Verizon and MTV want to send 1 lucky winner and a friend to the 2011 MTV Video Music Award in Los Angeles, California on August 28th! This year, MTV is bringing the star-studded awards show back to the West Coast! Since last years VMAs packed a powerful punch with shocking performances and unforgettable moments from headliners like Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Rihanna, and Linkin Park, this is an award show that you won't want to miss!!
This is your chance to experience the annual award show mayhem up close and personal! Grand prize includes 2 nights hotel accommodations, round-trip airfare and 2 tickets to the MTV Video Music Awards! Entry is simple, just head here: http://verizonsweeps6.com/, register with a valid email address and you could be on your way! Don't delay, entry period ends August 8th!
Sometimes we get caught in the moment, and we just let go. Rihanna must have just been feeling herself, or been feeling the mood of the carnival or just happy to be back home,but here we get to see a different side of RiRi. WTF???
Wow!!! WTF is in that cup Rihanna? I am sure your partner doesn't mind at all.LOL.
Rihanna wore an elaborate carnival outfit as she took part in the Kadmooment Day parade in Barbados yesterday. The Grand Kadooment is the official finale celebration of the Crop Over Festival Season.
On July 14 2011 Justin Bieber joined Lady Gaga by hitting the 11 million mark in Twitter followers. Guess who is in the # 3 spot?
Well the 3rd place goes to some guy you may know....TPOTUS: Barack Obama, of course!!! Justin Bieber now has 11 Million followers on Twitter. He still is not #1 however. Lady GaGa is well over 11 million while Barack Obama is a a 'measly' 9 million.
Justin Bieber was at the 2011 ESPY Awards with Selena Gomez while his Twitter count was climbing to that mark! Beiber learned about it later and when he did he had this to say... via Twitter of course:
"#11MillionBeliebers! I LOVE YOU ALL!! THANK YOU....tonight was already a fun great night and now it is even better. THANK U THANK U THANK U."
In related news, it was only back in May that Lady Gaga was the first to hit the 10 million mark in twitter followers. Bieber followed a few weeks later and at one point was only about 350,000 followers behind but with the success of her album Born This Way she's began gaining more followers per day than he was. Though that trend may be reversing again, she's now over 600,000 followers ahead. The stats come courtesy 'Famecount.'
You may ask, what is 'Famecount'? 'Famecount' is an online site that "...generates statistics across Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, to help you track the trends and rank the stars." In YouTube views the site reports Bieber leading with Lady Gaga in 2nd place. It is a close race since the release of Born This Way. These numbers include views of every song the artist has on YouTube and indicate many are using YouTube to watch these two perform their songs. At present, Justin Bieber has 1.75 billion YouTube Views while Lady Gaga has 1.725 billion. You read that right - billion. Rihanna is 3rd with 1.36 billion and Eminem 4th with 1.29 billion. Can you believe these numbers? I did not know so many people were obsessed with Bieber, GaGa & RiRi!
The 'Loud Tour' came down in flames in Dallas! As Rihanna was performing 'California King Bed' in Dallas, there was a lighting issue that caused the stage to break out in flames! Look at how the fans react!!
In the name of performance, we fall down, but we get back up. I've seen numerous celebs fall down during a performance doing intricate choreography, or some out of this world routine. But to just fall over your own feet--that's just clumsiness...lol. Take a look at RIRI taking a little tumble while performing 'What's My Name'.
Rihanna kicked off her 'Loud' tour in Baltimore, MD over the weekend! And RiRi came out with quite an impressive, ultra sexed-up set, to the delight of her fans. More notably, RiRi, asked for some crowd participations when she pulled a female 'fan' up on stage for a sexy lapdance. Take a look:
Wow!
What's with all the lewdness these days at concerts? Just last week, Chris Brown gave one of his fans a lap dance and Nicki Minaj gives lap dances on her set as well as 'displays' several different 'sex toys while on stage. I guess the all adage is proven to be so TRUE: SEX SELLS!!! The sexier the better, the sexier the more tickets sales you can garner! So.. more power to them! Keep serving up hot sex on a platter because we will continue to 'eat' it all up!
