 He Said/She Said: 20 Boy-Girl Duets for the AgesBy
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“Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl (1987) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Without question one of the best duets in rock and roll, Kirsty MacColl and the Pogues’ Shane MacGowan play the roles, in a classic call and response, of two Irish immigrants, lovers or ex-lovers, their youthful hopes crushed by alcoholism and drug addiction, reminiscing and bickering on Christmas Eve in New York City.
“Shaking Hands (Soldier’s Joy)” by Michelle Shocked with Uncle Tupelo (1991) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Uncle Tupelo were at the height of their powers when they were recruited by Michelle Shocked to record this duet for her Arkansas Traveler album in 1991. A raucous alt-country classic, the song features Jay Farrar as a wounded Confederate soldier who becomes addicted to morphine during his recovery. “Shaking hands — I took the bitter pill/Tell the story on my grave, my soul they could not save/What the bullet could not kill, the needle will.”
“Sometimes Always” by The Jesus & Mary Chain with Hope Sandoval (1994) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. This song by The Jesus and Mary Chain with Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval is pure cool and a great example of the he said/she said style of I referred to in the introduction. An amazing song from a vastly underrated album. I dare you to listen and not be hooked.
“Interlude” by Morrissey & Siouxsie Sioux (1994) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Two eighties new wave giants hooked up for this string-drenched ballad, a song first featured in the 1968 film of the same name and sung by Timi Yuro. It’s definitely got that 1960s decadence sound and Morrissey and Siouxsie perfectly capture that era with their dramatic vocal performances.
“Where the Wild Roses Grow” by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds with Kylie Minogue (1996) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. A truly eerie song sung by a murderer and his victim from beyond the grave. Cave’s character is entranced by Elisa Day’s (Minogue’s character) beauty and hates the idea of it fading, so he kills her in order to preserve the memory of her beauty forever.
“Marriage Made in Heaven” by Tindersticks with Isabella Rossellini (1997) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Tindersticks have become masters at the duet form, with Stuart Staples’ sonorous baritone nicely contrasted with various female vocalists, including Ann Magnuson from Bongwater and Carla Torgeson from The Walkabouts. But my favorite is a lighthearted collaboration with Italian actress Isabella Rossellini. Listen to her giggling at the end of the track and you know that her glee is genuine.
“I’ve Seen it All” by Bjork with Thom Yorke (1997) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. A meeting of the king and queen of experimental pop music, this stunning duet was featured on Bjork’s Selmasongs, the quasi-soundtrack album for the film Dancer in the Dark. Those two idiosyncratic voices are magic alone and absolutely sublime together. The two recently hooked up again for Bjork’s latest single, “Nattura,” which benefits Náttúra Campaign, the Icelandic environmental movement co-founded by the pixie songstress.
“The Way You Dream” by Michael Stipe & Asha Bhosle (2002) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Recorded for the 1 Giant Leap project, this duet finds R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe singing with Indian superstar, Asha Bhosle. Jungle beats, furious hand-drumming, putorino (a New Zealand flute) and kora blend with the voices to make a spellbinding multi-kulti gem.
“Portland Oregon” by Loretta Lynn with Jack White (2004) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. An inspired collaboration between country legend, Loretta Lynn, and indie rock god, Jack White. Lynn’s comeback album was produced by White and features a more raw crunch than her previous efforts. This song capitalizes on each artist’s strength and is a classic.
“Death to Los Campesinos!” by Los Campesinos! (Aleksandra & Gareth) (2008) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. This song is just pure fun and rabid energy with humor to boot from one of my favorite bands of 2008. Pages: 1 2
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COMMENTS (50)
Yang said:
nothing better – the postal service, with ben gibbard and emily haines is one of my favorite boy/girl duets. it’s such a great dialogue between them and the metaphors in the lyrics are amazing! Arfy said:
I think you NEED “Baby its Cold Outside” by Louis Armstrong with Ella Fitzgerald on this list!!! Yaesu said:
The list is lacking without: Ozzy Osbourne & Lita Ford – If I Close My Eyes Forever Blaine said:
Kudos for the Soldier’s Joy mention… that track can’t ever get enough love, in my opinion. However, I would rank “Love Hurts” off of Live 1973 as the single best Gram and Emmylou collaboration. T said:
Yang, that’s actually one Jen Wood on Nothing Better, not Emily Haines. But for the list, Death to Los Campesinos and Fairytale of New York are inspired choices. I give the list a thumbs up Gene said:
Islands in the stream?? Mecha Mummy said:
Good list except for the baffling omission of at least one song featuring Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Joe the Plumber said:
Los Campesinos are not really that good a band. For some good contemporary boy girl type bands look toward ‘mates of state’, ‘Architecture in Helsinki’, ’stars’… Eug said:
shiny toy guns – you are the one, the male/female duo is awesome. Sarah said:
You Don’t Know Me by Ben Folds and Regina Spektor is my current favorite boy/girl duet Oldtimer said:
Any list like this that overlooks the Tammi Terrell/Marvin Gaye duets is suspect in my book. Josh said:
Agreed that Nothing Better is a great one, but where’s Baby It’s Cold Outside? Probably my all time favorite. Tony said:
Do you know “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” performed by James Ingram and Patti Austin? Masterful R&B duet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX-7bDvGkA4 Seri said:
I know you already have a Thom Yorke track in the list, but if you haven’t heard it then I thoroughly recommend “This Mess We’re In” from PJ Harveys “Stories from the city, stories from the sea” album, one of my favourite duets. jp said:
I vote for “Your Ex-Lover is Dead” by The Stars. Listening to that was one of the most moving musical experiences of my life. JazzFan said:
How could ou make this list without mentioning Ella Fitzgerald with Louis Armstrong? Wilby Daniels said:
“Something Stupid” isn’t on here? How is this not number 1, let alone not on the list at all? [...] list Kinda cool list: He Said/She Said: 20 Boy/Girl Duets for the Ages | JamsBio Magazine __________________ This American Life, The Take-Away Shows, Jazz Profiles, radiOM, Streaming [...] Santiago said:
umm… what about “Hit The Road Jack”, what about “9 Crimes” or “Cannonball” (Damien Rice)????????? Not to mention dozens of other duets that should have made this list. Mind you Its a good list… its just lacking some songs that strike me as obvious. The Oct8pus said:
Je t’aime…moi non plus is awesome. However, the lyrics are: “I come and I go, in between your kidneys”, which in a way is a little more graphic than “loins”….anyway….great tune. [...] He Said/She Said: 20 Boy/Girl Duets for the Ages | JamsBio Magazine (tags: Music list) [...] Vysnu » Magnolia Post said:
[...] November 6, 2008 He Said/She Said: 20 Boy/Girl Duets for the Ages | JamsBio MagazineHe Said/She Said: 20 Boy/Girl Duets for the Ages: I’m a sucker for male/female duets. [...] Google The Oct8pus said:
I wouldn’t go as far as saying that the Jack White/Loretta Lynn song is a classic… Cartoon Guy said:
I love johnny cash haha. ross said:
thats what SHE said Ringtones said:
Simon and Garfunkel should be up there. i know Simon technically isn’t a girl, but his gay passion for Garfunkel should be able to transcend the guy girl zone soundsgirl said:
a WOW list! here’s some classic duets and some more modern duets as well: http://www.soundsbox.com/search.php?q=KEYWORD&ar=true&al=true&s=true&aff=200 joshua said:
“Where Is the Love” Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack. web said:
It’s so strange the way things go. Don’t give up…. Mike said:
You NEED to have an honorable mention for “Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova from the movie, “Once.” They won an Academy Award for that song! Eric said:
white stripes or the pixies? marty said:
Candy – Iggy Pop & Kate Pierson mikejonze said:
here’s a couple that weren’t on this list, but would be on mine if i took the time to put one together: james iha & nina gordon – said sadly Johannes Eicca said:
Brian Mcfadden & Delta Goodrem – Almost Here awesome and touchy song =) bigby said:
Fairytale of New York was always one of my favorite songs growing up, as were Kate Bush & Peter Gabriel’s collaborations. For current works, Yankee Bayonet by The Decemberists and Laura Veirs would be on my top 20. Nothing Better is quite good as well I might add. L.D. Freitas said:
Like the pick of waits/Middler for ‘I Don’t Talk to Strangers’ but just as good is his duets with Crystal Gayle on the Tom Waits soundtrack album for the 1982 Coppola film “One From the Heart.” Three duets were sung: ‘Wages of Love,’ Freeze Out said:
Ian & Sylvia? Msh2ari said:
What about “Anyone Else But You” Moldy Peaches? One of my alltime faves … and has been before Juno, okaY? djalicat said:
jarvis cocker and miki from lush – ciao! a classic ‘f-you-my-life-is-great-since-we-broke-up’ song by two big stars of britpop! here’s a link…it’s the only one i could find chloe said:
it’s true that we love one another – the white stripes Iris Celeste said:
LOVE LOVE LOVE… Christina said:
You need: “The Battle of Evermore” – Led Zeppelin (Robert Plant and Sandy Denny) Adam said:
“Cotton Crown,” Sonic Youth, Kim Gordon/Thurston Moore Paul said:
“Do You Love Me Now Jr” – J Mascis & The Breeders Snap Wilson said:
Not one mention of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (Marvin Gaye/Tami Terrell). Really? katie said:
haha i like i finally found someone bryan adams and i dont know who the girl is katie said:
oh and the lion king ersion of eltons johns can you feel the love tonight Iris Celeste said:
OOOOO i forgot one!!! PAPERWEIGHT–joshua radin and some girl SOOOO GOOOOD!!!!!!! lily said:
What about “In Spite of Ourselves” sung by John Prine and Iris Dement? Bryan Smith said:
“Brain Damage” by Evan Dando & Juliana Hatfield is one of my favorites. Plus for pure cheese factor, “On My Own” by Michael McDonald and Patti Labelle. |
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