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What to sing Best karaoke duets
A duet is two people agreeing on a song, and that is the hard part. The best ones give each voice its own lines before the two meet in the chorus, so neither of you is guessing when to come in.
Pick by the parts, not the people. A duet written for a higher voice and a lower one works for any pair where one sits higher than the other, whoever you are. Every pick below says how the song splits, so you can settle who takes what before the host calls your names.
The duets that go wrong are the ones where both people sing everything together, lose each other, and trail off. Choose a song with clear turns, agree who starts, and look at each other in the chorus. That last part is half the performance. For more than two of you, see group songs.
Trading verses
Duets that trade verses
Each of you gets lines of your own before the chorus brings you together — the easiest kind of duet to get right.
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Islands in the Stream
Kenny Rogers & Dolly PartonEach of you gets a verse to yourself before the chorus, and the chorus is so well known the room joins in.
One voice takes the first verse, the other the second; both on the chorus.
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Don't Go Breaking My Heart
Elton John & Kiki DeeLine-by-line trading keeps you both busy, and nobody has time to get nervous.
Trade single lines back and forth, then sing the title together.
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Jackson
Johnny Cash & June CarterPlays out like a friendly argument, and both parts are talk-sung at an easy, low trot.
Alternate verses; together on the title.
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Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Marvin Gaye & Tammi TerrellUpbeat and well loved, and the chorus is a shout-together the whole room joins.
One voice per verse, both on the chorus.
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Picture
Kid Rock & Sheryl CrowSlow, steady and conversational; each verse is one side of the same story.
One voice per verse, together on the chorus.
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Need You Now
Lady AntebellumMid-paced and comfortable for both parts, with a chorus the room recognises by the second line.
One voice opens the first verse, the other takes the second; together on the chorus.
Sung close
Quiet duets, sung close
Gentle songs where the two voices stay near each other and nobody has to be loud.
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Somethin' Stupid
Frank Sinatra & Nancy SinatraGentle and low, with most lines sung together, so neither of you is ever out there alone.
Mostly together, one voice a little under the other.
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Lucky
Jason Mraz & Colbie CaillatQuiet and easy on both voices; the only risk is the room getting soppy.
Alternate verses, then close together on the chorus.
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I Got You Babe
Sonny & CherSlow and sweet, easy to split, and the title comes round often enough for the room to join.
Trade lines, then sing the title together.
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Mockingbird
Carly Simon & James TaylorCall and echo from start to finish, so the second voice only has to copy the first.
One voice sings each line, the other echoes it straight back.
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A Whole New World
Peabo Bryson & Regina BelleSlow and soaring but never rushed, and every line has a clear owner.
One voice sings the invitation, the other answers; together at the end.
Drama for two
Big, dramatic duets
Songs that only work if you both go all in. Played straight or played for laughs, commitment is the whole trick.
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(I've Had) The Time of My Life
Bill Medley & Jennifer WarnesStarts slow and low, then speeds up, and the whole room will be waiting to see if you attempt the lift.
One voice opens low and slow, the other answers higher; together from the first chorus.
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Shallow
Lady Gaga & Bradley CooperThe first verse is short and gentle; the wail in the middle is what everyone came for, so give it to whoever wants it.
One voice takes the quiet first verse, the other the second verse and the wail; both at the end.
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Under Pressure
Queen & David BowieThe bass line counts you both in, and the parts swap often enough that neither of you carries it.
One takes the low, conversational lines, the other the high, pleading ones; both on the ending.
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You're the One That I Want
John Travolta & Olivia Newton-JohnShort, bouncy parts and a chorus the room shouts; half the bar will do the moves for you.
One voice opens, the other answers higher; both on the chorus.
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Endless Love
Lionel Richie & Diana RossSlow and very earnest: play it straight and it is lovely, sing it at each other and it is the best thing all night.
Trade the verses, then hold the long lines together.
Uneven on purpose
Duets where one of you does more
For the pair where one person wants the spotlight and the other would rather stand next to it.
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Somebody That I Used to Know
Gotye & KimbraThe second voice sits out the first half for one verse, and it is the best verse in the song.
One voice takes the verses and chorus; the other comes in late with a verse of their own.
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Dilemma
Nelly & Kelly RowlandLaid-back and mid-paced; the rapped verses are unhurried and the sung chorus is one the room joins.
One raps the verses, the other sings the opening and the chorus.
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Love the Way You Lie
Eminem & RihannaOne of you raps fast and angry, the other sings a short, calm chorus; the contrast is the song.
One raps the verses, the other sings only the chorus.
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Barbie Girl
AquaSung completely straight, it is funnier than any joke you could add.
One voice takes the squeaky high part, the other the deep, spoken one.
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Don't You Want Me
The Human LeagueAn argument over synths: the lead carries most of it, and the second voice gets one verse to tell the other side.
One voice takes most of the song; the other takes the second verse.
Keeping track of the good ones
A duet goes on the list the same way a solo does. In KaraokeList, add it, tag it Skill if you pulled your half off or Fun if the room loved it anyway, and give the night a star rating.
After you sing, the app asks how it sat for you — Too high, Just right or Too low. A duet where you took the wrong half says so, and next time you swap.
When the two of you need something new, consult the crystal ball. It suggests songs you don't have yet, each with a one-line reason, and you can guide a reading by typing what tonight calls for — a duet for two friends, say — before it reads.
Questions
What is the easiest karaoke duet?
One where each of you gets your own lines before you meet in the chorus. Islands in the Stream and Don't Go Breaking My Heart are the easiest to split, and Lucky is the gentlest on both voices.
What are good karaoke duets for friends?
Pick one with clear turns and a chorus the room knows. Ain't No Mountain High Enough, You're the One That I Want and Don't You Want Me all work for any two people, romantic or not.
What are funny karaoke duets?
Barbie Girl, played completely straight, is funnier than any joke you could add. Endless Love and (I've Had) The Time of My Life work the same way when you sing them at each other with total commitment.
How do you split a duet at karaoke?
Decide who starts before you go up, then follow the song's own turns: one voice per verse and both on the chorus, for most duets. If one of you sits higher than the other, the higher part goes to them, whoever they are.
Know what you’re singing before you’re called.
KaraokeList keeps every karaoke song you can actually pull off — and when the list runs dry, it finds you new ones, each with a reason.
