Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera stepped up to kiss the Queen of Pop’s ring – well, Madonna herself – at the 2003 VMAs, and Lady Gaga got her chance to pay homage this weekend on Saturday Night Live. But rather than play it straight, SNL cast the two in a mock catfight that pit Gaga (the night’s musical guest) against Madge (in town promoting best-of collection Celebration). It all went down during a “Deep House Dish” sketch when DJ Dynasty Handbag (Kenan Thompson) announced “two exciting entertainers, performing together for the very first time.” The pair of slight blond stars… Read more »
The history of rock is full of “Eureka!” flashes of brilliance. Chuck Berry had the idea to fuse country with the blues. Bob Dylan took folk music electric. Nikki Sixx realized that the line “I’d say we’ve kicked some ass” could rhyme with “I’d say we’re still kickin’ ass.” For the Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner, the big light bulb idea came in 2005: Get huge by thinking small. Write scrappy little Brit-punk tunes about the humdrum town you’re stuck in, the pissy little pubs you can’t get into, the local girls who aren’t desperate enough to dance with you. Give… Read more »
Alberta rockers Nickelback may have picked up a leading three trophies at the MuchMusic Video Awards last night, giving music critics across the country another reason to groan, but in the end it was all about Lady Gaga’s “flaming boobies.” The critically unpopular group, who picked up three Juno Awards back in March, went into the televised street-oriented awards show – which saw thousands of fans take over the blocks surrounding MuchMusic’s Toronto Queen and John Sts. headquarters – with a leading five MMVA nods, tied with R&B Toronto newcomer Danny Fernandes. Nickelback’s trio of trophies were for best video… Read more »
Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz are keeping their mouths shut for gay marriage. The couple are the latest celebs to take part in NOH8, a campaign supporting efforts to overturn Proposition 8. They were shot by photographer Adam Bouska on Monday with the campaign’s signature look: “NOH8” painted on their cheeks and duct tape over their mouths as a symbol of the pro-gay voices not being heard. Ashlee also holds a wedding veil in the pic. Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus also posed for NOH8 Like the Wentzes, Hoppus took part in the big Hollywood rally and protest shortly after the California… Read more »
Kanye West appeared on ABC’s “The View” Wednesday and took the opportunity to announce his forthcoming co-headlining tour with disco queen Lady Gaga. Although he kept the details of the tour light, he spoke excitedly about it. In the past he has said he is a Gaga fan and recently reworked her hit “Poker Face” into “I Make Her Say,” a collaboration with up-and-coming MC Kid Cudi. “She’s talented and so incredible that she’s not an opening act,” he said of the tour. “We’re doing it together, with no opening act.” A representative for West did not provided further details… Read more »
After being pushed back a few times, production is finally finished on Lil Wayne’s Rebirth album, and it is ready to hit the stores. “Expect great music. That’s all I ever want them to expect from me,” Wayne said after the MTV Movie Awards. He added that this album was an opportunity to showcase the direction he has taken since his last release. “I wanted to grow and show my growth as well,” he said. “It’s a difference from when you go in a room and come out and you’re better and everyone says, ‘How did you do that?’ So… Read more »
Taking Back Sunday gave its fourth LP a fitting title: New Again. For frontman Adam Lazarra, the addition of guitarist Matt Fazzi last spring has given the five-piece a wildly fresh perspective. Bassist Matt Rubano agrees that the band is embracing a new genre with its new release. “The idea that we’ve really embraced on this record is that it’s up to us to decide what Taking Back Sunday sounds like,” bassist Matt Rubano said. “We always want to be redefining what that means, and there’s stuff on this record I think in the past we would have stayed away… Read more »
Call him the “dark horse,” the “Come-From-Behind Kid,” the humble crooner. Call him whatever you like. But from now on you also need to call Kris Allen your “American Idol.” After a historic tally of nearly 100 million votes, the shy 23-year-old singer from Conway, Arkansas, pulled off one of the most surprising wins in the show’s nearly decade-long history by taking the crown from the theatrical season-long frontrunner, Adam Lambert. After nearly two hours of anticipation, when the time came for host Ryan Seacrest to announce the results, Allen and Lambert stood arm-in-arm, their friendship looking much more like… Read more »
If you think that Lady Gaga has gotten used to being a pop superstar, think again. No one was as surprised as the New York City native herself to see that the Queen of Pop, Madonna, took some time out of her busy schedule to catch the “Poker Face” singer’s show at New York’s Terminal 5 on Saturday. “I was very humbled that Madonna came to the show,” said Gaga. “And I had been hearing all week that she was going to come, and I was like, ‘Oh, OK,’ and I didn’t want to talk about it or tell anyone… Read more »
For “Good Girls Go Bad,” the first single from Cobra Starship’s forthcoming third album, the band did something familiar: immersed themselves in pop culture. The group known for turning “Snakes on a Plane” from a punchline into a radio hit landed guest vocals from the ultimate good girl with a bad streak – Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester, who plays Blair Waldorf, the show’s bitchy queen bee with a loyal heart. And that’s not all – Starship also recruited newbie American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, who co-wrote Kelly Clarkson’s “I Do Not Hook Up,” and turned to Gwen Stefani for inspiration.… Read more »
