Blogamole › Música

By Michael Lopez

Could you imagine lumping R&B, hip-hop, and rock into one category at the Grammy Awards? Hardly. But in the Norteño world, a similar occurrence is happening with styles like Tejano and Regional getting shoved into just one genre.

That obviously isn't sitting well with Mexican music fans and quite a few are ready to do something about it. According to Regional Mex, several pro-Latino initiative groups will be protesting outside of L.A.'s Staples Center during Sunday's ceremony.

They are especially furious because the Grammy categories used to include more regional styles and just recently changed their policy. Now popular artists like Espinoza Paz and Jenni Rivera will only be eligible in two categories instead of four.

On a positive note, some of our Tr3s faves will still be in the running this year. Joan Sebastian is up for Best Tejano Album for his Huevos Rancheros record and Los Tigres del Norte are going for Best Norteño Album for their recording from the MTV Unplugged Special.

Do you think there should be more regional categories at the Grammys? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Award Shows, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Grammy Awards, Grammys, Joan Sebastian, Los Tigres Del Norte, Música, Protests, Regional Music

By Michael Lopez

Yes, we love Naya Rivera, but if you ask us, Glee still deserves to have much more of a Latino presence. And that's exactly what they got last night, with a singing and dancing Spanish teacher played by Ricky Martin!

Martin's role as Mr. Martinez definitely got things jumping, especially after his rousing rendition of "Sexy And I Know It." But more importantly, Glee gave Ricky the chance to flex his acting chops. Mr. Livin' La Vida Loca offered up a bit of comedy, some tender moments with Mr. Schu, and even an interesting backstory about his character's life in Ohio.

And don't just take our word for it. Several critics thought Martin knocked it out of the park too.

"As expected, Martin brought his charm, energy and swiveling hips to the proceedings," the Washington Post wrote.

Best of all, there's a very good chance that Mr. Martinez will return. Now hired as a full-time Spanish teacher at McKinley High, let's hope we can see him in a lot more dance numbers to come!

What did you think of Ricky's Glee debut? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, glee, Hot Stuff, Música, Ricky Martin, Television

By Michael Lopez

Throughout 11 wild seasons, Randy Jackson has remained an American Idol constant. And beyond that, he's a music legend, having played on albums by Journey, George Michael, and Mariah Carey. So clearly he knows his stuff and he's got some very interesting things to say about this latest version of Idol.

"I think we're in a great groove now," Jackson told us during an exclusive conference call. "Everyone makes such a fuss about the judges, but it really is the talent. If you don't have the talent…people might want to watch about five minutes then be like 'Okay.' So, I think it's really about that talent and what we get back from these kids."

Randy may have a point, but clearly the fans are entranced by the antics of his cohorts Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. Though they got a little bit of flack last year for being a bit wet behind the ears, Jackson assured us that there are big changes in store.

"[Jennfer, Steven, and I] talk about everything," he explained. "But this season you may see them be a bit more stern. They may surprise you. This Hollywood week was the toughest we've ever had on the kids."

And according to Randy, tough love is a necessity if you want to succeed in the music business. He went on to offer his philosophies on why criticism is important when prepping singers for a life behind the mic.

"This is a process that gets you ready for the future," he said. "You think Idol’s hard? Wait until you become an artist and you're trying to put a record out. After our show, you jump into the ring and duke it out with Madonna, with Rihanna, with Katie Perry. After this, you're setting yourself up for the competition of life and the competition never ends."

Speaking of competition, Jackson also made sure to speak out about Idol’s big rival in the ratings race, NBC's The Voice. Even though TV's other vocal talent show scored huge post-Super Bowl ratings, Randy isn't worried one bit.

"Listen, Idol is in its eleventh season," he proudly stated. "The Voice [had] huge numbers. I think any show after the Super Bowl will have huge numbers. They've got an original show and I think there's room for everyone out there."

Let's hope Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, and Cee-Lo Green feel the same way.

