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Christina Aguilera Gets Her Dominatrix On For ‘Not Myself Tonight’ Video

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The Hype Williams-directed video debuts Friday. By Jocelyn Vena Christina Aguilera in the “Not Myself Tonight” video preview Photo: RCA Records Although sneak peeks of Christina Aguilera’s new video for “Not Myself Tonight” have been available online, fans will have to wait until 12:01 a.m. Friday to see the complete video. And it appears the blonde pop star is embracing her inner dominatrix diva in the clip. The song is the first release from Aguilera’s album Bionic , out June 8. The video was shot by Hype Williams, who also directed Lady Gaga and Beyonc

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Flaming Lips’ Steven Drozd Hospitalized, Cancelling Appearances

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Band cancels gigs in Florida and Memphis due to multi-instrumentalist’s undisclosed illness. By Gil Kaufman The Flaming Lips Photo: Peter Kramer/ Getty Images The Flaming Lips were forced to cancel their Thursday night appearance at the SunFest in West Palm Beach, Florida, when longtime guitarist/keyboard-player Steven Drozd was hospitalized with an undisclosed ailment. “Due to unforeseen circumstances SunFest is announcing a last minute schedule change,” a statement from the event reads. “The Flaming Lips have withdrawn from the festival. We regret any inconvenience that this may cause. … SunFest has been informed that

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Regina Spektor Tells Musical Stories At Sold-Out Sydney Opera House

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘It’s so amazing not to play by yourself,’ she told her devoted Australian fans. By Matt Elias Regina Spektor (file) Photo: Jeff Gentner/Getty Images SYDNEY, Australia — The warm night in Sydney was the perfect backdrop for the sun-drenched tunes from Regina Spektor’s most recent effort, Far. The cathedral-like Sydney Opera House only added to the ambience. The Brooklyn songstress took the stage Wednesday night (April 28), greeting the mostly female sold-out crowd, which rejoiced at the first notes of “Calculation” (the opening track on Far ). Although the singer/songwriter was far from home, the audience proved to be more than familiar with her material. Fans shouted requests and “I love yous” between songs but were silent whenever Spektor, on piano, marched through a track. The set continued with more selections from her 2009 album, including “Eet” and a peppier version of “Folding Chair.” By the third song, the crowd had grown giddy, waiting for Spektor to address them directly. During a quiet moment, spontaneous giggling erupted and seemed to spread. Regina responded: “I feel like I have some lipstick on my nose.” The singer reached back into her catalog for “Ode to Divorce,” an oldie that highlighted the concert hall’s brilliant acoustics. Spektor’s voice sounded so close, it was as if you were sitting beside her on the piano bench. She followed that up with the frantic “Machine” and “Laughing With,” which drew extra cheers. The remainder of the evening was peppered with crowd favorites and a back-and-forth with the audience. After the crowd clapped along to “Better,” a fan begged, “Tell us a story, Regina!” That drew a clever response from Spektor: “I am. I’m telling stories all night long!” While she spent most of the night at the keys, Regina finally got up for “Dance Anthem of the 80s” (also from Far ), strapping on a guitar as she recalled “The Simpsons” episode where Homer goes to rock-and-roll summer camp. As the nearly two-hour show drew to a close, Regina told the crowd, “It’s so amazing to play here, and it’s so amazing not to play by yourself,” referring to the devoted fans who came to see her. In case anyone wasn’t sufficiently impressed, Spektor returned for a five-song encore. Fans showed they had her back, filling in when Regina forgot a few of the lyrics to “Samson.” That exchange brought to mind the words from “Eet,” sung earlier in the evening: “It’s like forgetting the words to your favorite song/ You can’t believe it, you were always singing along.” What do you think of Regina’s most recent album, Far ? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Regina Spektor

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Regina Spektor Tells Musical Stories At Sold-Out Sydney Opera House

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Shakira’s ‘Gypsy’ Gets A Boost From Rascal Flatts On ‘American Idol’

