OT: 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees
- Thread starter bac2therac
- Start date
Phil Collins, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, INXS, Iron Maiden, Luther Vandross, Shakira, Melissa Etheridge, Jeff Buckley, Pink, New Edition, Sade, the Wu-Tang Clan, the Black Crowes, Oasis, Joy Division/New Order and Billy Idol
Hope Iron Maiden gets in and tells them to shove it.
Pink, New Edition, Sade, WTC, Lauryn Hill are not rock.
The Scorpions say hello. First recording 1965. Huge in the 1980s. Over 100 million albums sold. Still recording band touring.
Oh, and Phil Collins' solo wok blows. Awful.
Wow. Can’t believe Boston and Styx are not in HOF
Hopefully INXS gets in this year !
Hopefully INXS gets in this year !
Shakira Pink New Edition Luther Vandross Lauryn Hill make this a clown show but thats what they want.
There are rappers in the RNR HOF. It’s pretty comical how they come up with nominees. Even the Chairman thinks it’s a ruse at this point.
Shakira and effin pink 
they could drop the pretense and just change the name to Popular Music or Music Hall of Fame and it would at least make some sense. RNR is aging away anyways and eventually auto-tune trash will be make its way into that venue.
they could drop the pretense and just change the name to Popular Music or Music Hall of Fame and it would at least make some sense. RNR is aging away anyways and eventually auto-tune trash will be make its way into that venue.
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Every year it's the same friggin joke.
Wu-Tang Clan ? Mariah Carey ? Lauren Hill ?
Yeah...they rock....and roll.
Hilarious.
Wu-Tang Clan ? Mariah Carey ? Lauren Hill ?
Yeah...they rock....and roll.
Hilarious.
Really makes my sick seeing these nominees and know that Tull, Kansas, Boston and Meat Loaf aren't in.
Can't wait until Bad Bunny is eligible.
Can't wait until Bad Bunny is eligible.
Why have Boston, Styx, The Scorpions and a long list of other rock n' roll stalwarts either never been nominated or not in, while new artists that are barely in genre, as opposed to artists squarely in the genre, get passed over? THAT is the point.
Funny seeing these names nominated and yet the Carpenters aren’t in or nominated?
Why have Boston, Styx, The Scorpions and a long list of other rock n' roll stalwarts either never been nominated or not in, while new artists that are barely in genre, as opposed to artists squarely in the genre, get passed over? THAT is the point.
Because it's not really a genre.
It's just "rock n roll." It's all rock n roll, in the sense of the inception of innovative musical trends and era-defining popular music that pushed boundaries, had cultural significance, and redefined what popular music was. Superstar musical staying power for the time.
"New wave, dance craze, anyways, its still rock n roll to me..." not that those genres are literally rock n roll, but that it's just another teenaged fad and the latest popular thing, as rock n roll was in the 50s when it came out. The cycle repeats, as Billy said, and made reference to discussing whatever was trending at the time. It's just the same rock n roll cycle that began with generational proclivities for new musical styles intertwined with popular culture.
Beyond that initial 50s genre, "rock music" isn't per se rock n roll....what bc guitars are used rather than a piano or drum machine? They all are on 4/4 rythims, have essentially a bass, melody, rythim, and vocal section, etc. The earliest rock n roll sounded like bluesy jazzy guitar riffing with a more repetitive and consistent rythim. That's a far cry from later fusions and innovations. What are the beastie boys more rock n roll than Steely Dan bc they employ more aggressive vocals and loud guitar samples?
It's about popular music and culture as it changes through the years, it's not about rock music, i.e. songs with electric guitar and a certain amplitude. I understand why some might interpret it that way, but it isn't the way the hall has interpreted it.
Ice Cube said it well: "Rock & roll is not an instrument, rock & roll is not even a style of music. Rock & roll is a spirit. Are we rock n roll? Damn right we are rock n roll." That is not the same thing as him saying "we make rock music" or "we are a rock band."
