Glad to see Cohen is getting his dues. See the full article here:

Madonna and John Mellencamp will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year, alongside Leonard Cohen, the Ventures and the Dave Clark Five. Philly Soul songwriter/producer team Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff will be presented the Ahmet Ertegun Award (previously known as the non-performer category) and blues harmonica player Little Walter will be inducted in the sideman category.

This is Madonna's first year of eligibility; her debut single, "Everybody," was released twenty-five years ago in 1982. The induction ceremony will take place on March 10th, 2008 at New York's Waldorf Astoria.

Among the artists who were nominated this year but did not get in are the Beastie Boys (who were eligible for the first time) and Donna Summer. Read on for a list of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees from the past ten years (for a complete list of inductees since 1986, click here).


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RipHer2Shreds said:

Other than Gamble and Huff, can you say uber white? Leonard Cohen...I mean, wow! I'm very dissapoined Donna Summer didn't get in but not shocked.

I think it's revolting that Madonna got in before Donna Summer. Nothing against Madonna going in, but Summer should have been in there before her or at least at the same time.

Rodya24 said:

You took the words right out of my mouth. Congrats to Madonna but that's bullshit that Donna got snubbed. She deserves to be in the RRHOF even moreso than Madonna. She changed the game for dance music. Total bullshit.

No Donna Summer, no Chic. Next!!!

vainandy said:

People hate when others call racism but I'm white and I'm saying it. I mean, holy shit! Gun to my head, I've been a music fan for years, listen to many genres, can't name a Lenoard Cohen song! For a while, I assumed he was the "Star Trek" guy (Lenoard Nimoy).

VinnyM27 said:

I totally agree with you.

VinnyM27 said:

Leonard Cohen deserves this more than Madonna and Mellencamp together. Please educate yourself. As far as Donna Summer - sure she's great at what she does, but she doesn't hold a candle to Mr. Cohen.

Not shocked at all about the picks. I knew something was fishy when Ace came in here and said not only had John been approved but so had Madonna and Leonard, then the Ventures got their induction announcement and I expected that they would induct the DC5. So what the fuck ever.
[Edited 12/13/07 7:14am]

VinnyM27 said:

Of course the industry's racist. It's also sexist and homophobic. That doesn't mean Cohen's induction isn't justified. That you're not familiar with him isn't an indicator of his influence. He's a great musician and lyricist. Listen to Songs. Brilliant album.

But u know I can't shake it. All five deserved to be there for whatever reason so congrats to all of them.

But anyway, GAMBLE & HUFF FINALLY GET IN! About fucking time!

Rodya24 said:

I agree.

RipHer2Shreds said:

Sorry I focused on him in particular. I don't think that popularity is the only reason for coming in and maybe should be a minimal factor. But to ignore popular African American acts....it's telling to say the least. I'll Lenoard Cohen a listen.

TonyVanDam said:

If Kylie gets in before Donna Summer. I'm done!

TonyVanDam said:

They knew what they were doing: Madonna = ratings...

Doesn't mean I'm gonna watch it though but congrats anyway. The Hall of Fame is such a big joke.

VinnyM27 said:

I don't think she made a big enough impact in America that she can even be recognized for it but nothing else will shock me if they do consider her. No hate, MikeMatronik, just saying.

http://throwingthings.blo...8736704314

JUSTIFY MY VOTE: You may have heard of Madonna. She's up for the Rock Hall this year, but is she worthy? Perhaps the Keltner test will help:

1. Was Madonna ever regarded as the best artist in rock music? Did anybody, while she was active, ever suggest that Madonna was the best artist in rock music?

Regarded as the best in all of rock? Perhaps not. Critical respect hasn’t always followed Madonna around, but admiration for her tenacity and endurance certainly has.

2. Was Madonna ever the best artist in rock music in her genre?

Hells yeah. From 1983-1989 (Madonna, Live A Virgin, True Blue, Like A Prayer), you’re not going to find anyone who recorded that many memorable, great pop songs and had that level of impact on the culture.

