Archive: August 2011 (51-60 of 202)

Aug 25 2011 01:34 PM ET

Remembering Aaliyah, 1979-2001: Missy Elliott talks to EW about her friend and collaborator

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Categories: In Memoriam, Pop, R&B
Aaliyah

Image Credit: Wild 1/PR Photos

Believe it or not, today marks a full decade since Aaliyah Dana Haughton died at 22 after a horrific Bahamian plane crash.

The singer and actress had just released her self-titled album a month prior and was set to star in The Matrix sequels. One of the people who aided in her rise to stardom as a songstress was frequent collaborator and friend Missy Elliott.

The artist produced several hit records for Aaliyah during her career and like many, still feels her presence today.

“It doesn’t feel like it’s been 10 years because Aaliyah’s leaving is still fresh in our minds and always will be,” Elliott tells EW from a Virginia recording studio. Numerous images of the fallen star come to mind when Missy’s asked about her. But she misses a few things particularly.

“What I will miss the most about Aaliyah is her laugh and smile. She could light up any room,” Ellliott recalls. “I miss that from her. I’ll also miss recording with her because she wasn’t ever scared to push boundaries as an artist.”

Missy believes Aaliyah would still be knocking down doors, topping the charts, and bringing cash into box offices is she were alive today.

“If Aaliyah was still with us she would be setting trends as she always did and breaking down barriers. Her music and acting career would have been exploding out the roof because she was already on her way to that place.”

Missy also gave us a list of her favorite Aaliyah tracks. Check their videos after the jump: READ FULL STORY »

Aug 25 2011 12:22 PM ET

Amy Winehouse's 'Back to Black' becomes best-selling of 21st century in the U.K.

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Categories: Amy Winehouse, Charts, Pop, R&B, Soul
Amy-Winehouse-Back

She may be gone, but Amy Winehouse’s music is thriving.

Britain’s Official Charts Company announced that the late singer’s Grammy-sweeping sophomore set, Back to Black, has just become the best-selling album of the 21st century in the U.K., beating out James Blunt’s 2004 album Back to Bedlam’s 3.25 million albums sold with her 3.26 million.

Dido’s 2001 effort No Angel rests at third with 3.07 million purchased.

Black is currently No. 3 on the UK top 100 albums chart. It’s been on the list for 167 weeks total.

Posthumous sales, of course, are nothing new; similar surges happened when Michael Jackson passed in 2009, and earlier with the likes of Aaliyah, Biggie, Jeff Buckley, and others.

Have you bought Winehouse’s Black or her debut, Frank, since her passing? Let us know.

Read more:
Amy Winehouse found dead
Amy Winehouse mourned on Twitter
Amy Winehouse falls apart on stage in Belgrade: Watch the video here
Amy Winehouse, gifted Grammy-winning vocalist, frequent tabloid subject, passes away

Aug 25 2011 11:56 AM ET

Lil Wayne lyrically attacks Jay-Z and 'his lady' on leaked cut from 'Tha Carter IV': Will Jay answer?

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Categories: Hip-Hop/Rap, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne
Wayne-JayZ

Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

As of late, rap beef’s been more like tofu, with tired disses slung by subpar rappers to ramp up promo attention for an album.

That said, what Lil Wayne just got himself into is real, Grade-A rap beef—well-done steak even. Last night his new album Tha Carter IV (slated for release Aug. 29) leaked on the Internet. And there’s one track out of the bunch that’s generating huge buzz, because of a few shots he throws at rhyme titan Jay-Z.

On “It’s Good,” which also features Drake and Jadakiss, Wayne seemingly reacts to a perceived swipe Jay took at Wayne’s Cash Money label head Bryan “Baby” Williams on his “H.A.M.” collab with Kanye West at the top of the year.

“N—-s fantasize about the shit that I do daily/ Like these rappers rap about all the shit that I do really/ I’m like ‘Really half a billion, n—-?’/ Really, you got baby money/ Keep it real with n—-s, n—-s ain’t got my lady’s money,” Jay spits on the record.

