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Some duets just work better than anyone could’ve predicted. We’re looking at the pop pairings whose voices, styles, and energy spark instant magic, from soulful love songs to playful clashes and powerhouse ballads. Our countdown includes unforgettable collaborations from Elton John & Kiki Dee, Sonny & Cher, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Beyoncé & Shakira, Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper, Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey and more!
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00:00Islands in the stream, that is what we are, no one in between.
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're looking at the artist pairings we never knew we needed.
00:11There ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough, ain't no river wide enough.
00:23Number 20. Aretha Franklin and George Michael, I Knew You Were Waiting For Me.
00:27Though I went through some nights, consumed my shadows.
00:32Long before collaborating, Michael was a massive fan of Franklin's work.
00:36The Queen of Soul was such a favorite of his that he found the idea of a duet together terrifying.
00:41When Franklin was finally approached, it took little effort to convince her.
00:45The final result is one of the most joyous and triumphant sounding duets ever.
00:49I Knew You Were Waiting, I Knew You Were Waiting For Me.
00:53It's simultaneously an 80s classic and a timeless anthem.
00:58Beyond the vocal chemistry, this track was culturally significant for having a young pop star sing alongside Soul's greatest legend.
01:04To Michael, it was a dream come true.
01:07Knew You Were Waiting, I Knew You Were Waiting For Me.
01:12Number 19. Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville.
01:15Don't Know Much.
01:16Though originally recorded by Barry Mann,
01:18The song truly exploded worldwide after it was covered by this duo.
01:22I don't know much, but I know I love you.
01:29So intimate that you might think the pair have genuinely fallen for each other,
01:33this duet captures the meaning behind true love.
01:35With Ronstadt's vocals blended beautifully with Neville's soft, delicate falsetto,
01:39Don't Know Much climbed the charts to peak at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
01:51The natural balance between them gave the song a completely vulnerable quality,
01:55as if two people have found peace among all the chaos around them.
01:58Its music video drives this idea home more than anything else.
02:01We watch the pair find themselves in each other's arms,
02:04their words reflecting the connection between them on screen.
02:07That may be all there is to know.
02:15Number 18. Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men.
02:18One Sweet Day.
02:19Loud, powerful, yet incredibly peaceful.
02:22It's hard to describe the kind of impact this track creates.
02:25I know you're shining down on me from heaven.
02:31One Sweet Day instantly proved why the world needed this duet more than they've ever realized.
02:36Emotionally seamless and wonderfully heartfelt,
02:39it serves as a tribute to loved ones who were lost too soon.
02:41Mariah's melodious vocals weave themselves into Boyz II Men's harmonies,
02:45creating a kind of warmth and comfort that only music can provide.
02:55It's like hearing the same voice trade lines back and forth,
02:58as the underlying message remains the same,
03:01no matter which singer leads the chorus.
03:02Audiences clearly felt the same,
03:04as the track spent a record-breaking 16 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
03:09One Sweet Day.
03:11One Sweet Day.
03:16Number 17. Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.
03:19I've had the time of my life.
03:21Some duets are inseparable from the movie that made them famous,
03:24but this just might be as famous as the film itself.
03:27Now we're passion in our eyes.
03:30There's no way we could disguise a secret need.
03:34Featured during Dirty Dancing's iconic finale,
03:37it's a song that can make just about anyone's inhibitions run wild.
03:40Medley has just the kind of deep, rugged voice
03:42that pulls Warren's elegance and emotional lift toward it,
03:45evoking the romance and excitement
03:47that Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey's characters feel.
03:58But you don't even need to follow the movie to appreciate the pair's chemistry.
04:01Not when there's such a genuine sense of joy and celebration in their performance.
04:05Honestly, it isn't a matter of whether this could be love,
04:08because to us, it absolutely is.
04:19Number 16. Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. Telephone.
04:23If you thought this list would be all about songs built on romance and sweeping vocals,
04:28then think again.
04:29Because this duet is built entirely on chaotic energy.
04:38As endlessly replayable as its video is not suitable for work,
04:42Telephone delivered exactly what this high-energy pop collaboration promised.
04:46With two superstars in their prime,
04:48the song plays out like a battle between matching each other's intensity.
04:51Combining Gaga's eccentricities with Beyoncé's badass energy,
04:55the pairing felt strangely unpredictable yet natural at the same time.
