Female singers with male backing vocalists?
May 15, 2015 11:31 AM Subscribe
I really can't think of good examples of songs where women have the lead vocals and a man / group of men only jump in for the chorus / the la-la-las / whatever. (There's a song on Exile In Guyville, but that's all I've got.) Please help me out with some tunes. Thanks!
Gladys Knight and the Pips, "Midnight Train to Georgia."
posted by vickyverky at 11:34 AM on May 15, 2015 [10 favorites]
posted by vickyverky at 11:34 AM on May 15, 2015 [10 favorites]
The version of Express Yourself by Madonna that was included on the album Like a Prayer. (But apparently not the versions that are in the music videos of the song on YouTube. Hmmm.)
posted by alms at 11:39 AM on May 15, 2015
posted by alms at 11:39 AM on May 15, 2015
Not sure but I think Gwen Stefani the Sweet Escape has this, Akon just yodels "wee-hoo, hoo hoo!" here and there. I think.
posted by fingersandtoes at 11:46 AM on May 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by fingersandtoes at 11:46 AM on May 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Kacey Musgraves - Follow Your Arrow has guys doing background "heys" and "yups" in the chorus.
posted by in a dark glassly at 11:49 AM on May 15, 2015
posted by in a dark glassly at 11:49 AM on May 15, 2015
Seconding Blondie, and a lot of Aimee Mann songs fit the bill as well (thinking specifically of That's Just What You Are with Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford of Squeeze).
posted by jalexei at 11:52 AM on May 15, 2015
posted by jalexei at 11:52 AM on May 15, 2015
Hop Along's (excellent) brand new album has this on a few songs. Example: Hop Along - Horseshoe Crabs
posted by The Minotaur at 11:59 AM on May 15, 2015
posted by The Minotaur at 11:59 AM on May 15, 2015
Oh, and Cat Power's "Good Woman" has this too. And with a famous guest backing vocalist, though I won't spoil the surprise if you want to listen and guess. Cat Power - Good Woman
posted by The Minotaur at 12:04 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by The Minotaur at 12:04 PM on May 15, 2015
Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby"
posted by ottereroticist at 12:11 PM on May 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by ottereroticist at 12:11 PM on May 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
On "Past the Mission" by Tori Amos, Trent Reznor sings backup.
Her song "The Power of Orange Knickers" features Damien Rice but he's barely audible.
posted by mermaidcafe at 12:12 PM on May 15, 2015
Her song "The Power of Orange Knickers" features Damien Rice but he's barely audible.
posted by mermaidcafe at 12:12 PM on May 15, 2015
You're So Vain has Mick Jagger on backing. I think Tori Amos's Past the Mission has Trent Reznor.
posted by asockpuppet at 12:13 PM on May 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by asockpuppet at 12:13 PM on May 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
A lot of New Pornographers songs, most recently "Champions of Red Wine."
posted by eugenen at 12:19 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by eugenen at 12:19 PM on May 15, 2015
For more obscure artists... Wussy does this often, although they also frequently duet.
posted by togdon at 12:25 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by togdon at 12:25 PM on May 15, 2015
Dammit, I came in to say Past The Mission.
The Long Blondes' You Could Have Both might fit.
posted by corvine at 12:38 PM on May 15, 2015
The Long Blondes' You Could Have Both might fit.
posted by corvine at 12:38 PM on May 15, 2015
Trixie Whitley: A Thousand Thieves - I believe that's Daniel Lanois singing backing vocals, he also sings backing vocals on Emmy Lou Harris' Wrecking Ball.
posted by chocolatepeanutbuttercup at 1:25 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by chocolatepeanutbuttercup at 1:25 PM on May 15, 2015
Patsy Cline, the Wayward Wind. I think she has more songs that include male backup singers, but this was the first one to pop to mind.
posted by Elly Vortex at 1:36 PM on May 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Elly Vortex at 1:36 PM on May 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Emmylou Harris's version of Neil Young's "Wrecking Ball" has Neil on bg vox.
posted by chococat at 1:54 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by chococat at 1:54 PM on May 15, 2015
I can think of a couple of Japanese songs from the early 2000's, if you're interested, PM me!
posted by LoonyLovegood at 1:59 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by LoonyLovegood at 1:59 PM on May 15, 2015
Chaka Khan & Rufus - Tell Me Something Good (which also has Stevie Wonder chipping in)
posted by fuse theorem at 2:05 PM on May 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by fuse theorem at 2:05 PM on May 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yes, Gladys Knight and the Pips! Especially I've Got to Use My Imagination.
And Chaka Khaaaaan!!!!
posted by Pearl928 at 2:18 PM on May 15, 2015
And Chaka Khaaaaan!!!!
posted by Pearl928 at 2:18 PM on May 15, 2015
One of the versions (there were different versions for country and top 40 radio) of Lee Ann Womack's I Hope You Dance has male backing vocals and the other has female backing vocals. I can't remember which which though.
posted by natabat at 2:45 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by natabat at 2:45 PM on May 15, 2015
Came in to suggest Blondie. "Just Go Away" comes to mind, in particular.
