Archive: August 2010 (1-10 of 141)

Aug 31 2010 03:38 PM ET

First batch of CMA Awards nominees announced today, Miranda Lambert an early favorite

by
Filed under: Music, News and tagged: , , , , ,

Miranda-LambertImage Credit: Randee St. NicholasThis morning (Aug. 31) the first wave of nominees for the 44th Annual CMA Awards were announced and Miranda Lambert appears to be in store for an trophy-filled night. The singer earned five nominations: single of the year and music video of the year for her songs “White Liar” and “The House That Built Me,” and a song of the year nomination for “White Liar.” She’ll fight fiancé Blake Shelton‘s “Hillbilly Bone” for single of the year and music video of the year.

Lady Antebellum did well at the first batch of announcements, earning nods for single of the year, vocal group of the year, song of the year and music video of the year for “Need You Now.” Legendary tandem Brooks & Dunn earned a nom for vocal duo of the year.

Easton Corbin nominated for new artist of the year and single of the year for “A Little More Country Than That.” Zac Brown Band got nods for new artist and song of the year for “Toes.”

Nominees in the remaining five categories, including male and female vocalist of the year and entertainer of the year will be announced tomorrow (Sept. 1) by Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley on ABC’s Good Morning America. Check back here tomorrow to check out our thoughts on the full slate.

Hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood for the third time, CMA Awards air live from Nashville, Tennessee Nov. 10.

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

More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
T.I. celebrates box office success with ‘Takers,’ readies ‘King Uncaged’
Kanye West’s remix of Justin Bieber’s “Runaway Love” surfaces online
Arcade Fire take you home in their fantastic new interactive video
Ryan Bingham’s ‘Hallelujah’ video: Watch an exclusive premiere on the Music Mix!
Kanye West and Jay-Z announce collab EP, drop all-star ‘Monster’
Paul McCartney guests on new song from Travis frontman Fran Healy: An EW exclusive stream

Aug 31 2010 11:35 AM ET

Lady Gaga road-tests new track 'Living on the Radio' at St. Paul concert

by
Filed under: Music and tagged: , ,

Lady Gaga songs usually take a few spins to grow on me. (Brace for impending blasphemy in 5, 4, 3, 2…) It took me at least a week to appreciate the pure pop perfection of “Bad Romance,” a ditty that has now become a sing-along staple of any car ride I take that lasts more than 30 minutes. But I’ve had no such issues warming up to “Living on the Radio,” a bittersweet ballad that Gaga debuted during a concert stop last night in St. Paul, MN. To put things in mathematical terms: One listen = me totally hooked. Yet according to YouTube user IamFree1974, who posted the concert footage, Gaga told the crowd that the track is unlikely to appear on her next album. To which I say: If “Living on the Radio” is destined for Gaga’s musical compost pile, she must have some pretty amazing material in the works, no?

What do you think of “Living on the Radio”? And is it time for a Gaga ballad to get served to radio, if for no other reason than to confirm her mad singing skills to the world at large? Sound off in the comments, and don’t miss Leah Greenblatt’s review of the Gaga tour stop in New York City last month. READ FULL STORY »

Aug 30 2010 05:45 PM ET

T.I. celebrates box office success with 'Takers,' readies 'King Uncaged'

by
Filed under: Movies, Music and tagged: , , ,

tiImage Credit: Moises De Pena/WireImage.comT.I.‘s bank heist drama Takers secured a surprise box office victory over The Last Exorcism this weekend after early reports had the horror flick on top. Today the rapper-actor, who starred in and produced Takers, is making sure everyone knows. “I just want to get the word out to people because there has been some misinterpretation and some premature accounts of us being No. 2, but nothing of the sort is anything near being the truth,” T.I. tells the Music Mix via phone. (In the final report, Takers made $20.5 million to The Last Exorcism‘s $20.4.)

T.I. is relishing Takers‘ success even more since it wasn’t a sure thing.  “I’m ambitious by nature,” he says. “I have no other choice but to expect the absolute best for myself and for my business and my endeavors.” Yet he knew that The Last Exorcism was “set in a better position to be No. 1, given that they were showing on nearly 1,000 more screens than we were. But we had a higher per-screen average.”

Now that Takers is officially No. 1, T.I. is thinking about a possible prequel (SPOILER ALERT), “giving a little more backstory on how the crew ran before [his character] Ghost had to go away.”

First, though, he’s getting serious about finishing his next album, King Uncaged, which is still awaiting a final release date. T.I. currently estimates he has “two-three more weeks’ worth of work” left winnowing down the 100-plus new songs he’s recorded for the album. “I gave my word and I promised that after I completely gave my attention to the marketing and release of the film, once I released it to a No. 1 opening and did twenty-plus millions of dollars in box office at the debut — now, starting Monday, man, I am completely consuming myself with the completion of King Uncaged,” he solemnly swears. “And I’ma get it to you, man, A.S.A.P.“

Looking forward to King Uncaged? Did you see Takers? Let us know in the comments.

