For me he is.

For my ears, eyes, mind there is no other musician.

3232 said:

Whose truth?

NastradumasKid said:

strange how MJ got so much love and admiration, even after being accused twice(so far)...well they say your innocent til PROVEN guilty...but then, wasnt O.J aquitted of an equally disguting crime also?
Why not go ahead and show him the same love and praises also(innocent til proven guilty right?)
What make MJ any better than OJ? Why the double standard?

skywalker said:

I've heard that argument ("if someone else had put out this album, the world would've freaked!!") for just about every album he's done in the last 15 years.

Don't get me wrong, at all... I love Prince, think he's amazing and extraordinarily talented, and is certainly one of the "best" in music history.

But since his creative heyday, when each album was like a sonic blast of innovation and songwriting brilliance, he hasn't produced a single essential album. Some very strong albums, some albums I listen to alot, but nothing that is going to take its place in pop/rock music history alongside the all-time great albums. SOTT, 1999, Purple Rain.... i have no problem putting these alongside Ziggy Stardust, Abbey Road, Nevermind, Thriller, Songs in the Key of Life, Achtung Baby, etc, etc, etc.... But The Gold Experience? Come? Musicology? Lotusflow3r? As much as I enjoy them and think they are overall very solid, they are not in the same category. Now, obviously every album doesn't have to be a masterpiece, and yet - - how can an artist be the "best" of all time without a single landmark, signficant album in the last 20 years?

My view of Prince is this: things became too easy for him. His studio work is too pristine, and sterile. His records all sounds alike these days, and don't seem to have much in the way of original thought either musically or lyrically, or from a production standpoint. It's all too clean. Just about everything he does now (and for the last 15 years, arguably) weakly echoes something he did in his own past. There has been no progression, or growth. Perhaps the reason for this is that he's been so cloistered over the years. And he's also capable of absolutely ghastly miscalculations and lapses in judgment. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy alot of what he does, and from time to time a song will really kick my ass (in a good way), but as much as I wish it were otherwise Prince has not been able to come close to his creative peak in a long, long time (IMHO).

Now, obviously, anybody that one might nominate for "The Best" has also released bad albums, for sure. Bob Dylan, for instance, has put out some putrid records. So what is the definition of "The Best"... is it even possible to determine?

Clevelandgirl said:

Jus cause billions of ppl watch something, doesn't mean whoever's starrin is the best of all time.
That's not logical at all.
Lil'Wayne won some kind of award for best rapper or some shit (someone help me out here).
How the hell did he win that??? Cause he sure as hell didn't deserve it.
Of course MJ is more international than Prince...MJ was more commercial than Prince.
Never judge how great someone from how much they're put out there.
Listen to the material and look their abilities.
Make a stronger, more logical point.

(imo) Prince is more well rounded, which makes him greater.
The best? Now, that I can't say, cause I haven't listened to every material all other great artists have put out.

I'd say clearly Prince is the best of all time and here is why... He is the only artist that is a True Musican as well as being a True Pop Star! No other person can say that!

Most have a little more of either or.. but Prince has both! Pop Acts call him amazing and then in the same breath Musicans call him amazing! You never hear that from both groups.

Everyother choice leans either way, sure Prince to me is more of a Musican, but come on now the guy has influience pop culture as much as anybody!

Now add singing, writing, creating an original look, style, performing, etc... Now add where is his peak? We haven't seen it yet! We haven't seen his ceiling yet! Everyone else peaks in their youth, we just saw Prince on Jay for 4 days, Ellen on 1, SNL & The Superbowl, 21 concerts in 21 nights all in the last year or so. ALL great performances.

You don't have to think far back to see remember/see a amazing performance.

I like a ton of different artists,but I refuse to call anyone "the best of all time".I'd rather just enjoy all the great music without making it a childish competition.

free0001 said:

I totally agree with u.....

MJ and Prince walked down different paths.....
Michael Jackson: SUPER SUPER POPSTAR (the biggest ever)
Prince: MUSICIAN
2 very different roles in my view

BUT CAN I SAY THIS.....

BRING THIS TOPIC UP AGAIN IN 30-40 YEARS TIME WHEN ALOT OF US WILL B LYING ON OUR DEATH BED OR VERY OLD AND NEW PRINCE ALBUMS WILL STILL B RELEASED 2 THE WORLD!

THANK U.

ElectricBlue said:

Prince peaked decades ago...and for the record MJ / JIMI / JAMES BROWN / BOB MARLEY(just naming a few), are MORE influential the Prince. Prince is a well rounded musician yes, versatile yes, my all time fav yes, but I am aware of reality also!

Yes, Prince was the best 1978 to 1995,

he was superior but he's not anymore.







The Immortals: The Fifty Greatest Artists Of All Time!