Here’s just the singles from that period: Everybody, Burning Up, Holiday, Borderline, Lucky Star, Like A Virgin, Material Girl, Crazy for You, Angel, Into the Groove, Dress You Up, Live To Tell, Papa Don’t Preach, True Blue, Open Your Heart, La Isla Bonita, Who’s That Girl, Causing A Commotion, Like A Prayer, Express Yourself, and Cherish. If you can't sing pretty much all of them -- and if you don't like just about all of them -- then you're not of my generation.

Then there’s Vogue and Justify My Love, and then a brief dry period before Ray of Light re-established herself as an avatar of dance music. She picked the right producers at the right times, throughout her career, and has stayed current for a damn long time.

3. Was any member of Madonna ever considered the best at his instrument/role?

Does “most famous female celebrity in America” count?

4. Did Madonna have an impact on a number of other artists?

Every female artist since Madonna owes her a significant debt for opening up the space to be confident and sexual and provocative. This leads to both good results (Liz Phair, PJ Harvey) and bad ones (Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson).

She may have had an impact on the use of music video in promoting recording artists.

Madonna basically invented the concert-as-choreographed-Broadwayish-production which so many artists followed today.

Oh, and the Beastie Boys were the opening act on her first tour.

5. Was Madonna good enough that she could play regularly after passing her prime?

Sure. Whenever she wants. She’s become a better singer over time, and has had an unerring sense of the zeitgeist. She’s the third-oldest woman to have a number-one single (“Music”), behind Cher (“Believe”) and Tina Turner (“What’s Love Got To Do With It?”)

6. Is Madonna the very best artist in history that is not in the Hall of Fame?

Best? Depends on your respect for pop music and phenomenon-creating.
Biggest? Yes.

7. Are most artists who have a comparable recording history and impact in the Hall of Fame?

Artists with her level of impact are first-ballot inductees. Artists with her level of impact don’t really need Keltner analysis.

8. Is there any evidence to suggest that Madonna was significantly better or worse than is suggested by its statistical records?

I think we know how big Madonna is. As Fametracker would say, Madonna's current approximate level of fame is "Madonna," and back in the 1980s and 1990s, she may have been even more famous than Madonna, if that's possible. If anything, her level of fame may lead some to underestimate just how good she was as a recording artist as well.

9. Is Madonna the best artist in her genre which is eligible for the Hall of Fame?

She is the best pop performer, and best female artist, not in the Hall of Fame.

10. How many #1 singles/gold records did Madonna have? Did Madonna ever win a Grammy award? If not, how many times was Madonna nominated?

Six number one albums, four #2s and a #3. Twelve number-one hits and thirty-six top tens. Only Mariah Carey has more #1 singles; Madonna is tied with Diana Ross and the Supremes for second among female artists.

She has recorded forty-seven top 40 singles, a record for a female artist, and among all artists is only behind Elvis Presley's 104, Elton John’s 54 and The Beatles’ 51.

Seventeen platinum albums, twelve of them going multi-platinum, two diamond (10 million+ sold). Only Barbra Streisand has more top-ten albums among female artists.

Her seven #1s in the 1980s ties the most for a female artist with Whitney Houston.

Twenty-five Grammy nominations and six wins, her first not being until 1992 (a video award), followed by three for Ray of Light, one for “Beautiful Stranger” and one for Confessions on the Dance Floor.

11. How many Grammy-level songs/albums did Madonna have? For how long of a period did Madonna dominate the music scene? How many Rolling Stone covers did Madonna appear on? Did most of the artists with this sort of impact go into the Hall of Fame?

She has dominated the music scene whenever she wanted to – 1983-1991, especially. Madonna has appeared on more magazine covers than almost any other entertainer of her generation.

12. If Madonna was the best band at a concert, would it be likely that the concert would rock?

You would have a good time. I attended the Blonde Ambition tour, and it was hella fun.

13. What impact did Madonna have on rock history? Was Madonna responsible for any stylistic changes? Did Madonna introduce any new equipment? Did Madonna change history in any way?

