When a house is built you have contractors who specialize in different skills and perform different tasks to complete the structure.
You have those who work with concrete and lay the foundation or basement walls and floor. There's carpenters who work with wood and frame the house. Electricians who wire it, plumbers who install the pipes, drywallers, painters, roofers, etc.
I think both Michael and Prince have contributed their own unique skills and talents to music, entertainment, video, and performance. I have always preferred Prince's music overall but I recognize Michael's contributions as an artist in his own right.
Remember Michael was a star at an early age. I'm sure Prince listened to his share of Motown and the Jackson 5 while growing up.

skywalker said:

don't get me wrong I've been frustrated with mj for quite awhile myself but he still has good songs that went unrecognized (eg. whatever happens, we've had enough, etc.) and it's awesome seeing prince do his thing right now. I myself have wished mj would have followed prince's footsteps and focused on releasing more albums instead of making stupid documentaries but I'm pretty sure invincible(aside from what anyone including myself thinks of it) has sold more this decade than all of prince's 00's work put together. Commercially he was able to still sell but only time will tell how his sales will end up with the upcoming album, post-allegations
[Edited 2/2/07 23:11pm]

I don't agree that Prince is a better artist than Michael Jackson. They are both geniuses, but Michael Jackson is my favorite and the more orginal of the two.

Michael has been constrained to "commercial" pressures of sales since the Thriller album, and this has stopped him from creating a lot more experimental work that he more than has the ability to do. Prince on the other hand has never been too concernd about hugh album sales, and therefore like David Bowie has dropped in and out of the mainstream.


I also disgree that Prince's career is flying high, and Michael's career has been rock bottom since the 1990's.On a worldwide scale Michael Jackson has contiued to have No.1 albums, Even the so called flop album (well it was a flop creatively) sold 8 million (more that Justin Timberlakes mega successful Justified album) and was No.1 in the USA Billboard charts. And Michael Jackson's Number Ones greatest hits album from 2003 sold 4 million, hardly sales of an artist who's career is rock bottom.

Prince is hugh in the USA now, which is very exciting. But outside the USA Prince is off the music radar. None of his albums since Symbol in 1992 (or 1993), have had any presence in Europe. Michael Jackson has a lot of work to do in the USA to remind them why they loved him, and Prince has the same job to do in Europe.

cborgman said:

On of the reaons Michael Jackson was proven innocent in pre trial court in 1994 was because, the child didn't discribe Michael Jackson's penis correctly. And that was one of reasons he wasn't charged. If Michael Jackson was charged the Police would have been able to force the boy to testify.

There is a lot of misinformation in the media about the 1993 abuse investigation, such as things like "pay offs" when the fact is that the out of court settlement had nothing to do with the criminal investigtion, and didn't stop the criminal investigation. It is a fact that the boy's father filed for a $ multi million civil law suite only 2 weeks in to the investigation among many other sinister things about the boy's family. OJ Simpsons wifes family didn't bring a civil law case against OJ Simpson until after the criminal investigation and trial.

cborgman said:

Your correct that the discriptions didn't match, because the whole police investigation was based on a lie.

Prince is definitely the better artist - as he is self-sufficient and plays multiple instuments. Michael's work without collaboration with Quincy Jones is mediocre at best. Quincy was the artistic force for Michael's best work. Prince is his own force.

yes. i think performance wise. their about tick for tact. but prince is a way better, musician and writer. and although many might not agree, i think prince has better vocals than mj.

i remember some thread where some MJ fans asserted that MJ was an accomplished guitar and piano player...

Ellectrika said:

Yes and Rumsfeld hasn't given orders that led to war crimes.And OJ didn't murder his wife
[Edited 2/3/07 7:11am]

Ellectrika said:

first: saying Prince is not a pedophile is NOT the same thing as saying MJ is.


second: anyone can label MJ anyway they choose? why can't they? people here label others with no evidence all the time.

you must! you posted here several times

SlamGlam said:

Who...me? If so I like them both. But being the fact this is a Prince site, and I own more Prince CD's than MJ, I would say Prince

Isolar said:

now that's what I'm talking about

Again, what has sales go to do with it? Invincible was a less than stellar album no matter how much it sold. The Spice Girls sold a lot of albums in the late 90's too, that doesn't mean it was quality.

MJ's career right now is non existant-he hasn't done anything for awhile now-I don't care how much he sells when he does. The point is Prince is still doing his thang, MJ is tarnished and not doing jack shit.

