The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony for the Class Of 2022 is airing on HBO as I type this, but I find that most of my comments and thoughts not only echo most of what has been said already by those who were there or haven't been consistently working over seventy hours a week, but they also play a factor into the selection of my Songs Of Proof for this class. So, I'm going to marry the two posts together at that time. Meanwhile, I've still been celebrating the music of this class in a way that is reminiscent of last year's class.
This past year, I got the chance to participate on an episode of the Playlist Wars podcast, assembling my competitive, celebratory list of the music of Motown. While I don't know what percentage of the votes I got, I do know that I lost. Host Brian Colburn won with 50% of the vote, and guest host Ed and I split the remaining half. I'm guessing that not having the Four Tops or Mary Wells on my list put me solidly in third, but oh well. It was a lot of fun. Sadly, the podcast is on hiatus while the hosts tend to their own commitments in their offline lives, and I wish them the both the best. However, that announcement didn't come until after I had put together a fanfiction list celebrating this year's class. Parenthetically, I was asked if I wanted to do an episode about the ballot, ten songs by presumably ten of the seventeen nominees. I declined for a couple reasons, mainly because I was uncertain I wanted to see the discussion on Twitter following that hypothetical episode's drop. Not that I didn't trust the fellow playlisters, but we all know how any discussion on Twitter can unravel when random people come across it, especially surrounding the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. But for my own personal enjoyment, I put together another Playlist Wars style playlist celebrating not the ballot, but the actual inductees for the Class Of 2022.
Brief refresher: the premise of the Playlist Wars podcast is simple: take an artist or theme, create the best ten-song playlist about that, and pit it against two others, celebrating the music in a competitive manner, not unlike the way Battlebots roboteers celebrate science and engineering by trying to destroy each other's creations in the BattleBox. So this is what I've done. Will I do this again if the podcast doesn't return from hiatus? Maybe. It's fun for me, and I hope you all enjoy listening to the combination of songs in this permutative list that is meant to work as a single unit, like an album. But it also depends on if the classes continue to be large enough to make a list feasible. So, now I'm gonna share my vision of how I'd put the gloves on with Brian and Gomez.
Track 01: "Banana Boat (Day-O)" by Harry Belafonte
Like last year's list, I begin with a side category inductee, partially to remind everyone that there are inductees besides the names most heavily promoted, and partially because it just works. Instead of a lesser known track that makes a great entrance, though, I start off with a song that everyone knows, many can't help but sing along to when they hear it, and is a little bit of a slow burn in terms of getting the energy going. The song is infectious, and because of its cultural ubiquity, you can attempt the accent without judgment (usually). This is a song that demonstrates Harry Belafonte not necessarily as an Early Influence, though also that, but moreover Harry as an icon to the whole world. Who wouldn't want to lead off with that? So I did.
Track 02: "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon
I gotta admit, Carly Simon was the most difficult inductee to put on this list, both in terms of choosing the song, and also placing it most strategically. But my guiding ground rule for these playlists so far is that every Performer inductee must be represented. Eventually I defaulted to placing her most iconic song in the second slot. It's a little wobbly, but in terms of energy, it's a step up from the previous song. With its bass intro and build up in the arrangement, it works well. And like the Belafonte selection, this is a widely known song. People know it, they know it as a mystery in the annals of rock and roll cryptology, and they still love to sing along with it.
Track 03: "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar
Just for clarification, I assembled this playlist shortly after the inductees were announced. So this selection was chosen months in advance of Pat's announcement that she would no longer perform this song as a protest against gun violence. Getting to the song itself, this is where we bring the energy up. It's not a fast song, but with its guitar distortion energy and pounding rhythm, plus Pat Benatar's energetic vocals, this is a song that will wake you up if you aren't yet. Again, a song that everyone knows and loves, but as I noticed with the topical episodes of Playlist Wars, it's best to not to go too deep or obscure. When it's an artist episode, you can win with some awesome deep cuts. Topical episodes, do it LRR: Least Research Required. Too bad I didn't take my own advice in the Motown battle.
