UK Music Hall Of Fame: The 80s

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Last night, Channel 4 showed Part 2 of their UK Music Hall Of Fame series. This time, the 10 'top acts' of the 80s.

 

Madonna went in automatically - no problem with that. But the other ten certainly raised a few eyebrows chez Zeal.

 

Guns'n'Roses

Hmmm, on balance I won't argue too much about their admission, although they never did it for me. Always thought of them more as a 90s band, but Appetite For Destruction was '89 I think, so I'll let this one pass.

 

The Smiths

No problem.

 

Michael Jackson

Kiddie-fiddler, but difficult to argue with his inclusion.

 

Joy Division

Errr... excuse me? Apart from the fact that Joy Division really were a 70s band (their lead singer was only alive for about 140 days of the new decade), what the fk have they actually done that justifies their inclusion? Especially when you consider the likes of the Jam, the Specials and Madness were all over-looked from that era.

 

Bruce Springsteen

Sure this one would have met with approval in the AFF household. I'm no Bruce Springsteen fan, but Born In The USA sold millions and millions and became an era-defining album. But I'm not sure I would have included him ahead of some of those missed, and for a UK Hall Of Fame, to have eight of the 11 acts coming from across the pond is very sad indeed.

 

R.E.M.

Now, I'm well aware REM have been going since early/mid-80s, but what the fk are they doing in the 1980s category? They had two huge albums in the early 90s and sold out stadiums worldwide and I wouldn't have batted an eyelid were they included in the 90s section, but I had never even heard of them in the 80s.

 

George Michael

Another that didn't actually reach legendary status until the 90s. Again it would be difficult to argue with his inclusion in the 90s category, despite the fact I find his brand of 'soul/R'n'B' about as bland as you can get. I'll let this one pass too. Just.

 

Public Enemy

911 is a joke? Public Enemy being considered one of the top 10 acts in 1980s Britain is a joke, more like.

 

Beastie Boys

The Monkees of the 80s, but with swearing. Ridiculous inclusion.

 

Prince

Don't like the little squirt, but no complaints. He's there and rightfully so.

 

Where were The Jam? I'll apologise if they're included in the 70s section, but Theakston last night made it sound like they'd been glossed over, and let's not forget, this is show that unforgiveably over-looked Radiohead in last week's 90's programme.

 

Where were Madness, who made some of the catchiest records in the early 80s?

 

At the risk of giving JKiF a platform for some anti-Le Bon and co. feeling, why were Duran Duran not in there. They had more Top 5 singles than any other band in the 80s, in an era when quality, not Simon Cowell-driven rubbish made the upper reaches of the pop chart.

 

The Pet Shop Boys, whose lack of inclusion is baffling when you consider the quality, and quantity, of material they released during this decade. How Joy Division got in and not New Order will never make sense to me. But Pet Shop Boys should have got in ahead of both of them. And I'm no fan, but even Erasure should have been there ahead of half of that list. And Depeche Mode, much as it pains me to say it.

 

I'm wondering what exactly is the criteria for entering the UK Music Hall Of Fame.

 

If it's done on 'pretentious cool', then it would explain why Public Enemy and Joy Division are there, but makes no account for the lack of The Jam. And it's been a long time since Wacko Jacko was considered 'cool'.

 

If it's on record sales, then why are Joy Division and R.E.M. (who must have sold records during this decade in their hundreds) there and not Simply Red and Wet Wet Wet.

 

If it's done on artists who have put Britain on the map, then why only three home-grown 'talents'??

 

Won't be wasting two hours of my Sunday night on this rubbish in future.

[CANV EFM]

cant argue with any of that C.Z. very amusing watching the guest stars waxing lyrical about how guns n rose's were hard core rock blowing all the pap away then seeing the so called rockers with their perfect american teeth and long hair by vidal sasoon.. fking septic twats.. if gazza had seen that his head would have exploded

[GazzaBTFC]

I deliberately missed it as I would rather watch a decent DVD or listen to a great album than have some twat tell me who was great and who was not...in their opinion of course...and get the timelines and information wrong (as pointed out by Zeal). So I got to Zeals opinion without even sitting down and reading the program times in the Telegraph TV listings...

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Where on earth were Bucks Fizz and the Human League?

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

Watched the Sex Pistols. They are quality. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

 

Then just had the show on in the background, can't stand Queen, overated or what? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

 

Beegees - yes agree with that. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Quote:

can't stand Queen, overated or what?

I assume you're taking the piss? I'm no Queen fan, but they certainly deserve to be there ahead of those talentless twats, the Sex Pistols. Do any of them actually know how to play an instrument or write a song?

Surely the very first talentless boy-band, paving the way for the likes of Bad Boys Inc and 911 in the nineties.

A much better selection last night, but not sure how Bob Marley go in there automatically, when the likes of Bowie, Queen, Elton, Abba etc. have to go to the vote.

Abba, for my money.

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

Agree with Bowie. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 

Can't stand Abba or Elton, the worst thing Elton did was associate himself with zzzzzzzzzzzzzz Diana, Candles in the wind.zzzzzzzzzzz

[Big J R]

Slight variation to topic......

 

Where's Rod Stewart ?

 

Who watched the recording of his concert on Saturday Night from The Albert Hall on the BEEB ?

 

Has that man got class, or what ?

 

(O.K. - I'm biased, having seen him live several times)

 

..........AND Chrissie Hind is STILL a horny bird