Queen of Pop slips and M.I.A. flashes the bird during performance. By James Dinh
Nicki Minaj, Madonna and M.I.A. perform at Super Bowl XLVI Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic
During the 13 minutes Madonna took over Super Bowl XLVI for her highly anticipated halftime show, there were plenty of surprise cameos, high-tech stage lights and, of course, some of the biggest classics in pop music.
But even though the Queen of Pop's glitzy show Sunday night (February 5) appeared to run smoothly, the over-the-top theatrics might have shadowed some of the fumbles. Take a look at the list of onstage slip-ups MTV News caught during the pop performer's set.
Madonna's Almost Fall(s)
It was only a few minutes into the show, but Madonna lost her balance and almost fell as she jumped around the flashing bleachers with her dancers during her performance of "Music." She also teetered a few minutes later while getting up after getting down with LMFAO. Fortunately, the singer found her ground and demonstrated how a professional handles a little performance slipup, continuing without missing a beat.
M.I.A.'s Finger Flash
Madonna wouldn't be Madonna without even a little controversy, but this time, it wasn't even her fault. During the performance of the pop titan's new single, "Give Me All Your Luvin," M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj appeared as sideline cheerleaders to spit their rap contribution to the pop gem. Known for her rebellious attitude, M.I.A. flashed her middle finger for a split second that has already fueled headlines all over the Internet.
Backing Track
While Madge is getting lots of love from celebrities, there are many who are criticizing the Queen of Pop for what appears to be a mostly backing-track performance. However, lip-synching isn't unfamiliar territory for the Super Bowl. Back in 2009, the championship game's producer Ricky Minor told the Associated Press that he requested Jennifer Hudson lip-synch her rendition of the national anthem to limit the chances of possible mistakes.
Did you catch any other fumbles during Madge's performance? Tell us below!
Christina Aguilera And Adam Levine Spar As First Round Of "The Voice" Blind Auditions Gets Underway By John Mitchell
Christina Aguilera on "The Voice" Photo: NBC
"The Voice" returned to NBC for its second season immediately following Super Bowl XLVI and got right to business, kicking off the first round of blind auditions with coaches Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton each picking up one team member and Christina Aguilera scoring two.
Seven hopefuls stepped in front of the judges' revolving chairs, each hoping at least one would turn and ask them to be on their team. Two contestants got all four judges' approval, but one, 24-year-old Daniel Rosa from Riverside, California, didn't get a single judge to turn their chair and offer a spot and was sent home packing.
The Players:
RaeLynn
A teenager raised on a Texas farm, Rae Lynn entered the competition with one thing in mind: to win over judge Blake Shelton, who is married to country singer Miranda Lambert, a big hero of Rae Lynn's. She decided to sing Lambert's "Hell on Heels" despite being warned that last season Shelton didn't respond well when a contestant auditioned with one of his wife's songs. But confident in her choice, she did it anyway and wowed Shelton and Levine. Ultimately, she chose to stick with her roots and keep things country.
Team Blake
Jesse Campbell
One of many inspiring stories told during the show, we were introduced to 42-year-old homeless father Jesse Campbell and his family. He'd barely uttered a few notes before Aguilera, Green and Levine swiveled around (Shelton followed soon after). "You followed through above and beyond my expectations," she told Campbell, promising to fight for him along the hard road to the "Voice" finals. Trusting that Aguilera knows a thing or two about how to get the most out of strong vocalists, Jesse picked the "Not Myself Tonight" singer.
Team Xtina
Juliet Simms
Simms has been living the rock-and-roll life since she was a teen and is now, at 25, looking to take that next step. Simms tackled a big song too -- "Oh! Darling" by the Beatles -- but brought a rough, throaty edge and rocker swagger to the track that immediately attracted Levine and Cee Lo and, eventually, Aguilera. "You brought the house down," Christina said to Simms. Competing over the singer's affections even devolved into a bit of mudslinging between Aguilera and Levigne, who bickered back and forth over who could better serve Simms in the contest. She decided to go with neither and picked the most eclectic guy on the panel.
Team Cee Lo
Chris Mann
Another of the night's tear-jerker back stories came from Mann, a talented classical musician working in Nashville, Tennessee, whose mother is fighting pancreatic cancer. The 29-year-old Wichita, Kansas, native was the second contestant of the competition to bowl over the judges with a big, classic voice. "Now that's a voice," Xtina proclaimed, "I love it!" Her enthusiasm led him to pick the "Beautiful" Grammy winner, and in the first night of competition, she nailed down the two best voices in the game so far.
Team Xtina
Tony Lucca
Hey, that guy looks familiar! Lucca was at one time a Mouseketeer alongside Christina, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears on "The Mickey Mouse Club." But it was more important here that he tore the roof off the joint with a rocking rendition of "Trouble" that earned a swivel of approval from every judge on the panel. All pleaded with him to join their team, but Aguilera seemed oblivious to the fact that she knew him as a child (a lot has happened since then, we'll give her that). He went with Shelton, probably hoping a little of the country-rock cool that's kept him at the top of the charts for the last few years rubs off.
Team Adam
After he left the stage, Aguilera realized who Lucca was and ran backstage to greet him, his wife and young daughter. She also revealed, "Britney had the biggest crush on you!"
Oh, what could have been..
Did you catch "The Voice" tonight? Which contestant was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.
Kim Kardashian, Ashton Kutcher and Christina Aguilera praise Queen of Pop's halftime performance. By James Dinh
Madonna performs at Super Bowl XLVI Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic
Madonna does everything big, and her Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday night (February 5) was no exception. From her elaborate staging, wave of synchronized dancers and surprise onstage guests, the Queen of Pop has all kind of stars, including Kim Kardashian and Ashton Kutcher, abuzz — and probably singing along, too.
Taking to Twitter to dish about Madge's over-the-top medley of songs, Kardashian kept her praise short and sweet: "Madonna is EVERYTHING! She looks soooo good!" she wrote.
Kutcher was another fan of the pop titan's high-energy performance as he confessed, "#fact Madonna is crushing it!"
Not only did Ryan Seacrest find a liking to Madonna's set, but also her surprise performers. "Loved the madonna performance, i think she nailed it. Great job by @LMFAO, @NickiMinaj, @CeeloGreen too," he tweeted.
