Greatest Entertainer: Yes!!!

Greatest Child Singer/Performer: Fuck Yeah!!! (No child had vocals like Mike)

Greatest Singer: Not Really

Greatest Songwriter: No, but he had his moments

Greatest Producer: Pleeze!!!

Greatest Musician:

Yes. I think that Michael Jackson was the Greatest ever.

No.

Like it's been said, this sort of question is subjective. However, I think it's safe to say he's one of the greatest entertainers.

Still, imo, Michael's not the all-time greatest simply because he wasn't versatile enough. That's what gives someone like Prince an edge (it's a shame, I was almost reluctant to use him on a Prince fan site:-). In his prime, not only would you get great music and passionate singing but high energy dancing ala James Brown (who's an all-time great himself), he could slow it down and seduce the ladies like Marvin and rock out like Hendrix.

No, pizza is the greatest ever.

Yep. Tied with Prince. Man, if those two had a kid...

purplesweat said:

I'm pretty sure Prince would have insisted on using a prophylactic.
[Edited 9/8/09 2:04am]

novabrkr said:

He was one of the, if not the, greatest singers of the 20th century and he made two of the greatest, most exciting albums of all time with Off the Wall and Thriller as well as some great ones with his brothers. He revolutionised the music video and contemporary dance too.

Then it all went slowly but surely downhill, culminating in the self aggrandising, mime-fest embarassment of the HIStory tour and some appalling life style choices leading to the sorry mess he was in when he died.

I think that's about it.

.
[Edited 9/8/09 2:13am]

I think he could lay claim to having reached the pinnacle alongside other greats. at one point i think he WAS the greatest ever.

I don't think you'll see tributes like in Mexico a week ago for ANYBODY else, ever again.

I'm not saying he's the greatest, but I have to say when everyone aspires to be you and do what you did, and have what you had, you must be up there in the greats. There's no way to discount what he did. Thriller is THE pinnacle of achievement for every artist before and after to try to reach. He did what no else had done.

I personally don't believe he was the best singer, or the best dancer, or the best human being...but what he's done, no one has done it better, so for now, that makes him the greatest that ever done it.

And I do wish he had been able to keep doing it.

For me Michael was "it" when it came to be an entertainer. There was/is no one like him. Sure if you take his talents apart you will always find some one who was/is a better singer, dancer, producer, songwriter etc. But there is practically no one who can take all of these things and put them all together the way he did. If you add to all of this the fact that Michael had that "something" that makes/made people love him, then no one can compare to him.

I LOVE Prince! He's my boy, but I don't think he is on Michael's level. Period. I think that for some fans that is hard to accept because Prince is an awesome musician, composer, songwriter and singer, and IMO, I think that they feel he should have been the more famous of the two. Yes, Prince probably is/was better than Michael when it came to musicianship, but Prince doesn't have that "it" that took Michael to a whole different level. Unfair? Maybe, but that's the way it is.

Now one last thing. I think that MJ will have a long lasting impact on music. But the truth is, that all of us are gonna be death in about 80 years, and after that, we have no idea what music will be like or what people will think of our beloved artists. When I think about great music and true success, I think about Motzart and Beethoven. They died a long time ago and their music is still played and taught in schools. When a musician wants to impress and shocase their technical abilities, they don't play contemporary music, they go all the way back to those two. Just a thought.

In a word?.....NO.

thatruth said:

Who is a musician? Only those who can play an instrument? I don´t think musicalness has anything to do just with playing instruments. I think he was a musician.

Anyway, to me Mike was the greatest ever in many ways. But I agree, it´s a pointless discussion cuase it´s subjective.

I'll say yes, but many will say no. How many times has this topic been posted already?

kenlacam said:

[Vegeta]It's over 9000!!!!![/Vegeta]

LaSeles said:

I think Prince is better than MJ and has that "it". I think if Prince hadn't been running around in his underwear talking about he knew a girl named Nikki who was a sex fiend, that probably would have made the difference in his career. Prince was not kid friendly or religious friendly and that narrowed his listening audience considerably. Look at how many children love MJ....because they can actually be allowed to listen to MJ. LOL

That's on Prince, Prince wanted to be who he wanted to be and that's cool. MJ wanted to appeal to the masses and he did.

BklynBabe said:

But Prince would never have songs like Black or White or Man in the Mirror.

And Michael would never have Pussy Control, Erotic City, or Little Red Corvette

thatruth said:

I think him being the greatest singer is something that weighs very strong in his favor. He had pipes, and an incredible voice. Totally authentic, unique, a MASSIVE range of styles, from classic soul, to "angry" that fit with rock and hip-hop, unique inflections and ad-libs....

I mean, why he lip-synced so much in the 90's I'll never know (because he would sing live during parts and he sounded great). But yeah, rag on anything you want but him being the greatest singer or not... mute argument because he clearly was ONE of the greatest. There is no definitive greatest so all you can do is pool people together who you think fit the bill, Jackson is definitely in that pool.

The most successful? Yes.

The greatest? Hell naw.

seeingvoices12 said:

this is such a great point, maybe he is the greatest

shorttrini said:

yeah, hes definitely one of the most tragic performers ever. someone (?? or multiple people cant remember) have remarked that he wanted the WORLD to love him when he performed. he had this weakness to him and this likeability factor that prince does not have...and it appeals to the masses.

what bugs me is how thriller i guess got to him and for someone to be the greatest entertainer i'd like some spontaneity to their performances. mj just took something and had it down to perfection. it lost all the excitement.

dearmother said:

The Only? I think Beatles and Elvis fans might differ on that point.

MJ is definitely a popular kids artist no doubt, but i have a feeling you guys will outgrow him when you grow up...or at least should

Yeah I think the Beatles & Elvis got worldwide appeal too. That's why the media always compared the three. They're by far the only entertainers besides MUHAMMAD ALI to be embraced on a big worldwide scale. I'm sure there were others tho but those four stood out. KIDS don't know who the Beatles & Elvis are, maybe that's why MJ got them on that, because the adults let them play MJ while the others were avoided for OBVIOUS reasons...
[Edited 9/8/09 20:33pm]

violetblues said:

i'm 23...been a fan since i was little. should I outgrow him?

To me he's the greatest. But we all have our own opinions.

Timmy84 said:

michael was bigger than the beatles and elvis....most likely combined.... and most famous person ever. love him or hate....you cannot deny this fact.

violetblues said:

is that implying the beatles and elvis appeal to adults?
[Edited 9/8/09 20:40pm]