The 'O.M.G.' singer looks forward to sharing the stage with his protégé on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery
Usher
Photo: Amanda Edwards/ Getty Images
HOLLYWOOD — At Sunday's 53rd Grammy Awards, Usher will be pulling double duty as both a nominee and a performer. Of course, given the massive year he just completed — with the success of his smash single "O.M.G." and as a mentor to rising phenom Justin Bieber — Ush's Grammy plans seem rather fitting.
Especially since he'll be performing with Bieber (and Bieber's pal Jaden Smith), a move that's just as much about celebrating Usher's successes as it is the successes of his young protégé.
"Having been through [the Grammys] so many times, you couldn't want for anything more than for your young protégé to have the opportunity to have one, so, in support of him having his moment, I wanted to be here," Usher told MTV News on Thursday, hours before his performance at the (Belvedere) RED launch party in Hollywood. "And also to be there to perform, to kind of tell the story of how we came together. This music business has definitely been good to both of us, and this year we have a lot to be happy for."
And just how will the dynamic duo tell that story? Well, Usher wasn't about to reveal all the details, but he did say that he's hoping their performance will show another side of Bieber ... a side most tend to overlook.
"The performance will be fun," Usher explained. "We want to get up there and just do what we do. Be comfortable, and have a great time. ... This is kind of a crossover for Justin. Having performed on so many different stages, this is the way that I wanted him to be seen and an opportunity to show the industry — a lot of the industry, that didn't believe [in him] — some of his other talents. He's going to play acoustically, and also, we'll get down a little bit."
And though Ush is up for a pair of Grammy awards on Sunday — Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best Contemporary R&B Album for Raymond v. Raymond — he's most looking forward to sharing the stage with Bieber and giving fans a look at where the young artist will be heading next.
"I'm very proud, man. I definitely saw it from the beginning, but thanks to the team that we have around us, it was made to happen. And that story has only just begun," Usher said. "The story of Justin Bieber doesn't stop with screaming girls; we need screaming fans all around the world ... a cultural experience that's much more than just fanfare. And that's what this is. That's what the Grammys will be; that's what my next phase for Justin is. This is the way I found him: I found him with a guitar in his hand, so I want him to be seen that way."
Don't miss "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys," a red-carpet live stream kicking off Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And stick with us all Grammy night for coverage of the red carpet, the show, the afterparties and beyond!
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Teen superstar tweets frustration, leading to two Twitter trends.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber (file)
Photo: Prince Williams/FilmMagic
Justin Bieber has never been shy about his feelings for the paparazzi. In March, while celebrating his 17th birthday in Los Angeles, the teen sensation gave the paps who tried to snap a photo of him and lady love Selena Gomez the middle finger — although the Biebs soon apologized for it. Well, now that he's abroad taking his My World tour international, he's still finding himself pestered by the photographers' prying lenses.
On Tuesday, he took to Twitter to call out the paparazzi for trying to snap photos of him while he was in Israel taking in the sights. "Staying in the hotel for the rest of the week u happy?" he wrote. "People wait their whole lives for opportunities like this, why would they want to take that experience away from someone. They should be ashamed of themselves. Take pictures of me eating but not in a place of prayer, ridiculous."
Bieber was particularly upset that photographers didn't leave him alone while he visited sites of spiritual significance. "You would think paparazzi would have some respect in holy places," he lamented. "All I wanted was the chance to walk where Jesus did here in Israel."
Just one day before, Bieber tweeted about his excitement over being in Israel. "Just amazing place...not a bad day. just wish got a little more space and privacy from the paps to enjoy this time with my family. Thanks," he wrote. "I'm in the holy land and i am grateful for that. I just want to have the same personal experience that others have here."
Bieber's post then helped initiate his latest Twitter trend, #papsleavebiebsalone. As of press time it was one of the highest-rated trends, right behind the promoted #PlayBookHaiku. Other Bieber-related trends included #cheerupjustin and Holy Land.
What do you think about the paparazzi bothering Bieber while he's in Israel? Share your opinions in the comments.
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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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Bieber announces release date Wednesday on Twitter.
By Jocelyn Vena
"Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" DVD
Photo: Paramount
On Wednesday (March 30), Justin Bieber shared with his fans the DVD release date for his flick, "Never Say Never." So, when will fans be able to experience Bieber in 3-D in the comfort of their own homes?
"So here is the big news they were waiting for me to announce to u once off stage ... Thanks to everyone for seeing #NSN3D around the world! so we are ... OFFICIALLY getting #NEVERSAYNEVER3D to Blu-ray & DVD May13th," he tweeted. "Preorder NOW."
He also had another special announcement for a few lucky fans who purchase a special version of the flick, adding, "And I'm signing some for my fans! #MUCHLOVE."
Aside from what fans already saw in theaters, the Blu-ray/DVD combo features a dance-off between Bieber and his crew, the full-length performance of "Favorite Girl," Bieber's team surprising fans with free tickets and a sendoff for JB's old swoop hairstyle.
Fans already came out to see the flick when it hit theaters in February, helping to solidify its status as one of the highest-grossing documentaries of all time. This will mark the third release for the film, which hit theaters twice already.
Regarding the film's message, Bieber explained to MTV News, "People didn't really know, they didn't understand that I've been playing music ever since I was born, and it's always been in me. And this movie is really going to show that I'm not just some packaged thing that some A&R put together. It was actually just me living my dream and just making music.
"Fans will be really excited to see that I'm just a regular 16-year-old having fun, just living my dream," he said. "And it's possible for anyone to live theirs."
The film shows Bieber skillfully playing piano, drums and guitar. It is part concert film, part documentary, complete with interviews from some of the people closest to the teen phenom. It features cameos by Miley Cyrus, Usher and Ludacris, among others, in interviews and concert performances filmed at Madison Square Garden last year.
Check out everything we've got on "Never Say Never."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and Justin Bieber updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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