Music & Society Str8 G | 01 Jul 2009
Influence: Michael Jackson vs. The Beatles
This is a discussion that I have had privately and have seen electronically. In the wake of Michael Jackson’s death, people are now re-examining his influence on music. In this context, the Beatles are often credited as being the only artists to have a similar or greater impact on popular music. This debate can get really intense and often polarizing along a number of lines (race, age, etc). That being said, I would like to know what you all think. In terms of artistry, performance, industry, and other aspects of musical culture, who has had the greater influence: Michael Jackson or the Beatles? Please vote and comment if you wish.
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on 01 Jul 2009 at 10:56 am 1.Eric said …
To a large degree, it depends on which end of “influence” you’re talking about–musical, or more broadly pop-cultural? The Beatles had better songs, and were endlessly more inventive musicians. MJ was a perfect storm of charisma, visual spectacle, and great music, and was arguably more of a pop culture force than the Beatles (who, we always have to remember, are propped up amazingly by Baby Boomer nostalgia).
However, it must be said that MJ wouldn’t have been able to be what he was without the Beatles doing it first. There wouldn’t have been a Motown 25 audience without the Beatles Ed Sullivan audience first. It’s easy to forget, but the Beatles were the first “boy band”, and most likely Berry Gordy’s inspiration for the J5 themselves. They also solidified (if not invented) a lot more pop/rock staples (the middle-8, the 4-man band, writing their own songs, freely mixing genres, making the studio an instrument, arguably being there for the invention of the music video and the “rockumentary”).
MJ did a hell of a lot, and he was the last of his kind. But the Beatles got there first. It’s probably fair to make the claim that MJ’s audience was bigger than the Beatles because the record industry was about 1000 times bigger than it was in the 60s, too. I love both of them, but by a hair, I have to give it to the Beatles. Fun, though!
on 05 Jul 2009 at 11:25 am 2.George said …
The Beatles were very limited technology wise. If they wanted more than 4 tracks, they had to bounce down to a new tape. They didn’t have all the little plugins that we have today. It’s so much easier to edit out mistakes today, do a clean punch-in on a track, etc. They had to use their brains more than we do, I’m afraid. They had to get innovative and push the limits of their technology. I don’t think it’s even possible to push the limits of our technology today, we can’t even get close to it. Therefore, we’re not forced to be as innovative and creative to find ways to get the most out of our equipment.
Not only They also solidified (if not invented) a lot more pop/rock staples (the middle-8, the 4-man band, writing their own songs, freely mixing genres, making the studio an instrument, arguably being there for the invention of the music video and the “rockumentary”).
I will also add feedback, sampling, loops, backward instrumentation, large outdoor concert tours, and Automatic Double Tracking.
on 05 Jul 2009 at 2:20 pm 3.Sam Haidy said …
I hate to compare between MJ and The Beatles. But if I have to, I just need one argument to close this case : MJ’s songs maybe have reached the entire earth, but The Beatles’ has reached the universe (literally).
http://www.space.com/news/080201-beatles-across.html
on 07 Jul 2009 at 3:37 am 4.amele said …
i would say in order it would go 1.beatles 2.MJ 3.Elvis
on 07 Jul 2009 at 11:27 pm 5.mike said …
No contest. While MJ had three meteoric albums his longevity was dwarfed by the Beatles. MJ hasn’t had a top 10 hit in well over a decade. The Beatles pioneered more musical firsts than MJ and have been endlessly covered by a vast array of artists; substantially more than MJ. It’s tough to have this discussion while things are still so “raw” but in a decade or two when we look back objectively there will be almost no debate. Body of work for body of work the Beatles won’t be outdone by anyone for the foreseeable future.
on 09 Jul 2009 at 5:14 pm 6.J. Stake said …
No one seems to be touching on the performance aspect. Being that they were both extremely influential on pop culture and music, I don’t think its fair to compare Michael Jackson to The Beatles. They’re in 2 different eras and have both brought so much to the table. Where The Beatles trump Michael in music, he undoubtedly makes up for in his performance. You also have to take into account what he did with his music videos. The Beatles to Michael are like apples to oranges. They both make great juice and the music industry wouldn’t be the same without them.
on 09 Jul 2009 at 5:17 pm 7.Ranvir said …
I would say Michael Jackson was the more popular of the two. He broke down barriers of race and age when it comes to music. He was also an innovator like The Beatles. Everyone knows who Michael Jackson was. Even in the most remote parts of the world, I don’t think the same can be said of the Beatles. One important thing MJ has over the Beatles is that he could actually sing. He had a phenomenal voice. Lennon, McCartney and Harrison had below average voices in my opinion. But they wrote some good songs for their time.
on 09 Jul 2009 at 6:24 pm 8.Ronald said …
We can not compare both because both have an enourmus impact into the music industry and as far i know MJ is well know in even the most remote parts on earth and also the beatles were great but they do not do to much performance on stage , they sing and probably a litle dance too but MJ had better voice , a guy who really knows about music knows it also he created style into dancing singing scenarios and also he does not need a team to perform on stage as the beatles did so mccarney lenon or ringo ect by them selft do not have an impact like M J that is why they were a team. but a the end both of them were the greatest
on 10 Jul 2009 at 4:33 pm 9.pebbs said …
It would be better to compare Michael Jackson to whatever solo careers came out of the Beatles. The Beatles were a group of four very talented musicians and song writers with average voices at best. As a group they were definitely more influential than the Jackson 5, even considering the lower quality of their voices. When you compare Michael Jackson’s solo career to Paul McCartney or John Lennon’s (in my opinion George and Ringo didn’t do anything worth mentioning after the Beatles) there is no contest. MJ’s influence on music and performing will only ever be imitated, never be surpassed.
on 10 Jul 2009 at 5:18 pm 10.om said …
@pebbs –
Pebbs,
To say George Harrison didn’t do anything worth mentioning after the Beatles just shows you don’t know your head from your ass. He was inducted to the rock n roll of fame a 2nd time, just like jackson, Mccartney, and lennon:)
on 11 Jul 2009 at 4:13 am 11.CARLOS said …
Oh please, in popularity is the only thing mj can get close to the beatles. Music was one thing before Beatles and after them. mj was great too but he was more entertainer, some one else wrote song for him, the moonwalk wasnt inventd by him, he had technology, MTV, color tv, internet to spread his music and popularity around the world things that beatles didnd have whatsoever.
mj was death msny years ago, nearly no one talked about him before his death, on the other hand beatles are allways talked even nearly 40 years they split up.
I DONT KKNOW HOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE THE GUTS TO COMPARE THE GREATEST AND MORE INFLUENCE BAND EVER ON THE EARTH WITH MJ.
on 11 Jul 2009 at 1:58 pm 12.Str8 G said …
@CARLOS –
We must live in two different worlds. How can you say Michael Jackson wasn’t talked about before his death. In 2001, he had a nationally televised concert that drew millions of views. That same year he had a multi-platinum album. Before his death, he sold out a string of concerts, grossing 87 million dollars. In the 2000s, a wealth of artists released covers of his songs on their albums and performed them on televised events. He was very relevant.
You are also underestimating Jackson’s talents. He was not just an “entertainer.” Michael Jackson was a singer, songwriter, producer, instrumentalist, and dancer. Lets just look at Thriller. Jackson wrote 4 of the 9 tracks on the album. He also co-produced a number of them as well. Jackson even played the drums on “Beat It.” Quincy Jones was the co-producer of Thriller, with Michael Jackson having a lot of input as well. Jackson wrote the majority of his subsequent albums. And even wrote songs for others. He’s in the Songwriters Hall of Fame for a reason.
Sure, the moonwalk was not invented by him, but he brought it to the world’s attention because he was such an amazing dancer. Even Jeffery Daniel gives MJ props for his dance skills. Michael Jackson didn’t have Mtv. Mtv wasn’t playing Black artists before Michael Jackson. “Beat It” changed all of that. He opened up the music video doors for Black artists. He made Mtv. Aside from music video, I’m not sure Michael was anymore the film star than the Beatles. They were all over television and made multiple movies. And, maybe I’m crazy, but I don’t see how the internet helped Thriller sell 100 million worldwide. It was released in 1982.
It doesn’t take any guts to compare Michael Jackson to the Beatles. Michael Jackson probably probably has the largest influence on the last 30 years of R & B/urban pop music. New Edition, Boys to Men, Mariah Carey, Usher, Ginuwine, Britney Spears, Ne-yo, The Dream, Justin Timberlake, R. Kelly, and countless others exhibit his influence. His vocal styling, songwriting, dancing, and wardrobe are only a few examples of his influence on pop. He even has had a huge influence on hip hop music. I guess by calling him an “entertainer” you are saying that he is less of a musician than the Beatles. However, in African-American music, music and dance are equal parts of any performance and Jackson’s skill at both made him the ultimate performing artist.
Not to disrespect the Beatles, but I think they have had little influence on African-American music. Most Blacks I know from my parents generation, my generation, and the generation after me couldn’t name more than 1 Beatles song. This is not to say that they’re studio and industry innovations aren’t significant. However, their music just has not resonated. I think you are extending their reach a little too far, or, just ignoring an entire segment of popular music.
