Lady Gaga Early Demos, Autographs Up For Auction

Rock & Roll Pop Culture Auction begins Wednesday and also includes items from John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson.
By James Montgomery


Lady Gaga
Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images

Demos from Lady Gaga's early days will be up for bid in a new online auction, alongside handwritten lyrics, clothing and various ephemera from the likes of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Michael Jackson.

It's all part of an expansive collection going under the gavel as the Rock & Roll Pop Culture Auction, starting on Wednesday at GottaHaveRockAndRoll.com. And for Gaga completists, there's plenty to get excited about.

In total, six CDs of early recordings will be up for auction, including a pair of demo discs from her first days as Lady Gaga. One, from 2006 and complete with a handwritten track listing, features six songs ("Wonderful," "Retrosexual," "Rock Show," "Spin You Around," "Yay Ha" and "Oh Well") and was donated by her then-manager Bob Leone. The second disc, also from '06, is a single version of the song "Wonderful."

The four other albums in the auction feature music recorded by Gaga when she was still going by her real name, Stefani Germanotta, and include a CDR (labeled "Stefani Germanotta, 2001") with four songs, and three albums: Stefani, Red And Blue; Stefani Germanotta; and Words, which is credited to the "Stefani Germanotta Band." A performance DVD, shot at the Cutting Room in New York, is also up for bid.

Bidding on all six CDs will start at $1,000. Two autographed items — an 11-by-14 photograph and a copy of Gaga's The Fame album — are also up for auction, with opening bids starting at $100. That's a pretty good deal, especially considering that bidding on a life-size Arnold Schwarzenegger-autographed T-800 prop from "T2: Judgment Day" begins at $79,000. And Arnie has never even had a hit record.

Will you check out the Rock & Roll Pop Culture Auction featuring rare Lady Gaga items? Tell us in the comments.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649245/20101004/lady_gaga.jhtml

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Lady Gaga Challenger 'Confident' She Could Win In A Sing-Off

'I had my fans writing to me and saying, 'Hey, I think you're better than Lady Gaga,' ' Alisa Apps says on MTV's 'The Seven.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Lady Gaga
Photo: Jemal Countess/ Getty Images

Upstart vocalist Alisa Apps has nabbed headlines by challenging megastar pop queen Lady Gaga to a $1 million singing contest. To some onlookers, the contest may have appeared to come out of nowhere, but Apps has explained that her dedicated fans urged her to take on Mother Monster. During an interview that aired Friday (October 15) on MTV's "The Seven," the singer detailed the origins of the vocal battle.

"I had my fans writing to me and saying, 'Hey, I think you're better than Lady Gaga and ... it'd be cool for you to challenge her somehow,' " Apps told "Seven" host Kevin.

The singer maintained that her goal isn't to make nice with Gaga and added that a little rivalry keeps everyone on their toes.

"It's not really about co-existing," Apps said. "I think that competition is a good thing. It makes things more fun and exciting."

Gaga's camp was mum when MTV News reached out for comment about the challenge a few days ago, and Apps revealed that she hasn't "heard anything yet from her camp but I'm excited to."

Although no word about the challenge has surfaced from the "Bad Romance" diva, Apps still seems ready to show off her skills in a singing smack-down.

"I'm confident that, yeah, I am a better singer than her," she said.

When Apps first proposed the $1 million contest, which would entail both singers belting out a series of songs for a panel of judges who would determine the victor, she said she felt it would be the ultimate clash of genuine musicianship versus slick music-industry marketing.

"I feel sorry for Lady Gaga — she's just a plastic doll generated by the music money marketing machine," Apps said a press release. "I stand for the voice of your heart. Be real with me. Come to my world and feel. I want to hear you and for you to hear me. This contest gives people a chance to choose which they prefer: plastic or real."

Are you Team Apps or Team Gaga? Let us know in the comments!

Don't miss "The Seven" every weekday at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.

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Kings Of Leon Say Justin Bieber Sounds Better With A Cocktail

'We enjoy the nighttime,' says frontman Caleb Folowill.
By James Montgomery


Kings of Leon's Caleb Followill
Photo: MTV News

According to the Kings of Leon themselves, the title of their brand-new album Come Around Sundown was taken from country singer John Anderson's song "Small Town." It also happens to be a pretty apt description for the album, which is a nocturnal, sultry thing about, well, nocturnal, sultry things.

And, unlike pretty much everything people have said about the album, the Kings themselves actually sort of agree with that assessment. Because, in a lot of ways, Sundown is the soundtrack to their lives ... the overwhelming majority of which happens to occur very late at night.

