The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame announced their 2021 nominees last week. I usually do a post about it, so here you go. I have to start by saying that I don't see a whole bunch of compelling choices this year. Mostly solid, but just not "compelling"...
Anyway, here they are, ranked by representation on my iPod (as usual)
Carole King - 20 songs - She's a no brainer to me, huge songwriter, successful performer, "Tapestry" is one of the top albums of all time. I even have a playlist on my iPod of songs written by Carole King that were hits for other artists. Oh wait... she's already inducted as a songwriter. I wish they wouldn't do that, Artists should be judged by their body of work. Regardless, she deserves to be in as performer, IMHO.
Todd Rungren - 16 songs - To me, this is similar to my issue with Carole King. Inducted as a songwriter, she's now nominated as a performer. Todd Rundgren, as a performer had some great songs, but doesn't (to me) rise to Hall Of Fame on that basis. But add in his other roles, and it's much clearer: "He’s a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, in-demand producer, engineer, audiophile, technophile – all to critical acclaim"... I just wish the RRHOF was a little more consistent in how the did all these things.
New York Dolls - 11 songs - Certainly an influencer in punk. And they have several iconic songs. But is that enough? They were not especially successful, commercially. Within the context of inductees over the past several years, I'll say yes. Note: This is the only of this year's nominees that I'v (kind of) seen. I saw David Johansen Group in 1978, with Johnny Thunders and Sylvain Sylvain, and they played several Dolls' songs.
The Go-Go's - 6 songs - I get it, considered "most successful all-woman rock band of all time". And their first album was really solid, and made a big splash when it first came out. Maybe that's enough. But they were a bit of a flash-in-the-pan, I don't remember anything of their subsequent 2 albums except for the cringy video for "Vacation".
Devo - 5 songs - I give Devo a lot of credit for originality, and really pushing the visual side of their performance. I remember seeing some of the original videos, back before MTV. That said, I've always seen them as sort of a 1-trick-pony, I wouldn't really consider them "Hall Of Fame".
Dionne Warwick - 3 songs - A good singer with a solid list of hits. But RRHOF?
Chaka Khan - 2 songs (with Rufus) - She's been nominated several times. I just don't see her as being all that significant, at least during my listening heyday. I'm left with "Whatever".
Kate Bush - 1.5 songs (including her vocal's on Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up") - One of those artists I'm familiar with, but don't really know.
Foo Fighters - 1 song - Their 1st album was 1995, so they're a little psast my era. But I know a couple of their songs, and they were Dave Grohl's brainchild, so that probably puts them in.
Tina Turner - 1 song - I'm a little surprised that I don't have more Tina Turner songs. But she was massively popular during a time when my interest in Popular music was waning. My only issue with her being inducted is that she's already in as part of Ike and Tina Turner. But there's enough difference in the styles that I'm OK with it (lite Lennon and McCartney, for example)
Iron Maiden - 0 songs - Again, not really my style. But I recognize that they were huge in their genre, and it is an underrepresented genre in the Hall. Put 'em in.
Mary J. Blige - 0 songs - Her fist album was 1992, The Hall defines her as "The queen of Hip-Hop Soul". Not my era, not my style, I can't really judge, and I'm not really invested in the whole "That's not rock!" discussion.
Jay-Z - 0 songs - "considered by many to be the greatest rapper alive"... yet again, not my "thing". But with the precedent established that Rap is Rock and Roll , then seems a reasonable selection.
Fela Kuti - 0 songs - Who? Looks like he was known for his "revolutionary Pan African ideology" which "represent[s] the indomitable and evolving spirit of rock & roll"... Looks like he is credited for originating "Afrobeat". Maybe put him as an influencer? I don't know, maybe I'm ignorant, but this is the only name here that I didn't know beforehand.
LL Cool J - 0 songs - Again, a Hip-Hop artist. Like Jay-Z, I defer to others if he's worthy, once Hip Hop is included as Rock.
Rage Against The Machine - 0 songs - same as Iron Maidem: Again, not really my style. But I recognize that they were huge in their genre, and it is an underrepresented genre in the Hall. Put 'em in.
I'm not sure there's been a class of nominees that were so poorly represented in my collection. But I suppose it is a sign of the times, as most of my favorites are in (or probably won't be) and newer artists become eligible. Still, it makes me a touch sad.
