Soul Train BOTBs Natty Game = #1 Stevie Wonder vs #2 Prince
Soul Train BOTBs Natty Game = #1 Stevie Wonder vs #2 Prince 21 votes
14 votes
7 votes
Comments
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#1 Stevie WonderFlipped a coin.
Either is worthy. Whoever Tequila picks, the other one is the true champion.
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#2 PrinceThis was the hardest call of any of the championship rounds thus far for me. I think Prince's artistic achievements are certainly on par with Stevie's although the latter was probably the greater cultural icon and sold more records. For me it came down to who's music do I enjoy more when I am down to party and I have to go with Prince here. Was listening to 1999 on the way to work this morning and consider the first three tracks: 1999, Little Red Corvette and Delirious. How skrong of an opening to an album is that? That's like Beatles level chit.
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Write in: Rod Stewart
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#2 PrinceStevie Wonder isn't even blind.
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#1 Stevie WonderPrince made a whole lot more worthless shit. When we're talking natties, that shit matters.
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#2 Prince
John 8:7 @HillsboroDuckHillsboroDuck said:Prince made a whole lot more worthless shit. When we're talking natties, that shit matters.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NiRj5m63oig -
#1 Stevie Wonder
Worthless shit that is a hit >>>> Worthless shit that is, well, worthless.YellowSnow said:
John 8:7 @HillsboroDuckHillsboroDuck said:Prince made a whole lot more worthless shit. When we're talking natties, that shit matters.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NiRj5m63oig -
#1 Stevie WonderI stand with @GrandpaSankey.
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#2 PrincePrince made a song called Pussy Control. 'Nuff said on that.
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#2 PrinceLooks like we got a real Dwag fight on our hands here.
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#1 Stevie WonderNo one will ever beat Stevie's peak years. Not that sales are the be all end all, but...
From '72 to FUCKING 1985 every album Steveland Morris made went top 5 on the pop charts. EVEN HIS FUCKING LIFE OF PLANTS ALBUM.
But his string of #1s on the R&B charts (all top 5 pop) is up there with the Beatles...
Talking Book
Innervisions
Fulfillingness' First Finale
Songs in the Key of Life
Hotter Than July
Stevie had nine top-10 pop hits in the sixties (one number 1: Fingertips) and then 12 in the 70s. He also had 6 in the 80s.
He was one of the people who really transitioned soul music from fun time music to more depth and changed the types of topics that were talked about in music. I think of him as akin to the Beatles in this way as well...
He has all time classics like My Cherie Amour, For Once in My Life, Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - in his first 'fun times' era...
Then his depth/funk era produced a new level of musicality and richness to music and he still had all time classics like Superstition, You are the Sunshine of My Life, Higher Ground, Living for the City, I wish, Isn't She Lovely and Sir Duke.
By the 80s he had slowed down on innovation, but he was still pumping out hits that Prince couldn't even dream of matching 23 years after his debut - like Part Time Lover and I just Called to Say I Love You...
While Stevie got so popular he became a fun target for parody later in life, he had a seriousness and innovative ability as a musician that Prince really never quite had.
Prince's main message was 'I kind of want to act like a girl and fuck you'.
Stevie had #1 pop hits with songs like 'You Haven't Done Nothin' which were civil rights anthems.
Stevie funked the shit out of a Sesame Street episode.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney both publicly said the only guy everyone the in the Beatles acknowledged had a career on par with them was Stevie.
FOR COMPARISON
Prince's first record was in '78 (which was not a hit and not good) - 23 years later his record was Rainbow Children. You guys love that one or... never heard of it? lol
Prince's peak was a string of top 10 albums that started good (1999, Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day) but then decayed into total commercial wackness (Batman, Graffiti Bridge, Diamonds and Pearls, Symbol).
At the same distance from the start Stevie was making Songs in the Key of Life and Prince was making the Symbol record.
SitKoL singles: I Wish, Sir Duke, Isn't She Lovely
Symbol singles: My Name is Prince and Sexy MF
They are both amazing, but nothing can touch Stevie.
I ultimately think Stevie got fucked by never just going back to Steveland Morris. That branding as 'Stevie Wonder' and the later parodies made him seem like a joke. But he was a fucking funk superstar with the musicality of the Beatles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE -
#1 Stevie Wonder
Nuff said, case closed, end of discussion.Dennis_DeYoung said:No one will ever beat Stevie's peak years. Not that sales are the be all end all, but...
