JUSTIN BIEBER GOES COUNTRY?
After hooking up with Ludacris, getting remixed by Kanye West, and hanging with Drake, Justin Bieber is going to explore country music. The teen sensation confirmed on Twitter that he was in the studio with Rascal Flatts. Gary LeVox, singer for Rascal Flatts, told a Nashville radio station that Beiber asked the group to work with him on his next record.
GAGA RESCHEDULES HER CANCELLED SHOW
A severe storm caused Lady Gaga to cancel her Sunday night show in Paris, but it appears that things have been resolved. The pop star wrote on her Twitter account that Sunday’s gig has been moved to today, and that she promises to give fans the night of their lives. Learn more at Twitter.com/LadyGaga.
LADY GAGA DOESN’T LIKE SANTA?
Does Lady Gaga have something against Santa? At a recent show in London, the “Bad Romance” singer bit the head off of a Santa Claus doll for all of her fans that are “feeling lonely” this holiday season. She then stomped on it, saying that she “hates the holidays.” See video of Gaga playing rough with St. Nick at PerezHilton.com.
LADY GAGA TALKS BORN THIS WAY IN LONDON
Throughout the year, Lady Gaga has not only talked up her forthcoming album, Born This Way, but she’s also previewed a few new tracks that may or may not appear on the release. On songs like “You and I” and “Living on the Radio,” Gaga strays from her usual dance-hit formula to explore a more piano-based ballad sound. However, during her Monster Ball Tour stop at London’s O2 Arena on Friday, the pop star told the roaring audience that the project won’t be full of too many piano-driven ballads. Gaga confirmed to the crowd that “You and I” will be on the new album. Lady Gaga will release the first single from Born This Way in early 2011.
JACKSON’S NEVERLAND RANCH TO BECOME MUSIC SCHOOL?
The financiers who own Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch want to turn it into a music school similar to The Juilliard School in New York City. Colony Capital, which recently rehabbed the grounds, wants creative young adults to study all aspects of music, including writing and performing, there. According to TMZ, before the financiers can move forward, they need the support of the Jackson estate and for Santa Barbara County to sign off on the property’s conversion into a school campus.
MAROON 5 TO BE HOUSE BAND FOR CRITICS’ CHOICE
Maroon 5 are going to have a big role at this year’s 16th annual Critics’ Choice Awards. It was just announced via press release that the rockers will be the house band at the show, performing covers of classic hits and doing a few of their own songs between awards and commercials. Be sure to tune in to the Critics’ Choice Awards when it airs live Friday, January 14th at 9 PM Eastern on Vh1.
COLBIE LOVES NATASHA BEDINGFIELD
Natasha Bedingfield has a fan in Colbie Caillat. Colbie took to her Twitter account to say how much she “loves” Natasha’s new album, Strip Me, and that “her voice is amazing & her songs are so meaningful.” Read more at Twitter.com/ColbieCaillat.
A NEW SONG FROM KELLY CLARKSON
Kelly Clarkson recently debuted a brand new song. According to TheHollywoodGossip.com, at a benefit concert in Nashville, the original American Idol performed a tune called “You Still Won’t Know What It’s Like” from her still untitled album that’s due out sometime next year. She also told the crowd that the forthcoming effort is completely finished, but she still doesn’t know the exact date it will be released. See video of her performing the song at TheHollywoodGossip.com.
BIG NAMES FOR CBS HOLIDAY SPECIAL
Some very big names are taking part in CBS’s A Home for the Holidays television special that airs tomorrow night. The network’s 12th annual special focuses on adoption success stories and features performances from Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Melissa Etheridge and Ricky Martin. A Home for the Holidays airs tomorrow at 8 PM Eastern on CBS.
DURAN DURAN ARE NOT INTO NOSTALGIA
Duran Duran keyboardist Nick Rhodes is talking a little bit about the band’s forthcoming 13th album, All You Need Is Now. Rhodes told the New York Post that the title of the effort reflects the group’s focus on the present, as he said he’s “really not into nostalgia.” A nine-song version of All You Need Is Now is available today on iTunes, with an expanded 13-track effort to be released in February. About that, Rhodes said that there’s still one song that they’re “putting the finishing touches to.” Learn more at NYPost.com.
SEE SOME MUSIC ON NEW YEAR’S EVE!
If you don’t have plans for New Year’s Eve yet, how about making a musical memory? Many bands are playing shows around the world on December 31st. The Black Keys will perform in Chicago, while Guided By Voices, Patti Smith, The Roots and more will rock N-Y-C. Jay-Z and Coldplay will reportedly take on The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas and The Flaming Lips will play their hometown of Oklahoma City.
SOME NEW CHRISTMAS SONGS!
If you haven’t gotten your fill of Christmas tunes just yet, we have a few more tracks for you to check out. Pitchfork has compiled a list of tunes you maybe haven’t heard yet including Kanye West’s “Christmas in Harlem,” Jarvis Cocker’s rendition of “Silent Night” with Richard Hawley and Lisa Hannigan, Beach House’s “I Don’t Care for the Winter Sun,” and The Killers new one, “Boots.” Read more at Pitchfork.com now.
GWYNETH PALTROW SAYS CHRIS MARTIN WOULD BE A “GENIUS” ACTOR
She acts and sings, he fronts a band, but does Gwyneth Paltrow think her husband Chris Martin could ever take on the silver screen? The Hollywood star told MTV News that Martin is a “genius” actor but doesn’t think he’ll ever take his talents to the movies. As for Paltrow covering a Coldplay song? She says, “Me? God no. No. We just can’t, like, merge. His career is there and mine is there.” Coldplay is expected to put out a new album early next year.
