Thread by @drvolts

Help me make a playlist!

The criteria: songs that contain two distinct singers, directly addressing one another about matters amorous. (Respond to this tweet w/ candidates.)

First up: "Don't You Want Me," by Human League (she comes in at 1:32)

Next up: "Nothing Better" by the Postal Service. (She comes in at 1:30.)

(All the examples I've been able to think of have a man & woman in dialogue, but of course I'm open to same-sex examples!)

Next up: "Somebody That I Used to Know," by Gotye. Absolute classic of the genre. (She comes in at 2:33.)

Next up, a lesser known song but one of my favorites: "Another Like You," by Hayes Carll. So funny & so on target -- sloppy love/lust across political boundaries.

OK, that's the end of the list I came up with. Now I'm going to add reader suggestions. First up -- I can't believe I forgot this one -- "Islands in the Stream," by Kenny & Dolly!

Next up: "In Spite of Ourselves," by John Prine & Iris Dement. Another funny one. (Somewhat on the edge, rule-wise, b/c it's not clear they're singing *to one another*, but I'll allow it.)

Next up: "Paradise by the Dashboard Light," by Meatloaf.

"Ciao!" by Lush (w/ Jarvis Cocker)

"Love Shack," by the B-52s. (This one is also on the edge, rule-wise. Are they really addressing one another about a relationship? But it's too good to exclude.)

"A Little Time," by the Beautiful South.

"Love Is Strange," by Mickey & Sylvia. (An early template!)

"On My Own," by Patti LaBelle (w/ Michael McDonald). Can't believe I forgot this one -- this was huge during my early childhood radio years.

"Let Me Get There," by Hope Sandoval (w/ Kurt Vile)

"In the Middle of the Night," by Double Trouble.

"Exile," by Taylor Swift (w/ Bon Iver).

"Knock on Wood," by Otis Redding (w/ Carla Thomas)

"You're All I Need to Get By," by Marvin Gaye (w/ Tammi Terrell)

"Yeah! Oh, Yeah!" by the Magnetic Fields.

"Your Ex-Lover Is Dead," by Stars.

"If the World Was Ending," by JP Saxe (w/ Julia Michaels)

"Does He Love You," by Reba McEntire (w/ Linda Davis) -- this one is different in that it's two women discussing a man, but I did say "matters amorous," so I guess it counts.

"Fairytale of New York," by the Pogues (w/ Kirsty MacColl). Seasonally appropriate!

"Close My Eyes Forever," by Ozzy Osbourne & Lita Ford. (Can't believe I forgot this one! Again squarely in my hair-metal youth sweet spot. Ozzy's an underrated singer.)

"9 Crimes," by Damien Rice (w/ Lisa Hannigan). God this one is so sad.

"In Love with You," by Erykah Badu (w/ Stephen Marley)

"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," by Tom Petty (w/ Stevie Nicks). Another classic of the genre.

"You Right," by Doja Cat (w/ The Weeknd)

"The Chain," by Fleetwood Mac. Do they distinctly sing *to one another* in this? Not totally clear. Seems like it belongs though, since practically every song by FM is about internal love drama.

"Haunted," by Sinead O'Connor & Sean MacGowan. (Easy to forget how drop-dead beautiful O'Connor is -- face & voice both.)

"Left-Handed Kisses," by Andrew Bird (w/ Fiona Apple). Another one I can't believe I forgot -- two of my favorite artists & an absolutely stellar song. I would listen to these two sing to one another forever.

"Awkward," by San Cisco. (Never heard this one before -- v. catchy!)

"Burn, Don't Freeze!" by Sleater-Kinney. (First/only one with two women singing to one another about their love affair?)

"This Mess We're In," by PJ Harvey (w/ Thom Yorke)

"Jackson," by Johnny & June Carter Cash

"Golden Ring," by George Jones & Tammy Wynette. (I'm worried about getting too much into country, as this list would never end ...)

"Wish Me Well (You Can Go to Hell)," by the Bouncing Souls

"Leather & Lace," by Stevie Nicks (w/ Don Henley)

"I Got You Babe," by Sonny & Cher. (I mean, of course.)

"Don't Go Breakin' My Heart," by Elton John (w/ Kiki Dee)

"Just Give Me a Reason," by P!nk (w/ Nate Ruess)

"Candy," by Iggy Pop (w/ Kate Pierson)

"Little Talks," by Of Monsters & Men

"Sleep All Summer," by Crooked Fingers. (This isn't the version w/ Neko Case, but she's adopted the song & plays it live a ton.)

"Heartache on the Line," by Trigger Hippy

"Somewhere Somehow," by Michael Smith (w/ Amy Grant) -- possibly the most 80s-sounding song on the list yet.

"Same Time Next Week," by Phil Manzanera (sung by John Wetton & Doreen Chandler)

"So Everyone," by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. (Will Oldham is criminally underrated & this song is gorgeous. Can't figure out who's singing w/ him though.)

"Dearly Departed," by Shakey Graves (w/ Esmé Patterson)

"Queen of Hearts," by Fucked Up

"It's Not All About You," by Lawrence

"Some Velvet Morning," by Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra

"Good Man, Good Woman," by Bonnie Raitt (w/ Delbert McClinton)

"Closer," by the Chainsmokers (w/ Halsey)

"If You Were the Woman & I Was the Man," by the Cowboy Junkies (w/ John Prine)

"Drinking Too Much," by Fred Eaglesmith (w/ Lynn Miles)

"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)," by George Michael & Aretha Franklin. An '80s schmaltz classic!

"Tell Him," by Celine Dion & Barbra Streisand. So. Much. Diva.

"Sweet Hell," by Gin Wigmore (w/ Butch Walker)

"Stumblin' In," by Chris Norman & Suzi Quatro. (A little '70s schmaltz to balance the '80s schmaltz.)

"Young Folks," by Peter Bjorn & John (w/ Victoria Bergsman). This song was *inescapable* a few years ago.

"I Luv U," by Dizzee Rascal (w/ Jeanine Jacques)

"Both Sides of a Smile," by Dave (w/ James Blake)

"Anybody Else But You," by Moldy Peaches. This is from the Juno soundtrack; there's also a version with Ellen Page & Michael Cera singing it -- peak twee.

"Take Me Home," by Crystal Gayle & Tom Waits

All right, y'all, it's clear that this list is potentially infinite & I need to go do other stuff. I'll come back later, compile all these into a Spotify playlist, and share it.

Thanks for playing!