As for lastly impressions, David can claim Madonna & Lady Gaga as his main students. But Prince can claim OutKast, The Neptunes, Private, Daft Punk, Basemast Jaxx, Egyptian Lover,

From this I may surmise that despite their vast achievements both had a pernicious effect upon popular music further down the road, Prince moreso. Ergo: points deducted = The Beatles are ranked highest.

Higher than everyone except Lennon/McCartney.

Higher than Sly Stone but Lower than everybody else

Paris9748430 said:

Higher than Barry White

Equal to Stevie Wonder

Higher than Rick James

Higher than The Bee Gees

Higher than Bowie

Higher than Sly

Lower than Lennon/McCartney

I have to agree here.

I keep wanting to place Prince higher than Stevie but then I want to place him lower than Stevie.

Damn I just have to rank them tied because both are fucking great in their own right.

U can't name a single artist on any list higher than Prince.

4 my taste.

My top5 best artists/bands of all time:

1.Beatles

2.Prince

3.Bowie

4.Stones

5.Stevie

ernestsewell said:

Higher than Barry White

Lower than Stevie WOnder

Higher than Rick James

Lower than Bee Gees

Same as David Bowie

Lower than Sly Stone

Same as Lennon/McCartney

Prince the same as Lennon/McCartney ....oh please, even prince would not agree with this....

crazy talk ...

most of the artist you have mention are still selling more records than prince right now. most of these artist are still getting more airplay right now than prince. most of these artist catalog are getting reissue with better sound while prince cds are out of print. prince cant touch any of these guys

jackson35 said:

most of the artist you have mention are still selling more records than prince right now. most of these artist are still getting more airplay right now than prince. most of these artist catalog are getting reissue with better sound while prince cds are out of print. prince cant touch any of these guys

Honda out sell Ferrari also. What is your point?

Marrk said:

Prince has never innovated/created anything that wasn't heard hundreds of times before.

I'd love just a few examples of the "hundreds of times before" the world heard something similar to (and these are just off the top of my head): Joy in Repetition; Sign o' the Times; When Doves Cry; The Ballad of Dorothy Parker; If I Was Your Girlfriend; Thunder; Electric Chair; The Question of U; Thieves in the Temple; Lovesexy; Positivity; Condition of the Heart...

TonyVanDam said:

Think of it as a game show with no right or wrong answer, but only your strong opinions. Just 5 questions needed you answer higher OR lower. OK here we go:

1. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Barry White? __higher_____

2. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Steve Wonder? _lower_______

3. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Rick James? ____much higher____

4. Prince is rank higher OR lower than The Bee Gees? ___higher____

5. Prince is rank higher OR lower than David Bowie? _____higher__

6. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Sly Stone? __higher_____

7. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Lennon/McCartney? ____lower___

I am so looking forward to see your results. Have fun!

PlusSign said:

Marrk said:

Prince has never innovated/created anything that wasn't heard hundreds of times before.

I'd love just a few examples of the "hundreds of times before" the world heard something similar to (and these are just off the top of my head): Joy in Repetition; Sign o' the Times; When Doves Cry; The Ballad of Dorothy Parker; If I Was Your Girlfriend; Thunder; Electric Chair; The Question of U; Thieves in the Temple; Lovesexy; Positivity; Condition of the Heart...

I want see the examples as well.

Joyinrepatition said:

1. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Barry White? ... Higher

2. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Steve Wonder? ... Higher

3. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Rick James? ... Higher

4. Prince is rank higher OR lower than The Bee Gees? ... Higher

5. Prince is rank higher OR lower than David Bowie? ... Higher

6. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Sly Stone? ...Higher

7. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Lennon/McCartney? ... Lower



agreed although I'll make the last Lower/Higher as Lennon>>>>>>McCartney

Barry White

Not much to compare. Prince is a far more remarkable artist in dozens of ways. Barry obviously had a better voice.

Stevie Wonder

Stevie, easily, for lead vox. Stevie, slightly, as a melodist. Prince, definitely, as an instrumentalist. Equal as groove-makers, and for their general musicianship. But, as creative artists who have both produced extraordinary bodies of work, Prince's oeuvre rates higher in my estimate for its sheer profusion of styles and creative elements.

Rick James

Prince is on a completely different level I would have thought. But I possibly haven't listened to RJ enough to assess him fairly.

Bee Gees

I probably prefer their hits to Prince's. But for depth of work beyond the most commercial pop tunes, and sheer talent as instrumentalist/songwriter/producer, Prince has them well covered.

