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AMAs Get Stars Competing for Spotlight: Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Adam Lambert

Emma Renda — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:41:59 +0000

The American Music Awards had all the ingredients for success this year: Taylor Swift beating out a pop mogul for a major award, lots and lots of Michael Jackson shout-outs, a Whitney Houston comeback performance and both Lady Gaga and Rihanna wearing next to nothing.

The major shock of the evening was Taylor Swift’s award for Artist of the Year, snagging the posthumous nomination from the King of Pop himself.

“I just want to say that music has never been ultimately about competition,” Swift said in her acceptance speech via video from London, England. “To even be mentioned in a category with Michael Jackson, who will be missed and loved forever, is an unimaginable honour.”

Swift won four other awards, of six nominations, including Pop/Rock Female Artist, Adult Contemporary Artist, Country Female Artist, and Favourite Country Album.

Jackson did pick up a few awards in the end, including Favourite Pop/Rock Male Artist as well as Soul/R&B Male Artist, and set the record most American Music Awards won by any artist with a whopping 23 awards.

Jermain Jackson was present to accept the awards, and Janet performed the show’s opening number.

“We love you, Michael,” Jermaine Jackson said as he accepted one award. “It’s not just about winning the award; it’s mainly the message. The message Michael had will live on forever and that’s that he saw good in everyone.”

Whitney Houston’s performance was another emotional moment, receiving a standing ovation for her rendition of “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength”. Samuel L. Jackson presented Houston with the International Artist Award of Excellence.

As per usual, Lady Gaga’s performance made a splash. Sporting a vulcan-inspired headdress and a vest filled with lights, Gaga burst on stage, shattering the class case around a grand piano with her microphone. When she sat down to perform a medley of songs from her new album, The Monster Show, the piano burst into flames.

Rihanna didn’t need to do more than strut around on stage partially naked to garner as much of a reaction. Performing her new singles from Rated R, “Wait Your Turn” and “Hard” ft. Young Jeezy, Rihanna wore nothing more than a body suit made of strips of white fabric and heeled white leather boots. The performance kept with the theme of the morbid videos she has released lately, Rihanna started her performance with a video of a masked woman on a medical table being electrocuted to life.

Adam Lambert, the most recent American Idol winner, closed the show with his performance of “For Your Entertainment” in which he shoved a male dancer’s face into his crotch.

The full list of winners at the 37th Annual American Music Awards:

Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift
Pop-Rock (Male): Michael Jackson
Pop-Rock (Female): Taylor Swift
Pop-Rock (Band, duo, group): Black Eyed Peas
Pop-Rock (Album): Michael Jackson Number Ones
Soul-R&B (Male): Michael Jackson
Soul-R&B (Female): Beyonce
Soul-R&B (Band, duo, group): Black Eyed Peas
Soul-R&B (Album): Michael Jackson Number Ones
Rap-Hip-Hop (Artist): Jay-Z
Rap-Hip-Hop (Album): Jay-Z Blueprint 3
Country (Male): Keith Urban
Country (Female): Taylor Swift
Country (Band, duo, group): Rascal Flatts
Country (Album): Taylor Swift Fearless
Adult Contemporary: Taylor Swift
Alternative Rock: Green Day
Latin: Aventura
Contemporary Inspirational: Mary Mary
Soundtrack Album: Twilight Soundtrack
T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist Award: Gloriana
International Award of Excellence: Whitney Houston

Taylor Swift Cleans Up at AMAs

Vanessa Baker — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:26:25 +0000

Country singer Taylor Swift topped the American Music Awards leader-board with five wins, including Artist of the Year, reports E! News. However, the 19-year-old was not present at Sunday’s ceremony in Los Angeles because she was rehearsing for a show at London’s Wembley Arena .

Michael Jackson received four posthumous awards, rounding out his career total to 25. His brother, Jermaine Jackson, was present to accept on his behalf.

