Sunday, 6 November 2011

Beyonce's 'Countdown' Dancing 'Surprised' Original Choreographer

Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker is not 'angry or honored' by similarities to her '80s and '90s dances.
By Gil Kaufman


Beyoncé in her video for "Countdown"
Photo: Columbia

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but Belgian choreographer Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker is not flattered — nor angry — about claims that Beyoncé's "Countdown" video pays unattributed homage to one of her clips.

"Like so many people, I was extremely surprised when I got a message through Facebook about the special appearance of my two choreographies — 'Rosas danst Rosas' (1983) and 'Achterland' (1990) — in Beyoncé's new videoclip 'Countdown,' " De Keersmaeker wrote in a statement on the Performance Club website on Monday.

Not long after the clip for B's latest debuted, a number of websites pointed out the similarities between De Keersmaeker's work and the steps in Beyoncé's video. Before those side-by-side comparisons started popping up, the video's director, Adria Petty, told MTV News it was an homage to such icons as Audrey Hepburn and the Supremes, as well as classic films such as "West Side Story" and "Funny Face."

In it, Beyoncé not only shows her signature personality and spirit but also her emerging baby bump, and Petty said she presented the singer with a number of classic references, including some German modern-dance clips.

"Obviously," De Keersmaeker continued, "Beyoncé, or the video clip director Adria Petty, plundered many bits of the integral scenes in the film ... People asked me if I'm angry or honored. Neither. [O]n the one hand, I am glad that 'Rosas danst Rosas' can perhaps reach a mass audience, which such a dance performance could never achieve, despite its popularity in the dance world since [the] 1980s. And Beyoncé is not the worst copycat, she sings and dances very well, and she has a good taste! On the other hand, there are protocols and consequences to such actions, and I can't imagine she and her team are not aware of it."

Among the scenes juxtaposed in a popular online mash-up is one in which B is filmed through a window as her similarly dressed dancers cavort in the background, tugging on her shirt and hair in a fashion that is nearly identical to De Keersmaeker, who also sports a similar chopped-bangs look.

De Keersmaeker stressed that she's not angry over the alleged appropriation, but she did wonder why it has taken mainstream pop culture 30 years to recognize her experimental dance work. "A few months ago, I saw on Youtube a clip where schoolgirls in Flanders are dancing 'Rosas danst Rosas' to the music of 'Like a Virgin' by Madonna," she continued. "What does it say about the work of 'Rosas danst Rosas'? In the 1980s, this was seen as a statement of girl power, based on assuming a feminine stance on sexual expression. I was often asked then if it was feminist. Now that I see Beyoncé dancing it, I find it pleasant but I don't see any edge to it. It's seductive in an entertaining consumerist way."

A spokesperson for Beyoncé could not be reached for comment at press time. But according to The New York Times, in a statement Beyoncé explained, "Clearly, the ballet 'Rosas danst Rosas' was one of many references for my video 'Countdown.' It was one of the inspirations used to bring the feel and look of the song to life ... I was also paying tribute to the film 'Funny Face' with the legendary Audrey Hepburn ... My biggest inspirations were the '60s, the '70s, Brigitte Bardot, Andy Warhol, Twiggy and Diana Ross ... I've always been fascinated by the way contemporary art uses different elements and references to produce something unique."

Earlier this year at the Billboard Music Awards, Beyoncé was also accused of mimicking the choreography of a dance by Italian pop singer Lorella Cuccarini. Knowles later acknowledged being inspired by Cuccarini.

De Keersmaeker noted one other, more subtle similarity between her work and Beyoncé's, one that may not be obvious to the casual side-by-side Web observer. While Beyoncé is around four months pregnant in her clip, De Keersmaeker said when she filmed her 1996 film, she was also pregnant, with her second child. "So, today, I can only wish her the same joy that my daughter brought me," she wrote.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1672317/beyonce-countdown-music-video-dancing.jhtml

Eva Green Eva Longoria Eva Mendes Evangeline Lilly Eve

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Ke$ha Celebrates National Coming Out Day

'We R Who We R' T-shirts support the Human Rights Campaign.
By Jocelyn Vena


Ke$ha's T-shirt design for National Coming Out Day
Photo: Ke$ha

Kesha has joined forces with the Human Rights Campaign to help celebrate National Coming Out Day on Tuesday (October 11).

The pop singer created a special message T-shirt, featuring a purple zebra, that proclaims "We R Who We R," the title of her hit anthem about individuality. The shirts sell for $35, with all proceeds supporting the HRC's work to achieve equality for the LGBT community.

According to the HRC website, only 1,000 shirts will be produced.

Others are also using the day to bring awareness to LGBT issues. Several notable celebrities will be honored by the Equality Forum, which is hosting an event and profiling notable LGBT members in pop culture.

As LGBT History Month rolls on throughout October, Ricky Martin, Wanda Sykes, "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy and Pedro Zamora, a former "The Real World" castmember turned AIDS activist, all will be profiled by the organization.

