Hot Celebrity Tabloids: March 2011

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Britney Spears Tour Will Have Post-Apocalyptic Vibe, Manager Says

' 'Till The World Ends' keeps becoming a theme for us,' Larry Rudolph says.
By Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears
Photo: Araya Diaz/ WireImage

Though we still don't know who will join Britney Spears when she heads out on her Femme Fatale tour this summer, her longtime manager, Larry Rudolph, recently gave MTV News a few hints about what her shows will look like. According to him, her shows in Las Vegas and San Francisco last weekend gave a pretty good sense of the visual spectacle of the tour.

"This is exactly the direction we're moving in," he explained about the show's futuristic, post-apocalyptic vibe that fits with her second Femme Fatale single. " 'Till The World Ends' keeps becoming a theme for us."

The shows so far have been a combination of funky sets that play on the album's hard-partying theme with sparkly, sexy costumes and sassy dance moves.

"The way we come up with a concept for a show like this is we sit with Britney, she talks to us about what she's interested in and what excites her," Rudolph explained. "We start with the songs on the album; we start with coming up with general, broad concepts. She tells us what interests her and excites her, and from there, we have [the input of music tour director] Jamie King and [choreographer] Brian Friedman."

The tour is expected to kick off on June 17 in Sacramento and will run for 26 dates through North America, winding up on August 13 in Toronto. Britney's camp had no comment on Enrique Iglesias' recent withdrawal from the bill.

Don't miss "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale," airing Sunday (April 3) at 9 p.m. ET on MTV.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661075/britney-spears-tour.jhtml

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Michael Jackson Doctor Conrad Murray To Be Arraigned

Murray to head to trial in death of Jackson following Tuesday hearing.
By Gil Kaufman

Dr. Conrad Murray
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images

Cardiologist Dr. Conrad Murray, the only person charged in the June 2009 death of Michael Jackson, will be arraigned on Tuesday morning (January 25) on an involuntary manslaughter charge. Murray, who was serving as the 50-year-old pop icon's personal physician at the time, is expected to plead not guilty in the case.

According to CNN, the hearing in front of Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, is only slated to last a few minutes. While Murray has the right to demand a trial within 60 days, it is not expected that a date will be set for one on Tuesday.

After more than a week of testimony, Pastor ruled during a preliminary hearing in early January that there was enough evidence to bring Murray's case to trial. In the meantime, Murray remains free on $75,000 bond, but Pastor blocked the doctor from using his California medical license until the trial is completed.

"Michael is not with us today because of an utterly inept, incompetent, reckless doctor — the defendant Conrad Murray," Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said in his final arguments in the preliminary hearing, where a series of witnesses recounted Murray's actions during the minutes and hours before and after Jackson's death. The King of Pop died as a result of what the Los Angeles County coroner's office called acute propofol poisoning, a reference to a powerful surgical anesthetic that the singer reportedly requested as a sleep aid to combat chronic insomnia.

While prosecutors appear to be building a case that Murray acted recklessly in attending to Jackson in the singer's final hours, CNN reported that the doctor's lawyers appeared satisfied with the results of the preliminary hearing thanks to some testimony they got from prosecution witnesses that might help raise some reasonable doubt about their client's guilt at trial.

"I think the prosecution is going to change their tactics in this case," defense lawyer J. Michael Flanagan said after the preliminary hearing. "It's not the same as what they gave in opening statements." The defense reportedly is set to argue that it was Jackson himself who administered the final, fatal dose of propofol after waking in a panic from a fitful night of sleep. One of the prosecution's expert witnesses in the case admitted under cross-examination that he made a math mistake and that the recalculation supports the defense theory that Jackson may have given himself the dose of propofol that killed him.

CNN reported that Dr. Richard Ruffalo, an anesthesiologist hired by the prosecution, was the last witness to take the stand and his admission about making a mistake on the calculation of the level of propofol in Jackson's stomach fluid reportedly elicited gasps from the members of Jackson's family who were sitting in the hearing room.

Murray's lawyers have suggested that a frustrated Jackson may have poured the anesthetic — which is administered intravenously — into his juice bottle while the doctor was out of his bedroom. "Now it doesn't make sense unless he ingested it orally in a huge amount," Ruffalo testified. The anesthesiologist added that Murray could still be at fault for leaving dangerous drugs near a patient who was allegedly addicted to sedatives and sleep aids.

"It's like leaving a syringe next to a heroin addict," Ruffalo stated. "If he's not getting what he wants, when you leave the room he might reach for it himself ... Either way, it doesn't matter. He abandoned his patient and didn't resuscitate appropriately." Ruffalo said Murray should have anticipated that Jackson, who had previously asked to inject himself with the drug, might potentially administer it to himself. "He gets upset if he doesn't get his milk," he said, explaining that Jackson often referred to propofol as his "milk."

In addition, the pathologist who conducted Jackson's autopsy acknowledged it was possible, though improbable, that the singer gave himself the fatal propofol dose. Speaking to police two days after Jackson's death, Murray told investigators that a sleepless Jackson had begged him for more propofol on the day he died. The King of Pop was in the midst of a grueling series of rehearsals for his planned "This Is It" comeback shows at London's O2 Arena at the time of his death.

A civil lawsuit filed last year by Jackson's mother against the producer of the concerts, AEG Live, alleged that the company had warned the entertainer several weeks before he died that if he missed any more rehearsals they were going to "pull the plug" on the gigs, which the cash-strapped Jackson was depending on to revive his stalled career.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1656583/michael-jackson-doctor-arraigned.jhtml

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Usher, Ke$ha And More Help Dance Music Go Pop In 2010

But is it here to stay? Our music-industry experts weigh in.
By Akshay Bhansali

Ke$ha
Photo: Andreas Rentz/ Getty Images

In 2010, pop princesses, R&B icons and chart-dominating newcomers all danced to the same beat. Not only did dance music go pop, but pop music caught the club-music bug.

