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Posted 11/15/11 1:59 pm ET by Bradley Stern in Celebrity, Music
It's Tuesday! Time for another round of 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs for the Week!
This week's wrap-up includes some unreleased work by a brilliant pop star on the rise, some Swedish ear candy and further proof that the Rihanna reign will quite literally never let up.
Here I go...on my own now!

Credit: Kristian Dowling/Getty Images/AsiaPac
1.) Rihanna, "You Da One"
In case you haven't picked up a copy of Scientific American lately, scientists recently concluded that human beings are more likely to evolve into a breed of half-Pikachu, half-manatee before that Rihanna reign ever lets up. (Kidding, obvs.) The latest proof? "You Da One," the Bajan sensation's latest groove to hit the airwaves. Riding on top of a signature Caribbean mid-tempo breeze and some thick Dr. Luke-produced beats, RiRi gets super swoon-y on this cutesy Island-inspired track.
"You da one that I dream about all da-a-ay," Ri riffs during the chorus. It's a sweet sentiment -- even if the rude girl will probably want to tie you up later. I like it, like it, come on! + LISTEN TO RIHANNA, "YOU DA ONE"
2.) Little Boots, "Shake"
After being "New In Town" over two years ago as the It-girl crowned on top the BBC's prestigious (and impossibly hype-tastic) Sound of 2009 list, UK synth-pop sensation Little Boots has done some growing and refined her sound following her stone-cold solid debut, Hands.
"Shake" is Little Boots' lead single from her forthcoming second studio album, due out next year. Produced by Simian Mobile Disco founding member James Ford, "Shake" takes Boots' signature synthed-out sound (à la "Stuck On Repeat") and gives it a gorgeous early '90s House sheen. "Everybody shake until your heart breaks," Boots lightly croons. Add in some fun robot noises and some sparkling synth patterns -- and grab your dancing shoes. Boots is bound to get you grooving on the floor. + LISTEN TO LITTLE BOOTS, "SHAKE"
+ Listen to more Must-Hear Pop Songs Of The Week after the jump!
Posted 8/3/10 3:33 pm ET by Chris Ryan in Celebrity, Music, Videos
A few months back, we were all aflutter over the emergence of Wonky Pop, a loose group of artists who were trying to infuse their electro-pop with some romance and dance moves. The chief proponents of the genre? Sam Sparro, New Young Pony Club, Little Boots and Dan Black.
Black made a lot of waves with his track "Symphonies," which earned him a 2010 MTV VMA nomination. And now he's back with "Alone," the new single from his delightful 2009 album, UN.
Directed by Chic & Artistic (how's that for a directorial duo's name!), "Alone" features a bunch of charmingly lo-fi animation and effects, throwing different backgrounds behind Brown, having him perform as a cartoon (à la A-Ha's "Take On Me" video), and generally sprucing things up.
All of which should not distract from the fact that "Alone," along with Robyn's "Dancing On My Own," is one of the most infectious dance-pop singles of the year.
Check out Dan Black's "Alone" video below. UN is out now.
Posted 4/13/10 4:42 pm ET by Tamar Anitai in Celebrity, Music, Videos
They're larger than life, blonder than ever, bigger than their Hollywood Hills namesake, and they're coming back for the sixth and final season of "The Hills."
Watch the brand-new trailer for MTV's "The Hills," Season 6, featuring Heidi, Audrina, Kristen, Lo, Stephanie and the unstoppable Little Boots song "New In Town." Then watch Little Boots take a very different approach to ruling her city in her "New In Town" video.
And watch the premiere of the final season of "The Hills" on Tuesday, April 27, at 10/9c.
Posted 3/1/10 1:05 pm ET by Chris Ryan in Celebrity, Interviews, Music, Videos
(Credit: Michele Crowe/MTV)
According to the BBC, Dan Black makes something called "Wonky Pop." What's Wonky Pop? Think of it as genre-bending, dance-friendly electro-pop—much like the music of Little Boots, La Roux, Sam Sparro and New Young Pony Club—that happens to be currently emanated from similarly themed club nights in London.
As for Black, this particular British singer/producer has recently been making a big noise outside of the Wonky Pop scene with his song "Symphonies," which combines the always fun ingredients of hip-hop drums and classical strings.
With all this hype, we had to find out more about this enigmatic new artist. In this episode of "The 5," Black talks about his adopted hometown of Paris and the attitudinal similarities between Parisians and New Yorkers. He also muses on the role computers play in the way he shapes, creates and records his music, recalls an amazing trip to Senegal and waxes nostalgic about his time in dysfunctional bands.
Check out Dan Black's episode of "The 5."
+ Click here to see all of MTV's exclusive Dan Black photos
Posted 12/23/09 1:22 pm ET by Chris Ryan in Celebrity, Interviews, Music, Videos
As Little Boots, Victoria Hesketh makes lush, self-assured dance pop. But in person, on camera, and under "The 5" microscope, she reveals herself to be a kind of shy, unassuming gal with a penchant for funny personal anecdotes.
Hesketh took some time out from being lauded for her Hands album and her critically acclaimed EPs (New In Town and Illuminations) to chat with us and give us some insight into the woman behind the Boots.
She goes into detail about her previous life as a geek, recalling the days when she got straight As as a student back home in England. Not that she's left all that nerdery (yes, that's a word) in her past; she fancies herself quite the gear-head, and you can hear it on the array of synth and keyboard sounds that grace her tracks.
It's not all tech talk, though. She also tells the unnerving story of getting a fish pedicure at a Japanese spa. Has to be heard to be believed.
Check out "The 5" with Little Boots, and watch her video for "Remedy" below.

