The video is mostly Beyoncé with just a little Gaga thrown in … to be honest, and I’m not trying to sound like a hater here, this collabo kinda falls flat. Gaga’s contribution to the song is totally unnecessary both musically and visually. Her one added verse is forgettable and her scenes in the video are totally uninteresting. To be honest, I don’t really love all the different Beyoncé looks included in the video either … I also find it funny that we don’t ever see a video phone … not once. That said, I’ll leave it to y’all to judge for yourselves — after the jump, check out the video in full …

But, as I mentioned above … the Queen B reigned supreme last night. Not only did she look fabulous on the red carpet but she also looked fabulous on the MTV EMAs performance stage … oh and she collected awards for Best Female, Best Song (Halo) and Best Video of the Year or her worldwide smash hit song Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It). After the jump, check out some photos from the EMAs stage and find out who else took home awards last night …

Berlin loves Beyonce. The R&B superstar scooped up three wins Thursday at the 16th annual MTV Europe Music Awards, including trophies for best female, best song for Halo and best video for her No. 1 smash, Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It.) When she won the best video award, she thanked Jay-Z— who just happens to be her husband — for “putting a ring on it.” Jay-Z was also honored, winning MTV Europe’s best urban act — though he said he looked forward to the day when “all those awards come down” that it’s just music, plain and simple, adding “Danke schoen” (thank you in German) before leaving the stage. Other winners included Green Day, the established trio whose punk-influenced tunes have garnered it a fan legion worldwide. The trio won the award for best rock act while U2, which earlier Thursday performed a six-song mini-set in front of the German capital’s iconic Brandenburg Gate, won best live act. U2 frontman Bono paid tribute to Berlin, which marks the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Berlin Wall on Monday, for its grit and determination. The band recorded its LP Achtung Baby in the city and drew inspiration from reunification to write its oft-played single One. German pop quartet Tokio Hotel, which has toured steadfastly and built up a fan base outside of Germany won best group and played a set that saw its amps and equipment light up in organized pyrotechnics. Lady Gaga took best new act though she was not in person, having had to stay in New York and Eminem took best male, beating out Kanye West, Mika, Robbie Williams and Jay-Z for award. Turkey’s maNga took home the best European act, giving Turkey the award for the second consecutive year — last year the country’s Emre Aydin scored a trophy. Katy Perry, who hosted the show for the second consecutive year, lauded Berlin and Germany, citing its history of division by the wall and sported a bevy of toned-down yet sultry costumes that hearkened back to Berlin’s Weimar-era of hedonism and decadence. The telecast also featured performances by Foo Fighters, Leona Lewis and Shakira. Berlin is the only city to host the awards show twice — in 1994 and this year — a decision MTV said it made to mark the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s collapse.

It sounds like it was a fun night for the folks in Berlin … much love and congrats goes out to all the winners. Click HERE for a full list of 2009 MTV EMA winners … did your fave performer take home an EMA trophy last night?

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]