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The RRHOF committee must have splinters from scraping the bottom of the barrel. Iron Maiden should have been in a long time ago. There is a longstanding bias against progressive rock and heavy metal. That's why they had to practically be shamed into inducting Rush and Black Sabbath.
Okay while I was NEVER a fan of NON-rock acts being inducted, in the1st place, here we go:
Collins is already in with Genesis. Why waste a vote here?
Carey - probably deserves it
Hill - nope
INXS - borderline but no
Iron Maiden - ehhhhh I think so but do they make the cut?
Vandross - man, love Luther, but I don't think he makes it
Shakira - nope (but would be in over Pink IMHO)
Pink - nope
New Edition - YES
Sade - nope
Wu-Tang - YES
Black Crowes - for the LOVE OF GOD NOOOOOO
Oasis - yuck, but YES
Joy Division/New Order - if you understand what they did for music (Post Punk AND the rave scene (watch "24-Hour Party People)) you have to say YES
Billy Idol - 10000% YES
Missed a couple:
Ethridge - no
Buckley - NO
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I still think you are missing the point.
There are far more deserving musicians that have been passed over or ignored than Pink, Sade, WTC, Lauryn Hill and Shakira. Note that I did not include Luther Vandross. I have removed New Edition from my list-they were around for a long time. Scorpions were recording music for 10 years before Lauryn Hill was born in 1975, and before Shakira was born in 1977.
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Some good points, I would disagree on a few of those. You are right in that popular music is constantly evolving and “rock music” is a broad concept with limited rules. However, R&R has been considered a major genre of music since the 1950’s. At that time along with blues/country-western/folk (all related) , jazz and classical. R&R evolved out of blues and country-western with a faster tempo and a backbeat (drums). It was a dance oriented music originally. Part of R&R is about “spirit” or “attitude”. But It’s not just about that at all. Over the decades, jazz and classical influences have been added. All music is certainly subjective regarding personal taste. I do think that over the last 15 yrs or so there have been inductees into the R&RHOF which don’t fit the genre at all imo. For the record, I like Steely Dan a hell of a lot better than The Beastie Boys (musically that isn’t close). Of this year’s nominees, I like The Black Crowes and INXS. I think they are outstanding rock bands.
Forget about the fact they're not "Rock" for a hot second. You and I are in the same age bracket...they were HUGE at the time...then brought about Brown (as a solo act) and the Bell, Biv, Devoe spinoff...which is why I think they get in (but could be wrong, of course...).
Thats a subjective opinion regarding entry though, not an objective categorical hurdle to being nominated.
Very good post.
Just for clarification - I don't think that rock music is necessarily broad enough to encompass many of these acts, but I do think the term "rock n roll" as more of the cultural phenomenon that Billy Joel was alluding to in his song, is the direction/umbrella the hall is considering, as a cultural/musical phenomenon rather than a specific music genre. That's why I referenced the song in my first comment.
I would think Britney will be eligible soon along with Backstreet Boys and N Sync
I am a big Sade fan but not sure if she deserves this honor.
Jeff Buckely..omg one album good lord, music magazines wet dream but i dont see it
Billy Idol..definitely
Lauryn Hill..come on one album herself and disappeared
New Edition..this is a joke right..dei is real
Melissa Etheridge...I think she deserves...people forget how popular she was and the singer songwriter thing was big and she influenced alot of artists..no issue with this one
Phil Collins...i would lean no but they probably give it to him being he probably wont be here much longer..he did produce and play on alot of artists tracks even though his solo career was a big milquetoast
Iron Maiden..yes
New Order/Joy Divsion..definitely trailblazers in genre and huge influence even to this day
Mariah Carey...yes and we are past the argument that this kind of music shouldnt get in...icon
Pink...this is truly a joke....in any real world she should never sniff it
INXS...i jiust dont think they had an impact enogh because they tailed off in the mid 90s and then Hutchence died...
