Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Photos | MTV News' 2009 Women Of The Year

MTV News' 2009 Women Of The Year

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Photos | Michael Jackson's 'Michael' Cover Decoded

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Jared Leto Fights Censorship Of 30 Seconds To Mars' 'Hurricane' Video

Singer/director claims video has been banned by a number of outlets for its sexual imagery.
By Gil Kaufman


30 Seconds to Mars' Jared Leto in "Hurricane"
Photo: EMI

After spending a month of sleepless nights rushing to finish a 13-minute cut of 30 Seconds to Mars' epic "Hurricane" video, you'd think singer Jared Leto could finally enjoy a bit of a break.

But on the same day that the clip debuted on MTV.com, Leto was back at work, decrying what he called the censorship of the video, which contains copious amounts of S&M imagery, heavily choreographed slo-mo fisticuffs, and an seemingly endless string of controversial images intended to shock and confuse.

In a blog entry on JaredLeto.com posted on Monday and titled "BANNED FROM TELEVISION," Leto, who directed the clip under his pseudonym, Bartholomew Cubbins, posted a letter (one of several he claimed he received) from an unnamed executive at an unnamed TV network who explained why the video couldn't be aired in its present state.

"Overall the bondage theme will warrant a POST 10 p.m. restriction as the film is in its current form," read the letter. "There is one shot that will have to be removed completely for a POST 10 p.m. restriction. 09:17 — WOMAN RUNS FINGER OVER OTHER WOMAN'S G-STRING-CLAD BOTTOM AND TOUCHES HER ANUS — This shot makes the video completely restricted. There are other bondage shots towards the end of the film that [C]ompliance were unclear about, they would have to view frame by frame on tape to gauge whether they would need to be cut too for POST 10PM. The violence in the film is not graphic and would warrant a POST 7 p.m. restriction. But the overall sexual content does push the restriction up."

The letter then goes on to log, scene-by-scene the potentially objectionable images, from one in which Leto's character jumps out of a skyscraper window (not a problem), to another in which a priest, rabbi, and imam burn holy books on a pyre in an alley, and a brief image of hot wax dripping over a woman's body.

The breakdown explicitly states more than 40 scenes or images that are restricted to after 10 p.m. and others that are more suitable for showing after 9 p.m. or 7 p.m.

"We always knew there would be some images that would have a tough time getting through," Leto told EW.com on Monday about the controversy. "But we didn't expect this kind of pushback that we're getting now."

Leto has said he's working on a "creative" solution to edit the original 20-plus-minute clip down so he can at least get it shown before the 10 p.m. curfew. He also told EW.com that the plan all along was to have several versions of the video available to fans, including an uncensored full cut. "I had always planned on having an explicit version and then a version that was not so explicit," Leto said. "The version that we were trying to get on broadcast is not the explicit version, and that's still having a really difficult time."

Leto is frankly a bit confused about why the networks that reportedly rejected the video are so upset about the sexual images in it. "I'm not interested in provocation for provocation's sake," he explained. "I just think it's interesting that when you turn on the news or whatever else catches your interest, how much violence and negativity is available out there. As soon as it comes time for sexuality, it's a big shock that people are sexual beings. It's an interesting double standard to me."

What do you think of 30 Seconds to Mars' "Hurricane" video? Tell us in the comments.

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'Spider-Man' Star Andrew Garfield Is The Actor We're Most Thankful For In 2010

His Oscar-worthy turn in 'The Social Network,' 'Spider-Man' casting and overall humility have endeared the young actor to MTV News.
By Eric Ditzian


Andrew Garfield
Photo: Jason LaVeris/ FilmMagic

He plastered an all-too-human face on the backstabby founding of Facebook in "The Social Network" and just might win an Oscar for his troubles. He healed our broken geeky hearts when he assumed the role of Peter Parker after the "Spider-Man" franchise collapsed unexpectedly in January. And let's not forget his powerful performance as a cloned human desperate to prove he has in a soul in the underrated adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's Booker Prize-winning novel "Never Let Me Go."

For all of these reasons — as well as for being such a damn nice fellow — Andrew Garfield is the man MTV News is most thankful for in 2010.

Just don't tell that to him. Humble as ever despite talk of awards-season love and the prospect of taking on one of pop culture's most beloved superheroes, Garfield has trouble accepting the fact that he's deserving of all the hype. A conversation with him veers through talk of insecurities, I-better-not-screw-this-up fears and the self-consciously naive hope that his life isn't about to change forever.

He is, in other words, an utterly charming guy, and we can't wait to see what he brings to the screen in 2011.

MTV: So every year, we look back at the film folks we're truly thankful for, and this year, you're the man we're most thankful for. Congrats!

Andrew Garfield: Wow, that's stupid. That's very, very silly. I guess if I make you feel better about yourselves, that makes sense.

MTV: We're very insecure.

Garfield: No, I'm very insecure! I'm incredibly insecure. That's crazy, but it's very flattering.

MTV: Do you have a speech prepared for the occasion?

Garfield: Yes, I would like to, first and foremost, thank you for inflating my ego. I really only want to thank you.

MTV: It's been quite a year for you, with "Never Let Me Go" and then "Social Network" and then you obviously landed "Spider-Man." Does 2010 feel like a landmark year for you?

