‘Physical’ duet with Olivia Newton-John makes us long for more ‘Glee’ video re-creations.
By Jean Bentley
Jane Lynch and Molly Shannon in “Glee”
Photo: FOX
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Michael Lynche joins him in the bottom three, despite experts predicting Casey James’ exit
By James Montgomery
Aaron Kelly on “American Idol” Wednesday
Photo: Fox
On this week’s “American Idol,” the top five went old school, tackling the time-tested songbook of Frank Sinatra. So it was perhaps not all that surprising that the show’s youngest contestant ended up getting the boot.
Yes, on Wednesday night’s (May 5) results show, voters sent 17-year-old Aaron Kelly packing, thanks largely to his shaky performance of “Fly Me to the Moon,” a timid turn that Simon Cowell rather rightfully described as “mouse” like.
Still, despite coming so close to winning it all, Kelly was all smiles when host Ryan Seacrest told him his time was up, saying, “I’ve had a great time; I’ve had a blast,” before taking one more run at “Moon” (and, to be honest, this version was much better than Tuesday night’s).
And while Kelly’s exit wasn’t exactly shocking, it was who joined him in the bottom two that raised more than a few eyebrows: Michael Lynche, the big-bodied crooner who won praise for his jazzy version of “The Way You Look Tonight,” a performance Cowell and fellow judge Ellen DeGeneres particularly liked.
In the end, Lynche survived, and joined Lee Dewyze — a lock to advance after his swinging, swaggering take on “That’s Life” — Crystal Bowersox and, somewhat surprisingly, Casey James, in the top four.
James had been most “Idol” experts’ pick to get the boot on Wednesday, following an awkward version of “Blue Skies.” And yet, he avoided elimination yet again (maybe it had something to do with his scruffy, sorta-beard).
Earlier in the show, Lady Gaga — who wore black (lace) in keeping with the classy, Sinatra vibe of the show — strutted through a performance of her current single “Alejandro,” and Sinatra Week mentor Harry Connick Jr. crooned his way through a version of the Lennon/McCartney classic “And I Love Her” (from his new album of covers, Your Songs) and w was joined by the remaining “Idol” hopefuls through a medley of his own hits.
Next week, frequent “Idol” collaborator Jamie Foxx will help guide the top four through some of Hollywood’s best-known movie music.
Were you bummed to see Aaron go? Let us know in the comments.
Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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Pop star starts over-the-top performance with a slowed-down snippet of ‘Bad Romance.’
By Larry Carroll
Lady Gaga performs on “American Idol” Wednesday
Photo: Fox
She’s one of the hottest musical acts at the moment, an endlessly fascinating performer who has enough tricks up her sleeve to possibly outlast the long list of flavors of the month who have similarly skyrocketed to the top of the charts. On Wednesday night (May 5), “American Idol” officially went Gaga.
“This is a woman who’s dominating the charts and pushing the pop-culture envelope,” Ryan Seacrest said in his gushing introduction of Lady Gaga.
With that, America’s most popular TV show became a showcase for one of its most unique talents. Taking to the stage with a large ensemble of backup dancers in a pre-taped performance, Lady Gaga sang the newest single from The Fame Monster, a Spanish-influenced number called “Alejandro.” Gaga started out at the piano for a slowed-down snippet of “Bad Romance.”
Dressed in a revealing-but-veiled black outfit that might be appropriate for a woman attending a stripper’s funeral, Gaga wielded a cape and was surrounded by a team of shirtless dancers. Halfway through the performance, she shed her cape and began writhing on the floor.
“Alejandro, let me go,” she sang. “You know that I love you, boy/ Hot like Mexico, rejoice.”
Over in one corner of the stage, a statue of the Virgin Mary had flames pouring out of the top of it, in something that felt straight out of Madonna’s repertoire in her prime. Smoke filled the stage while the songstress performed a highly choreographed dance routine.
The “Idol” crowd seemed appreciative of the spectacle, welcoming her with opening arms and cheering throughout the performance.
Gaga taped the performance after last week’s elimination show, when Siobhan Magnus got the boot.
What did you think of Gaga’s performance? Let us know in the comments!
Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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‘I’m really sorry, and I wanted to offer that publicly too,’ Hasselbeck says.
By Larry Carroll
Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Erin Andrews
Photo: Getty Images
After 13 years on the air, the list of people “The View” has offended seems longer than the ranks of those who haven’t been unfavorably provoked by the talk show’s hot-button conversations. Now, “Dancing With the Stars” contestant Erin Andrews is the latest to receive an apology and lightning-rod host Elisabeth Hasselbeck is the one making a mea culpa.
