Amy Wallace wrote a fantastically written profile, “Ocean-ography,” on Frank Ocean for GQ magazine. Wallace pulled out of Frank the important small details that complete the bigger picture to otherwise mysterious prolific songwriter and singer. It’s less about the back story on how a kid goes from working at Fatburger to writing songs for Justin Bieber and Beyonce. Instead it’s a window into Frank as a creative, a human, a man. Read more…
You must bow down to Cyndi Lauper. Yes, bow. There will never be a time when “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” won’t be relevant. Sunday night she stepped out for the AMAs looking like a young rockstar. VH1 caught up with the 50-million-records-sold singer to ask if she had any crushes on any of the performers. One thing Cyndi made crystal clear: She ain’t no cougar! Read more…
The biggest pop news of the last few weeks has been the rumored split — and possible reuniting? – of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez. Young love is tough and love in the spotlight tougher, so we figured we would take the opportunity of the American Music Awards red carpet to solicit advice for the young and struggling and oh-so-famous couple from some of music’s hottest stars. First up? Auto-tune casanova Jason Derulo. Mmm whatcha say, Jason?
All bundled up and looking mighty a white fur jacket and a pair of yeti boots, Nicki Minaj performed her new no-apologies given Re-Up track, “Freedom.” Having just picked up awards for Best Rap/Hip Hop album and Best Rap Hip Hop Artist, she put her all into rapping while mostly opting-out of singing the hook. But at the end, she was joined by a white-robbed choir and they more than managed to set the song soaring.
Nicki returned to the stage later in the evening to join Justin Bieber for “Beauty And The Beast.” And despite the week’s heart breaking news, she kept the “gotta keep an eye out for Selen-er line.”
Justin Bieber‘s Believe tour made a brief stop in Brooklyn last night, filling the seats of the newly-opened Barclays with teens and their chaperons–along with a slew of slightly older fans, the ones who noticeably sit down during the slow songs. You could say I was amongst that second crew, although I did plaster temporary tattoos that read “I <3 Justin Bieber” all over my face as to better camouflage myself in with the crowd. But there are things that divided us (beer, mostly) and as it turns out temporary tattoos are extremely difficult to get off of your face.
Believe is a masterpiece of lights and sound and spectacle, all focused on spreading the gospel of self-confidence and the rags-to-riches tale that is The Justin Bieber Story. Not to mention, the fact that Bieb is now a person in his late teens who has developed quite the impressive physique. On two occasions, while strapping himself into a harness, Bieb lifted up his shirt to reveal a bare stomach causing a flurry of deafening screams. Toward the end of the set, he donned a zipped open jacket that revealed what seemed to be a six to eight pack of abs.
When during Bieber’s rendition of “One Less Lonely Girl” he brought up an actual “lonely girl” to sit terrified in a chair made of stereo speakers while he danced around her, there was a spark missing. She sobbed while he expertly glossed through the song, occasionally mock stroking her tear-stained face. And while Bieb attracted quite crew of famous people (even Jay-Z was in the house!), I could sense the sadness. Sadness related to his recent break up with fellow teen sensation Selena Gomez? Maybe! There was something a little off about his 1, 2 step, a little too real in his audience call-outs asking, “Where are my single ladies tonight?” to an answer of thunderous (and by that I mean thunder LIKE YOU’VE NEVER HEARD) screams.
I guess Aaron Carter‘s parents are out of town (again!) because he’s acting up on Twitter. Just kidding, that’s the premise from his 2000 hit “Aaron’s Party (Come Get It)“. It’s 2012, Aaron’s now 24 years old and he doesn’t need permission to have a rager. He does, however, need to be careful who he accuses of music video theft. He recently went on Twitter to call out Justin Bieber’s new music video “Beauty and the Beat” (that Biebs himself wrote, produced and directed) for reminding him of the one for his 12 year old hit. Meanwhile, that song is only six years older than Bieber himself.