Garfield: I feel incredibly lucky that I've had the good fortune to work with people and on projects I care about. From "Never Let Me Go" to "I'm Here," a short film I did with Spike Jonze, to the David Fincher thing, "The Social Network," with all the casts and crews — I don't take that lightly. It's inspiring, and you feed off it. In that way, I'm incredibly happy. And moving on to the next job I'm going to be shooting, being given that responsibility, I see it as a real gift. It's a character — I'm talking about the Spider-person — I've known for my whole life. He's been a presence in my upbringing and a very symbolic figure and force of manhood and bravery and a moral compass. All of those things that have shaped me as a person, he's been very much involved in.

MTV: It seems like maybe you were fairly well known in the U.K., but until recently, not many people in the U.S. knew who you were. How has your day-to-day life changed, if at all?

Garfield: It hasn't changed yet. I say "yet" as if that will happen. Maybe naively, I think my life is going to stay the same in terms of anonymity. I feel it's so important to have a normal life, to be able to walk down a city street and have a normal human experience in order to reflect that in the work. Otherwise, you can't relate. It's so funny how actors are perceived. It's craziness. Even the way I got when I met Doc Brown the other day. What's his name?

MTV: Christopher Lloyd from "Back to the Future"?

Garfield: Yeah, I met Christopher Lloyd. I lost my mind. I turned into a schoolgirl. I started screaming in his face. I went insane. But I guess because his performances had such a profound effect on me, it was like meeting a hero. I personally haven't been on the receiving end of that, thankfully.

MTV: Well, people aren't probably walking around shouting at you, "Hey, Eduardo," your character from "Social Network," but you'll probably be getting a lot of, "Hey, Peter Parker!"

Garfield: Unless they let me play Peter Parker with a disguise so no one sees my face. I'll play him with a beard and mustache.

MTV: Maybe a little "Benjamin Button"-style CGI facial work ...

Garfield: Yeah, they could face-replace me, and then it'll just be my body. People will recognize some other, better actor's face.

MTV: You should bring that up with Sony.

Garfield: You think they'll like it?

MTV: Totally. ... I mean, not a chance. Anyway, has there been a surreal moment from 2010 that kind of encapsulates what a crazy year it's been for you?

Garfield: I did have a strange moment when I was told I was going to play this role. I was like, "Oh, wow, this is something I've wanted to do ever since I was a kid." There was a moment of total boyish excitement. It was this cosmic convergence where I was in the past, present and future all at once. In the future, I was thinking about my nephews that are going to have an uncle who's Spider-Man, but then I thought that could be bad because kids can bully you for any reason, and it's like, "Where's your uncle now when I'm beating the sh-- out of you?" I'll have to go to their school a lot, but by that time I'll be really old and fat and no one will believe I was Spider-Man. Then I was thinking about the past and when I was first shown a "Spider-Man" comic. It inspired me because I was one of those people who felt stronger on the inside than they looked on the outside. And then in the present moment, I was thinking this moment is something I'll never forget.

Thanksgiving is a time for taking stock, expressing gratitude and, most importantly, overeating. We at MTV News have been gorging all year at movie theaters, so it's about time we looked back and gave thanks to our favorite actors and filmmakers of 2010. Enjoy exclusive interviews with our winners all week long.

Check out everything we've got on "The Social Network" and "Spider-Man."

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

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652988/20101123/story.jhtml

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Photos | Who Are The Landmarks Of The VMAs?

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'Harry Potter' Composer Takes Us Inside 'Deathly Hallows' Score

'That's quite a challenge to know that every single note that you write will be heard,' Alexandre Desplat tells MTV News of global 'Potter' audience.
By Kara Warner


Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
Photo: Warner Bros.

With "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1" continuing to rake in major box-office cash, the fan appetite for all things Potter has yet to be satisfied. Here at MTV News, we're doing our part to serve the public's Potter thirst by getting fans as close to the action as possible. First with juicy interviews and fun videos, and now with a few behind-the-scenes features that highlight the nuts and bolts of Potter filmmaking.

In this latest installment, we turn our attention toward what is heard, not seen: the film's score, created by celebrated and highly sought-after composer Alexandre Desplat. When MTV News caught up with the very busy man (in the past five years, he has composed scores for at least four films per year, including "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Fantastic Mr. Fox," to name a few), we talked about incorporating John Williams' very distinct theme into his own work and how the fantastical elements in the world of Potter allowed the introduction of new, unique instruments.

MTV: With so many projects on your plate, when do you sleep?

Alexandre Desplat: Well, because I was expecting your phone call, I was on the edge of actually taking a five-minute nap, because it's been a long day and I don't sleep much, honestly. It's a crazy life because I've always dreamed of being a film composer. I've never dreamed of being a concert composer or an opera composer; I wanted to work for movies, and now I have all these incredible projects coming towards me. ... And all these films, of course, they collide because they're late or they're early, and so I have no life. I just work 18 hours a day, every day. And I don't go on holidays. And so, I guess I will die young. [Laughs.]

MTV: In jumping on a "Harry Potter" film, which has had several different composers over the course of seven films, how do you go about incorporating John Williams' very distinct theme, while still making it your own?

