2012 Grammy Winners Revealed ... Possibly

We take a look at both the 'actual' and 'bizarro' Grammys (and try to pick some winners) in Bigger Than The Sound.
By James Montgomery


Adele
Photo: Getty Images

<P>Last year, when the Arcade Fire shocked everybody (especially Dog the Bounty Hunter) by winning Album of the Year at the Grammys, it set in motion a chain of events that culminated in one rather troubling realization: Perhaps everything has changed. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:732058.id:1672369" width="240" height="211"></div><p> I say troubling because, really, the Grammys have never been <i>cool</i> (and there is something like five decades of empirical evidence to back up that claim), and voters bestowing the night's top award on an indie act &#8212; instead of Eminem, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, each of whom were also nominated &#8212; was a hip, hip move. So it stood to reason that, if one of the stuffiest of award shows could get with the times, then perhaps everyone could. Perhaps the Arcade Fire's AOTY win fractured the space-time continuum itself, sort of like on "Lost," when Benjamin Linus turned that wheel and the island started skipping through time and there were actually <i>two</i> islands, one existing in current time and one that was stuck in the 1970s, and that old woman had a pendulum and Jack ended up detonating a hydrogen bomb with a rock or something ("Lost" definitely got confusing for a while there). What I am trying to say is that it is not entirely inconceivable that, post Arcade Fire, there now exist <i>two</i> Grammy Awards: the one where Led Zeppelin has zero wins (but Sheryl Crow has nine) and the one where cool bands take home the biggest awards. You know, the <i>actual</i> Grammys versus the <i>bizarro</i> Grammys. It's an insane theory, yes, and yet, it is also (sort of) backed up by this year's Grammy nominations. In actuality &#8212; given she had one of the best-selling albums of the past decade and almost single-handedly saved the industry in 2011 &#8212; Adele is not only one of the night's most-nominated artists, but she'll probably end up walking away with the most golden gramophones, too. In fantasy, Bon Iver stuns the Dog the Bounty Hunters of the world and takes home three-quarters of the "Big Four" awards. In the grand cosmic scheme of things, I suppose <i>either</i> is probable. Shoot, at the very least, the theory makes the Grammys a lot more interesting ... and impossible to predict. Still, I'm going to try my best. So here are my theoretical picks for the 54th Grammy Awards, where I've weighed the <i>actual</i> against the <i>bizarro</i> in a misguided attempt to predict just who will triumph in the night's biggest categories. Hey, it's better than just saying "Adele is gonna win everything." Even though she probably will. It <i>is</i> just a theory, after all. <big><b>Album of the Year</b></big><br> &#187; Adele, <i>21</i><br> &#187; Foo Fighters, <i>Wasting Light</i><br> &#187; Lady Gaga, <i>Born This Way</i><br> &#187; Bruno Mars, <i>Doo-Wops &amp; Hooligans</i><br> &#187; Rihanna, <i>Loud</i> <b>"Actual" Grammys</b>: Dude, come on, Adele wins this one by a mile. <b>"Bizarro" Grammys</b>: The most bizarro winner would probably be Rihanna, who's not exactly celebrated as an "album artist," or maybe Bruno Mars, though, thanks to "F--- You" (much-nominated at last-year's Grammys) and his string of hits this year, he seems to be a favorite among voters. <b>Continuum-Uniting Winner</b>: Remember in 2009, when Taylor Swift's <i>Fearless</i> won AOTY and everyone got all upset? Well, it was the year's best-selling album, too, and at the time, Swift was credited with keeping a sinking