Making a pattern of falling behind, I'm late to even get a response to the nominees being announced, but since it's been so long and so many have already said pretty much everything that needed to be said, let's just quickly note that my slate of six correctly guessed nominees appears to be on the higher end of the bell curve, but only slightly. And I think I was the only person to predict A Tribe Called Quest to return for a third consecutive nomination. So, with that said, I'll jump right in with some rankings. Since I'm behind, the way this will work is I'll give my I-5 analyses, and then I'll also give my estimation of their music on a personal taste level, with the favorite songs by each. After the merit ranks, a quick bullet list of their ranks in terms of personal tastes, and composite scores.
As a reminder, or for those new to my blog, the I-5 system of mine is a set of five categories for a nominee to be evaluated, and those categories all begin with the letter "I." Innovation, Influence, Impact, Intangibles, and Issues are the five categories. The first four are the ones that build a nominee's case for induction, and Issues is the negative one, examining potential reservations folks may have about that nominee. Some quick caveats: one, by influence, I usually mean musical influence, not industry influence, which would probably appear under Intangibles; two, Impact doesn't inherently mean commercial success, but that is a big piece of the equation, just not all of it; three, the Issues listed are not necessarily reflective of my own personal beliefs, just potential ones that could be raised or that I have seen raised. So with that, time to rank the nominees.
1. CHER
Innovation: She may not have invented Autotune, but she was a trailblazer in its usage and popularity.
Influence: She's a major influence for a lot of female singers, especially those that sing in a lower and huskier register.
Impact: Massive. In addition to her string of massive hits, and her record-setting seven decades of chart presence, she is also an icon in the LGBTQ+ community, and an overall name, period.
Intangibles: Her personality is massive, her talents extend beyond music, her style is influential.
Issues: Some may not want to kill the chances of a Sonny And Cher induction by inducting her solo first. Some consider her trailblazing of Autotune as a liability rather than an innovation. And while everyone understands the importance of connections in the business, people hold it against you if those connections are at the genital level, and some have accused her of only having a career for being romantically involved with the right people at the right time.
Personal taste: A lot of fun listening to her. Really diverse catalog of fun stuff all around.
Favorite song: "Strong Enough"
2. KOOL AND THE GANG
Innovation: They found new, inventive ways of evolving their sound, first from jazz, to a fusion-like sound, through funk, and R&B ballads. They stayed at the forefront of the changing tides of R&B music for over a decade, which requires innovative foresight.
Influence: Not only one of the most sampled acts in music history, they also shaped the sounds of R&B as it was happening, which extended to their contemporaries.
Impact: A solid string of major hits during their imperial reign, and still a highly recognizable name. The second biggest selling and charting singles group during the 1980s after Daryl Hall And John Oates.
Intangibles: The quality of musicianship that's associated with the name is top-notch, and they were able to have big hits with both instrumentals and vocal songs. There's also something to be said in their legacy that the masses met them halfway, that they didn't have to drastically change or compromise their unique style to start to have major commercial success.
Issues: Other than the tired argument of R&B not being rock, perhaps the cultural saturation of "Celebration" is as nauseating a detriment as it is a credit to them. Also, some could argue that it's not really their songs themselves that endure, but more the isolated bits and pieces of their songs that can be used as samples that give them endurance. They are also Vocal Group Hall Of Fame inductees.
Personal taste: Strong contender for the top of the list. I love the jazzy instrumentals as well as the songs that get White folks crunk and lit, as evidenced by the next line.
Favorite song: "Get Down On It"
3. MARIAH CAREY
Innovation: It's both musical and industry innovation and influence the way she helped infuse the world of hip-hop into the style of pop-R&B.
Influence: In addition to setting a new pop-R&B template, she has been incredibly influential as a singer and interpreter of songs in her own right, inspiring a legion of female singers in her wake.
Impact: The first, and possibly only to date, singer to land a number one Billboard Pop Chart hit in every year for an entire decade. Second most #1 pop singles of the rock era, and far and away the most commercially successful singles artist on this ballot.
Intangibles: An underrated songwriter and creative controller in the direction of her music and affected change in the industry, as mentioned above.
