Beyonce's 'Countdown' Video A Bridge To The Past

With the clip set to premiere Thursday at 7:56 p.m. ET on MTV, Bigger Than the Sound takes a look at B's career.
By James Montgomery


Beyonce in her video for "Countdown"
Photo: Columbia

A few weeks back, a relative who shall remain nameless was complaining about Beyoncé. More specifically, the way she chose to reveal her pregnancy at the VMAs, because, as the relative in question told me, "It was a bad example for girls ... after all, Beyoncé's not even married." (I am from the South, after all.)

After taking a second to process that statement, I informed the relative that, not only was Beyoncé married, but she'd been married for a while now and had actually dated her husband (you know, Jay-Z — whom, it should be noted, my relative hadn't heard of) for an even longer while before that. If anything, I pointed out, Beyoncé had set a perfect example for girls out there.

"OK," my relative said. "Well, then, I like her again."

And that's basically all you need to know about Beyoncé at this stage of her career: She is so famous that her every action is judged by my Southern relatives, most of whom are unaware of Jay-Z's existence. And he has 12 #1 albums and owns a part of an NBA franchise. Beyoncé has become not only an icon, but — as all evidence suggests — a role model, whether she wants to be or not. And, perhaps most tellingly, as my relative's rapidly changing opinion of her indicates, people really want to like her.

So, given that I had the perfect case study on the phone, I asked my relative just what, exactly, did she like about Bey? She said she had heard some of her music (the big, ballad-y stuff, like "If I Were a Boy" and "Halo") and liked her voice, but what really struck her is that she "seemed nice" and that she reminded her of the kind of artists she had listened to growing up: Tina Turner, Diana Ross and Gladys Knight. And while I could do an entire column on the sentiments contained in the "nice" comment, I'd prefer to focus instead on Beyoncé's throwback factor — because that's where the real connection lies.

After nearly 13 years as both a solo artist and a member of Destiny's Child, Beyoncé may very well be the bridge between the past and the future. I suspect that my relative has never heard her 4 album, which is a shame, because she'd probably like it. The disc hasn't quite matched the lofty commercial successes of its predecessors, but it's a better album in just about every conceivable way. Full of live instruments and gushing emotions, it recalls the work of everyone from Prince and Lionel Ritchie to the Jackson 5 and Fela Kuti and contains no less than a half-dozen big-boned ballads (the best among them being "1+1," "Best Thing I Never Had" and "I Was Here"). Sure, there are weirder moments too — like first single "Run the World (Girls)" — but at its core, 4 is a very classy, classically influenced effort — the kind of thing your relatives can really relate to. And yet, I would wager that most of them are unaware of its existence.

Which is why it will be interesting to gauge the reaction to "Countdown," the latest single from the disc. The video for the song premieres Thursday at 7:56 p.m. ET on MTV, and judging from the sneak peek we've seen, Beyoncé is very much channeling the spirit of Audrey Hebpurn in it, sporting short bangs and cropped black pants. And with the song's hard-charging horns and steel-drum flourishes, it certainly recalls soul and reggae tunes of yesteryear. Of course, it also marks the triumphant return of so-called "Crazy Beyoncé," the fantastic, fascinating sliver of her personality she's revealed in gloriously over-the-top tunes like "Ring the Alarm," "Get Me Bodied," "Diva" and, of course, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (and, to a lesser effect, on "Run The World" too).

In a lot of ways, "Countdown" is the point where 4's two halves meet, both sonically and spiritually. There is a joyful abandon to it that brings to mind stuff like "Proud Mary" or "Midnight Train to Georgia." There is also the part where Beyoncé keeps saying (I think) "boof." And as such, it could be summed up as the ultimate litmus test of Bey's cross-generational appeal. Can she carry the coveted "relatives" demographic? Does it even matter?

Then again, I suppose there was a time when aunts and uncles were complaining that Tina Turner didn't set a good example for young girls either. It is, and seemingly always will be, a generational thing. And while she's certainly got a long way to go, Beyoncé may very well end up being our generation's true icon, the logical successor to those who came before her. "Countdown" is just the next rung on the ladder, and there will certainly be many more to come; still, it's a heck of a step, the perfect synthesis of what I love about Beyoncé and what my relatives do too. I just hope they'll listen. It'd make for a really interesting phone call next week.