In my musical landscape, Michael Jackson has a huge influence and is more than worthy of comparison with the Beatles.
on 11 Jul 2009 at 2:42 pm 13.Kevin said …
Has anyone on this post taken any musical history lessons in college?? Along with every great composer this world has ever known, the Beatles are ranked right up there with every single one of them and discussed as a major contributor to the field of music and recording innovations. They were also the first act to have a music video. Every trick in the book for recording studios were derived from the Beatles recording sessions simply because they didn’t have the technology available to them that was available in the 70s and beyond. It was because of them that everything pretty much in pop music in the way music was written, recorded and produced from their time in the recording studio until even today has been made possible. They didn’t even tour in the last 4 years they were together, yet they kept innovating the way they wrote and recorded music. And their albums kept selling to the top of the charts even without having a concert tour to support the albums. As to say they weren’t as widely popular or well-known then MJ is also incorrect. When they did tour, they went around the world, even in Asia and continually played to sold out audiences. Plus they were right at the forefront of every political and social event that took place in the 60s, 70s and to the present as well. When the Beatles talk or sang about these events, the world listened and understood. They reached out to find peace and justice in the world, in the Vietnam War (“Revolution”), The Civil Rights movement in the U.S. (“Blackbird”) and everlasting peace (“Imagine”) for example. No they weren’t dancers, but they played their own instruments, composed, sang and aided in the production of their own music. And their music is still alive and strong today as it ever was.
on 11 Jul 2009 at 3:00 pm 14.Str8 G said …
College music history? Yeah, the be-all, end-all of musical knowledge.
on 12 Jul 2009 at 11:38 am 15.E said …
WHO SOLD MORE ALBUMS…..
IT’S THAT SIMPLE….
I THINK WE KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT ?…
EVERYTHING SAID DON’T HAVE TO BE EXPLAINED…
DJ ED
on 13 Jul 2009 at 3:41 pm 16.Sal said …
It’s interesting how sampling, looping, and backward music which are pop and R&B staples were popularized by the Beatles. GO LISTEN TO “Tomorrow Never Knows” to know where today’s music went.
on 13 Jul 2009 at 4:17 pm 17.Str8 G said …
@Sal –
What are you saying?
The idea of sampling was used way before the Beatles. Many musicians used portions of others songs to create new ones. I know this is true of spirituals and jazz performances that predated the Beatles by many years. The use of pre-recorded material also pre-dated the Beatles.
When it comes to pop/r & b/hip hop usage of samples/loops, how dare you credit the Beatles while completely ignoring the influence Jamaican dub music in the 1960s and 70s. It was the influence of these artists that ushered in the contemporary practice of sampling.
on 14 Jul 2009 at 11:01 am 18.Alice said …
The Beatles wrote better songs than Michael Jackson? LOL LOL LOL! They can’t even touch Michael’s music, his will live on forever and you knwo that. Plus, you can’t dance to Beatles music. You see the difference with a Beatles concert and a Jackson concert is that you felt like you were seeing a life changing event, something to be remembered for life. Whereas with The Beatles you were watching a concert with a group that couldn’t play live! His death certainly made more impact on popular culture than John lennon’s did.
on 20 Jul 2009 at 11:49 am 19.Nelson said …
@Str8 G – If you go by recent record sales the Beatles have easily stayed current while Elvis and Michael Jackson are way behind them.
According to Soundscan during the period 1991-2008 The Beatles sold 57 million albums in the US, compared to 30 million for Elvis and 19 million for Michael Jackson.
Musically when voted by top people in the music business on the Rolling Stone Immortal List the Beatles were number one and Michael Jackson was not in the top twenty.
Elvis and Michael JACKSON SHOULD be compared to each other. The Beatles were in my opinion way above both. They neither could come up with anything like “A Day in the Life” or side two of Abbey Road.
Lets face…..MJ is bigger than the Beatles. And..as all the media has reported, thank God he had the Beatles catalog. He essentially has been existing off it for nearly 20 years…….um…did I just say that? Does anyone get this…WHO has been allowing this King to survive???
OH Yeah it’s fact in terms of looping and direct sampling in pop music the Beatles were doing it before James Brown. It’s on “Tomorrow Never Knows” with a repetitive drum and bass sound it’s more related to techno or big beat.
on 22 Jul 2009 at 6:31 pm 20.Ranvir said …
According to Soundscan during the period 1991-2008 The Beatles sold 57 million albums in the US, compared to 30 million for Elvis and 19 million for Michael Jackson.
It’s probably cos people bought their albums on CDs. Artists who were popular before the 80s had the bonus of their music being re-released on CDs and thus getting more sales.
I just can’t get into the Beatles cos of the poor singing.
on 23 Jul 2009 at 2:07 pm 21.Ramsay said …
Despite a career of only 8 years (1962-1970),
around the world the most covered
songs of the twentieth century are the Beatles’ songs. More than ten thousand. Much of those covers are from black artists ranging from Michael Jackson to Stevie Wonder.
Some of the best vocal harmonies I have heard from a white rock group is on Abbey Road. Just listen to the vocal harmonies on “Because”.
on 25 Jul 2009 at 5:00 am 22.zak said …
WAIT JUST A SECOND HERE…am I the only one who sees this?
can anyone here for once stop and think that we are comparing one man to four men??? 1 genius mind vs. 4 genius minds!! Who do you think would get more votes if we had a band of FOUR MICHAEL JACKSONS and how big would they be compared to the Beatles?? OR to the Beatles fans, lets be a bit more fair and lets compare ONE MJ vs. ONE Paul McCartney or ONE John Lennon, who do you think would win as a bigger music legend? The Beatles were a musical force unlike any BAND before or even after but their voices were not the best, MJ’s voice was much better and as a performer and his worldwide popularity he is higher then anyone far and beyond. Even the Guinness world book of records has him as the most successful entertainer of all time. Furthermore, as we see with more and more of these comparisons all over the web, we are seeing that even with one MJ compared to the four man Beatles is still comparable, what does this say?? nuff said.
on 25 Jul 2009 at 6:20 am 23.Dylan said …
And Zak, how exactly did Michael Jackson become a star? He was in his own group of 4 others which brought him much fame before he began his solo career. He was already on the right path.
You could have four Michael Jacksons vs. The Beatles, and The Beatles would still be superior. Michael Jackson was not a musician, he was a singer. That’s it, and his dancing was used as a way of elevating his songs. He had some great songs, and many of them endured great success.
But The Beatles catalog of music is vastly superior to Michael’s. The Beatles own what are likely the two greatest albums of all-time in Sgt. Pepper’s and Revolver. On Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums The Beatles have 3 of the top 5 albums, as well as another album at 10 and 14. Thriller is #20.
Comparing Michael Jackson to The Beatles separately isn’t fair either. Is that what the question is asking? John Lennon, probably the most successful solo artist of The Beatles, has Plastic Ono Band ranked at 22, two spots behind Michael Jackson. That’s another unfair comparison, seeming as in Lennon’s life was cut much shorter than Jackson’s. He also took a lot of time off from his musical career to pursue other facets of his life.
Music is about music, and if you’re comparing these two superstars musically, this isn’t even a contest. Someone mentioned that MJ wrote 4 of the 9 tracks on Thriller. A WHOLE 4 SONGS? FOUR? THAT’S AMAZING! I believe The Beatles wrote 187 original songs.
And the fact that The Beatles did not have to tour and promote their music is a testament to how much better their music was.
Someone also mentioned that MJ influenced Britney Spears, R. Kelly, Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo, etc. That’s fantastic, good for him. Pop stars that no one will remember in a few years.
Let’s see who did The Beatles influence:
The Rolling Stones
Led Zeppelin
CCR
The Beach Boys
Pink Floyd
The Doors
MICHAEL JACKSON
AND EVERY ARTIST THAT FOLLOWED THEM.
Michael Jackson is the greatest entertainer of all-time, and I love a lot of his music. He was a phenomenal artist and he did a lot for music, and the world. But he isn’t the greatest artist of all-time, and it really isn’t even close. RIP Michael, John and George.
on 25 Jul 2009 at 9:51 am 24.JF said …
Well I do think tha the beatles are way better than michael jacskon is simple to know you are a total ignorant the beatles invented pop music The Beatles’ influence on rock music and popular culture was—and remains—immense. They affected attitudes to fashion worldwide when in the 1960s there was widespread imitation of their haircuts and clothing. In the recording studio The Beatles took innovative approaches to the use of technology, treating the studio as an instrument in itself and working closely with recording engineers, urging experimentation and regularly demanding, “Just try it […] it might just sound good”[122]. At the same time they constantly sought ways to put chance occurrences to creative use, examples being accidental guitar feedback, a resonating glass bottle or a tape loaded the wrong way round so that it played backwards, and incorporated the resulting sounds into their music. They were also pioneers in the use of sampling, which along with their other experimentation created techniques which were widely adopted by others.[citation needed]
The Beatles redefined the album as something more than just a small number of hits padded out with “filler” tracks, and they were the originators in the United Kingdom of the now common practice of releasing video clips to accompany singles. The Beatles became the first entertainment act to stage a large stadium concert when they opened their 1965 North American tour at Shea Stadium. A large number of artists have acknowledged The Beatles as a musical influence or have had chart successes with covers of Beatles songs. References to The Beatles, and parodies involving them, are commonplace as a feature of TV shows, films and video games.[citation needed]
on 26 Jul 2009 at 2:11 pm 25.zak said …
I have to agree and disagree with you Dylon and not only because I am fan or both the Fab Four, The Beatles and the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
I agree that as pure musicians the Beatles were better but as the most influential and globally popular star of all time it was definitely Michael Jackson and here is why.
I don’t think that Michael Jackson as a solo artist became who he was because of the Beatles but I do see the influence on the other artists you listed. I see the connection but Michael Jackson would have been Michael Jackson whether or not the Beatles existed. To the Beatles fans that don’t have much knowledge of what MJ accomplished, here are some facts: He recorded the greatest selling record of all time both domestically (he just surpassed the Eagles Greatest Hits in sales) and globally (perhaps Thriller was if not the greatest, of the greatest piece of musical achievements). Four of his other albums are amongst the world’s best selling: Off the Wall, Bad, Dangerous and History, he invented his own dancing style, singing style, his songs and videos influenced and liberated the racial divide between whites and blacks in the 80s which paved the path to greater things, he raised more money to helping the needy more than any other star past present and future, he sold out more concerts than anyone, he was a double inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he won more Grammy’s than any other artist in history, broke more records than any other artist and was the most commercially successful artist of al time according to the Guinness World Records.
