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Frank Ocean Charms New York Audience

Odd Future crooner wins over Bowery Ballroom with soulful covers and originals, including new songs ‘Super Rich Kids’ and ‘Disillusioned.’ By Rob Markman Frank Ocean Photo: MTV News Be it for a crowd of one or 100, you get the feeling that Frank Ocean would be just as charmingly awkward when performing tracks from his breakthrough digital album Nostalgia, Ultra . On Monday evening, the Odd Future singer/songwriter performed his second in as many days, making up for the scheduled November 6 concert that was cancelled , citing illness. There was no opening act or host for the evening, just Ocean, who stormed the Bowery Ballroom stage at exactly 9:30 p.m. wearing a black jacket, white button-down shirt and a red bandana tied around his forehead. “You think I’d leave your side baby/ You know me better than that,” he sang, starting out his set with a soulful rendition of Sade’s “By Your Side.” As the 23-year-old New Orleans export serenaded the crowd, the screen behind him played clips of old Western films and changed themes with each song: sometimes playing scenes from “Boyz n the Hood,” other times playing animated “Dragon Ball Z” clips. After the opening number, Frank addressed the crowd, professed his love for NYC and revealed to fans that he first fell in love, then ultimately got his heart broken, in Southern California. The charming anecdote set up “Thinking About Forever,” a hopelessly romantic slow jam about recapturing lost love. Ocean isn’t the type of singer who rips off his shirt, nor does he show any signs of being a dancer — two qualities typically associated with modern-day crooners. Frank, however, remains relatable on a level most artists are not, which makes him able, in between each song, to simply chat and laugh with the audience, and though he seemed uneasy at times, it was enough to keep his adoring fans engaged. The female portion of the crowd squealed when he eased into “Dust,” and when Ocean belted out the opening line from “Swim Good” — “That’s a pretty big trunk on my Lincoln Town Car” — most of the crowd shot their hands into the air, swaying them side to side. Though his diehards know him for so much more, the OFWGKTA breakout is most popular for his contributions to Jay-Z and Kanye West’s inescapable Watch the Throne LP, so of course, he performed his portions of “No Church in the Wild” and “Made in America.” His catalog isn’t deep, but for an hour, Ocean kept fans entertained by running through fan favorites and even giving a taste of his next album, singing two new songs: “Super Rich Kids” and the bouncy and bassy “Disillusioned.” The show’s only downfall was that for much of the show, Ocean simply stood center stage, but boy did he sound great. He switched things up on “American Wedding,” his heartbreaking flip of the Eagles’ classic “Hotel California.” For the track’s iconic guitar solo, Ocean turned his back to the crowd, faced the screen, picked up a video-game guitar controller and played out the song’s closing notes on “Guitar Hero.” The crowd — mixed with industry mainstays, star-gazing girls, frat boys and even a few celebs (Mos Def was in attendance) — ate it up. After his version of Coldplay’s “Strawberry Swing,” Ocean said goodnight and left the stage. The crowd stood, demanding an encore, and were granted their wish when Ocean remerged onstage sitting by a piano. He closed with “I Miss You,” a song he wrote for Beyonc

People’s Court Scandal: Dale Smith Targeted By Police in Michelle Parker Disappearance

Michelle Parker and Dale Smith, a formerly engaged couple, appeared on the People’s Court earlier this month. After the show, Parker mysteriously vanished. Now Smith is in the wind as well, having just been named the primary suspect in her disappearance, according to Orlando, Fla., Police Chief Paul Rooney. Officials confirm Smith, who appeared with Michelle Parker on the show, arguing over the engagement ring he have her, is the target of the investigation. Chief Rooney says Smith refused to take a polygraph test in the case. Michelle Parker Disappearance Parker’s mother, Yvonne Stewart, made a plea during a Monday news conference: “If you could have avoided this Dale, if you had cooperated with the police and if you took a polygraph test when they asked you, you could have avoided a lot of stress.” “We’re not going to stop until we find out who did this,” she adds. According to public records, the pair was involved in a domestic violence case involving children in 2009. Parker and Smith have 3-year-old

