I was scrolling through my iTunes library earlier today, and realized that a lot of my most-played songs are male/female duets. I'm not sure what specifically draws me to them. In some songs, the drama created by the interplay between the two parts is almost cinematic in a way that pop songs rarely are. It lets the song tell a story without becoming a "story song," a genre of music I typically hate.
Some of my favorites (then everybody post your own!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Or6-HOveg
This is the single most-played song on my iPod, and that's probably because it's one of the best songs every written and recorded. Evocative as a motherfucker.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY
Forget how many times you've heard it and how much you got sick of it, this is a fucking fantastic song and Gotye and Kimbra's voices are magic together.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpQFFLBMEPI
Probably the best pop song of 2013. Two great voices, a great melody, and better than average lyrics for a top-40 hit (though a bit literal for my usual taste).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgqOSCgc8xc
Just a beautiful, haunting song. Lisa Hannigan's voice is so soft and melancholy, it makes the song feel like a man chasing after the fading memory of a lost love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWzlHgoFzYo
No real defense of this song, it just makes me happy. Most of these songs are breakup/lost love songs, this one almost oozes optimism by comparison.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVtRp0bG5Io
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8halsFarVmA
A two-part epic by Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, which I believe are the only two songs in their catalogue where Emily Watkins got to do anything other than quietly sing backup, which is a shame, because the dynamic between them makes for an amazing pair of songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA_1vBT5E6s
The power of Pete Yorn is that he can almost make Scarlett Johansson's illusions of being a serious music artist seem plausible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcs3wSzqTI8
The best breakup song of all time.
First/best one that comes to mind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V1Lov1U9mU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kareiw8K5d0
Both great songs. I love Imogen Heap, but I'd somehow never heard the IAMX song before.
One that I had forgotten to add to my original post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfa9yxCpWoA
The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger is a goldmine of male/female duets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv2vcwFDbs8
Super obvious one, but gorgeous:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOgwwZyyz2Q
A number of Mates of State songs could qualify, depending on what you consider to be background vocals. But here's a good one. I love the way they sing over each other:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzBtbbH_L9c
Obligatory Shiny Toy Guns song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QUHVr7-Juk
Might as well throw in a cover too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQyb_zV51HM
Last but not least (and not available on YouTube), Low - Always Fade:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/always-fade/id218344896?i=218346401
i can groove on this forever. one of my kids will be conceived to this song.
for slow-dancing in the attic.
impossible to pick one from these two so here's two performed live for npr. haunting harmonies, staggering musicianship.
not quite male/female, but not far off either, definitely amazing.
roy orbison's my dude. emmylou harris is the alpha gilf.
i love standards (though this song barely qualifies), and i enjoy bossa nova covers a la nouvelle vague:
the best part of
down with love. ewan mcgregor should sing more often.
that time zooey deschanel dialed back the twee and delivered a soulful, bluesy cover of one of my favorite songs with m ward.
loved this movie, love this song. i don't give a fuck.