Whether you’re a seasoned karaoke veteran or new to grabbing the mic, performing duets can take your karaoke experience to new entertaining heights. When you team up to sing alongside a partner, the opportunities for playfulness, harmony, and even unexpected musical chemistry are endless.
Choosing the perfect songs is key to an enjoyable duet performance. The best karaoke duets allow both singers to equally showcase impressive vocals while playing off each other. As an experienced musician, I’ve compiled this definitive list of the top 10 best duet karaoke songs spanning eras and genres.
From sweet oldies to powerful pop ballads, these handpicked songs are fun, challenging, and guaranteed to bring down the house when performed as a passionate pair. If you’re looking to harmonize at your next karaoke night, this diverse playlist offers ideal options.
Here is a table for the 10 best duet karaoke songs:
| Song | Year Released | Original Artists | Genre | Theme | Tempo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islands in the Stream | 1983 | Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers | Country pop | Romance | Medium |
| Don’t Go Breaking My Heart | 1976 | Elton John and Kiki Dee | Pop | Romance | Upbeat |
| I Got You Babe | 1965 | Sonny and Cher | Pop rock | Romance | Medium |
| Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better | 1946 | Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton | Broadway | Competition | Very fast |
| Summer Nights | 1978 | John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John | Movie musical | Romance with twist | Upbeat |
| Don’t You Want Me | 1981 | The Human League | New wave | Failed romance | Medium |
| Up Where We Belong | 1982 | Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes | Pop ballad | Romance | Slow then fast |
| Endless Love | 1981 | Diana Ross and Lionel Richie | Pop ballad | Romance | Slow |
| Ebony and Ivory | 1982 | Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder | Pop | Racial harmony | Upbeat |
| You’re The One That I Want | 1978 | John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John | Movie musical | Romance | Upbeat |
10 Best Duet Karaoke Songs
1. Islands in the Stream by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers
This 1983 country pop song is a classic duet that works well for both male and female vocal ranges. It was originally written by the Bee Gees before Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers made it famous with their charming chemistry and harmonies. The chorus is simple enough to sing along to after a few listens.
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And lines like “we rely on each other, ah-ah” make it ideal for playing up the drama of a karaoke performance. Islands in the Stream always gets the room singing and clapping along.
The gentle country pop sound builds from a stripped-back opening verse to a powerful chorus perfect for belting out. Dolly and Kenny’s sweet sentiments and southern twang can be mimicked or made your own. Either way, this song is guaranteed to delight.
2. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John and Kiki Dee
Elton John first sang this pop duet with Kiki Dee in 1976. It’s an upbeat, cheerful song performed as a playful back-and-forth between two singers. The basic melody and familiar lyrics about the ups and downs of romance make it easy for anyone to jump in on.
But there are still opportunities to challenge yourself on the sustained high notes and harmonies in the chorus. Whether you sing it as a couple or just friends, the clever lyrics and catchy chorus are sure to delight the audience. The bright tempo and Elton’s signature piano sound will have you dancing and singing along in no time.
3. I Got You Babe by Sonny and Cher
Sonny and Cher’s 1965 pop rock classic can’t be beaten for its simple, sing-along chorus. The conversational style plays out like a cute dialogue between partners set over a catchy, recognizable tune.
As one of the earliest and most famous modern duets, I Got You Babe makes an iconic choice for karaoke. Mimic Sonny and Cher’s endearing chemistry and 60’s era style for a fun throwback performance. The sweet lyrics and playful banter between the two singers make it seem effortless.
But the song also allows you to showcase an impressive range from low talk-singing to Sonny’s sudden high notes.
4. Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better from Annie Get Your Gun
This spirited Broadway tune is made for playful competition between two singers. Originally performed by Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton in the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, it’s now a karaoke favorite. The clever back-and-forth lyrics let you challenge and one-up your partner.
Meanwhile, the melody rapidly increases in difficulty and speed. Try to keep up as you and your duet partner boast about who can shoot straighter, drink faster, and be the better lover. It’s sure to be a showstopper.
The competitive lyrics are funny and charming while also allowing for impressive vocal acrobatics. Take turns showing off riffs, belts, and lightning-fast phrases to wow the audience.
5. Summer Nights from Grease
There’s no better song for channeling your inner Danny or Sandy than this upbeat disco tune from the 1978 movie Grease. It starts sweet and innocent as Danny and Sandy reminisce about their summer romance. But the tone shifts dramatically towards the end as their friends chime in with the “real story” about their fling.
