Archive: May 2010 (61-70 of 123)

May 13 2010 03:03 PM ET

Lin Yu-chun follows the Susan Boyle blueprint to Sony deal

by
Categories: Li Yu-chun, Susan Boyle, Things That Are Strange

lin-boyleA few weeks ago we told you all about this stocky Chinese kid from Taiwan’s A.I. knockoff, Avenue to Stardom. When Li Yo-chun sang Whitney Houston’s 1992 classic ballad “I Will Always Love You” better than the diva has since, well, 1992, we jumped on his bandwagon. Little did we know he’d get scooped up by a major label faster than we could say “nǐ hǎo” (that’s “hello,” folks).

Sony Music Entertainment announced in a statement earlier today that the 24-year-old is their latest addition to the team. You know who else is there at Sony? Britain’s Got Talent‘s Susan Boyle! If  Yu-chun gets half of the treatment the multi-platinum 48-year-old did on her debut, I Dreamed a Dream, he’s going to be a pretty big deal.

His debut record hits stores this July and will be sung in both English and Chinese.

“I still can’t believe this is real,” Yu-chun told the Associated Press. We can. If SuBo can do it, anything’s possible.

Does this news surprise you? Think he’ll be as big as Boyle was?

May 13 2010 02:35 PM ET

'The Most Hilariously Unsexy Album Covers Ever': Do you agree that Madonna, Prince, and Adam Lambert failed to bring the heat?

by
Categories: Adam Lambert, Madonna, Prince

madonna_hard_candyCracked.com has just posted a list of “The Most Hilariously Failed Attempts at Sexy Album Covers.” The result is both extremely funny and, at times, utterly grotesque. I temporarily went blind after viewing the phallo-hairiness of Herbie Mann’s Push Push and still can’t quite believe that the fetishistic, and arguably NSFW, offering from Ted Nugent is actually real. Other culprits include Madonna (Hard Candy), Prince (Lovesexy), and Adam Lambert (For Your Entertainment).

The latter’s inclusion seems a tad harsh to me. But that do you think? Are there any other examples of unsexy artwork you believe should have been included? And, for extra credit, which album cover on the list features a current member of Congress?

May 13 2010 01:48 PM ET

Sixth-grade 'Paparazzi' kid's choir teacher sings his praises

by
Categories: Covers, Greyson Chance, Kids Do the Darndest Things, Lady Gaga, YouTube Delights

Before Greyson Michael Chance’s cover of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” became a YouTube smash, the Oklahoma sixth-grader was already a star in Kelly Cheek’s classroom. “He’s an amazing student to have,” Cheek, who’s been Chance’s choir teacher at Edmond, Okla.’s Cheyenne Middle School since January, tells the Music Mix. “He’s always playing the piano in class. The kids are always wanting him to sing for them. He’s the reason why I wanted to teach, because of kids like him.”

Chance represented Cheyenne at an annual choir festival for Edmond’s five middle schools this April 12. Cheek says he was originally planning to cover 3OH!3′s “Still Around” before a last-minute switch to “Paparazzi.” “He decided about a week before…He brought that song in one day after school and sang it for me. I just said, ‘You have to do that one! It’s amazing!’”

Chance’s Gaga cover (watch it again after the jump) has made him into an overnight celeb. He’s already appeared on new fan Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show. And naturally, he’s the talk of Cheyenne Middle School. “It’s been insane,” laughs Cheek. “Our phones have been ringing off the hook. The kids are so excited, we can hardly get them to do anything but talk about Greyson.”

READ FULL STORY »

May 13 2010 12:46 PM ET

Eminem, 3OH!3 big winners this week on Billboard's Hot 100

by
Categories: 3OH!3, B.O.B., Charts, Eminem, Jay-Z, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Taio Cruz, Train, Usher

eminem-3OH3As we reported yesterday, Eminem‘s “Not Afraid” debuts at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot 10o singles chart. Also premiering well, at No. 9, is 3OH!3‘s “My First Kiss,” featuring Ke$ha. Eminem pushes last week’s chart topper, Usher‘s “OMG” featuring will.i.am, to No. 2. In turn, B.o.B’s “Nothin’ On You” is moves from No. 3 to No. 4.

