Search Posts

Welcome to Buzzworthy's The Week In Pop, where we round up new album releases, talk show musical guests and appearances, TV appearances by your favorite pop stars and more (so you don't have to).

While the Grammys gave us plenty to discuss around the ol' watercooler to start the week (Nicki Minaj's pope friend, Adele winning EVERYTHING, etc.), but there's a lot to look forward to in musical happenings this week, y'all. The Kills release their "The Last Goodbye" single with The Velvet Underground, Patsy Cline and Marilyn Monroe covers, "Glee" pays homage to the late Whitney Houston on their Valentine's Day episode Tuesday, Sleigh Bells are gonna kick the "Saturday Night Live" stage's ass, and Hollywood Week continues on "American Idol."

Check out this week's album releases and talk show music guests below.

NEW ALBUM RELEASES
Tuesday, Feb. 14

+
The Kills, "The Last Goodbye" four-song single release: Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince package their lovely "The Last Goodbye" waltz single with three covers.

+ Johnny Cash, Live From Austin TX: The Man in Black lives on through his immeasurable body of work. The 180-gram vinyl release comes with a DVD of the performance.

+ Band Of Skulls, Sweet Sour: The English trio return with a sophomore album wrapped in delicious female-male vocal interplay indie rock with a bluesy stomp. Check out their single "Bruises."

Check out more new album releases and upcoming TV appearances and performances after the jump.

Read more...

Tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Credit: Getty Images

+ It's a girl!!! Congrats to Beyoncé and Jay-Z on the birth of daughter Blue Ivy. Bey's sis Solange, Rihanna, Diddy, Young Jeezy, Russell Simmons and other celebs tweeted their love. "Welcome to the world Princess Carter!" wrote Ri. (MTV News)

+ Katy Perry tweeted about her split with Russell Brand. It's the first time she's publicly addressed they're divorcing. She thanked supporters and also tweeted, "Concerning the gossip, I want to be clear that NO ONE speaks for me." (MTV News)

+ Watch Kelly Clarkson's powerhouse performances of "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)" and "Mr. Know It All" from "Saturday Night Live." (Neon Limelight)

+ "The Voice" panelists Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton will be joined by celebrity advisors Ne-Yo, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Alanis Morissette, Robin Thicke, Jewel, Lionel RichieMiranda Lambert and Kelly Clarkson this season. (Rolling Stone)

+ It's 2012 -- time for another installment of "Weezy's Sports Corner." Lil Wayne launched eight new webisodes, where he chats about pro sports, college sports and skateboarding. 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith is his guest. Peep 'em here. (Rap-Up)

Tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It's Tuesday! Time for another round of 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs of the Week!

Now I'm not one for hyperbolic titles, but this week's roundup sings praises for the Eternal Queen of Pop (And Also Everything), 2012's Most Anticipated Buzz Artist and the UK's Greatest Girl Group of the 21st Century. Just stating the facts here.

Credit: Getty Images

1.) Madonna, "Masterpiece"

After almost 30 years of dominating the industry, it's safe to say that Madonna -- Queen of Pop -- has crafted one or two masterpieces in her day. But now, she's really gone and done it... literally. Produced by William Orbit (the man behind Madge's 1998 grand reawakening, Ray of Light), "Masterpiece" is the gorgeous ballad that will serve as part of the soundtrack for M's upcoming film, "W.E."

"And I'm right by your side, like a thief in the night/I stand in front of a masterpiece," the living legend tenderly declares. With lyrics as poignant as Ray of Light's "Frozen" and gentle instrumentation like the fragile (and underrated) album track "To Have And Not To Hold," "Masterpiece" proves that the collaborative spark that began between Orbit and Madonna more than 10 years ago has yet to fade.

And although the final version has yet to leak in full (only a demo exists for now), "Masterpiece" may just be one of Madonna's best ballads in years, if not decades. Long live the Queen! + LISTEN TO MADONNA'S "MASTERPIECE"

2.) Lana Del Rey, "Born To Die"

After skyrocketing to No. 9 in the U.K. with her viral smash "Video Games" in October (along with the equally gorgeous A-side "Blue Jeans"), the moody, mysterious beauty known as Lana Del Rey returns with the title track of her much-buzzed-about 2012 Interscope Records debut, "Born To Die." "Choose your last words, this is the last time/'Cause you and I, we were born to die," Rey damningly declares above a lonesome Western twang, soaring strings and a slow-skipping beat.

Armed with some of the most crushing, Kleenex-fetching lyricism ("I feel so alone on a Friday night/Can you make it feel like home, if I tell you you're mine?"), the chanteuse's sobering delivery and a cinematic soundscape, "Born To Die" isn't just Del Rey's best track of the bunch so far -- it's one of the better songs released this year. + LISTEN TO LANA DEL REY'S "BORN TO DIE"

+ Listen to more Must-Hear Pop Songs Of The Week after the jump!