David Bowie

Probably the most different artist on this list to Prince. (Except maybe as an image creator... but I have dealt with these assessments purely in terms of musicianship, performance and songwriting.) Bowie is creative in a cerebral, considered way that has never come through in Prince's work. He certainly murders Prince as a lyricist (the one area I don't rate Prince highly). I also think that perhaps half-a-dozen of Bowie's very best songs are as good, or even more artfully constructed than Prince's; but Prince is a million times the musician Bowie is, and can do many things musically that Bowie would be too shrewd to even attempt.

Sly Stone

Prince owes him a lot. He has taken things further, but had the advantage of Sly laying the groundwork. I rate them equally for innovation and songcraftsmanship. Prince's work is more diverse, and unfortunately, Sly and the Family Stone released only about 10 albums of 8-12 tracks each. For the sheer volume and variety of his body of work, I rate Prince higher.

Lennon/McCartney

As writers of ballads and melodic pop they beat nearly everyone including Prince imho; and as lyricists they embarrass him. But if Prince doesn't quite equal the Beatles in their element, neither Lennon or McCartney could even enter the same room as him in any of the soul/funk/jazz-influenced styles to which he has contributed so much brilliant and innovative work.

Pretty sure ---Michael Jackson--- rates higher than all of these artists. (Yep, even Prince and Lennon/McCartney.)

PlusSign said:

Barry White

Not much to compare. Prince is a far more remarkable artist in dozens of ways. Barry obviously had a better voice.

Stevie Wonder

Stevie, easily, for lead vox. Stevie, slightly, as a melodist. Prince, definitely, as an instrumentalist. Equal as groove-makers, and for their general musicianship. But, as creative artists who have both produced extraordinary bodies of work, Prince's oeuvre rates higher in my estimate for its sheer profusion of styles and creative elements.

Rick James

Prince is on a completely different level I would have thought. But I possibly haven't listened to RJ enough to assess him fairly.

Bee Gees

I probably prefer their hits to Prince's. But for depth of work beyond the most commercial pop tunes, and sheer talent as instrumentalist/songwriter/producer, Prince has them well covered.

David Bowie

Probably the most different artist on this list to Prince. (Except maybe as an image creator... but I have dealt with these assessments purely in terms of musicianship, performance and songwriting.) Bowie is creative in a cerebral, considered way that has never come through in Prince's work. He certainly murders Prince as a lyricist (the one area I don't rate Prince highly). I also think that perhaps half-a-dozen of Bowie's very best songs are as good, or even more artfully constructed than Prince's; but Prince is a million times the musician Bowie is, and can do many things musically that Bowie would be too shrewd to even attempt.

Sly Stone

Prince owes him a lot. He has taken things further, but had the advantage of Sly laying the groundwork. I rate them equally for innovation and songcraftsmanship. Prince's work is more diverse, and unfortunately, Sly and the Family Stone released only about 10 albums of 8-12 tracks each. For the sheer volume and variety of his body of work, I rate Prince higher.

Lennon/McCartney

As writers of ballads and melodic pop they beat nearly everyone including Prince imho; and as lyricists they embarrass him. But if Prince doesn't quite equal the Beatles in their element, neither Lennon or McCartney could even enter the same room as him in any of the soul/funk/jazz-influenced styles to which he has contributed so much brilliant and innovative work.

Nicely put.

ShadeoViolet said:

Pretty sure ---Michael Jackson--- rates higher than all of these artists. (Yep, even Prince and Lennon/McCartney.)

OK, nobody brought up Michael Jackson.

So, take that shit somewhere else.

ShadeoViolet said:

Pretty sure ---Michael Jackson--- rates higher than all of these artists. (Yep, even Prince and Lennon/McCartney.)

PlusSign said:

Barry White

Not much to compare. Prince is a far more remarkable artist in dozens of ways. Barry obviously had a better voice.

Stevie Wonder

Stevie, easily, for lead vox. Stevie, slightly, as a melodist. Prince, definitely, as an instrumentalist. Equal as groove-makers, and for their general musicianship. But, as creative artists who have both produced extraordinary bodies of work, Prince's oeuvre rates higher in my estimate for its sheer profusion of styles and creative elements.

Rick James

Prince is on a completely different level I would have thought. But I possibly haven't listened to RJ enough to assess him fairly.

Bee Gees

I probably prefer their hits to Prince's. But for depth of work beyond the most commercial pop tunes, and sheer talent as instrumentalist/songwriter/producer, Prince has them well covered.

