidence for this assertion appears to be that Gaga’s name sounds like a Bond girl’s (does it really, though?), and that “a source” (anonymous, naturally) says she’d be “perfect on every level.”

We’ve reached out to Gaga’s reps to see if there’s any truth to this story. In the meantime: Would she be perfect on every level? I can see Gaga’s flair for the dramatic really working in a Bond theme. Her idol, Madonna, did an excellent job with 2002′s “Die Another Day.” Then again, I’m the guy who liked Jack White and Alicia Keys’ much-maligned Quantum of Solace song in 2008, so I might not be the best judge.

Do you think Lady Gaga should do the next Bond theme? List your reasons why or why not in the comments below.

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Lady Gaga announces new album details: ‘It is the anthem for our generation’
New Christina Aguilera, ‘Not Myself Tonight’: Listen and weigh in here!
Usher goes ‘OMG’ with will.i.am in new video: Watch it here
Justin Bieber goes to heaven in ‘Never Let You Go’ video: Watch it here

Mar 31 2010 11:32 AM ET

Justin Bieber tops the albums chart, but 'My World 2.0' isn't a blockbuster yet

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Categories: Charts, Justin Bieber, M. Ward, Zooey Deschanel

My-World-bieberJustin Bieber has proven himself a major new teen-pop phenomenon lately — at least as measured by the number of high-pitched screams and fervent Internet comments he’s able to inspire from his young fans. A moment of truth for the Canadian singer came this morning, when the first-week sales tally was announced for his debut full-length album, My World 2.0. That number was 283,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. This was more than enough to secure Bieber the No. 1 spot on this week’s Billboard 200 albums chart. It’s not, however, a knock-out, blockbuster number, even in today’s ever-diminishing commercial market. Bieber sold hundreds of thousands fewer copies than both Sade and Lady Antebellum did earlier this year, let alone what Susan Boyle did last fall. His 283,000 is nothing to be ashamed of for a first-timer, but it’s a reminder that right now, he still has a ways to go before he’s truly a big-time pop star.

READ FULL STORY »

Mar 31 2010 09:00 AM ET

'Glee' Exclusive: New details on the crazy upcoming Lady Gaga episode

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Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Buzzworthy, Covers, Divas!, EW Exclusives, Glee, Lady Gaga, New Stuff, Soundtracks, Television, Things That Are Awesome, TV Shows & Movies, Video Gaga

We already knew that the Glee kids would be tackling Lady Gaga in their back nine episodes, set to begin airing on Fox April 13. But now we actually can tell you which Gaga tunes to get the choral overhaul: “Bad Romance” and “Poker Face.” The latter of the pair will be tackled by Lea Michele’s Rachel. Says creator Ryan Murphy, “Lea does a very stripped-down version of ‘Poker Face.’” Meanwhile, “Romance” sounds like a much more elaborate number, with the glee club actually donning Gaga-esque wardrobe for the performance. “I do know that we’re all different Lady Gagas, and at one point I am the Kermit the Frog Lady Gaga,” says Michele, referring to this crazy ensemble worn by the pop star. “I saw a picture of the Kermit the Frog Lady Gaga with a Post-It on it that said ‘Lea.’ I was like, oh, great. Everyone else has incredible Lady Gaga outfits and I have that one.” And it sounds like producers are making sure the costumes are up to par with the real Gaga’s eccentric wardrobe choices. Says Chris Colfer, who plays Kurt, “The outfits are gonna be incredible. All the costumes are outrageous and legit. I actually went to the tailor this morning who makes the real Gaga outfits. They’re going all-out.”

Are you excited, Music Mix-ers? Did the Glee producers pick the right Gaga songs? What would you have chosen?

