By Rito Asilo

COLLABORATION is the name of the game in pop music these days.

The potent partnerships entered into by today's recording artists are not only limited to the younger likes of Jason Mraz ("Lucky," with Colbie Caillat), Miley Cyrus ("We Got The Party," with The Jonas Brothers), Eminem ("Psycho," with 50 Cent), Alicia Keys ("Empire State of Mind," with Jay-Z), and Danny Gokey, who sings Kara Dioguardi's "I Still Believe" in his No. 4-charting debut collection, "My Best Days."

Even the famously uncompromising Barbra Streisand had to hand over the producing reins of "Love Is the Answer," her recent No. 1 standards collection, to jazz luminary, Diana Krall.

And, if you check out Akon's latest album, "Freedom," you'll find the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, not only reinventing his huge 1980s hit, "Wanna Be Starting Something," but also beautifully crooning the anthemic track, "Hold My Hand," with the 32-year-old Senegalese-American hip-hop artist.

Prison scene

Another song generating a lot of heat-and hits on the Internet (15.5 million views on YouTube as of Monday this week)-is Lady Gaga's "Telephone," whose raunchy 10-minute music video starts with a leather-clad women's prison scene and features the dance diva with gorgeous Beyonce Knowles in tow, poisoning customers in a diner!

Other must-hear collaborations: Taylor Swift displays another facet of her wide-reaching style and musicality in "Two Is Better Than 1," her radio-friendly duet with Boys Like Girls.

Interestingly, "Break Your Heart," the No. 1 single on this week's Billboard Hot 100 chart, is likewise a collaboration-between Ludacris and Taio Cruz.

Another infectious single is Daniel Merriweather and Wale's thematic song-and-rap tune, "Change."

With the release of her anticipated Pinoy-produced album, "Try Love," Filipina West End star, Joanna Ampil, is boosting her stock in the local music scene.

Among its sleekly produced tracks is her duet with Ariel Rivera'a lovingly rendered revival of Johnny Mathis and Jane Oliver's " The Last Time I Felt Like This." JayR also puts an R&B spin on the Gary Valenciano-Zsa Zsa Padilla/ Regine Velasquez duet, "Muli (Could We?)."

Theme song

After a so-so cover of "You've Got a Friend" with Billy Crawford in his recent "Groove" album, Nikki Gil makes beautiful music with her special guy in her third collection, "Somebody to Love.," which includes the lyrically noteworthy "Bawat Hakbang" (the theme song from the movie, "The Red Shoes").

This time, Billy contributes his melodically remarkable original composition, "You Are My Life," which he masterfully sings with Nikki. The couple has contrasting singing styles, but the song surprisingly plays well to their respective strengths. Now, that's what we call musical synergy!