This week In ’80s Throwback’ 05/52
Guns N’ Roses give Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” swagger and spectacle, with Slash’s electrifying solos and a gospel choir turning it into a live eulogy. Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell” channels 80s excess through snarling riffs and defiant energy, while Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” doubles as a rebellious anthem of teenage freedom. Blondie’s pop-reggae spin on “The Tide Is High” highlights their genre-bending charm, and Prince’s “Controversy” pairs funk grooves with bold provocations on identity and society. Santana’s “Deeper, Dig Deeper” dives into fusion chaos, and Leonard Cohen’s ominous “First We Take Manhattan” balances dark humor with synth-layered intensity. Cocteau Twins’ “Wax and Wane” adds a metallic edge to their ethereal roots, while Art of Noise’s “Close (to the Edit)” disrupts pop with experimental absurdity.
