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Semi Precious Weapons Remember When Lady Gaga Opened For Them

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘She was fun and partied,’ Cole Whittle says of Gaga’s early days in New York. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Daniel Montalto Lady Gaga Photo: Kevork Djansezian/ Getty Images Long before Lady Gaga had the Semi Precious Weapons open for her on her Monster Ball Tour, she was supposed to hit the road with Kanye West . So the glam-rock trio might owe West a “thank you” for deciding not to tour with Gaga. “She had us open for her,” lead singer Justin Tranter, who makes a cameo in Gaga’s forthcoming “Telephone” video , told MTV News. “We knew that she always wanted us to open for her for this tour. She put her foot down. I don’t care what anybody says, we pretty much owe our lives to Gaga.” “And Kanye,” bandmate Cole Whittle jokingly added. Semi Precious Weapons go back years with Gaga — all the way back to the days when she had to depend on them to fill the tiny Manhattan venues she used to play long before she was the Grammy-winning phenom she is today. “When we met her, we were doing shows here bringing, like, 300 people or so, and we were looking for bands to open for us,” Whittle recalled. “They were all boring, but she was fun and partied, and her and [Gaga’s performing partner] Lady Starlight had a really cool show. We were like, ‘I’d much rather see this than some hipster band.’ ” So they opted to do the upcoming pop star a favor and have her join them for their shows. Despite the fact that she was playing to very small crowds, she was beyond thankful for the spot. “She was big fans of ours before we met her. She was so grateful to be playing with us, ’cause she loved us so much,” Tranter said. “She was like, ‘I’ve never seen so many people! Thank you so much for letting me open.’ It’s obviously a little different now. Them tables have turned! [Back then,] it was still the most awesome thing we’d ever seen. It’s still the most awesome show we ever saw. She’s always been the coolest girl!” Related Photos The Evolution Of: Lady Gaga

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Travis Barker, A-Trak Talk About Their New Project, Tour

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| 1 Comment

‘When Travis hollered, I was definitely flattered,’ Kanye West’s DJ says of getting the drummer’s call. By James Montgomery Travis Barker and A-Trak Photo: MTV News It’s been nearly a year since Travis Barker performed with a DJ, but now, he’s getting ready to hit the road again, this time with Kanye West’s main man behind the decks. Barker will be teaming up with turntablist A-Trak — West’s touring DJ — for a run of shows, scheduled to kick off March 9-10 at Hollywood’s Roxy Theatre. The gigs will mark the first time he’s performed live with a DJ since the death of his partner DJ AM in August. But, as Barker told MTV News earlier this month, he had always considered working with Trak on a project of some sort. And after the two jammed a bit last year, both men knew they had to take their show to the stage. “I had met A-Trak last year at Coachella, but I had seen a set of his at Avalon in Los Angeles maybe four years ago, with AM,” Barker told MTV News. “He was a guy who I always wanted to work with in some way. So I gave him a call.” “When Travis hollered, I was definitely flattered. We started by jamming once, back in the fall, just came over to the studio, and we did, like, one hour of jamming, which we thought was maybe a half an hour,” A-Trak added. “I just started playing records and scratching, and he was playing on top, and it went really, really naturally. It was very fluid. And we stopped and looked at the watch, and it was like, ‘Oh, we’ve been playing for an hour and didn’t even realize it.’ And I think that solidified for both of us in our minds that we could do this pretty easily.” The duo will perform versions of each other’s remixes (they’ve reworked tracks for everyone from Eminem and Soulja Boy Tell’em to MSTRKRFT and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs), plus new material they’ve been working on in Barker’s Los Angeles studio. Or, at least, that’s the plan right now. “It’s going to be a mix of everything,” A-Trak said. “We’re still kind of rehearsing it, but I think it’s going to be some songs people recognize, some of the remixes Travis has done, some of my remixes. Just kind of mix it up.” Barker said the duo plan to start small, with the pair of shows at Hollywood’s Roxy Theatre, before taking the show wide. Additional shows will follow later in March in Las Vegas, Austin’s South by Southwest and Miami. “Our first shows are at the Roxy, and then South by Southwest will probably be a little bit bigger,” Barker said. “The Winter Music Conference in Miami will probably be a little bit bigger. But the first ones will be really intimate.” “We might do a run of side shows in health clubs and saunas,” A-Trak laughed. “Just set up in the steam bath and play. It was an idea we had yesterday.” Tickets go on sale Thursday. The show will kick off with Rob Roy and Kid Sister before Barker and A-Trak take the stage.

