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Brits Pick Best Music Acts of Past Decades
AP via Yahoo ^ | 11/12/2004 11:42 AM

Posted on 11/12/2004 9:35:34 AM PST by itsamelman

Robbie Williams , Michael Jackson , Queen, The Rolling Stones and Cliff Richard have been chosen by the British public as the best music acts of the past five decades.

The musicians, each representing a decade in the last half of the 20th century, were inducted into Britain's first music hall of fame along with honorary members Madonna , Bob Marley, Elvis Presley, U2 and The Beatles at a ceremony in London.

The honorees were selected by a public vote by Channel 4 television, which invented the British hall of fame. So far, there's no building.

Williams, 30, won the popular vote to represent the 1990s, beating the likes of Blur, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Oasis and Nirvana, while Jackson was crowned music ambassador from the 1980s, ahead of Prince, REM, George Michael and The Smiths.

Queen was voted for the 1970s honor above Abba, The Bee Gees, The Clash and David Bowie .

The Rolling Stones were voted most popular from the 1960s and Richards the 1950s' most popular musical performer.

Madonna, U2 frontman Bono, The Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood , and Williams were among those to accept their awards in person at a ceremony Thursday.

The Beatles' award was collected Thursday night by their producer, Sir George Martin.

"After 42 years, the light of their genius still shines as bright as ever," Martin said.

Priscilla Presley said her former husband would have been proud.

"His dream, that of a world tour, was never realized. His fan base was so strong here and because of that he would have been proud to receive this," Presley said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: music; topten
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To: itsamelman

Did Sir Elton call Madonna to congratulate her yet?


41 posted on 11/12/2004 10:28:45 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: NRA1995
"Sorry but I fail to see the "genius" in a group that started out as cheap Buddy Holly/Chuck Berry clones and ended up doing music that seemed to say "Let's see just how far out we can get before people stop buying."

Well you have a interesting take on things. LOL
42 posted on 11/12/2004 10:32:28 AM PST by WHBates
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To: HenryLeeII

You're comparing apples to oranges; I don't equate "sales" with "genius"


43 posted on 11/12/2004 10:34:01 AM PST by NRA1995 (Free Republic Inaugural Ball II, here I come!!!)
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To: God luvs America

You got that right!!!


44 posted on 11/12/2004 10:35:39 AM PST by Captain Beyond (The Hammer of the gods! (Just a cool line from a Led Zep song))
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To: HenryLeeII
Spot on. In fact, my mom just told me the other day that she's missing a few Beatles' CDs from her collection and that it would be nice if "someone" would get them for her for Christmas.

I doubt Beatles sales have even slowed down. Timeless music.

45 posted on 11/12/2004 10:36:09 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: freepertoo

HONORARY - that means that they were excluded from the vote because it was taken for granted that they should be there


46 posted on 11/12/2004 10:41:33 AM PST by pau1f0rd
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To: God luvs America

The best!


47 posted on 11/12/2004 10:42:22 AM PST by angcat
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To: JellyJam; dead
Is this Robbie Williams famous?

Used to be. He peaked on Mork & Mindy.

48 posted on 11/12/2004 10:51:50 AM PST by TheBigB (<--------shameless online flirt. :o))
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To: JellyJam
I feel no guilt in appreciating Kylie. :o)

49 posted on 11/12/2004 10:53:41 AM PST by TheBigB (<--------shameless online flirt. :o))
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To: HenryLeeII

(((Well, I guess they never reached that point since they still stand as the biggest-selling act of all time, in spite of a recording career that spanned from Summer 1962 through Summer 1969. Sinatra, the Rolling Stones, Elvis, and countless others recorded for decades and can't come close!)))

You tell 'em!! YEAH (or is that yeah, yeah, yeah?)


50 posted on 11/12/2004 11:00:45 AM PST by freepertoo
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To: itsamelman; God luvs America; jeffc; zygoat
Robbie Williams , Michael Jackson , Queen, The Rolling Stones and Cliff Richard have been chosen by the British public as the best music acts of the past five decades.

