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    We Hear Dead People: 10 Duets With Deceased Singing Partners

    • Posted   by Spinner Staff
    • Comments (66)
    Print Email This

    In the music industry, every day is El Dia de los Muertos, especially when los muertos can be reanimated to ensure big record sales. "It's f---ing weird to be doing a song with someone who is deceased," as Korn's Jonathan Davis once said. Here are 10 examples of singers who didn't let a little thing like being long dead get in the way of giving a duet performance with a still-alive partner.

    Nat "King" and Natalie Cole
    'Unforgettable'

    Natalie Cole's exhumation of her deceased father's vocal performance for their major 1991 hit 'Unforgettable' won three Grammys, including Song and Record of the Year. For better or worse, its huge success effectively jump-started the industry trend in kicked-the-bucket duets.







    Hank Williams Sr. and Jr.
    'There's a Tear in My Beer'

    Before Nat 'n' Natalie, Hank 'n' Hank Jr. reunited on this 1989 reworking of the late, great country star's honky-tonk classic. Hank Jr. had nothing to cry about when the song earned him a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Collaboration.







    Elvis and Lisa Marie Presley
    'In the Ghetto'

    To mark the 30th anniversary of Elvis' death, the King's only child made a video where she sings with old footage of her very famous daddy. The stark video featured images of infants lying in cribs with an assortment of handguns. No commentary on Elvis' parenting style was implied. Lisa Marie also cut an earlier "duet" with her pa on 'Don't Cry Daddy,' which implied no comment on her singing ability.




    John Lennon and the other Beatles
    'Free as a Bird'

    When Paul McCartney asked Yoko Ono for unreleased material by her late husband to commemorate the 1995 Beatles 'Anthology' rollout, she gave him cassettes of four songs, including this one and 'Real Love,' which both became posthumous "Beatles" singles. During recording, Paul, George and Ringo agreed to pretend that Lennon had just slipped out for a cup of tea.





    The Notorious B.I.G. and Diddy

    Biggie Smalls' running partner joined Eminem and Obie Trice on 'It Has Been Said,' the lead track from the 2005 'Duets' album, which featured at least two dozen hip-hop stars adding some heft to the late rotund rapper's scrawny stash of unreleased verses. In a twin killing, the equally dead Bob Marley appeared with Biggie on the track 'Hold Ya Head.'






    Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill

    By the time Marley's ghost appeared with Biggie, the late reggae superstar was already deep into a busy posthumous career. On 1999's 'Chant Down Babylon,' he rather creepily shared the mic with Hill -- the daughter-in-law he'd never met; elsewhere, he trades lines with Rakim, the Roots, and Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith.






    Billie Holiday and Tony Bennett
    'God Bless the Child'

    'On Holiday,' Tony Bennett's 1997 tribute to the Queen of Gloom, was depressing enough over its first 18 tracks. But the capper was the affable jazzman's electronically aided duet with the long-deceased Lady Day on her masterpiece, 'God Bless the Child.' God bless the optimistic producers -- Phil Ramone and Bennett's son -- for believing in it.





    Dean Martin and Kevin Spacey
    'Ain't That a Kick in the Head'

    Spacey, the swingin' actor who hammed it up as Dino wannabe Bobby Darin, gets double billing on this 2007 compilation, which aimed to re-establish the carefree Martin as 'Forever Cool.' Maybe so, but that says nothing for Joss Stone and 'Idol''s Paris Bennett, neither of whom had any business sharing a Chivas with the old sot.






    Louis Armstrong and Kenny G
    'What a Wonderful World'

    If it's occasionally wonderful, it's also a very weird world in which Kenny G has enough artistic clout to arrange an overdubbing session with the late, great Satchmo. Louis might have suggested another classic number: 'I Was Doing All Right' ("till you came by").







    Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson
    'Life's Railway to Heaven'

    At least the Red-Headed Stranger had a real-world connection to Patsy, having written her smash hit 'Crazy.' You'd have to be a little loony in the head to pair the country diva with the likes of Bob ('Butterfly Kisses') Carlisle, as Cline's necro-producers did for her 'Duets Volume I' collection in 1999.





    10 Worst Duets Ever
    • Filed under: The Hit List
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    Reader Comments(1 of 4)

    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    Kirkat 10-27-2009

    I forget the year (1978?), but the first time I recall hearing one of these type duets was when Linda Ronstadt released "Love Me Tender", there was a duet version with Elvis Presley. Maybe it was just a local DC radio station mix but as I said it was the first time I recalled hearing this sort of "Duet with the Dead".

    Reply
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    Janet graceyat 11-04-2009

    What about Roy Orbison and KD Lang's Cryin. Thougght that was great.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    Alat 10-27-2009

    I believe Roy was still alive when he recorded with k.d.

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    vearnestat 11-02-2009

    yea but they were both alive when they did that duet.

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Jamesat 10-27-2009

    Petula Clark and Dusty Springfield, "Corner of the Sky" FTW.

    Reply
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    James Walshat 10-29-2009

    I actually like it better when it's just the video. I think Lisa Marie Presley (LMP)and her father Elvis are the only duet worth mentioning; and with possible exception of Natalie Cole and her Dad Nat King Cole the rest are forgettable. I could do a much better job of picking the right songs for the duets...maybe all of us could? LMP is great -even if she was pissed off a lot- she has talent.

    Reply
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    Judyat 10-29-2009

    I absolutely love the radio version of Keith Whitely and Alison Kraus together on When You Say Nothing At All.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    The Warped Vinyl Junkieat 11-16-2009

    I like it best when they wear nothing at all.

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    bilkoat 10-30-2009

    What about Gordon Brown and Tony Blair.."Old Friends" Simon and Garfunkle..lolol

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    BGat 10-30-2009

    Dusty Springfield & the Pet Shop Boys
    'What Have I Done To Deserve This'

    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    Barbara Corbinat 10-31-2009

    Everyone has their taste in music and singers. I am a woman and much prefer to hear male singers but, do agree with one comment that Lisa Marie and Elvis sounded great in duets as well as Natalie and Nat King Cole.The harmony has to be blended well for it to come out with a quality sound.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    cyndieat 1-08-2010

    Just curious as to why you felt compelled to explain your gender and your gender preferences in a public post to strangers? Please know I am not implying there is anything wrong with that. But it piqued my curiosity. :)

    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    soundworksdeejayat 10-31-2009

    Celine Dion and Elvis singing Presley's hit "If I Can Dream" on American Idol 2 or 3 years ago on the "American Idol Gives Back" show was as good a duet as I've ever seen. They had Elvis super-imposed on stage besides Celine and it really looked like "Elvis was in the building" (so to speak). That Dion/Presley duet brought the crowd to their feet and tears to many of us Elvis fans.

    Reply
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    Traceat 11-01-2009

    I agree.

    It was a performance that show Elvis has never left the building.

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Priscillaat 11-11-2009

    I agree. I was hoping that would make it on this list.

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    filippo realeat 11-20-2009

    i ould loke to listento that song can i dowmload it from somewhere?????

    vote downvote upReportLow Ranked

    Sean Moserat 11-01-2009

    where is Dweezil and Frank Zappa? they were much better than anyone on here

    Reply
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    ozzy jrat 11-29-2009

    yea right, pure non-sense and worse yet-noise

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Vickiat 11-01-2009

    Dusty Springfield and Anne Murray sound great together on Murray's recent duet CD.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportLowest Ranked

    Lauraat 11-01-2009

    Elvis and Marie duet? Jeez, both can't sing! lol

    Reply
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