'80s Ladies

If feminism ever came wrapped in foil like a piece of sweet, sweet candy, it'd sound something like "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." The Cyndi Lauper classic epitomizes the '80s, along with these other freeform females: Paula Abdul's assertive pop, the Eurythmics subtle melancholia, Sade's sexual healing, and the revolving glitter-ball of Cher.

The '80s sure were bursting with syrupy pop singles, especially of the diva-in-training variety. There's Tiffany singing in step with glossy synths, Debbie Gibson doing the slow-dance prom routine, Taylor Dayne boxing streamlined beats, and Belinda Carlisle insisting heaven is, indeed, a place on earth (one backed, by the way, by power-hour rock).

"Love Shack," "Pump Up the Jam," and Dolly Parton's working-woman anthem "9 to 5," deep down at the bottom of our playlist? That's right. And the hits keep coming: the post-disco of Lipps, Inc., Kylie Minogue's pure pop, and Kim Wilde's shimmying kiss-off single "You Keep Me Hangin' On."

This list isn't simply about spotlighting music that's fueled by estrogen; it's more about scraping the best singles from the glorious and gaudy '80s. Of course, that can mean slick rock (Pat Benatar, Pretenders), hook-heavy nostalgia-triggers (the Bangles, Go-Go's), box-spring balladry (Klymaxx, Berlin), camp bound to create cult followings (Lita Ford, Diana Ross), and those fortunate tracks that were destined for dance floors (Sheila E, Mary Jane Girls).