Who was the greatest?

[Gambit]

All Elvis did was bring R&B to the mainstream. He stood on the shoulders of creative giants and pocketed the earnings. Smokey Robinson, Mama Catts, Muddy Waters and Litl Richard did far more for the art of Music. Elvis became the acceptable face of their music to white America, then the world. Elvis for his part though always admitted to it. What Elvis did create though was stage presence. The modern equivalent to Elvis would be Eminem.

The Beatles showed how far you could take music creatively for the first time. They took and gave to the entire industry.

 

[Forev]

I thought that phony Beatlemania had bitten the dust... Clearly not.

 

[Gambit]

I thought that phony Beatlemania had bitten the dust... Clearly not.

I believe they were overated by many, Ray charles was just as influencial for me. In a choice between Elvis, the Beatles and Michael Jackson though, they are the most worthy.

 

[Spoony]

I believe they were overated by many, Ray charles was just as influencial for me. In a choice between Elvis, the Beatles and Michael Jackson though, they are the most worthy.

Greatest is subjective. But all three were huge icons of the industry - obviously.

 

[Maroon Lucifer]

You say he created Rock 'n' Roll but he didn't write the music, and while many black musicians copied his mannerisms, they were already playing similar music before Elvis came along.

Plus, at least half of the people who have voted for the Beatles in this thread aren't even English.

He didn't have to write the songs to create the genre. It took fecking a huge set of titanium cojones to do what Elvis did.
We can maybe compare it to religion. If Elvis is God, then Beatles are Jesus, and without God, Jesus couldn't exist although most people in the western world pray to Jesus today. Perhaps I should have voted Elvis...

 

[Tibs]

I voted for MJ

 

[Gambit]

Greatest is subjective. But all three were huge icons of the industry - obviously.

It is very subjective, I look at it from the point of what the gave creatively, how their influence improved the music landscape. The Beatles gave us many of the bands we have enjoyed for the last 30 years. Michael Jackson gave us Britney, Justin Timberlake etc. Elvis just made it popular.

 

[Raoul]

Naturally everyone thinks their generation is the best. For me its MJ


- for having the greatest selling album in history, which will NEVER be eclipsed given that we've moved into digital download era

- for his incredible contribution toward music video in the MTV generation that mixed choreography with video and influenced many other performers.

All of which happened from the late 70s to the early 90s before his career and personal life went south.

 

[ERICSAGOD]

The Beatles by a long way!

 

[Mockney]

Of course it's ridiculous. He just popularised an existing style of music(black music)

uh huh


...damn, doesn't really work in type

Seems like people missed it if we did as people kept suggesting it, and I had some PMs asking. Can't remember who won it, or who the candidates were.

I think we need to have an archived forum to keep all the polls in.

https://www.redcafe.net/f8/poll-week-27-june-2009-a-256187/

The Beatles, although that poll had 'Musical Act' in it, which I have serious issues with regarding Elvis and Jackson...As the Chief will certainly testify

 

[ERICSAGOD]

I thought that phony Beatlemania had bitten the dust... Clearly not.

Why on earth would you think that Beatlemania was phony?

 

[starman]

Naturally everyone thinks their generation is the best. For me its MJ

- for having the greatest selling album in history, which will NEVER be eclipsed given that we've moved into digital download era
.

The Titanic is the biggest selling film of all-time.

 

[Wonder Pigeon]

I thought much of it was tripe. And hell there was a lot of it

I think my brain just had a heart attack.

 

[MrMarcello]

The modern equivalent to Elvis would be Eminem.

I took you serious in your post until this point. Ludicrous.

 

[moses]

Why on earth would you think that Beatlemania was phony?

because The Clash were the best band ever.

 

[Decotron]

Easily The Beatles. anyone who votes for MJ is deluded.

 

[Spammy]

I voted for none of them.

 

[MrMarcello]

It is very subjective, I look at it from the point of what the gave creatively, how their influence improved the music landscape. The Beatles gave us many of the bands we have enjoyed for the last 30 years. Michael Jackson gave us Britney, Justin Timberlake etc. Elvis just made it popular.

And it can be said Elvis gave us the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, etc.

John Lennon, "Before Elvis, there was nothing."

Little Richard, "He was an integrator. Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn’t let black music through. He opened the door for black music."

Elvis broke through when the television had become a mainstay in the world and brought a mixture of genres into one genre, opening the door for all kinds of artists and bands. The Beatles benefitted from a wider spread audience through this worldwide reach and touring (Elvis never toured overseas mainly because of Colonel Parker). Jackson benefitted from the explosion that was MTV, new video technology, and constant worldwide touring. I can only imagine Elvis' appeal had he come about at a different time with all these new avenues.