With the season premiere of "The Voice" scheduled for right after Sunday's big game, Christina Aguilera also showed support for her fellow co-star, tweeting, "@CeeLoGreen you killed it with Madonna at half time!"
Love for Madonna's show was also spread to another Kardashian sister, as Kourtney wrote, "Nobody is better than Madonna. She was perfection. Like a Prayer was my favorite part. Did everyone LOVE it as much as I did?"
Despite his remarks on the singer's backing track, Perez Hilton was extremely impressed by the superstar's "Like a Player" finale, writing, "Wow. That 'Like A Prayer' finale was one of the best things #Madonna has EVER done! Soooo epic!!!"
Paula Abdul was full of compliments, calling the pop performer's halftime show "brilliant." "I was dancing &singing along w/ @CeeLoGreen #Madonna Like A Prayer was AWESOME!" she wrote. "Well played #Superbowl WELL PLAYED-amazing #HalfTime show!"
Age proved nothing but a number to the rest of the Twitter-verse when "Madonna is 53" became a trending topic shortly after she wrapped up her performance.
Share your review of Madonna's halftime performance in the comments below.
Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., LMFAO and Cee Lo Green help pull out all the stops for elaborate show featuring Cirque du Soleil and high-tech staging. By John Mitchell
Madonna performs at the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show Photo: Win McNamee/ Getty Images
Madonna promised pom-poms for her Super Bowl XLVI halftime performance but she delivered a whole lot more, a high-energy spectacle packed with Roman warriors, Cirque du Soleil dancers, marching bands, cheerleaders and some very famous guests.
She made quite an entrance, that's for sure, riding onto the field at Lucas Oil Stadium on a throne dressed in full-on Cleopatra mode pulled by dancers dressed like Roman warriors. Decked out in a gold cape and massive headpiece with banners flying behind her, Madonna took the stage to "Vogue" as the song's title flashed among the images on the high-tech LED stage and amazing digitized field below her.
Cirque du Soleil's theatrical presentation and acrobatic dancing were apparent throughout, but never more so than during "Vogue," when the lavish staging met with tight choreography and Madonna sounding and looking great for an inspired spectacle and perhaps one of the biggest and boldest live performances of its kind ever attempted.
She displayed none of the nerves she'd uncharacteristically been copping to in the lead-up to the event, tearing through her hits with plenty of superstar swagger and hitting all her dance moves just right. She had a good reason to be nervous though: Sunday night's (February 5) game in Indianapolis was expected to be the most-watched television event of the year. Last year's Super Bowl drew over 162 million viewers in the U.S. alone.
Next up, Madonna and a team of dancers, now a bunch of Adidas-wearing b-boys, met on some light-up bleachers for an athletic take on "Music" that segued straight into dance-heavy remixes of "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy and I Know It" featuring guests LMFAO, proving that the 53-year-old pop legend can still keep up (and then some) on the dance floor.
The pom-poms Madonna promised surfaced when she lit into her new single, "Give Me All Your Luvin," along with a blonde Nicki Minaj and a, ahem, bird-flipping M.I.A.. That's right, the lone bit of controversy around the often provocative Madonna's Super Bowl show will most likely have to do with the Sri Lankan singer briefly flipping off the camera. The otherwise slickly produced show went off without a hitch.
The Queen of Pop gamely picked up some gold pom-poms to cheer alongside Minaj, M.I.A. and a team of cheering dancers during the track, giving off the look and feel of the recently released clip for the song. Minaj and M.I.A. both got a chance to shine too, rapping their parts on the track's breakdown.
As expected, she performed three vintage tunes ("Vogue," "Music" and "Like a Prayer") and one new one, "Give Me All Your Luvin," the lead single from her forthcoming 12th studio album, MDNA. She partnered with a creative team from Cirque du Soleil, her longtime choreographer/creative director Jamie King and multimedia artists from Moment Factory to plan the spectacular show.
For the finale, Cee Lo Green marched onstage as the drum major to a large marching band, starting briefly into small bites of "Open Your Heart" and "Express Yourself" before suiting up into sparkling robes for a full-voiced rendition of "Like a Prayer." Madonna and Cee Lo were joined for a choir for the performance, which saw Madonna falling to her knees as she sang her classic track.
She then stepped to the back of the stage and vanished into a cloud of smoke, disappearing beneath the stage and leaving the still-cheering stadium wanting more.
Did you love Madonna's Super Bowl half-time performance? Let us know in the comments below!
Marvel Studios debuts second full-length trailer during the game, as extended version appears on the flick's official Facebook page. By Ryan J. Downey
Chris Evans in "The Avengers" Super Bowl spot Photo: Marvel
Captain America is from Brooklyn, New York, so he's probably a Giants fan, right?
Well, if the new trailer for "The Avengers" is any indication, Cap will have bigger things to think about than the Super Bowl this summer. The game was a big deal and all, but comic book movie fans also assembled in front of televisions and computers on Sunday (February 5) to watch a different group of uniformed supermen (and women) go to battle in ways we've never seen before.
Marvel Studios debuted the second full-length trailer for the summer's "Avengers," and boy, did it deliver, true believers! An extended version appeared on the flick's official Facebook page moments after the commercial aired during the game.
Aliens, aliens, aliens! (Are those Skrulls? Kree? Asgardian something-or-others?) A Hulk-tastic climax, a bunch of alien craft getting smashed and the most action fans have seen yet from the Avengers: Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and the man who brought them together in post-credits sequences across several movies, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).
The trailer opens with the familiar images of carnage on the city streets: cars overturned, explosions. The voice of Jackson as Fury says, "The world has changed." Evans, as Captain America, looks unimpressed as he untangles his hand wraps in what looks like a midcentury-style boxing gym. "At this point, I doubt anything would surprise me," he comments.
"We are hopelessly outgunned," Fury says, as the Marvel logo unspools and quinjets land on an aircraft carrier. As he finishes that sentence, we see that he's standing with Thor (and presumably the rest of the team). There are more explosions brought on by an alien craft, followed by Tony Stark (Iron Man) rising with a look of steadfast determination.
A close-up of Mjolnir flying into Thor's hand, followed by thunder and lightning. Iron Man's feet as they land on a rooftop. "Mr. Stark," Evans says. Downey answers: "Captain." "It's time," Jackson says. A close-up of Captain America's iconic shield. Iron Man in action.
