Idolator

Tonight's Brit Awards didn't just serve as the latest stop on Amy Winehouse's during-rehab Rehab Tour: the ceremony also had a segment where Rihanna interpolated "Umbrella" with the Klaxons' "Golden Skans," the latest incidence of her formerly ubiquitous hit being smooshed together with a song from a different genre/era. But did melding the track with the "Shattered Dreams" soundalike really work? I'm unsure, although I should note that said uneasiness didn't really hit me until "Golden Skans"' "ooh-ooh-oohs" kicked in—and I'm pretty sure Ri-Ri's somewhat challenged enunciation didn't help my overall perception much. For comparison's sake, the version Rihanna performed with the Time last week at the Grammys is after the jump. More »

After mixing "Umbrella" up with The Time's "Jungle Love" at last week's Grammys, Rihanna is set to perform the umpteenth "live remix" of the song at Wednesday's Brit Awards. Her foils this time: The Klaxons, who told Radio One that their take on the still-pretty-ubiquitous hit will be "an electronic version with guitars on it." Which sounds to me like it could describe the original take on the song, but apparently Rihanna's people disagree in a hilarious way! "They've got this funny idea of what our band sounds like and we've done three or four different versions," the band said. "Her people kept sending versions back going 'No, this sounds more like you.'" Perhaps her management thought that she would actually be working with the Jacksons? [Guardian / Photo: AP]

Brian May-beloved crooner Mika, TV talent show winner Leona Lewis, and the Robbie Williams-less Take That each snagged four nominations for this year's Brit Awards. Other nominees of note include Bat For Lashes, PJ Harvey, and the NME-beloved Klaxons, but the real throwdown's going to be in the International Album category, where the Arcade Fire's Neon Bible squares off against the Eagles' Long Road Out Of Eden. It's good against evil! Righteousness against Don Henley! The bright light of the new millennium's indie hopes against the calculating, money-hungry baby boomer generation! (OK, OK, I'm being a bit hyperbolic. And Kings of Leon are probably going to win that category anyway.) Full list of nominees after the jump. More »