industry afloat. Adele's <i>21</i> has sold nearly as many copies as <i>Fearless</i> ... and has done so in less than a year. So, uh, yeah, she'll win this. <big><b>Record of the Year</b></big><br> &#187; Adele, "Rolling in the Deep"<br> &#187; Bon Iver, "Holocene"<br> &#187; Bruno Mars, "Grenade"<br> &#187; Mumford &amp; Sons, "The Cave"<br> &#187; Katy Perry, "Firework" <b>"Actual" Grammys:</b> It's Adele's to lose, though she may face a tough challenge from Mumford &amp; Sons, who not only landed nominations last year, but had 2011's best-selling rock album based mainly on the strength of "The Cave." Still, a win by them here would be an upset in every sense of the word. <b>"Bizarro" Grammys:</b> Got to be "Holocene," which on the surface, doesn't stand much of a chance. Still, I can't shake the feeling that Bon Iver wins <i>something</i> on Sunday, and so, much like I (sort of) predicted Arcade Fire's Album of the Year win <i>last</i> year ... <b>Continuum-Uniting Winner:</b> ... I'm going with the bearded dude from Wisconsin. Look, voters aren't going to give Adele <i>everything,</i> most likely because they don't want to deal with the backlash. There's also the Arcade Fire momentum from last year, not to mention the fact that since this award goes to not only the artist, but the producer, recording engineer and mixer, too, it tends to go to <i>classically</i> constructed tunes (Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody," Alison Krauss' and Robert Plant's "Please Read the Letter") as opposed to songs with massive commercial appeal. So I'm taking "Holocene" for the upset. <big><b>Song of the Year</b></big><br> &#187; Adele, "Rolling in the Deep"<br> &#187; Bon Iver, "Holocene"<br> &#187; Bruno Mars, "Grenade"<br> &#187; Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi and Fergie, "All of the Lights"<br> &#187; Mumford &amp; Sons, "The Cave" <b>"Actual" Grammys:</b> Again, Adele. <b>"Bizarro" Grammys:</b> "Holocene," though how amazing would it be if "All of the Lights" actually won here? Would Kanye even let anyone else talk during his acceptance speech? <b>Continuum-Uniting Winner:</b> "Rolling in the Deep." It was 2011's biggest song, and one look at previous SOTY winners &#8212; massive hits like "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," "Rehab," "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" &#8212; well, you can see which way this one tends to go. <big><b>Best New Artist</b></big><br> &#187; The Band Perry<br> &#187; Bon Iver<br> &#187; J. Cole<br> &#187; Nicki Minaj<br> &#187; Skrillex <b>"Actual" Grammys:</b> Adele. Oh, wait, this is the only category she's <i>not</i> nominated in (though she did win it in 2009). OK, well, then how about the Band Perry? They're a country act, and over the past decade, when nominated, country acts tend to win BNA (Shelby Lynne in 2001, Carrie Underwood in 2007, the Zac Brown Band in 2010). Oh, and it doesn't hurt that their "If I Die Young" was a certified crossover smash, either. <b>"Bizarro" Grammys:</b> It actually wouldn't be all that odd if Bon Iver wins here (since, even though I picked him to take Song of the Year, there's a pretty good shot <i>this</i> is the "Big Four" award he wins), so, can I interest you in some Skrillex? <b>Continuum-Uniting Winner:</b> Barbz rejoice, I'm taking Nicki Minaj! Why? Well, after a massive year, she was ignored everywhere else in the "Big Four," so a BNA win would be a nice olive branch extended by Grammy voters. Also, no hip-hop artist (male <i>or</i> female) has won this award since Lauryn Hill in 1999, and how bizarro is that?!? So fittingly, Best New Artist is hers. <i>Make your predictions for the Grammy Awards in the comments section below!</i></p>

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Buzzed Robert Pattinson Brings "Bel Ami" to Berlin

He's set to debut his new film later in the evening, but Robert Pattinson got the day started with a "Bel Ami" photocall session in Berlin, Germany on Friday (February 17).

The freshly buzzed "Twilight" actor took to the Grand Hyatt alongside Christina Ricci and Holliday Grainger as the trio tended to press duties as part of the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival.

Directed by Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod while also starring Uma Thurman, "Bel Ami" is "a chronicle of a young man's rise to power in Paris via his manipulation of the city's most influential and wealthy women."

With the motion picture due out in the States on March 2nd, Pattinson was recently asked if her had fun playing a ladies' man rather than a celibate.

To this, the 25-year-old English heartthrob replied, "Completely. I thought it was funny as well?Twilight having quite a bit of a female audience?to play a guy who basically screws women out of money. I like the fact that you never hear of a movie where the bad guy stabs every single person in the back and then wins."

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/robert-pattinson/buzzed-robert-pattinson-brings-bel-ami-berlin-586382

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Ke$ha Calls Bob Dylan Cover 'An Emotional Purging'

Pop singer sings 'Don't Think Twice, It's All Right' for Amnesty International anniversary album.
By Jocelyn Vena


Ke$ha
Photo: Getty Images

<P>It's hard to associate Ke$ha with songs about anything other than hot guys, body glitter and partying. But she's defying her usual topics of interest for human rights organization Amnesty International. The singer is one of the many musicians on the org's <i>Chimes of Freedom</i> compilation of Bob Dylan's music, out January 24. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:720838" width="240" height="211"></div><p> When MTV News spoke with K-Dollar Sign last week about her all-star remix of "Sleazy," she also opened up about switching gears vocally and emotionally for her version of Dylan's classic "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right." "I mean, I think it's pretty well known that he's one of, if not my most, favorite artists of all time and ... one of the most amazing lyricists as well &#8212; the original storyteller," she explained. "So I love Bob Dylan and this was just, like, a dream. When they asked me to do a cover, I was just, like, salivating and going through all my records. It was so fun. It was the best homework assignment you could possibly have." K's version of Dylan's song is a slow-burning, heartbreaking ode to the already heartbreaking classic, where she channels Dylan through lyrics like "Still I wish there was somethin' you would do or say/ To try and make me change my mind and stay/ We never did too much talkin' anyway/ So don't think twice, it's all right." </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:642810" width="240" height="211"></div><p> Ke$ha had originally intended to record another Dylan track, but when she heard that someone else had their sights set on it, she settled on "Don't Think Twice," prompting a catharsis she could never have imagined. "This song was kind of an accident. I sat down and this is the first take that I ever sang," she recalled. "I just sat down on my bed for the first time after months of being on tour and I just started crying, and it was kind of like an emotional purging, and you can hear it on the record." In addition to Ke$ha and her contribution, the album will feature 75 other Dylan classics recorded by nearly 80 artists including Adele, Miley Cyrus, "Glee" star Darren Criss, My Chemical Romance, Evan Rachel Wood and Sugarland. The album pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International.</p>

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Kendall & Kylie Jenner Try Out the Blonde Life

Trying out new looks, Kendall and Kylie Jenner gave the blonde life a go while out in Calabasas, CA on Thursday (February 16).

The "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" cuties rocked lighter locks as they rolled around town in Kendall's black Range Rover while stopping to clean up the SUV at a car wash along the way.

As for the coif changeup, Kendall tweeted a pic of her blonde 'do while messaging, "New look....? What do u think? Loll"

Revealing that she's still a brunette and was simply donning a wig a short while later, the 16-year-old posted, "Don't worry! Still a brunette!"

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/kylie-jenner/kendall-kylie-jenner-try-out-blonde-life-586131

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Nicki Minaj Shows Three Sides Of Herself On Magazine Covers

The rapper talks fashion, feminism and Jay-Z in interviews with Vibe, Allure and New York
By Jocelyn Vena


Nicki Minaj on the cover of <i>Vibe</i>
Photo: Vibe

As Nicki Minaj prepares to release her new album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, in April, she's all over newsstands. She will appear on three different magazine covers, each showing different sides of the rapper and touching on her many philosophies about her career, her persona and her place in the rap world.

Allure teased its April cover featuring Minaj, in which the sassy songstress sports a big, pink tulle skirt. In the interview, she opens up about telling Jay-Z he really does need to Watch the Throne with her around. "I had a little conversation with Jay-Z at the Victoria's Secret fashion show," she recalled. "He said, 'Congratulations on all your success.' And I was like, 'Yeah, I'm coming for you. I'm coming for your spot, Mr. Mogul.' "

Speaking of her supreme-queen dominance, on the cover of the February/March issue of Vibe, she's donning a sparkling crown and inside the issue she talks all about her place in the game as a woman.

"It's not hard to get your way when it's your way or the highway. People either follow suit or they're not around. I don't really like the sound of that, 'cause that sounds like a temper tantrum. I'm just very black and white when it comes to my business," she said. "There's really no gray area. I really don't have a lot of small talk with people I work with. It's pretty much let's get the job done. In the beginning, if people didn't know me they'd probably assume I wasn't smart or wasn't business savvy. But once you sit and talk to me, it's a different story."