Issues: Allllllll I waaaannnn--Ow! Ow! Stop hitting m--Ow! Seriously though, the kneejerk rage and hateful memes that one song has spawned on social media could fool a less knowledgeable person into thinking she's a one-trick pony, not to mention the hatred of that song itself because of its artery-clogging saturation in the public consciousness between Halloween and Martin Luther King Day (it takes time for it to abate completely). Additionally, her music got very adult contemporary palatable really quickly, and if there's one format that is almost universally not considered rock and roll in the slightest... well, it's Contemporary Christian, but if there's a second one, it's Adult Contemporary. Lastly, her personal life was at one point a veritable source of cheesy tabloid fodder that somehow has a way of damaging credibility for palpable reasons I can't fully articulate.
Personal taste: I still love her music. I'm glad "Free Guy" brought a minor resurgence of "Fantasy," and I still love "Hero" and "Someday." "One Sweet Day" wasn't as dear to me as it was to many others though. And please put away the bludgeons, truncheons, torches, and pitchforks...
Favorite song: "All I Want For Christmas Is You"
4. ERIC B. & RAKIM
Innovation: Not hugely innovative on the surface, but they did evolve the art form to use faster rhythms.
Influence: In spades. You can hear their influence in so many forms of hip-hop from the rappers of today to Christian rappers from the late 80’s like D-Boy and DC Talk.
Impact: Their biggest hit was as guest credit on a Jody Watley record. Even on the R&B charts, they weren’t ever top of the heap, but they stayed a name with a continuous album output.
Intangibles: Unique combo of a master mixer and a consummate rhyme-buster, essentially boiling it down to the empirical essence.
Issues: Not very well known by the masses. There's also still a bias against hip-hop artists that weren't so big that opposing them was like holding back the ocean with a broom.
Personal preference: I'm into them. I'm really into Rakim's flow and Eric B.'s samples and edits. This duo is up there for me.
Favorite song: "Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em"
5. MARY J. BLIGE
Innovation: She is a seminal figure in the creation of the hip-hop/soul merger, as a distinct and persistent style.
Influence: She is cited as an influence by R&B and pop singers ranging from Beyonce to Taylor Swift, and beyond.
Impact: She has at least a baker's dozen albums that made the Top Ten and a few dozen entries on the Pop charts, even more on the R&B charts.
Intangibles: Royalty nicknames can be part of a marketing ploy, but when they endure, such as "Queen Of Hip-Hop/Soul," it's more than just marketing. That's serious business.
Issues: The endurance hip-hop/soul, as developed and defined by Blige, has been diminished by the rise of modern EDM, and the way rappers have jumped on that bandwagon. Blige has adapted, but she no longer has home field advantage.
Personal taste: For some reason, I didn't enjoy listening to her nearly as much as I did the last time she was nominated. I still respect the creativity of the samples, but maybe I just wasn't having the best of days when I listened to her. Or maybe the songs I liked didn't come up in Spotify's rotation.
Favorite song: "Mighty River"
6. A TRIBE CALLED QUEST
Innovation: When you talk about about formative acts of the sound of '90s hip-hop, this outfit is near the top of the list.
Influence: Their influence on hip-hop and rappers to come, as well as on their contemporaries was massive. Widely influential.
Impact: A handful or two of charted singles. Albums charts, four top ten albums with a fifth that is critically well-regarded.
Intangibles: With their level of artistry, and renown of the individual members, they're a synergy, so much more than the sum of the parts.
Issues: You've heard of them if you're a music lover, especially of hip-hop. If you're a casual pop music fan, the name "A Tribe Called Quest" probably sounds like the name of a video game. Also, lyrics like "This ain't rock 'n' roll 'cause the rap is in control" don't really align well with the narrative about the inclusive and attitudinal definition of rock 'n' roll that the Hall has been pushing since even before first trying to get Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five inducted.
Personal taste: Once again, fun stuff to listen to and bob your head along with, but as far as being able to really feel it take root in me, it's not happening yet.
Favorite song: "The Hop"
7. SADE
Innovation: Taking the "quiet storm" style of R&B and incorporating a jazzy smoothness to it, their bass lines are particularly noteworthy.
Influence: Five years ago, this would have been a much lesser category. I don't think I'd even heard the term "quiet storm" then. Nowadays, their influence is showing up in modern R&B and rap artists' styles, who include other elements, but still include them.
Impact: Bigger than most would guess, as they have a decent amount of chart success, both with singles and albums.
Intangibles: The lead singer and namesake of the band has an image of cool and breezy that some call "rock 'n' roll." Additionally, they are recognized as gifted and meticulous musicians who craft actual sonic art instead of just audio product.
