If Rock is a universal language, why is Spanish excluded from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? A case for Soda Stereo's Induction

Three out of 996. That's the number of people Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Hispanics born in Latin America. The statistics remain low even when members of Ibero-American heritage born in the English-speaking world are added: one in England and 11 in the United States.

From the class of 2023, the 15 admitted with confirmed Spanish roots they represent just 0.015% of all inductees into arguably rock's most prestigious pantheon. Additionally, no act that sings exclusively in Spanish has ever been included.

This statistic not only reflects a low representation for Latin America, a region with a long and strong tradition of rock artists and fans — as this year's induction ceremony approaches on October 19, it's also an opportunity for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to embrace a more inclusive and diverse future, a future that highlights how rock & roll brings people from different countries, cultures and languages ​​together.

I have a fan campaign from 2020 to advocate for Argentina Soda stereo induction into the RNRHOF, as their first Spanish-speaking band. Despite the frequent comments our team's effort has sparked on social media, I do not believe the chamber is biased against Hispanic artists. It just seems like they haven't been exposed to enough authentic rock en español to properly consider its inclusion and still think of Ritchie Valens and Carlos Santana as the only Latin rock legends. This perception could be corrected in less than six hours by watching the documentaries Break them all on Netflix, which covers the history of rock in Latin America.

The RNRHOF aims to recognize artists who have made significant contributions to the evolution, development and perpetuation of rock & roll. However, it never mentions that this recognition is limited to a specific language or market — so anyone in the world who meets its entry criteria is supposed to be eligible. But the reality is completely different. For decades they've only been looking at the same horizon, mostly importing white male musicians. Only in recent years, thanks to the diversity and inclusion movements, have significantly more female and African-American acts been included. Hispanic acts, however, remained ignored.

The RNRHOF nominating committee consists of 30 experts, none of whom are Hispanic. This puts our campaign on a collision course with history, and the hopes of a rock en Español induction in the hands of people who may not have the best expertise in Latin music.

Rock Hall Executives explain controversial multi-genre nominations referencing Motown Records' old motto, “The Sound of Young America.” They say they want to bring back the original spirit of the 1950s. However, focusing only on what young people in the United States hear could limit real integration and reduce their global appeal. This is also unfair to the followers abroad, because rock and roll was born in the USA but belongs to the whole planet.

When John Sykes took over the RRHOF foundation, he he promised greater diversity to prevent the institution from becoming irrelevant. I started it Soda Stereo Rock Hall campaign hoping that his promise would finally recognize a Latin American group. According to a June 2024 US Census report, Hispanics now make up 19.5% of the US population — and with Spanish being the second largest language in the world by native speakers and easily the second most spoken in the United States States, it's time to bring Latin acts into the mix. Many experts agree that the first band should be Soda Stereo, followed by the other three of the “holy quartet” of Spanish-language rock: Heroes del Silencio (Spain), Los Prisioneros (Chile) and Caifanes (Mexico).

But it can't stop there. The fundamental icons of the movement should also be considered: El Tri and Javier Batiz (Mexico), Charly Garcia and Luis Alberto Spinetta (Argentina), Miguel Rios (Spain) and Los Saicos (Peru), as well as icons such as Maná and the Café Tacuba.

As for Soda Stereo, the band's involvement in popular music history is undeniable. Cirque du Soleil paid tribute to Soda's legacy in 2017 and 2018 with a tribute show, Sep7timo Día, an honor bestowed upon only three other acts: The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. Michel Laprise, the show's director – who spent months talking to fans around the world to understand the band's legacy – expressed a video recorded at their Montreal headquarters for our campaign, “The quality of their rock music, the intensity of what they did, is universal and ageless… That's when we realized they're not in the Rock Hall of Fame. It doesn't make sense; it should be there. Let's fix that and celebrate the timeless quality and relevance of this music.”

Soda Stereo disbanded in 1997 still at the height of their career, exhausted by an intense touring schedule. They reunited for a record-breaking tour in 2007 and intended to continue recording new albums and touring. Sadly, Gustavo Cerati, the band's charismatic frontman, fell into a coma in May 2010 after a solo show in Venezuela and died on September 4, 2014. His death has led to an outpouring of love and respect from fans and colleagues around the world. world. and his mass funeral has been compared to that of iconic tango legend Carlos Gardel in 1935.

Coldplay Chris Martin is without a doubt Soda Stereo's most high-profile and vocal fan in the world. Gorillaz' Seye Adelakana loyal fan since his teenage years, says: “They transcend the Spanish language.” Shakira she cites them as her inspiration to become an artist. Andy Summers wanted to make more music with Cerati after they recorded together. and Bono prayed on stage for his recovery.

Despite its legacy and positive impact on the development of rock in Latin America, the band has yet to be nominated for the Rock Hall. Us reference has gathered almost 40,000 signatures from 68 countries on all continents and the support of historically important Spanish-speaking rock stars. Many believe that if Soda Stereo were from the US or Europe and sang in English, they would have been introduced a long time ago.

The Rock Hall shouldn't induct Soda Stereo just to meet a diversity quota. But they also shouldn't discriminate against him because of their Latin American origins, or because the band's heritage is unfamiliar to them, or especially because his music is in a language they don't like or understand.

Rock and Roll is created worldwide and in many different languages. Wouldn't it be great if the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame could honor and celebrate this? Especially at a time when multicultural bridges and better social understanding are most needed.

Miguel Gálvez is a journalist and creator and director of the Soda Stereo Rock Hall campaign.