Missy Elliott, Kate Bush and Willie Nelson joined the rock pantheon Friday evening, November 3, in New York during a ceremony of the American musical elite, some of the artists present denounced the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
The late Gorge Michael, the rocker Sheryl Crow, the R&B group The Spinners are also included in the 2023 vintage of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the rock pantheon which opened from its first edition in 1986, to others genres: soul, blues, R&B, folk, country then rap. Tom Morello of the Californian band Rage Against the Machine, posed for photographers with a sheet of paper proclaiming “CEASE FIRE”, on the sidelines of the gala concert at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
He has not openly discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip, which has been bombed and besieged by Israel since the bloody Hamas attack on its soil on October 7.
“The world is changed by ordinary people (…) who want to commit to a country and a planet that is more human, peaceful and just.“, only pleaded the musician, receiving the award on behalf of his beloved group for its music and its political commitments. His fiery speech was followed by the performance of Missy Elliott, the first female hip-hop star, to enter into the hall of fame, who was inducted by Queen Latifah.
Wearing a glittering gold cap and matching tracksuit, a tearful Missy Elliott said:honored” and recalled that hip-hop had celebrated its 50th anniversary this summer in New York.
In inducting Texas country icon Willie Nelson, 90, artist Dave Matthews also made reference to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. “We live in a world where bombs are dropped on children and there is talk of collateral damage“. More “it’s people like Willie Nelson who give me hope” he said, of the anti-war activist with the long braids.
The late George Michael was inducted by fellow Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley, and a medley was performed on stage by Miguel, Adam Levine and Carrie Underwood, including “One More Try.”
George Michael, who died in 2016, “would have been delighted and flattered by his entry into these sacred ranks“, selon Andrew Ridgeley. “George was one of the greatest singers of our time (…). His pain healed ours and his grace gave hope“, he added.
Rocker Sheryl Crow sang her biggest hits, including “If It Makes You Happy” with Olivia Rodrigo, later joined by Stevie Nicks and Peter Frampton. “All my energy was devoted to expressing my experiences through music and words, and here I received in return for what I gave” said Sheryl Crow.
Diversity
Rapper Big Boi inducted famous British singer-songwriter and musician Kate Bush, 65, who announced that she “will not be able to attend“at the ceremony, but said his”honor“to be rewarded by”the beating heart of the American music industry“, according to a press release.
The prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame surveyed more than 1,000 musicians, music historians and music industry executives to make its choices. To be one, you need at least 25 years of career after the first commercial success.
Established in Cleveland (Ohio), in the north of the United States, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is one of the pillars of this industry, as is the Recording Academy which oversees the Grammy Awards, the Oscars of music .
This pantheon has had to, like many cultural and entertainment institutions in the United States, make efforts for its diversity policy: to be less masculine and less white. Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Madonna have notably been inducted, but women represent barely 10% of the thousand members of the Hall of Fame since 1986.
The institution was rocked by a controversy in September. Jann Wenner, 77-year-old American businessman and founder in 1967 of the respected cultural magazine Rolling Stone, was removed from the board of directors of the Hall of Fame for comments deemed racist and sexist in the New York Times.
2023-11-04 08:11:09
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