B.E.E.N
In 2010, Rolling Stone magazine ranked this singer number one on its list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". She is known as the Queen of Soul.
"R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T, take care, TCB, oh"
Who is
Aretha Franklin - Respect
The first time this song was performed was at the 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
Girl on Fire - Alicia Keys
Having written songs such as Tiny Dancer, Bennie and the Jets, and the soundtrack for the Lion King, this English songwriter was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998.
"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…"
Who 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, 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 - Brittany Spears
This group’s members are known for their costumes featuring a construction worker, cowboy, Native American, sailor and biker in leather. Their 1978 disco hit is popular for its hand and body movements.
"They have everything for you men to enjoy
You can hang out with all the boys"
Who 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"
Who is
Prince - Kiss
Released in 2011, this song unapologetically promotes female empowerment. The single peaked at 29 on the U.S Billboard Hot 100.
"Who run the world?
Girls
Who run the world?
Girls"
What is
Who run the world - Beyoncé
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
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
This American Boy Band released this song in 2000. The song gained commercial success, peaking at 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 - NSYNC
This singer is infamous for her provocative performance for President Kennedy. In 2016 the Stonewall National Museum & Archive displayed an exhibit dedicated to her life.
"Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday Mr. President
Happy Birthday to you"
Who is
Marilyn Monroe - Happy Birthday, Mr. President
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"
Who 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"
What is
9-5 - Dolly Parton
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
Written by a English Girl Group and released in October 1997, this song topped the UK singles Chart, becoming the group's 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
Wannabe - The Spice Girls
The singer of this song now hosts his own show about Drag Queens. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana cited the artist's 1992 house/dance-pop song as one of his favorites.
"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"
Who is
Ru Paul – Supermodel (You Better Work)
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
Thriller - Michael Jackson
This song was recorded by an American Tejano singer. The single peaked at number one on the United States Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and remained there for four consecutive weeks, making it 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"
What is
Selena -Bidi Bidi Bom Bom
Having already appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982, this song gained even more popularity in 1995 after being used in an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
"Tonto, jump on it, jump on it, jump on it
Kemosabe, jump on it, jump on it, jump on it
Custer, jump on it, jump on it, jump on it
Apache, jump on it, jump on it
A-hunga-hunga-hunga-hunga"
What is
Apache - Sugarhill Gang
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 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
This British rock band wrote songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody, and We are the Champions. Though this 1979 song only reached number 86 on the US charts, as of March 2019 it now has more Spotify plays than any U2 or Led Zeppelin song.
"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
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…"
Who is
Ella Fitzgerald – The Lady is a Tramp
Released on January 23, 1985, and reaching the top-five in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Japan and United Kingdom, this pop song reached the number two position on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, becoming the singers third top-five single.
"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
Material Girl - Madonna
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
I Love Rock N Roll - Joan Jett
Often impersonated by Dave Chappelle, this rapper is famous for yelling "What", "Yeah", and "Okay" in his popular songs.
"Friday night, another round of shots..."
Who is
Lil Jon - Turn Down For What
Rising to fame as a member of Wham!, then later writing Careless Whisper during his solo career, this artist features Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell in the music video for this 1990 hit song.
"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"
Who is
George Michael – Freedom! ’90