Rick Springfield's 8-seed, "Don't Talk to Strangers" captures the jealous paranoia of a deeply insecure touring musician. The #2 hit showcased Springfield's peak commercial power in the early MTV era, and cementing him as one of the decade’s biggest teen heartthrobs.
On the flip side, Weird Al Yankovic's 9-seed, "Eat It" represents the birth of a comedy legend. This note-perfect parody of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" became Yankovic's breakthrough moment, earning him both a Grammy and MJ’s personal blessing. The #12 hit proved that musical comedy could achieve mainstream success while launching one of the most enduring careers in the entertainment history.
Who gets your vote: an ACTUAL 80s superstar, or someone who made fun of superstars?
Since the Weird Al video is prohibited from re-posting, here’s a Side-by-side “Beat It” vs. “Eat It” comparison (it’s better anyway):