(Credit: Gregg Delman)
It's Little Boots! We have the pictures to prove it. This British electronic pop chanteuse has a new set of photos up on MTV (you can see the whole gallery here). As LB (aka Victoria Hesketh) plays the wall in this lovely set, you get a sense of the beguiling, enigmatic charm that permeates her music.
On songs like "New In Town" and "Magical" you get the sense that you're dealing with someone very sweet, very seductive and just a little bit dangerous. And dang it if these pics don't convey the very same thing.

Posted 3/23/09 7:22 pm ET by Tamar Anitai in Celebrity, Music

MTV News Segment Producer Christopher "CJ" Smith was one of a handful of MTV News staffers who headed down to Austin this past week for barbecue, beer, and bands, while we stayed back at MTV HQ in New York City with our cafeteria sandwiches, Coke Zero, and good old-fashioned CDs. Here's CJ's wrap-up of his favorite bands from SXSW.
You could probably stick a fork in me from all the sun (and delicious BBQ) I got down in Austin. So thankfully, South By Southwest is done and over. Let me run you through my top 5 sets from SXSW.
1. Metallica -- I really didn't expect the hard rockin' legends to blow me away like they did; but I couldn't help pointing out to my friends that even at their worst, they're still more talented, tighter, better songwriters than 95% of the bands that litter the indie landscape today. 'Nuff said.
2. Dirty Projectors -- I've been a fan since the release of the terrific "Rise Above" back in 2007; lucky for me, SXSW marked the premiere of material from their forthcoming effort, Bitte Orca (along with their newly expanded lineup), that quite simply, sounded monstrous. They're sort of in the same vein as Vampire Weekend, but with much much more musicality and depth (Ezra Koenig of VW actually even toured with the DPs at one point). The group received deafening applause from the packed house at the Press Here garden party, and I've seen reports that this was true of all the sets they played at SXSW (frontman Dave Longstreth even had to cover his ears at the Pitchfork/Windish party as the crowd was so uproarious). They're in for a heck of a ride this year -- well-deserved after what I witnessed -- and are not to be missed.
3. Little Boots -- Lady Gaga watch out, Victorai Hesketh (aka Little Boots) is coming. She's already been heavily written about in the English press getting called "the savior of pop music" by some excitable journalists and is most certainly going to take both sides of the Atlantic by storm this year; she's got a ton of talent, is classically trained, extremely passionate about making music and, if her set at Emo's is any indication, knows how to work a stage. She appeared over at the Perez Hilton party and took the stage with Kid Cudi to perform her cover of his track "Day 'N' Nite" alongside the rapper. She's just wrapping up her debut LP, so be sure to watch out with this one in '09.
4. Woods -- Tons of great acts played the Woodsist/Todd P. showcase at Mrs. Beas (Wavves, No Age, Crystal Stilts, Blank Dogs, Los Llamarada, Thee Oh Sees, just to name a few), but the one that struck the biggest chord with me was this Brooklyn group. Crafting tight and beautifully lighthearted ghostly folkish songs -- they are one of the finest bands playing in the unbelievably deep Brooklyn scene. I've seen them a bunch, and each time I get more excited about their sound. They're pretty hard to Google, so be sure check out their MySpace.
5. Tyvek -- Tyvek was featured last year in my piece looking at some of the modern purveyors of lo-fi. This year, Tyvek managed to surprise me with how good they sounded as a three-piece. Kevin Boyer can definitely hold his own on guitar in the stripped-down line-up. They had the crowd of weirdo (and weirdo lovers) rockin' out during their afternoon Beerland set, and you can look for their debut LP to finally drop sometime this year.
Enough of me, our whole MTV News team saw a slew of shows between us, and we put together a video explaining each of our faves from the fest; check that out here.

Last time we spoke, I wondered whether there was room among the neon names of the new pop explosion - the Hannah Montanas - for the wilder likes of Animal Collective. Surprise, surprise, I got no real answers. Only misdirected anger in the comments section and misspelled sarcasm on disillusioned lolcatz culture blog, Hipster Runoff. So I went looking for my own answers and got a resounding YES from British electro-tart, Little Boots (who also just so happens to have turned up in the comments of the Hipster Runoff post!).
Have you listened to Little Boots yet? Her moody dance music, which would be right at home on the Twilight soundtrack, has charmed the media elites and won her coverage in Pitchfork, VICE and The FADER. But! She's also won over the masses with her incessant blogging and her ongoing series of home videos in which she lays around in pajamas and ... just sings songs. In one, she sincerely covers Miley Cyrus and gives this introduction (with typos intact):
"this song is actually amazing..... how can i possibly to it justice...... SEE YOU AGAIN by HANNAH MONTANNA/ MILEY CYRUS..... what kind of genius can write lyrics 'my best friend lesley said she's just being miley'.... think i might as well give up now."
So, is there really any difference between "indie" and "mainstream" anymore? Little Boots says no. It's 2009! It's all just music! Some of it's good, some of it sucks. Like food. And if you can put pickles on a tuna sandwich, there's no reason that R. Kelly, Plain White T's, Panda Bear and Lil Wayne can't occupy the same iPod, much less the same blog. Trust me, you can definitely get down to "My Girls" with "Hey Delilah" in your head. I've done it. I'm maybe doing it now. Anyway, this is getting ridiculous. Listen to Little Boots. What do you think?
+ Download a Little Boots Mixtape
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