Daily Reviews » Best

N-Dubz – ‘Best Behaviour’

Admin — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 11:00:46 +0000

The first and most important thing to say about this is that it’s impressive the way the director of the video to this song has used clothing to really capture Dappy’s fragile mental state. Or at least, the mental state of Dappy as he presents himself in the song, which isn’t necessarily the same thing.

He’s been squashed flat by the touring lifestyle, he’s so battered that he’s not sure which way is up, and to illustrate this, the director has chosen to film the video in a glamorous island airfield location, with the band standing in front of a private jet…and he’s put Dappy in shorts.

Tulisa’s wearing a nice dress, Fazer’s got his dark ensemble together, with a silk scarf hanging from his belt, and Dappy looks like he’s forgotten to get dressed.

It’s not often you see a male pop star in shorts, is it? And definitely not a combination of shorts, a vest, one of those high-school letterman jackets, and shoes with no socks. As an illustration of a man who is sorely in need of someone special in his life – if only to suggest that there’s a time for shorts and a time to dress like the pop star you really are – it’s pretty perfect.

(Here’s the video. See? He’s a broken man.)

As for the song itself, well it’s quite nice, isn’t it? Kind of boomy and big in a way which perhaps it doesn’t need to be, as if straining for anthem status, when it’s actually quite a quiet, thoughtful thing by N-Dubz’s usual insane standards. But it hangs together in an agreeable fashion, and the chorus is cute.

On the other hand, a brush-up on the lyrics would’ve perhaps got rid of the bits where Dappy and Fazer seem to be less interested in finding a forever soul mate and more concerned with hiring a housekeeper/teddy bear:

“See I need some kind of lady, that would feed me daily
Every time I come home she’d be waiting for me.”

Not that Tulisa is flying the flag for international sisterhood either. Her job application form involves finding a “homie, then I might let him be the boss of me.”

So there are definite prospects for promotion for the lucky applicant, in her case at least. And they won’t even have to help her with her wardrobe of a morning. Or cook.

Download: Out now

www.ndubz.com
BBC Music page

(Fraser McAlpine)

Rated R says: “The track ‘Bad Behaviour’ is a continuation of the sound from their previous album”

FJ Girls says: “In pop terms this is a safe, neutral sounding number and unfortunately it’s ticking all the technical boxes, but it’s doing nothing for us musically at all.”

View full post on BBC Audio & Music | Radio 1 Chart Blog

24′s Best Villains

Admin — Sun, 23 May 2010 05:36:07 +0000

Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is one heck of a CTU agent. Unfortunately, this superagent has encountered trouble in every shape and form over the last eight seasons of 24, from former CTU agent-turned-mole Nina Meyers to President Charles Logan to Jack’s own father. TVGuide.com takes a look back at the best baddies in Jack’s wake.

24 boss: There will be no “happily ever after” for Jack Bauer

Victor Drazen, Day 1
Drazen (Dennis Hopper), a Balkan warlord who…

Other Links From TVGuide.com

View full post on TVGuide.com: Breaking News

‘Eclipse’ Star Nikki Reed Says RPattz Has ‘Best Heart’ In New ‘Bookazine’

Admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 20:12:36 +0000

Us Weekly‘s ‘bookazine’ out May 28; watch video from Taylor Lautner’s Rolling Stone cover shoot!
By Jocelyn Vena

src="http://www.mtv.com/shared/promoimages/movies/e/eclipse/us_weekly_cover/281x211.jpg"/>

US Weekly’s “Bookazine” Cover

Photo: Wenner Media

With “Eclipse” more than a month from hitting theaters, Twilighters have been clamoring for clues about what to expect from the third installment in the vampire saga. While those details may be scarce, a new “bookazine” from the editors of Us Weekly promises some behind-the-scenes scoop guaranteed to please Twi-Hards.

In “The Sexy Stars of Twilight: Eclipse,” on newsstands May 28, some of the “Eclipse” castmembers opened up about what it was like on the movie’s set. The special issue also includes tons of pictures and posters, as well as factoids about the cast and the production.

For instance, cast newcomer Bryce Dallas Howard, who takes over as vampire Victoria, admitted she was initially concerned about joining the already close-knit cast, but found them incredibly welcoming.

