NEws article
Many fans of music, namely me, were filled with outrage when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included the Beastie Boys in this year’s list of inductees. Not only do the Beastie Boys lack rapping skill, their primary music style, but they also have never played an authentic Rock and Roll song. My first reaction upon hearing that they were inducted was rage, but after I had a chance to cool down, take a nap, and have a short, calming discussion with my therapist, I realized I should not be so harsh on the Beastie Boys. It was not their choice to be inducted, and if they were being inducted, it must mean that we had already inducted all the true rockers. As it turns out, we haven’t.
After I forgave the Beastie Boys, and before I re-angered myself, I began researching, which was the action that re-angered me. After another discussion with my therapist, this one slightly less successful in calming me down, I decided this is unacceptable. Let it be known, before my message is misinterpreted, that there are true Rock and Rollers in the Hall of fame, such as Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin, however, there is a continual decline in Rock and Rollers being inducted. Not only are Rappers being recognized as Rockers, but Rockers are being ignored altogether.
Rush has been a prominent leader in the Progressive Rock scene since the early 1970s. They have been inducted in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. They have been eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame in Cleveland since 1999, and ignored every year. Tony Stewart, the CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tries to justify this. “They simply haven't gotten enough votes to make the ballot.” That is no excuse for somebody with as much influence over the voting committee.
It seems they no longer wish to be included on this list. Neil Pert said in an interview once “It doesn’t matter to me. I’ve got the success and respect that we’ve had… do we need them (The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) to make us feel better?”
As much as Rush wishes to take the high road, and not let their exclusion from this once exclusive club affect them, it should not be taken lightly. A trend can be seen generating throughout the past couple years. Since 2007, 3 rap groups have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It has become a common belief that artistic standards have become defunct in the music generated in recent years. By inviting the likes of the Beastie Boys into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it becomes acceptable, even habitual, to continue to do so. Before long, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will be filled with Rap and Pop.
If anything is to be done, it must be done before this goes any further. By putting pressure on the Hall of Fame to restore their old standards of induction, they will review their choices more closely. Boycotting the Hall of Fame will also send them the message that the Rock and Roll community does not support their decisions. Rap is interloping on the territory of Rock and Roll. Once this movement starts, it will be impossible to stop, and Rock and Roll will be lost forever.
Rant (TO be read in a loud voice)
For generations, Canadians have been cast aside by Americans. We have been light hearted about it, but this is going too far. We can not simply allow the American culture to pretend we have not had any influence. Now would be the time to stand up for our rights. Rush needs to be put into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Rush is Canada’s most renowned musical group, and has forced its way to the top by rocking so hard the world couldn’t resist listening, selling millions of albums world wide. They continue to tour, and the world continues to follow. They have outlasted bands such as Pink Floyd and Frank Zappa, two Hall of Fame inductees. Unfortunately, the scum of American culture has refused to acknowledge their dominance on the rock and roll following. They are stuck in the obscurity shackles, sentenced to forever be the unknown kings of progressive rock.
A second reason should be irrelevant, given Rush’s empire of followers, but it seems that the music has not penetrated the thick skulls of the coordinators of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Fortunately, the music has found its way to the hearts and souls of people with brains. The Hall of Fame has adopted the theory of Manifest Destiny, trying to destroy Canadian music so that they can break our spirits and inject their music into our artistic veins. But Rush, our last hope, has pushed back their advances on our cultural territory. For the past 40 years Rush has blazed a trail of musical intensity, while the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has desperately thrown up road blocks of injustice. Fortunately, Rush has finally won a beachhead in the American mind. In the 2009 film I Love You Man, Jason Segel and Paul Rudd were Rush enthusiasts, reminding the world that Canadians do still have pull in this modern world.
Rush has been mocked continually by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Not only has Rush been ignored for their contribution to modern music, but took insult to their injury when the likes of the Beastie Boys and Run DMC were inducted, two of the most famous rap groups of the 1980s. Even Slash, lead guitarist of Guns N’ Roses feels that his induction has less meaning, seeing that Rush has been left out. They have been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and 2 of their three members have become Officers of the Order of Canada, it’s time the rest of the world recognized them as well.
In 50 years, when the youth of the art deprived future are exposed to the hall of fame, there will be very little rock and roll. We are leaving a record of garbage music in this hall of ‘Fame’. If it was truly the hall of fame, it would have musicians in it.