Lil Wayne finally hit back on “It’s Good,” taking it a step further and threatening to steal Jay’s wife. “Talkin’ ‘bout baby money,” he asks on the cut. “I got your baby money/Kidnap your b—-, get that ‘How much you love your lady?’ money.” Ouch. By the way, talking about folks who aren’t even involved (ie: children, wives, parents, etc…) in battle is a low blow.

READ FULL STORY »

Aug 25 2011 11:43 AM ET

Kenny Chesney changes Boston concert date after hurricane warning, provokes storm of fan protest

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Categories: Country, Y'all!, Kenny Chesney, Tours
kenny-chesney

Image Credit: Erika Goldring/Getty Images

Kenny Chesney avoided one storm… and steered into another.

Due to the looming threat of Hurricane Irene, which is set to wreak havoc on the Eastern seaboard this weekend, Chesney moved a Sunday concert at the Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. two days earlier to Friday.

While most fans seem to understand, many aren’t happy about the last-minute decision.

“Most everyone I speak to is thoroughly disappointed at the unprofessional way this unfortunate weather situation has been handled,” said one fan on Kenny’s Facebook page. “How in the world do you expect fans like myself who rely on our day to day jobs to ask for a Friday off and find a babysitter?!?!” asked another.

Given the recent weather-related stage collapse tragedies at the Indiana State Fair and the Pukkelpop music festival, Chesney is  being extra cautious about preventing another disaster.

Chesney’s choice to move the concert to an earlier date didn’t please everyone, but he was stuck between a cloud and a hard place—this is the last weekend of the Goin’ Coastal tour, and Chesney’s crew, stage, and band are all likely moving on to new endeavors, which would make rescheduling to a later date difficult.

“I want the last weekend of the ‘Goin’ Coastal’ Tour to be a great experience for everybody,” Kenny said in a statement on his website, “But I also want it to be the safest experience for everyone.”

Fans that can’t make the Friday show are being offered a full refund by StubHub, USA Today reports.

Read more on EW.com:
Stage collapses at Indiana State Fair before Sugarland concert, kills 4
Pukkelpop officially canceled after stage collapse, death toll at five
Indiana State Fair tragedy: Can you protect people from Mother Nature?
Kenny Chesney at the New Meadowlands: Summer’s best entrance?

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Aug 24 2011 06:55 PM ET

Bro-band feud! Eldest Hanson brother criticizes Kings of Leon for bad attitude

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Categories: Hanson, Kings of Leon, Rock n' Roll Politics, Things That Really Could Have Been Avoided
Hanson-Kings-Leon

Image Credit: Lego

Two sibling bands, both alike in dignity, may have sparked a new family feud on the music scene: Kings of Leon (composed of the three brothers Followill and their cousin) vs. Hanson (three brothers, no cousin).

Isaac Hanson, 30, has called out the Kings for canceling their U.S. tour, saying the band has let their fans down. “The Kings of Leon guys are running some risks. They’re irritating people; you can’t do that too much,” Hanson told WENN.com. “Eventually the bad boy image affects fans’ willingness to show up.”

In case you wondered how he felt about it, Hanson added, “I have a hard time with musicians who act like pricks.”

“Everybody has their demons, everyone has their challenges,” he continued. “But you’ve gotta temper it because your fans are there. … I don’t wash my dirty laundry in public. I do my dirty laundry backstage.”

Kings of Leon famously cancelled their tour after frontman Caleb Followill suffered an onstage breakdown on July 29 in Dallas. Followill left the stage citing heat exhaustion, abandoning the show midway through performing; his brother Jared, however, later wrote on Twitter that there were “internal sicknesses & problems that have needed to be addressed.” Caleb has since been put on vocal rest.

Family band squabbles—internal ones, at least—are nothing new in pop music (see: Oasis, The Jackson 5, the Kinks). Still, though, a developing feud between musical clans? Better still, between two bands whose members, by curious coincidence, almost all go by their middle names? …You’ve gotta admit, it’s tantalizingly rife with tribal smackdown potential certainly an intriguing prospect.

Where do you stand, Music Mix readers? Team Hanson or Team Followill?

Read more on EW.com:

Kings of Leon’s woes: Can a band’s troubles stop the music for you?
Kings of Leon cancel remainder of their American tour following incident in Dallas
Chart Flashback: 1997 – Hanson’s “MMMBop”

Aug 24 2011 02:32 PM ET

Joe Jonas says 'there's a great opportunity' for a future collab with ex Tayor Swift. Do you think she agrees?

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Categories: Dream Duets, Pop, Taylor Swift
Joe-Jonas-Taylor-Swift

Image Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com

Could Joe Jonas be misinterpreting an ex’s friendliness with the general indifference that comes after experiencing a rough breakup, hurting like hell, and then just moving on? Maybe.

Call me cynical, but after finding out the Jonas brother thinks there’s potential for a collab with his former flame Taylor Swift, all I did was shake my head.

“I think there’s a great opportunity for that to happen. We’re friendly, we’re not enemies,” Jonas said to Bliss Magazine of a possible future recording project with his ex. “People like to think that once you’ve dated, that’s it and you can never be friends again. They see it in a very black and white way. But there’s a middle-ground in that situation.”’

I agree with Joe. I just don’t think that middle ground will be found in a studio. Sure, he didn’t bumrush Taylor’s MTV VMAs speech. But come on—this is the same lady that famously revealed to the press that he heartlessly dumped her in a 27-second phone call.

Why would Taylor, a superstar who obviously has an elephant’s memory in regards to the sins of her exes, hop on a song to help Joe out? It just doesn’t make sense.

So until a track with these two surfaces, I’m just going to put Jonas-Swift collab idea in the I’ll believe it when I see it box.

I mean, really, who’s next? Are Bow Wow and Ciara planning on “Like You (Part II)”? Or are they waiting for Justin and Britney’s duet? Honestly, I’m just keeping my fingers crossed for a Whitney and Bobby’s newbie.

Yeah, right.

Read more on EW.com:
Joe Jonas and Jay Sean announce joint fall tour — EXCLUSIVE
Joe Jonas drops new single ‘Love Slayer’
Jay Sean’s new single ’2012′: A late-summer anthem?

Aug 24 2011 01:35 PM ET

Here kitty, kitty: Watch a cat recreate Madonna's infamous 1984 MTV VMAs performance here -- EXCLUSIVE VIDEO

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Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Divas!, Madonna, VMAs

Why put a bird on it when you can put a cat or a dog in it?

Yesterday, MTV debuted the first in a series that recreates unforgettable VMA moments using remarkably docile house pets—in this case, two very patient puppies playing their own four-legged version of 2010′s meat-dressed Lady Gaga and Cher.

Today, EW is happy to debut a material-feline interpretation of Madonna’s iconic 1984 “Like a Virgin” performance in all its white lace, writhing-bridal glory.

I really appreciate the understated subtlety of the cat’s performance; girl is the Meryl Streep of  gimme-that-Fancy-Feast eye contact and slow, methodical tail thumps. Watch it here: READ FULL STORY »

Aug 24 2011 01:20 PM ET

Tokyo Police Club kick off their covers project with Moby's 'Southside': Hear the EW exclusive premiere here!

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Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Covers, Downloads and Streams, EW Exclusives, Indie Rock, New Stuff, Things That Are Awesome, Things That Are Canadian, Tokyo Police Club

Tokyo Police Club’s energetic, deeply melodic songs have made them indie heroes in their native Canada, and the sweetness of their songs earned them both an opening slot for Weezer and an appearance on an episode of Desperate Housewives.

Starting today, the quartet will leave their own songs behind in favor of covers for a unique project that also acts as an impressive challenge. They’re calling the whole thing 10 Songs, 10 Days, 10 Hours, 10 Years. Every day for the next 10 days, the band will enter Red Bull Studios in Los Angeles to rehearse a new tune for 10 hours, which will then be recorded for premiere the following day.

