“Wearing perfume is such a unique way to create memories. Like songs, a scent can take you back and allow you to relive a moment in time,” Swift said. And everything from the perfume’s name to the specific ingredients of the scent were drawn from Swift’s personal life experiences. Taylor Swift is no stranger to finding a creative outlet for her emotions, so its no surprise she’s channeling some of those feelings into her own perfume! After announcing last fall she would debut her first signatu
With his new Alpocalypse album in stores, Bigger Than the Sound pays tribute to the King of the Pop Parody. By James Montgomery Weird Al is his “Perform This Way” video Photo: Sony Music Entertainment I often tell people the first cassette I bought with my own money was the Beastie Boys’ License to Ill. This is, of course, a lie: It was actually ” Weird Al” Yankovic ‘s 1986 album Polka Party!, which featured classics like “Living With a Hernia,” “Addicted to Spuds” and “Toothless People,” a send-up of Mick Jagger’s “Ruthless People” that Wikipedia rather fastidiously describes as “a song that focuses around elderly people who are missing their teeth.” You can probably understand the reason I’ve lied about it for all these years — Weird Al has never exactly been the coolest guy in the world, after all — but since I’m coming clean now, I’d also like to admit that the second and third cassettes I ever bought were Yankovic’s, too: his self-titled 1983 debut (I’d spend hours studying its illustrated cover , mostly because I didn’t have many friends) and the follow-up, In 3-D, which won Al a Grammy for his food-centric take on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” a song called, appropriately enough, “Eat It.” Shoot, eventually, I owned all the early Al cassettes: Dare to Be Stupid, Even Worse (I remember recording the video for “Fat” off this very channel), the “UHF” soundtrack. I used to carry them around in one of those little suitcases and listen to them on my Walkman during family vacations (they definitely made the trip to Boca Raton that one year). My parents were probably worried about me. And if they weren’t, well, they probably should have been. Of course, as is the case with most things, I eventually grew out of my Weird Al phase. The last album of his I ever bought was 1992’s Off the Deep End (the one with “Smells Like Nirvana” on it), and truth be told, I haven’t listened to a single thing he’s done since, aside from the occasional single (“Amish Paradise,” “White & Nerdy”) that somehow managed to perforate the pop-culture membrane. Instead, I slowly became obsessed with so-called real music — bands like Nirvana and the Breeders, Tortoise and Pavement, Built to Spill and Modest Mouse. I’ve continued down that path ever since, which is why I’m supposed to be obsessed with the new Bon Iver album (which, thanks to songs like “Beth/Rest,” is sort of like a Weird Al record, really), even though I’m really not. Since we parted ways, Al has released six full-length albums, the most recent of which ( Alpocalypse ) hit stores on Tuesday (June 21). I haven’t heard it, even though I’ve been told most of the songs have been floating around online for months. Chances are, you haven’t either, though perhaps you have heard the Lady Gaga parody and seen the accompanying music video. The latter is not terribly great, mostly because the CGI makes it feel almost un -Al, but still, I suppose that doesn’t really matter much. If Weird Al is anything, he’s critic-proof. But in the days since the Alpocalypse, I’ve found myself thinking back to the days when Yankovic was my favorite artist, and I’ve realized something rather fascinating: Basically everything I know about popular music, I learned from Weird Al. This was mainly because, as an 8-year-old, I didn’t view songs like “The Brady Bunch,” “The King of Suede” or “I Want a New Duck” as parodies of popular hits, mostly because I had never heard the originals. I wasn’t smart enough to pick up the nods to bands like Devo and Oingo Boingo on tracks like “Dare to Be Stupid” and “You Make Me,” because, you know, I was 8. I certainly didn’t get the joke behind “(This Song’s Just) Six Words Long,” because vapidity wasn’t a concept I was familiar with. Shoot, the first time I heard some of the Rolling Stones’ best cuts was when Al covered them on “The Hot Rocks Polka.” In short, almost all of his songs were originals to me. They’re how I learned about stuff like verse-chorus structure and solos and synthesizers. They’re probably why I’d go on to appreciate the slightly skewed work of Beck and Ween (and they’re definitely why I love “Your Party” as much as I do). And if you want to dig even deeper, Yankovic’s parodies are about the earliest example of the so-called “DIY” aesthetic I ever knew; they’re practically punk rock, inasmuch as they represent Al shooting down some of the era’s most Sacred Cows, and doing it on his own terms, repercussions be damned. So, yes, in a lot of ways, I owe everything to “Weird Al” Yankovic. And while I can certainly laud him as the king of the song parody, or point out the fact that he basically laid the groundwork for everything the Lonely Island guys (and 95 percent of the Internet) do these days, I think the most fitting tribute to his greatness is to simply say that without him, I’d probably be working in a bank somewhere. His albums made me love popular music, and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who can make that claim. I may not listen to him anymore, but I’ll remain forever loyal. Long live the king. Did Weird Al influence your musical tastes? Let us know in the comments below!