Issues: In the collective consciousness of the masses, they're mostly known for one song only. A ubiquitous song, but only one nonetheless, samples notwithstanding. And when one says that rock and roll is an attitude, not a genre, it probably should refer to an attitude that the music conveys and not the behavior of the artists, whether that behavior is wild benders, courting controversy, or just being indifferent to the input of anyone else. To say "Sade is rock and roll because they do what they want on their own schedule" just doesn't hold up to scrutiny.
Personal taste: Hot take, I can't stand them. When they first made the "Previously Considered" list on the Future Rock Legends site, I bought the anthology to clue in to them, and I kept falling asleep trying to listen to them. Granted, I now fall asleep extremely easily if I'm not keeping my mind or body active, but at that time, not quite so much. A couple bright spots listening to them again this time around, but they are not for me. And I absolutely HATE "Smooth Operator." Also, why do so many pronounce the name as if it has an R in it? I swear, I hear so many calling them "SHAR-day" that it's grating. Maybe that's more a "me" problem, but that's also why I'm bringing it up under personal taste, because other people can ruin an artist for someone.
Favorite song: "Paradise"
8. OZZY OSBOURNE
Innovation: Depending on your definition of the term, crafting a more melodic form of metal could ostensibly be deemed innovative.
Influence: Between samples and way of singing, his solo career does carry a certain amount of influence to it, however heavy the asterisk may loom.
Impact: Maybe not in terms of sales, but in terms of charts and songs that still are in the public consciousness, Ozzy's solo career might possibly be on equal footing with his former band.
Intangibles: He is the singular figure that symbolizes and epitomizes heavy metal, in the minds of many, from the look to the behavior, to the musical festival named after him. It's almost a mythos at this point.
Issues: When a band is as foundational to a genre as Black Sabbath was, the solo career of any member will always run the risk of being seen as a coattails thing or just plain inferior. Additionally, the reality show surrounding his family nearly made him a punchline to an entire generation, rather than a legend.
Personal taste: Maybe a relative thing, but Ozzy did fairly well here. And by relative, I also mean familial, referring to my two older brothers and one younger sister who have shared their love of metal and hard rock with me. Some of it was familiarity with some of the songs, other times it was the catchiness of the hooks, and sometimes production mattered. Good times all around.
Favorite song: "I Don't Wanna Stop"
9. JANE'S ADDICTION
Innovation: Kind of at the beginning of the alternative movement, especially when it was first starting to break, so pretty innovative to that sound.
Influence: Theirs is a name that will regularly appear in conversations about the most influential alternative and hard-rock bands of the last thirty-five years or so.
Impact: They have a visible presence in the history of the Modern Rock Tracks charts, and even a modicum of crossing over to the mainstream consciousness. A couple hit albums, as well. But for the limited chart action, they're still a band with some name recognition.
Intangibles: In addition to the industry influence of founding Lollapalooza, there's some individual name recognition and respect for members Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro.
Issues: The arrow of longevity is not in their quiver. While they do have some name recognition, it's really more for the oddity of the name itself rather than for any of their music. You've heard of them, but don't really know how or why.
Personal taste: Last time they were nominated, the band tanked on the Personal Taste rankings, and while I don't foresee them being quite at the bottom, this is still not a band I'll casually throw on, as evidenced by the fact a Grateful Dead tribute album contribution is their song I can most enjoy.
Favorite song: "Ripple"
10. SINEAD O'CONNOR
Innovation: She's certainly a unique artist who drew inspiration from paths less traveled and incorporated into a unique and ineffable style of her own.
Influence: She's been an influence to many female singers that came after her as well as some of the offbeat male bands that saw something worth taking from her music.
Impact: Name recognition? Check. Iconic song? Check. And a bit of commercial success outside of that song.
Intangibles: She was a conscientious artist who not only strove to make high quality art, but also worked to improve the world at large through her music.
Issues: This might be a moment where Joe Kwaczala's category, "Does my mom know who they are" is a liability rather than an asset. If your mom knows who she is, it's probably more for the controversies, especially the big one, than for the music, and if she does know anything about the music, it's probably only the one song. Additionally, the whole "Sinead was right" campaign is bordering on becoming a dog whistle. As for all the artists citing her as an influence after her death, is that happening because the powers can't suppress her anymore, or is it a bandwagon they're jumping on? And finally, though it shouldn't be to her detriment, there are those who are opposing her candidacy at this time, chiding the Hall for shamelessly trying to capitalize on her death for their own ends (though it should be noted, she was Previously Considered while she was alive, so someone on the NomComm tried).
Personal taste: Which would shock you more: if I really enjoyed listening to her music or if I really did not? Methinks I'll maintain the suspense until I rank the nominees by personal taste below. No scrolling prematurely! Don't even think it!
