TOP STARS

Rihanna Was A No-show For Her Final Rehearsal For “Saturday Night Live”

May 7, 2012 seasidegame
Is Rihanna trying to coin her own variation on the famous Michael Jackson crotch-grabbing dance move?

The singer raised eyebrows on Saturday Night Live this week with her sexually charged choreography — spreading her legs and patting her lady parts in a characteristically raunchy performance of her songs ‘Birthday Cake’ and ‘Talk That Talk’.

Producers were probably just as surprised by Rihanna’s self-slapping stunt as the audience was, since the singer didn’t actually turn up to the dress rehearsal before the show.

Viewers tweeted reactions to the live broadcast which varied from disgust to boredom to admiration.

“Watching Rihanna slap her v– on #SNL with the parents was not awkward at all… Not at all,” wrote one viewer.

“The dancing is neither artistic, sultry, sexy, shocking or anything really … just embarrassing, odd and boring,” wrote another viewer.

Rihanna made her third appearance on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend, giving a memorable performance while Eli Manning hosted the episode. Her set included “Cake,” and “Where Have You Been,” the video for which rolled out last week.

Standing before an oversized crystallized spider web in the middle of the black-lit stage, Rihanna began her first number with the buzzing sounds of “Birthday Cake.” It was a surprising song selection that momentarily suggested the possibility of an onstage reunion with birthday boy Chris Brown, but “Cake” ended quickly, instead leading into a medley of her tune “Talk That Talk.”

Rihanna was a no-show for her final rehearsal for “Saturday Night Live” last night — which did not sit well with the show’s producers, including head man Lorne Michaels … TMZ has learned.

According to our sources, RiRi called in sick for the dress rehearsal, which is done live in front of a studio audience right before the actual show. We’re told Michaels takes dress rehearsals very seriously and was quite upset when Rihanna bailed at the last minute.

Our sources say that in her place, Rihanna’s choreographer danced to her songs.

When Rihanna showed up later looking just fine, we’re told the staff was shocked … and felt she didn’t appear sick enough to have missed the dress rehearsal … though no one from the show called her on it.

According to our sources, once the live show got going, Rihanna was seen eating an apple and walking around in between songs … which bothered several staffers because she did not seem ill at all.

We’re told producers can’t even remember the last time someone has skipped the dress rehearsal.

Sources close to Rihanna tell TMZ she went through every rehearsal except the dress rehearsal (which she was in the building for) because she just felt too ill to do it. We’re told RiRi had a doctor come to her dressing room before the show and administer a shot of penicillin before she went on.

With her backup dancers on hand, Rih kept the performance straightforward, offering viewers some simple shakes, pelvis thrusts and plenty of swag. One complaint was with the echo effect that was added to her microphone, which made the singer’s vocal sound shaky at times.

However, any issues with the opening number were soon forgotten when the pop star took to the stage for her follow-up performance of her brand-new single, “Where Have You Been.” Fronting an Arabian-themed backdrop and human props, Rihanna threw on a fierce game face and danced her way through the track with steady energy. It was a welcome change to see the Barbadian singer show off some footwork.

Unfortunately, the episode ended without any mention of “Shy Ronnie,” her first digital short, or any Rihanna-featured skits at all, even though “SNL” head honcho Lorne Michaels had told reporters on Wednesday that he was trying to work out the details on incorporating Rihanna into the sketch lineup.

Shy Ronnie may have not made an appearance, but Saturday’s gig was the perfect vehicle to promote her just-released single as well as her big-screen acting debut in the summer flick “Battleship,” which hits theaters May 18.
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Lady Gaga Wore A Purple Hair Dress For “Born This Way Ball Tour” In Hong Kong

May 2, 2012 seasidegame
On April 30, Lady Gaga was up to her old streetwise tricks in Hong Kong, tweeting about her experience in this Southeast Asian shopper’s mecca before performing her second Born This Way Ball concert there.

She said on the social networking site, “Exhausted after Hong Kong spin class! I love this city. You can work out and buy a fake Birkin on the same street.”

Lady Gaga arrived in Hong Kong sporting a dress made entirely from what appears to be purple hair extensions. She accessorized with white elbow-length gloves, a white hat and her own hair (or, okay, more hair extensions) woven into the bodice of the dress.

Gaga landed in Hong Kong after kicking off her 2012 world tour Friday night in Seoul, South Korea, where she played to an adults only audience, despite protests from local Christian groups.

“I was told that your government decided that my shows should be 18 or over… So, I’ll make sure it will be!” yelled Gaga from the stage, who made sure to incorporate simulated group sex scenes into her act.

Always on top of all sartorial opportunities, Lady Gaga went out of her way to entertain her Little Monsters who live in this enticing enclave situated between the South China Sea and the Pearl River Delta.

For example, this bold personality showed up this past weekend for her fans wearing what looked a lot like a purple Yeti. The 26-year-old performance artist growled while swathed in the hairy fashion statement which included elbow length gloves and a floppy hat.

Pop icon Lady Gaga, who is currently in Hong Kong for her Born This Way Ball tour, shared a pale image with her fans on Twitter saying: “Exhausted after Hong Kong spin class!”

“I love this city, you can work out & buy a fake Birkin on the same street,” the 26-year-old added.

She is set to perform in Hong Kong on 2nd May.

The Born This Way Ball is the third concert tour by the artist, in support of her second studio album Born This Way (2011). The tour will consist of 110 shows. “The Born This Way Ball will perform 110 shows around the world,” Gaga had tweeted earlier.

Lady Gaga appeared in Hong Kong — part of her “Born This Way” tour — in a long dress made of purple hair on Saturday. Compared with some other get-ups she’s worn — like the famous meat dress — this doesn’t look too bad. It kind of reminded me of another Lady who went our wearing hair — though in Lady Godiva’s case it was hair and nothing else.

Azealia Banks tweeted that she is to perform at the Met Gala, which she is attending as designer Alexander Wang’s celebrity date. But then the tweet mysteriously disappeared, leaving folks wondering, will she or won’t she perform?

The Fragrance Foundation is to give this year’s FiFi Awards (kind of like the Oscars for perfume) in ceremonies May 21 in New York. The five finalists in the “Women’s Luxe” category include a couple of celebrity names among the design houses. The five are: Beyoncé Pulse, Coty Inc.; Bottega Veneta, Coty Prestige; Prada Candy Eau de Parfum Spray, PUIG USA; Someday By Justin Bieber, Give Back Brands; and Tom Ford Violet Blonde, Tom Ford Beauty. Jane Lynch is scheduled to emcee the event.

Amber Rose is the subject of the latest cover story on lifestylemirror.com, the “instantly shoppable” fashion website. Since she’s photographed wearing clothes from Emporio Armani, Michael Kors and Roland Mouret, they are looks a normal, noncelebrity person might want to wear.

Designer and “Fashion Star” mentor John Varvatos won the 2012 Spirit of Design Award at the Philadelphia University Fashion Show on Saturday.

Tracy Reese’s seven-piece capsule collection for Anthropologie is for “girly girls.”
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Justin Bieber Explains How The ‘Boyfriend’ Video Reflects The ‘Believe’ Era

April 27, 2012 seasidegame
Though HoloPac will not be joining Dr. Dre on tour, there have recently been talks of Michael Jackson and TLC’s Left Eye getting hologrammed…and now, Elvis wants in on the fun!

Sounds like the folks over at Musion Technology Ltd., the company who brought the Tupac hologram to Coachella, are only getting started!

When asked who’s next, the company’s Head of Music Sanj Surati said bringing Elvis on stage with Justin Bieber “would be a cool thing.”

Hmm…maybe they could “collaborate” on a new duet called Blue Suede Baby??? How about Jailhouse Boyfriend?

Justin Bieber isn’t done hitting back at Mariah Yeater, who accused him of fathering her child. After using a “Borat” video to mock the 20-year-old girl, the Canadian teen heartthrob revealed he has written a song about the baby daddy accuser.

“There’s a song about that girl – Mariah Yeater – that said she was gonna have my baby,” so the boyfriend of Selena Gomez told reporters in London on Monday, April 23 night when asked about his inspirations behind songs for his upcoming album “Believe”.

“There are songs about things I’m going through. I wrote songs about different situations,” the pint-sized singer went on adding. Claiming that he has recorded 40 songs, he is unsure that the track about Yeater will make it into the cut. “Every song has a piece of me, it’s hard to pick. I wrote almost all of them or co-wrote them,” he went on sharing.

