VIDEO PLAYLIST 1

FAMOUS MALE-FEMALE
POP MUSIC DUETS

I. TOP 10 MALE-FEMALE DUETS OF THE '80s

By Steve Peake, About.com Guide

Filed In:

Top Picks Lists

One of pop music's best opportunities to explore its theatrical side reveals
itself quite often in duets featuring aptly paired male and female performers.
This form has persisted throughout many eras of music but perhaps never
belonged more fully than during the '80s. Overwrought love songs and sickly
sweet ballads tend to be the order of the day for such star pairings, but
sometimes the combination of voices and memorable melodies helps
transform the occasion into something more. Here's a look at some of the
decade's finest two-gender singing partnerships.

1. Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes - "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer"

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Capitol Records

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During the early '80s, Kenny Rogers was the duet partner du jour for a
number of female performers thanks to his massive country-pop crossover
success. Consequently, there are a number of duets featuring that grey-
bearded wonder that could easily crack this list. However, I choose this one
not just because it's my personal favorite but because Rogers' chemistry with
the previously all-pop Carnes (who also co-wrote the song) is surprisingly
engaging. As such, the track displays far more genuine passion and
compelling heartache than it has any business having, given its glossy, highly
mainstream pop style.
Listen/Download

2. Lita Ford & Ozzy Osbourne - "Close My Eyes Forever"

Album Cover Image Courtesy of RCA Records

This tune is a special case in which the individual performers just happen to
deliver top-notch efforts, which results in a surprisingly moving and lingering
combination. The song's haunting, arpeggiated acoustic guitar opening may
be the key to its success, as it allows both singers to display a gift for balladry
theyre not really known for. This makes up quite nicely for the relatively vapid
lyrics that don't really say much, as the main attraction clearly turns out to be
the pleasing way hard rock legends Ford and Ozzy Osbourne actually sound
together. A pretty respectable late-'80s hair metal moment.
Listen/Download

3. Stevie Nicks & Don Henley - "Leather & Lace"

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 Album Cover Image Courtesy of Reprise Records
Male vulnerability never had it as good as this gentle acoustic ballad, which
showcased two of the finest rock singers of the '70s, in another inspired
combination. I always sang along to this song - behind closed doors, of course
- imagining a duet with whatever unattainable crush I may have had at the
time. Nicks' trademark raspy, sultry delivery contrasts interestingly with
Henley's smooth, high tenor, spotlighting the somewhat heavy-handed but
effective metaphor of the title in lyrics like these: "Sometimes I'm a strong
man, sometimes cold and scared, and sometimes I cry." Cue the sharing
circle, boys.
Listen/Download

4. Sergio Mendes - "Never Gonna Let You Go"

Album Cover Image Courtesy of A&M Records

If you can get past the sappy lyrics and the annoying fact that the artist name
obscures the actual singers of the song, this ballad brings back the '80s
memories in a gush of sticky sweetness. Sung in generic anonymity by Joe
Pizzulo (who sounds like a poor man's James Ingram) and Leza Miller (I can't
even think of anyone she sounds like), the song manages to stand out in spite
of its unremarkability. The saving grace must be the memorable melodic rush
of the verse and the payoff of the chorus, which recently earned official
immortality through an appearance in a Geico commercial.
Sample/Listen

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5. Atlantic Starr - "Secret Lovers"

Album Cover Image Courtesy of A&M Records

Though not strictly a duet because it's performed by a group, this song
perfectly encapsulates the prototypical male-female duet format. It sets up a
dramatic scene and introduces listeners to two characters in a conflict-ridden
situation. It's difficult to remember this once the slick and almost soul-free
production kicks in, but this is decidedly adult material even if most of the
starch is taken out of it. Nonetheless, this is doubtless an emblematic tune of
the '80s, ripe for parody but also patently irresistible when it comes to a sing-
along opportunity.
Listen/Download

6. Ann Wilson & Robin Zander - "Surrender to Me"

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Capitol Records

Naturally, it's impossible to get through a top 10 list of male-female duets
without considering at least a few movie soundtrack entries. And although this
one remains squarely in the shadow of more prominent silver screen duets of
the period like "Up Where We Belong" and "Endless Love," it holds its own
quite well as pleasant romantic balladry for when the credits roll. Co-written
by '80s soft rock extraordinaire Richard Marx, the tune offers pleasant enough
handholding background music while also benefiting strongly from the well-
matched vocal presence of Heart's Wilson and Cheap Trick's Zander.
Listen/Download

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7. Peter Cetera & Amy Grant - "The Next Time I Fall"

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Rhino/Warner Bros.

When this song shot to No. 1 on the pop charts in 1986, Amy Grantwas a big
star only in Christian music circles, but her partnership with
former Chicago bassist and singer Cetera produced musical ambrosia as
sweet as fruit from the Garden of Eden. Cetera had already built a reputation
as balladeer during the past decade with his former band, but on his first
major solo release he certainly left behind all remaining vestiges of his rock
and roll past. In doing so, he crafted a syrupy but highly melodic minor classic
that mines the universally affecting subjects of love, loss and longing.
Listen/Download

8. Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin - "Separate Lives"

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Atlantic Records

Perhaps not many fans of this lovely, achingly slow ballad know that its
songwriter is '70s pop singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop. Perhaps fewer still
realize just how fine a songwriter Bishop is, but this song illustrates that fact
clearly. As sung by pop superstar Phil Collins and relative unknown Marilyn
Martin, the tune rises to the best of its potential precisely because it's
presented in duet form, which allows for emotionally charged give-and-take
between the two performers. But more than anything else Bishop has
captured a timeless melody whose permanence extends out from its solid
structural qualities.

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Listen/Download

9. Patti Austin & James Ingram - "Baby Come to Me"

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Rhino/Warner Bros.

By their very nature, duets tend to be sappy, but this one's course toward
becoming a monster hit is particularly coated in sentimentality. After scarcely
scraping the edge of the Top 40 in 1982, the tune was resurrected as love
scene accompaniment for the ABC soap opera General Hospital. As the result
of enthusiastic fan response and serendipity, the song received a second look
on the charts, climbing to No. 1 in early 1983. It's definitely one of the sexiest
tunes on this list, communicating a sense of romantic longing and anticipation
with the aid of a sultry groove.
Listen/Download

10. Olivia Newton-John & Cliff Richard - "Suddenly"

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Hip-O

The male-female duet works as a highly dramatic form, and perhaps that's
why it's so often linked with filmed entertainment, particularly cinematic
releases. In this case, the rather disastrous 1980 film Xanadu provided an
appropriate arena for a number of hit songs by its star, Newton-John. While
the title track and "Magic" are more well-known, this mid-tempo ballad
arguably represents just as pleasurable a melodic experience. Joining with

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Richard, a British pop legend with plenty of pedigree himself, Newton-John
delivers a silky smooth if not challenging brand of romantic pop.
Listen/Download

II. OTHER FAMOUS MALE-FEMALE DUETS

1. Olivia Newton-John – John Travolta: You are the one that I want
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHFbhhi_XVc

2. Olivia Newton-John – John Travolta: Summer Nights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpJUrt0O7uY&feature=related

3. Elton John – Kiki Dee: Don’t go breaking my heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWLpiPlJAA8

4. Chris Norman – C.C. Catch: Stumblin’ In

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF0UCEJZOO0&feature=related

5. Chris Norman – Suzy Quattro: Stumblin’ In

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfc8x0NWtIE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae5yMpiV3hA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U24tBaW6b8Y&feature=related

6. Chris Norman – Koroleva: Stumblin’ In

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grPZyetf6aE&feature=related

7. Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers: Dancing Cheek to Cheek

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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYHZh-xnqhE&feature=related

8. Gianna Nannini & Edoardo Bennato: Notte Magiche / To Be Number 1 (1990

Italy FIFA World Cup Official Song)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=VD0daTSMxMM&p=C756676457F0B94E&playnext=1&index=73
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7aZlGJv2dY&feature=related

9. Al Bano – Romina Power: Felicita

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0wZQbK938Y

10. Al Bano – Romina Power: Ci Sarra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKe4zSbeO1A&feature=related

11. Al Bano – Romina Power: Tu, Soltanto Tu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Acia1CnFlMs&feature=related

12. Al Bano – Romina Power: Liberta

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0uP4kSCS6I&feature=related

13. Al Bano – Romina Power: Sharazan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAZWO8OyGVs&feature=related

14. Renee & Renato: Save Your Love, My Darling, Save Your Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVXmjVGD_pY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj7UFQx0gkU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdLfDg_cnIo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JFLNVghm0A

15. Rod Stewart – Amy Belle: I don’t talk about it

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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=7RkWs6P2IwE&p=4303A3A793F5A7A4&playnext=1&index=30

16. Robbie Williams – Nicole Kidman: Something Stupid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZzeO232Mdc

17. Ovi Cernăuţeanu şi Paula Seling: Playing with Fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZI7ke3b9MA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDjll7TYIEE&NR=1

18. Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli: Time to Say Good-Bye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_JLkIOnq04

19. Cher & Sonny: I Got You Babe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzW_7ANnHZI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW-Rs5kLzJY&NR=1

Selected by: Marian COVLEA