ROCK & ROLL HOF 2022 INDUCTEES!

Sophia Cook
Nov 21, 2022
6 min read

Updated: Apr 4, 2023

This past Saturday, November 19, the 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony aired on HBO and HBO Max. The ceremony was filmed on November 5th. In honor of this, today’s post is going to be inspired by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has been inducting performers since 1986. There are a total of 37 classes, including the 2022 inductees. To be eligible for a nomination to be inducted, an artist or band has to have released their first recording at least 25 years prior to their nomination. Once nominated, the ballots are then sent to a voting body of over 1,000 artists, historians, and members of the music industry. They will take many things into consideration, such as the influence they’ve had on other artists, the depth of their career, and their superiority in style and technique. If you’ve been to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, located in Cleveland, Ohio, you know that they have fan voting as well. I also believe that you can vote online. The top 5 fan voted artists will be included as a “fans’ ballot” that will go along with the other ballots to select the inductees.

To open the nearly four hour ceremony was Robert Downy Jr., who had the honor of inducting Duran Duran into the Hall of Fame. They are an English new wave band formed in the late 70s. The five UK boys took over the pop industry in the 80s. MTVs peak was in the 80s, and Duran Duran was all over that shit. John Taylor and Nick Rhodes originated the band after both worked at a nightclub in Birmingham. Even in the 90s, they upheld great success while other bands of similar matter dissolved. As Robert Downy Jr. said in his induction speech, Duran Duran has proven to sustain “iconic, era defining fashion, high level musicianship, plus hits”, which makes for longevity of an artists career.

Following Duran Duran was the one of a kind production duo, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who got inducted for ‘musical excellence’. They’ve worked with everyone– Chaka Khan, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Boyz II Men, Gwen Stefani, Michael Jackson, and perhaps their most collaborated artist, Janet Jackson, who presented them with their induction. They’ve written several #1 hits, including eight for Janet Jackson herself. When asked what makes them such icons, they keep their humility and applaud the artists that they work with. After 40+ years of making music, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis pride themselves for making new-stalgic records– songs that feel new and energetic but will also remind you why you got invested in the first place.

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo are the perfect duo. They were literally made for each other. While being classically trained, there is much more to Pat Benatar’s vocal performances. She has a one of a kind voice that was made for rock & roll. Benatar is extremely humble, not thinking that her career is all about her, but it’s about the magic that her band makes when they play together. The connection that Pat Benatar had with her future husband Neil Giraldo was instantaneous. They knew that they were meant to play together, and alongside one another they created an undeniably strong sound. Benatar has been an inspiration to many females who want to chase a game that was once dominated by men. She stays respectful, but also knows her power and talent. She was loved since she stepped on stage for her obvious talent.

Along with Jam & Lewis, Judas Priest was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for their ‘musical excellence’. The English heavy metal band was formed in 1969. They are said to have shaped the world of heavy metal; especially by their fashion takeover. Judas Priest coined the leather with studs, motorcycle, and double lead guitar concepts that we know to be metal now. No one from the original band got to be on any recordings, with their first record coming out five years after the band formed. Metal was still an undefined baby genre in the mid 70s, until Judas Priest came along. While they began as supporting acts for Ted Nugent and even Led Zeppelin, they were still not as known. By 1978, they began to change their image, and adopt the style that we now regard as the tokened metal style.

“You’re So Vain” singer Carly Simon was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Sara Bareilles. Though Simon wasn’t there to perform, she had the help of Bareilles and Olivia Rodrigo. Carly Simon was surrounded by music in her upbringing, and was in a duo with her sister before breaking out on her own. She has made her name being one of the biggest female singer songwriters, who isn’t afraid to bring up her own fears or insecurities, but also who has taken those struggles and flipped them to make her a better musician. In 1972, she won the Grammy for best new artist, which was well deserved. She has said that she never wanted the spotlight to be on her, but at the same time there was a part of her that contradicted that completely. Carly Simon is extremely humble and just as much talented, inspiring many singer songwriters today.

During his college years, Lionel Richie joined a band that would later be known as The Commodores. In 1982 he released his first solo album. His second album, Can’t Slow Down, won the Grammy for album of the year in 1984. Richie has genre hopped, finding success in most of his endeavors. Eurythmics, a duo containing Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, have made one of the songs that changed music– "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)". The unique duo was always very aware that they weren’t just making music; they were also making images and styles. Both Lionel Richie and Eurythmics have a kind of electricity to them that creates timeless music.

Eminem, no matter what you think of him, has changed the face of rap. His controversial lyrics have brought him so much success. When I first heard that Eminem was nominated to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, I was so confused and a little frustrated. I thought, ‘He isn’t a rock artist, he’s a rapper’. However, when you hear the statistics, you realize that though he is a rapper, he’s one of the most achieving artists of all time, and that deserves heavy recognition. Dr. Dre, the legend who inducted the rapper, told us that Eminem is one of the best selling artists of all time, and that he is the best selling hip hop artist ever. Eminem turned his intense pain into art, and he happened to sell over 220 million albums. He was the first artist to ever achieve thirteen #1 album, which Dre tells us, “Ten of which all consecutively debuted at #1”. Though you may not like his music, or even think he should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I hope that you're able to put your opinions aside and acknowledge that Eminem is one of the best in the rap game.

Dolly Parton is another artist who I wasn’t sure should be in the Hall of Fame. She’s always been a country singer. Even she was questioning their choice to induct her, so she decided to write a song to prove that she can rock as well as be an iconic face of country music. Dolly Parton has written over 3,000 songs, including the most selling song of all time by a female artist– "I Will Always Love You". For this and many other reasons, she is one of the most respected performers. Not only is Dolly Parton an incredible songwriter who has made an insane career for herself, but she has provided many children and young adults with scholarships. She’s broken the record for how many number one songs a female artist can have on the charts. She has also had 42 top ten country albums, which is a record not just for a female, but for any artist. In the same boat as Eminem, when you look at Dolly Parton’s statistics, you realize that she deserves so much recognition for her musicianship, whether you believe that she is considered rock & roll or not.

Because of the hold the the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has on me, I'm thinking about dissecting each class of inductees, or something along those lines.

Here's a link to my Rock & Roll HOF 2022 inductees playlist, which includes songs from all the performers who were inducted, along with tracks that were produced by some of the inductees.