It's a wonderful thing when the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts, and that is exactly what everyone hopes will happen when two artists of merit get together to perform a duet. Sometimes the results can be somewhat questionable but there have been plenty of examples when it's really gone off. Here are ten great duets...
10. Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston: It Takes Two
This 1967 Motown hit from two of the labels biggest stars was the sound of young America - black, white and all shades in between. Later covered by Rod Stewart and Tina Turner.
9. Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue: Where the Wild Roses Grow
When this came out in 1995, Nick Cave had not long released his Murder Ballads album. Strange, then, that he should hook up with Charlene from Ramsay Street. Mind you she had just started dating Micheal Hutchence so the metamorphasis to sex siren was in full swing.
8. Debbie Harry and Iggy Pop: Well Did You Evah!
The two stalwarts of the the US underground scene finally came together on the 1991 Red Hot & Blue album of Cole Porter covers for Aids charities, making the exuberant Crosby/Sinatra number from High Society all their own.
7. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John: You’re the One that I Want
This classic 1950s pastiche duet accompanied 1978's blockbusting Grease movie. The film sequence that goes with this particular song has gone down as a classic, not least because of Olivia's body-hugging black satin cat suit.
6. Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush: Don’t Give Up
One of the most haunting ballads ever committed to tape. It's about a man struggling with unemployment and his lover imploring him to keep the faith. Ironically it was on Gabriel's “So” album which went to to sell by the bucket load. No dole queues for him then. Genius though.
5. Beyoncé and Jay-Z: Crazy in Love
By the time this came out in 2003, there had been rumours of a relationship after Beyoncé's appearance on Jay-Z's 2003 Bonnie & Clyde. This did more to confirm a love interest than any statement could have. And they're still going strong!
4. Youssou N'Dour and Neneh Cherry: 7 seconds
One of the biggest selling records of 1994. Following work with the likes of Peter Gabriel, Senegalese singer N'Dour had been knocking on the door of the mainstream for some time,. But it was this combo with soulstress neneh Cherry that kicked that door in.
3. Marc Almond and Gene Pitney: Something's Gotten Hold of my Heart
Tis collaboration between one half of Soft Cell and a crooner from the 60s went to number 1 in 1989. Pitney gets ten out of ten for recycling given that he'dalready had a huge hit with it on his own in 1967.
2. Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley: (I've had) The Time of My Life
In the 80s, the huge power track accompanying the mega-budget movie was almost a genre in its own right. This tune provided the theme to ultimate chick flick, Dirty Dancing. The album also contained Hungry Eyes and She's Like the Wind and sold a staggering 42 million copies.
1. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton: Islands in the Stream
One of the best-selling country singles of all time, this 1983 smash was actually written by disco kings the Bee Gees. The chorus also formed the basis for the hit single by rapper Pras: Ghetto Superstar (That Is What You Are).
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