“It was something I deeply considered and discussed with many people, because it is a very big deal,” Howard says in the book. To her relief, she discovered “Rob [Pattinson] and Taylor [Lautner] are such great guys. I love those boys! And Kristen [Stewart] was like, ‘Where’s your baby? I want to meet him.’ ”

But rather than KStew, it seems Nikki Reed turned out to be the on-set babysitter. “She’s like a second mom!” Howard remarks. “The other day [my baby] said, ‘I miss Nikki.’ I was like, ‘Honey, I miss Nikki too!’ ”

“We’re such a close family,” Kellan Lutz added.

Reed also dished about what it’s really like to chill with her co-stars.

“OK, P-Fatch [Peter Facinelli] is definitely the jokester and prankster. And he’s very much a father figure — safe and comforting,” Reed said. “Jackson [Rathbone] is the most artsy, creative and, I think, the most talented. Liz Reaser is the most well-read. Kellan and Ashley are very similar: They’re both very driven people, and they both like to go out a lot. A lot of the partying happens around them. [Pattinson] has the best heart.”

Are you eager to get more “Eclipse” trivia from the upcoming bookazine? Let us know in the comments!

Check out everything we’ve got on “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.”

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

Related Videos

‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’ Clips

Related Photos

‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’

View full post on MTV News

Survivor’s Russell: I Am the Best

Admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 10:19:06 +0000

After his aggressive social game and knack for finding immunity idols without clues on Survivor: Samoa last year, Russell Hantz cemented his status as one of the biggest villains in Survivor history with his performance on Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. Russell was a natural fit for the Villains team, but his aggressive tactics throughout Season 20 led to getting zero votes at the final Tribal Council. Hantz spoke with TVGuide.com about Parvati Shallow, Sandra Diaz-Twine and why the game of Survivor needs to be…

Other Links From TVGuide.com

View full post on TVGuide.com: Breaking News

14 Promising Pilots: What Looks Best for Fall?

Admin — Tue, 11 May 2010 07:38:41 +0000

With networks set to announce their fall TV lineups next week, TVGuide.com has the scoop on which pilots stand the best chance of flourishing next season. From medical dramas and romantic comedies to spies and Shatner, here’s our take on 14 solid bets for the fall:

Other Links From TVGuide.com

View full post on TVGuide.com: Breaking News

Guru’s Best: The Top 10 Essential Gang Starr Tracks

Admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:16:07 +0000

MTV News’ hip-hop team shares their faves, plus five of Guru’s Jazzmatazz greats.
By Sway Calloway, Rahman Dukes, Shaheem Reid, Steven Roberts and Jayson Rodriguez

src="http://www.mtv.com/shared/promoimages/bands/g/gangstarr/gangstarr_042010_music/281x211.jpg"/>

Gang Starr

Photo: Capitol

No one questioned Guru’s claim that he was “one of the best yet.” The Boston native had one of the most distinctive voices in hip-hop history. You didn’t even need a whole bar to know that Gifted Universal Rhymes Unlimited was on the mic. Backed by beats from the almighty DJ Premier, Guru supplied glorious vocals on battle raps, intricate life stories and candid street commentary. The 43-year-old MC died on Monday due to complications from cancer. And despite the fact that the Gang Starr duo were estranged for the last several years, their legacy is concrete — one of the richest in hip-hop history. Here at MTV News, the hip-hop team listed our choices for 10 essential Gang Starr songs.

1. “Dwyck,” featuring Nice and Smooth: The party record from 1994′s Hard to Earn is timeless. We love the simplistic rhymes from the trio, like, “Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is,” and Primo’s beat is a signature hip-hop treat.

2. “Take It Personal”: The phone rings on the beat; the song (from 1992′s Daily Operation) is off the hook. With imposing precision, Guru pulls the curtain back and sees a backstabber for the scoundrel he is. “I can see through you, ’cause I’m the Guru/ What you gonna do when I start to step to you.”

3. “Mass Appeal”: No crossover. Gang Starr always kept artistic integrity, and on this Hard to Earn track, Guru admonishes the poseurs with lines like, “You’re a son like Elroy/ And you’d be happy as hell to get a record deal/ Maybe your soul you sell for the mass appeal.”

4. “Just to Get a Rep”: “Stick up kids just out to tax.” In this song on 1991′s Step in the Arena, Guru’s words take us to the frontlines, where misguided youths think that the way of the gun is the road to respect.

5. “Suckas Need Bodyguard”: The aggression is turned up as Guru puts the heat on chumps in this Hard to Earn song. “My rhymes are a cargo, and yours are just a quarter ounce.” The chorus pretty much gets the group’s point across: “Fake MCs, they always act hard, but won’t walk the streets without their bodyguards.”

6. “Ex-Girl to the Next Girl”: One of Guru’s greatest gifts on the mic was his clarity in thought and articulation. His stories would unfold almost right in front of your eyes. Here, he shows some vulnerability as he navigates the relationship waters but finds triumph in the end. The track (from Daily Operation) gave an early indication of where he would later go with his heralded Jazzmatazz series.

7. “Royalty,” featuring K-Ci and JoJo: After a four-year break between albums, the two underground kings returned with two-thirds of the legendary R&B group Jodeci for this inspirational track (on 1998′s Moment of Truth) about striving for greatness. Guru even shouts out our very own Sway and his partner King Tech.

8. “Words I Manifest”: Vintage, early Gang Starr. The duo came out of the gate promoting knowledge of self and establishing their roles in hip-hop. “I got tenacity, because I have to be/ The brother who must live and give with much insight/ Foresight to ignite, excite and delight.”

9. “You Know My Steez”: Gang Starr talk about their lauded musical modus operandi, an authentic representation of the essence of hip-hop.

10. “The ? Remainz”: “This is a battle rhyme in case you haven’t noticed/ You get replaced, you get demoted.” The belligerence is beautiful in this 1994 track, as Guru and Primo once again answer the bell and silence any questions as to whether they’ve earned the title of hip-hop ownerz.

Five Essential Records From the Jazzmatazz Series:

“Loungin’ ” with Donald Byrd

“Trust Me” with N’Dea Davenport

“Keep Ur Worries” with Angie Stone

“Le Bien, le Mal” with MC Solaar

“Plenty,” featuring Erykah Badu

What are your favorite Gang Starr and Guru songs? Share them in the comments below.

Related Videos

Gang Starr’s Guru Passes Away

Related Artists

href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/guru_rap_/artist.jhtml">Guru (Rap)
href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/gangstarr/artist.jhtml">Gangstarr

View full post on MTV News

‘Jersey Shore’ Cast Will Have ‘Best Time Ever’ In Miami, Locals Say

Admin — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 09:56:32 +0000

‘I can’t wait to party with them,’ one fan says.
By MTV News staff

src="http://www.mtv.com/shared/promoimages/news/j/jersey_shore/best_of_shore_040810/281x211.jpg"/>

Cast of “Jersey Shore”

Photo: MTV

It’s official! The “Jersey Shore” crew will be making their way back to the, uh, Jersey Shore for season two of the reality hit. However, the cast will kick off the new season in Miami before heading back up North. Although they may be out of their element in Florida, fans in the Sunshine State have been very welcoming to Snooki, the Situation and the rest of the crew.

“Miami’s where it’s at — but Jersey’s like a miniature Miami, so if you bring them down here they’ll just be twice as big,” Andrew Hyatt said. “I can’t wait to party with them, hit up all the clubs with them … they couldn’t come anywhere better than Miami,” Iliana added.

Laura Fontana is also looking forward to clubbing with the Jersey natives. “Oh my God! We’re gonna party and they’re gonna love it and they’re gonna party with us,” she gushed. “They’re just gonna have the best time ever.”

“I think it’s going to be really funny,” Nadia Contractor said, noting that residents of the Miami shore are a bit different from their Jersey shore counterparts. “People are different than Jersey and I think we’re going to expect a different vibe.”

“Yesterday we saw Ronnie coming out and he was fist-pumping,” Neil Kadlec said.

“Ronnie’s just doing the fist pump,” Brenda Oramas added. “It’s gonna be amazing.”

