Manly Moose wrote:NextEpisode wrote:There is no such thing as a "King Of Pop". The fact that MJ released a greatest hits compilation (in 2008) with the title "King Of Pop" really boggles my mind. How can an artist be so self-confident to really claim a title like this?
He was a great artist, that I do not dispute. But... no...
MJ stans (especially the young ones, some who, probably even wasn't fans of MJ before he died) really doesn't think twice before claiming him to be the "King of Pop". Which, I can partly understand, I mean, it's a fancy title. But... Music has been around for a LONG TIME. MJ has not.
"Pop" Definition:
(Noun) : Pop is a kind of music that is generally liked by most people and that is considered to be commercially successful among the mainstream.
(Adjective) : Pop describes something that is generally liked by the masses.
An example of pop is music that most people like.
Its just a nickname that appeared in the early 90's and it stuck. But it really isnt inaccurate, he did sell more than every other pop artist, Thriller became THE top selling album within a year of its release and its still the best selling album of all time. He could release 9 singles from a single 10 song album and have them all do well, he is the king of crossover hits, therefore, the king of pop.
It doesnt mean hes the king of music, but it shows his achievement as being one of the most successful artists and being the most well known artist of all time. Though controversy with his skin color and kids kinda dampened with career post 80's. I mean, who do you think is king of pop? Elvis? Beatles? Their arent many other options past those, and their music isnt really pop.
What is your definition of "King Of Pop"? You mention some achievements, which indeed are impressive. But he's not holding every record in the book, I can assure you (example: Most #1 singles, and most #1 albums, most weeks at #1 (singles & albums) etc...). Also, do you know about music from the late 1800? Early 1900? Or maybe a little more recent, let's say Bing Crosby & Frank Sinatra. These are EXTREMELY successful arists, and with great talent. When they was at their peak, they ruled the industry (look up chart-stats for them, you'll be quite impressed). Also, when these guys peaked, albums wasn't what the people bought, it was singles. LP's came around in the mid-50s. So you can't really compare album sales with artists prior to 1950.
My opinion is that the "King Of Pop" nickname/label (or w/e) is nothing but a promotion-tool. It's a phrase that sounds extremely impressive, which obviously is good for the artist's business. And the music industry is a business.
For how long have you been a Michael Jackson fan? Because during the last 10 years or so (prior to his death). Almost every time the "king of pop" nickname was involved, it was with a "self-proclaimed" before. Down below is what I got from a quick "google browse" (articles from 2001-01-01 to 2009-01-01). See for yourself (Ctrl+ F) and search in the articles after "self", and you'll see.
Reuters:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/10/ ... 8R20081031
Billboard:
http://www.billboard.com/artist/michael ... n/bio/4902
New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/16/arts/ ... 6dian.html
ABC:
- http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/sto ... 576&page=1
- http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/sto ... 503&page=1
DailyMail
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... rland.html
- CNN:
http://articles.cnn.com/2003-02-17/ente ... PM:SHOWBIZ
- USAToday:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news ... kson_N.htm
- The Nation:
http://www.thenation.com/blog/king-distraction
- Associated content:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/articl ... chael.html
- The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01103.html
- People:
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,713885,00.html
- LA Weekly:
http://www.laweekly.com/2003-11-27/news ... rp-of-pop/
- Las Vegas Review- Journal
http://www.lvrj.com/news/8317542.html
- Today
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/4109993/n ... pCqGd7lbUA...Anyhow...
As far as sales are concerned. Michael Jackson is not
the best-selling artist of all time (He's in the Top3 though). Prior to his death. He wasn't among the top 30 best-selling artists in the US since 1991 (1991-2009), i.e. the two last decades, a period in which he toured and released several albums (Source: Nielsen Soundscan).
With all this said, i might come through as a "MJ hater" or w/e. That's not the case though, I own most of his studio albums (1979-1991). My favourite MJ is the earliest stuff he did (with Jackson5). A talented kid that didn't think that he need to be the best in the world to be enough. He was just a musician. The MJ we saw in the 1990s, was obsessed with success IMO. Just look at some of the videos...
Well, let's play that "Thriller" record and remind myself how great this album was.