Make sure you both give yourselves lots of time to rehearse and really practice the song. Lines like “I’d trade all my tomorrows for one single yesterday” hit especially hard in light of the legendary singer’s premature death, and her unparalleled vocals make this one an enduring classic. The 50 Best Cover Songs Ever. And that fading guitar freak-out is one for the history books. The Cover Girls (female covers of male songs) By bartjekokos. We recommend you to check other playlists or our favorite music charts. Partnering with the lead singer of Fun, this song is a beautifully harmonised duet which works very well when it comes to performing. —Tess Duncan, Although both are total dream teams, Jenny Lewis & Co.’s take on this classic is ever-so-slightly more catchy and dynamic. Jul 26, 2017 Getty Images. Franklin, however, a powerhouse vocalist and presence herself, sings a brand new hook in the chorus, spelling out R-E-S-P-E-C-T and inciting her audiences to “find out what it means to me.” Meanwhile, her sisters Erma and Carolyn contribute backup vocals, repeatedly taunting all the boys and girls to “sock it to me.” Her cover first appeared on 1967’s I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You and to this day, Aretha is still primarily thought of for, and with, “Respect.” —Hilary Saunders, The story behind this, one of John Lennon’s rawest vocal performances, is the stuff of legend: the Beatles recorded Please Please Me’s 11 tracks in 10 hours, cutting “Twist and Shout” in the session’s final 15 minutes. —Sara Bir, Perhaps Metallica’s version isn’t better, but it’s epic in the listening pleasure it has to offer. A fun latino-pop song which works very well as a duet, this is an ideal song to practice singing together as a pair and is perfect for performing as a duo. —Robert Ham, Sheryl Crow’s sassy original track is radio-friendly ‘90s pop that Screaming Females turned into a rock ballad in 2012. Conor Oberst gives a nod to Johnston in the first few seconds with his similarly unadulterated vocals, but then the gentle claps, sporadic piano chords, and syrupy backing vocals slide in. It’s a great pop song but it’s also a fun song to perform as a duet. So if you are planning on performing together, it’s important that you find the right song that suits both of your voices. You may well have got used to singing and performing on your own, but getting the chance to do so with another singer is a great opportunity to enhance your skills and to learn more from each other. Below, find 71 covers of beloved classics and recent hits that pretty much outdo the original. When You Believe by Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston, Me Against the Music by Britney Spears & Madonna, I Don’t Care by Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber, Lady Marmalade by Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya & Lil Kim, How to Warm Up Your Voice | Vocal Exercises & Quick Vocal Warm Ups. Shrieks and throaty growls complement the song’s brassy choruses, and “It’s Oh So Quiet” remains her highest-charting single to date. The track was produced by Rick Chertoff and released as a single on January 27, 1984. This is a very recent and therefore modern duet featuring two artists with voices that aren’t too dissimilar. Fans of both artists were beyond excited when this track was released and for male singers, it’s a great opportunity to pair up and duet together, giving you the opportunity to test out those vocals alongside another male singer. Plus it was recorded for a good cause as part of the impressive War Child presents Heroes album. While Smith uses different lyrics that inject a fierceness and lustiness into the track Springsteen originally rejected as another love song, his version offers a torpid gruffness that searches inward for meaning. —Robert Ham, When The Shins decided to take “We Will Become Silhouettes” and folk-ify it, they were taking a considerable risk. Make the most of having someone else singing alongside you. It works really well as a male and female duet because the singing parts are very different but also works well for both male and female vocals. But boy, do they make every second count. It’s also a lot more satisfying to sing that you’ve been “fucked” off and fooled rather than “fobbed.” (No offense, George.) The Crystals’ devastating ballad “He Hit Me (and It Felt Like a Kiss)” was controversial upon its release in 1962, for narrating the inner justifications of a victim of domestic violence. —Kim Kelly, To truly understand the greatness of Johnny Cash’s version of “Personal Jesus,” you have to be pretty familiar with Depeche Mode’s 1990 original—which isn’t too shabby itself. Share your advice and any suggestions in the comments section below. Found on the 1977 live album Weekend In L.A., the track sails on for 10 minutes, buoyed by an insistent piano line, a stomping beat, and one of Benson’s most hot-blooded vocal takes that turns the dour lament of the original into something more defiant and almost joyous. “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” asks a very real question in response to the cynicism of the day without making the song feel mawkish or a mockery of itself. Its greatest triumph, however, rests with its timelessness and continued relevance, as newer bands continue to cover this song, often citing Costello’s version as the source of inspiration. Of course, it became much more than a tossed-off bonus track: With Joe Strummer’s snotty vocal charisma and Mick Jones’ expansive lead guitar, “I Fought the Law” was a staple of the band’s set-lists—and remains an unimpeachable punk classic. In the mid-to-late 1960s, pretty … Brandon Urie has a tenor voice that spans four octaves so this is great for male singers that can hit this range. You need to make sure you are both coming in at the right moment, that you are in the same key, that you harmonize well together. It’s also a classic track which means it’s ideal if you are looking for something alternative that steps outside the traditional rock and pop songs. Redding’s original version definitely comes from a male perspective of touring regularly and just asking for “a little respect when I get home,” in all implications of the word. Collaborating with other artists can be a great experience and you never know where duetting with somebody could take you. It’s a fair balance for both singers so works well as a duet. Often a forgotten song, this is a really beautiful ballad and another great duet for a male and a female singer to enjoy performing. The mid-tempo beat allows Hill time to draw out syllables and intermittently mingle with Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel’s vocal riffing. 3. Many pubs and bars across the globe welcome amateur singers up on stage to belt out renditions of classic songs using lyrics on an interactive screen. —Tess Duncan, When Nirvana took the stage for their legendary MTV Unplugged performance in November 1993, the show’s producers weren’t sure the concert would even happen. It’s a beautiful ballad and works well for singers with different voices. It’s also a good idea to know your partner’s parts as well, so that it means you are aware of when it’s your turn to sing. By now, Baton Rouge heavyweights Thou are old hands at translating Kurt Cobain’s misery into the language of crushing, nihilistic doom, but their take on “Something in the Way” is undoubtedly the best of the bunch. All thumping darkness, it explores sexual power dynamics to a clubby yet menacing beat. Page later took his own psychedelic interpretation to Led Zeppelin, featuring his iconic guitar bowing and wild instrumental breakdowns. Can Karaoke Help Your Singing. One of a few duets the pair have sung together on the soundtrack to A Star Is Born, this is one of the lesser known ones but is worth singing together. —Amanda Schurr, A veteran soul/R&B singer-songwriter of intermittent solo and group success since the early 1960s, Bettye LaVette flew mostly under the radar until 2005, when her covers album I’ve Got My Own Hell to Raise garnered rave reviews from everyone from Elvis Costello to Bonnie Raitt. Both vocals are quite different but work really well when performed together. It also got us thinking about how relatively few great covers of Cohen songs there have been by female artists. Another classic by one of this country’s greatest singers and one of the USA’s greatest singers, this is a really fun, up tempo pop song which remains a popular duet to perform. It will give you both a chance to show the audience how powerful your voice really is. —Ryan Reed, It took three degrees of separation before Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen’s original composition “Hallelujah” reached Jeff Buckley. Karaoke originates in Japan, but it has become a favourite pastime worldwide. “Whiskey in the Jar” isn’t by Thin Lizzy; an Irish folk song as old as the hills, its been recorded by artists from The Dubliners to Peter, Paul & Mary, and its origins predate recorded music itself. Come prepared having practiced singing at home so you are both ready to go. 18 With A Bullet I Blame Coco • Island Life: 50 Years of Island Records. When this song was first released, people were obsessed with it. —Tess Duncan, Although Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” is timeless, Lauryn Hill brought something entirely new to the table when the Fugees covered it in 1996. Beyond the lyrics, all the musical signifiers have been removed in place of a quiet piano line, her aching vocals, and an emphasis on the line, “You better run to me.” Through Marshall’s eyes, it’s a line of near desperation and almost defeat, a last chance call to some distant figure in the place of Reed’s pure romance. Jimi Hendrix, “All Along The Watchtower” (Bob Dylan) Released just six months after Bob Dylan’s … Though their time as a group was cut far too short, their unforgettable edition of “Killing Me Softly” immortalized them. A careful drum fill picks up and the track’s grandest moment comes with a screechy, careening guitar solo. What Are The Hardest & Most Difficult Songs to Sing? By Esquire Editors. And those sounds—the wailing wah pedal riffs emitted from his upside-down Fender Stratocaster—span the melodic range in a way that listeners can sing along with them as much as Hendrix’s actual vocals. Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam provided convincing evidence of that when he took the skeleton of “Such Great Heights” and dressed it in the dreamiest of dulcet tones. 1. Its raw simplicity is admirable, but Bright Eyes’ gorgeous instrumental additions are what make their version so exceptional. This is a great duet to perform together, especially if you are two very strong singers who want to show off your talent. Registered in England & Wales | Future Productions Limited. —Amanda Schurr, The original version of this desperate ode to the ravages of heroin is a hard listen in its own right. —Hilary Saunders, Daniel Johnston’s “Devil Town” is a short, sweet, and pure ditty. The audience aren’t looking at you as individuals, they are going to be looking at you as a duo, so they want to see that you have that relationship and that you are both taking that enjoyment from the song. Originally released in 1978 as a single from The Patti Smith Group’s album Easter, Bruce had also included a version on his three-disc Live 1975-85 box set in 1986. It’s an odd reversal of roles almost—one would think the soul singer would convey the heartbreak perfectly and that a electro-pop duo would treat it with carelessly catchy beats. In honor of the 10th anniversary of "Umbrella," we rounded up the 10 best covers of the song. —Hilary Saunders, Back in early 1990, when MTV was king and hair metal was, um, queen, a buzz-cut sporting Irish folk singer redefined his Purple Highness with a stripped-down cover and video to match. Image: Mairo Cinquetti/Splash News/Corbis Singing together is a very good idea and can be really enjoyable. This is also a song that you can experiment with and you can make it your own. 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