Univision award show celebrates fan favorites

Are you a big fan of salsa and merengue? Or is there more reggaeton in your iPod?

Whatever the case, here's your chance to celebrate all genres of música latina.

On Thursday, musicians will take the stage for Premio Lo Nuestro -- Univision's Latin music awards show.

This year's nominees include Daddy Yankee, Shakira, Paulina Rubio, Nelly Furtado, Juanes, Luis Enrique, Aventura, Grupo Mania, Elvis Crespo, Juan Luis Guerra, Alicia Villareal, Diana Reyes, Jenni Rivera, Wisin y Yandel, Luz Rios, Paquita la Del Barrio, Fanny Lu, Gloria Trevi, Laura Pausini, Sonohra, Tati, Victor & Leo, Beto Cuevas, La Secta Allstar, Maná and Motel.

The bilingual show, which will be broadcasted live in English and Spanish, will be hosted by salsa star Victor Manuelle and Ana Barbara.

The show starts at 8 p.m. but if you want to check out what the celebs are wearing head over around 7 p.m. for the red carpet arrivals.

Premio Lo Nuestro, 8 p.m. Thurday, AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; ticketmaster.com. Watch it at home from 8-11 p.m. on WLTV-Univision 23.

source

Selena Gomez Covers Her Namesake

Selena Gomez paid tribute to late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez — her namesake — by covering one of her songs during her weekend concert.

On Saturday, Selena was in San Antonio where she performed the slain songstress' 1995 hit "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" in front of a wide-eyed crowd, including her on-again beau Nick Jonas.

The 17-year-old Wizards of Waverly Place has said that to her family — her father is Mexican and her mother is of Italian descent — it's "really a big deal" that she is "named after such a wonderful person." And it's been reported that she met the late Selena's brother, later recounting: "It was very emotional when he came up to me and said my sister was named Selena and I said I was named after her. It was a really powerful moment."

In addition to the Selena cover, the Texas native — dressed in a white-and-silver dress and sparkly black vest — did versions of Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” and Katy Perry’s “Hot N Cold.“

As for Nick, he was trying to go incognito wearing a black cowboy hat, but concertgoers immediately had his number -- and you can see him on the end of the video below.

In an interview last week, Selena was completely at a loss for words when she was asked about Nick.



source

Eva sends Her Twitter Followers to a Porn Site

Eva Longoria Parker finally joined the rest of the world and signed up for Twitter.com last week. She attempted to link to her husband Tony Parker's Twitter account, but made quite a mistake in copying and pasting the link. Instead of linking to his Twitter account, she sent her followers to a porn site!
After realizing her mistake, Eva urged her followers to stay away from the site, tweeting:

"Oh noooo! I put the wrong Twitter site for my husband!! The one I put earlier goes to some porn site!!!! Don't use it!"

source

Wilmer Seeks to Bring Census Awareness

Beginning in March, Americans will receive a form in the mail to fill out and return to the U.S. Census Bureau. Every decade, many wonder why it's so necessary to participate in the census. From alloting seats in the House of Representatives to dispersal of billions in federal spending, there are numerous reasons. But the word isn't getting out to everyone.

This is especially true for Hispanics -- who are the fastest growing minority in the United States. Being counted in the census can potentially provide additional representation and funding for developing communities.

On Tuesday's "Washington Unplugged," actor Wilmer Valderrama joined Nancy Cordes to discuss his work with the non-profit organization Voto Latino, co-founded by actress Rosario Dawson. The organization aims to increases voter turnout and political involvement among Hispanic youth.

Valderrama and other Hispanic celebrities are meeting with House lawmakers Wednesday, unveiling a new campaign urging Hispanics to take part in the census.

"Rosario Dawson and I started this amazing campaign last year to register people to vote and inspire the youth to understand that voting is important. We knew that the census was coming in 2010 and that it's very important thing for the community to embrace," Valderrama said.

Valderrama also notes that Hispanics have much to gain from participating in the census. "It dictates the funding of public services, schools and hospitals. Depending on how many people are in the area, funding is distributed."

source

Alba Making Sure Honor Grows Up Bilingual

Jessica Alba is reconnecting with her Mexican heritage – and, with a new Spanish teacher, is making sure 19-month-old daughter Honor grows up appreciating her roots, too.

