Music has seen some amazing collaborations, but not every duet is a success. While stars like Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, or Queen and David Bowie nailed it, others weren’t so lucky. Some, like Madonna and Britney Spears, sounded great on paper but ended up disappointing fans. Here’s a list of the worst duets that will make you wish they never happened.
Who You Love – John Mayer feat. Katy Perry
While dating, musicians John Mayer and Katy Perry teamed up for a song called *Who You Love*. Unfortunately, their attempt at a romantic ballad fell flat, lacking the emotion it was meant to convey, making it a major misstep.
Opposites Attract – Paula Abdul and The Wild Crew
Though the music video for *Opposites Attract* is iconic, the song itself is a disaster. Paula Abdul’s collaboration with The Wild Crew is pure 80s cheese at its worst. The only redeeming part is Abdul dancing with an animated cat, MC Skat Kat, but even that gets weird if you think about it too much.
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paula abdul via youtube
Play Me – Korn feat. Nas
As nu-metal’s popularity waned, Korn attempted a comeback with *Take a Look in the Mirror*. Unfortunately, it’s considered one of their worst albums, and the ill-fated duet with rap legend Nas didn’t help matters.
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Sébastien Paquet via wiki
Accidental Racist – Brad Paisley feat. LL Cool J
Rapper LL Cool J and country star Brad Paisley aimed to spark conversation with their duet *Accidental Racist*, but the song was widely ridiculed. Meant to address Southern pride and racial issues, it backfired, leaving fans of both artists unimpressed. This collaboration is one they’d likely prefer to forget.
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bradpaisley via youtube
Me Against the Music – Britney Spears & Madonna
Pairing Madonna with Britney Spears seemed like a surefire hit, but *Me Against the Music* fell short of expectations. The track failed to showcase either artist’s strengths, and Britney’s awkward attempt at rapping only made things worse. It’s a duet that promised much but delivered little.
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britney spears via youtube
Dancing In The Street – David Bowie and Mick Jagger
David Bowie and Mick Jagger’s cover of *Dancing in the Street* had noble intentions, aiming to raise money for charity. However, the track itself was a major letdown. Despite their typical charisma, both legends seemed oddly flat, and the high-energy video couldn’t save the uninspired performance.
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david bowie via youtube
Can’t Stop Partying – Weezer feat. Lil Wayne
Since Run DMC and Aerosmith’s hit *Walk This Way*, rock and hip-hop collaborations have often struggled to recapture that magic. A prime example of this is Weezer and Lil Wayne’s *Can’t Stop Partying*. Despite the big names involved, the song failed to resonate, becoming yet another disappointing attempt at blending the two genres.
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mrpartyapproved via youtube
Dooo It! – Miley Cyrus and The Flaming Lips
In 2015, Miley Cyrus teamed up with The Flaming Lips for her experimental album *Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz*, aiming to break free from her child star persona. Unfortunately, the edgy direction backfired with critics. The album’s opening track, *Dooo It!*, was particularly criticized for its sloppy lyrics, marking a sharp departure from Cyrus’ usual success with catchy pop hits.
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miley cyrus via youtube
The View – Lou Reed and Metallica
In 2011, Metallica collaborated with Lou Reed to create the album *Lulu*, which became a source of countless memes. Among the tracks, *The View* stands out as a particularly confusing mess, featuring James Hetfield randomly shouting, “I am a table!” during the chorus, leaving listeners bewildered and amused.
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metallica via youtube
Ebony and Ivory – Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
Although sung by legendary musicians Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, “Ebony and Ivory” is surprisingly dull. Despite its meaningful message about overcoming differences, the song is a monotonous experience from beginning to end.
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reelblack one via youtube
Body and Soul – Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse was an incredible singer, but her last song, “Body and Soul,” a duet with Tony Bennett, fell short of expectations. While the pairing seemed ideal, it was recorded during a challenging time for Winehouse, and her struggles are noticeable in the performance.
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tony bennet via youtube
A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock ‘n’ Roll – Donnie and Marie Osmond
“A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock ‘n’ Roll,” performed by siblings Donnie and Marie Osmond, attempted to merge two distinct genres but ended up with disastrous results. Their sibling dynamic only added to the song’s cringe factor.
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dave's osmond videos via youtube
Come With Me – Puff Daddy feat. Jimmy Page
In 1998, America attempted to reboot the classic kaiju film *Godzilla*, but the effort was disastrous, and this was reflected in the official soundtrack. “Come With Me,” performed by Puff Daddy and Jimmy Page, essentially rehashed Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir,” but Puff Daddy’s contribution quickly detracted from the original.
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omarpako14 via youtube
It Doesn’t Matter – Wyclef Jean feat. The Rock
Before transitioning from wrestling to acting, The Rock attempted to break into the music industry by featuring on Wyclef Jean’s track “It Doesn’t Matter.” The song cleverly played off one of The Rock’s wrestling catchphrases, making it enjoyable for fans initially. However, repeated listens quickly became tedious.
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wyclef jean via youtube
Hateful – No Doubt feat. Billy Idol
In 1999, various musicians contributed to an album tribute to The Clash, including No Doubt featuring Billy Idol on the track “Hateful.” Despite being under three minutes, the song feels much longer due to its heavy ska influence, which many find off-putting. Idol’s contributions mainly consist of shouting random words, leading to a lack of cohesion in the track.
