The Great Debate
17:38 July 7th, 2009

Was Michael Jackson greatest entertainer ever?

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michael2The music world, the Jackson family and thousands of fans bade farewell to Michael Jackson at a public memorial on Tuesday.

“The more I think about Michael, and talk about Michael, the more I think that ‘King of Pop’ is not good enough,” said Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, who signed The Jackson 5 in 1968.

“I think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived.”

Here’s your chance to pay your final tributes to Michael Jackson.

22 comments so far

July 30th, 2009 2:38 am GMT - Posted by susie

MJ composed his own songs which elvis did not. He danced but the beatles and frank sinatra did not. So definitely MJ is the biggest ever with the most cultural impact across the world, not just in America. If there is any western artist people know in my country, it’s Michael Jackson.
elvis, beatles, no one has any idea about who they were!

July 18th, 2009 12:57 pm GMT - Posted by marsh

Michael Jackson is certainly the best. His appeal knows no bounds. Travel the world and see for yourself whose music is played and danced to in every nook and cranny of the world - it’s Michael Jackson. Not the Beatles or Elvis Presley. They don’t have the sort of appeal Michael has.

The world is not only Europe and America; it is also the villages in South America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. These are the places to go to when it comes to rhythm and dance, and they don’t dance to Elvis or Beatles.

His eccentricities? His fans behaved like the proverbial wise swan who given a mixture of milk and water could extract only the milk leaving the water behind.

“mediocrity is in the eye of the mediocre”.

Michael Jackson was simply awesome and deserves his due as the greatest. Check the stats. at CNN through link below:

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/06/2 6/michael.jackson.spotlight/index.html#c nnSTCOther1

July 15th, 2009 2:58 pm GMT - Posted by Judah

The phrase world greatest entertainer has no quantative meaning.Elvis fans will say Elvis. Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen and Jackson fans will say their guys. All can make legitimate claims.
What can be said without doubt is that the historical, social,culterial and musical impact of Elvis in 1956 and The Beatles in 1963 dwarfed anthing achieved by any artist thereafter or before. Looking at some live clips of Elvis in Tupelo in 1956/7 one can clearly see the direct or indirect influence he had on every rock star and group since. It’s been said before and needs to be repeated, Elvis opened the doors for everyone that followed. It’s also worth nothing that Elvis sales of over a billion are three times more than anything that could be attributed to MJ. That MJ was very talanted is in no doubt, but let’s peel away some of the hype attached to him.

July 14th, 2009 2:46 pm GMT - Posted by joan

Let’s add Luciano Pavarotti to this list of great entertainers. True, he was an opera singer but what an opera singer and he also ventured into the pop singer category with his many friends concerts. Adding his fantastic voice to the grammy winners who came to entertain at these pop concerts given for the poor in war zones.
Well known and loved all over the world, he was the greatest singer in the 20th century.

July 12th, 2009 1:41 am GMT - Posted by rob

While its true that Micheal Jackson did write,sing and dance, he was only ever an exceptional dancer, His singing and writing were average if we are being honest. To compare his sales (750 million vs 2 billion) and musical creativity and influence to The Beatles is something of a joke. The Beatles completed all their work in seven years and turned the musical world on its head with their range and versitility. Virtually all rock bands and many many other artists across the genres cite them as an influence. Micheal Jackson was essentially motown with electronic beats and synthesizes for 25 years.

July 9th, 2009 1:26 pm GMT - Posted by letitia

Michael Jackson IS the greatest entertainer that ever lived. Nobody will be able to compare to him, at least during our lifetime. This kind of talent and genius is unique.
I refuse to talk about Michael at past tense, because he is simply larger than life.
I will love, respect and admire him always.

July 8th, 2009 9:46 pm GMT - Posted by Don Bison

Michael, WHO! I’ve already forgot him.

July 8th, 2009 8:45 pm GMT - Posted by Rick

Well, he certainly had the most plastic surgery and child molestation charges, hands down. And I guess a lot of sheeple like silly pop songs.

July 8th, 2009 7:59 pm GMT - Posted by jp

He is among the greats: Sinatra, Elvis, John Lennon & MJ.

July 8th, 2009 7:20 pm GMT - Posted by arundiwadkar

mickael jackson was very interesting soul.his lucid poetry and melodious voise is unforgeteble.he was great magician in music magician

July 8th, 2009 4:51 pm GMT - Posted by Mr. Chrysantha Wijeyasingha

Is Michael Jackson the Greatest entertainer ever?

In order to judge an artist one needs to see the originality of his work. Michael Jackson never played a musical instrument in his performances. His dances are reflections of earlier artists in the 20th century, with the one exception: his act of grabbing his crotch.

