Grammy 2011 Snubs Include Adam Lambert, Ke$ha, Big Boi, Rihanna

While Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber were both nominated, they didn't get as much love as some expected.
By Gil Kaufman


Ke$ha
Photo: Jordan Strauss/ Getty Images

You hear it all the time: "I'm just thankful to be nominated." It's the gracious and polite thing to say, and artists who lose out on major awards always feel compelled to offer it up.

But what if you never even get nominated?

Every year, there are head-slapping omissions from the roster of nominees at the big awards-fests (Christopher Nolan at the Oscars, anyone?), and this year's 53rd annual Grammy Awards (which take place February 13) are no exception.

In the night's biggest category, Album of the Year, there was plenty of griping from critics about the inclusion of Katy Perry's Teenage Dream, which many considered too lightweight for the night's top prize. But there was also a bit of talk about Justin Bieber's smash My World 2.0 not making it into the mix in the major categories, even if Bieber can lick his wounds with his Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album love.

Though the rules about the Best New Artist category have since been changed to avoid such a problem in the future, Lady Gaga has been the victim of Grammy snubs before. She earned six nominations this year, including coveted Album of the Year for The Fame Monster, but it was mystifying that her huge hit, "Bad Romance," didn't get any Record or Song of the Year nominations.

What gives?

"They want her for ratings, but I think the Grammys are still a bit freaked out by Gaga," said Entertainment Weekly music writer Leah Greenblatt. "There were so many shenanigans about her not being nominated for Best New Artist that I think the Grammys got shamed over that. It's possible they would try to make it up to her by showering her with nominations and I could see her win in major categories [in the future], but I think they're not quite ready for her." That could, of course, change next year when Gaga's Born This Way is in the running.

Another diva used to serious Grammy love, Alicia Keys, was totally shut out for her The Element of Freedom album. "It's interesting that Alicia Keys got nothing," she said. "Her and John Mayer are practically on the ballots every year whether they qualify for eligibility or not. And I think 'Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart' was one of the year's best singles." And reclusive Grammy bait Sade got a pair of notices for her singles "Soldier of Love" and "Babyfather" in the R&B categories but no chance at any of the big prizes. Greenblatt said she was surprised by both snubs, especially since Sade's Soldier of Love album was one of the top sellers of 2010 and because the enigmatic singer had been away for nearly a decade and came back in fine, mature form, the kind of story the Grammys love to honor.

There were some eyebrows raised over the single nomination for "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert, who had a solid and creatively rich hit album with his debut, For Your Entertainment, but just a single nod for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Whataya Want From Me."

With Perry strutting into a number of top categories thanks to her light-as-air pop confections, it was a wonder that another pop tart with huge digital sales and big chart hits (things the Recording Academy likes to see), Ke$ha, was completely shut out of the game. Greenblatt thought the Lambert dis might fall into the same Gaga territory, with the Academy being a bit freaked out by the singer's out-and-proud persona and over-the-top antics, but when it comes to Ke$ha, she said it's probably a different story. "She had a huge impact, but I think the Grammys think she might go away, and they've chosen not to legitimize her," she speculated.

Speaking of big sales, quite a few people commented on the fact that Train's smash "Hey, Soul Sister," the best-selling single of 2010, got just one notice for a little-heard live version in the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group category.

A couple of well-respected hip-hop acts were also conspicuously absent from the nominations list, including Outkast's Big Boi, whose acclaimed Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty was left out of the Best Rap Album category, along with Rick Ross, whose Teflon Don got no love. "Rick Ross is the kind of artist made to be ignored by the Grammys," Greenblatt said. "He has a sensibility the Grammys will almost never come around to, no matter how beloved he is by rap fans."

But given that she thought Chico Dusty was one of the best albums of 2010, Greenblatt was stunned by the freeze-out of Big Boi, who has been showered with Grammy love in the past. "It's such an achievement, a fully realized album that feels like a real tapestry, a headphones album from someone whose skills are so singular ... [from] one of the most iconic and Grammy-approved hip-hop acts of all time."

Rihanna's Rated R was also eligible but got stiffed in the major categories, landing just a Best Dance Recording nod for "Only Girl (In the World)" for her single from last year's Loud and a number of notices for her work on Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie." And if you thought Kanye West got ripped off when My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy got blanked, don't worry: It wasn't eligible this year but is in the hunt for next year.

The one omission that seemed to make sense was the two small nominations for the kids from "Glee," who are up for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for their cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin' " and for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Glee: Vol. 1. Though they set cash registers ringing like crazy, it's no wonder that actors singing covers didn't garner attention at a show that ostensibly awards creativity. And no one seemed too shocked that Christina Aguilera's poorly received Bionic was ignored.

