Songs You Didn't Know Were Written By Lady Gaga

Not long after Lady Gaga smashed her way onto the scene with The Fame, producer Mark Ronson introduced her to Wale, a rapper who was also preparing his first album. The two artists hit it off immediately, and Gaga agreed to write the hook for Wale’s lead single, “Chillin.’” After providing the vocals as well, she would go on to appear in the music video. The track includes a tribute to Wale’s hometown, and features multiple shoutouts to the Washington D.C. area. Though Gaga herself is a New York girl, her collaborative efforts fit in perfectly. Her lyrics add the ego flex of two artists who are destined to do their cities proud.

Following the multiplatinum success of their 2005 album, PCD, the Pussycat Dolls’ sophomore effort, Doll Domination, would feature several notable collaborators, as well as one little known up-and-comer named Stefani Germanotta. A recent transplant to Los Angeles, the artist soon to be known as Lady Gaga was preparing for her own musical debut when she wrote this song for the group. The smooth pop groove is an ode to the ups and downs of a rocky relationship. Though catchy, it would unfortunately prove to be prophetic as well; the Dolls split in 2010 following a period of internal conflict and wounded egos. Not before Lady Gaga had a chance to open several legs of their tour though.

When you’re an aging boy band in the market for a comeback, you need serious songwriters to give you the sort of material that will catch the ear of old fans and new listeners alike. “The Block” was the group’s first album since 1994, so yeah… the pressure was on. The 10th track on the album, “Full Service” was co-written by frequent Gaga collaborator RedOne and NKOTB’s own Donnie Walhberg. Gaga was brought on board after RedOne showed her music to the band. Knowing that Gaga helped pen this catchy tune, you can actually hear a lot of her earlier production and songwriting style. It didn’t get the single treatment, but we think it could have.

#4: “Murder My Heart” (2008) Michael Bolton

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And this… ladies and gentlemen, is what we call a curveball. Admit it, you thought this was going to be a list of songs written for conventional contemporary pop performers. So what’s quintessentially ‘80s and ‘90s pop rock adult contemporary singer Michael Bolton doing collaborating with the Mother Monster and queen of weird herself, Lady Gaga? Well, in 2008, Gaga was still breaking out and doing a fair amount of songwriting for others, including Michael Bolton with whom she reportedly spent two sleepless nights writing this song. It takes a while to wrap your mind around the blend of Gaga-ish production and Bolton’s voice, but honestly… it totally works.

It’s a pretty huge endorsement when one of the biggest female pop singers from the last few decades wants one of your songs. After writing the song alongside Akon, Claude Kelly, RedOne and Tami Chynn for the latter’s album (which never saw light of day), Lady Gaga got to see the shelved song get re-recorded by none other than pop icon Jennifer Lopez. It was ultimately released as a bonus track on her 2011 album “Love?”. Though the two unfortunately never got to work on the song together in the flesh, Lopez was hugely complimentary of both Gaga’s lyrics and her melodies.

#2: “Fever” (2010) Adam Lambert

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We’ve got a fever, and the only cure is more songs written by Lady Gaga! Of all the singers to come out of American Idol, Adam Lambert is without a doubt among the most successful. But in the lead up to the release of his debut album, it must have been quite the thrill for Lambert to find himself in the studio alongside such a massive talent. Not only did they collaborate together to write “Fever,” but Gaga’s vocals can actually be heard in the chorus. Adam’s distinct vocal style makes the infectious song very much his own, but before the vocals come in… that pounding beat and production style is pure Gaga.

Britney Spears is a pop goddess - plain and simple. And the the same goes for Lady Gaga. So just knowing that this recording is the product of their combined efforts is enough to give us shivers and a whole new appreciation for it. From piano ballad to pulsing electropop party jam, Quicksand sounds like exactly what it is - a Lady Gaga song sung by Britney Spears. Unfortunately, it was seemingly too much of an outlier for the album, and was relegated to the status of European bonus track. In our books however, it’s great. If only Spears hadn’t passed on “Telephone” when Gaga and co-writer Rodney Jerkins offered it to her.