So this was a hot debate (on who was the better girl group) back in the 80s? I can't believe these two groups were compared but I guess if you're gonna compare Rick to Prince then you might as well compare their respective Hos. j/k


So my question to you orgers is this:


What if Vanity 6 had MJG's music and Mary Jane Girls had V6's music; would there have been a difference in how these two groups turned out? You basically had sex appeal over quality music (sort of). What if the chicks with the sex appeal had the quality music? V6 singing "Candy Man" and "My House" versus MJG singing "He's So Dull" and "Nasty Girl". Suppose Rick produced V6 and Prince produced MJG. How do you think that would have gone?

crickets

I loved Vanity and I never saw her, Susan, and Brenda perform "Nasty Girls" live but in MY opinion they didn't dance like they heard the groove the way I hear it. They were eye candy, not great singers or dancers but coming from where they came from they were good enough, and sexy. The Mary Jane Girl's vocals don't fit Prince's Minneapolis sound. A few of the Mary Jane Girls could blow. The Mary Jane Girls voices were too big for those type of songs Prince produced for V6. The MJG fit well with Rick Jame's Funky Soulful Urban side. Cherri and Maxi matched with V6's music. Had V6 been produced by Rick James I don't think they would have been able to pull it off because their vocals would have been too weak for Rick's production. "You Are My Heaven" and "Hurting on the Inside" would never be the same with Vanity's...crooning.

theRight1 said:

Interesting if not spot on observation. So then....MJG could pull off Prince's sound but V6 could not pull off Rick's sound. Correct?

Right.

But....

I think V6 could have easily pulled off a rendition of say..."Party All The Time." Not all Rick's songs were soulful/funk R&B. See...Rick could probably have an easier time writing a simple song for weak vocals than Prince could have of writing for a strong female vocalist. Sure he's had Pattie, Chaka, Bonnie and so on but the women for whom he's produced albums for have by and large not been strong singers. I think Rick is more flexible in this area. He could go either way which is why I wonder if V6 would have fared better under Rick's tutelage. I think he would have been a better business mentor for them as well.

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[Edited 4/14/10 12:09pm]

Mary Jane Girls

they have more quality songs and were better looking.




Nasty Girl is the only track from V6 that I actually enjoy (strictly because of the music, I would much prefer an instrumental version).

I have to say the Mary Jane Girls were more popular as a singing group back in the 80s, as they had more songs.
[Edited 4/13/10 7:56am]

I love the Vanity 6 album, but the Mary Jane Girls or at least Jojo and whoever sang background were better singers.

You can do all sorts of Prince artists vs Rick James artists battles: http://prince.org/msg/5/267530

theRight1 said:

Susan and Vanity were eye candy. Brenda? The less said about her, the better.

In terms of singing, there's no contest - MJG by a mile.

Wasn't it just JoJo singing for the MJG? And if it weren't for her and that sexy blonde chick, wouldn't they have just been an ugly version of V6? I mean it seems if only Vanity had a stronger voice that could carry a ballad...V6 would have blown MJG out the water.



My older brother used to say he'd fuck Vanity while listening to JoJo's voice.

uPtoWnNY said:

IMO Brenda and Susan were about the same as far as body and looks. Susan's hair and skin tone made her a tad bit sexier. Brenda's mouth and cigarette smoking made her a tad bit nastier.

I always found Susan to be the hottest of the group, even hotter than Vanity. Brenda was a beast - reminds me of Pink.

uPtoWnNY said:

aw damn

theRight1 said:

Writing a song in a certain style or genre is totally different the song actually being enjoyable to hear.

uPtoWnNY said:

Not to me. Perfect example of different strokes for different folks. Vanity is more attractive in the face. Susan was exotic and cute. I like Pink! I wouldn't say Brenda was a beast. Butch maybe? Yeah, kinda like Pink.

sosgemini said:

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[Edited 4/14/10 12:09pm]

Vanity 6 cant compete with Mary Jane Girls!! They were tha BOMB!!

I just enjoyed Vanity 6 more. Yeah, MJ Girls sang better. But they didnt look better and the songs were good but not as much fun as Vanity 6 songs.

I enjoyed Vanity 6,I think their album is edgy and adventurous.But let's face it,they were mainly a "novelty act".Their album had four singles but only one of them ("Nasty Girl") made any noise on the charts.I don't think the mainstream public took them seriously.

The Mary Jane Girls were more of "real" group,singing real songs.They managed to score several big hits: "Candy Man","All Night Long" and "In My House".I really think that,if they had stayed together,they might have enjoyed many more hits throughout the 80s.

Y'all know that MJG--who I love--are basically JoJo with the Waters sisters doing the backgrounds and heavy lifting.

I've read that in concert the BAND had to sing the BG parts cuz the other girls couldn't. Don't know for sure if it's true.

GaryMF said:

It was a similiar situation with Vanity 6 During the '1999' tour,Jill Jones hid behind a curtain as she "sang along" with Vanity,Susan and Brenda.She was sorta like the 'unofficial' member of Vanity 6.

Vanity 6 (and Appolonia 6) ALL THE WAY!!!!!

Vanity Jane:

Vanity
Jo Jo
Jill


now that's a hot group.

I'm a fan of both groups. Although I think V6 had better music and were better looking. V6 music was more experimental and fun. Both groups had several similarities, one being they both had one person who could actually sing and being the least attractive. While the others gave some type of sexual fantasy look. Of all the girls Brenda is my favorite for she can actually sing and I love the tough girl image she had. She kind of balanced it out for V6/A6.

clearly, MJG had more talent.. & I say this, having preferred V6. I preferred them because they were "blatantly sexier".. & that's probably what Prince wanted to project from them.

I think it's reasonable to say that Prince & Rick held firm control over their respective "girl groups", but I also think Rick was more about MJG singing & displaying their MUSICAL talent - not just their lingerie.

I think V6's (read: Prince's) music was much better.. just imagine if MJG had their vocals with V6's (=Prince's) quality of music???