‘I connect with it very, very personally because my mother was a fireman,’ he says of raising money for volunteer fire, EMS and rescue services. By Matt Elias Cee Lo Green Photo: MTV News It’s not too often that a Grammy-winning song gets completely overhauled for a national campaign, but Cee Lo Green has done just that with “Forget You” — and it’s all for a good cause. The R&B crooner teamed up with Duracell’s “Power of Those Who Protect Us” program to benefit the National Volunteer Fire Council, a nonprofit group representing the interests of volunteer fire, EMS and rescue services. The new tune, renamed “Thank You,” is available for free download via Duracell’s Facebook page . Not only is Cee Lo hoping to raise awareness for America’s volunteer firefighters, but it’s a cause that hits close to home. “It’s a very noble cause, and I connect with it very, very personally because my mother was a fireman as well — one of the first black female firemen in Atlanta, Georgia, so quite a historic accomplishment,” Green said. Of course The Lady Killer was tasked with cleaning up his decidedly dirty lyrics from the original song for this tribute. The new chorus begins: “For a lifetime of service in the name of love, we wanna thank you/ I could say it a thousand times and it wouldn’t be enough, we wanna thank you for everything you do.” Green, who is currently a coach on NBC’s “The Voice,” said this campaign capitalizes on the current success of “Forget You.” “It’s definitely at the height of a popularity, you know, just kind of unparalleled, and so it’s a convenient means of kind of making use of it and using that same spotlight to acknowledge and expose what a great humanitarian cause this is,” he told MTV News. “For so many people, citizens to volunteer themselves — so this is voluntary action. It’s not by force, it’s not by draft. This is heart and soul, and we appreciate that.” What do you think of Cee Lo’s “Thank You”? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Cee Lo Green
Lusk hopes to audition for Broadway and films, as well as make an album. By Gil Kaufman Jacob Lusk Photo: Michael Becker / FOX Jacob Lusk was pretty sure his “American Idol” journey was going to end Thursday night, and he was OK with that. But what kind of stung were the harsh comments made by mentor Jimmy Iovine in a taped package that ran before Jacob got his news, in which the Interscope Geffen A&M boss said Lusk appeared to lose his confidence and said the singer’s voice “closed down.” “I wouldn’t call it soul-destroying. It definitely hurts a lot to have someone who is supposed to be mentoring you and it feels like every time you turn around, [he’s] tearing you down,” Lusk said of Iovine’s cutting comments. “But what you have to remember is that you’re not doing it for him, you’re doing it for the people out there in America. They’re the people who are voting. It definitely hurts, it’s definitely hard to have someone beat you over the head with a baseball bat and then say, ‘OK, now go ahead and sing for your life.’ ” If there is any reason he was sent home, he said, it was because he wasn’t in his gospel/R&B element on Wednesday night and simply didn’t have a great performance. After his elimination, though, Lusk went out on a high note, giving one of his loosest, most engaging performances of the season with “A House Is Not a Home.” But in a call with reporters Friday (May 6), he talked about his performance after that performance, where he really took the audience to church and let loose. “I made a joke months ago [to ‘Idol’ bandleader Ray Chew]. I said, ‘Ray, if I ever got off this show, if I ever win, whatever happens, we’re going to church.’ ” But when he finished singing, he didn’t want to end on a sad, tearful note (though he did cry a bit), so he did what he always does: He rejoiced and celebrated making it to the #5 position surrounded by his family, producer Nigel Lythgoe and “Idol” stage manager Debbie Williams. When asked about Iovine saying the pressure seemed to be getting to him, Lusk disagreed with the assessment. “I wouldn’t say that the pressure was getting to me. I was getting a little tired and I was just really trying to do different things that I thought that he would like and that America just wanted to see different things,” he explained. “But at the end of the day, I definitely went out and I said, ‘I’m going to give them my all,’ and that’s what I did.” One of the signature moments Lusk was asked to clarify was when he seemed to call out the voting public before singing Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.” It appeared at the time that he was making some sort of political or personal statement with this warning: “If I end up in the bottom three, it won’t be because I sang the song bad. It won’t be because I sang the song wrong. It’ll be because everybody in America wasn’t ready to look at themselves in the mirror.” Lusk said Friday that he didn’t mean anything personal by it at all and lamented that it was all a big misunderstanding. “It had nothing to do with me and my vocal performance. I’m not the greatest singer in the world; at least I don’t feel that I am,” he said, explaining that he was referring to his