Going back to you Dylon, the others on your list of musicians you mentioned are/were great yes but you cannot say the artists MJ vastly influenced are nobody’s and therefore don’t matter because no one will remember them. See I agree that music wise the older bands, artist you mentioned were more real and better but today’s entertainers like these listed below sell all the records whether we like it or not and they were all DIRECTLY influenced by MJ:
JANET JACKSON
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
WHITNEY HOUSTON
MARIAH CAREY
BLACK EYED PEAS
R KELLY
KANYE WEST
MADONNA
BRITNEY SPEARS
BEYONCE
NEO YO
USHER
CHRIS BROWN
ETC ETC
You also mentioned that MJ didn’t write much of his Music, I think you’re confusing him with Elvis because he was one of the few that actually wrote most of his songs.
The Beatles were THE Beatles, no other group or band will ever come close to them; they were all nothing short of musical geniuses who innovated and influenced. However I don’t think they accomplished more than what Michael Jackson did and although they were better musicians they were not better entertainers, more influential or popular than Michael Jackson.
on 29 Jul 2009 at 6:07 pm 26.funso said …
It’s Michael Jackson hands down… People only say beatles because they are white. White people in the end tend to support there own race and never true credit where the true credit is deserved….
It was easy for a good white band like the bealtes to be successful. Do you thin it easy for a black guy?????????????
A black talented artist, not only has to break through as a artist, but also to break through the 80% white audience. For someone like Micheal Jackson to achieve what he has done, meant he had to be greater than the greatest white artist..
I spoke to a white guy who works in the media. He said “some people in high societies try to undermine micheal jackson’s influence, so in the hope that their white star like, beatles and elvis will not be over shadowed by him”. He also said why people undermine him, “greatest attracts jealous, which forbids to award a reward that it rightly michael jackson”.
Last and mostly not least, as he has insider knowledge of musical records, he said that Michael Jackson has out sold the Beatles and Elvis 15 years ago. People in these socities did what want to give michael jackson that ultimate title as the best ever highest selling recording artist, whether is group or solo artist to MJ. In the defence to stop this, elvis and the beatles record companies started inflating there record sales to try to keep jackson at bay. Although, now that unfortunately Michael Jackson is dead, the demand for his records, will force them in time to admit Jackson was the best ever when it comes to record sales and influence. When evlis died, he never attracted as much intention and demand for his material as Jackson. When the beatles died and broke up, nobody became interest in their music. If these artist were so great many kids should be very familair there records, but they are not, or don’t even know who they were..
4 year kid, know a micheal jackson song when they here it.. MJ music like from thriller, bad, and dagerous album are being playing 15-25 years after there release and sounds better than 95% of artist mucis today… This is why MJ is a Only superstar. MJ was the only star that both young, middle age and old age liked, representing the timely quality and demand for michael Jackson….
on 30 Jul 2009 at 3:47 pm 27.Cheska said …
In terms of influence,they were the same. But in popularity,entertainment,and personality,we got to say Michael Jackson topped The Beatles in those levels.
POPULARITY & ENTERTAINMENT –
Michael Jackson was an American recording artist, songwriter, entertainer, and businessman. He debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11, as a member of The Jackson 5, and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Referred to as the “King of Pop” in subsequent years, five of his solo studio albums have become some of the world’s best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995). Thriller has remained the biggest selling album of all time with reported sales of 109 million and a Recording Industry Association of America certification of 28 million units.
Through his group, solo, and family work, he became one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. Jackson’s other achievements include 13 Guinness World Records—including one for “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time”—19 Grammy Awards, 22 American Music Awards, 12 World Music Awards and the sale of over 750 million units worldwide. Winning numerous awards for his humanitarian endeavors, the singer has been honoured by two Presidents of the United States. He has also been named as the artist of “the Decade”, “Generation”, and “Century” and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. He died on June 25, 2009 at age 50 after a cardiac arrest.
And if you google “The Beatles” there are 35,900,000 results. But if you google “Michael Jackson” there are 255,000,000 results. And in youtube,Michael videos have more than 1-20 million views each,and the beatles 2 million or less.
PERSONALITY – Okay,if you think he molested a child,then you obviously haven’t read much about him and the trail. In the trail,he was clearly innocent but they said he was guilty because the child said so. This was because the father of the child told the child to say that Michael touched him so they could get money from him.
And listen to this,
“If I go through with this, I win big-time. There’s no way I lose. I will get everything I want and they will be destroyed forever … Michael’s career will be over”
The child’s father said this. Isn’t it just suspicous that he said “I will get everything I want” And he did get what he wanted,23 million bucks from Michael which did destroy him.
Another reason he was innocent was because he loved children and would never do such a thing. He donated more to charities than anyone could and WOULD. He didn’t have a childhood so he is like a child in a mans body. He knew how it felt,and he didn’t want any child feeling the same.
When he was still a kid-teen and his brothers visited Africa,and when they got home,his mother saw him crying. She asked why and he said, “You know those people we saw in africa… someday I’m going to do something about that.”
He clearly not only thinks about himslef like most celebrities do,but alot of the world.
He’s just a legend like the Beatles but far more acheivments and kindess.
on 30 Jul 2009 at 3:56 pm 28.Cheska said …
@zak –
I think it’s like this..
MJ is ONE person only and reached up to number 2 after the beatles which have 4 people in it.
But just see how Michael is only one person and reached that high himslef. But it needed 4 to reach #1 for the beatles.
So if there were 2 MJ’s he would pass #1..
The Beatles are kinda boring but you can’t get enough of Michael…
on 31 Jul 2009 at 9:29 am 29.Tyler said …
Funso please get a clue. The Beatles were the first English rock group to break the American market and many at the time said that guitar groups were on the way out. People thought rock music was not a serious form of music. The Beatles changed all that.
They were experimenting with things that were way over someone like Michael Jackson. The use of studio as an instrument was highly influenced by the Beatles. For the Michael Jackson fan boys the Beatles are the highest selling act of all times and even it’s verified recently by Soundscan that the Beatles are the second highest selling act in the Soundscan era.
on 31 Jul 2009 at 9:42 am 30.Tyler said …
The Beatles were voted the greatest music artist in the Rolling Stone Immortals List. Michael Jackson not even in the top twenty and this was voted by musicians and producers. The Beatles were named the most successful act of the 20th Century by RIAA. The Beatles have over 10,000 COVER VERSION OF THEIR SONGS.
In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of top-selling Hot 100 artists to celebrate the chart’s fiftieth anniversary, with The Beatles at #1 The Beatles were collectively included in Time in their list of The Most Important People of the 20th Century.
Paul McCartney on his own and with the Beatles is the most successful musician and composer in the history of popular music,
McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the most successful musician and composer in popular music history, with 60 gold discs and sales of 100 million singles. His song “Yesterday” is listed as the most covered song in history—by over 3,700 artists so far—and has been played more than 7,000,000 times on American television and radio. Wings’ 1977 single “Mull of Kintyre” became the first single to sell more than two million copies in the UK, and remains the UK’s top selling non-charity single. According to britishhitsongwriters.com he is the most successful songwriter in UK singles chart history, based on weeks that his compositions have spent on the chart.
Get a clue you Michael Jackson fanboys.
on 31 Jul 2009 at 11:28 am 31.Hamilton Blake said …
Cheska said …
The Beatles are kinda boring but you can’t get enough of Michael…
I think you will find Macaulay Culkin, Jordy Chandler and Gavin Arvizo would agree with you there.
on 31 Jul 2009 at 5:22 pm 32.zak said …
Very immature when some of The Beatles fans like Tyler and Hamilton get so irritated when they realise how much the Michael Jackson really has and continues to accomplish that they resort to making low-blow comments about Michael Jackson (who BTW just died!). Not impressive… If you weren’t such an ignorant fool and you knew the details about the child abuse accusations (or otherwise believed in the Justice system!) you would realise that those comments you make about him being a pedophile is as believable as people who say The Beatles were all gay. Here is reality to those who think Michael Jackson cannot be compared to The Beatles, for every stat, every achievement, every award, every record, every song, every performance, every innovation, every album, Michael Jackson has its own to match The Beatles. To list the barriers Michael broke, awards won and records sold it would take a full book and the same goes with The Beatles. THEY ARE INDEED COMPARABLE however they way I see it, at the end what really counts is that it took four to accomplish all that over one. If you ask a serious fan of BOTH only they will understand.
on 03 Aug 2009 at 2:51 am 33.mo said …
Michael Jackson is clearly better then the Beatles for one reason he doesnt have a demographic anyone can listen to him. I cant say that about the Beatles a 10 year old black kid doesnt listen to the beatles. Jackson has influenced everyone in the music industry today the beatles werent nearly as good of singers as Jackson and he made his beats through beatboxing CRAZY. Plus he was the best performer on stage ever. None of the beatles deaths got this much attention he’s the KING OF MUSIC period.
on 03 Aug 2009 at 3:59 pm 34.Nelson said …
John Lennon death was certainly well mourned some say as much as Elvis Presley. Michael Jackson I think is or was better than Elvis but the Beatles destroyed Michael Jackson in terms of music and innovation. The Beatles were songwriters/musicians. They were not dancers they played and sang at the same time. They did not need to dance to sell well over one billion records. I can’t see Michael Jackson coming up with something as complex as “A Day in the Life” or the melody of “Yesterday. Michael Jackson has no influence what so ever in rock music or anything remotely experimental in music.