On Tuesday, the football player’s wife commented on the convicted stalker who peeped at the sideline reporter through a hotel-room keyhole, filmed it and placed the clip on the Internet. In effect, the conservative Hasselbeck was making the point that Andrews’ revealing outfits on “Dancing With the Stars” could have saved the stalker the jail term because he would have seen nearly as much.
The point was deemed ill-advised by many, including Hasselbeck herself a few hours after the show’s taping. The former “Survivor” contestant said on Wednesday’s (May 5) show that she left work feeling badly about the comments, and her 5-year-old daughter explained to her why she should apologize.
“She’s so cute; she said to me, ‘Mommy, why don’t you just call Erin and tell her you’re sorry?,’ ” Hasselbeck reported on “The View” Wednesday. “So, thankfully, I listened to her — she’s a wise little girl — and I did. So, I’m really sorry, and I wanted to offer that publicly too, even though I did follow that advice.”
For Andrews — who has waged a very public, very emotional battle against the stalker and additional threats — the comments of Hasselbeck were an insult. “[It’s] a slap in the face to victims of stalking and sexual predators,” Andrews said after Tuesday’s “Dancing With the Stars” results show. “[As a] woman, I’m disappointed she went there.”
What do you think of Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s apology? Let us know in the comments below!
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MC says he’s ‘honored’ to be a member of the ‘bra-and-panties-tossing club.’
By Jayson Rodriguez
Drake
Photo: MTV News
It seems that Drake has joined an exclusive club usually reserved for R&B lotharios. According to the rapper/singer, his tour stops have featured “this recurring theme of throwing underwear onstage.”
In an interview with CNN, Drake talked about his career, influences and becoming a member of the “bra-and-panties-tossing club.”
“You know, that’s nothing original,” Drake said, joking about the long practice of female fans tossing their undergarments onstage in appreciation of a performance. “Prince can tell you better stories about that than I could. I just feel honored to be inducted.”
Drake explained that he writes primarily for his female fans — case in point, his new single “Find Your Love” — and he studies them carefully.
“I’m inspired by the makeup of the woman, their minds, their conversations, the emotions that they exude and pour out of them,” Drake continued. “I love women, I love to study women. I’m not a womanizer; I love to just study behavior patterns in a woman and how to interact with them, because I like to write for women.”
The recently announced Hot 97 Summer Jam performer also talked about Lil Wayne and his jail term.
Drake said he disagreed with the punishment; Wayne pleaded guilty to attempted gun possession and was sentenced to a year in prison.
“In my opinion, he didn’t do anything wrong,” Drake said. “I think it was the opportunity to make an example out of someone that didn’t deserve to be made an example out of.”
Have you seen Drake on tour? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!
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‘I’m just singing about love, relationships and compromise,’ Richard ‘Bing’ Collora says of his winning song.
By Shaheem Reid
The Bingtones
Photo: Uplaya
Richard “Bing” Collora has never lost his passion for making music. For more than two decades the Silicon Valley-based native of Buffalo, New York, has been performing and releasing music independently. Eight years ago, he assembled a backing band called the Bingtones that features a slew of tenured veterans that have worked with musical legends, including Boz Scaggs, Huey Lewis and Etta James. In the studio, Bing has worked with musicians whose résumés include James Brown, Blood Sweat and Tears, Tower of Power, Carlos Santana and Stevie Wonder. That pedigree is evident in the band’s music, which has an old-school feel with rock-solid rhythms and infectious melodies.
“It’s basically a who’s who in session players,” Bing explained. “At its biggest, the live band has been 12 members; it’s 10 right now. For the recorded project, I have people all over the country — singers, horn players, bass players, guitar players — using Pro-Tools.”
Bing is a fixture on the website Uplaya.com, where his songs have received high marks from listeners. MTV recently partnered with uplaya.com for the Music Universe and MTV Talent Search: Contestants posted their own songs to be judged by MTV and members of the website.
The Bingtones’ “Read Between the Lines” was the winner, followed by Anthem of Silence’s “I Am One” and Black Chardonnay’s “Fireflies.”
Bing, who was delighted to learn of his group winning the contest, described some of the elements that helped the catchy, classic-style “Read Between the Lines” take the prize.
“It’s an old-school R&B, pop, kinda Tom Jones/Chicago-style song with the big horns,” he said. “I’m just singing about love, relationships and compromise — and reading between the lines.”
Limp Bizkit, the Phoenix Suns and your local Mexican communities offer up plenty of ways to party.
By Rochell D. Thomas
Photo: Getty Images
Every year on the fifth of May, Mexican flags can be spotted waving at homes and businesses across the United States. There are parades and dances. Schools and theater groups put on special presentations and bars offer drink specials. But despite what many people think, Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican Fourth of July. (Mexico celebrates its independence from Spain on September 16.)
