Post by Jesse on Dec 16, 2018 12:22:45 GMT -5
Yeah, it's that time of year again. Used to be a hot topic here on RNRUniverse whenever the Rock'n Roll Hall Of Fame announced their inductees. I think most of us stopped caring who does and doesn't get in. This year, I'd say, they mostly got it right. Not that any of these are my favorite artists, but, if you look objectively, they are pretty much qualified to be in the Rock'n Roll Hall Of Fame. However, some do raise some questions.
Def Leppard-I was never a huge fan, but I have their albums up to and including "Vault". They are enjoyable, but never an artist that frequented my stereo. But, they sold a Kajillion albums and their songs were all over the radio and MTV in the '80's and early '90's. Most are still remembered today and played often on Rock stations both along side Classic Rock artists of the '70's and new music. They definitely belong in the RNRHOF.
Janet Jackson-Again, not my cup of tea. Don't own anything by her, but she sold millions upon millions of albums and was all over Pop radio in the 1990's. Knowing that the Rock'n Roll Hall Of Fame is actually the Pop Music Hall Of Fame, I understand her being inducted. However, it raises the question of if we're ever going to see Garth Brooks get in the RNRHOF. I mean, if we're no longer concerned about if an artist is Rock or not, then why not Garth Brooks? He sold nearly as many albums as Jackson during roughly the same time period. And Brooks came out of nowhere to do so, whereas Jackson capitalized on the name "Jackson" and her more popular brother.
Stevie Nicks-Now here's one where...…. I like Stevie Nicks. I really do. She's already in as a member of Fleetwood Mac and she should be. As a solo artist? I'm not sure. She sold quite a few albums and had several hit singles in the '80's and '90's, but I'm not sure she belongs. Maybe I'm wrong. She does have a rather long list of hit songs, but I'll be damned if I can remember more than 4 of them and 2 were duets. I dunno, I like Nicks, but with her getting in, it kinda opens the door to other artists with a run of hit songs and albums that time has forgotten.
Radiohead-I'm on the fence with these guys too. Never listened to them on purpose, the little I have heard them, I do not like. They did sell a lot of albums and most of their albums charted rather high. But, unlike Stevie Nicks, the had only 2 Top 40 singles in the US...… and I'm not sure either of them is considered "Classic". They did chart a few more songs on the US Alternative charts and on the UK charts, but, again, I know nothing of these guys. From past conversations we've had on this board, I kinda thought an artist had to have some memorable songs and influence to be in the RNRHOF and not just sell albums.
Roxy Music- Never all that popular in the US. Sure they had some success in the US, but not Hall Of Fame-level success. I think they are in more for charting a dozen and a half songs on the UK charts and 9 in the Top 10. I guess they get in based on their UK success, but that leads me to the question: If we're including UK success, when does Status Quo get inducted?
The Zombies- Another one that I like, but I dunno. I guess you gotta put them in because they were part of that initial British Invasion movement, but do they really have the numbers of albums sold and hit singles and songs we still remember today to be in the RNRHOF? Were they really that much of an influence on other artists to get in that way? Is being one of the British Invasion bands enough to get in?
One more question that applies to all of these artists: Is this the Rock'n Roll Hall Of Fame or the Hall Of musical artists we like?
Hey, at least Devo didn't make it. Again, nothing personal against Devo, but if Devo ever makes it to the RNRHOF, then a good argument could be made for any and every artist who had any kind of success to be in the RNRHOF.
Def Leppard-I was never a huge fan, but I have their albums up to and including "Vault". They are enjoyable, but never an artist that frequented my stereo. But, they sold a Kajillion albums and their songs were all over the radio and MTV in the '80's and early '90's. Most are still remembered today and played often on Rock stations both along side Classic Rock artists of the '70's and new music. They definitely belong in the RNRHOF.
Janet Jackson-Again, not my cup of tea. Don't own anything by her, but she sold millions upon millions of albums and was all over Pop radio in the 1990's. Knowing that the Rock'n Roll Hall Of Fame is actually the Pop Music Hall Of Fame, I understand her being inducted. However, it raises the question of if we're ever going to see Garth Brooks get in the RNRHOF. I mean, if we're no longer concerned about if an artist is Rock or not, then why not Garth Brooks? He sold nearly as many albums as Jackson during roughly the same time period. And Brooks came out of nowhere to do so, whereas Jackson capitalized on the name "Jackson" and her more popular brother.
Stevie Nicks-Now here's one where...…. I like Stevie Nicks. I really do. She's already in as a member of Fleetwood Mac and she should be. As a solo artist? I'm not sure. She sold quite a few albums and had several hit singles in the '80's and '90's, but I'm not sure she belongs. Maybe I'm wrong. She does have a rather long list of hit songs, but I'll be damned if I can remember more than 4 of them and 2 were duets. I dunno, I like Nicks, but with her getting in, it kinda opens the door to other artists with a run of hit songs and albums that time has forgotten.
Radiohead-I'm on the fence with these guys too. Never listened to them on purpose, the little I have heard them, I do not like. They did sell a lot of albums and most of their albums charted rather high. But, unlike Stevie Nicks, the had only 2 Top 40 singles in the US...… and I'm not sure either of them is considered "Classic". They did chart a few more songs on the US Alternative charts and on the UK charts, but, again, I know nothing of these guys. From past conversations we've had on this board, I kinda thought an artist had to have some memorable songs and influence to be in the RNRHOF and not just sell albums.
Roxy Music- Never all that popular in the US. Sure they had some success in the US, but not Hall Of Fame-level success. I think they are in more for charting a dozen and a half songs on the UK charts and 9 in the Top 10. I guess they get in based on their UK success, but that leads me to the question: If we're including UK success, when does Status Quo get inducted?
The Zombies- Another one that I like, but I dunno. I guess you gotta put them in because they were part of that initial British Invasion movement, but do they really have the numbers of albums sold and hit singles and songs we still remember today to be in the RNRHOF? Were they really that much of an influence on other artists to get in that way? Is being one of the British Invasion bands enough to get in?
One more question that applies to all of these artists: Is this the Rock'n Roll Hall Of Fame or the Hall Of musical artists we like?
Hey, at least Devo didn't make it. Again, nothing personal against Devo, but if Devo ever makes it to the RNRHOF, then a good argument could be made for any and every artist who had any kind of success to be in the RNRHOF.
