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.

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Britney Spears Drops Official 'Till The World Ends' Remix

New track with Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha follows leaked version, plus Brit tweets single's cover art.
By Jocelyn Vena


The "Till the World Ends" Femme Fatale remix
Photo: Jive

Just days after it was leaked on Friday, Britney Spears and her femme fatales, Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha, dropped their official remix of "Till the World Ends."

The new version of the song was produced by Dr. Luke and Dream Machine. Brit half-whispers " 'Till the World Ends' remix" before the beat kicks in and Nicki hits her verse hard. She spits fierce lines like, "Sniff, sniff, cries/ I done slayed your whole entire f---ing life."

Then Britney's sex-kitten vocals kick in for the song's first verse. "That's Britney, bitch! I'm Nicki Minaj and that's Ke$ha," the Queens MC declares before K sings the chorus. The beat is harder, the loops are sassier and the song is grimier than the original version, which was the second single from Femme Fatale. The newly added dubstep portion takes the one from "Hold It Against Me" to a new level by adding in bass-heavy synths.

Ke$ha, of course, wrote the track for Britney, and the ladies certainly don't seem to mind sharing the spotlight with each other. The official track isn't much different than the version that leaked over the weekend, though Spears did have something brand-new to share with her fans just as the song dropped on iTunes and streamed on her website.

Spears tweeted the artwork for the single, which features the original press photo of Spears along with separate photos of Nicki on the left and Ke$ha on the right. Spears wrote, "@NickiMinaj @Keshasuxx Too much fierceness for one cover! Thanks for lending your voices girls... #TTWEREMIX — Brit"

Spears and Minaj have been hanging out a lot in the lead-up to their summer tour. They hung out at the Factory nightclub on Friday night after Minaj's show in Los Angeles. Spears later wrote, "Early rehearsal after a late night with my girl @NickiMinaj. Can't WAIT to get out on the road with you."

What do you think of the "Till the World Ends" remix? Tell us in the comments!

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iPad 2 goes on sale in China

iPad 2 China release - main

Finally, China isn?t the forgotten stepchild of the electronics world anymore. The iPad 2 went on sale here today -- and the crowds were lining up to greet the first shipments from well before dawn.

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Source: http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/shop/ipad-2-sale-china-today-301525

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Ashley Greene Calls 'Skateland' A 'Departure From Alice Cullen'

'Twilight' star was still an unknown when she auditioned for '80s-set flick.
By Amy Wilkinson


Ashley Greene in "Skateland"
Photo: Freestyle Releasing

After the major box-office bite of three "Twilight Saga" films (and counting), it's hard to imagine any Hollywood casting director is unfamiliar with Ashley Greene. But when the 24-year-old actress auditioned for the part of Michelle Burkham in her upcoming '80s-set flick "Skateland," she was simply that girl from that vampire movie.

"It was right before 'New Moon.' No one really knew who I was," she recalled of the audition process. "We had done 'Twilight,' and I think maybe it had just come out. ... Actually, I feel like it came out while ['Skateland'] was filming. And, of course, I got the news of how big it was. No one really knew who I was at that point, so I was just a girl who was in this movie that was buzzed about. I really had to work for it."

After a long gestation period, audiences will finally get to see Greene in her first non-"Twilight" role — one she said is very different from her vampire alter ego.

"I was really excited, because it was definitely a departure from Alice Cullen. I think it was two years ago, so I'm excited it's finally coming out," she told MTV News. "I basically read the script, and I was really drawn to the character because Michelle — she's strong and she's vulnerable, and I feel like you don't get that a lot with female roles in films. She's kind of the headstrong girl in the movie, and she knows what she wants and she's confident and, you know, a no-bull kind of girl."

"Skateland" stars Shiloh Fernandez as a small-town Texas skating-rink manager who's forced to grow up after a series of dramatic events unfold in his life.

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

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

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Quentin Tarantino Wants Will Smith For 'Django Unchained' In Today's Casting Call

File this under unexpected and potentially amazing: Quentin Tarantino wants Will Smith to star in his next film, "Django Unchained." The Hollywood Reporter and Variety both report that Smith has an informal offer to star in Tarantino's upcoming Western as a slave-turned-bounty hunter looking to save his wife from a slavedriver. Nothing's official yet, though Tarantino [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/05/09/will-smith-quentin-tarantino-django-unchained-casting-call/

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'Thor' Storms Past 'Fast Five' At Box Office

Wedding-themed 'Jumping the Broom,' 'Something Borrowed' follow far behind.
By Ryan J. Downey


Chris Hemsworth in "Thor"
Photo: Paramount Pictures

The "god of thunder" stormed the box office over the weekend as comic book fans and other moviegoers rained $66 million upon theaters to see "Thor." The latest big-screen adaptation of a beloved Marvel Comics superhero, this one drawn from Norse mythology, kicked off the summer movie season as the #1 movie in America, according to studio estimates.

Alas, a pair of romantic comedies proved to be no match against Thor's power. "Jumping the Broom" opened at #3 with $13.7 million, while "Something Borrowed," based on Emily Giffin's best-selling novel, came in fourth place with $13.1 million. Co-starring rom-com veteran Kate Hudson, "Borrowed" was far behind the $21.1 million her "Bride Wars" took in when it opened in 2009, or the similar numbers generated by "Fool's Gold" the year before.

"Thor" launches a potential franchise for Disney-owned Marvel Studios and serves as yet another piece of the comic-book-like continuity tapestry leading to 2012's "The Avengers." That ambitious movie recently started shooting and will unite Thor with Marvel heroes like Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Captain America (Chris Evans), whose own movie arrives on July 22. "Thor" benefited greatly from the critic-approved charisma of newcomer Chris Hemsworth in the title role and the Shakespearean sensibilities of director Kenneth Branagh. Technology didn't hurt, either, as roughly 60 percent of the film's business came courtesy of 3-D.

The opening-weekend numbers for "Thor" weren't as impressive as the franchise launching "Spider Man," "Iron Man," "Hulk" or "X-Men," but certainly stronger than "Ghost Rider" and "Daredevil." The movie's $66 million debut is more than the total gross of any other film Branagh has directed and bodes well for Hemsworth's future. The Australian actor already has the "Red Dawn" remake in the can, as well as "Cabin in the Woods," which was co-written by "Avengers" director Joss Whedon.

"Fast Five" was #2 with $32.5 million (for a $139.8 million total), although it beat "Thor" overseas as it expanded into more territories. The movie still boasts the biggest opening of 2011 thus far, and its 62 percent second week drop-off isn't any different than the last one, "Fast and Furious," which reunited Vin Diesel and Paul Walker after two sequels spent apart.

The animated "Rio" was #5, with $8.2 million for a $114.9 million total. Meanwhile, the Jodie Foster-directed dark dramedy "The Beaver," starring Mel Gibson, opened with $104,000, which even in limited release at just 22 locations is a disappointingly low number for all involved.

Next weekend's new releases include post-apocalyptic vampire flick "Priest," the Judd Apatow-produced comedy "Bridesmaids," heavy-metal infused indie "Hesher" and "Everything Must Go," which stars Will Ferrell in a dramatic role as a relapsing alcoholic whose life is falling apart.

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

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663468/thor-box-office.jhtml

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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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