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'Ebony and Ivory' Named Worst Duet Ever
Posted: 2007-10-09 13:18:15
Filed Under: Music News
(Oct. 9) - BBC 6 Music listeners want nothing to do with Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder 's wish for racial harmony.

Those listeners have named 'Ebony and Ivory' the worst duet of all time in a recent poll. 'Ebony and Ivory' became a chart-topping hit back in 1982. But since then, the song has climbed the wrong kind of charts, with the BBC ranking following Blender naming the song the tenth worst tune of all time back in 2004.

McCartney's duet with Michael Jackson , 'The Girl Is Mine,' didn't fare much better, placing as the sixth worst duet ever.

Even a group collaboration is booed by BBC listeners, as Band Aid's charity single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' winds up tied for tenth worst duet ever with Girls Aloud and Sugarbabes' 'Walk This Way.'

Listeners also named the best duets ever. Sinead O'Connor and the Chieftains 'Foggy Dew' claims the top spot. Run DMC and Aerosmith 's famed rock-rap hybrid 'Walk This Way' comes in at number five.


David Bowie is a mixed bag on the poll. He fares well on the 'Best' list. His pairing with Queen , 'Under Pressure,' is ranked number three. His take on 'Little Drummer Boy' with Bing Crosby comes in at 11 and his remake with Mick Jagger of the Martha Reeves' classic 'Dancing In the Street' follows at 12.

But listeners also sharpened their knives for Bowie on the worst duets list: 'Street' comes in at third, followed by 'Drummer Boy' at four.

Another Day, Another List

Jackson, McCartney and Bowie aren't the only artists getting raked over the music list coals this week. Blender magazine has compiled a list of pop music's lousiest lyricists, and Sting has come out on top (or bottom as the case may be).

Blender assailed Sting for such alleged sins as name-dropping Russian novelist Vladimir Nabokov in the Police tune "Don't Stand So Close to Me," quoting a Volvo bumper sticker ("If You Love Someone Set Them Free"), and co-opting the works of Chaucer, St. Augustine and Shakespeare.

The survey, contained in the November issue that hits newsstands next week, placed Rush drummer Neil Peart at No. 2, Creed frontman Scott Stapp at No. 3, Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher at No. 4, and soft-rocker Dan Fogelberg at No. 5.


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Okay, I happen to like Sting's lyrics ("Fields of Gold," "Mad About You," "All Four Seasons," "Brand New Day" I could go on and on) - but my affinity for his music aside, I cannot believe he's #1?!?!?!? C'mon!

Were there only 5 blokes to chose from? I mean, have they ever heard a Van Halen song? ("Only time will tell if we stand the test of time.") Or a Mase song? J Lo? Mariah Carey? Britney? Diddy? Again, I could go on and on.

What a bizarre result.

The Girl Is Mine is by far a much better song than E & I.

jillybean said:

I completely agree. I could name many more lyricists that are far worse than Sting.

As far as worst duets go, I can think of tons worse than E & I. For example:

Hot wit you (P and Eve)
Rich girls (Gwen and Eve)
Say, say say, (MJ and Sir Paul)

Way too many others to mention.

Most hip/hop collaborations are awful too. Sure, I like some of them, but most of them are so unnecessary.

jn2 said:

And both of them sucked because of Paul McCartney. Yes I said it.

Two masters of music teamed up with "the cute Beatle" (who is a master for what he did with the Beatles) and this is what happens.

Happy? LOL
[Edited 10/10/07 11:25am]

Timmy84 said:

Michael's solo demo of The Girl Is Mine is way better

Timmy84 said:

If you exclude Paul from "masters of music" you need to get some schooling.

Empress said:

Empress said:

I liked all of the Duets you mentioned.

FOr me I think it was RuPaul and Elton John doing a terrible remake of Don't go breaking my heart.

paul macartney knows how to ruin a song

Empress said:

He's a master but I was comparing to when Stevie and Mike got with him that they all got corny. So if I said that to exclude him, I didn't mean to.

Empress said:

I liked the Eve and Prince collabo.....I like their vibe together vocally...

Rhondab said:

I didn't really dig it that much. That was one of the least-played tracks when I did have "Rave", lol. It wasn't atrocious but still...
[Edited 10/10/07 11:40am]

Timmy84 said:

so...

Rhondab said:

It's all good though.

lowkey said:

Timmy84 said:

True and in the case of "The Girl Is Mine" Paul's voice just sounds so wispy and weak compared to MJ's. He's a much better singer than Paul is. Have you heard "The Girl Is Mine" Demo? It's so much better without Paul. In fact the only reason I bother listening to "The Girl Is Mine" or "Say Say Say" (which is a much better song IMO) is to listen to MJ's voice.
[Edited 10/10/07 13:25pm]

Oh & Paul ruined Heal The Pain duetting with George Michael
on the '25' greatest hits.

Ebony & Ivory is one of the worst songs of all time
with or without Paul.

Cinnamon234 said:

Exactly. That demo was boss.

But of course, I have to say "The Girl is Mine" did start off singers either battling each other or teaming up to somebody because they messed around with the same love interest ("The Boy is Mine", "Same Script, Different Cast", "Same Girl"...).