Janet and Madonna and other artists have been doing this type of thing for years, so out of tradition--the show must go on!
As soon as I saw the visual for Rihanna's latest single 'Man Down', I knew there was going to be a media outcry. In the video, Rihanna is depicted as 'gunning down' and past lover in a busy train station. We learn later that the 'victim' was a past lover who had 'abused' the starlet. Really strong message, indeed, in light of Rihanna's past domestic issues. Well the PTC (Parent Television Council) is outraged at such a depiction in a music video. According to TMZ:
"The council is outraged that Rihanna would suggest that gunning down a rapist in a crowded train station is a proper form of justice. “If Chris Brown shot a woman in his new video and BET premiered it, the world would stop. Rihanna should not get a pass …”
Personally I think it is a poignant video with a deep message that needs to expressed. But I do think there were better ways that this could've been done. Being a director myself, I think there could have been a more subtle depiction of the abuser getting his 'just desserts' in the end. It's all about how you tell a story. It could have been shot in a way as to' imply' that the abuser gets murdered or 'taken care of'. I light of these violent times we live in, there could have been a better way to portray this that was not so obvious or blatant. It all deals what it is implied. Let the viewer assume what was portrayed here in such a literal sense. With BET's history of banning videos they deem too risque or too violent, I am almost surprised that they were they ones to debut the visual. I remember Rihanna's 'Russian Roulette' video where it is implied that she commits suicide in the end. We don't see it on screen, but we hear the gunshot and infer that she took her own life. In that instance, the viewer drew their own conclusion. With that visual, later airings of it ran without the gunshot sound effect at the end. So again, I am surprised that this visual was so literal. In case you missed the video here it goes:
Man Down"
Well with all the criticsim and the backlash surrounding the video. Rihanna called in to BET's '106 & Park', to speak on it. Here is what she had to say!
“I didn’t go into it to make a controversial video. I wanted to make a mini-movie, something raw and artistic. If I can be a voice for so many that aren’t heard, then I win twice. Look at how it’s effecting people. Girls are empowered by this. It’s easy to turn it to something negative but I’m just really impressed that my fans ‘get it.’ That was really important to me.”
Rihanna must have a mint when it comes to budget for her 'Loud' project. RiRi unleashes yet another video from the disc. This time, Rihanna takes her message to Jamaica to tell the story of a sexually-abuse woman and how she 'triumphs' in the end by ending the life of her abuser. Right at the beginning of the clip we see Rihanna gunning down a man in a crowded train station before flashing back to the day before and the events that led to his untimely demise. There are some strong content and visuals in this video. I am sure there are going to be some sort of backlash for the violence depicted in the visual. Some may go as far as to censor or ban the clip for being too suggestive of the type of violence woman can face in abusive relationships. We will see how it 'plays' out, for now take a look at the clip and see what you think. Too graphic, or just enough to truly paint the picture? Anthony Mandler again is at the helm, directing this poignant clip.
"Man Down"
This video reminds me of Drake's "Find your love" video which was also directed by Mandler.
Pop diva, Rihanna kicks off the summer by causing a 'riot' at Rockefeller Plaza yesterday! Well maybe not a riot, but her fans would beg to differ. Rihanna took to the streets of New York to kick off 'The Today Show's Summer Concert Series singing #1 hits from her 'Loud' disc.
Rihanna cooed and slinked down the streets of Rockefeller Plaza singing her #1 smash, 'S&M', as sexy dancers followed her to the main stage. Take a look:
Some may know her, but most may not. But if the name doesn't ring a bell right out the gate, you definitely know her work. Ester Dean. Ester Dean is a singer/songwriter behind such hits as 'Firework', by Katy Perry, 'SuperBass' by Nicki Minaj, 'S&M' by Rihanna, and her own hit single 'Drop it Low' which featured Chris Brown. But up until 2009, Dean was relatively unknown in the music business. But all that would soon change, and change for the better.
