Her name was bound to come up in the consideration of artists eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s class of 2008. Madonna, whose self-titled debut album saw release in 1983, meets the technical criteria for induction eligibility.
According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation’s website, “Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record.” It goes on to state, “Criteria include the influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll.”
While Madonna’s music meets the 25-year benchmark required for eligibility, it does not measure up as an artistic contribution, either influential or significant, to the “development and perpetuation” of rock and roll. If and when today’s artists cite Madonna as an influence, it’s usually not for reasons relating to a quality or substance of her music. Rather, it’s often because of her ever-changing persona, her multifaceted career paths, or her humanitarianism, but essentially it’s due to her celebrity status.
From day one, Madonna’s career has been inextricably bound to sensationalism, drawing attention to herself, not to her music for its own merit. The music she’s made, in effect, has served as a conduit in garnering a spotlight rather than illustrating an artistic effort or expression.
More important than the music, for Madonna, has been the depiction of an image, often sexual in nature, always with the intent of creating a media buzz or some sort of controversy. What’s more memorable, the song, “Like A Prayer,” or its video with a burning Cross and a black Jesus Christ? What comes to mind when you think of the song, “Justify My Love,” its polyrhythmic sound or the fact that MTV banned that video for being too explicit for its young demographic?
And so, if you close the Sex book, turn off Truth Or Dare, and block all memory of Madonna writhing on the MTV stage in a wedding dress to “Like A Virgin,” you’re left with a catalog of mediocre pop music. Nothing innovative, nothing exceptional. And since the substantive qualification for induction deems that an artist must have produced a significant contribution within the field of rock and roll music, Madonna does not deserve to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Brad Laidman
If you exclude artists that did nothing but draw attention to themselves it would be a pretty small Hall of Fame. It's part of being a Rock Star.
Madonna pushed buttons, remained relevent for over 20 years, challenged people's ideas on gender,sex,and religion, and although, I can't name a single song of hers that doesn't also have a video, she can fill a double CD with killer hits, which is more than half of the current inductees can say.
Plus the video for True Blue always gives me a hard on.
2 - Val Smith
This article was written by a man. Enough said......What has kept Madonna in the lives of millions around the planet (literally) has been her music. Period. But, coming from a man, and writing about such a massively succesful female artist, it pretty much all the obvious thngs to say. Rather tranparent? ;)
3 - daryl d
I respect your opinion, but this article is laughable. To say that she hasn't contributed anything musically is absolutely crazy, given that her music has stood the test of time. A lot of music she has released is commercial junk, but as somebody who has listened to a lot of albums and used to work in the industry, "Ray of Light" and "Like A Prayer" are musical and artistic masterpieces.
Patrick Leonard, her former cowriter and producer used to record at my cousin's studio on Halsted in Chicago so I talked to him a couple times. He told me that Madonna wrote ALL the melodies and lyrics for the "Like a Prayer" album and influenced the music he produced for the tracks. Although she didn't play any instruments at the time, he said she had an amazing ear for what works and what doesn't work.
4 - Emilia Becerro
Actually, I was a huge Madonna fan BECAUSE of her music. It was all the sexual imagery that took over her music and made her less interesting. As a role model and human, I wouldn't nominate her for sh** As a musical artist who wrote incredible songs such as Like a Prayer and This Used To Be My Playground, she definitely deserves to be inducted.
5 - Glen Boyd
Nice article Donald, even if I have to at least somewhat respectfully disagree.
When Madonna started out, she was little more than yet another disco diva. I even remember another artist who arrived at roughly the same time -- remember Shannon and "Let The Music Play" -- and in my mind, they were virtually interchangable.
So Shannon faded into well deserved obscurity, while Madonna actually evolved. And she continues to evolve, constantly reinventing herself, right up to this day.
I'm not a huge fan either Donald. But whether you like her or not, I don't think you can deny her impact. She empowered women artistically and in terms of controliing their own careers -- in a male dominated business for one thing --, like few female artists I can think of (Chrissie Hynde and Ann Wilson from Heart are two others who spring to mind).
The thing about artists who are worthy of induction into the R&RHOF is not so much whether we "like" the contributions that they made, but rather that they made significant ones at all.
Madonna warrants the nod.
-Glen
6 - daryl d
I thought I was the only one who comnpared Madonna's breakthrough, "Holiday" with Shannon's "Let The Music Play." I remember, at the time, that those two songs were considered "black." I absolutely hated both songs at the time (not because of the "black thing"). They were major crossover hits - the type that were previously played only on R&B stations. Remember when "Black" music wasn't actually mainstream? When I saw Madonna perform on Dick Clark's show in 1984, I remember being surprised she was white. I didn't really care for her until my dad dragged me to the "Who's That Girl" tour at Soldier Field in Chicago in July of 1987. Not only did I find the show extremely entertaining, but I was fascinated that someone who has only been known for three years could actually fill 60,000 seats in one night. My father was very upset that we had to pay $25 per ticket.
7 - JC Mosquito
I think regardless of whther she's contributed to music or has talent or not, the question is simply this: has she contributed to the genre of rock and roll as opposed to pop music in general?
Fine, she can be the queen of pop for all I care - maybe they ought to be thinking of keeping the rnr hall for rnr artists.
8 - carbondale girl
Sorry but this site completely lost credibility with this article-I'm neither here or there on Madonna but saying she doesn't belong to the R&R Hall of fame is like saying Michael Jordan doesn't belong to the Basketball Hall of Fame (if there is one).
She is the female version of Elvis. Although only about half of her songs have artistic merit she is the only artist of the past twenty years who has survived different genres to produce hit after hit after hit.
9 - carbondale girl
Next article from Blogcritics.com: Why Oprah Winfrey Isn't An Important Television Figure.
10 - Konrad
This article has got to be a joke. MADONNA is an ICON...her musical influence and style can be seen all over...everyone tries but no one can compare...she's almost 50 and is STILL RELEVANT...she should not even have to be nominated...but should be automaticaly inducted.
11 - Christopher Rose
The problem is with the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame itself. Having taken that very limiting name, it should have stuck to the genre. It is trying to stuff a quart of liquor into a one pint beer glass.
12 - Marcus
Look I can take or leave Madonna , I dont own any albums but I do like some of her work.
what i do know is she 100 percent deserves to be nominated! Love her or hate her no one can deny her contribution to the music industry over the last 25 years.
There are some amazing songs in her career , sure there are probably some bad ones to but shes not going to hit the ball everytime.
From what ive seen she has worked hard to get to where she is and mantain her career so good on her I hope her nomination suceeds
13 - JC Mosquito
To expand on Christopher's comment (#11) - there was a time when rock 'n' roll WAS the pop (re: popular) music of it's day, so perhaps at the time, it was felt the name "Rock and Roll" Hall of Fame was considered appropriate. That's not the case anymore - rock 'n' roll is just one subdivision of the total real estate explosion which is popular music culture, and a small-ish subdivision at that. But if all things in pop music culture are eligible (like pop, rap, soul, techno, etc.), maybe the name of the RNRHOF should be changed to something else that would encompass these genres. Either that, or let each of them get their own Halls of Fame.
14 - Mario
Sorry pal.... you can say whatever you want about Madonna : the person but never in life you can said that she don't have an impact in today's music or that she don't deserve not only the nomination but to be part of the R&R Hall of fame THIS YEAR !
Let's me see :
Holiday, Like a Virgin,Crazy for you, Into the Groove, Live to Tell, Papa don't Preach, Open your heart, Like a Prayer, Cherish, Express Yourself,Oh Father, Vogue, Justify my Love, Deeper and Deeper, Secret, Take a Bow, All the Ray of Light cd, Don't Tell Me and here more recent stuff... not only had defined a era but continue to inspire people.. even you can't say that you don't know the lyrics of at least 10 Madonna song !!!
Are u a Mariah Carey Fan by the way ???
15 - Dale
Wikipedia estimates she's sold over 200 million records. Guinness Records states she's the most successful selling female artist of all time.
How can she NOT be relevant? If she's not relevant, who's buying her music and filling the stadiums and arenas for her concerts?
In a 1980s male dominated business, Madonna broke free and did things her way on her terms. Of course she received flack for that because she did succeed. Look at Prince. He used sexuality just as much, if not more, than Madonna. There was no backlash against HIM? And secondly, look at Michael Jackson. He was riding high and obtained a god-like status. Look at him now.
Madonna has yet to make a "comeback" because she has never left the music scene and has remained quite normal and continues to contribute her talent.
Like her or not, she absolutely deserves to be inducted.
P.S. The first Madonna concert I went to was in 1985 (sold out) and my ticket cost $13!
16 - Tim
I never heard about this Donald Gibson in the past. I think this unknown man is just trying to get some attention and publicity by attacking Madonna with some stupid and laughable comments. I wander how this kind of uneducated and incompetent people are hired to write about important musicians. Is it for real or joke!!!
17 - Vern Halen
IS real - no joke! I wander too myself a lot about this kind of commenters.
18 - Dr. Jimmy
She absolutely belongs in the Hall of Fame. Her influence on pop culture over the past 25 years is enormous.
19 - daryl d
Oh come on, don't attack the author. He's stating an opinion that many in the music industry believe. But in my opinion, he just isn't correct.
20 - Amanda Bittle
I disagree with the author's assertion that Madonna's image is more important than the music, itself. I love many Madonna songs; with most of these I have no association with any video or media controversy. By the time I was listening to her early stuff, it was no longer in the news.
There is little question as to whether Madonna has influenced the music industry or remains relevant.
That said, is her music really rock and roll? What defines rock and roll?
I looked around on the Hall of Fame website, and found no precise definition ... anybody care to take a stab?