From '72 to FUCKING 1985 every album Steveland Morris made went top 5 on the pop charts. EVEN HIS FUCKING LIFE OF PLANTS ALBUM.
But his string of #1s on the R&B charts (all top 5 pop) is up there with the Beatles...
Talking Book
Innervisions
Fulfillingness' First Finale
Songs in the Key of Life
Hotter Than July
Stevie had nine top-10 pop hits in the sixties (one number 1: Fingertips) and then 12 in the 70s. He also had 6 in the 80s.
He was one of the people who really transitioned soul music from fun time music to more depth and changed the types of topics that were talked about in music. I think of him as akin to the Beatles in this way as well...
He has all time classics like My Cherie Amour, For Once in My Life, Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - in his first 'fun times' era...
Then his depth/funk era produced a new level of musicality and richness to music and he still had all time classics like Superstition, You are the Sunshine of My Life, Higher Ground, Living for the City, I wish, Isn't She Lovely and Sir Duke.
By the 80s he had slowed down on innovation, but he was still pumping out hits that Prince couldn't even dream of matching 23 years after his debut - like Part Time Lover and I just Called to Say I Love You...
While Stevie got so popular he became a fun target for parody later in life, he had a seriousness and innovative ability as a musician that Prince really never quite had.
Prince's main message was 'I kind of want to act like a girl and fuck you'.
Stevie had #1 pop hits with songs like 'You Haven't Done Nothin' which were civil rights anthems.
Stevie funked the shit out of a Sesame Street episode.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney both publicly said the only guy everyone the in the Beatles acknowledged had a career on par with them was Stevie.
FOR COMPARISON
Prince's first record was in '78 (which was not a hit and not good) - 23 years later his record was Rainbow Children. You guys love that one or... never heard of it? lol
Prince's peak was a string of top 10 albums that started good (1999, Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day) but then decayed into total commercial wackness (Batman, Graffiti Bridge, Diamonds and Pearls, Symbol).
At the same distance from the start Stevie was making Songs in the Key of Life and Prince was making the Symbol record.
SitKoL singles: I Wish, Sir Duke, Isn't She Lovely
Symbol singles: My Name is Prince and Sexy MF
They are both amazing, but nothing can touch Stevie.
I ultimately think Stevie got fucked by never just going back to Steveland Morris. That branding as 'Stevie Wonder' and the later parodies made him seem like a joke. But he was a fucking funk superstar with the musicality of the Beatles.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE -
#2 PrinceSay whatever you want about Bat Dance, but if we?re going to start shitting on Sex Motherfucker, I am OUT.
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#1 Stevie WonderDennis_DeYoung said:
No one will ever beat Stevie's peak years. Not that sales are the be all end all, but...
From '72 to FUCKING 1985 every album Steveland Morris made went top 5 on the pop charts. EVEN HIS FUCKING LIFE OF PLANTS ALBUM.
But his string of #1s on the R&B charts (all top 5 pop) is up there with the Beatles...
Talking Book
Innervisions
Fulfillingness' First Finale
Songs in the Key of Life
Hotter Than July
Stevie had nine top-10 pop hits in the sixties (one number 1: Fingertips) and then 12 in the 70s. He also had 6 in the 80s.
He was one of the people who really transitioned soul music from fun time music to more depth and changed the types of topics that were talked about in music. I think of him as akin to the Beatles in this way as well...
He has all time classics like My Cherie Amour, For Once in My Life, Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - in his first 'fun times' era...
Then his depth/funk era produced a new level of musicality and richness to music and he still had all time classics like Superstition, You are the Sunshine of My Life, Higher Ground, Living for the City, I wish, Isn't She Lovely and Sir Duke.
By the 80s he had slowed down on innovation, but he was still pumping out hits that Prince couldn't even dream of matching 23 years after his debut - like Part Time Lover and I just Called to Say I Love You...
While Stevie got so popular he became a fun target for parody later in life, he had a seriousness and innovative ability as a musician that Prince really never quite had.
Prince's main message was 'I kind of want to act like a girl and fuck you'.
Stevie had #1 pop hits with songs like 'You Haven't Done Nothin' which were civil rights anthems.