Barney Frank to Retire from Congress

Barney Frank – a 16-term Congressman from Massachusetts and one of the more outspoken politicians of his time – announced yesterday that he will not seek reelection in 2012. Citing a new redistricting map that will include many people he has never represented, along with a desire to do other things in life, the 71-year old surprised many at a press conference in Newton, MA on Monday, saying at one point: “I think I would have won but it would have been a tough campaign. I hate raising money.” Barney Frank Jabs at Gingrich, Romney One of the more polarizing figures in Washington, Frank became the first openly gay man to serve in Congress. He’s been at the center of support and controversy recently, due to his Dodd-Frank law and his pre-crisis support for government housing agencies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. “The anger in the country… is such that the kind of inside work I felt best at is not going to be productive in the foreseeable future,” Frank said yesterday, referring to a “substantially deteriorated” political climate. “The House of Representatives will not be the same without him,” President Obama said upon learning the news, while Republicans are excited about an open seat in 2012. “It’s not an encouraging sign for House Democrats when a senior member sees little chance of becoming a committee chairman,” said Paul Lindsay, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

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Barney Frank to Retire from Congress

Rihanna’s ‘Cockiness’ Is Perfect For Her, Producer Says

Talk That Talk track is ‘Rihanna all day,’ Bangladesh tells MTV News. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by James “FLX” Smith Rihanna Photo: itv Many of the tracks on Rihanna ‘s Talk That Talk certainly touch on some very sexy subjects, using some very saucy language. But none are quite as blush-inducing as “Cockiness (Love It),” a sexed-up, genre-busting anthem on which Rihanna’s not shy about liking the way her man loves her. The Bangladesh-produced song is raunchy and over-the-top, and, according to the man himself, was already cooking up long before Rihanna came calling. ” ‘Cockiness,’ it’s layers of things I had sampled for a long time, never really messed with it too much,” he told MTV News. “I was in L.A., and I had just pulled it out, chopped it up, made it a beat. My artist Candice Pillay, my other writers, Dem Jointz, they wrote the song.” Before appearing on Talk That Talk , the song was merely an idea that needed a bit of fine-tuning before heading Ri’s way. “It wasn’t ‘Cockiness’ at first, it was something else. They had the ‘I love it’ part. … [They] came up with that part first, and that wasn’t even on that track: It was just an idea. I was going to make a whole new beat out of it, what they wrote to it that day, it wasn’t really all the way done. A couple days later, they revisited it and came up with the ‘Cockiness.’ ” After some work, the final product was all ready for just the right artist. Given its sexual innuendo and tomboy swagger, there really was only one person to record the track. “I was like, ‘That’s dope. That’s Rihanna all day,’ ” Bangladesh said. “They sent the song back, and I finished producing it. I put the ‘I love it’ on it that they had already had. … She loved it, and that’s what it was.” Bangladesh joins a who’s who of A-list producers on the album, including vocal producer Kuk Harrell , The-Dream, StarGate, Calvin Harris and Dr. Luke, who produced the album’s second single, “You Da One.” The singer revealed on Twitter that she’s already hard at work on the video for “You Da One.” She tweeted that when she hit up the set over the weekend, no farmers were harmed during the making of the clip. “Shooting another vid in Ireland today! No farm this time,” she joked, a reference to the controversy about the making of her “We Found Love” video , during which a local farmer complained Rihanna’s outfit was “inappropriate.” Which Talk That Talk track would you like to see Rihanna make a video for? Share your pick below!