Between Katy Perry's "Firework," Ke$ha's "We R Who We R," Rihanna's "Only Girl (In the World)," Enrique Iglesias' "I Like It," Usher's "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" and "OMG" and countless other singles, established artists definitely looked to dance beats for surefire hits. And two of this year's biggest success stories in music were Jason Derülo and Taio Cruz; could there be a soul left in this country who hasn't heard "Dynamite" or "In My Head"?

The love went both ways, with dance music's biggest stars finding mainstream success this year. Dance-music maestro deadmau5 took up house-artist duties at this year's VMAs, and Swedish House Mafia and Usher teamed up for a medley of their gems at the American Music Awards.

So how did this happen? We caught up with some music-industry experts to get their takes.

"You definitely saw tempos go up this year," Jon Caramanica of The New York Times told MTV News. "And I think what you had are a lot of producers who are really familiar with nightclub stuff. They are familiar with Europe. Things are happening on a more global scale now."

"I think everything from Europe, and sometimes even Asia, it comes to America, and we just adopt things a little bit slower," said Jared Eng of JustJared.com. "I think it was just a change. People like different types of music at different times. And dance was of this moment."

Noah Callahan of Complex magazine added: "I think 2010 saw the merging of the pop and dance genres. Pop artists realized that there were best practices that could be borrowed from dance music. And, ultimately, [all] pop music that has been made in the past 20 years had ended up being remixed for the club by dance artists. I think they basically just cut out the middleman and went straight there."

Dance music being introduced into the hip-hop and R&B realms was particularly notable this year.

"I think David Guetta kind of at the end of last year and the beginning of this year spearheaded it," said freelance writer Julianne Escobedo Shepherd. "He produced a lot of tracks. I think as trends go, people revile 'unst-unst.' But it's just coming back around. Big-room techno was a way for people to get decadent in a year that no one could get decadent."

"You have someone like will.i.am, who's like, 'Well, I spent all this time in Ibiza, and this is what they are doing,' and he wants to find a way to bring that into his music," Caramanica said of the Black Eyed Peas mastermind. "R&B especially became dance music. And especially with your Jason Derülos, Taio Cruzes. Guys like that would have literally been blocked at the border two years ago. That would not have made it through customs. And now all of a sudden they have #1 songs. I think will.i.am had a lot to do with that last year."

Elliott Wilson of RapRadar.com added: "It's actually even affected hip-hop. I was talking to Q-Tip, and his next record, I feel like that's gonna kind of go in that vein. I know that was also Jay-Z's thought process with Blueprint 3 at first, that he wanted to make a little bit more of a world music [vibe], a little more dancey. I think the kids today want to go to the clubs. They wanna have a good time. They wanna dance. So I think the artists of today are trying to kind of feed that audience."

"I think it's caught on this year because the people who've done it have been successful," offered Clover Hope of Vibe magazine. "Like 'OMG,' with usher, he didn't have success until he made a dance record. He had 'There Goes My Baby' and these really, like, adult-contemporary records that didn't really catch on. And then once you see that everybody is doing it and that people are liking it, they are like, 'OK, let me just try this out.' It's like Auto-Tune. Like, 'Let me see what I sound like on a record by David Guetta.' They end up liking it and doing more of it."

So does the club-music trend have staying power. According to our tastemakers, not so much.

"I do think it's a blip," Caramanica said. "I don't think that's gonna be something that lasts in America. I think this is gonna be a moment we'll all look back on and go, 'Wasn't that weird when Jason Derülo and Taio Cruz had #1 records?"

"At some point, these R&B artists will get kind of sick of it and be like, 'Let me go back to my soul background,' " Hope said. "When you actually have to say something, dance doesn't really lend itself to substance. And I think that R&B artists, they really want to talk about love and in a deep way, and to do that, you need to do, like, a soul or a traditional R&B record. I want to say that it's kind of a fad."

"I think music is very cyclical," Eng offered. "So I think dance music might be here for a little bit, but I'm sure it will phase out at some point."

Wilson called dance music "the sound of today. I think that people want more aggressive, faster beats, and I think that that probably has legs until at least next summer."

What do you think? Is dance music here to stay? Let us know in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1655031/usher-keha-more-help-dance-music-go-pop-2010.jhtml

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Ronnie James Dio Dead at 67

Today, the heavy metal world lost a true legend. Ronnie James Dio, who most recently fronted the Black Sabbath-without-Ozzy band Heaven & Hell, lost his battle with stomach cancer at 7:45 a.m. PST. He was 67.
?My heart is broken,? said his wife and manager, Wendy Dio in a statement. ?Many, many friends and family were [...]

Source: http://blog.mtvmusic.com/2010/05/16/ronnie-james-dio-dead-at-67/

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Photos | Lady Gaga Arrives At The 2011 Grammy Awards

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Disturbed Will 'Give 110 Percent' In Musical March Madness Competition

Band faces a tough Elite 8 challenge against defending champs Coheed and Cambria.
By James Montgomery

Disturbed's David Draiman
Photo: C Brandon/ Redferns

When MTV tipped off our Musical March Madness tournament three weeks ago, 64 bands stood on the precipice of greatness ... though, to be honest, one of them seemed to face a tougher challenge than all the rest. Chicago shredders Disturbed, who were stuck with a #9 seed, were pitted against the heavily favored Dave Matthews Band in the opening round and basically left for dead.

But Disturbed refused to die. They knocked off DMB in convincing fashion, then, in one of the tournament's most eye-opening victories, ripped #1 seed Foo Fighters to reach the Sweet 16. That win served notice to the rest of the MMM bands that Disturbed were a force to be reckoned with, and they backed up that newfound clout with a thorough throttling of Patrick Stump to reach the Elite 8.

Check out our MMM bracket right here!

And though their tournament run has surprised many, no one has been as shocked as Disturbed frontman David Draiman, who, upon learning his band was pitted against the Foos in round two, basically started packing his bags.