What are you expecting from Beyoncé's "Countdown" video? Let us know in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1672029/beyonce-countdown-video.jhtml

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Lady Gaga Shoots 'Marry The Night' Video In New York

Cultural center CEO tells MTV News that Gaga was 'friendly and kind' during Staten Island video shoot.
By Jocelyn Vena


Lady Gaga (file)
Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images

After multiple reports of Lady Gaga's Staten Island video shoot for "Marry the Night" hit the Net, MTV News has confirmed that the singer indeed shot her fifth Born This Way clip in her native New York.

MTV News caught up with the CEO of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, where the video was shot on Monday, to get some details about the "Marry the Night" visuals.

"We found both her and her crew to be easy to work with and low-key," Lynn Kelly told us. "I think we would have expected a lot of drama, and the truth is, she is probably the most down-to-earth person. It was endearing. She was friendly and kind."

Lady Gaga "started to cry" the first time she heard the track for "Marry the Night."

New York's Daily News reports that Gaga was spotted hiding behind a sheet in order to keep her video look concealed from the many onlookers who stopped to catch a glimpse of the star.

According to tweets from passersby, dancers and extras were spotted dressed in multiple looks: some as ballerinas and others wearing leopard print. Gaga's mom was reportedly on set and spoke to some of the Little Monsters. While Gaga remained relatively hidden during the shoot, one fan tweeted that she was spotted sporting thick, black eyeliner with her hair done up.

While she wouldn't reveal any insider details about the video, Kelly did have only the highest praise for Mother Monster. "I think, for us, we're so excited to have someone of her talent and to have somebody like that shoot here is a sheer honor," she said. "What her music does for music is so much more than entertainment. It's connecting to the arts on a much deeper level, and that's what I hope we can do here."

What are you expecting from the "Marry the Night" video? Let us know in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1672318/lady-gaga-marry-the-night-music-video.jhtml

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Taylor Swift, Rihanna Dress To Impress At Billboard Awards

Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha, Selena Gomez also make fashion splash on red carpet, as showgirl style rules at the Las Vegas event on Sunday night.
By Jocelyn Vena


Taylor Swift at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards
Photo: Jordan Strauss/ Getty Images

On Sunday night, some of the biggest names in the music industry hit up the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas and decided that sparkles and sequins make for the perfect additions to any red carpet get-up. Well, it is Sin City after all.

Taylor Swift always seems to bring some of that Nashville sparkle to any red carpet. She arrived at the show in a pale-hued, sequined Elie Saab gown. Nicki Minaj showed off her signature sense of style in her baby-blue, body-hugging spandex Mark Fast catsuit.

Selena Gomez turned up the style dial in a sexy, cut-out black Dolce & Gabbana gown that she paired with red strappy sandals with sparkly bow detailing. Like Gomez, Ke$ha opted for some cut-out detailing in her sparkly, slate-gray dress with tulle skirt. Rihanna looked white hot in her men's tailored Max Azria suit, which she kept sexy and feminine by not buttoning her shirt all the way.

Fergie went S&M chic in her little black bandage-type dress by Hervé Léger. Nicole Kidman also wore black. She paired a casual braid hairstyle with a long black gown and Keith Urban. British pop cutie Kyle Minogue looked funky in her little black lacey dress. Inside the show, Britney Spears sat in the audience wearing a skimpy black dress of her own, her hair in loose curls, with little-to-no accessories.

While some stars kept the color scheme low-key, Keri Hilson decided to stand out in her billowy little yellow dress paired with a turquoise-colored belt. Kelly Rowland showed off some of her best assets in a body-hugging, bright pink bandage dress.

The fellas also looked tight on the carpet. Joe Jonas wore all black with white sneakers, Ne-Yo paired his periwinkle suit with a Yankees cap and Justin Bieber wore black tuxedo pants with a gold-lamé tuxedo jacket.

Which stars' styles caught your eye at the Billboard Music Awards? Tell us in the comments.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664386/billboard-music-awards-taylor-swift-rihanna.jhtml

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Lady Gaga, Bono, Usher To Headline Bill Clinton Foundation Fundraiser

October 15 show will be streamed live over the Internet.
By Gil Kaufman


Lady Gaga
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Even a dozen years removed from the White House, former president Bill Clinton still has that same superstar-attracting aura. That might explain why such bright lights as Lady Gaga, Bono and The Edge of U2, and Usher have signed on to perform at an October 15 party for Clinton at the Hollywood Bowl.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, details on the final list of performers and presenters are still being worked on, but an impressive list of movie and TV personalities are expected to sign on for the event, which is being billed as a celebration of the 10-year anniversary of Clinton's nonprofit William J. Clinton Foundation.

