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Weezer Team Up With Ryan Adams For ‘Stirring’ New Song

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘He has a lot of wild and crazy energy,’ Rivers Cuomo says of collaborator. By James Montgomery, with reporting by Sasha Hamrogue Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/ Getty Images He may still be celebrating the U.S. soccer team’s heat-pounding 1-0 World Cup win over Algeria — a win he predicted , to be honest — but Weezer frontman and avowed soccer nut Rivers Cuomo isn’t about to let a little partying stand in the way of his day job. Because, though he’s gripped with World Cup fever, Cuomo is already hard at work on a whole new batch of Weezer songs — and it sounds like fans might be hearing some of the new stuff sooner rather than later. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to say here, so I’m going to keep my mouth shut,” Cuomo told MTV Radio. “But, uh, people are going to be hearing new Weezer very soon.” Cuomo wouldn’t say just when or where the new Weezer material would be made available — shoot, they just released “Represent,” the unofficial anthem for the U.S. men’s World Cup team, on Friday. But, in keeping with the collaborative spirit he harnessed for Weez’s 2009 album Raditude (which saw him work with the likes of Lil Wayne , the All-American Rejects and Dr. Luke), it sounds like he’s been teaming up once again, this time with slightly rumpled troubadour (and husband of Mandy Moore ) Ryan Adams . “I just wrote a song with Ryan Adams. Not Bryan, Ryan,” Cuomo laughed. “It’s a very stirring and emotional and powerful Weezer song. He was really inspiring to work with. … He has a lot of wild and crazy energy. It’s gonna be on the Weezer record. He plays lead guitar on it, but it will be on the Weezer record, for sure.” Are you looking forward to Weezer’s collaboration with Ryan Adams? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Weezer Bryan Adams

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Weezer Team Up With Ryan Adams For ‘Stirring’ New Song

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Ryan Leslie Croons, Raps And Romances New York

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Singer/songwriter delivers passionate set at Bowery Ballroom. By Jayson Rodriguez Ryan Leslie Photo: Andy Sheppard/ Getty Images NEW YORK — Ryan Leslie declared his independence in a big way Tuesday night, when the singer/songwriter performed to a packed house at Manhattan’s Bowery Ballroom on the first of a two-night residency. Leslie recently parted ways with his label, Universal Motown, after releasing his self-titled debut and last year’s Transition. But as he sets out on his own, this performance proved a worthy showcase for the talented star’s range of skill, as a singer, producer and composer. “This here is about one of my favorite holidays,” he said, moving behind the keyboard to deliver a pleasing talk-box-aided vocal homage to Zapp and Roger’s “I Want to Be Your Man” before segueing into “Valentine.” “I don’t have to say that you’re beautiful,” Leslie sang in a falsetto tone. “You’ve got plenty of other guys to say those words for you/ And I don’t got to say that you run the show/ All it takes is a word, I lose control for you. “I know you’re not my girlfriend, but/ I swear that I love you,” he sang, opening up on the chorus. Decked out in dark shades, black leather gloves and a matching vest with a denim shirt underneath, Leslie was anything but the R&B lothario. His set was more aggressive and impassioned than in the past, and he opened up the show with a rap to a rock-leaning production. But Leslie, who led a five-piece band with three background singers, still knows that his crooning is why the people came. “Addiction” and “Diamond Girl” were among the more rousing numbers of the night. The synthesized chords to “Addiction” pounded throughout the venue. “You’ve got fashion and style/ I’m loving your smile and/ the way you get down,” he sang. “I can’t see no one else/ It’s you by yourself/ in spite of the crowd.” In addition to songs from both of his albums, Leslie played a few unreleased gems and a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “You and I.” “Here we are, on Earth together/ It’s you and I,” he sang, using hushed tones for the Motown classic. “God had made us fall in love, it’s true/ I’ve really found someone like you.” What do you think Ryan Leslie’s next career move should be? Let us know in the comments. Related Artists Ryan Leslie

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Ryan Leslie Croons, Raps And Romances New York

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Amanda Bynes’ Retirement Came As A Surprise, Rep Says

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The 24-year-old actress ‘sounded great’ last week, Melissa Raubvogel tells the New York Daily News. By Mawuse Ziegbe Amanda Bynes Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images Amanda Bynes’ recent retirement announcement came as a surprise to most, but perhaps no one was more shocked than her own publicist. Bynes’ rep, Melissa Raubvogel, said the young star’s weekend tweets about quitting Hollywood came without warning. Raubvogel told the New York Daily News that her client “sounded great” as recently as last Thursday, when the actress was out promoting her upcoming movie “Easy A.” Bynes’ Twitter declaration that she “doesn’t love acting anymore” and would abandon the business was posted just two days after she made those press rounds. While her publicist didn’t expect the star to make such a drastic move, she admitted that Bynes wanted to “take some down time.” Still, Raubvogel says the star never talked about ending her acting career. Bynes vented her frustrations about Hollywood early Saturday morning, tweeting, “Being an actress isn’t as fun as it may seem,” and “I’ve never written the movies & tv shows I’ve been apart of I’ve only acted like the characters the producers or directors wanted me to play.” She later announced the she was through with show biz, writing, “I don’t love acting anymore so I’ve stopped doing it.” She acknowledged the oddity of a 20-something far from AARP status calling it quits: “I know 24 is a young age to retire but you heard it here first I’ve #retired.” Bynes’ rep also denied that the star was fired from the upcoming movie “Hall Pass,” directed by comedy kingpins the Farrelly brothers. Raubvogel told the Daily News the star had to ditch the project because of a “scheduling conflict.” Fans of Bynes can still catch the actress on the big screen this fall. Her teen comedy “Easy A,” also starring Emma Stone, Penn Badgley and Cam Gigandet is set to hit theaters in September. What do you think about Amanda announcing she’ll retire? Let us know in the comments.

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‘New Blink-182 Music Is On The Way,’ Mark Hoppus Promises

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Bassist also apologized for confusion over a new track being premiered. By James Montgomery Mark Hoppus Photo: Christopher Polk/ WireImage Monday’s “exciting” Blink-182 news turned out to be an announcement that the group will headline KROQ’s Epicenter festival in September, (link so on Tuesday, Mark Hoppus decided to up the ante, taking to his blog to break a genuinely exciting bit of news. “Blink-182 is full-steam ahead!” Hoppus wrote. “In June and July we will be at the rehearsal spot, getting ready for the European tour this summer, and writing new songs. When the European tour is finished, we head back and play ONE SHOW in Southern California. Then that is IT for live shows for the rest of 2010. Why? Because we’ll be in the studio

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‘The Hills’ Recap: Audrina Breaks Up With Ryan