Read more...

Tags , , , , , ,


Credit: Getty Images

We don't throw around the term "panty-dropper" very often. Occasionally we use it with Usher, every now and then with Trey Songz, but almost always do we feel the need to use this term when describing the smooth and hypnotic vocals of Robin Thicke.

Robin's forthcoming LP Love After War is slated for release Dec. 6, and while we assume the disc will feature sweet, retro-tinged baby-making music, Mr. Thicke has called upon his homie Lil Wayne to add some hip-hop street cred to "Pretty Lil' Heart." (Actually, Lil Wayne's verse is kinda panty-droppy, too!) In a slow and steady swag, Weezy gets his rhyme game on: "She says she loves me/I'm convinced/I don't need a rocket scientist/To see that you and I are meant/I meant to tell you/You the reason I smile more."

Robin Thicke's verse follows Wayne, and within five seconds it's clear this dude is absolutely slaying the pop vocals game to death right now: "Tell me that I'm sexy/Like I was before/Tell me that I got it/That you want it even more/Tell me that you'll never/Ever leave me side/Tell me cause you know/I need to hear it every night." We need to keep this post SFW and everything, but suffice it to say that if you serenade me like that, Robin Thicke, I'll basically tell you any damn thing you want. Hint, hint.

+ Listen to Robin Thicke featuring Lil Wayne, "Pretty Lil' Heart."

Tags , , ,

Credit: PictureGroup

You might think that a dude who made two cameos on Jay-Z and Kanye West's recently released collabo album, Watch The Throne, would take it easy for a second and bask in his success. Ya, no. Not Frank Ocean. Homeboy keeps churning out amazing tracks, and he hasn't even released his first official album yet. Hustla in the house.

The latest Ocean track is "Best Seller," and in typical Frank form, it's a laid-back R&B jam with intricate melodies and poignant words: "Don't try to make it a best seller, a best seller, a best seller/It ain't gon' be a best seller, a best seller." Unlike "Thinking About You," which showcased Frank's Robin Thicke-esque falsetto, the vocals in "Best Seller" sound a bit more like Frank's first smash "Novacane," or even his Drake-esque vocals on "Dreamkilla." See? We told you he's been busy.

Now, one might interpret the song's title to mean that Frank is attempting his first novel while simultaneously trying to take the pressure off himself as he writes it. But in our opinion, the term "Best Seller" more likely refers to his forthcoming album, Nostalgia Lite (which is currently being held up due to serious record label red tape). But FYI, if Frank did want to write a novel, I'd definitely read it. Espesh if there were lots of pics of him in it.

+ Listen to Frank Ocean's "Best Seller" by Frank Ocean.

Tags , , , ,

Nostalgia Lite, Frank Ocean's official Def Jam debut, had a rumored release date of July 26. So I patiently waited until about 11:59 p.m. on that fateful Tuesday, and yet, I got bubkes. Now that the date has come and gone, our only source of comfort during these trying times are the few teasers Ocean's been dropping. Oh, and also our excitement to hear Frank's two cuts on Jay-Z and Kanye West's forthcoming collaboration album, Watch The Throne.

Posted to Frank's Tumblr yesterday, "Thinking About You" is the latest from camp Ocean (that's gotta be an actual camp, right?) and retains Frank's classic laid-back and relaxed R&B vibe. It's a melancholy record discussing the torturous pain that comes with thinking about someone all the time, even if they may not reciprocate the sentiment. (But yo Frank, hit me up. I'll def reciprocate). Ocean, who usually sticks to his lower register, has chosen "Thinking About You" to unveil his surprisingly gorgeous falsetto, or what I like to call the "baby-making notes." Reminiscent of Robin Thicke with a dash of Justin Timberlake and Maxwell thrown in, Frank sings, "Or do you not think so far ahead?/Cause I been thinkin' bout forever."

Gotta hand it to the dude -- seemingly out of nowhere, Frank becomes besties with Jay-Z and Kanye and his single "Novacane" is sitting at No. 17 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Chart. How does he even have time to think about anyone?

+ Listen to Frank Ocean's "Thinking About You."

Tags , , , , ,

Credit: Getty Images

The Lonely Island are the hottest trio in tongue-in-cheek hip hop right now (sorry, Das Racist). And they still work at "Saturday Night Live," which is also not so bad. Not since they paired up with Justin Timberlake (for "D**k In A Box" and "Motherlover") and with Akon on "I Just Had Sex" has their collaboration with another artist been so funny. In fact, of all male singers to team up with The Lonely Island, would you have expected Michael Bolton, known for '80s blue-eyed-soul jams like "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You"?