Stevie funked the shit out of a Sesame Street episode.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney both publicly said the only guy everyone the in the Beatles acknowledged had a career on par with them was Stevie.
FOR COMPARISON
Prince's first record was in '78 (which was not a hit and not good) - 23 years later his record was Rainbow Children. You guys love that one or... never heard of it? lol
Prince's peak was a string of top 10 albums that started good (1999, Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day) but then decayed into total commercial wackness (Batman, Graffiti Bridge, Diamonds and Pearls, Symbol).
At the same distance from the start Stevie was making Songs in the Key of Life and Prince was making the Symbol record.
SitKoL singles: I Wish, Sir Duke, Isn't She Lovely
Symbol singles: My Name is Prince and Sexy MF
They are both amazing, but nothing can touch Stevie.
I ultimately think Stevie got fucked by never just going back to Steveland Morris. That branding as 'Stevie Wonder' and the later parodies made him seem like a joke. But he was a fucking funk superstar with the musicality of the Beatles.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE
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#1 Stevie WonderLet's go toe-to-toe on hits... this is a great final matchup.
Prince's first album was '78 (For You which was garbage, released when he was 19)... Stevie's first record was a record before LPs were really a thing (The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie Wonder released when he was 12)...
top 10 hits... #1s *asterisked
Prince (19; 5 #1s)
Little Red Corvette
Delirious
When Doves Cry*
Let's go Crazy*
Purple Rain
I would Die for You
Raspberry Beret
Pop Life (my personal fave)
Kiss*
Sign O' The Times
U Got the Look
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
Alphabet St.
Batdance*
Thieves in the Temple
Cream*
Diamonds and Pearls
7
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
top songs that just hit outside (2)
I Wanna Be Your Lover (11)
1999 (12)
Stevie (24; 9 #1s)
Fingertips*
Uptight
Blowin' in the Wind
A Place in the Sun
I Was Made to Love Her
Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day
For Once in My Life
My Cherie Amour
Yeter-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours
Heaven Help Us All
If You Really Love Me
Superstition*
You Are the Sunshine of My Life*
You Haven't Done Nothin*
Boogie On Reggae Woman
I Wish*
Sir Duke*
Send One Your Love
Master Blaster
That Girl
Ebony and Ivory*
I Just Called to Say I Love You*
Part Time Lover*
top songs that just hit outside (5)
I'm Wondering (12)
We Can Work It Out (13)
Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing (16)
Do I Do (13)
Go Home (10)
How is this close? -
#1 Stevie WonderAlso want to emphasize longest run of top 10 albums:
Prince '82-'87
Stevie '72-'85
Top 5 albums longest run?
Prince '84-'86
Stevie '72-'85 -
#1 Stevie WonderOne last post before I get off my trashing Prince streak... it hurts because I love Prince... but...
So, one more thing to consider is how original and derivative each of them were.
Prince basically took a few templates and went with them: glam rock androgyny, sly and the family stone (multi colored band) and James Brown (stage moves).
He freely admits all these things. Prince started as New Wave Glam Rock mixed with Rick James.
Stevie started at a time where he was a cog in the wheel at Motown and there hadn’t really been anything like him, but people said he was a young Ray Charles.
Then he tore up the template of “system QB” at Motown and got in major fights with Berry Gordy to get creative control. Once he had complete creative control he totally changed black music to that point -> Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions etc.
There was no template at all for that. It wasn’t a combo of things... he was basically taking a bunch of shit that was around and combining it into something tremendously innovative and new.
Sure he was informed by black power and the Afrocentric movement in the early 70s in the same way that Prince was informed by the vapid materialism of the 80s, but he never just had like 4 influences that basically sum up who he is. -
#2 Prince
Dennis I don't disagree with any of the above arguments. Stevie deserves to win this and I'm sure he will. IJFL Prince and the sound of his peak 1969- 86 years. Found myself in a personal coin flip and went with Prince. It's like Beatles vs Stones. Beatles beat Stones hands down in sales, artistic achievement and cultural significance. But I love the music of the Stones more so they are my 1A and Beatles 1B.Dennis_DeYoung said:One last post before I get off my trashing Prince streak... it hurts because I love Prince... but...
So, one more thing to consider is how original and derivative each of them were.
