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A wise woman once sang, "Surprise surprise. The unexpected hits you between the eyes."
But what could possibly surprise a man of my sagacity?
There's only one thing.
And that's the feature in which it is not I but you The Reader who gets to decide just what is to be the topic of the day's debate.
Multifold are the subjects that could be covered, running the gamut of A-Z and back again.
Therefore, hesitate ye not to launch that topic via the comments section below and we shall discover just how surprised a man can be.
Posts
18 comments:
What are your favourite music duets?
Definitely 'Separate Lives', by Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin. Elton John & Kiki Dee good, too.
Phillip
Great question Colin.
I'll surprise everyone and throw in I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone by Tom Jones and James Dean Bradfield from Tom's Reload album.
Although Common People by The Shat and Joe Jackson from Has Been comes close.
Well based on my Spotify stats, for me it would be:
Ain't no mountain high enough by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie
Somebody that I used to know by Goyet and Kumbra
Moves like Jagger by Maroon 5 and C Aguilar
Sensa Una Donna by Paul Young and Zucchero
Does a duet have to be a harmony or can the two trade off?
Offhand, “If I Fell” by John and Paul is pretty damn good to Charlie’s ears!
And if Colin allows trade-off vocals as a duet then look out Beatles fans!
Does Baby It’s Cold Outside count? Like a million duets have performed and released this! And it starts getting us in the holiday season!
Of the ones listed here so far (and that I’m familiar with), I quite like Under Pressure
If showtunes are allowed.:
A Little Priest by Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou
If showtunes are verboten:
Where Is The Love by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
b.t.
Showtunes are allowed, bt.
The Beatles isn't quite what I meant, Charlie, but Baby It's Cold Outside is OK if it's performed as a duet.
A real head-scratcher, this one.
I’ll go with the previous suggestion, Elton John & Kiki Dee from 50 years ago.
Beyond that only arty answers from me, which might not entirely fit the remit…
Gary Ogan & Bill Lamb ‘I Wanna Live’
and - prob not acceptable - the album ‘Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror’ by Harold Budd and Brian Eno, as that’s my favourite album ever.
Hey, it’s actually raining as I write this!
The obvious one that springs to mind is Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood's 'Summer Wine'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH800q8qQsg
And I like Womack & Womack 'Love Wars' quite a bit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxp-K6wcu3M
-sean
dangermash, You surprised me by not going for anything by Gregg Allman and Cher.
-sean
For me the most perfect duet is You Don't Bring Me Flowers by Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond.
Most pointless duet has to be I Just Can't Stop Loving You by Michael Jackson & Siedah Garrett from Jacko's BAD album - their voices sound identical and you can't tell who's singing which part! Might as well have been a Jacko solo.
As bt mentioned showtunes, my favourite showtune duet is We're A Couple of Swells by Fred Astaire & Judy Garland from Easter Parade.
Worst ever duet? I'll nominate You're The One That I Want by Arthur Mullard & Hilda Baker - I know it's meant to be a comedy spoof but this "song" is beyond dreadful and it's hard to believe anyone paid money for it.
Let's not forget the UK's current record-breaking #1 hit is a duet - Rein Me In by Sam Fender & Olivia Dean.
Are there any duets you don't like? Include them too if you want!
On a completely different subject - do any UK readers remember the Yes, Minister sketch performed by Maggie Thatcher, Paul Eddington and Nigel Hawthorne? Eddington and Hawthorne couldn't stand Thatcher but they got ambushed and didn't know how to back out of it. Anyway there was a play on Radio 4 this week called "No, Prime-Minister" all about the creation of the infamous sketch. Thatcher was played by Fenella Woolgar and her impersonation of Maggie was spot-on and hilarious.
I knew that was coming Sean. If I had to go for something bluesy I'd probably go for BBKing and Bono (within U2) When Love Cones To Town.
Duets I like:
"This is Not America" by David Bowie and Pat Metheny
"Something Stupid" by Frank and Nancy Sinatra
"Say, Say, Say" by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
Duet that I don't like at all:
"Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie. Always found it to be maudlin, plodding and boring.
For awful duets ( apart from comedy ones as you noted):
Ebony and Ivory by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
Dancing in the street by David Bowie and Mick Jagger
Even 4 pop musical legends can get it wrong Neither were awful but they were bland .
Oh, and how about Roy Wood and Mike Batt? I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Merry Christmas Every Day.
This is a nomination for best duets, not worst ones,
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