The Beatles, musically, The Beatles always pushed forwards, from spending days locked up in the studio experimenting (with EMI happy to indulge their indulgence) and incorporating chance determinism into their records. This produced of the first commercial uses of feedback on ‘I Feel Fine’ in 1964 as well as countless other instances where they just wanted to do something different. Around their mid-sixties creative burst they also deployed backwards recordings, tape loops, vari-speed recording, synchronised tape machines, sampling, and direct injection. All these are now common practices in pop music in which the Beatles help popularize. Oh I Forgot the the music video.
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums
. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles
2. Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys
3. Revolver, The Beatles
4. Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan
5. Rubber Soul, The Beatles
6. What’s Going On, Marvin Gaye
7. Exile on Main Street, The Rolling Stones
8. London Calling, The Clash
9. Blonde on Blonde, Bob Dylan
10. The Beatles (“The White Album”), The Beatles
11. The Sun Sessions, Elvis Presley
12. Kind of Blue, Miles Davis
13. Velvet Underground and Nico, The Velvet Underground
14. Abbey Road, The Beatles
15. Are You Experienced?, The Jimi Hendrix Experience
16. Blood on the Tracks, Bob Dylan
17. Nevermind, Nirvana
18. Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen
19. Astral Weeks, Van Morrison
20. Thriller, Michael Jackson
on 05 Aug 2009 at 6:20 am 35.che debelle said …
The Beatles by a mile.
on 09 Aug 2009 at 8:24 pm 36.Liam said …
Michael Jackson’s music videos are fantastic yes. But it was The Beatles who first invented the music video.
A lot of people are saying that The Beatles are poor singers in comparison to Michael Jackson. Well if we look at Rolling Stone’s 100 greatest singers of all time, John Lennon is #5 and Paul McCartney is #11, whilst Michael Jackson is #25. This list was voted for by fellow musicians and critics, who surely have the best idea.
on 09 Aug 2009 at 11:47 pm 37.Jim said …
comments like this……..”Most Blacks I know from my parents generation, my generation, and the generation after me couldn’t name more than 1 Beatles song. This is not to say that they’re studio and industry innovations aren’t significant. However, their music just has not resonated.”
Let me reprint that last sent….”However, their music just has not resonated.”
You know what….why do so many MJ fans completely talk out their ***. What an ignorant and absurd comment. Mj Fans have some good points, however they are absolutely hell bent in making MJ…the biggest, simply because he was black…..I also wonder why so many blacks on this board make claims that MJ…broke the racial barriers. I’ve got about 10 hendrix albums, a few earth wind and fire records and many other black artist albums. I have one MJ CD. How many white artists do blacks on this board support? I am curious since apparently near none know a damn thing about the Beatles or Elvis. Why is that……..maybe its a color thangggggggg. LOL
on 09 Aug 2009 at 11:53 pm 38.Jim said …
33 mo said “Michael Jackson is clearly better then the Beatles for one reason he doesnt have a demographic anyone can listen to him.
“yes I can listen…to MJ and I am white and I have a love of ” music”. Yes, you apparently cant listen to the greatest Band in the World and you are black and are missing out on good music because it isn’t “Black music” What a shame. Who’s got a color problem here????
on 17 Aug 2009 at 1:41 am 39.This argument is silly. said …
How many records sold and the Rolling Stone isn’t a definitive on who or what is good.
Both the Beatles and Michael Jackson are both equally as good and influential to music.
Also, while the Beatles may have outsold Michael overall, one has to remember that the Beatles came out w/a lot more work faster than Michael did. Michael had different standards for his work and took his time which is why there’s more than a 5 year difference between Thriller and Bad as well as other albums. Either way, I think that Michael did pretty well to even be compared w/the Beatles considering we’re talking about the sales of about 6 studio albums.
I mean if you really want to bring album sales into it, Michael Jackson has all, but one album that has sold over 20 million copies as opposed to the Beatles who have only 3. I believe that the expression was “Quality over quantity…”
on 26 Aug 2009 at 7:50 am 40.Granted said …
@Str8 G –
And what is it you have to offer up other than dissing someone who took a music course. He happens to be right on.
on 26 Aug 2009 at 11:01 pm 41.GMan said …
The Beatles
You’re entitled to your OPINION but here are some facts.
Most no. 1 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 charts (20 no.1s).
Most no. 1 albums in the Billboard Top 200 albums charts (19 no.1 albums).
Most weeks at no. 1 in the Billboard albums chart (132 weeks at no. 1).
Group with most weeks in the Billboard albums chart (2,184 weeks, second only to Frank Sinatra with 2,211 weeks).
Group with most weeks in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (609 weeks).
Group with most weeks at no. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (59 weeks at no. 1).
Most songs inside the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time (14 songs on April 11, 1964).
Most songs inside the Billboard Top 40 at the same time (7 songs on April 11 and 25, 1964).
Most songs in the Billboard Top 10 at the same time (5 songs on April 4, 1964).
Most songs in the Billboard Top 5 at the same time (5 songs on April 4, 1964).
Most chart entries in the Billboard Hot 100 within a calendar year (30 charted songs in 1964)
The only act to replace themselves at no. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 twice (March 21 and April 4, 1964).
Most complete ever domination of the Billboard Hot 100 singles and albums chart by occupying the first 5 positions in the Hot 100 as well as the first two in the albums chart simultaneously (April 4, 1964).
Most consecutive no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart (8 consecutive no. 1 albums from 1965 to 1968).
Most consecutive top 5 albums in the Billboard albums chart (16 consecutive top 5 albums from 1965 to 1977).
Group with the longest span of no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart (36 years and 51 weeks, 1964 to 2001).
Group with most consecutive no. 1 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 (6 consecutive no. 1 hits, record shared with the Bee Gees).
Most no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart in a calendar year (3 no. 1 albums in 1964, repeated in 1965 and 1966).
Most no. 1 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 in a calendar year (6 no. 1 singles in 1964)
The only act to have held the no. 1 and no. 2 position in the Billboard albums chart for 9 straight weeks on two separate occasions (March 2 to April 27 and August 29 to October 24, 1964).
Most top 3 albums in the Billboard albums chart (27 top 3 albums).
Most transatlantic no. 1 hit singles (12 songs reached no. 1 in both the U.S. and Britain).
Group with most consecutive top 5 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (17 consecutive top 5 hits from 1964 to 1969).
Group with most consecutive top 10 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (24 consecutive top 10 hits from 1964 to 1976).
Group with most consecutive top 20 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (27 consecutive top 20 hits from 1964 to 1976).
On April 4, 1964, the Beatles occupied the first 5 positions in the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the top 2 in the Billboard albums chart, the no. 1 position in the British singles chart, the first two positions in the British albums chart and the no. 1 position in the British EP chart, making this the most complete ever domination of the British and American charts in history.
Most no. 1 singles in the Cash Box Top 100 charts (22 no.1s).
Most no. 1 albums in the Cash Box albums charts (15 no.1 albums).
Most weeks at no. 1 in the Cash Box albums chart (127 weeks at no. 1).
Group with most weeks in the Cash Box albums chart (722 weeks up to 1974).
Group with most weeks in the Cash Box singles chart (601 weeks up to 1986).
Group with most weeks in the Record World albums chart (849 weeks up to 1982).
Group with most weeks in the Record World singles chart (520 weeks up to 1980).
Most no. 1 singles in the Record World Top 100 charts (23 no.1s).
Most no. 1 albums in the Record World albums charts (17 no.1 albums).
Most weeks at no. 1 in the Record World albums chart (123 weeks at no. 1).
on 26 Aug 2009 at 11:03 pm 42.GMan said …
The Beatles 20 #1 songs, MJ 12. The Beatles 19 #1 albums, MJ 6. The Beatles 1.3 billion+ records sold, MJ 350 million+. The Beatles 45 Gold, MJ 27. The Beatles 39 platinum, MJ 17. The Beatles 24 multi platinum, MJ 7. The Beatles 6 Diamond, MJ 1. I think you need to rethink who the most successful is. BTW Elvis beats MJ in every category too except diamond awards.
on 26 Aug 2009 at 11:06 pm 43.GMan said …
Elton John was interviewed on a CBS morning show in 1991 and he was asked who he musically admired. He said you can talk about your Rogers and Hammerstein, but for the quantity of quality songs Lennon and McCartney did in such a short period of time, they were the two greatest song writers of the 20th century. Classical composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein said this about them also!
on 26 Aug 2009 at 11:08 pm 44.GMan said …
All of the 20 #1 songs and 35 top 10 hits were written by Lennon/McCartney/Harrison. Over 200 #1 hits worldwide for The Beatles. The Beatles were a very diverse band that wrote a lot of quality songs. This is why they have the most #1 albums, most albums sold, most #1 songs, are in the Hall of Fame as a group, and 3 members in the Hall of Fame as solo artists.
Here’s a little bit from the Guinness book of world records 2008-2009 edition. Sir Paul McCartney became the Most Successful Songwriter who has written/co written 188 charted records, of which 91 reached the Top 10 and 33 made it to No.1 totaling 1,662 weeks on the chart (up to the beginning of 2008)
91 top 10 songs.
on 27 Aug 2009 at 11:26 am 45.Str8 G said …
@Granted –
I’ve taken a music history course, as well as studied them in my graduate ethnomusicology classes. I tend to dismiss them because, like traditional musicology, they tend to under-appreciate and dismiss the contributions and influence of artists from non-European descent (white). Therefore, what someone learned in a Eurocentric music history course holds little weight to me.