Shakira..is this a joke..i get she is a world wide star but her impact here is not deserving of this honor,..gimme a break
Wu Tang Clan..not my bag at all and of course we are beyond the argument about rap..didnt somebody just die from them..they just might get in but I wouldnt put them in
Oasis....ehhh no...very very good but I mean we are not in England...broke up and impact was small..good lord Alice in Chains isnt even in
Luther Vandross...great singer but a bridge too far here
Black Crowes..love them..i wonder if their career got stunted somewhat because grunge emerged right around their 2nd release...longevity yes but if groups like Boston and Kansas and America are not in why should BC
Need to be in.....America, B52s, Carpenters, Huey Lewis
I bet Pink or Shakira win the peoples choice
I disagree. For years, the Hall as pissed all over hard rock, metal and hair metal bands (see Maiden and Scorpions, Motorhead), while admitting acts that are not "rock music", and I get your nuance about "rock n roll." For years, the guy who was anti hard rock and metal is that putz Jan Wenner. The same case could be made for legions of punk ROCK bands- Black Flag, The Bad Brains, Bad Religion, The Descendents and many others are highly influential artists that influenced bands that have long been in the Hall.
But kitschy acts such at Shakira and Pink get a nod. Sade- had one hit song? With that said, some of us purists consider the whole thing a farce.
i dont th
5 hit songs and 2 of them from mid 90s reboot that i have no idea what they were
only ones i know
Mr Telephone Man
Cool It Now
If It Isnt Love
sorry hard pass and I was not listening to New Editon as a tween bac
their impact wasnt all that great on the pop charts
5 hit songs and 2 of them from mid 90s reboot that i have no idea what they were
only ones i know
Mr Telephone Man
Cool It Now
If It Isnt Love
sorry hard pass and I was not listening to New Editon as a tween bac
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What do we disagree on though other than general music taste? If there was a genre specific rock HOF without that nuance we are talking about, I'd completely agree.
My working knowledge of the catalog of Sade and similar acts is probably similar to your working knowledge of the bands mentioned. But by either of our metrics she probably should not get in.
I understand your preference for rock pioneers more exclusively. But this thing is clearly more a pop culture thing. Maybe it didn't originate that way, idk.
It just seems like I've been hearing this for 25 years lol
Sade had more than one hit song
Smooth Operator
Hang on To Your Love
Paradise
Sweetest Taboo
No Ordinary Love
Never As Good As the First Time
Your Love is King
all heavy MTV and VH1 staples as a fascinating video artist and very smooth jazzy vocalist not represented much in the Hall
I do agree she probably shouldnt get in mainly because after the mid 90s the releases become like every 8 years or so
I went to the HOF a few years ago, I remember walking through, constantly asking myself " WTF is he/she/they doing in the Rock and Roll HOF"
For me it's similar to the ripping off of the term "Reggae" by the Reggaeton crowd. One has nothing to do with the other.
If they had the slightest bit of honesty the people doing the nominating would either change the name of the place to The Popular Music Hall Of Fame or stop nominating musicians that have zero to do with Rock and Roll.
Rock and Roll, like Reggae, has a certain cachet that some want to adopt in an attempt to broaden their audience...I guess.
I've been listening to rock and roll for about 65 years. I know what rock and roll is. Mariah Carey and Shakira are not rock and roll.
The people that run that thing called The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame know that. Change the name to what it really is.
If they had the slightest bit of honesty the people doing the nominating would either change the name of the place to The Popular Music Hall Of Fame or stop nominating musicians that have zero to do with Rock and Roll.
Rock and Roll, like Reggae, has a certain cachet that some want to adopt in an attempt to broaden their audience...I guess.
I've been listening to rock and roll for about 65 years. I know what rock and roll is. Mariah Carey and Shakira are not rock and roll.
The people that run that thing called The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame know that. Change the name to what it really is.
I'm surprised Joy Division/New Order were not already in
Reggaeton is related to reggae. I only know bc I researched this a while ago due to my own confusion, and the fact that I'm not really a reggaeton fan and was wondering why it'd so prevalent. Listen to Dem Bow by Shabba Ranks...