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Olympic Skier Will Brandenburg Gushes Over ‘Girl-Next-Door’ Taylor Swift

Posted on February 16, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I think me and Taylor could have a really good time,’ he tells MTV News. By Hillary Crosley Photo: MTV News There might be a Taylor Swift backlash happening online after her performance and wins at the Grammys, but Winter Olympics skier Will Brandenburg is definitely on Team Taylor. The Spokane, Washington, native, along with fellow skier and gold medalist Ted Ligety, chatted with MTV News on Saturday about competing for the United States and exactly what a “super combine” is. “I do the super combine [event, which is] one run of downhill, the fastest event in skiing, and one run of the slowest event in skiing, so it’s two different ends of the spectrum,” Bradenburg explained. “[We go] 80, 90, 95 miles per hour. We’re pretty comfortable on our skis. We’ve been doing it since we were little, so when you’re going that fast, you don’t know you’re going that fast. Feels like you’re going 35 miles per hour in your pickup truck. It winds up like, ‘I was just clocked at 83!’ ” But then the conversation quickly turned to what the two listened to in preparation for their competitions, and in addition to Kings of Leon, Ligety blurted out that Brandenburg really loved Taylor Swift. “He’s actually a really big Taylor Swift fan,” Ligety revealed. “She’s just got that girl-next-door attitude. I like it, I like it a lot,” Brandenburg said in defense of his crush. “I think me and Taylor could have a really good time. I was just thinking [about] a nice little dinner and a movie and a date, so if you’re out there, Taylor, look me up. Will you be my valentine?” Brandenburg, 23, almost didn’t compete in this year’s Winter Olympics after sustaining a knee injury early last year following a bone bruise. But instead of bowing out, Brandenburg worked out at the gym every day during the summer to repair his body. “It was tough. I couldn’t run or jump until July,” Brandenburg told Spokane’s Spokesman-Review . “I’ve never put more into it in my life, trying to get healthy, because I wasn’t just trying to get to the Olympics. I was trying to continue my career in ski racing.” MTV News is on the ground in Vancouver all week, so stay tuned for more coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Related Videos 2010 Winter Olympics: From The Athletes’ Perspectives Related Artists Taylor Swift

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‘We Are The World: 25 For Haiti’: Readers Weigh In

Posted on February 16, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Readers seem split on remake’s musical quality. By Steven Roberts Artists come together to remake “We Are The World” Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Wire Image On Friday night, “We Are the World: 25 for Haiti,” the remake of the classic 1985 benefit song, premiered during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The song, proceeds from which will go towards disaster relief in Haiti, features an even larger cast of musicians than the star-studded original, with contemporary artists from Kanye West and Barbra Streisand to Pink and Lil Wayne joining in. While there’s certainly no criticizing the motivation for the remake, reaction to its musical quality has been mixed, with even Jay-Z calling the original version “untouchable” and saying he’d wished a new song had been written for the event instead: “It was a valiant effort, but for me, it’s gonna be untouchable,” he told MTV News on Saturday. Here’s what some of our readers had to say: “I thought the song was amazing and that’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it. Everyone’s dissecting the song for each little flaw and misstep. Look at it as a whole!” (peoplesrock78) “I have donated several times, but refuse to donate by purchasing a song that I think was awful. Good idea to remake the song, [but] it just sounded like a mishmash of bad singing. Do Haiti a favor and donate to the Red Cross, because they are the people who actually provide Haiti with help.” (Cathy) “I would donate to Haiti, many times over before I bought this song. Horrible and terrible song, out of sync with the video and the producers made a point of not including anyone from the original. Why was Michael Jackson in the video, he is gone. You can stop adding him into everything.” (peakway3) “All these negative comments. I feel like some people are missing the point. To me, this remake wasn’t about trying to improve on the original version. It seemed to be more of a tribute to it. It was about these people, whether they could sing or not, contributing what they could. Singers sing, rappers rap, Wyclef did whatever it is he does. It’s about very different people coming together and connecting through the majesty of song for a worthy cause, not winning a Grammy.” (Rachael) Readers also weighed in on Jay-Z’s comments. “Jay-Z is absolutely RIGHT!!! He couldn’t have said it better!!! They should have never remade that song. Certain songs are just not to be messed with. All Jay-Z is saying is what everybody was saying in their mind. He just put it in the open.” (Asonye88) “It’s for charity, it’s for HAITI … not for Jay-Z’s satisfaction and I think all of the artists involved put their HEART on it. I know the original is the best but i know also Mike [Jackson] would be watching his song with a smile….XD.” (Julius Cristina) “I agree as well, I think their heart was in the right place. As he already mentioned in the article, ‘We Are the World’ is untouchable. There will never be another like the original.” (marcy 25) What do you think of “We Are the World: 25 for Haiti”? Do you like the new remake, or do you think a new song should have been written? Let us know in the comments below! Related Videos ‘We Are The World: 25 Years For Haiti’ Related Photos ‘We Are The World 25 For Haiti’ Recording Session

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Fake Your Way Through It: The Olympics

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

On a bender all weekend? Get caught up with the Winter Olympics, without having to watch a single second.