Fans are still getting to know Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé’s musical alter ego, formally introduced on the singer’s 2008 album, “I Am…Sasha Fierce.” Most probably don’t know, however, that the singer/songwriter has been friends with Fierce since elementary school. Manager and father Mathew Knowles will never forget the moment he first met Fierce. A 7-year-old Beyoncé was entered in a talent search open to Houston elementary and middle school students. The song she sang? John Lennon’s “Imagine.” “Beyoncé was the youngest,” Knowles says. “She got up onstage and when she was finished, she received a standing ovation. Her mother [Tina Knowles] and I looked at each other and said, ‘That can’t be our Beyoncé. She’s shy and quiet.’ ” Twenty-two years later, that simmering brew of shy, quiet talent peppered with fierce determination and ambition is at a boiling point. The former frontwoman of Destiny’s Child has come into her own, enjoying one of the best years of a still-evolving solo career. On Oct. 2, Beyoncé will add one more honor to her array of accolades when she accepts Billboard’s Woman of the Year Award. The presentation will be made at Billboard’s Women in Music brunch in New York, recognizing the year’s top 30 women in the music business. “Beyoncé is a multiplatinum artist and a multitalented woman who clearly embodies the qualities of excellence and achievement that the Billboard Woman of the Year Award was created to honor,” Billboard editorial director Bill Werde says. “She has not only influenced pop culture with her hit songs and her signature dance moves, but has inspired women everywhere with her unique style, business savvy and dedication to charitable causes.” In the past 12 months alone, Beyoncé has accomplished several career milestones. She not only sang “American the Beautiful” during the opening ceremony of the 2009 presidential inauguration, she also sang the Etta James hit “At Last” as President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama danced their first dance at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball. In March Beyoncé launched her worldwide I Am…tour, which has grossed some $53.5 million to date, according to Billboard Boxscore. She’s also the star and executive producer of the 2009 film “Obsessed,” which opened at No. 1 and has grossed more than $68.3 million in North America, according to Nielsen EDI. “I Am…Sasha Fierce” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 when it was released by Columbia Records in November. The album, the singer’s third solo set, has spun off a string of Billboard Hot 100 hits: “If I Were a Boy,” “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” “Halo,” “Ego” and “Sweet Dreams.” After accepting MTV’s video of the year award for her iconic “Single Ladies” video a few weeks ago, Beyoncé gained a new level of fan and industry respect at the Sept. 13 event when she unselfishly brought Taylor Swift back onstage to complete the acceptance speech cut off by Kanye West’s surprise interruption. Beyoncé also continued her commitment this year to ongoing philanthropic projects and entrepreneurial activities from fashion to fragrances.

Beyoncé is my girl and I couldn’t be more happy that she has been chosen as Billboard’s Woman of the Year. There is no doubt that she has enjoyed a storied music career thus far and has reached new heights of success as a solo artist. 2009 has deffo been her year and she is really the only person who could’ve been named Woman of the Year. I’ve been a Beyoncé fan for years but she really won me over as a superfan after I saw her perform live in concert. To be honest, I see no sign of the girl slowing down and I only wish her nothing but the happiest of successes. Much love and congrats goes out to Beyoncé on this latest achievement … she deffo earned it.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

But for a few exceptions, most everyone looked amazing on the red carpet. I loved all the shiny bling that some folks were wearing … particularly Kristin Cavallari who wore a simple vintage dress and looked absolutely amazing in it. The show itself was really fun .. the opening tribute performance to MJ was really very cool and except for Kanye West’s douchey behavior, the show was very entertaining. Here are a few pics from the show and some deets about what went down:

Planned and random acts of kindness reigned at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday night. Among the planned acts: Janet Jackson’s opening tribute to her brother Michael, whose death at age 50 on June 25 rocked the music world. The production began with Madonna recalling her encounter with Michael and reminding the audience that “Michael Jackson was a hero.” And while “he seemed otherworldly,” she added, “he was also a human being.” And then, the performance began. Dancers crept up on stage with original Thriller video airing in the background. The dancers’ moves duplicated the ones being performed on the video. Then a sequence of Michael’s hits played. Bad and Smooth Criminal led to Scream, his duet with Janet, who broke through glass to make her way onstage and sing along with the video. The loud, almost angry performance had the audience on its feet. After the tribute, Madonna said backstage that “it was good to finally get to say my piece.” And then near the end of the show, in a gracious act of kindness, video-of-the-year winner Beyoncé offered young country music star Taylor Swift a second chance to say her piece with an acceptance speech. The moment came after Kanye West took everyone by surprise early in the show when he went onstage to interrupt Swift’s acceptance speech for best female video for You Belong With Me … The teen country star returned for her live performance of You Belong With Me later in the show. Celebrities reacted backstage. Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong said, “Well, you know, she’s young, I think she’ll get over it. I think he needs to get it over it also. It was very uncomfortable sitting there.” “I feel bad for Taylor,” said Kristin Cavallari. “I think it was really disrespectful” … Other music-related news items had guests talking at the awards show, too. American Idol’s Kara DioGuardi was asked about her new colleague at the judges’ table, Ellen DeGeneres. “I feel fantastic. I feel ecstatic. I can’t wait for January, when we can all be on the panel.” DioGuardi added that she has been in touch with former judge Paula Abdul. “I’ve spoken to her, and she seems to be doing really well, and that’s what matters.” Abdul is set to play host at the VH1 Divas special on MTV’s sister network on Thursday night (9 ET/PT). Faye Dunaway had two divas she was looking forward to seeing on Sunday at the VMAs. “Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. How could you not love Beyoncé?” Dunaway asked. Ne-Yo echoed Dunaway’s sentiment. When asked who he was rooting for, he replied, “Besides myself?” and then added, “I’m here to see Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Pink, everyone. I’m here just to enjoy the electricity.” And the atmosphere was electric, with returning host Russell Brand doling out his brash brand of humor. Among the stars: Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Eminem, Jermaine Jackson, Katy Perry, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.

