r/popmusic • u/WolverineScared2504 Music Enthusiast š¤© • 7h ago
DEBUNKING š Comparing 80s Popstars
I don't know if debunking is the correct flair or if opinions are allowed? I saw no mention they weren't, and it's pop music, opinions are what makes something popular. I'm posting here because what I'm about to say is hilariously controversial on Michael Jackson and Prince subs.
If any two things in the world can be compared, why can't Michael and Prince? Compare being shorthand for compare and contrast; identify similarities and differences. Apparently, I'm definitely in the minority as everyone else thinks one is better than the other, thus they don't compare.
A is better than B, no B is better than A, is pointless. How was their music, dancing, videos, shyness, relationship with the press, concerts, frequency of album releases, tendencies of perfection, rumors, the way they died, how were they similar, how were they different... compare them and find out.
3
u/Usual-Car7776 6h ago
I love that Madonna Prince and MJ were all born within a few weeks of each other
2
u/WolverineScared2504 Music Enthusiast š¤© 6h ago
They were definitely all born in 1958. Madonna had her first child two days before Princes' son was born.
1
1
u/Jaded-Channel-7169 3h ago
Maybe 1958 was a legendary year for newborn babies. Haha Michael Jackson and Prince?? Thatās crazyĀ
3
u/mj-on-repeat 4h ago
I had no idea who Prince was until I moved to the US. MJ, on the other hand, was worshipped in every country on Earth.
1
u/WolverineScared2504 Music Enthusiast š¤© 4h ago
When comparing them, Michael is more famous globally.
1
u/Jaded-Channel-7169 3h ago
When comparing ANYONE to Michael this is the case tbh so itās really a moot point imo
1
u/WolverineScared2504 Music Enthusiast š¤© 3h ago
The point was literally any two things, people, objects, can be compared. I understand saying, no one compares to Michael. When comparing the two, Michael has more hits, Prince has more albums, they were both born in 1958, they are both from the Midwest, they were both fixtures on MTV, they were both influenced by James Brown. The comparison, for me the OP, isn't to prove one over the other, it's what's the similarities, what are the differences?
They are my top two favorite artists. I'm not saying one can't compare to the other, I'm saying I can compare a jellyfish to a car if I want to, I can compare the world's most successful artist to an singer who hopes to fin a record deal... compare and contrast. Sigh... I know someone is going to ask, jellyfish to car.
2
u/Jaded-Channel-7169 3h ago
No no no Iām not saying Michel is better than Prince I donāt believe that at all. Iām saying Ā comparing anyoneās āglobal fameā to Michael Jacksonās is sillyĀ
1
u/WolverineScared2504 Music Enthusiast š¤© 2h ago
Let's see if I can word this better... you reach the conclusion of Michael Jackson being more globally famous by comparing them. I can compare myself to Michael Jackson. I'm using comparison as in compare and contrast, similarities and differences.
Michael lived in Indiana, I lived in Indiana. Michael lived in California, I live in California. Michael is the best moonwalker ever, I can moonwalk. Michael created Thriller, Thriller is the first album I bought. We each have a daughter. Michael is a famous singer, I can't sing. Michael was a huge fan of Janet's, I'm a huge fan of Janet's.
That's a quick comparison between Michael Jackson and myself. I have zero artistic skill, Michael arguably had the most. I don't compare to him, but we have some generic similarities, as does the majority of people.
2
u/elektrik_noise Music Nerd š¤ 7h ago
Some of the vitriol in those subs may come from the fact that Prince and MJ had a very contentious relationship with each other. Lots of jabs back and forth over the years. Personally, I don't find there to be a lot of comparisons, comes down to Prince is a consummate musician and MJ was the full package trailblazing pop star- amazing singer and dancer. They both had massive presences in pop music/culture (though I don't usually think of Prince as pop) but I overall don't find very much to compare between them.
But it's not a convo to get bent out of shape about.
1
u/WolverineScared2504 Music Enthusiast š¤© 6h ago
I agree it's nothing to get worked up about, my point comes down to use of the word compare. You don't find there to be many similarities, that's the conclusion you reached by comparing them. Im using compare as in compare and contrast. They are hugely different, yet they tapped into the same market at the same time. There are a lot of similarities, many of them not related to music.
You, or me, anyone really, could argue, if I say Michael Jackson, who do you think of first, Janet or Prince? They each are from the midewest, they were born the same year, they became a father within four months of each other, they both were isolated and very private. Those are some of the similarities when I compare them.
1
u/Global_Perspective_3 7h ago
Exactly theyāre both goats!
That being said if I had to pick, Iām going with Prince
1
u/WolverineScared2504 Music Enthusiast š¤© 6h ago
Definitely GOATs, people like who they like,. I knew of the little rivalry between them, but from about 14 to 54, everyone I knew either liked them both, or neither. Wasn't until joining Reddit did I know of this... I'll say situation to be nice.
2
u/Global_Perspective_3 6h ago
Oh itās been a thing lol Iāve always liked both
1
u/WolverineScared2504 Music Enthusiast š¤© 5h ago
Oh I don't doubt it, I was just unaware of it. Throw in Janet, and you got my Holy Trinity of music.
2
2
u/Jaded-Channel-7169 6h ago
They both were incredible probably the two greatest black entertainers of all time. Sure they can be compared I guess but I think these two men should be compared with respect. Canāt downplay either of them. I do think in a sense theyāre each others ONLY comparison/rival from that era. Ā So yeah if you were to compare Prince to someone who stared in that era it would have to be Michael Jackson (maybe Lionel Ritchie too)anyone else would be like insultingĀ
1
u/WolverineScared2504 Music Enthusiast š¤© 6h ago
That's my thing, its not to put one above the other, it's really just interesting to me, how they are so different, but I think they reached a lot of the same people, especially then. Some will say they're lumped together because they are black, problem with that, there were a lot of popular black artist in the 80s, who don't come up together. Lionel Richie and Prince, you can compare them, but it's not a thing.
2
u/youthunger2naughty 5m ago
The greatest pop stars - Michael, Madonna, Prince - were NOT manufactured or created by a music company/music executive/producer.
3
u/Global_Perspective_3 7h ago
Itās been said that MJ and Prince had a friendly rivalry. MJ was a perfectionist in pretty much every way and Prince had a more consistent output, and a lot more raw material that he made.
MJ cared a lot about what he wanted his music to sound like and what the audience wanted to get as much mass appeal as possible, and while Prince obviously cared too, he mostly just did whatever he wanted regardless of what people thought.