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Fake Your Way Through It: The Olympics

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Lindsey Vonn vs. Hannah Teter: Who Would You Rather…

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

They’re competing against each other for medals in the 2010 Winter Olympics, but that’s nothing compared to this. Lindsey Vonn and Hannah Teter are U.S. teammates and Sports Illustrated models. They both posed for that magazine’s iconic Swimsuit Edition this year and have caused quite a stir between those that think female athletes should be proud of their bodies and those that think women will never be taken seriously if they play up their sexuality. It’s actually an interesting debate, made relevant this month by Vonn’s SI Olympic Preview cover . But it’s not the one we’re focused on here. Instead, we want readers to study the photos below and chime in: Which skier’s moguls would you rather jump off… if you know what we mean!

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New ‘We Are the World’ Video Released

Posted on February 13, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Filed under: Music The new “We Are the World” video debuted before the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony last night. The song brought together the biggest names in music — including Jamie Foxx, Lionel Richie, Tony Bennett, Jennifer Hudson and Gladys Knight — but it … Permalink

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2010 Winter Olympics Schedule: Don’t Miss A Thing

Posted on February 12, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Olympics kick off tonight with the opening ceremony at 7:30 p.m. ET. By Josh Wigler Photo: Clive Mason/ Getty Images The 2010 Winter Olympics start Friday (February 12) in Vancouver, British Columbia, and while the various athletes and competitors are busy focusing on the tasks ahead, viewers at home have an important challenge of their own to overcome: figuring out when all the events will take place. While qualifying rounds for ski jumping and alpine skiing get under way Friday, the day’s main attraction is the highly anticipated opening ceremony. Coverage begins on NBC at 7:30 p.m. ET, but very few details are known at this point beyond the fact that it will take place inside of Vancouver’s BC Place before an audience of nearly 55,000 attendees. It marks the first time the ceremony has commenced indoors. Additionally, the much-buzzed remake of “We Are the World” is set to make its debut at some point during NBC’s coverage of the opening ceremony. Organized by Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones as a benefit for the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti, “We Are the World — 25 for Haiti” features several artists such as Janet Jackson , Jordin Sparks , Kanye West and others, including some yet-unrevealed performers. The first full day of athletic competition begins Saturday, with events including alpine skiing (men’s downhill at 11:45 a.m. PT), speed skating (men’s 5,000-meter at noon PT), biathlon (women’s 7.50-kilometer sprint at 1 p.m. PT) and freestyle skiing (women’s moguls at 4:30 p.m. PT and 7:30 p.m. PT). A full schedule for the two-week competition’s events can be found below. All times are Vancouver time (PT). Saturday, February 13

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‘We Are The World: 25 For Haiti’ Unites Music’s Biggest Names

