Ah, those sultry tones! For this list, we’ll be looking at the best, most iconic, and timeless songs on which the late musical icon collaborated with his contemporaries.
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00:00 And what magic you'll see Let someone give his heart
00:07 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for the Top 10 Tony Bennett
00:11 Duets.
00:12 It's awfully different without you Don't get around much anymore
00:19 For this list, we'll be looking at the best, most iconic and timeless songs on which the
00:24 late musical icon collaborated with his contemporaries.
00:27 Which Tony Bennett collab deserves a place in the Hall of Fame?
00:30 Let us know in the comments.
00:33 Number 10.
00:34 Ranks to Riches with Elton John While Tony Bennett wasn't the only artist
00:38 to record this song, there's no denying that his rendition is the one we measure all others
00:43 against.
00:44 Open the door To every treasure that I'm hoping for
00:52 Indeed, it's probably the best-known version, spending eight weeks in the top spot of the
00:56 Billboard charts in 1953 and earning Gold Certification.
01:01 And just as we thought it couldn't get any better, he threw another icon into the mix
01:05 - Elton John.
01:13 The two crooners' voices blend seamlessly and radiate such warmth that you can't help
01:18 but smile.
01:19 It's beautifully jazzy and an absolute classic.
01:22 Listening to them sing together, you'd think the song was written specifically for them
01:26 to duet.
01:34 Number 9.
01:36 Speak Low with Norah Jones As we'll soon see, Bennett collaborated with
01:40 the best of the best on his 2011 Duets 2 album.
01:49 Hearing him sing "This Is All I Ask" with Josh Groban is dreamy.
01:53 Meanwhile, "Who Can I Turn To When Nobody Needs Me" sung with Queen Latifah won the
01:57 Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists Grammy Award.
02:07 But hearing him sing "Speak Low" with Norah Jones is beyond stunning.
02:16 The arrangement is perfect, sultry, and slow, drawing out the absolute best from both jazz
02:21 vocalists.
02:22 And they complement each other so perfectly that it's almost like they were born to duet.
02:26 We'd happily listen to them on a loop.
02:36 Number 8.
02:37 The Way You Look Tonight with Thalia In 2012, Tony Bennett released his Viva Duets
02:42 album, celebrating Latinx artists and featuring songs in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
02:47 Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony, and Gloria Estefan are just some of the icons who feature
02:52 alongside him on the album.
02:59 But this bilingual version of "The Way You Look Tonight" with Mexican artist Thalia
03:03 stole our hearts.
03:04 Just listen to how well his soft, jazzy tones and her powerfully versatile voice work together.
03:17 Magnetic, isn't it?
03:18 It really makes you believe in every word they're singing, and the orchestration only
03:22 elevates it higher.
03:30 Number 7.
03:31 My Kind of Town with Frank Sinatra They say don't meet your heroes, but if you're
03:36 lucky, and talented enough, you just might end up singing alongside them.
03:48 Well at least that's true for Tony Bennett, who joined Old Blue Eyes on stage to sing
03:52 My Kind of Town.
03:59 Sinatra once told Life magazine that Bennett is, quote, "the best singer in the business,"
04:03 and added,
04:04 "He excites me when I watch him.
04:06 He moves me."
04:07 Does it get more iconic than that?
04:09 If we had a time machine, we'd totally go watch this duet live.
04:19 But perhaps we'd also make a pit stop to hear him sing with Judy Garland on her eponymous
04:23 talk show.
04:33 Number 6.
04:35 Stranger in Paradise with Andrea Bocelli When you pair up one of the greatest voices
04:39 in the American Songbook with one of the best tenors of all time, you get a duet that's
04:44 pure, well, paradise.
04:51 The individual and combined beauty of their respective styles only heighten the emotion
04:55 behind the lyrics.
05:01 And while they perform the number in a studio, there's no denying that a performance of this
05:05 magnificence belongs on a much grander stage.
05:09 And if you want to know how that might sound, check out this performance from Bocelli's
05:13 Central Park concert a year earlier.
05:23 No matter what genre they tackle, their commanding performances prove that this pairing is nothing
05:27 short of kismet.
05:38 Number 5.
05:39 Blue Velvet with Cady Lang According to an interview with the Desert
05:42 Sun, the first time Bennett heard Lang sing, he just knew "she has it."
05:53 If you're wondering what "it" is, well, he went on to liken her to artists like Judy
05:57 Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday.
06:00 Much like the late legend, when Lang sings, you can tell it's from the depths of her soul.
06:04 And she wears her heart on her sleeve through every note.
06:14 So as you can imagine, her combined efforts with Bennett are as comforting to the ear
06:18 as Velvet is to the touch.
06:20 To call this number breathtaking barely does it justice.
06:31 Number 4.
06:32 How Do You Keep The Music Playing with Aretha Franklin
06:35 Can you imagine a better musical partner for this song than the Queen of Soul?
06:39 Okay, so his duet with George Michael is a close second.
06:50 But it really doesn't get much better than the back and forth between these two icons,
06:54 and the seamless blending of their respective styles.
07:03 The arrangement elevates the song's passion, and it's impossible not to get swept up by
07:07 their energies.
07:16 Throughout the number, we enjoy listening to two phenomenal vocalists find harmony in
07:21 both their voices, and emote through every syllable they sing.
07:25 While sadly, both are no longer with us, we'll gladly keep the music playing in their memory.
07:35 Number 3.
07:43 For Once in My Life with Stevie Wonder Yes, Stevie Wonder might have popularized
07:47 the song, but did you know that Bennett released his own version in 1967?
07:52 So it only made sense for the pair to collaborate on a jazzy ballad cover for Bennett's duets
07:56 and American Classic album.
08:05 The respect and admiration each has for the other shines through, and clearly pushes both
08:09 to deliver their absolute A-game.
08:12 And the track perfectly balances Bennett's softer tones with Wonder's powerful runs.
08:23 It probably won't surprise you that they won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration
08:27 with Vocals.
08:28 This isn't a duet you'll want to listen to just once in your life.
08:40 Number 2.
08:41 The Lady is a Tramp with Lady Gaga In 2011, Lady Gaga joined forces with Bennett
08:46 to record The Lady is a Tramp for his Duets 2 album.
08:54 The result? One of the most unexpected yet unparalleled collaborations of the modern
08:59 era.
09:00 We loved exploring this new side of Gaga's artistry.
09:02 Meanwhile, she helped introduce her singing partner to new audiences.
09:13 Bennett gushed over the time he spent with the singer, calling her quote "an artist
09:17 of exceptional singularity, just like Picasso."
09:20 Their partnership continued until his retirement, and included highlights like "I Get a Kick
09:25 Out of You" and "I've Got You Under My Skin."
09:32 But we'll never forget where it all began.
09:40 Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
09:44 Sing You Sinners with John Legend Bennett and Legend give a saintly performance.
09:50 God Bless the Child with Billie Holiday A beautifully poignant showcase of two music
09:57 legends.
10:07 On the Sunny Side of the Street with Willie Nelson
10:09 This duet can brighten up even the dreariest of days.
10:20 If I Ruled the World with Celine Dion A duet to rule our hearts
10:35 New York State of Mind with Billy Joel A partnership that puts us in a great state
10:39 of mind.
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11:04 Body and Soul with Amy Winehouse Just months before the world lost one of
11:08 the greatest vocalists of the modern age, she and Bennett shared the privilege of singing
11:12 together.
11:21 This number is a testament to Winehouse's far-reaching talents and Bennett's skill
11:25 in bringing out the best in his collaborators.
11:28 The late crooner was in awe of Winehouse, comparing her to music greats like Dinah Washington
11:32 and Billie Holiday.
11:34 And you don't have to be a musical expert to agree.
11:39 There's just something so comforting about hearing these two sing together, and their
11:45 harmonies send chills throughout our bodies.
11:48 They certainly perform with all their body and soul.
11:51 Talk about a heavenly duet.
12:04 Do you agree with our picks?
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