With mashups becoming increasingly easier for the average music lover to create at home, authentic collaborations between artists are becoming more exciting. But alas, some of my fave potential collaborations are but a distant dream. So, if anyone out there can hook up the following artists together and convince them to make sweet musical love, I (not to mention my my ears) will be forever grateful. Without further ado, here are the top five unlikely musical collaborations we’d love to hear.
1) Selena Gomez / Azealia Banks
I’m convinced Selena Gomez has a hip-hop freak hiding underneath her pretty persona. With boyfriend Jusin Beiber’s recent foray into the R&B/hip-hop scene, Gomez could learn a thing or two from up and coming female rapper Azealia Banks. Both women are chameleons, with Banks sampling pretty much every genre possible in her music and Gomez pulling off every look possible in her “Love You Like a Love Song” video. Banks and Gomez could have a sassy hit together.
2) Taylor Swift / Florence and the Machine
Okay, Florence Welch is on a level of her own, creatively and vocally, but if any pop star can come close to keeping up with Welch’s powerful pipes, it’s T-Swizzle. The girl has proved herself, winning six Grammies in her career, and actually has instrumental talent, unlike many of her counterparts in the pop and country scene. Swift could back Flo with a piano or guitar and lend her sweet voice. The two women could create something magical. No really.
3) One Direction / The Hives
Let’s see…mix Simon Cowell’s pop-star-machine generated boy band One Direction with garage-punk rockers The Hives and what do we get? A ten-piece powerhouse, of course (at least I hope). With 1D’s perfectly coiffed hair and coordinating outfits, and The Hives’ well thought out on stage looks, this collaboration would probably be the most stylish one. And I would love to see 1D rocking out and getting wild.
4) Carly Rae Jepsen / Dragonette
Last summer I couldn’t stop singing “S-T-A-R, that’s what you are!” thanks to Dragonette’s Martina Sorbara, and this summer everyone and their dogs can’t stop the “Hey, I just met you!” phenomenon, courtesy of Carly Rae Jepsen. The two women are clearly capable of creating seriously catchy choruses on their own…who knows what monster they could create together? I’m curious to find out.
5) Justin Bieber / Bon Iver
If I were to guess, I would say about 90% of Justin Bieber’s Beliebers have no clue who or what Bonnie Bear Bon Iver is. Let’s face it, haters can keep hating on Beiber, but the kid can sing. And, coincidentally, so can Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. While the two have almost polar opposite fan bases, both singers have swoon-worthy voices that I would love to hear harmonizing and complementing each other. The result could be amazing.
