The Three Best Unusual Music Collaborations

COMMENTARY | Heavy metal band Metallica recently joined forces with Lou Reed, a pioneer of Rock 'N' Roll who became popular as the singer/ ongwriter for the Velvet Underground. Since his early days in music, Reed has continued to explore different sounds. The rockers recorded a series of sessions in Metallica's studio north of San Francisco that will be published as a new studio album. The yet unnamed record features 10 songs and is unlike anything either group has done before.

While many people think of Metallica and Reed as an odd couple, the combination does not seem that out of place to me. The band's personalities are softer than their heavy sound, and Reed has always been known for trying different formulas. Let's take a look back at some other collaborations that were unusual but proved to be productive.

Nelly and Tim McGraw

When I first heard Nelly and Tim McGraw had cut a track together, I anxiously awaited the punch line. This was no joke, but I still couldn't believe it until I heard the song "Over and Over" for myself. Nelly's soulful lead up to the chorus coupled with the interjections from McGraw flowed seamlessly. Their voices and tone perfectly complemented one another, and the product was one of the best crossover efforts to ever come from country music. I cringe when I think of Buck Owens and Ringo Starr's duet "Act Naturally," but I will stop in my tracks to turn the radio up when "Over and Over" crosses the air waves.

Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

The collaboration with Lou Reed isn't the first time Metallica has explored uncharted territory. 1999's "S&M" featured Metallica covering some of their greatest hits with accompaniment from the San Francisco Symphony. Both styles rely heavily on music theory, and the pace of the songs brought out the best of the Orchestra's string section. Overall, they provided a raw power that a four-piece band cannot achieve on its own. Even though I wouldn't want all my music accompanied by a huge orchestra, "No Leaf Clover" proved that classical sensibilities can elevate metal to new heights.

Aerosmith and Run DMC

I think it's pretty much agreed on that Run DMC's remake of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" set the benchmark for unusual collaborations. The song has been credited with bringing rap music into the mainstream, and it no doubt fueled Aerosmith's popularity among a more general group of fans. The song was already an Aerosmith staple when the two groups joined forces to create a unique mash up that stayed entirely faithful to the original version. I think the reason it worked so well with rap is the appropriate rhythm is there and an emphasis on certain rhymes permeate the track. Love it or hate it, this song set the bar for all future crossover collaborations. I myself tend to love it, and anxiously await the guitar solo every time I hear it.

Sources
Metallica and Lou Reed Join Forces on New Album, Rolling Stone