TS: Prince or Bowie?

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i like bowie and all but prince is one of the 5 greatest pop artists of the last 25 years. prince vs. bolan would probably be harder.

J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:04 (nineteen years ago) link

Of course not! Then again, I don't assume every black person from Minnesota is automatically a Prince fan.

Stereotypes and assumptions are bad but some may contain a kernel of truth in them. Also, any black person from Minnesota who gets offended because you assume they they like Prince is by (my) definition a dick.

The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:07 (nineteen years ago) link

Whenever I list my favorite groups I always say "Prince and The Cure". I actually like and admire Prince MORE than I like The Cure (indeed, this summer I had to choose between Curiosa and the Musicology tour and I chose Musicology).

The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:08 (nineteen years ago) link

Although both of them were stylistic chameleons, with Bowie you get the feeling that he's just trying on different masks, whereas with Prince it feels more like a metamorphosis that goes beyond surface depth. Bowie never did anything as emotionally resonant as "When Doves Cry", for instance. Bowie is all icy detachment. That said, I'd still take Bowie's music over Prince's.

o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:10 (nineteen years ago) link

I didn't grow up in Minnesota, so I was going to hand that perspective to you or Matos or anybody else here originally from Minnesota for the obvious reasons. I just didn't want to make that assumption before you did. :)

As for Prince vs. Bolan...
Actually, I would easily take Prince over Bolan.. not to dismiss Bolan by any means..(ask Ned, who's a witness to my mass collection of T. Rex material the past year or so) but Bolan has the slight disadvantage of, how to put it gently, being dead?... also dying right before a spark that could have possible re-propelled his career, too. Prince vs. Bolan is a rather unfair taking sides really.

donut christ (donut), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:11 (nineteen years ago) link

For the record, Prince is NOT a better vocalist than Bowie. Listen to fuckin' "Wild is the Wind" and tell me again Bowie can't sing. The man can croon like a goddamn demigod.

Oh, and Bowie wins this sheerly on the strength of a fleeting moment in "It's No Game (Part 1)" where he sings..."Put a bullet in my brain...AND IT MAKES ALL THE PAPERS! (followed by indecipherable Japanese exhorting). That little moment right there is cooler than EVERYTHING little Mr. Nelson has ever done and verily will ever do.

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:15 (nineteen years ago) link

For the record, Prince is NOT a better vocalist than Bowie. Listen to fuckin' "Wild is the Wind" and tell me again Bowie can't sing. The man can croon like a goddamn demigod.

miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:18 (nineteen years ago) link

Alex don't you see,
all the boldface in the world
doesn't make it TRUE

Haibun (Begs2Differ), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:20 (nineteen years ago) link

Listen to fuckin' "Wild is the Wind" and tell me again Bowie can't sing. The man can croon like a goddamn demigod.

I'll admit he's doing something on that track, though I'm not sure "sing" is the right word for it. "Croon" is a bit closer. In any case, whatever he's doing, it makes me wince.

o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:21 (nineteen years ago) link

David Bowie is much more Morrissey than he is Brian Ferry, Alex.

The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:22 (nineteen years ago) link

I'm waiting for Alex to realize we're not talking about Prince Charles.

miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:22 (nineteen years ago) link

You mean this isn't TS: Prince Far I vs. Ash Bowie of Polvo?

Hmmmmph.

donut christ (donut), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:24 (nineteen years ago) link

ask Ned, who's a witness to my mass collection of T. Rex material the past year or so

And a good man you are to be doing that. I now have all the new remasters and really am just waiting on the final piece of the puzzle, the upcoming Born to Boogie DVD.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:25 (nineteen years ago) link

I'm kinda amused at how "how well he sings!" has become the most contentious point on this thread! They both have great voices for what they do... the fuck?

donut christ (donut), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:27 (nineteen years ago) link

I wouldn't like his cover of "Kingdom Come" so much if Bowie could actually sing.

miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:28 (nineteen years ago) link

Jesus Christ, for a horrible second I thought you were referring to Bowie covering the Mission UK.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:28 (nineteen years ago) link

oh like he's above that

miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:29 (nineteen years ago) link

Thing is.. i could easily see Prince do a kickass cover of "Fame"
..and I could see Bowie doing a kickass cover of "Girls and Boys"

donut christ (donut), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:30 (nineteen years ago) link

I'd rather see Bowie cover "Adore" (see my take on "Kingdom Come")

miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:31 (nineteen years ago) link

oh like he's above that

In 1988 I wouldn't have entirely put it past him.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:31 (nineteen years ago) link

Taking sides: French girl rants on "It's No Game" vs. French girl rants on "Girls and Boys"?

donut christ (donut), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:32 (nineteen years ago) link

Tin Machine covering the Mission UK makes a whole lot more sense than the opposite.

miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:32 (nineteen years ago) link

Ur, change "French" on the left side of my last taking sides.. duh.

donut christ (donut), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:33 (nineteen years ago) link

Tin Machine covering the Mission UK makes a whole lot more sense than the opposite.