“We love you, Michael,” said Jermaine, who sported a sequined glove for the event. “It’s not just about the winnings, the awards, it’s mainly the message. The message that Michael had will live on forever and he saw good in everyone and he wanted them to do good. To start with love and let’s love each other.”

When Swift accepted her win for Artist of the Year, she gave tribute to the King of Pop. “I just want to say that music has never been ultimately about competition and to even be mentioned in a category with Michael Jackson who we’ll miss and love forever is an unimaginable honour. And I just want to say I’m sending my love to the Jackson family and Janet.”

American Idol’s Adam Lambert, Lady Gaga and Janet Jackson were among the many artists to perform at the show.

Michael Jackson and Swift received the honours for male and female artist, respectively, while the Black Eyed Peas picked up the award for band, duo or group. Michael’s album Number Ones was named Album of the Year.

Beyonce And Lady Gaga Team Up For ‘Video Phone’

Joelle Tomlinson — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:44:44 +0000

What do you get when you mix cameras, music, video phones, and two of the biggest divas in the U.S. music industry?

A music video with Beyonce and Lady Gaga, remixing Beyonce’s original “Video Phone” score. In the newly-released video, the two larger-than-life diva’s storm around in trench coats, bathing suits and heels. It opens up with a scintillating scene of Beyonce and her all-male posse marching down a seemingly-deserted alleyway with a purpose in mind.

Gaga and Beyonce are an interesting combination that makes for a unique music video. Azcentral.com says that the director, Hype Williams, “shoots a video in his trademark electrifying colour schemes and high-shine lighting, resulting in a fantastical pop mirage.”

With a combination of Beyonce’s trademark outlandish costume choices- and Gaga’s trademark outlandish behaviour, the new music video is sure to make heads turn. The “Video Phone” collaboration debuted Monday night on MTV and VH-1.

Lady Gaga Gets (more) Contemporary

Emma Renda — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:15:29 +0000

The Museum of Contemporary Art holds a lot more than just priceless works. This weekend, the L.A. art gallery hosted a 30th anniversary gala attended by dozens of celebs, including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, and Pierce Brosnan.

Undoubtedly the biggest splash of the event was Lady Gaga, as usual. Performing in Franceso Vezzoli’s Ballets Russes Italian Style (The Shortest Musical You Will Never See Again), Lady Gaga played a pink piano covered in blue butterflies designed by artist Damien Hirst for the performance art piece.

Vezzoli is known for merging celebrity and fine art. His latest exhibition is called Greed: A New Frangrance by Francesco Vezzoli and plays with the strategy of launching a commercial fragrance like so many celebrities try.

Lady Gaga was a welcome guest at the event, donning an elaborate Japanese Geisha-like couture costume.

“I’m in love with her,” Vezzoli told the Wall Street Journal Saturday night. “She’s managed to be a powerful artists without being a product of the system.”

Lady Gaga weighed in on the contemporary art world in an interview with the Wall Street Journal at the gala, seated alongside celebrity photographer David LaChapelle and gossip blogger Perez Hilton.

“For me, art is a lie, and the artists are there to create lies we kill when we make it true. Francesco and I were like warriors on stage, trying to make a true moment,” Lady Gaga said. “Art is life, life is art – the question is what came first?”

It’s been a busy week for Lady Gaga, whose latest video for “Bad Romance” premiered with heavy rotation on the Internet, and will guest star on tonight’s Gossip Girl following much anticipation.

Jason Derulo Ready To Show Pop Potential

Jeremy Singer — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:01:25 +0000

Jason Derulo gets giddy with excitement when discussing his feeling as artist with a hit debut single like Watcha Say.

Not because of the fame that tags along with it’s No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, or 750,000 sold copies, or invitation to join Lady Gaga on her Monster Ball Tour, but the anticipation, knowing that he has so much more potential to unleash.

And the industry doesn’t even realize it- yet.

“I’m just beginning man,” Derulo tells andPOP from Los Angeles. “It’s definitely an interesting feeling. It’s almost as if I feel like people have no idea of what I can offer as an artist, the impact that I can have.”

