“Updating the playlist: Rock Hall's jukebox due for a tuneup”

Updating the playlist: Rock Hall's jukebox due for a tuneup

Posted: 28 Aug 2010 09:10 PM PDT

Published: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 12:00 AM

The Rock Hall has listening stations where you can check out "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll," as chosen by museum staffers and other experts. The selections range from AC/DC's "Back in Black" to ZZ Top's "Legs," with hundreds of other classic tunes in between. Trouble is, the virtual jukebox hasn't been updated since the Rock Hall opened in 1995 -- and a lot of musical history has transpired in the interim.

Which songs have shaped rock 'n' roll since then? The Rock Hall is making its picks for an expanded musical honor roll, which will include approximately 160 additional songs. The revised playlist will be revealed in December, when new listening kiosks are set to open on the museum's second floor. Which tunes would you add? We want to hear your choices, if just for fun. E-mail your selections to jsoeder@plaind.com or mail them to:

The Plain Dealer

1801 Superior Ave.

Cleveland, OH 44114

ATTN: John Soeder

Please limit yourself to 15 songs (or fewer), released in 1995 or after. Tell us why your picks are significant. And be sure to include your full name, address and a phone number, in case we need to reach you. Deadline is Friday, Sept. 10. We'll publish the best entries next month.

In the meantime, here are my nominations. No soundtrack to the past 15 years would be complete without these 15 songs:

Alanis Morissette, "You Oughta Know" (1995): Hell hath no fury like . . . well, you know.

Cher, "Believe" (1998): The diva's cyber-disco hit heralded the Age of Auto-Tune.

Santana featuring Rob Thomas, "Smooth" (1999): Collaborations have ruled the charts in recent years, and none was more successful than this hook-up between a Rock Hall-inducted classic-rock band and Matchbox Twenty's main man.

Britney Spears, ". . . Baby One More Time" (1999): A pop monster was born.

Bruce Springsteen, "The Rising" (2002): The world changed forever on 9/11, and The Boss responded with an uplifting rallying cry.

Eminem, "Lose Yourself" (2002): The controversial rapper went to No. 1 with an empowering anthem.

Kelly Clarkson, "A Moment Like This" (2002): After a waitress from Texas won the first season of "American Idol," pop music would never be the same.

Johnny Cash, "Hurt" (2003): Shortly before his death, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer transformed a Nine Inch Nails ballad into a harrowing swan song.

OutKast, "Hey Ya!" (2003): The hip-hop group's feel-good smash had everyone shaking it like a Polaroid picture.

The White Stripes, "Seven Nation Army" (2003): Further proof that rock 'n' roll will never die.

Jay-Z, the Beatles and Danger Mouse, "Encore" (2004): In a brilliant move (albeit not entirely on the legal up and up), DJ Danger Mouse mashed up great rap and great rock; cross-pollinated greatness ensued.

Green Day, "American Idiot" (2004): It may have spawned a Broadway musical, but this thrilling burst of politically charged pop-punk wasn't your typical show tune.

Gwen Stefani, "Hollaback Girl" (2005): No Doubt's solo singer scored the first song to reach 1 million legal downloads -- a milestone in the post-Napster era.

Radiohead, "Jigsaw Falling Into Place" (2008): This was the first single from the alt-rock band's landmark "In Rainbows" album, released online via a pay-what-you-please plan.

Beyonce, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (2008): I was going to put a Taylor Swift tune on my list, but Kanye West just barged in to remind me that this omnipresent hit was accompanied by one of the best videos of all time.

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