Mary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers

'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll


Mary J. Blige
Photo: MTV News

You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.

In early February, reports began circulating that Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven," working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her Stronger With Each Tear album, due Monday.

But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering another Zeppelin classic — the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" — for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the Essence Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine.

"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' — it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."

Blige also said she recorded another new song — a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" — for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon.

"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.

Related Artists

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633563/mary-j-blige-dishes-on-her-crazy-led-zeppelin-covers.jhtml

Asia Argento Aubrey ODay Audrina Patridge Autumn Reeser Avril Lavigne Bali Rodriguez Bar Refaeli Beyoncé Bianca Kajlich Bijou Phillips Blake Lively Blu Cantrell Bonnie Jill Laflin Bridget Moynahan Britney Spears

Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato, More Light Up Z100 Jingle Ball

Kelly Clarkson delivers jaw-dropping set, as LMFAO, Gym Class Heroes, David Guetta and viral sensations Karmin help fill jam-packed MSG lineup.
By Henna Kathiya


Lady Gaga performs at Jingle Ball on Friday
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images

NEW YORK — Without skipping a beat, Z100's annual Jingle Ball kicked off at exactly 7:30 p.m. Friday night to an arena full of screaming fans. The head-turning lineup featured Demi Lovato, Kelly Clarkson, LMFAO, Pitbull, Foster the People, Mindless Behavior, the Script, David Guetta, Gym Class Heroes and Lady Gaga, who brought some of the year's biggest hits to the Madison Square Garden stage.

ZI00's Elvis Duran and the Morning Crew personally came onstage to introduce the night's most-anticipated performance.

"Years ago, there was a young girl in the audience watching the Z100 Jingle Ball [and] she told her mom she wanted to be a singer," Duran said to the squealing concertgoers. "Three years ago, she opened up the show with her hit Just Dance. It gives me pleasure to say that a lifelong Z100 fan has now become one of the most important artists of our generation."

With the crowd chanting "Gaga," the New York City native opened with Edge of Glory. But in true Lady Gaga fashion, she didn't appear onstage right away. Instead, she emerged from a Christmas tree mid-song, decked out in a studded leather outfit. She then belted her way through "Bad Romance."

"When I was 11, I came to this very concert and told my mom I wanted to be a singer, and guys ... here I am," she said, launching into "Just Dance."

"Some people thought I was just going to be a one-hit wonder," Gaga continued as she moved on to mega-hits "Poker Face," "Telephone" and "Judas."

The pop diva then paid homage to the holidays with a naughty rendition of "White Christmas," gyrating her way across a holiday-themed set, complete with antlers, Christmas trees and lights.

Mother Monster danced through "Born This Way," before closing out the show with her latest, the Fernando Garibay-produced "Marry the Night", for which she channeled the video by changing into a a hospital gown and carting an IV stand onstage. As the song ended, fireworks went off and red confetti shot out all over the jubilant crowd.

Jingle Ball 2011's stellar lineup was more than just Gaga, of course.

During a short break in the show, fans took to their phones and began tweeting furiously in anticipation of another act: Demi Lovato. Finally, after what seemed like years in tween time, Big Time Rush introduced the 19-year-old, who took the stage looking classy in an all-black, gem-studded blazer.

Lovato, joined by her backup dancers, opened with "All Night Long," and followed up with her new single, Give Your Heart a Break, to the delight of screaming Lovatics. Demi turned serious, though, for her comeback ballad "Skyscraper," and the whole room sang along. She closed out her set by ripping off her blazer, all the better to shimmy to and sing the finale, "Unbroken."

"Thank you guys!" she told her adoring fans. "You all have been so amazing!"

Turns out Kelly Clarkson, who took it back with her massive uptempo hit "Since You Been Gone," is also a Lovatic. "I've been waiting for a long time to do a duet with Demi," Kelly said. "Wow, she can sing her butt off!" she added as Demi returned for the classic "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Needless to say, the two power singers ... killed it. (Lovato has long cited Clarkson as an inspiration.)

Clarkson then switched gears, dipping into her latest album, Stronger, for the sassy "Mr. Know It All," and chart-toppers like "My Life Would Suck Without You."

Gym Class Heroes opened with their staple "Cupid's Chokehold," but the hip-hop/rock band also rolled out numbers from their new album, The Papercut Chronicles. They said goodbye with frontman Travie McCoy rapping his solo hit "Billionaire," as the crowd eagerly sang Bruno Mars' hook.

Reality star Khloe Kardashian was one of the night's guest hosts, and she told MTV News she has "a passion for music." Dressed in LMFAO-approved leopard tights, Kardashian introduced the electro-pop duo, who were short one party-rocker. "SkyBlu couldn't be here with us tonight because he hurt himself wiggling," RedFoo explained.

Although he was without his partner in crime, RedFoo held it down, kicking off with "Sorry for Party Rocking" as he danced with two giant plastic zebras in the background. Foo went on to perform "Shots Shots" and "I'm in Miami" (a New York version, of course). He finished up with explosive -- there were fireworks -- versions of the LMFAO hits "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy and I Know It," as fans wiggled in their seats.

