The Morning Mix: If Rihanna Wants Drum Lessons, Rihanna Gets Drum Lessons

Did You Hear?

:: Rihanna wanted to learn the drums (why? who knows), so she called up Blink-182’s Travis Barker for lessons. And that’s just one example of how great it is to be being rich and famous. [Spin]

:: Still not getting the Justin Bieber phenomenon? Wake up! The kid’s got the swoon-inducing power of all three Jonas Brothers, wrapped in the packaging of an amazing haircut and killer kicks. Check out this Justin Bieber For Dummies guide and wise up already. [PopEater]

:: Diplo says the new M.I.A. album (due this summer) is “sort of like an Animal Collective/gospel/giant-drum record” and that it has a “punk thing… it’s weird.” Uh, that’s what we were expecting? [MTV]

:: Wuh oh—we always knew Mary J. Blige was a musical diva, but is she a drama queen too? [The Boombox]

:: Christina Aguilera, on the verge of releasing her new single “Not Myself Tonight”, hit Trousdale in West Hollywood the other night with a big stack of blond curls atop her head. No devil tail. [Just Jared]

After the jump: can you feel the love tonight for Sir Elton John? You should, because it’s his birthday.

Music on TV Today: :: Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) – Josh Turner (repeat) :: Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC) – Puddle of Mudd :: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC) – Robert Randolph and Sacred Steel :: Last Call with Carson Daly (ABC) – The Airborne Toxic Event :: Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC) – Sarah McLachlan and Emmylou Harris

VIDEO REWIND OF THE DAY: It’s Sir Elton John’s 63rd birthday, so we’re digging deep—way deep—for our Video Rewind of the Day to honor Elton’s musical legacy. The original video for 1976’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” consisted simply of Elton and Kiki Dee singing in front of a mic and doing very little else, but we much prefer the unapologetically cheeseball video filmed for a Disney special in 1988, where Kiki Dee was switched out for Minnie Mouse.

Elton clearly has a love of Disney (he did write the songs for The Lion King and Aida, after all) and here’s one more example: check out the live video of Elton John in a giant Donald Duck costume in 1980, performing “Your Song” in the very first Central Park concert ever. Oh, Sir Elton, you really were the Lady Gaga of your day. (No wonder you two get along so well.)

Have a great day!