Three-Person Duets?

September 5, 2006 5:14 PM

Are there any popular songs in which three people sing in typical "duet" fashion?

You know the "duet" format I'm thinking of: two people take turns singing (sometimes to each other,) but sing parts of the song together. This thread lists a lot of good examples.

I'm trying to come up with examples of, um, tri-ets. The only example of this I can think of is the Beastie Boys, and they're even a bit of a stretch.

posted by hyperfascinated to media & arts (32 answers total)

"You are The Sunshine of My Life" kind of starts out like this but then becomes only Stevie.
posted by chococat at 5:16 PM on September 5, 2006

I'm pretty sure that TLC and Destiny's Child have done this a few times. The Beastie Boys seems to be a pretty good example. Or are you thinking along the lines of romantic songs?
posted by iconomy at 5:21 PM on September 5, 2006

The Ben Folds Five cover of "She Don't Use Jelly" (orig. Flaming Lips) is like this-Ben, Darren, and Robert alternate verses and all sing the choruses. It's on the extended re-release of Whatever and Ever Amen from 2005.

Also on The Bens self-titled e.p., Ben Folds, Ben Kweller, and Ben Lee sing all the songs like this (I think) -you can listen to parts here.

These may be stretching the definition of popular.

/FoldsFilter

Many rap songs have this format-the first that comes to mind is Jurassic Five's Great Expectations-but this is a quad-ette.
posted by Kwine at 5:26 PM on September 5, 2006

The remake of Lady Marmalade (from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack) featured Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, and Pink each taking turns at lead and backup.
posted by jamaro at 5:28 PM on September 5, 2006

Wilson Philips or any of the boy bands of the late 90's?

and also maybe the Magic Numbers and Gomez from the UK.
posted by stavx at 5:29 PM on September 5, 2006

Kind of tangentially, the Beastie Boys basically do this a lot. But they're rapping.
posted by knave at 5:30 PM on September 5, 2006

Shit. You mentioned them. Ignore me.
posted by knave at 5:30 PM on September 5, 2006

I don't know if this counts as popular, but the song "Journey On" from the musical Ragtime ends with a pretty cool trio section.
posted by wanderingmind at 5:33 PM on September 5, 2006

Crosby, Stills and Nash.

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
posted by dersins at 5:36 PM on September 5, 2006

Toni Tony Tone (or however the hell it was spelled).
posted by dersins at 5:36 PM on September 5, 2006

The Roches.
posted by trip and a half at 5:43 PM on September 5, 2006

The White Stripes' "It's True That We Love One Another".
posted by padraigin at 5:43 PM on September 5, 2006

Sting, Bryan Adams, and Rod Stewart doing "All for Love".
posted by CrazyJoel at 5:46 PM on September 5, 2006

Try the album "Cry Cry Cry" from the band of the same name.
posted by jbickers at 5:48 PM on September 5, 2006

The Weight, by The Band.
posted by bondcliff at 5:55 PM on September 5, 2006

I can't remember whether any of the songs have the back and forth dynamic to them, but I love all of the Trio albums (Dollly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Rondstadt), and it seems like their version of "In the Sweet By and By" does this.
posted by owhydididoit at 6:03 PM on September 5, 2006

Maybe the Bee Gees?
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 6:06 PM on September 5, 2006

Cell Block Tango from Chicago has at least three singers, who alternate verses and then sing together toward the end.
posted by scottreynen at 6:08 PM on September 5, 2006

Prince, "1999" (Prince, Dez Dickerson, Lisa Coleman)

Bell Biv Devoe
posted by candyland at 7:13 PM on September 5, 2006

Sally Go Round the Roses- Etiene Daho featuring the Comateens
posted by kimdog at 7:16 PM on September 5, 2006

There are a number of Beatles tunes where John, Paul, and George each carry a lead vocal, not sure if it's quite the same as a, uh... "triet," but Wikipedia lists several where all three were doing lead vocals. I think some of the songs are actually just harmonies, but I seem to recall a couple that have each Beatle taking a few verses.

Also, I think some of the Traveling Wilbury's songs (like Handle with Care) also fit the description.
posted by jzb at 7:29 PM on September 5, 2006

I can't believe no one's said "That What Friends Are For."
posted by lunalaguna at 7:55 PM on September 5, 2006

Nitpicky, but jamaro, Mya was also featured on that "Lady Marmalade" track.

Hanson? :)
posted by sarahsynonymous at 8:27 PM on September 5, 2006

"What About Me?" by Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes, and James Ingram. An oh-so-touching love-triangle ballad from 1984.
posted by hangashore at 8:48 PM on September 5, 2006

jamaro: there's 4 people in Lady Marmalade - Pink, Christina Aguilera, Mya, and Lil' Kim.
posted by divabat at 8:48 PM on September 5, 2006

Isley Brothers feat. R. Kelly & Chante Moore - Contagious
Kelly Price - Friend Of Mine (Remix)(w/ Ronald Isley & R. Kelly)
posted by jedrek at 1:33 AM on September 6, 2006

The Highwayman--Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings.
posted by gelcap at 4:28 AM on September 6, 2006

What a Wonderful World. Art Garfunkel/James Taylor/Paul Simon.

From Art's Watermark album.
posted by Sheppagus at 9:44 AM on September 6, 2006

"That's What Friends Are For" had 4 people singing in it. Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John.
posted by CrazyJoel at 6:30 PM on September 6, 2006

Three Tenors Mother Fucker!!!!!
posted by hyperfascinated at 8:01 PM on September 6, 2006

About the above comment:
Please excuse my unobservant friend Infernarl. He didn't notice I was logged in on this computer.
posted by hyperfascinated at 8:13 PM on September 6, 2006

This is really old, but you should try the aria "Roche et Papier et Ciseaux" by Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Compte de Rochambeau.
posted by billtron at 8:10 AM on September 9, 2006