Top 20 Greatest Duet Songs of All Time

[Music] welcome to ms mojo and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 duet songs of all time for this list we're looking at the best collaborations between two prominent vocalists we will not be including hip-hop songs with features what's your favorite duet let us know in the comments number 20 the boy is mine brandi and monica many duets are about celebrating and supporting one another however the boy is mine is about fighting to get your way both brandy and monica were rising r b stars and it was assumed they were rivals so they smartly made a song playing off that assumption [Music] the two singers exchanged verses back and forth about why they each claim a man as being theirs after this strong r b duet achieved massive success the rumors of a feud only spread more [Music] brandi and monica's representatives even had to publicly state that everything was cool more than 20 years later we don't know which singer won this song but we do know it is a classic seem to be confused [Music] number 19 don't let the sun go down on me george michael and elton john don't let the sun go down on me had already been a massive hit for elton john when he first released it in 1974 but it took on a new significance 17 years later when he recorded a live version with george michael i took a [Music] the two had previously performed the song together at live aid in 1985. six years later they had not lost their way when michael starts off the song the crowd is already roaring in approval but the energy goes off the charts when he brings out jon [Music] [Applause] [Music] hearing these two legends harmonizing is one of those moments that cannot be described only felt although we wish we could have experienced it in person we're happy we got to experience it at all [Applause] [Music] [Applause] hate that i love you rihanna featuring neo have you ever loved someone so much it's practically infuriating rihanna and neo know just how you feel on this folk-influenced duet from rihanna's third album good girl gone bad the r b superstars sing about their mutual devotion and frustration towards each other why are they so fed up as it turns out they love each other so much that it hurts their voices sound perfect together over musical elements like the bright guitar strums and hand claps [Music] this song is incredibly relatable to anyone who's ever been crazy in love honestly we don't hate how much we love this song so you'll probably always have a spell on me number 17 you don't bring me flowers barbara streisand and neil diamond few number one hits have stronger journeys to the top than this [Music] [Applause] of the one you don't bring me flowers was first meant to be diamond's theme song for the forgotten sitcom all that glitters the longer version he recorded ended up being covered by streisand eventually radio stations combined the two recordings together to create unofficial duets this roundabout way to show the vocal chemistry between the singers led to an official song being recorded [Music] [Music] you don't bring me flowers became one of the best heartbreak duets ever made with both diamond and streisand expressing their pain with utter passion although it's hard to end a relationship songs like this let you know you're not alone [Music] [Applause] [Music] number 16 stop dragging my heart around stevie nicks and tom petty and the heartbreakers stevie nicks had plenty of experience singing about heartbreak so it's only fitting that she made a song with tom petty and the heartbreakers nyx originally wasn't involved with stop dragging my heart around fortunately producer jimmy iovine brought her on board so she could shine in this great blues rock ballad [Music] nix's powerhouse vocals kick things off as she sings to a lover played by petty that she's trying to distance herself from eventually their voices come together in an epic chorus and bridge [Music] this song was nyx's biggest hit as a solo artist as well as the biggest hit for the heartbreakers never underestimate the power of relationship woes number 15 time to say goodbye sarah brightman and andrea bocelli andrea boccelli's conte partiro was already a worldwide hit but when a new version was recorded with english vocalist sarah brightman it became even more of a sensation [Music] despite its english title time to say goodbye is mostly sung in italian the separate and combined beauty of bocelli's tenor and brightman soprano assures that no emotions are lost in translation [Music] although it sounds more appropriate for a concert hall than a sports arena this duet was conceived as the theme song for retiring german boxer henry maska it was also performed at his final match talk about a knockout [Music] number 14 i knew you were waiting for me aretha franklin and george michael when a duet is about how intensely two people care about each other the people singing it better be able to sell it while aretha franklin and george michael might not seem like the most obvious pairing the queen of soul was a fan of wham [Music] her appreciation for them may be why she and michael achieved great chemistry i knew you were waiting for me has a great dance groove backing franklin and michael's verses [Music] when their voices come together for the chorus it reaches new heights while we didn't know we were waiting for this song we're sure glad to have it number 13 don't give up peter gabriel and kate bush although pulling off a song that's both downtrodden and hopeful is difficult peter gabriel and kate bush pull it off [Music] don't give up the former genesis front man sings with anguish as a man who feels overwhelmed by struggles but bush's angelic vocals offer assurance that bad times don't last [Music] recorded during a time of economic difficulty in england don't give up's message is applicable to any era and any place while things might be hard sometimes this song reminds us to keep going even if we have to take things one moment at a time [Music] number 12. i got you babe sunny and cher i got you babe as one of those love songs that just feels timeless [Music] this song sees the then married couple sunny and cher sing about their love for each other amidst all the world's uncertainty [Music] but at least i'm sure of all the things it's a simple concept that's done extraordinarily well thanks to the harmony achieved between sunny and share throughout the duet they really sell the story of a couple that can persevere through anything [Music] the song's production also deserves praise for bringing in instruments not commonly found in chart-topping pop music such as bassoon and oboe ultimately sunny and cher didn't stay together but this song still makes us believe in the power of love [Music] number 11 something stupid frank sinatra and nancy sinatra more than a few people have found it a little disconcerting that this song was recorded by a father and his daughter though it's just a line to you for me it's true [Music] despite something stupid raising a few eyebrows it actually became something successful the legendary crooner and his daughter covered a song first recorded by c carson parks and his wife gail this new version became a number one hit time is something stupid is a lovely song full of enchanting elements like strings and trumpets we think it would still work if frank sinatra had picked a more traditional collaborator for this kind of song number 10. ebony and ivory paul mccartney featuring stevie [Music] wonder it shouldn't take long for you to realize that ebony and ivory is about more than keys on a piano paul mccartney enlisted fellow legendary musician stevie wonder for this song