I usually prefer to keep my star-belly Sneetches separate from my Wickersham brothers, but some collaborations are like magic. I'm not talking about 70s supergroups where similar artists team up to push each other to greater heights. I'm talking about strawberry-banana yogurt and Zach Wilson in a Cougar uniform. Think Aerosmith and Run DMC. Or Bowie and Queen. Here are five more collaborations that make me happy:


FFS (Franz Ferdinand & Sparks): Johnny Delusional
I needed this in my life, even if I didn't know it. Two bands I love, separated by a generation and more, but whose unique sounds mesh together surprisingly well. "Johnny Delusional" is like a Sparks song with Franz Ferdinand's edge (and the video is like some kind of nightmarish fantasy zone conference--if the Book of Mormon musical was like this I'd be all in!). "Call Girl" is like a Franz Ferdinand song with a little leavening from Sparks, while "Police Encounters" is like a Franz Ferdinand song with a LOT of leavening from Sparks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCxLpte5loY

The Postal Service (Ben Gibbard & Dntel): We Will Become Silhouettes
Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard and DJ Dntel (Jimmy Tamborello) actually used the USPS to send audio tapes back and forth as they worked on this collaboration. The result, Give Up, may be the best album of the 00s. Add Jenny Lewis to the mix and it's even more delicious. And by the way, Jared Hess produced this freakin's awesome video, which should appeal to the doomsday prepper in all of us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rKC7ElkTUQ

Electronic (Johnny Marr & Bernard Sumner): For You
This is exactly what it would sound like if you mashed New Order and The Smiths together, and it's gorgeous fun. One of those songs that makes me wish I could play guitar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivUi8l0uMqA

1000 Homo DJs (Al Jourgensen & Trent Reznor): Supernaut
I suppose this collaboration is not at all surprising, but it came at an interesting time, with both artists transitioning their sounds. I generally prefer EBM (e.g.: Pretty Hate Machine) over the noise-and-distortion of Ministry and later NIN, but this Black Sabbath cover always gets me going.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYhsKsMtb8Y

Bing Crosby & David Bowie: Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy
I mentioned Bowie and Queen, but what about Bowie and Bing! Surreal or absurd, it's beautiful, even out of season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9kfdEyV3RQ