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

More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Kanye West’s remix of Justin Bieber’s “Runaway Love” surfaces online
Arcade Fire take you home in their fantastic new interactive video
Ryan Bingham’s ‘Hallelujah’ video: Watch an exclusive premiere on the Music Mix!
Kanye West and Jay-Z announce collab EP, drop all-star ‘Monster’
Paul McCartney guests on new song from Travis frontman Fran Healy: An EW exclusive stream

Aug 30 2010 04:42 PM ET

Kanye West's remix of Justin Bieber's 'Runaway Love' surfaces online

by
Filed under: Music and tagged: , , , , , ,

kanye-bieberImage Credit: Kevin Knight/Retna Ltd; Scott Legato/FilmMagicLess than a month after it was first discussed over Twitter, Kanye West’s remix of Justin Bieber’s “Runaway Love” has leaked online in rough form. As previously reported, the remix also features Wu-Tang Clan rapper Raekwon, who told us it constituted “a historical moment for hip-hop.”

West laid Bieber’s “Runaway Love” vocals over a reworked version of the beat from the Wu-Tang Clan’s immortal “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta F— Wit.” That song, incidentally, came out a year before Justin Bieber was born. The remix also features a quick verse from West (“Last name West and my teeth diamonds/She said, ‘What’s your occupation, crazy rhyming?’”), plus two verses from Raekwon. As promised, Rae kept his lyrics PG.

The only version of the remix that’s out there is smothered in “exclusive” DJ tags, and it may or may not be the final version intended for release. A Bieber rep says his label is trying to get it pulled from YouTube right now. In the meantime, have you heard this remix? Did it live up to your expectations? Will hip-hop ever be the same?

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

More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Arcade Fire take you home in their fantastic new interactive video
Ryan Bingham’s ‘Hallelujah’ video: Watch an exclusive premiere on the Music Mix!
Kanye West and Jay-Z announce collab EP, drop all-star ‘Monster’
Paul McCartney guests on new song from Travis frontman Fran Healy: An EW exclusive stream
Taylor Swift tells EW about new album ‘Speak Now’: ‘I’ve covered every emotion I’ve felt in the last two years.’

Aug 30 2010 03:34 PM ET

Arcade Fire take you home—seriously, to the house you actually grew up in—in their fantastic new interactive video 'We Used to Wait'

by
Tagged: , , , ,

arcade_fireImage Credit: Eric KayneIf it’s true that you can’t go home again, nobody told Arcade Fire. The Canadian collective’s new video for the single “We Used to Wait,” from their excellent recent album The Suburbs, lets individual users do just that—or at least, the closest approximation that a laptop and a high-speed connection can supply.

The 2-D technology of Google Maps allows each viewer to customize the clip by first entering the address of the home they grew up in, and if it’s mappable, incorporate moving images of that exact area into the journey of the faceless jogging avatar (you! One American Apparel hoodie and it could be you!) at its center.

Click here on thewildernessdowntown.com to choose your own adventure (you may have to also download Google Chrome), then come back and tell us what you think–and how well the execution of the concept plays into the record’s themes of childhood, suburbia and memory.

Me, I kind of think they nailed it. Physically I’m sitting at my desk at work, but ten minutes after clicking, I’m still 3,000 miles away.

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

More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Ryan Bingham’s ‘Hallelujah’ video: Watch an exclusive premiere on the Music Mix!
Kanye West and Jay-Z announce collab EP, drop all-star ‘Monster’
Paul McCartney guests on new song from Travis frontman Fran Healy: An EW exclusive stream
Taylor Swift tells EW about new album ‘Speak Now’: ‘I’ve covered every emotion I’ve felt in the last two years.’
What’s the ultimate song of summer 2010? Vote in our official poll

Aug 30 2010 03:19 PM ET

Ryan Bingham's 'Hallelujah' video: Watch an exclusive premiere on the Music Mix!

by
Filed under: Music and tagged: , , , ,

ryan-binghamCrazy Heart Oscar winner Ryan Bingham’s new album Junky Star is already an EW-Approved Must List™ Item. Now we’re proud to premiere this video for one of the most gut-wrenchingly beautiful songs on the album, “Hallelujah.”

Bingham’s demolished voice tells the tale of a man shot in a mugging by someone he mistook for a friend. I called it “desperately hopeful” in my review: the narrator is dying, praying for one more chance in life, praying for a chance at angelic redemption, then more or less deciding he’s probably not gonna get either of those things. “Hallelujah,” he sings, “is just a song.” That line kills me. Given the canonical status of a certain Leonard Cohen tune, you may not think you are able to love another song called “Hallelujah,” but that’s what growing up is all about: opening your heart to the world and letting it surprise you. Or something.

