Apples to Oranges, I know.


But that aside, like highlander, you must choose just one!!!






Both of these guys could easily claim the title of Queen of Pop, and these dudes don't need an insomnia excuse to take illegal drugs--these bitches smoked it, lived it, SANG it! David Bowie has inspired such wonderful sites like the one dedicated to his crotch ( http://www.last.fm/group/...ation+Club ), Elton John is a hit making machine rivalry Whitney Houston's latest 100-dealy milestone bullshit whatever accomplishment to say the very least--not to be outdone by Prince's Arms of Orion, he penned the equally disturbing "Circle of Life" that almost turned Disney movie goers gay.

These guys are on fiya.





Who's better? You tell me.
[Edited 8/16/09 22:21pm]

David Bowie.

now stop making threads.

InsatiableCream said:

!!!

Is it even a question? David Bowie.

DB

I love David but definetley Elton, I have been an Elton boy snce I was 5, his music is better and hes a much camper role mocdel. He is also supremely talented, saw him last year, he was amazing

Bowie.

I love them both. They've both kind of re-discovered themselves in this decade, musically, and it's been nice to hear each of them getting back to basics but not sounding desperate for hits (in Elton's case) or cred with the modern hipster (Bowie).

Have to pick Bowie, though. He's done everything and made you think he was exactly what he was pretending to be at any point in his career, no matter what genre or idea he was putting forth.

Elton has always felt like he's trying things on. But, you know, he's a piano guy. I once heard him say at a concert that I attended that when he gets criticism for not putting on theatrical, mind-blowing shows, his response is... "Well, I play the piano. What am I going to do? Throw a baby grand into the crowd?" He's got a good point. Because when he gets away from his piano (like on his 80's and some of his 90's records), the results are kind of pointless.

Bowie is revolutionary, but I'd say Elton (with Bernie) top him in songcraft. Bowie's are so stylyzed and specific to himself, his image, his personality. And while his music often speaks to some universal things, it's often so abstract that cover versions by others don't really add anything to the song or bring anything new to it, because it's all wrapped up in Bowie's psyche to begin with. Elton writes/sings modern standards that can be twisted and turned by others and can benefit sometimes with a new take. So I guess Elton's got one up on him in that respect.

Bowie is my #3 favorite. Elton is somewhere down between #10 and #20. I'm sure Moonbeam can write me some software to figure it out exactly


PS: You could probably throw Stevie in there too. It's these 3 that define the 70's for me.

errant said:

This is exactly the kind of post I was looking for. And I agree.


I was actually going to do Stevie Wonder vs. Frank Zappa.

errant said:

Marvin and Joni as well, to a lesser extent.

Imago said:
This is exactly the kind of post I was looking for. And I agree.


I was actually going to do Stevie Wonder vs. Frank Zappa.[/quote]

Now THAT will be a hard call.

Imago said:

Stevie. but mostly because I know absolutely NOTHING by Zappa.

but it would probably still be Stevie.
[Edited 8/17/09 0:18am]

errant said:

I like it when comparisons are done with artists who are quite formidable in talents, but who are coming from very different places.

Your descriptions of the comparison & contrast between Bowie and Elton are what I was looking for. Often Bowie fans have the same level of zeal as Prince or MJ fans, and they refuse to broaden their criteria for what makes their artist so special to them. You actually looked at each on his own merits and though you prefer one over the other, you acknowledged at least indirectly who they could be paired against each other.

Imago said:

I've always found them to be 2 sides of the same coin. The crebral glam chameleon and the glammed up pop troubadour.


I often make similar contrasts between Prince and Bowie whent these things come up, in the sense that Prince plays to my heart/soul (whether it's raw and sexual or spiritual) and Bowie plays to mind/psyche (he makes me think and analyze).

errant said:

Who do you think would win in an Alexis Carrington vs. Krystal Jennings style bitch slapping fight?
[Edited 8/17/09 0:37am]

Imago said:

No contest!! David Bowie for me!!!!

David Bowie's voice

LightOfArt said:

Fixed.

LightOfArt said:

this is the most insane post i've ever read on this site.

Anxiety said:

well i cant stomach his vocals so therefore Elton

bowie should have been solely a songwriter
[Edited 8/17/09 4:24am]

Attitude: Bowie
Charisma: Bowie
Beauty: Bowie
Body: Bowie
Style: Bowie
Voice: Bowie
Stage presence: Bowie
Music: Bowie
Lyrics: Bowie
Singles: Both
Innovation: Bowie

This one was easy for me; a Bowie vs Bryan Ferry competition would be a lot harder, though

BOWIE vs FERRY (both Roxy Music and his solo albums)
Attitude: Bowie
Charisma: Both
Beauty: Bowie
Body: Ferry
Style: Both
Voice: Both
Stage presence: Bowie
Music: Bowie
Lyrics: Ferry
Singles: Bowie
Innovation: Bowie
[Edited 8/17/09 5:10am]

LightOfArt said:

everybody's got their something. i read a story recently about a woman who's marrying a rollercoaster. anything's possible in this world.

Anxiety said:

LightOfArt said:

i'm just saying that if a woman can marry a rollercoaster, the world's got to allow for someone who thinks bowie has an ugly voice. i can't understand either, but god bless both of ya.

I love Elton John, but Bowie is in a different stratosphere altogether. He's one of a kind, and perhaps the most influential and important solo artist in rock history, apart from arguably Bob Dylan.

LightOfArt said:

May I politely ask which Bowie songs you are familiar with?

David Bowie is the beautiful flame. Elton John is the waxy drippings. With that said...it's better to burn out than to fade away.

Phishanga said:

I got the Ziggy LP and the one with Let's Dance on it. I think its titled Let's Dance?