To date, the foundation has raised more than $10 billion for some of the ex-president's most cherished causes, including HIV/AIDS treatment, economic empowerment, food aid and global health initiatives. The show, which will also serve as a birthday party celebration for the former Democratic leader (who turned 65 on August 19), will be broadcast exclusively by Yahoo, which will stream "A Decade of Difference: A Concert Celebrating 10 Years of the William J. Clinton Foundation" worldwide to a potential audience of millions.

Clinton continues to travel the world doing good works, though he turned his attention homeward over the weekend when he participated in the 10th anniversary ceremonies of the September 11 terror attacks. He announced on Sunday that he will team with Republican House Speaker John Boehner in a bipartisan effort to raise the final $10 million needed to complete the Fight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1670610/lady-gaga-bono-bill-clinton-charity-foundation.jhtml

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Stranger Danger

My sister recently had a talk with my four-year-old nephew Jack about strangers. Here's how it went:

SISTER: Now, Jack, if a stranger says, "Come here, I want to show you something," what do you do?

JACK: I turn around and run!

SISTER: If a stranger says, "Come here, I want to give you some candy," what do you do?

JACK: I turn around and run!

SISTER: If a stranger says, "Come here, I want to show you my puppy," what do you do?

JACK: Oh, I love puppies...

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/7/26/stranger-danger.html

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Beyonce's 'Love On Top' Tease: Five Key Scenes

A nod to New Edition's classic boy band moves is just one of the reasons we can't wait for B's next clip.
By Rebecca Thomas


Beyoncé in the "Love on Top" music video teaser
Photo: Columbia

It's only been a week since Beyoncé dropped her frenetic "Countdown" video, but she's already gearing up to hit the eject button on another clip from her 4 album. Some fans got their first taste of "Love on Top" when B debuted it (along with that baby bump!) at the 2011 MTV VMAs. But while she gave the retro-leaning track the doo-wop treatment, sporting a sequined Dolce & Gabbana blazer at the show, she'll revisit another musical era for the video.

New Edition's '80s smash "If It Isn't Love" is the clear inspiration in the 82-second tease of Beyoncé's video. And although the superstar has been doing damage control over claims she referenced another artist's work too liberally in her "Countdown" clip, we only want to see more of how B recharged the Boston boy band's classic choreography.

Check out how the "Countdown" director dealt with B's "special arrival."

Check out our five favorite things from the wisp of a preview, and share yours in the comments section!

If It Isn't 'Love on Top'
N.E.'s 1988 hit from their album Heart Break is a crazy melodic uptempo ballad with singer Ralph Tresvant tackling the lead. In the super spare clip, casually dressed bandmates Tresvant, Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe, Michael Bivins and — taking over for the newly solo Bobby Brown — Johnny Gill turn a dance rehearsal into a stage-worthy triumph. In the sneak peek, B is backed by five T-shirt-rocking male dancers who help her recreate the quintet's smokin' steps. Even her studio, with its multiple window views, looks like it was shot in the exact same spot.

All Hail, King B
While B's head gear may call to mind a certain Ugandan dictator among kids who paid attention in AP History, there's only one power this diva exercises in the land of Beyoncéstan: forcing you to dance.

If the Shoe Fits
Not even pregnancy can keep Beyoncé out of her towering Brian Atwoods. Still, after peeping her in '60s-style ballet flats in the "Countdown" visual, we were just gushing over how the singer paired black nylons and a bodysuit with sneakers. The Ash footwear line's white-soled Biba shoe, to be specific. A new look for B, and we like!

Brook Payne, Bring the Pain
B and her longtime choreographer Frank Gatson Jr. have traveled far and wide when it comes to seeking dance inspiration for her visuals. For "Run the World (Girls)," for instance, the pair famously sent a search team to Mozambique to track down the African Tofo Tofo dancers whose hard-to-replicate steps (captured in YouTube videos) had hypnotized them. But for "Top," B's team turns to the work of Brook Payne, veteran choreographer for New Edition. Payne makes a cameo and delivers the monologue at the top of the N.E. clip — maybe Gatson will too?

When we caught up with the re-formed, six-strong group at the Essence Festival in June, Bobby Brown spoke to MTV News about Payne's mastery and why that footwork has been so often imitated. "It's a lot of things that I'm capable of doing, but New Edition steps, whether you think so or not, they're probably one of the hardest things in dance that you could do," Brown said.

The Diva Fan
Ahh, the diva fan: From "Crazy in Love" to "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," B seldom hits a video set without it, and it always blows to the left, to the left.

What are you hoping for from B's "Love on Top" video? Tell us in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1672439/beyonce-love-on-top-music-video.jhtml

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