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Singer plays the harmonica, harmonizes with Gary LeVox for free-sprit performance. By Katie Byrne Shakira performs on “American Idol” Wednesday Photo: Fox Shakira busted out her best Stevie Nicks ensemble during “American Idol” to perform her new single, “Gypsy,” with a little help from Rascal Flatts. The free-spirit singer — wearing a sparkly tank top, dangling earrings and a floor-length brown skirt — started the song out on harmonica. During the first verse, she was joined by some interpretive backup dancers and even threw in some moves herself. Rascal Flatts singer Gary LeVox then chimed in with backing vocals. As the pair harmonized, they headed to a platform behind the “Idol” judges and Shakira showed off some of her trademark hip-swiveling. She even pulled the harmonica back out to close up the song. After the performance, host Ryan Seacrest said what most of the viewers were probably thinking: “Gary LeVox and Shakira — I never thought I’d see that!” He also had a tough question for the Flatts frontman: “What was it like to move your hips with her?” “I recommend to him to wear a skirt, but he refused,” Shakira chimed in. Rascal Flatts kicked off the “Idol” elimination episode by performing their new single, “Unstoppable,” in place of a top-six group number. Back in February, Shakira released a steamy video for “Gypsy” starring Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal. The video, like the song paired with it, has a much more organic vibe than other tracks from Shakira’s 2009 album She Wolf. Directed by frequent Shakira collaborator Jaume de Laiguana, the video tells a love story that plays out on a desert backdrop. It’s an ideal setting for the romance between the smiling Shakira and her often-shirtless tennis pro to unfold. What did you think of Shakira’s collaboration with Rascal Flatts? Let us know in the comments below! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season Nine Performances Related Artists Shakira

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Shakira’s ‘Gypsy’ Gets A Boost From Rascal Flatts On ‘American Idol’

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Siobhan Magnus Eliminated On ‘American Idol’

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Michael Lynche and Casey James join her in the bottom three. By Gil Kaufman Siobhan Magnus on “American Idol” Wednesday Photo: Fox It’s getting to that point in season nine of “American Idol” when it gets hard to guess who is going to go home every week because the competition has gotten so tight. But a night after Simon Cowell compared her tortured screaming to the sound of a woman giving birth, America decided that it wasn’t quite ready for an “Idol” champ as quirky as tattooed glassblower Siobhan Magnus. After charming the judges and voting public with her offbeat style sense, powerhouse vocals and sometimes sassy backtalk to the judges, Magnus’ luck ran out after she closed Tuesday’s show with an all-over-the-place take on Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine.” Magnus was given the boot on a night that was packed with performances from Rascal Flatts, Shakira and Lady Antebellum, and her exit came after more than 33 million votes were lodged Tuesday. The results began with host Ryan Seacrest creating three groups of two. The first pairing included Magnus and Lee Dewyze, followed by Casey James and Michael Lynche and then Aaron Kelly and Crystal Bowersox. Cutting the tension immediately, Seacrest walked Magnus across the stage to stand next to Lynche and James, announcing the trio as the bottom three. The first singer sent back to safety was Lynche, who dodged a bullet for the second time this season. “Tonight is different because everyone did well last night, so there’s no shame in the bottom three,” he said before being sent back to the couches. With James safe, that left the woman Seacrest called an “independent spirit” standing center stage in her salmon-colored miniskirt-and-tank-top combo. Saying she tried out for the show for her little sisters, Magnus hoped that she had a big impact on her siblings. “I did my best, and I hope that I was able to show them what we’re all capable of,” she said, clearly holding back some emotion. Keeping her composure, Magnus went out with a typically sassy run through Aretha Franklin’s “Think,” which got the final five and the whole audience on their feet and clapping along. It ended, of course, with one of her signature ear-piercing screams and then some hugs for her family, who told her, “You’re still our star.” This being a country-themed week, the show kicked off with a live performance from twangy trio Rascal Flatts, who played their cowboy-pop ditty “Unstoppable.” Along with the usual time-killing Ford video and some other promotional shenanigans, the first half of the show also featured season-four “Idol” superstar Carrie Underwood flying in from her national tour just to introduce her current opening act, the little-known brotherly band Sons of Sylvia. Bringing a harder edge new-wave country vibe than they displayed during their winning run last year on “The Next Great America Band,” the all-black-clad Clark brothers played their debut single, “Love Left to Lose.” The tune mixed straightforward radio rock with country touches, including fiddle, mandolin and rocked-out resonator guitar over a thudding backbeat. With a whole hour to fill, the next break featured ACM winners Lady Antebellum performing their triple-platinum smash “Need You Now.” The Fleetwood Mac-like ballad of romantic longing that has helped propel the album of the same name to the best sales figures of any 2010 release found singers Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott trading off yearning vocals as third member Dave Haywood played along on a grand piano in the background. The night’s final performance was a truly odd combo, as hip-shaker Shakira was joined by Flatts for the spare belly-dance/ boot-scooter “Gypsy,” which she opened by showing off her harmonica skills. Joined by two dancers, Shakira worked her flowing red skirt and swiveled her hips as she melded her yodely vocals with the high, lonesome sound of Flatts’ Gary LeVox. Next week’s mentor will be Harry Connick Jr., who will lead the finalists through the songbook of Frank Sinatra. What did you think of tonight’s elimination? Did Siobhan deserve to go home? Leave your comments below! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season Nine Performances Related Artists Shakira