Taio Cruz’s “Break Your Heart” remains at No. 4. While B.o.B’s “Airplanes” featuring  Eminem & Hayley Williams jumps from No. 7 to No. 5. Rihanna‘s “Rude Boy” falls back a bit, going to No. 6 from No. 3.

Train’s “Hey, Soul Sister” backslides one spot, heading to No. 7.  Ke$ha‘s “Your Love Is My Drug” hangs tough at No. 8. And Lady Antebellum‘s “Need You Now” might be seeing its last days in the top 10. It falls from No. 5 to No. 10. It looks like Lady Gaga is on is on her way to her seventh top 10. Her “Alejandro” rises from No. 16 to No. 11.

Jay-Z’s “Young Forever” ends its short stay in the top 10. It rests at No. 12 now. The Glee cast’s Bonnie Tyler cover, “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” comes in at No. 16. The Black Eyed Peas’ “Imma Be” closes out the top 20.

Happy 3Oh!3 entered the charts in the top 10? Think Gaga will join them soon? Let us know.

May 13 2010 12:05 PM ET

Jay-Z and Eminem set for two hometown stadium concerts together

by
Categories: Buzzworthy, Eminem, Jay-Z

jay-z-eminemImage Credit: Reuters/Rebecca Cook/LandovGet your peanuts and crackerjacks ready, hip-hop fans. The two biggest names in the business just announced that they’ll be performing full sets together at their hometown stadiums. Detroit native Eminem and New York’s Jay-Z hit the Detroit Tigers game last night (Wednesday, May 13) against the Yankees to spread the word.

“Me and Em,” Jay said in the skybox suite during the ESPN-televised game, “we’re here to announce the fact that we’re doing two shows. September 2 here at Comerica Park and then we’re going to go up to New York to perform at Yankee Stadium September 13. He’s going to headline Detroit. And I’ll headline New York.”

In addition to this being the first show ever at the young New York stadium, this will be Jay’s first time performing a full concert at a ballpark. Last fall he performed New York’s  unofficial anthem, “Empire State of Mind,” with Alicia Keys during Game 2 of the World Series. Eminem has played Comerica before but said that he’s excited about his upcoming run with Jay. “We’ve done things together, smaller shows,” Eminem said. “But I’m not sure we’ve ever done anything this big.”

Tickets go on sale June 12. Will you be buying some to watch them switch roles as starter and closer? Think they’ll get a chance to record with each other again?

May 13 2010 11:33 AM ET

Ke$ha takes a trip to an animated desert: Watch her 'Your Love Is My Drug' video here

by
Categories: Ke$ha, Music Videos

Ke$ha leaves the club behind in her new “Your Love Is My Drug” video, choosing instead to cavort in the desert with an elephant and a dude who looks like he probably owns most of Devendra Banhart’s discography. “Maybe I need some rehab, or maybe just need some sleep,” she wonders. She gets neither. From that sunny, sandy beginning, the clip takes her through a Yellow Submarine-style underwater animation sequence, several kaleidoscopic interludes, and finally a black-light/glow-in-the-dark scene involving a python. Trippy!

Watch the “Your Love Is My Drug” clip after the jump and let us know what you think.

READ FULL STORY »

May 12 2010 03:25 PM ET

Alicia Keys falls for Chad Michael Murray in 'Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)' video: Watch it here

by
Categories: Alicia Keys, Music Videos

“If we do the unthinkable,” Alicia Keys wonders in the chorus of her latest single, “would it make us look crazy?” Her dramatic new video for “Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)” imagines that choice as one involving One Tree Hill hunk Chad Michael Murray. The clip jumps around freely from the 1950s to the present day and everything in between. In all of those eras, Keys’ character falls for Murray’s, only to face the scorn of relatives and neighbors. This, a press release from Keys’ label explains, was meant to “capture…the torment and turmoil of a forbidden love that crosses racial and family ties” and “question…whether or not true love really conquers all.”

So, does true love really conquer all? Would a relationship between Keys and Murray still be unthinkable to some people in 2010? What do you think of this video, anyway? Check out “Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready)” after the jump and let us know.