As the montage continues, Thor helps Cap up off the street. Black Widow swings, then kicks, then peers over her shoulder while a car crashes between the shots. Thor lands on top of a quinjet! A large group of bad guys leap toward the city! Cap protects himself and his team from an explosion with his shield, Hawkeye shoots an arrow as he falls toward the street. Cap runs from a laser beam, Iron Man flies directly toward a small armada of alien craft. "I still believe in heroes," Fury says.
The camera then pans around all of the Avengers assembled around one another in the street. Hawkeye draws back his bow, Widow taps a clip into her pistol and Cap raises his shield. "The Avengers: That's what we call ourselves," Stark says casually, making a drink behind a bar as the film's primary villain approaches him ominously. " 'Earth's Mightiest Heroes'-type thing."
"I have an Army!" declares Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor's half-brother from Asgard.
"We have a Hulk," Stark answers, shortly before the extended trailer's money shot: the Hulk roaring, smashing through glass and leaping high into the air, destroying several alien craft at once. He didn't yell "Hulk smash!" — but he might as well have.
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" writer/director Joss Whedon's flick will unite Marvel's Mightiest Heroes onscreen May 4.
Channing Tatum tells MTV News the sequel is 'wildly different.' By Christina Garibaldi
Channing Tatum Photo: MTV News
Super Bowl Sunday: A time for an intense football matchup, million-dollar commercials and for movie studios to show off what blockbuster flicks they have in store for the rest of the year. Paramount Pictures was banking on fans being ready for the next installment of "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" when it presented the trailer to the more than 111 million people expected to tune into the game Sunday night (February 5).
Yet, there was one thing noticeably missing: Channing Tatum. Tatum, who plays Duke, only appeared in the first trailer a handful of times, and with no appearances in the short Super Bowl clip, speculation is growing that he might be making an early exit from the Jon Chu-directed flick.
MTV News caught up with Tatum at the set of "Saturday Night Live" as he geared up to host the show for the very first time, and he revealed he has yet to see the new "Retaliation" trailer, but hopes fans are ready for an action-packed sequel.
"I hope they like it better than the first one. I think it's wildly different," Tatum said. "Jon Chu: I really do think he's got his finger on the pulse of the hip younger generation. He did the 'Step Up's and what not, so I've got to work with him before. I think he's got a really hip vibe to him."
So now that Tatum has probably recovered from his stint as host on "SNL," we imagine he tuned in Sunday to catch the "Retaliation" trailer. Which team will he be rooting for during the game: the New York Giants or the New England Patriots?
"I just really want it to be a good game. Neither one of them are my teams, but I don't really have a pro team," he admitted. "It's always a bummer when the last game of the season is a landslide, so I want it to go into overtime and be the craziest game ever, but I don't know how you can compete with the last three games; I don't know how you keep going. The law of averages will probably say it's not going to be as good of a game."
What did you think of the "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" trailer? Let us know in the comments!
So go right ahead with the help of MTV News' pop-culture cheat sheet:
Sick phone call: In the movie, it was Ferris' buddy, Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck), who picked up Ferris' call to plead that he was too sick to leave his bed. In the ad, Ferris receives the call.
Walter Linder: His agent's name in the commercial is the name written right above the name of Abe Froman — the sausage king of Chicago — at the restaurant Ferris and his pals crash.
Pencils and Wite-Out: Bored secretary Grace (Edie McClurg) spent much of the film sniffing Wite-Out and picking pencils out of her hair, so note the pencils and Wite-Out prominently displayed on Linder's desk.
Baseball: The ball Broderick's agent tosses in the air calls to mind both the ball Ferris caught at the Chicago Cubs game and the one he flung at his stereo to kill the fake snores at the film's end as his parents approached his room.
Roeman, Peterson & Frye: The name of Linder's agency, etched in glass on his door, is a reference not only to Froman, but to Cameron Frye and Ferris' girlfriend, Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara).
"He bought it": After Ferris successfully fools his parents, the first line he utters to camera, much like in the ad, is, "They bought it." Later, he pops off another classic line referenced in the ad: "Incredible. One of the worst performances of my career, and they never doubted it for a second."
Opening curtains: After Ferris successfully fools his parents, he thrusts open the curtains in his bedroom and wonders how he can be expected to go to school on such a gorgeous day.
Yello's "Oh Yeah": Though the song plays in the commercial as Ferris opens the curtains, it doesn't play in the film until the first time we see the Frye family Ferrari.
Twisty towel: Both Ferris and Matthew's preferred post-shower getup includes a robe and a twisty towel on the head.
"Broderick, Broderick": A callback to one of the film's most famous lines, in which Ferris' dry-as-toast teacher (Ben Stein) takes attendance and, in a ridiculous monotone, says, "Bueller? Bueller?"
Rottweiler: The dog sitting by another Honda outside the hotel is a Rottweiler, the same breed of dog the Buellers own and which terrorized Principal Edward R. Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) as he attempts to bust Ferris.
Detroit Red Wings jersey: On the roller coaster, the man behind Ferris is wearing a Red Wings jersey, the same one worn by Cameron in the movie.
Grace: The woman who calls Broderick while in the Honda is named Grace, another reference to Ferris' school secretary.
Exaggerated coughing: When Broderick coughs loudly while on the car phone, we thought back to the call Ferris made to some high school freshmen, during which he used a keyboard sound effect to make it seem like he was literally coughing up a lung.
Who's in the driver's seat?: As Broderick pulls up to a stop in his car, he discovers he is right next to Linder. He quickly hides behind a stuffed panda. In the film, Ferris finds himself stuck in traffic right next to his dad and switches places with Sloane.
Trench coat and clarinet: Look closely during this scene and you'll see a man playing the instrument, a nifty callback to Ferris' activities early in the movie.
SOCHOIC: Broderick's license plate refers to the way Ferris describes the Ferrari: "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."
Natural History Museum: Instead of attending the Art Institute of Chicago as in the movie, Broderick checks out the history museum. Instead of walking hand in hand with kids, he chases them.
The walrus: Two references in one. First off, Ferris shouts out John Lennon early in the film, saying, "He was the walrus. I could be the walrus. I'd still have to bum rides off people." Secondly, the staring contest with the animal riffs on Cameron's deep gaze into "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte," Georges Seurat's pointillist masterpiece.
Horse race: In the film, Ferris checked out a Cubs game. In the ad, Broderick opts for a horse race.
Chinese parade: Whereas Ferris rocked a parade in downtown Chicago, belting out "Twist and Shout" and "Danke Schoen," this time around, he crashes a Chinese parade.
The valet: Call us crazy, but the way that valet shadily looked at Broderick, we were thinking back to the garage attendant who told Ferris to relax, because he was a professional, yet took the Ferrari on a joy ride. In the ad, the valet soon peels away from the curb and is seen racing the car off a jump.
"Life moves pretty fast": Indeed, Broderick will say it again, as he did twice during the film itself: "If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
What "Ferris Bueller" references did we miss? Let us know in the comments!
'Star Spangled Banner' was preceded by Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton performing 'America the Beautiful.' By James Dinh
Kelly Clarkson performs at Super Bowl XLVI Photo: Ezra Shaw/ Getty Images
Kelly Clarkson rose to fame singing on national television, so it's no surprise that the original "American Idol" champ soared high with her rendition of the national anthem at Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday night (February 5).
Wearing a sleek black dress, Miss Independent stood confidently on a small blue-and-white stage at the showdown between the New England Patriots and New York Giants at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. As Clarkson belted out "The Star Spangled Banner" alongside a full marching band and a crowd of children, cameras panned to several members of the teams as they looked toward the sky. Proving herself as a true big-voiced diva, the singer hit all the right notes, adding in some signature riffing at the end of the song.
Even though her performance went smooth, KC admitted having some early jitters about singing the patriotic tune. On Friday, she took to her Who Say account to share her two cents about rehearsal time: "Just finished rehearsing the anthem in Indy ... wow, I'm actually really nervous about singing at the Super Bowl ha!" she wrote. "Here's hoping I nail it and don't screw it up!"
Clarkson's performance was preceded by country music couple Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, who delivered a duet of "America the Beautiful" during pre-game festivities.
Share your review of Kelly Clarkson's performance in the comments below!
'The glaring similarity is that we both have musical numbers in the show, but that's about it,' 'Smash' star tells MTV News. By Christina Garibaldi
Megan Hilty in "Smash" Photo: NBC
It's safe to assume that if you're watching the Super Bowl on Sunday night (February 5), you will see several promos for NBC's newest musical drama, "Smash," which premieres Monday.
The show centers on two potential Broadway stars — played by former "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee and newcomer Megan Hilty — who are competing for the lead role in a musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. "Smash" has it all: flashy musical numbers, well-choreographed dance routines and, of course, entertaining drama.
Does that all sound a little similar to Fox's hit show "Glee"? Not so fast, says Hilty, who told MTV News the two shows couldn't be more different.
"Obviously, the glaring similarity is that we both have musical numbers in the show, but that's about it that we have in common," Hilty said. "We're very different in tone and theme and pretty much everything. We're kind of like a glam soap opera with some splashy musical elements in between."
But Hilty admits that if it weren't for "Glee," "Smash" might have never gotten off the ground.
"Thank God for 'Glee,' because they really opened doors for our show, specifically, to make it possible for us to do this," Hilty said. "They made it socially acceptable and even cool to love the arts, and hopefully our show will do the same, but they really were the people who started that and busted down those doors, so thank God for that."
'Needing/Getting' video features a heavily tricked-out Chevy Sonic. By James Montgomery
At this point, after all the treadmills,Rube Goldberg machines, dogs on Ikea furniture, choreographed dance routines, color-coordinated jumpsuits and, uh, toast, you're probably wondering whatOK Go could possibly do for their next music video.
Well, now we know the answer. In their new "Needing/Getting" video — which premiered Sunday (February 5) on MTV.com and will also be seen in a Chevy commercial during tonight's Super Bowl XLVI — OK Go stage a full-blown vehicular spectacular. Part Baja rally, part demolition derby, all ingenious, it features the fearless quartet speeding along a desert track, making hair-pin turns, and very nearly wrecking — all while using the car itself to bash out the tune.
The band and director Brian L. Perkins (who directed an early version of their "This Too Shall Pass" clip) used more than 1,100 homemade instruments — plus 55 pianos and countless guitars — a painstakingly plotted road course and a bevy of appendages bolted onto a Chevy Sonic (they probably don't come standard) to make the whole project fly. It's the kind of "How did they do that?!?" clip that OK Go have come to be known for. The mind boggles at just how many takes it took to get the whole thing right, and the fact that they're using corporate sponsorship to do it (much like they did with the equally eye-catching "Pass," which was subtly sponsored by State Farm) makes it even more brilliant.
In a way, it's OK Go gaming the system, taking full advantage of a benevolent car manufacturer to make their dreams a reality. But, really, that's all high-minded thought for another day. Right now, I'm going to watch "Needing/Getting" again, and marvel how a band can keep pushing the envelope this far. And I will say this: If I were to buy a musical car, it would probably be a Chevy Sonic. So, in that regard too, this clip's a winner.
Share your thoughts on the "Needing/Getting" video in the comments below!
Hitmaker produced a song dedicated to Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski ahead of tonight's Big Game against Big Blue. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Ricky Louis
Timbaland Photo: Jason Campbell/MTV
The biggest sporting event of the year is just a few hours away, and in the moments leading up to Super Bowl XLVI, everyone seems to be picking a side. Multiplatinum producer Timbaland, who's looking for the New England Patriots to defeat the New York Giants on Sunday night (February 5), decided to make a song about it.
"I just did it almost to be playing around, just to do it," Timbaland told MTV News on Friday from his home in Miami. "It turned out bigger than what I thought."
The song, which is dedicated to Patriots tight end Rob "Gronk" Gronkowski was uploaded to YouTube last week with the football star's name as its title. The track was produced by Virginia native Tim and Wizz Dumb, but it's newcomer Brasco who rhymes on the energetic tune. "They're yelling, 'Touchdown, touchdown, 87, 87," he raps, referring to Gronk's number.
Gronkowski has 90 catches and 17 touchdowns this season but after suffering a high-ankle sprain, #87 is listed as questionable and may not play in the Super Bowl, though multiple sources tell ESPN that Gronkowski is doing better and is expected to play.
Whether or not Gronk plays, Timbaland is rooting for New England.
"I've always been a Tom Brady fan," he said of the Pats' quarterback and biggest star. "I've always liked the Patriots, how they move, how the coach coaches, how the players — you don't hear too much about their business in the media."