Rush is Canada’s most renowned musical group, and has forced its way to the top by rocking so hard the world couldn’t resist listening, selling millions of albums world wide. They continue to tour, and the world continues to follow. They have outlasted bands such as Pink Floyd and Frank Zappa, two Hall of Fame inductees. Unfortunately, the scum of American culture has refused to acknowledge their dominance on the rock and roll following. They are stuck in the obscurity shackles, sentenced to forever be the unknown kings of progressive rock.
A second reason should be irrelevant, given Rush’s empire of followers, but it seems that the music has not penetrated the thick skulls of the coordinators of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Fortunately, the music has found its way to the hearts and souls of people with brains. The Hall of Fame has adopted the theory of Manifest Destiny, trying to destroy Canadian music so that they can break our spirits and inject their music into our artistic veins. But Rush, our last hope, has pushed back their advances on our cultural territory. For the past 40 years Rush has blazed a trail of musical intensity, while the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has desperately thrown up road blocks of injustice. Fortunately, Rush has finally won a beachhead in the American mind. In the 2009 film I Love You Man, Jason Segel and Paul Rudd were Rush enthusiasts, reminding the world that Canadians do still have pull in this modern world.
Rush has been mocked continually by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Not only has Rush been ignored for their contribution to modern music, but took insult to their injury when the likes of the Beastie Boys and Run DMC were inducted, two of the most famous rap groups of the 1980s. Even Slash, lead guitarist of Guns N’ Roses feels that his induction has less meaning, seeing that Rush has been left out. They have been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and 2 of their three members have become Officers of the Order of Canada, it’s time the rest of the world recognized them as well.
In 50 years, when the youth of the art deprived future are exposed to the hall of fame, there will be very little rock and roll. We are leaving a record of garbage music in this hall of ‘Fame’. If it was truly the hall of fame, it would have musicians in it.
Setting/short story
The man timidly approaches the doors. He pushes them open, and is stopped by two burly security guards. They violate his personal space; they don’t want any cameras in the arena. Satisfied that he is not smuggling a camera in his undergarments, they wave him through. The crowd tosses him around like a cat proudly displaying its captured mouse as he gently forces his way to his seat. The room is dark. There are sets of flood lights hanging from the ceiling, but they do not cast any more than a dim glow, just enough light to make it necessary to use your phone to guide your way. There could be 100 people, or there could be 100 000, it’s impossible to see more than 10 feet in any direction. The sour smell of spilled alcohol and beer nuts penetrates the sinuses of the few sober noses in the vast abyss. Murmurs erupt from the crowd like a volcano spewing flowers. Voices of faceless people echo around the arena.
There is a sudden flash of light and a wave of screams as it extends to the depths of the crowd. A few misdirected fans turn to face the stage. The band rushes front and centre. In a flight of movements the crowd is lost in the weaving sound. They are brainwashed, the music throwing them into a state of euphoria. Verse. Chorus. Verse. Bridge. Solo. Chorus. The first song is finished with the presence of an encore. The band introduces themselves, but the name is lost. It was an unnecessary formality; everybody knew who they were. The second song blows the on lookers minds like a light bulb overflowing with amperage.
The timid man without a camera in his undergarments stands at the back. Nervously he waves his hands with the crowd, carefully counting the beats. He is like a man in a sea of the living dead. He is worried that if they realize he doesn’t belong, they will tear him to confetti. He follows the pulsating tumult of zombies, following their every movement, hoping to remain undetected.
He understands what’s happening. The mindless beings have lost their will to continue on their own. They began watching the stage, emulating the mastermind’s personality, plagiarizing its thoughts. What started as the band’s innocent dreams of fame has developed into a mandatory roll of dictatorship. The man burrows himself into the back of the crowd. He is not mindless. He refuses to decompose with the likes of addle-pates.
The crowd is screaming. The man murmurs something unintelligible under his breath, something about “msca phmblagh.” Whether or not anybody really understood what he said will be something nobody can ever be certain of. Rumours spread, and whatever the truth may be is irrelevant. The writhing crowd slows to an eerie stillness as their attention is drawn to the outsider. A thousand pairs of eyes bear through this poor mans soul, creating a spiritual Swiss cheese. He is not one of the crowd, and now they know it.
