More often than not, a guest musician will add a familiar flair to a song. Rarely do they ever turn another artist or band’s song into a hit. I personally think the following four guest musicians helped transform the songs they contributed their talents to into certified hits. And you might just agree with me on that. Let’s take a look!
Videos by American Songwriter
“I Should Have Known” by Foo Fighters with Krist Novoselic
Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana got together for this song, and it was a bit of a heartbreaker for fans of the grunge band. Kurt Cobain’s absence is palpable, but Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic (and Pat Smear, of course) really proved that they could still work very well together.
“I Should Have Known” is a nostalgic-sounding song, so it only made sense that Novoselic would get on board to contribute a bass track to the song. The whole of the 2011 album Wasting Light is a very emotional and personal album, and pairing up Grohl and Novoselic for this particular closing track just seemed like it needed to happen.
“All Of This” by Blink-182 with Robert Smith
This was the collab that absolutely no one was expecting. Back in the day, gothic rocker Robert Smith of The Cure contributed some of his vocal talents to “All Of This” by pop punk outfit Blink-182. And it works. Smith steals the show. Considering it’s a love song, I’m not surprised that Smith transformed it into a hit. I can only imagine that every member of Blink-182, who each said they were fans of The Cure, was losing their minds over this collaboration.
“Let’s Dance” by David Bowie with Stevie Ray Vaughan
Let’s be real. “Let’s Dance” would have been a hit without Stevie Ray Vaughan involved. But the song is still so good with him in the mix. “Let’s Dance” was Bowie’s direct dive into full-on dance music, complete with wild chord changes and a solo by blues legend Vaughan that pulled the whole thing together.
“Whatever Gets You Thru The Night” by John Lennon with Elton John
Elton John was famously a guest musician on John Lennon’s “Whatever Gets You Thru The Night”. It’s a great mid-1970s track, and Elton John really lays it down with his harmony vocals and the piano. According to lore, Elton John said that the song would be a chart-topper, while John Lennon wasn’t so sure. They made a bet, and Lennon lost. “Whatever Gets You Thru The Night” ended up hitting No. 1.
Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
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