song selection, which he’d changed from the more sensual Marvin Gaye tune “Let’s Get It On,” and how it was inspired by the recent Japanese earthquake. “For me, it was about us all taking an internal glance. … It had nothing to do with my vocal performance. It had nothing to do with people voting for me. It wasn’t about that. It was about me wanting people to look at ourselves and look at what we can do to change the world. … I was starting with me that night and saying that I was going to make a change to help change the world.” Now that the pressure is off and he can start thinking about the rest of his career, Lusk said he’s looking forward to auditioning for Broadway shows and films and working on a debut album that will eschew the bubblegum-pop sensibility of the day and get back to some classic soulful R&B like that of his inspirations, Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston and Patti LaBelle. “I’ve heard some things through the grapevine, and I think I’m gonna be fine,” Lusk said when asked if, like another recently eliminated singer, Stefano Langone , he’s gotten calls from major artists eager to work with him. “There’s a world out there who is desirous of what I have to offer, and it’s just about me really going out there and giving my heart and soul. Someone out there is gonna want it, and I’m excited just to give that.” Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday at noon on MTV.com 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 ‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds
Singer plays up anti-bullying message in her video. By Jocelyn Vena Cover art for Taylor Swift’s “Mean” Photo: Big Machine Records Taylor Swift’s video for “Mean” (from last year’s Speak Now ) is the latest entry in an avalanche of empowering clips , which we’ve seen from artists like Katy Perry ( “Firework” ) and Pink ( “Raise Your Glass” ). Swift’s clip, directed by Declan Whitebloom, was shot over two days in Los Angeles, with the Orpheum Theatre serving as its backdrop. It opens with Swift and her band in the theater. She plays the banjo, and they’re all dressed in vintage-inspired clothes (as seen during her ACM performance ). The stage is set up like a front yard of a farmhouse. The video cuts to a boy reading a fashion magazine in a locker room being bullied by the football team. The video is back on that stage, where Swift is throwing a jubilant honky tonk. Now, Swift is dressed in a little white ’20s-style dress and is being tied to the tracks by an old-timey villain. (This image was also used for the single art .) He and his friends laugh as she sits there helpless. But Swift and the others are hardly the only victims in the clip. Viewers are back in modern time, where a girl, wearing a fast-food uniform, is being made fun of by her peers. Another girl is being teased in school and can’t sit with “the cool girls” at lunch and is forced to eat in the school bathroom. All the while, Swift is plucking away at her banjo. Her words are empowering the young people affected by their bullies. All that playing does eventually pay off for Swift. The stage is now transformed into a ritzy nightclub, with the singer all dazzled up in a sparkly flapper gown performing in the big leagues. What about the others? They’ve also found themselves as well. The boy reading the fashion magazine is now a famous fashion designer. The fast food worker saved up for college and is a big-time executive. The other girl? Well, she’s in the audience watching Swift perform, cheering her on just liked Swift’s song cheered her on. What did you think of Taylor’s new video? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos Star Gazing: Taylor Swift Related Artists Taylor Swift
But her rendition of unreleased Born This Way track mostly fails to impress ‘American Idol’ judges. By Adam Graham Haley Reinhart performs on “American Idol” Wednesday Photo: FOX Eyebrows were immediately raised on Wednesday’s (May 4) “American Idol” when host Ryan Seacrest announced Haley Reinhart would be taking on an “unreleased Lady Gaga song.” Did Reinhart get early access to Born This Way ? Was she sifting through Gaga’s hard drive and pillaging for rare demos and B-sides? Not quite: Turned out she’d be taking on “You and I,” which Gaga has been performing in concert on her Monster’s Ball Tour stops for the better part of the last year and which she debuted last June at Elton John’s White Tie and Tiara Ball fundraiser in England. Reinhart was given the song by “Idol” mentor Jimmy Iovine, who heads up Gaga’s record label and who thought Reinhart could put a nice spin on the song. Prior to the performance, Reinhart said she wanted to get Gaga’s approval before going ahead with it, so that she didn’t “step on anybody’s toes.” (Or maybe she just wanted to talk to Gaga.) Gaga gave her the green light, according to Reinhart. “She was excited about it as well,” Reinhart said. “And I was like, ‘You know what? I’m gonna go for it.’ ” While Reinhart rehearsed the song, guest mentor Sheryl Crow called her decision to take on a song that many might not know “super bold.” But Iovine — who said Reinhart “laces” the song — was confident in his encouragement of Reinhart. “She’s got it,” he said “And taking on this song is just another way of showing you that she’s got it.” Reinhart began her performance sprawled out on the stage’s steps, aided only by a piano. She sang the song’s opening line — “It’s been a long time since I came around/ It’s been a long time but I’m back in town” — with a bluesy, boozy swagger. By song’s end, she was trading runs with a chorus of three backup singers and seemed to have the moment that Crow predicted she’d have with the song. Then the judges piped in. The look of concern was evident on Jennifer Lopez’s face, and she began by softening the blow with a compliment: “I loved the way you sounded,” she said, “especially at the end.” But then she laid into Reinhart for taking on what she perceived as an unknown song, and even cut into Jimmy Iovine for recommending she do it. “I’m just not sure that was the best advice that Jimmy gave you,” she chided, saying she should have taken on something that “showcased you in a better way.” Reinhart — who has thrice landed in the bottom three this season — looked dejected following Lopez’s criticism, and then Randy Jackson weighed in, calling “You and I” “not that great a song.” “I don’t know if this whole thing did you any favors,” he said. However, Steven Tyler — who’s not exactly the hardest-hitting member of the judges’ panel — was positive in his review. “I loved it,” he said, paraphrasing the T-shirt he wore that spelled LOVE in capital letters. “I love what you do.” He went on to say Reinhart was “just one perfect song away from being an ‘American Idol,’ ” and advised her to find that song. Onstage, Seacrest asked Reinhart what she thought of her decision to take on “You and I.” Mock-stroking her chin as if in deep thought, Reinhart questioned whether it was worth taking the risk, but ultimately seemed at peace with her decision. “Hey, it was an opportunity, and I took it,” she said. Meanwhile, others were quick to defend the singer online. Reacting to the judges’ drubbing, “Idol” tweeter and expert MJ Santilli posted from @mjsbigblog, writing, “I can’t effing believe this garbage… VOTING FOR HALEY TIL MY FINGERS BLEED.” What did you think of Haley’s performance of “You and I”? Let us know in the comments! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday at noon on MTV.com 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 Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances
Formerly of girl group the Pussycat Dolls, the singer-actress Nicole Scherzinger, 32, appeared on the U.K. version of The X Factor as a guest judge in July. At the time, fellow judge Louis Walsh praised Scherzinger#39;s stint on the show saying, “This girl has the X Factor in every way. She was incredibly impressive and ticked every box.” Simon Cowell has not yet revealed the identities of the all the judges on The X Factor, but a source tells us that Nicole Scherzinger will be the show#39;s ho
Latest castoff denies dating ‘very special musical friend’ Haley Reinhart. By Gil Kaufman Casey Abrams Photo: FOX When Casey Abrams ended up standing next to Jacob Lusk and Scotty McCreery on “American Idol” on Thursday night, he had a feeling the end was nigh . Then, when Lusk was sent to safety, well, that was all she wrote. “Everyone was just so incredible [on Wednesday night]. … My performance was pretty good, but seeing Jacob kill it and then seeing Haley kill it, seeing Scotty and Lauren kill it and Durbin obviously … it just made me feel like, ‘These guys are incredible. These guys could carry the show. I don’t really need to be here, so if I go home tomorrow, I’m prepared,’ ” he said of the thoughts going through his head after Wednesday night’s Carole King performance show .
Reworked tune features an opening verse by Minaj as Ke$ha sings atop Spears’ vocals throughout the song. By James Dinh Britney Spears “Til The World Ends” Photo: Jive Britney Spears isn’t the only pop titan dancing until the world ends: Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha have joined forces to add a new spin on an all-female remix of Femme Fatale ‘s second single, “Till the World Ends.” The reworked dance anthem, which leaked online Friday (April 22), appears to have surfaced earlier than expected as noted by a series of countdowns on all three of the star’s websites . Mixing the dance tune’s original sonic swirls with heavier bass, Britney tourmate Minaj starts off the remix by throwing down an aggressive verse, in which she calls out a female hater: “A-A-A-A-A-AYE!/ Chimpanzees is hatin’, but I take it all in stride/ Put her in a jungle with bananas on the side/ Told you they’d revive your career, but somebody lied/I ain’t talkin’ poultry when I say this chicken’s fried.” After Minaj spits a few introductory bars, Spears delivers the song’s first verse before an introduction for the all-star trio. “It’s Britney, bitch. I’m Nicki Minaj and that’s Ke$ha!” the Young Money MC proclaims. Ke$ha, who originally wrote the track for the pop princess, takes part in singing the club-ready track’s chorus. Spears soon takes back control of the song as Ke$ha shadows the singer’s lines toward the end of the second verse and bridge. Unlike the original version, the “Till the World Ends” remix also features a stuttering dubstep dance break. News of a star-studded collaboration was hinted earlier this week when producer Dr. Luke tweeted , “@NICKIMINAJ killed it tonight!!!! thanks!!!” Have you heard the all-star “Till The World Ends” remix? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Artists Britney Spears Nicki Minaj Ke$ha
