Offseason: Prince vs Bowie
by shaftr on Jan 12, 2007 1:05 PM CST
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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?
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The main difference here is...
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.
a music link to david bowie's 1969 masterpiece
... often incorrectly referred to as Ground Control or Ground Control to Major Tom or simply Major Tom (wikipedia)
JIM THOME
THE PEORIA POUNDER
Prince for me
Because Im bored
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.
are you interested in a game of basketball?
He served us pancakes.
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