Visitors to Staples Center and the adjacent L.A. Live plaza were treated to an unannounced free concert Friday (Sept. 10) when Justin Bieber took to an outdoor stage to rehearse his performance for Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards.
A crowd slowly gathered as the teen sensation and his team of dancers and musicians rehearsed for about two hours Friday afternoon. MTV representatives said they hadn't announced Bieber's outdoor rehearsal to avoid drawing the swarms of fans who have crowded the 16-year-old pop star's public appearances around the world.
10 Crazy VMA Moments 50 Outrageous VMA Fashions
10 Crazy VMA Moments 50 Outrageous VMA Fashions
Wearing a red varsity jacket with a sparkly "B" on the front, Bieber practiced his arrival to the outdoor stage in a cherry red 1957 Chevy Bel Air, chased by a pack of (precast) girls. Then, backed by a team of dancers and musicians, Bieber moonwalked and made a heart shape with his hands as he belted out his hit "Baby."
Passers-by wielded camera phones from behind barricades, and teenage admirers erupted in shrill screams anytime Bieber was within earshot. He smiled at them and flashed a peace sign with his fingers.
Though barely bigger than the troupe of pint-sized hip-hop dancers (age 9 through 13) who joined him on stage, Bieber acted like a seasoned pro.
"What's wrong with my drums? Like, I don't hear anything and it should be loud," he said after practicing a drum solo. "This has to be, like, an epic moment. It's ending the song."
Later, he complained that "the vocals are too loud in my ear and I can't hear the groove."
Passers-by wielded camera phones from behind barricades, and teenage admirers erupted in shrill screams anytime Bieber was within earshot. He smiled at them and flashed a peace sign with his fingers.
Though barely bigger than the troupe of pint-sized hip-hop dancers (age 9 through 13) who joined him on stage, Bieber acted like a seasoned pro.
"What's wrong with my drums? Like, I don't hear anything and it should be loud," he said after practicing a drum solo. "This has to be, like, an epic moment. It's ending the song."
Later, he complained that "the vocals are too loud in my ear and I can't hear the groove."
And when his wireless microphone pack fell to the floor, he casually gathered up the batteries and put the pack back in his pocket without missing a single lyric.
Bieber is set to perform on the same stage Sunday just outside the Nokia Theatre, where the Video Music Awards will be presented. Other performers include Drake, Kanye West and Eminem.
Bieber is set to perform on the same stage Sunday just outside the Nokia Theatre, where the Video Music Awards will be presented. Other performers include Drake, Kanye West and Eminem.
BAADA YA MAUZO YA NGUO MAREKANI KUONEKANA KUDODA MA-DESIGNER SASA WABUNI MBINU YA KUTUMIA WASANII WAKUBWA WANAIMBA MPAKA NDANI YA MADUKA
The fashion industry is turning to the music business to boost its fortunes as part of the second annual Fashion's Night Out on Sept. 10. Musicians will perform at some of New York's top fashion houses as part of the event, aimed at luring in consumers with the bonus of in-store performances and guest appearances.
Musicians "have to be savvy at your business these days and know alternative ways to be heard, and, in my case, be seen," says model/musician Karen Elson, who will perform songs from her debut album, "The Ghost Who Walks," at the Balenciaga shop.
In its first year, Fashion's Night Out -- a collaboration among American Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, NYC & Co. and the City of New York -- drew in crowds with appearances by TV and movie stars. Macy's had Kate Hudson. Bergdorf Goodman had "Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and Charlize Theron appeared at Dior.
This year, designers and brands are turning to musicians. Besides Elson at Balenciaga, Joss Stone and Train are scheduled to perform at Macy's Herald Square, where Sean "Diddy" Combs will also make an appearance. Stone will also stop in at Nine West on Fifth Avenue, while Mary J. Blige will play Bergdorf-Goodman, Pharrell Williams will appear at Billionaire Boys Club/Ice Cream, Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas will play Saks Fifth Avenue, Bryan Adams will perform at the Calvin Klein Collection store, and Gwen Stefani will make an appearance at Sephora's Broadway store to sign her new Wicked Style fragrance.
Other cities across the country will hold their own Fashion's Night Out events. CBS will air a special on Sept. 14, with an appearance by Justin Timberlake. Fashion's Night Out is one of the highlights of New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, which kicks off Sept. 9.
Elson says she agreed to play Balenciaga after doing a photo shoot for the luxury brand earlier this year. She's known designer Nicolas Ghesquiere since her early 20s. "It was sort of one of those moments that made perfect sense," she says.
The fashion industry is turning to the music business to boost its fortunes as part of the second annual Fashion's Night Out on Sept. 10. Musicians will perform at some of New York's top fashion houses as part of the event, aimed at luring in consumers with the bonus of in-store performances and guest appearances.Musicians "have to be savvy at your business these days and know alternative ways to be heard, and, in my case, be seen," says model/musician Karen Elson, who will perform songs from her debut album, "The Ghost Who Walks," at the Balenciaga shop.
In its first year, Fashion's Night Out -- a collaboration among American Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, NYC & Co. and the City of New York -- drew in crowds with appearances by TV and movie stars. Macy's had Kate Hudson. Bergdorf Goodman had "Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and Charlize Theron appeared at Dior.
This year, designers and brands are turning to musicians. Besides Elson at Balenciaga, Joss Stone and Train are scheduled to perform at Macy's Herald Square, where Sean "Diddy" Combs will also make an appearance. Stone will also stop in at Nine West on Fifth Avenue, while Mary J. Blige will play Bergdorf-Goodman, Pharrell Williams will appear at Billionaire Boys Club/Ice Cream, Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas will play Saks Fifth Avenue, Bryan Adams will perform at the Calvin Klein Collection store, and Gwen Stefani will make an appearance at Sephora's Broadway store to sign her new Wicked Style fragrance.
Other cities across the country will hold their own Fashion's Night Out events. CBS will air a special on Sept. 14, with an appearance by Justin Timberlake. Fashion's Night Out is one of the highlights of New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, which kicks off Sept. 9.
Elson says she agreed to play Balenciaga after doing a photo shoot for the luxury brand earlier this year. She's known designer Nicolas Ghesquiere since her early 20s. "It was sort of one of those moments that made perfect sense," she says.
But Elson says musicians have to be careful which brands they align themselves with. "Even for me, because obviously I'm in the fashion world and now I'm writing and playing music, it is a fine line. It's very difficult these days to sell records. If there's a situation with a fashion company that makes sense for a musician, that benefits them or gets their music out to an audience not being reached, I can understand."
For the fashion brands, the hope is that performances by well-known artists will drive foot traffic and boost sales, says Martine Reardon, Macy's executive VP for marketing and advertising. "This year, we looked at how we could top last year," she says.
The retailer decided to bring in Train because it fit with designer Tommy Hilfiger's line -- exclusive to Macy's -- and has always been tied to music.
"It's not like we went for musicians -- it's just that all the fashion designers we work with all have music as a major part of their lives, so those kinds of synergies work well for us," Reardon says. Earlier this year, Macy's partnered with Combs, and last month, it launched the Material Girl line from Madonna and her daughter, Lourdes.
Reardon says Macy's isn't specifically targeting artists for partnerships, but when it's part of a push for both brand and musician, it'll do it. "It's really about the product. I think those folks that have that real strong bent toward fashion, yes," she says. "For a bunch of musicians out there, fashion's not the most important thing to them. They just want to be musicians."
For the fashion brands, the hope is that performances by well-known artists will drive foot traffic and boost sales, says Martine Reardon, Macy's executive VP for marketing and advertising. "This year, we looked at how we could top last year," she says.
The retailer decided to bring in Train because it fit with designer Tommy Hilfiger's line -- exclusive to Macy's -- and has always been tied to music.
"It's not like we went for musicians -- it's just that all the fashion designers we work with all have music as a major part of their lives, so those kinds of synergies work well for us," Reardon says. Earlier this year, Macy's partnered with Combs, and last month, it launched the Material Girl line from Madonna and her daughter, Lourdes.
Reardon says Macy's isn't specifically targeting artists for partnerships, but when it's part of a push for both brand and musician, it'll do it. "It's really about the product. I think those folks that have that real strong bent toward fashion, yes," she says. "For a bunch of musicians out there, fashion's not the most important thing to them. They just want to be musicians."
Even Elson says she isn't obsessed with fashion, though she thinks both can inspire each other to a point. "I'm certainly not going to write a song about Prada shoes and handbags."
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