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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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Somebody, please pause this day. It's not supposed to be Monday yet. Didn't Sunday feel awfully short? Doesn't today feel violently early? It does. But don't freak out. I've got the cure, right here.

Today Adele kicks off the reincarnation of MTV Unplugged with a performance that temporarily stops time. Her slow-burning soulful style -- the seductive offspring of Etta James and Lauryn Hill -- saturates the intimate space with emotion so deepdown, it could be 100 years old. What a perfect soundtrack for a reincarnation.

If you still haven't listened to Adele, her MTV Unplugged performance is a fantastic introduction. If you're an old fan, this is essential viewing. Watch Adele perform "Chasing Pavements," "Hometown Glory," "Cold Shoulder," and others, with exclusive interview clips interspersed.

+ Exclusive Adele Unplugged Photos

(Credit: Scott Gries)

Are you old enough to remember what a game-changer it was when Nirvana played Unplugged? I am. I swear to you I took s--- from my mother for four years after that, for wearing this moth-eaten mohair cardigan (just like Kurt's!) I found at Salvation Army (after months of looking!). "Daniel!" She'd squawk. "Some poor old lady died in that thing! Pleeease let me throw it out?" No mom. No way.

Watching Pearl Jam Unplugged, I didn't take my shirt off and write "PRO-CHOICE" all over my bare body, even though Eddie did. And I didn't break down and cry in public after Lauryn Hill's performance. But I'll admit that I was tempted on both occasions.

I've seen a few preliminary clips of the new season of MTV Unplugged, and I can promise you that its emotional pull is still very much intact. The series launches Monday with a smoking set by Adele. Have you heard this bad mother belt it yet? Oh my god. She can sing like you wouldn't believe. She gives her smoky set of old soul torch songs the acoustic treatment in a performance that's actually kind of reminiscent of Lauryn Hill's!

Because I know I'm totally incapable of waiting until Monday, I'm gonna go ahead and pop a playlist of classic Unplugged performances in the bottom of this post. Relive the show's finest moments and come back Monday to see it reborn!

+ Exclusive photos of Adele's Unplugged performance

+ Classic MTV Unplugged photo flipbook

Ayọ came up on a steady diet of Fela Kuti, Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley, and it shows. As a kid in Germany, she studied at the feet of her DJ father, cultivating a wide-ranging taste for eclectic world music. Feeding a growing passion for music, she learned to play violin, piano and guitar, and wrote her first complete original song at 15.

Though her music isn't exactly the reggae and afro-beat of her influences, it is deeply infused with island swagger and African rhythms. What Ayọ adds to the mix, aside from spot-on pop sensibilities, is a confident and deliciously smoky new voice that exudes summer heat and vibrant colors.

She sounds like you'd imagine Lauryn Hill would, if she were waking up early on a beach vacation. And that free-and-easy vibe is contagious, so prepare yourself to be transported. Visit Ayọ's website for a refreshing taste of her unique sound, and a look at the tropical world premiere video for "Lonely." Also, check out Ayọ in a new series of Banana Republic ads, after the jump!

Read more...

+ Breaking Jonas Brothers news: check out the cover art for their new CD Lines, Vines and Trying Times. What say ye?? And in case you missed it yesterday, it was just announced that the trifecta will be hosting the Teen Choice Awards on August 10th.  Woot! Woot! (Buzzworthy)

+ Lauryn Hill will headline the Stockholm Jazz Festival in July of this year, just one stop on her 10-city European tour. Personally, we'd rather see the Swedish chef sing about spaghetti and meatballs... (Yahoo! News)

+ New pals Katy Perry and Rihanna took time to have a girls' day out in Barbados on Tuesday, looking all fresh faced and cute. (PopSugar)

+ Bumpwatch 2009 update: Sources close to Jennifer Hudson confirm that she is indeed preggo! Considering the year she's had, this seems like welcome news. Congrats, Jen... (Bossip)

+ Um, New Moon werewolves, anyone? We say YES (with an extra spoon, please)! (MTV News)

+ Why are celebrities doing all sorts of crazy s*** with their hair lately?? Mario shaved his head? BALD?? (Singersroom Celebs)

+ Does Lady GaGa love the lady cha-cha? See for yourself. (E! Online)

mariah_carey3.jpg

+ Mimi likened marriage to kidnapping. Fly away, butterfly! (Contact Music)

+ Lily Allen, fix your hair, girl! In the words of Lauryn Hill, "Don't be a hard rock when you really are a gem!" We hear Pete Wentz knows of a good salon. (Celeb Warship)

+ Much like his life, Pete Doherty's house is still a bloody wreck. (Agent Bedhead)

+ Guns N' Roses continue to hit snooze on Chinese Democracy. We hit snooze on caring. (Sound Mojo)

+ If you're reading this now and live in L.A., you can go meet Mary J. Blige at Carol's Daughter. But go NOW!

+ We still love Russell Brand. (Paper)

+ No one -- not even peeing puppies -- should have to deal with Natalie Portman and Devendra Banhart's odd coupling. (Webster's Is My Bitch)

+ Miley Cyrus is writing her memoirs. Insert ghostwriter joke here. (LA Times)

+ Relevant videos:

Sadly, Colbie Caillat's finished her stint at Buzzworthy guest blogger, but "Bubbly" fans, take note: Colbie talks about her first crush, does a stirring a cappella version of her first musical inspiration -- "Killing Me Softly (With His Song)" -- and reveals more firsts in an exclusive new "First Ladies" video.

Watch it below, check out Colbie's Buzzworthy blog posts, and watch the classic Fugees video that inspired Colbie to sing.