Her impact on music history is unmistakeable -- the roles a female artist could inhabit, the importance of video and image, etc. Entire college courses can be constructed around the question. Whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing is debatable, but she can’t be responsible for all of her cultural offspring. Among that downside? She helped popularize and (to a certain extent) legitimize the use of prerecorded vocals in "live" performance.

Madonna is a singular artist who, yes, changed music history, and it took a long time for the public to understand just how smart she was at cultivating and maintaining her image.

14. Did the band uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that the Hall of Fame, in its written guidelines, instructs us to consider?

Well, at Live Aid 1985, she did say “I ain’t takin’ shit off today” and kept to her word. Her spirit of calculated defiance and provocation embodies what the RRHOF celebrates.





Sorry haters, none of other nominees this year have had such a broad, OBVIOUS impact on music. Whether that impact to you is good or bad IS your call. The general consensus is though....well....you know now! Be sure to watch and LOVE in March Luvs *MWAH*

Susan Sarandon said it best "Females in music can pretty much be divided into BEFORE and AFTER Madonna."

Liz Phair: "Madonna is the speed boat the rest of us are Go-Go's on jet skis."
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[Edited 12/13/07 10:05am]

Umm... None of us in this thread have said that Madonna should not be in the Hall of Fame. Some of us, however, are skeptical of the decision to induct her BEFORE Donna Summer.

Calm down. You sound like MJ fans (including me)!

Quit whining, Madonna is the best female artist to ever take this Earth. She is so versatile, so get over it. Donna Summers who I seen in person will have her day!!

cheeseburger said:

"Best female artist to ever take this Earth"

Rodya24 said:

But you KNOW they will be here...I'm just getting prepared!!

Oh my God the Madonna Nut Jobs are coming out y'all. Everybody run for the hills!!!!!
[Edited 12/13/07 9:27am]

Timmy84 said:

i'm a huge kylie fan and someone one time sent me hate mail and called me a few names when i said this but...

Kylie is at the same level of Debbie Gibson, Tiffany and Stacy Q in the US. She deserves to be in the UK Music Hall of fame and not the American Rock N Roll hall of fame.

Well i look at the Hall of Fame this way, in a few years or so everyone that has missed or not been on the ballot ever will start getting in because no one really from the 90's is probably even going to get in, except Pearl Jam and Nirvana possibly Jay Z. So what are they going to do? have no show? close the place down, no they will go back and see who they missed and let them in.

As far as this years inductees well im just glad John Mellencamp finally got in, missing out twice then getting dropped off the ballot, while others who couldnt hold a candle to him were getting in was disturbing. Im let down that Chic didnt get in but not surprised, the hall has not been kind at all to the disco era at all, it took a petition and fund raiser to get the Bee Gees even on the ballot and finally in, the Hall felt those disco years were a "tarnish" on their past stuff. So im not surprised the way the hall has treated anyone from that time period. But also lets address the race factor too, is the hall racist? overall in their thinking most likely, but as someone said its also very SEXIST even more than racist in its views, the fact that there is NOT one SOLO rock female in their clearly shows it, they are either RB divas or Folk artists or leaders of a group, but women on the whole are not even looked at.

RipHer2Shreds said:

Now that's funny.

lastdecember said:

Exactly. I do believe they're more sexist because Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Heart and 'em ain't in and probably will never be.

Other R&B legends that probably won't be in either include:
The Marvelettes
Mary Wells
Little Anthony & the Imperials
Chaka (nor Rufus)
Patti (nor Labelle the group)

I'm sure there's more but Jann Wenner needs to be fired from the committee, him and most of the Rolling Stone magazine cast, lol. They didn't even include Donna Summer in their Immortals list (but they had Madonna, not sure about Mellencamp), so that should tell you something.

If Madonna gets in shouldn't Janet, her first single was also released in 1982?

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Sure was but you should know Madonna was gonna get in before her. If Janet get in next year or a year after that, they could use both of them for ratings.