+ Demi Lovato is slated to perform at the People's Choice Awards, which airs on CBS Jan. 11. She's also been nominated for PCA's Favorite Pop Artist category. (Just Jared)
+ Drake tells MTV News he's off to see Rick Ross to work on Ross' album and hopefully button up their collaborative mixtape. "I'm actually going to Miami to see him this week, sit down and work on God Forgives and just work on whatever comes." (MTV News)
+ Joe Jonas was hospitalized, having reportedly suffered severe stomach pains. But fear not, he's OK. "Hey everyone I'm fine," he tweeted. "Thanks for the concern." (E!)
+ "Punk'd" is making a comeback in 2012! A teaser will air during MTV's "NYE in NYC 2012," which will be hosted by Tyler Posey and Demi Lovato. Lovato, Selena Gomez, J. Cole, Jason Derulo and Mac Miller will perform. (MTV News)
Since the "Sparks Fly" singer told us about her new feline friend, I've spent much more time than necessary thinking about what kind of shenanigans these two crazy cats get into together. And thankfully, we live in a society that loves to overshare, so I don't need to wonder anymore! Yay, social media!
Taylor tweeted over the weekend, "Me and Meredith on a Sunday afternoon," and posted this photo along with it. Again, the entire world screamed together in cuteness. THAT CAT. Is. Just. THE MOST. Also, shout-out to your loungewear, Tay. No designer PJs, just straight-up affordable ADIDAS. Keeping it real, as always!
It's a wonder why "Christmas is Coming Soon" is Blitzen Trapper's only holiday tune -- dudes are named after a reindeer. But like finding that gift you begged for all month under another pile of gym socks (we asked for argyle!), we'll take it. This "Christmas" finds the Portland band going into finger-picking acoustic mode, assisted only by some softly shaken sleigh bells. But definitely not thoseSleigh Bells.
With its gentle '70s harmonies, it's more sunny California than white Christmas, but hey, West Coasters have holidays, too, The band's offbeat take extends to the lyrics: Singer Eric Earley tells Rolling Stone the song's about "the real Santa Claus, who we all know lives in southern Oregon in a double wide trailer and drinks too much peppermint Schnapps from a straw." Um, ew? We'll stick to eggnog. (Never thought I'd say that.)
The track's actually from 2008 indie Christmas collection "I'll Stay 'Til After Christmas," which includes keyboard cuties Au Revoir Simone and mellow rockers Papercuts, but Blitzen Trapper's giving it away for free this week in the spirit of the season. We're getting our alphabetization on and popping it right between Bieber and Buble on this year's playlist.
I guess the fact that Michael Bublé's holiday album Christmas is sitting comfortably atop the Billboard 200 albums chart earns him the right to make fun of every other celebrity ever. As this past weekend's musical guest on "Saturday Night Live," Bublé was joined by Jimmy Fallon for a big-ass spoof fest via a hilarious mock commercial for a fake Michael Bublé' holiday duets album featuring some of our favorite pop stars. Is it wrong that we sooooo wish this was real?
As Bublé tries to sing holiday classics, Fallon assumes the role of acts like Sting, Russell Brand and a purple hoodie-wearing, mushroom haircut-rocking Justin Bieber, who throws flirty heart signs and winks to the camera the entire time on-screen (art imitates life, y'all). Other celebs that received the spoof treatment: Taylor Swift, who's portrayed in a gold sparkly dress looking shocked after receiving yet another award, M.I.A. and Ke$ha, whose hair was looking just a wee bit unkempt (see last parenthetical). Country crooner and "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery was teased a little, too, while Kanye West was depicted rapping with heavy Auto-Tune and declaring he was better than Jesus. Lady Gaga got some airtime, too -- she was played by a Christmas tree. (And you and I both know that's not actually too far from the truth.)
+ Watch Michael Bublé's "Saturday Night Live" LOL-zy holiday duets spoof!
Adam Lambert gets way down on himself in the dynamic lead single off of his upcoming second album. In the opening lines of "Better Than I Know Myself," the ever-glammy "American Idol" alum claims he's "cold as ice" and "more bitter than a December winter night." He also points out that he's got a lousy temper and "can be obnoxious at times." Not sure if we're buying all that bad-mouthing, but we're all in for the high-drama synth, crunchy beats and soaring vocals that make "Better Than I Know Myself" one of Adam's biggest, boldest and most beautiful tracks to date.
The first offering from Trespassing (the follow-up to 2009's For Your Entertainment), "Better Than I Know Myself" is a mid-tempo power ballad that gives us a gorgeous taste of that "existential pop" sound Adam mentioned in a recent interview (from the song's heart-slugging chorus: "I know it gets hard sometimes, but I could never leave your side... I really need you near me to keep my mind off the edge"). Tender yet intense, "Better Than I Know Myself" bumps up our Trespassing expectations that much higher -- and leaves us thankful that Adam's always brave enough to wear his heart on his sleeve, even when he's feeling all angsty and blue.
If you're wondering what to get the guys in Angels & Airwaves for Christmas, the best gifts they've received range from a skateboard and a prosthetic leg, which singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge received, to socks for drummer Ilan Rubin (thanks for making it easy!), to a bust made of macaroni... Seriously, someone gave bassist Matt Wachter one resembling his own head.
