VMA Roundup: Slash Presenting, Kid Rock to Perform With Lil Wayne, Kanye West to Close Show

Kid Rock and Lil Wayne had both been announced as performers at this Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards, but as it turns out, the two will will perform together. Rock will reportedly play his "All Summer Long" while sharing the stage with Weezy. More details: Depending on which MTV article you read, new addition Christina Aguilera will either be performing a new version of her hit "Genie in a Bottle" or her new track "Keeps Getting Better," the title song of her upcoming Target-only greatest hits album. Aguilera also promises that the VMAs will be the first place to showcase "my new image and my new sound," with Christina making the transition from "vintage glam" to "the future." T.I. also has a duet planned, as he'll hook up with Rihanna on stage to debut a new song from Paper Trail. Slash will also make an appearance as a presenter. And then there's Kanye West. Last year, West stated he'd never return to MTV after being given a less-favorable performance slot at last year's VMAs. This year, West will not only perform from the main stage, he'll close out the entire event with an unspecified — and possibly new — song. As for us, we'll be all over the VMAs this Sunday night, live-blogging the show as you watch at home. Plus, we'll have a special edition of the Smoking Section, video from the red carpet and much more, so keep it at Rock Daily this weekend.

Related Stories:
• Kanye West, Christina Aguilera Will Perform at VMAs
• Britney Spears To Open MTV’s VMAs In Non-Performance Role
• Kid Rock To Perform At VMAs Despite Last Year's Fisticuffs

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

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