God this poll is laughable. It was Jimmy Page who created "Led Zeppelin", who produced,recorded and released their first 4 (totally diverse sounding) Albums in less than 28 months (while constantly touring the U.S. no less). No other band on earth is capable of doing that again! The British public ignored L.Z. and America embraced them. God bless Peter Grant for bringing them over to meet Ahmet Ertegun. 'Achilles Last Stand' and 'Ten Years Gone'. Enough said, the British public can go stand in the corner and shake themselves. LOL

51 posted on 11/12/2004 11:00:51 AM PST by Pagey (Hillary talking about the bible is as hypocritical as Bill carrying one out of church for 8 years)
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To: KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle

Who Live at Leeds, greatest live album ever.


52 posted on 11/12/2004 11:03:18 AM PST by dfwgator (It's sad that the news media treats Michael Jackson better than our military.)
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To: My2Cents
This guy at least PLAYED England. Elvis only passed through the airport on his way to being stationed in Germany as I understand it.


53 posted on 11/12/2004 11:06:11 AM PST by weegee (WE FOUGHT ZOGBYISM November 2, 2004 - 60 Million Voters versus 60 Minutes - BUSH WINS!!!)
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To: NRA1995; Mr. Mojo
Sorry but I fail to see the "genius" in a group that started out as cheap Buddy Holly/Chuck Berry clones and ended up doing music that seemed to say "Let's see just how far out we can get before people stop buying."

Gee, I guess I made the mistake of confusing astounding sales, influence, and critical acclaim with genius. How do you explain the fact that such large numbers of their contemporaries, along with so many musicians that have come along since their demise, name them as an influence? Why would Frank Sinatra refer to "Something" as one of the greatest love songs of all time? I guess you would say luck?

54 posted on 11/12/2004 11:47:47 AM PST by HenryLeeII ("How do you ask a goose to be the last goose to die for a shameless political stunt?" -Tony in Ohio)
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To: HenryLeeII

The Beatles were....no one has invented a wonderful enough word yet! ;-) (And this comes from a die-hard, over-the-top Mozart fan, so I do understand music).


55 posted on 11/12/2004 12:25:40 PM PST by freepertoo
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To: HenryLeeII

You're still doing apples and oranges. KISS and Alice Cooper influenced many rockers, too, but would you also call them geniuses? Or Korn? Aerosmith? Skynyrd? That word is bandied about far too frequently and undeservedly with respect to rock and pop. We ARE entitled to our opinions (even Frank Sinatra, with whom I must disagree on "Something"). Sorry I stepped on your toes.


56 posted on 11/12/2004 12:31:00 PM PST by NRA1995 (Free Republic Inaugural Ball II, here I come!!!)
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To: NRA1995
You didn't step on my toes. You're right, sales don't equal genius; however, sales + universal influence + nearly-unanimous critical acclaim for 40 years certainly makes a claim for the latter. KISS, Alice Cooper, etc., sold some records and may have influenced smaller numbers of bands, but they don't measure up in those two categories to the Beatles, plus the near-complete lack of critical acclaim (beyond "good MTV video fodder - should sell millions" in the case of Steven Tyler & Co.) leaves them far behind in the genius category.

Freegards!

57 posted on 11/12/2004 12:39:14 PM PST by HenryLeeII ("How do you ask a goose to be the last goose to die for a shameless political stunt?" -Tony in Ohio)
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To: HenryLeeII

Back atcha on freegards.....Elvis has 50 years but does that make him a genius? I find genius in jazz and classical, giving full disclosure.


58 posted on 11/12/2004 12:50:24 PM PST by NRA1995 (Free Republic Inaugural Ball II, here I come!!!)
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To: HenryLeeII
Anyone comparing the influence of the Beatles to Kiss or Alice Cooper (or Korn for goodness sakes) has either got to be joking or looking at the past forty years of music through a very distorted prism.

The word "genius" IS bandied about far too freely with respect to popular music. The Beatles are one of a very few that truly deserve it.

59 posted on 11/12/2004 12:51:35 PM PST by wireman
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To: wireman

(((The word "genius" IS bandied about far too freely with respect to popular music. The Beatles are one of a very few that truly deserve it.)))

Ohhhh yeah, and the beauty of it is that even they didn't understand it...they DID know it was working on a level beyond what anyone else had done, however. And I think it safe to say that when they split, they realized the magic went with it. Something about Paul's softness mingled with John's hardness and that incomparable mix of voice was just the right thing at the right time at the right place. Again...like Mozart (and before anyone thinks I'm comparing the Beatles to that astounding incomparable, I'm not...just saying there are a few on surface similarities).


60 posted on 11/12/2004 1:01:21 PM PST by freepertoo
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