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  1. Obsessively blogging about pop music, pop videos, pop stars, and pop culture from inside the MTV headquarters in Times Square. We also have a slight Jonas Brothers problem. And a little fixation with Tokio Hotel.

    Contact us as buzzworthy@mtv.com and follow us on Twitter at @MTVBuzzworthy.

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Ever since Lady Gaga released The Fame last August she has established herself as the most vital new pop artist to emerge in recent memory. She's become a fashion icon, a regular tenant at the top of the charts and a cultural force to be reckoned with.

So it would stand to reason that she should be, at the very least, nominated for a Grammy in the  Best New Artist category, no?

Well, due to a controversial technicality, Gaga is ineligible for said award, due to being nominated previously in separate Grammy category ("Just Dance" was nominated for Best Dance Recording last year).

To be honest, it's not like Gaga needs the exposure. But still! Give her props, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences!

I don't know about you, but I feel like a petition may be in order. Someone register Gaga4Grammy.com, ASAP.

Now that you've had time to watch... and re-watch Miley Cyrus' latest video, "Party In The U.S.A," here are five things -- from Britney Spears in school to Rihanna to Lenny Kravitz -- you might not know about the addictive track.

1.) The video was directed by Chris Applebaum, which you probably know, but Chris Applebaum also directed Rihanna's legendary "Umbrella" video, Paris Hilton's spooftastic Carl's Junior commercial -- which got banned after being called too porny -- as well as Britney Spears' "Overprotected" and "I Love Rock 'N' Roll" videos. Unsurprisingly, Miley shouts out Britney in the lyrics of "Party In The U.S.A," celebrates her Southern heritage, and took to Twitter to thank her fans for the Britney comparisons when they came pouring in after her pole-tastic performance at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards.

2.) Miley's "Party In The U.S.A" video isn't the first video to use a dusty road the American flag as a backdrop. Lenny Kravitz did it exactly 10 years ago in the 1999 video for his Grammy-winning single, "American Woman."

3.) Miley's "Party In The U.S.A." video was inspired by the movie Grease. Grease, which is one of Miley's favorite movies, starred John Travolta, with whom Miley worked with in the movie Bolt 20 years after Grease's release. The Grease song "Hopelessly Devoted to You" was nominated for a 1979 Academy Award for Best Music - Original Song. Bolt was nominated for a 2008 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature but lost to WALL•E.

4.) The party in "Party In The U.S.A." takes place in Hollywood, and while the Grease-inspired "Party In The U.S.A." video is set in the South of Miley's upbringing, one of the high schools where the movie Grease was filmed was Venice High School in Los Angeles. Not only were the movies Pretty In Pink and Heathers filmed there, but Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time" video was filmed there too.

5.) Miley's "Party In The U.S.A." video is also centered around a drive-in movie, if you can believe such a concept ACTUALLY existed. (No, they didn't just exist in the movie Grease.) Apparently when they were first dating, Miley's parents, Billy Ray and Tish, frequented a drive-in theater in Kentucky. To date, there are approximately 11 drive-in theaters in Kentucky and about 15 in Miley's home state of Tennessee.

(Credit: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)

Missed this past July's mtvU Sunblock Festival with Gym Class Heroes, Never Shout Never, Boys Like Girls, and The Academy Is... and the Veronicas because you couldn't get to Missourah or Baltimurrr? I hear that.

Watch eight full-length live performances from the mtvU Sunblock Tour. It's like you were RIGHT THERE, minus the sticky arena floors and show sweat.

Click the arrow (magic!) to watch Gym Class Heroes' live performance of "Cookie Jar" and "Guilty As Charged," Boys Like Girls' "Love Drunk" and "Heart Heart Heartbreak," The Veronicas' "Take Me On The Floor," The Academy Is... performing "His Girl Friday" and "About A Girl," and Buzzworthy favorite Never Shout Never's "Happy."


Personas are important, but they're distracting. I'm thinking of Pink, in particular, who has done so much to define herself as a wild-haired rocker bad-ass, that it's easy to totally overlook the fact that she's also super talented. In other words, it can be hard to hear -- over all the hollering and snarling she's rightfully famous for -- that Pink can sing like nobody's business.

Butch Walker looks real tough, too, but he's another story altogether. He's been chipping away at the music industry since the mid '80s, working as a songwriter, producer and a member of several successful bands. He's played pop metal, glam, and straight up rock with bands like SouthGang and Marvelous 3, never restricting himself to any particular genre. Between gigs he's made records for artists as diverse as Avril Lavigne, Lindsay Lohan, Hot Hot Heat, Pete Yorn, The Academy Is..., The Cab and, wouldn't you know it, Pink.

Outside of the studio, Butch and Pink (who share a motorcycle obsession, among other things) have been drinking buddies for ages. He played her "Here Comes The..." way back, when he first wrote it, and she was instantly smitten. Told Butch that if and when he ever recorded it, she wanted to take care of the harmonies for him. When the time came, that's exactly what she did.

In his latest effort, a solo stint that's produced a record called Sycamore Meadows, Butch Walker plays boozy, drawling rock, true to his Georgia roots. "Here Comes The...," the album's second single, is a rollicking bar room reel. And, although Pink doesn't appear in the hilariously weird mannequin-love video below, she carries the tune with backing vocals that ooze old-country soul. By checking her persona at the door, Pink lets previously overshadowed talent shine through, possibly ushering in a new direction for her music and a more solid identity for Butch Walker's.

+ It's Pete Wentz's birthday today! He just turned dirty 30! May he drink Bacardi... and Caprisun... like it's his birthday. (Twitter)

+ Electrik Red assure you that they're not corny, like the Spice Girls. That'd better be a promise. (Bossip)

+ Soulja Boy Tell' Em is JUST NOW getting around to "getting" Jay-Z. Better late than never, I guess. (MTV News)

+ Method Man and Redman have some choice words for Kanye West. (Buzzworthy)

+ Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh will be releasing a CD compilation of his favorite songs and music by new artists. Ballin'! (Baller Status)

+ British Band the Horrors blame blogs and Facebook and everything else FUN for ruining EVERYTHING. You know what? SCREW 'EM. It's not like they're reading this anyway! (Independent)

+ Pour some out for polka -- the Recording Academy pulled polka from its list of Grammy categories. We hardly knew ye! (New York Times)

+ Poison, Dolly Parton, AND Elton John will all be performing at the Tony Awards this Sunday. And LAAAAAAYYYYDIES, keep your eyes a-peeled for Constantine Maroulis, who's up for Best Actor in a Musical. Best. Tonys. Ever? (Billboard)


I asked Boys Like Girls to go prom with me and Buzzworthy, but Martin was too busy blogging, and Bryan Donahue and John Keefe were working on Boys Like Girls' new album and getting ready for their summer tour and the mtvU Sunblock Music Festival (Gym Class Heroes, The Academy Is, The Veronicas, and Never Shout Never + four cities + four shows).

Fortunately, Paul DiGiovanni said he'd go to prom with me, but then he stood me up for Lily Allen. Oh well. At least he's dumping me for someone cute... I bet Ashley Tisdale would've gone too.

+ After the jump, see how Paul DiGiovanni and Lily Allen's prom date would go, and watch a bunch of BLG live performances and videos. And check out more celebrity proms too.

Read more...

If you recognize Evan Taubenfeld, it's probably because he used to play guitar in Avril Lavigne's band. That, or you're already a member of The Blacklist Club, the family, army and movement that shares its name with his debut album, due out this summer.

The Baltimore artist with the bleached blond hair, who claims to be better looking than Brad Pitt, has already released his lead single, "Boy Meets Girl." In it, he describes his sound as "Twisted Sister meets Mr. Mister," and that's not so far off ("Motorhead meets The Grateful Dead in a game of Twister" is a harder sell). He combines Mr. Mister's pop ballad sentimentality with Twisted Sister's irreverent hard rock energy. Kinda like ... Avril? What's not to like?!

Last time Evan Taubenfeld appeared on Buzzworthy, it was because he popped up in The Academy Is... bassist Adam Siska's Twitter (by the way, that's @siskybusiness, and Evan Twitters at @evantaubenfeld) This time it's because he's about to blow up.

We sat down with Evan Taubenfeld and had him list off five crucial things for prospective fans to know about The Blacklist Club. Magic and fruit are among them. Click play below to get the whole scoop, and watch Evan's "Boy Meets Girl" video after the jump.

Read more...

Alex Greenwald -- Phantom Planet frontman, Mark Ronson collaborator, and former model -- used to be so freaking hot it was almost impossible to look at him without thinking "nasty thoughts," as Janet Jackson once said. But not long ago, a paparazzi photo popped up in which the once-smokin' Alex looked like a straight-up hobo. Still, who'd he have hanging on his arm? British supermodel and Met Ball belle Agyness Deyn.

While we've got no problem with some slight shagginess, Alex Greenwald has seen better days, and his unkempt hair looks gnarlier than ever. (A tip: lather, rinse, repeat... repeat... repeat...) Still, Alex bagged a supermodel, so maybe the joke's on us.

