Song of the Day 4/25: Mary J. Blige and U2, “One”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame long since stretched the definition of “rock and roll” to include other genres, especially hip-hop and R&B, which often draws scorn from rock purists, myself included (Janet Jackson? Really?) Mary J. Blige, though, is OK by me, because unlike last year’s honoree Dolly Parton, she has at least one undeniably rock song in her catalog.
Blige first sang “One” when she joined U2 on stage at a New York concert in 2005. They subsequently recorded it together, and she featured it on her 2006 LP “The Breakthrough.” As a single it barely eked into the Hot 100 in the U.S. but reached No. 2 in the UK.
I think it should be the Hall of Fame for popular music since, oh, 1960 (with a less unwieldy name). It would have been weird not to honor the great rock-adjacent acts; there’s not enough actual rock by now to make it only that. Leaves plenty of room for r&b.
As for r&b this year, I understand why Blige was inducted, but there’s better r&b out there. In actual rock, Foreigner is what happens when you strain to find rockers to induct (at least if you keep ignoring about a dozen worthy British bands). Perfectly decent group, but Hall of Fame?
Peter Frampton and Kool & The Gang seem like reasonable selections, and maybe Dave Matthews. Cher? What can you say except that she’s Cher, dammit.