The last time these two teams faced off for the championship was in 2008's Super Bowl XLII, and the Giants came out on top. So for New England and their faithful following, Sunday's big game is a chance at redemption. "It's like a fight. You get one up, the Giants got one up so, of course, the Patriots gotta win," Timbaland said. "If the Patriots win, it'll be a tie. ... Hopefully, they'll win. I think they're ready."
Who are you rooting for in Super Bowl XLVI? Tell us on our Facebook page!
MTV News has gathered up everything you need to know before Madonna takes the stage on Sunday during the Super Bowl. By Jocelyn Vena
Madonna Photo: PictureGroup/ Evan Agostini
From the moment that it was announced back in December that Madonna would be taking the stage during the Super Bowl halftime show, everyone has been buzzing about what the Queen of Pop will do when she performs.
In the two months since the announcement, she has been teasing fans about what they will see for those several minutes when she interrupts the matchup between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.
Madonna recently told Anderson Cooper on his talk show that "I have to put on the greatest show on earth, in the middle of the greatest show on earth. I have eight minutes to set it up and seven minutes to take it down and 12 minutes to put on the greatest show on earth. That's a lot of pressure."
Wondering what might happen? Well, MTV News has compiled a little Super Bowl halftime cheat sheet.
The Guests M.I.A. confirmed that she'll be on the stage alongside Madonna, and Nicki Minaj tweeted on Thursday night about being in Indianapolis with Madonna rehearsing for the show. "Omfg. Madonna's show is about to murdaaaa everything movinggg. Wow. Such a surreal moment."
There are also rumors that Cee Lo Green may appear during her set, as well as party rockers LMFAO. The whole show will also get an assist from Cirque du Soleil and Madonna's longtime choreographer and creative director Jamie King.
The Look
If Madonna's "Give Me All Your Luvin' " video is any indication, the gig will certainly have a cheerleader vibe to it. When MTV News caught up with her at her "W.E." premiere she coyly teased that "pom poms" would play heavily into the theme of the show.
In an interview with ABC News, she shared one idea she had for the performance: "I actually wanted to have 100 drummers come from the ceiling, a drumline from the ceiling."
The Songs
There'll be something old and something new. "I promise I will be singing three old songs and one new one," Madonna said at a press conference. With M.I.A. and Nicki already on the ground, it seems that she'll definitely be performing "Give Me" (the lead single off her March album, MDNA). With rumors flying about what those other songs could be, the word is that she'll also perform "Vogue," "Music" and "Ray of Light."
The Stage
In photos teased online, the halftime stage is full of LED lights in various shades of blue, green, pink, purple and red and includes various designs including the word "Vogue" (yep, like the song), kooky-looking eyes and a heart-shaped design.
Who Will Be Watching?
Besides like seven-bajillion people? Well, the Pussycat Dolls say that despite a heated matchup between the Giants and the Patriots, there's only one team they'll be rooting for.
"I definitely say Madonna," PCD creator Robin Antin told MTV News. "We'll be watching for the [Go Daddy] commercial ... and Madonna. It's exciting. Well, hopefully the Pussycat Dolls will be on the next Super Bowl performing, you know?"
Lady Gaga has already admitted that she'll be tuning in on Sunday night. "Looking forward to seeing the Superbowl! The halftime show will be wonderful, I'm sure," she tweeted on Tuesday. "An excuse to drink beer+watch boys in tights. #yes."
What songs do you want Madonna to perform during the halftime show? Leave your comment below.
Ron Paul comes in third in latest GOP contest. By Gil Kaufman
Mitt Romney Photo: Joe Raedle/ Getty Images
Just four days after notching his most convincing win of the primary season so far, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney made it two in a row by taking Saturday night's Republican caucus in Nevada with 47.6 percent of the vote. In a season where three different candidates have won the first four contests, that gives Romney the distinction of being the first to grab two consecutive wins.
"This is not the first time you've given me your vote of confidence, and this time I'm going to take it to the White House," a clearly excited Romney said at a victory speech, where he once again turned his attention away from his Republican opponents and on President Obama.
Unlike Florida, where Representative Ron Paul didn't compete in order to focus on Nevada and other upcoming states, and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum was forced to suspend his campaigning to deal with a sick child, all four remaining candidates worked the road in the first Western contest of the season.
After coming in 14 points behind Romney in Florida, Newt Gingrich was hoping for a solid comeback but could not rely on a strong debate performance, as there was not one in advance of the latest battle. On Saturday night he finished well behind Romney, rolling up just 22.7 percent of the vote (with 71 percent of precincts reporting at press time). While Romney took to the stage in a room full of cheering supporters, the Gingrich headquarters was a stark contrast, an empty room where the former House Speaker spoke to reporters via television. "I am a candidate for president of the United States," Gingrich said. "I will be the candidate of the president of the United States."
Romney won Nevada handily in 2008, taking 51 percent of the vote because his rivals in the last GOP primary race basically let him run unopposed assuming the state's large Mormon population would ensure Romney — who is Mormon — a win. Though Mormons only account for 7 percent of the state's population (around 180,000), they are rabid voters and reliably make up one-quarter of Republican caucus-goers.
But it wasn't it as clear-cut this time. Even Santorum, who has moved to the back of the pack since his recount win in Iowa a month ago, put up a strong battle, though he ended up in fourth place with just 11.1 percent. And Paul, who was counting on the state's vocal Tea Party contingent and independent voters to come out for him, had a decent showing in third place with 18.6 percent.
As he did in Florida, Romney came in with a much bigger ground game than the rest of the field, a record of visiting the state often over the past year-and-a-half and, for what it's worth, the endorsement of real-estate mogul and once-potential candidate Donald Trump.
Regardless of the results, unlike winner-take-all Florida, no actual delegates will be awarded following the Nevada caucus. As in Iowa, delegates will be elected to go to the county convention and then to a state gathering, who will then decide where the state's 34 delegates go to the GOP convention in Tampa. It's possible the delegates who go to Florida in late August may not reflect the final results of Saturday's vote.
Voting also began Saturday in Maine's caucus, whose vote will take place over the next week. More voters go to the polls on Tuesday, when Colorado and Minnesota also caucus.
Check back for up-to-the-minute coverage of the primaries and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the 2012 presidential election season.