"I don't think we had any intention of making the songs more about the night time, but maybe the music we were listening to was inspired by that, or maybe just the fact that we enjoy the nighttime," frontman Caleb Followill said. "I think you want to listen to it whenever you don't have a lot of stuff going on and you can actually just relax ... I think it sounds better with a cocktail, probably. I don't know, though — I don't really listen to that much music in the morning."

It's worth mentioning that pretty much all the Kings' music is rather cocktail-friendly ... they are, after all, a band that's not exactly averse to the occasional party. But on Sundown, they've wrapped the majority of their boozy, woozy rock in a downright nightly haze — inspired by, as bassist Jared Followill explained, the music of Beach House and LCD Soundsystem, which the band was listening to during the writing process.

And while those inspirations are new, the basic formula KOL used on Sundown remained largely unchanged: One part sweaty, Southern rock, three parts cocktail-inspired bad behavior. Like the old saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

"Everything [is better with a cocktail]," Jared Followill smiled. "Justin Bieber sounds better with a cocktail."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1650608/20101022/kings_of_leon.jhtml

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Justin Bieber 3-D Movie Poster: The Pieces So Far!

With a little help from Usher, Ryan Seacrest and Ellen DeGeneres, MTV News plays along to uncover film's title.
By Jocelyn Vena


Justin Bieber movie poster puzzle pieces
Photo: Paramount Pictures/MTV News

On Wednesday morning, Jon Chu, the director of Justin Bieber's 3-D movie, took to his Twitter to send all the Beliebers on a hunt for the pieces of a puzzle that make up the film's poster, which will then also reveal the title.

Nearly a day and a half later, all the pieces of the puzzle have yet to be revealed, but MTV News has been endeavoring to play along. We can't wait until the official reveal on Friday.

The pieces so far have been unveiled by a number of celebrities, including Ellen DeGeneres, Usher, Ryan Seacrest and Perez Hilton. Members of Bieber's inner circle, like manager Scooter Braun, and various other Twitter feeds run by British celebrity magazine Heat and the Bieber Army have also revealed some clues. Chu even got into the fun, revealing the first piece of the puzzle. If you want to play along, follow the #JBValentinesDay hashtag.

What did DeGeneres have to say about her contribution to the dizzying treasure hunt? "I'd recognize those lips anywhere," she wrote. "@JustinBieber - heres another piece of the puzzle, Beliebers."

As for Usher, he had one key piece of the Bieber look to share with fans. "So apparently some guy named @UsherRaymondIV has tweeted Piece #8," Chu shared about Usher's contribution. "Could that be the hair?! Only a few more to go!"

Heat added: "Justin Bieber fans, here's our very special piece of the Justin Bieber Poster Puzzle... enjoy! @JustinBieber #JBVa." The mag later added, "Not a fan of Justin Bieber, then move along."

America's very own reformed gossip gangsta, Perez Hilton, revealed his own piece of the puzzle. "Found Piece #5!!! @perezhilton had it!!" Chu said. "Of course. Oh and it IS a good one. check it out."

And then the Bieber Army got in on the action, tweeting its own piece to the puzzle: "Here is puzzle piece #4! Look out for more to complete the @JustinBieber 3D movie poster!"

Braun initially played coy about his piece. "So i see @jonmchu and @ryanseacrest have pieces of the new @justinbieber movie poster revealing the title. maybe I have one. Interesting," he wrote before spilling the beans. "Ok ok here is the next piece. What's the title of the @justinbieber Movie @jonmchu?? AW C'MON!!"

Chu noted that things were getting interesting when Ryan Seacrest got into the action with his piece. He tweeted: "Now here's piece #2 of the @JustinBieber movie poster."

However, it all started with Chu. "GAME ON!" he wrote Wednesday. "@justinbieber MOVIE POSTER/TITLE REVEAL BEGINS Collect ALL the pieces 2 UNCOVER."

Share your title guesses in the comments!

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Drake, Usher, Alicia Keys Top Soul Train Awards Nomination List

Nicki Minaj, B.o.B, Ne-Yo scored two nods apiece at this year's show set to air November 28.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Alicia Keys
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images

Alicia Keys, Usher and Drake lead the list of nominees for the 2010 Soul Train Awards, it was announced on Monday (October 18).

New mother Keys and Usher are tied for the most nods with four apiece; Keys is up for Best R&B/Soul Artist Female, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Record of the Year, while Usher is up for Best R&B/Soul Artist Male, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Dance Performance.