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Siobhan Magnus Eliminated On ‘American Idol’

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Bret Michaels Undergoing Tests, Hopes To Resume Tour In Summer

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘We will then continue with all scheduled dates throughout the summer and fall,’ a statement says. By Kelley L. Carter Bret Michaels Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage The cause of rocker Bret Michaels’ brain hemorrhage from last week hasn’t been discovered, but his return to the stage is already in the works. It’s possible that the current “Celebrity Apprentice” contestant could even be back rocking the house by the end of May. The 47-year-old former Poison frontman has been in the hospital since April 22, recovering from the hemorrhage (which came on the heels of an April 12 emergency appendectomy), and he most recently was upgraded from critical to stable condition. A statement from his website thanks fans for their continued support and the well-wishes, and also says that the rocker is responding well to tests and treatments. More information on Michaels’ condition is expected to be release on Monday, as he’s undergoing a varying amount of tests to determine the exact cause of the rupture. “While Bret is recovering we obviously have some shows that are being rescheduled. We are working to reschedule dates from now until May 21. At this time we are planning to resume the tour May 26 in Ft. Smith, Arkansas,, provided there are no further complications or setbacks,” the statement read. “We will then continue with all scheduled dates throughout the summer and fall, including the June and July tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Look for additional information in the days and weeks to come.” The statement also told fans who hold tickets to rescheduled shows that theirs will be honored on the new dates. Related Photos Bret Michaels’ Career In Photos Related Artists Bret Michaels

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Bret Michaels Undergoing Tests, Hopes To Resume Tour In Summer

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Rick Ross Calls Teflon Don Jay-Z Collabo ‘An Atomic Bomb’

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The Bawse denies rumors that the new Jay duet is ‘Maybach Music 3.’ By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Kelly Marino Rick Ross Photo: MTV News Swizz Beatz-designed Christian Louboutin white shoes, a black motorcycle jacket specially made by Fubu and a white tank top you could find at any swap meet or flea market — Rick Ross had his swagger up on the set of his F. Gary Gray-directed video for “Super High.” The clip plays off the film “Easy Rider” and finds the Miami native scooping up sexy Stacey Dash like ice cream from Cold Stone. Ross woos her from her biker beau. During some downtime on the set, Ross explained that he’s trying to keep a lot of the ins and outs of his June 29 LP Teflon Don on lock until it drops, but the Bawse did disclose more about his collaboration with Jay-Z. “The majority of the details of the album I’ve been trying to keep under wraps so the fans can savor the music that much more,” Ross said. “I most definitely have confirmed Jay-Z being on the album. [The song] is like an atomic bomb. I’m just waiting to push the button. Shout-out to Roc Nation. Shout-out to Kanye West.” Ross said he and Jay recorded the song in Sin City as Jigga’s tour was coming to a close. “The funny thing is the way the record was done,” Ross said. “I followed him to a few Blueprint 3 Tour dates. I was chillin’ in the back, smoked out. As soon as he gets offstage, we was chillin’, vibing. His last date, which was in Vegas, he killed the show. We left the show, went to Tao for the afterparty. It was 30 bottles of Ace of Spades [champagne]. He left there, went and killed the craps table, the poker table. Then we got in the studio, and he laced me. It was the most phenomenal verse. “It’s not ‘Maybach Music 3,’ ” Ross revealed. “You could kill the rumors. This is something totally unexpected, and we talking that talk. I’m just excited, man. I’m expecting big things from this Teflon Don project.” Are you excited to hear new music from Rick Ross? Let us know in the comments below! Related Artists Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)

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Rick Ross Calls Teflon Don Jay-Z Collabo ‘An Atomic Bomb’

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Gang Starr’s DJ Premier Discusses Estranged Relationship With Guru

