Archive: September 2010 (41-50 of 152)

Sep 22 2010 11:04 AM ET

Diddy, Lil Wayne, Justin Timberlake collab 'Shades' hits the Web

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Categories: Diddy, Justin Timberlake, Leaks, Lil Wayne

ShadesImage Credit: Joseph Roberts/PR Photos; Bob Charlotte/PR Photos (2)Diddy sure knows how to assemble a dream team. For “Shades,” a newly leaked track that may or may not appear on his long-delayed Last Train to Paris LP with his group Dirty Money, the impresario scored guest vocals from both Lil Wayne and Justin Timberlake. Getting these guys together for his album is quite a coup on Diddy’s part. But does the quality of the song live up to all that star wattage?

Not quite. I won’t pass final judgment on “Shades” while it’s just an unofficial leak — but right now, this song could really use a brisk edit. It opens with some dazed mumbles from Weezy, who rambles on for a minute (“She must be the one/I look in her eyes and see the sun/Even on rainy days”) over a beatless ambient background. Then a highly processed male voice, which I’m assuming is Diddy’s, starts singing. He meanders on for a while before getting to the song’s first hook: “Girl, if you want, I’ll pour a gallon of gasoline on my heart just to light your cigarette/Girl, if you want, I’ll do anything for you/I’ll even take off my shades.” There’s a nice sequence after this layering bright vocal harmonies to heaven, then some more tuneless wandering from Diddy, then more harmonizing.

Finally, well after the four-minute mark, Timberlake finally shows up. Sounds like he’s been listening to a lot of Young Money. His half-spoken verse includes a number of the elided end-of-line similes that Wayne’s crew has popularized on hits like “BedRock”: “I can read your mind, read your mind — Professor X/We could press rewind, press rewind — VHS,” “I’ma bend your body, bend your body — Magneto/Let me have my way, I’ma have my way — Carlito,” and so on. Hearing Timberlake’s voice on a new song is rare these days, so I hate to complain, but I can’t help wishing he’d sing more and rap less.

Diddy’s camp has not confirmed whether or not “Shades” will appear on Last Train to Paris. Have you heard the all-star collab? How do you like it?

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

More on the Music Mix:
Wyclef Jean officially withdraws from Haiti presidential race
Cops arrest man who allegedly attempted to blow up Dave Matthews Band fans after Chicago show
Tommy Lee talks new Methods of Mayhem CD and playing a boob drum kit
Travie McCoy ‘stoked’ ‘Glee’ is covering ‘Billionaire’ tonight

Sep 21 2010 03:05 PM ET

Wyclef Jean officially withdraws from Haiti presidential race

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Categories: Wyclef Jean

Wyclef-JeanImage Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesWyclef Jean has officially ended his controversial run for president of Haiti. “After weeks of quiet but painstaking reflection with my wife and daughter, I have chosen to end my bid for the presidency of Haiti,” the singer said in a statement issued to the press today. “This was not an easy conclusion to reach; but it is one that was thoughtfully made, taking into account many, many competing factors and weighing the course that will best advance the healing of the country and help it find the quickest path to recovery.”

Jean’s presidential bid was rejected by Haiti’s electoral council last month on the grounds that he was not a permanent resident. While he initially announced plans to appeal the decision, the council said this was impossible. “It’s not about my candidacy — this appeal was meant to address the shortcomings of the process for every Haitian,” Jean’s statement continued. “Though my run for the presidency was cut short, in this way, I feel it was not in vain; it’s something we can use to improve conditions for my Haitian brothers and sisters.”

He now says he plans to focus on his musical career, including an album titled If I Were President, the Haitian Experience due next February.

