"King of Pop" or "King of Rock 'n' Roll", whom do you prefer???

Re: "King of Pop" or "King of Rock 'n' Roll", whom do you prefer???

I am really tired of Elvis Prestley because my mother and my dad's second wife were in love with him. Then I married into a family of huge fans. I will occasionally listen to Michael Jackson, although, he is not a huge favorite either. I just don't start screaming and feel insanity setting in when I have to listen to Michael like I do Elvis. Can we bring Janet Jackson into the mix? I like Janet about ten times more than Elvis or Michael. Good question.

Re: "King of Pop" or "King of Rock 'n' Roll", whom do you prefer???

Growing up I had my own Elvis album only because my mother likes him. I remember listening to a few selected songs. MJ on the other hand has been a huge favorite since my childhood and now my children even love him. I say MJ!

Re: "King of Pop" or "King of Rock 'n' Roll", whom do you prefer???

MJ, definitely. While I like Elvis (particularly his early stuff, and I adore most of his movies {G.I. Blues and Blue Hawaii are my faves}), I grew up listening to MJ, so he's my choice. I remember being in 8th or 9th grade when Off The Wall came out and I've been a fan ever since. I was in 11th or 12th when Thriller was released and I remember how crazy people went. The man was a true entertainer. Elvis got big because his manager (The Colonel I think?) REALLY pushed and did all kinds of questionable things to get him exposure, things that today would probably get him arrested. Not to say Elvis wasn't talented - he was a wonderful singer. MJ was a real entertainer in every sense of the word. But both of them had totally screwed up personal lives, which makes me wonder which side of the insanity line they actually stood on. Fine line between genius and insanity, they say! LOL!

Re: "King of Pop" or "King of Rock 'n' Roll", whom do you prefer???

I think they are a bit of apples and oranges as entertainers. Elvis was a so-so dancer, but a great musician. MJ was a fantastic dancer, but I don't think I ever saw him play an instrument. I kind of depends on what kind of show you like. I once saw an unplugged concert with Elvis where he just played and sang the blues for a group of about 30 people. I think that is about the best I've ever seen of Elvis. They didn't have those voice modifying devises in his day that can make any singer perfect. If he didn't have the talent, he wouldn't have made it. His blues are really his best and you seldom hear him singing the blues. I think Elvis got lost in being Elvis and forgot what he truly loved in music. I think MJ had a similar problem.

However, if you want the guy who I think is both a great dancer and a fantastic musician, that would be Prince. I think he outstrips them both as far as putting on a really good show goes. Plus, I hope, he is going to live to be old and continue to entertain for a long time.

Steve Tyler is more of a favorite for me than Elvis or MJ. I think think both Prince and MJ draw inspiration from the master Jimmy Hendricks. You can't really compare Elvis and MJ, because they were both the best of their generation, but one guy was playing 30 years before the other. MJ built on what Elvis started and someone else will build on MJ.

If you want to see a truly great Elvis performance, Brenda, I will try to find the name of the studio session where he just played the blues. he was a young guy and still in love with the music then.

Re: "King of Pop" or "King of Rock 'n' Roll", whom do you prefer???

I've seen the performance you are talking about and you're right - it's awesome! But I just never really liked Elvis' music that much. And I LOVE the music from that era (my mom has always said i was born 25 years too late as far as my taste in music - I even listen to "oldies" in HS!) I think one of the reasons I like MJ better is most of his music is what I call "fun music" - fun to sing, fun to listen to, fun to dance to. Elvis' not so much.

I also like Prince. The man is incredible, but i do wish he'd quit changing his name! LOL!

Steven Tyler is ugly as sin, but damn the man can sing like no body's business! I don't like all of Aerosmith's music (not a real fan of hard rock), but some of his stuff you can't help but like. "Dude Looks Like a Lady" is a fave (and always makes me think of Robin Williams in "Mrs. Doubtfire"). But the one he sang in the Bruce Willis movie his daughter Liv was in (can't think of the title, but I adore the song) really shows how truly versatile he is. Hard to imagine a hard rocker like him singing such a beautiful love song, but there you go!

I heard Aerosmith were going to break up after Steven got hurt during the last tour they did. Do you know? It would be a shame, but the man IS in his 60's!

Re: "King of Pop" or "King of Rock 'n' Roll", whom do you prefer???

It is hard to imagine a man uglier than Steve Tyler, but the man can sing and play the guitar like nobody's business. He is Aerosmith. They can find another singer who can copy his voice, but they will never find another Steve Tyler. Talk about versatile, I have even heard him rap! He's always experimenting with new things. He isn't just stuck in one style like Elvis or MJ. Both great entertainers, but one trick ponies. Prince is very versatile, too, but I really like his fun stuff more than his serious stuff.

I think one of MJ and Elvis's problems was they didn't evolve. They just did the same old thing or variations on the same old thing over and over. I think if you are going to stay in the business and continue to be very successful, you have to change with the times. Prince and Steve Tyler may never be considered the "king" of anything, but anyone who can stay popular and move with the times as well as they have deserves to be the "king" of something. Mick Jagger, too, the guy is amazing. The Rolling Stones aren't doing much now, but dang, they are all in the 70s or something. If guy can still rock at 70, he is like a god of rock n' roll. Emotional Rescue still reminds me of Ronald Regan.

Re: "King of Pop" or "King of Rock 'n' Roll", whom do you prefer???

You are thinking of Armageddon...
I liked them both, but was not crazy about either one. I have to tell you honestly, that I am sick to death of hearing about MJ's death... I'm sure it was the same when Elvis died, but come on he's dead. Get over it already....
I know this isn't the place, but it sure would be nice to see people get that upset over the American's who are dying every day protecting others and serving a purpose other than entertainment and making money for themselves.

Re: "King of Pop" or "King of Rock 'n' Roll", whom do you prefer???

Too true, heather!

Re: "King of Pop" or "King of Rock 'n' Roll", whom do you prefer???

You know though, I have been the military member out in the field in a combat situation and music really does make things so much better. It doesn't matter if the entertainer is making a lot of money or not when they are making people feel better. I know a lot of people are in the business to make money, but not all and those who are not can be so very inspiring. Although, I am not a big Elvis fan, I can't help but be inspired by his rendition of I Did It My Way. I really don't care for the Vegas years, but that one song is an exception. Elvis did serve his country. Maybe not as a Army Ranger, but he did his part.

I was never a Frank Sinatra fan until I read a history book which told all about his efforts in WWII. Although, he was a 4D (I think that was the classification - completely medically unfit to serve), he still felt the need to help out with the war efforts by performing closer to a combat zone than any other performer had at the time. He performed under fire for those guys and his daughter Nancy did the same in Vietnam. Their dedication to the troops was truly outstanding. Of course, not every performer is this altruistic, but that is one of the things that separates the milk from the cream as they say in the world of dairy farming. For example, I do not see Brittany Spears making this sort of sacrifice.