9 uncredited guest vocals you might have missed in your favorite songs
Is there any better surprise than listening to a song and getting hit by a cameo from a familiar vocalist? Aside from adding to the dynamics of the track, these uncredited guest vocals are great Easter eggs for any fan.
While it’s not uncommon for these collaborations to go unnoted on streaming platforms, Google will often confirm your suspicions. We’ll make it easy on you by pointing out some awesome vocal cameos you might have missed.
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Tim McIlrath on Alkaline Trio’s “I, Pessimist”
Rise Against vocalist Tim McIlrath has a distinct voice. There’s no arguing that fact. However, when entangled with Alkaline Trio’s powerful punk sound, it’s easy to miss. Don’t think that their subtlety is a sign of limitation. Once you hear them (around the 0:15 mark), you’ll realize that they generate the whole gritty vibe of the song.
Cassadee Pope on Yellowcard’s “Hang You Up (Acoustic)”
It’s not difficult to pick up on the contrasting female vocals in the acoustic version of Yellowcard’s “Hang You Up.” But unless you’re a die-hard Hey Monday fan, you may not recognize that voice as belonging to Cassadee Pope. We’d argue that the band couldn’t have chosen a better guest vocalist—her harmonizing with Ryan Key is beyond perfection.
Davey Havok on Jimmy Eat World’s “Congratulations”
When Jimmy Eat World released Surviving last year, fans weren’t expecting to hear Davey Havok on the final track. The AFI frontman chimes in to provide backing vocals. What’s even better than the surprise appearance? Havok reportedly recorded his part from his phone.
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Patrick Stump on Cobra Starship’s “Guilty Pleasure”
We may risk dating ourselves with this one, but were you really a scene kid if you didn’t listen to ¡Viva La Cobra! on repeat? What you might not know (or remember) about that particular Cobra Starship album are Patrick Stump’s contributions. Not only did the Fall Out Boy vocalist sing backup on a number of tracks, but he actually produced the record. Listen through and surely you’ll catch his voice along with a (credited) cameo by Travie McCoy on “Kiss My Sass.”
Brendon Urie and Patrick Stump on the Cab’s “One Of THOSE Nights”
All right, we know we just mentioned a Stump cameo, but how are we supposed to resist one alongside Brendon Urie? The pop-punk icons both lent their voices to the Cab’s “One Of THOSE Nights” circa 2008. There’s a lot going on in this alternative masterpiece, so we won’t fault you if you missed the cameos. Just be sure to give it another listen through to pick up on those familiar voices.
Mark Hoppus on Motion City Soundtrack’s “Hangman”
It’s really no surprise when Mark Hoppus’ voice pops up anywhere, given his affinity for collaborations. However, considering that Motion City Soundtrack’s Commit This To Memory turned 15 this year, we figure some may need a reminder of the blink-182 frontman’s involvement. The album marked Hoppus’ production debut and featured his vocals on “Hangman.”
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Jack Antonoff on Taylor Swift’s “Out Of The Woods”
Bleachers vocalist Jack Antonoff has a distinct style that evidences his co-production of Taylor Swift’s 1989. Unless you’re listening for him, though, you might totally miss his guest vocals in “Out Of The Woods.” His repetitive backing chorus begins clearly around the 3:06 mark and continues alongside Swift’s vocals for the remainder of the song.
William Beckett on Fall Out Boy’s “Sophomore Slump Or Comeback Of The Year”
Anyone who went through a mid-2000s emo phase remembers the friendship between the Academy Is… and Fall Out Boy. After all, the image of William Beckett as a vampire in the “A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More ‘Touch Me‘” video is hard to shake. But did you catch his vocal cameo in “Sophomore Slump Or Comeback Of The Year”? Just listen to the verse at 2:26 if it doesn’t ring a bell. Bonus points if you can still sing along.
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Juliet Simms on All Time Low’s “Remembering Sunday”
OK, you likely didn’t miss this one entirely. After all, the gritty female vocals provide a pretty stark contrast to Alex Gaskarth’s voice. However, you may not have connected them to Juliet Simms of Automatic Loveletter at the time of the song’s release. If you really want to throw it back, watch them perform it together circa 2009.
What are some of your favorite uncredited guest vocals? Let us know in the comments below!