It’s fine that most people feel that the Beatles are more influential than Michael Jackson. That is not an issue. What is problematic, however, is the ignorance that many here seem to have in regards to the scope of Jackson’s musical ability and contributions. In this discussion, people have simply labeled him as an “entertainer” (or something similar), a not a true artist in the Beatles’ sense. As I have mentioned before, Michael Jackson was a vocalist, songwriter, producer, dancer, and video icon. He is probably the greatest single influence on the last few generations of R & B/Pop artists, not to mention the world arena.
Getting back to my first point, I feel like a whole segment of the popular music landscape is either being ignored or misrepresented. For many people, Holland-Dozier-Holland or Stevie Wonder resonate way more than Lennon/McCartney. Again, this is not to say that Jackson holds more influence, but I wonder if people would see things differently in an egalitarian musical world.
Finally, I’ve contributed quite a few times to this discussion. I’ve just restated earlier points in this post.
on 27 Aug 2009 at 1:23 pm 46.GMan said …
The Beatles were musicians, songwriters, singers, one of the foundations of virtually everthing rock, as well as a major influence on the cultural, musical, sexual, artistic, moral and societal revolutions that my generation, and all generations since, for good or? bad, have experienced. And will continue to experience. The Beatles’ music will continue to be listened to, bought, enjoyed, dissected and written about long after we’re all gone. It’s timeless.
on 27 Aug 2009 at 1:23 pm 47.GMan said …
The Beatles accomplished more in eight years than Jacko did in his? lifetime. Jackson had some good tunes, but nothing of his really comes close to “In My Life,” “A Day in the Life,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “Something,” “Hey Jude,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Dear Prudence,” “Nowhere Man,” and “Yesterday” in the sheer songcraft category.
on 27 Aug 2009 at 9:53 pm 48.Gman is missing the big picture said …
I know we’re all arguing this, but in reality, Michael Jackson loved The Beatles, and Paul McCartney, I’m more than sure, was a big fan of him back in the day, before he bought the catalog I’m sure, and understood that Michael was a gifted performer.
Either way, both are very influential musicians. Michael edged out The Beatles simply in the fact that not only did he have great music as well The Beatles did, but that he could dance and perform his ass off too. Also, Michael donated to a ton of charities as well as hit corners of the world that many performers before and after him still have not. So while The Beatles will always be remembered as great musicians, Michael Jackson will be remembered being a great musician, along with being one the best performers to hit the stage in a really, really long time as well as a humanitarian.
The US and Europe aren’t the only countries in this world and I think people tend to forget that.
on 27 Aug 2009 at 10:54 pm 49.GMan said …
Michael Jackson will not be remembered as a great musician, only as a great entertainer/dancer with some good songs. Exactly how many instruments have you seen MJ play? What’s Michael Jackson’s most valuable possession? That’s right, The Beatles Catalog – not the? Michael Jackson catalog. Why is that do you think?????
on 28 Aug 2009 at 2:34 am 50.Str8 G said …
@GMan –
Ok Gman. Ok.
Michael Jackson will indeed be remembered as a great musician. Maybe you should look up the definition of musician.
Some good songs? Ok. That’s your opinion. I think he has many good songs. He has many classic songs. Again, that is your opinion and you have a right to it.
Michael Jackson played instruments on his albums. Look at album credits. If that is not enough proof for you then, I don’t know what else to do. His most powerful instrument was his ridiculous voice, so that is what he focused on.
Maybe Michael Jackson did not produce a brand of music that you cared for. If so, that is ok. It is your right. But why be so quick to dismiss his talent and influence? He was a vocalist, songwriter, producer, arranger, dancer and more.
Aside from the Beatles making brilliant music that has been loved by many generations, there are some socio-cultural reasons as to why their catalog is worth more than Michael Jackson’s.
on 28 Aug 2009 at 9:08 am 51.GMan said …
Michael Jackson is nearly always described as a great entertainer, which he was, but not as a musician in the sense of instrumentalist which is emphasized in the definition of musician.
He had some great songs that I really like but he didn’t have the quantity of quality songs that The Beatles had. He was nowhere near the song writer that Lennon/McCartney were and history supports this. I can fill this page with great songs that The Beatles produced in just 7 years, you can’t say the same for MJ.
Michael Jackson may have played instruments on his albums but he wasn’t ever considered a great instrumentalist, and there is a reason for that, it’s because he wasn’t.
Every professional publicized opinion puts the Beatles at the top. Talent depends on what you mean by talent. MJ was a better performer, but the The Beatles? were always better songwriters and instrumentalists.
Everyone with an educated opinion in music puts the Beatles as one of, if not the greatest musical act of all time. MJ isn’t in the top 10. Unfair maybe, but reality.
I have always liked Michael Jackson’s music and I have never dismissed his talent or influence but comparing him to The Beatles is a mismatch to say the least. There is a reason everyone wants to compare their favorite artist or band to The Beatles, it’s because they are the best.
The reason The Beatles catalog is worth more is pretty simple, they have A LOT more quality songs than Michael Jackson, and anybody that denies this is letting their biased opinion get in the way of reality.
on 28 Aug 2009 at 8:45 pm 52.laura said …
I will not wrote a big story for this but .. for me it’s Michael Jackson.. I mean who had more influence than MJ? back in the 70s with the Jackon 5 the pants.. back in the 80s The white socks, the gloves the fedora hat… the pants too short.. i mean it’s Michael we all no him for his HUGE talent.. The beatles were good they were.. but it’s still Michael the GREATEST entretainer of all times..
on 29 Aug 2009 at 11:02 am 53.Sarah said …
@GMan – MICHAEL will always be remembered as a great DANCER, SINGER ENTERTAINER AND PERFORMER!! PERIOD!
on 29 Aug 2009 at 10:21 pm 54.GMan said …
Not only are The Beatles more talented and successful than Michael Jackson,? they are also more popular even 40 years after their breakup. A recent Pew Research survey discovered that The Beatles are as popular as ever. This is really no surprise.
Survey Results: Top 4
#1. The Beatles
#2. Eagles
#3. Johnny Cash
#4. Michael Jackson
on 30 Aug 2009 at 4:02 am 55.Gman is missing the big picture said …
Gman, most of the people that you are quoting as “publicized professional opinion” is mostly The Rolling Stones and many others into rock music. For some Americans, Thriller will always be the only Michael Jackson album worth listening to, but this is just not true anywhere else in the world. Most people in the international community claim that his ‘Bad’ album was what cemented him into international super stardom.
No one is denying that the Beatles were great songwriters/instrumentalists, b/c they were. Saying that Michael Jackson wont be remembered as an ‘instrumentalist’ is silly b/c he never got on stage and played instruments. That’s not something that he focused in his live shows. Also, the Beatles released way more material in their run than Michael did in his entire life. Michael only released 6 studio albums. Only six, plus a remix album. That’s it. For him to even be compared to the Beatles is still amazing knowing that fact.
Maybe not rock music, but most new pop, rap, hip-hop, dance, & rnb, definitely, have Michael Jackson’s influences all over it just as the Beatles had all over many genres of music during their time as well. The thing w/Michael Jackson as I said before is that Michael does edge them out b/c the performance also makes a huge difference and his performances spoke to LOTS of people all over the globe, no matter where he went. Michael’s posthumous sales have already surpassed those of the Beatles when Lennon and Elvis died. Like today, very few pop acts don’t have dance routines and music videos have become standard. All those things do count as relating to music and those things Michael has had a HUGE influence on as well.
on 30 Aug 2009 at 1:17 pm 56.GMan said …
If you are going to compare Michael Jackson to The Beatles in the Rock/Pop Genre, then the “publicized professional opinions” are relevant, but if you throw in the R&B Genre, then you shouldn’t compare them at all. Maybe MJ should be compared to someone in the R&B Genre because comparing him to The Beatles in the Rock/Pop Genre is a mismatch, The Beatles win easily.
Like it or not, Michael Jackson will NOT be remembered as an instrumentalist because that is NOT what he did on stage. What he will be remembered for, is a great singer/dancer because that IS what he did on stage, he also was a good songwriter, but not in the same league as Lennon/McCartney . Michael Jackson might have been able to play some instruments, but if he was very good at it he would have been recognized as doing such, he wasn’t.
Comparing Michael Jackson to The Beatles, knowing the quantity of quality songs The Beatles produced in only 7 years compared to what MJ did in his whole career is not amazing, it’s just plain silly. What is amazing, is the influence and effect The Beatles had on people around the world with just their music and no videos. Please list the source and link that says Michael Jackson’s posthumous sales have outperformed The Beatles.
Music is supposed to be listened too. Really all you need to dance is a really good beat, if that’s the case than rap is the most superior form of music. That argument is pretty flawed.
on 30 Aug 2009 at 1:20 pm 57.GMan said …
The Beatles were also loved around the world for just their music, no videos.
