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'Dark of the Moon' might not make as much as 'Revenge of the Fallen,' but that doesn't make it a failure.
By Eric Ditzian 
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
Photo: Paramount Pictures Last month, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" corralled $92.2 million over its opening weekend — the highest total of 2011. How could Jack Sparrow possibly complain? Well, that lofty sum was still well below the openings of both 2006's "Dead Man's Chest" ($135.6 million) and 2007's "At World's End" ($114.7). The fact is, even the most robust of movie franchises tend to wane in terms of box-office bucks; the familiar pattern is a first film that sets the stage, a second installment that cashes in on the anticipation and then subsequent offerings that can't continue the upward trend. Such is the case with "Transformers." There's much to celebrate with "Dark of the Moon," which enjoyed a first-day gross on Wednesday of $42.5 million (when you count midnight screenings), beating the first-day pull of "On Stranger Tides" (a Friday release, no less). That puts the third "Transformers" film on track for a seven-day debut of as much as $200 million or more. So why might Optimus Prime be dissatisfied with that opening? "Revenge of the Fallen" opened to $62 million on a Wednesday in 2009, on its way to a one-week total of almost $240 million. Yet any dissatisfaction must be tempered with historical box-office perspective. "The fact that 'T3' didn't measure up to 'T2' isn't really a surprise, as the fatigue factor finally caught up to the franchise," said Jeff Bock, box-office analyst for Exhibitor Relations. "This is the case for most films series as they reach the threequel. Plus, it didn't help 'Transformers' that the second film was, for the most part, trashed by critics, fans and even the filmmakers." While "Dark of the Moon" is off to a comparatively slow start, some industry observers believe it could pick up over the holiday weekend. "Everything we're seeing on Facebook and Twitter indicates that word-of-mouth is extremely positive," said Phil Contrino, editor of Boxoffice.com. "It's still a bit early to rush to judgment on how well this is going to hold up over the holiday frame. It could explode in a big way over the weekend." Perhaps. Or not. There's no doubt the franchise took a public-opinion hit after the second film. And while the third one offers perhaps the finest use of 3-D since "Avatar," it comes at a time when audiences are battling back against a host of shoddy 3-D offerings by simply not paying the extra bucks for another dimension. "Dark of the Moon" is a victim of the three-dimensional failings of "Clash of the Titans." At the same time, we can't ignore the worldwide situation. Globally, "Dark of the Moon" might well eclipse the $836 million total of "Revenge of the Fallen" (just as "On Stranger Tides" could end up being the biggest "Pirates" flick when international grosses are factored in). Thus, Optimus rejoices! So where does all this leave "Transformers" going forward? Both star Shia LaBeouf and director Michael Bay have declared, in no uncertain terms, that they plan to end their involvement with the series after three films. Both creatively and financially, that might not be such a bad thing. "This franchise needs new blood and a new angle going forward," Bock said, going on to suggest the fourth film needs to leave the familiar environs of Earth behind and deeply explore the robot alien's home planet. "Maybe a trip to Cybertron will be the spark 'Transformers 4' needs. Don't bring it to us, we'll come to you! But we will likely have to wait three to four years." Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos Tila Tequila Tina Fey Tricia Helfer Tricia Vessey 'Rejoice New York,' Lady Gaga tweeted. 'We did it!'
By Benjamin Wagner and Kara Warner 
Members of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network join Lady Gaga at the 2010 MTV VMAs
Photo: Getty Images The Twitterverse was ablaze with every color of the rainbow Friday night as New York state became the sixth and most populous in the U.S. to allow gay marriage. With the bill, which passed 33 to 29 in the State Senate in Albany, the Empire State joins Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa and Washington D.C. in recognizing gay marriage in the United States. The timing was fortuitous as New Yorkers observe Pride Week, a celebration of the diversity of the LGBT community. Lady Gaga, whose LGBT advocacy has manifest well beyond her songwriting at speeches, rallies and appearances from San Francisco Pride in 2009 to the National Equality March in 2010, and the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, wasted no time making her pride known. "Rejoice New York, and propose. We did it!" she Tweeted. "The revolution is ours to fight for love, justice + equality." "CONGRATULATIONS!" Punk-pop provocateur Pink shouted. "ABOUT TIME!" Outspoken, plainclothes talk show hostess Ellen DeGeneres was thrilled about the news. "Every day we get a little closer," she Tweeted. "What an amazing feeling." "Progress!" Neil Patrick Harris said. "A historic night!" "Tonight we're all New Yorkers!" comedienne Kathy Griffin Tweeted. "Straight and gay alike, let's all celebrate marriage #equality." MTV's own "My Life As Liz" star, Liz Lee -- a recent Manhattan transplant -- weighed in, saying simply "Proud to be a resident of NYC!" "The rights u take for granted are only valid if u fight to give those same rights to others," Tweeted Russell Simmons "Happy that New York passed marriage equality tonight. A victory for human rights. Progress." wrote John Legend. "New York believes in EQUALITY!! Hopefully California and the rest of the U.S. will follow! Wish I was in NYC right now!" said Perez Hilton. "As if I didn't already have enough to celebrate and enjoy today. A big hug for New York from my lone hotel room in London," "Glee" star Darren Criss tweeted. "I sing it every night, but now it has better meaning: 'New York- concrete jungle where dreams are made of, there's nothing you can't do.'" "Proud to be from New York!! Such a beautiful thing!! So thankful and happy!!" chimed in Criss' co-star, Lea Michele. #Equalityforall Love and equality prevailed in New York!!" "Proud to be FROM NY!" Lindsay Lohan wrote. "NEW YORK! I [love] U! You're OFFICIALLY the coolest place on the planet!" Katy Perry enthusiastically Tweeted. "Hell yeah NY! I have gotten several requests from friends... for a wedding singer!!!" LeAnn Rimes wrote. "NYC legalizes gay marriage!!!" Kim Kardashian exclaimed via Twitter. "NOH8 New York!!!" Others couldn't wait to propose, taking to social media to state their love. "Wanna get married, @bravoandy?" 'NSYNC's Lance Bass asked Bravo's Andy Cohen. Neil Patrick Harris later took to Twitter to announce that he and partner David Burtka are engaged, even though it happened a while ago. "David and I did propose to each other, but over five years ago!" he wrote. "We've been wearing engagement rings for ages, waiting for an available date. And then a few other celebs jumped on the proposal bandwagon, albeit in a less official way. "Alec! Now we can get married!" -Steve Martin tweeted at his buddy Alec Baldwin. "Ok. But if you play that effing banjo after eleven o'clock...." Alec Baldwin responded. "It is now legal to do a gay marriage in NYC @AlecBaldwin, carpe diem." --Russell Brand Share Your Reactions With Us on Facebook! Related Videos Related Artists Kristanna Loken Kristen Bell Kristin Cavallari Kristin Kreuk  There's no denying that Salma Hayek's French billionaire hubby seems to have a way with the ladies! Francois-Henri Pinault, 49, and Hayek, 44, had a child (3-year-old Valentina Paloma Pinault) together in 2007 and tied the knot in 2009. But according to the New York Post, Hayek's man also hooked up with supermodel Linda Evangelista -- and she claims that he's the father of her 4-year-old son, Augustin James. Evangelista's claims are particularly surprising, considering that (according to the Post) Pinault has repeatedly insisted that he has only three children -- Valentina and two from a previous marriage. News that Pinault may be "Augie's" baby daddy was revealed when Evangelista, 46, went to court in New York on Thursday to hammer out financial arrangements for his care. Though Evangelista had previously refused to name the father of her son, she couldn't keep the secret in open court. Thursday was the model's third or fourth trip to court, and no agreement was reached. According to the Post, this means they'll likely hold a support trial in the fall. Pinault -- who is CEO of the $28 billion conglomerate that owns Gucci, Bottega Veneta and Yves St. Laurent -- was not in court due to a misunderstanding, according to his lawyer, David Aronson. "We had understood that it was to be a brief, telephone conference, to bring Magistrate Troy up to date on what the status was," Aronson told The Post. Evangelista and Pinault allegedly conceived their boy in early 2006 -- when Pinault was reportedly separated from then-girlfriend Hayek -- and the child was born in October 2006, the Post said. Meanwhile, he and Hayek welcomed daughter Valentina in September 2007 and the two ended up getting married on Valentine's Day 2009 in Paris. So even though Valentina and Augie are toddlers, they already have a lot in common: gorgeous mommies and a daddy who might have some explaining to do! Lake Bell Larissa Meek Laura Harring Laura Prepon Judge pushes start of Conrad Murray's trial back to May.
