With her new album sitting at #1, Bigger Than the Sound looks at Britney’s unprecedented career. By James Montgomery Britney Spears Photo: Getty Images By the time you read this, Britney Spears will have scored her sixth #1 debut with Femme Fatale, her latest installment of supersonic, stealth-fighter pop, a collection of songs equipped with laser-guided, heat-seeking hit missiles. In fact, Femme Fatale is more like an F-22 Raptor than an album. Maybe I shouldn’t be amazed that Brit finds herself atop the charts once again, but don’t we live in austere times? Aren’t Odd Future the only thing that matters these days? I’m only sort of kidding. Because, frankly, each and every time Britney lands another #1, it’s kind of like we’ve traveled through a wormhole and ended up in 1999, a time when the industry was still flush with cash and Lou Pearlman still lumbered the land. This was only 12 years ago, but it may as well have been 12 million. These days, we still have plenty of pure pop stars, though none of them are quite like Britney. Lady Gaga is into performance art. Katy Perry is the California Gurl. Pink is the punky older cousin with a ton of tattoos. As is often the case with evolution, they have each developed specialized traits in order to survive. Britney is, in a lot of ways, the origin of the species (for simplicity’s sake, I’m just ignoring Madonna, who basically did everything before any of this generation’s stars were even teething). She was — and, I suppose, still is — the music industry’s first attempt to promote a star that is everything to everyone. And each and every time she surfaces with a new album in tow, it signals the return of pop’s Mesozoic era. For all intents and purposes, she may spend her time between albums trapped in amber, waiting to have her DNA extracted by some scientist. This is by no means meant to come across as a slight against Spears. I fully understand why her fans love her the way they do, not to mention the fact that Femme Fatale is a heck of a pop record, a starry shadowbox of the coolest sounds you’re likely to hear all year. It’s more me simply marveling at the way she operates — in the cockpit of a high-powered fighter, making glossy, big-budget videos , putting on full-scale pop spectacles . There truly, honestly isn’t anyone else like her. We should take this opportunity to appreciate what Britney Spears — and her album — represent. She is the last super-pop star left standing. There was a time when everyone did things this way; now it’s her and her alone. Spears is still everything to everyone, in a time when all we hear about are “niche markets” and “splintered genres,” and for that alone, the success of Femme Fatale is noteworthy. Can she continue to survive among her more specialized peers? She’s certainly earned the right to, though one gets the feeling she’s probably not too worried about that fact. The thing about being the first is that there isn’t really anything — or anyone — to compete against. So let others sweat the small stuff; Britney’s only concerned with being Britney. Now and forever. What do you think is the secret to Britney’s success? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Britney Spears: I Am The Femme Fatale
Naima Adedapo and Haley Reinhart hope to avoid a return trip to the bottom three this week. By Eric Ditzian Casey Abrams performs on ‘American Idol’ Photo: Fox There was a time when a Motown-themed evening was an “American Idol” institution. Kelly Clarkson delivered such a dizzying take on Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “You’re All I Need to Get By” in season one that a bewildered Simon Cowell tried on a Southern accent and told her, “As they say in Texas, y’all did a great job!” Ruben Studdard soared with the Four Tops the next year, and then Fantasia, also trying on a Gaye tune, wowed the judges on her way to the title. Future seasons would ditch Motown as a whole for specific artists like Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross, but there remains a vast trove of “Idol” history for singers to mine as both cautionary tales and I-hope-I-can-sound-so-damn-good aspirations. And as the Motown theme returns Wednesday night (March 23) for the first time since season eight, contestants would be wise to consult those reality-show history books before taking the stage. Folks who aren’t exactly R&B- and soul-inclined, like James Durbin, should note that there are ample risks when it comes to reinventing these classic songs. Just ask Scott MacIntyre, whose honky-tonk rendition of the Supremes’ “You Can’t Hurry Love” had Cowell referencing the song’s lyrics: “How much more can I take?” Other, more thematically conversant season 10 crooners — Jacob Lusk, we’re looking in your direction — might find salvation in Motown. Or not. Anything can happen when the show goes live. Here’s what we’ll be looking for from each singer. Casey Abrams We’re not sure if we should blame a hospital visit or simply a misguided arrangement, but Abrams’ middle-school-garage-band take on Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was a rare misfire for the guy. We hope he’s healthy, ditches heavy instrumentation and concentrates on busting out those soulful growls of his. Though we’ve criticized him in the past for predictable performances — low-key intros, wild-eyed conclusions — this week we want Abrams to stay within his comfort zone. Bring on those wacky body contortions and that groovy groaning, bro! Haley Reinhart With two straight appearances in the bottom three, Haley’s lucky to have survived this far; she’ll have to pull off a stunner this week to avoid a trip back to that ignominious territory. But she might be in luck because Motown week will give Haley a chance to embrace her bluesy DNA. It remains to be seen, however, if she’ll embrace that strength or continue her weekly trend of trying on — and then quickly discarding — different artistic identities. Jacob Lusk Restraint should be Jacob’s mantra this week, one he repeats over and over before taking the stage. The last few weeks, it’s seemed like he’s been