Desplat: My education as a film composer, you can't not — if you like the orchestra like I do, if you are a symphonist like I am — you can't not listen to John Williams' work. So I knew, of course, his work on the "Harry Potter" films, on the early films that he did, and when it came to the theme, which is the old theme, it became just a conversation to have with the director where and how we could use it. And actually, there was not so many opportunities, just because this movie is different from the previous ones. It's not in Hogwarts anymore. It's not in the school, and they're now young adults. And the only moments where we could use it was when we wanted to refer to their childhood and to this loss of innocence, which is actually the main theme of this film. These three young adults are losing childhood, and they're moving forward to dangers and adulthood. So we've just very carefully used it here and there; not much, sadly. And actually, when I was thinking about the score and anticipating what I had to do, I was playing with this theme, because I really love it and I was happy to be able to arrange it differently.

MTV: In taking on a film like "Harry Potter" and its fantasy elements, does that enable you to bring in new musical sounds or sounds that you might not use normally? Do you have a favorite kind of unique instrument that you were able to bring in that you might not normally bring into a film score?

Desplat: Yes, there are two things that we tried to bring. It is a way of using a lot of strings, sometimes doubling the string orchestra, on top of the first one, with different lines or adding more weight to some lines. Some pieces are really literally handwritten by string players, on top, all together. Of course we use the brass and the percussion and all that. It doesn't make the sound louder, but deeper and more string-oriented. The other thing is a few elements here and there. I played some jazzy flute in a piece I wrote, and one of the percussion players, he plays this new instrument that was invented a few years ago, which is kind of in-between a steel drum and a -- what could I compare it to? -- and a gamelan that you play with your hands or with mallets. You can hear it in the "Lovegood" piece and it's also blending instruments, which I like to do, that you hear there in the score.

MTV: How many musicians did you work with on this undertaking?

Desplat: The London Symphony, which was at the peak of 105, I think. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios.

MTV: How was this experience different from the films you've done in the past?

Desplat: It was different because it was "Harry Potter," and "Harry Potter" is a global experience. It's not just a movie that your friends will see or just the French people will see or just the Brits will see. No, it's a global thing, and that's quite a challenge to know that every single note that you write will be heard. Even though I always try to make sure that my first listeners, who are actually the players and musicians who are going to perform, I want them to be challenged. I want them to respect what I write, so it's for them that I write before anything. Actors, of course, have been tailored to musically, and with the director. It's with them that I want to have this exchange, this musical bonding. So it's a big challenge to achieve, and again, it's number seven of the franchise, so it was a big thing for me.

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1."

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

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Monday, November 29, 2010

Photos | 2010 BET Awards Show Highlights

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Beyoncé - Ego (Remix)

Ego (Remix)

  • Artist: Beyoncé
  • Label: Columbia, Music World Music
  • Director: Beyonce, Frank Gatson

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Kanye West, Nicki Minaj And Ke$ha Lead Huge Album-Release Week

My Chemical Romance also moved their album to Monday to get a jump on the holidays.
By Gil Kaufman


Kanye West
Photo: MJ Kim/ Getty Images

It happens every year around this time. No, not that food coma from too much turkey — the parade of megastar albums that drops the week of Thanksgiving.

While the past two weeks have already seen the release of a number of potential blockbusters, from Taylor Swift's instant-platinum Speak Now to new albums from Susan Boyle, Kid Rock, Rihanna, Josh Groban and Rascal Flatts, Monday's bumper crop could help pump some life into the holiday season.

After Kanye West decided to stake out the off-cycle Monday as the release date for his eagerly anticipated My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, his competitors fell in line to take advantage of the holiday-week sales rush, with Nicki Minaj, My Chemical Romance and Ke$ha pushing their release dates up one day as well.

"I think Kanye will do great," said Carl Mello, director of purchasing for the 28-store Newbury Comics chain, one of the few remaining non-big-box music retailers in the nation. "He did himself a lot of favors putting up so many tracks during the year and engaging with the audience."

Between the string of G.O.O.D. Friday releases and his headline-grabbing "Runaway" mini-movie, Mello said Kanye set the album up by whetting his audience's appetite for months on end. As for Nicki's Pink Friday, even though she spent the year building up cred with a series of features and her own hit "Your Love," Mello predicted she'd do "fine" but wasn't expecting her to put up Kanye numbers. "It's nice to have a female rapper who is credible and has a chance at being quite popular," he said.

The bigger challenge might come for My Chem, whose Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys has gotten good buzz thanks to the speedy single "Na Na Na," but they have been out of stores since 2006's The Black Parade, which divided some fans.

"There's almost nothing harder to sell than something that reacted well with 13- to 14-year-olds a few years ago, but who don't necessarily make the journey with the band over the years," he said, noting the dive in popularity of similar bands such as Fall Out Boy and Good Charlotte.

And though first-week sales of Rihanna's Loud are not expected to be blockbuster, Mello also said he expects that album and Kid Rock's Born Free to be solid sellers through the end of the year, along with Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, as well as Swift and previously released discs by Eminem and Lil Wayne.

Billboard magazine Senior Chart Manager and analyst Keith Caulfield agrees that West will probably have the biggest sales week, but said Ne-Yo could also have a solid bow with Libra Scale after months of working singles to radio. While he thinks Nicki could have a good week, Caulfield was cautious about Ke$ha's Cannibal.

