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Thread started 12/17/15 5:53am

HAPPYPERSON

Janet Jackson fan writes open letter to the Rock Hall over snub

Picture


By Elliot Peace | @MrWintour

To whom it may concern at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,

​I have a few questions.

​Questions that I pose to you, not just as a
Janet Jackson fan whose eyes are filled with tears after learning that after years of being snubbed by you (with a mere nomination) you all could bring yourselves to snub her again with an induction; but as a fan of music, and even of the music industry – as tarnished and as bureaucratic as I have learned it to be.

It’s almost 5:00 am EST and I have to be at work at 8:30, but I was awakened by the semi-constant vibrations of my cell phone, and the constant illumination of a notification filling my darkened bedroom. I knew it had happened. As myself and other members of Janet Jackson’s fan family (which are affectionately referred to as the
JanFam) were very aware of the release of inductees today.

I knew the inductees had been released, what I did not know, or had not really prepared myself for was what I would find on my phone when I turned on the screen.

Then I saw it.

A number of artists – all very similar, except one act which stood out from the rest, but also stood out to me as being as far, or farther from “Rock & Roll” as Janet Jackson is. Janet Jackson… is not on this list.

I immediately took to
Twitter, and to my Facebook groups to see if anyone else was outraged, or if I was alone in feeling like I had just been broken up with. Before I knew it, I was typing feverishly – relentlessly trying to cram questions into 140 characters, and send them to @rock_hall about how you could have overlooked Janet Jackson for this honor?

My questions are stemmed not only from a place of anger, but also of hurt, dismay, disbelief, and also hope; but they are impossible to fit into 140 characters. They are simple questions, and Rock Hall, they ARE NOT ALL RHETORICAL. I expect some answers – we, the faithful members of the
Rhythm Nation which Janet Jackson has lead for more than twenty five years, expect answers.

Who?

Who was the first female artist during the Soundscan tallying era to have an album debut at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100?

Who created a debut tour that was, and still is the most successful debut concert tour of any artist in history?

Who among your inductees has earned a number one album in four consecutive decades? (I know for sure, at least one of your inductees was not even together a full decade). Who has garnered
Grammy nominations in more categories that any other artist in history, one of which was a “Rock” category.

Who emerged from perhaps the largest musical shadow ever cast by family members, to shine through (arguably, at times, outshine) as a mega-superstar in their own right; completely independent of assistance?

Who among you will have the courage to stand up and speak out for the injustices within your induction process, not just for Janet Jackson, but for all deserving candidates who are left stranded by the wayside of relevancy each year?
Picture


What?

What artist today has not been influenced by Janet Jackson?

What artist can honestly say they have not been inspired by her musicality, creativity, visual innovation, and/or perseverance in a fickle industry of one-hit-wonders, and wavering “it-artists” of the moment?

What would the music and entertainment industry be today, without the strides made, the standard set, and the expectation created by Janet Jackson’s domination of music, dance, film, business, and philanthropy?

What would the world be like if Janet Jackson had not convinced a generation of fans to take control of their world, then pay attention to the world around them?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAwaNWGLM0c&feature=youtu.be

When?

When will Janet Jackson receive her due?

When will there be a magazine article written that does not make reference to, by name, to her brothers or another Pop Queen with similar accolades?

When will the contributions she has made to the music and entertainment industries be hailed in the same light as those who haven’t broken nearly as many records, or barriers?

When will her catalog of hits, her arsenal of concert tours, the video notches in her belt, the millions of albums, movie tickets, concert tickets, etc. sold be enough to have her regarded among her peers in the mainstream media & public perception?

When will she be brought to the front of the public stage and praised, rather than applauded lightly from the back of the room?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH-rPt1ftSo&feature=youtu.be

Where?


Where are all of her vocal supporters when we need them?

Where are the Britneys, Beyonces, Rhiannas, J. Los, and even Nickis who have been obviously inspired by Miss Jackson, and who could set the record straight with their fans, rallying the type of backing and respect she deserves?

Where is the public apology from former FCC chairman
Michael Powell for vilifying one of the greatest talents the world will ever know, and effectively tainting her legacy for the generations who had & have yet to be introduced to her?

(Sidenote: Did we all realize that his father is
Colin Powell? The same Colin Powell who recruited Janet a few years before to help with America’s Promise: The Alliance for Youth, the non-profit organization he founded? The same organization, for which he happily accepted proceeds from The Velvet Rope Tour to help fund?)

Where is Colin Powell to vouch for her character & demand that she be treated like the treasure she is?

Where are the people who have access to the world’s microphone, but will not speak into it on her behalf?

Where is Justin Timberlake to right his wrongs – to not Sway on
MTV, but on a serious platform that will get the attention it deserves?

Where the innumerable, thankful musical acts whose entertainment value has risen, even if indirectly, due to what the public expects from its performers, based on the elements Janet Jackson infused so seamlessly into her career?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-gu1KETjVY&feature=youtu.be

Why?

Why did it take so long for Janet Jackson to get a nomination? Why was one of the most successful artists of all time, who has been credited with helping to bridge gaps between numerous musical genres, racial groups, and generations not nominated until 2015, when she was eligible for induction in 2007?

Why is that the story for so many people of color?

Why is that the story for so many WOMEN of color?

Why was
Bruce Springsteen (one of the 3 artists to have number 1 albums span 4 decades) nominated and inducted a mere year after his eligibility, when though his record sales may have been comparable, his accolades were certainly not? Why is it okay to ignore the accomplishments of those who have achieved so much, only to give acclaim to those who are less deserving? Why should I have even had to pose these questions, when there really are not any answers to them – only excuses?

Now why, I ask again, reprising the question at the end of each of my Tweets regarding Janet Jackson’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, why wasn’t she inducted?



A Disappointed music fan,

Elliott Peace
@MrWintour

http://www.thelegendspanel.com/janet-euphoria/letter-to-the-rock-hall
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Reply #1 posted 12/17/15 6:15am

MattyJam

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Sad.

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Reply #2 posted 12/17/15 6:25am

thedoorkeeper

She is the Pete Rose of Pop.
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Reply #3 posted 12/17/15 6:51am

lezama

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NWA received induction before her? There's something wrong about that. I can understand Steve Miller, Chicago and Deep Purple.. Cheap Trick not really. Chic was rejected for the 10th time which is incredible.

Change it one more time..
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Reply #4 posted 12/17/15 7:04am

JKOOLMUSIC

lol its a silly ceremony to be featured in some circlejerk museum in Ohio

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Reply #5 posted 12/17/15 7:18am

mjscarousal

lezama said:

NWA received induction before her? There's something wrong about that. I can understand Steve Miller, Chicago and Deep Purple.. Cheap Trick not really. Chic was rejected for the 10th time which is incredible.

Not to be a double downer or anything but IMO I think NWA has had the same amount of influence as Janet. Just because their a hip hop band doesn't mean there contributions should be minimized either. Both NWA and Janet came out around the same time (1986/late 1980's). Although Janet released two previous efforts before Control, the Control album is what made her a "super star." I understand the Janet fans frustrations (because Janet is underrated) but I personally think Chaka and Chic were more deserving for induction and yet again they were snubbed.

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Reply #6 posted 12/17/15 8:22am

SoulAlive

lezama said:

Chic was rejected for the 10th time which is incredible.



Makes you wonder how many times Janet will be nominated and rejected.They didn't induct Donna Summer until after she died,which is unforgivable confused
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Reply #7 posted 12/17/15 8:42am

Cinny

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Where are the Britneys, Beyonces, Rhiannas, J. Los, and even Nickis who have been obviously inspired by Miss Jackson

Low key, I think the Rock Hall wants to future-snub the Britneys, Beyonces, Rihannas, and J.Lo's, so that might weigh in their decision for inducting her. I know Madonna's in there, but... that might have been their one shout-out to that world.

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Reply #8 posted 12/17/15 8:44am

PurpleMedley12
2

Why?

Believe it or not, this is still having a significant effect on her career:

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Reply #9 posted 12/17/15 9:59am

mjscarousal

Cinny said:

Where are the Britneys, Beyonces, Rhiannas, J. Los, and even Nickis who have been obviously inspired by Miss Jackson

Low key, I think the Rock Hall wants to future-snub the Britneys, Beyonces, Rihannas, and J.Lo's, so that might weigh in their decision for inducting her. I know Madonna's in there, but... that might have been their one shout-out to that world.