trying to disgorge an epic, cancel-the-show-because-this-kid’s-a-winner performance, and the result has been frightening to watch and difficult to hear. Whatever he goes with — perhaps taking a page from Studdard with some Stevie Wonder or Four Tops — Jacob has got to rein himself and sing with the passion (not the agony) that first made him a contestant to watch. James Durbin Durbin need not worry that Motown tunes won’t be kind to his vocal abilities. Adam Lambert switched up the Miracles’ “Tracks of My Tears” in 2009 and even had Smokey Robinson applauding. The 22-year-old just needs to realize he’s not at his best when rockin’ hard and that ramping down his manic energy — not to mention his squealing — is his best recipe for “Idol” success. Lauren Alaina Props to Lauren for bouncing back from her first down week with a savvy cover of Melissa Etheridge’s “I’m the Only One.” One of her biggest assets — above and beyond a killer instrument and the worshipful attention of “Idol” producers — is an ability to pick the right tune. So we’re not concerned about Lauren’s song choice. What we’ll be keeping an ear out for is how successfully she melds her pop-country-rock stylings with Motown music. Naima Adedapo Before she began to second-guess herself — Rihanna one week, Tina Turner the next — we would have imagined Motown week to be an opportunity for Naima to shine. Now we fear she’s too artistically confused to go with her creative gut. So instead of giving us something slow and jazzy and unique, we fear Naima might try to reach for something — the Supremes, perhaps — that she doesn’t have the chops to pull off. Paul McDonald Paul zoomed to the upper echelon of the competition in the show’s top 24 phase, but after two lackluster performances, we’re wondering if he actually belongs even in the top half of the remaining 11 singers. We hope Paul shows us our second-guessing is unfounded this week. Anything by Marvin Gaye could be the perfect vehicle to do just that. Pia Toscano Pia finally inched, however reluctantly, away from ballad territory last week with a little vigorous Whitney Houston action. Now we’d like to see her bust out fully. And that doesn’t mean she has to sacrifice showing off her powerful vocals. The Supremes would be an excellent choice for her, unlike Naima — something familiar and upbeat, like “You Can’t Hurry Love.” Scotty McCreery Motown night presents Scotty with his most interesting challenge to date. Will he impose a mainstream country vibe on a Marvin Gaye tune? Will he take this opportunity to show us another side — or at least the hint of one? How amazing would it be to hear him present a deeply soulful yet still country-strong take on the Miracles or the Temptations? Stefano Langone With Paul stumbling and Casey coming off a subpar performance, Stefano has a chance to capitalize on his best-in-class showing last week and show he’s a true contender. This smooth-voiced 22-year-old stumbled earlier in the season with Stevie Wonder, but we’re inclined to blame the cheesy arrangement more than anything else. He actually managed to channel Stevie’s voice quite well. But he’s been there, done that — so Stevie is off limits. No matter the cover he chooses, Stefano’s goal should be to avoid a hammy, distracting arrangement and let those vocals ring. Thia Megia The 16-year-old Disney princess has got nowhere to go but up after last week. We’d tell her to avoid a ballad. We’d ask her kindly to start acting her age, rather than like a crusty lounge act, but even when she picked a Disney tune, it sounded like something from an era before the existence of music television. So, in the end, we’ll just say this: Go out there and have fun, because this might be the last week you get the chance. Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘Idol Party Live’ With Jim Cantiello And Sammi ‘Sweetheart’ Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances
Justin Bieber will be in the premiere episode of CBS’ “CSI” on September Behind The Scenes: Justin Bieber on CSI! Smile for us, Justin! Justin Bieber gets a DNA swab test and a coke on CSI After they manage to brought Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber, CSI producers Tags: justin bieber | Gay | yea | CSI miami Tonight, Justin Bieber will be in the first of the two CSI: Miami episodes After they manage to brought Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber, CSI producers Watch a preview for season 11 of CSI featuring Justin Bieber. csi las vegas with justin bieber central • csi miami and justin beiber • csi Get A Preview Of Justin Bieber On CSI Tonight
Following a cover of a Paul McCartney classic , James Durbin returned to his rock roots last night. The American Idol finalist made the girls in attendance scream with a version of Bon Jovi’s “I’ll Be There for You,” roaming the stage while singing, shaking hands with audience members, making like a true star. J. Lo says she loves it and tells James he’s “great,” while Randy warns of pitch problems but acknowledges that Durbin makes every song his own. Check it out and judge for yourself now: James Durbin – I’ll Be There for You
I’m blushing. So responded Selena Gomez on The Late Show last night, as David Letterman peppered her with questions about Justin Bieber. After showing the singer a photo of herself and the Biebs at a Vanity Fair Oscars party in February , he asked Selena how long she’s known Justin (two years), how they met (his manager called her mom/manager) and whether or not the duo are dating. Selena’s unclear reply? “He’s been in my life for so long, and it’s just nice to have someone that understands what you’re going through.” Selena Gomez on The Late Show: Avoiding Bieber… Gomez and Bieber are absolutely entitled to their privacy, but consider the lesson of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart : it might be best to just admit to a relationship and end the speculation once and for all. Otherwise, the young stars will continue to be asked about their status and will be forced to come up with awkward answers that pretty much confirm it anyway.