Posted on February 12, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Wyclef Jean, RedOne and Quincy Jones give the 25-year-old charity song a new feel. By Maura Johnston LL Cool J, Wyclef Jean, Swizz Beatz, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes and Will.I.Am perform “We Are The World” Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Wire Image In 1985, Justin Bieber was nine years from being born, Auto-Tune was 12 years from being invented, and Lil Wayne turned 3. Yet all three are prominent on “We Are the World: 25 For Haiti,” a remake of the 1985 charity single that will benefit relief efforts in earthquake-stricken Haiti . The updated version of “We Are the World” not only has a completely different cast than its predecessor — only the late Michael Jackson remains, with his sister Janet singing along to his vocal tracks from the original — its sound is very current, with Auto-Tune flavoring many of the singers’ voices and hip-hop verses being added to the proceedings. Lady Gaga producer RedOne and Haitian native Wyclef Jean assisted original “We Are the World” producer Quincy Jones on production duties. The song opens with Bieber, who steps in for “We Are the World” co-writer Lionel Richie. From there, Nicole Scherzinger and Jennifer Hudson harmonize, and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland drops in. Despite the different faces, the overall feel is similar to the original’s, with Hudson turning in a powerhouse performance on verses originally performed by Stevie Wonder. It’s on the second repetition of the chorus when the song begins to take on a life of its own, with Wyclef singing the song’s title as translated into Creole, which is one of Haiti’s official languages. From there, Maroon 5’s Adam Levine channels Stevie Wonder. The Wonder similarities are only underscored by another Michael Jackson appearance, whose bridge, when he sings, “When you’re down and out, and there seems no hope at all,” remains intact. The chorus of singers and actors then gets soft, with ad-libbed verses by Scherzinger, Nick Jonas, Melanie Fiona, Tony Bennett and the Fray’s Isaac Slade recalling the verses provided by the likes of Bruce Springsteen and James Ingram in 1985. And then Lil Wayne reprises Bob Dylan’s verse , with Carlos Santana furiously playing guitar behind him. In addition to Santana, Australian guitarist Orianthi lends her riffing skills to the track. Pink, Akon and T-Pain add ad-libs as well, and then another callback to 1985 swoops in as Foxx channels the late Ray Charles, who was at the session 25 years ago. Foxx won the 2004 Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Charles in the film “Ray.” Hip-hop is a defining part of the pop landscape in 2010, and the new “We Are the World” reflects that . A Will.I.Am-penned verse is performed by a host of rappers, including LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, and Kanye West. Will and Kanye also have solo turns on the song, with each adding brief freestyles. The song ends with Wyclef emotionally toasting his homeland. An abbreviated version of the Paul Haggis-directed “We Are The World: 25 For Haiti” video premiered during the Winter Olympics broadcast on NBC, but the full, almost-seven-minute version of the song is available for purchase on iTunes, and the official We Are The World YouTube channel is streaming the video. The full video will air on television around the world tomorrow. Learn more about what you can do to help with earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti , and for more information, see Think MTV . Visit HopeForHaitiNow.org or call (877) 99-HAITI to make a donation now. Related Videos Behind The Scenes Of ‘We Are The World’ Related Photos ‘We Are The World 25 For Haiti’ Recording Session Related Artists Wyclef Jean

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‘We Are The World: 25 For Haiti’ Video Premieres During Olympic Opening Ceremonies

Posted on February 12, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Extended version of song and video are available now on iTunes. By Jem Aswad Wyclef Jean, Kanye West and Jennifer Hudson perform at the “We Are The World 25 Years for Haiti” recording session Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage The video of “We Are the World: 25 for Haiti” premiered Friday night (February 12) during the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The new incarnation of the 1985 song sticks closely to the arrangement of the original, but the cast is much larger and, of course, much more contemporary. On television, the song was introduced by a message from original “We Are the World” principals Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones, who urged viewers to contribute via www.World25.org , iTunes or by texting “World” to 50555. A tightly edited version of the song was aired on Friday night, but the long version is available now on iTunes. That version is introduced by Jamie Foxx, who sets the scene, talking about the original recording and then the new version, the video of which was directed by “Crash” director Paul Haggis. “Do more than just watch,” Foxx says. “Whatever you have, no matter how big or how small, it all counts.” The video features footage from the song’s recording session intercut with scenes of rebuilding efforts in Haiti. Justin Bieber opens , singing Lionel Richie’s verse from the original, and is quickly followed by Nicole Scherzinger and Jennifer Hudson singing together, then Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles, Josh Groban, and then a footage of Michael Jackson from the original recording superimposed with sister Janet duetting on the first verse of the chorus. Barbra Streisand, Fergie, a wailing Celine Dion and others follow. Miley Cyrus, Enrique Iglesias, Foxx, Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, Pink, Mary J. Blige, Akon, T-Pain and others take verses later in the song; a second verse from a recording of Michael Jackson is immediately followed by Usher. Carlos Santana and Orianthi are seen playing guitars; Richie and Jones are often visible, smiling on the sidelines. The most remarkable moments come from the rappers : an Auto-Tuned Lil Wayne sings Bob Dylan’s verse , Wyclef adds some Haitian flavor , and Will.I.Am and Kanye West both rap verses. “Like Katrina, Africa and Indonesia/ Haiti needs us,” Will.I.Am raps. LL Cool J, Will.I.Am, Swizz Beatz, Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes team up for a rapped section; Bizzy Bone, Kid Cudi, Drake and Nipsey Hussle were also at the session. The music drops out toward the end to let the chorus sing alone. Amid the studio footage we see Haitian children dancing amid the destruction in their homeland. Tellingly, the Haiti footage focuses on rebuilding efforts. Haggis talked with MTV News about the session earlier this week. “You hear these stories about people checking their egos at the door, and it really is true,” he said. “They came and stood forever and were glorified extras a lot of the time. They just stood in the corner and waved.” Learn more about what you can do to help with earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti , and for more information, see Think MTV . Visit HopeForHaitiNow.org or call (877) 99-HAITI to make a donation now. Related Videos Behind The Scenes Of ‘We Are The World’ Related Photos ‘We Are The World 25 For Haiti’ Recording Session

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