Tuesday 30 January 2018

An Unlikely Duet

Lately I've been listening to some old, fave CDs from my collection, such as Elton John's 1993 album Duets. On it, he sings various songs with a wide and sometimes rather improbable assortment of musical partners like Tammy Wynette, Bonnie Raitt and Gladys Knight.

But the most unlikeliest duet of all is with the (now late) great singer-songwriter and ladies' man, Leonard Cohen. Talk about a contrast in style and voices! The two sing a bluesy Ray Charles hit from the 1960s called Born to Lose. Not only does this song choice humorously reinforce Leonard Cohen's (entirely undeserved) reputation as a horribly depressed and depressing singer, it inadvertently provides a delightfully homoerotic subtext to an otherwise innocuous old song.

If you've never heard this before, you're in for a treat! Enjoy!



45 comments:

baili said...

what a beautiful melodious voice!

i remember that on m.tv channel i used listen to this amazing singer some years back

he always brings me in deep unique world entirely different than present

truly magician

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

They don't make music like they used to.

Mistress Maddie said...

That is a odd duet. I don't recall hearing that one, but I liked it. My favorite Elton duet was with Type up. One can tell they had fun together making the don't go breaking my heart video.

Mistress Maddie said...

I put in Rupaul and type up came ip????????? Those gremlins are at it..........

Anonymous said...

It seems to be the week for Elton John. First I learned basically everyone I'm friends with on Facebook are huge Elton John fans and are going to his farewell concert somewhere. Now I learn about a cover of Born to Lose, one of my favorite songs no matter who sings it, that I've not heard about before, also sung by Elton John. By the way, I've never met a person named Elton out in the wild. Is anyone naming their kid Elton other than Elton John's parents?

Bob said...

I hadn't ever heard this one before, but I like it.

I also had heard of the Elton "Type Up" duet Maddie loves so much!! =)

^.^ said...

Love them both so much cuz no matter what they wrote it turned to gold, friend D ... Sadly never saw Leonard but saw Elton in Red Deer once ... Love, cat.

Moving with Mitchell said...

You're right! I had never heard it before and it was a treat!

anne marie in philly said...

I know the ray charles version, but this is new to me also. thanks, debra!

Marie Smith said...

Love it. That deep raspy voice of Leonard is in sharp contrast to Elton. An unusual but wonderful duet.

Jeanne said...

I enjoyed Elton's duets. I think what made them so great was the unlikely combination of people.

Snap said...

Wonderful! I agree with Karen ... they don't make music the way they used to.....

jaz@octoberfarm said...

omg...i loved leonard cohen. i always told my husband that if leonard ever called, i was gone and not looking back.

Adam said...

Leonard Cohen is a much different voice than John's, wow

Martha said...

What a difference between the two. I am a big fan of Elton John's music. I've been listening to his CDs lately, especially while I exercise.

Susan said...

How in the world did I miss this combination? Two of my very favorites! It is very odd, but it works in a weird, other-worldly way. Like a musical platypus.

Leanna said...

I'm not a big fan of Leonard Cohen. His voice makes me tired.

Miss Val's Creations said...

I haven't heard this one either. My husband loves Leonard Cohen and Elton John. I will have to play this for him.

bj said...

Mr. Ray Charles is one of my all-time favorite singers on this planet...his BORN TO LOSE, a very favorite. While I have always liked Sir Elton John, HIS version of it doesn't come close to Ray's...this, of course, is my humble opinion.
As for L. Cohen...never heard of him....

Harry Hamid said...

That's sort of an odd combination, but the voices work together.

Leonard Cohen did have some dark stuff, but it was great stuff when he kept away from the Casio keyboard-type tunes of the eighties. "Avalanche" is a fave of mine.

Somehow, I never knew Elton John had done a duets album.

Toni said...

Sweet!

DEZMOND said...

Did you hear Elton is ill and is retiring after he finishes a three year tour? Adele should learn from him, she is such a nasty spoilt millenial.

Bill Lisleman said...

Leonard deep voice really makes you take notice. Never heard this before - thanks. Hey I happen to have a youtube song posted that you probably never heard before.

Parnassus said...

This recording does seem on the improbable side. The orchestration is a little on the syrupy side--but perhaps that just adds to the oddity of it all.
--Jim

Magaly Guerrero said...

You weren't joking! The contrast is... uncanny.

Onevikinggirl said...

Really odd combination!
(I’m also listening to Elton this week; the tribute album Two Rooms, made to him and Bernie Taupin in 1991 - keeping it)

Rain said...

I used to love Lenny's music :) I remember duets being so big in the 80's!

Jono said...

Great song and two great entertainers, but that is a bit strange as a combination.

mshatch said...

I love Elton John, and Leonard Cohen is pretty good, too :)

Willym said...

Thank you for the treat.

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

The parts I love best are when they sing together/interactively. I had no idea they collaborated. Thanks for sharing this winning gem, Debra.

Magic Love Crow said...

Thank you Debra!! I find this very romantic! So beautiful!!! I agree a treat! Big Hugs!

Angela said...

I've never heard this song before, but it sounds great. Thanks for sharing!

Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...

This is a great album. I listened to it many time.

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Thankyou, though I think I prefer Ray Charles unimproved.

Anonymous said...

This works! Thanks for sharing. Both guys are on my favorite list.

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Poor woman ... no one deserves being transformed into Trump.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed this song so much, I listened to the entire thing.. :)

Thanks for sharing it with us.

Have a beachy week!
Elsie

Lois said...

Oh poor Leonard - he lost all his savings - they were stolen from him and now he had to hit the road again. I was never a big fan of Elton, but Husband is...

This N That said...

Loved the contrast..Beautiful..Sad that Elton John is retiring but I guess none of us can go on forever..maybe just Tony Bennett ;) Thanks for sharing..enjoyed it..

Lady M said...

wow - cool. Love the contrast between the styles.

e said...

'And now, Elton... I'm losing you.'

Lolling!

:^)

DB Stewart said...

Wow. Me neither. What loss it was losing Leonard Cohen. Yet, as you've made me realize, there's always more to discover about him and his work.

AntiquityTravelers said...

Makes me think of the duets that Tony Bennet did ... especially with Kd. Lang - man can she sing ... her voice just melts me everytime

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdvvV3h-S_I

The Happy Whisk said...

I listen to them both,
but never heard this.

It would be nice to
draw too. But it also
reminds me of xmas.

Happy Listening 🎵