1

Diana Ross & Lionel Richie: "Endless Love"

Image: Ethan Smith

Did you know that this pop music classic was actually composed for a movie? Diana Ross and Lionel Richie recorded "Endless Love" for the Motown label, and it was used as the theme song for the 1981 film of the same name, starring Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt.

Produced by Richie, the song was released as a single from the film’s soundtrack. Although the film was a flop, the song became the top hit single in the United States that year. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remained there for nine consecutive weeks.

2

Sonny & Cher: "I Got You Babe"

Image: Joop van Bilsen / Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

"I Got You Babe" is arguably the biggest hit by Sonny & Cher, one of the most iconic musical duos in history . Sonny Bono wrote it late one night in their basement for his wife, Cher.

Recorded in 1965, the song became a smash hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "I Got You Babe" is a beautiful hymn to love and loyalty , and it has been covered by various artists over the years.

3

Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer: "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)"

Image: Gritte

Considered one of Donna Summer’s standout songs , "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" was recorded with Barbra Streisand in 1979. The song became so popular that several vocalists have recorded their own versions over the years.

Neither Donna nor Barbra ever performed the duet live together, but Streisand sang an excerpt during her Back to Brooklyn concert tour in 2012. At the time, she remarked that if Donna were still alive, she would have loved to perform it with her.

4

Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney: "Say Say Say"

Image: Pavel Danilyuk

The former Beatle had already collaborated with the King of Pop on "The Girl Is Mine," featured on Jackson’s Thriller album. The song was so successful that they teamed up again to record "Say Say Say," the lead single from McCartney’s fourth solo album , Pipes of Peace .

Jackson wrote most of the lyrics, and the legendary George Martin produced the track. It was released in 1983 , along with a music video in which the duo plays a pair of con men selling a miracle potion. The video also featured cameos by Linda McCartney and La Toya Jackson.

5

Aretha Franklin & George Michael: "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"

Image: melojordan94

Did you know this song wasn’t originally written as a duet? It was composed by Dennis Morgan and Simon Climie with Tina Turner in mind . Eventually, Aretha Franklin got the job, and the label later suggested a collaboration with George Michael.

Aretha and George released "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" in 1987. Both artists later stated that they had a great time recording the song and the music video that followed. And it shows, because the tune reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts around the world.

6

Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes: "(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life"

Image: Chris Duan

Performed by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, "(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life" was released in 1987 as part of the soundtrack for the movie Dirty Dancing . This pop ballad, with rock and soul influences, conveys a sense of celebration and joy, highlighting the importance of special moments that leave lasting memories.

The song was such a huge hit that it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won the Oscar for Best Original Song , the Golden Globe for Best Original Song, and the Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

7

Nancy & Frank Sinatra: "Somethin’ Stupid"

Image: Elviss Railijs Bitāns

The original version of this song was recorded in 1966 by C. Carson Parks and his wife, Gaile Foote, but it only became widely known in 1967 when Nancy Sinatra performed it with her father, Frank.

It may seem a little unusual for a father and daughter to sing a romantic duet, but their version of "Somethin’ Stupid" became a massive international hit . Although the song was revived in 2001 by another duo—British singer Robbie Williams and Australian actress Nicole Kidman—Nancy and Frank’s rendition remains the most iconic.

8

Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton: "Islands In The Stream"

Image: 42 North

When the anti-disco backlash nearly ended their reign, the Bee Gees shifted their focus to writing hits for other artists. Originally, "Islands in the Stream" was intended as a soul song for Diana Ross or Marvin Gaye. However, it ended up becoming the quintessential country-pop duet—and one of the biggest hits of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s careers.

The song is named after Ernest Hemingway’s posthumous novel, but its lyrics speak to the joy of finding that one person you’ve been searching for your whole life. Pretty romantic, don’t you think?

9

Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder: "Ebony And Ivory"

Image: Osman Rana

Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder released "Ebony and Ivory" in 1982, and it was an instant hit. Written by McCartney, the song addresses racial integration , using the black and white keys of a piano—working together to create harmony—as a metaphor.

Fun fact: McCartney and Wonder filmed their parts of the music video separately due to scheduling conflicts, but the final result was seamless nonetheless.

10

Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes: "Up Where We Belong"

Image: Paul Seling

This powerful and emotional ballad, performed by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes, was released in 1982. The song was created for the soundtrack of the movie An Officer and a Gentleman and captures the essence of overcoming challenges and transcending through love.

"Up Where We Belong" won several major awards, including the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song . The combination of Cocker’s and Warnes’ passionate vocal performances and the rich instrumentation has made this song an enduring classic.

11

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"

Image: AndNowProjekt

There’s nothing like the charismatic and luscious voices of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell to convince us of love’s healing power. "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough" was released as a single in 1967 and became a huge hit.