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Rihanna’s ‘Cockiness’ Is Perfect For Her, Producer Says

British Film Director and "Enfant Terrible" Ken Russell Dies at Age 84

The British aren’t exactly known for their decadent, Baroque sensibilities, but director Ken Russell , who passed away this weekend at the age of 84, spent his life trying to change his country’s “stiff upper lip” image. Russell rose to prominence with 1969’s Women in Love , which shocked viewers with its skinny-dipping scenes, homoerotic undertones, and depiction of- horrors!- the female orgasm. At the time British filmmaking was dominated by “kitchen sink realism,” which rejected fanciful plots and elaborate sets in favor of grey, dour stories about grey, dour people. Russell’s bombastic style flew in the face of all these ideas, as described by Geoff Andrew , head of the British Film Institute: “He used surrealism, exaggeration, colour, music, costume, to push things beyond realism. No-one was doing that in Britain, and the ‘shockingness’ of his style was part and parcel of that. He didn’t feel he had to restrain himself – he didn’t want to be part of this grey world,” Andrews told the UK’s Channel 4. Another shocking aspect of Russell’s films was their plentiful nudity- Helen Mirren , Kathleen Turner , Joely Richardson , Theresa Russell , and Michelle Phillips (to name a few) have all done nudity in Russell films, and Glenda Jackson was one of the first mainstream actresses to go full frontal in The Music Lovers (1971). That same year, Russell’s film The Devils (1971) was widely banned thanks to its depiction of the intersection between sex, violence, and religious ecstasy, a controversy Russell welcomed, as he did with the many outrages his films sparked over the years. A great lover of classical music, Russell gleefully combined high culture and cheap thrills in films like Lisztomania (1975), Mahler (1974) and Lady Chatterly (1992). But he was equally comfortable in the gutter, as shown by his streetwalking sagas Whore (1991) and Crimes of Passion (1984), and this combination made him the perfect conduit to bring the Who’s depraved rock opera Tommy (1975) to the big screen. Russell had trouble securing funding for his elaborate epics later in his career, but his innovations (and skinnovatons!) in the art of cinema have assured his influence will be felt for many years to come. Get an eye-opening education in the nude sensibilities of Ken Russell with our Ken Russell Movies: The Very Breast Scenes playlist, right here at MrSkin.com!

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British Film Director and "Enfant Terrible" Ken Russell Dies at Age 84

Eva Longoria: At Peace with Tony Parker, Divorce

Eva Longoria filed for divorce from Tony Parker in January, and it was pretty clear why: The point guard cheated on the beautiful actress with Erin Berry , the estranged wife of a San Antonio Spurs teammate. Talk about a Desperate Housewives -esque scandal! But in the latest issue of Spanish Vanity Fair, Longoria says she’s at peace with her ex, even though “it stands to reason that I should be angry and resentful.” So why isn’t she? Why can Eva talk openly and calmly about the alleged infidelity? It helps when you have a hot man on your arm, as the gorgeous star has grown serious with Eduardo Cruz , brother of Oscar nominee Penelope Cruz. “I was very lucky to find Edu,” Longoria tells the magazine of her new boyfriend. As for her professional future? Is Eva worried about life after this final season of Desperate Housewives ? Nope, that’s all good, too. “I’ve never doubted my talent,” she says. “I know how to make a living. I am a gypsy!”

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Eva Longoria: At Peace with Tony Parker, Divorce

Demi Lovato Suffers On-Stage Hair Mishap: Video

Demi Lovato is a true professional. The young singer suffered through an embarrassing incident during a concert in Kansas City last week, but she powered straight through with her performance anyway! Watch below, around the 47-second mark, as Demi undertakes a dance move that results – oops! – in the loss of a hair extension: Demi Lovato Hair Extension Slip Lovato had no such incident with the written word this month, penning a column for Seventeen that outlined all she’s thankful for. It’s a moving read . We’re glad she’s on the right path.

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Demi Lovato Suffers On-Stage Hair Mishap: Video

DNC Presents Mitt Romney: The Movie Trailer!

The Democratic National Committee is going hard after Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney with a four-minute ad modeled after a Hollywood style movie trailer. The title: Mitt vs. Mitt . Tagline: “The story of two men trapped in one body.” The White House and Democrats as a whole have long criticized Romney for appearing to change course on a number of issues of our time … okay, all of them. The one thing Mitt and Mitt agree on? They want to be president. That message will be broadcast across six key states as he campaigns to replace Barack Obama: Mitt Romney: The Movie Trailer

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DNC Presents Mitt Romney: The Movie Trailer!

