12. Aerosmith - Dude (Looks Like A Lady)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf0oXY4nDxE Written by: Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, along with songwriter Desmond Child; released in 1987. Who it's about: Mötley Crüe's Vince Neil. This song's back-story is more humorous than anything else. But first, you need a bit of context: Mötley Crüe are considered to be a "glam metal," or "hair metal" band. Trademarks of the glam metal era were flamboyant styling, from costume to hair and makeup, often incorporating glitter and other more traditionally feminine elements. This is where the "lady" comes in to play. As the story goes, Steven Tyler was in a bar when he happened to catch sight of a woman with "ginormous blonde rock hair," as song-writer Desmond Child put it. Tyler was drawn to this woman until she turned around- and he and his comrades realized that "she" was none other than Mötley Crüe lead singer Vince Neil. His friends began to make fun of him, saying "dude looks like a lady," and thus the song was born. However, in true rock star style, Tyler was able to make an embarrassing moment into a moderate hit: Dude Looks Like A Lady peaked at #14 on Billboard's Hot 100.