Tracks by R.E.M., Bowie & Nirvana Headline 25 Songs Added To Grammy Hall of Fame

Via: www.j-v-m-m.com/2016/11/grammys-hall-of-fame-adds-recordings-by.html

There will be 25 recordings added to the Grammy Hall of Fame as part of their Class of 2017. Some of these recording include: Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana, David Bowie's Changes, Losing My Religion by R.E.M, the famous Elvis hit Jailhouse Rock and Prince's Sign 'O' the Times.

Besides TV themes (Lalo Schifrin's "Mission Impossible), country (Merle Haggard's Okie From Muskogee, Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make Your Love Me") and early Sixties pop (Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me," Dion's "The Wanderer"), N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton, the Beach Boys' I Get Around, Jackson 5's ABC and Sly & The Family Stone's Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) are also in this colorful group of great tunes. 

The Billboard reported that the criteria for the Grammy Hall of Fame eligibility is based on the rule that the recording has to be over two decades old—25 years old, to be exact. The two tracks that celebrated their 25th anniversary in the year of 2016 are Smells Like Teen Spirit and Losing My Religion. The Hall of Fame's number of inductees would rise to 1,038 with the 25 new additions.

"The Grammy Hall Of Fame represents all genres of music, acknowledging the diversity of musical expression for which The Academy has become renowned," The Recording Academy president and CEO Neil Portnow said in a statement. "Memorable and inspiring, these recordings are proudly added to our growing catalog and are an integral part of our musical, social and cultural history.

Like the more famous Hall of Fame's for the respective sport leagues in this country there is a multiyear eligibility period to make it in the Grammy HOF. In most sports you're not eligible until 5 years after you retire, with the Grammy HOF it's 25 years after the song is released. 25 years is a longggg time, I haven't been alive for 25 years (although it's QUICKLY approaching). But I think it fits because if a song can still hold up 25 years later then it's definitely worthy of being in the HOF. Just because you went to #1 for 2 weeks in 1983 doesn't automatically mean you made an all time record. 


With such classic tracks like Smells Like Teen Spirit and Losing My Religion in their 1st year of eligibility they both make perfect sense to headline the class of songs. As much as I think Nirvana is still way too over-played on my local alternative station, there is no denying the cultural and historical impact the song (and band) made on music. Nirvana absolutely changed music in the early 90's with their impact on grunge and youth culture. All in a relatively short career as the band "broke-up" in 1994. Many call that song the most important of the 90's so I have no issues with me being inducted, it's very deserving.   

Same with Losing My Religion, it's an all time song by an all time group. It has one of the more memorable music videos of all time. It was a top 5 hit and won 2 Grammy Awards. It makes perfect sense to include as well. 

What I don't understand is how many of the songs on this list have taken so long to be included. Take a look at the full list of inductees:

Arlo Guthrie - "The City of New Orleans"
The Beach Boys - "I Get Around"
Billie Holiday - Lady Sings the Blues
Blind Willie McTell - "Statesboro Blues"
Bonnie Raitt - "I Can't Make Your Love Me"
Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - "(Hep-Hep!) The Jumpin' Jive"
David Bowie - "Changes"
Deep Purple - "Smoke of the Water"
Dion - "The Wanderer"
Elvis Presley - "Jailhouse Rock"
The Everly Brothers - "Wake Up Little Susie"
Jackson 5 - "ABC"
Lalo Schifrin - "Mission Impossible"
Lesley Gore - "You Don't Own Me"
Louis Armstrong And His Orchestra - "When the Saints Go Marching In"
Merle Haggard - Okie From Muskogee
Mills Brothers - "You Always Hurt the One You Love"
Mississippi John Hurt - "Stack O'Lee Blues"
N.W.A - Straight Outta Compton
Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Prince - Sign 'O' the Times
R.E.M. - "Losing My Religion"
Rod Stewart - "Maggie May"
Sly & The Family Stone - "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)"
Sonny & Cher - "I Got You Babe"

I mean I get it, you can't induct like 200 songs a year but how were some of these not already Hall of Famers? 

I'm not sit here and act like I know all these songs, but I do know most and their impact on music and I mean it's absolutely shocking it's taking this long to be added into this HOF. These songs just getting added to the HOF in 2017 shock me the most:


​"I've Got You Babe" by Sonny & Cher. 

How is this just getting inducted into the HOF in 2017? This song came out in 1965! Bobby Kennedy and MLK were still alive to put that into perspective. This song has been in hundreds of movies, shows, and commercials in the 52 years since its release and is what many would call a "classic". How did it take so long? Sonny died like 20 years ago.  

​"Smoke of the Water"  by Deep Purple

Maybe the most iconic simple guitar riff of all time? You could've never touched a guitar in your life and still could be able to strum this tune. Just from being the most famous intro to guitar song of all time alone would make me think it would've been recognized by now.  


"I Get Around" by The Beach Boys

Every single Beach Boys hit should be in the Hall. Again this song is over 50 years old. What took so long?


"ABC" by The Jackson 5

Easily the Jackson 5's most famous song, at least in the eyes of people who weren't alive when they were around. I consider myself a pretty knowledge music fan and can't even think of another Jackson 5 song off the top of my head right now. This is their signature song, an all-time classic. Should've been recognized for that years ago. 


"Changes" by David Bowie & "Sign 'O' the Times" by Prince

Feeling a little guilty that they both died this year, committee? 



I could do this for like 10 more songs but you get the point. It's shocking it took so long for so many great songs to get recognized by this Hall of Fame that most people didn't even know exists. Oh and sneaky great song on that list. Again an all timer that should've been recognized years ago.