[Edited 12/15/08 23:38pm]

Yes he is/was/most likely will be.

Considering the voice plus the material, I think that about sums in up.

I agree 110%.

on a side note, who knew randy jackson actually had talent?

What about Stevie Wonder? He's also a child prodigy. Always been incredibly talented.

As for Michael, I don't think it was just the voice that made him great as a child. He was also a dynamic performer and always seemed much older than he was. The funny thing to me though is sometimes when I listen to old J5 records like "Maybe Tomorrow", "Aint No Sunshine" and others, it seemed like he had more soul at that age than he did as an adult solo artist. I sometimes think some of the lyrics in the songs he sang in the J5 were too mature for him, but he always sang with such conviction that it was actually believable. Like I still get goosebumps whenever I hear "Who's Lovin' You". That song is a rare case in which the cover is better than the original and in this case it was originally sang by The Miracles of course, but Mike just really did his thing on that song. He's always been so talented.

HE was cool
But Stevie Wonder was the greatest...
Srry,
Bible Truth

^^ Then again... y'all have a point about Stevie.

Timmy84 said:

I love Stevie, but as 'The 12yr old genius' i thought his voice was a little harsh if i'm honest, not as melodic as little MJ's for sure.

MJ epitomises the child star - and despite loving stevie - i think MJ was the best child star without a doubt. Obviously both went onto great things - and Stevie went on to make the better music, but MJ between 70-75 was magical.

I wonder where Frankie Lymon, who paved the way for Stevie and MJ, fits into all of this for y'all then...

Timmy84 said:

Nowhere, heard of him of course, never listened though.

Marrk said:

other than fingertips...i can't really recall too many stevie hits as a child/young man. i think stevie is more of a young adult phenom like prince, in that 18-20 yo range

[Edited 12/16/08 4:25am]

hmm and Frankie Lymon... And Little Anthony...

Edith Piaf kicked MJ's ass in every way shape and form from childhood until her death in 1963.

The wonder of Stevie did too.

Frankie






Little Anthony

Timmy84 said:

I would agree with Frankie. He did pave the way for people like MJ. I don't think Stevie's vocals on "Finger Tips", would classify him as the "Greatest child singer".

Timmy84 said:

i always thought Michael was but then I listened to Stevie's stuff and decided to like Stevie's voice more. I dunno, but Michael screams too much for my taste.

Fiend said:

I didn't realise there were any recordings of Edith before her official debut at the age of 20 (or so)? Could you please link me to them? I love her voice!

graecophilos said:

I go back and forth between the two, depending on my mood. Stevie's is more soothing to me, but MJ's seems like it has more power behind it.

graecophilos said:

I just listened to Stevie as a child for the first time and I actually think he and Michael sound kind of similar. But they grew up to have such different voices. But judging by what I did hear (this: http://au.youtube.com/wat...re=related ) Michaels the better singer.

I think mj and stevie had similar voices too as adults, but stevie was much deeper and stronger and loose, though I prefer mj's voice.

But yeah young mj shits over every childhood talent, including britney, justin, and even stupid avril lavigne singing jesus loves me and doing jumping jacks...ugh!

I think mj and stevie had similar voices too as adults, but stevie was much deeper and stronger and loose, though I prefer mj's voice.

But yeah young mj shits over every childhood talent, including britney, justin, and even stupid avril lavigne singing jesus loves me and doing jumping jacks...ugh!

Annika said:

I've got a bootleg 78rpm live recording of a gig she did in 1923 on the ghetto streets of Paris aged 7 but I can't convert it to a link for you. Rest assured though she is totally bad-ass in it.

Fiend said:

She coulda duetted with Shirley Temple!

Marrk said:

Shirley was bad-ass too! Her daughter Lori Black played bass for the coolest band in the world.....MELVINS!!!!!

Cinnamon234 said:

MJ gave me goosebumps singing "Maria". I agree with you that he sings with so much depth and soul, something that is hard to find in today's business. Also, his charisma is extraordinary.

IAintTheOne said:

This is what popped into my mind as soon as I saw the thread title

Oh, and Stevie too

I wouldn't say that. He may be the most successful, but not the best. I would say someone like Stevie, Shanice or even Johnny Gill.