Drake is just one nom behind the pace-setters. The Toronto lyricist scored nods in three categories: Best Hip Hop Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Record of the Year.

Nicki Minaj, Ne-Yo, B.o.B Erykah Badu, Monica, Sade and Fantasia are among the other big nominees, each scoring two nods apiece. This year's Legends Awards recipients are veteran singers Ron Isley and Anita Baker.

R. Kelly is set to open the show, hosted for a second-straight year by actor Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. Rick Ross, Cee-Lo and Keyshia Cole are among the acts scheduled to perform. The 2010 Soul Train Awards are set for November 10 at Atlanta's Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and will air November 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on BET and Centric.

Last year marked the return of the seminal awards show, founded by "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius, after a two-year hiatus. The 2009 production also took place in Atlanta and featured tributes to Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, L.A. Reid and Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds.

For the full list of nominees, visit BET.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1650235/20101018/drake.jhtml

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Kings Of Leon Say Justin Bieber Sounds Better With A Cocktail

'We enjoy the nighttime,' says frontman Caleb Folowill.
By James Montgomery


Kings of Leon's Caleb Followill
Photo: MTV News

According to the Kings of Leon themselves, the title of their brand-new album Come Around Sundown was taken from country singer John Anderson's song "Small Town." It also happens to be a pretty apt description for the album, which is a nocturnal, sultry thing about, well, nocturnal, sultry things.

And, unlike pretty much everything people have said about the album, the Kings themselves actually sort of agree with that assessment. Because, in a lot of ways, Sundown is the soundtrack to their lives ... the overwhelming majority of which happens to occur very late at night.

"I don't think we had any intention of making the songs more about the night time, but maybe the music we were listening to was inspired by that, or maybe just the fact that we enjoy the nighttime," frontman Caleb Followill said. "I think you want to listen to it whenever you don't have a lot of stuff going on and you can actually just relax ... I think it sounds better with a cocktail, probably. I don't know, though — I don't really listen to that much music in the morning."

It's worth mentioning that pretty much all the Kings' music is rather cocktail-friendly ... they are, after all, a band that's not exactly averse to the occasional party. But on Sundown, they've wrapped the majority of their boozy, woozy rock in a downright nightly haze — inspired by, as bassist Jared Followill explained, the music of Beach House and LCD Soundsystem, which the band was listening to during the writing process.

And while those inspirations are new, the basic formula KOL used on Sundown remained largely unchanged: One part sweaty, Southern rock, three parts cocktail-inspired bad behavior. Like the old saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

"Everything [is better with a cocktail]," Jared Followill smiled. "Justin Bieber sounds better with a cocktail."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1650608/20101022/kings_of_leon.jhtml

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Lady Gaga Buys Back Auction Items

Demo CDs and DVDs of old performances are pulled from auction of music memorabilia.
By Jocelyn Vena


Lady Gaga
Photo: Uriel Sinai/ Getty Images

Sorry, little monsters — your opportunity to own a relic from Lady Gaga's early days is no longer an option. Gaga's former manager, Bob Leone, and the memorabilia house Gotta Have It! are pulling the CDs and DVDs from Gaga's pre-The Fame career that were part of their "Rock & Roll Pop Culture Auction."

According to a press release, Gaga's management will buy the items for an undisclosed sum; a visit to the auction's website shows the lots have been removed.

Items up for auction included a demo CD from 2002, a copy of the 2005 CD "Stefani Germanotta," another CD from 2005 titled "Stefani Germanotta Band, Words," an original Lady Gaga disc from 2006, a 2006 CD called "Stefani Red and Blue" and a DVD containing a 2006 Gaga performance at the On Stage Italian Artists showcase.

"She was painfully shy — very different from who she is now," Leone said earlier this month in an interview with People. "She came to the open mics with her mother twice before she built up the courage to go onstage. ... She was prodigy-like. She was clearly a very good songwriter and keyboard player."

Leone, who worked with Gaga in the early years of her career, recalled that the superstar went through one very important transformation in 2006. "It was a very important six months because going into it, she was Stefani, and she was still writing pop music. By the end of that six-month period, she was officially Lady Gaga.

Even four years ago, Gaga knew exactly what she wanted. "Whenever someone asked her, 'what is your goal?' she would always give the same two-word answer: 'world domination,' " he remembered. "She's got it [now]!"

Are you bummed that rare Lady Gaga items were removed from the auction? Tell us in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649980/20101014/lady_gaga.jhtml

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