10 Music Collaborations No One Saw Coming But Everyone Loved
Many music collaborations are obvious: Mick Jagger and David Bowie had been friends for years, so it was no surprise that the two singers joined forces for the 1985 hit “Dancing in the Street.”
Other partnerships come out of left field. Not all of them work, but some unlikely collaborations produce unforgettable tunes.
We’re all glad that these artists came together. Nobody saw it coming, but the end result delivered some true musical gems.
1. Run-DMC and Aerosmith: Walk This Way
Could there have been a more unlikely collaboration? One of the most popular and respected rock bands in history coming together with a hip-hop group just establishing its reputation?
We’ll work through many acts, but this may be the least likely matchup of all. It’s also a perfect example of why these collaborations often work. Run-DMC and Aerosmith released an unforgettable version of “Walk This Way,” and certain fans of both artists prefer this to the original.
2. Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield: What Have I Done to Deserve This?
For their first significant collaboration, the Pet Shop Boys actively sought out Dusty Springfield, and the choice wasn’t universally accepted. It’s claimed that the band’s record label wanted a more “current” artist, given that Spingfield’s career was in decline and she hadn’t had a hit for 14 years.
The group insisted, and they were justified. Dusty’s husky voice was a perfect fit for “What Have I Done to Deserve This.” The song helped revive her ailing career, reaching number two on both the UK chart and the US Billboard Hot 100.
3. Art of Noise and Tom Jones: Kiss
By the 1980s, Tom Jones’ career hadn’t slumped to the extent of Dusty Springfield, but this Welsh singer with the big voice, had drifted out of the public eye. In contrast, the experimental synth band, Art of Noise was very much “of the time.”
Having seen Jones perform Prince’s “Kiss” on TV, the band contacted him with a view to releasing it as a single. The result is an odd mix of the two artists’ styles, but it somehow worked. This cover version reached number five in the UK, but they loved it in New Zealand where “Kiss” topped the charts.
4. Bing Crosby and David Bowie: Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy
David Bowie entered into many collaborations in his career, and most made sense. He teamed up with, among others, old friends Mick Jagger and Marc Bolan, but his duet with Bing Crosby was unexpected.
The “Starman” joined up with the crooner in September 1977 to record and film a track for Crosby’s Christmas show. Sadly, Bing Crosby died in October of the same year, which added an extra level of emotion to their stunning performance of “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy.”
5. U2 and Green Day: The Saints Are Coming
They are two rock bands, but there are few additional similarities between U2 and Green Day. It could be argued that U2 was part of the established series of bands that Green Day was against.
Whatever their differences, the groups collaborated to great effect to raise money for New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. “The Saints are Coming” was originally released by Scottish post-punk band Skids, and the intense anthem was perfect for the cause.
6. Eminem and Rihanna: Love the Way You Lie
When these two artists combined in 2010, they were at their respective peaks. It’s not uncommon for two superstars to work together, but Eminem and Rihanna appealed to completely different fanbases.
Those followers united in their passion for the brilliant “Love the Way You Lie.” The wider music-buying public embraced it too, as the single spent seven weeks on top of the US Billboard charts.
7. Gene Pitney and Marc Almond: Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart
It was an unlikely collab: 1960s crooner Gene Pitney joined forces with Marc Almond, singer of Soft Cell and one of the most influential artists of the New Romantic scene.
Critics had underestimated the quality and power of Almond’s voice, which was a perfect foil for Pitney’s softer style. The two artists released a version of Gene Pitney’s 1967 single, “Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart,” and they enjoyed a deserved number one in the UK charts.
8. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Kylie Minogue: Where the Wild Roses Grow
While there were rumors over Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue, and whether they were in a relationship, few expected them to work together. Their natural styles didn’t blend, but a king of the goth movement produced a stunning release alongside everyone’s favorite pop princess.
“Where the Wild Roses Grow,” is a disturbing track from Cave’s exceptionally bleak Murder Ballads album. His voice is a perfect fit, but Kylie adds a vulnerability that makes this a brilliant, if unlikely collaboration.
9. The Smiths and Sandie Shaw: Hand in Glove
An emerging indie band formed an unlikely alliance with a 1960s pop icon when these two artists came together. They collaborated due to mutual respect. Smiths’ lead singer Morrissey had been a huge follower of Sandie Shaw and used to write fan letters to his idol.
“Hand in Glove” was the band’s first single, but it failed to chart on release in May 1983. A year later, Shaw’s cover version, backed by Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke, and Mike Joyce, reached number 27 in the UK, and became an iconic, if unusual addition, to this band’s great musical legacy.
10. Dolly Parton and Sylvester Stallone: Woke Up in Love
It’s debatable whether this 1984 collaboration delighted music lovers, but it’s certainly entertaining looking back. Sylvester Stallone takes on a country duet with the established singer Dolly Parton, and opinion on the outcome is mixed.
Sly sounds like someone impersonating a country singer on “Woke Up in Love.” The two also teamed up on the 1984 single “Sweet Lovin’ Friends,” which failed to chart.
