2016 has taken another one… George Michael Dies George Michael has died at the age of 53. A publicist for the Wham! frontman has confirmed that he “passed away peacefully”, in his sleep today at his Oxfordshire, England home. “It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period,” said the publicist. His friend/collaborator Elton John has since said that he’s in deep shock over his death. R.I.P. George Michael. WENN, Instagram
There’s an old saying, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” and this rings so true, especially when we talk about great singers. Most often in a biography, you will see a singer’s roots bloomed in church. The part that is usually left out is that a lot of great singers also started their professional […]
NBC’s The Voice headed into its final week of blind auditions on Monday night, and Season 6 Episode 5 did not disappoint, especially at the very end. Family man Josh Kaufman, the last singer to take the spotlight, turned all four superstars’ chairs with his rendition of George Michael‘s “One More Try” … The Voice Season 6 Episode 5 Blind Auditions Open Slideshow 1. Josh Kaufman: ‘One More Try’ (The Voice Audition) At the crossroads of a musical career, Josh Kaufman gets a huge vote of confidence after singing George Michael’s “One More Try.” View As List
As George Michael told us so many years ago…and now Demi Lovato is reiterating….like some kind of evangelical ready to brain wash me and molest my children in exchange for a huge percentage of my money….money I’ll feel good about giving up…until finding out the evangelical is a fucking liar, homosexual, addicted to cocaine and all night choo choo train parties in 5 star hotels…the same things he convinced me was wrong to like….. Either way, this is a fucking religious experience people…Demi Lovato’s manic depressive bullshit spoiled brat arm is sent from fucking heaven to inspire us….that we do can stage breakdowns as easily as we can stage finding God….to help our careers and public image…So authentic…. Praise Jesus…Martinez
Gallery Of African-American Olympic Gold Medalists Ding, dong, the Olympics are over. It was a glorious occasion full of victories and an all-around a$$-kicking by the good old red, white and blue. The US came out with the most gold medals and overall medals. And leading the charge were strong, athletic African-Americans taking home important victories. Let’s celebrate our achievements!
Also in Thursday’s round-up of news briefs, Tim Robbins is set to take on the director role after long absence. Montreal’s genre event the Fantasia Film Festival hands out its awards. And Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal honored at European film event. The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Take That, George Michael Tipped As Olympics Closing Acts Sunday’s Closing Ceremony at the London Olympics will feature over 4,100 performers including a massive showing of Britain’s musical headliners. Among the performers who will apparently play are The Who, Paul McCartney, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, George Michael, Paul Weller, the Spice Girls, Adele, Ray Davies, Liam Gallagher, Annie Lennox, Madness, the Pet Shop Boys, Take That, Muse, One Direction and members of Queen, Deadline reports . Shia LaBeouf Eyes Lars von Trier’s Nymphomaniac Nymphomaniac revolves around the erotic pursuits of a woman, played by Charlotte Gainsbourg, from her youth to 50 as recounted by her husband, played by Stellan Skarsgard. Details about his possible role are still to be determined, THR reports . Tim Robbins to Direct City of Lies After directing three films in the ’90s including Dead Man Walking (1995), Tim Robbins has signed on to direct Endgame Entertainment’s City of Lies about two spies who fall in love while on separate spying mission in Prague, THR reports . Doomsday Book and Toad Road Take Top Fantasia Film Festival Prizes Montreal’s genre event, the Fantasia International Film Festival awarded Kim Jee-woon and Yim Pil-sung’s Doomsday Book its Cheval Noir Award for Best Film, while Jason Banker’s Toad Road took nods for Best Director and Best Actor for James Davidson. Yeon Sang Ho’s The King of Pigs won the Satoshi Kon Award for Achievement in Animation and a special mention from the First Feature Jury, Indiewire reports . Gael Garcia Bernal Honored at Locarno Film Festival “I think I still have a lot of room to grow,” Garcia Bernal told the crowd of more than 8,000 in the Piazza Grande. “Perhaps not in terms of height, but in terms of experience.” Garcia Bernal is one of the youngest honorees to receive the festival’s Excellence Award at 33, BBC reports .
Josh Krajcik, Melanie Amaro and Chris Rene will face off in next week’s two-part finale. By Adam Graham Marcus Canty on “X Factor” Photo: FOX Marcus Canty’s luck finally ran out on Thursday’s (December 15) “The X Factor,” as the 20-year-old from Bowie, Maryland, was voted off the show one week away from the finale. That leaves Josh Krajcik , Chris Rene and Melanie Amaro to battle it out for the $5 million recording contract in next week’s finals. Canty found himself in a familiar position on Thursday’s results show when he was among the last two to have his fate read by host Steve Jones. Canty had landed in the bottom two each of the last three weeks but had pulled through each time, including last week’s dramatic finish when he triumphed over cutie-pie contestant Rachel Crow after a controversial decision by Nicole Scherzinger to put the final results in the hands of America’s votes. Canty didn’t have a chance to sing for his life to the judges this week, as votes were decided by America and America only. Krajcik and Canty were the last two standing on the stage, and Krajcik was put through, sending Canty home. The singer, who was compared early on to Bobby Brown, took the news in stride. He was at a disadvantage coming off Wednesday’s episode, after Simon Cowell called his performance of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” “grotesque” and “an absolute joke.” His version of Boyz II Men’s “I’ll Make Love to You” didn’t fare much better. “It’s not over, just trust me. This is not the last time you will see Marcus Canty,” Canty said after the vote was read. “I gave it my all, and that’s really, at the end of the day, that’s all you can do.” L.A. Reid, who mentored Canty in the competition, expressed sadness at his contestant’s elimination and told Canty he has his support going forward. Some 30 million votes were cast by viewers this week, according to host Jones. Earlier in the episode, Chris Rene was the first act put through to the finals, and Melanie Amaro followed. Jones stressed the results were read in no particular order. The show also saw Florence and the Machine performing “Spectrum” and Nicole Scherzinger debuting her latest single, “Pretty.” Afterward, Cowell weighed in on the performance and mocked Scherzinger’s cosmic judging style by telling her, “I believe in you, you believe in me, you transcend the universe, God is smiling on you, life is a waterfall, and you are the ultimate rainbow.” Krajcik, Rene and Amaro will face off on Wednesday’s 90-minute performance episode, and a winner will be crowned at the conclusion of next Thursday’s two-hour finale. What did you think of the results? Let us know in the comments!
Actress plays a ‘practical, salt-of-the-earth’ character in ‘We Bought a Zoo.’ By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Scarlett Johansson in “We Bought A Zoo” Photo: Twentieth Century Fox Anyone who has followed Scarlett Johansson ‘s career will agree that she carved out a niche for herself early with several roles as “the fantasy girl.” Those looking for that side of Johansson might be disappointed to learn that there is nothing “forced sexy” about her character in her latest film, “We Bought a Zoo.” When MTV News caught up with Johansson recently, we asked if it was refreshing to play “normal” and not have to appear scantily clad at any point in “Zoo.” “Yes, that’s always refreshing. It means you can eat more,” Johansson joked about remaining fully clothed. “For me, one of the big draws of the film was exactly that. It was the fact that I was not playing the girl who is always bridesmaid never a bride, or looking for a husband, or the other woman — none of those things. She’s a very practical, salt-of-the-earth, rounded, motivated, independent woman. I find as I get older, it’s nice to move away from the ing
Pop star made history in 2011 with chart-topping hits that empowered fans. By Jocelyn Vena Katy Perry Photo: Getty Images In 2011, no one shined as brightly as Katy Perry. It’s hard to think back on the past 12 months without getting one of her songs stuck in your head. As MTV’s Artist of the Year , Katy found success by unapologetically being herself. She sang about aliens, her foggy memories of house parties, lost love, true love, being yourself and everything in between. It’s easy for fans to connect to Perry and her music: She’s an open book. And in 2011, she turned a few more pages. Riding high off the success of 2010’s Teenage Dream, Perry didn’t rest on her laurels. Instead, she set the bar even higher by hitting the road on the California Dreams Tour, where night after night, decked out in candy-colored clothes, she belted out her greatest hits and empowered her fans with tracks like “Firework.” That anthem, originally released late last year, became so ubiquitous this year that it finds itself at #10 on MTV’s Best Songs of 2011 list. Visually, she