Brit’s ‘I Wanna Go’ video is hardly the first time she’s taken aim at the prying tabloid media. By Jocelyn Vena Britney Spears in her “I Wanna Go” video Photo: Jive Britney Spears is taking a stand against the paparazzi in the music video for her new single “I Wanna Go,” which premiered online Wednesday morning (June 22). In the Chris Marrs Piliero-directed clip she slings a microphone their way, knocking them off their perch. But it’s hardly the first time Spears has taken a tongue-in-cheek approach to making a statement about the tabloid media. In fact, since early on in her career, Spears has examined her love-hate affair with the prying lens of the paparazzi. After bursting on the pop scene in the late 1990s with a naughty girl-next-door image that made her a star, Spears learned that fame would come with lots of attention from the press. And, as in “I Wanna Go,” she has made it a point to play with that relationship in her videos. Here, we look back on a few of our favorites. “Lucky” Britney first gave fans some insight into her celebrity life in this video, dating back to 2000 and released on her second smash album, Oops! … I Did It Again. In the candy-colored, Dave Meyers-directed video, Spears plays a melancholy movie star who wants nothing more than to have a little fun. “Overprotected” A year after the “Lucky” video, Spears busted loose in this video from her Britney album. After breaking free from her hotel room, which is being watched by then real-life bodyguard Big Rob (that’s right, the Jonas Brothers’ Big Rob ), she dances in the rain and her hotel lobby and then throws one big party for her girls in a large limo. “Everytime” She shows the darker side of fame in the video for “Everytime.” By the time 2004 rolled around, Spears was not only In the Zone, she was frequently in the gossip pages. Her personal life was gossip fodder and in the clip, Spears plays a pop star whose public fight with her beau (played by Stephen Dorff) gets the paparazzi worked up, leading to an injury that may or may not bring about her untimely end. “Piece of Me” Spears had more fun in 2007 on the Blackout single “Piece of Me.” Released during a transitional time in both her personal and professional life, Spears poked fun at herself, dancing around a nightclub’s bathroom as magazine headlines about the pop star flash across the screen. “If U Seek Amy” The video for this 2009 single played up the song’s controversial title ( say it slowly, really slowly ) using faux news briefs. Released on her Circus album, the clip for “If U Seek Amy” played up Spears’ many sides: from good-natured mom to sexy party girl. “Hold It Against Me” This was Britney doing the thinking man’s take on the media. Directed by Jonas
Ciara and Knicks center/power-forward Amar’e Stoudemire have finally confirmed their relationship! Kevin Frazier from HipHollywood caught up with the flexible ATL singer where she disclosed the information we have all been waiting to hear. “Just interviewed Ciara and she admitted that she and Amar’e are indeed a couple. She was very shy about it and said ‘you know I don’t talk about my personal life’ but when I pushed she shook her head, laughed and said yes they are a couple. She added that this is a very happy time in her life and that she is really enjoying herself! She and Amar’e were snapped at a party after the Met Gala last night. ” With Ciara being so tall, Amar’e is the best look for her! Ciara & Amar’e Stoudemire Attend Lala & Carmelo’s Son’s 4th Bday [PHOTOS] Ciara Sex Tape With 50 Cent?! 50 Cent Talks About His Relationship With Ciara & Chelsea Handler Ciara’s Sexiest Outfits [GALLERY]
Welcome to THG’s Week in Review! Below, our staff takes a look back at the stories, stars and scandals that made this week the most memorable in … weeks! If you don’t already, you can FOLLOW THG on Twitter and Facebook for 24/7/365 updates. Now, a rundown of the week that was at The Hollywood Gossip: Jenelle Evans’ beatdown of Britany Truett led to … many arrests. Did Adam Lambert cause a wasted scene at Gaga’s b-day bash? Robert Pattinson’s personal life remains off limits . Mostly. The Bieb and the Mother Monster push for disaster relief . Britney Spears ‘ latest comeback is on in a major way. Bill O’Reilly Challenges Donald Trump Compared to Donald Trump, Bill O’Reilly is the voice of reason . At least Lindsay Lohan can cross one thing off her list of woes. Katy Perry and Kanye West are totally out of this world . A Christina Aguilera photo scandal may break any day. Rihanna just wants people to drop it already. Chris Brown on Dancing With The Stars – Yeah 3X Chris Brown performed on Dancing With the Stars amid outcry. The show also announced its first elimination of the season. American Idol axed two finalists after last week’s save. There was a lot of celebrity baby news this week. And some celebrity wedding news as well. Are Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth back on again? She’s not a huge fan of Rebecca Black in any case. Is this Serena Williams ad simply too sexy for TV? The Bachelor’s Brad and Emily are going strong. Get well soon, Spencer Pratt .
