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Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize 2009 (Video)

Shallow Nation — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:28:58 +0000

U.S. President Barack Obama is the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2009. Video of the Oct. 9 announcement, which has come as a surprise, is below. Updated with video and transcript of Obama’s speech in response.

The Nobel Committee, in Oslo, Norway, named him the 108th recipient of the prize for, according to a statement, “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”

Additionally, the statement reads: “The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama’s initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climactic challenges the world is facing.” [Source: Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize]

As the New York Times notes, the announcement came as a surprise with journalists, inquiring of committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland, as to why he was named the Nobel Laureate rather than other candidates who include human rights activists in such countries as China and Afghanistan. Noting the Obama administration’s involvement in the war in Afghanistan, he said:

“[It] concerns us all. We do hope an improvement in the international climate could help resolve that.”

Additionally, why so early in his presidency was he the award recipient. To which the chairman responded:

We are not awarding the prize for what may happen in the future but for what he has done in the previous year. We would hope this will enhance what he is trying to do.”

Source: Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

He is the fourth U.S. president to win the Nobel; previous recipients have been Jimmy Carter in 2002 long after he had left office; Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt while they were still in office. [Source: Factbox - U.S. presidents who won Nobel Peace Prize]

Video of the Barack Obama Nobel Peace Prize announcement is below. Additionally see the video of the Obama speech on Oct. 9.

In his speech he said: “Let me be clear, I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations…”I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honored by this prize.”

Source: Obama Says He’s ‘Surprised and Humbled’ by Nobel Prize

Here is the full transcript of the speech: President Obama’s Nobel Reaction

Both videos are below. Check back for additional updates.

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Video Link – Obama Speech at the White House responding to winning the Nobel Peace Prize

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Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize 2009 (Video)

AskMen.com Top 49 Most Influential Men of 2009: Mad Men’s Don Draper Tops the List

Shallow Nation — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:52:47 +0000

AskMen.com has just unveiled their highly anticipated list of Top 49 Most Influential Men 2009 on Oct. 6. Don Draper the fictional character portrayed by Jon Hamm (picture above) of the AMC hit series Mad Men tops the list. Find out all the details here of the list which includes a variety of public figures, in politics, business, sports, film, television, music, fashion, media and more.

The votes of more than half a million readers were entirely responsible for the list, making it particularly revealing of public views and opinions. Ranking at No. 1 last year was President Barack Obama as he was then the Democrat candidate in the historic Presidential election. This year, the President falls in rank to No. 3. He is outranked by a fictional character as well as by the world’s fastest man, three-time Olympian sprinter Usain Bolt.

Ranking No. 1 in 2009 as noted is Mad Men’s Don Draper. The full list is here:
AskMen.com -Top 49 Most Influential Men 2009 with a separate page, photos and biographical details for each of the winners.

Being fictional poses no barriers to influence. An icon is an icon; Sherlock Holmes as a notable example. The program Man Men, recently nominated for 16 Emmy Awards, at the start of its second season, is already on its way to iconic stature. It centers around the Don Draper character, who is creative director of the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency. The show has even been parodied by Sesame Street in a video that has gone viral (see here on YouTube).

Regarding this year’s No. 1, AskMen.com says of the Mad Men icon.

The man that Don Draper is — value-driven and thoroughly masculine — is the product of a bygone era; without him, there would be no contemporary figure to represent it. Yet, as removed as his persona may be, it is also contemporary and familiar. He’s a postwar archetype, both a brilliant career man and a temptation-swayed philanderer who sincerely wants to be a family man. Like most men, us and our fathers both, Draper is permanently conflicted over how to reconcile his morals and his desires.

Rounding out the Top Five….

2. Usain Bolt, Three-time Olympic gold medalist and the world’s fastest man
3. President Barack Obama
4. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder, CEO and president of Facebook
5. Simon Cowell, music mogul, judge on American Idol, X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent

Other notables who made the list include the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, Grammy Award winning rapper and mogul Jay-Z, legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, Oscar winning Hollywood director James Cameron, Grammy Award winnning Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, and NBA superstar Kobe Bryant.

As noted the full list, with photos and bios are on AskMen.com -Top 49 Most Influential Men 2009 for readers to see where their favorite influential men rank on the list.

See a video of the most influential of them all, Mad Men’s Don Draper in action below.