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possan via wiki
Something Stupid – Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman
One of the most bizarre duets is the collaboration between former Take That singer Robbie Williams and Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman. They joined forces for the overly sweet ballad “Something Stupid,” which is so sugary that it might just give you a toothache.
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robbie williams via youtube
Hero – Chad Kroeger and Josey Scott
While some fans consider “Hero,” performed by Chad Kroeger of Nickelback and Josey Scott from Saliva, a soft rock classic, others beg to differ. The song gained popularity primarily as the main track on the *Spider-Man* soundtrack, and its opening notes still evoke strong memories for many from that era.
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original2000svevo via youtube
Whatzupwitu? – Michael Jackson and Eddie Murphy
In 1993, Michael Jackson and Eddie Murphy surprised fans with their collaboration on the single “Whatzupwitu.” Unfortunately, the result was as chaotic as many expected, primarily due to the decision to let Murphy take the lead while Jackson played a secondary role.
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mjyanagirl via youtube
Changes – Kelly & Ozzy Osbourne
During their reality show peak, Kelly and Ozzy Osbourne released a single together titled “Changes.” While intended as a heartfelt father-daughter collaboration, it ultimately missed the mark, struggling to connect with its audience. The confusion over whether it appealed to teen girls or older rock fans contributed to its lackluster reception.
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ツ via youtube
Don’t Make Me Wait – Sting and Shaggy
“Don’t Make Me Wait” was the lead single from an album featuring Sting and Shaggy. While both artists have unique styles, their collaboration failed to blend effectively, resulting in a chaotic mix that struggled to find harmony.
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sting via youtube
Pretty Girls – Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea
Britney’s duet with Iggy Azalea, “Pretty Girls,” faced criticism for its underlying message that success is tied to beauty. Additionally, the heavy use of auto-tune and electronic elements detracted from the song’s overall appeal.
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britney spears via youtube
Hangover – PSY feat. Snoop Dogg
Following the success of PSY’s “Gangnam Style,” many artists sought to collaborate with him, including hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg. They teamed up for the single “Hangover,” which featured a fun music video but ultimately turned out to be a forgettable track that didn’t showcase the talents of either artist effectively.
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officialpsy via youtube
I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Bono and Frank Sinatra
Near the end of his career, Frank Sinatra’s team proposed an album of duets featuring artists he personally selected. However, he soon regretted inviting Bono to join him on “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” Bono’s signature vocal flourishes overwhelmed the track, detracting from what could have been a charming collaboration.
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u2 via youtube
Sweet Lovin’ Friends – Dolly Parton and Sylvester Stallone
In the 1984 film *Rhinestone*, Dolly Parton and Sylvester Stallone teamed up for the country song “Sweet Lovin’ Friends.” Unfortunately, their duet was so poorly received that it earned a Razzie nomination for Worst Original Song, although it ultimately lost to Stallone’s solo track from the film, “Drinkenstein.”
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daniela maria via youtube
Do What U Want – Lady Gaga feat R. Kelly
After allegations against R. Kelly emerged, Lady Gaga swiftly removed all digital traces of their duet “Do What U Want.” However, the damage was already done, as fans found the song’s music video and explicit lyrics particularly disturbing in light of Kelly’s charges.
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Carlos M. Vazquez II via youtube
O Come, All Ye Faithful – Susan Boyle & Elvis Presley
Since Elvis Presley’s death, his music has continued to chart alongside various artists, with one of the oddest pairings being English singer Susan Boyle, a finalist from *Britain’s Got Talent*. She released a Christmas duet of “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” featuring Elvis for no apparent reason.
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susan boyle via youtube
Born to be Wild – Ozzy Osbourne and Miss Piggy
Before collaborating with his daughter Kelly, Ozzy Osbourne teamed up with Miss Piggy in a bid to earn some “dad points” with his young children. They covered the classic “Born to Be Wild” for the Muppet album *Kermit Unpigged*. Unsurprisingly, the song is only enjoyable for listeners under five years old.
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captain janks channel via youtube
Another Way To Die – Jack White and Alicia Keys
When approached to perform a Bond theme, most artists jump at the chance. However, Jack White and Alicia Keys likely regret their collaboration on “Another Way to Die.” Their contrasting styles—White’s gritty guitar and Keys’ soulful vocals—failed to create a cohesive sound, and both artists seem disinterested throughout the track.
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alicia keys via youtube
Our Lips Are Sealed – Hilary and Haylie Duff
While family harmony can create powerful music, sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff missed the mark with their auto-tuned cover of “Our Lips Are Sealed.” Unlike successful family bands like The Jackson 5, their rendition lacked authenticity and fell flat.
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nicholas bridge via youtube
Numb/Encore – Linkin Park and Jay-Z
In 2004, Linkin Park and Jay-Z teamed up for the album *Collision Course*, which featured mash-ups of their songs. The standout track, “Numb/Encore,” showcased some potential, but ultimately underused Linkin Park’s talents, particularly Chester Bennington’s powerful vocals.
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linkin park via youtube
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