‘I’m mixing every type of genre that I love,’ singer says of follow-up to I Am … Sasha Fierce.
By Jocelyn Vena
Beyoncé
Photo: MTV News
Recently Beyoncé revealed that she wants to make her “own genre of music” for her next album. So when MTV News caught up with the singer at the New York screening of her concert special, “I Am … World Tour,” we asked her to clarify what exactly it is that she’s creating in the studio.
“Well, I wouldn’t say I’m inventing a new genre,” she said. “I’m mixing every type of genre that I love and I’m inspired by every type of genre.”
Beyoncé went on to say that people should throw any preconceived notions about the follow-up to 2008′s I Am … Sasha Fierce out the window. “I’m not in a box,” she said. “It’s not R&B. It’s not typically pop. It’s not rock. It’s just everything I love all mixed together in my own little gumbo of music.”
The singer says that quite a motley crew of musicians have inspired the album. “Definitely Fela Kuti, the Stylistics. How random, right?” she laughed. “So many people … Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, of course, Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall … all of those things I’m kind of mixing together.”
For the album, Beyoncé has been hitting the studio with many of her usual collaborators including Ne-Yo, Sean Garrett and Jim Jonsin. And her mom, Tina Knowles, has given the tracks she’s heard so far her seal of approval, saying, “Of course [I heard it]. It’s amazing. It’s so amazing!”
Are you looking forward to new music from Beyoncé? Let us know in the comments!
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Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck and their girls are spending some time in NYC this weekend. Jennifer was spotted with her youngest daughter, Seraphina, grabbing some coffee on the Upper West Side.Ben was photographed arriving at their hotel. He took a few minutes to greet his fans and sign some autographs for them. I wonder if they’re in the city doing promotion for Ben’s upcoming movie ‘The Town’? It’s due out in a few weeks, so that’s my guess.Their girls are such cuties. They both look so much like Jennifer – especially the dimples! 
Photos by INF Continue reading
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- Stupid Celebrities Gossip » Myspace Drama, Riley Giles and Bree Tierney
Bree Tierney and Riley Giles get into a heated argument on Myspace after Bree started talking with the media about the two of them. You can thank lindsay Lohan for this one! Check out the story
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‘We explained to them that our character isn’t like James Bond,’ the star says of studio’s desire to re-cast Jason Bourne.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in “The Bourne Ultimatum”
Photo: Jasin Boland/ Universal Studios
Earlier this year, fans of the highly successful “Bourne” franchise got some surprising news when Universal announced its plans to make “The Bourne Legacy” with or without star Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass.
Then in October, the studio announced the next installment would be written and directed by Tony Gilroy, who penned the first three “Bourne” films. MTV News caught up with Damon during promotion for his awards-favorite “True Grit,” and asked the actor whether he’d talked to Gilroy about plans for the next chapter.
“I have no idea what he has planned,” Damon said of Gilroy. “But he’s a very smart guy, so I’m sure it’s going to be good. I do know that whatever he’s doing won’t preclude Paul [Greengrass] and I from coming back and doing ours,” he added. (It’s still unclear whether Damon and Greengrass will return.)
Damon explained that what Universal wants to do with the films is build a lasting franchise — one in which other actors besides Damon can step into the lead role. Of course, Damon and Greengrass aren’t exactly onboard with that idea.
“What they ultimately want is a franchise that can kind of go on and on. We explained to them that our character isn’t like James Bond,” Damon said. “You can’t send him on a mission. There’s character development, there’s an arc that the character has traveled through the three movies. You don’t just start over at the beginning of every movie,” he continued. “So I think what they’re looking for is a way to build that in so that they can continue without Paul and me eventually.”
Earlier this year, Damon said he would consider stepping into Bourne’s shoes again, but only if the picture was helmed by Greengrass.
“I love the character. I love the stories,” Damon said. “But only if Paul Greengrass says he will direct again. So far, though, he’s decided not to. I’d definitely say yes if he went for it. I know he would have a great story, and it would protect the legacy of what we created.”
What do you think about a “Bourne” movie without Matt Damon? Who should play Jason Bourne? Tell us in the comments!
Check out everything we’ve got on “True Grit.”
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Chris Cornell Filling In For Robert Plant On Led Zeppelin Tour? That’s News To Him
‘I have not been approached to fill in for Robert Plant on the Zeppelin tour, but that isn’t to say I won’t be,’ singer says.
By Chris Harris
Chris Cornell
Photo: MTV News
Former Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell has spoken out for the first time about rumors that he’s been asked to fill in for Robert Plant on a proposed Led Zeppelin reunion tour. The trek would feature original guitarist Jimmy Page, original bassist John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham taking over on drums for his late father, John Bonham.
Cornell has been mentioned — along with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, White Stripes mastermind Jack White and Alter Bridge‘s Myles Kennedy — as a potential Plant fill-in. Plant has already said that he wouldn’t take part in the tour.
“I have not been approached so far to fill in for Robert Plant on the upcoming Zeppelin tour, but that isn’t to say I won’t be,” Cornell told MTV News. “I’ve heard that from about 200 people now, and it might be one of those situations where it’s just an online rumor or it might be true. But if you see anyone from Led Zeppelin around, let me know. I think I should actually fill in for Jimmy Page on the Robert Plant/ Alison Krauss tour.”
Cornell’s denial comes just a day after Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford confirmed reports that frontman Steven Tyler recently met with Zeppelin for an impromptu jam session. “They did it for fun,” Whitford said during an appearance on the syndicated show “Todd N Tyler Radio Empire.” “I actually think Jimmy wanted Steven to come over and play a little bit because I think he was trying to light a fire under Robert.”
Rumors of a Zeppelin reunion tour have abounded since the iconic band played a single reunion set last year at London’s O2 Arena. Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider added fuel to the fire last month when he revealed that the group was thinking of touring, with or without Plant.
According to Snider, the rest of the band told Plant, ” ‘We’re all rehearsed, we’re ready to go. Here’s a gazillion dollars on the table. If you don’t do it, we’re going out with this kid [Myles Kennedy].’ ”
“And he can sing the sh– out of Zeppelin,” Snider added. “They’re going to hope that Robert, at the last minute, will go, ‘OK,’ and step in.”
In a recent interview, Jones told BBC Radio Devon that a new singer was being sought to take over for Plant. “We are trying out a couple of singers,” he said. “We want to do it. It’s sounding great, and we want to get on and get out there.”
But Jones insists that he, Page and Bonham aren’t interested in finding a Plant clone. “It’s got to be right,” he said. “There’s no point in just finding another Robert. You could get that out of a tribute band, but we don’t want to be our own tribute band. There would be a record and a tour, but everyone has to be onboard.”
Of course, even if Zeppelin were to approach him, Cornell might be too busy to take over vocals for the band. His upcoming Timbaland-produced solo LP, Scream, will be released within the next few months. Cornell told MTV News last month that some of his fans might consider Scream something of a departure, but he doesn’t see it that way.
“It makes me happy that there’s this perception that I have a group of fans that I’m now sort of throwing a curve at and what their reaction will be,” he said. “But I’ve been in this situation so many times already. When I put out [1999's] Euphoria Morning, my main goal was to create an album that sounded like nothing I’d done in Soundgarden, and I did that. I also had that with Temple of the Dog, where I showed up with songs that weren’t necessarily riff-based. And then, of course, the pairing of me and members of Rage Against the Machine had everyone sort of speculating about what that would sound like.
“It feels like I’ve done this so many times that when it’s presented to me as being a departure, I feel that’s a misconception,” he added. “I feel like that’s my theme at this point.”
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- Label: Swan Song
- Album: The Song Remains the Same
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Keeping busy over the weekend, Reese Witherspoon was spotted imbibing in a bout of retail therapy at the Ralph Lauren store in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon (December 18).
The “Legally Blonde” beauty showed off her million dollar smile as she braved the rainy weather to take care of some last minute Christmas shopping.
The outing comes as Reese’s new movie “How Do You Know” was just released in theaters – with the film landing in the fifth slot at the box office with an expected weekend take of $8.7 million.
During the course of her “How Do You Know” promotions, Miss Witherspoon spoke with USA Today about her 2006 split from ex-hubby Ryan Phillippe, saying, ?I don?t have anything to hide. I don?t feel shame or embarrassment for the things I?ve gone through. What experience have I had that millions of other women haven?t had? And men, too. There?s nothing rarefied about my experience. We?re all just people.?
The 34-year-old added of married life, ?I don?t think about the marriage thing as much. But it would be nice. I believe in it. I really do. It kind of redefines itself for you. I?m more clear, or realistic, about what it is.?
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‘Being nominated is great, but winning is even better,’ Tricky Stewart tells MTV News of Album of the Year nod.
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Matt Elias
Tricky Stewart
Photo: MTV News
Despite debuting at #1 on the Billboard albums chart and spawning three massive hit singles, some in the industry were surprised earlier this month when Katy Perry‘s Teenage Dream grabbed a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.
Tricky Stewart was not one of them.
“You know, I did four songs on that record, so I’m really proud of it,” he told MTV News. “And not just because it’s [nominated in] the Album of the Year category, but because Dr. Luke did an amazing job on the singles and Stargate did an amazing job on the singles … but all of us together, we put that album together, and I think it’s pretty flawless.”
And while, at this point, Grammy noms are nothing new to the super-producer — this marks the second-consecutive year he’s in the running for Album of the Year (Beyoncé’s I Am … Sasha Fierce was nominated at last year’s ceremony) and he’s been up for Song of the Year twice in the last three years (for Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and B’s “Single Ladies”) — he’s in no way taking the honor lightly. After all, these kinds of things don’t happen all that often, if they happen at all.
“It’s tremendous honor … and when you get acknowledged like that by your peers, it’s always great. You never know when it’s going to happen and nothing is promised, so I take that very highly,” he smiled. “I’m very thankful to Katy for reaching out to me and giving me the opportunity to be a part of [the album], because most people don’t hear my music and go, ‘You’re the perfect person for Katy Perry.’ She took a shot with me and really let me get in there.”
So while some may doubt Teenage Dream‘s Album of the Year credentials, Stewart isn’t listening to the naysayers. In fact, even though it’s up against the likes of Eminem’s Recovery and Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster, he likes Dream‘s chances.
“Being nominated is great, but winning is even better. I hope we win … we’ll see what happens,” he laughed. “Everyone that’s in that category deserves to win. They’ve all done it, so to say I want to win more than the next person wants to win is selfish. I believe everyone deserves it, but I hope we get it.”
Are you pulling for Katy Perry at the Grammys? Let us know in the comments!
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Amy Winehouse was snapped as she watched Nas and Damian Marley perform at the Hammersmith Apollo in London today.The thing with Amy is that in one shot she looks totally “fresh” and alert and then in the next three photos, she looks completely out of it, doesn’t she? It’s just the oddest thing with her. Maybe the photogs just hang around long enough to get those shots of her looking loopy?Are you hoping Amy gets back to recording music soon? It seems like forever since we’ve heard anything new from her!Photos by WENN Continue reading
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