READ FULL STORY »

May 12 2010 03:10 PM ET

EW Exclusive: Mates of State cover classic Nick Cave ballad; watch the beds burn in new video

by
Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Indie Rock, New Stuff, Video Gaga

Mates-of-StatesImage Credit: Glynis ArbanThe union between husband-and-wife indie-pop duo Mates of State has been a fruitful one, yielding four full-length albums, tours with the likes of Spoon and Death Cab for Cutie, and even two small humans.

Now, as the pair is readying for a summer tour to support their upcoming June 15 release, Crushes (The Covers Mixtape), a tribute to artists ranging from Fleetwood Mac (“Second Hand News”) to Vashti Bunyan (“17 Pink Sugar Elephants”) and Belle & Sebastian (“Sleep the Clock Around”), EW has an exclusive first stream of the video for the Mates’ take on Nick Cave’s classic baritone ballad “Love Letter”; watch it after the jump. READ FULL STORY »

May 12 2010 02:45 PM ET

Katy Perry says 'California Gurls' title is indeed a Big Star reference: Whoa!

by
Categories: Big Star, Katy Perry, Songs of Summer, Things That Are Awesome

katy-perry-big-starImage Credit: Emma Summerton; Mike O'Brien/Courtesy of RykodiscKaty Perry is already rockin’ the airwaves with her Snoop-driven new single, “California Gurls,” which sings the praises of Daisy Dukes and gin n’ juice in the most straightforward pop fashion. But those of us still mourning the death of Alex Chilton couldn’t help but wonder… is it possible, could it be, oh say yes please gods of all that is good in the world, that the unconventional spelling is a reference to Big Star’s “September Gurls”?

Yep.

Perry confirms the cool tip o’ the hat. “My manager, Bradford, he’s from Mississippi, and he’s a huge Big Star fan,” she recently told EW. “And with the death of one of their members, I had just written that song, and he’s like, ‘Katy, just for me, will you please title it ‘California Gurls,’ with a ‘u’? People won’t even know!’ I don’t know the whole catalog of Big Star, but I did it because Bradford is one of my best friends, and I thought it was cool, and you know, the kids like those variations.”

What do you think, Mixers? 10 bonus points to Perry? Or just to Bradford?

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

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
‘Twilight: Eclipse’ soundtrack rollout: Muse, Metric, Beck, Vampire Weekend, and more
Jay-Z on Saturday Night Live: Big highs and a low
Tim McGraw, Faith Hill organize “Nashville Rising” flood benefit show
Bassist Carlos Dengler leaves Interpol
Katy Perry’s “California Gurls”: The first mega-smash of the summer?
Muse announced as first artists on upcoming ‘Twilight: Eclipse’ soundtrack; more to come

May 12 2010 02:20 PM ET

M.I.A. calls Justin Bieber's video 'an assault to my eyes and senses'

by
Categories: Justin Bieber, M.I.A.

mia-vs-beiberImage Credit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.com; Robin Wong/PR Photos“I find the new Justin Bieber video more violent and more of an assault to my eyes and senses than what I’ve made,” says  M.I.A. in the latest issue of U.K. weekly magazine NME. Opting not to explain her recent “Born Free” video, in which redheaded citizens of a desert nation are slaughtered, M.I.A. called Bieber’s clips “more offensive” than her controversial offering.

But before fans of the Biebs come for M.I.A.’s head, know that it was all said in jest. That said, I still wonder what video in particular she’s referring to. Is it the distasteful bowling “Baby” clip? Or is it the wild house party he threw at Usher’s house in his “One Time” video?

What do you guys think of M.I.A.’s quip?

More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Muse announced as first artists on upcoming ‘Twilight: Eclipse’ soundtrack; more to come
Ke$ha, B.o.B., and Lady Antebellum: The death-metal YouTube covers you’ve been waiting for
M.I.A.’s new single, ‘XXXO’: Now this is more like it
Jay-Z on Saturday Night Live: Big highs and a low
Bassist Carlos Dengler leaves Interpol

Advertisement

TV Recaps

Powered by WordPress.com VIP