Reworked tune features an opening verse by Minaj as Ke$ha sings atop Spears’ vocals throughout the song. By James Dinh Britney Spears “Til The World Ends” Photo: Jive Britney Spears isn’t the only pop titan dancing until the world ends: Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha have joined forces to add a new spin on an all-female remix of Femme Fatale ‘s second single, “Till the World Ends.” The reworked dance anthem, which leaked online Friday (April 22), appears to have surfaced earlier than expected as noted by a series of countdowns on all three of the star’s websites . Mixing the dance tune’s original sonic swirls with heavier bass, Britney tourmate Minaj starts off the remix by throwing down an aggressive verse, in which she calls out a female hater: “A-A-A-A-A-AYE!/ Chimpanzees is hatin’, but I take it all in stride/ Put her in a jungle with bananas on the side/ Told you they’d revive your career, but somebody lied/I ain’t talkin’ poultry when I say this chicken’s fried.” After Minaj spits a few introductory bars, Spears delivers the song’s first verse before an introduction for the all-star trio. “It’s Britney, bitch. I’m Nicki Minaj and that’s Ke$ha!” the Young Money MC proclaims. Ke$ha, who originally wrote the track for the pop princess, takes part in singing the club-ready track’s chorus. Spears soon takes back control of the song as Ke$ha shadows the singer’s lines toward the end of the second verse and bridge. Unlike the original version, the “Till the World Ends” remix also features a stuttering dubstep dance break. News of a star-studded collaboration was hinted earlier this week when producer Dr. Luke tweeted , “@NICKIMINAJ killed it tonight!!!! thanks!!!” Have you heard the all-star “Till The World Ends” remix? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Artists Britney Spears Nicki Minaj Ke$ha
New photos show the pair all dressed in black and mugging for the camera on set. By Jocelyn Vena Jennifer Lopez and Lil Wayne Photo: Gilly Iyer What happens when Jennifer Lopez and Lil Wayne shoot a video together? Well, according to two new stills from the “I’m Into You” video set, the two take it very seriously and dress all in black. In one photo, J.Lo is seen standing in a very little black dress and thigh-high boots, looking fiercely into the camera. Wayne is standing next to her, also in all black, checking the time on his watch. In another shot, the pair stands back to back, in the same outfits, both looking like they are deep in thought. The video is set to drop on May 2, a day before J.Lo’s album Love? hits the street. Previous photos from the video set show the “American Idol” judge in a much more exotic locale at Chichen Itza in Mexico. At Chichen Itza, the singer was spotted sitting atop the steps of the historic pyramid, glaring seductively, with her legs crossed, as a camera crew hovers below her. She was wearing a long snake-print sundress with matching bracelets and headband. Another on-set photo shows Lopez in a metallic two-piece, showing her midriff and legs. “I’m Into You” is the second single off her forthcoming album. She climbed to the top of the charts with the first single, the RedOne-produced, Pitbull-assisted dance song “On the Floor.” When she’s not busy being a dance diva, Lopez is judging talent on “Idol,” shopping a new reality show and gearing up to perform at the Billboard Music Awards. Are you excited for the new J.Lo and Lil Wayne video? Tell us in the comments!
Extended sneak peek of reality singing competition aired before Thursday’s ‘Tonight Show.’ By Gil Kaufman Christina Aguilera Photo: Isaac Brekken/ Getty Images It’s been almost impossible to avoid the avalanche of promotion for NBC’s new reality singing competition, “The Voice.” From splashy magazine ads to endless TV promos and interviews with the show’s four celebrity coaches, the show has been getting a full-court blitz in the lead-up to Tuesday night’s premiere. The biggest push to date occurred Thursday night, when a 12-minute teaser aired before “The Tonight Show,” highlighted by an all-star performance of the Gnarls Barkley smash “Crazy” by the four judges. With Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine on drums, country star Blake Shelton on guitar and Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green adding their pristine vocals to the song that made Green a superstar, each member of the quartet brought their patented brand of star power to the pop summit. Aguilera, of course, indulged in some of her R&B diva melisma, Green his deep soul growl, Shelton a bit of country grit and Levine some surprisingly sharp drum chops. The studio audience went crazy as host Carson Daly explained the unique concept behind the show, which will have the coaches listening with their backs turned to singers vying to be their prot
