THE Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced its list of 14 nominees for the class of 2023.
The list has musicians coming from various genres, including Missy Elliott and the White Stripes, two late-1990s icons, as well as Kate Bush and Willie Nelson, country music stalwarts who have each had three nominations and stand a decent chance of winning this time.
Eight of the 14 nominees – Missy Elliott, Warren Zevon, Willie Nelson, the White Stripes, Sheryl Crow, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, and Joy Division/New Order – are appearing on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ballot for the first time.
“This remarkable list of nominees reflects the diverse artists and music that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honors and celebrates,” said John Sykes, chair of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation in a statement.
“These artists have created their own sounds that have impacted generations and influenced countless others that have followed in their footsteps.”
Another act that was on the ballot last year and is up again for a fourth time is Rage Against the Machine. The Spinners, a soul band, were nominated three times before, but it has been seven years since they last received a nod.
After receiving nominations in 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively, Soundgarden, Iron Maiden, and A Tribe Called Quest are all back on the ballot.
The White Stripes are qualified since their debut song ‘Let's Shake Hands’ was released in March 1998, while Missy Elliott became eligible because her album ‘Supa Dupa Fly’ celebrated its 25th anniversary last year.
Coldplay, Lauryn Hill, Destiny's Child, Queens of the Stone Age, Britney Spears, P Diddy, Mos Def, Muse, and Death Cab for Cutie were among the acts that were reportedly considered to have become eligible for the first time this year.
The Spinners, an R&B vocal group, and Warren Zevon, who has long been regarded as one of the top omissions from the Rock Hall, are two more musicians who gained notoriety in the 1970s, and they are both among the nominees.
Considering that the inaugural Rock Hall class was in 1983, Willie Nelson, who will turn 90 soon, has been eligible since the induction first started.
Although others have pointed out that country music has its own hall of fame, Willie Nelson and other luminaries like Merle Haggard and Loretta Lynn may be up for nomination now that Dolly Parton was elected last year.
One of the few instances where a seminal band and its offshoot group have been united into one entry is the Joy Division/New Order nomination. Due to her groundbreaking work as a female rocker, Sheryl Crow can possibly end up being a well-liked choice.
Inductees will be announced in May and the ceremony will take place this fall. Nominees will be voted on by more than 1,000 artists, historians and music industry professionals.
Fans can vote online or in person at the museum, with the top five artists picked by the public making up a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied with the other professional ballots. – The Vibes, February 2, 2023
