Karaoke has to be one of the most fun social activities you can do. Competing with friends, family and strangers by belting out songs that everyone knows and loves, having a drink and perfecting your go-to tune. Of course, you can go one step more and try for a duet, which might help if you get nervous about getting up on stage!
There are many fantastic duets out there to choose from; the hard part will be selecting the right song! To save you the trouble of trawling through the options when you get up on stage with the karaoke machine, we have put together some popular options!
Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Elton John and Kiki Dee
A true classic karaoke song that everyone knows, it is the perfect duet song. The vocals are shared evenly, and the lyrics are easy to pick up. It also has a playfulness to it, so it will definitely get the crowd going too, even at the repetitive part at the end. You might even want to dress up like Elton John with the glasses and tartan suit he wears in the music video!
Under Pressure – David Bowie and Queen
You may need some liquid courage if you are attempting to replicate the vocal powers of the legends that were David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, but their song Under Pressure is a great duet choice. The bassline is iconic, and you can be creative with the “da de da des” if you wish. But why would you deviate from a classic?!
You’re The One That I Want – John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
The flirtatious aspect of You’re The One That I Want means it is best sung with a loved one, as you need to bring the attitude when you sing it! It’s one of the easier duets to do and a lot of fun too, with the male and female vocals sharing equal stage time.
Islands in the Steam – Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers
A country-pop crossover, Islands in the Stream is a crowd pleaser and also a lovely song to sing. The harmonies match well, and it’s a feel-good song to choose for a duet, and will sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face, because who doesn’t love a golden oldie! Did you know it was written by the Bee Gees for Kenny Rogers for his album Eyes That See in the Dark?
Fairytale of New York – Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl
When festive season hits, you can’t hide from all the Christmas songs and by the time December begins you might be sick of them all, even though many of them are fantastic songs. That includes Fairytale of New York, with its dark humour, drama and frivolity, and the ideal duet to pick for a festive karaoke night! Best of all, you can sound closer to MacGowan’s slurring vocals with a pint or two in you!
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
A Motown classic, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough is one of the most romantic songs for a duet. The yearning in the lyrics between the long-distance couple could even bring a few tears to the eye, but will also get people singing along too. However, it’s not a great choice for beginners, so leave it until you have had some practice!
I Got You Babe – Sonny and Cher
Transport back to 1965 for this legendary duet between husband and wife Sonny Bono and Cher. On its release, it sold more than one million copies and is an easy choice for duet beginners, as the lyrics are repetitive and easy to remember. A simple love song, no doubt I Got You Babe will get the audience singing along too.
Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
One of the easier rap songs to do, Empire State of Mind is one of the more recent duets to try at karaoke – though a bit of practice for Jay-Z’s rapping might be in order. However, Alicia Keys hook will get everyone on board, and dreaming of visiting New York too.
Do you have any favourite karaoke duets you like to do? Let us know via social media! Meanwhile, take a look at some of our other blog posts about karaoke:
