Missy Elliott & Madonna

Did you ever wonder why Axl Rose always sang into a giant Q-Tip? And, did you ever wonder when Q-Tip went out on a date, if he brought his lady Axl Roses? To this point, in no particular order, and only in my opinion, below are the very best collaborations and mash-ups of artists & songs. First, a quick lesson on the distinction between the two and a disclaimer!

A “collaboration” is considered 2 artists working together on a song (although, there are posthumous cases and varied # of artists that defy this description). There are 3 Grammy award categories existing specifically for collaboration in music:

Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals (1988)

Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (1995)

Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (2002)

A “mash-up” is a song or composition created by blending two or more songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the music track of another. This is typically remixed by a DJ not having anything to do with the artists themselves.

• Madonna featuring Missy Elliott – Into The Hollywood Groove (The Passengerz Mix): This was originally released nationally as part of a Gap campaign so, if it sounds familiar to you, that’s why. It was never released to mainstream radio but was included on Madonna’s “Remixed & Revisted” cd, which is brilliant. You should download this song immediately.

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• GLEE – Halo/Walking on Sunshine: With Season 1, Vol. 1 of GLEE now over (at least in the U.S.), I thought let’s go ahead and give them more free pub! GLEE had at least 4 mash-ups in their freshman first semester (including an episode entitled Mash-up) and I thought this to be the best of them all. It’s high-energy, high-pitched girliness blending two of the greatest Pop songs ever. The Boys’ mash-up, if you recall, was Usher’s Confessions Part 2 with Bon Jovi’s It’s My Life. Mercedes & Rachel versus Finn & Artie?! Ladies first but you decide!

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• Jay-Z & Mr. Hudson – Young Forever: Let’s talk epic, shall we? Despite my being so young, Alphaville’s Forever Young was my personal high school exit song so it carries a special place in my heart, although I didn’t graduate in the 1980′s. When a friend brought the Hova mash-up to my attention after “The Blueprint 3” was released, I insisted for at least 60 seconds that it was the original by Alphaville. Well played, sir!

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  (Amended)]

• P!nk featuring The Indigo Girls – Dear Mr. President: Maybe, like me,  you’ve blocked a cetain political era out of your brain in the hopes of moving forward to something better, regardless of whether it’s Republican, Democratic, Libertarian or Independent. I thought this song was a defining moment in P!nk’s career – her vocals were on point and heartfelt, and the material is a direct call to President Bush to take some responsibility. With co-writing credits for P!nk, as well as backing vocals by The Indigo Girls, who are arguably still one of the best harmonizing duos in the game, this song definitely deserves a spot on my list.

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• Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson – Fancy: If you’re a Reba fan, you love this song. If you’re a Kelly fan, you love this song. I LOVE THIS SONG! It’s not really a collaboration because the song wasn’t original when Kelly came on board but with her bluesy rock swagger and Reba’s tangy country combining perfectly to focus on the ferocity of a need for a better life, I believe this version could be better than the original. It doesn’t hurt that I got to see them perform it live…Dear Kelly Clarkson, can we hang out? I totally voted for you on American Idol. A lot. And I watched From Justin to Kelly: With Love. Twice. The following video is courtesy of Country Music Television and their television show, “Crossroads.”

• Timbaland, Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake: It seems as if anything these three touch, it turns directly to Platinum. So, I’m not going to tell you about all the collaborations, just Give It to Me. The swagger and bravado of Justin, the booming low vocals and chirps of Timbaland, and the heat of Nelly Furtado. Guaranteed party starter.

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• Limp Bizkit featuring Method Mad – N 2 Gether Now: Do not hold this against me. I saw System of a Down, Limp Bizkit, Method Man, and Redman in concert and I have never seen a crowd react to a song like this. I was surprised no one left in an ambulance after all the slam dancing. As a Wu-Tang Clan fan, I was a little disappointed about the pairing originally but when I heard the song, I got over it.

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• Beyonce featuring Lady Gaga – Video Phone: Beyonce Knowles might be the most successful female artist of her time when all is said and done. Now, Beyonce has partnered with the woman that might be the most avant garde musician of her time when all is said and done. The song isn’t nearly as interesting as the video pairing and the behind the scenes but I love it anyway. The following video is courtesy of Vevo and Beyonce Knowles.

Cuts that just missed my faves: Paula Abdul & MC Skat Kat – Opposites Attract, Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers – Islands In The Stream, 50 Cent & The Game – Hate It or Love It, Kanye West & Jamie Foxx – Gold Digger, Linkin Park & Jay-Z – Numb/Encore, Missy Elliot & Nelly Furtado – Get Ur Freak On (Remix), John Legend & Andre 3000 – Green Light, and T-Pain & Taylor Swift – Thug Story, this particular video is courtesy of Country Music Television and the CMT Awards Show 2009.

I left so many out so please feel free to tell the readers what YOUR favorite collaborations and mash-ups are in the comments of this post. Maybe we can all find a new favorite!

Until next time, remember – it’s your life. Live it on tour! <3, MK