By Gil Kaufman 
Conrad Murray
Photo: AFP/ Getty Images LOS ANGELES — Though Conrad Murray's lawyers had been pressing for a speedy trial, a judge in the involuntary manslaughter case against Michael Jackson's doctor ruled on Wednesday to delay opening statements in the proceedings until May. The Associated Press reported that Murray's attorneys consented to the postponement after they discussed the matter with prosecutors and both agreed they could be ready for trial by May 9. According to a transcript from the closed-door session, though opening statements will not begin for several months, Murray told Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor that he did not want to forfeit his right to a quick trial, but agreed to the delay if screening of prospective jurors begins as scheduled on March 24. "It is only acceptable to me if this is not strung along over a long period of time," Murray told the justice. "I don't want to lose my constitutional right to speedy trial." Murray — who has pleaded not guilty to the charges — reportedly has been in favor of having the proceedings begin as soon as possible because he is facing financial troubles, but he said he understands that the delay is necessary to allow both sides to prepare for the trial. Pastor consented because he said he didn't want to lose a jury pool, and believed a month-long delay might let potential jurors shuffle their schedules for the case, which could take up to two months to decide. The judge has reportedly clashed with Murray's defense team in recent weeks, pressing them for answers about why they had not turned over more witness notes and other potential evidence to prosecutors in the run-up to the trial. Cardiologist Murray was hired to be Jackson's personal physician while the King of Pop prepared for his planned 50-date comeback series of shows at London's O2 arena in the summer of 2009. The doctor told police that he provided the then-50-year-old Jackson with sedatives and the surgical anesthetic propofol in order to combat the singer's chronic insomnia. He said he did so on the morning of June 25, 2009, when Jackson died of what a coroner deemed acute propofol poisoning. Murray's lawyers reportedly plan to argue that Jackson was already in weak health before he died, that it's unfair to blame propofol for his passing and that, if the anesthetic was to blame, the pop superstar may have given himself the fatal dose by drinking the drug in a panic. A status hearing in the case has been set for this Wednesday. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists Maggie Gyllenhaal Majandra Delfino Malia Jones Malin Akerman You can vote for your favorite album of the year over on the Newsroom blog!
By James Montgomery 
Britney Spears' Femme Fatale
Photo: Jive On Wednesday, I published my picks for the Best Albums of 2011 (So Far), a list that included the likes of Lady Gaga, Eminem, the Foo Fighters and Adele, but not Beyoncé, Britney Spears or Chris Brown. And while I definitely heard some complaints about the albums I did include (Born This Way was too low, 21 was too high, Hell: The Sequel should've been in the top 10, etc.), it seems that the overwhelming majority of folks out there had a bigger problem with the albums I didn't — namely, Femme Fatale, 4 and F.A.M.E. So, in the interest of fairness, we launched a poll over on our Newsroom blog and asked you to vote for your favorite album from the first-half of 2011; so far, more than 18,000 votes have been cast, and Born This Way leads Femme Fatale by a slim margin. But if you haven't cast your ballot yet, don't fret, because the poll will remain open until Thursday (June 30) at midnight ET. Vote for your favorite 2011 album right now in our Newsroom poll! But if you remain undecided, well, then we've got some compelling arguments for you: Comments and — very open — campaigning (plus some actual compliments) from MTV.com readers and Facebook users, each making a case for their favorite album of 2011. Of course, if you feel like sounding off with your picks, do it in the comments section below. And now, on with the acrimony! "How could you forget Britney Spears? Femme Fatale was the most anticipated album of the year. The thing I hate is that Britney doesn't get recognized enough. Femme Fatale is the best album!" — IfUSeekPeanut:) "You guys would put Lady Gaga [on the list] and not include Britney's Femme Fatale album! I'm sorry, but despite all of the Auto-Tune and lack of song writing, it's still one of the best dance albums of the new millennium! Gaga ... OMFG, don't even get me started, her album is NOT all that! JUST 'cause she writes her own songs doesn't make them the best songs lyrically! [And] Beyoncél's 4 is not even included? Completely DELUSIONAL list!" — Tony Moreira "Wow. Femme Fatale gets praises from pretty much everyone in the music industry and it doesn't make the list. Lady Gaga makes sales ... okay, [but] she has yet to top Britney's records (even when she pretty much gave away Born This Way)." — Jdtgu "Adele is good but all her songs are about breakups, which is depressing, She does deserve some Grammys. And where the f--- is FEMME FATALE? Britney Spears is NOWHERE HERE? That's insane!" — jonny A. "I was listenin' to Adele back in '07 and never looked back and I always kinda thought maybe she will be the big star she deserves to be. Her album 21 is so honest and real and vulnerable. I'm sorry but I don't think there is any album out or coming out