Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=391548
Kim Basinger Angela Bassett Kathy Bates Anne Baxter Jennifer Beals
Arndt, who also wrote the script for 'Hunger Games' sequel 'Catching Fire,' is rumored to be involved in all three new 'Star Wars' films.
By Kara Warner
Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford in "Star Wars"
Photo: Lucasfilm
Source:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1697045/star-wars-vii-writer-michael-arndt.jhtml
Yasmine Bleeth Nikki Blonsky Emily Blunt Eleanor Boardman Mary Boland
Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff
Alison Krauss and Robert Plant accept the award for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards on Sunday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
"I'm bewildered," Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the Grammy Album of the Year award with Alison Krauss on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."
He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because Raising Sand, which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect Grammy album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.
You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history.
Really, she's the key to Sand's success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released.
And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain.
And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified.
To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.
One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album.
"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards."
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604582/20090209/plant_robert.jhtml
Trini Alvarado Lauren Ambrose Mädchen Amick Gillian Anderson Pamela Anderson
Singer dances flawlessly but is overcome by emotion when time comes to sing.
By Rochell Thomas
Chris Brown at the 2010 BET Awards
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images
When Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo and New Edition were performing tributes to Michael Jackson during last year's BET Awards show, Chris Brown was nowhere to be found, even though many felt he was an obvious choice to honor the fallen legend. Brown's assault on Rihanna several months earlier presumably kept him out of the show.
On Sunday night (June 27), Brown finally got his chance to publicly honor the man he idolized -- and while his dancing was flawless, when the time came for him to sing, he simply fell apart.
After being introduced by Jermaine Jackson, Brown beautifully channeled Michael as he danced to "Remember the Time," "Smooth Criminal" and "Billie Jean." Yet when he grabbed a mic to sing "Man in the Mirror," he choked up, visibly weeping.
"I'm gonna make a change for once in my ..." Brown's voice trailed off. He was out of breath and sounded hoarse. Tears stained his cheeks as he paced the stage, holding the microphone by his side. "This ... wind is blowing my ... Who am I to..." He clearly knew the lyrics but they failed to come out.
Brown faded in and out of the song, closing his eyes, grimacing, trying to soldier on. Whether it was the emotion of the moment or the past 16 months, Brown struggled and failed to find his voice, even though the pre-recorded backing vocals played on.
Finally, he gave up, raised a bandaged finger to the sky and fell to his knees as Michael Jackson's voice could be heard saying, "I'm starting with the man in the mirror." The camera cut from Brown to an audience member who clearly uttered "Oh my God," in shock.
The audience loudly sang the words that Brown could not. Their aid seemed to move Brown to rise from his knees and mouth the words along with Jackson's voice, while gesturing along with the mic as tears rolled down his face. In the audience, actress Taraji P. Henson could be seen mouthing, "That's all right baby," as Brown walked offstage to Jermaine Jackson, who moved to console him.
Brown's emotional performance echoed through the rest of the show. When Niecy Nash came onstage to present the Video of the Year award, she said, "When Chris Brown started crying I got choked up."
Backstage, "a lot of folks were getting misty-eyed, understanding that he was overwhelmed with emotion," BET publicist Zabrina Horton said. "Me, personally, I think 'Man in the Mirror' was great for him to do because I'm sure he still feels bad about Rihanna and wants to be forgiven. He has to make that change himself for himself and he knows that."
Later in the show, when accepting the AOL Fandemonium prize, which measures an artist's "online and mobile fan power," Brown spoke briefly.
"I didn't really prepare a speech because I didn't really think I was gonna be backstage," he said. "But bottom line, I couldn't never do this without my fans. Team Breezy, all the support I've been getting from day one.
"I just wanna say one thing,' he concluded. "I let y'all down before but I won't do it again, I promise. I love y'all, good night."
What did you think of Chris Brown's Michael Jackson tribute at the BET Awards? Let us know in the comments below.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1642473/20100627/brown__chris__18_.jhtml
Maria Bello Annette Bening Julie Benz Elizabeth Berkley Halle Berry
Source: http://www.pinkisthenewblog.com/2012-11-06/president-barack-obama-wins-reelection
Julie Benz Elizabeth Berkley Halle Berry Angela Bettis Leslie Bibb
