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Archive: April 2011 (21-30 of 124)

Apr 23 2011 02:38 PM ET

Liam Gallagher criticizes statue of Michael Jackson (and height of Justin Bieber)

Categories: Justin Bieber, Michael Jackson, Oasis, Rock Stars Say the Darndest Things, Things That Are British

Oasis and Beady Eye frontman Liam Gallagher has derided a statue of Michael Jackson erected in Britain earlier this month, describing it as “ridiculous.” The statue stands outside Craven Cottage, the ground of British soccer team Fulham F.C. The team’s chairman Mohammed Al Fayed knew Jackson and in 1999 invited him to watch Fulham play Wigan Athletic.

Al Fayed was criticized by some Fulham fans when he unveiled the tribute. Fayed responded by saying that anyone who didn’t appreciate Jackson could “go to hell.”

Liam Gallagher was asked what he thought of the statue while giving match result predictions on the BBC soccer show Football Focus. “Yeah, it’s ridiculous, innit?” replied the singer. “But, you know, it could be worse. Could be Justin Bieber. But that wouldn’t be that high then, would it?”

Apr 22 2011 06:37 PM ET

The Kings of Leon's rock doc premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival: How high is the 'Talihina Sky'?

by Maggie Pehanick

Categories: About Last Night, Kings of Leon, Rock n' Roll Ain't Noise Pollution, Things That Are Awesome

Jared, Nathan, and Caleb Followill at Tribeca

Image Credit: WireImage.com

Sometimes I’ll go fishing for deals at strip malls or outlets (basically, any store that has “Basement” or “Rack” in the name) and I spend so long grazing the miles of Lycra and spandex blends that everything starts to look good, and suddenly I find myself walking out with a recycled bag full of ill-fitting lady suits. Then I wander into a full-price store and the sparkly new clothes with their unripped seams make me realize everything I just bought was crap.

That’s how I felt last night at the unveiling of Talihina Sky: The Story of The Kings of Leon. Now, I’m definitely not saying the Tribeca Film Festival is a strip mall stocked with poorly-sewn velour sweatsuits, but I am recognizing my unfortunate tendency to be mesmerized by a lot of sub-par films until a genuinely good one snaps me back to reality. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 22 2011 02:19 PM ET

Sugarland debuts 'Tonight' video: Watch!

by Tanner Stransky

Categories: Buzzworthy, Country, Y'all!, Current Listening, Music, Music Videos, Sugarland

Superb country duo Sugarland debuted the video for their burning-yearning single “Tonight,” and oddly enough, it feels like it’s being brought to us by a wind machine. Lacking much of a storyline, “Tonight” is more of what you might call a “glamour” music video that features vocalist Jennifer Nettles in three different set-ups that all — even when she’s in the bedroom, rolling around betwixt the sheets — include gale-force winds blowing her lusciously coiffed locks around. I suppose ample use of wind is nothing new in music videos (hello, Beyoncé, J. Lo, and basically every other diva out there), but it’s just what struck me as I watched. Also, those little starry things that burst out later in the vid, they’re sorta annoying. But I get the treacly effect they were going for with them. Lastly, Jennifer looks real pretty, which is always fun. Watch the video here:

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Apr 21 2011 06:11 PM ET

'Glee': Hear New Directions cover Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' here

by Tim Stack

Categories: Covers, Divas!, Glee, Lady Gaga, Pop, Soundtracks, Television

Because you haven’t heard enough about the Lady yet today, Glee has gone Gaga once again.

The Fox series, which has already covered Lady Gaga’s “Telephone,” “Bad Romance,” and “Poker Face,” is tackling the superstar’s anthem “Born This Way” on Tuesday’s special 90-minute episode.

The New Directions version finds Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) and Mercedes (Amber Riley) taking lead vocals with support from Kurt (Chris Colfer). Listen to the tune below: READ FULL STORY »

Apr 21 2011 03:01 PM ET

Elton John premieres Cameron Crowe-directed music doc starring himself and Leon Russell, plays the hits at Tribeca Film Festival

by Joseph Brannigan Lynch

Categories: Elton John, Movies, On the Scene, Supergroups, Things That Are Awesome, Things That Are British

Image Credit: Joseph Guay

Surrounded by the after-hours glow of Lower Manhattan skyscrapers and buffeted by winds rolling in off of New York Harbor, Elton John wrapped up the opening night of the tenth annual Tribeca Film Festival with performances of such evergreen Elton classics as “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man” and “Your Song.”

His solo piano performance followed the world premiere of Cameron Crowe’s The Union, a music documentary that followed Sir John and legendary rock pianist Leon Russell as the two Rock Hall of Famers recorded an album together last year.

The Union turned out to be a pleasantly affecting surprise. What could have merely been a music doc about two aging rockers recording a late-career album was instead a heartfelt, decades-belated love letter from Elton John to his early career idol and one of his greatest influences, Leon Russell. Plus, it was fun to watch the flick sitting behind a group that included the uncommonly talented actors Anna Kendrick (Twilight, Up in the Air), Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood), and Zoe Kazan (It’s Complicated). Kendrick’s eyes were glued to the screen while Dano and Kazan were smoochily glued to each other—that’s what the PortaPotties are there for, you crazy kids!) READ FULL STORY »

Apr 21 2011 02:13 PM ET

Lady Gaga calls Madonna comparisons 'completely ridiculous' in NME interview

by Kyle Anderson

Categories: Ladies, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Pop, Rock Stars Say the Darndest Things, Things That Sound A Whole Lot Like Other Things

Image Credit: Francois Guillot/Getty Images

One of the big gripes about Lady Gaga’s chart-topping single “Born This Way” has been that it sounded just a little too much like Madonna’s 1989 classic “Express Yourself” (there’s also a lot of TLC’s “Waterfalls” in there, but let’s deal with one bite at a time).

