I'm a Believer
Today, like most days, I had a narration session. The client was a manufacturer of big yellow industrial earth moving machines. They also make some cool work boots. Anyway, the narration kept dealing with "power ratings" and "peak torque." Which got me thinking about Peter Tork. You know....the bass player for The Monkees. Growing up I could not wait for The Monkees to to come on. But I am wondering what you think. Do you think The Monkees are worthy of induction to the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame? If so sign the petition.
posted by BJ Aberle @ 7:53 AM
3 Comments:
Yes, The Monkees should be in the Rock and roll hall of fame. I signed.
Melanie should be in too.
LetHerIn.org
Jim Baldwin
Spokane WA
Interesting question. I'm conflicted, but lean toward, "yes, let them in." They had a thread on this over at Peoria.com. Here's my input:
Their first 4 studio albums reached #1 on the US charts. In commercial terms, their chart success alone is a solid argument for inclusion in the Hall.
In strictly musical terms, I dunno. Most of their hits were written by other musicians; heck, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz were actors turned wannabe musicians (but Micky did have a good voice). Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork were certainly accomplished musicians . . . They ended up writing and playing a lot of their own songs. It seems that the Hall has a bias favoring musicians who succeeded with their own, original compositions.
This is a tough question. I guess I'm with PI on this one. Part of me wants to say YES, Hell YES: they were great entertainers. The other part says my other half is smoking crack to suggest they belong with the likes of Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, the Who, Tom Petty, Queen . . . . you get the point.
I'm conflicted.
- Brick
P.S. Please excuse the stream-of-consciousness writing. As I said, I'm conflicted on this one.
There are many people in the R & R Hall of Fame who did not write their own material - starting with Elvis. What stigmatized the Monkees - and still does to this day - is that they were "inauthentic" in an era when authenticity was everything. They were cast in roles, not formed "organically", they sang other people's songs, did not consistently play (or sing backup) on their records, etc. But their real crime was that the mythology that was created with the group was that of "The American Beatles." And, in 1968, they outsold the Beatles.
Meanwhile, the quintessence of authenticity was Bob Dylan, a jewish kid named Zimmerman from Minnesota who invented an Oakie past and accent. Or Mick Jagger, educated middle class kid who reinvented himself as a "street fighting man".
Rock 'n roll is, at its flamboyant heart, entertainment that is so good that it becomes, despite all odds, an art form. The Monkees, were more than the four guys - Boyce and Hart, Neil Diamond, their management team - many contributed to what they were. As did George Martin and Brian Epstein contribute to what the Beatles were.
The bottom line is - it sounded great. Let 'em in.
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