When The Checks Stop Coming In: TLC’s T-Boz Files For Bankruptcy!

We’re sure someone can help her. What about her friends??? According to TMZ reports : T-Boz ain’t too proud to beg — just like TLC sang back in the 90s — because she’s filed for bankruptcy. According to docs filed last month in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, T-Boz (real name Tionne Watkins) found herself owing creditors $768,642.99 — mostly from mortgages on her $1.2 million house. The docs don’t paint a picture of exorbitant spending — she takes in $11,700/month in income, with monthly expenses totaling $8,821. TLC had ten top ten singles, four number one singles, four multi-platinum albums, and four Grammy Awards … but according to the docs, T-Boz only pulls in $1,200/month in royalties. T-Boz might have dodged the bankruptcy bullet if she’d been able to collect the child support she claims she’s owed — which according to the docs is $250,000. Calls to her attorney were not returned. All jokes aside, we hope that T-Boz is able to get her money situation under control. It’s always sad to see someone who had so much success be under financial duress. More On Bossip! Galleries: Weezy’s Lil Girl Reginae Carter’s Cinderella Themed 13th Birthday Bash Boxing’s Baddest Bangers: The Most Beautiful Breezys Getting That Golden Glove Lovin’ Eff A Stylist: The Most Attention Sloriest Red Carpet Looks Of All Time One-Time For Yo’ Mind: A Gallery Of The Best Cop Television Shows Of All Time!!

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When The Checks Stop Coming In: TLC’s T-Boz Files For Bankruptcy!

What Is Wrong With This Picture?? Georgia Business Refuses To Hire Until Obama’s Out Of The Office

The U.S. economy is effed up, so messed up that business owners are making signs like these: A Georgia businessman has an ultimatum for America: Fire President Obama, or he will not hire any more workers. Bill Looman, owner of U.S. Cranes LLC, said he is fed up with the bad economy and D.C. politicians who do nothing to solve the problem. So until there is a change of leadership, his company trucks will bear the message: “New Company Policy: We Are Not Hiring Until Obama Is Gone.” “The message that I tried to put in there is that I cannot afford it,” Looman told ABC News. “I just cannot afford to hire anybody right now.” Looman, whose company operates cranes at construction sites, said he has had to lay off three of his nine employees because of the bad economy. He said overregulation and the cost of complying with federal mandates has caused many of his customers to shut their doors. “The buck stops [at Obama],” he said. “He is the leader of this nation and he needs to assume that postion and understand it is his fault, ultimately.” Although the signs went up about six months ago, photos of the “new company policy” went viral on the internet Monday, WXIA-TV first reported. “I didn’t intend for it to get to this level,” Looman said. “Maybe it will put a new perspective on what’s happening out here to middle America.” The reaction – partially positive but mostly negative – was so overwhelming that Looman said he had to temporarily shut down his website and disconnect his phone lines. “Verbally there were a lot of threats,” he said. ”People were running my technicians off the road. They were focused on trying to make that message something more than it was.” “To all my liberal friends … thank you for the two new customers that came on board today because you idiots are attacking me,” Looman wrote. “One new customer states … ’You got nerve, so you got my business.’ I may have to hire after all.” While the barrage of criticism did not hit until this week, the backlash began shortly after the photos were first posted. Looman said he got an unexpected visit from the Secret Service after someone reported to the FBI that he was a possible threat to national security. “They gave me the typical interview to see if I was a threat,” Looman said. “We actually had a good meeting and when they left, they were under the impression that they wasted their time.” With unemployment still stuck at around 9 percent, where it has been for more than two years, U.S. Crane LLC is not the only business that feels the drag of a sluggishly recovering economy. The GDP grew a mere 2 percent over the past quarter, even less than the 2.5 percent growth than the Bureau of Economic Analysis had originally estimated. Thoughts on this man’s gesture?? Out of pocket or right on point?? Source

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What Is Wrong With This Picture?? Georgia Business Refuses To Hire Until Obama’s Out Of The Office