21 Great Karaoke Duets for All Types of Singers
June 18, 2024
Singing karaoke with a friend or loved one is excellent fun, builds lasting memories and creates a special bond that only music can provide. Whether you’re looking for a solo showstopper or planning to perform duets on karaoke, picking the perfect sing is key to wowing your audience and making the most of your unique skills and preferences. We’ve compiled a list of 21 timeless hits catering to singers across generations, so you’re bound to find good duet songs for karaoke nights of all kinds.
Best Karaoke Duets
Pick a legendary tune to get everyone in a grooving mood. These beloved melodies for two or more singers are sure to get the room cheering:
1. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell — “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
This 1967 smash hit is up-tempo and retro in all the right ways. Combining authentic R&B, soul and pop, this song is perfect for a fun duet with a friend or a heartfelt couples’ moment with pizzaz.
2. Queen — “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Although Queen’s 1975 genre-bending masterpiece technically has six parts, it can very easily be split into two for a crowd-pleasing duet. This song has an uncanny ability to electrify any audience.
3. Seal — “Kiss From A Rose”
Seal’s 1994 power ballad, while originally a solo tune, was made iconic as one of the best duets for karaoke by Deal Pelton and Jeff Winger on season three of Community.
4. Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey — “When You Believe”
DreamWorks introduced the world to “When You Believe” in their 1998 blockbuster, “The Prince of Egypt.” Emotional and vocally captivating, this song is a fantastic duet choice for two female powerhouses.
5. Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes — “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”
The movie “Dirty Dancing” brought us this 1987 chart-topping gem, full of nostalgia and 80s synthesizer grooves. We dare your audience to resist singing along to that ultra-catchy chorus!
6. Cyndi Lauper — “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”
Are you a girl? Do you want to have fun? Perfect! Cyndi Lauper’s 1983 bubblegum pop sensation makes for great karaoke duets at girls’ nights and bachelorette parties despite its origins as a solo song.
7. Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande — “Rain On Me”
Female pop icons Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande released this massive dance-pop banger in 2020 to help us rise above challenges and celebrate our strength. Empower the room and your voices with this modern anthem.
Quintessential Couples Songs for Karaoke
If you and your special someone are looking for a couples-themed song full of romance and good vibes, pick one of these popular duets:
1. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John — “You’re The One That I Want”
Grease is a musical that’s permeated pop culture since the 70s. This upbeat, lively duet is one of those perfect couple karaoke songs about love that’s still jam-packed with fun and energy.
2. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper — “Shallow”
With over 1.5 billion views on YouTube, this heartwrenching folk-rock duet from 2018’s “A Star is Born” has a mesmerizing balance of emotion and musicality that captivates crowds worldwide.
3. Elton John and Kiki Dee — “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”
This dainty 1976 throwback is easy to sing, lovely to listen to and charmingly retro — perfect for a lighthearted duet between sweethearts enjoying a well-deserved date night.
4. Lady Antebellum — “Need You Now”
For something more heartfelt and moving, Lady Antebellum’s 2009 love song brought country music into the mainstream pop scene with its beautiful melody and interplay of male and female vocals.
5. Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers — “Islands in the Stream”
This 1983 soft rock duet has a steady beat and sultry lyrics. Queen of country pop, Dolly Parton, peppers this duet with gorgeous harmonies, which you’re always free to omit for a simpler version.
6. Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown — “No Air”
Millennial couples will undoubtedly remember this R&B/pop duet from Jordin Sparks’ debut album. The good duo song has become somewhat of a symbol of young love in the late 2000s and graced many an iPod shuffle in its day.
7. Kristen Bell and Santino Fontana — “Love Is An Open Door”
Fans of Disney’s “Frozen” will adore singing this cutesy, family-friendly duet. It’s also a brilliant way of proposing to your Frozen-loving partner mid-karaoke session, as many viral videos on YouTube can attest to!
Easy Karaoke Duet Songs for Newbies
Plenty of duets let you and your partner have fun and sing along without intricate harmonies or ornate vocal runs. A few easy duet songs for karaoke beginners are:
1. Gotye and Kimbra — “Somebody That I Used To Know”
If you had ears during the 2010s, you probably know the chorus to this pop smash hit off-by-heart. It’s a simple, mid-tempo melody that fresh faces on the karaoke scene can easily sing.
2. Sonny and Cher — “I Got You Babe”
“I Got You Babe” is a familiar favorite with adorable lyrics and endearing simplicity. It’s a refreshingly wholesome symbol of 1960s counterculture, perfect for karaoke newcomers of all generations.
3. Brad Kane and Lea Salonga — “A Whole New World”
Disney movies are a treasure trove of couples songs for karaoke, and 1992’s Aladdin is one of the best. Its slower tempo and catchy tune will appeal to newer singers and more experienced belters alike.
4. Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel — “What I’ve Been Looking For”
We couldn’t make a list of best duets for karaoke without adding a dash of High School Musical. Become Sharpay and Ryan Evans in this fabulous, iconic 2006 song with easy harmonies and a short runtime.
5. Aqua — “Barbie Girl”
Cheeky and fun, Aqua’s 1996 Eurodance bop “Barbie Girl” is tongue-in-cheek lyrically and novice-friendly in its turn-taking duet style. This is a great song to get the crowd going on a fun night of drinks with friends.
6. The Mamas and the Papas — “California Dreamin’”
The recent social media buzz over 1965’s “California Dreamin’” reminds us that brilliant songs are timeless. It’s great for newbies because it has a short runtime and can be easily split into two parts (“mamas” vs. “papas”) while still sounding impressive.
7. Evanescence — “Bring Me To Life”
This one’s for the couple with one songbird and one good sport willing to yell a few lines into the mic to make their partner happy. Evanescence’s 2003 nu-metal/alt-pop fusion has gained a cult following over the years, and for good reason.
Eat, Drink and Sing Your Heart out at LALA Karaoke
LALA offers a spectacular trio of services for good times in Tampa Bay. Our trendy bar areas, delicious French, Mediterranean and classic American cuisine and seven spectacularly decorated, Instagram-worthy themed karaoke rooms provide the perfect backdrop for parties, date nights, drinks with friends and more.
Check out our awesome specials, book your favorite karaoke room or contact us online today.