On another occasion, Bieber announced when the music video for his new single “Boyfriend” will come out. “The ‘Boyfriend’ video should be coming in like seven or eight days… Pretty soon,” he told Capital FM.

His manager Scooter Braun later confirmed that the clip will debut in full on May 2. On Tuesday, April 24, the “Baby” singer also took to Twitter to spread the news as writing, “and yes…the #BOYFRIENDvideo hits next week. FINALLY.”

“Boyfriend” is the first single from Bieber’s third studio album “Believe”, which is set to hit stores in the U.S. on June 19.

The world can’t seem to get enough of that Tupac hologram from the Coachella festival. The late rapper’s lifelike image left fans in awe as it performed alongside Snoop Dogg during his set with Dr. Dre.

The people behind the projection system that created the incredibly realistic likeness of the MC are now cooking up ideas of who else they might want to bring back to life.

Speaking to NME, Sanj Surati, head of music at Musion Technology Ltd, explained that one of music’s greats could one day perform alongside one of pop’s biggest stars. Asked whether there were plans to bring back Elvis Presley and perhaps have him perform next to Justin Bieber, Surati said it “would be a cool thing.”

If an Elvis/Bieber collabo can’t shake out, Surati explained there are others he’d like to see come to life: “Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, oh, and Michael Jackson would be the ultimate one,” he said. “Maybe even Whitney Houston.”

As for the future of the famous Tupac-ogram, well, Surati hopes it can be resurrected once again on a bigger-scale tour. “This is obviously a historic and exciting initiative that we’re all witnessing currently, and it would make sense for them to bring it to Europe,” he said. “And maybe take it to the rest of the world.”

Since the debut of the Tupac hologram, fans have been wondering what other beloved performers could find new life using this technology. On the 10-year anniversary of Left Eye’s death, there was an unconfirmed report from TMZ that TLC might bring back the group’s sassy rapper for a “massive 2012 reunion tour.” The group has yet to comment on the rumor.
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Lady Gaga Has Not Offered Clarification On ‘Pop Singers Don’t Eat’

April 14, 2012 seasidegame
Lady Gaga usually draws positive attention for her role in promoting self-acceptance, yet a comment she posted on Twitter on Tuesday with the hashtag “PopSingersDontEat” has her army of followers questioning her sincerity.

“Just killed back to back spin classes. Eating a salad dreaming of a cheeseburger #PopSingersDontEat #IWasBornThisWay,” the pop star wrote on her page.

And in response, the tweets came flying, with even media critics offering a response.

“As if girls dont have enough pressure without influential people like gaga tweeting things like that! SO irresponsible,” fan Aysha Falco commented on her Twitter page after initially responding directly to the singer, why would you even promote a message like that?”

In her “Open Letter to Lady Gaga,” MTV writer Nicole James professed, “I totally get that it was (probably) mostly a joke, and that you actually do eat food items from time to time, but so many young dudes and dudettes turn to your Twitter page for inspiration and encouragement. And the thing about it is, you’ve accepted that role model position with open arms.

You created an entire army of young fans who you go to bat for every day. You’ve done super great things with your Born This Way Foundation, and your music alone has likely helped millions of kids off of the ledge, both literally and figuratively. By you even joking about the fact that “pop singers don’t eat,” you’re sending a totally bummer message to some really vulnerable kids.”

Gaga’s remarks have come across hypocritical to many who follow her, particularly since the singer has admitted to struggling with bulimia in the past. At a conference in February, the pop star opened up about her eating disorder to Maria Shriver after a high school student asked the singer how she was so confident.

Explaining she wasn’t as self-assured as people believed, Gaga told Shriver about her days grappling over body image in high school.

“I wanted to be a skinny little ballerina, but I was a voluptuous little Italian girl whose dad had meatballs on the table every night,” said the musician. “I used to come home and say, ‘Dad, why do you always give us this food? I need to be thin.’”

Gaga recently launched her Born This Way Foundation as a way to empower youth, and inspire both self-acceptance and respect for others. Accordingly, her latest statement doesn’t necessarily seem to measure up to the message.

Since posting the tweet, the hashtag has taken on a life of its own, sparking a debate between followers, some of whom find the singer’s statements offensive and others who note the ironic tone. Gaga herself has not offered clarification.
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