Usher's VMA-Nominated 'OMG' Inspired By '80s Sci-Fi Character

Director Anthony Mandler wanted to let R&B superstar take viewers 'on a journey, not a ride.'
By Jayson Rodriguez


Usher in "OMG"

For a video as forward-thinking as Usher's "OMG" -- with its laser beams and light flashes -- director Anthony Mandler actually looked back for inspiration.

"The original idea was kind of Max Headroom," Mandler told MTV News, citing the animated science-fiction character from '80s British TV. "That's where it came from — the TV flickering on and there's this character. We just wanted to bring it up to date."

"Max Headroom was always in his room," he continued, "this unidentifiable room, '80s shapes. I used that for inspiration."

The formula worked: "OMG" is among the Best Male Video nominees for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. The clip is up against Drake's "Find Your Love," Jason Derülo's "In My Head," Eminem's "Not Afraid" and B.o.B's "Airplanes." Mandler is a multiple nominee, having also helmed Drake's video.

"OMG" is the first time Usher and Mandler — who has worked with Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige and Rihanna — collaborated on a project.

Usher said he knew the video would be a challenge and wanted to make sure the director was up to the task.

"When I first shot the song to him, I was like, 'Are you sure you're gonna be able to catch this one?' And he said, 'I got it,' " Usher explained.

"We wanted to bring Will.I.Am (the song's producer) into my world," he continued. "Obviously, the international sound and look and feel has already been set, but we wanted to do something theatrical, fun and energetic to show us working off of each other and playing off of each other as artists, but the cinematography would be artistic and incredible."

Mandler described the visuals as "Hitchcock-ian." Though the style of the shot was important to the director, he had a simpler goal in mind: to capture Usher in his element. He said the key to the clip was simply letting Usher's talent take over.

"The concept was to create a world where we put Usher in a space where he does what I think he does better than anyone else in the world, which is perform at a level and magnitude of a superstar and take us, the viewer, whether audible or visually, on a journey, not a ride," the director said. "And, in that, I wanted to create an unpredictability, so one set leads to another and another, and you never know what's gonna happen. Along the way, Usher becomes our guide. We're so focused on him, we don't notice the change. The thing is unfolding little by little, and you can't quite see far enough ahead to know what's gonna come next."

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. 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 September 12.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1647093/20100902/usher.jhtml

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Lady Gaga, Beyonce Among Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women

First lady Michelle Obama takes top spot on list, which also includes Oprah and Sarah Palin.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Lady Gaga
Photo: Getty Images

Lady Gaga has notched another milestone on her road to global pop-culture domination. The 24-year-old singer was recently named one of Forbes magazine's World's 100 Most Powerful Women list alongside CEOs, heads of state and media phenoms like herself.

Gaga took the #7 slot on the list, which was unveiled Wednesday (October 6), behind women such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and first lady Michelle Obama, who was named the most powerful woman on the planet (and is the first African-American to top the list). Gaga was the second-most powerful entertainer in the rankings, coming in behind Oprah, who clocked in at #3.

Other powerful ladies include Gaga's "Telephone" collaborator Beyoncé (#9), talk-show host and former "American Idol" judge Ellen DeGeneres (#10), author and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (#16) and screen siren and activist Angelina Jolie (#21). Gaga is no novice when it comes to Forbes shout-outs. In June, she debuted at #4 on the magazine's 2010 Celebrity Power List, due to her cash-magnet Monster Ball Tour, $62 million in earnings, Web popularity and deals with companies such as Polaroid and MAC. B was bumped two spots to #2 after raking in $86 million from her world tour, arsenal of endorsement deals and House of Deréon products. Oprah has been a Forbes mainstay, coming in at #1 this year on the Celebrity Power List after ceding the crown to Angelina Jolie the year before. The mogul snatched the top spot back with a nine-figure payday and media conglomerate that includes TV shows, magazines and more.

Perhaps Gaga will wield her hefty worldwide clout to push for her causes. A longtime gay-rights supporter, the entertainer has most recently waged a campaign for the repeal of the U.S. Armed Forces' polarizing "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

What do you think of Gaga making the Forbes list? Sound off in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649491/20101006/lady_gaga.jhtml

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Justin Bieber Spotted With Jasmine Villegas In Hawaii

Photos show the singer and his rumored girlfriend hugging.
By Jocelyn Vena


Justin Bieber in Hawaii on Sunday
Photo: Splash News Online

Justin Bieber was in Hawaii over the weekend. The singer's My World tour made two stops in Honolulu, and Bieber was joined by Jasmine Villegas, who is not only his current opening act but also his rumored girlfriend.

Justjared.com has a photo of the two exchanging a big hug as she met up with the teen star for the shows on Friday. On Sunday the pair, along with pal Jaden Smith, reportedly went for a boat ride on a catamaran called Mai Tai.

When Bieber wasn't busy having fun in Hawaii he was tweeting about his time there. "Sick day out on the boat with the whole crew. Little jack johnson playing and some sunshine and some sea turtles and dolphins. Great day," he wrote. "Hawaii lets spend some more time together."

He later retweeted a message posted by his manager. "RT: scooterbraun time to go make some memories. Live a story dont just read about them!" he tweeted, showing a cake with his picture on it that read "Aloha to Justin Bieber."

But like all good things, his time in Hawaii came to an end. "I'm really gonna miss Hawaii. it is awesome here. but Japan...im not complaining...haha. See u guys soon," he shared. He also gave his fans a bit of an update on his forthcoming 3-D movie. "@jonmchu I think we got some surprises to share with everybody from the movie this month," he teased.