Good for you that MJ is your favorite. More original of the two? I dunno if I'd agree with that. You'd have to put up some compelling evidence to suggest that MJ is more "original" than Prince. So far, you haven't.


Bullshit. Prince could have been just as constrained/pressured/shackled by Purple Rain as MJ was by Thriller, but he wasn't. Prince put out an album in a new direction within the year. MJ stopped himself and decided to wait 5 years to put out Bad. If MJ was more "original" he would have done whatever the f he wanted like Prince did. Instead he caved to commercial expectations. MJ often sacrifices his art for the business.



Saleswise Mj has and will always do alright.As I've said before, it's not all about sales. Elvis still sells and he is dead. McDonalds sells and their food is shit. Fact is MJ's rep is in the toilet. His recent performance of "we are the world" was horrible and disappointing no matter where in the world you are an MJ fan. And I am a fan of MJ saying this....



I am not going to turn this into a USA vs. Europe argument. However, if I remember correctly the UK never gave Prince a #1 song until 1994. Europe did not embrace 1999 nor Purple Rain-what does that tell you? I am not saying that's better or worse, because Europe was there for Prince for PArade, SOTT, and Lovesexy. It's just a difference in cultures. If Prince toured Europe they'd have Princemania also. Trust me, Prince's rep in Europe cannot be worse than MJ's is in the USA right now. Besides, isn't Robbie Williams keeping England happy?
[Edited 2/3/07 12:55pm]

joyceisblasian said:[quote]
He claims that Michael is the reason Prince's videos were even shown on MTV because MJ opened the door for black artists on TV.

quote]

Never read this thread, but that's as ignorant as it gets.

And, once again, Prince is a better musical artist than most anyone else out there, then and now.

That's why I'm here, right?

Don't say Michael can't play any instruments:





He might not be as good as Prince, and I agree he is not really a musician but he's a genius in his own way. The reason why he never plays an instrument in concert is just because of all the dancing. MJ entertains people with his dancing, Prince entertains them with his guitar (and other instruments).

As I said before; MJ also is a genius, just like Prince. He writes, composes and produces most of his songs. He has a very unique way of making songs and he is a great beatboxer.

- http://youtube.com/watch?v=GrwYO5tLGZc
- http://youtube.com/watch?v=5wBvKOD4Zm0
- http://youtube.com/watch?v=9colO9fhI7o
- http://youtube.com/watch?v=xKrZisT80LY

It's just a matter of taste. They're both geniuses. They're both legendary. But I prefer Michael's dancing and that's why I think he's a better artist. Prince's a better musician, Michael's a better artist. It's a shame though that he doesn't sing live a lot after the '92 Dangerous Tour (he really damaged his voice during the BAD Tour).
[Edited 2/3/07 14:00pm]

nayroo2002 said:[quote]

joyceisblasian said:

I never said that
Michael is the reason Prince's videos were even shown on MTV, I said my friend claimed that's one reason why MJ is better than Prince.

Ronnuz said:

Thanks for the beatboxing links! I'd only seen a few of these. Listen, I a disappointed with MJ's current career status. I think Prince has done much better in that regard. However, anyone who denies MJ's impact or genius needs to wake the fuck up. They are two different artists they are both brilliant.
[Edited 2/3/07 16:58pm]

skywalker said:

THANK YOU!

luv4u said:

It's like Madonna VS. Janet: Neverending!!!!!

[Edited 2/6/07 19:07pm]

This discussion made a little more sense back in '84, but come on. You can't compare the two. What do they even have in common at this point? They are both artists. In my opinion, the similarities end there.

No disrespect to the Michael Jackson fans, but the man has been trying to live up to Thriller for over 20 years now. In my opinion, Michael Jackson got lucky with Thriller - right place at the right time, with the help of Quincy Jones. Prince has certainly made mistakes, but he has a legitimate catalog that has included a new release practically every year. Michael has released what - one album of new material in the past 10 years?

Jeff

There is really no way to compare. They are very differant in every way except maybe their age!

I think it's funny when people compare these 2 at all. Michael Jackson i never considered as a musician. He is more of an entertainer. Prince is the better artist...because he is more than just an entertainer.

Michael always was an artist, don't believe me, go listen to the demo of some of his Off The Wall stuff. There was no Quincy present and you basically hear the same thing that we get on record. I don't see why people have to knock the man just because they don't like how things have become for him or because they want to build Prince up.

joyceisblasian said:

Prince by miles - MJ can't play any instruments and is just not as cool - Prince is class.

I think this comparison thing is getting a little tedious dontcha think???

mistermcgee said:

Absolutely.... Couldn’t have said it better