Ester Dean's vision changed when she experienced what she describes as her "oh, wow" moment. Dean saw the inspirational 2006 documentary "The Secret," which its creator Rhonda Byrne later turned into a best-selling book. The personal empowerment message of the film -- "everything is possible, nothing is impossible" -- resonated strongly with Dean.
"I'd put so many limits on how I believed things should work,". I started taking away those limitations, took myself out of the box. Now I'm ready to wow the world." Dean, who just three years ago was living on Section 8 housing vouchers, has started to do just that. The Muskogee, Okla., native was singing on demos and writing songs in Atlanta when she was introduced to Polow Da Don. He asked her to write a hook for Young Jeezy, and ended up signing her to his Zone 4/Interscope label in 2009. She also inked a publishing deal with producer Christopher "Tricky" Stewart's RedZone Publishing.
Fast-forward to 2011. Now based in Los Angeles, Dean has co-written four of the first quarter's top 100 airplay songs: Katy Perry's "Firework" (No. 2); Rihanna's "What's My Name," featuring Drake (No. 4), and "S&M" (No. 27); and Lloyd's "Lay It Down" (No. 94). Those join a growing list of writing credits that includes T.I.'s "Remember Me," featuring Mary J. Blige; Blige's "I Am"; Rihanna's "Rude Boy"; and "Let Me Take You to Rio" for the soundtrack to the animated feature "Rio." Dean also co-wrote three tracks on the 2009 album "Graffiti" by Chris Brown, who returned the writing favor by guesting on Dean's own single that year, "Drop It Low" -- the first release under the deal she signed with Zone 4/Interscope. The track peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100.
When did you start writing and singing?
When I was in the third grade; I wouldn't pay attention in school at all. I did love English because they let you tell stories. I used to have these big-ass notebooks in which I'd write down all my thoughts. But in school, I was just the girl who sang all over the place, trying to see who wanted to make a group.
How did "S&M" come about?
I wrote it, Father forgive me, on a Sunday. The track was already there. The first thing that came to me was "Come on, come on." I'm thinking, "I don't know what in the hell this is about to be." And I remembered I'd seen something that said, "Sticks and stones may break my bones." Then came "But chains and whips excite me." And I'm like, "Oh, my God, I got to write that." I'm in the studio with the engineer and just kept looking at him, asking, "Is that OK?" And he says, "I like it." When people have a great track that speaks to me, it feels like it already has a story in it.
What's your take on the current state of R&B and hip-hop? People need to stop putting a limit on what it is and what it isn't. It's what you put into it. However, people keep putting limitations on themselves and creating this reality that soul music is dead. That's only in their reality. It's not true. To me, Adele is R&B. Bruno Mars is R&B. It's just good songwriting and songs. That is going to last. That's what I've got to work on my damn self‹what's going to last.
Ester Dean is truly a 'portrait' of tenacity. She proves that if you keep trying, and keep honing your craft, doors will begin to fly off the hinges for you. When she was able to break the limits that she admitted she set on herself, she was able to fly, soar to heights she never knew she could reach. I applaud a strong woman who has the gusto to go after she wants in a male-driven industry. Hats off to Ester Dean. We will continue to hear great music this woman pens and hopefully we will see her step out on her own with her project and make the world stop and stare again.
Until then, let's go back just a bit to Ester's 1st single:
When is pushing the line better than just skating the line of public decency? Was it just me, or did it seem as if the BMA's tried to serve up an EXTRA helping of 'sex on a platter' at this year's award set. Creating this post, I couldn't help but hear George Michael's 'I want your sex' and Madonna's, 'Justify my love' in my head, but I digress. Let's just take a look!
(Now that's some SUPER ASS, I mean SUPER-BASS right there!)
They look like little action figures.... One of these things is not like the others... PICK WHICH ONE needs to eat a few more bowls of TOTAL....LOL Nice--but need a little more ASSets...
