THE 200 MOST ESSENTIAL DUETS: #50-41. Continues next week.

Caffe` Latte` presents…

THE 200 ALL-TIME MOST

ESSENTIAL DUETS

  

This countdown looks back on decades of duets, where 2 acts combine on a song.

50

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

ANDREA BOCELLI & SARAH BRIGHTMAN

Originally, the grand ballad "Time To Say Goodbye" was an Italian song entitled "Con Te Partiro`". Andrea Bocelli recorded it as a solo track in 1995. The following year, it became a duet with Sarah Brightman. This version became a major success. In 1997, the duet peaked at #2 in Britain.

49

SOMETHIN' STUPID

FRANK SINATRA & NANCY SINATRA

Put aside the awkwardness of this being a love song performed by a father with his daughter, and you have one of the coolest duets of the 1960s. Frank and Nancy Sinatra pleased his older fans as well as attracting her hip young audience with this cross-generational recording. The single topped the US & UK charts in 1967.

48

WHATTA MAN

SALT -'N'- PEPA & EN VOGUE

Rap fused with hip hop on the uber-smooth remake of the Linda Lyndell song "What A Man". The modern update was re-titled "Whatta Man" and featured the 2 girl groups Salt -'N'- Pepa and En Vogue. Few pairings have sounded as authentic.

47

DANCING IN THE STREET

DAVID BOWIE & MICK JAGGER

Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones joined David Bowie on the 1985 remake of the Motown 1964 hit "Dancing In The Street" to coincide with Live Aid. The charity disc reached #1 in Britain, Canada and Australia.

46

LOVE NEVER FELT SO GOOD

MICHAEL JACKSON & JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

'Xscape' was an album of unfinished Michael Jackson material from the vaults. "Love Never Felt So Good" was completed after Jackson's passing. At the time, 2 versions were unleashed: a solo and a duet featuring fan Justin Timberlake. The 2014 single reached the Top 10 in America, Britain, Europe, South Korea, Israel and South Africa. 

45

COULD I HAVE THIS KISS FOREVER

WHITNEY HOUSTON & ENRIQUE IGLESIAS

The 2000 duet "Could I Have This Kiss Forever" was a Diane Warren ballad, dipped in soul and Latino rhythms. It brought together dynamic vocalist Whitney Houston with Spanish pop singer Enrique Iglesias. The result was a sexy and magical aural chemistry that simmered well after the track's end. The single topped the European charts and peaked at #7 in the UK.

44

LOVE IS

VANESSA WILLIAMS & BRIAN McKNIGHT

"Love Is" was included on the soundtrack for the TV series "Beverly Hills 90210". The duet was released in 1993 by 2 of R&B's rising stars at the time: Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight. The ballad reached #3 in America and Canada.

43

BABY DON'T CHA WORRY

MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL

"Baby Don't Cha Worry" is not as well known as other magical duet recordings by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, but this Motown nugget is a worthy addition to this list. It's a track on the pair's 1968 'You're All I Need' joint project. 

42

I KNOW HIM SO WELL

ELAINE PAIGE & BARBARA DICKSON

Tim Rice created the ballad "I Know Him So Well" for the musical "Chess" with former ABBA members Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. In 1984, the duet by West End stars Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson was released. The single scaled the UK chart where it ruled for 4 weeks. 

41

 STOP DRAGGIN' MY HEART AROUND

STEVIE NICKS & TOM PETTY 
AND THE HEARTBREAKERS

"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" was written by Tom Petty and one of the members of the Heartbreakers, Mike Campbell. Stevie Nicks added her vocals to the track and included it on her 1981 debut solo album 'Bella Donna'. The single reached the Top 10 in the US, Canada, Australia and South Africa.

To be eligible, the acts involved contribute close to equal roles as lead vocalists rather than featured or guest vocals. The collaborations must be by acts that do not usually record together as regular duos (eg. Hall & Oates, Everly Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel and Wham!).