Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks. Who saw that coming? The mystical California hippie and the pugnacious New York City piano man. At first blush, that duo makes about as much sense as Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley, the towering Uptown supermodel who became his second wife.
But there's no accounting for love — or arranged musical marriages.
With Joel and Nicks teaming up Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium, we look at a dozen of music's odd couplings — even if they lasted for only a song.
Cher and Gregg Allman: Three days after divorcing Sonny Bono in 1975, Cher married the Allman Brothers singer — and then filed for divorce nine days later. They reconciled, however, reportedly because she was pregnant (with Elijah Blue Allman). Billed as Allman and Woman, the couple made an Allman-dominated, blue-eyed soul album, "Two the Hard Way," in 1977 and undertook a brief concert tour. At least she didn't record with her later beau, the Bagel Boy, Rob Camilletti. Surprise of their pairing: 90. Artistic rating: 25.
David Bowie and Bing Crosby: It was a 1977 holiday TV special, "Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas," with the conceit that he was traveling to England to meet long-lost relatives. Bowie, the British rock star looking to perhaps mute his glam image, turned out to be Crosby's relative's "neighbor." Bing and Bowie duetted on a medley of chestnuts, "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy." Days after taping the TV special, Crosby died of a massive heart attack after playing a round of golf in Spain. Surprise: 100. Artistic: 45.
Run-DMC and Aerosmith: In 1986, producer Rick Rubin suggested a remake of Aerosmith's 1975 classic-rock smash "Walk This Way" to Run-DMC, the hip-hop trio that didn't even know the song. Jam Master Jay, the crew's DJ, was the only member at first open to the idea, which involved adding Aerosmith vocalist Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry. The collab became an unexpected hit on both urban and rock radio — and MTV — and spearheaded a radio rebound for the Boston rockers. Surprise: 90. Artistic: 100.
The KLF and Tammy Wynette: Who knew that the British electronica duo's Bill Drummond, aka King Boy D, was a fan of country music? So, Drummond, sort of the George Jones of stadium house music, went to Nashville in 1991 and recorded country queen Wynette's vocals and even added a little pedal steel guitar to the novelty dance single, "Justified & Ancient (Stand by the JAMS)." The oddball collaboration soared to No. 1 in 18 countries, No. 2 on U.S. dance charts and No. 11 on Billboard's Hot 100. Not only was it Wynette's biggest pop song but also the last significant hit for the "Stand by Your Man" hitmaker. Surprise: 100. Artistic: 55.
Barbra Streisand and Bryan Adams: She wrote "I Finally Found Someone" — a power ballad, of course — for the 1996 soundtrack of "The Mirror Has Two Faces," for which she, of course, was the star and the director. Music producer David Foster suggested bringing in Canadian rocker Adams, who had recent movie soundtracks smashes with "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" and "All for Love" (with Rod Stewart and Sting). It worked as Streisand scored her first major pop hit since 1981 and earned an Oscar nomination for best original song. But Babs being Babs, she declined to perform at the Oscars (Celine Dion sang the number instead) supposedly because she didn't receive a nod for best picture. Surprise: 65. Artistic: 35.
