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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