Not quite the same after Madonna, huh?--"Cheek, baby, you used to kiss Chris." -RiRi- "You kissed Kevin" Smells like 'TEEN SPIRIT!'
"Come Get it! Jay-Z that is..."
(SLOB HER DOWN!)
(Dig in her 'gravel pit')
Whew, I need a cigarette now. LOL.
So, too sexy, or just on the borders of decency? Well like the old saying goes, 'sex sells'.. If you all else fails, you can always resort to that, right. The performance were designed to shock, titillate and entertain. I think they achieved just what they are going after. But still, I am sure they received some calls from angry parents of children who were still awake watching this telecast. In that instance, parents still can or should control what their children watches on television, if they are easily tempted, or offended by some of the images here. Janet, trust me, that little nipple thing has nothing on Sunday night's titillating telecast.
While everybody was busy clamoring and tweeting about Beyonce's amazing performance, Britney's lip-sync 101 class, Nicki's confusing, lackluster performance ( I just got the thing about the chicken), Cee-Lo 'flipping out', and The Far East Movement's far-out dance moves, there were also some winners (and losers) too. And the winners were:
ALBUM ARTIST OF THE YEAR Taylor Swift
DIGITAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Justin Bieber
HOT 100 SONG OF THE YEAR
Taio Cruz (“Dynamite”)
COUNTRY SONG OF THE YEAR
“Need You Now” (Lady Antebellum)
TOP DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Black Eyed Peas
VIRAL INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
Cee Lo Green
TOP TOURING ARTIST
U2
RADIO ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Rihanna
TOP NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Justin Bieber
FAN FAVORITE
Justin Bieber
ARTIST OF THE MILLENIUM
Beyonce
ICON AWARD
Neil Diamond
Top R&B Song:
Usher feat. willI.am
'OMG'
Top Rap Song:
Eminem Feat. Rihanna — “Love The Way You Lie”
Top Streaming Song (Audio):
Nelly — “Just A Dream”
Top Streaming Song (Video):
Justin Bieber Feat. Ludacris — “Baby”
Top Dance/Electronic Album:
Lady Gaga — “The Fame”
Top Rap Album:
Eminem — “Revovery”
Top Male Artist:
Eminem
The finalists and winners are determined by chart performance and social and streaming activity as chronicled in Billboard magazine and on Billboard.com during the eligibility period of February 28, 2010 through March 1, 2011. The 46 award categories are based on measures provided by our data partners including sales data shared by Nielsen SoundScan, radio airplay monitored by Nielsen BDS, streaming data measured by Tubemogul and Nielsen BDS, social media consumption gauged by Next Big Sound and tour grosses tracked by Billboard Boxscore.
The take home message here is: DO POP MUSIC!!! Or at least do a song with Eminem, Rihanna or Justin Bieber. Or be Caucasian or at least appeal to Caucasians. (LOL). Befriend a causasian today! They are actually pretty cool, really--they are. I've tried it and 85% of them LOVE ME! (JUST JOKING-NO HATE MAIL PLEASE--this is a joke) But seriously------- Your music doesn't necessarily have to be GREAT. It just has to appeal to a MAINSTREAM audience., and have a fast-uptempo beat. Mainstreamers are the people that are buying your music.
With Awards Show season well underway, everybody has to arrive in style! The RED CARPET is where you get to let it all hang out! So, who RULED THE RED CARPET this year at The Billboard Music Awards 2011!?
Who were your favorites!?!?!?
MY PICK is KELLY ROWLAND... then Keri Hilson... I love Mary J., but that animal print get-up , IS NOT IN SEASON...lol What do you guys think?
WHY LAWD???? This guy just won't go away! I mean really he must be on his very last MINUTE of fame. 'Hide yo weed hide yo crack' Antoine Dodson is back. This time he is 'dancing' 'seductively' to Rihanna's 'Skin'. *vomits*
Well it appears that they at least moved out the projects! LOL What's with the facial expressions? Is he chewing gum or trying to lip-sync? At one point I guess he got into the JAM, because he had to TURN IT UP!!! LOL