Earlier: Wyclef Jean snaps back at Sean Penn, Pras in concert

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

More on the Music Mix:
Cops arrest man who allegedly attempted to blow up Dave Matthews Band fans after Chicago show
Tommy Lee talks new Methods of Mayhem CD and playing a boob drum kit
Travie McCoy ‘stoked’ ‘Glee’ is covering ‘Billionaire’ tonight
Lady Gaga speaks at ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ rally

Sep 21 2010 02:49 PM ET

Fred Figglehorn: the man behind the internet sensation tells EW about his new album

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Categories:

“Hey, it’s FREEEDD!!!” What? You don’t know Fred, the weird “kid” with the high-pitched voice that sounds like he’s sucked on helium? Fred, whose Youtube channel has had 602 million video views since it began in 2006? Fred, whose Nickelodeon movie debuted to 7.6 million viewers last week and became the No. 1 movie on basic cable this year? Well, you can bet your kids do, and with his second album dropping today, you really should too. READ FULL STORY »

Sep 21 2010 12:19 PM ET

Dave Matthews Band: Cops arrest man who allegedly attempted to plant bomb in Chicago after DMB show

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Categories: Dave Matthews Band

dave_matthews_bandImage Credit: Danny ClinchLate on Saturday night, police in Chicago arrested a Lebanese immigrant who they say attempted to plant a bomb near Wrigley Field, shortly after the Dave Matthews Band had played a show at the venue. According to the Chicago Tribune, Sami Samir Hassoun deposited the device just feet away from a neighborhood bar and was then detained by a swarm of Chicago police and FBI agents. Authorities say Hassoun timed the attack to cause massive casualties and expected to destroy half a block.

The FBI had been tracking Hassoun for some time and the “bomb” was in fact a harmless device which undercover agents had given him earlier in the day. The Tribune also reported Hassoun was prompted to plan the alleged attack by a bizarre desire to undermine Mayor Richard Daley’s political support and allow an associate to take control of the city.

More on the Music Mix:
Tommy Lee talks new Methods of Mayhem CD and playing a boob drum kit
Travie McCoy ‘stoked’ ‘Glee’ is covering ‘Billionaire’ tonight
Lady Gaga speaks at ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ rally
Amy Winehouse to credit-hogging Mark Ronson: ‘You’re dead to me’
MTV Europe Music Awards: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry lead nominations

Sep 21 2010 11:59 AM ET

Travie McCoy 'stoked' that 'Glee' is covering his summer smash 'Billionaire' on season premiere

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Categories: Glee, Gym Class Heroes, Hip-Hop/Rap, Television, Travie McCoy

Travie-McCoyImage Credit: Quang LeEven though he’s coming off a huge summer where his Bruno Mars-assisted “Billionaire” ruled the charts, Travie McCoy’s run isn’t slowing down just yet. Fox’s cheery drama, Glee, will breathe new life into the aspirational cut tonight (Sept. 21) on the premiere of its second season. The Gym Class Hero is a fan of the show, so he couldn’t turn them down when he heard they wanted his song.

“They just came to my management to get the okay,” Travie say.  “Once I found out, I was all about it. I was just watching Glee last night. I didn’t realize how deep that show is. It’s funny, but there’s definitely some serious s— going on. I’m stoked to be a part of it.” McCoy hasn’t seen or heard Glee’s version yet. He’ll be tuning in tonight like everyone else. “I’m excited to see how they’re going to pull it off,” he says.

Travie just released his latest single, the mid-tempo breakup cut “Need You” and is currently out with director Shane Valdés shooting its video. But he’s also excited about getting together with his group again for the next Gym Class Heroes album. They’ll be getting in the studio later this year to work on it. McCoy’s hoping to release the album next summer, saying that they’ve already knocked out a bunch of tracks.

“We had a little free time before the summer and we rented an abandoned church in upstate New York and we got about 12-13 songs done there,” he says. “Now we’re about 16-17 demos deep. They’re still all rough, but there’s a lot of potential there. It’s a good head start to have going into writing a record. There’s no pressure.”

Will you be tuning into Glee‘s premiere tonight? Are you excited for the next GCH album? Let us know.