"I was very surprised that we got past the Foo Fighters. I didn't think that would happen," he told MTV News. "But as has been classically the case with our band, you never see us coming ... yet we'll come by and smack you upside the head. The Disturbed fanbase is powerful ... when put to the test, they show up and make their voices heard."

And now, in the Elite 8, Disturbed face their toughest tournament challenge to date: defending MMM champs Coheed and Cambria, who have used a combination of utter dominance and last-second heroics to keep their repeat dreams alive. And with voting in their matchup already under way over on the Newsroom blog, we asked Draiman to give us his take on the band standing between him and a spot in the Final Four.

Elite 8 voting is now under way over on the Newsroom blog!

"I think they're very, very talented musicians ... I definitely think they're very stiff competition. They've got an unbelievably dedicated fanbase, they're a very powerful band ... they're going to be a very serious challenge for us," he said. "I mean, we're up against leviathans here, you know, whether it's Green Day or any of the rest of these guys, they're all huge bands, so we're just very, very honored to be in competition with them. And I know that we, and the Disturbed fanbase, will give 110 percent all the way."

And they're going to need every last decimal point of that 110 percent to knock off Coheed. Still, Disturbed have made it this far, and Draiman thinks they've got a legitimate shot at advancing. And they'd better, because the stakes are high. Not only would it be a victory for his band and their fans, but for the entire hard-rock genre, really.

"We definitely need to get everybody to rally together. We need to let everybody show their strengths and just give 110 percent all the way, and just make sure that their voices are heard," he said. "This is the time to make a statement. This is the time to strike a blow for the genre and let it be known that we're not going to go away quietly."

MTV's Musical March Madness has reached the Elite 8! Voting is now open and will continue until Thursday at midnight, when we'll roll on to the Final Four. All winners are determined by your votes, so if your favorite act is still standing, it's up to you to guide them to glory. You can rally the troops on Twitter using the hashtag #MMM — but get ready, things only get tougher from here on out!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661032/disturbed-david-draiman-musical-march-madness.jhtml

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Britney Spears Does 'Jackass' Stunt On 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'

Singer performs two Femme Fatale tracks on the late-night chat show.
By Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears performs on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
Photo: ABC

Britney Spears may have been billed as the musical guest on Tuesday night's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," but the pop star also used the appearance as a chance to show off her funny side.

In one bit, Spears was visited by Kimmel in her dressing room. After some casual hellos, Spears asked the talk-show host, "Oh, did you get it?"

Kimmel said, "I did get it."

Spears excitedly responded, "Oh my gosh, let me see. Really? Great! Oh, you got it."

Then came the big reveal: Kimmel pulled up his pants legs to reveal that he had gotten the words "Britney Spears" inked on his calves. Spears, shocked by his dedication to their oath to get matching tattoos, said, "Oh my god!" Then she showed off her own: Written in tiny letters on her wrist were the words "Jimmy Kimmel."

"It's in pen," he said, disappointed by the fact that hers is not permanent.

"It's ink," she responded. "Shhh. You're getting on my nerves," she added as she escorted him out.

Later in the show, Johnny Knoxville revealed that Spears had originally been in "Jackass 3D," and that now the footage was finally being shown. In a pre-taped bit, Spears arrived on the set, telling Knoxville and his crew of merry men, "I'm ready! I'm not scared of poo-poo. Let's do it!"

She looked into the camera, before stepping into the Porta-Potty, saying, "Hi, I'm Britney Spears and this is the poo cocktail supreme."

Then a blonde got swished around in the Porta-Potty, dirty water splashing everywhere. After the stunt, the blonde, whose face you couldn't see, got out and began chasing the guys around.

After she taped her stunt, Spears took to Twitter to send a special message to Knoxville. "Just did my first @jackassworld stunt with Knoxville and company. Knoxville better watch his back," she wrote.

The pop star came out one more time, this time for her musical spot. While much of the performance was similar to recent gigs in Las Vegas and San Francisco, this time Spears, starting with "Till the World Ends," wore a brand-new look. Her sparkly black and green bodysuit was paired with black fingerless gloves as she sashayed her way around the stage, much to the delight of the crowd.

For her second song, "Hold It Against Me," she rocked bright red sparkly fingerless gloves with a super-tight, sexy black bodysuit with sparkles.

Spears dropped her latest album, Femme Fatale, this week, and her MTV special, "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale," airs on MTV this Sunday (April 3) at 9 p.m.

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Kesha's "Sleazy" leaks

Lord, you sure are girl. Actually, who couldn?t get behind this song? Stealing drinks, making fun of the bourgeoisie, getting laid to phat beats?
The Nicki Minaj appropriation on this song is bald-faced; Kesha?s entire turn is all syncopated faux-weird, accents, birdsong dynamics. The whole nine. And spitting the lamest rhymes probs ever (the part of [...]

Source: http://blog.mtvmusic.com/2010/10/29/keshas-sleazy-leaks/

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Britney Spears Was 'Over-The-Top' In Las Vegas, Palms Owner Says

'Anytime Britney comes to the Palms, we always welcome her with open arms,' George Maloof tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears performs in Las Vegas on Friday
Photo: Splash News Online

Last Friday, Britney Spears brought her own razzle-dazzle to the already-glittering city of Las Vegas. She played a fan-pleasing three-song set at Rain nightclub at the Palms Hotel and Casino, where the show was being taped for an MTV special airing this week.

Hours before Britney took the stage, MTV News caught up with Palms owner George Maloof, who gushed about how awesome it was to have Britney on hand for her first Femme Fatale live performance.

"I think this one's going to be really over-the-top," he said of Spears' show, which will be included in the MTV special. "And we're all excited about her new album, and I heard it's spectacular, so here we go: Britney Spears at the Palms."

Spears hyped the release of Femme Fatale in a big way during Friday's nightclub set, performing lead singles "Hold It Against Me" and "Till the World Ends" while also debuting the will.i.am-produced "Big Fat Bass." Each track required a new body-hugging costume — including a black latex catsuit covered in red LED lights — to accommodate her trademark dance moves.