Though it’s a holiday commemorating the Battle of Puebla against the French in 1862, Cinco de Mayo has become an ethnic holiday that celebrates Mexican culture and the Mexican army’s never-give-up spirit. Mexican-Americans — and, really, anyone who likes to root for underdogs fighting the good fight — celebrate the holiday in many ways. Here, we list a few of the major festivities going on around the country on Wednesday (May 5) and beyond.
New York City
Limp Bizkit Cinco de Mayo Show: Fred Durst and company launch an ethnic celebration and their Gold Cobra Tour.
When: Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Location: Gramercy Theater, 127 E. 23rd Street
Cost: Free. Wristbands will be given out starting at noon.
Cinco de Mayo Parade
When: Sunday, 12-2 p.m.
Location: Central Park West between West 110th and West 72nd Streets
Cost: Free
Cinco de Mayo Pub Crawl
Date: Wednesday, 5-9 p.m.
Location: Various
Cost: $10 to $20 depending on which “crawl” you choose. (Go to CincodeMayoNYC.com for more info.)
Los Angeles
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Olvera Street: Sadly, the biggest party in the country officially happened last weekend. But you can still visit any of the many restaurants that line the historic Olvera Street, where the unofficial parties continue. Various small parades and performances are also expected throughout the day.
When: Wednesday, 12-8 p.m.
Location: Olvera Street (start across from Union Station at 845 N. Alameda)
Chicago
Festival Cinco de Mayo: Head to the heart of the Windy City’s Mexican community for three days of festivities.
When: Friday, 6-11 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 12 p.m.-11 p.m.
Location: The Little Village/Pilsen (26th Street and Kostner Avenue)
Cost: Varies, though parades and many performances are free.
Denver
Colorado boasts one of the longest celebrations with a two-day Celebrate Culture Festival.
When: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Location: Civic Center Park
Cost: Free
Phoenix
Suns vs. Spurs Play-Off Game: Along with many others in Arizona, the Suns are protesting the state’s recent immigration law and showing solidarity with the city’s Latino community, by wearing “Los Suns” jerseys.
When: Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Location: US Airways Center
Cost: $67.50 and up per ticket
How are you celebrating Cinco de Mayo? Talk about it in the comments.
‘He can come holla at me,’ Dame says of his former Roc partner.
By Shaheem Reid
Karrem Biggs, Jay-Z and Dame Dash
Photo: Roc-A-Fella
By now, everyone should know that Dame Dash is bringing back Roc-A-Fella records. He recently signed a distribution deal with very familiar partners Def Jam and will be releasing albums under the name of the Roc, a label he co-founded with Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke in the ’90s before selling his share to Island Def Jam in 2004.
But Dash’s co-founders aren’t onboard for the new venture, and some Roc-A-Fella purists are already saying that it just isn’t the Roc without Jay and Biggs.
“I don’t know,” Dame said of the naysayers. “A ‘Roc-A-Fella purist’ is me. So what am I gonna tell myself? If someone has the essence and the DNA that Roc-A-Fella initially meant and they reflect that, then it’s not an issue. Any Roc-A-Fella purist — that would mean they would love to see the evolution of Roc-A-Fella. They would be happy because as of now [the label] doesn’t exist. And the spirit doesn’t exist. If we’re gonna bring back the spirit of Roc-A-Fella, any Roc-A-Fella purist would say, ‘That’s exactly what I would have wanted Damon to do if he was still the CEO of Roc-A-Fella.’ Or, ‘Roc-A-Fella as an entity always chose the opinion leader, and he seems to be that guy. And always a thorough individual, and he seems to be that guy as well.’ So I would think a Roc-A-Fella purist would be happy.”
Dash says he welcomes the participation of both Biggs and Jay-Z, if they want to be involved.
“If Jay wanna come through and do something, he can come holla at me,” Dash said. “I ain’t got no beefs with Jay.”
Dame made sure to add that he and Hov would have to come to an amicable business agreement if they were ever to partner again.
“Just off the strength that it’s Roc-A-Fella, I could never tell Jay he can’t be a part of something he helped create,” the Harlem born CEO said. “So maybe it felt ridiculous that he said [me and Biggs couldn’t be a part of Roc-A-Fella once we sold the company] and a Roc-A-Fella purists didn’t appreciate that. If I walked away from Roc-A-Fella, then that would be different. But the option should always be there. So the option is there for him. He helped build that. And I don’t hold grudges. I think one of the most important things in evolving is forgiveness. If he did something wrong or if I did something wrong, we’d have to forgive each other, or we’d still be children.”
The first release from the latest incarnation of the Roc is Curren’s Pilot Talk, which has a tentative release date of June 15. After that will be the mixtape album helmed by Ski Beatz called 24 Hour Karate School.