Also Weezer's "I Just Threw Out The Love of My Dreams", which is one of my favorites: Rachel Haden (of that dog., etc.) sings lead while Rivers Cuomo comes in on harmonies that get increasingly loud and unhinged (along with the rest of the song) going into the final refrain.
posted by Polycarp at 2:52 PM on May 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also Weezer's "I Just Threw Out The Love of My Dreams", which is one of my favorites: Rachel Haden (of that dog., etc.) sings lead while Rivers Cuomo comes in on harmonies that get increasingly loud and unhinged (along with the rest of the song) going into the final refrain.
posted by Polycarp at 2:52 PM on May 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Rob Hyman co-wrote Time After Time with Cyndi Lauper and sang backup.
posted by juliplease at 3:21 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by juliplease at 3:21 PM on May 15, 2015
I seem to recall a few Feist songs with male backing singers doing to the "woah-oah-oahs," but so far 1234 and "Mushaboom" the only one I can verify.
posted by monkeymonkey at 3:24 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by monkeymonkey at 3:24 PM on May 15, 2015
Kirsty MacColl's My Affair has male backup singers (mostly toward the end).
posted by Thorzdad at 3:41 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by Thorzdad at 3:41 PM on May 15, 2015
Oh hey, I was just watching this today, Amy Winehouse at Glastonbury in 2007? 2008? (can't link, sorry)
posted by TWinbrook8 at 3:43 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by TWinbrook8 at 3:43 PM on May 15, 2015
Yo La Tengo has a few songs with Georgia Hubley as lead singer and Ira Kaplan/James McNew singing backup. Sometimes the guys sing the upper harmony. ("Little Eyes" is an example.)
The band Christmas had some songs with Liz Cox as lead and Michael Cudahy/Dan Salzmann as backup. I am thinking specifically of the song "Warhog" from the album "Ultra Prophets Of Thee Psykick Revolution" (can't find that one online!) but there is also a bit in their song "Stupid Kids" which has a delightful video!
posted by rose-selavy at 3:45 PM on May 15, 2015
The band Christmas had some songs with Liz Cox as lead and Michael Cudahy/Dan Salzmann as backup. I am thinking specifically of the song "Warhog" from the album "Ultra Prophets Of Thee Psykick Revolution" (can't find that one online!) but there is also a bit in their song "Stupid Kids" which has a delightful video!
posted by rose-selavy at 3:45 PM on May 15, 2015
Wait—nobody mentioned Janis yet?! Janis Joplin - Piece Of My Heart (live, hilarious dancing fan dudes)
posted by The Minotaur at 3:49 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by The Minotaur at 3:49 PM on May 15, 2015
You don't have to look far. You simply need to turn around, bright eyes.
posted by Rewind at 4:07 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by Rewind at 4:07 PM on May 15, 2015
Oh! Carly Simon - You're So Vain (that's Mick Jagger coming in on the chorus).
posted by LynnDee at 6:30 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by LynnDee at 6:30 PM on May 15, 2015
Almost every single Aimee Mann song. Almost every single Sheryl Crow song.
posted by good lorneing at 8:38 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by good lorneing at 8:38 PM on May 15, 2015
A lot of How To Destroy Angels has Reznor on backing as well I think. The XX maybe?
posted by geek anachronism at 8:39 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by geek anachronism at 8:39 PM on May 15, 2015
Shawn Colvin's Tenderness on the Block has this towards the end. It doesn't work really well, though, in this instance, imo.
posted by bertran at 9:44 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by bertran at 9:44 PM on May 15, 2015
The cover of Hot in Herre that Jenny Owen Youngs did?
posted by sigmagalator at 11:18 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by sigmagalator at 11:18 PM on May 15, 2015
"Under the Water" by Merrill Bainbridge. Harmonizing dudes on backup.
posted by Threeve at 11:20 PM on May 15, 2015
posted by Threeve at 11:20 PM on May 15, 2015
Some Of Monsters and Men songs feature the lead singer, Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, with co-singer Raggi Þórhallsson backing her up. For example, King and Lionheart, Slow and Steady, and From Finner.
posted by neushoorn at 12:53 AM on May 16, 2015
posted by neushoorn at 12:53 AM on May 16, 2015
"Want it Back" by Amanda Palmer
posted by mermaidcafe at 9:08 AM on May 16, 2015
posted by mermaidcafe at 9:08 AM on May 16, 2015
Awesome cover alert: Single Ladies by Sara Bareilles
posted by divina_y_humilde at 5:32 PM on May 16, 2015
posted by divina_y_humilde at 5:32 PM on May 16, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 11:33 AM on May 15, 2015