HeadScratcher No. 36: Able Backup

So what do “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits, “Shiny Happy People” by R.E.M., “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell, “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon, and “Higher Love” by Steve Winwood have in common? They all feature famous singers on backup duty. Sting helps out Dire Straits; the B-52’s’ Kate Pierson is both shiny and happy; none other than Michael Jackson sings backup on Rockwell’s one-hit wonder; Mick Jagger contributes some “don’t you, don’t you”s on “You’re So Vain”; and Chaka Khan lends her considerable pipes to “Higher Love.”

Almost all of you got it right and made sure to be specific, as the blogfather requested. By the way, he’s somewhere in New England today nursing a Marshmallow Peep-induced tummy ache — but he’s going to be so proud! See your names after the jump.

Dave Abbott
Sarah Baker
David Bauman
Diana Betz
Amanda Bingham
Brad Bishop
Brian Blue
John Book
Jeff Brown
Ryan Burkett
Connie L. Chilton
Martha Clayton-Rodrigues
David Dearman
Jeremy Dillman
Nate Divy
Gila Drazen
Mike Drury
Tim Duffy
Stacy Dunn
Will Dyson
Vicki Ebberts
Cathy Elliott
Mike Flohr
Joel Foreman
Sarah Frierson
Mary Beth Garrett
Zoe Georgakis
Adam Gerber
Amy Gill
Dyan Glazer
Alex Gordon
Jaye Gravely
Brendan Hay
Tim Heaney
Phil Hodges
Christopher Hooker
Sharon Jackson
Lance Johnson
Amy Kalkbrenner
Joe Keglovitz
Rebecca Kelley
Patrick Kelly
David Lankford
Todd LaPlace
Erin Leder
Helen Lobonc
Kerin Lou
PJ Lover
Jen Magee
Eric Magnesen
Scot Manning
Gary Martin
Melissa Marshall
Rod McCall
Karla McLaren
Simon Morley
Heidi Nelson
Ed Nemmers
Jamie Nye
Mary Ann Oberthier
Tonya Perrotto
Bill Petrullo
Amy Plankenhorn
Christine Prado
Mary Beth Revesz
Harold Reynolds
Rob Rios
Ana Rodriguez
Eric Rogers
Allan I. Ross
Stephen Roy
Kyra Schuster
Frank Seeley
Paul Selby
Jamie Smith
Niki Smith
Nicole Steeves
Howard Stone
Tish Strandboge
Chris Stucky
Danna Toews
Kevin Vandehey
Dan Via
Dave Wilson
Mary Wilson
Jeff Winemiller
Patrick A. Yearout