"We're the only minority worldwide that's not taught history at home, in school or religious institutions," said Malcolm Lazin, Equality Forum's founder and executive director. "Like every group that's been marginalized, it really helps to make the case why we should take real pride in ourselves and our community."

Since launching the program five years ago, over 200 icons have been profiled, including Jane Lynch, Lady Gaga and Neil Patrick Harris. Lazin called LGBT month "empowering and life affirming."

The message comes amid increased awareness about young people being bullied, including MTV's A Thin Line campaign. The MTV film "DISconnected," which premiered Monday night, focuses on issues in a world where technology controls personal lives.

"I see the viciousness of people every day," said "Jersey Shore" star Vinny Guadagnino on the "DISconnected" after show. "I kind of want to be a soldier in the field, so to speak, and try to combat the negativity with a positive message. I want to help open people's eyes up, like this movie does, to the negativity."

Check out the Facebook page for "DISconnected."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1672294/kesha-national-coming-out-day.jhtml

Mandy Moore Maria Bello Maria Menounos Maria Sharapova

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Robert Pattinson Calls Taylor Lautner Ab Comparison 'Unfair'

'I realized [my abs] weren't as good as Taylor's, so I just ate every bit of chocolate,' Pattinson laughs during 'MTV First.'
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner's abs
Photo: Summit

Much ado is made over the handsomeness of the leading men of "Twilight" — Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner — particularly when it comes to the subject of their being shirtless in any way, shape or form.

Their fervent fans know from reading Stephenie Meyer's books and seeing the first two trailers that there is plenty of shirtlessness in store for them when "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 1" opens November 18.

MTV News was lucky enough to sit down with the two heartthrobs during "MTV First: Breaking Dawn" on Thursday, during which we asked a fan-submitted question about how they prep for their shirtless scenes.

"No M&M's," said Kristen Stewart, who was seated between her co-stars.

"Yeah, I didn't eat any candy and I didn't drink any beer for a while," Pattinson said of his health-conscious prep. "I went kind of nuts. Me and Kristen went nuts working out, because we hadn't worked out for any of [the previous films]," he admitted.

Then, upon noticing that his shirtless photo was being held up next to Lautner's, RPattz took offense in the comparison. "This is so unfair doing a comparison. Everyone says I painted on my abs in ['New Moon'] — I did not! Taylor has his painted on too!" he accused with a laugh.

"What?" Lautner responded. "What are you talking about? I don't understand this."

Pattinson stopped his playful ribbing of Lautner for a moment to finish answering the question about his diet before shirtless scenes are filmed.

"I had it for, like, two weeks," he said of his abs, with Stewart agreeing and adding that they gave up being healthy immediately after their skin-showing scenes were wrapped.

"As soon as I didn't have to be shirtless anymore [my good habits were] gone immediately," Pattinson continued. "During [filming in] Brazil, the day before I had to do my shirtless scene, I realized [my abs] weren't as good as Taylor's, so I just ate every bit of chocolate in the mini-bar. I started eating cheeseburgers and stuff."

Stick with MTV News for much more from our exclusive Q&A with Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner!

Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."

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

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1673740/robert-pattinson-taylor-lautner-abs-twilight.jhtml

Kate Bosworth Kate Groombridge Kate Hudson Kate Mara Kate Moss

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Saturday, 5 November 2011

Jack, My Narcoleptic Nephew Update

Remember when I wrote this post about how my nephew Jack can sleep anywhere?

Well, here's the latest:

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/6/17/jack-my-narcoleptic-nephew-update.html

Hayden Panettiere Haylie Duff Heidi Klum Heidi Montag

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Justin Bieber Announces Believe Charity Drive

Pop star to donate partial proceeds from Under the Mistletoe to charity, asks Beliebers to join his cause.
By James Montgomery


Justin Bieber
Photo: MTV News

Justin Bieber is not only kicking off the holiday season with his brand-new Under the Mistletoe album, in stores Tuesday (November 1), but the giving season, too, with his just-announced Believe Charity Drive.

Bieber will donate a portion of the proceeds from sales of Mistletoe to charity, and he's encouraging his fans to do the same, listing seven specific charitable organizations — the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Pencils of Promise, Musicians on Call, Project Medishare for Haiti, City of Hope, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Grammy Foundation — in the hopes of raising millions of dollars in donations.

According to a press release issued Tuesday, Bieber chose the organizations due to "their emphases on education, youth well-being and music." Contributions will also be made to additional local charities in certain international markets. Fans can make donations through Bieber's official site.

"I am launching the Believe Charity Drive because I know firsthand that if you believe in your dreams, everything is possible," Bieber said in a statement. "The Believe Charity Drive directly benefits charities that are making a difference in the world. You can ... donate as little as one dollar, or even donate your time, because everything will make a difference. Please join me in our quest to raise millions of dollars by the release of my new 2012 album, Believe. I know that with your help we can make a change."