There is a sudden flash of light and a wave of screams as it extends to the depths of the crowd. A few misdirected fans turn to face the stage. The band rushes front and centre. In a flight of movements the crowd is lost in the weaving sound. They are brainwashed, the music throwing them into a state of euphoria. Verse. Chorus. Verse. Bridge. Solo. Chorus. The first song is finished with the presence of an encore. The band introduces themselves, but the name is lost. It was an unnecessary formality; everybody knew who they were. The second song blows the on lookers minds like a light bulb overflowing with amperage.
The timid man without a camera in his undergarments stands at the back. Nervously he waves his hands with the crowd, carefully counting the beats. He is like a man in a sea of the living dead. He is worried that if they realize he doesn’t belong, they will tear him to confetti. He follows the pulsating tumult of zombies, following their every movement, hoping to remain undetected.
He understands what’s happening. The mindless beings have lost their will to continue on their own. They began watching the stage, emulating the mastermind’s personality, plagiarizing its thoughts. What started as the band’s innocent dreams of fame has developed into a mandatory roll of dictatorship. The man burrows himself into the back of the crowd. He is not mindless. He refuses to decompose with the likes of addle-pates.
The crowd is screaming. The man murmurs something unintelligible under his breath, something about “msca phmblagh.” Whether or not anybody really understood what he said will be something nobody can ever be certain of. Rumours spread, and whatever the truth may be is irrelevant. The writhing crowd slows to an eerie stillness as their attention is drawn to the outsider. A thousand pairs of eyes bear through this poor mans soul, creating a spiritual Swiss cheese. He is not one of the crowd, and now they know it.
Where do I see myself in 15 years?
Let me explain my situation: I am in high school. I cannot fathom what the real world is like and therefore cannot give you an accurate description of what is to become of me in years to come.
But, since you asked and my mark is relying on this, I must try my best. I will be approximately 31 years old, and my children will be aged approximately 5, and 6. I will earn a comfortable living as a music teacher. I will have graduated from Laurier University, Majoring in Math. My Minor will be in instrumental music. After Graduating on the top of my class, despite frequent absences due to traveling the world as a prodigal musician, I will humble myself into the art of teaching, so that the lessons I have learned in my travels may be passed on to a generation eager with hope and the will to continue the legacy.
I will have a family, comprised of 2 sons: Matt Junior, and Matt II. I will be married, I assume because that is mandatory in the process of reproduction. I will live within an hour and thirty minutes of Kitchener, so that I may visit my family without the hassle of organizing months in advance to allow for travel time. I will also be able to keep a relationship with friends who remained in Kitchener after graduating highschool. It will be nice to reminisce of times gone into yonder field of memories.
As for my political views, I will support the Conservative Party of Canada, for we must not be liberal with our government spending. And if I had any further understaning of how the Canadian Government worked, I would be able to offer further predictions into my political views. Also, I think Steven Harper’s sweater vests are the bomb, and I support anybody with enough self respect to ignore what everybody else says about such ridiculous attire.
But, since you asked and my mark is relying on this, I must try my best. I will be approximately 31 years old, and my children will be aged approximately 5, and 6. I will earn a comfortable living as a music teacher. I will have graduated from Laurier University, Majoring in Math. My Minor will be in instrumental music. After Graduating on the top of my class, despite frequent absences due to traveling the world as a prodigal musician, I will humble myself into the art of teaching, so that the lessons I have learned in my travels may be passed on to a generation eager with hope and the will to continue the legacy.
I will have a family, comprised of 2 sons: Matt Junior, and Matt II. I will be married, I assume because that is mandatory in the process of reproduction. I will live within an hour and thirty minutes of Kitchener, so that I may visit my family without the hassle of organizing months in advance to allow for travel time. I will also be able to keep a relationship with friends who remained in Kitchener after graduating highschool. It will be nice to reminisce of times gone into yonder field of memories.
As for my political views, I will support the Conservative Party of Canada, for we must not be liberal with our government spending. And if I had any further understaning of how the Canadian Government worked, I would be able to offer further predictions into my political views. Also, I think Steven Harper’s sweater vests are the bomb, and I support anybody with enough self respect to ignore what everybody else says about such ridiculous attire.