Our favorite duets; What are yours?
Just for the fun of it, we have put together our list of favorite duets. Like music in general, this is a subjective list.
Just a few notes about the list. We excluded groups that by their nature are/were primarily duets. This includes act ranging from the Everly Brothers to Simon and Garfunkel.
There are other famous couples that performed many duets – notably Johnny Cash and June Carter-Cash and Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell, but they also performed as solo acts. And, yes, all of our duets performed by women and men.
Our list includes duets from Rock, Hip Hop, Country, and Pop.
Here is our list in no particular order. We have created a YouTube play list that you can play here.
What are some of your favorite duets? If you have favorites, let us know and we can definitely build on the list.
Islands in the Stream – Dolly Parton & Kenny Rodgers
How can you not help but like any song that features Dolly? This song was written The Bee Gees.
Crazy in Love – Beyonce & Jay Z
This is the first of two power couples on the list.
Jackson & If I Were a Carpenter – Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash
What more can you say about this couple? They had several duets, but these two are our favorites.
Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville – Don’t Know Much
Throughout her illustrious career, Linda Ronstadt explored many genres. On her 1989 Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind album she had duets with Aaron Neville.
Huey Lewis & Gweneth Paltrow – Cruisin’
Arguably the weakest song on our list, we included this Smokey Robinson cover because we really enjoyed the movie this duet was featured in, which was naturally called Duets. The movie was critically panned, but we thought it was entertaining enough, especially Paul Giamatti’s performance. And oh, in the movie’s final scene you can hear Michael Bublé sing before he hit the big time.
Tanya Tucker & T. Graham Brown – Don’t Go Out With Him
Probably the least recognized duet on this list, it has many elements needed in any classic country song, mainly people cheating or contemplating the act.
Eminem & Rihanna – Love The Way You Lie
Who knew, but one of Detroit’s most famous acts could be in a duet. Not exactly a love song, this is more of a love gone bad but definitely not in the Country Western style.
Marvin Gaye & Tammie Terrell – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
What more can you say other than they both left us way to soon.
Aretha Franklin & George Michael – I Knew You Were Waiting
Any duet that features Aretha is automatically going to be great.
Nelly Furtado & Timbaland – Promiscuous
Besides Jay Z, who else mentions an NBA MVP in a duet?
Frank & Nancy Sinatra – Something Stupid
Long before it became the fashionable thing for duets with Ole Blue Eyes or more recently Tony Bennet, Father and Daughter recorded this classic.
Roberta Flack & Donnie Hathaway
These two teamed for this and other classic duets in the early 70s.
George Jones & Tammy Wynette – Cryin’ Time
True to country music, this duet was recorded after this power couple got divorced!
Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life
With lines like “nobody puts Baby in a corner,” the late 80s movie Dirty Dancing has gained a cult-like following. Plus who can resist the movie’s theme song’s? Hell, it even won an Oscar!
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
Jay’s second entry on our list, it is almost as if this is two songs in one.
Who are your favorites? Let us know.
