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.
Did Sir Elton call Madonna to congratulate her yet?
You're comparing apples to oranges; I don't equate "sales" with "genius"
You got that right!!!
I doubt Beatles sales have even slowed down. Timeless music.
HONORARY - that means that they were excluded from the vote because it was taken for granted that they should be there
The best!
Used to be. He peaked on Mork & Mindy.
(((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?)
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
Who Live at Leeds, greatest live album ever.
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?
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).
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.
Freegards!
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.
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.
(((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).
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