This past weekend, my family decided to take a day trip up to Cleveland, Ohio. I was excited to explore Cleveland, which is famously home to the Cavaliers, the Indians, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The music themed museum was the central point of our trip, and being the music lover I am, I was ecstatic to look at the famous memorabilia and exhibits dedicated to the history of good ole rock and roll. My whole family loved the museum, and I'm already planning on bringing my boyfriend there when he comes to visit me. At our post-museum ice cream stop, my mom brought up a great point, that there really weren't a lot of female artists shown in the museum. I must have been blinded by John Lennon's famous glasses shielded behind thick glass and Elvis' shiny gold sequined suit to even notice the lack of female representation in the museum. Every year since 1983, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts artists each year. Less than 15% of the inductees over the years have been women. Why is this? Is rock and roll truly a boys club? But there are plenty of female rockers, so why is there such a staggering difference between the number of male and female inductees? Here are some female artists who deserve to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While some of these artists won't be eligible for a nomination for induction for awhile, following the hall of fame's rule that artists' first album or single has to have been released at least 25 years prior for consideration, I've included them anyway, because hey, a gal can dream for the future, right?
1. Stevie Nicks
Since she is often regarded as the Queen of Rock n' Roll, it's baffling that Stevie Nicks is not inducted into the hall of fame. While her band, Fleetwood Mac, was inducted in 1998, Nicks had a very successful solo career that deserves recognition, with eight albums and many hit singles. There is even a petition to induct Stevie Nicks into the hall of fame as a solo artist.
2. The Go-Go's
This all female band had one of the most influential bops of my childhood, "They Got The Beat". The Go-Go's debut album, Beauty and The Beat, was released in 1981, and they stayed No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart for six straight weeks, sold over 2 million copies, and went double platinum. All these achievements made it one of the most successful debut albums of all time. They not only played their own instruments but wrote their own music too, so they definitely deserve their name on the inductee list.
3. Alanis Morissette
Rolling Stone called her "the queen of alt-rock angst", so Morissette has obviously made a name for herself in the rock business. She is an iconic 90s singer whose album Jagged Little Pill is one of the best selling albums of all time. It's quite "Ironic" she's not included in the hall of fame, huh? (I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself.)
4. Debbie Harry
Like Stevie Nicks, Debbie Harry's band, Blondie, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but Harry herself has not been inducted as a solo artist, even though she's had several very successful albums and has had a large influence on the rock world.
5. Tina Turner
Turner and her former husband Ike did have a successful music career as Ike and Tina Turner, they were even inducted into the hall of fame as a duo. But Ike was abusive, so Turner escaped the abusive relationship and went on to have an explosively popular solo career. Tina Turner deserves to be inducted as a solo act, which would be a symbolic display that women can overcome domestic abuse and be strong and successful on their own.
6. Amy Winehouse
The late and great Winehouse's album Back to Black became UK's best selling album of the 21st century. Her voice was truly iconic and will forever be missed. Her legend lives on, and should live on inside the doors of the hall of fame when she becomes eligible.
7. Janet Jackson
She is "one of the best-selling artists in the history of contemporary music" and has had an impressive and long career in multiple sectors of entertainment, which has cemented her as a pop culture icon. She has more than lived up to her famous last name, and has been one of the top influencers in entertainment, which makes her deserving of a spot in the hall of fame.
8. Carly Simon
I mean, what would our world be without "You're So Vain?". Carly Simon has had countless Billboard 100 singles and two Grammy awards. While she's been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, surely Simon deserves to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well.
9. Florence + The Machine
The band that is led by singer Florence Welch, is a personal favorite of mine, so I might be a little bias. Their indie rock sound is totally unique and the band's success is impressive. Their one of the biggest indie rock bands of the 21st century, which should earn them a spot in the hall of fame in the years to come.
10. Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple wrote her hit "Criminal", which won a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, when she was just 17. Apple is a quintessential artist of the 90s. Her raw vocals and talent make her more than eligible for a spot in the hall of fame when her first album turns 25.
11. Pat Benatar
With hits like, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and "Love is a Battlefield," it's easy to question why Pat Benatar is not in the hall of fame. She's won four Grammys, has had two multiplatinum albums, five platinum albums, and three gold albums. Quite impressive, isn't it? Many people seem to think so. Like Stevie Nicks, there is a petition to induct Benatar into the hall of fame.
Hopefully, the female representation in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will improve over the coming years. Regardless, women will keep on rocking on.