Youtube sensations Karmin also performed -- but not onstage. They surprised everyone by rocking right in the crowd.

Share your Jingle Ball concert reviews in the comments below!

Related Artists

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675742/z100-jingle-ball-lady-gaga.jhtml

Claudette Ortiz Coco Lee Connie Nielsen Cristina Dumitru Daisy Fuentes Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick Daniella Alonso Danneel Harris Deanna Russo Denise Richards Desiree Dymond Diane Kruger Dido Diora Baird

Hot New Video: Britney Spears ?I Wanna Go?

Yesterday I showed you a teaser trailer for Britney Spears’ video, ‘I Wanna Go.’ I had NO idea it would involve mocking the media the way it does- LOL. The opening bit is priceless! What do you think of the … Continue reading

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/06/22/britney-spears-i-wanna-go-video/

April Scott Arielle Kebbel Ashanti Ashlee Simpson Ashley Greene Ashley Olsen Ashley Scott Ashley Tappin Ashley Tisdale Asia Argento Aubrey ODay Audrina Patridge Autumn Reeser Avril Lavigne Bali Rodriguez

Donald Trump Says Ivanka And Jared Will Be ?Great Parents?

Yesterday Ivanka Trump announced her pregnancy yesterday via twitter, and her father, Donald Trump, was quick to weigh in on the happy news. “I know Ivanka and Jared will be great parents,” Donald Trump tells PEOPLE. “They’re a wonderful couple. … Continue reading

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/01/22/ivanka-trump-donald-trump-pregnant-twitte/

Denise Richards Desiree Dymond Diane Kruger Dido Diora Baird Dita Von Teese Dominique Swain Donna Feldman Drea de Matteo Drew Barrymore Ehrinn Cummings Elena Lyons Elisabeth Röhm Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku

'Drive,' 'Potter' And More: My Favorite Movies Of 2011

'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' and 'Descendants' also year-end highlights for MTV Movies' Josh Horowitz.
By Josh Horowitz


Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan in "Drive"
Photo: FilmDistrict

Any year that can includes a half-dozen superhero films and an Oscar front-runner that's a black-and-white silent film ("The Artist") needs to be given at least a bit of credit for breadth. I'll go one further and say 2011 has been a year filled with plenty of cinematic delights. Hell, if I couldn't even squeeze one of two Spielberg films or Terrence Malick's meditation on our existence on my top 10, that's got to say something.

Without any further ado, my top 10 movies of the year — completely accurate as of the moment I wrote it. (What can I say? Moods come and go.)

10. "Attack the Block"
It could qualify as one of the year's best comedies, thrillers and sci-fi flicks. That Joe Cornish's genre mash-up is all of the above more than earns "Attack the Block" a spot in my top 10. Stick with the indecipherable accents and dialects for a few minutes and you'll be richly rewarded by one of the most consistently surprising and pleasurable moviegoing experiences of 2011.

9. "Moneyball"
It's one of the greatest baseball films of all time, and all I can think of is Brad Pitt driving around listening to the radio and watching his daughter play him a song. Don't worry; that's a good thing. Pitt turns in a leading-man role like he's never delivered before, saying so much even when he says so little.

8. "X-Men: First Class"
From Kevin Bacon's deliciously hammy villain to Michael Fassbender's steely, take-no-prisoners attitude as Magneto, "X-Men: First Class" emerged as the superhero film of the year. Between his Nazi-hunting pub visit and his memorable bar exit in "Inglourious Basterds," Fassbender might want to sign up for the "Cocktail" remake.

7. "50/50"
How many different ways could a cancer comedy have gone wrong? Instead, Jonathan Levine directed Will Reiser's life-inspired tale with grace and wit, drawing out winning performances from everyone in his stellar ensemble. Funny and moving, "50/50" stands as a truly unique and impressive piece of entertainment and pathos.

6."Take Shelter"
A dash of Stanley Kubrick and a dollop of Terrence Malick. Not a bad couple of filmmakers for a movie by a young director like Jeff Nichols, right? I admired Nichols' festering creepfest, but what truly sent "Take Shelter" into the middle of my top 10 was a searing, brilliant performance by the remarkable Michael Shannon. He owns this movie. It's a piece of acting that's haunted me since I saw it in January.

5."The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
It's a dark and depraved world, and that's just the way David Fincher likes it. Can a movie that clocks in at nearly three hours really feel propulsive and unrelenting? This one does. Know the story already? Who cares? Anchored by top-notch performances by Rooney Mara (nice call, Mr. Fincher) and Daniel Craig, the film makes me more than ready for volume two.

4. "The Descendants"
You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll wonder where the hell Matthew Lillard's been. But most of all, you'll marvel at director Alexander Payne's gentle touch, Shailene Woodley's where-the-hell-did-that-come-from performance and George Clooney's heartbreaking goodbye to a long-lost love.