Prince basically took a few templates and went with them: glam rock androgyny, sly and the family stone (multi colored band) and James Brown (stage moves).
He freely admits all these things. Prince started as New Wave Glam Rock mixed with Rick James.
Stevie started at a time where he was a cog in the wheel at Motown and there hadn’t really been anything like him, but people said he was a young Ray Charles.
Then he tore up the template of “system QB” at Motown and got in major fights with Berry Gordy to get creative control. Once he had complete creative control he totally changed black music to that point -> Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions etc.
There was no template at all for that. It wasn’t a combo of things... he was basically taking a bunch of shit that was around and combining it into something tremendously innovative and new.
Sure he was informed by black power and the Afrocentric movement in the early 70s in the same way that Prince was informed by the vapid materialism of the 80s, but he never just had like 4 influences that basically sum up who he is. -
#2 Prince
classy poastYellowSnow said:
Dennis I don't disagree with any of the above arguments. Stevie deserves to win this and I'm sure he will. IJFL Prince and the sound of his peak 1969- 86 years. Found myself in a personal coin flip and went with Prince. It's like Beatles vs Stones. Beatles beat Stones hands down in sales, artistic achievement and cultural significance. But I love the music of the Stones more so they are my 1A and Beatles 1B.Dennis_DeYoung said:One last post before I get off my trashing Prince streak... it hurts because I love Prince... but...
So, one more thing to consider is how original and derivative each of them were.
Prince basically took a few templates and went with them: glam rock androgyny, sly and the family stone (multi colored band) and James Brown (stage moves).
He freely admits all these things. Prince started as New Wave Glam Rock mixed with Rick James.
Stevie started at a time where he was a cog in the wheel at Motown and there hadn’t really been anything like him, but people said he was a young Ray Charles.
Then he tore up the template of “system QB” at Motown and got in major fights with Berry Gordy to get creative control. Once he had complete creative control he totally changed black music to that point -> Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions etc.
There was no template at all for that. It wasn’t a combo of things... he was basically taking a bunch of shit that was around and combining it into something tremendously innovative and new.
Sure he was informed by black power and the Afrocentric movement in the early 70s in the same way that Prince was informed by the vapid materialism of the 80s, but he never just had like 4 influences that basically sum up who he is. -
#2 PrinceFuck you Dennis. You sold me. I want to change my stupid vote. Mods?
When I think of Prince I think first of Purple Rain then 1999. I have a couple of biases that led to me voting for him.
1) I fucking love Purple Rain to this day...the album and everything on it, and yes, even the movie.
2). I really, really like 1999.
3) The Chappelle "shirts and blouses"skit should be the first reason I listed.
4) I was a teenager when he made his best stuff, at a time when Stevie's big hits sounded to me like easy listening (at the time...I like his 80s stuff better now).
This shouldn't have been close though. Prince really lost me after Purple Rain. He changed and my taste changed too, and some of what he recorded was pure, unlistenable shit. -
#2 Prince
I should have listed Morris Day and The Time among my reasons too. I'll pop in Purple Rain every now and then and skip to them on stage. Top fucking shelf entertainment therechuck said:Fuck you Dennis. You sold me. I want to change my stupid vote. Mods?
When I think of Prince I think first of Purple Rain then 1999. I have a couple of biases that led to me voting for him.
1) I fucking love Purple Rain to this day...the album and everything on it, and yes, even the movie.
2). I really, really like 1999.
3) The Chappelle "shirts and blouses"skit should be the first reason I listed.
4) I was a teenager when he made his best stuff, at a time when Stevie's big hits sounded to me like easy listening (at the time...I like his 80s stuff better now).
This shouldn't have been close though. Prince really lost me after Purple Rain. He changed and my taste changed too, and some of what he recorded was pure, unlistenable shit. -
#2 Prince
Classy poaster.GrundleStiltzkin said:
classy poastYellowSnow said:
Dennis I don't disagree with any of the above arguments. Stevie deserves to win this and I'm sure he will. IJFL Prince and the sound of his peak 1969- 86 years. Found myself in a personal coin flip and went with Prince. It's like Beatles vs Stones. Beatles beat Stones hands down in sales, artistic achievement and cultural significance. But I love the music of the Stones more so they are my 1A and Beatles 1B.Dennis_DeYoung said:One last post before I get off my trashing Prince streak... it hurts because I love Prince... but...
