80s Anthem Quiz: Who Sang It? (2)

[C] Queen and David Bowie | Freddie and Bowie improvised "dee da day" scat in Montreux studio. Vanilla Ice later borrowed that bassline causing legal headaches and retrospective embarrassment.

[A] Night Ranger | Drummer Kelly Keagy wrote about his sister Christy's growing up. Those power ballad drums and soaring guitar solo defined prom slow dances everywhere.

[C] Soft Cell | Marc Almond transformed Gloria Jones's Northern Soul obscurity into synth-pop gold. That electronic heartbeat and dramatic vocals created goth club immortality forever.

[A] Poison | Bret Michaels wrote after discovering girlfriend's infidelity via laundromat confession. This cowboy-hatted power ballad proved hair bands had genuine feelings underneath makeup.

[C] Phil Collins | Urban legend claims it's about watching someone drown. Actually Phil processed divorce pain through drum machines and atmospheric production creating ultimate breakup anthem.

[D] Tommy Tutone | Alex Call's girlfriend saw number on bathroom wall inspiring this. Phone companies still retire this number because pranksters won't stop calling poor Jenny.

[A] Aerosmith | Steven Tyler tackled child abuse after reading disturbing news articles. This comeback hit proved Aerosmith could evolve beyond toxic twins into social consciousness.

[B] U2 | Bono honored MLK despite getting assassination time wrong historically. Edge's chiming guitar and that passionate chorus made political rock universally accessible and powerful.

[C] Modern English | Post-punk band accidentally wrote wedding reception staple about nuclear annihilation. That upbeat melody masks apocalyptic lyrics brilliantly fooling countless happy couples eternally.

[D] The B-52's | Kate Pierson's cabin inspired this party anthem featuring tin roof rusting. Fred Schneider's talk-singing and Cindy Wilson's beehive made alternative music genuinely fun.

[A] Mötley Crüe | Band chronicled their dealer's influence during sobriety attempt ironically. Bob Rock's production launched hair metal's last great gasp before grunge killed it.

[D] The Clash | Joe Strummer channeled nuclear anxiety and Thames flooding fears. That reggae-influenced bassline proved punk could expand beyond three chords into actual musicianship.

[C] ABC | Martin Fry's Sheffield sophistication met Trevor Horn's production wizardry perfectly. Those orchestral stabs and romantic yearning defined new romantic movement's commercial peak moment.

[C] Bananarama | Three friends' harmonies captured urban heatwave misery perfectly. Stock Aitken Waterman's production machine hadn't arrived yet but this proved girl groups still mattered.

[A] Janet Jackson | Miss Jackson established independence from family shadow decisively. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis's Minneapolis funk gave Janet attitude previously unseen commercially.

[A] The Police | Sting wrote stalker anthem during divorce that people misinterpret romantically. That haunting guitar arpeggio and jazz-influenced arrangement made obsession sound beautiful somehow.

[B] Twisted Sister | Dee Snider's anti-authority anthem borrowed from Christmas carol hilariously. Mark Metcalf reprised Animal House role in video making rebellion genuinely comedic and accessible.

[A] Bruce Springsteen | Veterans' struggles hidden beneath patriotic-sounding chorus fooled Reagan completely. Max Weinberg's snare drum could wake dead soldiers while Bruce raged against machine.

[D] Beastie Boys | Three Jewish kids parodied party culture becoming what they mocked. Rick Rubin's metal guitars meeting hip-hop beats created template for decades afterward.

[D] Eurythmics | Annie Lennox's androgynous power met Dave Stewart's minimalist production brilliantly. That cow mooing synth and Annie's orange flat-top redefined gender presentation forever.

[B] Ratt | Milton Berle in drag playing grandmother confused MTV viewers wonderfully. Warren DeMartini's guitar harmonies with Robbin Crosby defined sunset strip technical flash perfectly.

[B] Dead or Alive | Pete Burns spent inheritance on plastic surgery after this hit. Stock Aitken Waterman's hi-NRG production made gender-bending Pete mainstream club royalty instantly.

[D] Billy Idol | Idol's sister's shotgun wedding inspired this sneering punk anthem. Steve Stevens' guitar stutter and Billy's lip curl made rebellion sexy for MTV generation.

[D] Salt-N-Pepa | Hurby Azor's B-side became accidental smash about sexual empowerment. Queens duo proved female rappers could discuss desire while maintaining complete control narratively.

[A] A Flock of Seagulls | Mike Score's gravity-defying hair competed with synthesizer for attention. That alien abduction video and space-age sound defined new wave's most mockable moment.

[B] Bonnie Tyler | Jim Steinman's seven-minute opus got edited for radio mercifully. Bonnie's raspy desperation and those literal eclipse metaphors created karaoke's most dramatic selection.

[C] Toni Basil | Choreographer Basil changed "Kitty" to "Mickey" switching perspective cleverly. Those cheerleader moves and repetitive chant made novelty hit accidentally influential for decades.

[C] Culture Club | Boy George's gender-bending image shocked middle America into acceptance gradually. That reggae-tinged pop and vulnerable vocals made mainstream radio surprisingly progressive momentarily.

[B] John Mellencamp | Cougar dropped from name while writing heartland rock classic. That hand-clap percussion and small-town narrative captured Reagan-era America's mythology perfectly.

[B] Young M.C. | Marvin Young's USC economics degree didn't prevent this breakthrough. Flea's bassline and those witty romance tips made hip-hop accessible for suburban kids.