Check out photos from Britney's Las Vegas show.

Maloof, who has known Britney for the better part of the last decade, said that while he's friendly with the star, he's still excited that she chose his hotel for the performance. "It's the biggest star in the world, so it's an honor for us. And anytime Britney comes to the Palms, we always welcome her with open arms, so it's going to be great," he said. "We try and keep it a secret. It's pretty difficult in this day and age, but there's so much anticipation."

Spears wasn't the only big name on the marquee for the show. "Jersey Shore" star DJ Pauly D was also on hand to warm up the crowd. "Pauly D is one of our resident DJs, so we bring the Palms and Pauly D, pop culture together here with Britney Spears, and it's going to be a madhouse."

For fans who couldn't be at the Vegas show themselves, Maloof set the scene: "I think they're going to see pyrotechnics. I think they're going to see a very sexy show in a very unique and intimate venue that's one-of-a-kind. ... It'll be a lot of fun. I want to hear the songs. I'm excited about the album, so that's what I'm looking forward to. I know she can perform, I know she can dance, and I'm just waiting for this great album."

After months of video and song teasers, Spears' Femme Fatale is due in stores Tuesday, which will also be "Britney Takeover Day" on MTV.

Will you be first in line for Britney's new album on Tuesday? Let us know in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660787/britney-spears-las-vegas-show.jhtml

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Usher Says New 'Rev Pop' Project Is A 'Movement'

Singer teases his new project by pointing to past hits like 'Yeah!' and 'OMG.'
By James Montgomery

Usher
Photo: MTV News

With the success of songs like "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love," "Hot Tottie" and "OMG," Usher had himself a fairly massive 2010. But rather than rest on his laurels, he's looking to build on his big year, not with an album, but with a "movement."

It's something he's calling "Rev Pop" — or, simply, "Rev" — and though he's already teased his idea in a video with David Guetta (Akon is also involved), he has yet to speak in full about it. So when MTV News caught up with Ush before the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles at the (Belvedere) RED launch party, we asked him about his next musical endeavor. And though he didn't reveal much, he did let it be known that "Rev" isn't exactly something new. In fact, he's been doing it for a while now.

"I'll give it to you this way: At a later date, I'll tell you more about Rev Pop, but if I were to give you a flash: I've done it before, I did it with 'Yeah!' " he said, "taking a cultural experience, and also worldwide recognition of a feeling, and putting the soul in the middle of it. Not allowing it to shift heavily to R&B genre, or pop. I did it again with 'OMG,' once again putting the soul in the middle of it, which was an electric-pop experience, with the soul.

"It's bringing those elements together to tell a story, that was born here," he said, gesturing toward his heart, "And that's what Rev Pop is. There's more, I mean, I could really elaborate, but that's just what I'm going to tell you right now. 'Rev' is what it's called ... the movement is called Rev."

Usher wouldn't say just when his fans would be getting their first taste of Rev, but whenever they do, it sounds like they're going to be impressed ... if not a little shocked.

"Stay alive," he smiled, "Because you're definitely going to be in for a surprise."

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Britney Spears - Circus

Circus

Artist: Britney Spears
Label: Jive
Album: Circus

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=322811

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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Michael Jackson Estate Rakes In $310 Million To Date

Singer left behind more than $400 million in debt.

Michael Jackson
Photo: Time Life Pictures/DMI/Time Life Pictures/Getty Im

Between album sales, movie profits, licensing arrangements and lucrative deals for Cirque du Soleil shows, the estate of late King of Pop Michael Jackson has raked in more than $300 million since the singer's shocking death in June 2009.

According to TMZ, legal documents released on Thursday reveal that executors of MJ's estate have managed to make a major dent in the more than $400 million in debt that Jackson owed at the time of his death.

The first accounting from the executors shows that they have already spent around $159 million paying back various debts, income taxes and other expenses, which include providing support for the pop star's mother, Katherine Jackson, as well as his three young children.

"Although there remain unresolved creditor claims, pending litigation and additional challenging business, tax and legal issues, and the estate is not yet in a condition to be closed, the executors have made substantial progress in reducing the estate's debt," the documents state, according to a Reuters report. Two of Jackson's longtime confidants, attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain, were named as administrators in a will sign by the pop icon.

In addition to paying to make "substantial improvements" to the Jackson family's Havenhurst estate in Encino, California, the executors also spent an undetermined amount of money on "last illness and funeral and memorial service expenses." Those costs included a $900,000 payment to the Forest Lawn Memorial cemetery where Jackson is buried and $35,000 on expenses described as "costume for memorial."

TMZ reported that not only did the famously cash-strapped Jackson have more than $400 million in debt, but his estate also owed more than $40 million to concert promoter AEG tied to the scuttled This Is It Tour, for which MJ was rehearsing when he died unexpectedly. They've also paid $27.2 million in taxes and $4 million in mortgage payments on Jackson's properties.

Despite the solid sales of the Michael album and millions of units of the singer's back catalog being sold, as well as the box office of the "This Is It" movie and DVD sales, the estate is not nearly out of the woods. TMZ noted that the administrators have received more than 65 creditors' claims, some of which are subject to "extremely high" interest rates, and there are several outstanding lawsuits against the estate in several countries.

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Coldplay, Led Zeppelin Album Covers Featured On New British Stamps

Album art from Pink Floyd, Blur and David Bowie also included.
By James Montgomery

Coldplay's new British stamps
Photo: Royal Mail

On Thursday (January 7), the U.K.'s Royal Mail unveiled a series of 10 new stamps, honoring the most iconic album covers of the past 40 years.

The albums featured in the new series are the Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed, Led Zeppelin's IV, David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, The Clash's London Calling, New Order's Power, Corruption and Lies, Primal Scream's Screamadelica, Pink Floyd's The Division Bell, Blur's Parklife and — the most recent album on to make the cut — Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head.