And, then there's her watercolor-y New York cover where the fashionista talks about her place among the hip fashion crowd. "I'm not impressed to be in that world. I'm in my own world. I think sometimes the fashion world isn't even about clothes anymore; it's about this 'in' crowd, and I'm not into that," she explained, after sharing what her fashion mantra is. "I like the idea of doing something that everyone else is not. I get high off that. Just the idea that other people don't have the balls to do something — that's my thing."

Which Nicki Minaj magazine cover is your favorite? Leave your comment below!

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Heavy D's Death Hits Nicki Minaj, Usher, More Celebs

'Truly gone too soon,' Usher tweets Tuesday.
By James Dinh


Heavy D arrives at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center on February 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, California
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

<P>Hip-hop lost a rap icon when Heavy D died Tuesday afternoon (November 8) at age 44, and the music industry is clearly mourning the loss. A string of stars, including Usher, Timbaland and Nicki Minaj, have shared their memories of the late MC on Twitter. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:709301.id:1674015" width="240" height="211"></div><p> Usher offered his sympathy to the family of the Jamaican-born rap heavyweight, tweeting, "This is too heavy, I can't believe it. HEAVY D was just here. Truly gone too soon. My heart and support goes out to his family. R.I.P HEAVY." Mega-producer Timbaland couldn't even process the announcement, writing, "I'm at a loss for words rip heavy d." After re-tweeting the late-MC's last message ("BE INSPIRED"), hip-hop's Harajuku Barbie also weighed in on the news. "We'll never forget you babe! #hiphopelite #RIPHeavyD," Nicki wrote. From one raptress to the next, Missy Elliott shared her thoughts: "U will be missed Heavy D so many laughs we've shared but your Music is Timeless and will Always be Around 4ever Love u Heav..." Ciara described the MC as "a really nice man. Sending my condolences to him and his family!" DJ Drama and Nick Cannon reflected on the icon's impact. "Heavy D 'Who's The Man' was one of my 1st pieces of vinyl when I first started djayin," DJ Drama wrote. "Def 1 of the first 5 records I spent $ on. RIP." Cannon said he had "just talked" to Heavy D, adding, "He was just encouraging me about life." "RIP TO A REAL HIP HOP LEGEND HEAVY D!" Nas chimed in. Juelz Santana recalled the rapper/actor's recent BET Hip Hop Awards performance. "RIP Heavy D. He was a Hip Hop Legend," he shared. "Crazy how sh-- happens. I was late 2 da BET Awards &amp; Heavy D's Performance was 1 of da only 2 I got 2 see. Blessed 4 dat opportunity. RIP." Boyz II Men, who shared the '90s spotlight with the MC, sent condolences to his family, writing, "UGH...heavy d..always cool as hell with us..just a sick feeling....praying for his little daughter and family." Share your memories of Heavy D on Facebook. <center> </center></p>

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Matthew Broderick & James Strollin' To School

Matthew Broderick, 49, and son, James Wilkie, 9, caught some fresh air walking to school in New York City this morning (February 16). The father-son duo were dressed alike in their puffy jackets and comfy sneakers. The young lad also showed off his long dirty blonde mane and ripped up jeans.

The Biloxi Blues star - who is married to Sarah Jessica Parker and father to James and 2-year old twin daughters, Loretta and Tabitha - received some attention earlier this year as his ?Ferris Bueller? character appeared in an ad during the Super Bowl. The ad has since received over 14 million views on YouTube.

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Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2012/02/16/matthew-broderick-james-strollin-to-school

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Chris Brown -- Don't Tell ANYONE I Was at Rihanna's Birthday

Chris Brown was so paranoid about keeping his attendance at Rihanna's birthday party a big fat secret -- he actually tried to FORCE partygoers to sign confidentiality agreements ... TMZ has learned.Sources tell us, Chris refused to enter the private…

Source: http://www.tmz.com/2012/02/16/chris-brown-rihanna-birthday-confidentiality-agreement/

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