The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2013 induction nominees on October 15, including KISS, Nirvana, N.W.A. and more. Although there's no limit to how many can be allowed into the hall by the panel of 600 voters, we at Music Times have been reading too much The Hunger Games and wondered: What if there could be only one?
Therefore we've organized the nominees into a bracket, and are giving you, the reader, the chance to vote for the artists of your choice. Is it fair? No, but it will certainly test your loyalty to your favorite acts. We'll release one quadrant a day for voting, and hopefully give you a chance to learn something about the acts along the way.
DAY 2
N.W.A. vs. The Meters
N.W.A. has been on the fence so far for its R'n'R nominations due to its controversial content, but isn't that the point? The group wasn't trying to win any etiquette contests with albums such as Straight Outta Compton, and whether your mother enjoys their music or not, there's no doubt that the group had a huge impact on the shaping of modern hip-hop, for better or for worse. Plus, with Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Eazy E involved, it was an accidental supergroup before it even got started. The Meters might be less notorious, but they deserve to be equally renowned. As the house band for New Orleans label Sansu, the group was often recording with music giants and as a result falling under their shadows. Having played its groovy funk behind the likes of Allen Toussaint, Dr. John and, oh yeah, Paul McCartney, odds are you've heard The Meters before, whether you realize it or not.
Linda Ronstadt vs. Yes
Linda Ronstadt is the only performer to win Grammys in pop, country, Mexican American and the Tropical Latin genres. And she was considered to be a rock singer. That goes to show the kind of range the vocalist had, and she wasn't even trying to be "experimental." It sounds cynical, but Ronstadt revealed earlier doing 2013 that she has Parkinson's and can no longer sing. She deserves the honor either way, but that might move the committee to induct her sooner than later. Progressive rock has long been maligned by the Hall of Fame, but Rush's induction last year proves there may be some hope for Yes as well. The band demonstrated the experimentation and virtuosity expected of prog-rockers, but every once in a while it released a piece of pop gold as well, such as "Owner of A Lonely Heart."