And these guys know how to give a good gift in return. They gave their first Love album away for free, a Valentine's Day gift for fans (awww!). There was also the Love film, and their last album, Love: Part II just dropped in November. You may be wondering if they'll be a Love: Part III. "I think there's enough Love stuff, and we've been working on it for years. So I think we're really excited to start the next thing," says DeLonge. It's OK, fellas -- we think there's plenty of love going around between you guys (and your Army of Angels fan club).
Speaking of their Army, the band knows and appreciates just how dedicated their fans are. "I like the idea of fans getting deeper into those fan groups and having names for them. I think that's cool," says DeLonge, "'Cause it's no different from what we did, but we just called it 'punk rock' when we were younger. You're a part of a scene, you're a part of this tribe and I think that's awesome." Wise words, DeLonge.
+ Watch Angels & Airwaves discuss their favorite song to play, the Love project and their fans below, and check out more AVA after the jump.
HOLY OMFG. A new Jonas Brothers song has leaked, and I AM SO INCREDIBLY HAPPY! I've been dreaming about the day when my favorite bro'd-out trio would reunite, and while "Dance Until Tomorrow" is only a leak (aka they're not actually getting back together... yet) it still completes my life in ways I would never publicly admit I could never imagine.
"Dance Until Tomorrow" is an upbeat, high-energy, super poppy tune that reminds me a little bit of the JoBro's masterpiece (and Pop Up Video) "Burnin Up." Swarming synths and sparse electric guitars leave ample room for listeners to appreciate the Jonas' slick pop vocals: "Calling you out/Calling you out/So you can see what's going on/Breaking it down/Breaking it down/'Cause I can see that something wrong.../It's like you're losing yourself." I'm constantly surprised by how tight the Jonas' harmonies are, but then I remember they were birthed from the same womb, so obviously they're in sync.
The hook speaks of a girl who has made a terrible life call -- she angered the Jonas Brothers: "No, I never thought we'd come this far (Oh, oh!)/Got enough for me to break my heart (Oh, oh)/When the music stops/Promise me that you won't let it go/Keep dancing 'til tomorrow." Not that I'll ever understand the crazy chicks who piss off hot celebs, but at least they inspire fun pop songs. (No, but seriously, breaking the heart of a Jonas? MAKES NO SENSE!)
It's that time of year again: Diva domination! "VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul" airs tonight at 9 p.m. ET on VH1, and this year they're paying tribute to the great cities of soul music with powerful headlining performances from Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Jill Scott and Florence + The Machine. The ladies' night also includes more big-name performers and presenters and, as in previous years, the event benefits the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, a nonprofit that helps keep music education in kids' lives. Who runs (and saves!) the world: GIRLS.
First we saw Justin Bieber bro-hugging it out with President Obama, and now Stevie Wonder? Damn, JB, we're really dying to get our hands on your contacts list. The "Mistletoe" singer was snapped looking on in awe as he and legend Stevie Wonder grabbed each other's hands at Stevie Wonder's annual House Full of Toys benefit in L.A. this weekend. Justin tweeted along with this photo, "Honored." Uhh, yeah. It's freaking STEVIE "22 Grammy Awards To Date, But Who's Counting?" WONDER.
Justin also tweeted before sharing the photo with 15.5 million of his closest friends, "So 4 years ago I sang ['Someday At Christmas'] in my hometown. now 4 years later I sang it 2nite with STEVIE WONDER! #NEVERSAYNEVER," along with a link to a YouTube video of a wee lil' Biebs singing the song back in Canada during his pre-fame days. "Never say never" is right -- all you need is an exceptional voice, millions of views on YouTube and to be discovered by Usher before you're performing with a Motown legend. Hop to it, guys!
+ Justin Bieber and Drake joined Stevie Wonder for his 16th Annual House Full Of Toys benefit concert on Saturday. Watch Wonder and Bieber perform "Someday at Christmas." (Idolator)
+ Biebs and Drake (busy boys!) were also joined by Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifa, J. Cole, Lil Wayne and more for L.A.'s Power 106 holiday concert on Friday. Watch various callabos here. (Idolator)
+ If you didn't get to catch the gazillion Jay-Z/Kanye West encores of "N****s In Paris" live, perhaps watching Timbaland premiere a live remix of it will almost make up for missing out. #craycraycool (Rap-Up)
+ Kanye West's been relatively Twitter silent the last couple months, but this weekend he shared a couple dozen photos ranging from fancy cars to sexy women. Holiday wish list or some secret communication? (@kanyewest)
+ Ke$ha dishes about her "Sleazy" remix with Lil Wayne, T.I., Wiz Khalifa and Andre 3000 to MTV News. "Dr. Luke and I had this idea that we wanted to just get them all on one track and make it as gangster of a track as we possibly could." (MTV News)
+ Jonas Brothers fans, hold on to your fan-made lockets: They premiered a new tune, "Dance Until Tomorrow." (Just Jared Jr.)
Consummate MTV music fans obsessively covering pop music, pop videos, pop stars, and pop culture from MTV headquarters in New York. Plus, trends, LOLs and stuff we love.
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