Backstreet Boys & Rick Astley — Some Mash-Ups Work Surprisingly Well

Duets have been popular for a long time, and they seem to be getting more and more popular. With big artists joining other big artists, and collaborating on some huge hits. Mash-ups have also seen their share of popularity.

Mash-ups are two different songs that just fit really well together. Some mashups are good, others not so great.

Although described as a medley by its title, "Do It Again Medley with Billie Jean" by Italian music project Club House, in reality it could be described as one of the first ever commercially released mashups, back in 1983.

The song combined elements of "Do It Again", the 1973 Top 10 hit in the US, by Steely Dan, with Michael Jackson's #1 hit from earlier in the year, "Billie Jean". It reached #11 in the UK, and the Top 10 in Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands.

Whether in a club or in your Facebook feed, by now you've heard your fair share of mash-ups. Because someone, somewhere had the idea mix two existing things together in order to make something new.

It may seem like child’s play, or bored twenty something living in mom and dad's basement, to take a well known vocal and add it to a familiar dance beat. But it takes a certain kind of creativity to take two songs from seemingly different genres and make them sing the same tune.

We all hear songs that remind us of another song, or sound similar to another song, or even just have the same beat as another song. I actually think these two would have some good mashups with their songs.

Other people have heard those songs and had other ideas. They were able to creatively mash up- and match - them up so well, that we really enjoy listening to them, and dancing to them, and working out to them. And yes - sometimes laugh at them. Nonetheless - we are entertained. And impressed.

Here are some rather bizarre mash-ups that work surprisingly well!

These two songs are FLAWLESS together!

Two different genres that match up nicely. "I give it a 90, Dick!"

Interesting. And kind of fun!

It kind of embarrasses me how much I like this!

It's a little weird, but by golly, it works.

This one is nuts, and definitely took some work - and a heck of a great ear!

This has such a cool vibe!

Ok - a remix. Which is basically a mashup. that became a huge hit!