that will be able to compare. [Also], so glad y'all shed a light on Lykke Li's album. She is a very underrated artist. I didn't think she could do better than Youth Novels, but, damn she did the damn thing on Wounded Rhymes. [It's] another classic from Lykke Li." — Mark Anthony Sanchez "I love that there aren't just mainstream artists on this list, but I will say Femme Fatale doesn't deserve to be on it. I'm not bashing the girl because some of her songs are good (they still weren't written or conceived by her) but it's not anywhere close to these albums. I do love Adele, but I think Gaga basically murdered everyone with her album." — L3M0NAQUA "I loved Adele's new album! Also I loved Chris Brown's new album too! Britney's was awesome!" — Kayla Copes "Okay, so let's start voting for people with some real talent, not people that can put on a show. FOO FIGHTERS AND ADELE. There's the talent." — Carrie Heuberger "Sorry, but you obviously placed Adele's voice at #2 and NOT her mediocre album. Yes, it WILL get the Grammys it deserves BUT it would be a dead-boring album without her strong voice ... In my opinion Adele is ranked too high, but can you blame [the writer] for ranking a HUGE voice at #2 ? Born This Way, well, it could be higher BUT it is a COMPLETE honor that it is the ONLY album from a mainstream pop artist that made it to NUMBER FREAKING FOUR!" — Spyros Venturis What do you think? Let us know in the comments or vote in our Newsroom poll. Related Artists Uma Thurman Vanessa Hudgens Vanessa Marcil Vanessa Minnillo Brit's 'I Wanna Go' video is hardly the first time she's taken aim at the prying tabloid media.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Britney Spears in her "I Wanna Go" video
Photo: Jive Britney Spears is taking a stand against the paparazzi in the music video for her new single "I Wanna Go," which premiered online Wednesday morning (June 22). In the Chris Marrs Piliero-directed clip she slings a microphone their way, knocking them off their perch. But it's hardly the first time Spears has taken a tongue-in-cheek approach to making a statement about the tabloid media. In fact, since early on in her career, Spears has examined her love-hate affair with the prying lens of the paparazzi. After bursting on the pop scene in the late 1990s with a naughty girl-next-door image that made her a star, Spears learned that fame would come with lots of attention from the press. And, as in "I Wanna Go," she has made it a point to play with that relationship in her videos. Here, we look back on a few of our favorites. "Lucky"
Britney first gave fans some insight into her celebrity life in this video, dating back to 2000 and released on her second smash album, Oops! ... I Did It Again. In the candy-colored, Dave Meyers-directed video, Spears plays a melancholy movie star who wants nothing more than to have a little fun. "Overprotected"
A year after the "Lucky" video, Spears busted loose in this video from her Britney album. After breaking free from her hotel room, which is being watched by then real-life bodyguard Big Rob (that's right, the Jonas Brothers' Big Rob), she dances in the rain and her hotel lobby and then throws one big party for her girls in a large limo. "Everytime"
She shows the darker side of fame in the video for "Everytime." By the time 2004 rolled around, Spears was not only In the Zone, she was frequently in the gossip pages. Her personal life was gossip fodder and in the clip, Spears plays a pop star whose public fight with her beau (played by Stephen Dorff) gets the paparazzi worked up, leading to an injury that may or may not bring about her untimely end. "Piece of Me"
Spears had more fun in 2007 on the Blackout single "Piece of Me." Released during a transitional time in both her personal and professional life, Spears poked fun at herself, dancing around a nightclub's bathroom as magazine headlines about the pop star flash across the screen. "If U Seek Amy"
The video for this 2009 single played up the song's controversial title (say it slowly, really slowly) using faux news briefs. Released on her Circus album, the clip for "If U Seek Amy" played up Spears' many sides: from good-natured mom to sexy party girl. "Hold It Against Me"
This was Britney doing the thinking man's take on the media. Directed by Jonas Åkerlund, "Hold It Against Me" tells the story of a super-creature from space that uses song and dance to win the hearts of earthlings. Eventually, the public scrutiny becomes too much for Spears' creature and she breaks down, only to rise again like a pop-music phoenix. Sound familiar? What's your favorite paparazzi-themed Britney video? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists Alexis Bledel Ali Campoverdi Ali Larter Alice Dodd Welcome to MTV's Harry Potter World Cup! We've selected 64 of the best "Harry Potter" characters and matched them up in a series of duels for a chance at magical glory, but it's up to YOU to decide who the greatest "Potter" character of all time is in this pool of wizards and witches. Will [...] Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci "As any working mum out there knows, it really is like juggling glass balls when you've got the kids and a husband to look after, and you're passionate about your career," Beckham, 37, tells Women's Wear Daily.  Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump Izabella Miko A Tribe Called Quest doc director says he'd do another hip-hop film 'if things lined up.'