1) The Beatles

2) Bob Dylan

3) Elvis Presley

4) The Rolling Stones

5) Chuck Berry

6) Jimi Hendrix

7) James Brown

8) Little Richard

9) Aretha Franklin

10) Ray Charles

11) Bob Marley

12) The Beach Boys

13) Buddy Holly

14) Led Zeppelin

15) Stevie Wonder

16) Sam Cooke

17) Muddy Watters

18) Marvin Gaye

19) The Velvet Underground

20) Bo Diddley

21) Otis Redding

22) U2

23) Bruce Springsteen wne

24) Jerry Lee Lewis

25) Fats Domino

26) The Ramones

27) Nirvana

28) Prince

29) The Who

30) The Clash

31) Johnny Cash

32) Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

33) The Everly Brothers

34) Neil Young

35) Michael Jackson

36) Madonna

37) Roy Orbison

38) John Lennon

39) David Bowie

40) Simon and Garfunkel

41) The Doors

42) Van Morrison

43) Sly and the Family Stone

44) Public Enemy

45) The Byrds

46) Janis Joplin

47) Patti Smith

48) Run-DMC

49) Elton John

50) The Band

[From Issue 946 - April 15, 2004]


Source:
http://www.rollingstone.c...irst_fifty
[Edited 7/9/09 1:39am]

I haven't read the whole thread but this is clearly an individual thing. To ME, Prince is the best all around musician. He has a way of moving you just doing a guitar solo that a dance routine can't do. His presence on stage is enough to make folks go mad but for me, when it comes to someone who's music has hit most, it's Prince. I love a lot of entertainers but Prince is the best to me.

What saddens me the most is, like Michael Jackson, the world and I dare say some of his fans, won't realize just how good we have it with Prince until he's dead too.
[Edited 7/8/09 7:43am]

3232 said:

Just how does one make such an arrogant remark as if it's Law? By what gauge are you measuring this 'influence' that you speak of? Comparing living legends with those no longer with us, is blatantly unfair.

Prince is as talented as any human being who ever drew air on this planet. Throw in a unique sense of style, and you have the most DYNAMIC Musical talent that I have ever seen. PRINCE IS A CLASS OF 1.

Some of the 'elders' in this blog seem afraid to 'man-up' or 'woman-up'and state the obvious.

Look, Prince has a multitude of traits that I dislike. But to deny his ability, based upon this distaste, is invalid, in my opinion.

If we won't give the guy the full and proper respect, who will?

free0001 said:

Who is denying his ability? If you don't agree he is the #1 Best of All Time, you're not giving him "full and proper respect"... ??

The question is not whether Prince is an amazing talent - - - that is obviously YES to every person here. The question is if he's the best of all time - - - and that is debatable.

NoVideo said:

Please see my original post; the myth of a GOAT, whether in music, sports, or any profession, is not an argument that I'm prepared to make. For Prince, Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, Pete Sampras, Jesus, Elvis Presley, or anybody. It's an immature argument...

I simply feel that Prince is THE BEST I'VE EVER SEEN OR HEARD. Furthermore, in my estime, he is virtually peerless in his all-around abilities.

And lastly: I'm not afraid to say it, beat around the bush, and say outlandish things such as, "I don't know who it is, but there has to be someone better'.

D'Angelo is awfully talented, and if he settles down and settles in, he may rival Prince in the long run, in terms of raw talent. Same for a few other artist. Heck, if I ever 'break the musical code' and learn to play fluidly, my own style would rival Prince. (Stop laughin' )

But til then, if I were tasked to appoint 1 individual to the title of Planet Earth's Ambassador of Music, his name would read, 'Prince'.

purplecam said:

People argue that Prince's stuff is all the same now, and not very inspired.

Well, HIStory, Blood On The Dance Floor, and Invincible are not only all of those things, but also aren't very good at all. The love for MJ starts at childhood, but ends right around "Scream" (HIStory). No one cared a bit for anything he's done since '95 except die-hard fans.

Prince had a GREAT run - 1978-1988, conservatively, with another creative burst from 92-95. Based on sales, he's nowhere near the best of all time. Based on talent and musical output (even ONLY considering his 80s work) he is definitely up there.

I saw Prince on the Ellen show this morning (repeat) and I was just thankful that he's healthy, happy, and still doing his thing onstage. And he looks great doing it!

Side note: I was perusing MJ music in the iTunes Store yesterday, and there was an unreleased Thriller-era track available for download called "For All Time". According to Quincy Jones, they went through almost 100 songs fine-tuning the tracklist of the Thriller album.

Well, the song is just "OK". I can see why it wasn't on the album - could've been a B-side though.

Having said that, I know from just what I have in my collection that there are easily a handful of Prince albums that could be released from the early 80s alone. Some of which are legendary bootlegs, and I'm sure many we haven't even heard yet.