But should you run into Gaga on the street—undoubtedly wearing football pads and a small animal on her head—it’s best not to bring up the Material Girl, because she’s clearly a little sensitive about it.

“I don’t think… I swear to you. I am not stupid enough to put out a record and be that moronic,” Gaga told British music magazine NME. “I’m a songwriter. I’ve written loads of music. Why would I try to put out a song and think I’m getting one over on everybody? That’s retarded. What a completely ridiculous thing to even question me about.”

(Gaga has since apologized for her derisive use of the word “retarded,” stating, “To anyone that was hurt, please know that it was furiously unintentional. An honest mistake requires honesty to make. Whether life’s disabilities left you outcast, bullied or teased, rejoice and love yourself today.”)

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Apr 21 2011 12:50 PM ET

Rihanna's 'S&M' hits No. 1 on the Billboard hot 100 singles chart

by Brad Wete

Categories: Black Eyed Peas, Charts, Hip-Hop/Rap, Katy Perry, Pop, R&B, Rihanna

Image Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Rihanna’s “S&M” whips past Katy Perry’s “E.T.” to claim the top spot this week on the Billboard hot 100 singles chart.

It pushes Perry’s Kanye West-assisted track to No. 2. While the Black Eyed Peas’ “Just Can’t Get Enough,” again holds at No. 3.

And as title track from Lady Gaga’s forthcoming Born This Way exits the top 10, its second single, “Judas,” debuts at No. 10. Check out the full top 10 after the jump.

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Apr 21 2011 12:02 PM ET

Lady Gaga's manager says Weird Al rejection was his fault

by Kyle Anderson

Categories: Lady Gaga, Pop, Train Wrecks Averted, Weird Al Yankovic

Image Credit: Image Credit: Gaga: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images; Weird Al: Lester Cohen/Getty Images

Yesterday, “Weird Al” Yankovic took to the Internet to express his frustration with Lady Gaga, who had withheld her endorsement of Al’s “I Perform This Way”), a parody of her “Born This Way.”

Though Al would have been free to release the song anyway, he doesn’t like to rankle artists and always seeks their approval. Without Gaga’s stamp, his version was relegated to the vault.

But news traveled quickly, and Al received overwhelming support for the song (which he posted to YouTube). By the time the day was out, Al’s thumbs-down had been turned right side up:

“Gaga’s manager has now admitted that he never forwarded my parody to Gaga—she had no idea at all,” Yankovic wrote on his blog. “Even though we assumed that Gaga herself was the one making the decision (because, well, that’s what we were TOLD), he apparently made the decision completely on his own. He’s sorry. And Gaga loves the song.”

The track will now appear on Al’s upcoming album, will serve as the first single and will get a proper video treatment. And he still plans to give the proceeds from the single and video to the Human Rights Campaign.

Apr 20 2011 08:53 PM ET

Watch Beastie Boys' 'Make Some Noise' video, part of celebrity-packed 'Fight For Your Right Revisited' short film

by Dan Snierson

Categories: Beastie Boys, Hip-Hop/Rap, Music Videos, Television

If you can’t wait until midnight to flip on MTV2/mtvU/VH1 Classic and watch Fight For Your Right Revisited — a star-stuffed short film by the Beastie Boys that debuted earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival — it’s time to get ill right now. MTV has just posted a five-minute-plus video for “Make Some Noise,” which is the first single from the Beasties’ new album Hot Sauce Committee, Part 2, and part of the 22-minute film. The action picks up where the video for 1986’s “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!)” left off, and boasts lots of shattering glass and celebrities ranging from Elijah Wood to Seth Rogen to Danny McBride to Chloe Sevigny to… well, you’ll see when you press play. And brace yourself for a creepy cowbell performance by Will Ferrell. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 20 2011 07:41 PM ET

Beyoncé's reign resumes with 'Run the World (Girls),' her club-banging new single for the ladies

by Brad Wete

Categories: Beyonce, Buzzworthy, Divas!, Hip-Hop/Rap, Ladies, Pop, R&B, Things That Are Sexy

Image Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Beyoncé season has begun. It’s been almost three years since the R&B queen dropped her last album. In the last few months, anticipation’s been building for new material. And with paparazzi images of a video shoot hitting the net recently, it seemed we’d be getting new music from Queen B in grand fashion soon.

Unfortunately, an unfinished version of her first single,”Run the World (Girls),” from her upcoming as-yet-titled fourth solo album unceremoniously leaked this past Monday–with an overly excited DJ screaming over it no less. No worries, though. After taking a few days to collect herself, Beyoncé’s ready for its official release. It hits radio and iTunes tomorrow (April 21).

Producer Switch pulled from his 2009 Major Lazer dance-heater “Pon de Floor” for this newbie. And the lyrics, penned by The-Dream, echo a familiar sentiment from the star: Women rule. The hook of the uptempo track is a fierce call and response exercise. “Who run the world,” she asks (demanding the correct answer). “Girls!” She gives her club-going ladies some love, as well as those with college degrees.

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