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Kara Warner 
Michael Rapaport
Photo: MTV News The controversy surrounding the documentary "Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest" has not killed director Michael Rapaport's hip-hop jones. The film has received rave reviews, and if given the chance, Rapaport told MTV News that he has his eye on a few other rap acts that he'd like to turn his lens on. "I would love to document De La Soul," he said looking directly in the camera making his best pitch. Another group which Rapaport has interest in is Philadelphia hip-hop band the Roots. While the group has had a rotating cast since their 1993 debut, Organix, band leader and drummer ?uestlove, along with MC Black Thought and keyboardist Kamal have been mainstays. Multi-platinum producer Scott Storch was a one-time member, as was rapper Malik B. The Roots have released 10 studio LPs since the early 1990s, and of course, the Grammy-winning group are enjoying success as the in-house band for "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon." "I would love to document the Roots; I think they have an interesting story," Rapaport said. "I have a curiosity about them. Their musicality and their live performances I think would be great, and I have a feeling that there are stories behind each one of them." After filming A Tribe Called Quest for his current work, Rapaport has went back and forth with group member Q-Tip. In light of the experience, when he visited "RapFix Live" in March, Q-Tip urged other rappers to tell their "own stories," a concept that confused Rapaport. "I don't know if he meant, 'We're from hip-hop, it should be a hip-hop director,' " the actor-director admitted to MTV News. "I don't know who would go under the auspices of being a hip-hop director. Or if it was a racial thing like, 'We're black and shouldn't have a white director.' It was confusing to me." As of now, Rapaport isn't looking to do another rap film in the near future, but he wouldn't turn it down if the opportunity presented itself. "Right now I'm taking a break from hip-hop documentaries," he said. "But I would do it if things lined up." Would you support a Michael Rapaport-directed Roots documentary? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Eve Fergie Foxy Brown Freida Pinto Here's our look at early contenders for 2011's Song of the Summer.
By James Montgomery 
Katy Perry in her "Last Friday Night" video
Photo: Capitol Records Well, school's out and summer is officially here, which means it's time to handicap the race for Summer Jam 2011 — the annual sweepstakes of sweaty, sex-drenched (and, this year, sax-heavy) songs that turns our nation's finest beaches and waterfront drinking establishments into an all-out battle for summer-soundtrack superiority. Last year, it was Katy Perry who emerged victorious, thanks to "California Gurls," her slinky ode to daisy dukes and melting popsicles, and she's back to defend her crown this summer with "Last Friday Night." But she'll face considerable competition from a host of big-name stars — Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj and Adele — each of whom are looking to take home the title. And even if she manages to outgun them, will Perry have enough left in the tank to takedown the suddenly sizzling Pitbull or the unstoppable LMFAO? We'll just have to wait and see. And with the action just getting under way, here's our up-to-the minute standings in the Song of the Summer Sweepstakes. If there's a song we've missed, you can let us know about it via Twitter, using the hashtag #mtvsos, or in the comments below. So without further ado, let's slather on some sunscreen and get to the jams! 1. Katy Perry, "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)": She dominated the summer of 2010 with "California Gurls," and now Perry is out to make it two in a row with the ebullient "T.G.I.F.," the 183rd single from her Teenage Dream album. It currently sits at #4 on Billboard's Hot 100, and it seems like it's only a matter of time before it makes the leap to #1. Call it manifest destiny. 2. Pitbull (featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer), "Give Me Everything": Perhaps the only man standing between Perry and her second-straight Song of the Summer crown is the suddenly ubiquitous Pitbull, whose "Give Me Everything" just went to #1 on the Hot 100. It's from his well-received, club-approved Planet Pit album, and its success only validates the fact that the Miami rapper may finally be having his moment. 