The seven most unexpected music collabs we did not see coming: Dolly Parton, Eminem and more
The music world is constantly growing and expanding - and one way this is done is through music collaborations.
Some of the most famous songs were made through artist collaborations - Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure”, Beyonce and Jay-Z’s “Crazy In Love”.
When an unexpected collaboration is released, genres, generations and personalities can be merged in surprisingly interesting ways.
Music News Blitz writer Evie Scroggie recalls the seven most unexpected music collabs that we definitely did not see coming.
Dolly Parton & Galantis - ‘Faith’
When the news that country icon Dolly Parton was set to be collaborating with the Swedish EDM duo Galantis, we really did not know what to expect. And what we got was a high energy dance track which actually worked really well.
“Faith” is an uplifting song you’d hear in the clubs, however Dolly’s southern charm undoubtedly sweeps throughout.
Even at the age of 73, Dolly proved she can still shock us all, producing electronic beats that can beacon anyone to the dancefloor.
Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett - ‘Cheek To Cheek’ Album
Pop sensation Lady Gaga and jazz legend Tony Bennett made music headlines when they collaborated and released an entire album of jazz hits.
Both voices work exceptionally together, especially in the album’s classics “Cheek To Cheek” and “Anything Goes”.
The duo worked so well together that the two formed an unlikely friendship and even went on to release a second album together “Love For Sale”, before Bennett sadly retired due to Alzheimer's.
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Run-D.M.C. & Aerosmith - ‘Walk This Way’
A group of rappers creating a cover of a rock song was pretty much unheard of in the 80s.
After Run-D.M.C. reimagined the 1975 Aerosmith hit “Walk This Way”, they then invited the rock band to join them when releasing the track. The cover blended the genres of hip-hop and rock together and the result was revolutionary.
Musical barriers were crumbled, and rap was pushed even closer towards mainstream music. Definitely a historical pinnacle of music pop culture.
Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus - ‘Old Town Road (Remix)’
It’s safe to say that “Old Town Road (Remix)” absolutely broke the internet.
American country singer songwriter Billy Ray Cyrus collaborated with young rapper Lil Nas X, by featuring on a remixed version of his song. The remix held the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 for 19 impressive weeks and went completely viral on TikTok.
This remix was definitely an unexpected one and redefined what a “hit” could sound like.
Kanye West & Paul McCartney - ‘Only One’
Kanye is one of those music artists that is always doing something unexpected, in music, online, and in his personal life. But collaborating with one of the Beatles, yeah nobody saw that one coming.
Kanye West and Paul McCartney just sounds surreal.
“Only One” is an emotionally raw, minimalistic ballad, it was surprisingly gentle and showcased both artists in a different light than we had seen before.
Elton John & Eminem - ‘Stan’ Grammy Performance
During a period of time where Eminem was under public scrutiny due to homophobic lyrics, I can say with absolute certainty that nobody was predicting his next collaboration to be openly gay music legend Elton John.
The pair delivered a beautiful rendition of Eminem’s “Stan” at the 2001 Grammy Awards, shocking the audience, sparking debate, but its controversy created a powerful and unforgettable music moment.
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Post Malone & Ozzy Osbourne - ‘Take What You Want’
Post Malone is a modern day music star who mixes rap and rock, and nobody expected him to collaborate with the dark and gothic voice of Ozzy Osbourne. Yet despite the shock, “Take What You Want” worked incredibly well.
Sounds of hip-hop and classic rock were blended together, including an incredibly impressive guitar solo.
This marked Ozzy’s return to the charts after almost a decade and it solidified Post Malone as an artist who always manages to pull off genre-blending masterpieces.
Summary
We have seen collaborations between country, hip-hop, rap, gothic rock and more.
Listening to huge artists within the music industry blend their sounds together and create unexpected masterpieces will never be anything short of sensational.
I don’t know about you but I am really looking forward to hearing what surprising duo are set to hit the studio and top the charts together next.
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