Every time Gaga releases a music video, you never really know exactly what you’re going to get. Like some other in her collection, the nearly 14-minute clip for “Marry the Night” plays like a short film. In fact, the music doesn’t start until Gaga pushes in an 8-track tape at the 8:47 mark. Before that happens all kinds of erratic scenes fill the screen. In the beginning Gaga is wheeled into a hospital ward that appears to be located inside a hotel, and during this part she narrates her inspirations behind the nurses’ wardrobe, among other things. Once the music kicks in so does the choreography; Gaga and her dancers once again show off their fancy moves and impress. Go on and grab some popcorn then mash play to experience another wild glimpse into the mind of Lady Gaga.
Music video: Dia Frampton – “Don’t Kick The Chair” (Featuring Kid Cudi)
If you watched the first season of NBC’s music competition series The Voice then the name Dia Frampton should ring a bell; she was the runner-up behind winner Javier Colon. Falling to second place didn’t stop her from achieving fame. Frampton is preparing her debut album Red that’s expected to drop December 6 and for her new single “Don’t Kick The Chair” she managed to get rapper Kid Cudi to croon a verse. She shared the inspiration behind the track to AOL Music. “It started with my lyrical idea, ‘Don’t Kick the Chair,’ since my sisters and I throw that phrase around at home when we’re complaining about something when, on the other hand, it’s a beautiful day outside. In other words, ‘don’t kick the chair’ is another way of saying, ‘don’t give up,’ because you can’t have the highs without the lows, and there’s no use in getting down about something for too long. You got to start pushing forward at some point.” On working with Cudder: “It was a pleasure having Kid Cudi on this song. I’m a fan of his work and also am very happy with the positive lyrics he created. This song has a dark undertone, but overall, I wanted it to be optimistic.”
Watch the lyric video above and bop your head to upbeat track and Frampton’s sweet, crisp voice.
Update: The song, as well as Frampton’s album Red, is now available to purchase on iTunes.
Napster joins Rhapsody and the peer-to-peer giant vanishes for good
Oh, Napster’s journey has been a rough one when you look down at the history of the famed peer-to-peer music sharing service from Justin Timberlake Sean Parker. In 1999 Napster became widely available and widely known as the destination to illegally download and share music among friends and strangers around the world. It wasn’t long before the Recording Industry Association of America (with resistance led by heavy metal band Metallica) forced Parker to shut down Napster so the company could find a way to make it work through legal channels. While Napster was getting battered with legal woes, other P2P music software cropped up like Morpheus, Kazaa, and BearShare. Eventually all of these P2P players were forced to either close up shop or transition into a subscription service. Napster took the latter route and lived on for a while. Late last week, though, the final hammer was nailed into the coffin. Rhapsody, the world’s #1 digital music subscription service, bought out Napster and integrated its music library into its own. In other words, Napster is no longer its own entity and the Napster name and cute logo that lasted all this time have fallen by the wayside.
Napster’s legacy will forever remain a part of the history of the music industry. What Parker pioneered in the late 90s and early 2000s would help lead to the introduction of the iTunes Store and new, innovative ways of legally purchasing and sharing music. And with that let us say in unison: RIP Napster.
Update: And the Internet cried, “Not so fast!” According to The Register, the Napster brand will live on in the UK and Germany. So there you go.
[Via CNET]
Google news: New Google bar, YouTube gets a new look, and the evolution of search
The folks at Mountain View are constantly working hard to bring new experiences to the Internet, as well as updating the ones we use most. You know that horizontal (recently painted black) navigation bar that rests at the top of every Google webpage, including the search homepage? Well, it’s going away to save screen real estate and unify all that Google has to offer. The new Google bar isn’t a bar at all, really. It’s comprised of three sections: Google menu, Search, and Google+ tools. All three of these sections will be found in the spot location across all of Google’s products. The Google menu is accessed by hovering your mouse over the Google logo in the left hand corner, saving you a click to reach Google’s other products like Images, Maps, and Gmail. Search sits in the top middle, and easy access to Google+ tools is on the right. Navigating Google, searching, and sharing links with friends is now a more streamlined and cleaner experience. The new Google bar is rolling out soon.
After months of testing a new layout dubbed “Cosmic Panda” Google has finally rolled out an updated look for YouTube. First off, the homepage is totally redesigned and built to be customized to your liking. To the left you’ll find a YouTube Channel line-up. If you’re signed in with a Google account the setup is like this: a list of your Subscriptions, including Google+ and Facebook social integration; From YouTube categories, including trending and popular videos; and Suggested channels for you. To add a channel to your list simply click the Add channels buttons up top to be directed to a listing of all video categories; subscribing to channels from there is a one-click process. Back on the homepage, when you click a channel from your line-up content will appear in the center of the page. Instead of navigating you to an entirely new URL, the new YouTube homepage keeps you in one place while you’re browsing content. Play a video and then you’ll be brought to the uploader’s channel so you can watch the video and comment on it. Speaking of channels, Google has updated those spaces as well with new templates and a sharper layout. And with inspiration from Cosmic Panda, Google has opted to stick with the trial’s consistent gray background, bigger video thumbnails, and a more streamlined watch page. The new YouTube is available to play with today; sign in with a Google account to customize.
Last, Google has produced an interesting video that tells the “short history of the evolution of search, highlighting some of the most important milestones from the past decade—and a taste of what’s coming next.” Watch it after the break. There you’ll also find videos highlighting the new Google bar and YouTube’s cosmetic transformation.
[Via Google 1, 2, 3] Continue reading Google news: New Google bar, YouTube gets a new look, and the evolution of search
Nintendo outs Zelda-themed 3DS bundle
Nothing says Happy Thanksgiving like a golden hued Nintendo 3DS. But this isn’t just a special coat of paint. What you see above is a special 25th anniversary limited-edition Cosmo Black 3DS marked with the Hyrule emblem and gold-colored embellishments! So if you’re a Zelda fan and still haven’t jumped to buy Ninty’s latest handheld, this is it. The Zelda-themed 3DS comes bundled with the Ocarina of Time 3D game and costs $199.99. It hits store shelves tomorrow, November 23, Turkey day. Also coming out of the gate tomorrow and at the same price point is a Flame Red 3DS bundled with the recently released Super Mario 3D Land game.
In related news, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is out now for the Wii. At long last.
[Via Nintendo]
James Cameron talks up 3D in ‘Hugo’
Martin Scorsese’s Hugo lands in theatres today, and if you needed an extra little nudge to go see it, watch this quick clip. In it James Cameron, the 3D guru behind Avatar, highlights the use of 3D in Hugo and the powerful effects it has on the storytelling.
Also out today: The Muppets! Mah-Na Mah-Na!
Single: W Z R D – “Brake”
The former lonely stoner just couldn’t wait any longer. After teasing the album’s January 30, 2012 release date on Saturday, Kid Cudi jumped back on Twitter to share with the world the first official cut off his upcoming third, yet-to-be-titled studio album. The track is called “Brake” and it’s produced by Wizard-in-crime Dot Da Genius and features guitar strings flicked by Cudder himself. Much like his previous release “Perfect Is The Word,” this song doesn’t find Cudi rapping but instead crooning over a punk rock-ish beat. Prior to dropping the single Cudi tweeted, “Tonight, you will all witness the new chapter, the new journey. Music will never be the same…” Listen to “Brake” below, follow along by reading the simple lyrics provided by Cudi, and click the download link for keeps. Are you entranced by Kid Cudi’s new sound? Anticipating his collabo release with Dot? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Download: W Z R D – “Brake”
[audio: Brake.mp3]Behind the scenes: ‘Game of Thrones’ season 2
New episodes of ‘Arrested Development’ are coming to Netflix in 2013
The Bluths are coming…to Netflix! After series creator Mitch Hurwitz announced in early October that the cult hit Arrested Development would come back to TV to bridge a gap in time between the unfortunate cancellation and the upcoming feature film, 20th Century Fox TV has been trying to find a suitor to air the new batch of episodes. Apparently the show was in contention at Showtime, but it was the video streaming service Netflix that came out as victor in the end. All new episodes of Arrested Development will premiere exclusively on Netflix in the first half of 2013. Finally, a (somewhat) tangible date we can mark on a calendar regarding the return of this show.