Ryan Phillippe is not pleased. Alexis Knapp , the woman who claims Ryan is the father of her unborn child, is already casting him as a deadbeat because he hasn’t paid her expenses. According to sources close to Ryan, not only is this unfair, as it hasn’t even been established that the baby is his, he HAS supported Knapp financially. Not only that, Alexis said that if Ryan supported her during her pregnancy, she wouldn’t go blabbing to the media … which he says she has anyway. Alexis Knapp, who is due in June, says her baby is definitely Ryan’s. Phillippe will take a DNA test as soon as the baby is born and support it if it’s his. Sources connected to Alexis claim while she’s pregnant, she hasn’t received a dime from Ryan and is hurting financially because she’s unable to work. People close to Ryan say Alexis is lying and that he is paying Alexis’ expenses, despite having no obligation to do so until a judge establishes paternity. Short story, this isn’t going well. As a source connected to The Lincoln Lawyer star put it, “File it under the category, ‘No good deed goes unpunished.'” [Photos: Pacific Coast News]
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If a man who rambles on about Adonis DNA and warlock tendencies can be believed, Charlie Sheen might end up back on Two and a Half Men after all. Calling into The Chio & Shila Show yesterday, the actor opened the interview by sounding like his usual, successful self : “My super powers are blowing it up completely… I think were winning this morning.” After a bad connection forced Sheen to call back, he made it clear that he’s largely in on the running joke he’s created, telling the hosts: “What did you all do in that missing ten seconds without me? Did it feel like your lives had ended?” Getting down to business, though, Sheen was asked about the state of his sitcom and said “it feels like all parties” are nearing an understanding, concluding: “Absolutely the gig’s coming back, I have absolute faith in that.” Do you want Sheen back on the show?
Biography for Lindsay Ellingson Born November 19, 1986 (1986-11-19) San Diego, California, USA Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Hair color Blonde Eye color Blue Measurements 33-24-34 / 84-61-86 Dress size (US) 4 Agency Viva Models, Why Not Model Agency, DNA Model Management Lindsay Ellingson first walked the runway in the Spring/Summer 2005 ready-to-wear shows. She has walked in numerous shows including Shiatzy Chen, Blumarine, Chanel, Christian Dior, John Galliano, Gucci, Valentino, Lacoste,
Tween star’s second single premieres on ‘On-Air With Ryan Seacrest.’ By Alex Chapman Willow Smith Photo: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/ Getty Images After temporarily taking over the globe (and probably inducing some permanent neck problems) with her chart-smashing “Whip My Hair,” pint-size prodigy Willow Smith is back in action with her new electro-pop banger “21st Century Girl.” The 10-year-old superstar premiered the track on Monday morning (February 28) on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show, where it was announced that the song will be available exclusively on iTunes starting Tuesday. The song is as current as they come — she sounds like a fusion of Ke$ha and Rihanna. Willow celebrates being a girl of the moment, all the while backed by a hyper-dancey beat. “The rules don’t own me/ I’m living life on the edge,” the singer coos. Smith will also be performing the track, produced by Twin and Alke, on Tuesday’s episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” All this news comes on the heels of Smith’s newly announced addition to 13 U.K. dates on Justin Bieber’s journey across the pond with his super-successful My World Tour. The young talent may be relatively new to the music scene (and the world in general), but her work ethic is inarguably beyond her years. “It felt like all the hard work paid off, mostly that,” Willow told MTV News last October about the success of her first single. “Like all the hard work that I’ve done, like recording ‘Whip My Hair’ — it’s paid off.” Willow has also recently hinted at an upcoming album, tweeting , “Are you excited for my album!? It’s coming soon….. VERY soon!!” Although there’s no official release date for the LP, a video for Smith’s new single is said to be coming out shortly. What do you think of Willow Smith’s new song? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Willow Smith Related Artists Willow Smith
