1982: Ebony & Ivory

Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder once teamed up to sing the song “Ebony & Ivory” which uses piano keys as a metaphor for racial equality. Ironically, due to their personal work obligations, the two didn’t actually sing the duet and had to record their parts separately. Written by Paul, the song was released on this day in the U.K. in 1982. It was featured on McCartney’s album, Tug of War and it reached the #1 spot on both the UK and US music charts. It spend seven weeks in the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and because the fourth-biggest hit of the year. In 2008, the song was ranked in the #59 spot on Billboard’s Greatest Songs of all time. But despite its accolades, not everyone is a fan. In 2009, Blender magazine also gave the song an honor – in the other direction – making it the tenth-worst song of all time.