the list of 9 for november 8, 2006:
NINE FAMOUS ROCK STARS WHO SANG BACKUP ON OTHER PEOPLE'S HITS
The title of this list pretty much explains everything. You know, rock stars becoming friends,deciding to collaborate, etc. Some of these cases of famous artists singing backup are well known.Others, not so much.
- MICK JAGGER, "You're So Vain." Although the dedicatee ofCarly Simon's 70's classic remains a secret - James Taylor? Warren Beatty? - it's not such asecret that Jagger sang backup during the chorus.
- MICHAEL JACKSON, "Somebody's Watching Me." In themid-80's, a talent-free performer named Rockwell released this jokey song, which became anunlikely hit, thanks in part to Jackson - who was at the peak of his career - singing the chorus.And maybe he a little help from ol' Pops: Though Rockwell - born Kennedy WIlliam Gordy - insiststhat he invented his stage name in order to record without the knowledge of his father, Motownfounder and CEO Berry Gordy, and avoid claims of nepotism, that line's a bit hard to swallow.
- JOHN LENNON, "Fame." David Bowie's 70's hit was actuallycowritten by Lennon, who played on the song and also sang backup.
- MADONNA, "Sidewalk Talk." Madonna sang backup onformer boyfriend Jellybean Benitez's 1985 dance hit, and even wrote it for him.
- TOM WAITS, "Harlem Shuffle." This is a weird one: for thelater hit by the Rolling Stones (made famous by its animated music video featuring cats), Waitspopped up to sing chorus.
- CHER, "Be My Baby." The Ronettes classic, a staple of anyoldies radio station, featured then-unknown Cher singing backup. Her story is not uncommon: LutherVandross also provided backup on a number of hits before he became a star (including "Part TimeLover" and "We Are Family"), and Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas sang chorus on Martika's late 80'shit "Toy Soldiers" when she was just a teen.
- CHRISSIE HYNDE, "Pride (in the Name of Love)" Whileresearching this list, I was quite surprised to find this little trivia nugget. I'd never heardabout this before. But Pretenders frontwoman Hynde did in fact provide backing vocals for U2'soverplayed rock anthem.
- KATE BUSH, "Games Without Frontiers." This is commonknowledge amongst most fans of Peter Gabriel and/or Kate Bush, but those who have only heardGabriel's 1980 single on the radio may be unaware that it's Bush who sings "jeux sans frontieres"throughout the song. (In fact, many are unaware that she's even singing "jeux sans frontieres,"one of the more commonly misheard lyrics in rock history.) Another trivia note: "Jeux SansFrontieres" was the European version of the popular British game show "It's a Knockout" - anotherlyric repeated throughout Gabriel's song.
- DONOVAN, "Yellow Submarine." Though 60's psychedelicfolkie Donovan was never credited with singing on this Beatles classic, it's commonly acceptedthat he did - and even contributed lyrics. (Heaven help him if he hasn't seen any royalties fromthat.)
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