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘We never disbanded the group,’ Premier says of his late groupmate in a Vibe.com interview. By Jayson Rodriguez Gang Starr’s Guru and DJ Premier Photo: Gregg Delman/ MTV.com Gang Starr’s DJ Premier opened up about his estranged relationship with Guru and much more in an intimate interview with Vibe.com that posted on Wednesday (April 28) morning. The legendary producer’s comments are the latest in a series of remarks in which he’s incrementally opened up about his late groupmate and the controversy surrounding his death last week . Premier revealed that he hadn’t spoken with Guru in six years, mainly due to his problems with alcohol. “It was March 30, 2004,” he told writer Keith Murphy. “April 1 was the last email I received from him and I just found it in my computer. We were pretty much going at it about him straightening his life up with the drinking and everything … just getting himself together. Because talent wise, drinking or sober, he was always on point in the lab. He could lay down his vocals with no problem and he always wrote his rhymes dope. When he wrote his rhymes on page they were so messy [Laughs]. I used to ask him, ‘How can you even recite the verses and flow?’ He would be in the booth turning the paper upside down while he’s still rhyming and without having to punch in.” Despite his distance from Guru in recent years, which an associate of both men, rapper Black Jesus , characterized as minor and noted Guru’s vices as a detrimental influence, Premier said he maintained a regular relationship with the Gang Starr MC’s family. “I talk to them all the time,” he explained. “His father, his sister Patricia; the only one I haven’t spoken to is his younger sister. But they all know me well. His brother Harry … They all know me. And they know this is all some bullshit [the controversy with Solar ]. They been a little separated from Guru once he decided to move off of Gang Starr. He got distant from everybody. It had been six years since I talked to him. I was trying to get the truth about whether he was in the hospital after he had the cardiac arrest. I called his parents. Guru’s mother and my mother were pen pals for a long time. I remember the day he had the cardiac arrest. I called the house and I heard Guru’s father’s voice like ‘Chris … Man, it’s good to hear your voice.’ Now if he had some strange feeling about me he would have been like, ‘Son, I can’t talk to you right now.’ But that wasn’t the case. It felt so good speaking to him. I was able to get the real deal of what was going on. They know me well enough to know that I’m not some stranger that needs information to be held back from me. Why do I have to make it up? I don’t have an agenda.” Much has been made about Guru’s farewell letter, issued after his death by Solar, a producer he worked with in recent years while on hiatus from Gang Starr. In the letter, Guru allegedly referred to Premier simply as his “former DJ” and refused to mention his Gang Starr partner by name. Fans cried foul over the letter and asserted Solar misrepresented Guru by penning the message himself, a claim he denied to MTV News. Premier took the high road, however, when he issued a touching statement honoring his fallen friend. Last Friday, though, Premier spoke out against Solar during his Sirius XM radio show, where he put on a “salute” to Guru . The DJ repeatedly assailed Solar throughout the two-hour set and refused to acknowledge him by name. Preemo told Vibe.com he would “love to see that letter” and “would love to see the handwriting. Because I know Guru’s handwriting like the back of my hand with all the bills we had to pay together. I know it’s not him.” The DJ was noncommittal about Gang Starr’s future. He said the men discussed a seventh album years ago, but nothing ever came to fruition. Premier hinted at a possible DVD project featuring vintage footage, but would only say his focus is to honor their combined legacy, which he said Guru would want since the MC never completely removed himself from the partnership. “The main thing is we never dissolved our Gang Starr contract,” Premier said. “We are still signed to each other. We never disbanded the group. If Guru really wanted to super-dead it he would have said, ‘Yo, I want out.’ And I still would have tried to convince him to stay. We are still Gang Starr.” Share your memories of Guru and Gang Starr in the comments below. Related Videos Gang Starr’s Guru: Music Videos Gang Starr’s Guru Passes Away Related Photos Gang Starr’s Guru: A Life In Photos Related Artists Gang Starr Guru

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Gang Starr’s DJ Premier Discusses Estranged Relationship With Guru

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‘Glee’ Madonna Soundtrack Debuts At #1 On Billboard Chart