This romantic anthem is just one of the iconic collaborations by the duo that helped define the Motown era, thanks to their vocal harmonies and onstage chemistry . Their list of great soul duets also includes "Your Precious Love," "Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing," and "You’re All I Need to Get By," among others.

12

John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John: "You’re The One That I Want"

Image: Mesh

Anyone who has seen the movie Grease is probably a fan of this iconic tune. Immortalized on screen in 1978 by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, the song transcended the boundaries of cinema, topped charts worldwide, reached number one in several countries, and became one of the best-selling singles of all time .

1

Union Station, Washington, D.C.

Image: Caleb Fisher

Washington Union Station, opened in 1907, is a fine example of Beaux-Arts architecture. Built to serve as one of the busiest transit hubs in the country, no expense was spared. The architect was inspired by ancient Roman baths. The main hall is guarded by rows of marble centurions, and the coffered ceiling is laced with gold leaf. If you want to contemplate marvellous architecture while having lunch alongside city workers and members of Congress, this is the place!

2

Penn Station, New York City

Image: c

Probably one of the world’s greatest railway stations was built in New York in 1910. And we are not talking about the famous Grand Central Terminal. The original Beaux-Arts building that was once home to Penn Station in Manhattan was an architectural masterpiece. It boasted grandiose interiors, huge waiting areas, and granite Doric columns. Unfortunately, in 1963, it was demolished to make room for Madison Square Garden, forcing the station to go underground.

3

Penn Station, Newark

Image: Pixabay

Penn Station in New York may not have survived, but a smaller-scale version still stands in Newark. New Jersey’s Neoclassical and Art Deco marvel was built in 1935 by the same architectural firm as the one in Manhattan. Featuring ornate archways, red terrazzo flooring, and green terracotta decorations, it may be less grandiose than its predecessor, but it still maintains much of its glamour.

4

30th Street Station, Philadelphia

Image: Nils Huenerfuerst

Completed in 1933, 30th Street Station in Philadelphia features a Neoclassical facade framed by 70-foot Corinthian columns. Inside, a spectacular Art Deco main concourse with a coffered ceiling adds to the station’s opulence. Fortunately, this terminal managed to preserve its former glory, and it is still in use today.

5

Main Street Station, Richmond

Image: Tangie Bodden

Main Street Station’s second Renaissance Revival architecture lights up the capital city of Virginia. Built at the turn of the century, it stands out mainly for its 110-foot brick clock tower. Past its glory days, it was neglected and suffered several damages, such as floods and fires. Fortunately, in 2003 it was restored, and today it is once again a major transit hub.

6

Birmingham Terminal Station

Image: Self-scanned, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Meant to be travelers' first impression of the city, Birmingham Terminal Station once managed to astonish and amaze. Built in a Byzantine, Beaux-Arts style, it operated from 1909 to the 1950s. As automobile and air travel flourished, the station fell into disuse and was ultimately demolished in 1969 to make way for a new highway. A huge loss for the Magic City.

7

King Street Station, Seattle

Image: Zoshua Colah

King Street Station in Seattle was built at the beginning of the 20th century with a mix of architectural styles. Its main feature is a 242-foot tower modeled after the grand Campanile di San Marco in Venice. King Street Station also boasts intricate terrazzo and mosaic floors and ornamental plaster ceilings that were restored in 2010 to their former splendor.

8

Cincinnati Union Terminal

Image: Sean Foster

Cincinnati Union Terminal in Ohio is one of the boldest examples of Art Deco architecture in the United States. Its ten-story, half-domed entrance, green terrazzo, and the large rotunda decorated with industrial murals by Winold Reiss make this station a true architectural masterpiece. In fact, it is considered the greatest work of Alfred T. Fellheimer, who had previously designed Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

9

Union Station, Los Angeles

Image: Tichnor Brothers, Publisher, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

With a unique "Mission Moderne" style, Los Angeles’ main railroad station blends Spanish Colonial and Art Deco influences. Opened in 1939, it was built with a mix of terracotta and marble. It also features intricate tilework, beautiful courtyards, and a prominent 125-foot clock tower. Certainly a fine example of Southern California’s glamour.

10

Grand Central Terminal, New York City

Image: Robert Bye

One of the nation’s busiest stations, New York City’s Grand Central, is famous for its magnificent Beaux-Arts style. The terminal, located in Midtown Manhattan, opened in 1913. It features a signature four-faced Tiffany clock and a celestial dome above the main concourse that draws the sighs of travelers from all over the world.

1

The diner from "Seinfeld" - New York City

Image: Peter Bond

Remember Tom's Restaurant, where Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer hatched their hilariously terrible plans over coffee and endless conversations about nothing ? It's a real place!

