OldFriends4Sale said:

MORALLY?

3232 said:

what meets my eye is this

before the commercial success

i knew prince was it

also, when he bends gender barriers

he also bends music, and cultural barriers

revolution in mind, heart and soul

2elijah said:

NOT saying it has much to do with anything...the question asked "do u THINK.."
just stated just that..my opinion, based on conversations and loads of blogs on the net..they sway to MJ by a long shot..not saying that those sources are official..but they do speak.

3232 said:

you said you know Prince is a far better person than Michael..
I asked how do you know that? Only people that know intimately these 2 private people can really answer that.

And what criteria do we judge them on?
They are 2 different types of entertainers, I don't compare them that way

3232 said:

Well, concerning the two, there'll always be surveys, questions, gossip, and comparisons, what else is new? But the bottom line is, both are definitely well-respected artists within the black community as a whole, because it is about their music and the contributions both have made to the industry as artists with their own unique styles.
[Edited 6/15/09 8:20am]

In general, Michael is still more accepted.

Black people, this is from my experiences, so no b.s. responses, are still CONCERNED about Michael. Even though he's a fifty year old man. Wondering how his health is? Is his kids grown? Did he go back to the curl etc. They care about him, as a person, and as an individual, not solely as an artist. Some may think he's crazy, but when Michael is sick rumors are running around, people care, and hope he's okay.... I HEAR discussions about Michael, when there is media blitz around him in the black community, he's a subject people can speak about, for long periods of time, and even if some people dislike him, the love is always there from some.

As far as Prince. Prince never had, and probably will never had, such a strong emotional bond with the black community....Michael had a head start in the business, and has been more emotional and giving with the black community in general...

No contest....

Like Jemi Hendrix vs. James Brown. Two awesome entertainers, but not the same level of connectiveness....
[Edited 6/15/09 8:26am]

and some of you even questioned

whether or not p was black or white

in the black community, there was never

a question

soul recognizes soul

sunsetdriver1999 said:

we share the same opinion...and mine comes from experience...i cant recall ever having a conversation about prince and GAY is not thrown in..its what non fans see...not the music and they know nothing else either..while in MJ case..its always old sentiments from his very sucessfull career...Prince was seen as the villain of the 2..and unless u were/are a fan of Prince, it was all negative...i remember watching superbowl performance on a cruise..and a the theatre was filled with a bunch of old farts and they held hands and started singing PURPLE STAIN,PURPLE STAIN ...well, Eric Clapton says it right "there's no middle ground when it comes to Prince, you either love him or you hate him" and many really not sure why they hate him.

sunsetdriver1999 said:

Interesting. I'm from the so called Black community and that is NOT the case at all as it relates 2 Prince.

sunsetdriver1999 said:

And, herein lies the problem with "the black community" continually being cast as a monolith that has one collective opinion about various topics: You run into inaccuracies being passed off as truths.

For example, throughout their careers, both MJ and Prince have enjoyed exhaustive coverage by the black press: Right On, Black Beat, Jet, Ebony, Ebony Man, Essence, etc.

Prince enjoyed major support on 1980s black radio-format stations. In DC, he was constantly being featured on WKYS, WHUR (HBCU Howard University radio, btw) and WKYS (whose Donnie Simpson loved to feature his videos on BET's "Video Soul." To that end, I loved to catch BET's Prince marathons on "Video Vibrations."

Prince has also had numerous appearances and honors at NAACP and Vibe award shows.

Long before his stints on Leno, Prince was a regular guest on Arsenio's show. Prince made contributions, way back in the day, for the production of the MLK holiday tribute single made in the 1980s (even got a shout-out at the close of the video). Prince got a similar shout-out in the closing credit's of Spike Lee's "Malcolm X."

Prince got major props in the black press (Jet, as I recall) for featuring a black educator as one of the women highlighted in his "TMBGITW" video.

That's a whole lot of attention and love from people supposedly not into Prince.
[Edited 6/15/09 8:58am]

ThreadBare said:

True, very true.....but, in the end MJ still outshines prince by a long shot in the eyes of the majority!

