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Goneare the geezer days; its time for Gen X to begin its reign.
I think this years slate is pretty strong overall.
The representation of pop is interesting.
When the Rock Hall started, classic rock was still this very important genre that was very codified.
A second voter added, The Rock Hall is essentially covering all music now.
Its not relegated to classic rock in the traditional sense.
But thats the core of it and I still think its the most important part because of the legacy.
Kate Bush
Voter 1:Ive voted for her every time shes been in the mix.
Not only are her records great, but her influence on so many artists that followed is tremendous.
Im trying to avoid the word alternative.
Theres something separate from the mainstream in using beautiful music to make your point and drive it home.
I want to double-check I know the catalogue.
Sheryl Crow
Voter 1:Im not voting for Sheryl Crow.
Shes somebody who lived the singer-songwriter ideal in the 90s.
She definitely was a pioneer in straddling that line between alt and adult contemporary in an interesting way.
Her music is fine.
Shes what you might call a good hand, I guess.
Voter 2:I dont think so.
I dont know if the impact is there.
I dont know if thats the same case for Sheryl Crow.
Missy Elliott
Voter 1:Shes on my ballot.
I feel like that might have dimmed her status a little bit.
She broke a lot of ground in the way that people viewed women in hip-hop.
Similar to Kate Bush, it still sounds really fresh.
Voter 2:I never really loved her music.
Her hit songs, yes, but her albums, no.
I always thought the female rapper who should get her due is MC Lyte or Queen Latifah.
In the 80s they were pioneering and made great tracks.
I feel like everyone gives the props to Missy because she had platinum records.
I dont like that its always pointed to Missy, because I dont think her records were that great.
Its a no from me.
Theyre definitely in the big four of being reliable icons for what a metalhead is.
I think for somebody from metal to be in, we should nominate Slayer for the Hall of Fame.
They had a great career.
They headlined stadiums around the world and arenas, and they left a mark.
Maybe there should be a metal wing at the Hall or something.
Its one of those genres where the lack of respect is so inherent to its existence at this point.
Its music for people who dont feel like they belong.
Voter 2:Im thinking about voting for them.
I dont know if their music is the best, but the fans love Iron Maiden.
It used to scare me when I was a kid.
Youre still seeing that influence today.
A lot of modern metal is derived from the Iron Maiden design and brand.
Their legacy is something that a lot of people in the music industry value to their heart.
New Order was birthed out of that crucible.
Songs like Blue Monday had this kind of touchstone effect.
I think that putting them together is going to make them more of a lock to get in.
You still hear these songs today in everything.
They end up on movie soundtracks and commercials.
Ill probably be voting for them.
Theres so many big hit records.
Youve got Blue Monday and Love Will Tear Us Apart.
What I want to point to again is, how many groups were influenced by their sound?
The answer is a lot.
Even a group like Depeche Mode owes them.
Cyndi Lauper
Voter 1:Cyndi is great.Shes So Unusualwas such a fantastic debut statement.
Im not voting for her because I think she has the fan vote pretty locked up.
Shes somebody who brought that whole sensibility of downtown New York to pop in this Technicolor way.
So I think shes very worthy.
Voter 2:She had her time.
She really was her own thing.
I dont see it in Cyndi, and Im surprised she got a nomination.
He was an amazing songwriter and student of pop music.
WhenFaithcame out, he was serious and burned down his old image.
He took the craft of pop music and soul music incredibly seriously.
You could hear that in every composition he wrote.
He was such a great interpreter of songs.
Its a shame that an induction has to happen after he passed away.
Voter 2:Thats a tough one.
I was a big fan of Wham!
and George Michael back when I was a kid.
Im currently on the maybe response for him.
I havent decided yet.
I feel like you see the influence in Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran a little bit.
Willie Nelson
Voter 1:I think he should be inducted.
Voter 2:Lets go back to the point of origin.
Then you travel into Elvis Presley, who is the more commercialized form.
And then you go from Elvis, who was on Sun Records, into his labelmate, Johnny Cash.
At what point does something stop becoming and these genres just bleed into each other?
Its not a far stretch to say Willie Nelson or Dolly Parton should be inducted.
Hes probably one of the most qualified people on this list.
Hell be on my ballot.
Rage Against the Machine
Voter 1:Theyre pretty good.
The combination of Tom Morellos guitar pyrotechnics fuses well with hard rock and rap.
They were one of the better examples of that strain of alt rock in the 90s.
But they were around for such a short time.
Maybe if it was combined with Tom Morellos solo stuff, they might be more in the conversation.
But they definitely had an impact.
Voter 2:Whether Tom Morello is on the nominating committee or not, I would nominate them.
Youre still seeing the impact of that band.
You also have to think about the idea of protest in general.
They helped normalize it in their music.
You even hear their music at these types of protests today.
Theyre a band that combined the idea of rock-rap, these two genres, the best.
Chris Cornells voice was just crazy, and theyre all such good players on a technical level.
They have my vote and Ive voted for them in the past.
When you think back to 90s alternative rock, thats what we should be pointing to right now.
Were in the 30-years-ago time period.
They were the biggest bands next to Pearl Jam and Nirvana.Superunknownwas phenomenal when it came out.
Black Hole Sun and Spoonman are big hits.
And then, of course, the legacy of Chris Cornell.
Its not only a yes from me, but I think theyre a shoe-in for induction.
I appreciate the music, but its like we break the mold for some things and not others.
Id love to hear the counterargument, but I dont think the overall influence versus popularity adds up.
For me, its too far back.
I cant name the lineage of groups that were influenced by them.
In theory, a lot of the neo-soul stuff was Tribe-esque beats with R&B singers on it.
I look at the Rock Hall traditionally as what it is.
The artists that have been nominated have largely fit that bill.
Not all of them, but most of them have.
Then they built on that minimalist red-and-white palette to those creative music videos and grander sounds.
They were such a comet for a brief period.
I still think a lot of their songs are fantastic and their albums are great.
Voter 2:For me its a hell yeah.
They were carrying rock on their backs when they came out in the early 2000s.
You had big crossover songs that transcended the rock stations.
They check all the boxes for me.
Warren Zevon
Voter 1:I dont have a lot of thoughts on him, Im afraid.
Thirteen out of 14 acts aint bad for a voter.
We cant be experts on everyone.
I have friends who are in the cult of Zevon.
I have a feeling David Lettermanwill induct himif he gets in.
Voter 2:Everybody loves Werewolves of London.
You know how LL Cool J got inducted with the Musical Excellence Award?
He didnt get voted in, but he still got it.
I think that could happen with Warren Zevon.
Hes outnumbered by acts with more popularity.
If I had one more vote, Id probably give it to him.