The restaurant has embraced its TV fame, and fans from around the world stop by daily to snap photos and enjoy a meal where sitcom history was made. Fair warning: the actual interior looks nothing like the show, but you’re still eating where Seinfeld characters theoretically ate!

2

Central Perk from "Friends" - Times Square, New York City

Image: Ilse Orsel

Friends fans, your dreams have come true: Central Perk now has a permanent location in Times Square where you can actually grab your morning coffee! Located at the northeast corner of 7th Avenue and 47th Street, this is the real deal—a functioning coffeehouse where you can sit near that iconic orange couch and pretend you're part of the gang. There's also a sister location in Boston, so if you're in either city, you can finally experience the coffee shop that was supposedly right there in New York all along.

3

The "Breaking Bad" car wash - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Image: Juliann Hervio

Walter White's car wash empire might have been built on crystal meth money, but the actual building is squeaky clean and still operating! Mister Car Wash (formerly Octopus Car Wash) at 9516 Snow Heights Circle NE in Albuquerque is where they filmed those tense scenes of Walt and Skyler's legitimate business venture. You can even get your car washed at the same spot where some of TV's most dramatic moments unfolded.

4

Luke's Diner from "Gilmore Girls" - Unionville, Ontario (okay, Canada, but close enough!)

Image: ayumi kubo

Coffee addicts and fast-talking fans of Gilmore Girls will be thrilled to know that Luke's Diner is real — sort of . The exterior shots were filmed at a building in Unionville, Ontario, just outside Toronto. The charming small-town main street where the diner sits perfectly captured that Stars Hollow magic, even if it technically wasn’t in Connecticut. The building now houses different businesses, but the streetscape remains wonderfully quaint and photogenic.

5

The "Full House" house - San Francisco, California

Image: Kyle Smith

The Tanner family's iconic Victorian home, with its unforgettable Painted Lady facade, is absolutely real and stands at 1709 Broderick Street in San Francisco's Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood. While the interior scenes were filmed on a set, the exterior is the genuine article and has become one of the most photographed houses in the city. Fans regularly make pilgrimages to stand across the street and recreate that opening credits moment.

6

Courthouse Square from "Back to the Future" - Universal Studios, California

Image: Roger Ce

Doc Brown's time-traveling DeLorean circles around Hill Valley's Courthouse Square in one of cinema's most memorable scenes, and you can visit that exact spot! The Courthouse Square is a standing set on the Universal Studios backlot in Los Angeles , and has been used in countless productions over the decades. On the studio tour, you'll recognize it instantly—it’s where Marty McFly skateboarded through 1955 and where the clock tower still stands.

7

Katz's Delicatessen from "When Harry Met Sally" - New York City

Image: Michał Kubiak

"I'll have what she's having" became one of the most famous movie lines ever uttered in a restaurant, and you can eat at that very same spot! Katz's Delicatessen, located at 205 East Houston Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side, is where Meg Ryan filmed that unforgettable scene. The deli has been serving up massive pastrami sandwiches since 1888, and they’ve marked the table where the scene was filmed with a sign that reads, "Where Harry met Sally… hope you have what she had!"

8

The "Twin Peaks" Double R Diner - North Bend, Washington

Image: DJ Paine

Fans of David Lynch's surreal masterpiece can grab a slice of cherry pie and "a damn fine cup of coffee" at Twede's Cafe in North Bend, Washington . This is the actual diner used for exterior and some interior shots of the Double R Diner, where Agent Cooper discussed his dreams and Deputy Hawk dispensed wisdom. After a 2000 fire, the diner was rebuilt and renovated, but it has maintained its Twin Peaks connection, which continues to draw fans from around the world.

9

The "Cheers" bar - Boston, Massachusetts

Image: Savann Prak

Sometimes you really do want to go where everybody knows your name, and you can do exactly that in Boston! T he Bull & Finch Pub, located at 84 Beacon Street beneath the Hampshire House, is the real bar that inspired the exterior of Cheers . There's even a replica Cheers bar in Faneuil Hall Marketplace for tourists who want the full experience.

Here’s the catch: the interior of the Bull & Finch Pub looks nothing like the TV show—those scenes were all filmed on a Hollywood soundstage. But the Faneuil Hall location recreated the TV set’s interior, so if you want to feel like you’re really stepping into the show, that’s your best bet.

10

The Biltmore Hotel from "Mad Men" - Los Angeles, California

Image: Stephanie Klepacki

Don Draper and the gang from Sterling Cooper certainly knew how to pick a sophisticated meeting spot, and the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles was one of their favorites.

The Biltmore is still a functioning luxury hotel where you can book a room, grab a cocktail at the bar, or simply wander through the stunning public spaces. It has hosted Academy Awards ceremonies, presidential candidates, and countless Hollywood events over its nearly 100-year history.