3232 said:

I'd love to know what you base that on. I don't see how one could make the argument of one being loved more by black people than the other.

3232, are you black? Just curious.

Threadbare's post:



Absolutely, you hit the nail on the head threadbare;very ignorant to assume that black folks as a whole, like one artist over the other, when both artists have made major contributions to the music industry. Those are achievements many in the Black community would embrace of both artists. Knowing how many from a "particular" community likes one artist over the other is ridiculous, unless you did some "major" research. According to 3232's theory, I guess if you ask 100 black people on a yahoo survey if they like apple pie better than cheesecake, and they all answered yes, then that means "all black folks like apple pie better than cheesecake" Freaking hilarious.
[Edited 6/15/09 9:25am]

2elijah said:

Have u ever heard the phrase, "talking out the side of your neck"?

Graycap23 said:

sumtymes said:

Prince has and still does have a different take on 'racial catagories' racial labels

ThreadBare said:

NOT saying it has much to do with anything...the question asked "do u THINK.."
i just stated just that..my opinion, based on conversations and loads of blogs on the net..they sway to MJ by a long shot..not saying that those sources are official..but they do speak.And my OPINION is just that, MY opinion...as yours is yours..you think the oposite because of your journey and experience..this is an expression of mine,MY observetion..it doesnt make it LAW any more than yours do..the tread asked "DO U THNIK..?" am i excluded from telling what I think?
[Edited 6/15/09 9:39am]

sunsetdriver1999 said:

I hear you, but don't agree with you all of what you have said. Both artists were able to cross racial/cultural lines. Both had artists like James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, and other black artists as their influences, that were their role models in the music industry and definitely someone they both emulated over the years during their performances, and if anyone could not see that both artists Prince and MJ, did not pick up the very "soul" of JB in their bones, then they haven't recognized those sides of both artists that many within the black community were/are able to "identify" with, and that is where the "connection" is, through his music. Black artists, of course are not limited to the music they can create. There's a lot of JB influence in Prince's music without a doubt, as well as Jimi Hendrix and other Black artists from back in the day, The "connection" is in the music. Nothing more needs to be said.

The good thing about Prince, as well as MJ, is that both their music can be put into several categories, and both have been able to reach across racial/cultural lines. MJ and Prince made it easier for other black artists, at the early part of their careers, who were "expected" by the industry and music lovers, to bring a certain form of music, to not be put into one specific category. Both artists showed that black artists are not limited to the type of music they have always been able to create.

To say that Prince never had a strong emotional bond with the Black community is like speaking from the mouth of Prince himself. Since neither you nor I know him personally, but only through his music as fans, you cannot say that as "fact." If you have been listening closely, the connection to the Black community has been there for years, and why would either artist "limit" themselves to one particular fan base anyway? That wouldn't and doesn't make any sense. . We don't need to draw up some BS survey to prove that, and folks shouldn't use either artists' personal lives or their personal, life choices and confuse that with the who they connect to more or less regarding their fan base. I doubt either would stop any fan from a particular group from enjoying their music.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure both artists knows what kind of "close connection" they have with the black community, but the question is why does it even matter and why measure it? They're both respected artists in that community despite any questions, one has about both artists, over the years regarding their personal lives or lifestyles. In the end, it's their music and contributions to music over the years, that really counts. Just my two cents.
[Edited 6/15/09 10:11am]

3232 said:

So, are you black?

ThreadBare said:

Black and proud : )
anyway thats besides the point...i see your points and respect them ALL..my points are just based on my observations (may not be accurate but its what i observe)...and in no way am i or anyone saying that one is LOVED more than the other..my observation is that MJ is more recognized as being the more sucessfull of the 2...he's more of a house hold name than Prince will ever be..of the two, MJ is the only one back in the day who your parents and grand parents would be comfortable hearing theire kids play around the house...prince never was accepted in that way...

3232 said:

That would have a lot more 2 do with Mj starting out as a kid.....than any other single factor.

Most of my friends/associates within the ages of 30 to 50 appreciate and respect Prince.

Something that I have always found interesting, most of the women in their 30s and early 40s state that Prince is their favorite artist. Michael Jackson? I don't know many Black women that point to Michael as their favorite artist.