What's your favorite reality singing show? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags American Idol, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Jennifer Lopez, Música, Randy Jackson, Reality shows, Steven Tyler, Television, The Voice, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Fresh off the heels of her Super Bowl halftime show, Madonna has announced plans to tour the world in support of her new album. The Material Girl will reportedly kick off the festivities in Israel on May 29 and move across several continents throughout the remainder of the year.

Interestingly, this latest musical run will be the first time she's hit the road since her "Sticky & Sweet Tour" in 2009. And proving she's still got the goods at age 53, Madge will be hitting venues in destinations ranging from Australia, to Europe, to the Middle East.

Fans clearly got a taste of what to expect this past Sunday when the singer debuted a new track alongside Nikki Minaj and M.I.A. And though it's doubtful she'll bring M.I.A. along for the ride (especially after that finger wagging incident), we're sure their song will make the set list.

Several dates are still getting locked in, but you can expect Madonna in Tel Aviv by late May, France by August, and Miami sometime in the fall. And just to prove she's still connected to the Latino crowd, Madge will be hitting South America sometime after that.

Are you looking forward to seeing Madonna live? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, Hot Stuff, Madonna, Música, Tours

By Michael Lopez

A while back we mentioned how Don Omar was going to be a headliner at one of Indianapolis' pre-Super Bowl concerts. But unfortunately, that reggaeton jam never came to be. El Don cancelled his appearance at the last minute, possibly due to tension with Univision.

According to Latin Gossip, Omar was upset with the way Univision was handling the television rights. Though it hasn't been confirmed, many believe he bailed because he couldn't secure a deal with the broadcasting giant.

Clearly that left a lot of fans disappointed, but the show still went on. Alejandra Guzman and Larry Hernandez carried the slack, delivering powerhouse performances for the crowd.

And interestingly, Guzman even showed a little New England pride during her set. Before breaking out into one of her signature tunes, the Mexican songstress threw on a colorful Patriots-inspired football helmet.

Do you think it was wrong of El Don to bail on the concert? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Alejandra Guzman, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chisme, Don Omar, Música, popnews, Super Bowl, univision

By Astrid Rivera

Justin Bieber needs to watch his back! Alejandro Avilés, aka the Peruvian Justin Bieber, is out to romance Selena Gomez at her concert tonight in Lima, Peru.

Dozens of Justin and Selena fans went wild when the Bieber look-alike placed a giant cardboard cut-out of the Disney darling under his arm and declared his love for her. Avilés and the screaming fans headed to the famous San Isidro hotel where the pop-star has been staying since arriving to Peru Wednesday night and have not left the spot since.

Avilés gushed with excitement to the local Peruvian media,

"I love her, I hope she comes down. Look at all of those fans waiting for her!"

Although the Bieber look-alike tried every which way to get Selena's attention, the pop star has yet to give as much as wave to her Peruvian sweetheart. But don't feel bad for Avilés just yet, Selena might not be showing any love but the dozens of girl fans sure are and took advantage of the situation to take pictures with the Peruvian Justin Bieber (Peruvian, French, Japanese- I'll take Bieber anyway I can!).

Let's hope Selena gives Avilés a hug at tonight's concert or at least a shout out. After all it's not everyday that you meet a sexy Latin version of your boyfriend.

Do you think Selena will notice Avilés? Sound off in the comments or at MTV3.

Tags alejandro aviles, Justin Bieber, justin bieber concert in peru, Selena Gomez, the peruvian justin bieber

By Ikam Acosta

The Juanes Unplugged show, which will air sometime in late May or early June, was taped earlier tonight at the New World Symphony in Miami Beach.

Some of the songs that will be featured on Juanes Unplugged are "Es Por Ti," "Todo En Mi Vida Eres Tu," "A Dios Le Pido," "Hoy Me Voy," "Camisa Negra," and "Odio Por Amor," among others. The dress rehearsal took place the night before, at the same venue.

