Black Icons (B.E.E.N)
This artist was born and raised in Houston. Her 2008 song about commitment was the artists 8th single to hit number 1 on Billboard’s Dance Clubs Song Chart.
Up in the club, just broke up
I’m doing my own little thing
Decided to dip, but now you wanna trip
'Cause another brother noticed me
What is
Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)
The first time the song was performed was at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards on September 6, 2012, where the singer was joined by American gymnastics gold-medalist Gabby Douglas. The song has sold over 4 million paid downloads in the United States.
This girl is on fire
This girl is on fire
She's walking on fire
This girl is on fire
What is
Alicia Keys - Girl on Fire
This 1972 song describes a Mars-bound astronaut's mixed feelings at leaving his family in order to do his job.
"And I think it's gonna be a long long time
'Till touch down brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no I'm a…"
What is
Elton John – Rocket Man
Released in October 1998, This song became an international hit, topping the charts in at least 22 countries.
"Oh baby, baby
Oh baby, baby
Oh baby, baby, how was I supposed to know
That something wasn't right here?
Oh baby, baby, I shouldn't have let you go
And now you're out of sight, yeah
Show me how want it to be
Tell me, baby, 'cause I need to know now, oh because"
What is
Baby One More Time
By Brittany Spears
Though the song only reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, this 1978 disco hit is popular worldwide for its hand and body movements.
"They have everything for you men to enjoy
You can hang out with all the boys"
What is
Village People – YMCA
In 1993 this artist formally adopted the “Love Symbol” as his stage name, and referred to himself as “The Artist Formerly Known As…”
You don't have to be rich to be my girl
You don't have to be cool to rule my world
What is
Prince – Kiss
Released in 2011, this song unapologetically promotes female empowerment. The single peaked 29 on the U.S Billboard Hot 100
Who run the world?
Girls
Who run the world?
Girls
What is
Beyoncé- Who run the world
Hailed by many as the first recorded hip hop song, this 1979 track samples the song “Good Times” by Chic.
"I said a hip-hop, the hippie the hippie
To the hip, hip hop you don't stop
Rock it to the bang bang boogie
Say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat"
What is
Sugar Hill Gang – Rappers Delight
This American Boy Band released this song in 2000. This song was commercial success, peaking number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also received a Grammy nomination in 2001.
"Don't want to be a fool for you
Just another player in your game for two
You may hate me but it ain't no lie
Baby bye bye bye
Bye bye"
What is Bye Bye Bye
By NSYNC
The performer of this 1939 song had many relationships with individuals in the LGBTQ community including her father and 3 of her 4 husbands.
"Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me"
What is
Judy Garland – Over the Rainbow
This guitarist is known for songs such as Crosstown Traffic, Hey Joe, and Purple Haze. His 1968 cover of a Bob Dylan song was ranked 47th in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
No reason to get excited
The thief, he kindly spoke
There are many here among us
Who feel that life is but a joke
What is
Jimi Hendrix – All Along the Watchtower
Released in 1980, this song had a Academy Award nomination and four Grammy Award nominations, winning the singer awards for "Best Country Song" and "Best Country Vocal Performance, Female". For a time, the song became something of an anthem for office workers in the U.S.
Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living
Barely getting by, it's all taking and no giving
They just use your mind and they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
9 to 5, for service and devotion
This 1991 song, named after a deodorant, took grunge from being an obscure Seattle genre into mainstream success.
"With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us"
What is
Nirvana – Smells like Teen Spirit
Written by a English Girl Group, released in October 1997, the song topped the UK singles Chart, becoming the group 5th consecutive chart topper.
"Yo, I"ll tell you want I want, what I really. really want. So tell me what you want, what you really really want"
What is
The Spice Girls - Wannabe
The music video for this 1990 song replaced the original artist with 5 supermodels: Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, and Tatjana Patitz.
"All we have to do now
Is take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you"
And you don't belong to me
What is
George Michael – Freedom! ’90
The music video for this 1982 song features dancing zombies chasing the singer’s girlfriend.
It's close to midnight
And something evil's lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight
You see a sight that almost stops your heart
What is
Michael Jackson – Thriller
This song was recorded by American Tejano singer, he single peaked at number one on the United States Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and remained there for four consecutive weeks, the singer's second consecutive number one single
Bidi bidi bom bom
Bidi bidi bom bom
Bidi bidi bidi bidi bom bom
Bidi bidi bidi bidi bom bom
Debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and remaining on the chart for 50 consecutive weeks, this 2014 hit was certified Diamond in March of 2020.
"Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate"
What is
Taylor Swift – Shake it Off
The song was released on May 21, 2009 and debuted at number two on the Canadian and Billboard Hot 100. The song was nominated for Record of the Year at the 52nd Grammy Awards and won the Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
I gotta feel
I gotta feeling, that tonight, that tonight
That tonight's gonna be a good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, night
I feel it, woohoo
I feel it, woohoo
What is
The Black Eyed Peas- I Gotta Feeling
Kurt Cobain of Nirvana cited this 1992 house/dance-pop song as one of his favorites, and in 2018 Pitchfork Media featured it in their list of 50 Songs That Define the Last 50 Years of LGBTQ+ Pride.
"It don't matter what you wear
They're checking out your savior faire
And it don't matter what you do
'Cause everything looks good on you"
What is
Ru Paul – Supermodel (You Better Work)
This American jazz signer, born in 1917, is often referred to as the First Lady of Song, or the Queen of Jazz having worked with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Buddy Rich.
She gets too hungry for dinner at eight
She likes the theatre and never comes late
She never bothers with people she'd hate
That's why…
What is
Ella Fitzgerald – The Lady is a Tramp
Released on January 23, 1985 reaching the top-five in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Japan and United Kingdom. It reached the number two position on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, becoming the singers third top-five single there.
They can beg and they can plead
But they can't see the light (that's right)
'Cause the boy with the cold hard cash
Is always Mister Right
'Cause we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
What is -
Madonna -Material Girl
A cover of the 1975 song by the Arrows, this 1982 song sat at Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks.
"I saw him dancin' there by the record machine
I knew he must a been about seventeen
The beat was goin' strong
Playin' my favorite song
An' I could tell it wouldn't be long
Till he was with me, yeah me"
What is
Joan Jett – I Love Rock N Roll
Released in 2003, The track became a commercial success, reaching number one in the United States, Australia, Canada, Norway, and Sweden.
Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it
Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it
Shake it like a Polaroid picture! Hey ya!
Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it
Shake it, shake it, shake it, suga!
Shake it like a Polaroid picture!
OutKast - Hey Ya!
Thought this 1979 song only reached number 86 on the US charts, it has grown in popularity over the years. On March 3, 2019 it eclipsed 500 million plays on Spotify -- nearly double that of any Rolling Stones, U2 or Led Zeppelin song on the service.
"I'm burning through the sky, yeah
Two hundred degrees, that's why
They call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm travelling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic
Man outta you"
What is
Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now