HEAR NEW MUSIC FROM MICHELLE BRANCH
Michelle Branch has a nice holiday surprise for her fans. The singer-songwriter just announced that tonight at 8 PM Eastern, she’ll be going on UStream to update folks on the music that she’s been making in London, and she might even play some new tunes for the very first time. Get a link to the chat now at MichelleBranch.com.
LIL KIM TOP TRENDING RAPPER ON TWITTER!
Even though she was not mentioned on Google’s annual year-end Zeitgeist List, Lil Kim stands as the only hip hop act to be named on the Top Twitter Trends in 2010 list. The fem-cee took number six, but bested by celebrities like Mel Gibson and Lady Gaga. Meanwhile, Kanye West, Rihanna, Drake and Lil Wayne appeared on the social networking site’s 10 Most Retweeted Tweets of Twitter in 2010. Visit YearInReview.Twitter.com to view all categories!
NE-YO REACTS TO MJ ALBUM
TMZ caught up with Ne-Yo to get his reaction on Michael Jackson’s posthumous album, Michael. The “Champagne Life” singer shared the same sentiment as will.i.am and believes “If Michael was still alive … I don’t think the album would be out yet.” The disc, which features Akon, 50 Cent and Lenny Kravitz, is out now. However, Ne-Yo added, “I’m gonna stick to my old Mike.”
NICKI MINAJ SEX TAPE RELEASED?
For the second time now, there are rumors that a Nicki Minaj sex tape surfaced. Gossip site MediaTakeOut.com has reportedly obtained a video still of a woman who bares a striking resemblance to the female rapper. In the picture, the unnamed woman is performing fellatio on an unidentified man. While Nick is yet to respond to the allegations, the tape is being shopped around for 100-thousand dollars! We’ll keep you posted!
JEREMIH DROPS “DOWN ON ME” VIDEO
The official video for Jeremih’s single, “Down On Me” featuring 50 Cent, has finally premiered. The cut is off the “Birthday Sex” crooner’s All About You album, which is available now!
LINK: http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/–221536044
50 CENT ANNOUNCES NEW LABEL!
50 Cent took to his Twitter account to announce that he’s official signed his first artist to his newly launched imprint, G Note Records. According to RapRadar.com, the mogul’s label will look to sign artists that fall under the R&B/Pop umbrella. Fif’s new signee, Hot Rod, has already recorded his first single, “Dance With Me,” which you can check out on iTunes now!
TREY SONGZ SPILLS ON FAVORITE HOLIDAY SONGS
Christmastime is just around the corner and Trey Songz has spilled on which tunes help get him in the spirit. The singer, who will actually be home for the holidays, told Rap-Up.com his three all time favorite X-mas songs: Boyz II Men & Brian McKnight’s “Let It Snow,” Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
STARS DEAL WITH THE BAD WEATHER IN EUROPE
Bad weather affected travel plans throughout all of Europe this past weekend, and some of music’s biggest stars had to adjust their lives accordingly. First, Amy Winehouse wasn’t able to return to London from a private gig in Moscow where, according to British paper The Sun, she pocketed close to 1.5-million dollars for the show. Lily Allen didn’t fare much better and was set to leave England on Saturday for vacation, but couldn’t take off from London’s Heathrow Airport until late on Sunday. She documented her travel horrors on her Twitter account. And finally, British paper the Daily Mail reports that Madonna received special treatment when a Virgin flight she was on going from New York to London was diverted to a different airport because of weather conditions. A source said that all the passengers on the plane were “grumbling” because they had to sit on the plane for three hours and wait, while Madge and her posse of 15 people got to leave after just 60 minutes.
THE NY TIMES LIST TOP ALBUMS & SONGS OF ‘10
With only ten days left in 2010, the New York Times has compiled a list of the Top 10 Albums and Top 10 Songs of the year. The order of those who made the cut and those who did not will certainly stir up heated conversations:
Top 10 Albums of 2010
1. Rick Ross — Teflon Don
2. Taylor Swift — Speak Now
3. Kanye West — My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
4. Drake — Thank Me Later
5. Titus Andronicus — The Monitor
6. Gary Allan — Get Off On the Pain
7. DJ Drama & Fabolous — There Is No Competition 2: The Funeral Service
8. Justin Bieber — My World 2.0
9. R. Kelly — Love Letter
10. Jerrod Niemann — Judge Jerrod & the Hung Jury
Top 10 Songs of 2010
1. Waka Flocka Flame featuring Diddy, Rick Ross, & Gucci Mane — “O Let’s Do It (Remix)”
2. Rick Ross featuring Gucci Mane — “MC Hammer”
3. Lady Antebellum — “Need You Now”
4. Chris Brown featuring Drake, T.I., Kanye West, Fabolous, Rick Ross, & André 3000 — “Deuces (Remix)”
5. Miguel featuring J. Cole — “All I Want Is You”
6. Kanye West feat. Pusha T — “Runaway”
7. Cults — “Go Outside”
8. Earl Sweatshirt — “Earl”
9. Ellie Goulding — “Starry Eyed”
10. Lloyd Banks featuring Juelz Santana — “Beamer, Benz, or Bentley”