Each song is from the last decade, starting with a song from 2001 and ending with a track from 2010. Since the group is also partnering with Polaroid for this experiment, they’re taking snapshots of the process and also constructing cover art for each song.

The Music Mix is proud to help the band kick things off by premiering the first track in the series. For their opening salvo, they’ve taken on Moby’s “Southside,” which featured guest vocals by Gwen Stefani.

The band invited along fellow Canuck Morgan Kibby from M83 to provide extra vocals. It’s an excellent interpretation of a great song, and you can crank up the whole thing after the jump: READ FULL STORY »

Aug 24 2011 01:02 PM ET

Country icon Glen Campbell discusses his Alzheimer's diagnosis, farewell tour, and album on TV special -- and in this Friday's EW

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Categories: Country, Y'all!
Glen-Campbell

Image Credit: Stuart Mostyn/Redferns/Getty Images

Glen Campbell made a name for himself with songs like “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston,” and “Rhinestone Cowboy,” all of which have become cornerstones in the history of country music.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, the 75-year-old Campbell announced earlier this summer that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, which is slowly eroding his memory.

Last night on ABC, Campbell sat down to talk about his upcoming album (the excellent Ghost on the Canvas), his plans for a farewell tour, and the difficulties of looking back when your memories are already slipping away.

“I have been blessed,” he said during the broadcast. “I’m not that bright, but God gave me a break.”

Check out the entire video here: READ FULL STORY »

Aug 24 2011 12:23 PM ET

When bad relationships ruin great music -- has it happened to you, too?

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Categories: Ah, Youth, Do My Job For Me, Things That Are Frustrating, Things That Bum Us Out
Miles-Davis-heart

Image Credit: Legendary and innovative jazz trumpeter, Miles Davis

Miles Davis is one of the greatest music legends of our time. A real one-in-a-million talent. And I absolutely can’t stand listening to one single damn song he ever recorded.

It didn’t start out that way, I promise. It just ended up that way, thanks to a high-school boyfriend named… well, let’s call him Evan.

Evan was a jazz musician—a trumpet player. We made each other laugh, and he looked uncannily like a young Mick Jagger. In other words, it was a pretty excellent thing we had going.

Evan loved Miles Davis. Idolized him, even. And because Evan loved Miles Davis, I did my best to love Miles Davis too. On summer car trips, time and time again we put on Miles Smiles, and I did my best to stay awake listened intently as Evan waxed poetic about the wit and whimsy of “Orbits.”

His enthusiasm was infectious, though—and when I gave Evan a rare vinyl copy of Miles’ 1960 album Sketches of Spain as a birthday present, the look he gave me as he held it in his hands probably still ranks among the top five looks I’ve ever received from anyone.

One afternoon, however, Evan abruptly announced that we were parting ways. He sheepishly admitted that he had taken up with a petite, saucy redhead with big dark eyes like some kind of cartoon baby mammal’s, and she was now his main priority. I was stunned. For days, I wallowed in my heartbroken teenage misery; I couldn’t even eat.

Fast forward a few years, and I’m back to normal eating habits and a healthy emotional equilibrium. Evan and I have lost touch in the time between, and we’ve left our ugly breakup behind in the dusty vault of adolescent romantic blunders past.

But even now, I still can’t listen to a single Miles Davis record without wanting to dropkick a small fuzzy animal.

Miles’ music doesn’t sound like wit and whimsy to me anymore; instead, it sounds like the evil, girlish laughter of a tiny, homewrecking Jessica Rabbit. Which is why I can’t listen to Miles Davis anymore. I can’t, and I won’t.

It’s a modern tragedy we’ve all experienced: great music ruined by a relationship gone sour. Tell us your tales, Music Mix readers: What other songs have been casualties of your not-so-happy endings? And when good music is tainted by lovesick sorrows, is it ruined forever—or can its original charm be restored?

Read more on EW.com:

Flaming Lips, pirate metal, and why you should spend more time in record stores
‘I’m Seeing THIS With My Parents?!’ 20 Awkward TV Memories
EW’s 50 Most Heartbreaking Songs of All Time

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