Biggest Gulf Between Vocal Talents of Duet Partners

[Satchmo Distel]

This came up in the TOTP thread and deserves its own discussion.

Put forward on that thread (not with universal approval):
Aretha Franklin and George Michael
Kirsty MacColl and Shane MacGowan

My choices:
Frank Sinatra and Bono
Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra
Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews
John Lennon and Yoko Ono (assuming some of their songs were duets)

[DrGreggles]

Blue and Stevie Wonder

[Mr. Internet]

Eddie Murphy and Michael Jackson

[Camp Tramp]

Dane Bowers and Victoria Adams

True Bowers is a mediocre singer, Posh Spice though is so so much worse.

[Crabwalk]

Pavarotti and Bryan Adams.

That or the lead singer of Smokie and Roy Chubby Brown.

[the science eel]

Gene Pitney and Marc Almond

[DrGreggles]

Take That and Lulu

[the science eel]

Kim Wilde and Mel Smith

[Crabwalk]

Most Sugarcubes songs.

Close thread.

[buzby]

Gene Pitney and Marc Almond

Naj. Marc more than acquits himself in that duet. They match up well belting out the middle 8 together.

Regarding the thread subject, I'm reminded of the Mary Whitehouse Experience Shakespears Sister sketch.

[Lisa Jesusandmarychain]

Elton John and Kiki Dee.

[Sebastian Cobb]

[Nice Relaxing Poo]

Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry of Dead Can Dance. No great shame for Brendan there, he has a fine voice and it would be highly unusual to have two singers of the same capability as Lisa Gerrard in the same band.

[Gulftastic]

Elton John and Kiki Dee.

Which one is the lesser partner in that duet? I like them both.

[Sin Agog]

Naj. Marc more than acquits himself in that duet.

I bet he does that right dirty old bollocks. I bet he fucking does.

[the science eel]

Marc Almond sings flat all the time. Like Neil Tennant.

OH YES they try to dress it up in the studio - but WE KNOW...

[purlieu]

Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry of Dead Can Dance. No great shame for Brendan there, he has a fine voice and it would be highly unusual to have two singers of the same capability as Lisa Gerrard in the same band.

It's a weird one, because he actually has a bloody great voice. There aren't many bands he could be in where he would sound underwhelming, but he had to pick one.

The Divine Comedy's 'Island Life' has Neil Hannon's wonderful, rich croon up against some fey, whispery indie-pop singer who is just about the antithesis of what makes Hannon so great. I find it almost unlistenable.

[Gulftastic]

Speaking of Islands, Kenny Rogers is a good singer, but Dolly Parton is a much better one.

[Sebastian Cobb]

Hope Sandoval is a much better singer than Jim Reid.

[DrGreggles]

Marc Almond sings flat all the time. Like Neil Tennant.

Who sang with Dusty!

Great song, but a huge gulf in singing ability.

[non capisco]

Hope Sandoval is a much better singer than Jim Reid.

Yeah, but Sometimes Always works because they both sound sullen and resigned in different ways.

The Marc Almond/Gene Pitney duet is an absolute belter, I love their version. Pitney's being such an outrageous ham on that and it turns out it compliments the "new guy" perfectly. The "..and then YOU! YOU! YOU! You came my waaaaaaaaay" bit is banging. And it was good of Gene Pitney to take time out from hosting 'Catchphrase' to help give his friend a leg up in the music business.

EDIT: No, the high point is the "You touch me and my mind goes astraaaaaaay, yeah...and baaaaaaaaaa-by, yeah" bit, isn't it? Hang your head in shame if you think this is a dodgy duet.

[the science eel]

Is it possible to block posters on this board?

[non capisco]

I bet it is, Eel, you dirty old bollocks. I bet it fucking is.

[the science eel]

;)

[greenman]

It's a weird one, because he actually has a bloody great voice. There aren't many bands he could be in where he would sound underwhelming, but he had to pick one.

Unlike a lot of the examples given as well it never felt like there was any kind of competition or mismatch between them, she had her role and he had had his and both filled them very well.

[Norton Canes]

Lock the thread

[hummingofevil]

Not entirely in spirit as Watson is music school tenor and Ryder's voice is absolutely perfect for what it needs to be but this always makes me smile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzAUV5MfenU

[buzby]

The Marc Almond/Gene Pitney duet is an absolute belter, I love their version. Pitney's being such an outrageous ham on that and it turns out it compliments the "new guy" perfectly.
EDIT: No, the high point is the "You touch me and my mind goes astraaaaaaay, yeah...and baaaaaaaaaa-by, yeah" bit, isn't it?

This is correct. The way their voices link up in the crescendo in the middle 8 is fantastic.

And it was good of Gene Pitney to take time out from hosting 'Catchphrase' 'The Running Man' to help give his friend a leg up in the music business.

FTFY

Lock the thread

Regarding the thread subject, I'm reminded of the Mary Whitehouse Experience Shakespears Sister sketch.

[Norton Canes]

There's no serious competition, is there :)

[Phil_A]

Bit of a hacky observation though, isn't it. The disparity in their voices works in the song because they're playing two distinct characters in the narrative.

The shift in tone when Siobhan comes in is such a great unexpected pop twist. It's like Courtney Love barging into the middle of a Celine Dion power ballad, the song wouldn't have been half as memorable otherwise.