More on the Music Mix:
Lady Gaga speaks at ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ rally
Amy Winehouse to credit-hogging Mark Ronson: ‘You’re dead to me’
MTV Europe Music Awards: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry lead nominations
Taylor Momsen gets naked in new Pretty Reckless video
Soundgarden release first video in more than ten years

Sep 21 2010 11:16 AM ET

Tommy Lee talks about the new Methods of Mayhem CD and why he played a drum kit made of boobs

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Categories: Metal, Music, New Stuff, Release Date

tommy-lee2Image Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty ImagesMost rock stars are very choosy about which remixers they allow to tinker with their much sweated-over musical meisterworks. One exception to that rule? Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, who last year posted tracks online from the new album by his Methods of Mayhem project and invited fans around the world to, well, do whatever the hell they wanted with them. “Our direction was: Anything goes,” says Lee. “I don’t care if you play butt bongos on your girlfriend’s a–. Go crazy!”

The skinsman admits the submissions were of variable quality—”A lot of people have a hard time realizing what key things are in”—but that the experiment was ultimately a successful one. “There’s this song called ‘Back to Before’ that was a pretty straightforward, midtempo rock song,” Lee explains. “This dude from Paris took all the parts, remixed it, raised the tempo, and sent it back. I was like, ‘F—, that’s awesome.’ I redid the whole thing around his remix. That was the one that took the wildest turn. Essentially, at the end of the day, I made a record with the whole world.”

That CD, A Public Disservice Announcement, is out today and boasts an eclectic mix of riff-driven metal (“Fight Song”), hook-heavy rockers (“Louder,” “Blame”), and even electro-funk (the Deadmau5-assisted “Party Instructions”). What you won’t find on the album is an abundance of guitar solos. “I think it’s a f—ing waste of time,” Lee laughs. “‘Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!’ That’s great. You can play guitar. I get it. But can you remember anything that you just played? Probably not.” Of course, Mr Lee has himself played a few drum solos during Crüe shows—albeit often while strapped into a revolving metal cage. “That’s why I started to take the drum solo to another level,” he says. “There’s no way you’re going to leave the room if I’m f—ing flying upside down playing drums. Yeah, it’s still a drum solo. It’s a wank. But if you make it cool…”

Lee recently took the drum solo up—or, arguably, down—to another level when he played a kit made of people, and their mostly pneumatic breasts, for the Comedy Central show Tosh.0. “I love that guy,” says Lee of host Daniel Tosh. “I’m such a big fan. When he asked me to come do the show I was like, ‘Yes! I don’t even care what we’re doing on the show, the answer’s yes!’”

And where do you go after you’d played boob-percussion? How about playing a drum solo while riding a rollercoaster. “What I would love to do with Methods is set up a concert where I build a stage around a rollercoaster,” Lee explains. “I want to put seats on the f—ing thing and grab a couple of people out of the crowd and take them with me and play the whole way on the rollercoaster. I’ve got some f—ed up things that I want to do!”

Sep 20 2010 06:35 PM ET

Leonard Skinner RIP: The Lynyrd Skynyrd-inspiring gym teacher dies at the age of 77

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Categories: In Memoriam, R.I.P.

Lynyrd-Skynyrd-SkinnerImage Credit: Jon M. Fletcher/The Florida Times/AP; Peter Mazel/RetnaPhysical education instructor and basketball coach Leonard Skinner, who inspired the name of southern-rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd, died in his sleep early this morning, according to the Florida Times-Union. Skinner was 77 and was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

In 1966, Skinner joined the staff of Robert E. Lee high school in Jacksonville, Fla., where his student charges included future Skynyrd members Bob Burns and Gary Rossington, the latter of whom was suspended after the gym teacher sent him to the assistant principal for wearing his hair too long. Over time, Burns, Rossington, and the rest of their band—which was then called the One Percent—developed a series of running in-jokes about the strict Skinner. Ultimately the group decided to pay tongue-in-cheek homage to the teacher by renaming themselves “Lynyrd Skynyrd.”

