2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

Recently the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2013 nominees. Each year about 5-7 artists are inducted into the shrine, honoring their life's work in the music industry. More than 600 artists, historians and members of the music industry make up the international nominating committee. Artists become eligible to be nominated 25 years after the release of their first record. "Criteria include the influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll." 

This year's voting process allows fans to participate in selecting the honorees for the first time ever! The nominees have been posted in an official online poll of which you can select up to five favorites. Here are the 2013 nominees...

The top five vote-getters will be tallied as the "fans vote" and be included with all other ballots to determine this year inductees. Who did I vote for you ask? Well, of course I'm gonna take this opportunity to broadcast my choices, which you know will include artists that had success in the 80s...we'll just have to see how many I get right.

#1 Rush

In my opinion, this Canadian trio is the definition of "progressive rock." Although never charting a single higher than #21 on US Billboard Hot 100 charts, eight of Rush's twenty albums have cracked the top ten on the album charts including 2012's Clockwork Angels. Half of their studio albums have been certified platinum in the US by the RIAA, which is no easy feat without a strong fan base. I think they are a lock to get in on their first nomination, which fans have been screaming about for over 10 years. Click here for Rock Hall info.

My personal favorite track is "Limelight"

#2 Heart
I can probably count the number of times on my hand that I've said "Wow, these girls can rock!" Ann & Nancy Wilson proved right from the start of their recording careers in 1975 that ladies can rock too. Heart's first three studio albums produce a top 20 hit on the charts. Then in 1985, their self-titled album solidified their place in rock history with three top ten hits including their first #1 "These Dreams." The follow-up album Bad Animals produced another #1 hit "Alone." Overall, seven of Heart's fourteen studio albums have reached platinum status and even though they haven't achieve much commercial success since the early 90s, I think they deserve to enter the Hall of Fame on their 2nd try. Click here for Rock Hall info.

My personal favorite track is "Crazy On You"

#3 Donna Summer

The late "Queen of Disco" had a very successful recording career beginning in the mid 70s. Her first top ten hit "I Feel Love" in 1976 paved the way for four #1 hits and five more top five hits by 1981. Although known for her high power disco hits, Summer proved she could branch out into R&B with the soulful ballad and #5 hit "On The Radio." She was also the lead act in what is still the most viewed telecast in Grammy history in 1984, singing her hit "She Works Hard for the Money." Her 1976 hit "I Feel Love" has also been described as "the start of electronic dance music." After being nominated 5 times, I believe she finally makes it in this year. Click here for Rock Hall info.

My personal favorite track is "She Works Hard For The Money"

#4 Public Enemy
It's still weird to me that we are nominating genres like rap to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Not that these genres are not worthy, but since many people and even the artists themselves don't refer to rap as "Rock and Roll," why not change the name to the Modern Music Hall of Fame or something like that.
After opening for groups like the Beastie Boys, Chuck D and Flavor Flav broke onto the rap scene in 1987 from Long Island, NY with their first studio album Yo Bum Rush the Show. Public Enemy quickly became highly influential and also highly criticized for its politically-charged content. Their single "Don't Believe the Hype" pushed them into the mainstream. Four #1 hits on the Billboard rap charts followed from 1989-91 and vaulted them to their highest charting single on the mainstream charts "Give It Up" in 1994. There is no doubt that Public Enemy were pioneers in early rap and hip-hop music, influencing other groups to express their freedom of speech. Click here for Rock Hall info.

My personal favorite track is "Can't Truss It"

Personally, that's all I would vote for in this year's field. One could argue cases for pioneers N.W.A. and Kraftwerk in their respective music genres. If I could nominate just songs, "I Love Rock n' Roll" by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and "Smoke On The Water" by Deep Purple would definitely be on my list. But as music artists, I don't see them entering the Hall of Fame ahead of a group like Chicago or Hall & Oates (WAKE UP NOMINATING COMMITTEE!!) Chic is nominated for a 7th time which is ridiculous if you ask me. If voters have "ho-hummed" over them this many times, I think they should just be dropped off future ballots.

Your turn to cast your vote and tell me who you think deserves to get in this year! Visit the 2013 online fan poll at RockHall.Com to make your selections. Also check out a comprehensive "snub list" compiled by FutureRockLegends.Com to see other artists who have still yet to make it into the Hall of Fame.