Glam rocker tackled the legendary 1970 Led Zeppelin song for 'American Idol' rock night.
By Gil Kaufman
Adam Lambert performs "Whole Lotta Love" on "American Idol" on Tuesday
Photo: R. Mickshaw/Getty Images/ Fox
Imagine a freight train speeding toward you at midnight. Or a rockslide barreling down a hill as you try to outrace it. That's the feeling of the ominous, chugging Jimmy Page riff that kicks off Led Zeppelin's 1970 Stonehenge of rock, "Whole Lotta Love." And that's before singer Robert Plant leans into one of the nastiest, ecstatic rock screams this side of the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again."
That's the song Adam Lambert chose to sing on "American Idol" rock night Tuesday (May 5), and, needless to say, it was a challenge that the eyeliner-loving Los Angeles stage veteran was more than up for, hitting a series of high notes and rock screams that would have made Plant proud. It was a risky maneuver that paid off for Lambert, who chose a tune that came in at #75 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004.
The legendary British rock act recorded the tribute to Chicago blues icon Willie Dixon during their second U.S. tour after working it out in their live show, including it on their 1969 classic album Led Zeppelin II. Like many of the songs Zeppelin performed early in their career, "Love" was a blues standard turned on its head with a heavy dose of crunching psychedelic guitar and thundering drums, courtesy of late drummer John Bonham. The song was based on a 1962 tune by another blues forefather, Muddy Waters, called "You Need Love," which was penned by Dixon.
For Zeppelin's version, Plant customized the lyrics by adding some lyrical quotes from a few other songs Dixon wrote for Howlin' Wolf, "Back Door Man" and "Shake For Me," nailing the tricky vocal in a single take. It was also inspired by 1966's "You Need Loving" from the British rock group the Small Faces, for whom Zeppelin had great affection, but they also did not credit Dixon for his part in writing the original lyrics. The song became Zeppelin's first U.S. single and their only U.S. top 10 hit. Though their manager would not let them release singles in the U.K. because he thought it cannibalized album sales, the song was finally released as the band's only British single in 1997.
Dixon sued Zeppelin over the song in 1985, claiming it borrowed too heavily from his "You Need Love," and Zeppelin reached an agreement with him, with Dixon using the money he received to set up a program that provided musical instruments for schools. A cornerstone of heavy rock, the tune -- which was the theme song for the long-running British countdown show "Top of the Pops" in the 1970s and '80s -- has been covered by dozens of artists over the years, from Tina Turner and Ben Harper to Prince, Slash, Leona Lewis, Train's Pat Monahan, the London Symphony Orchestra and Jane's Addiction.
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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Glam rocker tackled the legendary 1970 Led Zeppelin song for 'American Idol' rock night.
By Gil Kaufman
Adam Lambert performs "Whole Lotta Love" on "American Idol" on Tuesday
Photo: R. Mickshaw/Getty Images/ Fox
Imagine a freight train speeding toward you at midnight. Or a rockslide barreling down a hill as you try to outrace it. That's the feeling of the ominous, chugging Jimmy Page riff that kicks off Led Zeppelin's 1970 Stonehenge of rock, "Whole Lotta Love." And that's before singer Robert Plant leans into one of the nastiest, ecstatic rock screams this side of the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again."
That's the song Adam Lambert chose to sing on "American Idol" rock night Tuesday (May 5), and, needless to say, it was a challenge that the eyeliner-loving Los Angeles stage veteran was more than up for, hitting a series of high notes and rock screams that would have made Plant proud. It was a risky maneuver that paid off for Lambert, who chose a tune that came in at #75 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004.
The legendary British rock act recorded the tribute to Chicago blues icon Willie Dixon during their second U.S. tour after working it out in their live show, including it on their 1969 classic album Led Zeppelin II. Like many of the songs Zeppelin performed early in their career, "Love" was a blues standard turned on its head with a heavy dose of crunching psychedelic guitar and thundering drums, courtesy of late drummer John Bonham. The song was based on a 1962 tune by another blues forefather, Muddy Waters, called "You Need Love," which was penned by Dixon.
For Zeppelin's version, Plant customized the lyrics by adding some lyrical quotes from a few other songs Dixon wrote for Howlin' Wolf, "Back Door Man" and "Shake For Me," nailing the tricky vocal in a single take. It was also inspired by 1966's "You Need Loving" from the British rock group the Small Faces, for whom Zeppelin had great affection, but they also did not credit Dixon for his part in writing the original lyrics. The song became Zeppelin's first U.S. single and their only U.S. top 10 hit. Though their manager would not let them release singles in the U.K. because he thought it cannibalized album sales, the song was finally released as the band's only British single in 1997.
Dixon sued Zeppelin over the song in 1985, claiming it borrowed too heavily from his "You Need Love," and Zeppelin reached an agreement with him, with Dixon using the money he received to set up a program that provided musical instruments for schools. A cornerstone of heavy rock, the tune -- which was the theme song for the long-running British countdown show "Top of the Pops" in the 1970s and '80s -- has been covered by dozens of artists over the years, from Tina Turner and Ben Harper to Prince, Slash, Leona Lewis, Train's Pat Monahan, the London Symphony Orchestra and Jane's Addiction.
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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Bieber and a furry co-star encourage adoption from animal shelters in new campaign.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber's PETA ad
Photo: PETA
With tag lines like "My World Includes Passion for Animals, Yours Should Too" and "Animals Can Make U Smile, Adopt From Your Local Shelter," Justin Bieber has joined forces with PETA as the latest celebrity spokesperson for the animal-rights organization.
