200 MOST ESSENTIAL DUETS. This instalment: #70-61. 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.

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!).

70

TROUBLE

IGGY AZALEA & JENNIFER HUDSON

Rising star Iggy Azalea and singer / Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson showed all how a good duet can still bring 2n unlikely pairing together with awesome results. In 2015, the song "Trouble" brought the 2 performers a Top 10 hit in Britain.

69

JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT

THE KLF & TAMMY WYNETTE

Now this was radically special: British dance group The KLF recruited country legend Tammy Wynette for the collaboration "Justified And Ancient", Their duet was given the subtitle "Stand By The JAMS", recalling her signature song "Stand By Your Man". It charted in several countries, including the UK where it peaked at #2 in 1991-2.

68

HEARTBEAT

ENRIQUE IGLESIAS &
  NICOLE SCHERZINGER

Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias and the Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger had been stealing hearts for years leading to their duet in 2010.  With "Heartbeat", from his album 'Euphoria', they secured another Top 10 hit in Europe, Britain and Australia. 

67

I FINALLY FOUND SOMEONE

BARBRA STREISAND & BRYAN ADAMS

In 1996, Barbra Streisand released her duet with Bryan Adams entitled "I Finally Found Someone". The song was recorded for her latest film 'The Mirror Has Two Faces'. The 2 singers co-wrote the love song with Marvin Hamlisch and Robert John "Mutt" Lange. It was soon sitting in the Top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic.

66

I SECOND THAT EMOTION

DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES
  & THE TEMPTATIONS

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles recorded the original version of "I Second That Emotion". In 1968, Motown's 2 chart titans Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations combined for an album that peaked at #2 in America. Their remake of the song reached the Top 20 on the British chart. This all coincided with the release of their joint TV special "TCB." and its soundtrack album.

65

EBONY AND IVORY

PAUL McCARTNEY & STEVIE WONDER

Given the undeniable talent that recorded "Ebony And Ivory", the end result is a letdown. Former Beatle Paul McCartney penned the tune for his 1982 album 'Tug Of War'. Motown's resident wunderkind Stevie Wonder had certainly added his touch to superior works. All this aside, there's no denying their duet was as catchy as it was cheesy. While its message was simplistic, it did promote racial harmony, something the world still needs today. The duet reached #1 in America, Britain, Europe and Canada. 

64

SAME SCRIPT, DIFFERENT CAST

WHITNEY HOUSTON & DEBORAH COX

Unjustly overlooked, "Same Script, Different Cast" pits 2 R&B women against each other, fighting over the same man. The women try to deal with their shifting roles within the love triangle. Whitney Houston and Deborah Cox are evenly matched in the theme as well as vocally, both excelling on a duet that should serve as a blueprint for others to emulate. The song was a new song featured on Houston's 2000 compilation album.

63

I JUST CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU

MICHAEL JACKSON & SEIDAH GARRETT

In 1987, Michael Jackson unleashed his 'Bad' album. It was packed with chart hits, including a duet with Seidah Garrett. She had co-written "Man In The Mirror" for Jackson's new album. Jackson himself penned "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" which the 2 recorded as a duet. The single reached #1 on America's Pop, R&B and AC charts. It also made the top in the United Kingdom.
 The 2 later recorded versions of the love song in Spanish and French.

62

DILEMMA

NELLY & KELLY ROWLAND

"Dilemma" was the follow-up to Nelly's signature song "Hot in Herre". In 2002, the duet with Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland showed another side of the rapper. The slow groove of "Dilemma" proved irresistible as it was soon at #1 in America, Britain, Europe and Australia.

61

4 MINUTES

MADONNA & JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

Madonna's 'Hard Candy' album was preceded by the lead single "4 Minutes". This was a collaboration with Justin Timberlake (and input from Timbaland). The 3 co-wrote the track with producer Nate Hills. The duet topped the charts in Britain, Europe, Canada and Australia. In America, it peaked at #3.