Track 04: "Hungry Like The Wolf" by Duran Duran
Keeping the energy going and getting a little faster, we come now to the fan vote topper. Originally, I was going to slot "Rio" as Track 03, but "Haven't Got Time For The Pain" didn't work either as Carly's song for the list or in the fourth slot, so I switched it up a bit. Plus, I didn't want to be dealing with the debate of whether I should have used the single or the album version of "Rio." "Hungry Like The Wolf" is another fun and recognizable song. It has the same energy and represents the band really well. And with other vocals on the record, you can even try to harmonize a little, though it's not easy, at least for me. That's why they're the professionals.
Track 05: "It's Good To Be The Queen" by Sylvia
Despite what I said about "Least Research Required," I still decided I needed to have some deep cuts, because that's who I am. I often find more joy in the songs that haven't been rammed down my ear canals umpteen times. And I thought it would be a wonderful curveball to include this Non-Performer inductee who had a recording career. I will admit though, it was tough to pick a song. I didn't want to use "Love Is Strange," since Mickey is not an inductee, and I actually don't care for her breathy soul singing of the early '70s. I'm not a fan of Diana Ross's voice either, and Sylvia's voice during that time sounds a little like a winded Diana Ross. It's supposed to be sexy, but it just doesn't work for me. This rap song, however, does. And it's more appropriate for this playlist because of why she's being inducted. While I wish to reiterate that this is NOT the Songs Of Proof list, I'll just give an unsurprising leak that this is definitely going to be the Song Of Proof for Sylvia Robinson too. As far as its placement on this list, halfway is a good place to throw the big curveball, and if this playlist were to be on an analog format, like vinyl or cassette, this would be an ideal song to end Side A.
Track 06: "We Made You" by Eminem
To kick off the hypothetical Side B, we follow rap with rap. And it just seems like it'd be fun to flip the cassette over, press to play, and hear that musical sting followed by "Guess who? You miss me?" I love this song. When I first saw the video for this song, I was laughing my head off at how Eminem was making fun of both pop culture and himself. This isn't an obscure song, but it also isn't one of his best-known ones, and certainly not one that made him an obvious shoo-in for induction on his first year of eligibility. Listening to this song, it certainly does sound like he's letting his Slim Shady persona run loose with the electronic shock collar around its neck turned off again; however, listening to it more closely, I've also suspected that this is loosely and secretly about the sleaze that is commonly attributed to the world of entertainment agents. Or not, but I think so.
Track 07: "Tennessee Homesick Blues" by Dolly Parton
I like to be meticulous with the placement of songs in my playlists, making sure it flows well and logically. So naturally, I follow up the controversial rapper with the national treasure of a country legend who couldn't even keep herself out of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. As I said about my playlist for the Class Of 2021, the seventh slot is where I like to put my clean-up hitter. So of course that's Dolly Parton. And while this is not a particularly well-known song by her, this is one I fell in love with at first listen. The infectious guitar line, her yodeling, the autobiographical lyrics that still resonate with you anytime you find yourself missing your old home or maybe feeling like you don't fit in where you are now. I'm not sure if this is my favorite song on the list, but it's way up there. Great song.
Track 08: "All Night Long (All Night)" by Lionel Richie
When compiling this playlist, I found that the back half came together a lot quicker, more easily and naturally, and first, actually. Choosing the right Lionel Richie song was probably the most difficult of the latter half, and while this isn't my favorite track by him, I felt this was the right choice. Again, jumping around seemingly aimlessly in terms of musical style. And yet, why wouldn't you follow up Dolly with Lionel? Country and calypso-infused R&B. It just says yes to me. What starts out with some subdued energy breaks out into a party. And maybe celebrating all night long is what you do when you've cured the homesickness expressed in the previous track. But watching him perform this track as he is inducted, this is good song to put on the playlist for Lionel.