3. LMFAO (featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock), "Party Rock Anthem": Aptly titled hit from America's leading purveyors of sublimely stoopid odes to inebriation, "Party Rock Anthem" is basically the spiritual sequel to all of LMFAO's earlier jams (like "I'm in Miami, Bitch" and "Get Crazy," the theme from MTV's "Jersey Shore") only, you know, times one thousand. Could this be the jam that finally puts them over the top? 4. Nicki Minaj, "Super Bass": Ms. Minaj's ode to the guys with the booming systems (and she's not necessarily talking about the ones in their cars), it's breezy, sexy and unspeakably catchy — which means it's a mortal lock to be the soundtrack to a million wet T-shirt contests, only, you know, the ones featuring dudes. 5. Maroon 5 (featuring Christina Aguilera), "Moves Like Jagger": Riding high off the success of NBC's "The Voice," this jam from one-half of the judging panel debuted on the Hot 100 at #8 and seems like it could be poised to go all the way to #1. As a bonus, it's basically about guys who dance like Mick Jagger, and, really, what summertime girl doesn't want someone like that? Also, whistling! 6. Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" (featuring Bruno Mars), "Lighters": Unexpectedly bright single from Em and Royce's decidedly dark Hell: The Sequel EP, it may not seem like a logical Summer Jam, but when you hear the hook (courtesy of Bruno Mars, a guy who knows a thing or two about summertime smashes) and consider the tremendous fanbase Mr. Mathers possesses, you know this one's a contender. 7. Britney Spears, "I Wanna Go": On one hand, it's yet another club-ready jam from Ms. Spears. On the other, it's not as good as "Till the World Ends." Still, with her just-launched tour and a near-constant presence on pop radio, you can bet Britney's not going away anytime soon. 8. Enrique Iglesias (featuring Usher and Lil Wayne), "Dirty Dancer": Iglesias' "I Like It" was a sneaky runner-up to "California Gurls" in the Summer Jam 2010 sweepstakes, and "Dirty Dancer" follows a similarly clubby path. Add hard-working guest appearances from Usher and Wayne — both of whom know a thing or 13 about making hits — and "Dancer" could end up shocking the world this summer. 9. Jason Derülo, "Don't Wanna Go Home": It opens with Derülo aping the "Day-O" chant from "The Banana Boat Song," rolls on a sample of "Show Me Love" and is basically about one never-ending party. Yeah, we wouldn't bet against this one either. 10. Adele, "Rolling in the Deep": Unstoppable lead single from Adele's equally unstoppable 21 album, "Deep" has been with us for a minute now, yet there's the very real feeling that more and more people are discovering it every day. She's already conquered the Billboard charts, but now, could Adele conquer the summer too? 11. Lady Gaga, "The Edge of Glory": Not the most conventional choice, but given the fact that, A) It features a wailing sax solo from the late Clarence Clemons (which, when considered alongside the wailing "T.G.I.F." saxophone majesty, seems to suggest we're currently living in "the summer of sax") and B) It's from Lady Gaga. We wouldn't be surprised to see it take the Summer Jam crown. 12. David Guetta (featuring Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida), "Where Them Girls At": French DJ David Guetta continues his bid to take over the entire universe with this walloping, galloping party starter. Throw in cameos by Flo and Nicki, and you've got all the makings of a certified smash. Equally important, it takes the work out of actually inquiring about the location of females, which makes your summer approximately 75 percent easier already. 13. DJ Khaled (featuring Drake, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne), "I'm On One": A sun-drenched ode to excess in just about every conceivable way, it's a song that sounds best when blasting out of a high-end system. It's got the superstar pedigree and the shelf life (check the ever-growing list of remixes), so who's to say Khaled can't also take home the Summer Jam crown? 14. Chris Brown, "She Ain't You": Built around a sample of Michael Jackson's "Human Nature," it's a smoove, supple jam, equally suited for those late-night make-out sessions and those hazy, lazy days of tanning. A true multipurpose Summer Jam indeed. 15. Foster the People, "Pumped Up Kicks": Ultra-catchy tune from the Los Angeles-based rock outfit, it's easy and breezy enough to be considered a dark-horse contender, so long as folks don't pay attention to the lyrics, which are dark indeed (it's about a kid and a gun, in case you hadn't noticed). Then again, when it comes to Summer Jams, no one actually listens to the lyrics, do they? What did we miss? Share your Summer Jam picks in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists Izabella Scorupco Jaime King Jaime Pressly Jamie Chung |