From the King of Pop to the Boss, the Super Bowl stage has played host to some memorable performances; MTV News looks back on the best. By James Montgomery
Madonna Photo: Martin Fraser/ Getty Images
On Sunday night, Madonna will join an exclusive club that includes the likes of Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Diana Ross and, uh, Up With People when she performs at halftime of Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.
Yes, you'd be hard-pressed to find a bigger stage than the big game — last year's Super Bowl was watched by some 111 million Americans — which is why the producers of the halftime festivities always recruit the biggest stars to perform (except for 1999, when Big Bad Voodoo Daddy inexplicably found their way into the proceedings). And Madonna most certainly fits that bill, which is why, while we're not quite sure what she'll bring to the Super Bowl stage — aside from her promise that it'll be "the greatest show on earth" — we're reasonably confident that it'll be a performance folks will be talking about on Monday. And probably Tuesday too.
Of course, if Madge wants to secure her spot among the all-time greatest Super Bowl halftime performances, well, she'll definitely have to deliver the goods. Over the years, some of the most prodigious talents have gotten lost in all of the ephemera that comes with a Super Bowl slot (lasers, explosions, confetti, marching bands, will.i.am), but still others have risen to the challenge, delivering performances that have thrilled, chilled and even made us forget about the game itself. Here's a look at our favorite Super Bowl halftime performances.
Diana Ross, Super Bowl XXX: The dynamic Diana stole the show in 1996 with a classy, brassy performance that featured nearly as many of her biggest hits as it did costume changes. Her voice was in prime form, powerful enough to outshine a full gospel choir, an army of tuxedo-clad dancers and, of course, end-zone pyrotechnics. But it was her exit — lifted from the stage via helicopter, while blowing kisses as the chorus of "Take Me Higher" blasted through the stadium — that truly put this one over the top.
Prince, Super Bowl XLI: Not even a near-constant downpour could dampen this 2007 performance from the Purple One, who stalked across a custom "symbol" stage (while wearing a kerchief tied around his head), wailed on approximately 46 guitar solos, begged the audience to "take my picture," out-watted the famed FAMU marching band, covered the Foo Fighters and even managed to freak out network censors by casting a lengthy (and quite phallic) shadow from behind a piece of fabric. So, you know, it was just your average Prince show. Oh, and then he did "Purple Rain" in the rain. Meta.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Super Bowl XLIII: They opened with Springsteen leaning on Clarence Clemons (a nod to the cover of 1975's Born to Run), begged the viewing audience to "put down the chicken fingers," and then absolutely, positively destroyed the stage in Tampa with a set that featured classics like "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," "Born to Run" and "Glory Days." And then Springsteen finished things off by shouting, "I'm going to Disneyland!"As several fans have come to say, this wasn't a halftime performance, it was a football game played around a Springsteen concert. As an added bonus, this is also the performance that gave us the now-immortal meme.
Michael Jackson, Super Bowl XXVII: It started with the late, great King of Pop magically leaping from the Rose Bowl scoreboards to his stage on the 50-yard line, featured a staggering 3,000 dancers, some killer choreography (the Moonwalk!) and a career-spanning medley of Jackson's hits (everything from "Billie Jean" to "Black or White"). And as if MJ's performance wasn't testament to his superstardom, how about the 90-second ovation he received before ever singing a word? It was almost enough to make one young writer forget the Bills were on their way to losing a third-straight Super Bowl. Almost.
U2, Super Bowl XXXVI: If there is another band on the planet more capable of seizing the moment than U2, well, we'd like to meet them. In this case, that meant performing at the first Super Bowl since the 9/11 attacks, before an audience of millions still reeling and recovering. And, in typical form, Bono and company didn't shrink from the spotlight. Though there were more than a few highlights, their solemn, spiritual performance of "Where the Streets Have No Name" — which saw the names of all the victims of 9/11 projected behind them — was not only the most memorable of the night, it's without a doubt the most memorable (and chill-inducing) in Super Bowl history. And then, to top it all off, Bono pulled back his jacket to reveal an American flag. Game over.
What songs do you want Madonna to perform during the halftime show? Leave your comments on our Facebook page!
Video directors Megaforce open up about working with Madge, Nicki and M.I.A. — and why the kiss didn't make the cut. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Rob Markman
M.I.A., Madonna and Nicki Minaj in "Give Me All Your Luvin' " Photo: Interscope
After fans heard that Madonna had enlisted Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. for her single and video for "Give Me All Your Luvin'," it really felt like anything could happen with those three equally eccentric and visual artists all joining forces. What they ended up creating was an eye-catching clip full of masked cheerleaders, hot football players and lacy outfits (designed by Norma Kamali) that every fan of Madge's "Like a Virgin" era will go crazy over.
The video feels distinctly Madonna — she is the star, after all — but Nicki's and M.I.A.'s presences are felt between the cheerleader chant and their equally funky verses.
"[It was] quite intense but we had a lot of fun. ... It's like shooting three presidents or something like that," Clement Gallet, from video-directing team the Megaforce, told MTV News about the shoot. "I think everybody's a bit stressed. We had time to speak to discuss the idea, to do the fittings. So you have time to meet the people first. I think we maybe thought it would be harder to have these three famous women on set, and I think everything went quite well."
While the trio's collaboration made headlines, so did a kiss Nicki tweeted about that she shared with Madonna on the New York set back in December.
"That's funny, 'cause that's something we didn't really see," he added. "Basically, it was Nicki Minaj's birthday on the shoot, but we were — as always, as the directors — stressed about the next scene and whatever happens, that when the birthday cake arrived, we were already prepping the next scene and we didn't see what happened. And we learned about it on Twitter. So basically, we cannot tell you about the scene," he joked.
Do you wish Nicki and Madonna's kiss had made it into the video? Let us know in the comments!
Miller took MTV News back to the 'Burgh and introduced us to some of his city's hottest up-and-coming talent. By Rob Markman
Mac Miller Photo: MTV News
Yes, the world knows Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller, but Pittsburgh has a wealth of hip-hop talent. With the Steel City's two breakout stars already accounted for, MTV News took a trip to the 'Burgh to see who's got next.
"A lot of people are talented. There are just a million talented people out there," Miller told MTV News when he took us on a tour through his hometown in December.
Acts like Boaz, Chevy Woods, B White and Mayo of the 58's, Jabari X and Varsity Squad have been repping Pittsburgh locally for some time now, and while Mac supports all the city's homegrown talent, if he had to pick one act to break out nationwide, it would be the Come Up, a.k.a. the duo of Vinny Radio and Franchise.