For me, the live performances were the highlight of the entire night. After the jump, check out a few photos from the press room and watch a couple of my fave performances from the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards …

As usual, Beyoncé put on a killer performance … here is video of her performance of Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) which took home the biggest award of the night — Video of the Year:

Beyonce Knowles proved she still lives up to her Bootylicious label as she flaunted her curves in a skimpy bikini yesterday. The pop star, 27, has been spotted soaking up the sun on a luxury yacht called off the coast of Croatia with her husband Jay-Z, 39. While her chart contemporaries have been spending the summer sailing around the traditional showbiz haunts of St Tropez and Portofino, Beyonce has broken out and visit one of Europe’s newest and trendiest hotspots. After flying in from New York this week, Beyonce has wasted no time in getting some exercise by swimming and riding a banana boat in the warm Adriatic Sea. Wearing a red and orange string bikini, the Halo singer gave her swimwear some added ‘bling’ with a gold belly chain linked to her neck. Beyonce and her personal assistant were spotted screaming with delight as they were whizzed through the waves on a banana boat, while Jay-Z watched from the dry safety of the yacht. Later that evening, the pair and their entourage ventured on to dry land for dinner at the French fusion restaurant Gils in Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Still wearing her belly-neck chain from earlier in the day, Beyonce showed off her curves once again in a red hot, figure-hugging body con dress and gold heeled sandals. Currently enjoying a holiday before she resumes the second part of her year-long I Am… world tour, Beyonce has been enjoying the good life as she island hops around the Eastern European country. After visiting the towns of Dubrovnik and Cavtat, Beyonce was also spotted swimming near Lokrum Island. Local press report the couple are also planning to visit the scenic islands of Mljet, Hvar and Kornati later this week. Beyonce and Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, have rented the 47.5metre Va Bene (Italian for ‘It’s good’) yacht for $195,000 (£119,000) a week. The lavish six-bedroom boat boasts a cruising speed of 14 knots and contains a jacuzzi, sun deck, Satellite TV and the use of two Jet-skis. Beyonce previously visited Croatia in April when she performed in Zagreb and promised fans she would return to the country for a holiday. She is set to resume the tour in the Ukraine on August 29, before finally wrapping her concerts in Belfast on November 24.

Lucky for Beyoncé, the water helped her mask the new Rick James ‘do that she was rockin’ in NYC last weekend cuz, LAWD, it did not look cute. It really looks like she’s having a blast … Jay looked happy to just sit back, chillin’, watching his lady have fun. It’s nice that B-Jay are taking the time to unwind for a bit before B has to get back to work. I expect the couple will be back in NYC after Beyoncé finishes her tour, Jay-Z is scheduled to perform at the 2009 MTV VMAs on September 13. No rest for the weary.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin; Source]

Having been born in 1981, Beyonce Knowles doesn’t remember much of the eighties. So perhaps she was unaware just how dismal the wet look hairstyle was first time round. Spotted lunching with husband Jay-Z in New York City yesterday, the normally immaculate-looking singer’s trendy outfit was let down by her bad hair day. The Halo singer was bang on trend in a cute polka dot playsuit with Chanel belt and patent peep-toe heels as she ate at Bar Pitti in the West Village. But the 27-year-old’s overall look was spoiled by her unflattering hairstyle, a far cry from her usual glossy golden locks. Beyonce is currently spending rare quality time with her husband during a break in her gruelling I Am… world tour. She was left shaken when a 6.6 earthquake hit Japan last week … After performing in Japan last week, Beyonce has been hanging out in New York, where the couple share a home. She is set to resume the tour in the Ukraine on August 29, before finally wrapping her concerts in Belfast on November 24. During her few weeks off in New York, the singer has reportedly been expanding her dance repertoire by studying ballet. Students at Manhattan’s Ailey School claim Beyonce attended an open ballet class last week. A ballet student said: ‘She came in like a regular student. No entourage and no attitude.’

