George Michael who is famously known for his song “Careless Whisper” has won the fan vote for 2024’s Rock and Roll Hall of fame. The Rock and Roll Hall of fame is a museum located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United states. The museum highlights the evolution of rock music and the musicians, producers, engineers, and other significant individuals who have contributed to it.
Image source: The Ringer
George Michael, won by more than a million fan votes before the deadline (28th April). Michael won among the nominees such as, Cyndi Lauper, who won the second position with 928,113 votes, Warren Zevon with 634,130 votes, Iron Maiden with 449,682 votes, and Soundgarden with 427,040 votes. Although, George Michael won the fan votes, the actual inductee will be announced on May 3rd, Wednesday. But it is important to note that the previous five fan vote winners were given the induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of fame.
Image source: Van do Halen – #Bolsonarconacadeia (Twitter)
In recent years, the fan vote has become an important part of the induction process, giving music lovers a chance to voice out their opinions. The fan vote is open for everyone around the world and anyone can vote for their favourite nominee online. The top five winners, are then tallied and the winner is announced shortly.
George Michael winning the fan votes, came as no surprise for fans who have followed him over the years. In the 1980s, Michael became well-known as one half of the pop group Wham! With hits like “Wake me up before you Go-Go” and “Everything she wants.” He later went on to a successful solo career, with hits like “Faith”, “Father Figure” and the Chart- topping hit, “Careless Whisper.”
Although, he won the fan votes, few tweets criticized the Rock and Roll Hall. The main concerns that were raised are that George Michael is not a rock musician and that he is a pop star. Many people on twitter commented saying that Rock and Roll Hall should drop the title “Rock and Roll” from their name. On the other hand, supporters of George Michael’s induction pointed out that he had a significant amount of influence on the music industry and inspired many Rock and Roll musicians. They argue that the Hall of Fame should be more inclusive and celebrate a wider range of musical styles.
The Rock and Roll Hall, seeks to honour the most influential musicians, producers, engineers, and other individuals who had an impact on the music industry. This is not the first time that a pop artist was inducted on the wall of Fame. There were many other popular artists such as Beyonce, Prince, and also country musicians like Dolly Parton who were inducted in the past.
Whether or not George Michael gets inducted this year, it is intriguing to see that his popularity still continues even after his death. His music continues to resonate with fans across the generations, highlighting his significant impact on the music industry and his enduring legacy. However, we must wait till may 3rd to know who is the official inductee.