The pop singer and a papillon pup named Bijou posed for the ads, asking fans to adopt animals from a shelter. Bieber also shot a video for the campaign that has been posted online. In the clip, he says, "A lot of animals are getting abused in different homes ... and I think it's really important we just stay aware about these different situations."
Bieber goes on to recalls his own experiences with animal shelters. "I have a dog, his name is Sam. He's actually a papillon," the teen star explained. "We moved to a city where we didn't really know anybody, so I wanted a friend and Sam was kind of like that friend.
"My dad and I used to just go visit the different animals and stuff," he continued, while suggesting that people get involved with the campaign. "It's really important that people adopt. I really encourage going out to an animal shelter or a place where you can get a dog that has been abandoned or doesn't have a home."
In his punny photo ads for the organization, the pop sensation sports his signature bangs and hoodie. The pics were shot by Cliff Watts, who has photographed other stars such as Kate Hudson, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Beyoncé and Angelina Jolie in the past.
Bieber joins a long line of celebrities who have posed, many often nude, for PETA campaigns. Khloé Kardashian, Pamela Anderson, Paul McCartney, Eva Mendes, Pink and Mark Ronson, to name a few, have been featured in previous PETA ads.
Do you like Justin's PETA ads? Tell us in the comments.
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Billy Brasfield takes to his Twitter account to heap praise on Gaga's upcoming clip.
By James Montgomery
Lady Gaga
Photo: David Wolff-Patrick/ Getty Images
We may not know what it looks like, but we know it's coming soon, and, from the sound of things, it's going to be quite the experience.
We're talking, of course, about Lady Gaga's hotly anticipated "Born This Way" video, which she apparently shot this past weekend, and, according to her makeup artist Billy Brasfield, it's the kind of thing that defies explanation. And adjectives. (Though that didn't stop him from heaping 'em on.) In fact, the "BTW" video is apparently so awe-inducing that it brought Brasfield to tears.
"Have you ever been a part of something that was so profound, so inspiring, so incredibly beautiful, that as it was happening, it brought tears to your eyes and you had been given a gift, and you were thankful?" he tweeted on Monday. "It happened to me [and] I am thankful. 1/22, 1/23, 1/24- 2011 LADY GAGA--#BORNTHISWAY."
Brasfield then followed that message up with another tweet Tuesday morning (January 25), in which he continued to pile praise on the "Born This Way" clip.
"After days of sensory overload, of amazing song, ridiculously beautiful imagery, fashion, beautiful People, great friends, and a life changing experience, I am awake again after 24 hours of sleep," he wrote. "Hello New York City and snow."
Of course, Brasfield isn't the only member of Gaga's team hyping the "Born This Way" video these days. On Monday, LG's fashion director (and Thierry Mugler creative director) Nicola Formichetti took to his Twitter account to praise the shoot, writing, "Ok kids, get ready for ['Born This Way']. We've just created the most amazing thing ever."
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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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Olivia Wilde will also be a presenter at the awards show this Sunday.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Justin Bieber
Photo: Chris McKay/ Getty Images
The 68th annual Golden Globes just got a whole lot more teen-girl-friendly.
Pop megastar Justin Bieber and screen idol Zac Efron have been announced as presenters at the trophy-fest, which goes down this Sunday. Actress Olivia Wilde will also hand out hardware at the festivities.
The newly announced trio join famous faces like "Spider-Man" star Andrew Garfield, "The Office" comic Steve Carell, flame-haired actress Julianne Moore, previous Globe winner Michelle Pfeiffer and "Mad Men" siren January Jones, who will also present awards at the big show. Robert Downey Jr., Sandra Bullock, Robert Pattison, Jennifer Lopez, Helen Mirren and Kevin Spacey will also be on hand to beef up the star power of the presenters list. "True Grit" star Matt Damon has been confirmed to present screen veteran Robert De Niro with the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime-achievement award.
Among the flicks in the running for a Globes statuette this year is the drama "The King's Speech," which is up for seven nods, including Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Director and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama for Colin Firth's portrayal of Britain's King George VI just after he assumed the throne. "The Kids Are All Right," "The Fighter," "Black Swan" and "The Social Network" also racked up Globes love.
Fox's song-and-dance smash "Glee" leads the television pack with five nominations, including Best Television Series - Comedy Or Musical and actor nods for Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Chris Colfer and Jane Lynch. Perennial TV winners "30 Rock" and "Mad Men" are also up for trophies.
Viewers can see who takes home the Globes when the event — hosted by "The Office" creator and U.K. comedian Ricky Gervais — is broadcast live Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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'There's so much anticipation for this song when he comes out,' Miguel says of MTV News' Song of the Year.
By Vaughn Trudeau Schoonmaker
Usher
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
MTV News just named Usher's "OMG" the #1 song of 2010, and clearly we're not alone in our admiration. But what is it like to watch it performed night after night? Miguel, who is currently opening for Usher's OMG Tour gave us a little insight.
"There's so much anticipation for this song when he comes out, and he really gives the fans what they want," Miguel laughs. "He kills it every night."
Before his latest string of hits, Usher was out of the spotlight for a period of time in 2009, when he was dealing with personal issues including a divorce. Miguel finds his 2010 comeback inspiring.
"There was a period of time, when a lot of people didn't believe in Usher and thought he was finished ... just kind of going to ride off into the sunset and disappear," the up-and-coming singer noted.
With the release of Raymond vs. Raymond and its extended, companion EP, Versus, in 2010, Usher proved the skeptics wrong with chart-toppers including "OMG" and "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love."
"He's such a tremendous example of perseverance and determination," Miguel beamed. "I was there throughout this album, so I've seen the adversity that he's had to overcome perception-wise."
MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 have all been counted down. But the fun isn't over yet: We still want to see your picks in the comments below!
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