Kevin Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 Whether you are young or old , you have heard pop music , so I'm wondering if you feel that this is a rather grandiose statement for a popular singer who rose rather uniquely and quickly , and briefly in the pop charts ? Of course , it was made by others , but it was drawn in and , as a teen , I was hearing this title then and it always bugged the hell out of me. I even feel that Elvis' nickname as the 'King of Rock and Roll ' is way overdone . What say you ? Is a ' king ' even necessary as a tribute ? Why go so far with it- other than marketing ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 I don't care much for titles like that... as you said most are just done for marketing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 I agree that it's a marketing concoction, but I understand why he did it: the press made up lots of derragatory names like Wacko Jacko, so he fed them a positive one. These monikers make it easier for us media types to describe the subject in articles without getting too verbose. As for if he deserved the title, I think he did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawna Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 as I have always understood it, it was Elizabeth Taylor who bestowed that moniker on Jacko. He did not make it up himself. Nor have I ever read an article/interview with him where he referred to it... it's always been the media who have used it when referring to him. but I could be wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 As far as I can tell, the Beatles are the only pop stars bigger than MJ, and I'm not really sure if you could dub just one of them "the king of pop." Plus, "the kings of pop" doesn't sound as good. So MJ it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 I've always disliked it, and felt almost the same as Kevin. But since I'm not much of a fan of true "Pop" music, I didn't much care, one way or the other. And Shawna, I think you are right, I believe it was Liz that made the statement calling MJ The King of Pop. Of course they were friends, it could have been at Mj's urging. Either way, it's obvious he himself at the very least began to believe it .... hence the naming of Prince Michael and Prince Michael 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindCrime Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 I even feel that Elvis' nickname as the 'King of Rock and Roll ' is way overdone . What say you ? Elvis didn't like being called the King, he felt that title belonged to the Messiah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 Kevin, who would you crown as the king of pop, or do you think there even is one? I can't think of anyone else who definitely deserves the title, but I could accept the argument that there is no king. Pop is a democracy for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindCrime Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 Pop is a democracy for sure. Maybe now, but during the 1980's it was all about Michael Jackson & Madonna, nobody else really got much attention in the music world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted July 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 I agree with you , Batman . And MC makes a good point that due largely to the explosive new phenom of MTV and cable music channels in the '80s , MJ and Madonna rose to levels way above their peers - but since this was rather short-lived , meaning shortly after the '90s began , I always felt it was a bit too much of a title and perhaps merely an '80s conceit . Interestingly as well , I recall asking countless people through the '80s, '90s and up to recent times who their favorite singers and or groups were , and surprisingly , MJ was rarely if ever mentioned - though Madonna did receive more vocal support . This is purely anecdotal , but I'll bet that a number of SF's have had similar experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLizard Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 Elvis didn't like being called the King, he felt that title belonged to the Messiah. John Lennon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 A lot of artists don't like to be called "Pop," but Jackson had no problem with it. I'm not sure anyone was contending for his title. This begs the question: Does Pop have a Queen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLizard Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 Madonna, I guess. I think though, perhaps, the reason MJ and Madonna are "royalty" of pop music is because they became megastars in the late 70s and early 80s, an era in which, in my humble opinion, the majority of mainstream pop music being produced was what I can only define as "ear rape". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindCrime Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 John Lennon? He was refering to Jesus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuzikTyme Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 I always wondered who Jesus referred to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted July 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 Good one ,Tim ! What I will concede is that he ( and Madonna to a point ) is definitely the best when it came to staging shows or events and took them to new levels we now simply expect from some groups/artists today. I've never been to one , but have heard testimonies - even from people that wouldn't call themselves fans - as saying they were one of the finest concert spectacles they had ever seen . So, " King of The Big Show " , or "King of Concerts " perhaps ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 I agree with you , Batman . And MC makes a good point that due largely to the explosive new phenom of MTV and cable music channels in the '80s , MJ and Madonna rose to levels way above their peers - but since this was rather short-lived , meaning shortly after the '90s began , I always felt it was a bit too much of a title and perhaps merely an '80s conceit . Very true. Forget Thriller, Off the Wall, and the Jackson Five and MJ wouldn't have even been the king of the 90's. Of course Thriller was hugely influential to pop and still is, but who's citing Invincible as a major influence on their work? Or even Bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindCrime Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 who's citing Invincible as a major influence on their work? Or even Bad? Bad can be considered an influential album, or a few of the tracks at least. Dangerous and HiStory are forgettable albums though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 The King of Pop? Not one but four... The Beatles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumboXL Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 I never understood MJ's crown "King of Pop". To me, "Pop" has a middle-of-the-roadish Nr.1 hitrecord connotation, not compatible with an Eddy Van Halen solo. As for the ultimate Kings and Queens of Pop I would like to nominate: ABBA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyberjudge Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 "Beat It" was a #1 hit record in the US, as well as many other countries, crossing over to many formats including MTV (Billie Jean was the first song by a black artist to be played regularly on MTV). ABBA certainly had that level of success worldwide, but their more limited success in the US (only 4 US top 10's & 1 #1) kept the US media from giving them such a title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 (Billie Jean was the first song by a black artist to be played regularly on MTV) are you following SF on twitter by any chance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawna Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 did you twote about that, martin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 maybe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epiphany Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 The Monarchy of Music According to Me: King of Rock n' Roll: Chuck Berry Kings of Pop (and other stuff): The Beatles Queen of Pop: Cher Princess of Pop: Madonna Prince of Rock n' Roll: Elvis Prince of Pop: Michael Jackson King of Coolness: Stevie Wonder Prince of Coolness: Freddie Mercury King of Glam: Marc Bolan Prince of Glam: David Bowie Duchess of Rock n' Roll: Me I don't really adhere to the titles either, I just thought this list would be fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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