Last month, in an interview posted online, Villegas talked about Bieber, without addressing the rumors of their relationship. "There's not much that I would know that people don't know because Justin is just 100 percent [real] with his fans and his friends and he gives everybody his full personality," she dished. "So that's a really good thing about him. He's not fake at all. He's just like, 'I'm Justin. Here's me.' "

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649695/20101011/bieber_justin.jhtml

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Justin Bieber Spotted With Jasmine Villegas In Hawaii

Photos show the singer and his rumored girlfriend hugging.
By Jocelyn Vena


Justin Bieber in Hawaii on Sunday
Photo: Splash News Online

Justin Bieber was in Hawaii over the weekend. The singer's My World tour made two stops in Honolulu, and Bieber was joined by Jasmine Villegas, who is not only his current opening act but also his rumored girlfriend.

Justjared.com has a photo of the two exchanging a big hug as she met up with the teen star for the shows on Friday. On Sunday the pair, along with pal Jaden Smith, reportedly went for a boat ride on a catamaran called Mai Tai.

When Bieber wasn't busy having fun in Hawaii he was tweeting about his time there. "Sick day out on the boat with the whole crew. Little jack johnson playing and some sunshine and some sea turtles and dolphins. Great day," he wrote. "Hawaii lets spend some more time together."

He later retweeted a message posted by his manager. "RT: scooterbraun time to go make some memories. Live a story dont just read about them!" he tweeted, showing a cake with his picture on it that read "Aloha to Justin Bieber."

But like all good things, his time in Hawaii came to an end. "I'm really gonna miss Hawaii. it is awesome here. but Japan...im not complaining...haha. See u guys soon," he shared. He also gave his fans a bit of an update on his forthcoming 3-D movie. "@jonmchu I think we got some surprises to share with everybody from the movie this month," he teased.

Last month, in an interview posted online, Villegas talked about Bieber, without addressing the rumors of their relationship. "There's not much that I would know that people don't know because Justin is just 100 percent [real] with his fans and his friends and he gives everybody his full personality," she dished. "So that's a really good thing about him. He's not fake at all. He's just like, 'I'm Justin. Here's me.' "

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649695/20101011/bieber_justin.jhtml

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Lady Gaga's 'Sopranos' Cameo Surfaces

Gaga appeared on season three of the hit HBO show in an episode called 'The Telltale Moozadell.'
By Eric Ditzian


Lady Gaga on "The Sopranos"
Photo: HBO

The sunken treasure that is Lady Gaga's pop-culture past continues to reap Internet gold. In January, we hauled out a clip from the pop star's nearly forgotten appearance on "The Hills," when she popped up in a vinyl bodysuit and required some zipper assistance from Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port.

Now, further proving the point that the Internet never forgets, Gaga's 2001 appearance on "The Sopranos" has shown up online. The episode, called "The Telltale Moozadell," is from the third season of the hit HBO show.

Mob boss Tony Soprano's son, A.J., is acting out while at the school pool with friends. Wearing a black top and jeans, Gaga is one of three girls hanging out, smoking cigarettes and watching the boys swim. One of A.J.'s friends then gets the idea to chuck a desk into the water. From there it's a free-for-all, as Gaga and her pals toss equipment and sports trophies into the pool. A.J. ends up getting probation. Gaga, alas, is never heard from again. The episode aired when the future superstar was just 15 years old.

Her gig as an extra on "The Sopranos," though, was not the only time Gaga ended up on TV before she took on her famous moniker. As previously revealed, she once appeared on an episode of MTV's "Boiling Points," a hidden-camera show in which unwitting contestants had to keep their cool as various undercover actors tried to annoy them. Gaga didn't do so well, unleashing a bleep-worthy word after a waitress brought her a soiled salad.

"Who puts that in their mouth? Would you put that in your mouth?" she said. "It has sh-- all over it!"

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649702/20101011/lady_gaga.jhtml

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Lady Gaga's Perfume To Be Called 'Monster'

The singer will reportedly pay homage to her fans with 2012 perfume release.
By Jocelyn Vena


Lady Gaga
Photo: Anita Bugge/ Getty Images

Lady Gaga has made no secret of her love for her fans, whom she calls her little monsters. The mother monster herself even has their moniker tattooed on her body and frequently talks about them in interviews. So it should come as no surprise that Gaga is naming her new perfume line in honor of her fans.

Well, according to documents obtained by TMZ, Gaga's first fragrance will be called Monster. The website has learned that the company launching the singer's fragrance has filed trademark paperwork for the name "Monster" to use for a "perfumery." The fragrance is expected to hit stores in 2012.

Last month, it was announced that Gaga signed a deal with Coty Inc. to create fragrances, following in the footsteps of other pop stars like Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Avril Lavigne, Gwen Stefani and Hilary Duff. Stephen Mormoris, senior vice president of global marketing in the Coty Beauty division, explained that this is the right time to work with Gaga because she is a "phenomenon" and "a fascinating cultural force." Mormoris said he hopes Gaga's mass appeal will "electrify" the market on behalf of his company.

This is Gaga's latest business venture. She's already inked a deal with Polaroid and designed Heartbeats headphones. The pop star has also been rumored to be designing her own line of sunglasses for British eyewear company Linda Farrow. In the past, Gaga has said that she's very particular about what brands she hooks up with. "I don't see the headphones as separate from what I already do. That's why I was OK with doing it," she told MTV News last November. " 'Cause designing and putting out products is something that is very kind of funny when you're a musician — 'cause I don't want my fans or anyone to think that I don't put the music first."

Do you think that Monster is the perfect name for Gaga's perfume? Tell us in the comments.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649689/20101011/lady_gaga.jhtml

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