Artist: KISS
Album: Creatures of the Night
I’m surprised that this one didn’t turn up earlier, seeing as how this is basically a four-minute ode to everything that I like about rock music. I’ve said that before–I like arena rock. I like it because it’s big and it’s loud, and it hits hard. I think you’ve probably figured that out by now.
Artist: Kiss
Album: Hot In The Shade
Now I like a good power ballad. I wouldn’t be a girl if I didn’t. But it’s very possible to take the power ballad too far, and wind up with something that’s too cheesy even for my feminine side.
This is that song.
Artist: KISS
Album: Alive III
I have loved this song from the moment that I first heard it. To me, it exemplifies everything that I love about stadium rock, and especially KISS. It’s got the hook, and the big, booming chorus, and the intro builds expertly. This is a song that was made to be sung along to in a stadium.
This particular song has always stood out as one of their best to me. There’s nothing complicated or fast here, but sometimes simplicity is best. The harmony in the chorus especially stands out to me–it really gives the song a lot of punch. This song is about delivering its message straight up.
Plus, you just have to love the subject matter. No matter what’s wrong, a little rock and roll can make it better. For someone like me, who escapes from their day-to-day life through rock music, this song is pretty much a battle cry. Because of that, I was always able to identify closely with this song. This is definitely on the playlist that I keep for cruising in the car–for some reason the tempo of this song is especially well suited to driving.
This is really one of my favorite songs of all time. Something about it has always appealed to me, and in some ways I’m finding it really hard to put it into words. But I love singing along with this–all I can say is that it just plain rules.
This year’s batch of inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced awhile ago. While the ongoing omission of popular favorites like Bon Jovi and the simply shameful snubbing of Alice Cooper were already known outrages, the induction list is a further outrage, at least as far as I’m concerned.
KISS and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were snubbed in favor of ABBA. That’s just ridiculous; ABBA is anything but a rock band. (I won’t argue the induction of The Stooges and The Hollies, both of whom have more than enough rock cred. I mean, look at the Hollies. They started out as nothing more than a pop knockoff of the Beatles, but then artfully transcended that beginning to become a pretty cool rock and roll band.)
There’s just no good explanation of the supposed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s ongoing policy of inducting anyone with a few hits that hit it big on mainstream radio. If this continues, they will have absolutely no credibility left with anyone. (That’s assuming that they have any credibility now, which as far as I’m concerned, they don’t.) Madonna before Deep Purple? You’ve got to be kidding me.
They keep on talking about how you have to be “influential” to get in, but then they leave out Deep Purple, quite possibly one of the most influential bands ever to perform. If you hand a person an electric guitar and ask them what they want to play, I can guarantee you that the riff they want to play is NOT from a Madonna song. But Madonna is in, and Deep Purple, creators of Smoke on the Water, the greatest riff ever, are not.
The way it’s going, if someone wants to prove whether they’re a real rock star, all they have to do is answer the question: “Are you in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?”
(Here’s a hint: the correct answer is “No”, at least if I’m doing the asking.)
For the second year since their eligibility, Bon Jovi has been snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (There’s more information at the LA Times.) One could argue that they are one of the most influential bands to have come out of the 80s. Many of the bands that Bon Jovi has influenced are just now coming into their own. Perhaps in a few years, once a few more of the bands that are proud to claim Bon Jovi as an influence and inspiration have really hit it big, Bon Jovi will be considered for eligibility. There are plenty of bands out there that certainly sound like they were influenced by Bon Jovi, like the Killers, Daughtry and the All-American Rejects.
I love the All-American Rejects. I’m still bummed that I bought tickets for the Prudential Center shows before the opening acts were announced and I ended up with Gretchen Wilson instead.
Alice Cooper isn’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame either, something which seems like a glaring oversight to me. After all, KISS is nominated this year. They were pioneers in a lot of respects, and certainly very deserving of a spot in the Hall, but they were also influenced by Alice Cooper’s work in a ton of ways. It just doesn’t seem fair to me that they should make it in before Alice Cooper does.