Lady Gaga Pal Lady Starlight Recalls Their Bargain Costume Days

'We stuck to the dollar bin and panties,' Gaga confidant tells MTV News of their old-school creative crafts.
By James Dinh, with additional reporting by James Montgomery


Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV News

If there's one way to pay homage to Lady Gaga, it's by dressing up as the pop phenomenon in one of her many signature costumes. Little Monsters did just that when MTV News invited a select few to our studios to watch "Lady Gaga: The After-Show," our special live stream on Thursday night, where, following the airing of "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside," we spoke with a few of the entertainer's close friends and collaborators.

From Gaga's one-of-a-kind red-laced VMA look to the barely-there hazard-tape outfit from the "Telephone" video, Little Monsters came decked out in their own Gaga gear. Among Mother Monster's close confidants, one who knows a thing or two about crafting outfits from scraps includes her longtime friend Lady Starlight.

After admitting that she just visited Michaels the other day, Starlight told MTV News' James Montgomery about their bargain-bin costume days. "Well, we didn't basically have any money, so we'd go to the dollar store," she said via Skype. "We didn't go to the $2 bin because that was too expensive. We stuck to the dollar bin of panties."

With a few crafts in hand, the duo went to craft store M&J Trimming and picked up the tool that held the outfit together — literally. "We would take this thing called Gem-Tac, and we literally would have it in our bags in case anything went wrong or we needed to make a costume on the fly," she said, adding, "Gem-Tack, dollar panties, something shiny — done."

Asked if Gaga has changed as a person or an artist since experiencing fame, Starlight was quick to deny any difference, citing the "fact that she can be friends with the same people that she was friends with before she was famous."

Lady Starlight was the center of one story during the MTV Lady Gaga documentary, which described one of their many shows at the Lower East Side's Rockwood Music Hall in New York.

"This was, like, super-inexpensive, but nobody on the Lower East Side was doing anything even remotely like it," Gaga says of her early performance show sets. "In fact, it was kind of uncool to be doing it, so it became cool because we were the only people doing anything like it. We would plug in all these crazy party favors, and we would throw glitter, and we would dance in these matching bikinis that cost us $4 to make. I got dubplates pressed in Brooklyn with my beats on them, so [Lady Starlight] would spin the dubplates."

What is your favorite Lady Gaga outfit? Tell us in the comments.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664743/lady-gaga-lady-starlight.jhtml

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Lady Gaga's Born This Way Big Debut: Where Does It Rank?

Gaga's latest posted the 10th-biggest week in SoundScan history.
By James Montgomery


Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

By now, you're probably aware that Lady Gaga's Born This Way is the #1 album in the country, selling an impressive 1,108,000 copies in its first week of release. You're probably also aware that her first-week tally is the highest in more than six years, since 50 Cent's The Massacre moved more than 1,140,000 copies back in March 2005.

But what you might not be aware of is just where Born This Way's big debut ranks among the all-time greats. According to Billboard, since the debut of the SoundScan era in 1991, only 17 albums have sold more than 1 million copies in a week ... and Born This Way's bow lands on the very edge of the top 10.

Ahead of BTW on the list are a myriad of albums from early-2000s teen-pop sensations, including two released from 'NSYNC — No Strings Attached, which holds the record for the biggest one-week sales number in SoundScan history (it sold a whopping 2.4 million copies in 2000), and the follow-up, 2001's Celebrity, which sold 1.89 million in a week — the Backstreet Boys' Black & Blue and Millennium, and Britney Spears' Oops! ... I Did It Again.

Eminem also placed a pair of albums in the all-time top 10 — 2000's The Marshall Mathers LP and 2002's The Eminem Show — and 50 Cent and the Beatles are represented too. In fact, the top 10 is dominated by male artists: Only Spears (and now Gaga) have made the cut. And of the 17 albums to break the million mark in the SoundScan era, only five are by female artists, including Whitney Houston's "The Bodyguard" Soundtrack, Norah Jones' Feels Like Home and Taylor Swift's Speak Now also accomplished the feat.

So while Born This Way's debut is certainly massive, it's by no means the most massive ... Here's a look at the list of albums that have sold more than 1 million copies in a week, with sales data courtesy of Nielsen SoundScan. (And yes, Limp Bizkit is on the list.)