Meant to honor "the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people's lives," the series is the end result of a lengthy research process by the Royal Mail, who looked through thousands of album covers by British artists before deciding on the final list. And, during a Wednesday night BBC Radio broadcast, it was revealed that the queen herself actually approved each design.

Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page — who helped design the cover for IV — was on hand to celebrate the release of the stamps and recalled the mysterious nature of the album's iconic imagery.

"Almost 40 years after the album came out, nobody knows the old man who featured on the cover, nor the artist who painted him," he said. "That sort of sums up what we wanted to achieve with the album cover, which has remained both anonymous and enigmatic at the same time."

Of course, any great honor is befitting of an equally great contest, so, on the same day the stamps were made available to the general public, Coldplay decided to give one of their Rush of Blood stamps away. In a message on their official site, the band held a contest to send one lucky fan "a letter using a Coldplay stamp, postmarked with today's issue date."

"We visited our local post office earlier today and bought some of the Coldplay stamps," the message read. "Very nice they are too."

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Michael Jackson's 'Thriller': Story Behind The 'Glee' Cover

MJ classic is mashed up with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'Heads Will Roll' for post-Super Bowl episode.
By Aly Semigran

"Glee"
Photo: FOX

Madonna, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and now, finally, Michael Jackson. The cast of "Glee" has covered plenty of icons during their first two seasons, but it's taken 33 episodes to get around to the King of Pop.

With a huge catalog of Jackson songs, the singing, dancing students of McKinley High paid homage to the late singer with one of his biggest staples (and, arguably, the greatest music video of all time) with their take on "Thriller."

The groundbreaking single from Jackson's best-selling album of the same name was mashed up with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Heads Will Roll" for the post-Super Bowl episode (titled "The Sue Sylvester Bowl Shuffle"), featuring a zombie-fied "Glee" cast.

Bound to become a smash all over again (though with its nonstop rotation at Halloween parties and wedding receptions until the end of time, it's never truly gone away), here's a brief history of the dance/pop classic.

Released on January 23, 1984, "Thriller" was the seventh, and final, single to be released from Jackson's smash record. According to the RIAA, the album (released by Epic Records) has gone gold 29 times, narrowly edging out the Eagles' Greatest Hits 1971-1975 for the title of best-selling album of all time.

In 2009, MTV News estimated that the Thriller album was poised to go triple diamond, meaning 30 million records sold in the U.S. alone.

After Thriller's other singles (including "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and "Wanna Be Startin' Something") dominated the charts, it was time for the spooky, undeniably original track to take over. The song "Thriller" also appeared on many of Jackson's other albums, including the compilations HIStory and Number Ones.

Clocking in at a little under six minutes (though the radio edit was closer to four-and-a-half), the song features pop-music mainstays like synthesizers but shakes things up with its spooky sound effects, including creaking floors, howling and thunder.

The song was produced by Quincy Jones and written and composed by Rod Tempterton and spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #4.

But it's the music video for "Thriller" that truly made it the phenomenon it was in the '80s and continues to be today. Less a music video than a mini-motion picture, the video (over 13 minutes long and directed by John Landis) won three MTV Video Music Awards and has been named the best music video of all time by many outlets, including VH1 for the special "VH1: 100 Greatest Videos."

The chiller features Jackson in that iconic red leather jacket on a date with his girlfriend (played by Ola Ray) before things go terribly awry. After all, as Jackson (whose disclaimer at the start of the video reads, "This film in no way endorses a belief in the occult") sings in the opening line, "It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark." Cue werewolves, zombies, Vincent Price's soliloquy and one of the most memorable dance sequences ever.

The video was (no pun intended) a monster hit. As the Los Angeles Times notes, "At the height of the song's popularity, MTV would run the 14-minute 'Thriller' video twice an hour."

Choreographed by Jackson and Michael Peters (who, as the LA Times also reported, appears in the video as one of the zombies) and with makeup by Oscar-winner Rick Baker (also an undead "Thriller" extra) was made with a huge budget of an estimated $500,000.

Still, the efforts paid off. Landis (who told the "Today" show back in 2009 that no one wanted to give them the funds to make the risky vid) made the accompanying 45-minute documentary about the venture, called "The Making of Thriller." Featuring the behind-the-scenes wizardry, as well as the music video in full, it would go on to move more than 10 million copies.

Since then, the signature song and video have seen their share fair of tributes in movies (notably in the 2004 comedy"13 Going on 30") and TV ("South Park," "Family Guy," "30 Rock," among others), not to mention the countless flash mobs that have gone viral. (Remember the prisoners in the Philippines who became overnight phenomenons on YouTube?)

Even with the "Glee" number, this likely won't be the last incarnation of "Thriller." Billboard reported in October that a "Thriller" film is in the works. With a plot allegedly revolving around Price's narration, Kenny Ortega, who directed Jackson's last effort, "This Is It," will reportedly helm the project.

Since Jackson's untimely passing on June 25, 2009, the song and video's legacy continue to live on. In the week following Jackson's death, "Thriller" was the best-selling track in the U.S., with sales of 167,000 copies on the Billboard Hot Digital Singles chart.

Then, in December 2009, "Thriller" was the first music video to ever be inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. It seems "no mere mortal can resist ... the thriller" after all.

What did you think of the "Thriller" mash-up on "Glee"? Let us know in the comments!

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Michael Jackson - History

History

Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: Epic
Album: HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=208338

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Dave Grohl, Josh Homme, John Paul Jones Unveil Supergroup

Them Crooked Vultures make their debut with a post-Lollapalooza set.
By James Montgomery

Dave Grohl (file)
Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

Officially, Lollapalooza ended Sunday night in Chicago's Grant Park, with dueling sets from the Killers and Jane's Addiction. Unofficially, it ended very early Monday morning, across town at venerable rock club the Metro, with a surprise show by Them Crooked Vultures.

To the unfamiliar, the Vultures might seem like an odd choice to close out Lolla weekend ... until you realize that they're made up of Foo Fighters frontman/ former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, Queens of the Stone Age mastermind Josh Homme and Led Zeppelin legend John Paul Jones. And their gig at the Metro was their world premiere.