"She could also do well, but because she's so track-oriented, it's hard to say," he said. "The best comparison for Nicki would seem to be Missy Elliott at her height with Under Construction, which sold 259,000 in its first week, and that's when people bought a lot of records. It's hard to gauge how an artist who, up until this point, has been very track-oriented but has an established record for a long time before releasing a proper album will do."

He pointed to fellow Young Money rapper Drake, who built his career up for nearly a year with a popular mixtape and features before releasing a full-length debut. "She's very different. She's colorful and versatile, but it's hard to pinpoint how that will translate into sales," he said, noting that "Your Love" has sold a very respectable 700,000 downloads to date.

Also in the mix are greatest-hits releases from Jay-Z and Pink; Lloyd Banks' H.F.M.2; the reissue of Nine Inch Nails' debut, Pretty Hate Machine; a Jimi Hendrix box set that Mello said is doing very well at his stores; Bruce Springsteen's The Promise archival set; the "Burlesque" soundtrack; and next Friday, a Target exclusive acoustic set from Justin Bieber.

And the hits will keep coming through the holidays, with a Christmas-themed "Glee" soundtrack on November 30 — which will also bring the latest from the Black Eyed Peas, The Beginning — followed the next week by T.I.'s No Mercy. December 14 brings the last potential blockbuster of 2010, the first posthumous album of Michael Jackson material, Michael, as well as the major-label debut of "American Idol" season-nine runner-up Crystal Bowersox, Farmer's Daughter; R. Kelly's Love Letter; and Ciara's Basic Instinct. (All release dates subject to change.)

Which new release are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments!

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Photos | MTV News' 2009 Women Of The Year: #4 Beyonce

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Beyonce Can't Pick Her Favorite Jay-Z Song

'I can't tell you which one is my favorite. It's just too many,' singer tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena


Beyoncé arrives at her "I Am ... World Tour" DVD screening on Sunday
Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Jay-Z is letting fans into his world with two major releases this month. He just published his book, "Decoded," in which he takes a closer look at his career, and on Monday (November 22), Hova is releasing a greatest-hits album, The Hits Collection, Volume 1.

The album features Jay's most memorable tunes, including "Big Pimpin'," "Hard Knock Life," "99 Problems" and his collabo with his superstar wife, Beyoncé, "03' Bonnie & Clyde."

But when MTV News caught up with Bey Sunday at a New York screening for her DVD concert special, "I Am ... World Tour," she admitted that "Bonnie & Clyde" isn't her favorite Jay-Z track.

"God, that's not my favorite, even though I like it," she laughed. "I can't tell you which one is my favorite. It's just too many. You're putting me on the spot!"

While the pair may be releasing fresh products at the same time, the singer insists there is no competition in the Carter-Knowles household.

"No absolutely not, [there is no competition]," she told reporters at the DVD event, going on to praise "Decoded." "That book is unbelievable, and I think we're all really proud of it. And this DVD [out this] Thanksgiving — it's the holiday season of everyone's [material] coming out."

The DVD shows a new, more intimate side of the usually private Beyoncé, and Jay-Z admits that his book also sheds new light on his persona and career. "A lot of people listen to music, but they don't really listen to it," he explained. "You may know the words and you may bop your head to it, but you don't really understand what you're singing."

Open the floodgates! It's Mega-Release Week, with Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Ke$ha, My Chemical Romance and Lloyd Banks all dropping new albums. Stick with MTV News for everything you need to know about the brand-new music.

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Les News, 112810

Eva Longoria is not letting her divorce from Tony Parker get in the way of her adopting a Haitian child. Brangelina start Xmas shopping in Paris, France. Justin Timberlake wants an Oscar nomination. Emma Watson fears that fame and fortune will keep the men at bay. Thom Yorke creates a piece of human art. The [...]

Source: http://www.pinkisthenewblog.com/2010/11/les-news-112810/

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Sunday, November 28, 2010

Britney Spears' 'Me Against The Music': 'Glee' Vs. The Original

Watch Brittany and Santana's version side-by-side with Britney and Madonna's.
By Jocelyn Vena


Heather Morris and Britney Spears on the set of "Glee"
Photo: Facebook

Heather Morris, who plays hilariously ditzy cheerleader Brittany on "Glee," got to channel her sort-of namesake on Tuesday night's "Britney/Brittany" episode. And the professional-dancer-turned-actress didn't disappoint as she re-enacted Spears' videos for "Toxic," "Slave 4 U" and "Me Against the Music." She tackled all of them with her spectacular dance skills and a pretty killer singing voice.

The anesthesia-induced dream sequences followed one of Brittany's stellar reveals: "My name is also Britney Spears. Brittany S. Pierce. I've lived my entire life in Britney Spears' shadow." Well, on Tuesday night she stepped out of her shadow.

Of all the video reinterpretations in the episode, the Madonna/Britney team-up, which saw Santana playing Madge and Brittany playing you guessed it, paid homage to the original 2003 video, directed by Paul Hunter. Aside from a few artistic tweaks in the "Glee" version's choreography, Morris and company do the original justice.

