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

[C] Tone Loc | Loc's gravelly voice sampled Van Halen creating rap-rock accidentally. Matt Dike's production and that Funky Cold Medina follow-up made party rap commercially unstoppable.

[B] Paula Abdul | Lakers cheerleader turned pop star with Babyface's production magic. That finger-wagging choreography and street-smart attitude proved dancers could sing convincingly enough commercially.

[B] REO Speedwagon | Kevin Cronin's high notes could shatter wine glasses easily. This power ballad blueprint taught every rock band that sensitivity equaled radio success.

[A] New Kids on the Block | Boston boys proved white teenagers could appropriate R&B successfully. Maurice Starr's formula and Jordan Knight's falsetto launched million teenage bedroom posters.

[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] The Cure | Robert Smith wrote about hyperventilating girlfriend on Beachy Head cliff. This shimmering pop gem proved goths could write love songs without sacrificing black eyeliner.

[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.

[B] Cyndi Lauper | Rob Hyman co-wrote this tender ballad showing Cyndi's depth. Her quirky image contrasted beautifully with vulnerable lyrics about love's patience and persistence.

[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] Bon Jovi | Jon's vocals soar over that iconic talk-box guitar effect. Tommy and Gina's working-class romance became everyone's anthem halfway through tough times.

[D] George Michael | Solo debut featured church organ and Bo Diddley beat surprisingly. That leather jacket and designer stubble redefined masculinity while maintaining pop accessibility brilliantly.

[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.

[C] Rick James | Buffalo funk master created MC Hammer's eventual sample source. Those Temptations-influenced vocals and P-Funk production made cocaine-fueled party music mainstream somehow.

[D] Van Halen | Eddie swapped guitar for synthesizer shocking metal purists everywhere. David Lee Roth's acrobatics and that synth hook proved rock could evolve without losing power.

[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.

[D] Falco | Austrian rapper's Mozart biography became first German-language American number-one. Those classical samples and Teutonic rap proved hip-hop worked in any language surprisingly.

[D] INXS | Michael Hutchence's whispered vocals oozed sensuality over funky rhythm. Andrew Farriss wrote this in taxi cab proving inspiration strikes anywhere when you're talented enough.

[B] Lionel Richie | Commodores frontman went solo mixing Caribbean rhythms with pop perfectly. That nonsense "tam bo li de say" part made worldwide parties speak same language.

[C] Madonna | Material Girl scandalized MTV wearing wedding dress and writhing onstage. Nile Rodgers produced this controversial hit that cemented Madonna's provocateur status in pop culture permanently.

[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.

[C] Rufus and Chaka Khan | Chaka's volcanic vocals over Hawk Wolinski's synth-funk killed it. This Grammy-winner proved funk bands could embrace electronics without losing soul completely.

[B] Rick Springfield | Doctor Noah Drake sang about unrequited love for friend's girlfriend. This power pop perfection proved soap opera actors could legitimately rock the charts.

[C] Pat Benatar | Mike Chapman produced this after "Battlefield" movie title inspired it. Pat's shoulder-shimmy dance and street tough video empowered MTV generation women significantly.

[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.

[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.

[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] 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.

[B] Styx | Dennis DeYoung's rock opera about censorship confused everyone except Japanese audiences. Kilroy's robot disguise and synthesized "domo arigato" created prog rock's strangest mainstream hit.

[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.

[D] Devo | Akron art students' manifesto about self-determination featured energy dome hats. Gerald Casale's bass and those robotic movements made new wave deliberately weird and wonderful.