Of course, his Charity Drive isn't the only bit of good work Bieber has been doing as of late. He recently made a pair of donations to an Ontario food bank, and last month, when MTV News caught up with Bieber in Santiago, Chile, he spoke about lending a helping hand to an organization he has a decidedly personal connection to.

"We donated $10,000 to the Food Bank [from] where I grew up, and I actually used to get food from there," he said. "It was an incredible feeling, just because they were needing a lot of stuff, so it really meant a lot to me."

Share your thoughts on Justin's charity drive and his Mistletoe album in the comments below.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1673555/justin-bieber-believe-charity-drive.jhtml

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Friday, 4 November 2011

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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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1617950/dave-grohl-josh-homme-john-paul-jones-unveil-supergroup.jhtml

Kate Hudson Kate Mara Kate Moss Kate Walsh

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Amy Winehouse Remembered By Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, More

'RIP Amy Winehouse. May she finally find peace,' Perry writes. 'I am genuinely heartbroken about this,' Rihanna tweets.
By Jason Kaufman, with reporting by Kara Klenk


Amy Winehouse
Photo: Carlos Alvarez/ Getty Images

As news spread that 27-year-old Amy Winehouse was dead, stars immediately tweeted their shocked reactions and remorse over the lost talent.

Katy Perry, who touches down in Boise, Idaho, this weekend as part of her California Dreams Tour, tweeted her condolences, writing, "RIP Amy Winehouse. May she finally find peace."

Nicki Minaj, who is also on the road as part of Britney Spears' Femme Fatale jaunt, took to Twitter and expressed disbelief at the news of Winehouse's passing. "Please tell me Amy Winehouse didn't die," wrote the Young Money MC, who's set to hit the stage in Florida on Saturday (July 23). "Is this some sick joke?"

"I am genuinely heartbroken about this," wrote Rihanna, who continued to express her shock over multiple tweets. "Dear God have mercy!!! I am SICK about this right now!" In another, she wrote "U made a MAJAH impression on this industry and throughout the world, in such a short space of time...too short!"

Usher reflected on Winehouse, who he had known: "I'm so sad to hear the horrible news of Amy Winehouse's death. I'm so happy I knew you Amy...Rest Well. Gone Too Soon...we'll miss you!!""

Frequent tweeter Kim Kardashian used her 140 characters to send prayers: "I just heard the news that Amy Winehouse passed away. What a true talent. I pray she's in a better place & at peace."

Meanwhile, Ryan Seacrest showed Winehouse's impact on the music industry, singling out both Lady Gaga and Adele as those who had been influenced. "Sad to lose Amy Winehouse - incred talent. Both @LadyGaga & @OfficialAdele say Amy paved way for them."

Dr. Drew focused on the singer's well-documented struggles with addiction. "SO sad, another lost to addiction. A reminder this is often a fatal condition. Recovery is possible, but sadly not for Amy Winehouse."

Winehouse's American record label, Universal Republic, said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted musician, artist and performer. Our prayers go out to Amy's family, friends and fans at this difficult time."

Many More Stars Are Reacting. Check Back To See Who Else Has Weighed In:

Leann Rimes: "RIP Amy Winehouse. So sad to see such a talent gone and her life end in tragedy. This makes me terribly sad."

Khloe Kardashian: "Wow! I just heard about Amy Winehouse passing away! Wow! So sad :( what an amazing talent"

Ashton Kutcher: "Rip amy winehouse"

Big Boi: "Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and now Amy Winehouse. All died aged 27. RIP to you all."

Kelly Osbourne: "i cant even breath right my now im crying so hard i just lost 1 of my best friends. i love you forever Amy & will never forget the real you!"

Rick Ross: "Wanted to collab w/ Amy Winehouse...r.i.p...smoking 1 in your memoryyy!!"

Janelle Monae: "heart is heavy. My heart goes out 2 Amy Winehouse's family, loved ones. Praying for their strength during this time."

Ricky Martin: "I just found out. I feel pain. I feel anger. Rest beautiful girl rest. You are free!"

Cee Lo: "Is it true about amy?"

Victoria Justice: "I'm so sad about the #amywinehouse news I heard this morning. She was 1 of my favorite artists. What a sad story, she was such a talent..."

Randy Jackson: "Wow what a tragic loss today in the music world, Amy Winehouse such a talent. She will be missed"

Kreayshawn: "I said she was a TIMELESS artist and a real artist because of her struggle. I'm so upset I love her! RIP Amy Winehouse"

What Was Your Favorite Winehouse Song? Pay Tribute To Her Talents On Facebook

Share your memories of Amy Winehouse in the comments below.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1667804/amy-winehouse-remembered-katy-perry-nicki-minaj.jhtml

Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump Izabella Miko Izabella Scorupco Jaime King

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