Lady Gaga has always approached collaboration with recklessness, diving headfirst into duets with other pop divas (Beyonce, Christina Aguilera), Oscar-nominated actors (Bradley Cooper), or a particular nonagenarian whose cheek became quite friendly with her own a few years back. While Gaga does not always depend on collaboration to advance her career — her 2011 album Born This Way featured no guests sharing the microphone — her best collaborations have featured the pop superstar seamlessly blending her sound with other artists deserving of her attention. That includes her new tune, “Rain On Me,” which she co-wrote with Ariana Grande. Check out our top five Lady Gaga collaborations, which range from pop successes to lesser-known guest appearances from before The Fame.
“Shallow” featuring Bradley Cooper
The power of “Shallow,” Gaga’s duet with Bradley Cooper, hasn’t waned with some distance between A Star Is Born mania and some perspective on the multiplatform phenomenon that earned Gaga an Oscar for the best original song hasn’t waned: her duet with Cooper remains a stunner, the rare power ballad to top the Hot 100 chart in the 2010s, and the lynchpin moment of the best picture nominee. The powerhouse bridge was built on swelling in karaoke bars for decades, and Gaga and Cooper’s silences crackle until they join together on the post-chorus.
“Telephone” featuring Beyonce
Even though a Lady Gaga/Beyonce combination was bound to be a hit, “Telephone” nonetheless stands out as a subtle electro-pop banger.
“Rain On Me” featuring Ariana Grande
“Rain On Me,” which follows Chromatica’s lead hit “Stupid Love,” continues the disco-tinged dance-pop comeback with another decade-defining diva. Gaga and Ariana Grande feed off of each other on “Rain On Me,” flexing their vocals and infusing every pause in the action with more energy.
“Just Dance” featuring Colby O’Donis
Although the presence of Colby O’Donis on the track is relatively muted, Lady Gaga’s debut single can be considered a collaboration because she defers to her label mate two-thirds into the song.
“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” with Tony Bennett
Following ARTPOP’s eclectic mix of styles and varied reviews, Lady Gaga came back to fundamentals with Tony Bennett for a compilation of standards… Gaga’s voice can shine when free of pretense or gimmickry, as the move successfully reminded casual audiences.
Keep reading IWMBuzz.com for more such updates on your favorite celebs.