about racial equality while some viewed the song's messaging and use of a piano as a metaphor to be cheesy it still made a big splash it reached number one in the us and uk on the other hand it also stoked some controversy and was banned in south africa during apartheid while ebony and ivory's message might have garnered a mixed response we can hopefully agree on one thing paul mccartney and stevie wonder's voices sound great together [Music] number nine i've had the time of my life bill medley and jennifer warns dirty dancing left many imprints on popular culture but the one aspect everyone remembers today is its main theme song [Applause] originally i've had the time of my life was meant for joe esposito and donna summer but it ended up being recorded by righteous brother bill medley and singer jennifer warns the track beautifully balances medley's deeper tones warns his softer voice and the song's irresistible pulse and romantic lyrics [Music] a beautiful combination of elements ensured that it was an oscar-winning smash hit listeners had the time of their lives with this song decades later [Music] number eight don't go breaking my heart elton john and kiki d a song about pleading to a lover not to let you down might seem like it'll be emotionally devastating but in the hands of elton john and kiki d it becomes rather joyous inspired by classic motown duets don't go breaking my heart is a wonderfully energetic song [Music] john and dee managed to put so much into their individual singing and still find harmony their chemistry is especially apparent in the music video which finds the two embracing as they share a microphone [Music] the hit marked a significant moment for john as it was the first time he topped the charts in the uk he also recorded another successful version in the 90s with none other than rupaul [Music] number seven unforgettable natalie cole with nat king cole the father-daughter duet unforgettable was released more than 25 years after nat king cole had passed away he had first recorded and released the song in 1951 but his daughter natalie made a new version for her unforgettable with love an album of songs her father had previously recorded unforgettable brought the pair together for a virtual duet and while they might not have been physically singing together the coals sound flawless and timeless here [Music] [Music] unforgettable this song was already unforgettable but this version made us love it even more we're sure nat king cole would be touched to know his daughter was celebrating his legacy like this [Music] number six islands in the stream kenny rogers and dolly parton a duet between kenny rogers and dolly parton is a match made in country heaven [Music] but islands in the stream could have gone in a different direction written by the bee gees this song was originally written for marvin gaye after it was later offered to rogers he became frustrated by the recording his suggestion to bring in parton was a stroke of genius islands in the stream became a number one hit even if you're not a country fan you'll enjoy how rogers and pardon harmonize it also sparked a fruitful collaborative career between the two they later released a christmas album the following year and another hit real love the next kenny rogers might have been the gambler but this bet paid off [Music] number five when you believe mariah carey and whitney houston a duet between mariah carey and whitney houston was bound to be a show-stopping event the two divas definitely delivered with when you believe written for the prince of egypt the song's lyrics follow the animated film's themes of faith and miracles carrie and houston both deliver commanding performances that remind us why they're so revered [Music] the duet also received the oscar for best original song sadly houston is no longer with us but this song makes us feel like she's still here and offering us hope the fact that this song exists and is this good is a true miracle [Music] number four endless love diana ross and lionel richie if there are two singers who know their way around a ballad it's diana ross and lionel richie the r b stars came together for endless love [Music] this was touted as the theme song for a film of the same title while the movie wasn't very well received the song quickly reached legendary heights [Music] it hit number one on multiple charts and reached platinum sales status there are no gimmicks to this classic either throughout the track we just appreciate having two wonderful singers find harmony in both their voices and in their words and never lose their passion our love for this song is endless as well [Music] number three ain't no mountain high enough marvin gaye and tammy tyrell marvin gaye and tammy tyrell recorded numerous duets together for motown records but the biggest and best was their first [Music] ain't no mountain high enough is an ode to love so intense it can't possibly be measured it's impossible to not get swept up by gay and tyrell's energy the backing percussion and other instrumentation give the song even more passion although gay and tyrell didn't record their vocals together their chemistry is still off the charts it peaked at number 19 on the hot 100 before another version recorded by diana ross hit number one when you want to be uplifted by love it's hard to think of a better song [Applause] number two under pressure queen and david bowie nothing says glam quite like a collaboration between freddie mercury and david bowie immediately identifiable by its iconic baseline which was later sampled by vanilla ice for ice ice baby under pressure is a chart-topper that goes into some deep topics [Music] it namely explores the day-to-day dread of navigating the world but it's difficult to feel despair when you have the combined power of those two vocalists [Music] even in its quieter moments under pressure is brimming with emotion both queen and bowie had legendary careers but this song showed how great they could be with their powers combined [Applause] before we continue be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos you have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them if you're on your phone make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications number one say say say paul mccartney and michael jackson recording a duet with paul mccartney is a big ask for any artist even one as accomplished as michael jackson but the beatle and the king of pop achieved musical greatness with say say say a duet for mccartney's solo album pipes of peace [Music] the two icons certainly show off their pipes with this chart topper it's a funky banger about trouble and love but even if the lyrics are moody the song is bound to put a smile on your face [Music] it's the kind of song we wish we could do at karaoke but we're scared that we don't have the vocal chops for it mccartney and jackson also found success with the girl as mine but will always go go go for say say say [Music] do you agree with our picks check out this other recent clip from msmojo and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos you

Channel: MsMojo

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Keywords: Music, Pop, aint no mountain high enough, best duets, don't give up, don't go breaking my heart, duet songs, duet songs of all time, duets, ebony and ivory, endless love, hate that i love you, i got you babe, islands in the stream, list, mojo, msmojo, musical duos, say say say, somethin stupid, songs, the time of my life, top 10, under pressure, unforgettable, watch mojo, watchmojo, when you believe

Id: 7CEaZJsCCOI

Length: 22min 34sec (1354 seconds)

Published: Thu Apr 28 2022