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

All-AC/DC ‘Iron Man 2′ soundtrack debuts at #4, Justin Bieber falls to #3 in next week’s rankings. By Gil Kaufman Glee: The Music, the Power of Madonna Photo: Columbia Records The Gleeking of America continues unabated, as the latest soundtrack from the hit Fox series about singing teens will hit #1 on the Billboard 200 chart next week. The seven-track The Power of Madonna from “Glee,” featuring such hits as “Vogue,” “Like a Virgin,” “Like a Prayer” and “Express Yourself,” will top the charts with a modest 100,000 in sales, according to figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan. The second-highest debut of the week will belong to the all-AC/DC soundtrack to “Iron Man 2,” which will hit #4 (76,000), followed by the latest from flip-flop-loving beach bum Jimmy Buffett, the Wal-Mart exclusive Encores (#7, 31,000). The rest of the top 10 was relatively unchanged, with country trio Lady Antebellum continuing the strong run of Need You Now (#2, 83,000), riot-causing teen Justin Bieber falling two slots to #3 with My World 2.0 (81,000), Usher falling one with Raymond v Raymond (#5, 52,000), NOW 33 holding steady at #6 (37,000), Bieber’s debut, My World, creeping up two spots to #8 (31,000), the Zac Brown Band’s Foundation hopping six spots to #9 (29,000) and Lady Gaga dropping three to #10 with The Fame (28,000). The lineup was way different on the iTunes Album Chart , where Bullet for My Valentine’s Fever was in the #1 spot, followed by the “Glee” Madonna album, the Punk Goes Classic Rock compilation, Melissa Etheridge’s Fearless Love , Kaskade’s Dynasty , Lady Antebellum, Mary Chapin Carpenter’s The Age of Miracles , Usher, the deluxe version of Miranda Cosgrove’s Sparks Fly and Shania Twain: Greatest Hits . A couple of hard rockers just missed the winner’s circle on the Billboard tally, with Circa Survive debuting at #11 with Blue Sky Noise (28,000) and veterans Sevendust just behind them at #12 with Cold Day Memory (27,000). A handful of wins at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas helped boost Miranda Lambert’s Revolution by 23 spots, moving it to #13 (26,000, up 105 percent), even as trippy rockers MGMT took a serious 16-spot tumble in week two with their knotty second album, Congratulations (#18, 20,000, down 70 percent). Carrie Underwood also drafted on some ACM goodwill, moving up 17 slots to #21 with Play On after becoming the first woman in the awards’ history to win Entertainer of the Year two years in a row. Rap veterans Cypress Hill landed at #19 with their latest, Rise Up (18,000), which features cameos from Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda, Everlast, Pitbull and Mark Anthony. Further down the line, the original cast recording of Green Day’s “American Idiot” Broadway musical landed at #43 (11,000) and British singer Kate Nash crashed the boards at #60 with her album My Best Friend Is You (8,000). Look for new releases next week from B.o.B, Melissa Etheridge and Hole, plus a new “iCarly” soundtrack. Related Artists Madonna AC/DC Justin Bieber Lady Antebellum Usher Zac Brown Band Lady Gaga

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‘Glee’ Madonna Soundtrack Debuts At #1 On Billboard Chart

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Bret Michaels’ Medical Setback Is Routine, Expert Says

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Singer is temporarily at higher risk for seizures as result of brain hemorrhage. By Gil Kaufman Bret Michaels Photo: George Napolitano/ Getty Images long road to recovery from a brain hemorrhage hit a minor setback on Tuesday, when his spokesperson revealed that the Poison singer is suffering from hyponatremia , a lack of sodium in the body that could lead to seizures. While serious, the medical issue is a fairly typical complication of the type of subarachnoid hemorrhage stroke suffered by the 47-year-old rock star, according to Dr. Joseph Broderick, a member of the American Academy of Neurology and chair of the University of Cincinnati Neurology Department. Bret Michaels’ Career In Photos “The body regulates the amount of minerals in the blood within a narrow range, and sodium is one of them,” said Broderick, a specialist in the treatment of acute stroke and the genetics of hemorrhagic stroke. Broderick, who is not treating Michaels and does not have first-hand knowledge of the singer’s case, told MTV News earlier this week that based on the information made public so far, the case is very serious but could be survivable. “There are a lot of things that could lead to sodium levels being outside normal range and it’s not atypical as a complication of a subarachnoid hemorrhage,” Broderick said on Wednesday. “It’s complicated, but is generally a treatable thing that people recover from and not generally life-threatening.” Hyponatremia can make a patient sleepier and, as noted, increase the risk of seizures in the short term, but Broderick said it doesn’t make them more prone to seizures in the long term. If properly managed by Michaels’ doctors, the disorder should not pose a long term threat to his brain health.

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