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Meanwhile, Kristin warns Allie and McKaela not to cross her path again. By Amy Wilkinson Audrina Patridge on “The Hills” Tuesday Things haven’t been looking great for Audrina Patridge and her spiky-haired musician boyfriend, Ryan Cabrera , so it was hardly surprising the couple called it quits on Tuesday night’s episode of “The Hills.” After tearing up at Ryan’s concert last week and leaving in the middle of his set, Audrina finally offered the first coherent explanation for her waterworks. “In my mind, I feel like it’s coming to an end,” she told Stephanie, Lo and Kristin while out for dessert. “I made a mental list of pros and cons. It’s not going to work.” But Audrina, it’s nearly your birthday! You must do something fun for the big 2-5! Stephanie smartly suggested a boat ride in Marina Del Rey. But when Kristin asked if she should invite Justin Bobby, Audrina remained mum. Later, Lo, Stephanie and Kristin debated whether they should indeed invite JB to the shindig. “I just don’t want him to take advantage of the situation,” Lo worried. “The thing with Justin and Audrina is, they’re always going to be in each other’s lives,” Kristin countered. But Lo was sure Justin had an agenda. “I’m worried if Justin comes, the opening will be there, and she might take it. You can see it when they just talk.” One person who won’t be receiving an invite to Audrina’s party? McKaela — because where McKaela goes, Allie follows. Just as the gang was settling in for a night of partying at the club (and Kristin began administering a “love squeeze” to Brody), in walked the ever-innocent McKaela with her much-disliked gal pal Allie. And once again, Allie confronted Kristin, trying to convince her that she didn’t break into Brody’s apartment looking for the now-infamous lost ring. “You have absolutely no reason to hate me, Kristin,” Allie yelled. The two engaged in a short, heated game of grabbing each other’s wrists, which was the last straw for Kristin, who finally decided to leave. The next day, Kristin ran into McKaela while picking up Lo for lunch, leading to another awkward exchange. “Is this really about Allie or is this about me dating Brody?” McKaela asked. To which Kristin replied that they weren’t dating and that the next time McKaela saw Kristin, she should go the other way. Audrina, meanwhile, finally got some closure of her own by going over to Ryan’s house to end things. “You think we’re done?” Ryan asked, and Audrina agreed. After a good cry, however, Audrina was ready to par-tay! All of Audrina’s friends (including Justin Bobby but not Ryan) convened on a sailboat to drink, eat cupcakes and be merry. Audrina later found Justin Bobby alone on the deck of the boat. They talked about the reasons for Audrina breaking up with Ryan and how both Audrina and Justin Bobby have grown since their own split. “This is a good place to be,” Justin said. Though where that “place” is remains a mystery to us, as the two sailed off into the wild blue yonder. Do you think Audrina and Justin Bobby should get back together? Share your thoughts in the comments. “The Hills: Final Season” airs at 10 p.m. ET/PT every Tuesday, followed by “The City” at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. Related Videos The Hills (Season 6) | Ep. 9 | ‘Break-Up To Make-Up’ The Hills: Live After Show (Season 6) | Ep. 9 Related Photos The Hills (Season 6) | Ep. 9 | ‘Break-Up To Make-Up’ Related Artists Ryan Cabrera

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Drake Easily Notches #1 Debut With Thank Me Later

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Early estimates show the album had the third-best first week sales of the year. By Gil Kaufman Drake Photo: Getty Images The Game may have been off by a bit when he predicted Drake would sell 650,000 in his first week, but according to preliminary figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan, Thank Me Later will debut very strongly on the Billboard charts. The Canadian rapper and Lil Wayne prot

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Michael Jackson Left Behind A Legacy Of Unfinished Projects

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

A year after his death, we’ve seen ‘This Is It’ and heard the leaked songs, but where’s that robot hotel? By Gil Kaufman Michael Jackson Photo: Getty Images In the twilight of his career, Michael Jackson was almost as well known for the projects he never completed as he was for the ones that came to fruition. From the mid-1990s on, fans were frequently tantalized with the promise of movies, theme parks, tours and song collaborations with the day’s hottest music stars that came and went without ever being realized. As the one-year anniversary of Jackson’s death approaches, MTV News is taking a look at the many plans the King of Pop dreamed up before his premature end, some of which are finally becoming reality. Despite more than a decade out of the pop-culture spotlight, Jackson also clearly never stopped having his finger on the pulse of what was going on in music. Lady Gaga recently revealed that Jackson had tapped her to open for his 50-show This Is It stand at the O2 arena in London. “I was actually asked to open for Michael on his tour,” she said. “We were going to open for him at the O2. … And we were working on making it happen. And I suppose there was some talk about the openers doing some duets with Michael onstage.” In fact, one of the choreographers of This Is It said in an interview that not only did Jackson want to have Gaga open for him, he was very interested in recording a song with her before his death. Travis Payne said that after giving Jackson a short list of possible collaborators for his next musical project (including Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Usher and Justin Timberlake), the pop icon suggested Payne check out the then budding superstar Gaga. “He goes, ‘Lady Gaga.’ I go, ‘Really?’ He goes, ‘Yeah.’ He’s the one who really got me to get into her,” Payne recalled. “He literally told me, ‘You gotta get into her. She’s good.’ So, I started listening to her music more and going on YouTube and looking at her performances, and I was like, ‘He’s right.’ ” Jackson was also clearly looking to take his place among the musical icons he most admired and whose sales records he was determined to break during the course of his career. Just like the Beatles and Elvis Presley, Jackson will be immortalized by Cirque du Soleil with a permanent show in Las Vegas and a touring version in 2011, thanks to an agreement with Jackson’s estate. This brings to fruition a long-held dream for Jackson, who was a big fan of the Canadian troupe’s productions and had discussed mounting a show based on his music several years before his death. Jackson always dreamed big , and toward the end of his life, he spent quite a bit of time in Vegas cooking up another abandoned pie-in-the-sky project. In October 2005, just a few months removed from his acquittal on child molestation charges , Jackson began work with fashion designer Andr

