Lady Gaga Challenged To $1 Million Sing-Off By L.A. Performer

'This contest gives people a chance to choose which they prefer: plastic or real,' singer Alisa Apps says.
By James Montgomery


Alisa Apps and Lady Gaga
Photo: Alisa Apps/ Reverb Nation

Alisa Apps is a Los Angeles-based singer who really, truly believes she is better than Lady Gaga ... and she's willing to go head-to-head with her to prove it.

On Tuesday, Apps challenged Gaga to a televised sing-off — which she proposed would take place at either New York's Madison Square Garden or London's O2 Arena — with the winner taking home a cash prize of $1 million. Each artist would perform a series of songs, with a panel of judges determining just who is the superior singer.

Challenging the reigning queen of pop music is a pretty ingenious way to garner headlines, but according to Apps, she's not stepping to Gaga to make a name for herself. She's doing it out of pity — and to prove a point.

"I feel sorry for Lady Gaga — she's just a plastic doll generated by the music money marketing machine," Apps said in an alliteration-heavy 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."

Oh snap. Apps — who, according to her MySpace page, is signed to a "major" label (but has, to the best of our knowledge, yet to release a major-label album) — does command a rather robust YouTube fanbase, with a video of her performing an original song called "How Do I Make Right?" racking up more than 1 million views. It also bears mention that, back in 2008, on her official YouTube channel, she took aim at diva Mariah Carey with a stunt she called "The Pop Star Challenge".

Apps did not respond to MTV News' request for comment on the Gaga challenge by press time; nor did a rep for Gaga, though, really, that didn't surprise us all that much.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649873/20101013/lady_gaga.jhtml

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Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber Soon To Pass 1 Billion YouTube Views

Gaga is on pace to hit the landmark on October 20, the Biebs on November 1.
By Gil Kaufman


Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevork Djansezian/ Getty Images

People love to watch videos by Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. Like, a lot of people . . . a lot of times.

According to Billboard magazine, both artists are poised to cross a seemingly impossible barrier in the next month: one billion all-time YouTube views.

Gaga — who averaged almost 1.8 million views per day in September — is predicted to reach the milestone first at her current pace, around October 20. Bieber — with around 3.7 million views per day in September — will be close on her heels, with a predicted November 1 arrival at the mark.

David Birch, communications director for TubeMogul, an online video analytics and viewer data research firm, said the two will reach the landmark by easily outperforming the next closest artist, late pop icon Michael Jackson, who has around 600 million views on YouTube.

Though Gaga will likely hit the billion plateau first, Bieber has actually been lapping her in the YouTube views department for most of this year. From July 1 to September 28, TubeMogul reported that the teen pop star averaged 3.98 million daily views to Lady G's 2.04 million. He's been on that torrid pace since February 28, averaging 3.83 million daily views while Gaga has averaged 2.53 million. In comparison, Billboard noted that in that same period, Kanye West averaged 271,000 daily views.

It helps that both artists have a number of YouTube's all-time most-viewed music clips, with Gaga's "Bad Romance" ranking No. 2 with 288 million views, "Just Dance" a bit further back at No. 11 with 123 million views, "Alejandro" at No. 26 with 87 million and "Telephone" at No. 31 with 85 million. As for Bieber, his smash "Baby" is the most-watched video ever on YouTube with 345 million views, while his "Never Let You Go" lands at No. 22 with 92 million views and "Never Say Never" is at No. 28 with 86 million.

Gaga actually passed the one billion mark in total online views (both on and outside of YouTube) in March, thanks to landing three clips in the 100 million-plus club.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649307/20101005/lady_gaga.jhtml

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Chris Brown's BET Awards MJ Tribute Was 'Spectacular,' Jermaine Jackson Says

'He deserves to perform, because it's healing for him,' Michael Jackson's brother tells 'Extra.'
By Gil Kaufman


Chris Brown performs during the 2010 BET Awards on Sunday
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images

Chris Brown wasn't the only one getting misty-eyed at Sunday night's BET Awards during his tribute to Michael Jackson. The King of Pop's older brother, Jermaine, told "Extra" that he was also overcome with emotion during the dance routine, in which Brown paid homage to some of MJ's most famous moves and then attempted to sing "Man in the Mirror" before being overcome with emotion and weeping onstage.

"To see [Chris'] performance, it was very emotional for me, because it was an acceptance from his fans from what has happened to him and also paying tribute to my brother," Jermaine said. "It was just a spectacular moment."