Favorite song: "Mandinka"
11. FOREIGNER
Innovation: I got nothing here.
Influence: We're just now starting to see modern bands acknowledging the subtle and sometimes one-off ways that Foreigner influenced them. Plus, a lot of the bands of that era kind of sparked and inspired each other, one of the reasons that style of music was so huge that it spawned the Album Tracks charts by the early 1980s.
Impact: Massive. Serious run of hit singles that are still recognizable today, multiple albums going multiple times platinum, and currently recognized as one of the top ten programmed bands on classic rock stations.
Intangibles: Peer respect, as the campaign launched since their nomination has shown a wide range of love and respect from other musicians. Also, I'll give them cred for the Foreigner belt and their song titles being plot devices in "Revenge Of The Mooninites," one of my five favorite episodes of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, but maybe that's just because I'm a... *guitar chord sounds* ... dirty White boy.
Issues: Some could argue that the reason they're one of the most programmed bands on classic rock stations is because their sound is so generic to the format: that they're sand in the jar, rather than stones. Second, while vocal R&B acts have had revolving door memberships long before Foreigner did, most of them at least had one member who was either a founding member or was a member on one of their major hit songs (Herb Reed with the Platters until his death, for example). Foreigner, on the other hand, is currently touring as a machine made completely of replacement parts, thus injuring their artistry credibility. Lastly, a lot of their songs just don't age well lyrically, as most of the major hits are, one way or another, about a guy trying to cajole (sometimes to the point of guilt-tripping) a woman into putting out with him. Not a lot of substance there.
Personal taste: Way down there. Old-timers of the Future Rock Legends forum may remember that I have called the voice the most important instrument in the band, and I cannot stand Lou Gramm's voice. Of the major hits, "Hot Blooded" is the most tolerable, but even the earworm that that song is makes me reach for the dial when they come on.
Favorite song: "Until The End Of Time"
12. THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
Innovation: Not a whole lot that one can glean on the surface, but given that Matthews himself is originally from South Africa, he probably infuses a unique musical heritage into his band's sound, a sound that is distinctly theirs.
Influence: Not a lot that I can recall, but they probably did encourage some jam bands in their wake.
Impact: Their album sales are immense, with several hitting #1 on the Billboard album charts. If you go by number of charted albums, and the weeks and positions charted, as opposed to pure total number of units sold, this group is one of the biggest albums acts on the ballot. A steady presence in the rock songs' charts too, they are at the threshold of being a household name.
Intangibles: They were the most popular act among the "jam band" revival of the '90's, that still exists at some level to this day, with a level of dedication from their fans on par with the likes of the Grateful Dead and Rush.
Issues: Sometimes, a celebrity's image problem is caused by the more annoying fans of that celebrity. Examples include Jesus Christ, Oprah Winfrey, most recently Taylor Swift to a lesser degree, and I'm convinced that Parrotheads who wear shirts that say "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" are largely why Jimmy Buffett still can't get on the ballot. In the case of Dave Matthews, much of the vitriol I've read has been geared toward what appears to be a stereotypical fan of the band: a frat-rat, dude-bro, Bernie-Madoff-disciple. On top of that, they were not a critics' darling, and the current bent of music historians is less than favorably disposed toward them. Their own level of success also contributed to them becoming something of a punchline in some corners of pop culture.
Personal taste: I don't enjoy them. They simultaneously annoy and bore me. Just not my thing.
Favorite song: "American Baby"
13. OASIS
Innovation: They were one of the acts leading the charge for the Britpop movement.
Influence: Leading the charge, they influenced a lot of British bands that came after them, and not just in Britpop, but rock bands in general that followed.
Impact: A fair amount of commercial success here in the States, and immensely popular in the UK to the point of creating factions in the Britpop fandom circles.
Intangibles: They have a bit of longevity, releasing albums over a course of fifteen years, and a bit of critical acclaim to go with it.
Issues: The sibling drama. You're either here for it or really not here for it, but either way, it distracts and maybe even detracts from the music. I mean, how many members can you name that don't have the surname "Gallagher" without looking it up? Also, while no one denies how important the Beatles were, some hold it against Oasis for sounding a little too derivative of the Beatles.
Personal taste: They do have some really good stuff, and a lot that kind of fades in the background. A song or two that I couldn't wait to be over, but nothing too annoying. But it does get old after a bit, so prolonged listening, or bingeing on them, I don't recommend.