Of all looks for her to borrow from did she have to delve into the Rick James repertoire? I mean, believe me, I love me some Beyoncé but this is not a good look for her … at all! I suppose we can cut her some slack considering the scary ordeal she endured in Japan … perhaps that earthquake shook her up somethin’ awful. I just hope this new Jheri curl look isn’t a permanent one. Ick!

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The album features the full I Am … Sasha Fierce tracklist including the bonus iTunes songs AND the 4 new tracks … and all of the music videos filmed for the album. That’s a damn package, y’all! After the jump, check out the full tracklist for both the CD and the DVD that will be included on I Am … Sasha Fierce Platinum Edition …

CD Tracklist:
01. “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” – 3:13
02. “Diva” – 3:21
03. “Ego” – 3:56
04. “Halo” – 4:22
05. “If I Were a Boy” – 4:10
06. “Smash Into You” – 4:39
07. “Sweet Dreams” – 3:28
08. “Broken Hearted Girl” – 4:39
09. “Scared Of Lonely” – 3:43
10. “That’s Why You’re Beautiful” – 3:41
11. “Hello” – 4:16
12. “Radio” – 3:39
13. “Video Phone” – 3:35
14. “Ego” (Remix feat. Kanye West) – 4:44
15. “Why Don’t You Love Me” – 3:23
16. “Honesty” (Billy Joel) – 3:47
17. “Save The Hero” – 4:33
18. “Satellites” – 3:08
19. “Disappear” – 4:29
20. “Ave Maria” – 3:42

DVD Tracklist:
01. “If I Were a Boy” – 5:06
02. “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” – 3:20
03. “Diva” – 4:06
04. “Halo” – 3:45
05. “Broken-Hearted Girl” – 4:40
06. “Ego” (Remix feat. Kanye West) – 4:53
07. “Ego” (Fan exclusive) – 3:57
08. “Sweet Dreams” – 4:01
09. Behind the scenes of the videos

Woot!! That’s a whole lotta Beyoncé, y’all!! As y’all may recall, seeing her in concert made me a HUGE fan of hers so I will be picking up this album when it drops on September 4. While some may see this new release as another way to fleece fans, I think it’s an amazing package FOR fans who just can’t get enough Beyoncé. It’s really geared towards fans who want more … and for fans who didn’t buy the album when it was released and can now purchase the ÜBER version of the disc. Beyoncé is a genius. Madonna is releasing a career-spanning Greatest Hits album called Celebration next month and is only giving fans 2 new songs. Beyoncé just released this album last year and she’s already giving fans 4 new songs — that’s very cool. I just wish other artists (like Britney Spears) would put out packages like this.

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If you’ve noticed similarities between Kelly Clarkson’s new single “Already Gone” and Beyoncé’s hit “Halo,” well, you’re not the only one. Turns out Clarkson has also noticed, and she’s not too happy about it. In an interview with Canada’s CBC radio network, the former “American Idol” champ said she was unaware of any similarities between her song and Beyoncé’s “Halo” until she heard the two songs side by side (according to Clarkson, her All I Ever Wanted album was finished before Beyoncé’s I Am … Sasha Fierce was released). And she’s not mincing words about who she blames for the similarities: OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder, who co-wrote both songs. “Ryan and I met each other at the record label, before he was working with anyone else. He’s from Oklahoma, I’m from Texas; we got along really well and had some of the same influences,” Clarkson said. “We wrote about six songs together, four or five of them made the album. It was all fine and dandy. I’d never heard of a song called ‘Halo’ … [Beyoncé's] album came out when my album was already being printed. “No one’s gonna be sittin’ at home, thinkin’ ‘Man, Ryan Tedder gave Beyoncé and Kelly the same track to write to,’ ” she continued. “No, they’re just gonna be sayin’ I ripped someone off. I called Ryan and said, ‘I don’t understand. Why would you do that?’ ” “Gone” and “Halo” do share some striking similarities, most notably in the backing track, which features somber piano, crashing drums and hand-claps. Clarkson — who clashed with her label in the past — said that she’s upset that “Already Gone” was released as a single without her blessing, but that, at this point, there’s really nothing to do about the situation. “It sucks, but it’s one of those things I have no control over,” she told the CBC. “I already made my album. At this point, the record company can do whatever they want with it. It’s kind of a shitty situation, but … you know, you learn.” At press time, a spokesperson for Tedder had not responded to MTV News’ request for comment on the situation.

