Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
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| Image by Tumisu from Pixabay |
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.
What are your favourite music duets?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely 'Separate Lives', by Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin. Elton John & Kiki Dee good, too.
ReplyDeletePhillip
Great question Colin.
ReplyDeleteI'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.
dangermash, You surprised me by not going for anything by Gregg Allman and Cher.
Delete-sean
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.
DeleteWell based on my Spotify stats, for me it would be:
ReplyDeleteAin'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?
ReplyDeleteOffhand, “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!
ReplyDeleteOf the ones listed here so far (and that I’m familiar with), I quite like Under Pressure
ReplyDeleteIf 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.
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeleteI’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'
ReplyDeletehttps://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
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAre there any duets you don't like? Include them too if you want!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDuets I like:
ReplyDelete"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.
Ooh I forgot "This is not America " good call Red.
DeleteFor awful duets ( apart from comedy ones as you noted):
ReplyDeleteEbony 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.
ReplyDeleteThis is a nomination for best duets, not worst ones,
Colin, thanks for the topic.
ReplyDeleteI must confess I've been struggling to think of good duets.
I shall go for Snow Patrol and Martha Wainwright with Set the Fire to the 3rd Bar. A combination that managed to be more than the sum of its parts.
And Your Love Alone is Not Enough by the Manic Street Preachers and Nina Persson.
As for bad duets, I have to go for Bono and Frank Sinatra treating us to their unique rendition of I've Got You Under My Skin.
And how about whole albums with a different guest vocalist on each track?
ReplyDeleteI have three by BB King, one by Gov't Mule, one by Slash, one by John Fogerty and I bought my mum one by Lulu years go but Rewind by Tom Jones will take some beating.
Also a couple of Shats but most of his guests tend to be guitarists. And a weird Gov't Mule album recorded after their original bassist died, where as a tribute to him they had a different guest bassist on every track.
For worst duet, I nominate "I wish I could fly", by Keith Harris & Orville.
ReplyDeletePhillip
I think Sting's guest vocal on Dire Straits' 'Money For Nothing' is quite famous.
ReplyDeletePhillip
dangermash, Shatner had a guest vocalist on his version of 'Silent Night', fellow Star Trek actor Iggy Pop (although I don't know if I'd describe it as a duet exactly).
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I suppose the Cher thing was quite predictable...
Still, at least its reminded me of another Bowie duet, 'I Got You, Babe', with Marianne Faithfull. Which is awful, but in a good way... unlike his 'Dancing in the Streets' with her ex, which is just awful (sorry, Paul, but 'bland' is far too kind).
-sean
Oh I thought the Marianne Faithful / Bowie duet was bizarrely good ( emphasis on bizarre) I watched it again recently and thought it aged well. I have to agree with you on the Bowie/Jagger duet, it wasn't good.
ReplyDeleteOh if it wasn't clear, I like the Bowie/Faithfull duet too, Paul (;
Delete-sean
Speaking of Iggy Pop, I’ve always liked “Candy”, his duet with Kate Pierson.
ReplyDeleteChrissie Hynde and K. D. Lang did a super-torchy Jazz cover of the 70s Soul classic “Me and Mrs Jones” a few years back that’s very cool.
b.t.
Wait — did I just hallucinate Iggy’s name popping up in this thread? Must have been all these mentions of Bowie. I know, that’s pretty far fetched but I’m going with it ;)
ReplyDeleteb.t.
I remain partial to Interlude by Siouxsie and Morrissey. No love for Kylie and Jason's Especially for you?
ReplyDeleteDW
Ok…
ReplyDeleteNo Lennon and Macca duets
Not really looking for xmas duets
Let’s do a Chicago related one:
WAIT by Robert Howard of the BLOW MONKEYS and KYM MAZELLE (from Chicago).
And yes, I actually listened to it last week. And I never tire of hearing it.
CHARLIE.