Comments on: Was Michael Jackson greatest entertainer ever?

By: svg1967

svg1967 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:04:40 +0000

Micheal Jackson was a great entertainer but his historical and cultural importance to popular music pales in comparison to Elvis Presley. Because a lot of MJ fans are young and extremely conditioned by the media hype, they just don’t realize that a lot of what they say is opinion dressed up as facts. I liked MJ a lot and believe the child abuse stuff was greatly exaggerated, but saying he was a bigger star than ELVIS just doesn’t stack up. Also you have to put their comparisons in their correct context. MJ fans say he has more fans. Elvis fans per percentage of people on earth in the 50s 60s and 70s is far greater than MJ fans per percentage of people on earth in the 80s 90s up until 2009. Do you think a geek in 50 years time who creates an online superstar with 20 billion followers selling 80 billion downloads has created a bigger star than MJ? Of course not! so it is with MJ not being bigger than Elvis because their are more people on earth to be fans than when eElvis was alive. In the first week after their deaths MJ sold over half million albums yet due to incredible foresight by RCA in making Elvis material in the weeks before his death, Elvis actually sold ten million. MJ fans accuse Elvis of stealing the black music yet MJ copied the moonwalk from the 1920s 30s and 40s black artists from the deep south. Yes that’s the deep south where Elvis came from. And many black stars of the 50s admit that it was Elvis that opened the door for them to become stars. The fact remains that Elvis was bigger in the 50s than MJ in the 80s. We always hear the words “They were bigger than Elvis” because he is the yardstick by which greatness is measured. MJ fans say Elvis couldn’t sing without realizing that his diction and timing were well known and were second to none. MJ called himself the king of pop. Others called Elvis the king of rock. Elvis was beautiful, sexy and fun. MJ was sweet, lonely and sad. when MJ died a couple hundred turned up at the hospital ( i know someone who was there) When Elvis died thousands flocked to his home. Within an hour there were near hysteria as fans needed to be controlled by police. When Elvis died it was bigger news than when MJ died. Record sales per % of the time in the spotlight also makes Elvis a clear winner. Do you really think mj will emulate the incredible fan worship displayed every year at graceland decades after his death like elvis. we all the know the answer to that question.I have a lot of respect for MJ as a person as well as an artist but come on MJ fans, give up this embarrassing attempt to prove those words that elvis fans have all heard a thousand times before that they were bigger than elvis. yeah bla bla bla

By: MJJBillieJean

MJJBillieJean — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 20:41:06 +0000

FACT: In my country which is third world, elvis and the beatles are strangers because nobody knows who they are here in Southeast Asia! People here have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA who elvis is or beatles are! Who the hell are they? Seriously? I cannot imagine anyone playing elvis or the beatles music in public! But if it’s MJ music, anyone starts grooving to the beat or dancing! When my friends and I go to the public wearing MJ costumes, a lot of beggars/street children/poor people in slums would yell “Michael Jackson idol!” Play MJ music in the public and anyone starts to groove and dance to the beat. I bet if you showed a picture of elvis or beatles to any random person in the public in my country, no one knows them. But if it’s MJ’s picture you show to people in my country, they instantly recognize it’s the dancer MJ and they might even request you to do some MJ dance moves!

Maybe elvis or beatles were popular in your western/european country and people from these countries appreciated them so much for them to think that they are greater than MJ. But what about the rest of the world? No one plays elvis or beatles songs here! It would be embarassing because they have no idea who these singers are! MJ is popular WORLDWIDE, no matter what race, religion, color, age, nationality, ethinicity you are or location you are from. They don’t give MJ the “artist of the century”, “artist of the millenium” and “legend” award for nothing!

And also why has it been discovered that he is the most famous man on earth if he wasn’t the greatest entertainer who ever lived?
MJ made the most geographical and demographical impact ever!

By: MJForever

MJForever — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:04:17 +0000

Ok, let’s base it on the decision of the award-giving bodies(which went through a careful process of selection, not through on-line polls) and through fan’s biased opinions.

MJ is the MOST awarded musical artist. He has a total of 392 awards won (Beatles’ has a total of 16 awards won.)