3. "Hugo"
On paper, this looked to be the Martin Scorsese movie that time would forget (or willfully ignore). Children's film? Parisian train station? Blech. In reality? A sumptuous 3-D meditation on escaping and ultimately embracing our past, not to mention the greatest cinefile's love letter to the medium he truly is the master of.

2. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2"
I'm as surprised as anyone that a "Harry Potter" film landed so high on my list. It's far and away the finest of the franchise's eight installments. But let's set aside all that for a second and call this what it is: an awesome movie. David Yates directs the franchise finale with a lean, mean efficiency (it's the shortest of all the Potter films). And when he does slow the action — for a riveting exchange with a goblin or a long, mysterious gaze by the likes of Alan Rickman — it's with purpose and to great effect. I could go on and on about the memorable moments in this film, including Professor McGonagall's rousing defense of Hogwarts, Snape's tragic flashback, Harry Potter's reassurance to his son as he sends him off to Hogwarts. Is there a spell to stop me from getting misty-eyed?

1. "Drive"
What do I look for in my favorite movie of the year? Simple: I want something special. And there was nothing even close to "Drive" for me this year. I'm in unabashed love with everything about the film. Sure, it oozes cool, but cool only gets you so far. How about these adjectives? Riveting. Hypnotic. Sexy. Fun. Brilliant. Masterful and confident direction from Nicolas Winding Refn, Ryan Gosling at his absolute best and a gaggle of great supporting turns, it all added up to a movie permanently lodged into my cerebral cortex. Now let me give that soundtrack one more listen.

All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year!

Check out everything we've got on "Drive."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Related Videos

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675975/drive-potter-best-movies-of-2011.jhtml

Cindy Crawford Cindy Taylor Cinthia Moura Claudette Ortiz Coco Lee Connie Nielsen Cristina Dumitru Daisy Fuentes Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick Daniella Alonso Danneel Harris Deanna Russo Denise Richards Desiree Dymond

'American Horror Story' Scares Up Golden Globe Nominations

It's always great to see genre titles make it to the awards shows, which is why we're excited that Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's "American Horror Story" has been nominated for a Golden Globe in the Drama Series category. The Harmon family and their supernatural roommates are up against several other newcomers including the much-loved [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/12/15/american-horror-story-golden-globe-nomination/

Grace Park Gretha Cavazzoni Gwen Stefani Halle Berry Hayden Panettiere Haylie Duff Heidi Klum Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff Hilary Swank Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump Izabella Miko

Kardashian Sisters at Glamour January 2012

Kardashian Sisters at Glamour

The Kardashian sisters have landed themselves the cover of the January 2012 issue of Glamour, as they continue to intrigue the public and rule the reality TV world. Available on newsstands December 6th, . Kim, Kourtney and Khloe posed for a fun-filled Ben Watts shot spread gracing the magazine's pages with the headline on the New Year's Special reading "There's no judgment between sisters." A preview of the Kardashian sisters' interview - in which Kim addresses her split/romantic aspirations - is as follows. For more, be sure to visit Glamour! Kim Kardashian: ...I think I?ll always be a hopeless romantic. Glamour: What do you mean by that? Kim Kardashian: It means that I believe in love and the dream of having a perfect relationship, but my idea of it has changed. I think I need to not live in a fairy tale like that. I think I maybe need to just snap out of it and be a little more realistic. Khloé Kardashian: I love Kim?s belief in love and the fact that she feels so strongly about it. She has that dream every girl has. Kim Kardashian: Well, I don?t think I have it right now. Khloé Kardashian: Which is fine, but I?m your sister and I know why you don?t have it right now. But I know you will get it again. Kim Kardashian: I hope I do. But by then I hope maybe I?m a little bit more realistic. Glamour: Realistic about what? Kim Kardashian: The fact that what I want isn?t possible. Khloé Kardashian: What, a guy on a white horse coming to get you? That doesn?t happen! Kim Kardashian: I don?t know. I always wanted what Mom and Dad had. And at first I was like, I want six kids. Then I went down to four, then I was down to three?and now I?m like, maybe I won?t have any. Maybe I?ll just be a good aunt. Khloé Kardashian: But Mom and Dad got a divorce, and she met Bruce. And you were a child; you don?t know what Mom and Dad had. As an outsider looking in, it probably looked like paradise. Kim Kardashian: At this moment in my life, I feel like maybe I?m not supposed to have kids and all that. Khloé Kardashian: Oh my God. Don?t be dramatic all of a sudden! Kim Kardashian: That?s how I feel. Maybe my fairy tale has a different ending than I dreamed it would. But that?s OK. [gallery=787]

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/celebrities/kim-kardashian-celebrities/kardashian-sisters-at-glamour-january-2012/

Heidi Klum Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff Hilary Swank Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump Izabella Miko Izabella Scorupco Jaime King Jaime Pressly Jamie Chung Jamie Gunns Jamie Lynn Sigler