According to some reports, the Vultures actually turned down Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell's request to replace the Beastie Boys as headliners at the festival, opting to debut in front of some 1,100 super-psyched fans at the Metro, rather than 75,000 in Grant Park (tickets for the gig were announced via Foo Fighter/ QOTSA fan clubs). Meaning that, in a lot of ways, this was the most sought-after ticket in town.

Taking the stage just after midnight, the Vultures — Grohl on drums (of course), Homme on guitar and vocals, Jones on bass and keys and frequent QOTSA contributor Alain Johannes on guitar — ripped through 12 songs in 80 minutes, all taken from their upcoming debut, which may or may not be called Never Deserved the Future, and may or may not be hitting stores on October 23 (early "promo" videos touting both those facts were revealed over the weekend to be hoaxes perpetrated by QOTSA fans).

The songs, with appropriately Homme-ian titles like "Scumbag Blues," "Mind Eraser (No Chaser)," "Caligulove" and "Interlude w/Ludes," sounded pretty much how you'd expect, given the band's pedigree. They rocked, hard — Chicago Tribune critic Greg Kot described them as "fresh, invigorating and just plain nasty" — delving off into psychedelic, reverb-filled excursions and exploring proggy territory, "both of the old-school Yes variety, and the more modern Tool flavor," according to the Chicago Sun-Times' Jim DeRogatis.

It's not known if Monday's Metro performance was a one-off event for the Vultures — there have been whispers of a full-blown tour, but a spokesperson for Homme had not responded to MTV News' request for comment at press time. Nor was it clear whether or not they'll have an album out in October.

Early Monday, a Crooked Vultures Twitter account, which had previously posted links to the band's official-looking Web site and the Metro's online ticketing site — posted a link to what appears to be the group's first bit of official merchandise: a Deserve the Future T-shirt. Cost: $30.

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Michael Jackson - Heal the World

Heal the World

Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: Epic
Album: Dangerous

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=208386

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Exclusive: Ke$ha Talks Writing Britney Spears' 'Till The World Ends'

'It's an honor to write for one of pop music's biggest icons,' she tells MTV News.
By Kelley L. Carter, with additional reporting by Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears "Til The World Ends" cover art
Photo: Jive

Britney Spears' new single, "Till the World Ends" is dance-floor ready — just ask Ke$ha. The pop star in her own right wrote the just-released track, which was produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin.

"I consider myself a songwriter before and above everything else, so it's an honor to write for one of pop music's biggest icons. And I hope it gets everyone's ass on the dance floor cuz y'all know that's what K-Monay does best!" the singer said in an exclusive statement to MTV News.

The single was posted by Perez Hilton on Thursday afternoon (March 3), after speculation earlier in the day that it would hit radio next week.

"Till the World Ends" is a swirling, "beat the beat" track, ready for late nights spent "dancing till the world ends" as she sings on the fast-paced party jam. "This kitten got your tongue tied in knots I see/ Spit it out 'cause I'm dying for company," a confident Spears purrs.

Later in the song, she sings: "See the sunlight/ We ain't stopping/ Keep on dancing till the world ends/ If you feel it/ Let it happen/ Keep on dancing till the world ends."

Last month, Ke$ha talked with Spin.com about the song, saying it's about the power of an artist performing a great gig. "That song is me imagining her and any female musician touring the world," she said. "You know, when you go out, and you're having an amazing, magical night and you don't want to go to sleep and you want it to last until the world ends."

This new track is the latest single from Spears' forthcoming Femme Fatale, which drops March 29.

What do you think about the latest Britney song? Let us know in the comments!

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Britney Spears Was 'Over-The-Top' In Las Vegas, Palms Owner Says

'Anytime Britney comes to the Palms, we always welcome her with open arms,' George Maloof tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears performs in Las Vegas on Friday
Photo: Splash News Online

Hours before Britney took the stage, MTV News caught up with Palms owner George Maloof, who gushed about how awesome it was to have Britney on hand for her first Femme Fatale live performance.

Check out photos from Britney's Las Vegas show.

After months of video and song teasers, Spears' Femme Fatale is due in stores Tuesday, which will also be "Britney Takeover Day" on MTV.

Will you be first in line for Britney's new album on Tuesday? Let us know in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660787/britney-spears-las-vegas-show.jhtml

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Daniel Radcliffe Says Final 'Harry Potter' Press Tour Will Be 'Weird'

'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' actor will trade Broadway for red carpets when 'Deathly Hallows' premieres in July.
By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Daniel Radcliffe
Photo: MTV News

The end is almost upon us. Over a decade after production on the first "Harry Potter" began, the final film hits theaters in July, and as J.K. Rowling promised Daniel Radcliffe, she's not going to write more books about the boy wizard.

That's fine by Radcliffe, who has joked on many an occasion that he's ready to leave the franchise behind, not least because there'd be something unseemly about playing Harry as the actor approached middle age. But he's not done with "Potter" yet. There's still the upcoming press tour for the second part of "Deathly Hallows," which will require Radcliffe to step away from his new Broadway musical, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," for a few days.

And, as he told MTV News recently, transitioning from one show-business world to another is going to be strange.

"In a way, it will probably be weird to suddenly have to switch out of the mode I'm in for this show and then go and do press," he said, adding with a laugh, "But I can do that. I'm very versatile!"

Being able to jump from performing to plugging and back again, Radcliffe added, simply comes with the territory.

"I think any actor that does a big film or even a show like this now without the expectation that they will have to do press for it is very naive," he said. "It's part of the job. It's as much a part of the job almost as anything else."