Video Link

AskMen.com Top 49 Most Influential Men of 2009: Mad Men’s Don Draper Tops the List

Black Eyed Peas 2009 Teen Choice Awards Video, Photos

Shallow Nation — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:31:48 +0000

Here are the Black Eyed Peas 2009 Teen Choice Awards video and photos from August 10, 2009. See the Black Eyed Peas I Gotta Feeling live performance of the second single from their fifth studio album, ‘The E.N.D.’ (The Energy Never Dies) at the 11th annual TCA 09. The song which samples “Love Is Gone” by French DJ David Guetta who co-produced the track with Will.i.am.

Additionally, the group received a Teen Choice Award; the Choice Music: Rap/Hip Hop track Award for their international chart topping hit single, Boom Boom Pow, lead single of their new album. See: Teen Choice Awards 2009: The full list of winners

The award winning single Boom Boom Pow debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 100 and topped the chart for several consecutive weeks and also topped charts in several countries around the world, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, becoming the first No. hit single for the group which is comprised of Black Eyed Peas is comprised of Will.i.am, Fergie, Apl.de.ap and Taboo.

Black Eyed Peas 2009 Teen Choice Awards Video and more photos after the jump.

The Black Eyed Peas 2009 Teen Choice Awards video reveals a crowd pleasing performance of I Gotta Feeling. The album, The E.N.D. features production and appearances from David Guetta, MSTRKRFT, Boys Noize, Keith Harris and Paper Boy and is their first album in four years, since the multi-platinum selling album Monkey Business. [Source: "Boom" sets off nonstop party from Black Eyed Peas]

The Black Eyed Peas are presently touring as a supporting act with the U2 360 Tour. The group embarks on a headlining tour in support of the album, The E.N.D World Tour, which will run through 2010, and kicks off later this year with Japan, Australia and New Zealand tour dates already confirmed.

Link: Black Eyed Peas 2009 Teen Choice Awards Video

Black Eyed Peas 2009 Teen Choice Awards Video, Photos 8-10-09

2009 BET Awards Performances Video: Jamie Foxx Moonwalk Video

Shallow Nation — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:59:49 +0000

Here are the 2009 BET Awards Performances Video and the Jamie Foxx Moonwalk Video. The Oscar and Grammy winning actor and singer hosted the 9th annual awards on June 28, 2009, which were a tribute and celebration of the life and legacy of King of Pop Michael Jackson.

New Edition performed a medley of Jackson 5 signature hits, including “ABC” and “The Love You Save,” and “ABC” with childhood Michael Jackson photos shown on a large screen.

Jamie Foxx wore the Michael Jackson iconic 1980s jacket and single glove, as “Beat It” was played. He said: “We are here for the greatest. There’s no need to be sad. We want to celebrate this black man – he belongs to us – and we shared him with everybody else….It don’t matter what he looked like … what his nose looked like … it was what he sounded like.”

Jamie Foxx Moonwalk Video reveals the actor/singer delivering a crowd pleasing and flawless rendition of the signature MJ Moonwalk. Jamie Foxx Tour 2009, Intuition Tour in support of his platinum selling third studio album of the same title is underway.

The Janet Jackson BET Awards appearance was brief, as the music legend’s sister, visibly moved, spoke on behalf of her family: “To you, Michael is an icon. To us, Michael is family and he will forever live in all of our hearts. … Thank you for all of your support. We miss him so much.”

Jamie Foxx Moonwalk Video and 2009 BET Awards Performances Video below.

For more on the show, see:

To see the list of winners, see: 2009 BET Awards Winners (Video, Photos): BET Awards 2009 Winners

To see all of the performers, see: 2009 BET Awards Performances Video

List of performances…..

New Edition Jackson 5 Tribute
Drake/Lil’ Wayne/Birdman/Young Money Medley
Jay-Z – D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)
Beyonce – Ave Maria
Keyshia Cole – Trust (feat. Monica)
Soulja Boy – Turn My Swag On
Maxwell – Pretty Wings
Ciara MJ Tribute
Jamie Foxx – Blame It (feat. T-Pain & Travis Barker)
Jamie Foxx – She Got Her Own (feat. Ne-Yo & Fabolous)
Ne-Yo MJ Tribute
Keri Hilson – Turnin Me On/Knock You Down
Tevin Campbell, Trey Songz, Tyrese & Johnny Gill OJays Tribute
Keith Sweat/Guy/BBD Medley

Jamie Foxx Moonwalk Video

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Janet Jackson 2009 BET Awards – Jamie Foxx Ne-Yo I’ll Be There Michael Jackson Tribute Video

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pics pictures
2009 BET Awards Performances Video: Jamie Foxx Moonwalk Video

Eminem Run DMC Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Video

Shallow Nation — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:31:52 +0000

Watch the Eminem Run DMC Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction video here. The legendary hip hop pioneers were inducted by rapper Eminem at the 2009 Induction ceremony which took place on April 4, 2009 at Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio, (which is the city which houses the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame). The ceremony was broadcast on Fuse TV.

