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The band have apparently had trouble getting nominated for a place in the Hall Of Fame on their own merits, despite achieving success and an extraordinary level of influence, and their breakthrough having taken place more than the allotted 25 years ago. Which should tell you a thing or two about how meaningful events like this actually are.

In her acceptance speech, Madonna took the time to thank anyone who ever said that she was talentless, or that she couldn't sing, or that she was a one-hit wonder. She claimed: "They inspired me because they made me question myself repeatedly and pushed me to be better."

Meanwhile, Justin Timberlake welcomed her up to the stage with an amazing joke: "The world is full of Madonna wannabes. I might have even dated a couple. But there is truly only one Madonna."

Thoughts:
1: Aren't famous people funny? Look at them acting like their entire career has just been an entrance exam for a head-pat from a ridiculous institution with snobby rules and some jumped-up, self-elected panel of judges. How demeaning. And yet they act like this is the one thing that makes everything worthwhile. They wouldn't do X-Factor, would they? So why do they fall for this? Because everyone wants proof that they are 'important', even when it's blindingly obvious - she's bloody MADONNA! - that they already are.

2: Not that it's just famous people who act like this. Have you seen those dating websites that only let you join if you're beautiful enough (thank you, Dawn Porter)? It's a nasty idea, promoting the concept that only attractive people should be allowed to attempt to date other attractive people, but you find me someone who wouldn't be flattered if they put themselves forward for judging and passed the sexy test. It'd be like having proof that anyone who ever knocked you back was WRONG.

3: Speaking of which, any organisation which has knocked back the Stooges in favour of the Dave Clark Five or the Ventures (who were also inducted yesterday), is in serious danger of making themselves look even more ridiculous than they already do. I mean it's nice for the DC5, and Lord alone knows they deserve to be borne aloft on a golden pedestal for alone, but still...priorities, people!

4: Of course, it's entirely possible that the Stooges been offered a place in the Hall Of Fame, but knocked it back. Ozzy Osbourne already has, after all, and it doesn't seem to have made Black Sabbath's enduring success and influence suddenly vanish.

5: I still don't really like Madonna's voice, even though the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame has proven me WRONG. It'd be nice to think this problem of taste on my part would spur her on to work on her singing to such a committed degree that she could affect to sound like someone I DO like for her next album, but I'd advise her not to bother. She seems to be doing perfectly well without my support, after all.

5a: Getting the Stooges in to back you up...GENIUS idea. Does nothing but good things for both sides, and makes a mockery of the idea that pop and rock are worlds apart. Well done, everyone!

6: Should Justin be criticised for having a veiled dig at Britney in his speech there? I mean talk about kicking someone when they're down... Mind you, if he does get a roasting from the press for being insensitive, maybe it'll spur him on to be even more amazing at making speeches, that's the Madonna way.