Fans and critics have been split on the performance, which some saw as the bursting of an emotional dam for the singer, making his first major public appearance since he pleaded guilty to felony assault in his assault of former girlfriend Rihanna last June. Others speculated that Brown may have manufactured the tears to gain sympathy from fans who abandoned him in the wake of the Rihanna attack.

Jermaine Jackson said he thought Brown — a longtime devotee of Michael's and, at one point, considered a modern heir to the R&B throne — had every right to pay homage to his brother. "He deserves to perform, because it's healing for him," Jermaine said. "How can he learn from his mistakes if you don't give him a chance? He needs that. I love Rihanna, and I'm not supporting what he did, but I support him [as a singer] 100 percent. ... I'm just very emotional just knowing what has happened. Chris Brown is a human being, and we all make mistakes. We can't condemn him for what has happened. We hope he has learned from it."

Brown hasn't made any public statements since the BET performance, but on Monday, he did tweet, "My fans are my world," a follow-up to a message earlier in the day when he wrote, "I Love you ... (ever single one of #teambreezy)."

What did you think of Chris Brown's emotional performance? Let us know in the comments.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1642655/20100629/brown__chris__18_.jhtml

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Does Lady Gaga Guest Star On Rihanna's Loud?

Image of forthcoming album's back cover allegedly leaks online, contains collaboration called "Broken Heels."
By James Montgomery


Lady Gaga
Photo: Chris Gordon/ WireImage

Separately, Rihanna and Lady Gaga have tallied more #1s on the Billboard Pop Songs chart than any other artists, so you can probably imagine what would happen if they were ever to team up on a track.

Well, forget about the imagine part. From the looks of things, RiRi and Gaga are joining forces on Rihanna's upcoming album Loud.

This is according to what appears to be the official track listing for Loud, which was revealed in a scan of its back cover that began making the rounds Wednesday (October 13).

That track listing contains a song called "Broken Heels," on which Gaga is featured. Other cameos on the album include Rihanna's almost-tourmate Nicki Minaj (on a track called "Raining Men"), will.i.am ("Bubble Pop") and — confirming earlier reports — Drake, who guests on "What's My Name?"

It's all very exciting. But is any of it actually real? Well, it bears noting that all of the tracks mentioned in Just Jared's early review of the album ("S&M," "Cheers," "Man Down," "California King (Bed)," "Fading Away" and "Raining Men") do show up on the back cover in question ... but it also bears noting that the ballad "Straight Up Beautiful," which Rihanna herself mentioned just last week, does not.

Fans will have to wait until November 16, when Loud hits stores, to find out for sure. At press time, a spokesperson for Rihanna had not responded to MTV News' request for comment on the Gaga collaboration.

Are you excited about the possibility of Rihanna collaborating with Lady Gaga? Let us know in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649962/20101014/lady_gaga.jhtml

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Usher's VMA Performance To Be Worthy Of A 'King'

Awards-show executive producer teases Ush's 'best televised dance routine' in years.
By James Montgomery


Usher's VMA rehearsal on September 9
Photo: Ciel VanderVeen/MTV

LOS ANGELES — The success of Usher's "OMG" is as much a testament to his unyielding popularity as an artist as it is his ability to, well, dance his ass off. That's particularly apparent in the Video Music Award-nominated video for the song, which features Ush and a bevy of beauties popping, locking, pivoting and posing in ways we never thought possible. Quite simply, the man can move.

So when it came time to plot out his VMA performance, well, Usher's team -- and the brain trust behind the show -- didn't have a whole lot of trouble coming up with a concept. The dancing was going to be front and center. The only question was: How could they take things to the next level.

"We all sat in a room and came up with a concept for the stage, and then we took that concept to Usher," VMA executive producer Dave Sirulnick told MTV News. "We said to him, 'We want to do the best televised dance routine that you've done in years. Let's show why you're the king.' "

And Ush's Sunday night performance is very much an affair worthy of royalty. Full of eye-popping moves, hip-dipping dancers and more special effects than a Hollywood blockbuster, it makes full use of not just the epic VMA stage (which practically engulfs the entirety of Nokia Theater), but the space behind it.

While we can't give away too many details, based on the rehearsals we saw Thursday, the off-the-wall choreography is only part of the attraction. There are lasers and LED lights, stunts, slides and even some props. Like we said, it's kind of like a Hollywood blockbuster. And kind of a coronation too. After all, Usher is the king.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through Sunday.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1647532/20100910/usher.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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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1650032/20101014/bieber_justin.jhtml

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