Posts Tagged ‘Video Interview’

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Unsolved Mysteries: JoJo Edition!

If you’re a follower of BTB then you should know that I’ve been campaigning for a new JoJo record for months now. And by campaigning, I basically mean acting a fool, trying to figure out the insanely ridiculous puzzle that is the reasoning behind taking so damn long for a record to be released in the first place.

Recently JoJo sat down with Rap-Up TV to discuss her upcoming project and the result just seems even more of an unsolved mystery. She basically talks about the record and how she’s worked with all these amazing producers (huge names in the pop world) and how she’s been cutting to make the record just right. Seriously, JoJo?! If you cut any more the record will be nothing but a tiny slice of what could have been.

Is it just me or does anyone else smell something fishy going on? Here’s to hoping that JoJo will drop an album by the end of this year or who knows, the end of 2035 (at this rate it could be any random calendar year)!

As a big JoJo supporter, I say this because as fans, we are dying to support the talent the girl brings.

Listen to the interview in full, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Currently hundreds and hundreds of miles away from New York City, visiting my family for my birthday, leaving 8 million for 4 thousand, I’ve landed in the country. And no, not this pseudo-country idea either. I’m talking mountains, cows, Wal*Mart, and dirt roads. Which leads me to Kellie Pickler…

Besides being Southern, and having bad driving habits, another thing I share in common with Pickler is her birthday. I’ve posted several articles on the blonde twangy twizzler and today, I post once more to celebrate her awesomeness. Joining me in turning a year older, Pickler, who recently announced her engagement to Kyle Jacobs, celebrated her 24th yesterday (June 28th).

Check out one of my favorite Pickler moments via 2006’s MTV Movie Awards.

An oldie but goodie!

[Sidenote: Thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes, messages, and love. I genuinely appreciate the thoughts and gestures! Also, thank you to everyone who supports BTB currently. The site would be nothing without an audience, so thank you to all readers who continue to come back Monday-Friday every week to read what's on our minds musically.]

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

On Jay-Z’s A Star is Born, the rapper spits: “Drake’s up next, see what he do with it” — In the world of hip hop, no endorsement could be as big as one spewing from the Jay’s lips. And Drake’s moment has finally arrived.

The rapper’s highly anticipated debut dropped recently and has everyone talking. While most critics are sending praise for the album, some (as always) are not amused.

According to a review in the Chicago Tribune: “He drifts through what should have been his boisterous coming-out party, he comes off as muted and rueful, missing the days when he was 19 and it was just about him and his girlfriend in a college dorm room.”

Although I understand the angle mentioned above, I disagree with the statement. As I wrote weeks ago, the track Fireworks featuring Alicia Keys is a stand out. But when hearing the overall album, there’s undoubtedly other collaborations with just as much sizzle. Overall, the album is simply a great debut.

Did you buy Drake’s record? What are your thoughts on Thank Me Later?

Check out Drake in a Q&A interview promoting the disc, below.

Drake – MTV Shows

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Way to set the bar. Damn!

Being from the South, there’s no denying the place in my heart reserved for Southern girls, specifically those that are blonde, sweet tea sweet with a sense of humor, and pack a punch on the guitar. Needless to say, I effing love Taylor Swift! But then again, who doesn’t?

America’s sweetheart recently decided to go above and beyond for her fans, promising to hold a 13-hour meet and greet for everyone who would show up (via the CMA Music Festival). Instead, Swift spent close to 15 hours hugging and signing autographs for over 2,000 of the 10,000 fans who showed up! She also performed a mini-concert for all fans. Both the concert and meet and greet were free and open to the public! How awesome is that? I mean, can you imagine any other stars willing to put in that sort of time and commitment to fans? Highly doubt it! It’d be nice to see other acts pay tribute to fans in this manner, considering the fact that it IS the sole reason for their success. What a way to make those selfish turds look like lazy asses!

Said Swift: “My favorite thing about CMA Music Fest has always been getting to spend time with the fans, so this year I wanted to figure out a way to meet as many of them as possible. Thirteen is my lucky number, and the 13th is during Music Fest, so I think spending 13 hours that day with my fans is going to be amazing!”