The Miami-born’s initiation into the music industry is looking promising thanks to Watcha Say- a watered-down upbeat version of Imogen Heap’s Hide and Seek- which has been on the chart for nine weeks now since it’s original no. 54 spot on August 30.

With a sense of humor, the 20-year-old jokes about possibly mimicking Will Ferrell’s character in Old School and going streaking through a quad to celebrate. The thought crosses his mind, “maybe butt naked for a mile,” he says.

But then again in all seriousness, the artist doesn’t feel like celebrating as if a one-hit wonder. He’s aware of all the eyes looking towards his Sophomore single and debut album, and to be honest, he’s eagerly looking towards them too- without hesitation.

“I am so excited,” he says with enthusiasm. His response is so convincing even from three time-zones away.

“The first single was just an appetizer to the main course. That’s the only way I can put it.”

Derulo says he’s had that passion and swagger since he wrote his first song at eight-years-old- as a kid who would admire musical greats like Michael Jackson and Madonna, and always have a knack to pen lyrics.

Eventually at 16, his portfolio would read writing tracks for industry big-hitters like Lil’ Wayne, Pitbull and Birdman- an experience that Derulo describes as “both incredible and nerve-racking.”

“It was a bit intimidating in the beginning,” recalls Derulo, “seeing these guys in person, the guys who you see on TV growing up. But once we started creating and writing the music, it was a blast.”

Chuckles Derulo, “and that kind of cred didn’t hurt while picking up the ladies.”

But he admits the imagination is endless when writing for himself.

“The sky’s the limit,” he says. “I can experiment, try and break barriers, and try and do off-the-wall different things.

“But I remember when I was writing for someone else, you can’t try and do anything different in that situation. I always had to gear it towards that person, and make their voice come out.”

What Derulo really wanted though, was to have his voice come out, and get a chance to display his ability as a solo performer. But the songwriter decided to further polish his raw talent through formal musical schooling at the New York American Musical and Dramatic Academy, where he studied everything from opera and theatre, to ballet and musical genres.

He remembers the long nights memorizing and learning songs at the piano by heart, the perfect standards he had to meet while singing in musical theatre, and also the endurance he learned while working on his dance skills.

But among many hardworking memories, he recalls vividly what he learned about Shakespeare as a writer, and how it helped define himself as a songwriter.

“I remember that in Shakespeare,” says Derulo, “every word is strategically placed to make sure it has a purpose. From that I’ve learned to stay away from having any filler lines in my work.

“All of my formal training helped tremendously.”

Now a bona-fide vessel of talent, Derulo’s discovery would come immediately after mega music producer J.R. Rotem (Britney Spears and Sean Kingston) flew him to Los Angeles to -originally- write music. However when Derulo decided to sing to his own lyrics that he created while in the studio, Rotem realized that the kid could write and sing, and decided to rush Derulo into a sound-booth the same day so the two of them could begin creating music.

“We recorded six songs in about three hours,” recalls Derulo. “That’s how amazing our energy levels were. We were at the exact same pace.”

Derulo compares the chemistry between him and Rotem to guys like Jackson and Quincy Jones. That connection got Derulo signed to Beluga Heights and Warner Bros. Records in 2009, a deal that had Derulo focusing on his debut self-titled album- due out in 2010.

“J.R. has great Pop sensibility,” says Derulo, who admires Rotem’s ability to view the industry as both a musician and a fan.

“As musicians we tend to get caught up with our work and our style or craft, but he’s also able to take the point of view as a fan, and hear the song from that perspective.”

The best part of the deal, according to the artist, is the leniency he was given to write all of his songs. While some artists would cringe at the thought of writing and recording over 300 tracks in eight months, Derulo laughs at the prospect.

“Difficult?” he asks chuckling. “I had the time of my life. I had my own studio, so it was amazing that I could be inside the entire day for hours working on my craft.

“What more could I ask for. I was able to come in and do what I love every single day. And I put my heart and soul into it.”

