(Credit: Frank Micelotta/MTV/PictureGroup)
B.o.B and Bruno Mars skyrocketed onto the musical landscape this year, B.o.B and Hayley Williams' "Airplanes" has been one of the hottest hits of 2010, and Paramore's been huge and stayed huge for years.
That's why, at the 2010 VMAs, you'll see the union of all three as B.o.B, Bruno Mars, and Hayley Williams all take the stage together for a spellbinding, celestial version of "Airplanes," as well as "Beautiful Girls," and, of course, a gorgeously gut-wrenching performance by Paramore.
Inside the Nokia Theater at their VMA rehearsal, watching Hayley, B.o.B and Bruno rehearse was like watching a homecoming. Even though they're both featured on "Airplanes," according to Hayley's Twitter, their VMA rehearsal was the first time she'd actually met B.o.B. (Watch their meet-up in the video below.)
On one side of the massive VMA stage, Hayley Williams got on the mic and called out for B.o.B., hopping around downstage next to Bruno Mars, who was seated at a gorgeous all-white piano. In between takes, Bruno Mars switched out the words to "Beautiful Girls" with "Beautiful Squirrels," while Hayley, joking around, whispered "Don't mess this up."
After a few more takes, B.o.B and Bruno Mars pretty much turned the rehearsal into karaoke. B.o.B. sang Biggie's "Juicy" while everyone in the audience cheered. He then followed it up with Cee-Lo Green's hit "F--- You," which was co-written by Bruno Mars, who sang the Chaka Khan and Rufus classic "Ain't Nobody." After Bruno Mars' Stevie Wonder impression, B.o.B. covered Drake's "Find Your Love," with his own lyrical rewrite: "I'm more than just a dragon, a dragon with two wings. I'm more than just a dragon. A dragon that can sing."
Before the last take, the VMA stage was almost pitch-black to set the mood for "Airplanes," and Hayley called out "I was lost! I once was lost, but now I'm found," referencing "Amazing Grace." "All I could see is stars everywhere," she said.
And speaking of stars, tomorrow night, we'll get to see these stars shine together when they perform live at the 2010 MTV VMAs.
(Credit: John Shearer/ Wireimage.com)
Check out more behind-the-scenes photos from the VMAs. And don't miss the 2010 MTV VMAs, live from Los Angeles, on Sunday, Sept. 12 at 9/8 c.