"Missionary Man," Eurythmics (1986)

Fighting hypocrisy with a harmonica

Peak: #1 on the rock chart (#14 on the Hot 100)
Streams: 9.4 million

You couldn’t even be a rock star in the 80s unless you had a catchy song about institutional hypocrisy. Genesis used “Land of Confusion” to get the party started and to bemoan the endless slaughter of war. Prince used “Sign ‘O The Times” to make a funky groove and to decry shallow politicians, and on “What I Am,” Edie Brickell tucked her critique of superficial spirituality inside a hooky chorus.

I like all these songs, but not a damn one melts my face “Missionary Man,” the thundering final single from Eurythmics’ album Revenge.