always wanted to keep us guessing. She continually made music videos that were cinematic, tickling our funny bones at times (see: “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” ) and leaving us nostalgic at others (see: “The One That Got Away” ). In August, she took home the VMA for Video of the Year for — you guessed it — “Firework.” Perry told the audience at the show, “I feel like I am doing something right when I sing that song. So thanks to everyone who helped to create it.” That same night, she also nabbed the Moonman for Best Collaboration for her Kanye West-assisted track, “E.T.” Perry is one of the new millennium’s biggest pop stars, and she matched some of pop’s greatest icons on the charts this year. She tied Billboard records previously held by Michael Jackson and later one held by Janet Jackson and George Michael by having so many hit singles off one album. But we weren’t just talking about Perry’s music this year. She made us giggle with an LOL-worthy hosting stint on “SNL” and made her big-screen debut voicing the iconic Smurfette in “The Smurfs.” Offscreen, she’s proved to be the kind of girl that can laugh off rumors that she’s pregnant and getting divorced . She’s loud, cool and a real girl’s girl. It’s no easy task to sum up Katy Perry’s year. And all those accomplishments make it clear that she’s our girl. What would 2011 have been without Katy? It’s a 2011 we want nothing to do with. Stick with MTV as we count down the Best of 2011 , including the top Artists , Songs , Live Performances and EDM Artists of the year. Related Videos Best Artists Of 2011 Debate Related Photos Best Artists Of 2011 Related Artists Katy Perry
Melanie Amaro also shines, while Marcus Canty’s take on George Michael is dubbed ‘grotesque’ by Simon Cowell. By Adam Graham Josh Krajcik on “X Factor” Photo: FOX With the images of a broken-down Rachel Crow still fresh on everyone’s minds, “The X Factor” continued Wednesday (December 14) with its final four contestants pushing toward next week’s finale. Melanie Amaro and Josh Krajcik came out looking the strongest, seemingly leaving L.A. Reid’s two remaining contestants — Chris Rene and perpetual bottom-dweller Marcus Canty — vying for the final spot in next week’s three-way finale. Each singer was given two songs apiece to strut their stuff for America. Beginning with a switched-up version of Mariah Carey’s “Hero,” Amaro was able to overcome her cheesy staging, which made her look like she was performing in a community theater’s version of heaven. The song was called “bloody fantastic” by Cowell, while her second song — a rendition of the classic “Feelin’ Good” — was dubbed by her mentor her best performance yet in the competition. Reid agreed, calling Amaro “the greatest female that’s ever graced this stage.” Burrito maker Josh Krajcik flexed a little of his Krajcik Magic, starting with the Beatles’ “Come Together” and closing the show with a piano-and-vocal take on the Leonard Cohen standard “Hallelujah.” “I think it would be a massive shame if you don’t make the final next week,” Cowell told the 30-year-old, while a nearly-in-tears Paula Abdul remarked, “If it were the finals, you’re the one to beat.” (Reid was not as sold, and told Krajcik his “Hallelujah” “lacked excitement.”) Chris Rene somehow took on both Mark McGrath and Alicia Keys on Wednesday, diving into Sugar Ray’s “Fly” and Keys’ “No One” in the span of the show. In both, his spirit was trumped over his abilities, and the judges said he made them feel good, calling that just as important as vocal prowess. “Stardom is not about singing,” Reid told him, “it’s about lovability, and you have lovability. Am I right?” Well, McGrath would certainly agree. That left Canty, who has landed in the bottom two each of the last three weeks, a fate Reid tried to spin by dubbing him “three-time Save Me Song champion Marcus Canty.” Canty’s first song was a routine spin through Boyz II Men’s “I’ll Make Love to You,” while his final performance — a clubbed-to-death take on George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” — prompted Cowell’s most stinging evisceration of the entire season. Cowell called it “horrific” and “grotesque” and compared it to a Las Vegas show in 1983. “It’s not your fault, but this was a joke. An absolute joke, and you deserve better than that. That was as bad as I’ve ever seen.” Reid, on the other hand, praised his contestant, telling Canty that rather than an underdog, “Tonight, you look more like a champion.” But it’s not up to Reid or any of the other judges, for that matter; this week, voting is entirely in the hands of the viewers. One singer will get sent home during Thursday’s results show, which is set to feature performances by Florence and the Machine and “X Factor” judge Nicole Scherzinger. Who do you think is going through to next week’s final? Let us know in the comments!