But none of those acts have done anything as groundbreaking as Rhythm Nation or has made an album as influential as Control. Janet is more than worthy to be inducted. Same with Whitney. Its pretty ridiculous Whitney has not been in either. If Madonna can be inducted don't see why Janet or Whitney can't be.

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Reply #10 posted 12/17/15 10:00am

mjscarousal

PurpleMedley122 said:

Why?

Believe it or not, this is still having a significant effect on her career:

Unfornately, I have to agree. She is so underrated. I am glad she has had a successful comeback though.

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Reply #11 posted 12/17/15 10:19am

Cinny

avatar

mjscarousal said:

Cinny said:

Low key, I think the Rock Hall wants to future-snub the Britneys, Beyonces, Rihannas, and J.Lo's, so that might weigh in their decision for inducting her. I know Madonna's in there, but... that might have been their one shout-out to that world.

But none of those acts have done anything as groundbreaking as Rhythm Nation or has made an album as influential as Control. Janet is more than worthy to be inducted. Same with Whitney. Its pretty ridiculous Whitney has not been in either. If Madonna can be inducted don't see why Janet or Whitney can't be.

They absolutely have not eclipsed her (never will), but just trying to figure out why they snub her. They might already be regretting Madonna's induction.

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Reply #12 posted 12/17/15 10:22am

MickyDolenz

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mjscarousal said:

But none of those acts have done anything as groundbreaking as Rhythm Nation or has made an album as influential as Control. Janet is more than worthy to be inducted. Same with Whitney. Its pretty ridiculous Whitney has not been in either. If Madonna can be inducted don't see why Janet or Whitney can't be.

There's not that many female acts in the Hall. So her gender have something to do with it. Rock is considered to be a macho male thing. Most of the founders were male, and popular rock remained primarily male. Dance music is not considered macho (probably why Chic can't get in), but rap is. Even more than rock, rap is definitely more masculine and ever since Rapper's Delight became a hit, very few female rappers got any kind of popularity.

You can take a black guy to Nashville from right out of the cotton fields with bib overalls, and they will call him R&B. You can take a white guy in a pin-stripe suit who’s never seen a cotton field, and they will call him country. ~ O. B. McClinton
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Reply #13 posted 12/17/15 10:27am

MickyDolenz

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PurpleMedley122 said:

I didn't know Victor French performed with Janet razz lol

You can take a black guy to Nashville from right out of the cotton fields with bib overalls, and they will call him R&B. You can take a white guy in a pin-stripe suit who’s never seen a cotton field, and they will call him country. ~ O. B. McClinton
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Reply #14 posted 12/17/15 10:28am

Cinny

avatar

MickyDolenz said:

mjscarousal said:

But none of those acts have done anything as groundbreaking as Rhythm Nation or has made an album as influential as Control. Janet is more than worthy to be inducted. Same with Whitney. Its pretty ridiculous Whitney has not been in either. If Madonna can be inducted don't see why Janet or Whitney can't be.

There's not that many female acts in the Hall. So her gender have something to do with it. Rock is considered to be a macho male thing. Most of the founders were male, and popular rock remained primarily male. Dance music is not considered macho (probably why Chic can't get in), but rap is. Even more than rock, rap is definitely more masculine and ever since Rapper's Delight became a hit, very few female rappers got any kind of popularity.

There seems to be some of that, for sure. That makes more sense than an ethnicity argument.

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Reply #15 posted 12/17/15 11:15am

mjscarousal

Race is most definitly a factor in these nominations and inductions. For crying out loud only ONE black act got inducted this year. I am sorry but that is ridiculous disbelief Some of ya'll really think race is no factor in these inductions? I think its pretty safe to say the RHOF is racist and political. Chic got snubbed TEN TIMES. What white band you know (regardless of genre) got snubbed 10 times? disbelief

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Reply #16 posted 12/17/15 11:19am

mjscarousal

Cinny said:

mjscarousal said:

But none of those acts have done anything as groundbreaking as Rhythm Nation or has made an album as influential as Control. Janet is more than worthy to be inducted. Same with Whitney. Its pretty ridiculous Whitney has not been in either. If Madonna can be inducted don't see why Janet or Whitney can't be.

They absolutely have not eclipsed her (never will), but just trying to figure out why they snub her. They might already be regretting Madonna's induction.

I actually think Madonna deserves to be in RHOF. boxed However, if she is already in it than why can't Janet or Whitney? They all have classics, groundbreaking albums, influence etc. I think its a race AND gender issue. Donna Summer didn't get inducted until after she passed away, gross disbelief

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Reply #17 posted 12/17/15 11:20am

mjscarousal

MickyDolenz said:

mjscarousal said:

But none of those acts have done anything as groundbreaking as Rhythm Nation or has made an album as influential as Control. Janet is more than worthy to be inducted. Same with Whitney. Its pretty ridiculous Whitney has not been in either. If Madonna can be inducted don't see why Janet or Whitney can't be.

There's not that many female acts in the Hall. So her gender have something to do with it. Rock is considered to be a macho male thing. Most of the founders were male, and popular rock remained primarily male. Dance music is not considered macho (probably why Chic can't get in), but rap is. Even more than rock, rap is definitely more masculine and ever since Rapper's Delight became a hit, very few female rappers got any kind of popularity.

Agree but it is definitly a race issue as well.

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Reply #18 posted 12/17/15 11:30am

MickyDolenz

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mjscarousal said:

For crying out loud only ONE black act got inducted this year.

How many Mexican, Chinese, Cherokee, Puerto Rican, Japanese, Indian, etc. performers are in the Hall period? Or have become popular in mainstream USA for that matter? There's many blacks that have been inducted, including early influence acts.

You can take a black guy to Nashville from right out of the cotton fields with bib overalls, and they will call him R&B. You can take a white guy in a pin-stripe suit who’s never seen a cotton field, and they will call him country. ~ O. B. McClinton
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Reply #19 posted 12/17/15 12:29pm

mjscarousal

MickyDolenz said:

mjscarousal said:

For crying out loud only ONE black act got inducted this year.

How many Mexican, Chinese, Cherokee, Puerto Rican, Japanese, Indian, etc. performers are in the Hall period? Or have become popular in mainstream USA for that matter? There's many blacks that have been inducted, including early influence acts.

Actually there have been fewer black acts compared whites inducted and I didn't say this was a BLACKissue. I said this was a RACE issue which includes other races besides African Americans.

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Reply #20 posted 12/17/15 12:56pm

MickyDolenz

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mjscarousal said:

Actually there have been fewer black acts compared whites inducted and I didn't say this was a BLACKissue. I said this was a RACE issue which includes other races besides African Americans.

What do you expect from a rock magazine started by a white guy? Whites are the main readers of Rolling Stone. It's not a R&B music focused magazine. Most of the black performers featured in RS and that have been inducted in the Hall Of Fame have been the ones who crossed over to the pop charts and not the ones who are mainly known to the black audience. How many times has Willie Hutch, Joe Simon, & Millie Jackson been in RS or a reggae act not named Bob Marley? Way less than Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder. lol Black people are not the the main ones who buy the magazine and the primarily white audience who do would be less likely to have heard of the non-crossover acts. Geto Boys formed before or around the same time as NWA, but they're less known to the mainstream and didn't get the same amount of press although they were basically doing the same thing. Magazines are a business and they're going to feature people who are more likely to sell and so is a museum. RS is not an underground or niche music magazine.

You can take a black guy to Nashville from right out of the cotton fields with bib overalls, and they will call him R&B. You can take a white guy in a pin-stripe suit who’s never seen a cotton field, and they will call him country. ~ O. B. McClinton
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Reply #21 posted 12/17/15 2:01pm

UnderMySun

MickyDolenz said:

mjscarousal said:

Actually there have been fewer black acts compared whites inducted and I didn't say this was a BLACKissue. I said this was a RACE issue which includes other races besides African Americans.

What do you expect from a rock magazine started by a white guy? Whites are the main readers of Rolling Stone. It's not a R&B music focused magazine. Most of the black performers featured in RS and that have been inducted in the Hall Of Fame have been the ones who crossed over to the pop charts and not the ones who are mainly known to the black audience. How many times has Willie Hutch, Joe Simon, & Millie Jackson been in RS or a reggae act not named Bob Marley? Way less than Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder. lol Black people are not the the main ones who buy the magazine and the primarily white audience who do would be less likely to have heard of the non-crossover acts. Geto Boys formed before or around the same time as NWA, but they're less known to the mainstream and didn't get the same amount of press although they were basically doing the same thing. Magazines are a business and they're going to feature people who are more likely to sell and so is a museum. RS is not an underground or niche music magazine.

