Late Night Music NBA Summer League Edition Part 201......."With A Little Help From My Friends"
The truth is I had been planning this one a while. I am always fascinated when an artist records a song and then I find out that it wasn’t even really them who wrote it. However, it’s cool to see elements of that artist living through another artist. Some of those are evident in this list.
To qualify for this list, the song had to be written partially by another well known artist who was not affiliated with the recording artist and it could not have been previously recorded by the composing artist. Cover songs were disqualified. In a “Late Night Music” rarity, all songs receiving votes were included on this list.
“Manic Monday”- The Bangles (Prince). We’ll start this list with one of the funniest stories in music. In 1986, Prince wrote this single for the Bangles album Different Light under the Pseudonym “Christopher” which in turn was a name of the character he played in the movie “Under The Cherry Moon”. The reasoning for Prince writing this song is because he really wanted to hook up with Susanna Hoffs- I mean, can you blame him? This single peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and while it features the trademark Bangles harmony, this song has Prince’s fingerprint all over it. This highly rotated video features the very sexy Hoffs in a rush hour haze. Bonus points to Prince for finding out a way to mention Rudolph Valentino in a song. That probably never happened before.
“Come and Get It”- Badfinger (Paul McCartney). Paul McCartney came in early one day during the Let It Be sessions in 1969 and recorded a unreal demo of this track in which he played all instruments and sang every track. This version was never released until the Beatles Anthology series in 1996. McCartney gave the song to British band Badfinger to use in the movie “The Magic Christian” starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr. This single was also featured on the band’s 1970 debut album Magic Christian Music and peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, starting a string of a few very successful years for one of Apple Records’ first acts.
“I’m A Believer”- The Monkees (Neil Diamond). Neil Diamond wrote this song in 1966 and recorded it prior to the Monkees release, but the Monkees went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 the last week of 1966 when this single from their album More Of The Monkees then became one of the biggest singles of 1967. The success of the single also added to the success of the Monkees television show which reached the height of its popularity around this time. This single is one of the very few singles to ever sell 10 million physical copies. This song would famously be covered by Smash Mouth and Eddie Murphy in the “Shrek” movie series simply because of the opening line mentioning “fairy tales”. You can’t make that up. I smell a bonus video.
“Irreplaceable”- Beyonce’ (Ne-Yo). This single brings the first controversial single of the list. Ne-Yo wrote this song in 2006, and after writing the lyrics, thought it would be much better suited for a woman to sing instead. He then gave the song to Beyonce for inclusion on her album B’Day. The controversy came when Beyonce claimed complete writing of the song, when Ne-Yo said she only helped arrange vocal harmonies and instrumental arrangements and later said he “regretted” giving the song to her. That may be true, but I doubt he was upset over the royalties this single generated. This single show to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is still one of Beyonce’s most notable songs becoming her 4th #1 single in the career of a lifetime. This song also has been covered by some interesting artists. Bonus video on deck.
“You Got It All”- The Jets (Rupert Holmes). OMG I freaking love this song and band! The Polynesian Minnesota Mormons the Wolfgramms better known as the Jets took the world by storm with this all time great ballad from their 1986 self-titled debut album. This single which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the handy work of Rupert Holmes, most famously known for the 1979 hit “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)”. Then 12 year old Elizabeth Wolfgramm said herself that she had to imagine singing this song to a puppy because she had no idea how to “sing about being in love”. What we got was a great 80’s ballad that never gets old with its great saxophone intro and solo. However, this video never made sense to me. If anyone can explain it, I am all ears. It is also at this point, I have my obligatory joke about the Jets that due to the size of the family (which was what the entire band was made up of), that their mother thought her uterus was a clown car.
“Party In the USA”- Miley Cyrus (Jessie J). Let’s be honest. We knew Miley Cyrus didn’t write this. This guilty pleasure party anthem was written by British rocker Jessie J in 2008, but she decided that it “wasn’t edgy enough for her”, so the song was given to the new and “improved” Miley Cyrus who was fresh into her post Hannah Montana transition and was included on her 2009 album The Time Of Our Lives where it peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The ultimate in teenage party, Cyrus herself admitted she had never even heard a Jay-Z song despite it being in the lyrics of this song.
“Baby”- Justin Bieber (P!nk). Whatever.
“F--- You”- Cee Lo Green (Bruno Mars). Now this one cracked me up, but it definitely makes sense. Bruno Mars seems like the perfect person to write this, and Cee-Lo seems like the perfect person to sing this. There is not much I can write about this song without going off my usual PG rating. Sorry guys.
