Jos Kirps's Popular Science and Technology Blog
Madonna, Michael Jackson And Prince Will Turn 50 This Year
January 02, 2008This year some of the most famous pop stars of the 1980's will turn 50, the most well known among them are probably Madonna, Michael Jackson and Prince. So you may consider this post to be some kind of a small tribute to the aging stars…
Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie, commonly known as "Madonna" and sometimes called "The Queen of Pop", was born August 16, 1958. Her debut was in 1982, she sold more than 232 million albums and 150 million singles worldwide, won multiple Grammy and Golden Globe-awards and also worked as record producer, film producer, actress and author. She is the top earning female singer in the world with an estimated net worth of over $325 million and she will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year.
Michael Joseph Jackson, sometimes also called "The King of Pop", was born August 29, 1958 and began his musical career in 1963 at the age of five with the Jackson Family vocal group, releasing his first solo record in 1971. Michael received thirteen Grammy Awards and charted thirteen Number One singles in the United States, and "Thriller" is the best-selling album of all time (over 104 million copies sold). He has been named the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" by Guinness World Records and sold over 750 million units worldwide. However Jackson's controversial appearance and actions has damaged his reputation and album sales has been in decline since the mid 1990's.
Prince Rogers Nelson, commonly known as "Prince", was born June 7, 1958. His career began in 1978, his biggest success was "Purple Rain" which sold more than thirteen million copies in the US alone and spent twenty-four consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200. The Academy Award-winning "Purple Rain" movie grossed more than $80 million in the US alone. In 1993 he dropped the name "Prince" after a legal dispute with his record company Warner Brothers (he readopted the name Prince since 2000). Although not quite as successful as Madonna or Michael Jackson, Prince has to be considered be have been one of the most influencial musicians during the 1980's. He produces, composes, arranges and performs nearly all of the songs on his albums.
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14 Comments - Read comments - Leave a comment
James Baldwin said,
on January 2, 2008:
Melanie turns 61 feb 3rd. Please help: http://LetHerIn.org
TulsaMoose said,
on May 16, 2008:
When did MJ learn to play 10 instruments? He only played the bongos and timbales. His most important instrument is his voice. Yes, he's the best dancer I've ever seen - especially when he was young (take a look at the Motown audition in 1968). Madonna was fortunate enough to have been in the same age group as the other 2. Of the three, she's the least talented vocally, as a composer, arranger, and playing instruments. She puts on a great show, especially with almost as many dancers as MC Hammer used to have. She's still pretty hot too. Prince is in a different game though. Although he hasn't had a 40+ year career like MJ, he has been able to establish himself as so many things as his earlier records display - written, composed, arranged, produced, performed by him. His main instruments are guitar, bass, piano, and drums (not too many musicians can play an instrument as tall as they are - maybe Patrice Rushen too). But he's done more. He's evolved into a more accessible mature person in his life moreso than MJ & Madonna.
Randy Stiles said,
on February 10, 2008:
I would take exception to the line about Prince not being as successful. He released albums every year vs. the every other year of Madonna and the every 4 years of Michael. Prince is a powerhouse! Not to mention the successful spin off groups he has spawned.
steve said,
on February 11, 2008:
all of them are great artists but it's true he is not as successful and as popular as michael jackson and madonna
MJ is the BEST! said,
on February 23, 2008:
Michael Jackson is the youngest of the three and is the best entertainer in the WORLD. Michael Jackson is a child prodigy while Madonna and Prince are not. MJ sold over 750 million albums worldwide which Madonna and Prince can never attain. MJ can play 10 instruments, compose almost all his music, sing 4 octaves, and dance the best. MJ is the best. No one can argue that Prince or Madonna is more talented. Prince has no beat and style and he cannot put on a show to the extent of MJ. MJ is the one and only KING OF POP.
Josh said,
on August 6, 2009:
I think Madonna's legacy is sadly underrated and certainly the quality of her voice is too. This woman never stops, her only misstep was her ridiculous "American Life" single, a mistake she has yet to fully recover from in the US. That aside, into her 50s, she turns out a new superb hit record every 2 1/2 years, scores a hit single and sets records every time she tours. And although it's true her music is largely the result of studio craftsmanship, her music is always a model of pristine studio technique and she is a superb studio singer who always sounds enormously convincing on vinyl. Her music has definitely stood the test of time. Not to disrespect Michael Jackson, but let's be fair: Where the hell was he in the last 15 years? He spent a lot of years after Thriller making records (when he did record, which wasn't very often) beneath his ability and resting on his laurels. And his numbers are grossly exaggerated. I promise you, Michael Jackson did not sell anything close to 750 million records, that is a wild exaggeration. Madonna's four 80s records don't quite match the sales of Jackson's 2 (Bad and Thriller), but they probably come fairly close. I promise you, Madonna's post 80s record sales FAR EXCEED Jacksons. I mean he nearly never recorded! He still might overall be ahead of her but I promise he doesn't have sales more than doubling hers. He might have a slight edge but even that's questionable. I guess I would characterize Prince as the serious musician of the 3 who had enormous commercial success for about a decade and now just marches to his own beat. Michael achieved a pop culture pinnacle no-one will probably ever match. Madonna, on the other hand, has managed to craft music, videos and live shows that reflect her own personal evolution over 25 years. I consider that the most impressive.
YoungFri said,
on April 10, 2009:
Michael is GREAT. Madonna is great. PRINCE is THE BEST. Prince is not all hype. Prince is substantive. Prince doesn't have to dance or sing to entertain you. Prince can put out an album where he doesn't utter a word....but you know its him. Check out N.E.W.S., its an all-instrumental album that Prince release a couple of years ago. The dude is bad. As all of the BIG 3 grow older, and as the music industry is becoming more dependent upon touring and singles, who do you think has a better chance of performing well into their sixties? Lets think about it... 1. With all due respect...MJ is difficult to look at because of all of the surgeries and as an older man, the dance moves will never be quite the same. 2. Madonna looks good for her age, but all of the choreographed dance moves at her live show will only make her look older when surrounded by much younger dancers. Also, her singing voice leaves much to be desired. Nevertheless, I should apologize for that remark because I respect her voice. She's an icon. 3. Prince....he can play. He can sing. He doesn't have to dance around the stage. He doesn't need choreographed dancers around to make his show interesting. His face, like all 3, is distinct. No one looks like Prince, MJ, or Madonna. But after the luster of that face wears off with age, can they play? In the case of Prince....absolutely YES!
YoungFri said,
on April 9, 2009:
Michael is GREAT. Madonna is great. PRINCE is THE BEST. Prince is not all hype. Prince is substantive. Prince doesn't have to dance or sing to entertain you. Prince can put out an album where he doesn't utter a word....but you know its him. Check out N.E.W.S., its an all-instrumental album that Prince release a couple of years ago. The dude is bad. As all of the BIG 3 grow older, and as the music industry is becoming more dependent upon touring and singles, who do you think has a better chance of performing well into their sixties? Lets think about it... 1. With all due respect...MJ is difficult to look at because of all of the surgeries and as an older man, the dance moves will never be quite the same. 2. Madonna looks good for her age, but all of the choreographed dance moves at her live show will only make her look older when surrounded by much younger dancers. Also, her singing voice leaves much to be desired. Nevertheless, I should apologize for that remark because I respect her voice. She's an icon. 3. Prince....he can play. He can sing. He doesn't have to dance around the stage. He doesn't need choreographed dancers around to make his show interesting. His face, like all 3, is distinct. No one looks like Prince, MJ, or Madonna. But after the luster of that face wears off with age, can they play? In the case of Prince....absolutely YES!
Shakia said,
on December 23, 2008:
While Michael Jackson is the best entertainer, you are sadly mistaken if he is more musically inclined than Prince... it is reported that Prince plays around 40 or more instruments... I guarantee you that he sings AT THE LEAST 7 octaves. (Could be more, I'm not sure) I love both of them, I do happen to like Michael because of his dancing like no other but I wouldn't put him in Prince's league musically if it were based on vocal ability or instrument playing. I think both of them are greatly talented when it comes to writing lyrics. They are both different and special in their own rights who cares who sold more or is known by more people. Many people don't know who Beethoven or Bach is, yet both are known as two of the greatest composers ever!
Dawood said,
on November 1, 2009:
"She's a genius, she can do no wrong." - that's what Lenny Kravitz said on her and I'm sure not only him of the same opnion. Here I've tried to collect all notable tributes and quotes on Madonna from peers: http://www.tributespaid.com/quotes-on/m/madonna
Funny said,
on November 2, 2009:
Prince is nothing compared to michael jackson. They cannot evne be compared
Prince's voice is just so gay and isturbing. Even my grandma listen to Michael jackson. Coem on guys, u may be price lovers but accept the fact that there is no way you can compare prince to MJ.
Btw, michael jackson can play 3 insturments. Guitar, Drum and piano. He prefer not to do so in his perfroms because nothing special is about playing an instrument but his dances and show were more artistic and precious any of these.
May said,
on November 30, 2009:
I really don't know why Michael Jackson is being compared next to Madonna or Prince. Michael Jackson broke barriers and has a heart of an angel. All Madonna does is wear skin tight clothes, and stretch. To Madonna, stretching is dancing. I don't know much about Prince, but I know that I don't really like him. I mean, Michael Jackson can sing and dance at the same time. Prince only dances in between verses. Madonna can only stretch. Jokes, jokes. All I am saying about Madonna is that she is 51, and should stop acting like she is 20.
lara said,
on December 24, 2009:
Prince can play, definitely. He can sing too, no one's doubting that. He's a great artist, really expressive and musically inclined. He's just not my cup of tea :(. Now, Michael, (yeah, I'm biased, so what?)I love. He writes and oomposes most of his songs. He dances up a storm, no matter his age. And I love his voice. Undeniably talented and has the heart of an angel, what more could you ask for? I watched this countdown thingy hosted by James Brown. He called Michael onto the stage and told him he has to do an impromptu performance. So Michael sang and danced. Then, James Brown called for Prince, telling him he had to perform too. Well, I wouldn't actually call it performing, since all he did was fiddle with a guitar and wriggle out of his top. That's entertainment for some people, I guess. Madonna... is okay. Safe to say, Prince and Michael are waaay more talented than her. She's not that bad, I know. She's a genius actually: she knows how to work things for her advantage. Her voguing can hardly be called dancing. The cougar just creeps me out.
Alison said,
on August 13, 2010:
Madonna sold 232 million albums and 150 million singles? I'm sorry Josh, but that's absolute rubbish! She doesn't have anywhere near the numbers she used to have in the late 80's/ early 90's. In fact she only averages a few million of each album these days. Plus singles don't sell bugger all either to get into the charts, so they're not even worth mentioning. Plus Michael Jackson's Thriller is only around 55 million. It stood at 53 million in the Guinness Book of records and then suddenly it's 105 million? Give me a break. I'm not that stupid to believe that garbage.
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