Executive producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer said this in a press release: “Of all the projects we’ve been involved with over the years, we probably get more questions about Mitch Hurtwitz’s brilliant ‘Arrested Development’ than any other– everyone, ourselves included, seems to feel like the Bluths left the party a bit too soon. Bringing a series back from cancellation almost never happens, but then, ‘Arrested’ always was about as unconventional as they get, so it seems totally appropriate that this show that broke the mold is smashing it to pieces once again.” And Howard had to add, “After a long hiatus, I’m dying to finally get back to the narrator’s microphone…’It’s Arrested…Development.'”
The Arrested Development pickup adds to Netflix’s list of original programming which also includes upcoming series House of Cards from David Fincher and Kevin Spacey. Price hikes, the Qwikster debacle… these are yesterday’s news. Being a major player in bringing the Bluths back into our lives, Netflix has fully redeemed itself.
[Via Netflix] Continue reading New episodes of ‘Arrested Development’ are coming to Netflix in 2013
ABC announces 2012 midseason schedule
Shortly after NBC announced its 2012 midseason schedule, ABC followed and did the same. The alphabet network’s schedule, however, isn’t entirely complete. First let’s start with what’s there. Crossing-dressing comedy Work It will replace Man Up! in the Tuesday 8:30PM slot to be paired with Tim Allen’s new sitcom Last Man Standing. A game of musical chairs will be played in the Tuesday 9PM-10PM slot. In January Celebrity Wife Swap returns and will occupy that hour until Oren Peli’s thriller The River premieres in February. That will have a limited 8-episode run and end in late March. That same month Dancing with the Stars comes back and the results show will take over the hour. With Charlie’s Angels dead and gone, Winter Wipeout will have no trouble fitting in on Thursdays at 8PM and another reality show Shark Tank will move Fridays at 8PM. Wipeout‘s spell won’t last long; in March Missing, a new drama starring Ashley Judd, will take over. And finally there’s GCB, formally known as Good Christian Bitches and Good Christian Belles. The soap will air in Pam Am‘s current position at Sundays at 10PM. What this means for Pan Am‘s future is still unknown. And now we can discuss what’s missing: the buzzy Don’t Trust The B**** In Apt. 23, Shonda Rhimes’ Scandal, and Cougar Town (it’s being reported that the Courtney Cox comedy is being reduced from 22 to 15 episodes this season). ABC likely won’t wait long to schedule this shows with spring premiere dates, so make sure check back here soon.
Jump after the break to see the premiere dates, and click here to preview all the new shows. Continue reading ABC announces 2012 midseason schedule
Kid Cudi announces W Z R D album release date
This week rapper Kid Cudi took to Twitter to make a major announcement: his next album is coming out January 30, 2012 to coincide with his 28th birthday. He also made a change to his group’s name. He and producer Dot da Genius are now collectively known as W Z R D (short for WIZARD) and 2 Be Continuum is no more. Cudi was not ready to spill the beans on the album’s title yet. However he did go on to say that the album “does not contain any profanity or the usage of the word “nigga”.” The former lonely stoner calls it “a universal album for everyone.” Also, he says “WZRD is bringin Punk Rock back with a whole new energy and sound.” Not really sure what he means by that? We’ll have a taste of what’s in store soon as Cudi promises that a snippet of the first single is on its way. “Ladies, your gonna have something to shake those booties to,” he teases.
Preview ‘The Muppets’ soundtrack right here!
The new Muppets movie is almost here! To elevate your sheer excitement click play above and take in seven minutes of the original soundtrack. You’ll hear vocals from all of your favorite Henson characters as well as stars Jason Segal, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, and more. Preorder the soundtrack at iTunes today. It releases tomorrow, November 20. And the movie comes out this Wednesday, November 23.