Favorite song: "Cigarettes And Alcohol"
14. PETER FRAMPTON
Innovation: He didn't really innovate so much as he popularized the innovation of the talk box, but even that's a little something.
Influence: A lot of guitarists have cited his playing as one of their influences, most notably of late, Sheryl Crow.
Impact: Massive, but short-lived, though the songs that hit do still linger on, and his name continues to be recognized as one of the greats.
Intangibles: Because of his few hits, he's gone largely underrated for his skill as a musician, but it's pretty impressive.
Issues: His entire candidacy and career hang on the one live album, and not because he didn't try. Between a series of personal setbacks and dwindling sales, he just couldn't replicate past success, and that leaves a bad impression for his merits overall.
Personal taste: It's a shame he couldn't replicate his past success. I think a lot of his later stuff is really great, but unfortunately sounds like the kind of music a legend who is banking on their name would be making.
Favorite song: "Off The Hook"
15. LENNY KRAVITZ
Innovation: Not a lot to speak of, but maybe you could call him a unique synthesis of familiar elements that together sounds new-ish.
Influence: Very little, and those that do directly cite him haven't been wildly popular for a substantial amount of time.
Impact: Sixteen Hot 100 hits, but only five broke the Top 40. But still a bit of recognizability too on the Mainstream and Modern Rock charts, plus a lot of name recognition for his acting and fashion.
Intangibles: His creative control is underrated, as a quality musician who plays all the instruments and writes his own songs. Also, peer respect from the old guard is massive. The heroes he grew up loving now love him back.
Issues: He's derided for a seeming lack of originality, as well as discounted for being all image and little substance, like a cardboard cutout.
Personal taste: This may actually be where Kravitz has a serious shot. Besides being the insider industry darling, his music slaps for the most part. Admittedly, I don't really care for his falsetto songs, both because of his falsetto voice itself and because of the arrangements that accommodate it. His biggest hit is not one I care for. As a personal parenthetical and utter non-sequitur, I have to dock him a couple points for co-writing and producing Madonna's "Justify My Love;" growing up listening to the radio a lot, that was the first song I can recall absolutely not liking when I heard it on the Top 40 station at the time. I still don't like that song either, and it set me on a course to not being a fan of Madonna.
Favorite song: "The Chamber"
And there you have it, my Merits ranks. Admittedly, my Intangibles and Issues categories also included a lot of the "Why They Might Make It" and "Why They Might Not" aspects usually reserved for the seeding post, as opposed to the more meat-and-potatoes analyses I try to stick to in this type of entry; however, given how pressed for time I was last year, this might be the smarter move on my part anyway. So, having given my personal taste analyses, the ranks for Personal Taste are as follows, with an average of the two ranks in parentheses:
1. Ozzy Osbourne (average score: 4.5)
2. Kool And The Gang (average score: 2)
3. Cher (average score: 2)
4. Mariah Carey (average score: 3.5)
5. Sinead O'Connor (average score: 7.5)
6. Lenny Kravitz (average score: 10.5)
7. Eric B. And Rakim (average score: 5.5)
8. A Tribe Called Quest (average score: 7)
9. Peter Frampton (average score: 11.5)
10. Mary J. Blige (average score: 7.5)
11. Oasis (average score: 12)
12. Jane's Addiction (average score: 11.5)
13. Foreigner (average score: 12)
14. Dave Matthews Band (average score: 13)
15. Sade (average score: 11)
So, by my numerical averages, my vote in the fan ballot SHOULD look like I'm throwing votes for Cher, Kool And The Gang, Mariah Carey, Ozzy Osbourne, Eric B. And Rakim, A Tribe Called Quest, and then if I'm voting for seven, choosing some days to vote for Mary J. Blige, while some days voting for Sinead O'Connor. And except for voting for Mary J. Blige every time I cast a ballot, that's exactly what I've been doing with my vote. Those clear top six averages, plus Mary J. Blige. No shade to Sinead--if only I had an eighth slot. It's a fun and interesting ballot, and overall, I don't begrudge any of the nominees and won't necessarily call any of them undeserving. I won't be upset if Frampton gets in, because he does score huge for influence. I won't be upset if Lenny Kravitz gets in, because even if you do feel he's "the end of the line" for something, it's still good to include it to wrap up that "line" with a bow. But who do I think will make it? Hopefully, I'll be able to get that up quickly, as the fan vote will probably end before I can finish proofreading and hit "Publish." Or the day after I do. Stay tuned.
You have until April 21st. Good luck!
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