"I brought them on tour and I plan on bringing them out on tour, so if it's up to me, they're gonna be the next people that come out the 'Burgh," Miller said. "But there's definitely a lot more people who could; it's not just Vinny and Fran."
The Come Up exist as a part of a larger hip-hop collective called the 58's, along with rappers B White and Mayo. That union exemplifies the type of unity that exists in Pittsburgh's rap scene.
"It's a small city ... so pretty much we've all been familiar with each other for a long time," Franchise said. "Everybody in this city who's pretty much doing it legit, we've all been trying to get it and put the city on."
Taylor Gang's Chevy Woods echoed a similar sentiment. "Everybody's hardworking, and it's not like a big music scene out there, so when you got somethin', you just go with it," he said. "Everybody sees the light that shines on [Wiz Khalifa] and Mac [Miller] and now it's trickling down to everybody else."
There is a pretty diverse group of rap characters that come out of Pittsburgh. Wiz is a hitmaker who dedicates a lot of his catalog to partying and getting high, while Mac embodies a youthful spirit. Boaz is street, and female MC Kellee Maize spits sociopolitical bars. "To be honest, I do think Boaz is right there on the cusp. I think I'm maybe close to the cusp too," Maize said, laughing.
"I just bring that underground feel," Boaz said, describing his deeply rooted street sound. "I embrace the culture of that poverty line that I'm speaking about."
For years, Time Bomb has been an epicenter for Pittsburgh hip-hop. More than just a clothing store, Time Bomb has become a place for local 'Burgh MCs to congregate and sling their mixtapes to hungry fans. The shop's owner, Brick, has seen many young artists walk through his doors, including Miller and Khalifa. When it comes to the future of Pittsburgh hip-hop, Brick is a wide-eyed optimist.
"I think Mac and Wiz opened the door, but there's gonna be an army of producers, an army of rappers, and they're gonna be all different. People know: Pittsburgh, it is what it is, it's a hardworking town," he said. "I can name 100 people, because I want everyone to make it from here, you understand? This is Pittsburgh."
Who do you believe will be the next rap act to emerge from Pittsburgh? Tell us in the comments!
Star of Nickelodeon's new show tells MTV News her dad was reluctant to let her enter 'this crazy business.' By Christina Garibaldi
Cymphonique Miller Photo: MTV News
Nickelodeon is getting ready to rock. On Saturday, the network will premiere its new show "How to Rock," starring rising teen star Cymphonique Miller. Miller is a familiar face at Nickelodeon, having guest starred on "True Jackson, VP" and "Big Time Rush," but this time she takes on the role as leading lady on the show, which is based on the book "How to Rock Braces and Glasses" by Meg Haston.
Miller plays high school student Kasey Simon (think Rachel McAdams' character in "Mean Girls"), leader of the Perfs, the most popular girls in school. But Miller's character quickly finds herself kicked out of the "cool crowd" after she gets braces and glasses.
But Kasey won't let the "make-under" get her down. She becomes friends with a new group of students and winds up as the lead singer of their new band, Gravity 5.
"[It's] almost kind of like a battle of the bands, and the Perfs are sort of like the mean girls." Miller recently told MTV News. "It's like the Perfs are always planning some certain way to stop Gravity 5. You can see lots of crazy physical comedy and crazy stunts in the show, 'cause every week we do something totally silly and outrageous."
Miller, who sings and co-wrote the show's theme song, "Only You Can Be You," is no stranger to the spotlight; her brother is actor/rapper Romeo, and her dad is hip-hop mogul Master P. Yet, that doesn't mean it was easy for Miller to persuade her dad to let her star in "How to Rock." She said he didn't want her to be involved in "this crazy business" until he realized how passionate she was about it. So he gave her his approval, on the condition that she keeps up her grades.
"We put education first in our family, and Romeo is like my inspiration because he was not only doing film and everything, but he also went to college, he went to USC," Miller said.
"They're always just constantly telling me to not get into this business for the wrong reasons like fame or money or else you will never be happy, so just do it because you love it."
It seems like Miller certainly is loving what she is doing on "How to Rock" and hopes fans can relate to the show's positive message.
"I hope that fans and the viewers can just take from the show is to find friends who love you for who you are, because it's all about friendship with this show," Miller said. "What they should learn is that at the end of the day, there's nothing more important than being yourself."
"How to Rock" premieres Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on Nickelodeon.
Are you excited for "How to Rock"? Let us know in the comments.
Drew Barrymore, John Krasinksi and Kristen Bell discuss their new film, which follows the rescue of three gray whales in Alaska. By Kara Warner
John Krasinksi and Drew Barrymore in "Big Miracle" Photo: Universal Pictures
If you're looking for a feel-good film to see this weekend, look no further than "Big Miracle," the story of the real-life rescue of three gray whales trapped in ice near Point Barrow, Alaska, in 1988. Incredibly, the effort became an international issue that involved a rare collaboration between the United States and the Soviet Union and garnered worldwide media attention.
MTV News recently caught up with the three stars of the film, Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski and Kristen Bell, who explained the multi-generational appeal and importance of the story and the cause presented in the film.
"The whales have Twitter accounts," Krasinski joked when asked how the film might specifically appeal to MTV viewers. "So, streamlined information, done deal. Don't ask us, ask them. They'll talk all about it," he said with a smile. "It's a big movie that deals with participation, and with the election coming up and all these different things, and everybody is divided over this, that and the other, and everybody is angry about something. It's one of those moments where you get to say, 'I could just step in and lend my voice to something.' And it really helps, it makes you feel important and special that you're doing something. This movie sort of focuses on that completely, about how when you get a bunch of people together you can kind of do anything."
Barrymore added that the film's setting in the late '80s provides for a unique look back at our media and political cultures at the time.
"It's an interesting look back at how if things were a little different maybe we wouldn't exactly be where we are. But, it's not in a patronizing way, it's in a really interesting way," she said. "And it's amazing historically, like, you know, environmentally and politically. But, I think it's very true to what's going on now, that if people work together, whether it's protesting via Twitter for an important movement to change their country or to do something wonderful and important like saving whales. It's working together, so I think actually in 1987 when this takes place and what's going on right now today, they definitely have a connection."