“Halo”- Beyonce’ (Ryan Tedder of One Republic). Something about this song and video just leaves me in a trance. This amazing video features the very cool Michael Ealy. Even he looks like Beyonce’ is out of his league. I guess when you got it, you got it. We all know that Beyonce’ is one of the most amazingly beautiful women alive, but this video right here makes me feel things all in my bones. Anyway, Ryan Tedder wrote this song while rehabbing an injury that forced to miss the rest of One Republic’s tour. During this time, he said he was heavily influenced by Ray Lamontagne (Bonus Video!), and this song was heavily influenced by his music. This song was then finished off by Queen Bey and was included on her 2009 album I Am...Sasha Fierce. This single would peak at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and still remains one of Beyonce’s most critically acclaimed songs.
“Little Things”- One Direction (Ed Sheeran). Was there ever any doubt that Ed Sheehan wrote this? This highly off-genre song for One Direction off of their 2012 album Take Me Home and peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100. A huge departure from their usual bubble gum boy band sound, this acoustic love song was written by fellow British mate and everyone’s ginger Ed Sheeran. Surprisingly, this song was panned by critics who claimed that this song didn’t reach One Direction’s “target audience”, which makes sense, but shouldn’t real musicians want to be more diverse? Just a thought.
“Black Widow”- Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora. (Katy Perry). This single featuring Australia’s newest starlet Iggy Azalea and British goddess Rita Ora was originally written by Katy Perry for her album Prism, but the song wasn’t finished in time for the album to be released. Due to Perry recently becoming friends with Katy Perry, Perry wanted to help Azalea have a solid debut album when this single was included on Azalea’s 2014 debut album The New Classic where it also peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. British starlet Rita Ora does a great job owning the vocals of this song while still in an indirect way paying a great tribute to Katy Perry. As much as I want to like this song, I just can’t get into it.
“You Are Not Alone”- Michael Jackson (R. Kelly). I have to admit, that I had no idea about this one until just now. Hilariously, this song makes the most sense after the fact that is almost is upsetting that I never knew this. According to R Kelly, Jackson contacted him in 1994 and asked him to contribute a song on his upcoming album HIStory Past and Present, which would be released in 1995. R Kelly said he was geeked and beyond star struck and even recorded the demo for the song mimicking Jackson’s style. This famously made R Kelly go from writing songs in the basement in the ghetto to writing for Michael Jackson in the span of 5 years. Pretty impressive. This song went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and re established Michael Jackson to the legend status he had long since attained. This song was written by R Kelly after experiencing the loss of loved ones in the recent months. What we got this was this MJ classic, but one of his cheesiest and most awkward videos with a horrible haircut. Even the greatest ever have their low points huh?
“Quickly”- John Legend featuring Brandy (Frank Ocean). John Legend included this track featuring McComb, Mississippi’s own on his 2008 album Evolver and if this Frank Ocean penned song doesn’t sound like Frank Ocean, I don’t know what else does. I would really like to see John Legend and Brandy team up again, because this duet just seems to have an unbelievable amount of chemistry. This is also a good departure from the acoustic piano sound of John Legend with a great mix of synthesizer instead. It actually works.
“Islands In The Stream”- Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton (The Bee Gees). Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton gave a memorable performance at the 1983 Grammys seen here with this song written by all 3 Bee Gees and named after the Ernest Hemingway novel of the same name, was originally written for Marvin Gaye. The song was changed to a country style to be recorded on Rogers 1983 album Eyes That See In The Dark. This single shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a staple for both artists. I have to admit that I have never been a huge fan of either one of these artists, but this really is a great song. The Bee Gees also performed the song live quite often in their later career. I smell a bonus video.
“Diamonds”- Rihanna (Sia). Rihanna was already on top of the world in 2012 when this single became one of the greatest selling singles of all time off of her album Unapologetic. The single shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and this unbelievable video put Rihanna on a status that has been matched by very few artists. According to producer Benny Blanco, Australian singer Sia wrote the lyrics to “Diamonds” in just 14 minutes, with the music coming pretty quick after and the song almost immediately being given to Rihanna to record. The final product is seen here and would be the title of her 2012-2013 World Tour.
“California King Bed”- Rihanna (Priscilla Renea). We had to throw in one more Rihanna song. She’s just that amazing. This Priscilla Renea masterpiece was included on Rihanna’s 2011 album Loud, and while it only peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100, this unbelievably conceptual video and track featuring Renea herself on background vocals remains one of Ri’s most amazing songs. In a bonus video for the ages, Rihanna debuted this song with Sugarland at the 2011 ACM Awards live on CBS. Talk about a magical duo! No matter who writes the song, Rihanna is on another level awesome!
BONUS VIDEOS
“California King Bed”- Rihanna and Jennifer Nettles- Live at the 2011 ACM Awards.
“Islands In The Stream”- Bee Gees.
“I’m A Believer”- Eddie Murphy as “Donkey” in “Shrek”.
“Irreplaceable”- Sugarland and Beyonce Live at the 2007 American Music Awards.
“You Got It All”- The Jets Live at their 25th Anniversary concert.
“With A Little Help From My Friends”- The Beatles.
The Jets
Rihanna
Michael Jackson
The Monkees
The Bangles
posted by General 5A Pigott at 9:55 PM
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