August Playlist: Duets

A three for three in the duet category!

If a single voice can be the most powerful weapon one has, what does that say about the power of a duet?

I've never really thought about them, but they are always there, lurking on the pop charts, a union between two solo artists or one band super-grouping with the lead singer of another band. The results, if done right, transcend awesomeness.

There's a lot of Artist featuring Artist on the charts these days, which proves the theory that more is more.

Mike Reno and Ann Wilson, Almost Paradise - from the movie and soundtrack to Footloose, this is a definitive 80s power rock marriage between the lead singers of Loverboy and Heart. So 80s it hurts. Ann still sings it with a guest singer on tour. Recently featured on Orange is the New Black.

Meatloaf and Ellen Foley, Paradise by the Dashboard Light - a gleeful ode to teenage love and baseball metaphors that goes on and on. Fun facts: Ellen Foley, who also worked with The Clash, went on to be Billie on Nigh Court and became a pretty big deal on Broadway. Karla DeVito, who lip synched to Ellen's vocals in the video, also worked with The Clash, went on Broadway and married Robbie Benson, who appeared in Ice Castles. It always comes back to baseball and skating for me, doesn't it?

Joan Jett and Paul Westerberg, Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love - A quirky send up of a classic pop standard by two icons of punk/rock/indie scene. Was never a hit but it should have been.

Moby and Gwen Stefani, Eastside - Surprising hit collaboration between the lead singer of No Doubt and a Industrial music/DJ giant not known for his singing. Industrial pop is a lovely thing.

Gwen Stefani and Eve, Let Me Blow Ya Mind - But pop rap duets are a magical thing. Eve had Gwen guest on her album, and the result was this catchy gem of a couple girlfriends out on the prowl. It was Gwen v. Gwen in the "best" categories at all the award shows that year, and I think they all split honors .

Gwen and Eve, Rich Girl - A few years later when Stefani released her solo album, Eve returned the favor and the girls created a swashbuckling homage to pirates and Fiddlers on roofs.

Estelle and Kanye West, American Boy - Kanye West is an enigma. He is so egotistical, yet when it comes to collaborations, he is more than gracious in sharing the stage, the result becoming more than the sum of its parts. This song is delightful, the video is an elegantly stark black and white romp through Londontown.

Billy Preston and Syrece, With You I'm Born Again - It's been mentioned in the blog before, but bears repeating. The Fifth Beatle crafts a ballad that while a huge R&B hit, to me defies being defined by genre. Beautifully constructed.

The Hungry Wolf, X - Ok, so Exene and John Doe are in the band together and thus perhaps not a true duet, but it would be a crime to not include them. I wasn't a punker but more of a MTV-generation gal and I remember being oddly entranced by this song. I've always favored rockabilly anyway. Interest renewed by the announcement they are playing GR in September.

Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terell, Your Precious Love - Old school. Is there a biopic on Marvin Gaye? There needs to be one on Tammi, who did an awful lot of living for someone who passed tragically at the age of 24. I'm fascinated by her.

Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX, Fancy - the song that initially triggered the idea of doing an entry on duets. So far the song of the summer for 2014. All I know is Iggy is an Australian, and her popularity is pissing off people in the rap community. I don't know enough to give an educated, outraged opinion. All I know is that cleaning out the hotel's mini bar is hardly the way to cost effectively get loaded. You have "people" to make a trip to the party store, do you not?