Kanye West has made some pretty “artistic” videos (see: Flashing Lights) but his new video for Coldest Winter tops them all. Yes, it is beautifully shot and it must have cost a complete fortune to make, but I’m not sure if I’m a fan of watching a sad woman who kind of looks like my friend’s girlfriend running through the woods. In terms of music videos out there today though, this may be the best one I’ve seen in a minute.
Oh, hey guys. I don’t know how I missed this yesterday, but I should have totally posted it. It’s the video for We Are The World 25, a remake of the classic celebrity collaboration that was recorded to benefit Haiti. It’s a really crappy, elevator-type song but you know, it’s one of those things you have to watch once because everyone famous ever is in it. Also, it’s kind of hilarious. I laugh every single time I see Josh Groban’s face. And the parts with Enrique Iglesias, Celine Dion and Wyclef are pretty lulzy as well.
Kanye took to his blog today to deny the New York Post’s claims that he pitched an in-flight fit earlier this week when he and an assistant were denied an upgrade from business to first class.
“I feel bad that people believe this kind of stuff or any random rumor that is taken as fact because ‘it’s on the internet’,” he said. “This rumor is particularly ironic because I was actually happy with a business class seat and was offered a seat in first class. A friend of mine was sitting in coach so asked if they could bump him up to business instead of putting me in first.
“There was absolutely no altercation in any way. There’s been many a time when I’ve given someone in coach my business or first class seat in order to sit next to a friend I bumped into. I really could care less about where I sit on the plane.
“As a good person with a warm heart, it does bother me,” he said. “I’m not bigger than feeling pain, embarrassment, stress and worry. Have you ever been lied on? How does it make you feel? You wanna tell everybody it’s not true, right?”
Not that I’m any great Kanye supporter, but I believe him on this one. This rumor smells like his music to me– total bullshit.
You guys remember Jason Mraz? I barely do, but the dude said some smart stuff on the red carpet last week at the Grammys. The singer spoke with PopEater on the red carpet and told them that he was wearing a pin to show his support gay marriage. He explained:
“I’m in the fight for marriage equality. That’s why I’m wearing this pin tonight. I’ve just been doing a couple of different activities and events speaking out as a straight man about civil rights.”
And then he started calling out musicians who he thinks could be showing some more support (or any at all):
“The more straight people, the better, so big names that cause a stir in the media, like Kanye West and John Mayer. [Mayer's] recently been very transparent in what he’s been saying or tweeting and I would love to see some more empowering transparency rather than material or self-loathing. Same as with Kanye — I feel like he’s such a huge presence that if he really promotes it and says, ‘Listen, you need to do this,’ more people would rally for the cause. The more straight heavy-hitters [that] speak up could really benefit the cause.”
While I’m not sure he was trying to put down John and Kanye, he makes a very good point about both of them: Nothing they say is of a ton of value. Sure, sure. I’m interested in John Mayer’s insights to Tiger’s cheating because he’s funny and realistically, I’d listen to him talk about nearly anything… but why can’t he use that smart mouth and brain to promote some awareness? I bet if John spent one interview talking about something more worthwhile than his junk and Kanye spent one award show interrupting about one cause other than Beyonce, they’d probably help turn their public images around. You know, if striving for equal rights wasn’t enough incentive.
“I’m briefly saddened by negative comments, but I have to remember those people are scared, incapable or just plain idiots. We are the f—ing rock stars baby. No cocaine, just life my n—as!! No cocaine, just life! It’s funny to me when fashion bloggers down our outfits and then super jock outlandish sh– on the runway but they dress mad prude and don’t live fashion.”
- Kanye West’s response to PETA, who recently dissed him for wearing fur.
PopEater reported today that Kanye West was banned from George Clooney’s big celebrity telethon, but that turned out to be a rumor. Kanye was in fact invited, according to MTV reps, he just didn’t respond. Oh. That’s fine. I’m sure he’s got t-shirts to wear and sunglasses to take on and off but to mostly keep on. So that’s one person for sure we know is not going. Who is going to be there?
George Clooney organized the event and personally donated 1 million dollars of his own money. According to USWeekly, you can also tune in to see the following:
President Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Clint Eastwood, Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jon Stewart, Will Smith with Muhammad Ali, Robert Pattinson, Tom Hanks and more.
Among the performers: Madonna, Beyonce, Wyclef Jean, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, Sting, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Sheryl Crow, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, Coldplay, Bono, The Edge, Jay-Z and Rihanna.
You will not be able to miss this thing if you have a television. It’s going to be airing on all of the major networks and several cable stations, including MTV, E!, Comedy Central and Bravo! You’ll also be able to tune in online for free when it’s airing or purchase the recording of the telethon in iTunes after the fact.
Oh, and if you can’t remember why Kanye’s involvement in the telethon was questionable, check out this from the celebrity telethon they had to benefit New Orleans a few years ago:
It’s a brand new year, and that means it’s a time for us to take stock of our lives, learn from our mistakes and move forward whilst becoming better, more mature versions of our former selves. Unless you’re Kanye West, in which case it’s time to step it up and be a bigger, more egomaniacal douchebag than ever before. From People:
Largely out of the spotlight since the MTV Video Music Awards debacle with Taylor Swift and subsequent skewering on Saturday Night Live, Kanye West is back – and so is his ego.
The Grammy-winning rapper took to his blog Monday to announce that he’s returned to the recording studio and vowed to “bring you the best I have to offer with the same dedication that Kobe [Bryant] has on the court.”