More on the Music Mix:
Lady Gaga speaks at ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ rally
Amy Winehouse to credit-hogging Mark Ronson: ‘You’re dead to me’
MTV Europe Music Awards: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry lead nominations
Taylor Momsen gets naked in new Pretty Reckless video
Soundgarden release first video in more than ten years

Sep 20 2010 06:23 PM ET

Lady Gaga at 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' rally in Maine: Watch her speech here

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Categories: Lady Gaga, Rock n' Roll Politics

lady-gaga-rallyImage Credit: David Gabber/PR PhotosThe larger-than-life pop star who routinely plays to thousands in stadiums and sports arenas spoke from a much more modest stage today: a small podium in Portland, Maine.

As promised, Lady Gaga (pictured left at last week’s VMAs, with discharged gay soldiers) took her message of equality to the Pine Tree State this afternoon, speaking out against the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy to a crowd of several hundred at Deerings Oak Park. And unsurprisingly, she had a meat-centered metaphor for it all:

“I spent 48 hours trying to find the perfect thing to say,” she told the gathered attendees. “My address to you today is called ‘The prime rib of America.’” Click through to the jump to watch Gaga’s entire 18-minute speech (clips via Idolator).

According to a transcript posted on the local Morning Sentinel, she continued: “I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will defend the Constitution of the U.S, bear true faith and allegiance … I will obey the order of president of the United States and officers appointed over me, so help me God …Unless there is a gay solider in my unit, sir. That is the oath taken every day.”

“Equality is the prime rib of America, but because I’m gay I don’t get to enjoy the greatest cut of meat my country has to offer.”

Addressing the infamous Matthew Shepard case, she continued: “Doesn’t ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ seem to be backwards? Doesn’t it seem to you we should send home the prejudice? The straight soldier who hates the gay soldier, whose performance is affected because he is homophobic? He holds and harbors hate and he gets to stay and fight for our country. We gay soldiers, who harbor no hate, no phobia, are sent home … I’d like to propose a new law, a law that sends home the soldier that has the problem. Our new law is called ‘If you don’t like it, go home.’”

“Send home straight soldiers who fight for some equalities, but not for the equality of the gay… If you are not committed to perform in excellence because you don’t believe in equality —go home! I thought equality was non-negotiable.”

“If the Senate and the President are not going to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ perhaps they should be more clear with us about who the military is fighting for, who our tax dollars are supporting and ultimately, how much does the prime rib cost? Because I thought this was an all you can eat buffet. I have to pay extra, because I’m gay. I’m allowed to stand in line, get shot at, shoot a gun. But when it’s time to order my meal, to benefit from the freedoms of the Constitution, I have to pay extra. I shouldn’t have to pay extra.”

“My name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. I am an American citizen,” she reportedly concluded, before leading a chant of “Go home!” and exiting the stage. READ FULL STORY »

Sep 20 2010 03:00 PM ET

David Guetta collaborator Chris Willis' new 'Louder (Put Your Hands Up)': An EW exclusive stream

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Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Buzzworthy, Chris Willis, Current Listening, Snap Judgment, Songs of Summer

Chris-WillisChris Willis—that frequent collaborator with French DJ David Guetta—has been swirling around on pop radio for a while now, serving up a series of clubby anthems from my fist-pumping fave “Love is Gone” to the similar-sounding and pulsing jam from this summer “Gettin’ Over You,” which also features LMFAO and Fergie.

And now he’s returned with “Louder (Put Your Hands Up),” which is—yup, you guessed it—another club banger. Could it be a big hit for him? I think it’s certainly got lots of potential, but may be a bit too-too in the dance category for the radio. (That doesn’t mean I won’t put it on repeat on my iPod, though.)

But why don’t you tell me, dear readers, by listening to The Music Mix’s exclusive debut stream of the single after the jump:

READ FULL STORY »

Sep 20 2010 02:40 PM ET

OK Go's new 'White Knuckles' video: Dogs, furniture, delight

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Categories: Buzzworthy, OK Go

OK Go videos are pretty much guaranteed to be viral successes, and their latest offering, “White Knuckles,” is no different.

An intricately choreographed dog ballet on sleek modular furniture, all set to a catchy-enough song? Yep, this will have 7 million views by tomorrow: READ FULL STORY »

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