With the passing of musical legend Michael Jackson, the game of comparative history can begin: who do you think is the biggest musical icon of the past century - Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, or Frank Sinatra?
Asylum blog has the low down comparing The King, The King of Pop, and the Chairman: Link
From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
1: a usually pictorial representation : image
2 [Late Greek eik?n, from Greek] : a conventional religious image typically painted on a small wooden panel and used in the devotions of Eastern Christians
3: an object of uncritical devotion : idol
4: emblem, symbol
5 a: a sign (as a word or graphic symbol) whose form suggests its meaning b: a graphic symbol on a computer display screen that usually suggests the type of object represented or the purpose of an available function
I wonder if a more apt comparision would be between Elvis, MJ and the Beatles?
Then again, I live in Memphis, so I'm biased.
People are just pretending to be die-hard MJ MUSIC fans because he died, seriously, hes been nothing other then a media story since the mid 90s, which has nothing to do with music. Thriller was an amazing album; but frank was active with a following for over 60 years!
Elvis, was too campy to survive, his songs are 50s rock, nothing more (he wasn't around long enough).
So as a Media Icon, Jackson for sure; Music, Sinatra.
b) I urge you to go to a remote village in the Himalayas and ask them if they know who Sinatra is. Then try asking them if they know who MJ is. Pretty sure they'll be able to tell you how many hairs are on Bubbles' arse. There are over 6 billion people in the world, no one cares about Ol' mob-eyes outside of the U.S. Everyone loves Jacko.
of the three? elvis, i think, because he was right at the start of the rock 'n roll genre
Of course, it's Michael Jackson. People feel it's okay to praise him now that he's dead, when they were too afraid to be associated with him when he was alive.
Frank Sinatra was a great singer, but he just doesn't have the same influence on music that Presley or Jackson had. I'd have been more inclined to put the Beatles in that list than him.
But out of the three - MJ wrote his own music (most of it, anyway). That, to me, is the line that separates a performer from an artist. It's all about "performance" now, with all this American Idol garbage. I truly respect someone who writes their own music.
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While Sinatra and Elvis were phenomenally popular they sang songs in they same style their whole career. Michael Jackson continually tried to innovate and create something new throughout his life.
I'd say that the biggest musical icon of the 20th century was Louis Armstrong, by far. His popularity and influence were far greater than any of those others mentioned when considered over the whole of the 20th c.
Second probably Gershwin, you might not know that you know his tunes, but you do. For a guy with such a short career, he had a huge impact. After him, the next forty years of music were all heavily influenced by him, and his songs are still Jazz standards today.
For a third I'd go with Duke Ellington. He was a giant in his day, and I agree with K*T that he's a strong contender for the title of the greatest songwriter of the 20th C. He started in the 20s and was still releasing major records in the 50s and 60s.
Fourth, I'd go with either Frankie or Bing Crosby. Both were huge for more decades of the 20th C. than Elvis, the Beatles, or MJ.
Between Elvis and the Beatles it's hard to say who was bigger, but I think both were bigger than MJ.
And Michael is neither.
There are too many other icons missing here.
I did however, see some references to singing abilities, and wanted to point out that Elvis really did have some amazing pipes. Forget the pop tunes and Vegas show songs he did- take a moment to listen to the range he had in songs like "It's Now or Never", or some of his gospel tracks. He could really belt it out. Sinatra was smooth and silky, a crooner-- two different styles I think.
My vote to "MJ" of course !!
I'm in third world country and yes...everyone knows MJ not Senatra...Elvis is actually popular for 50 yr+ people group only...but MJ..is another story...everyone knows him from my son (and his friend)to my grandma and her friends...That's tell something.
I don't know if this is because of media growing stronger nowadays...but he still rank #1 to me.
and I'm so glad all his case are cleared before his pass away !!!...
Come on...someone (in here) who implys he rapes kids...
Have you heard "not guilty until proven???"..and in this case..it's ACTUALLY PROVED AS NOT GUILTY !!! Get over it !!!...Do you think you can judge better than U.S. Court by reading from distant and use your own logic????
My point is that I'm not in "MUSIC OCCUPATIONAL RELATED" so I might not really know who is the "MUSICAL" icon...but from one general eye view..MJ wins as icon that people knows and admires
in my country, all the fact with his help to poor, children, aids, and long list of charity gives him this respect..
I did see many gossips after his charity??..I really dont understand why???...Also, as people keep wondering about the fact with his surgery (either for beauty or health)....Don't get it as well???
As when you die...your body simply get back into the earth..both fresh or plastic do not matter anymore..what's matter is what he has done to the world !!! like his well-written and thoughtful lyrics(PERIOD)
elvis didnt even have a voice
and frank sinatra is juss in the dust bin
MJ is the best. Talent and human being
no one can compare with him. He is the artist who gave most for charity and did much for better world.
Elvis may sang songs very well, but MJ not only can sing very well but dance, write songs, write books, films produce, choreograph, and innovate. No one is perfect except Michael Jackson. No one is more popular than Michael Jackson.That's the reason why media concentrated on him and built a lot of rumor around him.
This game should be between the King and the Beatles. Others are too small ...
Number 1 stage king the ultimate in entertainment
Love MJ
Michael Jackson suddenly went from a hasbeen to the biggest god in musical history, He became alot more popular with people when He died, Dont forget this man was the centre of a paedophilia scandal! Great entertainer back in the day but from 1996 onwards he was abit of a fruitcake and an hasbeen!
Sinatra would be My pick of these three but when it comes to musical icons of the 20th century theres no-one bigger than The Beatles!