» 'NSYNC, No Strings Attached, 2000: 2,416,000
» 'NSYNC, Celebrity, 2001: 1,880,000
» Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP, 2000: 1,760,000
» Backstreet Boys, Black & Blue, 2000: 1,591,000
» Eminem, The Eminem Show, 2002: 1,322,000
» Britney Spears, Oops! ... I Did It Again, 2000: 1,319,000
» The Beatles, 1, 2001: 1,259,000
» 50 Cent, The Massacre, 2005: 1,141,000
» Backstreet Boys, Millennium, 1999: 1,134,000 million
» Lady Gaga, Born This Way, 2011: 1,108,000
» Usher, Confessions, 2004: 1,096,000
» Garth Brooks, Double Live, 1998: 1,085,000 million
» Whitney Houston, "The Bodyguard' Soundtrack," 1993: 1,061,000
» Limp Bizkit, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, 2000: 1,055,000
» Taylor Swift, Speak Now, 2010: 1,047,000
» Norah Jones, Feels Like Home, 2004: 1,022,000
» Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III, 2008: 1,006,000

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664893/lady-gaga-born-this-way.jhtml

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Lady Gaga Fans Get Emotional About 'Inside The Outside' Special

'This interview was so sweet, I cried. She gives me hope for humanity,' one fan tweets about the MTV doc.
By James Dinh, with additional reporting by James Montgomery


Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV News

As her quest for world domination proceeds, Lady Gaga teamed up with MTV for an exclusive sit-down chat about her extraordinary journey to pop music royalty for the "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside" documentary, which premiered on Thursday night. In it, Gaga discusses her early career struggles and whirlwind rise to fame, a tale that has all of her Little Monsters abuzz after watching it.

Reactions to the hour-long special have been strong, with an overwhelming response coming in from fans who were selected to attend our special after-show live stream, users on the MTV News site and the social networks in between.

One of those Monsters chosen to visit MTV studios Thursday night was Adrianna, who told MTV News that she was personally touched by Gaga's account of her bullying incident. "I was been bullied all through high school, and I kind of want to thank those people in an awkward way because I wouldn't be the same person, just like Lady Gaga wouldn't be the same person," she shared. "We wouldn't be as strong and confident with ourselves if it wasn't for those people."

Decked out in Gaga-like leather gear, Adrianna explained that Mother Monster is a role model to those who may still endure bullying, and that ultimately she is an inspirational star.

MTV News' Facebook page was also flooded by a wave of Little Monsters who couldn't help but gush about the doc. Users like Jimmy Aleman got emotional watching the special, saying, "I saw it :) It made me cry. She is a true woman." And Rossi Ruska Coles appreciated the pop star's defiant story, writing, "Thank you for this great one hour, the true and real Gaga! Love her and her self-identity!"

Chifi55 also got in on the fun by commenting on MTV News' site, saying, "She's so honest and true ... You just can't believe how amazing and loving and kind she is. She was nothing and became the world's greatest pop star ... There is no one who deserves it more than her!"

Despite the 140-character limit, Gaga fans were also quick to hit us up via Twitter to share their thoughts on "Inside the Outside." Superfan Ryan Lee tweeted, "I cried watching the special. Whoever made it should win an award because they captured the beauty of the angel that is Lady Gaga."

HausOfKels revealed she also couldn't hold back tears, writing, "This interview was so sweet, I cried. She gives me hope for humanity. Her message changed my life + made me stronger. xo #MTVGAGA."

And it wasn't just Little Monsters who tuned in to the MTV special, but also some non-fans, including sayjay41297, who admitted she's been transformed. "I didn't know all that much about Gaga, but now I'm really inspired and I think I've just became a Little Monster. #mtvgaga," she wrote.

Like sayjay41297, RickG63 shared a similar reaction to the doc, but had one minor complaint, tweeting, "Fantastic show, but her interviews are never long enough. Thank you for the show. It was great to see. Now you know why we love Gaga."

Did "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside" shed a new light on the pop star for you? Share your comments below.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664755/lady-gaga-mtv-special-reactions.jhtml

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Usher Says New 'Rev Pop' Project Is A 'Movement'

Singer teases his new project by pointing to past hits like 'Yeah!' and 'OMG.'
By James Montgomery


Usher
Photo: MTV News

With the success of songs like "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love," "Hot Tottie" and "OMG," Usher had himself a fairly massive 2010. But rather than rest on his laurels, he's looking to build on his big year, not with an album, but with a "movement."