Although the songwriter did find some difficulty, but ironically it was while trying narrowing down those prospects to a CD selection. Yet, he understands and accepts the fact that “as a songwriter you may have certain connections to certain songs for different reasons. But you have to put that aside, you can’t choose a song because it was sentimental to you.”

With his debut record about to boast strong Pop roots, Derulo assures fans that it won’t just be watered down tracks like Watcha Say.

“It’ll emphasize each side of the Pop genre,” he says. Among his favorites is a tune that features Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve, and is dubbed “a singles anthem.”

“I think that there’s a lot of quality stuff on it that’s going to show my versatility and potential as an artist. I can’t wait.”

Gossip Girl Featuring Lady Gaga

Joelle Tomlinson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:50:20 +0000

Not much has been spilled regarding Lady Gagas much-anticipated appearance on the show, Gossip Girl.

According to perezhilton.com, the cast has only confirmed that she will be appearing and eluded that it will be something pretty spectacular. Lady Gaga, on the other hand, has revealed actual details about the upcoming appearance.

Gaga explained hat if she was going to do the show, she not settling for a randomly inserted musical performance.

“I hate TV series performances, because they kind of come in out of nowhere, and everyone’s, like, really into the story, and then all of a sudden somebody breaks into song. And it has nothing to do with the storyline, and then it screws everything up. I really sat down with the writers. I was like, ‘Look, I want to do this, and the reason I want to do this is because I am trying to say something that is not mainstream in a mainstream capacity. So, if I can say it on your show, that would be, like, a real coup d’état for me as a performance artist.’ ”

She elaborates that she is “the narrator behind what is going on with the characters and make the song part of the moment.”

“We used these ladders, and I’m falling off ladders. Ladders are kind of a monster symbol about bad luck. And I have this 35-foot-long dress on and these X’s, very gothic-inspired. It was great. They let me do whatever the hell I wanted. It was amazing.”

Between this intriguing/slightly scary performance and the upcoming threesome, Gossip Girl is pulling out all stops to regain footing in the ratings!

Lady Gaga To Receive Stylemaker Award

Joelle Tomlinson — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:23:43 +0000

One thing that everyone can agree on in relation to Lady Gaga: the women knows how to dress.

Her sometimes kooky and outrageous style is what will be earning her a coveted Stylemaker award on Monday night (November 2). According to mtvnews.com, Gaga will be honored by her good friend and über-designer Marc Jacobs with the Stylemaker Award at the 13th annual Accessories Council Excellence Awards. The ACE Awards will be held at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City and will also honor design icon Diane von Fürstenberg with the Accessory Visionary Award, Barbie as a Fashion Icon, and British fashion house Burberry as Brand of the Year.

According to UsMagazine.com, ACE President Karen Giberson released a statement saying, “[Gaga is] well-appointed in accessories. Just when you thought you saw everything in originality, there she is again. People anticipate what she’s going to wear, and it’s exciting to see accessories as such a meaningful part of someone’s wardrobe.”

In addition to Jacobs, Calvin Klein, Betsey Johnson, Nina Garcia, Molly Sims and “Gossip Girl” costume designer Eric Daman will be handing out awards.

DJ Space Cowboy, Ready To Raise North American Party Levels

Jeremy Singer — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:09:43 +0000

With the touch of a button, Nicolas Dresti delivers a shot of adrenaline to the sea of 30 thousand fans. Their screams are met with his quick rhythmic jumping and head bobbing to the beat on-stage. He’s not the main event, heck he’s not even a co-headliner, but he’s still the man orchestrating one of the hottest concerts on the planet – all from a laptop. This may be Lady Gaga’s party, but DJ Space Cowboy is the event’s power source – the battery that keeps the beat alive.

He’s now on top of the world.

On that night Dresti was the European energizer bunny, but now he’s recharging his own batteries at his hotel. It’s hard to believe that he is the key to Lady Gaga’s live performance successes. The man in the neatly-cut dark-suit and sparkling rhinestone skinny-tie seems sophisticated and quiet – the complete opposite of what a Gaga concert is notorious for.