It's akin to an argument for baseball fans in the US...
There's Ty Cobb and Joe Jackson, then there's Lou Gehrig and Josh Gibson, then there's Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, then there's Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, then there is Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez. But Babe Ruth took it to another level.

 

[darko]

The Beatles by miles.

 

[Sunny Jim]

Metallica

 

[vijay]

Elvis - The Beatles - Michael Jackson.

Pink Floyd should've been the part of the poll along with the other three.

If Elvis can get in dont see any reason how Louis Amstrong should be missed out.

 

[Mockney]

Or Bowie or Dylan or any number of people who actually wrote startlingly original and interesting music...I think she's going on cultural impact though

 

[Adzzz]

This poll is actually flawed without Dylan, it's still great, but Dylan really really deserved to be in this poll.

I mean, Dylan. C'mon. He's musics Che Guevara.

 

[vijay]

Cultural impact either on an ethnic basis, or a big impact on a particular genre of music is hard to look beyond this list

Boney M/ABBA (pop)

Louis Amstrong (jazz)

Pink Floyd (Psychadelic Rock)

Led Zepplin (Hard Rock and Heavy Metal)

Beatles Rock

Simon and Garfunkel Brass

MJ pop rhytym and blues, along with Rap

Jean Mitchel Jarre - New Age Electronica

Fateh Ali Khan Qawali

Peter Gabriel World Music

McLaughlin Classical Crossover, Jazz and new age blues..

apart from the Dylan, Elvis and others should all be a part of this poll..

 

[vijay]

And it can be said Elvis gave us the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, etc.

John Lennon, "Before Elvis, there was nothing."

Little Richard, "He was an integrator. Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn’t let black music through. He opened the door for black music."

Elvis broke through when the television had become a mainstay in the world and brought a mixture of genres into one genre, opening the door for all kinds of artists and bands. The Beatles benefitted from a wider spread audience through this worldwide reach and touring (Elvis never toured overseas mainly because of Colonel Parker). Jackson benefitted from the explosion that was MTV, new video technology, and constant worldwide touring. I can only imagine Elvis' appeal had he come about at a different time with all these new avenues.


It's akin to an argument for baseball fans in the US...
There's Ty Cobb and Joe Jackson, then there's Lou Gehrig and Josh Gibson, then there's Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, then there's Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, then there is Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez. But Babe Ruth took it to another level.

They are all gays!

 

[Mockney]

Does this still need to be a Sticky?...and where does it fit into GB's strict ideals about Music in the General?

 

[MrMarcello]

Vijay left out Chuck Berry in his list.

And cricket is far gayer. Time for a tea break, ladies!

 

[jgraham]

Does this still need to be a Sticky?...and where does it fit into GB's strict ideals about Music in the General?

Does one need a bigger spoon to stir with sir?


Oh and for what it's worth MJ went up a few notches in my estimations last night. I originally voted Beatles but having seen another side to Jackson I may need to reconsider my vote!

 

[Livvie]

Shut up, Mockney!

I put it in the General because hardly anyone reads the Entertainment forum.

And it's a sticky until the poll closes.

 

[Mockney]

Oh and for what it's worth MJ went up a few notches in my estimations last night. I originally voted Beatles but having seen another side to Jackson I may need to reconsider my vote!

What did he do last night?...Did he come to you in the night and perform Thriller live???...that's the only possible explanation I can think of

Shut up, Mockney!

I put it in the General because hardly anyone reads the Entertainment forum.

And it's a sticky until the poll closes.

So do you think the original song writers thread should be here too?...It's of more importance to the Caf posters...being The Caf's actual music, and since 'hardly anyone reads the Entertainment forum' (TM Livvie 30th October 2009) it surely makes as much, if not more sense, for it to here here with this (equally fine) thread??

No?

 

[Rood]

Does this still need to be a Sticky?

I think this thread (and in fact all poll threads) would get more posts and votes if they werent stickys

 

[::sonny::]

Frank Zappa

 

[Livvie]

What did he do last night?...Did he come to you in the night and perform Thriller live???...that's the only possible explanation I can think of



So do you think the original song writers thread should be here too?...It's of more importance to the Caf posters...being The Caf's actual music, and since 'hardly anyone reads the Entertainment forum' (TM Livvie 30th October 2009) it surely makes as much, if not more sense, for it to here here with this (equally fine) thread??

No?

It should be in the Entertainment forum.

But no one goes there! Ideally, it would be in both.

I should have put it there, but I have no faith.

Just off to get a hair shirt....

 

[Livvie]

Well that was quite conclusive!