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Eminem Wanted Recovery To Be ‘Different,’ Alex Da Kid Recalls

Posted on June 22, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘He was looking for new things,’ the ‘Love the Way You Lie’ producer tells MTV News. By Jayson Rodriguez Eminem Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images Despite countless attempts to get in touch with the Shady Records camp, Alex Da Kid kept striking out. The British producer contacted Eminem’s management and sent various beats, but none of them made the Detroit MC take notice. Then Alex produced B.o.B’s “Airplanes,” featuring Paramore’s Hayley Williams, and suddenly, Em was the one reaching out to him. The rapper loved “Airplanes” so much that he dropped a verse for the remix, “Airplanes, Part II.” It wasn’t until later, however, that the Shady One realized the producer of B.o.B’s hit was the same guy who was sending him musical samplings. According to Alex Da Kid, Em’s camp then reached out and requested “something different.” “A lot of time, generally in the industry, [artists] will say they want something different, but they don’t know what that is until they hear it,” said Alex, who produced Recovery ‘s “Love the Way You Lie,” featuring Rihanna . “So you kind of just go out there yourself. ‘Cause if you chase what they did before, it never really works out, and I wanna do different things anyway. That’s my thing. I took his past work into account, but he was looking for new things, and I did my thing, and luckily it worked out.” The producer, who also helmed Nicki Minaj’s first single, “Massive Attack,” sent over only one beat, and Eminem jumped at the record. The result was “Love the Way You Lie,” an ode of sorts to the rapper’s tumultuous relationship with ex-wife Kim. Rihanna recently spoke about the collaboration and explained how Eminem got her to appear on the track. “They reached out to us directly, and they just said, ‘We have this song, and we just think Rihanna would be perfect to sing it,’ ” Rihanna recalled in an interview with E!’s Ben Lyons. “And, of course, I was like, ‘OK, if I love it, I’ll definitely do it, because I love Eminem.’ And I love the song. “It’s really beautiful, and it really stands out,” Rihanna added. “It’s a really unique record. I’m really excited about it.” What do you think of “Love the Way You Lie”? Share your thoughts in the comments. It’s Eminem Week at MTV News, so stick with us as we celebrate the release of Recovery and take you inside the making of Em’s latest album. Related Artists Eminem

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Jerry Seinfeld Calls Lady Gaga A ‘Jerk’ After Mets Game Behavior

