Michael or Prince?

[Schlosser85]

I only like a couple Jackson songs, but that's more than I can name for Prince, and Jackson was a better dancer.

[antsman41]

It's sad when the only reason people like MJ's music is because of "dancing"...

Dancing doesn't make music, or there would be millions of "artists".

[Gale]

MJ will always be my number one and it's not because he can dance amazing (he can) or the fact that he is probably the biggest pop star ever (sometimes I really hate that because then he couldn't experiment musically as much) or that he made some iconic short films (I wouldn't give a crap about those if they didn't have good music to accompany them) or that he has the best-selling album (his 90s stuff trumps his 80s stuff IMO and HIStory is my favorite album of his) or because he supposedly has great performances (I hate a lot of performances because he lip synchs, his natural dancing can only make up for so much), but because I simply love his music. No artist can move me or touch me like his music does.

Speaking of Prince, I don't know him nearly as much as I do MJ, but the few stuff I've heard of him doesn't hit right with me. I might try some more later though.

And lastly, if there was an actual objective way to decide who as better, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Either someone likes something or they don't.

[Galactus123]

It's sad when the only reason people like MJ's music is because of "dancing"...

Dancing doesn't make music, or there would be millions of "artists".
The fact that Prince had won Oscar doesn't make him better either. Movie making has nothing to do with music.

[JabarR]

The fact that Prince had won Oscar doesn't make him better either. Movie making has nothing to do with music.

It doesn't when an artist like Prince is trying to make an impact and that's exactly what he did with Purple Rain. Many before him have tried and not many have had success with it.

[Chris Wallace]

The fact that Prince had won Oscar doesn't make him better either. Movie making has nothing to do with music.

It's only because his album was attached to a movie. Period. It's not like they were in competition for the award.

[antsman41]

The film "soundtrack" and the album Purple Rain are two very different things.

One is all Prince, the other... not so much. Also, the fact that Purple Rain, the song, was recorded live at (the best live music venue ever) First Avenue is amazing and downright beautiful. MJ wished he was that talented...

[JeetKuneDo]

And lastly, if there was an actual objective way to decide who as better, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Either someone likes something or they don't.
Exactly.

Art defies ranking and grading. It's purpose is to connect with each individual...and that is a very unique thing for everyone. Emotion is not "good/bad" or "right/wrong".

That's why these kinds of questions will never be answered. All we know is what we like.

[BH/HHH]

MJ easily, Prince is good but he ruins hos own songs with stupid moments or never ending guitar solo's. MJ's music is unbelievable, the best ever.

[Rowsdower!]

Prince is a more talented overall musician, but I would say Michael was the better songwriter. He has more songs that will live on forever. I will give Prince credit for being more experimental with his music; unfortunately, that often provided mixed results.

I miss the days when these two seemed to be trying to 1-up each other in weirdness. I think Michael decidedly won that battle after he turned his face into a papier mache mask, but they were neck and neck for a while there.

[Dragon]

I never really understood this comparison, although I know the origin of it. Their musical styles are actually quite different, even though they are both crammed into the R & B category. A closer comparison to MJ would be the likes of Smokey Robinson, whereas for Prince would be someone like Rick James (And they were in competitiion for a bit back in the early 80's).

But the real source of the comparison is simply that MJ was on top of the music world when another black artist- Prince took the world by storm with the release of Purple Rain. I mean during the same period, no one was comparing say, Bruce Springsteen to Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth.

But ultimately, I guess it put money in MJ and Prince's pockets, so.... What was the question again? ;)

Personally I love 'em both- and for different reasons.

[Chris Wallace]

I never really understood this comparison, although I know the origin of it. Their musical styles are actually quite different, even though they are both crammed into the R & B category. A closer comparison to MJ would be the likes of Smokey Robinson, whereas for Prince would be someone like Rick James (And they were in competitiion for a bit back in the early 80's).

But the real source of the comparison is simply that MJ was on top of the music world when another black artist- Prince took the world by storm with the release of Purple Rain. I mean during the same period, no one was comparing say, Bruce Springsteen to Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth.

But ultimately, I guess it put money in MJ and Prince's pockets, so.... What was the question again? ;)

Personally I love 'em both- and for different reasons.

A post that I truly agree with. Altough while I think MJ's style was worlds apart from Smokey's, I can see what you're getting at.

[Union Jack]

Mj for me. He has done so many great songs,thriller being my favourite!
Prince is ok..I thought gold was great,but he don't have the wealth of great tunes as JACKO does.
In my humble opinion!

[Dragon]

A rather relevent clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPK12SymqeQ&feature=related

[theMan-Bat]

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/817/img00081ea.jpg
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/6646/kobjdk6eohzlnvpojdbegrx.jpg

[psylockolussus]

Michael Jackson because I at least liked 5 songs from him.

[Barrington]

Both are beasts. But MJ...

[Chris Wallace]

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/817/img00081ea.jpg
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/6646/kobjdk6eohzlnvpojdbegrx.jpg

Trying once again to prove there's room for both?

[theMan-Bat]

Yeah, since this is a thread of both I decided to post some classic pictures of both, linked as guitar pics. Prince rocking the guitar and Micheal Jackson with Eddie Van Halen rocking the guitar.

[Chris Wallace]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49vp_3GLbUU

[OctaviusINC]

One is all Prince, the other... not so much. Also, the fact that Purple Rain, the song, was recorded live at (the best live music venue ever) First Avenue is amazing and downright beautiful. MJ wished he was that talented...

http://i50.tinypic.com/2lw6ttv.jpg
That's a cute opinion.

[Axl Van Sixx]

I've been listening to Prince's Batman soundtrack constantly for the last few weeks. Amazing how he just wrote all those songs on the fly, but that's how the man operates. "Lemon Crush" is terrific.

Can someone recommend a good Prince album for me to listen to next? I have a copy of Purple Rain, and I've heard (and loved) Controversy, but I'm unsure what his most acclaimed works are, other than Sign O' The Times (which I still haven't listened to all the way through).

[Chris Wallace]

1999 or Grafitti Bridge, for my tastes. I also really dug Musicology.

[Captain_Obvious]

this is hard :/

[Axl Van Sixx]

A friend of mine is heavily into Prince and the last time I was at her house we jammed on an acoustic version of "Little Red Corvette". She played me some snippets from One Nite Alone...Live! and it was electric the way Prince played and the way he interacted with the crowd. I'd love to see him live.

As a musician, I can definitely appreciate the way Prince was a virtuoso on so many different instruments. I've heard someone say that for musicians, writing songs can be like extracting a tooth or like brushing your teeth. For Prince, it's clearly the latter.

The two pics above - of Michael Jackson with Eddie Van Halen (my favourite guitarist of all time), and Prince - summarize the differences between the performers. MJ surrounded himself with great collaborators, like EVH. Prince, on the other hand, basically did it all himself. You gotta respect that. Even if I probably prefer MJ's music on the whole, Prince is still a genius.

[Chris Wallace]

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l608/coaltiger2614/mjbike.jpghttp://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l608/coaltiger2614/pr_ride.jpg

[SpeterMan3]

Nice :up:

[Chris Wallace]

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l608/coaltiger2614/innocentheart.jpghttp://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l608/coaltiger2614/prince.jpg

[JabarR]

auLFJLSJxs0

[TheWatcher]

Prince.

[Thor The Mighty]

Prince takes it.

[Ajendo]

Michael was, is and will forever be better than Prince. Michael as a performer is unmatched bar none. His Billie Jean performance at Motown 25 was the single greatest moment in music history.

[Galactus123]

Michael was, is and will forever be better than Prince. Michael as a performer is unmatched bar none. His Billie Jean performance at Motown 25 was the single greatest moment in music history.
And that is not even the best Billie Jean performance

[antsman41]

And that is not even the best Billie Jean performance

And, any Purple Rain performance is 100000000x better than any MJ "dance".

[Ajendo]

And that is not even the best Billie Jean performance

I'm aware of that but as I clearly stated, it was the performance at the Motown 25 event that is by far the greatest moment in music history. It's not his best Billie Jean performance but it's his most significant.

As for Prince's pr performance besting Michael's dance moves, LMAO, ok, buddy :whatever:

[MOS2013]

Some crazy stuff in here.

In terms of musical ability Prince is way out in front.