Run DMC surviving members are Joseph “DJ Run” Simmons (a.k.a. Rev Run), and Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels. The third member of the group, Jason “Jam-Master Jay” Mizell, was killed in a shooting in 2002. Breaking with tradition, the group did not perform as they have vowed not to perform publicly in the aftermath of his death. However, they delivered emotionally poignant acceptance speeches which you can also see here. Jam Master Jay’s mother and widow also delivered speeches.

Eminem donned the group’s iconic black leather jacket and fedora and Addidas for his presentation. ‘Two turntables and a microphone; that’s all it took to change the world, ‘ he, said, noting trailblazing achievements of the group from Hollis, Queens, New York who became the Kings of Rock. The group was the first hip hop group to go platinum, the first to have their songs played on MTV, and the first to make hip hop a global phenomena, selling out arenas internationally.

In the Eminem Run DMC Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction speech, the rapper noted the group’s influence on his own career as a rapper and that of rapper 50 Cent who was mentored by the late Jam-Master Jay. He also noted the irony of the 1985 Run DMC King of Rock hit single whose music video shows the trio being barred from entering the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. You can see that classic video on YouTube.

Run DMC first came to prominence with their 1983 hit single ‘Sucker MCs,’ In 1984 they released their self-titled debut album. Notable for infusing rock and role music samples; one of their biggest hits was the remix of legendary rock band Aerosmith 1979 classic, ‘Walk this Way,’ which led to collaborations and performances with the Boston rock group, who are also featured in the music video for the hit which you can also see on YouTube.

Run DMC is the second hip-hop group to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; previously, in 2008, the legendary Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five were inducted.

Eminem Run DMC Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction video and Induction speech video after the jump.

Backstage, the group talked about their 1985 King of Rock video.

“There was no Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” McDaniels said.

“We were mad, saying, ’They won’t let us in,’ but there was no rock hall for us to get into so we were dumb not to back then,” Simmons said, laughing.

Source: Eminem brings Run-DMC into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2009 were Metallica, 1950s rockabilly legend Wanda Jackson and guitar legend Jeff Beck.

For more on the Induction ceremony and photos see Rolling Stone’s comprehensive article: Metallica, Run-DMC, Jeff Beck Join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at Wild Induction Ceremony

Photo credit: Sony BMG

Eminem Run DMC Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Video

YouTube Video Link

Run DMC Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Acceptance Speech video

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Videos via Prefix Mag and Mr World Premiere

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Eminem Run DMC Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Video

Stevie Wonder Gershwin Prize White House Concert Video, Photos

Shallow Nation — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:36:19 +0000

President Barack Obama presented Stevie Wonder the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. See videos and photos of the February 25, 2009 concert, Stevie Wonder In Performance at the White House: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize which was held in the East Room. The special concert was in celebration of Black History Month and is part of the’ In Performance at the White House’ series, was broadcast in the U.S. on PBS stations.

The concert showcases the numerous hits that Stevie Wonder has had throughout his legendary career. He has 25 Grammy Awards, more than any other solo artist. In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; in 2002 he was inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 2002.

The award is not the first time the Library of Congress (LOC) has honored him; In 2005 the LOC put his 1976 double album Songs in the Key of Life in the National Recording Registry, which recognizes recordings that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically important and/or inform or reflect life in the United States.”

“Stevie Wonder is the epitome of what the Gershwin Prize stands for,” said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington, who selected Stevie Wonder for the honor in September 2008. “He has crossed musical and cultural boundaries and has made contributions to humanity far beyond the realm of entertainment.” [Source: LOC]

On February 23, 2009 at the presentation of the Gershwin Prize, Wonder premiered an original work at the concert, of “Sketches of a Life,” a classical composition that he first began writing more than 30 years ago, in 1976 and completed it in the 1990s. He had not premiered the work and was quoted as saying that he needed an “impetus” to do so.

Accompanied by a 21-piece chamber ensemble, Wonder alternated between piano, electric keyboard and his trusty harmonica during a largely autobiographical work in nine movements. His melodic gifts were on generous display during the nearly 20-minute piece, though the chords tended to be darker and more haunting than the ones Wonder usually writes. The music, though, was no less lyrical or soulful. [...]

He’s hardly a classical purist, of course: “Sketches” leaned at times toward pop show tunes and jazz. One movement was something like chamber funk, with Wonder vamping on the clavinet as the ensemble’s sound swelled. Another segment was basically a blues-jazz instrumental, with Wonder taking off on a lyrical harmonica run over piano chords and a swaying beat — all while jazz legend Herbie Hancock nodded his head in the audience.

Source: For Gershwin, a Wonder Beheld

Both President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama delivered remarks at the special occasion.

The first album I bought was Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book,” Michelle Obama said, welcoming the packed room, which included Vice President Biden and his wife, Jill. “Years later, when Barack and I discovered what Stevie meant about love, we chose the song You and I for our wedding.” Obama noted Wonder’s ability to reach all ages, citing his Grammy performance with the Jonas Brothers, “thrilling a new generation of young girls, including our own.”

The President, echoing the sentiments spoke of the importance of Wonder’s music in the development of the relationship with his future wife, called the music, “the essence of our courtship.”

The Gershwin Prize was established in tribute to the legendary duo of 20th century U.S. composer George Gershwin and his lyricist brother Ira Gershwin. Wonder is the second recipient; Paul Simon was the first to receive the award.

Wonder got the night going, singing his 1976 hit Sir Duke. Tony Bennett, who sang For Once in My Life, proclaimed the guest of honor “Stevie Wonderful” when Wonder joined him at the end of the song.

Other performers included: Esperanza Spaulding, Diana Krall, gospel duo Mary Mary, India.Arie, soprano Anita Johnson, Martina McBride, Paul Simon and will.i.am.

“I am so glad my children are growing up under an Obama presidency,” said previous Gershwin prize winner Simon, who called Wonder a “blessing.”

Source: Wonder’s in the (White) House for concert salute

After the jump is the Stevie Wonder White House Performance and concert video. More concert pictures below.

The full video is posted on the PBS Web site:

“In Performance at the White House – Celebrating the Music of Stevie Wonder”.

More pictures below. Additionally, there are several more photos at WhiteHouse.gov

Here are some video excerpts.

YouTube Link

Stevie Wonder to Receive U.S. Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

Stevie Wonder Gershwin Prize White House Concert Video, Photos pics pictures

Ben Stiller Oscars (Joaquin Phoenix) Video, Photos

Shallow Nation — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:53:49 +0000

Ben Stiller made a memorable appearance at the 2009 Oscars, spoofing Joaquin Phoenix’s infamous David Letterman interview. Watch video and photos here. Alongside Natalie Portman, his co-presenter for Best Cinematography Academy Award, the actor hilariously mimicked Phoenix’s scruffy, bearded appearance and vacant, disoriented mannerisms.

Phoenix made headlines with his February 11, 2009 appearance on Letterman and the video went viral. The Oscar nominated (’Walk the Line’) actor was ostensibly on the program to promote his most movie, James Gray’s Two Lovers, which costars Gwyneth Paltrow. The actor has famously “retired” to pursue his career as a rapper, although speculation is rampant that it is all an elaborate prank, and part of a documentary (mockumentary?) that Casey Affleck is filming chronicling the (former?) actor’s career change. (See Letterman Phoenix: Joaquin Phoenix David Letterman Video 2-11-09)

Stiller, spoofing Phoenix went into a disjointed presentation on the Oscar nominees for Best Cinematography, claiming Slumdog Millionaire was shot using a cell phone camera.

“I just want to retire from being the funny guy,” Stiller mumbled, as the audience guffawed. “You look like you work at a Hasidic meth lab,” said Portman.

Meanwhile, Phoenix continues to claim that his career change is not a prank.

“There’s not a hoax. Might I be ridiculous? Might my career in music be laughable? Yeah, that’s possible, but that’s certainly not my intention.”

Source: Oscars 2009: Presenter Ben Stiller spoofs Joaquin Phoenix

Photo credit: Getty Images North America Composite photo source: Just Jared

Here is the Ben Stiller Joaquin Phoenix video parody. Another Oscars picture is below.

YouTube Link

Natalia Portman with Ben Stiller who spoofs Joaquin Phoenix at the 2009 Oscars, February 22, 2009

Ben Stiller Oscars (Joaquin Phoenix) Video, Photos pics