Michael Bolton feat. Lady Gaga “Murder My Heart” (2009)

To help launch his yet-to-be-witnessed comeback, Michael Bolton commissioned the strange and eccentric Lady GaGa to perform on his record’s first single, “Murder My Heart.” It features Lady GaGa on piano and backing vocals while Bolton sings from the bottom of his heart. He hasn’t sounded this soulful since he wondered how he is supposed to live without me. Bolton’s album “One World One Love,” released just last week, also features another not-quite-right appearance by Ne-Yo.


The Fat Boys feat. The Beach Boys “Wipe Out” (1987)

You may remember The Beach Boys from their numerous hits in the ‘60s; their record “Pet Sounds,” which makes Top Albums of All Time lists; or from their multiple appearances on Full House. You may remember The Fat Boys from the movie “The Disorderlies.” It was only a matter of time before these two giants joined forces. Putting lyrics on top of an existing instrumental song is nothing too out of the ordinary in the rap world. Asking The Beach Boys to cover “Wipe Out” when it was a song by another surf band, The Surfaris,is weird. The Beach Boys accepting the offer is even stranger.

Ben Folds and William Shatner “In Love” (1998)

In 1968, William Shatner released a record containing him infamous rendition of “Tambourine Man.” Three decades later, Ben Folds sent Shatner a letter asking him to return to music with him. Shatner’s kids convinced him to. The strangest thing about this collaboration is that it works amazingly well. Something about Ben Folds’ arrangement and backing vocals while Shatner recites his lyrical poetry on top just sounds right. Thankfully they recognized that it was something special, formed a close friendship, and continue to work together. Folds produced and helped write Shatner’s critically acclaimed 2004 album “Has Been,” and Shatner has let his friend in on the Priceline.com commercial action.

Mick Jagger and David Bowie “Dancing in the Street” (1985)

Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger teamed up with glam rock god David Bowie to record a song for Live Aid and help them fight hunger and Africa. Apparently covering Martha and the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Street” wasn’t the right choice since global hunger is still an issue. The duo’s overly happy vocals coupled with signature ‘80s electronic drums and brass make for one horrible song. The video is even worse. There’s lots of bad dancing from the two, and only half of it is actually in a street. Maybe it should have been renamed “Jumping Around in Front of a Tiled Wall and Sometimes in an Apartment Hallway.”

Burt Bacharach and Dr. Dre “At This Time” (2005)

In 2005, the then-77-year-old Burt Bacharach, who is known for crooning standards behind a piano (and in “Austin Powers 2”), released a war/Bush protest album. To make things even more out of the ordinary, he asked Dr. Dre to supply drum beats for three of the tracks. This is another bizarre pairing that somehow works, believe it or not. The two got along so well that it is rumored that Dre is taking lessons from Mr. Bacharach and is having him appear on his upcoming album “Detox” in 2010.

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