From legendary collaborations to unexpected pairings, these duets showcase incredible vocal chemistry that transcends the music. Join us as we celebrate iconic partnerships that created pure magic in the studio. Our list features powerhouse vocalists, crossover stars, and unforgettable performances that changed pop music forever.
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00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're looking at duets where you can tell the artists,
00:08click, from the song alone.
00:0910. Winnie Houston and Mariah Carey
00:20When You Believe
00:21This track was originally recorded for DreamWorks' movie The Prince of Egypt.
00:25At the time, both Houston and Carey were at the peak of their vocal prowess.
00:37It's a soaring, inspirational ballad where each singer shines brilliantly.
00:41They sing the verses in turn, and then join together for the song's final crescendo.
00:45Their chemistry shines magnificently at this point, making for an elegant yet fiery climax.
00:50It was also historic because, for some reason, the media was convinced the pair hated each
01:02other.
01:03This was a complete fabrication, however, and they had a blast working together.
01:06Apparently, they had to record their parts separately, but this was entirely false, and
01:10the pair only had nice things to say about each other when interviewed.
01:149.
01:20Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond
01:22You Don't Bring Me Flowers
01:24Originally, this was intended to be the theme song for the sitcom All That Glitters.
01:34When the show's creator decided to settle for something else, Diamond released it on
01:37his 1977 album.
01:46It was initially just a solo performance and was covered by Barbra Streisand the next year.
01:50Radio stations seemed fond of turning it into a duet between the two as they mixed both
01:54versions together.
02:03It was so popular that the duet became a reality, and it dominated the billboards.
02:07From the opening lines, the chemistry is undeniable, making it one of the most poignant duets in
02:12pop history.
02:168.
02:20Aretha Franklin and George Michael
02:22I Knew You Were Waiting For Me
02:24Long before collaborating, Michael was a massive
02:31fan of Franklin's work.
02:33The Queen of Soul was such a favorite of his that he found the idea of a duet together
02:37terrifying.
02:38When Franklin was finally approached, it took little effort to convince her.
02:42The final result is one of the most joyous and triumphant-sounding duets ever.
02:52It's simultaneously an 80s classic and a timeless anthem.
02:56Beyond the vocal chemistry, this track was culturally significant for having a young
03:00pop star sing alongside Soul's greatest legend.
03:03To Michael, it was a dream come true.
03:097.
03:14Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
03:16Endless Love
03:17According to Billboard, in 2013, this is the best duet in history.
03:22While we also love the song, it doesn't top our list.
03:24Still, there's a plethora of ways to praise this song.
03:28Ross and Richie's vocals blend in perfect harmony.
03:30Achieving a level of intimacy, few duets come close to reaching.
03:43It became Ross' best-selling release and was even nominated for an Oscar.
03:46For three entire weeks, it topped three separate Billboard charts.
03:56In the decades since, there have been countless covers, but none that can match the intensity
04:00and chemistry that seeps from the original.
04:056.
04:09Beyonce and Shakira, Beautiful Liar
04:12This duet brought together two of the biggest global superstars of their era.
04:16In uniting Beyonce and Shakira, the song resulted in a mesmerizing display of their talents.
04:21Their vocal chemistry is effortless, with a seamless intertwining of their distinct
04:25voices.
04:34Beyond the vocals, it's stylistically interesting, combining the R&B of Beyonce with the Latin
04:39beats of Shakira.
04:40The lyrics are exceptionally unique for a duet, with both singers being interested in
04:44the same dude, but ultimately deciding not to bother.
04:53Its video was also iconic, with choreography that was created pretty much on the spot.
04:58The duo only had 40 minutes to practice, with Shakira coming up with the bulk of it.
05:055.
05:07Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, Shallow
05:10While Lady Gaga is primarily a musician, she's also a skilled actress, as shown by
05:15her performance in A Star Is Born.
05:17The movie's most pivotal track was Shallow, which was released alongside it as its lead
05:22single.
05:23It became an instant classic, getting nominated for seven Grammy Awards and winning the Oscar
05:27for Best Song.
05:33It's more than deserving of these accolades, being arguably the most emotional duet in
05:37cinema history.
05:38A major factor is the genuine chemistry you can feel between the performers.
05:49Their voices complement each other wonderfully, with Cooper's rough delivery contrasting
05:54heavily with Gaga's powerful vocals.
05:56Their on-screen performance is so convincing that their chemistry feels completely real.
06:054.
06:09Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, Islands in the Stream
06:12Originally, this track was written with Diana Ross in mind, but it was eventually adapted
06:16to a soft rock style closer to Parton and Rogers' typical style.
06:21The result was a brilliant display of seamless chemistry.
06:24From the song's opening lines, their voices blend effortlessly, with Kenny's smooth tones
06:29magnificently complementing Parton's bright voice.
06:38Since the original recording, Parton and Rogers maintained a strong friendship.
06:42They've performed the song countless times in the past few decades, with a final performance
06:46in 2017 before Rogers' retirement.
06:55Its timeless melody and upbeat energy make it an easy pick for our Top 10.
07:043.
07:08Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell, Ain't No Mountain High Enough
07:17When you think of romantic duets, this tune is probably one of the first that comes to
07:21mind.
07:22This Motown classic is not just a love song, but also an anthem of resilience.
07:26From the very first verse, you can hear the infectious energy between the vocalists.
07:36A fantastic fact about the original recording is that Terrell didn't rehearse the lyrics
07:40beforehand, although this didn't seem to be much of an issue.
07:43The two also recorded their parts entirely separately, though you can barely tell.
07:54It quickly became one of Motown's most defining hits, and while it's been covered multiple
07:58times, no version tops the original in our estimations.
08:062.
08:09Sonny and Cher, I Got You Babe
08:19Back in the 60s, Sonny and Cher were one of the most famous pop duos, and remain as one
08:24of music's most iconic couples.
08:26The pair divorced in 1975, but became musical giants during the 60s.
08:31One of the biggest factors for their success was I Got You Babe.
08:42At the time, the pair were head over heels for each other, with their romance seeping
08:45through into their performance.
08:47Interestingly, Cher initially hated the song, yet it became their most successful.
08:51It was released in 1965, and sold over 1 million copies in the same year.
09:01It has since become one of music's most beloved duets, and its timeless charm will keep it
09:06cherished for decades to come.
09:09Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
09:19Ariana Grande and The Weeknd, Love Me Harder
09:22This collab between giants has since gone quintuple platinum.
09:33Celine Dion and Peebo Bryson, Beauty and the Beast
09:36This duet was a highlight of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
09:46Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole, Unforgettable
09:49Doesn't everybody remember this duet?
09:58Brandi and Monica, The Boy Is Mine
10:00A fake rivalry made this a bestseller.
10:11Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue, Kids
10:14There was so much chemistry, Robbie insisted it became a duet.
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10:41Elton John and Kiki D
10:43Don't Go Breaking My Heart
10:51Topping off our list is one of the most infectiously upbeat duets in history.
10:55It was massively inspired by Motown classics like the previously discussed Ain't No Mountain
10:59High Enough.
11:00Ironically, it received mixed reviews at release, with NME wishing they'd written a more memorable
11:05song than this.
11:07Just 50 years later, it's considered one of the greatest duets ever.
11:16It was the duo's first ever No. 1 and a staple of the 70s.
11:19No matter what you're doing or how you're feeling, it's a challenge to listen to this
11:23song without smiling.
11:31Which pop duet do you think clicked the hardest?
11:34Drop them down in the comments below.
11:42Do you agree with our picks?
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