"UNDER...THE GOD...WITH MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:34 (nineteen years ago) link

if Bowie is a demigod on "Wild Is the Wind" then Prince on "Adore" is Zeus

haha xpost

Matos W.K. (M Matos), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:39 (nineteen years ago) link

The "icy detachment" dis on Bowie has always baffled me. If anything, he tends towards overwrought. "Wild is the Wind", "Absolute Beginners," "Rock n Roll Suicide," "Heroes" (esp. the German version), "Slip Away"--this is detachment?

iang, Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:39 (nineteen years ago) link

>>if Bowie is a demigod on "Wild Is the Wind" then Prince on "Adore" is Zeus
Then who is Wotan?

iang, Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:40 (nineteen years ago) link

Bowie is a goofball. Prince is a freak.

miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:42 (nineteen years ago) link

Freance is a prick.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:43 (nineteen years ago) link

http://ca.geocities.com/bluntedchambers/images/wu-logo-5.gif
wotan

Haibun (Begs2Differ), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:43 (nineteen years ago) link

Man, Matt C just won the universe.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:43 (nineteen years ago) link

I'm not a fanatic for either but I'm voting Prince all the way, no contest. He plays some awesome guitar solos.

sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 21:48 (nineteen years ago) link

The "icy detachment" dis on Bowie has always baffled me. If anything, he tends towards overwrought. "Wild is the Wind", "Absolute Beginners," "Rock n Roll Suicide," "Heroes" (esp. the German version), "Slip Away"--this is detachment?

This is the sound of detachment bemoaning its own inability to feel.

o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:02 (nineteen years ago) link

I really like what Aphex Twin did with "Heroes".

sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:05 (nineteen years ago) link

(To my ears, BTW, Prince certainly has the better voice, like, by a ridiculous margin.)

sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:07 (nineteen years ago) link

What about Prince vs Eno?

sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:08 (nineteen years ago) link

Music For Assless Chaps

donut christ (donut), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:09 (nineteen years ago) link

In most walks of (musical) life, Prince vs Bowie is a landslide victory for Bowie. But not on ILM. That's not a complaint, BTW (even though I pick Bowie).

MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:16 (nineteen years ago) link

In most walks of (musical) life, Prince vs Bowie is a landslide victory for Bowie.

I find this difficult to believe unless you are defining "musical" to be "Anglicized indie-rock".

The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:18 (nineteen years ago) link

I'm still not convinced that the pro-Bowie camp on this thread is not composed entirely of myopic Brits who are overestimating Bowie's impact.

I mean, in America, Prince is unquestionably the more prominent figure, just in terms of exposure.

Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:18 (nineteen years ago) link

wait, don't English people think Prince only got good with Parade? that says everything you need to know.

Matos W.K. (M Matos), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:19 (nineteen years ago) link

I'm defining "musical" as "accepted canon". (British moreso than American, for sure. But the American critical establishment still ranks Bowie above Prince)

xpost

MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:22 (nineteen years ago) link

I'm defining "musical" as "accepted canon". (British moreso than American, for sure. But the American critical establishment still ranks Bowie above Prince)

dude, have you actually read any American music critics?

Matos W.K. (M Matos), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:22 (nineteen years ago) link

Purple Rain and Sign O' Times get a lot more love than Ziggy and Station To Station

miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:24 (nineteen years ago) link

(cuz they're better)

miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:25 (nineteen years ago) link

(duh)

Matos W.K. (M Matos), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:25 (nineteen years ago) link

Matos would know.

Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:28 (nineteen years ago) link

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/5938174?rnd=1105568732835&has-player=true&version=6.0.12.872

Bowie has the highest entry but Prince has more on the list.

VERDICT: Inconclusive because it's Rolling Stone and the rules say that I must insult it.

The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:30 (nineteen years ago) link

That list is bananas.

miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:32 (nineteen years ago) link

There is no full-length album by a black artist more consistently rewarding than What's Going On. OK.

miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 22:34 (nineteen years ago) link


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