Fan Noel summed it up for the fellas, adding, “It’s going to be amazing. It’s one of the most greatest shows that has been on MTV in my opinion. I love to watch it and it’s always entertaining … Snooki and all those other attractive women.”

Are you excited for season two of “Jersey Shore”? What do you think the crew will get into down in Miami? Let us know in the comments below!

Season two of “Jersey Shore” premieres Thursday, July 29, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. Be there!

Related Videos

‘Jersey Shore’ Cast Will Be Returning Home!

View full post on MTV News

‘America’s Best Dance Crew’ Crowns Poreotix Season-Five Champs

Admin — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 04:18:41 +0000

Season finale is marked by high-energy routines and unity among the competing crews.

src="http://www.mtv.com/shared/promoimages/news/a/abdc_2010/poreotix/281x211.jpg"/>

Poreotix

Photo: MTV

For a few moments, the competition was placed to the side. Dance crews from both coasts, the South and Canada all set aside their game faces, joined forces and did what they do best: They danced.

Thursday night’s (April finale of the fifth season of “America’s Best Dance Crew” was said to be the tightest ever, and when the boys from California, Poreotix, were announced in the final moments, there was a period of excitement and celebration.

To be sure, that moment was special, but it didn’t undercut the earlier periods of unity that took place before the finalists of what became an international showdown– the winning crew from California and a crew from Canada — were announced. Together, the crews joined forces, put their competitive spirits aside and delighted the audience with what made this show so fierce all season long.

Up first were the dancers from the West Coast, dancing to Ke$ha’s “Blah, Blah, Blah.” Following them were the East Coast contenders, who incorporated some impressive jump-roping and tumbling skills into their routine. Not to be outdone, the dancers from the South entertained to T-Pain’s “Take Your Shirt Off” and, mid-performance, ripped off their shirts in unison, generating cheers and foot stomping from the crowd.

Montages showing clips of the season’s finalists — the Blueprint Cru and Poreotix — aired, while crew members gave final thoughts in pre-taped interviews.

“We’ve shown people something that they’ve never seen before: We showed them that they could have fun onstage,” one of the members from California’s Poreotix said.

The Blueprint Cru said they wanted to show the caliber of talent coming out of Canada. “We went in to the competition wanting to win America over,” a member said.

Both crews came together to perform a high energy step routine together, surprising the audience with a live marching band — representing both by wearing each team’s colors — before taking a final word from judges.

Poreotix were presented with the trophy by executive producer Randy Jackson, who officially crowned them the winning team, with the dropdown of the championship banner and a series of pyrotechnics.

Were you happy with the “America’s Best Dance Crew” outcome? Sound off in the comments below!

Related Videos

View full post on MTV News

6 Best April Fool’s Pranks

Admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:27:24 +0000

Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet — especially on April 1. Check out the best pranks the web had to offer this April Fool’s Day, and share your favorites below.

Other Links From TVGuide.com

View full post on TVGuide.com: Breaking News

SXSW 2010’s Best Video: Court Yard Hounds, Free Energy, More

Admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:47:56 +0000

Nearly 2,000 bands invaded Austin for rock’s annual Mardi Gras SXSW earlier this month, and Rolling Stone was on the scene, bringing you reports from the biggest shows (Stone Temple Pilots, Hole, Muse) and 100 tweets about up-and-comers to watch. RS also hosted our first-ever showcases at the festival — be sure to grab our new issue, out today, for the story behind our pair of shows.

Our cameras were rolling onstage and behind the scenes, capturing some of the most incredible footage of the fest — watch it all right here: Dixie Chicks side project Court Yard Hounds open up about the birth of the band, the Whigs tell the story behind their new album, David Fricke questions Jimmie Dale Gilmore about Austin’s enduring weirdness and talks to John Doe about happiness affecting his art, Jonathan Ringen gets Free Energy to chat about Tom Petty and Dawes to debate their influences. Plus, see Mayer Hawthorne hanging out on the set of our historical photo shoot and talks about Snoop and Smokey Robinson, and catch some of Band of Skulls’ searing live set.

Band of Skulls

Court Yard Hounds

Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Free Energy

The Whigs

Dawes

John Doe

Mayer Hawthorne

View full post on Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily