Hey, you're welcome, anytime.

... fuckin' Imminent Starvation. Case closed.

bds70 said:

Who cares who has done the most recently? That shouldn't even enter the equasion.

Stevie for me. Sorry Prince.

Hard to choose between my two favs, but I would give a slight edge to Stevie.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE!!

Is there really any contest here?

WildStyle said:

because this is what people/the public remember, what was the last album stevie put out??
What did it do?? Stevie is good, but musically Prince is better.

Here's My Opinion Line By Line

Singing: Stevie is a vastly superior singer to Prince, hands down. Even with material that's subpar by Stevie standards, his voice always enhances the enjoyability of his music. Conversely, Prince often makes a song sound worse than it could/should by relying too much on his often effeminate and obnoxious falsetto.

Songwriting: I'd have to say that Stevie is a superior songwriter too, even though they're both great. Both recycle ideas (who doesn't?), but Stevie pulls it off better, Prince bores me more often when it's obvious he's not really doing anything new. Also, even Stevie's conventional material (pre "Where I'm Coming From) was great, whereas Prince's conventional stuff (admittedly only really his first two albums) has often been described as "unremarkable", and justly so. Both have a diverse stylistic vocabulary, but Stevie's is more cohesive and no less eclectic. Plus I would never use the criticism "obligatory stylistic exercise" to describe Stevie's music, I would to describe Prince's music sometimes. Plus Prince has been known to have stolen ideas from his cohorts or used songs that generated collectively from jam sessions. Stevie, on the other hand has amicably allowed other people to take credit for his songs (eg Marvin Gaye's Praise). Plus, I think Stevie's melodies are just plain better too, and Prince has never been able to convey joy, heartbreak, or blues quite as well.

Prolificness-Prince may win this one, though I can't verify exactly how many songs they've both written. All I know is that Stevie didn't really have any side projects. However, let's be honest, Prince's best satellite act was The Time, and they weren't really that great. I do admitt that it is frustrating that Stevie takes these long breaks between albums lately while prince is averaging above an album a year since he started.

Consistency-Stevie's been less consistent since the end of his artistic prime in the 70s, but he's still remained pretty good. Prince, however, has never been as consistent as Stevie was in the 70s and Prince's best stuff, even Purple Rain and Sign O' Times, sounds kinda dated at times. Stevie's best stuff is still fresh as evinced by the fact that rappers are still ripping him off and making hits (coolio, Will Smith, Ja Rule). Also, I don't think Prince made anything in the 90s that was as good as his best albums of the 80s, with the possible exception of the Rainbow Children (yes I know that was 2001). Offhand, I'd say that Prince's 90s stuff is more dated than his 80s stuff, and stevie's 80s stuff is more dated than his 70s stuff, which is ironic.

Instrumentalism-This one is tough as I'm not positive exactly how many instruments each of them plays or how well they play each of them. Prince supposedly plays dozens of instruments, but I've found little evidence that he really plays anything beyond the staple instruments of rock (guitar, bass, drums, keyboards) and different types of synthesizers. I do know that Stevie has been compared to some of the best jazz keyboardists and drummers, he's virtually unequaled on the harmonica, and that he's better at using synths without making them sound cheesy (to say nothing at being the pioneering user of them), unlike prince who sounded kinda cheesy even in his prime (ala Dirty Mind, Little Red Corvette, Computer Blue and many others, good songs that sound a little cheesy). Prince is really only a virtuoso on one, maybe two of the instruments he plays (guitar, bass). Plus Stevie's at least competent on guitar and bass, and I've heard he plays things like harp, harpsichord and accordion as well.

Lyricism-They're both great lyricists. I'd say stevie's a little more awkward with scansion, while Prince is a little more awkward with subject matter, but they're both superb.

Influence-Stevie wins this one by virtue of the fact that he was a huge influence on Prince. Most of the people who would cite Prince as an influence would just as quickly mention Stevie as well.

Bandleading-Prince really takes after George Clinton (or perhaps Miles Davis) in this respect. He's great at assembling and directing great musicians. However in the early days he either didn't give them the chance to play/contribute, alienated or stole ideas from them, or failed to hold them together, and while he learned from these lessons, I do deduct points for that. I do admire him for being able to get Larry Graham and Maceo Parker to perform with him, but IMO they stole the show from him (eg Rave un2 the year 2000). I know Stevie had a band "Wonderlove" but I don't know much about them. I guess I can't really decide on this one

Imagery-Honestly who cares? I will address it because someone said Prince was superior on this level. However, I think his theatrics are more inane than they are impressive, and Stevie's had his share of crazy costumes too (as have a lot of other people). If imagery were really that important, David Bowie would be the greatest artist of all time (though he is pretty great).

Dancing-Prince routes Stevie in this one…. or does he? I know that, at least in his teenage/young adult years Stevie was described as being able to "bounce and dance around onstage as well as a sighted man." Maybe the only reason Stevie isn't a superior dancer is because he hasn't really tried since his teens, and because of his obvious disadvantage. Also, I don't think Prince is that great a dancer anyway, and the splits is just about the only genuinely impressive move he has. Plenty of singers can dance as well or much better than Prince, so he's hardly an exemplar.

Non Musical Talents- I can't really decide this one very well because I don't know the full extent of them. Stevie's an amazing vocal impressionist (ala Living for the City), Prince has tried his hand at filmaking (and sucked). I don't think this really is what any of us are talking about either

So I guess for me, Stevie is superior. And even if he wasn't, I would have to give him charity points for overcoming more disadvantages, being a better activist, and still making among his best music after having his skull smashed and being in a coma (which undoubtedly caused at least some brain damage). I don't think Prince would have been able to overcome blindness, poverty, and later on a near fatal accident as well. Plus Stevie's been amazing since he was a kid, Prince wasn’t until his late teens.

what happened to Stevie Wonder's creativity?

jn2 said:

What happened to Prince's creativity ?
Welcome back jn2

jacktheimprovident said:

Whatever...

jn2 said:

bds70 said:

Stevie's last CD was 'Conversation Peace' and it was released in 1995.It wasn't a huge commercial success,but let's be honest,most of Prince's recent albums were commercial flops as well ('Rave'...'NPS...'News'...etc).

DavidEye said:

why ? how many albums did he release these last 15 years?

jn2 said:

Not every artist is as prolific as Prince,nor do they feel the need to release almost everything they record.Stevie has hundreds of unreleased tracks in his vault,and he's recording new stuff all the time.

I hope to see him live one day ans that he will release at least one terrific album ( where is his anti Bush Administration song?)

They're both talented although neither can rap, so it's a draw.

To me, asking who's more talented: either Prince or Stevie is like asking me whether do I prefer the sun or the moon. That's a very f**king hard question to answer because I love those two very much!
MY LIPS ARE SEALED ON THEM!

Prince is the ULTIMATE MUSICIAN and ARTIST of his generation.

I love Stevie like the next man, however his blindness is just a factor and cuz he is blind that doesnt make him the better musician.

Prince can do what Stevie can do and more!

Piano (check) Drums (check) Keyboards and synth(they are both pioneers) Guitar( er??? This is where they begin 2 seperate Prince is the best in the world at that thing.) Bass( Again Prince stands alone ) And lets not be silly and say that Stevie can play Bass he plays the bass notes on the keyboard like Ray Manzerek did with The Doors, sure its an innovation especially on masterworks like Innervisions but he cant play bass guitar.

Prince overall has written so much music he needed 2 invent groups and solo artists that were not there b4 just 2 get it out somehow.

There has not been an artist in 30 years who has been as prolific as that sonofagun.


Wonder writes but we gotta wait 9 years 4 a record no matey, makes the 2 years that folks waited 4 SITKOL seem like a weekend break!


Prince has invented and reinvented no one comes close.

Wonder is great and is like John the Baptist lets say....the precursor 2 the actual saviour.

Yoda the Force and theFUNK is with me!

Stevie.

In a nutshell, More innovative, a total pioneer in terms of sound and far less reliant than Prince on his influences.

who's more talented...Leo Da Vinci or Michaelangeo?

pannycakes.

Honestly, I didn't immediately click on this thread because I thought no one would think there would be a comparison. How could you compare one music master to his pioneering genius predecessor??

Of course, Stevie is better than Prince. I think of the era Stevie created in and the moving social messages he blended with infectitious music. And so original. Prince's social messages are weak in comparison.

Can't believe so many think Prince is better (!). I mean when you hear Prince, you say he sounds like Little Richard, Jimi Hendrix, etc., etc. When you listen to Stevie you think he sounds like no one else. He's by far the more original and talented.


One thing Prince has over Stevie is his development of a culture. There is actually a Prince culture, based on ongoing themes and motifs in his music that fans can spend years following and hours analyzing and hashing out with other believers. This makes Prince iconoclastic, precious, essential. But more talented? don't think so.


Ooh, now I'm wavering... This is hard ... while Prince's individual social messages might not top Stevies this huge Prince culture has impressed a lot of people socially ... with the old focus on freedom, individuality and alternative interpretations of life, gender, God, etc.


Where would the 80's be without that ... where would current music be without that. Prince was a master of experimentation, anchor of a new Minneapolis sound that others tried tosteal, imitate... and that you can still hear in some artists today. Years from now, we'll be talking about Prince's campaign to free the music from the tyranny of labels.

Now, I've gone from one extreme to the other. How hard this is. I guess choosing isn't as easy as I thought.

Just glad I have both.


P.S. not impressed with prince prolificness. Quantity does't equal quality. A lot of this 90's shit should have been edited and never released.

...
postscript edit follows now:
[Edited 8/30/04 9:26am]

Stevie plays a better harmonica, so that settles it.

Stevie may not be a virtuoso on guitar or bass guitar, but I'm almost positive he plays both. Yes he usual plays basslines on the keyboards but he has played actual bass (I've seen the friggin' pictures).

As to the culture thing. A lot of musicians have their own fanculture, it's not that remarkable to me. I think Stevie had at least if not, it not much more, of a cultural impact than Prince. Sure he may not have his own little sub-genreness that Prince does, but he is a much more beloved icon and has affected peoples lives a great deal more.

Stevie dont play guitar or bass in actuality.
Prince can play harmonica also ok not 2 that degree but gimme a fuc*ing guitar turned up 2 11 rather than a harmonica playing sweetly!


Prince is THE musician.

take it from a man who knows....

Miko Weaver, still regards Prince as the 'best guitar player around' as well as 'the best piano player'.

YODAHENDRIX said:

Are you joking or smoking?

http://www.superseventies...evie1.html

BlaqueKnight said:

Please show me if that is true.....? on what album? Mike Sembello or Ben Bridges aside from playing guitar on his records u show me a picture, a song or something that shows he does.

Until then he doesn't.

http://www.superseventies...evie1.html

Thanx 4 the link but it doesn't reveal anything that I don't know.

Innervisions and Journey into the Secret Life Of Plants are Wonder's ultimate artistic statements they are sublime yes.....but he dont play Guitars on em.


Prince all the way.