It’s another mixed bag of Rock Hall nominees | Music commentary – News-Herald

2023-02-16 14:49:08 By : Ms. Anna An

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The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s just-announced 2023 induction nominees include a majority of artists who have been seemingly “Running up That Hill” for a while without previously having been nominated.

Eight out of 14 of the nominees are on the ballot for the first time — Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, Willie Nelson, The White Stripes and Warren Zevon.

The list of returning nominees is Kate Bush, Iron Maiden, Rage Against the Machine, Soundgarden, The Spinners and A Tribe Called Quest.

The 38th annual induction ceremony is slated for later this year at a yet-to-be-determined location.

There’s an argument for inducting Missy Elliott and The White Stripes — both being in the first year of eligibility: It would provide the obligatory fan excitement and anticipation.

And you can’t help but wonder — if though she’s cherished as an eclectic artist of her era — if Bush’s unlikely recent upswing in popularity related to “Stranger Things” persuaded voters to keep the 2022 Rock Hall nominee on the list.

Then there’s Cyndi Lauper. Despite the fact she’s a three-fourths of the way to being a rare EGOT winner, the “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” singer seems like a reach.

A year after Dolly Parton turned some heads — including her own — by becoming a Rock Hall inductee, this year’s nominee list includes a “Red Headed Stranger.” The induction ceremony could be interesting if country giant Nelson gets the nod — perhaps along with frequent tour mate Crow.

Considering Judas Priest was inducted last year, it’ll be interesting to see if voters do the same with ’70s heavy-metal act Iron Maiden.

After making the mistake of not inducting 2022 nominee A Tribe Called Quest last year in its hometown of Los Angeles, voters should right the wrong by putting in the influential “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo” hip-hop act.

The remaining nominees fall into the either/or category. It’s hard to imagine the synth-based Joy Division/New Order and ’80s pop superstar George Michael both getting the nod.

The same goes for the grunge-defining Soundgarden and rap-n-rock innovators Rage Against the Machine.

This year’s afterthought-nominee selections include R&B act The Spinners and self-described “America’s most loved and feared rebel-iconoclast-buffoon” Warren Zevon.

The now four-time nominee former outfit has literally been eligible during the entire time the Rock Hall has existed, while the latter first crossed that threshold in 1994.

This is the point in the annual Rock Hall nominee announcement piece that brings us back to a familiar gripe.

Considering the decade of eligibility is the ’90s, it’s curious that only five of the 14 nominees started out during the Clinton administration.

Sure, this is better than last year’s representation — only two of the 17 nominees — but further proves Rock Hall voters continue to feel a baby-boomer, classic-rock hangover regarding Gen Ex artists. Thankfully, they didn’t acquiesce to the likes of adding Boston and Eddie Money.

Eligible acts from the ’90s that come to mind include Alice in Chains, Beck, Björk, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Oasis, Outkast, Snoop Dogg, Tool and The Smashing Pumpkins.

To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination.

Nominee ballots will be sent to an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists, historians and members of the music industry.

Factors such as an act’s musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique are taken into consideration.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame offers fans the opportunity to participate in the induction selection process with the 2023 Induction Fan Vote.

The top five artists selected by the public will comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to determine the 2023 Inductees, which will be announced in May.

The 2023 Induction Fan Vote is open today through April 28 at rockhall.com or in person at the Rock Hall.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is located at 1100 E. Ninth St. in Cleveland. For information, visit Rock Hall.com.

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