So maybe we shouldn't be surprised if Beyonce gets nominated and inducted the first time out, would that be like in 2033? And Janet and Chic will still probably left out in the cold when it comes to being inducted by that time.

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Reply #22 posted 12/17/15 2:18pm

luvsexy4all

oh for f's sake..not everyone can get in every year...

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Reply #23 posted 12/17/15 2:50pm

NorthC

At the end of the day, rock & roll is black music performed by white folks. Because there's simply more whites than blacks in the world. Sorry. That's the way it is. And lots of people want to see and hear artists that look like themselves. That's why Little Red Rooster by The Rolling Stones was a bigger hit in the US & Europe than the original by Howling Wolf. And that's also why the Stones aren't popular in Africa at all, but Bob Marley is.
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Reply #24 posted 12/17/15 2:55pm

NorthC

And all this whining of "oh my favourite artist didn't get in" bawl Does this make you enjoy his or her music any less? Does this make you feel unsure about yourself? No? Then what's the problem?
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Reply #25 posted 12/17/15 3:13pm

alphastreet

Would love to see it happen, but I feel like fans who keep putting out things like this over and over just want their fandom to be validated. I understand why in the greater context, but it's starting to sound like a temper tantrum at this point and almost embarrassing
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Reply #26 posted 12/17/15 3:18pm

mjscarousal

alphastreet said:

Would love to see it happen, but I feel like fans who keep putting out things like this over and over just want their fandom to be validated. I understand why in the greater context, but it's starting to sound like a temper tantrum at this point and almost embarrassing

Agree

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Reply #27 posted 12/17/15 3:18pm

Cinny

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A reissuing campaign that would make writers cozy up to her classics again might've helped.

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Reply #28 posted 12/17/15 3:49pm

MickyDolenz

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UnderMySun said:

So maybe we shouldn't be surprised if Beyonce gets nominated and inducted the first time out, would that be like in 2033? And Janet and Chic will still probably left out in the cold when it comes to being inducted by that time.

By the time that comes around, Jann Wenner & the other boomer staff of RS will be really old & retired or dead. Notice that most of the current inducted acts debuted in the 1960s & 1970s and so was last year like Paul Butterfield, Bill Withers, & Ringo Starr. I think they're trickling out the older acts because there's not many acts that debuted 25 years ago had any longevity. I don't see Blues Traveler & Spin Doctors getting in anytime soon. razz I think Green Day got in because they had a successful Broadway play and NWA because of the later success of Ice Cube & Dr. Dre. Dre & DJ Yella was doing electro in World Class Wreckin' Cru. They didn't get in for that. NWA did not invent gangsta rap. They only released 2 albums, unless you count NWA & The Posse, and then they broke up. They just became the face of gangsta. The big success of their biopic probably help too.

.

When Beyonce comes around it'll be a different generation voting who may not have been around when rock was big. Rap and maybe pop country is the rock of today. Rock has been replaced in the mainstream, like rock n roll replaced the easy listening acts before them like Dinah Shore, Percy Faith, & Jackie Gleason. I think as far as Top 40 is concerned, rock is like Lawrence Welk, something their grandparents or great-grandparents listened to. lol

You can take a black guy to Nashville from right out of the cotton fields with bib overalls, and they will call him R&B. You can take a white guy in a pin-stripe suit who’s never seen a cotton field, and they will call him country. ~ O. B. McClinton
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Reply #29 posted 12/17/15 4:26pm

MickyDolenz

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NorthC said:

At the end of the day, rock & roll is black music performed by white folks.

Like basketball was invented by a white guy and was a mostly white sport but now primarily black (in the USA) razz The thing is black people in the US in general abandoned the blues, jazz, and rock. At some blues & jazz concerts the audience might be primarily white, even with a black performer. I think there's also less nostalgia. On TV recently I saw several reports on the 100th birthday of Frank Sinatra. You're not likely to see BET talking about Ethel Waters and Louis Armstrong.

You can take a black guy to Nashville from right out of the cotton fields with bib overalls, and they will call him R&B. You can take a white guy in a pin-stripe suit who’s never seen a cotton field, and they will call him country. ~ O. B. McClinton
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Forums > Music: Non-Prince > Janet Jackson fan writes open letter to the Rock Hall over snub