Newly engaged fiancés Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez have just released a semi-surprise collaboration album, I Said I Love You First. For Selena Gomez, this is her first album release since Rare from 2020, marking a significant return to the music scene from the world of acting. On the other hand, Benny Blanco has been significantly involved in music for a long time, with a decorated career full of impressive milestones and chart-toppers.
Since 2007, Benny Blanco has been behind some of the biggest hits in pop music, from the most iconic Katy Perry singles to Maroon 5. You've probably heard a song that he has either helped write or produce without even knowing it. These are some of the most surprising or interesting tracks that Blanco has been a part of, each one with its own unique story behind it.
10 Don't
Ed Sheeran
One of the biggest singer-songwriters of this generation, Ed Sheeran has been writing and releasing music for over two decades now. His penultimate project began with his first album, + (Plus), and ended with Subtract in 2023. Along the way, he was able to collaborate with Benny Blanco on multiple tracks. Sheeran's album ÷ (Divide) features other writing collaborations with Blanco, which includes some of his most well-loved songs, like "Castle on the Hill" and "Supermarket Flowers" that Blanco had a hand in.
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Marking the first time that Sheeran and Blanco would collaborate on a project, "Don't" was meant to be the lead single off of his second studio album, x (Multiply). Because of its originally explicit chorus, it was edited before it was released to be played on the radio. "Don't" not only showcases Sheeran's mastery over lyrics, but also Benny Blanco's ability to balance out another talented artist.
9 Love Yourself
Justin Bieber
Just like Benny Blanco, Ed Sheeran has also written big hits for big-name artists. They've also collaborated on some of those songs, like "Love Yourself" from Justin Bieber's fourth studio album, Purpose. The song came together on a tour bus between the three artists. The two songwriters are able to accomplish the feeling of being in a relationship with someone else that isn't fully committed.
Benny Blanco would also go on to collaborate with Bieber on his 2021 album Justice. Not only would he the project as a songwriter on "Lonely," he would also be featured on the track himself. You might also recognize the other writer and producer on "Lonely," who just so happens to be FINNEAS, Billie Eilish's brother.
8 TiK ToK
Ke$ha
Benny Blanco and Dr. Luke collaborated on several projects in the past, most notably with pop star Ke$ha. They co-wrote the song "TiK ToK" with her, creating one of the most notable party anthems of the late 2000s. The duo would continue to work with Ke$ha on her early albums, with their final contribution being her album Warrior in 2012. Blanco helped to write and produce other big hits for the pop star, like "Blow" and "Die Young."
Blanco helped to write and produce other big hits for the pop star, like "Blow" and "Die Young."
Benny Blanco is a creative powerhouse, and that is evident in the process of writing "TiK ToK." He is able to showcase Ke$ha's party animal image that she adopted early on and combine that with a catchy riff. This song is probably the most notable of Ke$ha's career, second only to "Timber" with rapper Pitbull. Even though Ke$ha working with Dr. Luke is nothing new, the addition of Benny Blanco is a welcome surprise.
7 Special
SZA
"Special" by R&B artist SZA speaks to Benny Blanco's approach to taking things slow and focusing on the heart of a song. Though he can absolutely put out a chart-topping dance hit, songs like "Special" showcase his ability to let powerful lyrics speak for themselves. Blanco and SZA helped to co-write the track, along with some other contributors.
Benny Blanco also helped produce the track and another song, "Nobody Gets Me," off of SZA's 2022 album, SOS. Though it might be a surprise to see him deviate from his usual pop sound, it's an exciting change for those following his work. His influence is easy to see on this album, even in a different genre. He is able to take the lyrics and sound and elevate them into something unforgettable.
6 Diamonds
Rihanna
"Diamonds" is an especially interesting case from Benny Blanco's career. Originally written by Australian artist Sia, Blanco revealed in a recent interview with Daniel Wall that the beat was first sought out by rapper Eminem. However, after not hearing from his management for almost a year, the song was recorded by Rihanna, a total surprise to both Eminem and Blanco. Blanco also revealed that the only thing Rihanna's team changed was the line "shine bright like a diamond" that was added over the blank space after the chorus.
