Taking the stage with their familiar rock vibe demigods Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame this Thursday in New York. The Aerosmith duo rocked the world for decades and served as inspiration for past and present rock musicians the world over.
Aside from Tyler and Perry included in this year’s Hall of Fame were Mick Jones, Lou Gramm, JD Souther, Holly Knight and Tony Hatch. The Johnny Mercer award was given to Sir Elton John and English lyricist Bernie Taupin.
Heroes then and now
Aerosmith is considered as one of the best American bands that ever existed. Over the decades, Aerosmith managed to stand its ground amidst the changes in the music industry, and many agree that no other American rock band could ever surpass their legacy.
Canadian rock band Nickelback paid their respect by performing their own rendition of Aerosmith’s Sweet Emotion. The performance was commendable and the song was given justice based on audience response. Of course, Tyler and Perry did not let the momentous occasion pass without going onstage for a jam. They performed their award winning hit song, Walk This Way.
Steven Tyler said that he’s very happy to be inducted and included in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. For him, it meant that their hard work is being noticed not only by their fans by also by their own colleagues.
Other worthy awardees
Elton John and Taupin’s popular hits such as Candle in the Wind and Rocket Man are just two of their musical creations that showcase their artistry and talent in songwriting. One of the artists who performed in the induction ceremony was Sting who cited Sir Elton and Taupin his heroes and introduced them as “one of the greatest songwriting teams in music history.” In honor of John and Taupin, Sting performed John and Taupin’s Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.
Sir Elton’s point of view
Songwriting is not an easy task to undertake. According to Sir Elton John, who was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 92, songwriting is often taken lightly. Some consider this task less important than the other elements of a song. Sir Elton added that receiving a songwriters award should be viewed as equally important if not more fulfilling than a Grammy award. He said that he has been collaborating with Bernie Taupin for more than 40 years.
Other awardees
The 2013 batch of songwriter hall of famers are no pushovers. Among those recognized in their talent for songwriting is Lou Gramm, lead vocalist and co-writer of hit songs by the band Foreigner such as I Want to Know What Love Is. Joining Gramm is his co-band member Mick Jones who contributed a lot in writing hit songs for the band.
Holly Knight’s talent was also recognized. She has written tons of record breaking hits for famous artists. Also included in the list is celebrated songwriter J.D. Souther. He is not only a musician and a songwriter but an actor as well. Among his works are those songs that made Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles prominent hit makers in their heyday. Britain’s Tony Hatch also got inducted. Downtown, one of his signature creations, was performed by Petula Clark.
Photo Credit: Tyler on vocals and Perry on lead guitar
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