Justin Biebers new video reminds me of my video “Aaron’s Party”
— Aaron Carter (@AARONCARTER) October 15, 2012
Yikes.
I’m not impressed.
— Aaron Carter (@AARONCARTER) October 15, 2012
Earlier this week, Justin Bieber set off a frenzy when he lamented on twitter that a bunch of his stuff had been taken, including a computer and camera with “a lot of personal footage.” Like a dog whistle, the tweets sent the media scrambling for whatever sorts of goods that “personal footage” might include. “Evidence” of underage drinking and a possible naked-pic surfaced almost immediately, as did rumors of a sex tape. And we were just about to reveal that scandalous generations-old Bieber family “spaghetti and milk” recipe we found, but! It turns out that this whole “stolen” stuff business is but stunt, initiated by Bieber himself to promote this sexy new video for “Beauty And A Beat,” featuring Nicki Minaj.
The video begins with a slate that tells it all: “In October of 2012 three hours of personal footage was stolen from musician Justin Bieber. The following footage was illegally uploaded by an anonymous blogger.” Okay, Biebs, you got us good. Read more…
Done up like a peacock in an a curve-hugging purple dress and her blonde locks dip-dyed pink, Christina Aguilera spent her morning reading off the nominees for the 2012 American Music Awards. Because AMA nominations are based on sales, airplay, social buzz and video streams, nominations tend to hue Top 10-centric, and this year proves no exception. Lady dynamos Nicki Minaj and Rihanna lead the pack with four nominations a piece, and will have to duel it out with Katy Perry and Kelly Clarkson for the Best Female Artist: Pop/Rock honor. Otherwise, Drake, Justin Bieber, Usher, Maroon 5 and One Direction trailing closely behind with three nods each.
It’s a little disappointing to see that some of the year’s most exciting acts — like Mumford & Sons, who broke records with their album; like Frank Ocean, who swelled-hearts with his; like Kanye West, who’s forever changing his game – were left off the list, but we’re happy to take consolation in imagine all the fun photo-ops that will happen when all these superstars join together in one big room.
The award show airs live from Los Angeles at 8 p.m. ET on November 18. Check out all the nominees below: Read more…
Topping the charts, launching a global phenomenon, topping the charts, breaking records, and today the New York Daily News informs us that K-pop’s unassuming star Psy is working miracles now, too. Because, babies they just love him! As The New York Daily News has found, babies go “gaga for Gangnam,’” and so parents the world wide have turned to the satirical video to calm their cranky kids. As evidence, they present two such babes: the adorable Benjamin of London, who seems to figure lunch is best served with a little giddy-up; and little Claire of West Virginia, above, who knows that tears are a major “Gangnam Style” faux-pas. It’s hard to say what exactly these kids like — the bounce, the bright lights, the sharp satire of Korea’s nouveau riche — because the parents in the story seems most interested in the fact that it works, and every time. And who could blame them?
Because there’s nothing better than getting your groove on and your kid quiet at the same time, we’ve found five other artists that seem to possess the same magic that calms a cranky baby. Like all the parenting manuals say: YouTube, a real modern parents’ helper!
Justin Bieber‘s Believe tour has gotten off to a shaky start, Justin letting bad milk get the better of him onstage the first night — twice. But that didn’t stop a sold-out and star-studded audience from swarming his show at L.A.’s Staples center last night, potential for vomit disregarded. Everyone from Katy Perry to Khloe Kardashian, Lena Dunham to Heidi Klum showed up, ditching the evening’s wine-and-presidential debate parties to brave a stadium’s worth of screaming tweens for the Biebs. And from what we can tell, they have no regrets. Justin Bieber concerts are no longer the province of the young, and everyone seemed to have a great time: Read more…
VH1 Presents Mixtape Festival: Train, NKOTB, TLC, The Script + more! Tickets on sale now at MixtapeFestival.com!