Can Roc-A-Fella records truly exist without Jay-Z’s involvement? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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‘We don’t have no competition,’ Dipset MC says — his squad bested teams led by Jermaine Dupri, OJ Da Juiceman, Black Lips.
By Steven Roberts
Jim Jones
Photo: MTV News
ATLANTA — At Converse’s second Band of Ballers basketball tournament on Saturday, the musical lineup boasted a variety of acts, from rock to hip-hop. But the action during the two-loss elimination tourney, held at Clark Atlanta University, was primarily on the court. Teams were pitted against one another in three-on-three games. Last year’s event saw Jim Jones and his “Jones Family” squad taking the trophy, and this year, Jones was confident his team would reclaim the trophy.
“I’ve been poppin’ a lot sh–, so I have a lot to lose, way more than anybody else,” Jones admitted. “Everywhere we [go, we] make home. Where I lay my hat is my home. You ain’t heard that song before? It’s my house,” the Dipset MC taunted. “We don’t have no competition. We just run through and we skatin’ on them, just like we did last year.”
Jones’ team definitely suffered from a home-court disadvantage, however. Four of the seven teams represented either Atlanta or Georgia: Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def Family; a punk outfit, the Black Lips; Southern Hospitality’s Pill, OJ Da Juiceman and Shawty Lo, and Athens-based rockers Of Montreal were all looking to dethrone the Jones Family. Other teams included the mash-up squad Bad News, which was made up of Jay Electronica, Sean Price and Donnis, and the Jersey indie-rock band Steel Train.
Dupri said he was out to make sure one of the teams from Atlanta won.
“I keep hearing Jim Jones talking about [his team], but is he playing in the game? That’s all I want to know. If he ain’t playing in the game then all that talk, all of that talk doesn’t mean nothing, because I’m playing. I’m suited and booted and ready to go.”
Jones and Dupri were constantly in each other’s faces, verbally sparring. And while Jones, joined by his surprise teammate Cam’ron did, in fact, hit the court — Dupri never did. Both Jones’ and Dupri’s teams established themselves early on as tournament favorites, with Southern Hospitality rounding out the top three. They made quick work of the other crews, though Steel Train put up an impressive fight.
Southern Hospitality eventually knocked the So So Def Family from the semi-finals, setting up a finals showdown between SH and the Jones Family. Jones’ team had earned a bye into the finals, thanks to its undefeated status through the earlier rounds. And despite Southern Hospitality’s best efforts, Jim Jones was able to etch his name onto the trophy for another year. Crowned champion once again, Jones wasn’t any more humble than he’d been after the first win.
“They better bring some real basketball players out, because I’m tired of coming down here, wasting my time, thinking we’re going to play some people that know how to play basketball,” a triumphant Jones said.
Were you surprised the South didn’t pull out a win at this year’s Converse tourney? Tell us in the comments!
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Band says ideas for new songs are often born on tour, but usually written at home.
By James Montgomery
Paramore’s Hayley Williams
Photo: MTV News
It seems odd to talk about “new” Paramore songs, given that their Brand New Eyes album is just seven months old, but the fact remains that there actually are some new tracks in the works … albeit ones that are progressing very slowly.
“[Frontwoman Hayley Williams] normally needs to rest her voice during show days, so she’ll come to soundcheck sometimes and just listen to her in-ear monitors,” drummer Zac Farro told MTV News on Saturday at the Bamboozle festival in New Jersey. “The other day, we were just messing around — we have a couple of songs we just play for fun. They’re never anything we’ll probably use, but we’ve been playing them for a while. [They’re] just random, two-second things.”
So while it sounds like those “two-second” things might not amount to much, Farro quickly added, “Actually, ‘Decode’ and ‘I Caught Myself’ [Paramore’s two songs on the “Twilight” soundtrack] were kind of written that way, so you never really know.”
Williams agreed, though she made it clear that the band is still very much focused on playing songs from Brand New Eyes, and said that the majority of writing for the follow-up — whenever it may happen — will take place at home in Franklin, Tennessee.
“We like coming up with new things, but, like Zac says, it’s usually at home, at practice,” Williams said. “We usually write intros and outros for shows, and that’s a good outlet for us, and a way to keep our creative brains rolling and keep our chops up. But, like he said, it’s like two seconds and then we’re done.”
And Paramore will have even more time to work on those two-second outbursts (maybe even extending them to four or five seconds,) when they hit the road on the Honda Civic Tour with Tegan and Sara and New Found Glory. The trek kicks off July 23 and already, Williams and company are getting pumped — even if it means they’re not going to be home any time soon.
“We all like a bit of everything, musically, and you can usually tell that in our [concert] bills,” Williams said. “I think Honda Civic Tour is the most diverse lineup we’ve ever had. And I’m really psyched about it. I saw Tegan and Sara in Nashville, and they were great. It’s going to be a lot of fun!”
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