The crowd was more energetic during the actual taping than in the dress rehearsal, as you could imagine, since it was filled with more fans and contained a broader audience. During the rehearsal, however, we got the added treat of seeing Juanes sing duets with two contest winners, one being an amazing songstress by the name of Emanuela Bellezza, with whom he sang "Fotografía."

I asked a couple of fans sitting next to me what their favorite part of the show was. "I was surprised with the Joaquín Sabina part, never expected him to be onstage," commented Alexander Monroy, referring to when Juanes welcomed Sabina onstage with him to perform a beautiful rendition of "Azul."

Another fan, Michelle Kates, commented on how she loved the intimacy and the vibe of the whole Unplugged experience. She said it was a "cool concept, great to see him in this kind of setting."

As if there wasn't enough energy filling the room, Juanes really rocked the house with his final number, "Odio Por Amor," when he was joined by Juan Luis Guerra conducting the New World Symphony choir. Needless to say, the taping of Juanes MTV Unplugged was a success.

What Juanes song would you like to see on MTV Unplugged?

Tags Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Emanuela Bellezza, Joaquín Sabina, Juan Luis Guerra, Juanes, Juanes MTV Unplugged, Música, MTV Unplugged, popnews

By Michael Lopez

Pitbull better make some extra room on his mantle because it looks like he'll be receiving a very prestigious statuette. News broke this week that Mr. 305 is set to snag the President's Award at this March's BMI Latin Music Awards.

Taking down the coveted President Award puts Pit with some pretty elite company. Previous honorees have included Juanes and will.i.am, both of whom have sold millions of albums.

And that's precisely why the BMI execs have chosen Pitbull as this year's big winner. In the past several months, his "Give Me Everything" single has sold over 8 million copies and given him the #1 slot on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

Add to that countless gold albums and a hugely successful touring career, and you've got yourself an artist more than worthy of hanging with "The Pres." Look for Pit to accept his award March 31 at a posh gala in Las Vegas.

What's your favorite Pitbull single? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, BMI Latin Music Awards, Give Me Everything, Música, Pitbull, President's Award

By Michael Lopez

It's official, Chino y Nacho have a major hit on their hands. The Venezuelan duo's Supremo record has already topped the Latin Album Charts and is about to get even more of a mainstream boost. C y N just confirmed that Akon will be appearing in the video for their latest single, "Bebe Bonita."

"Bebe" is actually a three-way duet between Chino, Nacho, and British rapper Jay Sean. Sean, of course, appears in the video too, but it's Akon who seems to be making the most headlines.

The Konvicted crooner seemed more than eager to help out his old buddies. As we all know, Akon's got a lot of history with Jay, having performed with him on the Supafest tour and on singles like "Down."

And the four of them seem to be getting along great, as evidenced by the pic Lateen Gossip put up on its site. We're already huge fans of the "Bebe" track and we’re hopeful the star-studded video can push Chino y Nacho to even greater musical heights.

Have you picked up Supremo yet? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Akon, Bebe Benito, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chino y Nacho, Jay Sean, Música, Supremo, Videos

By Michael Lopez

We're not sure what was more newsworthy about Christina Aguilera's appearance at Etta James' funeral this weekend; her impassioned performance of "At Last" or the fake tan drip oozing down her legs!

There is no denying that Xtina pulled off an incredible performance of James' signature song. And, for the most part, that's what the media paid the most attention to.

"Etta James was the one who cut right to my soul and spoke to me," Aguilera said before breaking into "At Last." "So tonight Etta, this song is for you."

But, it seems the chisme blogs were still able to take a few jabs at Christina. Photographers snapped fake tanner fluid running down the singer's legs during the procession. Videographers even caught Aguilera attempting to wipe the fluid away with her jacket.

Perhaps Xtina would have been better off consulting some orange-faced pros before stepping up to the mic.

What do you think about Christina's latest beauty blunder? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags At Last, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chisme, Christina Aguilera, Etta James, Funerals, Música, popnews