MANHUNT Daily

Aural Only: Everybody Hurts

So what does everybody think about the "Everybody Hurts" charity single that Simon Cowell produced for Haiti? The R.E.M. cover features an all-star line-up with Susan Boyle, Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, Jon Bon Jovi, Miley Cyrus, Cheryl Cole and several other artists lending their voices for the cause.

While I'm glad that these celebs took a moment to do something good for the world, I have absolutely no desire to listen to this song again. But that's just me! If you're into this, you can pre-order the single from Amazon for $12.98. It's pricey because it's an import, but at least it's for a good cause, right?

- Dewitt

To listen to "Everybody Hurts", follow the JUMP:

Weekly Top Ten: Expanding Horizons

For this week's Weekly Top Ten charts on Manhunt Daily, we've decided to incorporate a variety of the sounds and genres we've been exploring this week. From country to rock, we're departing from our standard mix of pop and dance music. But will any of these new selections make it to the next round? That's for you to decide!

You've already sent Roisin Murphy, Ellie Goulding, Gabriella Cilmi and Darius Rucker out on their asses, so there's no telling what power your votes will have. Speaking of votes, Carrie Underwood, Dan Black and Cheryl Cole didn't quite receive enough, as they've all been eliminated in the Wild Card round. 

If you're a Weekly Top Ten virgin, be prepared to sacrifice your butthole to the god of the charts. Or we could just tell you the rules... Each week you'll be presented with ten songs. You get to vote for up to three moving to the next week. From those results, we'll take the five tunes with the highest percentages, a song we saved and four other contributions. These selections will make up the following week's charts.

So how do you get your favorite song on the list? Dancing naked while juggling seventeen dildos, but of course. Alternatively, if you don't like what you see here, leave a comment with your suggestions for next week. We listen to nearly every song you recommend, and if it gives us goosebumps... you might see it here next time around!

- Dewitt

To check out the charts and vote, follow the JUMP:

Aural Only: Erykah Badu

Music critics and bloggers alike listed Erykah Badu's New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) album as one of the best of 2008, and the follow-up will soon be dropping this March 30^th. To give us a taste of what we might expect on Part Two (Return of The Ankh), Erykah's released a web-only bonus track entitled "Jump Up In The Air (Stay There)", which features Lil Wayne and Bilal.

If you thought Erykah was weird back in the '90s, her style's gotten even stranger since the days of calling "Tyrone". Because of this, it only seemed fair that Ms. Badu should round out our week of "expanding horizons" on Manhunt Daily. Who ever said our Weekly Top Ten couldn't benefit from a little oddness?

- Dewitt

To listen to "Jump Up In The Air (Stay There)", follow the JUMP:

Vote For The Weekly Top Ten Wild Card

With our weekly music countdown only two days away, we need your help in filling the last vacant position on the charts. Four songs will be vying for the final spot in this Saturday's Weekly Top Ten, and it's up to you to choose the winner! Which of these selections will be moving on to the final round?

Your choices include new releases from Pink, Dan Black, Carrie Underwood and Cheryl Cole. If you're not a fan of these, be proactive and make a request for next week! We'll be sure to check it out and consider including it, and it's a lot more productive than simply complaining...  

- Dewitt

To listen and vote for your favorite song, follow the JUMP:

On The Download: Taylor Swift, Ne-Yo & More!

Today's edition of Manhunt Daily's On The Download is all about the pop! We've sifted through some of our favorite music blogs and come back with free MP3 downloads from Marina and The Diamonds, Ne-Yo, Kimberly Caldwell and Taylor Swift. And two of them are brand spanking new, original tracks!

This may not be as epic as last week's thirty-eight song all-you-can-eat buffet, but we can't deliver such amazing selections all the time! If you have any suggestions for future posts, feel free to leave them in the comments. Hope you enjoy these!

- Dewitt

To check out the songs, follow the JUMP:

Aural Only: Lo-Fi-Fnk

After yesterday's post on Breaking Benjamin went over so well, I've decided that this week's "Aural Only" musical selections will focus on sounds you don't hear too often on Manhunt Daily. The big-time divas like Mariah and Beyonce can take a breather, because we're expanding our horizons!