Singer arrested when boyfriend was pulled over on suspicion of DUI. By Gil Kaufman Christina Aguilera Photo: Jordan Strauss/ Getty Images Christina Aguilera’s public woes continued early Tuesday morning (March 1), when the singer was arrested in Los Angeles on a misdemeanor charge of public intoxication after police pulled over her boyfriend on suspicion of driving under the influence. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department confirmed that officers observed Aguilera’s 25-year-old boyfriend Matthew Rutler driving in a manner that made them believe he was under the influence at around 2:45 a.m. on Tuesday. Aguilera was a passenger in the vehicle, and sheriff’s department spokesperson Nicole Nishida said that the 30-year-old singer was “so intoxicated she couldn’t take care of herself” and was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of suspicion of public drunkenness. Aguilera was booked into the West Hollywood sheriff’s station and released on $250 bail. A spokesperson for the singer could not be reached for comment at press time. An arrest report stated that Rutler was also booked on a misdemeanor charge of suspicion of driving under the influence at the West Hollywood station just before 3 a.m., with bail set at $30,000. It was not known at press time if Rutler had been released on bail. An anonymous source told TMZ that if “the driver had NOT been arrested for DUI, [Christina] would have never been in trouble.” Another unnamed source allegedly close to the singer told the site that her confidants have been trying to get the performer into a rehab facility for several weeks. Aguilera’s personal life and career have been on a slide over the past year, beginning with the flop of her Bionic album, which has sold only 250,000 copies in the U.S. to date. That was followed by a hastily canceled U.S. tour , the disappointing returns for her big-screen debut in “Burlesque” and her divorce from husband Jordan Bratman . Those incidents were followed by her infamous flubbing of the national anthem at February’s Super Bowl and a stumble on the Grammys stage a week later, amid tabloid reports that her partying had gotten out of hand. Related Photos The Evolution Of: Christina Aguilera Related Artists Christina Aguilera
The split between Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels just got a lot messier. While the two continue to argue over financial issues , the singer’s personal life has now come into focus – and it’s a hurtful image for Michaels. The National Enquirer reports that Etheridge is dating Linda Wallem, a producer on Nurse Jackie and someone who was in Tammy Lynn’s wedding party when she married Melissa. “Linda has been talking constantly on the set about how she and Melissa are in love and how they’re in a committed relationship,” a source tells the tabloid. Etheridge and Michaels got married in 2003 and Wallem was right there with them, this friend says, adding: “In lesbian terms, Linda was the ‘best lady.’ Now she’s taken Tammy’s place.”
In the picture that we propose to start post, Justin Bieber kisses a fan with great transport. Selena Gomez should start worrying? Apparently not when the photo was taken several months ago that when the alleged affair with a colleague therefore was not yet begun. Justin is always very attentive to his privacy and tries not to show too much his personal life in front of the paparazzi. In this case, however, was careless and was immediately captured while kissing a fan. A reader wrote to Zack Taylor, sending the image to the known gossip site and explaining: Justin and my friend Michelle are kissing behind the Hotel Four Seasons a few months ago while he was in town for a concert. Before I did not seem appropriate to publish it, but now is good because it’s been a bit ‘of time. The authenticity of the photos of course be confirmed yet, but it seems that Bieber portrait while passionately kissing a girl. Selena Gomez may not appreciate very much this picture, although the two at the time the photos were just friends, for all bieberine however, can be considered good news: Justin could kiss that way to you, during one of his upcoming gigs.
During a recent interview with Heat Magazine Justin Bieber made it very clear that he no longer wishes to answer questions about his personal life. The reporter interviewing Justin for the magazine asked if he would like to take Cheryl Cole out on a date, with Justin answering: Well, first of all, it would be illegal cause she’s, like, too old… My mom’s 35, so she’s closer to my mom’s age than she is mine. Then, when asked about his love life Justin answered: I think that question is just asked way too much. I’m not going to be able to have a personal life if I keep being asked that question. So I’m not answering that question ever again. We totally understand where he’s coming from!
A source tells People magazine that their relationship ‘ended last month.’ By Kara Warner Jake Gyllenhaal and Taylor Swift in New York City on November 25 Photo: INF Just when everyone was getting excited about how long Jake Gyllenhaal and Taylor Swift would last as a couple come reports that they are no longer together. According to People, Gyllenhaal and Swift have not been together for quite some time. “They’re over,” a source told the mag about the short-lived relationship. “It ended last month.” Gyllenhaal and Swift started the rumor mill churning with whispers of their romance back in October, when they both showed up to support pal Emma Stone when she hosted “Saturday Night Live.” After that, the lovebirds were spotted together in Brooklyn then laughing and getting ice cream sundaes in Big Sur, California. Things heated up in the media when reports surfaced that Gyllenhaal had allegedly dropped $150,000 to fly swift to the U.K. to hang out with him while he promoted “Love & Other Drugs.” Then, at Thanksgiving, “Jaylor” reportedly spent the holiday with Gyllenhaal’s sister, Maggie, and her husband, Peter Sarsgaard. Despite all the reports of the pair having been seen together, taking trips, etc., neither Swift nor Gyllenhaal ever commented on the supposed romance. The most we got from the country star was that her rumored boyfriend’s latest movie “Love & Other Drugs” was “good.” “I write in great detail about my personal life,” she told Entertainment Weekly. “But I don’t talk about it.” If “Swiftenhaal” are indeed no more, perhaps the actor and pop star are the first victims of the predicted fallout from “mistletoe syndrome,” a phenomenon that occurs from roughly November through February, often brought on by the warm fuzzy feelings surrounding the holidays. Related Artists Taylor Swift
