Artists recording and releasing songs written by their industry peers is nothing new, and there are many well-known examples of this practice. But every now and then, an artist's contribution to a song goes understated, a surprise bit of trivia discovered during a Wikipedia deep dive into the performing artist's discography.
The 10 songs below represent just a small sample of those that you may not have known* were co-written by (relatively) well-known women in music—many from this year alone.
Co-Written by: Allie X
Conceptual pop artist Allie X ("Bitch,""Girl of the Year") co-wrote the tenth track on the massively successful K-Pop septet's fourth album with fellow singer-songwriters Leland and Troye Sivan. Just yesterday, the song achieved platinum status, an impressive feat for any album b-side.
Selena Gomez - "Crowded Room" (feat. 6LACK, 2020)
Co-Written by: Bebe Rexha
Another non-single, this one off Gomez's critically acclaimed third studio album, was a collaborative effort between Gomez, Rexha and several others. A chill fusion of pop and R&B, "Crowded Room" is further testament to Rexha's versatility as a songwriter: she's also had a hand in writing hits for the likes of Eminem ("Monster"), SHINee ("Lucifer") and Tinashe ("All Hands on Deck").
Girls Aloud - "Something New" (2012)
Co-Written by: Tove Lo
Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Lo's prowess is well noted, and fans often sing her praises for giving us bops like Hilary Duff's "Sparks" and Lorde's "Homemade Dynamite." But with so many songwriting credits (enough to justify a dedicated Wiki page), some are bound to fall by the wayside. I must've known at some point that she'd helped pen the Girls' 16th top five hit, but I was only reminded of it recently.
Tinashe - "Ghetto Boy" (2016)
Co-Written by: Nicola Roberts
While we're on the topic of Girls Aloud... If you're like me, you often bemoan the fact that their youngest member never released another album after 2011's vibrant Cinderella's Eyes. Fortunately, Roberts continues to push her pen, receiving credit in some unlikely places, like the byline for the closing track on Tinashe's disputed sophomore album Nightride. The song also features contributions by Dev Hynes.
TWICE - "Behind the Mask" (2020)
Co-Written by: Dua Lipa
Non-K-Pop listeners may be surprised to learn that the woman behind one of 2020's hottest pop albums also receives credit on the latest from nine-piece TWICE, for the b-side "Behind the Mask." In an interview coinciding with that album's release, member Jeongyeon singled out this one as her favored track for its showcasing of the unique voices that have made TWICE one of genre's top girl groups.
NIKI - "Lose" (2020)
Co-Written by:
You've probably heard the songs that the artist born Natalia Sinclair wrote for such pop giants as Madonna ("Holy Water") and Rihanna ("Kiss It Better"). But you may not be as familiar with this track from Indonesian singer-songwriter and 88rising signee NIKI's debut LP. Described as deeply emotional, this spare ballad stands in stark contrast to the crunchy, sexy electropop that is Sinclair's sweet spot.
Britney Spears - "Over to You Now" (2005)
Co-Written by: Imogen Heap and Robyn
Heap's contribution to this In the Zone outtake may be the most known of the bunch, given Spears' popularity and the presence of Heap's inimitable vocals on the track. But it bears reminding that the woman responsible for such evocative ballads as "Hide and Seek" joined forces with the equally incomparable Robyn for this apparent ode to anal sex.
Jennifer Lopez - "So Good" (2014)
Co-Written by: Tayla Parx
Best known as a friend and frequent collaborator of Ariana Grande, 27-year-old singer-songwriter Parx has racked up an impressive amount of writing credits since 2013. In addition to this highlight from JLo's quickly forgotten eighth album A.K.A., she's contributed to fan favorites by Alicia Keys ("In Common"), Christina Aguilera ("Right Moves") and Demi Lovato ("Cry Baby"), among many others.
HAIM - "Days Are Gone" (2013)
Co-Written by: Jessie Ware
In addition to her own sterling discography, we have English singer-songwriter Ware to thank in part for the title track of the sisters HAIM's critically acclaimed debut. Co-written with the girls and Ware's frequent collaborator Kid Harpoon, "Days Are Gone" was often cited by critics as a highlight off the album and continues to rank among fans' favorites.
Koda Kumi - "Touch Down" (2014)
Co-Written by: JoJo
It's been a long and trying road for Joanna Levesque, whose career infamously reached an impasse after the release of her second album The High Road at age 15. It would be a decade before she made a triumphant return with 2016's Mad Love, but she never stopped grinding in the interim. In addition to releasing several EPs and mixtapes of her own, she contributed to such songs as this, the hip-hop-flavored 55th(!) single by J-Pop icon Koda Kumi.
Sources: Spotify and YouTube
* If you did, please be nice!