The last aspect to consider is the personal lives of these two artists. Unfortunately, the matter is very cut and dry- Prince has had no serious legal matters. His youthful rock star attitude, where he willfully went for shock approach, never extended into his private life. As a person, Prince has matured, as all of us are expected to do.
Unfortunately, we all know the problems Michael faced with his child sexual abuse cases. While not found guilty, there certainly were areas where lines of inappropriateness were crossed. Also, Michael did settle the cases so no verdict was possible to achieve. While he may be innocent, this shadow is a permanent part of his identity. Along with that was Michael’s obsession with plastic surgery and his bizarre transformation from his original looks to how he appeared upon death. Upon his death we now learn of a battle with depression and an addiction to prescription drugs, as well. Sadly, these issues place a damper on his image.
Unlike Prince, Michael never seemed to mature- in fact, he desired nothing more than to revert back to that childhood he so desperately wanted and missed.
As you can see, just this cursory examination of the talents and legacies these two artists have shows an overwhelming advantage for Prince. Michael Jackson was an amazing entertainer- just like Britney Spears is adored by millions within the younger generations without her holding any true musical talents, Michael did the same- but to a much higher degree. Prince no longer seeks to be a “rock star”, and hides behind his music, so the illusion is that of a subdued or diminished role in the field. However, it is for that very reason and those listed above that you don’t hear Prince’s new works for any length of time on the radio, or see his videos on MTV (do they still play videos?) Prince would be just as happy to make music and place it in a drawer without anyone paying attention- he makes music predominately for himself, not to be the most famous.
The news media spent weeks covering the tragic death of Michael Jackson, and showered him with tributes and accolades. If this is how they handled the coverage of his death, how will they cover the far more talented and influential Prince upon his death? If Michael Jackson received a month of coverage, does Prince not deserve 6 months? Or will the illusion remain that Michael Jackson was indeed “The King of Pop”?
You see- Prince has a song lyric in his song, “My Name is Prince”. It’s quite fitting to the situation.
It’s a simple proclamation, but when it comes to the legacy of music and a comparison between these two men, there’s nothing more accurate:
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