Who do you think got stiffed by the Grammys? Share your top snubs in the comments.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657248/2011-grammy-snubs.jhtml

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Arcade Fire And Spike Jonze Debut 'Scenes From The Suburbs' In Berlin

30-minute film premiered at Berlin Film Festival this week.
By Eric Ditzian


The Arcade Fire's Win Butler
Photo: Mark Metcalfe/ Getty Images

Arcade Fire has showed off snippets of their Spike Jonze-directed short film, "Scenes from the Suburbs," on oversize screens during their summer tour shows and in a five-minute music video in November. Finally, this week, the band got to display the full 30-minute film at the Berlin Film Festival, which frontman Win Butler hopes will become part of the group's "visual legacy," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"So that 30 years from now, when a computer virus crashed all the computers, and people have to look at DVDs to see what life was like in the early 2000s, there is some record of what we were thinking visually," he explained at the festival. "And we didn't want that to get completely lost just because of the times that we live in."

The short continues the band's exploration of their experiences growing up within the often staid confines of the suburbs, which, as their tour collaborator Terry Gilliam has told us, is a "place that if you're creative, you just need to get away from." The film, however, spins suburban life into an impressionistic portrait of a group of teens living in an alternate reality where different towns go to war against one another.

"You start from a feeling and it's not necessarily the plot points of a song," Butler said. "To me the film is very much about trying to talk about the relationships and the feelings of that age."

"We were trying to show the emotion and the emotional links without necessarily getting deep into the plot," he added, citing influences ranging from Gilliam's films to B movies. "It's inspired by watching the first half of films and not having to figure out how to resolve them."

The Berlin premiere capped off a pretty stellar week for Arcade Fire. On Sunday, the band pulled off a shocking Album of the Year upset at the Grammys, then quickly jetted to London for the Brit Awards, winning Best International Album and Best International Group. And yet, for all this musical success, Butler suggested that perhaps a visual medium is where the group's true artistic talents lie.

"I think we would have been a band of moviemakers if making movies wasn't 140 times more expensive than making records," he said.

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

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658219/arcade-fire-scenes-from-the-suburbs-berlin.jhtml

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Janet Jackson Stuffs Herself Into A Very Tight Rubber Cat Suit For Her Tour

Her unfortunate ‘wardrobe malfunction’ at the Super Bowl half time show made headlines back in 2004, but Janet Jackson managed to keep her assets in check – well, only just – as she performed a concert in Taiwan on Friday. The 44-year-old singer skin tight, extremely low cut rubber cat suit as she performed alongside [...]

Source: http://www.celebritymound.com/janet-jackson-stuffs-herself-into-a-very-tight-rubber-cat-suit-for-her-tour/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=janet-jackson-stuffs-herself-into-a-very-tight-rubber-cat-suit-for-her-tour

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No hay más Led Zeppelin

A pesar de lo dicho ayer, Peter Mensch, manager del guitarrista Jimmy Page, se retractó totalmente en eso que la banda buscaría un reemplazo al ultragenial Robert Plant para seguir rockeando y toureándola por el mundo tras su show de 2007 en el O2 Arena de Londres por el poder de la música más sexual de la historia. No habrá más Led Zeppelin, no hay planes de que lo haya.

Mensch comentó: "Led Zeppelin se acabó. Si no los vieron en el 2007, se los perdieron. Probaron reemplazantes a Robert Plant, pero nada funcionó. Se acabó. No hay planes para continuar. Francamente, ojalá todos dejaran de hablar al respecto."

Los fans no están nada contentos, especialmente los británicos, considerando los precios delirantes de las entradas del show reunión.

¿Y a ti? ¿Qué te parece todo esto?

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1602369/.jhtml

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'Unknown' Star Liam Neeson On Losing His Memory ... For Real

'It was quite frightening, actually,' Oscar winner says of his amateur boxing days.
By Kara Warner


Liam Neeson
Photo: MTV News

Liam Neeson's performance in "Taken" accomplished several impressive feats. One of them is a $145 million haul at the box office, and the other is that Neeson, previously known for more dramatic, actor-type roles, can seriously kick ass onscreen.

In his new movie "Unknown," Neeson plays Dr. Martin Harris, an American man who has traveled to Berlin, Germany, to participate in an international conference. Almost immediately upon arrival, he is involved in a car accident and wakes up in a hospital with no memory of who he is or why he is in the foreign city. As his memory slowly returns, he starts to uncover oddities about his true identity.

When MTV News caught up with the Oscar winner recently, we found that Neeson hasn't just played someone who suffered memory loss, he experienced it firsthand during his younger years as an amateur boxer.

"It was quite frightening, actually," Neeson recalled. "I was about 16 or 17 and it was actually a fight I won on points. And I remember coming out and my father saying, 'Get your clothes on,' and I remember thinking, 'Clothes? What do you mean clothes?' 'Dressing room,' they were alien words to me," he explained. "And after about three minutes, I gradually came back and thought, 'Whoops, I don't like this, I better get out of this game.' "

Regarding the physical demands of "Unknown," as well as "Taken" for that matter, Neeson said that despite many people being surprised at the impressive physicality he displays on film, he's always kept himself in fighting form.