Track 09: "Night Crawler" by Judas Priest
Representing the third side category, the Award For Musical Excellence, a band that was nominated again, and finally the Foundation had enough of the voting bloc's shenanigans, deciding to just induct them. Not being a diehard metal fan, let alone of Judas Priest, I don't know if this qualifies as a more obscure Judas Priest song or not. It's not one of the iconic ones that they performed at their induction. But this song just tears. This might be the favorite song of mine on this list, and in fact, this song helped me decide on the Lionel Richie song. Maybe we shouldn't party all night long lest we incur the night crawler! Gets your heart racing, and when I first started assembling this list, this was the very first song I had pinned down, both in selection and placement. Excellent example of metal, in terms of style and the genre's lyrical ability to give the PMRC members a collective coronary.
Track 10: "When Tomorrow Comes" by Eurythmics
And logically, what drives the beast back below the bowels of the abyss? When tomorrow comes, of course! Along with "Night Crawler," this song was decided almost right away (followed shortly by "We Made You" after deciding not to start with "My Name Is"). Given how much I was forced to play and listen to "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" and also "Here Comes The Rain Again," it's still somewhat amazing to realize that Annie and Dave have this one in their arsenal as well. This song has such a sunny ambience to it in a way I can't really describe, partially due perhaps to the title itself. But the straightforward rock to it that would fit in perfectly alongside U2's "In God's Country" makes this a perfect official closer. The day is ending and we are content to look forward to tomorrow.
Hidden bonus track: "When I Get Home" by Elizabeth Cotten
But of course if you ask Petrarch, time, including tomorrow, is conquered by eternity. And this song is about that, specifically eternity in Heaven and the new creation with her God. Originally I had this other Early Influence inductee worked into the list of ten, but when I found "It's Good To Be The Queen," I knew that Elizabeth was going to be included as the hidden bonus track. Just like last year's list, this has an old-tyme feel, though this one is more from the simplicity of the arrangement than the actual age of the recordings. But it works beautifully--sonically, thematically, and for the sake of being inclusive of titled recording artists in this class. And it's also good to remind folks that she had songs other than "Freight Train."
Potential Honorable Mention: "Cool" by the Time (honoring Jimmy Jam And Terry Lewis)
So, I didn't know that Jimmy Jam And Terry Lewis had released an album under their own name when I put this list together, and I doubt it would have made a difference. I knew they'd been in the Time, but wasn't sure which songs they'd been on. Turns out they weren't on the two big ones I played on Retro Weekends, "Jungle Love" or "The Bird." Oh well. But "Cool" is a fun jam to throw on that they played on as official members of the band. So let's have fun and imagine that Brian or Gomez would have thrown this one in the mix and make it the Honorable Mention. And this is the only potential Honorable Mention I'm going to entertain this time too. Not gonna have two more for Jimmy or Allan, even though I *KNOW* Brian would use Jimmy Iovine's induction as an excuse to include Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers on his list (tell me I'm wrong, Brian). But like last time, honorable mentions aren't on the playlist that I have in my YouTube "Library" folder.
And once again, there we are: a fanfictitious episode for a podcast that may be done for good (though I hope not). It's a fun way to celebrate the music, satisfy my list-making personality, and keep the inductees fresh while putting the final pieces together deciding the Songs Of Proof. I'm still not thinking one iota about next year's ballot, so don't ask yet.
On a personal note, this is my first entry since moving into a new place. This has been a tumultuous year that is not over and looks like it won't get any better. And I mean that in terms of my professional life, my home life, my immediate family, and may even harm my church life. So if the nominees come out before I post my Songs Of Proof for this class, please understand. If I don't post a nominees prediction list, or maybe just a barebones list with no explanation, please understand. And if I go on hiatus and maybe close up shop altogether, I hope you understand. I hope that won't happen, but my life is largely bereft of joy right now. Every day is a matter of playing linebacker: just lower my head, plow forward as best as I can, and hope that each day I've gained more yards than I've lost. This blog does give me joy, but it takes a lot of time to type up and post usually (tonight's an exception... start to finish within one airing of the ceremony). More time than I feel I've got most of the time. Hopefully I'll see you all on the other side.
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