Barbara Dickson & Elaine Paige : I Know Him So Well

This amazing duet by two equally amazing female voices remains in the Guiness Book of Records as the biggest selling UK single by an all-female duo. Written by Bjorn and Benny of ABBA this song spent 4 weeks at No. 1 in 1985.

Elaine Paige (best known for her West End roles in Evita and Cats) and Barbara Dickson (who starred in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers) sang their roles as the wife and mistress separately but did meet for the video shoot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeMk7B46xg8&feature=player_embedded

The song has been covered numerous times, most famously, by Whitney and Cissy Houston and by Peter Kay (playing his Geraldine McQueen role) and Susan Boyle as a comedy single for the charity Comic Relief but not many people know that West End actor John Barrowman (Miss Saigon and tv's Torchwood) also did a rather "unconventional" version of the duet with Daniel Boys (formerly a contestant in  talent contest Any Dream Will Do) ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9F_j3yHhYEo

Have a listen to both and see which one you like better.

Aretha Franklin : I Say A Little Prayer

There have been many many versions of this song but for me the best and definitive version of this song is the one by that greatest of soul voices, Aretha Franklin. Released in 1968, it was actually a B-side to The House That Jack Built.Amazingly, House did not chart but this song went all the way to No. 4. Listening to it, one can quite clearly see why.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KtBbyglq37E

I know that most people are familiar with the Dionne Warwick version which was featured in the Julia Roberts / Cameron Diaz flick My Best Friend's Wedding (and apparently the song was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Di)

But for me Dionne's version is too easy listening for me. Aretha's version is more ballsy, has more meat and more oooomph and for me it is the definitive version.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tLCRUWCETK4

Little Known Covers : Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Take Me Home

Back in 2001, Sophie Ellis Bextor, who had hitherto been better known as an indie chick singing with the group Theaudience, released Take Me Home. The single was a huge hit and went straight to No. 2 totally re-inventing Sophie as a dance diva.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6gLOmjP5GY&feature=player_embedded

However, what many people do not know is that the song is actually a cover version of a 1979 single by Cher. 

You can watch Cher's performance of that song here :-

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYA3ncoYIpI

Parody : Dawn French does Martine McCutcheon

In 1999, Martine McCutcheon was the darling of British soap, thanks to her role as Tiffany Mitchell in Eastenders. So when she decided to leave the show to pursue a musical career it was inevitable that her first single, a cover version of Polish singer Edyta Gorniak's Perfect Moment, went straight to No. 1.

It seems that Martine McCuthcheon had finally arrived when Dawn French parodied her in a Christmas version of French & Saunders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jcffm6wZeVE

For those interested in viewing Martine's more "straight" version of the video click here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG16jv-itYw

Sadly, after a few hit singles, a stint in Love, Actually and a role as bridesmaid (to Michael Jackson's best man, no less) in Liza Minnelli's ill-fated wedding to David Gest, success was not to be for Martine so, perhaps, one day we may see her miraculously re-appear at the Old Vic (perhaps she did not die from being hit by the car in Albert Square but was actually in a coma and frozen in cryo until they could get rid of abusive hubby Grant - who knows, stranger things have happened in Albert Square) ... ermmm, that's nice!

Falco : Rock Me Amadeus

This massive 1986 homage to classical composer Mozart (who was, himself, Austria's original popstar) by Austrian popstar Falco hit number one both in the UK (the first Austrian act to reach No. 1 there) and in the States.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVikZ8Oe_XA&feature=player_embedded

Falco, who was a huge popstar in Europe at the time, is often erroneously thought to be a one-hit wonder outside of continental Europe but, in fact, he did chart with a number of his singles both in the UK and the USA most notably with his follow-up "Vienna Calling".

Cranberries : Zombie

This amazing single from the Cranberries is a must for me in any live set. Featuring the distinctive and haunting wailing vocals by Dolores O'Riordan, I am amazed that the song only made it to No. 14 in the UK.

Of course the Cranberries went on to have other hits like Animal Instinct, Ode To My Family and Ridiculous Thoughts (my personal favourite). Enjoy the video for Zombie and make sure you turn up the volume for maximum pleasure. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6Ejga4kJUts

Kylie Minogue : Wouldn't Change A Thing

You know I just have to start my very first post with everyone's guilty pleasure, the divine Ms. M.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OzGy7KAQCnQ

Kylie's had many, many hits already and, while this may not be one of her more well-known hits, for me, though, what's significant about this single is that this is when she made the transition from wholesome and somewhat cheesy to a more sexy and sophisticated style.

In the music video, Kylie looks stylish and, for those familiar with her previous promos, one can tell that she's brushed up on her dancing skills.