David Bowie

Probably the most different artist on this list to Prince. (Except maybe as an image creator... but I have dealt with these assessments purely in terms of musicianship, performance and songwriting.) Bowie is creative in a cerebral, considered way that has never come through in Prince's work. He certainly murders Prince as a lyricist (the one area I don't rate Prince highly). I also think that perhaps half-a-dozen of Bowie's very best songs are as good, or even more artfully constructed than Prince's; but Prince is a million times the musician Bowie is, and can do many things musically that Bowie would be too shrewd to even attempt.

Sly Stone

Prince owes him a lot. He has taken things further, but had the advantage of Sly laying the groundwork. I rate them equally for innovation and songcraftsmanship. Prince's work is more diverse, and unfortunately, Sly and the Family Stone released only about 10 albums of 8-12 tracks each. For the sheer volume and variety of his body of work, I rate Prince higher.

Lennon/McCartney

As writers of ballads and melodic pop they beat nearly everyone including Prince imho; and as lyricists they embarrass him. But if Prince doesn't quite equal the Beatles in their element, neither Lennon or McCartney could even enter the same room as him in any of the soul/funk/jazz-influenced styles to which he has contributed so much brilliant and innovative work.

Yup. you saved me the bother. Not a word I'd disagree with.

(ShadeoViolet - )

[Edited 6/15/10 13:12pm]

prince ran out of gas as soon as the purple rain party was over so he does not rank above any of these artist. plus prince was getting his ass kick by most of his peers on the charts and on the road.

jackson35 said:

prince ran out of gas as soon as the purple rain party was over so he does not rank above any of these artist. plus prince was getting his ass kick by most of his peers on the charts and on the road.

Troll POST of the Year!

jackson35 said:

prince ran out of gas as soon as the purple rain party was over so he does not rank above any of these artist. plus prince was getting his ass kick by most of his peers on the charts and on the road.

I see thinking isn't really your strong suit.

Paris9748430 said:

jackson35 said:

prince ran out of gas as soon as the purple rain party was over so he does not rank above any of these artist. plus prince was getting his ass kick by most of his peers on the charts and on the road.

I see thinking isn't really your strong suit.

That's even funnier than what you were responding to.

vivid said:

Paris9748430 said:

I see thinking isn't really your strong suit.

That's even funnier than what you were responding to.

4 sho.

TonyVanDam said:

Think of it as a game show with no right or wrong answer, but only your strong opinions. Just 5 questions needed you answer higher OR lower. OK here we go:

1. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Barry White? Much Much Much Higher

2. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Steve Wonder? Much Higher

3. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Rick James? Much Much Higher

4. Prince is rank higher OR lower than The Bee Gees? Much Much Higher

5. Prince is rank higher OR lower than David Bowie? Much Much Higher

6. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Sly Stone? Much Much Higher

7. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Lennon/McCartney? Much Much Higher

I am so looking forward to see your results. Have fun!

im not thinking straight. look at who you are comparing prince to?

jackson35 said:

im not thinking straight.

No shit.

1. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Barry White? Higher.

2. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Steve Wonder? Pre-'84 Stevie? Lower. Post-'84 Stevie? Much, Much Higher.

3. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Rick James? Higher.

4. Prince is rank higher OR lower than The Bee Gees? Higher.

5. Prince is rank higher OR lower than David Bowie? Higher.

6. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Sly Stone? Higher.

7. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Lennon/McCartney? Much Lower.

Higher than Barry White

Higher than Stevie Wonder

WAY higher than Rick James

Higher than The Bee Gees

Lower than David Bowie

Higher than Sly Stone

Higher than Lennon/McCartney

TonyVanDam said:

Think of it as a game show with no right or wrong answer, but only your strong opinions. Just 5 questions needed you answer higher OR lower. OK here we go:

1. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Barry White? ________

2. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Steve Wonder? ________

3. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Rick James? ________

4. Prince is rank higher OR lower than The Bee Gees? _______

5. Prince is rank higher OR lower than David Bowie? _______

6. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Sly Stone? _______

7. Prince is rank higher OR lower than Lennon/McCartney? _______

I am so looking forward to see your results. Have fun!

1. Higher than Barry white

2. Even with Stevie, but i could understand slightly lower

3. Laps Rick James much higher

4. Higher than Bee Gees

5. Higher than Bowie, but slightly

6. Higher than Sly, although Sly was influential

7. If they need 2 of them to compare to one, the answer is higher