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Katy Perry Praises Beyonce In Elle

'I think diva is a great and powerful word in the sense of what Beyoncé makes it,' the pop star says in the magazine's cover story.
By Jocelyn Vena

Katy Perry on the March issue of <i>Elle</i>
Photo: Carter Smith/Elle

Katy Perry not only glams up for the new issue of Elle, but she also gets real. The singer — who is gearing up for a big performance on this Sunday's Grammy Awards — dishes on diva behavior, discusses her personal life and even reveals how much she weighs in the fashion magazine's latest cover story.

"I feel like I'm at a point in my life right now where I could potentially stick around," Perry says about her outlook on being a pop star. "I don't feel like a diva, but I think diva is a great and powerful word in the sense of what Beyoncé makes it. And maybe I can't be Beyoncé, but maybe I can be Cyndi Lauper. I mean be like her, not be her. That would just be weird."

The singer also admits to having some ambitions outside of the entertainment world. "I think some people will die on the stage, and I'm not so sure I want to do that. Like, I want to have kids!" she explains. "I'm totally fine with saying that. I think some people are scared because they're worried it's going to ruin their career, but I want to live a full life."

That full life, these days, includes her hubby, Russell Brand, who she says is her perfect better half. "Everything clicked really fast. We kind of instantly got past all the surfacey stuff. And ever since then, there hasn't been a dull moment," she says. "We both needed balance, and we give that to each other. It wasn't about me taming him, which is what everyone always says — it was about timing."

Perry doesn't hold back at all, revealing details about her weight that very few celebrities seem willing to share with the world. "I was shaped like a square at one time. I was! I'm generally around 130 pounds, which is totally fine for me," she confesses. "But when I was a kid, I was the same height and weighed more like 145. And I had enormous boobs that I didn't know what to do with, so I wore minimizers, which were not cute. Those thick-ass straps! I got made fun of for the over-the-shoulder boulder holder ... and all I wanted was to look like Kate Moss. Little did I know ... that these things would come in handy someday."

What do you think about Katy's Elle confessions? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Is Beyonce Almost Finished With Her New Album?

'I probably won't get on this album, but hopefully the next one,' singer/songwriter Sia says of song she pitched for Beyonce's new album.
By James Dinh

Beyoncé
Photo: Michael Loccisano/ Getty Images

As Britney Spears and Lady Gaga gear up to release new albums, there's another pop heavyweight who may offer them some friendly competition: Beyoncé. Details surrounding the singer's next album remain scarce, but according to a few of the project's collaborators, Bey is almost finished recording the follow-up to 2008's I Am ... Sasha Fierce and has managed to hit the studio with an extensive list of producers.

After gushing about her high hopes for working with Beyoncé, Australian songstress Sia revealed that she told B's behind-the-scenes team that she wanted to lend a creative hand for the new album. "So I just said to all the producers, writers, everyone, help me make this happen, and then Diplo e-mailed me and said, 'where are you in the world right now? would you be interested in flying to New York? I'm writing with Beyoncé,' and I was like, 'Yesss!' " the singer told MTV Australia.

Despite Diplo's offer, Sia said she was unable to fly out because of schedule conflicts, but is in the process of pitching songs to Beyoncé. When asked if her submissions were for Beyoncé's forthcoming LP, Sia said, "Well, there's only one song left for this album, so I probably won't get on this album, but hopefully the next one. That's my dream, that's my goal."

Sia isn't the only collaborator that has suggested Beyoncé is close to wrapping up studio sessions for the project. Sleigh Bells have confirmed working with the singer, but are weary on whether their work with the songstress will make the final cut. Speaking with NME.com, guitarist Derek Miller admitted, "I actually have no idea if the collaboration will ever be released."

While Miller remained tight-lipped on details regarding the song (or songs?), the Sleigh Bells bandmate confessed that the collabo is just one of her many musical partnerships, saying, "Beyoncé works with whoever she wants to work with, probably 30 or 40 producers. It's a totally different world from what I'm used to. So for me, it's just exciting to hear something that I worked on but I can't really say any more than that."

Sia and the Sleigh Bells join a long list of other collaborators who have been tapped to work on Beyoncé's new album, including Ne-Yo, S1, Jim Jonsin, Sean "The Pen" Garrett, The-Dream and Tricky Stewart.

Who do you want to see Beyoncé collaborate with on her new album? Share your suggestions in the comments.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658108/beyonce-new-album.jhtml

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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Photos | 2011 Grammy Awards Red Carpet

2011 Grammy Awards Red Carpet

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Lupe Fiasco Talks Spring Break Performance

The Chicago rapper's Las Vegas spring break gig airs Tuesday night on MTV.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Lupe Fiasco
Photo: MTV News

When you combine spring break and Las Vegas, things are bound to get exciting — or out of control.

For the MTV Spring Break 2011 performers — Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Pitbull and Lupe Fiasco — the challenge is to keep the crowds entertained when shots, lost tops and sunny weather threaten to steal their attention.

According to Lupe Fiasco, though, it doesn't matter to him whether he's performing at a spring break gig or a room of Timberland-wearing concertgoers — the show goes on.

"It's no different," the Chicago rapper told MTV News recently. "I did a show for the hardcore [fans] yesterday and it was the same thing. The same energy. At the end of the day, it's about getting in touch with the energy — I don't want to sound too mystical — but that human energy. It don't matter if you black, white, Italian, Asian or in a bikini or have a fitted hat on thugged out, everybody wants to hear something and be moved by something, so for us, we want to take it to you as energetic as we possibly can."

On Monday, Wiz Khalifa's MTV Spring Break 2011 performance aired as the Pittsburgh star hit the stage for his breakout tune "Black and Yellow."

Later in the week, Snoop Dogg and Pitbull's spring break performances will be shown on MTV, MTV2 and mtvU.

Catch Lupe Fiasco performing in Las Vegas during MTV's Spring Break on Tuesday night (March 29) on MTV at 9:50 p.m. ET.

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'Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale' Trailer Premieres Tonight!

Sneak peeks of Brit's upcoming MTV special will air all day before full trailer airs at 7:58 p.m.
By Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears on the set of her "Till the World Ends" video
Photo: MTV News & Docs

All day, Britney Spears is taking over MTV. That takeover includes a trailer for MTV's upcoming special about the pop star, "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale," which will take fans inside Britney's life to see what it's like to release a highly anticipated album.