So, one more thing to consider is how original and derivative each of them were.
Prince basically took a few templates and went with them: glam rock androgyny, sly and the family stone (multi colored band) and James Brown (stage moves).
He freely admits all these things. Prince started as New Wave Glam Rock mixed with Rick James.
Stevie started at a time where he was a cog in the wheel at Motown and there hadn’t really been anything like him, but people said he was a young Ray Charles.
Then he tore up the template of “system QB” at Motown and got in major fights with Berry Gordy to get creative control. Once he had complete creative control he totally changed black music to that point -> Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions etc.
There was no template at all for that. It wasn’t a combo of things... he was basically taking a bunch of shit that was around and combining it into something tremendously innovative and new.
Sure he was informed by black power and the Afrocentric movement in the early 70s in the same way that Prince was informed by the vapid materialism of the 80s, but he never just had like 4 influences that basically sum up who he is. -
#1 Stevie Wonder
Everyone is a winner!GrundleStiltzkin said:
classy poastYellowSnow said:
Dennis I don't disagree with any of the above arguments. Stevie deserves to win this and I'm sure he will. IJFL Prince and the sound of his peak 1969- 86 years. Found myself in a personal coin flip and went with Prince. It's like Beatles vs Stones. Beatles beat Stones hands down in sales, artistic achievement and cultural significance. But I love the music of the Stones more so they are my 1A and Beatles 1B.Dennis_DeYoung said:One last post before I get off my trashing Prince streak... it hurts because I love Prince... but...
So, one more thing to consider is how original and derivative each of them were.
Prince basically took a few templates and went with them: glam rock androgyny, sly and the family stone (multi colored band) and James Brown (stage moves).
He freely admits all these things. Prince started as New Wave Glam Rock mixed with Rick James.
Stevie started at a time where he was a cog in the wheel at Motown and there hadn’t really been anything like him, but people said he was a young Ray Charles.
Then he tore up the template of “system QB” at Motown and got in major fights with Berry Gordy to get creative control. Once he had complete creative control he totally changed black music to that point -> Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions etc.
There was no template at all for that. It wasn’t a combo of things... he was basically taking a bunch of shit that was around and combining it into something tremendously innovative and new.
Sure he was informed by black power and the Afrocentric movement in the early 70s in the same way that Prince was informed by the vapid materialism of the 80s, but he never just had like 4 influences that basically sum up who he is. -
#1 Stevie WonderThe co-writing or writing for other artists - Prince is amazing at it... some of his better material.
However, Stevie has a lot too...
Let's compare:
Stevie:
TEARS OF A CLOWN: Smokey & the Miracles (one of the true GOAT songs)
It's a Shame: The Spinners
Tell Me Something Good: Rufus & Chaka
Let's Get Serious: Jermaine Jackson
Prince:
Stevie Nicks "Stand Back" (1983) #5 US
Chaka Khan "I Feel For You" (1984)#3 US #1 UK (yr end charts '85 #5 in us)
Sheila E. "The Glamorous life" (1984) #7 US
The Time "The Bird" (1984) #36US
The Time "Jungle love" (1985) #20 US
Sheena Easton "Sugar walls" (1985) #9 US
Bangles "Manic Monday" (1986) #2 US (behind "Kiss, at #1), #2 UK
Sheila E. "A Love Bizarre" (1986) #11 US
Sinead O'Connor "Nothing Compares 2 U" (1990) #1 US #1 UK (#1 in yr end charts in us and #2 in uk)(#1 in 21 countries)
The Time "Jerk Out" (1991) #9 US
Prince takes it here for sure. -
#2 PrinceOh snap, I didn't know Stevie was a writer on Tears. That might have flipped my vote.
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#2 PrinceMy old man who is as white as it is when it comes to music gave me all the classic Stevie Wonder LPs. Minty early pressings. He couldn’t tell you a Prince song though so I voted Prince.
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#1 Stevie WonderI got this one right
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#1 Stevie WonderAnd still FUCK OFF to Prince even being here
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#1 Stevie Wonder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYIGZrwlTZc
I changed my mind. This shouldn't even be close.
Stevie wins on the Wall of Sound style alone.