Perhaps that's why "Jack Sparrow," a song that is actually as good as it is hilarious, is such a naturally bonkers step in the right direction. Instead of asking a contemporary crooner like, say, John Legend or Robin Thicke, to lend his voice to a rap about V.I.P. rooms and bangin' and stuff, the boys got Michael Bolton to interrupt their song with choruses about Pirates Of The Caribbean, as well as other movies with which he's obsessed. Turns out Michael Bolton is a cinephile, and he also dresses in drag.

But dare we say that Michael Bolton has never sounded better? Like, we're going to buy a song with Michael Bolton featured on it, and it's not even 1993. Job well done, Lonely Island.

Tags , , , , , ,

(Credit: Janet Mayer/Splash News)

After a couple of dragging and drab weeks at the end of the summer, this week has been one that reminds you that you're alive and it's all happening, right? Most important, this weekend will wrap up with the 2010 MTV VMAs in Los Angeles. And while our left coast friends are getting ready for that, we East Coast tenderfoots are celebrating Fashion Week.

Above we see a fresh-faced and rather beautiful looking Leighton Meester appearing at the reopening of New York City's Chanel Store. The event was hosted by none other than Karl Lagerfeld and was attended by pretty much every stylish person you can think of: Claire Danes, Diana Kruger, Robin Thicke and his wife, Paula Patton, Courtney Love and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Meester looked pretty chipper, as you would if you had spent most of your summer in Paris filming "Gossip Girl." Wonder if she and Robin Thicke had a chat about their steamy duet on her "Somebody To Love" single.

Fashion Week culminates tonight with the annual Fashion's Night Out, a delirious evening of parties and clothes and beautiful people. Stay tuned for pics next week.

Tags , , , , , ,

(Credit: PictureGroup)

Last week we brought you a sneak peek at B.o.B's legend-making "MTV Unplugged" show with his performance of "Magic." And today we're proud to unveil B.o.B's full-length "MTV Unplugged" concert, featuring five songs and special guests including Robin Thicke, Janelle Monáe and Melanie Fiona.

B.o.B --singer, rapper, musician and producer--has been racking up those aforementioned titles for years, but 2010 has been his breakthrough. His debut album, The Adventures of Bobby Ray--featuring Lupe Fiasco, T.I., Hayley Williams, Rivers Cuomo, Janelle Monáe, Bruno Mars, Rich Boy and Eminem (to name a few) -- debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, Digital Albums chart and Rap Albums charts. He went from mixtape darling to that voice you hear every time you turn on the radio or the TV, and that name all over every music magazine and blog.

He won a Teen Choice award, merited three BET award nominations, and with five MTV VMA nominations, got the third-most VMA nominations, right under Lady Gaga and Eminem. And he'll also be performing live at the 2010 MTV VMAs on Sunday, Sept. 12. But before then, check out B.o.B's prelude to his VMA appearance: his six-song "MTV Unplugged" set.

Watch B.o.B's "MTV Unplugged" performance, including "Magic," "Don't Let Me Fall," "Nothin' On You" with Robin Thicke, "Airplanes" with Melanie Fiona," and a medley "The Kids" and MGMT's "Kids," with Janelle Monáe.

Plus, check out photos of B.o.B's "MTV Unplugged" performance and B.o.B.'s "MTV Unplugged" interview.

Tags , , , , ,

(Credit: PictureGroup)

Throughout the rich and storied history of "MTV Unplugged," a handful of performers' live sessions have gone on to become legendary. Bob Dylan, Nirvana, Phoenix, Paramore, Katy Perry, to name just a few. And now we're about to add B.o.B's "MTV Unplugged" performance to that list.

The multi-talented, multihyphenate rising star, joined in New York by special guests Robin Thicke, Melanie Fiona, and Janelle Monae, effortlessly revealed a showstopping, almost preternatural set of musical abilities. Lyricist ("Letters from Vietnam"). Rapper ("Airplanes"). Crooner ("Nothing On You"). Guitarist ("Magic"). Comic (he led the "Unplugged" audience in a rendition of the "Family Guy" theme song). Band leader and born entertainer.

B.o.B.'s "MTV Unplugged" performance premieres on MTV.com on September 1. Until then, check out this exclusive sneak peek of B.o.B. performing "Magic." And don't miss B.o.B. when he performs live at the 2010 MTV VMAs on Sunday, Sept. 12.

Tags , , , , , ,

About Us

  1. 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.

    Read more about MTV Buzzworthy.

    Email us: buzzworthy@mtv.com

    Follow us on Twitter: @MTVBuzzworthy

    Managing Editor
    Tamar Anitai

    Associate Editor
    Nicole James

    Contributors
    Liz Barker
    Byron Flitsch
    David Greenwald
    Sam Lansky
    Althea Legaspi
    Amber Katz
    Jenna Hally Rubenstein
    Bradley Stern

SPONSORS
AD:
©2012 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. MTV and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.