This video comes from an acoustic series called “Bingham Bootlegs”; you can watch the first video, “Depression,” here. (He’ll also be performing that tune on Letterman tonight.) Click through the jump for the “Hallelujah” bootleg, check out the full band version on Bingham’s MySpace, and leave your thoughts in the comments.

READ FULL STORY »

Aug 30 2010 11:09 AM ET

Kanye West and Jay-Z announce collab EP, drop all-star 'Monster'

by
Filed under: Music and tagged: , , , , ,

jay-z-kanye-westImage Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.comKanye West is a man of his word. Last Friday night, he inaugurated that “Good Fridays” free music program he’d promised with a double whammy via Twitter. First, he announced a collaborative project with his big bro Jay-Z: “Me and jay bout to drop a 5 song album called ‘Watch the Throne.’” Sweet! A few hours later, he let loose “Monster,” an aptly titled posse cut that he identified as the second track on Watch the Throne. (No word on whether “Monster” will appear on West’s still untitled solo album this fall.)

In addition to the classic pairing of West and Jay-Z, the six-minute “Monster” features vocals from rappers of the moment Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, and — wait for it — indie-folk warbler Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. Almost everyone turns in a rewind-worthy performance. READ FULL STORY »

Aug 30 2010 09:19 AM ET

Paul McCartney guests on new song from Travis frontman Fran Healy: An EW exclusive stream

by
Filed under: Music and tagged: , ,

Fran-Healey-McCartneyImage Credit: Fran Healy Kristian Dowling/Getty Images) – JulySometimes a cigar is just a cigar. But sometimes—like, say, when your guest bass player is a Beatle—it’s worth talking about.

Fran Healy, leader of ’90s Scot-rock champions Travis, called on old friend Macca to contribute to his first solo album, Wreckorder. McCartney agreed—and a grateful Healy, prid quo pro, subsequently promised to go vegetarian.

You can here the result of their collaboration below, and pre-order the single here: READ FULL STORY »

Aug 30 2010 09:11 AM ET

Justin Bieber postpones performances due to illness

by
Filed under: Music, News and tagged:

justin-bieberImage Credit: Gerardo Mora/WireImage.comJustin Bieber disappointed fans this weekend when he was forced to postpone a performance at Syracuse, N.Y.’s Great New York State Fair due to an unspecified illness (hat tip: Vulture). A statement on the Fair’s website says Bieber’s appearance, originally scheduled for last night, has been rescheduled for this Wednesday, Sept. 1. The show that Bieber would have played in Manchester, N.H. on Sept. 1 has in turn been moved to Dec. 9.

In lieu of publishing a feature-length rumination on the deeper cultural significance of Justin Bieber having a cold, we’ll extend our humble wish that he feels better soon. Good news on that front: While admitting that “this really sucks,” Bieber tweeted yesterday that he is “gonna be ok just need 2 rest.”

Were you planning to see either of the shows affected by Bieber’s ailment? Enter your “get well soon” messages in the comments.

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

More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Taylor Swift’s “Mine” video: What a sweet love story
Taylor Swift tells EW about new album ‘Speak Now’: ‘I’ve covered every emotion I’ve felt in the last two years.’
What’s the ultimate song of summer 2010? Vote in our official poll
Bruce Springsteen: Six-disc ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’ details
Eminem leads Billboard Hot 100 chart again

Aug 27 2010 11:21 PM ET

Taylor Swift's 'Mine' music video: What a sweet, sweet love story

by
Filed under: Music and tagged: , , , , ,

taylor-swift-first-timeRecently, Taylor Swift told EW that the first single, “Mine,” off her forth coming album Speak Now was about her “tendency to run from love.” But she added this caveat: “This song is sort of about finding the exception to that.” Special! Now that the video has been released—it hit the Internets just this evening!—we fully understand what she meant: This is a love song that actually seems to have a happy ending. (Novel for a country song!) In the video, which you can watch after the jump, Taylor tells a story—a big, ol’ lovey one, of course. (This girl loves a narrative music video.) In this case, it’s pretty simple: Girl meets boy; girl and boy fall for each other; boy proposes to girl in a boat on a lake (totally not a cliché!); girl accepts the glittery ring; boy and girl fight and head toward breakup; and, the big twist: boy and girl reconcile! Babies splash on the beach and in the bed. It’s actually rather sweet and, as usual, Taylor looks amazing and controlled and way beyond her 20 years in the video. It’s sure to be a hit with the kiddos! Watch “Mine” here:

READ FULL STORY »

Advertisement

TV Recaps

Powered by WordPress.com VIP