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In 1978 Van Halen killed disco.
In 2005 - 06 Could a David Lee Roth led Van Halen save Rock and
Roll again??
VMA AWARDS COMMENTARY
Rock's days fade as hip-hop leads way
BY EVELYN McDONNELL
emcdonnell@herald.com
MTV prides itself on its ability to surf the zeitgeist. The network has dominated the pop landscape for more than two decades because of its agile, sometimes facile ability to anticipate and drop trends. As MTV news correspondent Kurt Loder says, ``Music changes all the time; if it didn't we would all be bored. MTV reflects that change. It's like Top 40 radio used to be.''
But when it comes to black artists, MTV has a sorry history of playing catch-up. In its initial years, the channel's strict diet of rock, pop and new wave acts led critics to eventually charge it with racism. While a hip-hop nation was being born, rock dominated the music channel. Just check out the first 11 winners of the Video of the Year award: The Cars, Don Henley, Dire Straits, Peter Gabriel, INXS, Neil Young, Sinead O'Connor, R.E.M., Van Halen, Pearl Jam, Aerosmith. Finally, after more than a decade, T.L.C's Waterfalls broke the color barrier for the top MTV prize.
Those rockist days are gone. In 2004, it's conceivable that hip-hop and R&B acts will sweep the awards. Even D12 could well knock out the rockers in the best group category (helped, of course, by white front guy Eminem). During the show's performances, Jet, Yellowcard and Hoobastank will all share a rock block, a sort of guys-with-guitars ghetto.
Still, unlike those bands, the artists with the most VMA nominations -- Jay-Z, Outkast, Beyoncé and (token multiracial act and longtime MTV fave) No Doubt -- have paid their dues. MTV will likely want to prove itself edgier than the Grammys by anointing Shawn Carter rather than the Academy-blessed Outkast; Hova should rake the Moonmen in Sunday. Of course, he had to ''retire'' (yeah, right) to finally get the awards-show kudos he deserves. During his eight-year career, the skilled lyricist has never received so many nominations at any award show; he leads the VMA pack with six.
The VMAs will probably add to the trophies haul for Usher that was started last month by the BET awards, and will likely continue through the Grammys. With the multiplatinum success of his Confessions album and his current Truth tour, the genetics-blessed singer could end up 2004's artist of the year.
In 2005 - 06 Could a David Lee Roth led Van Halen save Rock and
Roll again??
VMA AWARDS COMMENTARY
Rock's days fade as hip-hop leads way
BY EVELYN McDONNELL
emcdonnell@herald.com
MTV prides itself on its ability to surf the zeitgeist. The network has dominated the pop landscape for more than two decades because of its agile, sometimes facile ability to anticipate and drop trends. As MTV news correspondent Kurt Loder says, ``Music changes all the time; if it didn't we would all be bored. MTV reflects that change. It's like Top 40 radio used to be.''
But when it comes to black artists, MTV has a sorry history of playing catch-up. In its initial years, the channel's strict diet of rock, pop and new wave acts led critics to eventually charge it with racism. While a hip-hop nation was being born, rock dominated the music channel. Just check out the first 11 winners of the Video of the Year award: The Cars, Don Henley, Dire Straits, Peter Gabriel, INXS, Neil Young, Sinead O'Connor, R.E.M., Van Halen, Pearl Jam, Aerosmith. Finally, after more than a decade, T.L.C's Waterfalls broke the color barrier for the top MTV prize.
Those rockist days are gone. In 2004, it's conceivable that hip-hop and R&B acts will sweep the awards. Even D12 could well knock out the rockers in the best group category (helped, of course, by white front guy Eminem). During the show's performances, Jet, Yellowcard and Hoobastank will all share a rock block, a sort of guys-with-guitars ghetto.
Still, unlike those bands, the artists with the most VMA nominations -- Jay-Z, Outkast, Beyoncé and (token multiracial act and longtime MTV fave) No Doubt -- have paid their dues. MTV will likely want to prove itself edgier than the Grammys by anointing Shawn Carter rather than the Academy-blessed Outkast; Hova should rake the Moonmen in Sunday. Of course, he had to ''retire'' (yeah, right) to finally get the awards-show kudos he deserves. During his eight-year career, the skilled lyricist has never received so many nominations at any award show; he leads the VMA pack with six.
The VMAs will probably add to the trophies haul for Usher that was started last month by the BET awards, and will likely continue through the Grammys. With the multiplatinum success of his Confessions album and his current Truth tour, the genetics-blessed singer could end up 2004's artist of the year.
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