When you think of two singers who would sound great performing together, the first two names to jump to mind probably wouldn’t be Michael Bolton and Loren Allred. For a start, the two come from very different backgrounds; Michael started out as a hard rock singer in the 1970s and later became the king of soft rock with tracks like ‘How Am I Supposed to Live Without You’, whilst Loren trained in musical theatre and later competed on talent shows The Voice and Britain’s Got Talent.
As this formidable pair of singers proved back in 2023, however, they are more than capable of singing a beautiful duet together, delivering a stunning collaborative performance of Michael’s “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” as part of a concert in Singapore showcasing songs featuring the musical talents of prolific composer David Foster. And whilst Michael was introduced as a special guest, Loren’s appearance surprised the audience and was met with whoops and cheers.
The video of the performance – which has since been seen by well over a million people – shows Michael and David sharing some onstage banter before launching into the performance of the soft-rock classic, with David on piano and Michael on vocals. Despite being in his 70s, Michael’s voice is imbued with the same husky soulfulness that it was in the ’80s when the song was originally released, while the addition of Loren’s vocals later in the song gives the performance an extra touch of elegance.
Hearing this live rendition of ‘How Am I Supposed To Live Without You’ might have some of you feeling nostalgic for Michael’s original version which was released in 1989 and made the top 10 all over the world. The track’s music video might feel a little ‘of its era’ now, with its dramatic black-and-white shots and Michael’s long, wavy hair, but the song sounds just as fresh as it did back then, featuring glistening synths, the singer’s passionate voice, and yearning vocal melodies throughout.
But whilst Michael’s solo version of this track might be considered a stone-cold classic nowadays, the version he performed with Loren in Singapore last year is also arguably a classic in the making. In fact, the best part of this performance comes towards the end when the pair sing in unison, with Loren’s clear, mellifluous tones blending perfectly with Michael’s lower vocal, resulting in a performance that fans are sure to be listening to for many years to come.
If you would like to hear more from this talented artist, please visit Michael Bolton’s official website or follow him on Facebook for more incredible music.