Kristen Bell also focused on the warm, fuzzy aspects of the film, particularly how its positive message compares to the continually multiplying "train wreck" elements involved in other films and TV.
"I think it's a very positive story as opposed to many of the unendingly interesting train wrecks that are put on television or in films these days, which believe me, I'm not poo-pooing, but there's something very inspiring about a story where a bunch of different people come together for a common goal and actually accomplish it," Bell explained. "It's very, very inspiring, I think. And often times, news headlines or things that are written about in blogs, you know, reality television, it's not as inspiring as you want it to be, at least not for me. And it actually happened. It's historical, so you'll get smarter watching it. You'll also be inspired, so you'll be happier. What's the downfall? See the movie!"
Are you planning on seeing "Big Miracle"? Leave your comment below.
'Once you rep the MMG flag, I'll never step on your feet,' Rick Ross tells MTV News of his former Maybach affiliate. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Rick Ross Photo: MTV News
God Forgives, I Don't may be the name of Rick Ross' upcoming LP, but the Bawse isn't as coldhearted as his album title may suggest. When it comes to former Maybach Music affiliate Pill, Rozay wishes the Atlanta MC all the best.
"I'm a real dude and I'm a real boss and once you rep the MMG flag, I'll never step on your feet; I'mma give you a pass anyway," Ross told MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway of Pill while at French Montana's "Shot Caller" remix video shoot in Miami on Sunday.
In December, P-I-Double L took to Twitter to vent about his label situation with Warner Music Group, blaming WMG for his lack of radio and television support. Because of his prominent appearance on Maybach Music's Self Made Vol. 1 compilation, many believed that Pill was signed to Ross' label, but in an exclusive interview with MTV News in January, Pill revealed that he was never technically signed to Rozay and that his deal went strictly through MMG's parent company, Warner.
"Pill's situation was a special situation because he was already signed to Warner before I did my label deal at Warner. So when I did do my deal, it was a business opportunity that was presented where Pill could run with the team for a year," Ross confirmed. "I took that opportunity. That year ran its course and it was pretty much up to Warner what decisions they wanted to make with Pill as an artist after that point. I think they made it."
Pill told MTV News in January that he was working on getting a release from Warner and made it clear that he had no problems with anyone in MMG personally — though he did say that he and Ross didn't speak very often. "I ain't got nothing against none of them, nobody. It's just the situation don't work," Pill said matter-of-factly. "It's cool with us, I don't got nothing against Ross either. It's just I don't talk to him."
Some believed that Pill's outspokenness would anger the Boss, but Rozay didn't take any of it to heart. "He made sure he reached out to me and called me and clarified," Ross said. "He expressed that in no way was he disrespecting the team or the brand, because it's a great opportunity and a great look."
As far as why the "Trap Goin' Ham" rapper's situation didn't work out, Ross thought the young MC just needed a hit record and a little luck to build his momentum. He used the success of MMG's Meek Mill and Wale to exemplify his point. "Certain things happen for certain people at certain times and none of us could really predict that," he explained. "I couldn't predict that Meek Mill would bring 'Ima Boss' to me or we couldn't predict that Wale would bring 'That Way.' "
Even though Pill and WMG are now going their separate ways, Ross is looking forward to seeing his former Maybach affiliate rack up a win. "Hopefully, in the future he'll bring him a hit record, and get him some paper and do his thing," he said. "I wish him much success."
What do you hope to see from Pill in the future? Leave your comments below!
From 'Dick Tracy' to 'Like a Virgin,' MTV News spots the best winks to Queen of Pop's many reinventions in brand-new video. By John Mitchell
Madonna in her "Give Me All Your Luvin' " music video Photo: Interscope
Madonna dropped her "Give Me All Your Luvin' " video on Friday morning (February 3), and the eye-popping clip featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. has fans even more excited for the Queen of Pop's halftime performance at Sunday's Super Bowl.
In the video, Madonna hits the streets flanked by Minaj, M.I.A. and a very protective football team for a tongue-in-cheek walk down memory lane. In scene after scene, the pop icon references her musical past. We combed through the cheeky clip for some of the best winks at Her Madgesty's numerous reinventions. Here are our top five:
1. Madonna Passes the Pom-Poms to Nicki, M.I.A.
Some of the most famous images of pre-fame Madonna are of the Michigan native in her high school cheerleading uniform, so it seems fitting that in "Your Luvin', " there's what seems to be a symbolic passing of the pom-poms to Minaj and M.I.A. The video opens with Minaj and M.I.A. flying high at the top of a cheerleading formation on a suburban street, just the way Madonna Louise Ciccone might have as a cheerleader at Rochester Adams High School.
2. Getting a Lift — "Material Girl"-Style
Not only does the uniformed football team guarding Madonna offer up umbrellas to shield her from raining sparks and throw down their letterman jackets to give her a makeshift red carpet to walk on, but the boys give the singer a lift in a move that feels straight out of her "Material Girl" video — but with a twist. As they help her to keep steady, viewers soon realize she's walking down the side of a building!
3. Dodging a "Dick Tracy" Gangster
As the pop queen parades down an alleyway, an old-school car pulls up alongside her, and then someone rolls down a window and opens fire. The mysterious villain employs a weapon that looks just like the vintage Colt M1921 Thompson submachine guns used by the baddies in Madonna's hit flick "Dick Tracy." Luckily, the ever-vigilant team guarding her leaps in front of the fire.
4. Kissing Cheerleaders ... That Seems Familiar
Madonna's never been shy about admitting she's kissed (many) girls — and liked it. But we think this little lingering look at two masked cheerleaders smooching is probably a direct reference to Madonna's infamous lip lock with Britney Spears at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. (For the record, that legendary moment made our list of Madonna's top five best MTV performances ever!)
5. Nicki and Madonna Have Blond Ambition
Madonna climbs over a pile of football players and straight into a dream sequence that's a smorgasbord of references to Madonna's past. When she emerges from the huddle, gone are her long, flowing locks and black leather ensemble, and in their place is a short white lace dress and curly platinum-blond wig that recalls her Blond Ambition/"Vogue" era. The nod to her "Like a Virgin" years is underscored the second the camera cuts to Minaj, who sports a wedding dress that (minus a few ruffles) looks like it came straight from Madonna's 1984 VMA performance. And while Minaj isn't wearing Madonna's famed "boy toy" belt, she does make a reference to it, rapping, "You can be my boy toy."
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