It's something he's calling "Rev Pop" — or, simply, "Rev" — and though he's already teased his idea in a video with David Guetta (Akon is also involved), he has yet to speak in full about it. So when MTV News caught up with Ush before the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles at the (Belvedere) RED launch party, we asked him about his next musical endeavor. And though he didn't reveal much, he did let it be known that "Rev" isn't exactly something new. In fact, he's been doing it for a while now.

"I'll give it to you this way: At a later date, I'll tell you more about Rev Pop, but if I were to give you a flash: I've done it before, I did it with 'Yeah!' " he said, "taking a cultural experience, and also worldwide recognition of a feeling, and putting the soul in the middle of it. Not allowing it to shift heavily to R&B genre, or pop. I did it again with 'OMG,' once again putting the soul in the middle of it, which was an electric-pop experience, with the soul.

"It's bringing those elements together to tell a story, that was born here," he said, gesturing toward his heart, "And that's what Rev Pop is. There's more, I mean, I could really elaborate, but that's just what I'm going to tell you right now. 'Rev' is what it's called ... the movement is called Rev."

Usher wouldn't say just when his fans would be getting their first taste of Rev, but whenever they do, it sounds like they're going to be impressed ... if not a little shocked.

"Stay alive," he smiled, "Because you're definitely going to be in for a surprise."

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Pontius confident ahead of LA match

After a light training session yesterday evening and a team walkthrough this morning, the Black-and-Red are feeling confident and prepared for tonight's League encounter with MLS-leading LA Galaxy at the Home Depot Center (11:00 p.m. ET/FOX Soccer). Below are the most recent team notes heading into the game.

Source: http://feeds.dcunited.com/~r/DCUnited/all/~3/65XEZtx_ACA/pontius-confident-ahead-of-la-match

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Janet Jackson Thrills Fans With Greatest Hits, Michael Tribute At Radio City

Singer covered songs ranging from classic 'Pleasure Principle' to 2008's 'Feedback' at New York show.
By Vaughn Schoonmaker


Janet Jackson (file)
Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images

NEW YORK — Often imitated, never duplicated, Janet Jackson's outbursts of meticulous choreography, sassy exclamations and smoldering gazes into the audience kept them on their feet for the entire two-hour set of her greatest hits at Radio City Music Hall. Monday night marked the last of three sold-out shows at the historic venue on her monumental Number Ones: Up Close and Personal Tour.

Up-and-coming boy band Mindless Behavior opened the show with songs including "#1 Girl," "Future" and their debut single, "My Girl." With their Usher-esque dance moves and shouts like "Where the ladies at?" the boys brought the tween girls out of hiding, judging by the shrill screams escaping various corner of the music hall.

At 9:00 sharp, the lights went down and Janet's fans were on the edge of their seats, watching music videos for "The Best Things in Life Are Free" and "Rhythm Nation" projected on big screens across the venue. A small shadow drifted toward center stage, and when the colorful lights came up, Jackson, wrapped in a shoulder-padded catsuit, complete with slick short hair, blasted into "The Pleasure Principle," dancing as hard and intensely choreographed as she did when the song first came out in the 1980s.

With barely a spare second between songs, Janet dazzled her way through her biggest hits, including "Miss You Much," "All for You" and "Nasty," and more recent hits like 2008's "Feedback."

Videos displayed during Jackson's costume changes included vintage clips from "Diff'rent Strokes," a funny scene from "Poetic Justice" where Jackson slyly rejects the advances of Tupac Shakur's character, and a rather heavy scene, as Jackson's character in "Why Did I Get Married" destroys her husband's house with a golf club, screaming hysterically.

Considering the tough couple of years the Jackson family has faced, the dark moments in the video seemed fitting, and everyone was beside themselves with bittersweet joy when Michael Jackson's face popped up on the big screen and she performed their hit single "Scream."

Janet emerged for her encore in a tight white one-piece disco suit, and performed "Diamonds," "Make Me" and "Together Again," which appeared to be the biggest hit of the evening. As Jackson graciously bowed out, her straight face transitioned into a smirk, suggesting that despite the hard times she has experienced recently, we can expect to see this singing and dancing pop legend shine far into the future.

"Its amazing!" Janet fan Elena Mercantini gleamed afterward. "It's like she's still 20 years old!"

"She's hot, she's amazing and she's still got it after all these years" added Alison Klinger of Long Island. "Best concert I've ever been to!"

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660385/janet-jackson-radio-city-concert.jhtml

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