Clearly, Prince is held in very high regard in my Black community

This thread could easily take off into different directions. The Black community is not monolithic in beliefs, opinions, etc.

got to be one of the funniest threads yet. i never knew you had to be accepted into races or qualify to be accepted beyond just your culture.

You must be young, "One of my gangster friends", you never said his race, other than the title of this thread which, im guessing, is supposed to hint at the fact this "gangster friend" and the fact he spoke urban slang is black? Nice view you have on the "black community" mate.

...i also didn't know the "black community" had a leader, nevemind him being a "gangster". Damn.
[Edited 6/15/09 11:21am]

sunsetdriver1999 said:

Very interesting. In my age group, Prince is usually the first artist mentioned with regards to "favorite artist", favorite performer, etc..It's not even close.

I don't agree with your comment at all pertaining to Prince not having an emotional bond with the black community.

Graycap23 said:

He has to remember that MJ, was like 10 or 11 when he became famous, so the public was able to see him as a little boy. Prince was much older so parents/grandparents would not have known, back in the late 70s if their kids would be more comfortable around Prince. Prince was in his late teens when folks started hearing of him more.

Secondly, these were two completely different artists with their own "unique" styles, and both had the ability, with their music and creativity, to cross racial/cultural lines, and made quite an impact on the music industry. Both legends are well-respected for their music contributions to the industry and have over 30 years to prove it. I could never measure one over the other,
[Edited 6/15/09 11:18am]

I think the 'black community' is a bit more complex than you give them credit for.


Both Prince & MJ have been guilty of sending out the wrong racial messages to all communities at large concerning race throughout various parts of their career. Prince addressed this in a 90's magazine interview with Spike Lee concerning the fact that Spike once criticized him for only using white women in his music videos.

I noticed this at a very early age, how Prince's use of white women were always as sex symbols or love interests, but black women got relegated to roles that were comedic or stereotypically black (Mavis Staples in Graffiti Bridge playing the ever-knowing God fearing black sage or the Black lady soliciting Christopher Tracey for sex in UTCM).

Prince said that over time he'd evolved. Indeed his newer videos make a point of showing black women in sexy roles.


MJ on the other hand had always used black women in his videos and white women in various ways. His girlfriends in the videos were black. Even when he transformed himself into a white woman, he still was trying to win the favor of black women (Iman in Remember the Time).

The problem with MJ is that in his personal life, and his appearance, it's pretty darned obvious there's a great deal of racial shame bottled up somewhere in him.




This aside, I think the white community is more fascinated by this than the black community as a whole. Most of my black friends like either musician because of one thing--their songs.

This is sad that even in 2009...two great performers, who just happen to be, black, are being compared...for what . .other ethic entertainers are not asked to be compared within their own communities...minority or non-minority...we do not have to choice...they both are gifted, blessed and talented...coming from two different views on music...and by the way, most of the people I know, who love each of their music for years and who love Prince and MJ appreciate them for different reasons and what they both bring to the table and never felt the need to chose... mostly only non-black people, for what ever thier reason, see the need in the comparison...most just accept their gifts, skills and talents...you can be a fan of both....this is so not cool...I hate this is still even a question in our growth as a multicultural, multiethnic and diverse socity.
[Edited 6/15/09 12:42pm]

MorehouseMan said:

kok said:

in this moment in our lives

3232 said:

But I think there's a huge difference between gauging how much love black America has for one over the other and gauging the artists' comparative global success.

Your thread -- unless my reading comprehension is just taking a beating today -- seems to have shifted from the former to the latter.

And, in qualifying your first/original point, I would say your ethnic background would be relevant. I mean, Jeffrey Osborne and Teddy Pendegrass never had Prince's scope of success, but I think you'd be hard-pressed to find black folks who didn't appreciate their musical contributions in the 1980s and earlier.

And, I asked about your background, because the whole premise for your thread seems to be from a place of distance or foreignness. Likewise, I'm not gay, but your premise seems akin to someone asking "whether Elton John is accepted in the gay community more than George Michael."

I'm not sure, again, how one would gauge that.