"Oh yeah, for many, many years, I've always done that. I just never advertised it," he said. "Everybody seems to advertise it now, you know? 'How many hours did ya do at the gym?' 'Oh I just did the five [hours].' 'Oh, I did five and a half.' Its sort of like, well f---."

"It's all over, it's a whole cult thing now," he said of fitness fanatics. "But I do it in my own quiet way. I just get on with it and do it."

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

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

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658236/liam-neeson-unknown-memory-loss.jhtml

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Giveaway: CYBEX 2011 Callisto Stroller

Feb 21 2011 9:23amFeb 25 2011 7:00pm

Mobile. Agile. Light.

The NEW 2011 Callisto stroller from CYBEX successfully combines fashion, functionality and luxury comfort. Striking colors and accent details, together with clean lines and single spoke aluminum wheels, makes the new 2011 Callisto a stand out among strollers. Extra padded seat and soft comfort suspension will give your child a very comfortable ride. A good size basket is just right for holding different baby gear. Lightweight and agile, easy and compact fold, the Callisto is the perfect companion for urban life.

The Callisto 2011 truly is perfection in mobility (Value: $350). Features include:

  • Unique single spoke aluminum wheels, four wheel, rotational, suspension
  • The big, zippered, expandable Super Canopy?adjusts up and down on the frame, depending on height of child, as well as ratchets forward for optimum sun protection.
  • One-pull harness system
  • Four position, one-handed recline
  • Height-adjustable handlebar
  • One touch, cable linked brakes
  • Weight is 17.6 lbs, for children from birth to 55 lb

Celebrity parents such as Matt Damon, Anne Heche, Sarah Jessica Parker/Matthew Broderick and Katherine Heigl have been spotted using their CYBEX strollers.

** Go to the CYBEX website to see the Carry Cot (0-20 lb, sold separately for $150), car seats and other light-weight and versatile strollers.

We are giving away a Callisto 2011 stroller to 1 lucky reader (value $350)!

One Easy Way to Enter:

  • Sign up for our newsletter and get your weekly fix on the latest celebrity mom and baby news (current subscribers will automatically be entered)**.
  • The winner will be chosen by third party draw service random.org.

This contest ends Friday, February 25th at 7:00 pm EST. This contest is open to USA residents only! Good luck!
*contest rules*
Congratulations to the winner of our mountain buggy giveaway: Jane!
** Check out CYBEX on Facebook & Twitter!

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Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/contests/2011/02/21/giveaway-2011-callisto-stroller

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Usher 'Got A Good Laugh' From Fan Kicking Him In The Face

'It looked worse than it actually was,' the 'OMG' singer laughs about accidental blow during concert serenade.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Usher
Photo: Jordan Strauss/ Getty Images

Usher's club-rattling jam "OMG" may "kill it every night" according to tourmate Miguel, but when the Atlanta crooner hit Madison Square Garden earlier this week, he was almost taken out by a clumsy fan.

When the singer touched down in New York on Monday, he indulged a super amped fan's fantasy by pulling her onstage for an intimate flirty serenade of "Trading Places." As Usher and the concertgoer got cozy on a recliner, she swiveled around to face the crooner — knocking him squarely in his mug with her foot. She began apologizing profusely as Usher briefly paused to collect himself. But the superstar took the strike in stride, quipping, "We play rough in the bed. We kick each other in the face and all type of good stuff."

Although Usher brushed off the blow, the moment did make an impression on him.

"In all my years, this is one of the most interesting experiences. I got a kick out of it!" he told Us Weekly. The singer assured fans that the knock wasn't that bad. "It looked worse than it actually was. My audience and I got a good laugh."

As for the fan, the "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" star maintained everything is all good on that front too. "Wherever you are baby, don't feel bad," Usher said. "No hard feelings."

As Miguel has noted, Usher isn't one dwell on drama, whether it's cranking out another hit album or weathering an unexpected hit from a fan.

"He's such a tremendous example of perseverance and determination," Miguel recently told MTV News. "I was there throughout this album, so I've seen the adversity that he's had to overcome perception-wise."

What do you think of Usher's response to getting knocked in the head by a fan? Tell us in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654395/usher-got-good-laugh-from-fan-kicking-him-face.jhtml

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Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis And Anne Hathaway: Gotham Film Awards

This is the third and final post from last night’s Gotham Film Awards which was held at Cipriani Wall Street. We’ve already seen Winona Ryder and Leighton Meester and now we have Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Amanda Peet and Anne … Continue reading

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2010/11/30/natalie-portman-mila-kunis-and-anne-hathaway-gotham-film-awards/

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