Not only is Summer Nights incredibly fun to sing, but it also lets you experiment with adapting your voice and style throughout the song. Show off your powerful belts alongside tender verses in this karaoke classic.
You can perform it sincerely like the film or get silly with your campy rendition. Either way, the contrasting perspectives and distinct vocal parts allow you and your partner to have a blast.
6. Don’t You Want Me by The Human League
This new wave duet from The Human League topped the charts in both the US and UK in 1981. It tells the story of a failed romance between the singers from two perspectives. The synth-based, somewhat eerie melody provides a great atmosphere as you recreate the push and pull of this complex relationship.
With designated parts for “female human” and “male human”, Don’t You Want Me makes for an especially dramatic and emotional karaoke performance. Challenge a partner to sing it with you while interpreting the lyrics through your gestures and expressions.
The call-and-response style builds the tension before uniting in the iconic chorus. So bring all that contrasting emotion to your stage presence for a powerful rendition.
7. Up Where We Belong by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
Featured in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman, this pop ballad duet won both a Grammy and Oscar for Best Original Song. It’s performed as a powerful love song between the lead characters played by Richard Gere and Debra Winger. Singing it at karaoke allows you to tap into that same rich emotion and truly belt.
Alternating vocal parts lets both singers shine. And the big, sustained notes of the chorus are sure to give you chills. For an inspiring performance, pick Up Where We Belong and infuse it with your chemistry and passion.
Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes’ legendary duet has a little something for everyone. Low, soulful verses build dramatically into a sweeping chorus perfect for showing off impressive pipes.
8. Endless Love by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
Written for the 1981 film of the same name, Endless Love has become one of the most popular love song duets of all time. Diana Ross and Lionel Richie’s original version spent nine weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts. The soaring strings and romantic lyrics set the stage for a dramatic karaoke ballad.
It works beautifully as a heartfelt declaration between partners. But you can also sing it platonically while gazing longingly into a friend’s eyes for laughs.
Either way, the vocal range is friendly for most singers to pull off a moving performance. The gentle, emotional ballad builds to a belted chorus sure to have couples swaying arm in arm. Infuse it with your brand of chemistry for a tender or cheeky rendition.
9. Ebony and Ivory by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
This clever 1982 pop duet tackles racial harmony through the metaphor of contrasting piano keys. Paul McCartney offers up sweet, soulful vocals over an upbeat melody while Stevie Wonder complements him with his smooth harmonies.
The two legendary singers trade off uplifting lines about living in harmony while maintaining their distinctiveness: “Ebony and ivory / Live together in perfect harmony.” Bring people together through the uniting power of music by performing this hope-filled karaoke classic.
The cheerful pop rhythm and lyrics celebrate unity in diversity. Allow your different vocal styles and musical strengths to play off one another for a joyous rendition with an inspiring message.
10. You’re The One That I Want from Grease
No duet karaoke session is complete without a song from Grease! While Summer Nights and Beauty School Dropout are also great options, no Glease duet is more iconic than You’re The One That I Want. This upbeat disco tune lets you channel Danny and Sandy’s infectious chemistry as they dance around the fun fair and embrace their rebellious sides.
It’s got a great build-up, making it perfect for an energetic and flirtatious performance. The chorus also gives both singers a chance to belt out strong sustained notes. So grab your partner, put on your leather jacket, and heat things with this classic from the hit 1978 movie musical.
From the coy opening verses to the powerhouse finish, You’re the One That I Want allows you and your partner to have some fun with characterizations and vocal stylings. Camp it up as Danny and Sandy or make it your own – either way, it’s a karaoke favorite for a reason!
Conclusion
The magic of a great duet performance lies in playing off each other’s voices and stage chemistry while you sing in harmony. With so many iconic options to choose from, selecting the right songs can determine if your karaoke duet becomes a showstopping moment. This list showcases classics ideal for couples, close friends, and even relative strangers to perform together.
Whether your goal is to stir up drama, romance, laughs, or simple vocal fireworks, these diverse best-ever karaoke duets have you covered. So grab a partner, select one of these perfect pop, rock, country, or musical theater pairings, and make beautiful karaoke music together. Your brilliant harmonies and infectious chemistry are sure to bring down the house.