But it’s true. Look at Dresti and his alter ego DJ Space Cowboy like you would Clark Kent and Superman – they’re both the same person, yet totally different at the same time. Put Clark Kent into a phone booth and he’ll become Superman. Well, put Dresti in front of an audio mixer and laptop, and he’ll suddenly transform into the backbone – or backbeat, if you will – as DJ Space Cowboy, Gaga’s DJ and head maestro responsible for explosive energy in any crowd.

His new album Digital Rockstar dropped earlier this week, and it’s one of the rare chances to really hear Superman-like energy harnessed into one CD.

“Raising the energy bar is one my main jobs as a DJ,” Dresti tells andPOP in the martini bar of Toronto’s Pantages Hotel.

Understand though, that he will do it any way possible. This is a man whose sole belief and line of work is to find the party factor in all depths of music. That’s basically the narrowed down version of his job.

“I prefer to do it with the Pop, Rock, Hip/Hop approach, but basically anything to get that killer reaction from an audience. Nothing beats spinning a song, and seeing a crowd go nuts. Nothing.”

Released by Cherrytree Records, the fourth studio project marks Dresti’s first album output with an American record label – a personal milestone for the Paris-born Disc Jockey. On that note, Dresti recalls how much the American DJ scene has evolved over the last few years. “There wasn’t much house music,” says Dresti in a refreshing British accent. “That was the big difference between here and back home.”

Before he got here, Dresti was busy amping up crowds in London’s underground club scene. There, he was a U.K. DJ extraordinaire – the protégé of British DJ legend Fatboy Slim.

But listing his accomplishments is of little interest to him. “Home is home. I was always musically inclined.”

He’s the kind of guy who refuses to mention that his passion led to a handful of singles, which flooded the charts in both the U.K. and the U.S. It was following the remix of Fergie’s Glamorous, which took the No. 2 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Airplay Chart in 2007, that Dresti released Digital Rock (2007) – his third and most valuable released album to-date.

“I was just trying to show the whole aspect of being a DJ and a rock-star at the same time,” explains Dresti about the term Digital Rock.

“Then, when I combined it with technology, guitars and synthesizers, it just all turned into this Digital Rock age which was a pretty important stage in my life.”

The album is the reason why he was presented with a signing deal to U.S. label Cherrytree Records – an Interscope Records imprint, which focuses on new artists – and the ergo-step to eventually meeting an up-and-coming artist from New York, who was also signed with the label, by the name of Lady Gaga.

“The label said I should meet with this girl, listen to her songs,” says Dresti.

He even recalls their first conversation.

“We actually spoke on New Years Eve. I was in London and she was in Los Angeles, and we just began talking about all our experiences

“We got along so well right away.”

You could say the two were speaking the same language, with conversation topics including sequins, disco balls, Prince, David Bowie and body paint. The U.K. man then flew to L.A. to help Gaga record the single Starstruck – which featured Flo Rida – on her debut album The Fame (2008).

“After we got to know each other better, she invited me to come on tour with her,” says Dresti.

And so he began mastering the sound beds for Gaga’s Fame Ball Tour, which kicked off last March. At that point, Dresti had already had years of experience fueling parties to know the true meaning of peak energy.

Or so he thought.

While working with Gaga, the DJ – who had previously worked and remixed with a variety of iconic artists from The Darkness to Sir Paul McCartney – witnessed energy being set to a new level.

“A unique thing about her,” begins Dresti, “is that whether you’re playing in a stairwell or a stadium, it always has to be the same energy. There’s no excuse, she’ll do whatever it takes. She’ll come to me five minutes before we go on stage and tell me she wants to switch this song in the set, and cut that verse out, and add this in…

“It’s enough to make you go crazy, but in a good way. She always sets the standards high.”

As the audiences grew bigger for each passing show, Dresti came to realize that he was on the most colossal tour of the year. Cities were being booked for two-a-night performances due to the high demand for tickets. The DJ found that with the rising popularity of the tour, so did his pressure to get more creative behind the laptop.

