Rant #3,336: No Fair At All

Don't get me started on the so-called Rock and Roll Hall of Fame--

But I am already started, so there is no holding me back.

Yesterday, the latest group of inductees was named, and, well, it isn't even worth mentioning who the inductees are--

It is actually more important to mention who the inductees aren't, and who was left out at even being nominated for the HoF.

The situation happens each and every year, and sorry, it will continue into perpetuity until the HoF changes its nomination process.

Here is what I had to say about this latest fiasco on Facebook when a post was put about about the newest members of the HoF:

"No comment. 

And where are Chubby Checker ... Lesley Gore ... The Monkees ... Michael Nesmith (apart from the Monkees) ... Paul Revere and the Raiders ... Tommy James and the Shondells ... The Turtles ... ?

Nowhere to be found, and most probably never to be found in the Hall.

A joke that keeps on giving ... .

I understand that rock n' roll encompasses many music genres, including everything from country to hip hop. 

I don't necessarily agree with that, but what I am most concerned with is that because of past prejudices by HoF leadership, certain acts who fill in all the boxes of the criteria for HoF induction are being glossed over in favor of acts that will bring in more ad dollars.

Chubby Checker ... how can he not be in the HoF? Any dance, rap or hip hop act inducted owes him kudos.

Lesley Gore ... she fits all the criteria, both professionally and personally, and as far as women's empowerment, how can she not be in there?

Michael Nesmith ... say what you want, but his "Space Country " or whatever you want to call it, was a tremendous influence, certainly on what we call "country" today.

The others I mentioned ... don't get me started ... all of them check off all the criteria for induction, but it appears they have been blacklisted for reasons only known by the HoF.

And I would like to know who the supposed "experts" are who vote on the nominees ... are they "suits" or people who are really invested in the music?

Unfortunately, I think they are mainly "suits," and that irks me."

Yes, the entire situation irks me, but I am happy to say thst there is a solution to all of this, if anyone would listen to me.

Do what the equally controversial Baseball Hall of Fame has done to enshrine "overlooked" players into its hallowed environs:

Establish a rotating vote where overlooked acts from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s will get another look, and a second chance at enshrinement.

Have committees for these years convene in alternating years, and vote on deserving acts from those decades for HoF membership.

Unfortunately, it is quite clear that now that we are in the 2020s, acts from 50, 60, and 70 years ago are going to be overlooked and forgotten when it comes to enshrinement, and not only isn't this fair, it dilutes the HoF from being a real, representative HoF for popular music.

This is the only way to rectify past wrongs, because there have been so many wrongs that if you keep the nomination process the same, nothing will ever get done to enshrine acts that have earned and deserve enshrinement.

I mean, you can't have Mary J. Blige in the HoF without having Lesley Gore in there.

And I could go on and on and on.

The current process is not fair, and needs to be changed.

Look, I am not asking for the 1910 Fruitgum Company to gain entrance; all that I am asking for is for the HoF to act responsibly in its nomination and enshrinement processes, which I do not think they have done up to this point.

But being realistic, if nothing has been done yet to update these processes to make them fairer, I am not going to hold my breath about anything being done in the future.

They will say that the current class of honorees is "the most inclusive class ever," but in this fractured world we live in, the root word "inclusion" has a different meaning--

And actually leads to exclusion, leaving out those who richly deserve the honor but miss out because the HoF brands them as "not marketable" in the current environment.

And to that I say--

"Oogum Boogum."

Nothing I can think.of describes this rancid situation better.