04:58Stop going, stop going, I don't want to talk anymore.
05:03I don't want to talk anymore.
05:04I don't want to talk anymore.
05:07Escalating each verse as the song's attitude and swagger amp up,
05:10their dynamic begets bigger and better the longer it goes.
05:14The only disappointment?
05:15The follow-up promised at the end,
05:17which we are still waiting for nearly two decades later.
05:20I don't want to talk anymore.
05:27Number 15.
05:28Ariana Grande and The Weeknd.
05:30Love Me Harder.
05:31Not too long after Grande's days on Nickelodeon ended,
05:34the world got to know just how hard the artist goes
05:37when it came to pushing boundaries.
05:47And instead of complimenting each other because of their similarities,
05:50Grande and The Weeknd bring a different side of each other
05:52out through their collaboration.
05:54Love Me Harder paired Grande's smooth, controlled vocals
05:56with The Weeknd's darker, moodier style,
05:59crafting an emotionally tense yet undoubtedly seductive atmosphere.
06:09The rougher side of Grande's vocals
06:11adds layers to The Weeknd's sense of mystery and edge,
06:14pushing the song into mature territory beyond its lyrics.
06:17A radio favorite of its time,
06:19fans worldwide really did love the song as hard as intended.
06:23A little bit harder, harder, harder, harder, harder, harder, harder.
06:27Number 14.
06:29Selenzion and Peebo Bryson.
06:30Beauty and the Beast.
06:31While Angela Lansbury's remains the definitive version,
06:35Selenzion and Peebo Bryson's collaboration is magical in its own right.
06:45Bryson's warm, soulful vocals give the track a comforting grace and refinement,
06:50while Zion's incredible emotion hits us with its dramatic weight.
06:53Even with the overwhelming melody that wraps viewers in its embrace,
06:57Zion and Bryson keep up with its tempo.
06:59Mind if you can change,
07:02I need you for all.
07:06Capturing the timeless fairy tale atmosphere of the story,
07:09this version deserves to stand on its own
07:11as one of Disney's best musical collaborations.
07:13Its commercial success landed it in the Billboard Hot 100,
07:16while its critical acclaim saw it win the Grammy Award
07:19for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
07:22Beauty and the Beast.
07:36In a performance that literally transcended time,
07:40Natalie Cole paired up with her father for a truly unforgettable performance.
07:52Using modern recording technology,
07:54she crafted a duet with Nat King decades after his passing.
07:57And yet it works more than any live performance might,
08:00as the shared talent between father and daughter feels deeply personal.
08:04Nat King Cole's timeless vocals blended with Natalie's expressive and sensual delivery
08:08are a feast for the senses,
08:10crafting the illusion of a genuine conversation between two singers.
08:21Instead of feeling artificial or manufactured,
08:24the song comes across as sincere, earnest, and profound.
08:28Decades later,
08:29it is still just as groundbreaking in execution as it first was,
08:32remaining one of the most touching and unique duets ever recorded.
08:44Number 12, Brandy and Monica, The Boy Is Mine.
08:48With all the heartwarming pairings we've gone through,
08:50it's time for one brimming with tension.
08:52After all, not all great chemistry has to sound friendly.
09:00In The Boy Is Mine, Brandy and Monica not only combine their talents,
09:04but blend pop with R&B for one of the most enduring duets from the 90s.
09:08There's an unmistakable mix of catty and vengeful energy here,
09:11as both seek each other out,
09:13along with the man responsible for turning them into rivals.
09:23This collaboration worked mainly because both singers committed to the tension at its center,
09:28with Brandy's softer, restrained voice clashing with Monica's more forceful, intense vocals.
09:33The back and forth builds up toward its climax,
09:35pulling listeners into a conflict that feels all too relatable.
09:38He belongs to me, the boy is mine.
09:44Number 11, Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue.
09:47Kids, speaking of tension,
09:49you'll end up fanning yourselves from how much there is in this duet.
09:54Jump on board, take a ride.
10:00Kids works because of how much Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue
10:03sound like they're trying to outfox each other.
10:05The song thrives on playful tension, flirting, and sheer charisma.
10:10Williams brings his swagger and cheeky attitude,
10:12while Minogue matches him with effortless confidence and sex appeal.
10:15It's gonna take up all of my love
10:18I'm gonna give it all of my love
10:20And it's gonna take up all of my love
10:23The interplay has a mischievous and spontaneous quality that never lets up,
10:27having a snap and bop along to each verse.
10:30Their chemistry is even more apparent in live performances,
10:32with the pair fully leaning into their lusty and competitive dynamic.
10:36We're not sure who they really did it for,
10:38we're just glad this duet exists.
10:46Number 10, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, When You Believe.
10:50This track was originally recorded for the DreamWorks movie, The Prince of Egypt.
11:01At the time, both Houston and Carey were at the peak of their vocal prowess.
11:06It's a soaring, inspirational ballad, where each singer shines brilliantly.
11:10They sing the verses in turn, and then join together for the song's final crescendo.
11:14Their chemistry shines magnificently at this point, making for an elegant yet fiery climax.
11:26It was also historic, because for some reason, the media was convinced the pair hated each other.
11:31This was a complete fabrication, however, and they had a blast working together.
11:35Apparently, they had to record their parts separately.
11:38But this was entirely false,
11:40and the pair only had nice things to say about each other when interviewed.
11:43Hope is right, it's hard, yeah!
11:48Number 9, Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond, You Don't Bring Me Flowers.
11:59Originally, this was intended to be the theme song for the sitcom, All That Glitters.
12:03When the show's creator decided to settle for something else,
12:06Diamond released it on his 1977 album.
12:09But used to bees don't count anymore,
12:11they just lay on the floor till we sweep them away.
12:14It was initially just a solo performance,
12:17and was covered by Barbra Streisand the next year.
12:20Radio stations seemed fond of turning it into a duet between the two,
12:23as they mixed both versions together.
12:25Think I could learn.
12:28Sorry.
12:29Think I could learn.
12:32It was so popular that the duet became a reality,
12:35and it dominated the billboards.
12:37From the opening lines,
12:38the chemistry is undeniable,
12:40making it one of the most poignant duets in pop history.
12:43You don't bring me flowers.
12:49Number 8, George Michael and Elton John, Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.
12:53Although originally released by Elton John in 1974,
12:56many would argue its definitive version arrived in 1991.
13:00This collaboration felt like a genuine love letter to the senses.
13:09Six years after performing Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me at the Live Aid concert,
13:13the pair teamed up for a live duet that makes them seem like a match made in heaven.
13:17Their voices complement each other perfectly,
13:19as Michael brings a subtle touch of vulnerability
13:22that John amps up with his trademark theatricality.
13:25Just because you think I'm in your heart.
13:28Just because you think I'm in your heart.
13:32More than anything, though,
13:34it's the chemistry between the artists that shines through,
13:37with Michael living out the dream of performing with his idol.
13:40Rather than competing for the spotlight,
13:42both legends are more than happy to share it.
13:44It's like the sun blowing down on me.
13:51Number 7, Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, Endless Love.
13:54According to Billboard in 2013,
13:57this is the best duet in history.
13:59While we also love the song,
14:01it doesn't top our list.
14:02Still, there's a plethora of ways to praise this song.
14:05Ross and Richie's vocals blend in perfect harmony,
14:08achieving a level of intimacy few duets come close to reaching.
14:12I want to share all my love with you.
14:20It became Ross's best-selling release,
14:22and was even nominated for an Oscar.
14:25For three entire weeks,
14:26it topped three separate Billboard charts.
14:29It topped three separate Billboard charts.
14:34In the decades since,
14:35there have been countless covers,
14:37but none can match the intensity and chemistry
14:39that seeps from the original.
14:41You know I don't mind.
14:47Number 6, Beyonce and Shakira, Beautiful Liar.
14:50This duet brought together two of the biggest global superstars of their era.
14:55In uniting Beyonce and Shakira,
14:56the song resulted in a mesmerizing display of their talents.
14:59Their vocal chemistry is effortless,
15:02with a seamless intertwining of their distinct voices.
15:11Beyond the vocals,
15:13it's stylistically interesting,
15:15combining the R&B of Beyonce with the Latin beats of Shakira.
15:18The lyrics are exceptionally unique for a duet,
15:21with both singers being interested in the same dude,
15:23but ultimately deciding not to bother.
15:25It's not worth the drama for a beautiful liar.
15:31Its video was also iconic,
15:33with choreography that was created pretty much on the spot.
15:35The duo only had 40 minutes to practice,
15:38with Shakira coming up with the bulk of it.
15:44Number 5, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, Shallow.
15:48While Lady Gaga is primarily a musician,
15:51she's also a skilled actress,
15:52as shown by her performance in A Star is Born.
15:55The movie's most pivotal track was Shallow,
15:57which was released alongside it as its lead single.
16:00It became an instant classic,
16:01getting nominated for seven Grammy Awards,
16:03and winning the Oscar for Best Song.
16:10It's more than deserving of those accolades,
16:12being arguably the most emotional duet in cinema history.
16:15A major factor is the genuine chemistry you can feel between the performers.
16:26Their voices complement each other wonderfully,
16:29with Cooper's rough delivery contrasting heavily with Gaga's powerful vocals.
16:33Their on-screen performance is so convincing,
16:35that their chemistry feels completely real.
16:45Number 4, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, Islands in the Stream.
16:49Originally, this track was written with Diana Ross in mind,
16:52but it was eventually adapted to a softer rock style,
16:55closer to Parton and Rogers' typical style.
16:57The result was a brilliant display of seamless chemistry.
17:00From the song's opening lines,
17:02their voices blend effortlessly,
17:03with Kenny's smooth tones magnificently complementing Parton's bright voice.
17:14Since the original recording,
17:16Parton and Rogers maintained a strong friendship.
17:18They've performed the song countless times in the past few decades,
17:21with a final performance in 2017 before Rogers' retirement.
17:31It's timeless melody and upbeat energy makes it an easy pick for our top 10.
17:36And we rely on each other,
17:39from one love to another.
17:42Number 3, Marvin Gaye and Tammy Turrell,
17:45Ain't No Mountain High Enough.
17:46If you need me, call me,
17:49no matter where you are,
17:51no matter how far.
17:52When you think of romantic duets,
17:54this tune is probably one of the first that comes to mind.
17:57This Motown classic is not just a love song,
17:59but also an anthem of resilience.
18:01From the very first verse,
18:03you can hear the infectious energy between the vocalists.
18:06Ain't no river wide enough
18:11A fascinating fact about the original recording
18:13is that Turrell didn't rehearse the lyrics beforehand,
18:16although this didn't seem to be much of an issue.
18:18The two also recorded their parts entirely separately,
18:21though you can barely tell.
18:23Ain't no mountain high enough
18:26Ain't no valley low enough
18:29It quickly became one of Motown's most defining hits,
18:32and while it's been covered multiple times,
18:35no version tops the original in our estimation.
18:38Just call my name
18:40I'll be there in a hurry
18:42You don't have to worry
18:55Back in the 60s,
18:57Sonny and Cher were one of the most famous pop duos,
18:59and remain one of music's most iconic couples.
19:02The pair divorced in 1975,
19:04but became musical giants during the 60s.
19:06One of the biggest factors for their success
19:09was I Got You, Babe.
19:10I got you, babe
19:14I got you, babe
19:17At the time,
19:18the pair was head over heels for each other,
19:20with their romance seeping through
19:22into their performance.
19:23Interestingly,
19:24Cher initially hated the song,
19:26yet it became their most successful.
19:27It was released in 1965,
19:29and sold over one million copies in the same year.
19:38It has since become one of music's most beloved duets,
19:41and its timeless charm will keep it cherished for decades to come.
19:44Babe
19:47I got you, babe
19:50I got you, babe
19:52Number 1
19:54Elton John and Kiki D
19:55Don't Go Breaking My Heart
19:56Don't Go Breaking My Heart
20:00I couldn't if I tried
20:03Topping off our list
20:04is one of the most infectiously upbeat duets in history.
20:07It was massively inspired by Motown classics,
20:10like the previously discussed Ain't No Mountain High Enough.
20:13Ironically, it received mixed reviews at release,
20:16with NME wishing they'd written a, quote,
20:18more memorable song than this.
20:1950 years later,
20:21it's considered one of the greatest duets ever.
20:28It was the duo's first ever number one,
20:31and a staple of the 70s.
20:33No matter what you're doing or how you're feeling,
20:35it is a challenge to listen to this song without smiling.
20:38Don't go breaking my heart
20:41I won't go breaking your heart
20:44Are there any other duets that come to mind?
20:47Let us know in the comments.
20:53Let us know in the comments.
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