“I definitely had to sit down and start putting together some new sounds,” recalls Dresti. “For example, she (Gaga) would ask me for a song to dance to for two minutes on stage to represent something sad. So I would then try to incorporate other instruments like an organ or violin to find the right sound. Stuff like that.”

And when time would allow it while on the tour bus, Dresti would work on his own passion project, Digital Rockstar. He says it’s taken around a year to complete, and he can’t wait for it to hit the shelves. Shining brightly are songs like I Came 2 Party featuring Cinema Bizarre, Falling Down featuring Chelsea Korka from The Paradisco Girls and then a remixed version featuring LMFAO.

Simply put, it’s dance meets rock, meets party like a digital rockstar.

“Definitely a lot of work,” he says after a deep breath, smirking as he looks back on the experience. “I’m glad that’s finally all put together; looking forward to the reception.

“But then again, I’m also so glad that I got those artists to help me out.”

He seems a bit tired; maybe from the performance in Vegas the night before, or the North American solo tour that he’s been doing since the end of July. Luckily he now has a month break before the real fun begins.

There might not be a more perfect situation for his post-release promo-trip: LMFAO’s Party Rock Tour – 31 shows squeezed into a month and a half on the road from November 5 until December 20. A bunch of artists jumping up and down on stage, singing about partying, drinking and having a good time. It’s Dresti’s utopia.

“That truly, is going to be really exciting,” says the DJ who will be joined by the Far East Movement, Shwayze and the Paradiso Girls. “I love those guys and their work. A lot of DJs opt to play stuff by David Geutta or Black Eye Peas’ I Got A Feeling. It’s pretty big right now, but I like spinning with LMFAO a lot.”

Ideally he would love to work with David Bowie or even Kings of Leon, but as he gets up, he readjusts his rhinestone tie and parts with some insight. “I don’t always believe in going with the No. 1 charted song. That’s too easy. Sometimes in order to get a crazy reaction, you’ve got to dig deep and pull off something unique. You’ve got to find a song that not everyone would really expect, but then show them the party factor.”

Lady Gaga’s New Tracklist Released

Vanessa Baker — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:47:14 +0000

The track listing for Lady Gaga’s upcoming album, The Fame Monster, has been revealed to include a duo with Beyonce Knowles, reports Perez Hilton.

Lady Gaga’s second studio album will be released Nov. 20 in Europe and Nov. 23 in North America. Songs will include:

1. Bad Romance

2. Alejandro

3. Monster

4. Speechless

5. Dance in the Dark

6. Telephone (feat. Beyonce)

7. So Happy I Could Die

8. Teeth

The first single, “Bad Romance,” was available on iTunes beginning Oct. 26.

Diva Alert – Beyonce and Lady Gaga Team Up For ‘Video Phone’

Joelle Tomlinson — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:18:33 +0000

Amid fierce rumors that two of the biggest divas in the industry – Beyonce and Lady Gaga- are teaming up, the truth has finally emerged. It has been confirmed that the two singers have joined forces on a super-secret video for Beyonce’s “Video Phone.”

According to mtvnews.com, a spokesperson for director Hype Williams confirmed to MTV that both Beyonce and Gaga appear in the “Video Phone” clip, which Williams shot last weekend in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighbourhood.

William’s spokesperson would not confirm any additional tidbits about the shoot, but, according to Life and Style magazine, security on set was very tight, and the video is shaping up to be a fashion bonanza, with Beyonce wearing “a feathered dress” and Gaga sporting “something wild … the fashion is sick and insane.”

Another source posted on Pulse Music Board that the “Video Phone” clip was shot on a “closed set [with] no cameras or video phones” allowed. Apparently, the video version of the song – which is from Beyonce’s 2008 I am…Sasha Fierce album – features Beyonce and Gaga trading up-tempo verses, and sees Gaga adding an extra verse to the tune. The clip also features “lots of choreography” and “more dancers than the two girls [Beyonce is] always with.”