I honestly don't get it, there is nothing to compare. Michael Jackson in his solo career had three Great* albums (Off The Wall, Thriller, & Bad), he was a talented performer/entertainer and singer and that covers it. Anytime he wanted something done that was different than his normal kiddy pop music he would just hire people to do it for him.

MJ was also very much like a politician rather than a musical artist. He always was spending millions upon millions of dollars campaigning and promoting his next album. He also spent a large amount of money on making music videos, (which in my opinion has nothing to do with being a musical artist, it is simply just a promotional tool that musical artists invented to make even a larger profit). Take Thriller for instance, a mediocre song at best. However the music video is what made it become a more popular song than it should've been. Truly the song thriller belongs on a $5.00 Halloween CD at a CVS store. Anyways, instead of being creative himself Mj would just hire people. Spielberg, Scorsese, Slash, Eddie Van Halen, and not to mention his illustrious cast in "You rock my world" video and the "Liberian Girl" video and JAM w/ Michael Jordan and the list just goes on and on! Also his terrible movie Moonwalkers was the biggest egotistical, promotional tool, I had ever watched! The fact is while MJ did indeed have talent, there is no argument for Mj to even be placed on the same level as Prince.

Prince was and is a true musician and Artist. And is competing with the likes of musical Legends of ALL genres not just one dimensional POP legends. Michael Jackson should be compared to Madonna, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, Katie Perry, etc; NOT PRINCE! Prince is on a higher level. However, if you compare Michael Jackson to the likes of gaga, bieber, spears, etc. You can definitely see why MJ deserves to wear the king’s crown of pop music.

Anyways, back to Prince. Prince pioneered his own genre of music called Minneapolis Sound a hybrid mixture of funk, rock, pop, R&B, and new wave. Prince however also delved deep into each genre individually as well throughout his career. But as we all know he didn't need any help to create what he wanted. Not with writing, not with playing an instrument, not with composing and not with producing. And when he did do music videos he didn’t have a cast full of celebrities, instead, he did just the opposite and had a cast full of nobodies of which some went on to become celebrities. He also never EVER promoted albums and had a strong distaste for popularity. He didn't want to be in the limelight. Yet, Prince still produced 10 platinum albums and 30 top 40 singles, Won 7 Grammy's with 33 nominations, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award, was inducted into the rock & roll hall of fame the very first year he was eligible, has 2 albums that have been awarded the Grammy Hall of Fame Award (1999 & Purple Rain). Prince has been one of the most prolific artists of all time. He also has sold about 100 million records worldwide.

As for being the greatest artist of all time, well, Prince has got that covered too. In my opinion a music artist must consist of many things- they have to be Influential, they obviously have to have achievements as you would expect any legendary person to have, they have to be able to sing and Dance and be entertaining especially during a live performance and of course they have to be able to play an instrument because after all what is music without instruments.

Well, we have already mentioned some of the achievements of Prince's illustrious career. As for influential, do you remember 1984-1985? The Purple Rain era totally influenced the eighties! As a matter of fact Rolling Stone magazine ranked the album #2 in the 100 greatest albums of the 80's (#1 was The Clash, "London Calling"). Purple Rain was also nominated for International Album of the Year at the 1985 Juno Awards. Purple Rain sold over 14 million copies in the USA alone. 2 of Prince's songs "little red corvette" and "when doves cry" were included in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 500 songs that shaped Rock & Roll. Time Magazine just 2 years ago put Prince on the list of the 100 most influential people. Prince created and accelerated careers of many musical artists like Sheila E, The Time, and Vanity 6. And Prince has influenced the music industry immensely with his lyrical genius. Influential enough?

As for Singing, Prince is regarded as having one of the widest vocal ranges of a male artist. Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him #30 on their list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.

As for dancing and entertaining, just go to a concert or watch some YouTube clips. He is one of the most eccentric entertainers of all time. Constantly keeping it fresh and being very unpredictable. Unlike MJ, if you've been to one Prince concert you have NOT been to them all. Nothing is rehearsed or choreographed. While MJ usually gets the title of best entertainer he has the same moves for every song so if you have seen him perform Billie jean, smooth criminal, etc; then there is no need to see him perform it again because nothing will change about the performance. Like Wendy Melvoin said, "Michael is Disney." and it's so true in his music and performance it's just for the kids. I mean after all who enjoys repetitiveness more than children?

And then of course we move on to Prince's main instrument, the guitar. However, We all know that Prince is proficient in more than 20 musical instruments. So not only is Prince a multi platinum recording artist, has one of the best voices of all time, can dance and entertain amongst the best of them, he is also regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Guitarists like Santana and Clapton have spoken volumes of Prince's Guitar skills. Just go to YouTube and watch his solo in the tribute to George Harrison with Tom Petty. The song is titled "while my guitar gently weeps." Here is a song Prince has never even been associated with and he tares it up on stage. Once again the music critics of Rolling Stone Magazine have also weighed in on Prince's guitar skills ranking him #33 on their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. As a whole, the critics at Rolling Stone magazine have ranked Prince #27 in their list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and #28 in their list of 100 Greatest Rock & Roll Artists of All Time.

In the end I hope you all can see why MJ should never even be compared to Prince. I know that it probably sounds like I hate MJ but that is not true. I respect MJ and love a lot of his music. But in the end he is a pop star and that is all. His reach is not further than that. Prince is a true artist icon that deserves to be in the class of Mozart, Beethoven, Bach and Chopin. He is truly their contemporary. However, as a fan of Prince it is unfortunate how so many people do not see Prince in this light at all. Instead they compare him to pop stars...

*Critically acclaimed as a Great album, not based on sales.

[Edited 1/7/12 18:33pm]

Paragraphs...

wall of text crits my anus for a million damage.


theyre both black, both big names of the 80s. thats why


and inb4 30 million michael jackson fangirls parade in here foaming at the mouths to defend their lord and savior.

im starting to realize why these threads need to be locked; though id prefer if they were just moved to another forum so the hilarious shitfest can continue

[Edited 1/7/12 18:33pm]

oh fuck Micheal Jackson!

I want to barf everytime I see one of those MJ posts about how Prince can't touch him, etc.

MJ was a talented entertainer and singer, like many others. However, circumstances would

have it that he released Thriller at the right time in history to garner himself massive

success---yes, he's talented, but that success was owed to much more than talent.

Before this thread, gets locked, I'd like to just say fuck Micheal Jackson.

He doesn't even come close to Prince's brilliance in musical output and talent.

FMJ

Out of respect: This article is complete NONSENSE

As for the explantion, there are plently. We just can go on and on, but where will we actually reach? No where...

So let's just stop:

uuhson said:

theyre both black, both big names of the 80s. thats why

[Edited 1/7/12 18:33pm]

This.

That's really all they have in common. Otherwise, it makes just as much sense to compare Frank Sinatra to Todd Rundgren. Do you see many people doing that?

They are compared because they are two geniuses who both broke down barriers that existed in music at the same time*. Sure, if you dig deep, they are vastly different in their approach and philosphy about their artform.

*That said, they are/were both insanely talented androgynous black men with sex appeal. Right or wrong they will always be somewhat compared to each other and linked. Kind of like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

[Edited 1/7/12 19:37pm]

There is a sticky in the music: non-Prince forum to discuss MJ.

MJ