Offseason: Prince vs Bowie

by shaftr on Jan 12, 2007 1:05 PM CST Comment 9 comments

Introduction
Since there is very little baseball news, I thought I'd start a discussion. Lets compare Prince to David Bowie to find out which artist is more valuable. I will break it down to try to make it as objective as possible.

Tale of the Tape

David Bowie
1967 - Present
Studio Albums: 25
Albums Sold Worldwide: 140 Million +
US #1 Singles: 2 (5 in the UK)
Best Selling Album: Lets Dance
Musical Instruments: 13
4-5 Star Albums: 10 (5 Five Star Albums)

Prince
1978 - Present
Studio Albums: 25
Albums Sold Worldwide: 100 Million +
US #1 Singles: 7
Best Selling Album: Purple Rain
Musical Instruments: Over 24
4-5 Star Albums: 9 (4 Five Star Albums)

Analysis
As you can see, it is very close. Bowie has three different dominate periods (70-73, 76-77 & 80-83). Whereas Prince has one longer era of dominance (80-87), including the best peak year of the two (1984). Bowie has, for the most part, been consistently solid both critically and commercially for his entire career with 3 notable peaks. Whereas, the majority of Prince's critical/commercial success occured in an 8 year span.

Complicating even more so, is the intangibles of each artist. Bowie has a better filmography, even though Prince has the biggest Box Office hit. Also, Prince was a joke for about a decade due to his name change to the symbol, then back to Prince.

Finally, they both probably took illegal substances that may or may not have affected the outcome of their work. While these substances are illegal, the music industry has yet to have a rule outlawing their use.

So, who is more valuable? If we agree that their influence is similiar, do you take the peak or consistent career?

Poll

Prince or Bowie?

Prince

12 votes

David Bowie

26 votes

38 votes | Poll has closed

SouthSideSox is a community driven site. As such, users are able to express their thoughts and opinions in a FanPost, such as this one, which represents the views of this particular fan, but not necessarily the entire community or SouthSideSox editors.

0 recs | Comment 9 comments

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Comments

The main difference here is...

And you touched on this a bit... but Prince really has become a bit of a joke as far as the main stream is concerned, though certainly he is a bit more redeemed lately than during the symbol era.

Then you take a look at Bowie today. He is still very much revered. Even to the point where up and coming bands suddenly get associated with him and then those bands get a bit of notariety (played with The Arcade Fire, featured on a TV on the Radio track, and hell- he was only seen at a Clay Your Hands, Say Yeah concert and they blew up right afterwards).

So yeah, I would have to go with Bowie since we are voting now, and I have to consider legacy not just numbers in their prime (much as Hall of Fame voters did this year).

By the way... I almost never comment on actual White Sox news since I am not nearly as educated as most of the regular commentors... but for some reason this post got me to actually respond... odd.

by CatBrains on Jan 12, 2007 1:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Prince

He has started redeem himself with Musicology, 3121, While My Guitar Gently Weeps RnR HOF performance, and now the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show.

With that said, the 90s were just an awful decade for him.

Go Badgers!

by shaftr on Jan 12, 2007 1:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

a music link to david bowie's 1969 masterpiece

Space Oddity (it takes 4-5 seconds for the song to start playing on my end)

... often incorrectly referred to as Ground Control or Ground Control to Major Tom or simply Major Tom (wikipedia)

HEY THIS IS JI
JIM THOME
THE PEORIA POUNDER

by The Wizard on Jan 12, 2007 2:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Prince for me

Adore alone still gets my women in the mood. Dirty Mind, Controversy and Sign of Times. Ill put up against many. I do like Bowie too also.

by Tdogg on Jan 12, 2007 10:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Because Im bored

I had a little more time to put into this. That and a conversation with a self professed music savant. This isnt really close. Yes Prince did put out some garbage for awhile (mainly on purpose to get back at Warner Bros.) but when the word valuable is used it takes it to another level.

From the savant, "As far as the reasons why Prince is/was/will always be more valuable:

Not only has his music been more creative and diverse, he old style is still trying to be emulated by today's younger artists. He is credited with defining his own sound & brought attention to a tiny city that the world didn't know existed. He has a catalog of unreleased music that is just as strong, (in some cases stronger) than the music he has put out. He is one of the few artists that have a GOLD & PLATINUM bootleg album. (Crystal Ball and The Black Album) The number of #1 singles he has produced for others. Introducing The Time to the world. And who are we kidding, Jam & Lewis would have never got the chance to work with Janet had it not been for the way they learned how to write songs in Prince boot camp. Prince also reminded the world that black people play guitar. "ADORE", nuff said. And we all know, had he not become a JW, we would have gotten a true sequel to Purple Rain. (personally I think Rain is too commercial). Could Bowie have produced a #1 song for Vanity & Appolonia...I think not. And Prince turned down a request from Bowie to produce an album for him."

Uh okay dude. lol.

Anything to get rid of the nervous bugs from tomorrow's game.

by Tdogg on Jan 13, 2007 10:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

also

nothing compares 2 u
manic monday

Go Badgers!

by shaftr on Jan 13, 2007 11:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

SHOOT THE J!

SHOOT IT!

Sox Machine

by Sox Machine on Jan 14, 2007 7:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

are you interested in a game of basketball?

shirts vs blouses

"If you're a reliever or if you're a starter, when you're on the mound you're a pitcher, you still have to do your job."

by marco054 on Jan 14, 2007 7:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

He served us pancakes.

Bowie's consistency shouldn't be overstated. We forget the decade after Let's Dance had some pretty forgettable music (Tin Machine isn't even the worst). Also, while rate stats are important, Prince should get credit for durability with a sizable advantage in touring and unreleased tracks. If the live show is part of the evaluation, Prince noses ahead. If we are only discussing released records, damn, it's hard to pass up Low and Scary Monsters.

by asinwreck on Jan 15, 2007 8:20 AM CST reply actions 0 recs