"The 'Me Against the Music' montage, it's literally copied exactly from the video, the shots and looks, but the choreography is made so much more for a dancer — none of it is from the video," Morris told New York magazine about the "Glee" version. "You just have to wait to see it. It's insane."

Hunter spoke to MTV News last year about his original concept for Britney's "Music" video. "I try to play opposites, when you have Britney in dark and Madonna in white," he said. "And then we see them kind of dance around the bed .. and you think they're gonna get on top of each other and do something crazy."

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Michael Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel

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Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year

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."

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Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year

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."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604582/20090209/plant_robert.jhtml

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Dimmu Borgir Release Live DVD; Plus Led Zeppelin, Brujeria, & More News That Rules, In Metal File

'It shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums,' guitarist says.
By Chris Harris


Dimmu Borgir's Silenoz
Photo: Nuclear Blast

On October 14, Dimmu Borgir — who just happen to be Demi Lovato's favorite black-metal band — will release a a three-disc DVD/CD set called "The Invaluable Darkness," the band's first visual offering since 2002's "World Misanthropy." Boasting live footage shot last year, during gigs in Norway, Germany and England, "The Invaluable Darkness" demonstrates the unbridled furor of seeing Dimmu live, guitarist Silenoz said.

"It shows the honest rawness and atmospheric darkness of our concerts," the Norwegian told Metal File last week, after dismissing recent online rumors that his band's next LP would be coming out through Roadrunner Records. "Basically, it shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums. It's just a different side to the band, basically."

Dimmu Borgir began thinking about "The Invaluable Darkness" two years ago, but didn't start capturing footage until last summer, Silenoz explained, adding that the band will use its current stint on the Blackest of the Black Tour — which got underway Thursday night in Miami Beach, Florida, and also features the tour's founder, Danzig, along with Moonspell, Winds of Plague and Skeletonwitch — to promote the DVD. Dimmu Borgir will not, however, use the tour to write material for their next LP.

"It's our first time on Blackest, but Glenn [Danzig] had wanted to bring us out before [on the tour], but we weren't available until now," Silenoz said. "We've done Ozzfest before, but we're looking forward to this tour more. We did the main stage on Ozzfest, playing in f--_ing broad daylight. This tour will let us play in bigger places, but at the same time showcase more of what the band's about, visually. We are going to concentrate on the tour for now. Some years ago, we tried putting [material] together on the road, but once we got home, we listened back to it, and were like, 'What the f--- is this?' So, we just scrapped it all. We find it's so much better to totally focus on one thing at a time, and then, when that's over, you move on to the next [thing]. We don't really feel like we need to rush things, anyway, so we'll just take our time, and it's going to be what it's going to be."

Dimmu Borgir hope to reconvene in late December to begin writing the follow-up to 2007's diabolically titled In Sorte Diaboli. "We have some ideas floating around already, but we haven't arranged any material yet," he said. "We'll start doing that once the touring for this DVD is over." The band's frontman, Shagrath, is also due to marry soon — he's engaged to actor Nicolas Cage's ex-girlfriend, Christina Fulton, so that may have an effect on when Dimmu finish their next album, which Silenoz said could be out this coming spring.

"I'm sure [Shagrath] won't let anything get in the way [of] the band — I think, I hope," the guitarist said. "We don't need a Yoko [Ono] situation."

While Dimmu have been at it going on 15 years now, Silenoz said he doesn't think their forthcoming material will be much of a departure from their previous black-metal offerings.

"And we have always been about more than just that term, 'black metal,' " he said. "Luckily for us, the older you get, the less concerned you get with the categorization and putting labels on your music. Things start getting more and more limitless with us, and we know that we operate within certain frames. But we try not to analyze things too much, because it's just going to be working against you in the end. When we write new stuff, we don't think about what we should write — we just get together, and put material together, and if we like it, we keep it. That's the formula, if we even have a formula."

Dimmu Borgir are definitely getting older — guitarist Galder will be missing Blackest because of a recent addition to his family, and Susperia's Cyrus will be filling in for him; while former Vader drummer Dariusz Brzozowski takes over for Hellhammer, who had to leave the band in 2007 after sustaining a neck injury that's now limited the use of his right arm. As Dimmu has gotten on in years, Silenoz admits they have failed to keep pace with some of the more extreme black-metal acts that have followed in their wake.

"We helped open doors for the more extreme bands out there," Silenoz said. "I'm sure we helped open doors for bands like Watain, [insomuch as] people that had maybe started listening to us first then went on to the more extreme stuff. Let's face it — we're not as extreme as Watain and other bands like that, but we're fine with that."

The Blackest of the Black Tour continues through November 10 in San Francisco.

The rest of the week's metal news:

Dimmu's tourmates on Blackest, Winds of Plague, have announced ex-Azusa drummer Art Cruz has joined their ranks — he replaced Jeff Tenney. According to the band's blog, "Art has already added a new spark to the band and has provided us with a solid backbone that will allow us to continue our rampage stronger than ever." ...

What the world really needs is another Led Zeppelin box set, so, on November 4, Rhino Records will issue the Led Zeppelin Definitive Collection Mini LP Replica CD box set. For just $200, you'll get 1969's Led Zeppelin, 1969's Led Zeppelin II, 1970's Led Zeppelin III, 1971's Led Zeppelin IV, 1973's Houses of the Holy, 1975's Physical Graffiti, 1976's Presence, 1976's The Song Remains the Same, 1979's In Through the Out Door and 1982's Coda, as mini-LP replicas, with artwork from the original U.K. LP sleeves. Now, you know what you can get your dad for Christmas. ...

