Michael Jackson vs. Elvis Presley: Who's more popular???

[Agnostic007]

Prince established himself as one of the finest guitarist of his time.

[Agnostic007]

I was going overboard on Prince.  But I've wondered for years about what Prince's popularity would have been like had Michael Jackson never existed.  I agree with your friends on making art a contest.  Different strokes for different folks.

For me.. I was a prince fan...regardless of MJ. I appreciate MJ. He unlike Elvis, wrote and orchestrated his hits. But Elvis was an entity to himself at the time. MJ was a musical genius that wrote most of his hits. But Prince was a force to be reckoned with. He was multi talented and as we saw in his appearance with Gently Weeping, he took no prisoners. I hesitate to guage them against each other and I'm comfortable in saying that they made an impact

[Agnostic007]

This may be old news but if ANYONE has not heard Princes version of Nothing Compares 2U with Rosie Gaines live.... give it not one... but 3 listens. The problem is we are all use to Shenead's verson, which is phenomenal, ... but Prince does it live with Rosie Gaines. 1st time I heard it I was unimpressed, because I was conditioned. But after 3 hearings... and especially the exchange between Prince and Rosie on the Doctor portion, it turned me into a fan

I would love to hear back on ya'lls perspective

[falco]

Elvis had the coolness, Michael had that fantastic talent. Michael is also a worldwide phenomena.

[hipolito mejia]

For years people have gone ape shit over Elvis from Elvis impersonations, to visiting Graceland, etc.. And now with the death of another pedophile music legend (so society thinks) Michael Jackson seems to be causing quite a stir.

So in the end, will Elvis still tromp MJ?

This question was answered in 1983.

Happy 40th anniversary !!!!!!!

[Hulkotron]

I went to a Paul McCartney concert a few years ago (nh).  It was interesting that there were people there born in at least six different decades who all knew every word to every one of these 50-year-old Beatles songs.  I'm not sure there are any other musicians like that, certainly not many.

There are similar cases on smaller scales, e.g. there are Bob Dylan songs that "everyone" knows, Jimmy Buffet etc., but with the Beatles it's like every song.

[Kwon]

For years people have gone ape shit over Elvis from Elvis impersonations, to visiting Graceland, etc.. And now with the death of another pedophile music legend (so society thinks) Michael Jackson seems to be causing quite a stir.

So in the end, will Elvis still tromp MJ?

Elvis was MUCH more popular and had MANY MANY more fans than MJ in the 50s and 60s

[Agnostic007]

Elvis had the coolness, Michael had that fantastic talent. Michael is also a worldwide phenomena.

As was Elivs

[Beefjake]

Elvis was Britney Spears of his era.
Phenomenal performer who relied on songs of other people.
Like in anything, eras are not compareable, taste of the masses is different.

Michael was more talented as a musician. He knew enough about the business as how to tap into main stream. Not unlike Madonna and Springsteen of his era.

Prince was a mad genius in this. Made his own song/music. Played every instrument!
Did what he liked. Made songs to others. Not neccesarily trying to please the mass market. Althought hugely popular for sure.

I think prince was more of a musicians musician. Man on the street didn’t know he could shred the guitar or make your legs get bumbs with the bass, but others within his profession did. And admired.

[Mr.Mojo]

of course Elvis
no one comes close
not a white colored clown and not a dwarf from Minneapolis

[Kwon_2]

As was Elivs

And his mexican counterpart El Ves

[DooM_]

elvis had more cultural influence and he's still referenced today in movies and entertainment

[joswift]

Elvis was Britney Spears of his era.
Phenomenal performer who relied on songs of other people.
Like in anything, eras are not compareable, taste of the masses is different.

Michael was more talented as a musician. He knew enough about the business as how to tap into main stream. Not unlike Madonna and Springsteen of his era.

Prince was a mad genius in this. Made his own song/music. Played every instrument!
Did what he liked. Made songs to others. Not neccesarily trying to please the mass market. Althought hugely popular for sure.

I think prince was more of a musicians musician. Man on the street didn’t know he could shred the guitar or make your legs get bumbs with the bass, but others within his profession did. And admired.

Prince couldnt read sheet music...

[IroNat]

Prince couldnt read sheet music...

Paul McCartney can't either.

[joswift]

Paul McCartney can't either.

Eric Clapton

Quite a few cant
They are just gifted people who can play by ear

Reading music is difficult, Im having a hard time with the piano