Alright, '80s college radio lovers, buckle up because we've got ourselves a certified alt-rock-pocalypse brewing!

In this corner, it’s our 8-seed, R.E.M.'s caffeinated stream-of-consciousness ramble, “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” that somehow made the end times sound like the most fun you could possibly have—a song so densely packed with rapid-fire references that even Michael Stipe probably forgets half the lyrics mid-performance.

And squaring off against them, our 9-seed challenger: Talking Heads' paranoid funk masterpiece, “Burning Down the House,” that turned anxiety into the most danceable nervous breakdown ever committed to tape.

Both bands were the thinking person's new wave darlings, both songs became iconic '80s anthems in completely different ways, both bands were Deni’s darlings.

So which track better embodies the decade's perfect blend of intellectual weirdness and undeniable catchiness?

In tonight's battle for 80s supremacy, we have the heavyweight champion "Beat It" strutting into the ring with its multi-zippered leather jacket, Eddie Van Halen guitar solo, and that unmistakable Michael Jackson SHAMON swagger. But wait, here comes the scrappy underdog "Head Over Heels," armed with synthesizers, a chimpanzee in a Red Sox jersey (yes, really), and enough new wave quirkiness to make even the most dedicated MTV viewer reach for their oversized glasses.

While "Beat It" flexes its chart-topping muscles and moonwalks through the competition, "Head Over Heels" counters with its distinctly British charm and that irresistible piano motif that somehow makes falling in love in a library seem like the most 80s thing ever. Can the King of Pop's rock-meets-pop perfection defeat the delightfully eccentric world of Tears for Fears, where romantic desperation meets synthesized sophistication? One song defined the decade's sound, but the other captured its beautifully bizarre spirit—let the battle for 80s authenticity begin!

Regarding the show close here’s information on the: 1985 Ohio Tornado Outbreak on Wikipedia

Draped in Irish mystique and enough echo to fill a stadium, we have the 2-seed "With or Without You" – U2's soaring masterpiece that turned Bono into a messianic rock god and made The Edge's guitar delay pedal famous! This atmospheric juggernaut comes loaded with enough existential angst to power a semester of college philosophy classes.

But wait – here comes our scrappy 15-seed "Against the Wind," Bob Seger's blue-collar ballad that's about as 80s as a Detroit assembly line... which, plot twist, might actually BE pretty 80s! Sure, this heartland rocker feels more like 1970s denim than 1980s synth-pop, but don't sleep on Seger's Reagan-era working-class anthem vibes and that distinctly American sound that defined the decade's grittier underbelly.

Can U2's cathedral-sized ambition steamroll the Silver Bullet Band's everyman appeal? Or will Seger's authentic Americana prove that sometimes the most 80s thing is music that sounds like it's fighting against everything the 80s represented? Time to find out if Ireland's finest can weather this Midwestern storm!

[INSERT BOB SEGER VIDEO HERE IF HE EVER MAKES ONE.]

Ladies and gentlemen, we've got ourselves a classic 7-vs-10 upset special brewing! Sporting enough hairspray to damage the ozone layer, we have the 7-seed "I'm So Excited" – The Pointer Sisters' caffeinated celebration comes armed with vocals more energetic than a Jazzercise class, and lyrics so enthusiastic they make Tony Robbins look sedated.

But don't count out our 10-seed dark horse – "Don't Get Me Wrong" by The Pretenders! Chrissie Hynde's masterpiece might be the lower seed, but it's packing some serious 80s ammunition: that jangly guitar sound that defined MTV, and new wave credibility thicker than a Members Only jacket.

Can the Pointer Sisters' unhinged party energy dance circles around Chrissie's calculated cool? Or will The Pretenders' alternative street cred prove that sometimes the most 80s thing is acting like you're too cool for the 80s? Get ready for a battle between pure euphoria and effortless attitude!

The absolutely terrible acting that Joe mentions in the Pretenders video in one frame:

Well, well, well, folks – In the blue corner, weighing in at pure pop perfection, we have the 3-seed "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" – Whitney Houston's unstoppable dance floor anthem that screams "1987" louder than a DeLorean's flux capacitor! This heavyweight contender comes loaded with synthesizers thicker than shoulder pads and enough vocal power to shatter a Rubik's Cube.

But hold on, because the 14-seed "Walk of Life" is here to pull off the ultimate Cinderella story! Mark Knopfler's finger-picking masterpiece might seem like the scrappy underdog, but don't let that laid-back groove fool you – this song's got more subtle 80s DNA than you'd think.

Sure, Whitney's got the obvious neon credentials, but "Walk of Life" is packing that distinctly 80s optimism, that "everything's gonna be alright" Reagan-era vibe that defined the decade's sunnier moments.

Can the understated British charm of Dire Straits upset the Houston juggernaut? Or will Whitney's vocal gymnastics and MTV-ready energy dance all over this David vs. Goliath matchup? Time to find out which track is truly the 80s-est!

The USA version of Dire Straits’ “Walk of Life”:

The more on-point British version of the video:

Is "Out of Touch" more legendary than "Our Lips Are Sealed"? It's the bracket matchup no one saw coming, but everyone's obsessing over! To end the week on "The 80s-est," we're diving into the epic showdown between powerhouse 6-seed Hall & Oates—Oates being the mustachioed maestro of mainstream pop domination—against the scrappy 11-seed Go-Go's, the DIY darlings who crashed the boys' club with thrift store style and punk rock hearts. Can Belinda and the girls pull off the bracket buster, or will Daryl's falsetto and John's magical cookie duster prove too powerful to overcome? We're talking synthesizers versus safety pins, dance floors versus dive bars, and whether chart-busting success or groundbreaking girl power better captures the neon soul of the Reagan era?

Look, you guys are the one who wanted LEGENDS ONLY! So it’s up to YOU to pick between Journey and Eurythmics. Joe and I can’t help you, you’re on your own! 4-seed “Don’t Stop Believin’” would appear to have a numerical edge on 13-seed “Here Comes the Rain Again,” but in a Legends duel, you can throw away the seeds. Annie and Dave are every bit as 80s as Steve and Neal & the guys…so… flip a coin? Good luck! Earn your right to dispute the outcome: VOTE!

Also, here’s that Hasselhoff video we talk about at the end of the show! Note his KEYBOARD SCARF, people!!

Every show, another conundrum! Which of these ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE 80s hits will you select to survive and advance in the LEGENDS bracket? You’ve got one of the biggest songs of the decade in 5-seed “Every Breath You Take” by The Police against, GUESS WHAT, ANOTHER of the biggest songs of the decade in Toto’s 12-seed “Africa”! Will this be a big upset? Only your votes can help us find out!

Tina was famous in the 60s and re-emerged victorious in the 80s.

Queen was a titan of the 70s, and came back in the early 80s.

Which of these LEGENDS will survive and advance? VOTE and find out!

Prince. You know him. He’s purple, he’s androgynous, he’s a musical god.

Heart. You know them, too. Big in the 70s, ballads that rocked the 80s.

Who will advance? Who will go home? Well, I think we know, but that’s why we VOTE!

Also, if you haven’t seen this, and you like Prince, please watch. If you’re impatient, jump to 3:27 for Prince to absolutely melt your face off: