Posted: 20th February, 2012

With the ceremony just a day away, the eyes of the nation are focused on who will scoop the top BRIT awards for Best Male and Best Female, but just as exciting is speculation around which chart-topping artists will be taking to the stage for a priceless duet.

In 2010 it was Florence + the Machine and Dizzee Rascal who sent the crowd crazy with ‘You’ve got the Dirty Love’, which was widely touted as the best BRITs duet of all-time; but outside of that classic fusion of hip hop and gothic pop what other duets do we still rave about?

Well, according to a poll released today, Tom Jones and Stereophonics performance of ‘Mama Told Me Not To Come’ performed at the 2000 Awards is our number one BRIT Awards duet in history, followed by Jay Z and Alicia Keys’ ‘Empire State of Mind’ in 2010 and Rihanna’s teaming up with the Klaxons in 2008 for her super-hit, Umbrella.

Fresh from her success at the Grammys, BRIT nominee Adele’s performance of ‘Someone Like You’ was voted the nation’s favourite performance from the 2011 BRITs Awards ceremony. Not surprisingly, the British starlet was also voted the artist we’d most like to duet with.

Take That’s ‘Back for Good’ rendition in 1995 topped the MasterCard poll as our favourite performance before 2011, with Freddie Mercury the most iconic singer from the past we’d like to share the stage with.

But do you agree with the nation? What about the moment in 1996 when British pop legends David Bowie and Pet Shop boys took to the stage to perform the Pet Shop Boys’ remix of one of his biggest hits of the nineties – ‘Hallo Spaceboy’, or how about back in 1994 when a fresh-faced duo of PJ Harvey and Bjork showcased their unique talents to the world on a stripped-down cover of the Rolling Stones classic ‘Satisfaction’. Not to mention the likes of Five and Queen; and Justin Timberlake and Kylie and that ‘cheeky’ moment.

When it comes to the awards, will it be Emeli Sande or Jessie J who will follow Adele onto the world stage by scooping the Best British Breakthrough act? Or can Ed Sheeran do the double and scoop the Best British Breakthrough and British Male Solo Artist awards? And in the clash of the British Bands will it be Elbow or Coldplay who win the battle of the heavyweights, or are we all underestimating the power of new boys Chase & Status?

Click here to listen to our podcast with music journalist, Paul Lester, where he discusses what makes a memorable duet and to tell you how you can win a Priceless Duet with Jessie J courtesy of the MasterCard Priceless Duets competition..

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Related Goss

• 2nd September, 2011 -- The Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize: Ask the nominees
• 19th February, 2009 -- exclusive post brits awards house party vid

Tags: Adele, best british breakthrough act, best female, best male, best male solo awards, brit awards, brit nominations, dizzee rascal, ed sheeran, emeli sande, florence and the machine, jessie j, mastercard priceless duets, music journalist, paul lester