Posted on June 22, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Gaga took refuge from paparazzi in Seinfeld’s private box at Citi Field. By Mawuse Ziegbe Jerry Seinfeld Photo: Getty Images Jerry Seinfeld is calling out Lady Gaga for her crude conduct at a New York Mets game after the diva took refuge from paparazzi in his private box at Citi Field. Gaga stirred up headlines when she appeared at the June 10 baseball game in a befuddling outfit (a white coat draped over a black bikini) and held court from her front-row seat. When fans and photogs noticed her presence, they began snapping shots of the pop star. Gaga was not in a pic-taking mood, however, and started giving the flashbulbs the finger and moved to a private box to escape the attention. Turns out, the box belongs to Seinfeld. “You give people the finger and you get upgraded? Is that the world we’re living in now?” Seinfeld sounded off in an interview with WFAN radio, the New York Post reports. “This woman is a jerk. I hate her. I can’t believe they put her in my box, which I paid for.” Seinfeld also added that he didn’t know that the pop star usurped his box until he showed up later on for a night game. “I don’t know what these young people think or how they promote their careers,” said Seinfeld, slamming the diva’s rowdy antics. “I’m not one of these all-publicity-is-good people. People talk about ‘You need exposure’ — you could die of exposure.” While she hasn’t responded to Seinfeld’s scolding just yet, Gaga did take to her Twitter page a day after the public got wind of her rambunctious behavior. “A middle finger is more New York than a corporate ambush. I bleed for my hometown, and I’d die for my fans.” What do you think of Seinfeld’s harsh words toward Gaga? Let us know in the comments. Related Artists Jerry Seinfeld Lady Gaga

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Rabid Adam Lambert Fans Line Up 24 Hours Before New York Show

Posted on June 22, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

For Lambert, ‘I’d sleep on the sidewalk again,’ one fan says. By Jim Cantiello Adam Lambert Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images NEW YORK — Scorching temperatures and puzzled looks from passersby could not keep Adam Lambert fans from lining up outside New York’s Nokia Theatre a full 24 hours in advance of his Glam Nation Tour stop. For Eileen Monahan, spending the night sleeping on a “disgusting” Times Square sidewalk in front of the venue was the only way to guarantee she had the best spot inside the general-admission concert. “I want to be up front,” insisted Monahan, before admitting, “[For Adam], I’d sleep here again.” While Monahan only trekked from the Bronx, many traveled thousands of miles to see their favorite artist rock New York City. Fans from Denmark, Venezuela, England, Japan and Singapore mingled with Georgia peaches, Connecticut natives and Californians, making Adam’s Glam Nation a truly international affair. Even Peru had a message for Adam, via superfan Lilli Becker. “Peru represent! We love you, baby! I have a llama for you,” exclaimed Becker, just in case Adam ever wants a ride over the Andes. Perhaps the most exotic fans on the Lambert line were the dudes. Brooklyn native Chris Leavitt fessed up that his lady was the one to convert him into a Glamily member initially, but now he’s excited to “glam out” with the best of them. (His homemade jeans — complete with hand-drawn dragon and space rocks — certainly spoke volumes.) Elsewhere, 17-year old Brooklyn boy Billy Tropea was stoked to make Adam Lambert’s Glam Nation his first concert experience ever. “His hair is friggin’ awesome. I really want his hair,” he said. “I’m very jealous.” Some of Adam’s more seasoned followers insist they haven’t been this gung-ho about a musician since the days of Beatlemania. “I was still stalking Paul McCartney for awhile. I was on his website all the time, but now … sorry, Paul. Adam’s taken your place,” said Claudia Cohill. Armed with bags of snacks, bottles of water, and enough homemade signs to keep office supply stores in business through 2020, fans passed the time by taking bathroom breaks at a nearby McDonalds and dishing about their favorite glamtastic performances (his sultry six-minute acoustic take on “Whole Lotta Love,” which he debuted on tour, seems to be #1 for most). As the mass of Lambert lovers stretched around the block toward West 45th street, fans promised each other there would be no shoving once the doors opened at 7 p.m. “We made friends with people [in line]. We like being fair. No cutting,” promised 20-year-old Melanie Pellegrino. But if any latecomers try to sneak their way up front, the early birds are ready to throw some ‘bows. “I’m willing to cut a bitch!” one joked. Lambert’s tour moves on to Connecticut and New Jersey after his sold-out shows in New York. Related Artists Adam Lambert

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