Former Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach and current Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz have teamed up for a new project they're calling Times of Grace, and they've already started working on material for their debut album. According to Leach, "We have two songs to go and we will be finished with all of the vocals. Adam has taken lead vocals in three songs as of yet and he is doing a great job. We also worked on a track yesterday that is so epic — we trade vocals and do two different melodies at the same time. This album went from a melodic metal album to an epic mix of metal/rock/pop/shoegaze and punk. So all of your metal expectations will be incorrect — we are pushing genre boundaries." To quote "Meet the Parents," we'll look forward to that, Greg. ...

The Funeral Pyre and Early Graves will be hitting the road together next month, starting November 7 in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dates are booked through November 21 in Hollywood. ...

The latest incarnation of Brujeria, which features Carcass frontman Jeff Walker and Napalm Death's Shane Embury, have lined up several U.S. dates for this winter. The band will begin its brief trek November 28 in Denver, and wrap things up in Dallas on December 7. ... Demiricous will be touring with the Gates of Slumber starting November 9 in Denver, for a jaunt that's scheduled to run through December 6 in Indianapolis. ...

Nearly three years after Roadrunner Records' Roadrunner United concert, which took over the Nokia Theater in New York's Times Square, the label is now releasing footage from that special night as "Roadrunner United: The Concert." The DVD, which hits stores December 9, will boast two discs and 24 live tracks, including Life of Agony's "River Runs Red," King Diamond's "Abigail," Killswitch's "My Last Serenade," Type O Negative's "Black No. 1" and Sepultura's "Refuse/Resist." ...

According to Blabbermouth, Verrot, bassist for Swedish black-metal outfit Elimi, committed suicide on October 3. In a statement, the band said, "Verrot was a very good friend, brother, an excellent bass player/musician and an important part of Elimi; we respect his decision and hope he'll find his way with the dark gods of Chaos. Let your black flame be a part of what brings forth the day of wrath."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1596756/20081009/borgir_dimmu.jhtml

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Photos | Ke$ha Gets Electro At Casio's Shock The World Event 2010

Ke$ha Gets Electro At Casio's Shock The World Event 2010

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Saturday, November 27, 2010

Britney Spears 'Glee' Episode Takes On '... Baby One More Time'

Lea Michele dons Brit's naughty schoolgirl look for a faithful cover of the 1998 hit.
By Aly Semigran


Lea Michele performs "... Baby One More Time" on "Glee" on Tuesday
Photo: FOX

It was the song that launched the career of one of the most beloved, albeit troubled, pop stars of the past decade. Its iconic video spawned a modern-day "Lolita" and earned the title of #1 first favorite video on "TRL." So, of course, Britney Spears' 1998 smash "... Baby One More Time" was an obvious choice for Tuesday night's episode of "Glee."

While general-anesthesia-induced hallucinations had another Brittany (Heather Morris) tackling "Me Against the Music" and "I'm a Slave 4 U," star Lea Michele took on the timelessly catchy "...Baby One More Time." As Michele mimicked Spears' naughty schoolgirl look, the instantly recognizable opening notes pounded on the piano (though the "Glee" version had a slight change of key). With her throaty "Oh bay-buh, bay-buh," Michele effortlessly channeled the song (surprisingly enough, she sounded downright restrained) that made the former "Mickey Mouse Club" member a superstar.

It's fitting that "Glee" paid homage to the song that is but a few weeks away from celebrating its 12th anniversary. (Go on and take a moment to absorb that information.) "... Baby One More Time," the first single of Spears' debut album of the same name, was released in the United States in late October 1998.

Of course, it could have all sounded very different if writer Max Martin had followed through with his original plan to have R&B heavyweights TLC sing the track. The song was also originally titled "Hit Me Baby One More Time" but was changed due to concerns about it being misinterpreted.

In Spears' capable 16-year-old pigtails, the single went on to sell over 9 million copies, garnered Spears her first Grammy nomination (Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, which she lost to Sarah McLachlan for "I Will Remember You") and reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The rest of the album featured other Spears hits, including "(You Drive Me) Crazy" and "Sometimes," but neither of those songs left quite the same impact.

Spears told Blender — which placed the track at the #9 spot on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born" — that the song wasn't an easy undertaking for her at first (of course, neither was the immense fame that followed). Spears revealed, "I didn't do well at all the first day in the studio. I was just too nervous. So I went out that night and had some fun. The next day I was completely relaxed and nailed it. You gotta be relaxed singing '... Baby One More Time.' "

Spears looked more than at ease during awards show appearances that followed, namely the 1999 VMAs, in which the leather-clad pop princess took the stage alongside her tourmates 'NSYNC for a "... Baby One More Time"/ "Tearin' Up My Heart" showstopper.

