What is a good contemporary vocal duet that my girlfriend and I could learn to sing?

I mean, it depends how cheesy you'd like to be. There's an oldie called "Hey Hey Paula" which is good and extraordinarily sappy. There's "Under African Skies", which is a duet between Paul Simon and Linda Ronstadt from the Graceland record. There's also all the folky duos like Indigo Girls and Tegan and Sara.

How about "A Bicycle Built for Two," "You Are My Sunshine," "If I Had a Hammer," "Our Love is Here to Stay," or any other oldie?

I enjoy the Decemberists' "Yankee Bayonet," which was released last year on their album The Crane Wife (album at Amazon).

It's got great alternating male/female verses and nice harmonies on the chorus and bridge. Here's a link to a streaming Windows Media version.

Candy by Iggy Pop and Kate Piersen of the B-52's.

Always on your side, sheryl crow & sting. This is a good recent duet with good vocals and just a great spng over all, hope that helps!

Like peggylou, I like the old duets, especially ones by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong (you can listen to excerpts at that link).

A recent pop piece that comes to mind: At the Beginning by Richard Marx and Donna Lewis (from the animated film Anastasia).

A more challenging and classical sounding piece would be The Prayer (I'm referring to the version as performed by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli), assuming you don't mind the religious overtones and the occasional Italian lyrics.

There's also Celine Dion's duet with Il Divo -- "I Believe In You (Je Crois en Toi) this time with some French lyrics thrown in.

Louis Prima and Keely Smith had some entertaining duets together, such as 'Embraceable You - I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good'. Lighthearted, easy to sing song.

I've had the time of my life from Dirty Dancing.

Oh, yes! Louis Prima and Keely Smith would be GREAT!!

Islands in the Stream (Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton)
You Don't Bring me Flowers (Neil Diamond/Barbra Streisand)
We've Got Tonight (Kenny Rogers/Sheena Easton)
U Got the Look (Sheena Easton/Prince)
That's What Friends Are For (Dionne Warwick/Somebody else)
Proud Mary (Ike/Tina Turner)
Whenever I Call You Friend (Kenny Loggins/Stevie Nicks)
Paradise By the Dashboard Lights (MeatLoaf/Some Girl)
You're The One That I Want (Grease)
Leather & Lace (Stevie Nicks/Don Henley)
Separate Lives (Phil Collins/Marilyn Martin)
I Got You Babe (Sonny & Cher)
Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Elton John/Kiki Dee)
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now (Starship)
Makin' Whoopie (Dr., John/Rickie Lee Jones)
Endless Love (Lionel Richie/Diana Ross)
Somewhere Out There (Linda Ronstadt/James Ingram)

‘Where the Wild Roses Grow’ Kylie and Nick Cave
‘Kids’ Kylie and Robbie Williams
‘Fairytale of New York’ The Pogues

“summer lovin” from grease. “time’s a wastin” by june carter and johnny cash. “anyone else but you” by the moldy peaches.

Only Hope originaly by Switchfoot- which totally unrelated is an amazing band and if you could try to pick something by them their songs are easy to learn and they’re really good songs- or from “A Walk To Remember”- a great movie- when it is sung by Mandy Moore

Where Is She by Justin Roman and Soluna

I’m amazed nobody has suggested Frank Loesser’s “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” yet. ‘Tis the season.

Hmmm, loving all of the suggestions about, hard to think of one to add… Picture by Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock is fun to sing…

Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Calait or Broken Strings by James Morrison and Nelly Furtado.