I don't know exactly what my point is - I guess I read earlier that we won't appreciate Prince fully until he's dead. I somewhat agree with that, and know that the world will get another burst of genius when his unreleased music is finally released.

But, regarding MJ, I think we've heard the bulk of the good stuff already, and not since the 90s at that.

Well, I said Id never post here again due to partiality in moderating... but this topic has really sparked some great comments!
Let me first say that this topic has a very wide field of possible answers. It needs to be narrowed down. Best what of all time? Best musician? Best singer? Writer? Peformer? It seems that most people are taking this to the all time favorite argument.. Who the best.. MJ or Prince?
These 2 were/are the best of all time in different areas. Performers...I see it as a tie, Though, if I absolutely HAD to pick one, I have to give it to MJ. Singers? Michael Jackson. Musicians? Prince hands down! Writer? Prince. Humanitarian? Michael Jackson. Innovator? Both. And the list goes on and on...
Prince will always be my favorite.. But theres things he couldnt touch MJ on, and same goes the other way around.
The one thing that kept Prince from being on the same level with MJ, is his attitude and failure to show affection publicly. What I mean is, he dropped the ball several times to show the world he has a big heart. MJ showed the world more times than we can count. Yes, Prince has done charity work but its over shadowed by his other more unlikeable ways. His failure to participate in We are the World, but MJ was there. Sure he gave a song to the album, but everyone knows he did it just so he would have a "solo" effort on the album and wouldnt have to share the spotlight with"you know who". He failed to show up at James Browns Funeral, but MJ was there. And whether anyone agrees or not, he should have been at MJs memorial. I would almost bet MJ would have been there for Prince's. Its just poor decisions like that, that will forever seperate him from the status MJ reached in his career.
So... yes he is the best of all time at some things but not at everything.

thedance said:

1978-1989

free0001 said:

I agree 100%. And I thought I was the only one who thought 3232's remarks were arrogant, not to mention self-absorbed.

free0001 said:

Wow. I couldn't agree more.

Prince's musical depth is beyond comprehension most of the time, because this depth exists on many levels, which have never been expressed as fully by anyone.

One of the least mentioned musical talents he has, is his multi-layered vocal harmonies. No-one to date has done anything as bold in the choice of harmonies, and so perfectly.

4 SHO!!!!!

coolcat said:

1958-?

Giovanni777 said:

That's more like it.

Perspective. There is not another single artist that I can think of that has the diversity of Prince:
Writer
Performer
Dancer
Arranger
Producer
MUSICIAN
Band leader
Funk
Pop
Rock
Ballads
Jazz
Dance
Disco
R&B
Rap
and every other form of music the Prince has tried.

Please show me another musician alive or dead with these credentials and we can talk. The Mozart stuff is non-sense. Plain and simple.

IF he really has his best to come-where is the evidence of that? I dont' dislike the non 80's stuff-but folk can't really think he will be bigger than his 80's peak-surely ?

sales speak more than anything-and his current sales aint a patch on his peak. His shows are ALOT shorter-when he does play these days
THAT web site.....!!!
the gimmicks to move albums
he deffo does not attract new fans much these days-how could he-he's never on any major music channel-don't do major labels-and when is he in a magazine (apart from one currently discussing an album 25 years old) these days ?


he didn't used to need em'- , but-now it seems he's never far from a gimmick-so to me-all this isn't evidence of an artist in growth-unfortunately

Graycap23 said:

But to me it's not about how much he can do, but how well he can do each thing. I think Prince is wonderfully talented in many ways, but to say he is the 'best' musician of all time is generous from my perspective.

Lots of people can play numerous instruments, sing, and write songs. But that array of skills doesn't necessarily make them better than a person who is ridiculously talented at playing one instrument. It's more about the level of skill than the number of skills for me. That's why I absolutely don't think Prince is the most talented musician of all time. We're talking a long time, and I don't even know if I'd say that Mozart is the most talented of all time. It's just too big a statement to make, and far too subjective to ever be truly decided. These sorts of things will always be a matter of individual opinion, and no one is wrong or right regarding the subject.

I must repeat that I do think Prince is talented, and definitely up there in the list of the best musicians, but I just don't think he's at the very top. I have to take into consideration not only the volume of his work, but how much of it is truly original or worthwhile as far as relevance goes, because again, 'all time' spans so many extremely talented musicians that it's insane.

Protege said:

Of course it is opinion and everyone has their own. Who is the top 2 u?

Graycap23 said:

I can't possibly name the top musician of all time (an unordered list is about the best I could come up with). My thing is that there are so many factors to take into consideration that it's impossible for me to come to a real (balanced) conclusion about who is the most talented musician of all time.

Definitely some interesting thoughts in here.

Giovanni777 said:

Co-Sign!