Just Give Me a Reason
One Oddly Specific Reason Why Each Artist Nominated Should Make the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Every year the short list of nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame comes out and it is always an eclectic mix of artists for what is now essentially a music, or popular music, hall of fame as opposed to one dedicated to rock & roll.
With Phish mysteriously not making the list this year - probably to avoid their rabid fan base overwhelming the fan vote site again, I tried to come up with one oddly specific reason for each nominee (in no particular order) to make the hall this year. I am holding out hope that Phish will be back on the list for 2027, but until then here are reasons for each artist to merit induction this year:
The Black Crowes - for avoiding the sophomore slump and putting out one of the best second albums, The Southern Harmony and the Musical Companion.
Oasis - for being the band that hates most, if not all, of their most popular songs.
Joy Division / New Order - for being the nominated band with internal strife. With the above two bands having reconciled (or at least the brothers at the forefront of those bands), New Order would supply the potential for conflict if Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner both show up to the ceremony.
New Edition - for being the only boy band with a 100% success rate for members going off on their own.
INXS - for Never Tear Us Apart, one of the greatest 80's ballads that has the trifecta of a memorable guitar riff, extended silences, and a sax solo.
Phil Collins - for the drums on In the Air Tonight.
Iron Maiden - for Run to the Hills, which will make even non-metalheads run through a brick wall.
Jeff Buckley - for starting the snowball rolling downhill that lead to Hallelujah being in Shrek, even though his version isn't used in the film.
Wu-Tang Clan - for the Flintstones themed video for Gravel Pit.
Mariah Carey - for probably receiving the most royalties ever based on one song, All I Want for Christmas is You.
Melissa Etheridge - for correctly deciding the male ideal for a father was David Crosby.
Lauryn Hill - for dropping a classic album with the Fugees, The Score, and one classic solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and essentially disappearing.
Billy Idol - for the sneer.
Shakira - for potentially becoming the smallest member of the Hall.
Pink - for the Just Give Me a Reason duet with Nate Ruess, which was the last time most of us heard from the fun. frontman.
Luther Vandross - for being the namesake of the Kendrick Lamar and SZA song luther.
Sade - for being one of those unlikely artists in the 1980's to have a gigantic hit, Smooth Operator, due to MTV.
My personal vote would be Oasis, Joy Division/New Order, INXS, Wu-Tang Clan, and Iron Maiden.