Before the trailer premieres tonight at 7:58 p.m., teasers will air throughout the day. In the sneak peeks, fans get to see Spears work on the just-released Femme Fatale, including going over final production with will.i.am on their collabo. "I did some tweaking to 'Big Fat Bass,' " the Black Eyed Peas mastermind tells Spears as she gives the song another listen.

While on the way to rehearsals for her pre-album performances — including her set this past Friday at the Palms in Las Vegas, which will be included in "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale" — Spears admits to having some "jitterbugs." It is, after all, her first time back onstage since the Circus Tour.

In another intimate look at the singer's life, fans get to see Spears and her assistant as they go to Starbucks to take a minute for themselves in the hustle-and-bustle of a hectic schedule. "It's nice to have a peaceful moment just to sit down," Spears says. "It's nice to relax before the chaos."

That chaos included getting fans excited for her album release. On top of taking the stage in Vegas for a set full of pyro, shimmering bodysuits and flirty dance moves, Spears also pre-taped today's "Good Morning America" performance in San Francisco's Castro neighborhood. "I totally loved how her bustier was lit up," fan Corina Andrati excitedly told MTV News moments after Spears wrapped her three-song set. "I'm so blessed to be here."

Have you heard Britney's new album yet? Share your favorite tracks in the comments!

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'Superman' Reboot Taps Amy Adams To Play Lois Lane

Oscar-nominated actress will play the 'smart, tough, funny' journalist, director Zack Snyder announces.
By Aly Semigran

Amy Adams
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

Clark Kent, meet your Lois Lane.

After weeks of guessing who would play the Man of Steel's leading lady in the upcoming "Superman" reboot, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures, along with director Zack Snyder announced on Sunday (March 27) that Academy Award-nominated actress Amy Adams will take on the iconic role.

Snyder, whose latest endeavor, "Sucker Punch," opened in second place at the box office this weekend, said in a statement, "Second only to Superman himself, the question of who will play Lois Lane is arguably what fans have been most curious about. So we are excited to announce the casting of Amy Adams, one of the most versatile and respected actresses in films today. Amy has the talent to capture all of the qualities we love about Lois: smart, tough, funny, warm, ambitious and, of course, beautiful."

Adams, 36, whose versatile résumé includes "Enchanted," "Talladega Nights," "Doubt" and, most recently, "The Fighter," which earned her an Oscar nod, will star opposite the new Superman, Henry Cavill, who is nine years her junior.

But age clearly didn't factor into Snyder's decision, as he told the Los Angeles Times, "There was a big, giant search for Lois. For us it was a big thing and obviously a really important role. We did a lot of auditioning but we had this meeting with Amy Adams and after that I just felt she was perfect for it."

Snyder, who reached out to Adams regarding the "Superman" news via phone while in Paris on Sunday, went on to explain why the Lois Lane role will be "a linchpin" for his vision for the tentatively titled "Man of Steel."

"It goes back to what I've said about Superman and making him really understandable for today. What's important to us is making him relevant and real and making him empathetic to today's audience so that we understand the decisions he makes," he said, "That applies to Lois as well. She has to be in the same universe as him [in tone and substance]."

Adams and Cavill will be joined by Diane Lane and Kevin Costner, who will play Clark Kent's adoptive parents.

What do you think of Amy Adams being cast as Lois Lane in the new "Superman" movie? Tell us in the comments!

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660738/superman-reboot-taps-amy-adams-play-lois-lane.jhtml

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Lady Gaga Gets Birthday Wishes From Friends, Fans

'You are all the present I need in the world,' she tweets to fans upon turning 25.
By Jocelyn Vena

Lady Gaga
Photo: C Flanigan/FilmMagic

On Monday (March 28), Lady Gaga reached another milestone in her life, turning 25. And it seems that all her pals didn't forget their Queen Bee on her big day. In fact, the singer even got some birthday love from ... herself.

"Drawing on table at restaurant. If I had to give it all back, but got to keep my fans, that'd be ok," she wrote on Twitter. She included a photo of a drawing she made that reads "Happy Birthday Me" with hearts all around it.

As a birthday treat, her fans trended the hash tag "#bornthisday" in honor of their Mother Monster. In another tweet, she thanked her fans for making her a trending topic on Twitter in honor of her big day. "Thank you for trending #BornThisDay monsters! The sweetest tweet! You are all the present I need in the world. I'll be 25 in about 4 hrs!"

Her "Born This Way" producer, Fernando Garibay, also tweeted some love for Gaga. "Happy Birthday @ladygaga; cause you were Born This Day!!!!" Nicola Formichetti, Gaga's loyal stylist and Thierry Mugler creative director, teased the kind of fun the group was having in honor of Gaga. "So much fun!!!" he wrote. "What a party!! happy birth day my love, gaga!!! #mother monster."

Fellow Gaga collaborator DJ White Shadow, who worked on the track "Government Hooker," shared a similar sentiment, adding, "Fun birthday party tonight."

Gaga pal Perez Hilton, who celebrated his birthday just days ago, sent some love to the pop star on his Twitter. "Hey @ladygaga! Happy birthday, bitch!!!!" he wrote. "BornThisDay LOVE YOU!!!! xoxo"

When MTV News caught up with Hilton at his birthday bash, he had this wish for his birthday: tons more success for Gaga. "My birthday wish for this year is for Lady Gaga's new album, Born This Way, to sell over 1.2 million copies the first week," he said. "That would beat Taylor Swift's 1.1-something!"

In addition to all the birthday love from her inner circle, it was announced on Monday that Lady Gaga would be receiving the "Always Next, Forever Now" Award at Logo's NewNowNext Awards, which air on the network on April 11. She receives the prize three years after she performed for the first time on television during the 2008 show.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660752/lady-gaga-birthday.jhtml

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