I hope that Prince takes much care about his health and that stays looooong here, and that.
Love and Peace

Sdldawn said:

I know. I would classify people like Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Mick Jagger, etc. as icons also.

SoulAlive said:

they really were the top 3 who changed how music videos looked, how concerts looked (no more standing still at the mike with no set design) too pop culture to another level etc. While there are plenty icons left, these three had incredible longevity and were always raking in new generations of fans. They were always at the top of the icon list.

Graycap23 said:

Don't forget to add Jackie Wilson to that list. MJ borrowed a lot from James, Jackie and others of that era.

Genesia said:

You bring up a really good point. As I was thinking about Prince getting this kind of media coverage last night, I also wondered if Prince was really on to something about being as private as he is. I've wondered if he was too private in the past but with how the media talks about MJ, I wonder if Prince looked at MJ's life and used it as a way in how he wanted to deal with the media which is at arms length.

DesireeNevermind said:

That was to the mainstream audience. People like Parliment, Funkadelic, Sly and James took performance to another level. Then, Prince, MJ and Madonna marketed it to the masses.

MJ and Queen (to me anyway) changed the game for music videos. They made real videos that were visually stunning that brought the songs to life.

purplecam said:

Well, let's face it - MJ had a different choice to make in that regard, since he was already a household name when he started his solo career. Before that, others controlled his image.

Prince, in contrast, was an adult when his career started - which meant he had more control over how he interacted with the media from the get-go.

Genesia said:

You are right. I was thinking how they both became megastars with Thriller and Purple Rain a year from each other.

daPrettyman said:

True.....Jackie did the "spin" in reverse.

TwiliteKid said:

Dewrede said:

Aaaa-men!!!

Thibaut said:

Just.....think about it.....and u will.

Thibaut said:

To me, I think Madonna was the first white girl that people saw dance and shake her ass like that on stage. It wasn't about her singing. Not saying her music is bad (because it's not), it's just that Madonna put on a show like most men would typically put on in the 80s.

daPrettyman said:

yep. and most of her videos were very artistic and theatrical moreso than what the men were doing. never underestimate the power of female sex.

Dewrede said:

I agree. Except for the part about Michael Jackson--so I would amend it as such:

I have NEVER understood how people can put that talentless filthy hag Madonna, OR that plastic-surgery-mutant pedophile freak Michael Jackson in the same league as a genius like Prince.

Now there's a quote I can get behind

LeGrinde said:

The man dies and you continue to insult him? You're just a low-life, Prince ass-kissing, loser.
[Edited 6/26/09 11:28am]

..one begins to see..for instance..that "painting-a-picture" is like fighting a battle..and trying to "paint-a-picture" is..i suppose like trying to fight a battle..
.
...it is..if anything..more exciting than fighting it successfully..
..but the principle is the same..
..mzsexybaby

Why are people so up in arms about the "two icons left" comment? Obviously, there are many legends still living, but Michael, Madonna and Prince were the big three of the 80's. They dominated pop culture and redefined the word superstar, so I get what the poster meant by only 2 icons left.

Dewrede said:

Thank you

Cinnamon234 said:

...it is the same kind of problem as unfolding a long..sustained..interlocked argument..it is a proposition which..whether a few or numberless parts..is commanded by a single unity of conception..
..mzsexybaby

Everybody keep this in mind...

The Prince, Michael, Madonna thing is essentially this.

This was a uniqe situation in which 3 artists of roughly the same age (all 3 were born in 1958) who hit their popularity peak or had their biggest album or hits all at basically the same time (again, all within a little over a year of each other).

Add to that the fact that their careers were still going 25 years later. All 3 went on to become icons in their own right. So they got grouped together as being the Big 3 of their age.

So for the people who took offense because their icons weren't considered, it's not a competition thing. They're not saying that Prince, Michael, and Madonna are the top 3 icons out of all the icons. They're saying they're the top 3 icons that were born during the same year they were. Or another way to put it is that they are the top 3 icons who are now 50 or 51 years old.
[Edited 6/26/09 12:03pm]
[Edited 6/26/09 12:03pm]

theres a michael RIP sticky thread at the top of this page.