2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

[whigsgeek]

I haven't seen this posted on R'ville yet, so ... here are your 2008 nominees.

Afrika Bambaataa
Beastie Boys
Chic
The Dave Clark Five
Donna Summer
John Mellencamp
Leonard Cohen
Madonna
The Ventures

[foolsgold]

Realistically, I'd like to see Chic and Madonna make it.  The Beasties are deserving, but where is Run DMC?  Leonard Cohen and Bambaataa are great, but their influence extends to the wrong people and I don't know that much about Donna Summer, so I have no idea if she's deserving or not. 

I'd rather eat chote flavored chote paste from John Cougar Mellencamp's chote than see him recognized for his pitiful contributions to the music industry.

[Dan]

Yeah, I'm not sure I'd want any of them in my R&R HoF. If I HAVE to pick, I guess I'll go with Madonna, the Beasties, and Cohen.

[Cockney Rebel]

I think the Dave Clark 5 are a (albeit highly deserved) definite. Weren't they shafted regarding their nom last year or something?

Cockney "Too Lazy to Use Google" Rebel

PS: Laughing Len and the Ventures almost assured I would've thought?

[kcneon]

5 of the nominees will be inducted.  My vote goes to the Beasties.  I would think at least one of the golden oldie artists will get in.

I'm having a difficult time imagining an induction ceremony with Madonna.  Not that they are the most engaging shows, but meh.

[rva]

I'd vote against Leonard Cohen, personally.  Not that I don't think of the R&R Hall of Fame as a more of a historical/cultural museum than a reward for aesthetic quality or purely artistic achievement.

With that in mind, Donna Summer and Madonna should be shoo-ins.

I guess then I'd go with Johnny Cougar.  Afrika Bambaataa if you believe he started rap music.  The Ventures for their influence on the guitar, and their lasting popularity. 

[Kwyjibo]

The very fact that The Ventures are not already in pretty much proves that the HOF is more of a popularity contest than a recognition of achievement and influence.

I also think The Dave Clark Five are deserving, and yes, there was a shafting in previous years, though I am also too lazy to google for the details.

[Wherle]

Beastie Boys
The Dave Clark Five
John Mellencamp
Madonna
The Ventures

[bluebastard]

Beasties Boys
Afrika Bambaataa
John Mellancamp
Leonard Cohen
Madonna

Each has done something within their genre to be recognized, but each has had a lasting cultural impact that goes beyond music. I may not like Madonna, but she more than deserves a nod. Bambaataa didn't invent hip-hop but he certainly changed the way it was presented and was one of the first--if not the first--hip hip pioneers that broke through with a hit. Mellancamp was the first MTV voice that bridged the gap between country fans and pop fans and I know a lot of people would prefer to shit all over him, but he had plenty of hits, a lot of critical praise during an era when critical praise was hard to come by, and he's continually changing his styles to keep up with the times without trying to fit into a popular mold. I think the Beasties sell themselves.

[Jonathan]

I think Madonna and Mellencamp are certainties. Like CR said, the Dave Clark Five should be in, but they didn't make it last year. The Beasties will probably make it because of the RnRHF's apparent mission to include acts that don't fit the traditional mould of "rock n' roll". Unfortunately, this same thing will work against Leonard Cohen.

Then again, I don't care because I've never been a big fan of Leonard Cohen. While we're at it, I don't like Tom Waits, either.

[Cockney Rebel]

See, I don't think either Madonna or Mellencrap will get in, and when the announcement is made about the former there'll be all kinds of 'fuss' made in the media, thus giving the R&R HoF much needed PR.

My money's on
• The Ventures
• Dave Clark 5
• Leonard Cohen
• Chic
• Beastie Boys

Which spreads 'the love' across several major labels allowing them to release/promote compilation "best ofs", etc etc

Cockney "maybe was in the business too long" Rebel

[Nate]

Maybe I'm just an ignoramus, but I can't understand why Madonna, in the eyes of many, is a shoo-in.  Her music isn't rock & roll, she doesn't play any instruments, she doesn't write her own songs.  Sure, she's a pop music icon, but does that exempt her from the rest of the obvious  things necessary to be considered a rock band?  Why not put Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey in there next?

If she gets in, it's just the final nail in the coffin that the R & R HoF is just a ploy to get people to go to the museum in Cleveland, and "induction" is a sham.

Two words: Black Sabbath.  I bet Metallica will get in before them (wasn't their first record out in '83?  Where are they for induction this year?)

[Cockney Rebel]

Maybe I'm just an ignoramus, but I can't understand why Madonna, in the eyes of many, is a shoo-in.  Her music isn't rock & roll, she doesn't play any instruments, she doesn't write her own songs.

Not trying to argue, but the same could also be said of Brenda Lee, Billie Holiday, Dusty Springfield or Bessie Smith but I wouldn't deny any of them their status, would you?

The phrase "Rock & Roll" has always been a bit of a misnomer, moreso in regards of this museum.

[Nate]

I guess, but like I wrote on the woxy boards, if there were some "official" list of qualifications, more than the 25 year-rule, available for the public to see, I think that would cut down on the general consensus that the hall of fame is a joke.

[whigsgeek]

Two words: Black Sabbath. I bet Metallica will get in before them (wasn't their first record out in '83?  Where are they for induction this year?)

Sabbath was inducted in 2006.