MJ is the most awarded artist of all time and has more Guinness World Records than any other artist.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awa rds_r…

These awards will close all arguments:

Who received the “ARTIST OF THE CENTURY” award? MJ
(by the Annual American Music Awards, LA Jan 2002)

Who received the “ARTIST of THE MILLENNIUM” award? MJ (World Music Awards,2000)
about the Millennium Awards:
“Apart from the world’s best-selling artists in the various categories and the national best-selling artists, special millennium awards were presented in 2000, for the very first time to the world’s best-selling recording-artist of all time.”http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/World_Music_Awar…

MJ was also awarded by the Grammy’s in 1993 the “LEGEND AWARD”
about the Grammy “Legend Award”:
other winners in given in different years categories were: Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Luciano Pavarotti, Quincy Jones,…….( no Elvis nor Beatles on the list).

“The Grammy Legend Award, or the Grammy Living Legend Award,is a special award of merit given to recording artists by the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Lege nd_Aw …

As the haters claim, it is not true that Michael self-named the title “King of Pop”, he was in fact awarded the:

“Triple Crown Award – King of Pop, Rock & Soul”(1989, BRE Awards).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awa rds_r…

Guinness World Records (p187, 2011 ed)
1- most successful entertainer of all time (certificate given to MJ in 1996)
2- the 1st to have reached more than 100million albums sold outside the USA
3 – the biggest selling-album of all time (Thriller); Thriller remained in the Billboard200 Top 20 for 80 consecutive weeks

other notable Guiness Records:
13 Grammy Awards (as well as the Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award); (Elvis only got 3 Grammy awards won)
26 American Music Awards (more than any other artist, including the “Artist of the Century”);
13 number-one singles in the United States in his solo career (more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era);
13 number one singles in the US (more than any solo male artist)

MJ wouldn’t be awarded “Artist of the Century”, “Artist of the Millennium” and “Legend Award” for nothing!

By: shell517nj

shell517nj — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 13:23:05 +0000

Yes. The world is still talking about MJ, everyday. google search for MJ is at 184 million. fans anticipate the release of a new album due out in November. I would just say the difference in MJ and other entertainers is the love and admiration for MJ from around the world is unprecedented. I’m talking 3rd world countries included. This was proven on the first anniversay of his death. The outpour of love for MJ around the world was truly amazing. His legacy will live for ever.

By: Valentino

Valentino — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:49:06 +0000

Some might say not, some because family issues, and all the unprooven trials against him. Some might say Elvis or whoever. Some forget that he was married with the daughter of Elvis. And also some forgot all the shit Elvis created, which his wife may solve.

But now only talk in Music, cause thats whats MJ was about.

Nobody will top his records.
Nobody will revolutionize musical industry like he did.
No artist will almost crash twitter, CNN or Youtube like he did.
No artist (and royality) will have more publicity on his furnery like he did

He must be!!!

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:56:05 +0000

Michael Jackson, in my opinion, would not have had such a great impact without his dance routines and videoclips – an unfair advantage over such great artists as Elvis Presley and the Beatles. Even though there was no internet, no MTV or anything of the sort in the 1950s, Elvis became the best-selling solo artist of all time. He broke down racial and cultural barriers and touched billions of hearts. Although he never went on a world tour, he was known and loved the world over – and still is. What’s more Elvis ALWAYS SANG LIVE. He had the looks, he had the voice and he had the charisma to make him the greatest entertainer ever. Michael Jackson was an excellent dancer. Elvis was one of the greatest singers in the history of recorded music. Nuff said.

By: jade

jade — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 13:53:29 +0000

micheal i love you . your every much missed by all over us. we cant stop talking about you because of your greatest kindness, beautiful heart , your tough of music and a supportor of all. we love you MJ you will never be forgetten. your music will live on. RIP sweet micheal i love you.
note: it would be nice if i woke up one moring and read how much MJ gave out from his fortune to charity than them critising him.

By: susie

susie — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 02:38:48 +0000

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!

By: marsh

marsh — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 12:57:57 +0000

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

By: Judah

Judah — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:58:44 +0000

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.