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Lady Gaga announces new album details: ‘It is the anthem for our generation’
New Christina Aguilera, ‘Not Myself Tonight’: Listen and weigh in here!
Usher goes ‘OMG’ with will.i.am in new video: Watch it here
Justin Bieber goes to heaven in ‘Never Let You Go’ video: Watch it here

Mar 30 2010 05:57 PM ET

New Christina Aguilera, 'Not Myself Tonight': Listen and weigh in here!

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Categories: Christina Aguilera, Divas!, Downloads and Streams

The first single off Christina Aguilera’s Bionic, “Not Myself Tonight,” hit the internets today via the widget pasted below. It’s produced within an inch of its life, but there’s no mistaking that voice. Apologies on Xtina’s behalf for the personal infomercial you’ve gotta sit through before the song begins to play:

What do you think, Mixers? Any chance she’ll recapture the overdesigned dance-diva crown from Gaga with this track? When she sings “Tonight I’m not the same girl,” are you concerned she means, like, in terms of quality control? And is anyone else flashing back to a gym membership from the mid-’90s?

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Justin Bieber goes to heaven in “Never Let You Go” video
Erykah Badu’s “Window Seat” video stirs controversy: Is the JFK imagery offensive?
Paramore’s Hayley Williams covers Lady Gaga’s ‘Bad Romance’
Justin Bieber, Rihanna perform at Kids’ Choice Awards 2010
The awesome Gaga/Beyoncé “Telephone” parody video you knew was coming
Broken Social Scene: Hear two awesome new songs from Forgiveness Rock Record

Mar 30 2010 03:34 PM ET

Phish to appear on Jimmy Fallon's 'Exile on Main Street' tribute week. What should they play? Who else should perform?

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Categories: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Phish, Rolling Stones

Jimmy Fallon announced last night that Phish are set to appear as part of his show’s Rolling Stones-themed week, which will coincide with the re-release of the Stones’ classic Exile on Main Street double album. Phish’s May 13 TV appearance will be their first since the quartet reformed last year. “I can’t wait to see what they will play,” Fallon declared when he made the announcement. Nor us. But guessing what Stones tracks they might tackle is no easy task, given Phish’s cover-crazy ways. In fact, last Halloween the jam band legends played all of Exile at the Festival 8 event in 2009 and you can see a clip of them performing “Shine a Light”—very nicely—below.

Perhaps a better question is: Who else will Fallon recruit to celebrate the reissue of what, for my money, may well be the greatest album of all time? Again, there are no shortage of candidates. Actually, it might be quicker to list the people who don’t know their way around the Mick and Keith songbook, although artists who have recorded a Stones tune at one time or another include Pearl Jam, Rod Stewart, Ryan Adams, PJ Harvey, the Black Crowes, Ozzy Osbourne, David Byrne, Joan Jett, and Vanessa Carlton.

So what would you like Phish to play on Fallon? And who else should appear on Stones week?

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Justin Bieber goes to heaven in “Never Let You Go” video
Erykah Badu’s “Window Seat” video stirs controversy: Is the JFK imagery offensive?
Paramore’s Hayley Williams covers Lady Gaga’s ‘Bad Romance’
Justin Bieber, Rihanna perform at Kids’ Choice Awards 2010
The awesome Gaga/Beyoncé “Telephone” parody video you knew was coming
Broken Social Scene: Hear two awesome new songs from Forgiveness Rock Record

Mar 30 2010 01:37 PM ET

Usher goes 'OMG' with will.i.am in new video: Watch it here

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Categories: Music Videos, R&B, Usher

It doesn’t take much to get Usher‘s attention. As he croons on his Euro-pop will.i.am-assisted single “OMG,” a “booty like ‘pow pow pow’” and “some boobies like ‘wow oh wow’” will do you just right.

For a song with such a title, it sure does take a minute for its video to build up to wow-worthy moments. After some clean dance sequences, the magic begins. Usher grooves with shadows, puffs out O’s with cigar smoke, and then links back up with his ladies on a primary colored dance floor to show off his steps. Check it out and let us know what you think. His latest album, Raymond v. Raymond,  is out today.

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