Of course, long before the folks at "Glee" took "... Baby One More Time" out for a spin, countless other musicians had already had at it. From punk rock (Simple Plan) to acoustic (Travis), Spears' song has been refashioned (albeit, sometimes ironically) in many genres. Take, for instance, Bowling for Soup's cover of the ditty, which wound up on Bowling for Soup Goes to the Movies. And even Jamie Lee Curtis and Chad Michael Murray took a crack at it in the 2003 film "Freaky Friday."

What did you think of the "Glee" covers of Britney's songs? Share your reviews in the comments.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1648932/20100929/spears_britney.jhtml

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Beyonce Inspired By Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill For New Album

'I'm mixing every type of genre that I love,' singer says of follow-up to I Am ... Sasha Fierce.
By Jocelyn Vena


Beyoncé
Photo: MTV News

Recently Beyoncé revealed that she wants to make her "own genre of music" for her next album. So when MTV News caught up with the singer at the New York screening of her concert special, "I Am ... World Tour," we asked her to clarify what exactly it is that she's creating in the studio.

"Well, I wouldn't say I'm inventing a new genre," she said. "I'm mixing every type of genre that I love and I'm inspired by every type of genre."

Beyoncé went on to say that people should throw any preconceived notions about the follow-up to 2008's I Am ... Sasha Fierce out the window. "I'm not in a box," she said. "It's not R&B. It's not typically pop. It's not rock. It's just everything I love all mixed together in my own little gumbo of music."

The singer says that quite a motley crew of musicians have inspired the album. "Definitely Fela Kuti, the Stylistics. How random, right?" she laughed. "So many people ... Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, of course, Michael Jackson's Off the Wall ... all of those things I'm kind of mixing together."

For the album, Beyoncé has been hitting the studio with many of her usual collaborators including Ne-Yo, Sean Garrett and Jim Jonsin. And her mom, Tina Knowles, has given the tracks she's heard so far her seal of approval, saying, "Of course [I heard it]. It's amazing. It's so amazing!"

Are you looking forward to new music from Beyoncé? Let us know in the comments!

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Akon Weighs In On New Michael Jackson Tracks

Their collaboration, 'Hold My Hand,' was 'preapproved,' Akon tells MTV News about Michael track.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kelly Marino


Akon
Photo: MTV News

There has been much debate over the release of new music by Michael Jackson, set for release on his album Michael, due out December 14. Some fans and some of Jackson's collaborators, such as will.i.am, have spoken out about the release of the tracks, many of which were finished after Jackson's death. It's an argument that Akon, who worked with Jackson on the song "Hold My Hand," understands.

"Michael Jackson's new album and the new releases, of course, there's been comments about whether or not [it] should actually be released or whether it would reflect his true authenticity, but naturally because of the fact he's not here to see it through, it definitely wouldn't reflect what he had in mind for it because there's other minds working for him," Akon told MTV News about the tracks. "But I think at the end of the day, we have two choices: We can put out the little that we do have to hold onto, or we can just never ever put it out again. ... The material that he did have that was finished, he would have loved to put it out.

"[The songs] were created by him, now whether or not they were finished by him is a different story," he added. "And that's just a collective effort of all of us. It's a double-edged sword."

Akon points out that one of those finished tracks is "Hold My Hand," making the argument that his contribution to the album is Jackson-approved.

"If he was here today, I think he would definitely approve of 'Hold My Hand,' because it was already preapproved," he said. "But the rest of the songs, I'm not quite sure how far those songs went 'cause Michael's a perfectionist. He wouldn't let anything go unfinished. Me knowing him from my standpoint of viewing him, I'm not quite sure, because he won't stop; he will go and go until there's not one doubt left in his mind that this record is perfect.

"So, I hope he would [have approved of the album], then again, you never know. He's the only one that can answer that question."

Do you think the tracks should be released? Sound off in the comments below.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652499/20101117/akon.jhtml

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Photos | Wango Tango 2010

Wango Tango 2010

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Usher - There Goes My Baby

There Goes My Baby

  • Artist: Usher
  • Label: LaFace Records, JLG
  • Director: Anthony Mandler

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=544989

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Usher's VMA Performance Proves He's Still King: Making The Show

Singer held back at rehearsals, harnessing his energy for Sunday's show.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Usher performs at the 2010 VMAs
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images

The King is back!

Usher thrilled the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night with his stunning combination performance of "OMG" and "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love."

The singer moved and grooved, proving that he's the R&B star that everyone pays attention to for the big moments.

After a lukewarm reception to his previous album, the singer busted back onto the charts and radio with his latest set, Raymond v. Raymond, and he's been proving doubters wrong since its release.

"We all sat in a room and came up with a concept for the stage, and then we took that concept to Usher," VMA executive producer Dave Sirulnick told MTV News about the star's setup. "We said to him, 'We want to do the best televised dance routine that you've done in years. Let's show why you're the king.' "

Usher handily delivered.

Durng his rehearsals he was as focused as Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant on the eve of game seven for the championship.

His choreographer led the way with Usher's backup dancers while the "OMG" star looked on intently; he only jumped in a handful of times, instead choosing to harness his energy for Sunday night's big show.

The crooner has ruled the charts in the past with a mix of uptempo grooves and slow-burning ballads.

But Usher has reinvented himself this year with the will.i.am dance tune "OMG" and his latest single, "DJ Got Us Falling in Love."

Usher plays to win, and after his stirring performance it's clear that the crown still rests securely on his head.