Swedish duo Lo-Fi-Fnk deliver peppy synth-pop jams that'll put some spring in your step. "Marchin' In" is the lead single from their upcoming sophomore album, a follow-up to their excellent debut Boylife. So what do you think--are you loving it or hating it? Should we give a chance on the Weekly Top Ten or throw it back in the scrap heap?

- Dewitt

To listen to "Marchin' In", follow the JUMP:

Aural Only: Breaking Benjamin

I have absolutely no credibility in judging modern rock music, so don't throw your tomatoes at me for featuring Breaking Benjamin's latest single "Give Me A Sign". We received a request to add this song to the Weekly Top Ten during last week's Wild Card round, and I'm thinking about including it on this weekend's countdown. 

Considering that this decision was mostly based on my desire to poke lead guitarist Aaron Fink, please feel free to veto this selection. On the other hand, make sure you're vocal about it if you're feeling this one! I'll take your comments into consideration when making the final decision on whether this song makes the cut.

- Dewitt

To listen to "Give Me A Sign", follow the JUMP:

2010 Grammy Awards Discussion Post

So who watched the Grammys last night? Generally I'm not one to tune into award shows, but I couldn't help being curious with this one. Between the list of nominees and the scheduled performers, there appeared to be a promising chance of hot messes and amazing moments, and they certainly delivered in both respects.

I've rounded up a few of my favorite and least favorite moments of the night, so feel free to click through and check them out. I'd love to hear your opinions on some of these points, since we all seem to have such differing views on music. Bring it on!

- Dewitt

Photo credit: Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times

For a few talking points on the 2010 Grammys, follow the JUMP:

Weekly Top Ten: Alicia Gets Bumped

Highly suspicious! Our Weekly Top Ten rankings went under a curious transformation in very little time, resulting in superstar Alicia Keys getting bumped from the number three spot into dangerous territory. The other four artists who made up last week's top five have kept it strong, with Ellie Goulding rounding out the new line-up.

It could be worse for Alicia. She could have been placed in the same situation as Dangerous Muse, Adam Lambert, Peaches and the Sugababes. These four didn't quite make this week's cut, and hopefully we'll be seeing them all again with different songs. The xx, Three Days Grace and Gucci Mane didn't even get a chance to compete, as they were all eliminated in the Wild Card round. And in the case of Gucci Mane, he was really eliminated. 

If you're new to the Weekly Top Ten, stop looking at porn for a second while I explain the rules. Each week you'll be presented with ten songs. You get to vote for up to three moving to the next week. From those results, we'll take the five tunes with the highest percentages, a song we saved and four other contributions. These selections will make up the following week's charts.

So how do you get your favorite song on the list? I can tell you one thing--it's not by complaining. If you don't like what you see here, leave a comment with your suggestions for next week. We listen to nearly every song you recommend, and if it makes us tingle in our no-no places... you might see it here next time around!

- Dewitt

To check out the charts and vote, follow the JUMP:

Mariah Carey Debuts Two New Music Videos

In a desperate attempt to breathe new life into her Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel album, Mariah Carey will soon be releasing a full remix album entitled Angels Advocates. She's kicked off the hype with two brand new music videos for her songs "Up Out My Face" and "Angels Cry", along with the help of Ne-Yo and up-and-coming female rapper Nicki Minaj. Personally, I think these two songs should have been the album's lead singles, and it's a shame that they've waited so long to release them!

"Up Out My Face" has a pleasant bounce, reminiscent of Mariah's previous number one hit "Touch My Body". Unlike many last-minute collaborations between rappers and singers, Nicki Minaj doesn't sound like an afterthought on this. She pops out some quality, quotable lines, although none of them can quite match her partner's absolutely insane "lego blocks" lyric...

On the flip-side, "Angels Cry" is in the style of Mariah's classic ballads with a bit of a "We Belong Together" vibe. It falls a little flat on the original album, but Ne-Yo's presence takes it up a notch. Though it's ultra sappy and coming out at a time when ballads aren't performing particularly well, some folks are going to eat this shit up.

We don't want to anger any of Mimi's militant "lambs", yet we also don't want to shove her down the throats of the guys who can't stand her. The solution? Only one of these songs can make it onto our Weekly Top Ten charts, and we're putting it up to a vote. So which one should it be?

- Dewitt

To watch the new videos and vote, follow the JUMP: