An '80s-Themed Elvis-Beatles Debate... Well, Sort Of

OK, this is far from a perfect parallel, but I'm running with it anyway. You remember the wonderful moment in Pulp Fiction when Mrs. Marsellus Wallace interviews Vincent Vega before their "date," right? I've always thought that Mia's theory, introduced in that scene, about the insight gained from either-or pop culture questions holds more than just a little validity. So, taking that idea, applying it to '80s music and then reducing the magnification significantly, the possibilities seem quite promising for similar if less earth-shaking comparisons to consider. And remember, while it's possible to appreciate both participants in such pairs, it is simply not viable to favor them equally.

Here, I'll get you started. If we opt to break things down by genre, for example, which is one but most certainly not the only approach, the all-important new wave question could be, "the Cars or the Pretenders?" For '80s metal, how about "Metallica or Iron Maiden?". '80s pop divas: "Madonna or Whitney Houston?" OK, that one was too easy. Regardless, there's a list in here, I just know it. Think it over, and then drop back by to compare notes.