146: "Vogue" vs. "Rhythm Nation"

America loves hip-hop/country mashups that top the charts for 19 weeks! One was a TikTok fluke that changed the culture, one a legitimate country song from an outsider who rode a Beyonce cosign into Nashville, but which is better, Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" vs. Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)"? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It is time to revisit one of the most storied rap beefs of all time! Between Pac vs. Biggie and Kendrick vs. Drake, we had Jay-Z vs. Nas, an absolutely vicious rap battle that seems almost quaint now. This was already debated to death in 2001 but we're going to relitigate it, so who actually had the best diss, Jay-Z's "Takeover" or Nas's "Ether"?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two of the greatest soul songs -- heck, maybe *the* two greatest soul songs -- of the '70s??! And they both begin with the word "let's"? Well this is a matchup we have to do, so let's vote now, which preacher's son made the better classic lovemaking song, Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" or Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On"? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Amy Winehouse and Adele. Two of the greatest vocalists who ever lived who also both happen to be British white girls. And they absolutely tore your guts out with the saddest song in their respective catalogs. So who did it better, Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" or Adele's "Someone Like You"?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you listened to the radio in the late '90s, two rock bands had songs about driving and losing loved ones, and seemed to disappear immediately once the '90s ended. And we have Niko Stratis, author of "The Dad Rock That Made Me a Woman," to help up choose the best! What's the greatest adult alternative song of the late '90s, "One Headlight" by The Wallflowers or "The Way" by Fastball?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Get ready to feel the pulse and ride the wave because we're doing our EDM megahit matchup. But which of the biggest hits of 2013 from Swedish megastars drops the beat hardest, Avicii's "Wake Me Up" or Swedish House Mafia's "Don't You Worry Child"?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Strike a pose! Two of the biggest pop divas have a message for the world, but do we unite for Janet or do we move to the music for Madonna? Only one pop diva can be the biggest star of 1990, so let us debate which it is, is it Madonna's "Vogue" or Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation"? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The second-wave of grunge arrives, and "What Makes This Song Stink"'s Pat Finnerty is here to explain if they stink! Bush were considered the poor man's Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots were the poor man's Pearl Jam, but has time shifted people's opinions? Let us decide if these songs stink as we debate Bush's "Machinehead" vs. STP's "Interstate Love Song"!!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

THE EPIC MATCHUP. THE KING OF POP, vs. THE PURPLE ONE. Only one can be the reigning royalty, the titan of pop music of all time. So we are finally hashing it out for ever, WHO'S BAD, Michael Jackson or Prince, and whose biggest hit will reign supreme over the entirety of music, "Billie Jean" or "When Doves Cry"? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the 2010s, a teenage girl songwriter came out of nowhere to completely redefine cool for the decade, upend the pop landscape and inspire legions of imitators. Twice. But only one of them can reign, so which teen anthem of the decade overwhelms you more with its effortless above-it-all teenage-ness, "Royals" by Lorde or "bad guy" by Billie Eilish? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.