Top 5 Male-Female Duet Singles of the 80s

The male-female duet seems to have a magic to it that allows it to float above the constantly shifting trends of the music industry, thriving independently and always staying in vogue. While this unique musical art form will never go out of style, the ‘80s truly took it to another level, with an endless stream of killer collabs that remain memorable up to this day. In many cases, the brilliance lies in the epic cheesiness, with stars in colorful ‘80s outfits and feathered hair professing their everlasting love. Corny though they may be, these are the ballads we tend to turn to whenever karaoke machines or jukeboxes call out to us, beckoning for us to relive the good old days.

In random order, we present for your nostalgic pleasure, five of the best duet singles in the 1980s that feature both male and female vocalists.

#1 "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" by Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes

Kenny Rogers spent a good chunk of the early ‘80s teaming up with various female singers for duets dripping in sentimentality. Credit for his success goes to his country-pop fusion, which was well received by music lovers of the era. There are plenty of Kenny Rogers collaborations that could’ve made it to this list, but we chose this track because of the endearing chemistry he clearly shared with his duet partner Kim Carnes; not to mention the fact that the latter participated in writing the song. This ‘80s knockout showcases the raw passion and relentless grip of heartbreak.

#2 - "Close My Eyes Forever" by Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne

Former lead guitarist of The Runaways, Lita Ford, and Black Sabbath frontman, Ozzy Osbourne, were both well-respected rockstars in the 1980s. The duo managed to match up their top-notch vocals and musical talents in this killer 1988 track. Even now, more than 30 years later, the song will haunt you, delivering an experience no-one expected from the pair. Their voices are accompanied by the arpeggiated plucks of an acoustic guitar, creating a style that was well outside the bounds of what fans expected of the pair. What hooked the attention of tons of listeners worldwide wasn’t the lyrics, which were relatively vapid, but the way their voices complemented each other.

#3 - "Leather and Lace" by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley

This duet features two of the century’s biggest rock legends: Fleetwood Mac’s vocalist Stevie Nicks, whose trademark is her sultry, raspy vocals, and Eagle’s founding member Don Henley, whose expertise is delivering a smooth high tenor. The ‘80s megastars paired up to create an acoustic ballad titled Leather and Lace in 1981. The tune was penned by Nicks to narrate a story about two people who were incongruent when it came to romance. Fun fact: Nicks and Henley dated, but the relationship broke apart after only a couple of years. They remained pals after their breakup nonetheless. In fact, Nicks is known for staying on good terms with her past partners.

#4 - "Never Gonna Let You Go" by Sergio Mendes, feat. Joe Pizzulo and Leza Miller

Joe Pizzulo and Leza Miller rise to new musical heights with the perfect fusion of their voices when the chorus of Never Gonna Let You Go emerges. The rest? You’ve gotta love the mushy, cheesy lyrics. The man responsible for the music, Sergio Mendes, is a Brazillian musician who’s since enjoyed success in Hollywood.

#5 - "Secret Lovers" by Atlantic Starr

This track isn’t, strictly speaking, a collab since it is sung by a group. Yet Secret Lovers perfectly epitomize the male and female partnership in a duet. The song showcases a dramatic situation between two people who are obviously in the middle of relationship tribulation. Needless to say, the song is the archetypal sound of the ‘80s, and you will notice yourself fill with the unavoidable urge, once the tune starts playing, to throw your voice into the mix and sing along.