In the latest issue of Siempre Mujer magazine, Alba says she recently hired a Hispanic studies professor to teach her and Honor Spanish. The actress says she wants to help her daughter avoid the criticism she endured when she was 18 and her non-fluency in Spanish made headlines. "God knows that I wish I was raised bilingual," Alba says. "But it wasn't to be."

She also opened up about her pain from the media criticism, saying she "cried all night" over her portrayal in the press. "I tried to explain to [journalists] that in this country I'm considered Latina and, thus, I consider myself Latina as well," Alba, 28, says. "I identify with Mexicans. It's in my blood whether or not I speak Spanish."

When asked what she'd like to change about herself, Alba switched to a lighter note, wishing for fewer stretch marks – and the ability to "turn my brain off every once in a while. I'm too analytical."

source

Romeo 'Honored' By Lady Gaga Comparisons

NEW YORK — There's been an array of homegrown talent, from Rev. Run of Run-DMC to Marc Anthony to Jay-Z, who could make the claim that Madison Square Garden is their house. Rev. Run even made a song about it back in the day.

But Dominican Bachata group Aventura — all raised in the Bronx — are making a case of their own right now. The quartet is currently in the midst of a four-show run at the Garden, selling out each date and leading local tabloids to laud their feat, particularly over another Gotham act, Lady Gaga, who recently had a successful four-show run at the smaller Radio City Music Hall.

So what do the guys of Aventura think of the lofty praise?
"It's definitely an honor to be compared to artists like Marc Anthony and mainstream artists like Lady Gaga that are out and have done big stuff in New York City," Aventura frontman Anthony "Romeo" Santos told MTV News. "I hate it when they make it a competition though, because it's really totally different worlds. She's doing big things and if I wouldn't have had four concerts I would have probably been at one of her [dates] just enjoying her show."

The collective is touring in support of their fifth album, The Last, which has already spawned four hit singles, from the Akon-assisted "All Up 2 You" to current chart-topper "Dile al Amor." "Dile al Amor" is their fourth song to top the Latin charts.

"It's really overwhelming what's happening right now in Aventura's career," Romeo said. "We don't take anything for granted. I think that it's been a long journey, but we got motivated to keep going and never be satisfied with the status that we're in at the moment."

On Monday and Tuesday (February 1 and 2) the group will complete the New York City leg of their tour. According to Romeo, he and the other three Aventura members (Lenny Santos, Henry Santos Jeter and Max Santos) are looking forward to closing out the run with more surprises. They've been joined by Anthony, Akon and fellow Latin artists Wisin Y Yandel on stage so far.

"We try to make sure that everyone that's present leaves feeling like it was worth it," he said. "And with four nights at the Garden, I feel like we're halfway through and everyone has actually — from what I hear, the comments — left with their money's worth, 'cause we've given [the audience] what they expect but then we also brought some surprises, like Marc Anthony, Akon and Wisin Y Yandel."

source

Christina Aguilera writes songs with Le Tigre

How’s this for odd couples: Pop glamour goddess Christina Aguilera has written songs with feminist electro pop act Le Tigre. Not even Oscar and Felix can beat that eccentric but oh-so-wonderful couple.

According to Pitchfork and Johanna Fateman’s blog, a “couple of songs” that the feminine collaboration wrote over the winter may make the cut for Xtina’s new album, dubbed Bionic. Despite the at-surface level of implausibility regarding this most unique of pairings, Fateman said they all had a lot in common, especially since “Deceptacon” is apparently Aguilera’s “jam”.

“[We] found a ton of common ground in our aim to make upbeat danceable tracks celebrating female friendship, strength, and of course, PARTYING,” and, “The songs have a lot of elements we’re known for like a garage guitar sound, schoolyard chants, new wave-y synths, electro beats, and somehow it all sounds crazily right with Christina’s unbelievable voice. For a feminist band obsessed with pop music, it was pretty much a dream come true.”

Add Le Tigre to an album that will also see collabos with Goldfrapp, M.I.A, and Santigold, and we’re pretty sure this could be the most dynamic pop record of 2010. While Bionic doesn’t have an official release date, some blogs are saying it could be out as early as April. The first single, supposedly called “Glam”, could hit radios early this month.

source