Besides making us exhausted with her ever-giving heart and crazy schedule, Swift has been renovating a condo in Tennessee and apparently one of her biggest obsessions (besides her fans, of course) is stingrays (and giant-sized birdcages)?

Check out a clip of Taylor discussing her affection for stingrays below, followed by footage from her 15-hour free meet & greet in Nashville.

MTV Shows

Hello guy at the 1:23 mark! His hand’s a little low on her hip, no? Copping a feel are we?!

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Sweet! I want a pair!

Want some new kicks? Green Day’s Mike Dirt can deliver just what you need. Teaming up once again with Macbeth, for his second collaboration, Dirnt has designed a super cool B&W high-top. The design is 100% vegan, eco-friendly, and too cool for skool.

Says Dirnt: “I always love working with Macbeth. We have worked flawlessly since day one and I am excited to continue our collaborative efforts. Our first studio collaboration got great feedback and I am confident that everyone will appreciate my second design. I am extremely excited to get it out in stores and see the response.”

Earlier this year, the Green Day bassist donated the royalties from his first Studio Project collaboration, to the Soles4Souls Foundation. Since 2005, the organization has given away over 7 million pairs shoes to people in need in over 125 countries.

Amazing!

The Mike Dirnt Macbeth Studio Project will be available July 2010. Check out Dirnt discussing a previous design for Macbeth, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

This kid knocks it out of the park!

Sixth-grader Greyson Michael Chance recently rocked his middle school with a performance of GaGa’s Paparazzi that has the internet buzzing and many saying it outshines the original. The viral video has a few million hits (and counting).

Now, many of you may have already seen this kid but for all of you have yet to witness his genius, I knew I had to post for everyone to soak up the awesomeness that is his version of Paparazzi. What is great about his spin on the song is that it’s meshed in a way that makes the song have an actual emotional reaction.

According to his YouTube page, he apparently loves Augustana (a favorite of ours). The kid is mega-talented and clearly has good taste. Give it a few years kid, and I am sure you will be on your way.

Watch Greyson’s appearence on Ellen plus the original viral performance, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Timberlake is one slick love dealer.

Not long after BTB was created, one of the first artists I wrote about was Esmee Denters. The former pancake house waitress who captivated the world with nothing but a webcam and her powerful voice had just released her debut music video for Outta Here, after being signed by Justin Timberlake (who, like everyone else, first saw her videos online).

The Dutch-born singer hasn’t been pushed really in America but that could all change now with her new music video for Love Dealer, which features Timberlake doing what he does best: bringin’ sexy back with his coy demeanor and relaxed pop hop (pop + hip hop, def just made that up) vibe.

Speaking of Timberlake, when is that kid going to drop some new music?! It’s obvious that he’s having a good ol’ time producing songs and filling the guest hot spot on other acts’ tracks but it’s been way too long in my book.

Until we get some new fresh solo music from JT, you can check out his muse below in a before and after look at the just-released music video ft. Timberlake.

Interview // Behind The Scenes of Love Dealer

Official Music Video //

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

MGMT has no desire whatsoever to be pop stars.

The New York duo (Andrew VanWyngarden & Ben Martin Goldwasser) was approached to tour with a number of super famous acts, but they immediately turned down the offers saying: “We’ve recently been offered support slots with a ton of big bands. Really huge, enormous, big bands – Like Lady Gaga and U2 and Coldplay and Foo Fighters,” said Andrew, “and we turned them all down. We really didn’t want to do any of that.”

Call MGMT pretentious for not wanting to support mainstream acts but I respect their decision. In a world where pop stars are viewed as products (hell, even Lady GaGa who claims to be about the “art”, released a nearly 10 minute video earlier this year with nothing but product endorsements slayed across the screen), the boys of MGMT view their music as something a bit more personal than simply a tool to earn buckets of money.

It’s now more clear than ever, that MGMT is about the art of music and not the product, which often pigeonholes singers and bands into boxes with little to no control over a vast majority of the creative process.

MGMT band mate Ben also feels that their music has been “blown out of proportion by everybody”. Contact Music quotes him as saying: “We don’t feel like pop stars, we feel like a rock band. We don’t want to play arenas. It’s not our mission.”

“I think on some level it is a reaction to the success of the first one. I mean, of course we were happy and felt lucky that stuff happened, but it wasn’t really what we were shooting for.”

MGMT’s Congratulations was released on April 13th.

Check out the interview with MGMT, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

This made me cry like a baby!

Yes, cry. I said it! I think anyone who has ever been criticized/bullied for being different can relate to this young man’s story of triumph. In many ways, the kid’s a hero.

Lin Yu Chun is a name you may not recognize, but his chubby body meshed with his pudding-bowl haircut and his one of a kind voice has become instantly recognizable. After his performance of I Will Always Love You on the Taiwanese version of American Idol, he has shot to fame, gaining the (much deserved) attention of the world.

Since his rise, the 24-year-old has been compared to Susan Boyle, who was also judged critically by her age and appearence when she stepped into the spotlight on Britain’s Got Talent last year. Now, despite not winning the show, the singer who confessed that she had never been kissed released a record-breaking album and has made well over $2 million dollars.

I think the same could be in store for Chun. He deserves it! It’s about time people start seeing beyond the shallow lens of judgement and instead take a look at what lies behind the curtains.

Check out Chun on Ellen, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

You may believe she was the ruin behind Kurt Cobain. You may think she’s trash. You might even call her evil. But there’s no denying that Courtney Love is truly a raw & fascinating person.

“Courtney Love is dead,” said the Hole singer (via Us Magazine), who now apparently wants to be known only as Courtney Michelle. Michelle is Love’s middle name.

Says Courtney Michelle: “We’ve all decided we don’t like her (Courtney Love) anymore. We love her when she goes onstage, but I don’t need her in the rest of my life.”

Love’s new album with Hole is the first record the singer has recorded while sober.

The rocker who is known for being in sticky hot messes said: “Courtney Love is a way to oppress me,” and has determined a new name will deliver a new-and-improved Love.

Here’s to hoping!

Check out a very FASCINATING (and believe it or not, endearing) interview with Love (via Amazon), below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Last night, right after AI (at 9:28PM to be specific), Glee’s four-month hiatus came to an end.

Between the Rolling Stone Cover, Fox Promos, “Gleeks” taking over Facebook/Twitter, and the cast appearing everywhere from the White House to the Oprah Winfrey Show, the premiere of the pop culture phenomenon hasn’t exactly been hush hush.

Before I rant on last night’s episode though, I must say shout out to JAYMA MAYS! The cute wide-eyed strawberry topped actress who got tongue twisted with Will Schuester last night, graduated from my skool (Radford University)! She’s also from Grundy, Virginia (which is a neighboring town in the middle of nowhere, near where I grew up), and it always makes me proud to see people from my neck of the woods doing something with their lives. Ok, now that I’m done being ghetto, I’ll continue…

So last night’s premiere was full of life lessons that I thought I should outline for your benefit, so get your pens ready for Glee 101:

Lesson #1: Dolphins are just gay sharks (come on, if you didn’t know this, you have no marine-dar)

Lesson #2: Some guys you thought were sweet can quickly become douchebags (when they only think with their trombones)

Lesson #3: Being the outcast in High School simply means you are destined for big things (or a drink in the face, which in some cultures probably means you are the shit)

Lesson #4: Music has the power to make you truly popular (where it counts, which is on the inside)

Lesson #5: There’s nothing better than a breakup revenge song (especially when you can perform it in front of the selfish jerk who took you for granted)

Now that your brain is drained from that strenuous academic lesson, I’ll feed your Glee-diction with the cast on Oprah, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

A slimy Katy Perry has outed some details regarding her new album (due out later this year) and Russell Brand’s behavior regarding their upcoming wedding. Fun times.

On the new record:

“It’s what I said I wanted earlier. We nailed it: It’s roller-skating! It’s ’90s! It’s Ace of Base! It’s Cyndi Lauper! It’s like all these colors and more. There might be some really cool guest appearances by some cool rappers and then some best friends might be appearing. We’ll see! It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be one of those records that is everybody’s favorite guilty pleasure.”

On Russell Brand:

“He’s like a freak, man,” Perry told MTV News at the recent Kids’ Choice Awards. “He’s always buying bride magazines. Every time we go out for breakfast he’s like, can we just stop and get a bride magazine?”

Check out the clip, below.

MTV Shows

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Ricky Martin has finally came out of the closet and admitted to being gay. In more shocking news–the sky is blue.

In all seriousness, kudos to Ricky! He is a wonderful daddy to his beautiful twin boys and a great role model, spending countless hours in the arena of humanitarian efforts, specifically the exploitation of children in human trafficking rings.

He may have a fine bon bon, but where it counts Ricky is truly a beautiful human being and that is why I admire him so. Check out a clip of Martin in an interview explaining the horrific crime that is human trafficking, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Miley: Stop it um k?! [giggles]
Liam: Dude, you got bird sh*t on your head!
Miley: OMG for realz?! In mah extensions? Get it out now, Liam!
Liam: Aiiiiight.

I’ll admit it: I’m a sucker for any movie based on a Nicholas Sparks book. So needless to say, I will be seeing The Last Song. I know I know, you probably don’t think I’m that cool anymore. But newsflash: I am. And here’s why–I appreciate entertainment for whatever value it provides. Just because I love some unknown indie rock doesn’t mean I can’t admit to bobbing my head to some Party In the U.S.A. (don’t act like you didn’t)!

Also, there’s something about Miley Cyrus that I like. There, I said it. From a marketing/branding perspective, I understand why she is uber famous–she has an appeal that is charming, universal, safe, and borderline annoying (at least when it comes to seeing little girls in fake wigs at the mall–freaky).

See, the thing that annoys me is when people hate on things just for the sake of hating on them. For example: when I saw Dear John (this post is getting lamer by the minute, ha), there were two girls beside me and my friend John (shout out!) who kept laughing at parts that were not funny at all, and I’m not sure if it was the whole New York pretentious attitude or what, but COME ON–it’s a movie based off a Nicholas Sparks book, HELLO! It’s not trying to be an Oscar-worthy performance or a piece of original art–it’s a cute, family, romantic film, period. If you do not expect to see a cute, family, romantic film, then do not spend your 15 bucks (yes, movie tickets in NYC are outrageous) on the damn movie, you hater!

Watch the girl (and her wet Aussie) many wish they could blast in the face with a waterhose in an interview with Teen Vogue, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

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To many, Beyonce is a hero. Here’s one reason why…

Beyonce recently spoke in Brooklyn, New York at the Phoenix House–a nonprofit rehabilitation center for drug and alcohol addiction, to uncover a project she and her mother, Tina, have been developing for years. That project is the Beyonce Cosmetology Center.

The program is a seven-month cosmetology training course for adult men and women. L’oreal donated all the products for use at the center, and Miss Beyonce, along with her mother, have pledged to donate $100,000 to the program annually.

After New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Tina Knowles took the stage, Beyonce, full of humility and grace, took to the podium to explain her vision, a vision she developed while visiting Phoenix House in 2007 as part of research for her role as Etta James (who, at the age of 21, was a heroin addict) in the film Cadillac Records.

Phoenix House provides various vocational training but Beyonce felt like a beauty school was missing and would be an important tool to the facility as she said:

“I saw that a salon was a place for women to socialize, share stories, cry, laugh and get advice,” she continued, speaking on growing up in the beauty parlor in which her mother owned at the time. She was near tears when she added, “Most importantly, I saw the joy it brought my mother, knowing she was a part of their transformation.”

Overwhelmed with admiration for the the strength and the courage of the women and men who’ve chosen to go to Phoenix House for help, Beyonce was determined to make her dream a reality and she has succeeded, touching countless lives whose journey has led to this beautiful story of hope and redemption.

Check out the always humble BK on Good Morning America, explaining the venture, below.