Anyway, the shaggy/smoldering combo of Alex Greenwald and Agyness Deyn reminded us of some more hot chicks and the mangy men they love. So check out more of Buzzworthy's favorite guys who look like they live in boxcars and the beautiful babes who love them anyway.

Ryan Adams: Alt-country musician Ryan Adams won the heart of pop-folk singer Mandy Moore, who's had high-profile romances with tennis hunk Andy Roddick as well as Wilmer Valderrama and Zach Braff, while Ryan dated pretty Parker Posey. But it was ultra-shaggy Ryan who swept Mandy off her feet: Ryan and Mandy got married just last month. Hopefully the groom, uh, groomed for the big day.

Alex DeLeon: Okay, Alex DeLeon -- who's been linked to the radiant Demi Lovato -- used to be way more polished, but when he came to MTV for The Cab's Buzzworthy interview in March 2009, his broken-ended hair, fuzzy facial hair and leather accessories kinda made him look like he was running from the law. Bring back unquestionably hot Alex!

Ben Gibbard: Indie superstar Ben Gibbard's sensitive vocals are the perfect match for Zooey Deschanel. Zooey, dubbed "the rich man's Katy Perry" -- oh snap! -- by one site, has had leading roles in a slew of movies like Elf, where she showed off her vocal cords and her adorablility. Even though the oft-unshaven Ben's been featured on UglyMales.com (to the objection of many commenters, to be fair), he and Zooey matched up not only musically, but they're also engaged. Aww! Indie romance!

Joe Trohman: It's clear that Pete Wentz-ian man-glam is not Joe Trohman's style. But there are other ways to stand out besides looking like a homeless man who wandered off the street and onto the stage. His disheveled, mountain-man look has still been described as "wonderfully hobo-esque meets Jesus." True! We're not saying Joe's not hot. We just miss his From Under The Cork Tree-era/ "Dance Dance" short hair. Still, he nabbed a super-cute girl and put a ring on dat; he and Marie (above) are engaged.

+ More hobo guys and hot girls after the jump.

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Meanwhile, back in the Twitterverse, The Academy Is...'s Adam Siska/Sisky joined Twitter! Follow him at @siskybusiness. Apparently he's currently staring into evan taubenfeld's beautiful eyes.

+ Fall Out Boy's Joe Trohman @trohman, got to MEET THE ACTUAL FACTUAL PEOPLE WHO MADE TWITTER! Wonder if he asked them about why TWITTER CRASHES SO MUCH! Oh yeah... Diddy...

+ Lily Allen, who's @lilyroseallen, is in Salt Lake City, making up all-new versions of "Womanizer." I'm sure the Mormons will be pleased.

+ Miley Cyrus, whose Twitter handle is, @mileycyrus REALLY just wanted a burger last night. Been there, gurl! Also, do you think this is really Miley's boyfie, Justin Gaston, on Twitter? Check out @JustinMGaston.

+ Demi Lovato/ @ddlovato, you should definitely follow all of your dreams, but not the ones that involve piercing your gorgeous face.

+ Chamillionaire/ @chamillionaire's getting into some cerebral more money/ more problems ish.

+ Donnie Wahlberg, @DonnieWahlberg, assures you that the Joey McIntyre on Twitter is not THE Joey McIntyre. Unfortunately. I DO think/ HOPE that @JonathanRKnight is actually the real Jonathan Knight on Twitter! And did he really call Perez Hilton a t**t??? Oh it is ON!

+ As always, follow Buzzworthy on Twitter at @MTVBuzzworthy.

I mean WHO? WHO? In their RIGHT OR LEFT MIND would LEAVE David Cook? SHAME ON YOU, Sarah Roemer, even though you're just PORTRAYING David Cook's lost love. Also, David, you are PHENOMENAL at playing piano in reverse and hailing a cab in the middle of the woods. (I can hardly get one in Times Square!) That takes SKILL! And, as always, David Cook, your soulful scruff is the picture of perfection!

Watch David Cook's visually arresting new video, "Come Back To Me," from his certified Platinum self-titled debut. The "Come Back To Me" video was shot at LAX airport -- Maroon 5 also shot their "Make Me Wonder" video there -- by Gavin Bowden (Lifehouse, Jason Mraz, Red Hot Chili Peppers).

Plus, watch David Cook answer Buzzworthy fan questions!

... And for more backwards videos, watch...
+ Coldplay | "The Scientist"
+ Cute Is What We Aim For | "Practice Makes Perfect"
+ The Academy Is | "Everything We Had"
+ The Pharcyde | "Drop"