The Moonmen have all been handed out and the stars have gone home, but there's plenty of 2010 MTV Video Music Awards news, interviews, behind-the-scenes scoop, party reports and more still to come, so keep it locked on MTVNews.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1647708/20100913/usher.jhtml

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Friday, November 26, 2010

Led Zeppelin - Rock and Roll

Rock and Roll

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=993&vid=84216

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Usher - Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)

Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=476362

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Britney Spears - Circus

Circus

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=322811

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Beyonce Jokes She's Been Pregnant With Concert Special

'I was pregnant with this DVD,' she laughs to MTV News as 'I Am ... World Tour' is set to air Thanksgiving Day on ABC.
By Jocelyn Vena


Beyoncé
Photo: MTV News

Beyoncé never really seems to slow down, so when the time came to choose a director for her concert special DVD "I Am ... World Tour," the singer decided to take on those duties too. It's an accomplishment the singer jokes may have sparked those pregnancy rumors.

"I was pregnant with this DVD, yes!" she joked to MTV News.

The DVD hits stores on November 30, but fans can catch the 90-minute "I Am ... World Tour" TV special when it airs on ABC Thanksgiving night at 9:30 p.m. ET. Beyoncé opened up about what it was like to sit in the director's chair.

"Well, I've done some co-directing for music videos [but] this was definitely a big step for me, and I'm so thrilled," she said at the New York City screening for the flick.

Beyoncé said she was completely hands-on, deciding which moments made the final cut and which ones wound up on the cutting-room floor. "It was hard work," she said. "I learned so much. I have a new respect for directors and I think I would like to do more of it."

Her parents, Mathew and Tina Knowles, who also attended the screening over the weekend, said the film gives B the recognition she deserves after years of collaborating on many of her own videos.

"I'm really excited about this because Beyoncé has been making little short films and really helping to direct her videos," Tina told us. "So it's nice that she'll get credit for doing something that she really loves doing and that she's very talented at."

Dad Mathew recalled all of the effort his superstar daughter put into the special. "I'm so proud," he said. "I had an opportunity [to see the film], I've been to Houston with a screening; I've been to Bentonville, [Arkansas], with a screening, and to see the excitement from the audience, what an incredible job Beyoncé did as a director in the editing, I'm just so proud. Hopefully, all the fans go out and get the DVD and soundtrack and look at that ABC special coming on Thanksgiving."

Are you excited to see Beyoncé's concert special? Tell us in the comments!

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Chloe Moretz Is Thankful For 'Kick-Ass,' Hit-Girl Groupies And Brad Pitt

And we're thankful for her, one of our favorite actors of 2010.
By Josh Horowitz


Chloe Moretz
Photo: Mike Coppola/ FilmMagic

At the beginning of this year, MTV News tagged Chloe Moretz, a little-known young actor whose largest role at that point was in "(500) Days of Summer," as one of the actors in our "10 to Watch in 2010" series.

She didn't disappoint. The 13-year-old blew audiences away as the sword-wielding, bullet-taking badass Hit-Girl in "Kick-Ass." She followed up that comic book adaptation with an intense and mature performance in "Let Me In," in which she played a troubled vampire yearning for a human connection.

It's no surprise, then, that we've now named Moretz as one of the folks we're most thankful for in 2010. MTV News recently sat down for a chat with the teen star, who talked about meeting overly enthusiastic fans, how her family has helped her career and one unforgettable encounter with Brad Pitt.

MTV: You were one of our stars to watch in 2010, and now Thanksgiving time is rolling around very soon. Every year we select the actors we're most thankful for, and you're one of the actors we're most thankful for in 2010.

Chloe Moretz: Really? Wowers! Yayers! Yay-zies?

MTV: Does it feel like it's been a big year for you?

Moretz: It's been huge. "Kick-Ass" and then ["Let Me In"] — it's been absolutely insane.

MTV: What's been the highlight?

Moretz: "Kick-Ass," how big it got. The sheer thought of how much work I put into it and it finally getting so huge. That was insane. I was flabbergasted.

MTV: Were there any moments at red carpets or premieres where you thought, "Wow, this is crazy"?

Moretz: A guy at the London premiere, he had a Hit-Girl costume on — a pink wig and everything. That struck home. That leaves a memory. He was chic.

MTV: Have you run into some fans of yours, or fellow actors, who have come to you and said how impressed they are by your work?

Moretz: Brad Pitt at the afterparty, he was like, "I really like the role of Hit-Girl." And I was like, "What'd Angie think?" No, it was amazing. It was really cool to see someone who is so big and is such a phenomenal actor to recognize my work.

MTV: Who or what are you most thankful for in 2010?

Moretz: My family, of course. Without my family, where would I be? That my mom said yes when I was 6 begging her to let me semi-start the business. Where would I be without my brother Trevor? He's my acting coach.

Thanksgiving is a time for taking stock, expressing gratitude and, most importantly, overeating. We at MTV News have been gorging all year at movie theaters, so it's about time we looked back and gave thanks to our favorite actors and filmmakers of 2010. Enjoy exclusive interviews with our winners all week long.

Check out everything we've got on "Kick-Ass" and "Let Me In."

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

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652835/20101122/story.jhtml

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