“It’s funny how so many rappers get worse as their careers stretch out, but true poets get better,” he writes, saying he’ll follow in the footsteps of poet Maya Angelou, spoken word soul performer Gil Scott-Heron (whose name West misspells) and jazz musician/civil rights activist Nina Simone.
“Their work improved with time,” West writes. “They documented what was happening in culture. That is our responsibility as the modern day artists and poets, to accurately represent what is happening now, so when the powers that be try to rewrite history you can always look at our works and find truth and sincerity in a world of processed information.”
Taking a swipe at the media, West urged people to “soak in positive forces” and “look past the headlines and deal with just a bit of reality in this new decade.”
Oh, please. Kanye West wouldn’t know reality if it turned into a candiru fish and swam straight up his goddamn urethra. Who is this jackass trying to kid? The only thing he has in common with Maya Angelou or Nina Simone is the fact that he has a vagina.
It’s a sad, sad day when the powers of photoshop can’t suppress the mighty fortress of ugly that is Lady Gaga, seen here in the “Hot and Wild” photoshoot by David LaChapelle, oddly featuring a crazed-looking (okay, more than usual) Kanye West (I think that’s him anyway) bearing her away from an exploding volcano. I dunno what the hell that’s supposed to symbolize. My sphincter’s reaction every time I see her?
2009 was a particularly annoying year in terms of celebrities. And well, most things. But celebrities for sure. Today the SCTimes.com printed their list of the 10 most annoying celebrities of 2009 and I couldn’t agree more with their picks:
1. Jon Gosselin — This guy is so annoying that he made his wife Kate seem less annoying than usual this year. Once the couple split, which you may have heard about in the media, he made one annoying move after another. His wife, on the other hand, took the high road, assuming you believe that the “high road” is granting a series of TV interviews in which you whine about your money problems.
2. Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt — This couple actually walked around in 2009 with their own video camera, hoping to sell the footage to a cable network for a reality show. These self-serving people set out to annoy the world, and they succeeded.
3. The Kardashians — Frankly, I initially couldn’t decide among sisters Kim, Kourtney or Khloe, or even their mother Kris. This reality-show family lifted annoyance to an art form. Kourtney had a baby this year, and Khloe married Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom, so we’re giving them a partial pass. Although Kris raised these three annoying young women, I’ve got to give the most annoying award to Kim. But, in the interest of fairness, let’s just call them all annoying.
4. Perez Hilton — For those of you who do not track the world of celebrity blogging, you probably assume I’m talking about someone related to Paris Hilton. This guy is not related to anyone named Hilton. His real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira, and he took the heiress’s name because he worships her. How annoying is that? Anyway, this guy has become a celebrity in his own right by mocking other celebrities on his blog. The most annoying (and despicable) thing he did in 2009 was reporting the death of former “Charlie’s Angels” actress Jaclyn Smith and, when she announced that she was very much alive, this bottom-feeder didn’t have the courtesy or class to apologize.
5. Kanye West — I’ve got news for you; even if he didn’t do that obnoxious thing to Taylor Swift on that awards show, he still would have made this list. I grind my teeth whenever this guy opens his mouth.
6. Levi Johnston — The father of Sarah Palin’s grandchild decided he wanted to be an annoying jerk when he grows up. On one TV show, he was joined on a panel by Jon Gosselin. It takes one to know one.
7. Nadya Suleman — You might know her better as “The Octomom.” I use the word “celebrity” loosely in discussing her, but I had no plans to write a list of the “Most annoying mother of 14 children,” so I had to include her here. I don’t really have to explain why she is annoying, do I?
8. Joe Jackson — The father of the late pop singer Michael Jackson transcends annoying, particularly when he seemed to be trying to benefit financially from his son’s death. He hardly belongs in what is supposed to be a lighthearted column, but his face annoys me, so how could I keep him off this list?
9. Miley Cyrus — Is she old enough to retire yet? I am so sick and tired of her and her father. She grates on me, and I thought I’d never get rid of her, but if she keeps pulling stunts like that little dance on the stripper pole at the Teen Choice Awards, I won’t have to put up with the Cyrus family much longer. Once Miley slips out of public favor, her father will soon follow.
10. Kara DioGuardi — It wasn’t her fault that the people behind the TV show “American Idol” decided to expand the judge’s table to four. The singer-songwriter probably was doomed to failure before she started because viewers didn’t like the change, but she certainly made the worst of a bad situation. Was it just me, or did she start to annoy from day one? She seemed awkward, and the more she tried to ingratiate herself with the audience, the more awkward it got. The producers tried to convince us of her musical credentials, but nobody was buying the sales job. When she wrote a lame song for the competition, she was exposed.
While I’d probably cut the Kardashians from the list (I can’t hate them. They are so harmless and dumb to me and that Khloe makes me laugh) and move Miley up a few notches, I think this is more or less a great list. However, there are plenty of other celebrities out there who grated on our last nerve this year. Tila Tequila, Mischa Barton and Lady Gaga are three people I could deal with hearing less about.
Who’s your pick for the most annoying celebrity of 2009?
All of America may still be angry with him for screwing over our little sweetheart at the VMAs, but at least Amber Rose still loves him! But I have a feeling all that bleach went to her head a long time ago.
Kanye and his girlfriend were spotted doing some SERIOUS shopping in Rome on Thursday. The photogs say they spent the whole day hitting up uber-expensive shops like Fendi and Missoni. It’s such a shame that money can’t buy class!