His songs were extremely popular among a certain age group and sold million. But again to pass the test a song should outlive the performer, not in electronics, but the ability of a person to hum or sing it’s melody. Yes melody a key component of a song that gives it a life of its own. My question is of all of Michael Jackson’ songs sung when he was an adult, how many can sing his songs and lyrics without any aid?

Finally the question whether he was the greatest entertainer “ever” is too broad to analyse as it implies entertainers since the dawn of civilization.

To these statements and questions I have placed my conclusion is that though Michael Jackson’s fame is great and matches his wealth, he barely comes close to the great entertainer, let alon being “The greatest entertainer ever”

July 8th, 2009 4:12 pm GMT - Posted by 02Z06Vette

What a joke … a black song and dance entertainer spending his whole life trying to be white! He hasn’t had a hit since the early 80’s … it’s all hype that the Jackson family is trying to push so they can get a piece of the little action the MJ name can generate for a few more weeks.

July 8th, 2009 2:08 pm GMT - Posted by Brian

No matter what was said about his personal life their is no denying his talent.

He was the greatest entertainer for sure he did it all sing danced and started music video as an artform aot justa promotional tool for atists he created the moonwalk and the robot dance. He was like Elvis The beetles and James brown as one person.Guiness book as records names him the most successful entertainer ever. RIP You’re the greatest.

July 8th, 2009 9:08 am GMT - Posted by Salman

What the media fails to realize is that Michael Jackson was not just a historic entertainer, he was THE greatest entertainer (be it singer, actor, etc) in modern/ recorded history.

When we discuss his impact and talent as an entertainer, we cannot taint it by talking about his personal life or eccentricities

Michael was far greater than previous legends like Elvis and Lennon because he was not just an AMERICAN STAR

He was famous and popular in MOST Of the countries of the world. The kind of universal and mass appeal he had, could only be dreamed of by people like Elvis Presley. Its so shallow for people to forget that Michael Jackson was an INTERNATIONAL star not just an American star.

Michael revolutionarized Music videos and the art of dancing

Micheal was not just the greatest singer, but also the greatest Dancer and live performer
and he often wrote his own music

His music paved the way for R and B , Hip Hop and soul music for the future

And he trancended color. Being black he still managed to get great acclaim
in the US at a time when it was very difficult
His appeal transcended color, international boundaries etc

HIs record of having the best selling album of all time stands intact.

Elvis, and beatles may have more sales in the developed world ONLY BECAUSE THEY KEPT SELLING AFTER THEIR DEATH TILL DATE
And they existed 20-40 years before Jackson so obviously they have more years of selling

Remember the developed world has the minority of the worlds population. In the THIRD world , like where im from
Michael was much bigger than presley or beatles

And finally he was still popular at his death

His ticket sales of over a million for his upcoming london concert were the fastest ticket sales for an event in history

So please dont even put Michael in the same league as Elvis Presley or Beatles or John Lennon.

Im in Pakistan which is a third world country, where even a street urchin knows who Michael Jackson is, he knows his dance, he knows his music

But hardly anyone here knows Presley or Beatles

That shows his reach, far beyond any entertainer ever could claim in recorded history.

So give credit where it is due

Tickets for the highly-anticipated event went on general sale this morning at 7am, priced at priced at £50, £65 and £75 plus fees.

The singer’s publicists claim that these are “the fastest ticket sales in history” and that one million tickets will be sold
in all, setting new records for “the biggest audience ever to see an artist in one city”.

July 8th, 2009 8:49 am GMT - Posted by onkar

If not the greatest, easily the most impactful, most talked about, most viewed and most globally recognisable entertainer..

July 8th, 2009 7:09 am GMT - Posted by vikas kukreja

ABSOLUTELY the GREATEST ever with the most widespread geographic and demographic impact across the GLOBE.
No other person comes close except perhaps the beetles but then they were primarily a singing band.MJ was a dancer (and what a dancer!), a song writer,singer AND entertainer.
Leave alone his slightly deviant behaviour in personal life-which anyways didnt ever affect his legion of fans-and what an awesome guy you have !!

July 8th, 2009 4:49 am GMT - Posted by Rituparna

During his lifetime MJ’s genius was eclipsed by a strange lifestyle and personal demons he died battling to his last day. In his death he has finally achieved the larger than life aura he always sought. Goodbye MJ, hope you have at last found your Neverland.

July 8th, 2009 4:22 am GMT - Posted by Jack Blade

No way was Jacko the greatest ever? At least Frank and Elvis while they had there issues there were not child weirds! Being raised in a messed up family doesn’t excuse it either!

July 8th, 2009 2:58 am GMT - Posted by Sunny

He was the greatest entertainer ever. Long live the King!!!

July 7th, 2009 10:47 pm GMT - Posted by Ikea

We love ya Jacko. You’re the best.

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