5 Indie-Rock Duets We Love

Unlike the chart-topping duet ballads of the ‘80s that can feel like a cheesier time in pop music, when our favorite indie rock artists of the ‘90s, and the Aughties, (and beyond) blended their talents, the songs often transcended eras.

While soft rock duets seem to live on through a playlist at your neighborhood supermarket, listening to an indie rock duet for the first time in years can feel like you’re rediscovering your favorite bands. Check out these indie rock duets that make wonderful additions to any playlist.

“Scissor Runner”- Jenny & Johnny

During her decades-long career, Jenny Lewis has moved effortlessly from lead singer of the band Rilo Kiley to her singer-songwriter solo career. Lewis can transcend genres with her introspective lyrics and catchy tunes.

After Rilo Kiley, she teamed up with her then-boyfriend Johnathan Rice, to form the obvious, yet adorably named “Jenny & Johnny.” The single “Scissor Runner,” off their 2010 album I’m Having Fun Now, is a reflection of the album’s title.

The song’s playful tone has a breezy feel, reminiscent of Paul Westerberg’s “Dyslexic Heart.” The couple harmonizes so smoothly on the chorus that “Scissor Runner” cuts right through the rainy day blahs. Even the cold-hearted will hum along to this feel-good tune.

“Don’t Dream it’s Over” –  Head and the Heart

If you grew up in the ‘80s, all you need to hear is the opening few seconds from “Don’t Dream It’s Over” and you’re instantly taken back to junior high dances. As ‘80s ballads go, it was a signature song for Crowded House.

Despite the fact that The Head and the Heart perform a straightforward cover of the original, the back-and-forth vocals of Jonathan Russell and Charity Rose Thielen help the listener connect even more passionately to the song. “Now, I’m towing my car, there’s a hole in the roof. My possessions are causing my suspicion, but there’s no proof.”

If you’re like me, you may get goosebumps when Thielen’s vocals kick in. Forget nostalgia. Put this cover in any indie rock playlist, and it will be right at home alongside your favorite bands.

“Young Folks”- Peter, Bjorn & John with Victoria Bergsman

There are so many cool things that made the 2006 song “Young Folks” by Peter, Bjorn, and John an indie rock hit. The opening drum beat and bass line grab are exquisitely chill, followed by the indelible, melodic whistling. The band had not done a duet before, and Victoria Bergsman, lead singer of The Concretes, performs her lyrics in an ethereal way. She perfectly matches the vibe of the music while complementing Peter Moren’s vocals. ”Young Folks” feels like it was meant to be played while people hang out with their friends; I dare you to play this song and resist the urge to whistle along.

“Sometimes, Always”- Jesus and Mary Chain & Hope Sandoval

“I gave you all I had. I gave you good and bad. I gave, but you just threw it back.” After Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval sings the opening line, Jim Reid returns her barb with a pleading lyric that starts a back-and-forth duet of love and forgiveness.

The story of “Sometimes, Always” may seem simple (You left. I’m back. You left. I’m back, baby,) but the themes of giving love another chance are timeless. There’s nothing dated about this 1994 song, which sounds like it easily could have come out in 2004 or 2014.

The jangling guitar sound propels this song like a beating heart. The flirty interaction between the two singers at a bar in the video should serve as a reminder that this was a classic ‘90s bar song; in the same vein as “Sex and Candy” and “Bittersweet Symphony.”

“To Sir With Love”- Bonus: “Candy Everybody Wants” – Natalie Merchant and Michael Stipe

 

This performance by Natalie Merchant and Michael Stipe at the MTV Rock n’ Roll Inaugural Ball is as perfect a snapshot of 1993 as you can get. Stipe and Merchant were both at the peak of their band’s mainstream popularity; Merchant would soon leave the 10,000 Maniacs to launch her solo career.

If you watched this MTV moment at home, the excitement was in the air as Michael Stipe walked on stage and bowed to his close friend Natalie Merchant. The duo did not disappoint with their electric renditions of both “To Sir With Love” and the Maniacs’ hit “Candy Everybody Wants.”

The two breathed new life into “To Sir With Love,” the theme song to the 1967 movie of the same name. The mood shifts from a song about deep affection to pure exuberance when the band starts to play “Candy Everybody Wants.”

Stipe and Merchant’s infectious dancing match the upbeat horn section and fill the room with the joyous spirit of the evening. Their iconic vocals leave you longing for a whole album of duets by these two indie rock darlings.

-Jeff Finkle

Photo: Natalie Merchant  (Justin Higuchi via Wikimedia Commons)