To be honest, I didn’t immediately notice the similarity between the songs when I heard them both separately … at different times. But since the release of Kelly’s new single, I thought it sounded very familiar … and then the handclaps cued me in to the Halo recognition. Shoot, if I were her … I’d be pissed, too … especially since despite the fact that Kelly’s album was finished first, Halo was released months ago well ahead of the release of Already Gone. Methinks Mr. Ryan Tedder has got some ’splainin’ to do. After the jump, check out the music videos for both Kelly Clarkson’s Already Gone and Beyoncé’s Halo for a side-by-side comparison …

I managed to snap over 600 photos at last night’s concert … from my vantage point, almost all of them are amazing shots. Since I couldn’t possibly post them all, I selected a few to share with all y’all. After the jump, check out some of the photos I took of Beyoncé’s I Am … Tour and read some of my thoughts on the show …

I tweeted last night that Beyoncé’s show beats the hell out of both Madonna and Britney Spears’s concert performances and today I absolutely stand behind that assertion. It was, most definitely, the best big arena pop concert that I have ever seen in all my years of attending concerts. For over 2 hours, Beyoncé sang, danced and divaed her way into my heart. The woman not only worked that stage but she WORKED hard on that stage for every single person in that sold-out arena. It was truly spectacular:

I’m well aware that Beyoncé sings live in concert but the amazingness of the show is more than that. She is a full-on performer … she is aware of her fans and caters and performs for them for the entire time. I was impressed beyond belief. David and I had tickets to see the show from the Diva Stage which is right up against the stage … Beyoncé spent a lot of time coming over to pose for pics and reach out her hand thruout the show. Then she made time for the folks in the rest of the audience … it was very cool to see her so happy to interact with fans. I was able to hold her tiny thumb when she reached out her hand to me. We made eye contact, finger pointed and then shared a moment. It was amazing. The show is SO DAMN FUN!! Beyoncé performs all of her hits and even performs portions of her biggest hits with Destiny’s Child. Her all female band was totally on point (she even employs a wind section with saxophone and trumpets). Her back-up singers, The Mamas, were just stunning … such powerful voices, such lush sound. And her dancers? OMFG … they KILLED on stage … and Beyoncé managed to dance right along with all of them thru all the complex dance numbers. I was so impressed y’all. Beyoncé paid tribute to Michael Jackson and even sang Happy Birthday to the birthday folks in the audience (I’m not sure how she knew it was my birthday but I appreciate it ;) David and I had an absolute BLAST. I cannot stress and encourage you enough to see this show if you can. It’s … amazing. The VIP tickets are very expensive but it is an experience that, I felt, was well worth the cost. As a treat for all y’all, click HERE to see all 600+ photos that I took at the concert last night.

Beyoncé — I’m an überfan now, girl. You did your thang and totally made a converted believer out of me.

Whew … the show did wipe us out last night. I’m still a bit wrecked from all the fun. I have an appt. at the DMV this afternoon which should be FUN and the rest of the day will be spent prepping for my BFF Sarah’s arrival from Detroit tomorrow :)

I mean, it’s not like I expect the pop star to go dippin’ in the ocean all nekkid or anything but homegirl couldn’t even be bothered to change into a bathing suit before diving in. Just how hot was it in Miami yesterday? Damn.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin]