Aerosmith & Run – DMC, Queen & George Michael, Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney are just some of the collaborations that should not miss from a Top 10 list of the most popular duets in the music world. In the following article we will all remember some of the musical collaborations that have already made history.
1. Zucchero & Paul Young – Senza una donna (Without a Woman) (1991)
Zucchero and Paul Young met in 1987 in a recording studio in Milan, where Paul Young was working on Between Two Fires, the 3rd album. Between the two started a strong friendship.
Four years later their friendship was fruitful musically, the two recording together the song Senza una donna (Without a Woman). The song was ranked in the top ten positions in most European charts. Senza una donna is also the biggest hit in the career of the two singers.
2. Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney – Say Say Say (1983)
Say Say Say is the 2nd collaboration between Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. Former Beatle collaborated with the King of Pop in 1982 for the song Girl Is Mine. Boosted by the success of Girl Is Mine, the two released the single Say Say Say, a song that stayed for six weeks at # 1 on Billboard. For shooting the video, Jackson and McCartney turned to their family members. Thus the Jackson family is represented in the clip by Michael’s older sister, while Paul by his wife.
3. Aerosmith & Run – D.M.C. – Walk This Way (1986)
Initially Walk this Way was recorded by Aerosmith being present on the their second album Toys in the Attic (1975). 1986 is the year when Walk This Way wrote history, this time with the Run- DMC rapper. Walk This Way disbanded musical boundaries because it was the first time a rap band collaborate with a rock one.
Walk This Way helped both bands equally. For Aerosmith it was the song that helped them regain public trust. Do not forget that until the Run- DMC collaboration, the group entered into obscurity, the reason being the drug addiction and alcohol abuse of the Aerosmith members.
4. Queen & George Michael – Somebody to Love (1992)
Queen and George Michael sang on the same stage on April 20, 1992 during the concert dedicated to the memory of Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen. George Michael performed in the evening most of the tracks with Queen, but how he influenced the song Somebody to Love impressed the tens of thousands of spectators present at the event.
After the concert, many rumors circulated about a possible come back of Queen with George Michael, which never happened.
5. Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman – Time to Say Goodbye (1996)
The original version of the song Time to Say Goodbye was called Con te partiro being sung only in Italian and just by Andreea Bocelli. Bocelli sang Con te partiro when he attended the 1995 edition of the music festival in San Remo.
A year later appeared the second version of the song, Time to Say Goodbye, partially sang in English, by singer Sarah Brightman.
6. Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe – Barcelona (1987)
Freddie Mercury was always attracted to classical music, some of his songs with Queen being strongly influenced by this genre. The collaboration with soprano Montserrat Caballe came with no surprises and delighted the fans. The song Barcelona was chosen as the anthem of the summer Olympics Barcelona in 1992. Mercury’s collaboration with Montserrat Caballe was not confined to a single piece. The two released a full album in 1987 entitled Barcelona.
7. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds & Kylie Minogue – Where the Wild Roses Grow (1995)
Where the Wild Roses Grow is the result of one of the most unexpected collaborations in the music history. What is striking is the stark contrast between the two artists: Nick Cave, a dark figure whose music addresses dark topics and Kylie Minogue, the pop star with a brilliant smile. The single was a huge success in the UK, Norway, Germany, Australia, New Zealand.
Nick Cave received a nomination for Best Artist in the 1996 edition of the MTV Music Awards. This however did not please Cave, who sent MTV a letter asking them to cancel the nomination.
8. Natalie Cole & Nat King Cole – Unforgettable (1991)
Unforgettable is a song from the repertoire of the famous musician Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole s father. Basically the two never recorded the song together as Nat King Cole died when Natalie was 15. In 1991 thanks to new technologies, Natalie Cole recorded separately and her voice was blended with father’s original recording (1961). The new version of the song was ranked 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.
9. Frank Sinatra & Bono – I’ve Got You under My Skin (1993)
I’ve Got You under My Skin is a song that was sung by many artists, including Michael Bolton, Ella Fitzgerald, Neneh Cherry.
Frank Sinatra sang it first in 1946. In 1993 Sinatra records the song again, this time with Bono, U2 Irish vocalist. Unlike many other duets, I’ve Got You under My Skin doesn’t have a main star and an artist somewhere in the shadows. Bono’s vocal performances rise to the same level with the master Sinatra.
10. John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – You’re the One that I Want (1978)
You’re The One that I Want is a song composed for the musical Grease. The song fits like a glove the two partners, Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. The single was number one for nine weeks in the UK charts.
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