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That one little change from Sia's original demo makes it sound like a completely different song. "Diamonds" became a critical success for Rihanna, known now as one of the biggest songs to date. It was a switch-up in sound for the artist, and that's exactly what Blanco wanted for the track. It has an interesting story behind its conception, one that listeners will be sure to the next time this song comes on the radio.
5 Obsessed
Addison Rae
Though he isn't credited as a lyricist on this track, Benny Blanco is listed as a composer and producer on "Obsessed" by Addison Rae. After she gained a large following on social media and moved to Los Angeles, she released this track as her debut single in March 2021. Rae has continued to release music over the years alongside acting and has confirmed that her debut album will release in 2025.
Addison Rae had a compelling start in the industry, and it is interesting to see how Benny Blanco was there for her musical debut. Though they have not worked together since "Obsessed," it would be interesting to see what they could produce if they decided to collaborate again. We could see him return for her debut album, though we can't be sure just yet.
4 My First Kiss
3OH!3 Feat. Ke$ha
"My First Kiss" is everything that you want in an early 2010s upbeat party jam. It has a catchy hook, a great feature, and that signature punch of the lyrics. Benny Blanco contributed to the songwriting and co-produced the song with Dr. Luke, whom he had worked with previously on some of Ke$ha's songs. Since they had worked with her in the past, they knew she would be perfect for a guest appearance.
This song just shows how interesting it is when you start to dig deep and see just how connected the music industry is.
Benny Blanco worked with 3OH!3 before this track, co-writing arguably their biggest hit, "DONTTRUSTME." This also isn't the first time that 3OH!3 has collaborated with Ke$ha, either. They were featured on her song "Blah Blah Blah," which coincidentally was also co-written and produced by Benny Blanco. This song just shows how interesting it is when you start to dig deep and see just how connected the music industry is.
3 Black & White
Juice WRLD
In another interview with Daniel Wall, Benny Blanco detailed the story of how he and the late rapper Juice WRLD met. After a friend sent him one of Juice WRLD's early songs, Benny Blacno reached out to the rapper via Instagram and secured a studio with his own money in order to record with him. It might come as a surprise to see Blanco credited on a rap artist's track, but Benny Blanco is not one to shy away from someone he believes in.
Blanco is not one to shy away from someone he believes in.
Blanco co-wrote two other songs with Juice WRLD, "Roses" and "Graduation," though he also appeared as an artist himself on those tracks. "Black & White" is not a feature or collaboration track, focusing solely on the important and poignant lyrics. He also helped to produce the record, Goodbye & Good Riddance, that the song appears on, which is also Juice WRLD's debut album.
2 Circus
Britney Spears
Britney Spears has been one of the reigning queens of pop since the 1990s. Her songs "...Baby One More Time" and "Toxic" achieved huge commercial success, solidifying her as a dynamite singer of the '90s and 2000s. On her sixth album, Benny Blanco and Dr. Luke ed forces once again for the title track.
The song not only inspired the title of the album, but also the tour that Britney Spears embarked on following its release. It has become one of her most iconic songs and eras to date. Blanco helped produce other songs on the album, like "Shattered Glass" and "Lace and Leather," though he only contributed to the songwriting on the former.
1 Lonely Together
Avicii Feat. Rita Ora
In 2013, it was hard to go anywhere and not hear Swedish DJ Avicii's song "Wake Me Up" playing. The song was a massive hit, becoming one of the biggest dance pop songs of the 2010s. From there, he built upon a discography that also found Benny Blanco getting involved. Blanco helped to write and produce the song "Lonely Together" for Avicii's fourth album, Avīci (01).
Not only was this song the last single released before Avicii's ing in 2018, its album was also Avicii's last. Though his later works might not have received as much commercial success as his first chart-topping hits, his later work is still beloved by his fans. Avicii left a lasting impact on the music industry, and it might come as a surprise to know that Benny Blanco was involved in the creation of that legacy.