# Michael Jackson or Prince **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 13, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027 "2014-07-13T22:04:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027/22 "2014-07-14T16:07:11Z")
Sly Stone made a healthier exemplar than Diana Ross. Who knew? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027/23 "2014-07-14T16:41:06Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > The little guy has way more talent than MJ could ever hope for. Michael Jackson had shit tons of musical talent himself, if not specifically in playing an instrument. I’ve read stories and accounts of how he would come into the studio with a song, pretty much fully orchestrated, and sing each instrument’s parts. [Here’s one of the accounts](http://www.buzzfeed.com/perpetua/michael-jacksons-a-cappella-demo-for-beat-it-is-the-ultimate), but, unfortunately, the video with the a capella demo is no longer online (I’m sure it must be somewhere out there, but I can’t find it.) He clearly showed great musicianship, and his singing, rhymth, and phrasing attests to that. Every time I hear his especially early work with the Jackson Five, I’m floored by how much talent he exuded as such an early age. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027/24 "2014-07-14T16:45:43Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027/25 "2014-07-14T16:50:56Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > In the other, you have the eccentric but very much alive Prince who had some major hits like Purple Rain but is less appreciated in pop culture for his insane songwriting and musical instrument skills. It’s my understanding that every weird story you hear about the guy, no matter how crazy, there’s a good chance it’s true. I’ve shared this story here before, but as long as we’re talking about Prince… I have a friend who works with a guy at Live Nation who once worked for Prince. He exists in a world where if he’s sitting around at 2AM and suddenly decides he wants a giraffe, he genuinely expects you to bring him a giraffe, and _he genuinely does not understand why that is not possible_. And you do _not_ want to be the guy who has to try to explain this to him (my friend’s friend was that guy). Anyways, Prince is the virtuoso musician, MJ is the mega-entertainer; I like MJs music better, but I have a lot of respect for Prince’s skills. I kinda hafta push on this one based on their celebrity credentials, but based on the fact that MJs eccentricities were public while Prince can be as weird as he wants and nobody says a thing, I’m going with Prince. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027/26 "2014-07-14T17:45:24Z")
> [@jerez](#): > > I think this just keeps getting repeated without much actual basis. I certainly don’t go over to Prince’s house to listen to him play guitar, nor have I even heard most of what he’s recorded, but none of what I **have** heard comes anywhere close to making him “one of the greats.” If you really like what he does, that’s fine, but let’s not exaggerate. There are some very good guitarists out there! > > Don’t get me wrong: He plays well enough, and I haven’t even heard most of what he’s recorded, but if I’ve missed something, it sure isn’t the above video. Rolling Stone has Prince listed as #33 on their list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. I certainly think that qualifies as “one of the best”. It has links and reasons why they ranked him that highly. Some other publications have him ranked ever higher. [http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/prince-20111122](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/prince-20111122) ---
**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027/27 "2014-07-14T18:09:02Z")
Prince, no question. He can sing all of MJ’s songs and play the instruments. MJ can sing Prince’s songs and moonwalk. Don’t get me wrong, I like them both, but this is no contest. MJ vs Madonna might be better. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027/28 "2014-07-14T20:11:10Z")
I agree that Prince is more talented, but I like Michael Jackson’s songs better and find them to be catchier than most of Prince’s songs. I voted for Michael Jackson. ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027/29 "2014-07-14T21:05:41Z")
**Shagnasty** , the linked text starts with this: > [@](#): > > _He played arguably the greatest power-ballad guitar solo in history (“Purple Rain”)…_ That right there doesn’t fly in my book. A good solo, yes, but _the greatest_? In any case, we can’t really convince each other of our preferences. Rock is old enough to have changed enough to distance certain listeners from certain periods (remember, terms like “of all time” have been used). If you or anyone else thinks he’s among the greats, that’s fine with me, but I don’t agree. **Lowdown** makes a good point above, but my vote (based on my preference) goes to Michael Jackson. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027/30 "2014-07-14T21:31:43Z")
Both are amazing singers and entertainers, but I have to give this one to Prince just for the diversity of his talents. Adding to what has already been mentioned, he has also excelled at producing and has been involved in producing and songwriting for a number of acts and got Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis started as a producing team after they were in The Time. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027/31 "2014-07-14T22:45:24Z")
Michael Jackson, Prince and Lionel Richie walk into a bar. They grab a booth and a cocktail server walks over and says, “Hi. My name is Tanya and I’ll be your server this evening. What can I get for you guys?” Michael says, “May I have a Piña Colada? And could you put one of those little umbrellas in it? Dah! Cha’mon!” Tanya writes it down. Prince says, “I’ll have a martini extra dry with 3 olives? Ow!” Tanya writes it down. Lionel says, “Let me get a Long Island iced tea.” Tanya asks, “Aren’t you going to make a noise?” So Lionel Richie farted. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027/32 "2014-07-14T23:31:32Z")
I don’t get it. _jerez_ - that Hall of Fame solo for While My Guitar is a great example, so if it’s not your cuppa, so be it. He can funk/soul/blues/rock/jazz it up with the best of 'em. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027/33 "2014-07-14T23:40:26Z")
I just want to say, **monstro** , that your explication above is perfect. And I don’t know why all these other people are still talking because really you just nailed it. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027/34 "2014-07-14T23:48:49Z")
:blushes: ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027/35 "2014-07-15T00:31:07Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I don’t get it. > _jerez_ - that Hall of Fame solo for While My Guitar is a great example, so if it’s not your cuppa, so be it. He can funk/soul/blues/rock/jazz it up with the best of 'em. It was supposed to be a musical noise. It was funny in my head. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027/36 "2014-07-15T00:59:07Z")
> [@jerez](#): > > Don’t get me wrong: He plays well enough, and I haven’t even heard most of what he’s recorded, but if I’ve missed something, it sure isn’t the above video. If you’re referring to the song “my guitar gently weeps” then I agree, you’ve missed something. He isn’t just technically proficient he does a marvelous job interpreting the music. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-or-prince/693027.md?page=1)