Pop Shots – 8 Songs Stuffed With Great Artists

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, in honor of Thanksgiving coming up on Thursday, and everyone getting ready to enjoy a big meal, this week Pop Shots has cooked up its own version of stuffing, as I’ve selected eight songs stuffed with great artists.

From the largest collaborations of all-time, to songs that feature three, or more artists, to the teaming of two complete bands, the following eight songs are literally stuffed with musical talent.

So let’s get into this stuffing themed playlist!

Of course, since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

“We Are The World”

 

Harry Belafonte wanted to create a benefit single for African famine relief back in 1985, and once Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie got involved, writing a song that was produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian, a WHOLE LOTTA folks wanted to be a part of it.

In all, over 50 artists lent their talents to “We Are The World,” which sold over 20 million copies, and still ranks as one of the 10 best-selling singles of all-time.

It literally gets no more stuffed than this!

“Lady Marmalade”

 

When the film version of Moulin Rouge came out in 2001 it featured a soundtrack that included a cover/remake of “Lady Marmalade” that was stuffed with some of the millennium’s most popular female artists.

Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya, and P!nk all put their unique spin on the ‘70s classic, giving listeners in the ‘00s a quick lesson in erotic French.

“Heartbreak Hotel”

 

Sometimes you only need three artists to consider a song stuffed with talent, and that’s the case with Whitney Houston’s “Heartbreak Hotel.” Heck, Whitney’s magnificent vocals alone could, and often did, fill a song. The fact that both Faith Evans, and Kelly Price joined her for this one make it positively stuffed with great female voices.

The harmony on the chorus is insane!

“Bang Bang”

 

What I just said about only needing three artists to consider a song stuffed also applies to Jessie J’s “Bang Bang.” Already a huge voice on her own, enlisting the equally impressive vocals of Ariana Grande, and having Nicki Minaj make an appearance, positively stuffed “Bang Bang” with badass female voices. 

The video for the song has over two BILLION views on YouTube, so it’s safe to say this is stuffing a whole lot of people enjoy.  

“No Diggity”

 

As a group, Blackstreet was already stuffed with great artists, led by Teddy Riley, and Dave Hollister, so when they had Dr. Dre, and Queen Pen drop verses on No Diggity it was almost like they were showing off.

The result was an absolute classic.

The fact that it took most of us well over a decade to discover the song is about putting on a condom is straight up hilarious.

“Give It To Me”

 

Back in 2007 one of the biggest producers in the world brought together two gigantic artists he enjoyed working with, and the result was pop gold. Actually, platinum, as the Timbaland, Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake collaboration “Give It To Me” sold over two million downloads.

On the song all three artists take aim at critics/rivals, and while a recent reformation of the trio didn’t move folks, we’ll always have the stuffed “Give It To Me” to enjoy.

“Walk This Way”

 

Stuffing a pioneering ‘80s hip-hop trio, and a legendary ‘70s rock band together might not seem like a recipe for success, but when Run-DMC and Aerosmith collaborated in 1986 to cover one of the latter’s hits it launched Run-DMC to a new level of fame, and totally revitalized the career of Aerosmith.

The first hip-hop single to reach the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100, it received airplay on nearly every radio format, and without it we probably never get all the incredible Aerosmith songs of the ‘80s and ‘90s. 

Simply legendary.

“Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

 

Being that a lot of people feel the finale of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade marks the beginning of the Christmas season, I’m closing out this playlist of stuffed songs with the Band Aid charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

Featuring nearly 40 artists, including George Michael, Bono, Sting, Phil Collins, Boy George, and members of Duran Duran, Bananarama, and Kool & the Gang, this was some high quality stuffing.

The goal of the song, which was released in December of 1984, was to raise money to help those affected by the famine in Ethiopia, and it turned out to be a huge success, raising roughly $10 million.

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.