# 26 no. 1 hits in Australia (130 weeks at no. 1). (David Kent)
# 23 no. 1 hits in Australia (101 weeks at no. 1). (Top 40 Research)
# 22 no. 1 hits in Canada (74 weeks at no. 1). (Chum)
# 22 no. 1 hits in Sweden (95 weeks at no. 1). (Kvallstoppen)
# 18 no. 1 hits in Sweden (69 weeks at no. 1). (Tio i Topp)
# 21 no. 1 hits in The Netherlands (95 weeks at no. 1).
# 21 no. 1 hits in Norway (97 weeks at no. 1). (VG)
# 20 no. 1 hits in America (59 weeks at no. 1). (Billboard)
# 18 no. 1 hits in Denmark (104 weeks at no. 1). (Billboard & Musikmarkt & NME)
# 18 no. 1 hits in Germany (88 weeks at no. 1). (Bravo)
# 12 no. 1 hits in Germany (40 weeks at no. 1). (Hit Bilanz)
# 12 no. 1 hits in Germany (43 weeks at no. 1). (Amtage & Muller)
# 17 no. 1 hits in Britain (69 weeks at no. 1). (Record Retailer
# 16 no. 1 hits in Hong Kong (67 weeks at no 1). (Billboard)
# 15 no. 1 hits in New Zealand (35 weeks at no. 1). (The Listener 1966 onwards)
# 13 no. 1 hits in Ireland (47 weeks at no. 1).
# 13 no. 1 hits in Malaysia. (Billboard)
# 9 no. 1 hits in Spain (17 weeks at no. 1).
# 8 no. 1 hits in Zimbabwe (29 weeks at no. 1).
# 8 no. 1 hits in Switzerland (37 weeks at no. 1).
# 6 no. 1 hits in Austria (38 weeks at no. 1).
# 6 no. 1 hits in Belgium (22 weeks at no. 1).
# 5 no. 1 hits in Finland.
# 4 no. 1 hits in Italy (18 weeks at no. 1).
# 2 no. 1 hits in Ethiopia (98 weeks at no. 1)
on 31 Aug 2009 at 3:03 pm 58.Giovanni said …
The Beatles easily. The Beatles fingerprints are all over pop music. The Beatles influenced songwriting, albums as a collective unit, using the studio as an instrument, videos, album covers, stadium tours, and global telecasts.
The Beatles have the most influential album in Sgt Pepper and maybe the most infuential song in “Tomorrow Never Knows” which it has the drum beat, sampling, and looping that is now common in hip-hop. Let’s not start with other things the Beatles did with a viable pop song that are now common like Indian instruments, feedback, backward and vocal instrumentation, and Automatic Double Tracking.
You have to be an idiot not to respect Michael Jackson influence on music but the Beatles did all what they did in eight years compared to Michael Jackson almost forty years. Michael Jackson should be compared to Elvis not the Beatles are in their own league.
on 02 Sep 2009 at 2:22 pm 59.Carlos said …
@Ranvir –
The beatles are known in every part of the planet too, they are even beyond that, beatles are in the universe.
You cant say that mj can sing, maybe in the studio but he is known to be the king of lipsynch, the beatles never did that.
and the beatles phenomenum was much bigger than the mj’s
on 02 Sep 2009 at 2:55 pm 60.Carlos said …
@Str8 G –
You say that mj was and intrumentalist but there is no video that shows him playing an instrument (PLAYING not pretending it).
mj had to do many sily thing to get attention of the media like to dangli his son from a balcony or cover the face of his child with mask or any other bad things.
you say that he was influence in R&B but tell me if that genre is important in the world!
actually mariah carey has 18 number 1 but i m wondering if many people remenber them or al least know the name of her number 1, that genre is more black oriented i think.
On the other hand beatles music liked people from different ages and races, so to say that beatles music didnt like to black people is not true and the list of bands and singer influenced by beatles are endless.
if mj was so great as u say (and i believe it too) why his sells wasnt good and wasnt able to put a top 10 in 16 years! why he was in bankrupt before his death?
on 02 Sep 2009 at 3:07 pm 61.Carlos said …
@Gman is missing the big picture –
It’ s normal to think that mj death outsells lennon’s death but it is just because the media, mj had a terrible exposure because many good and really bad things.
I just remember you that today there are millions of more people in the planet and the size of the media and music industry is 1000 times bigger so it is not a surprise that mj death outsold lennon’s death.
on 05 Sep 2009 at 8:52 am 62.daniel said …
carlos fuck you
on 05 Sep 2009 at 8:57 am 63.daniel said …
“The beatles are known in every part of the planet too, they are even beyond that, beatles are in the universe.
You cant say that mj can sing, maybe in the studio but he is known to be the king of lipsynch, the beatles never did that.
and the beatles phenomenum was much bigger than the mj’s ”
Tht’s because the beatles were only playing on instruments and singing.
MJ danced and sing, clueless asshole like you didn’t know that it’s hard to sing and dance at a same time.
MJ is much bigger than beatles, sure many people know the beatles as a name of band but MJ as a solo artist.
john lennon and paul are shit if it wouldn’t have been for the band.
MJ became even better after he left he jackson 5.
MJ is know in every city,town,region,world country even small farm town all the way to jungle. Beatles across the universe. bullshit. just because they’re music was played somewhere long across the space, doesn’t mean that he is known across the universe. we only know there is only one planet that we can live on with people.
on 05 Sep 2009 at 8:58 am 64.william said …
MJ rules
on 05 Sep 2009 at 9:01 am 65.charles said …
MJ, because Beatles is a band.
Beatles are the best band in the world.
MJ is the best solo artist in the world.
Why are people comparing them.
MJ not only made impact on music, also in dance and culture.
He reunited all kinds of races together from all different countries.
you could say beatles are bigger in music but MJ bigger Overall, not just music.
on 05 Sep 2009 at 9:04 am 66.charles said …
Beatles more talented than MJ.
ugh don’t make me laugh.
MJ is a one man with same talent as beatles but much more, he could also fucking dance great.
Beatles is four man gay band with talent combined together.
on 05 Sep 2009 at 9:14 am 67.magnús said …
@Nelson –
SSHole if you combined they’re all album sales together yes.
But MJ had one album called thriller which is far away than any other album with over 110 million sales worldwide the second place is back in black with AC/DC with 49 million sales worldwide. And guess where the bealtes are? they have 32 million sold copies of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” That’s nothing compared to thriller.
Thriller is,always will be number one.
on 05 Sep 2009 at 6:28 pm 68.TRevorl said …
What a bunch of twats….
Both Artists, were and always will be phenominal musicians. Clearly they were in different eras.
The Beatles for all you numskulls out there were influenced by Chuck Berry and other “black rockNroll stars” Beatles covered various tracks from black musicians. In fact the introduced black music to the “White Americans”……..
The Beatles work has been covered by various black artists, Billy preston, Hendrix as an example,
MJ Covered Beatles Songs, check out the end of the Moonwalker film when he does a great cover of “Come Together” a Beatles song off the fantastic Abbey Road LP.
The Beatles could sing, take Oh Darling, Come together, Heleter Skelter, The Entire Abbey Road LP……
MJ was a fantastic musician……. not to be compared to the Beatles but to stand along side them beacuse he is bloody amazing , but FOR HIS OWN REASONS…..
MJ an amazing singer , song writer and all round artist! MJ came at the right time for his generation and Amazed people through the 70’s 80’s 90’s and even 2000’s
MJ could sure move and you could see that he had a natrual beat oozing from his body.
MJ came after the Beatles just like desert comes after dinner , you can enjoy them both……..
MJ’s talent should never be doubted, he was a truley unique person and one of a kind and many will try to emulate him, just as they do the Beatles……….
I don’t want to here any more dumb arses saying that the Beatles can’t sing or MJ cant sing ,,,,,,dick heads……
The Beatles came, events happend , history changed, then MJ came and History changed once again……….With out either maybe we would all be listening to Sinatra and Dean Martin still?
PS Bobby Darrin is King of those guys!
Music has no colour, it is a collection of vibrations, we can all enjoy it, just look beyond colour, MJ spent his life trying to tell people that!
Listen to the Beatles Abbey Road, Rubber Soul and the White Albulm…..
Listen to Thriller. , Off the Wall (brilliant) , Bad etc……
………………………TRLUK
on 06 Sep 2009 at 7:12 pm 69.mo said …
i actually enjoy the beatles im not some racist im just saying black ppl dont enjoy the beatles that much…its just the truth they have a demographic and MJ doesnt and baby boomers are still the majority so their voices will be heard more but when there gone it wont be a contest MJ has them beat in popularity by a mile when u take out ppl above the age of 40 he is the greatest artist of all time who did play his own instruments and write his own stuff no one beatle is nearly as talented as mike and all four put together are dam close and as for rolling stone magazine come on now everyone “best” album is an opinion so you have to judge off popularity and mj has 2 albums that are in the top 25 all time and thriller is number one by about 50 million copies and BAD has the most number ones on one album and mike has more grammys plus the beatles sales wouldnt be more if everyone didnt go buy their albums again after they came back out on tapes and cds…..and the beatles main genre is rock well i could say that “beat it” and “dirty diana” are better than any beatles song
on 06 Sep 2009 at 7:12 pm 70.mo said …
and oh yea ask your self can you play a beatles song in any club and get people to dance…….maybe but michael jacksons songs can be played on a dance floor FOREVER
on 06 Sep 2009 at 10:03 pm 71.TRevorl said …
like the comment Mo, it is true about demographic, and that surely is the point, I agree the Beatles attraction was in the fact that the were a group and were the big thing in thier time. They will continue purely beacuase of the achievements in thier time.
You would not play Mozart in a club but that is not to say one is a more talented musician than the other?
Granted if you were to look on an individual basis MJ can offer more than the Beatles individually, I don’t have a problem with that.
As some one who listens to all music , classic, rock, blues, etc I appreciate all music. I think prehaps it is wrong to compare oranges and apples. I just think it is wrong to compare one song with another, to say that one is better than the other is a matter of opinion. I definately think that to start saying that the beatles or MJ can’t sing as other have is nuts. They are again different types of singers. MJ is an amazing singer and the beatles strengths were in thier harmonies as a group.
Certainly for this current generation , MJ will hold more of an attraction and appeal, I mean when I heard that he had gone it was like surreal, as I had grown up with his music, so from that point of view I hear what you are saying.
I don’t compare them. I like the scene out of lethal weapon with Joe Pesci talking to Mel Gibson, and the frog been his best friend and then one day it died…..you know the one I mean…?
on 07 Sep 2009 at 2:55 pm 72.joe laginestra said …
@Alice –
Sweetheart forget about dancing alright. Music is also for listening to for serious issues and for LOVE something the Beatles career stood for. Close to all of the Beatles songs are to be taken seriously for they convey a special message and sub-message. You need to get away from this new age music and dance and try going back a few years to when artists made real music and musicians wrote their own songs. The world was a very different place back in the 60’s from what it is today. There was no time for dancing honey, there was an unjust war going on along with the civil rights movement and assassinations and uprisings something you know nothing of. So try sitting on your ass for a couple of hours and listen to music that has some meaning.
on 10 Sep 2009 at 10:54 am 73.GMan said …
Bottom line is, The Beatles were the most influential, and most successful, popular music group of the rock era, with global sales exceeding 1.3 billion records as of 2004 – more than any other artist or artists in history. Few artists of any sort, in any era, have achieved The Beatles’ combination of popular success, critical acclaim and? broad cultural influence. It’s nice that people have their opinions, but your opinions don’t change history.
on 11 Sep 2009 at 3:14 am 74.Ernesto said …
The Beatles belong to other world, no comparation.
on 11 Sep 2009 at 1:57 pm 75.Jesus Christ you guys said …
To the person who asked for the link:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=ad7B.4MdGy5E
Either way, only time will tell. I mean…these are two totally different generations and, quite possibly, demographics.
Plus, aren’t these two normally eclipsed by Bob Marley anyways? I always thought he was way more influential than The Beatles and Micheal put together.
on 13 Sep 2009 at 9:49 pm 76.Chad said …
First of all in a recent project by the record industry a project that my cousin worked on tracking record sales from around the world they found that in places like Africa and Asia where the beatles have no influence Michael was king. Everyone knows the one billion plus albums supposedly sold by the beatles is incredibly inflated that would be 1/6 of the world owning an album and no one that i know and i live in the United States even owns one
Seriously MJ fucking dogged the Beatles they all had terrible voices and couldn’t dance. Michael is the greatest vocalist song-writer and dancer that ever lived. Who would want to go to a Beatles concert they were boring as hell. lus with things like internet downloads it was found that Mj nearly doulbled thier sales won way ,more awards then them despite false accusations kand his skin changes despite that MJ dominated them and its obviuos why MJ was so much more talened then the four of them combined they all sucked at singing and the were great song writers and that was it Mj could sing write and produce this isnt a close agrument if Mj was white he would have sold four times thier albums all hail the king/
on 15 Sep 2009 at 11:40 pm 77.uhmmm hello? said …
OMG! beatles is very old,,,at least MJ songs is more attracting or much better than beatles even kids idolized him…hello?…beatles is for old peoples songs..promise…ask kids if they like beatles…oh my! then ask kids,teens,adults i’m sure they like MJ songs….like here in the philippines. there’s a contest for CD and DVD’s of MJ ..a 12 year old kid won..because he like MJ songs very much
on 16 Sep 2009 at 8:02 am 78.Beau said …
A few tidbits from Wikipedia:
- The Beatles sold between 600 million and one billion records internationally.
- (The Beatles) have sold more albums in the United States than any other artist.
- “McCartney is the most successful songwriter in the history of popular music.”
- “McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the most successful musician and composer in popular music history, with 60 gold discs and sales of 100 million singles.”
- “McCartney has achieved twenty-nine number-one singles in the US, twenty of them with The Beatles, the rest with Wings and as a solo artist.”
- (Michael Jackson had) “17 number one singles (including the four as a member of the Jackson 5)”
-(Michael Jackson had) “estimated sales between 350 million and 750 million records worldwide.”
i.e., they both did pretty well for themselves, but if you’re going by numbers, then McCartney and The Beatles win out.
on 16 Sep 2009 at 12:49 pm 79.james said …
OK beau we don’t need any history lessons from you about beatles.
The bottom line is Beatles is a band And it took 4 men to make it succesful.
While MJ did it on his own.
So it’s obvious that there is no comparison.
Elvis and MJ will always be bigger than Beatles.
Not by record sales or number one hits.
What people would prefer.
And saying beatles bigger than MJ is stupid.
Maybe in USA, But everyone knows USA is not the only country in the world.
In Africa beatles would not not be known there.
MJ other hand is very well known there. Same goes for Asia.
And you can ask any artist today which one they were influenced. lots of them Would say MJ.
And btw MJ is blackand the media of course ruin his life, that’s a reason why people denie his talent and incredible ahcivements.
on 16 Sep 2009 at 12:51 pm 80.james said …
And you see MCcartney Is nothing compared to MJ.
He recieved those awards causeof his time with Beatles.
John Lennon other hand was great solo artist and much better than Paul butthole.
on 18 Sep 2009 at 1:38 pm 81.GMan said …
Actually they would. You should research before posting.
The Beatles had…
8 no. 1 hits in Zimbabwe (29 weeks at no. 1).
2 no. 1 hits in Ethiopia (98 weeks at no. 1)
on 18 Sep 2009 at 4:28 pm 82.Tyler said …
I am of the opinion that the fact that we are even comparing MJ to the Beatles is a sign of just how great he truly was. Could you ever legitatemly compare Taylor Swift or Wheezer to the Beatles? No, not at all.
In the land of giants, Michael walks side by side with John Lennon, Elvis, and the others.
on 18 Sep 2009 at 4:57 pm 83.GMan said …
These are some of the reasons why The Beatles are No.1:
- They are proclaimed as The Most Important People of the 20th Century in music by TIME Magazine.
- They are hailed as the #1 icons of the century by Variety Magazine.
- They are number one in the list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time by RS (which is done by asking the prominent musicians and critics to vote).
- They are No.1 in basically almost all the list (RIAA, Billboard, VH1, etc).
- They are acknowledged by many Presidents in the world (Queen Elizabeth, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Vladimir Putin, Fidel Castro, Soekarno and even Vatican). Probably, only U2 have the same influence.
- Lennon and McCartney are considered by many as the greatest songwriters ever lived.
- The Beatles have more albums and songs in the greatest list more than any other (even more than Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and RadioHead).
- Songs by John Lennon, Imagine and Give Peace A Chance have become the anthem of the world.
- They are admired by people like Kurt Cobain, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Ozzy Osbourne, Jimi Hendrix, Bono, Brian Wilson, etc.
- The Beatles have sold records more than any person or group ever.
- Guiness Book of Record has acknowledged Paul McCartney as the most successful musician in the history.
on 18 Sep 2009 at 6:22 pm 84.GMan said …
The Beatles are the band against which every other band or artist is measured. End of story. The fact that we are still talking about The Beatles 40 years after they broke up is a tribute to how great they truly were.
on 20 Sep 2009 at 5:34 pm 85.GOLU said …
Ok,People, maybe The Beatles can be compared to MJ in music(altough I think he’s way better),but in terms of success and popularity,there’s no way, they were loved in the 60’s cause theye were good white artists,but MJ was idolized cause he was damn good, man,his average sellling per album can’t be compared to any other artist,he has 13 Guinness Recors and even more:
1)MOST SUCCESSFUL ENTERTAINER OF ALL TIME(entertainment includes music,movies,dance etc,so here he fuck McCartney man)
2)Best selling album of all time:THRILLER
3)Best selling double album of all time:HISTORY
4)Biggest World Tour In History:BAD WORLD TOUR
5)A survey acknowladged by Guinness in 1997 proved:MICHAEL JACKSON THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON IN THE WORLD
6)fastest tickets sales:1 millions tickets in 4 hours
7)Most USA #1 hits from one album:BAD FIVE #1 HITS
8)Thriller:THE FIRST ALBUM TO BE RANKED #1 IN R’n'B chart and Rock chart
9)MOST HONORED PERSON IN THE HISTORY(24 official honnors by presidents and kings around the world)
10)The most awarded artist ever
11)greatest audience :MJ’s SUPERBOWL HALF-TIME PERFORMANCE IN 1993
12)Most Successful Concert Series: 7 nights at Wembley Stadium
13)#1 debut: Bad,Dangerous and History all debuted at #1 in US chart
14)Most #1 hits by male artist(Billboard hot 100)
15)consecutive #1 singles:THE JACKSON 5 WERE THE FIRST GROUP TO HAVE 5 SUCCESSIVE #1 HIT SINGLES
on 20 Sep 2009 at 6:47 pm 86.GMan said …
So you want stats? Ok
The Beatles 20 #1 songs, MJ 12.
The Beatles 19 #1 albums, MJ 6.
The Beatles 1.3 billion+ records sold, MJ 350 million+.
The Beatles 45 Gold, MJ 27.
The Beatles 39 platinum, MJ 17.
The Beatles 24 multi platinum, MJ 7.
The Beatles 6 Diamond, MJ 1.
Most no. 1 singles in the Record World Top 100 charts (23 no.1s).
Most no. 1 albums in the Record World albums chart (17 no.1 albums).
Most weeks at no. 1 in the Record World albums chart (123 weeks at no. 1).
Group with most weeks in the Cash Box singles chart (601 weeks up to 1986).
Group with most weeks in the Record World albums chart (849 weeks up to 1982).
Group with most weeks in the Record World singles chart (520 weeks up to 1980).
Guinness book of world records 2008-2009 edition. Sir Paul McCartney became the Most Successful Songwriter who has written/co written 188 charted records, of which 91 reached the Top 10 and 33 made it to No.1 totaling 1,662 weeks on the chart (up to the beginning of 2008)
91 top 10 songs.
All of the 20 #1 songs and 35 top 10 hits were written by Lennon/McCartney/Harrison.
Group with most weeks in the British singles chart (456 weeks).
Group with most weeks at no. 1 in the British singles chart (69 weeks).
Group with most top 10 hits in the British singles chart (28 top 10 hits).
Group with most weeks in the Australian singles chart (604 weeks).
Group with most weeks in the Finnish singles chart (437 weeks).
Group with most top 10 hits in the Austrian singles chart (25 top 10 hits).
Group with most top 10 hits in the Danish singles chart (33 top 10 hits).
Most consecutive no. 1 hits in the British singles chart (11 consecutive no. 1 hits, excludes re-issues of old singles).
Most consecutive top 5 hits in the British singles chart (22 consecutive top 5 hits from 1963 to 1970).
Most weeks at no. 1 in the British albums chart within a calendar year (40 weeks at no. 1, 1964).
Most no. 1 albums in the British albums chart within a calendar year (3 no. 1 albums, 1965).
26 no. 1 hits in Australia (130 weeks at no. 1). (David Kent)
22 no. 1 hits in Sweden (95 weeks at no. 1). (Kvallstoppen)
18 no. 1 hits in Sweden (69 weeks at no. 1). (Tio i Topp)
21 no. 1 hits in The Netherlands (95 weeks at no. 1).
21 no. 1 hits in Norway (97 weeks at no. 1). (VG)
20 no. 1 hits in America (59 weeks at no. 1). (Billboard)
17 no. 1 hits in Britain (69 weeks at no. 1). (Record Retailer
16 no. 1 hits in Hong Kong (67 weeks at no 1). (Billboard)
15 no. 1 hits in New Zealand (35 weeks at no. 1). (The Listener 1966 onwards)
13 no. 1 hits in Ireland (47 weeks at no. 1).
13 no. 1 hits in Malaysia. (Billboard)
9 no. 1 hits in Spain (17 weeks at no. 1).
8 no. 1 hits in Zimbabwe (29 weeks at no. 1).
8 no. 1 hits in Switzerland (37 weeks at no. 1).
6 no. 1 hits in Austria (38 weeks at no. 1).
6 no. 1 hits in Belgium (22 weeks at no. 1).
5 no. 1 hits in Finland.
4 no. 1 hits in Italy (18 weeks at no. 1).
2 no. 1 hits in Ethiopia (98 weeks at no. 1)
The Beatles were a very diverse band that wrote a lot of quality songs. This is why they have the most #1 albums, most albums sold, most #1 songs, are in the Hall of Fame as a group, and 3 members in the Hall of Fame as solo artists.
on 20 Sep 2009 at 6:53 pm 87.GMan said …
VH1’s Top 100 Artists of All-Time
Back in 1998, VH1 asked 600 musicians to list what they felt were the greatest artists of all-time.
1. The Beatles
2. The Rolling Stones
3. Jimi Hendrix
4. Led Zeppelin
5. Bob Dylan
6. James Brown
7. David Bowie
8. Elvis Presley
9. The Who
10. The Police
11. Stevie Wonder
12. Ray Charles
13. The Beach Boys
14. Marvin Gaye
15. Eric Clapton
16. John Lennon
17. Elton John
18. Prince
19. Pink Floyd
20. The Doors
21. Aretha Franklin
22. Fleetwood Mac
23. The Eagles
24. Bob Marley
25. Van Morrison
26. Chuck Berry
27. Bruce Springsteen
28. Sly & the Family Stone
29. U2
30. Neil Young
31. The Clash
32. Joni Mitchell
33. Queen
34. Buddy Holly
35. Otis Redding
36. Little Richard
37. Al Green
38. Elvis Costello
39. Miles Davis
40. Michael Jackson
on 20 Sep 2009 at 9:23 pm 88.GOLU said …
man,the number 1.3billion of singles and albums sales is ridicously exagereted by fans and the societies of production to create publicity and attraction, I saw in the Official Site of Elvis that he sold 1.8billion of records and this can’t happen ,you know!!
plus,THRILLER alone surpass the sales of SGT PEPPER,ABBEY ROAD,REVOLVER,THE WHITE ALBUM and RUBBER SOUL combined,how can The Beatles sold 1.3 billion???????????????
in the 50’s and 60’s the stats wasn’t accurately archived cause no one cared about numbers and stats,MJ’s sells are accuratly archived.
PS:The Beatles and Elvis sells increase now cause they weren’t available in CD format and now people buy it,not like MJ records who emerged in the 80’s ,so his records were avaible in CDs back in the 80’s,so people don’t need to buy it twice.And MJ has 5 albums(he released 6 in his career) who sold more than 20 millions,The Beatles just 2(they’ve released 13 in their career),and if he was white I’m sure he would crush them like a bug
Concernin Vh1’s list it was made in 2004,when MJ had problems with justice(child molestation),then the world turned against him(even the musicians and critics),so don’t try to convice us with terrible lists like this.
MAN,THE FACTS ARE FACTS?YOU CAN4T COMPARE THE BEATLES WITH THE BEATLES IN TERMS OF SUCCESS AND SALES?HE SURPASSED THEM,AND YOUR STATS ARE MEANINLESS COMPRED TO SOMETHING LIKE THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON IN THE WORLD,OR THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ENTERTAINER EVER OR THE BEST SELLING ALBUM EVER,MICHAEL JACKSON IS THE GREATEST LEGEND OF OUR ERA?HE CAN’T BE BEATEN BY A GROUP LIKE BEATLES?THEY’RE GREAT BUT THEY WEREN’T MICHAEL JACKSON
on 20 Sep 2009 at 9:29 pm 89.GOLU said …
and MICHAEL JACKSON was more diverse he tried many styles not like The Beatles who was limited to the POP/ROCK style,and never made a terrible tracks like SGT PEPPERS LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND or GOOD MORNING GOOD MORNING
on 20 Sep 2009 at 9:31 pm 90.GOLU said …
your list sucks,ELVIS COSTELLO better than MJ???????And DAVID BOWIE better than STEVIE WONDER????????,please tell who can take this list seriously????????????
on 20 Sep 2009 at 9:36 pm 91.GOLU said …
and The Beatles are also #1s in all the lists of OVERRATED SONGS AND ALBUMS
on 20 Sep 2009 at 11:39 pm 92.GMan said …
The All Music Guide says in their excellent Beatles biography, that they were one of the few music artists that were the best at what they did and also the most popular at what they did at the same time. The Recording Industry Association of America does list The Beatles as the biggest selling band of all time. Also go to acclaimed music.net which compiles tons of music reviews from many different rock music critics from decades and you will see The Beatles are rightfully at #1.
on 20 Sep 2009 at 11:45 pm 93.GMan said …
The Beatles went from I Want to Hold Your Hand to Tomorrow Never Knows in two and half years and still remained on top who else has transformed their sound that much and remained on top? Nobody. The Beatles contributed to MerseyBeat, The British Invasion, Power Pop, their use of folk with rock convinced the Byrd’s to go electric, arena rock, Raga Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Progressive Rock with Revolver and Sgt Pepper’s, Art rock with their use of tape loops and avant garde and one of the first heavy metal songs with Helter Skelter. The Beatles are most responsible for classic rock radio and album orientated radio. The Beatles are the biggest reason that rock and roll went to rock. The Beatles proved that a rock group did not need a frontman to succeed or have a major selling album without singles. The Beatles are the greatest.
on 20 Sep 2009 at 11:50 pm 94.GMan said …
Sgt. Peppers is a great album, but The Beatles had many great albums. Abbey Road, Sgt. Peppers, The White Album, Rubber Soul etc. I mean, they had six diamond albums, MJ had 1 diamond album. If any band had one diamond album, that would be considered their masterpiece. So The Beatles had six masterpieces. No contest.
on 21 Sep 2009 at 5:57 pm 95.GOLU said …
1 – Thriller – Michael Jackson : 110 millions
2 – Back in Black- AC/DC : 49 millions
3 – The Bodyguard soundtrack – Whitney Houston/Various artists : 42 millions
4 – Their Greatest Hits – The Eagles : 41 millions
5 – Saturday Night Fever – The Bee Gees/Various Artists : 40 millions
6 – Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd : 40 millions
7 – Bat Out of Hell – Meat Loaf : 37 millions
8 – Come on Over – Shania Twain : 36 millions
9 – Sgt – Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles : 32 millions
10 – Falling Into You – Celine Dion : 32 millions
The Beatles: 2 albums which sold more than 20 millions worlwide:
1)SGT PEPPERS LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND 32 millions
2)ABBEY ROAD 3O millions
Michael Jackson: 5 albums which sold more than 20 millions worlwide:
1)THRILLER 110 MILLIONS
2)DANGEROUS 32 MILLIONS
3)BAD 30 MILLIONS
4)OFF THE WALL 22 MILLIONS
5)HISTORY 20 MILLIONS
on 21 Sep 2009 at 6:11 pm 96.GMan said …
Yeah, and The Beatles did it in just 7 years. 1963,64,65 they put out 2 albums a year, 4 singles a year, a movie, world tours and still wrote great songs which are still classics (I won’t mention all there hits as solo artists). The greatest album ever was Sgt. Pepper, all songs written by Lennon/McCartney. The 2nd greatest album ever was Revolver, all songs written by Lennon/McCartney.
All there solo stuff was written by themselves (this is why 3 of them are in the hall of fame).
All of the 20 #1 songs and 35 top 10 hits were written by Lennon/McCartney/Harrison. Over 200 #1 hits worldwide for The Beatles.
Over 80 well known artists have made reference to the Beatles in one or more of their songs.
The Beatles changed the world of today. They affected almost every major artist from their time to the present time. The Beatles have influenced tons of movies, music, TV shows, plays, and books. The Beatles altered the way other musicians write music.
on 21 Sep 2009 at 8:23 pm 97.GOLU said …
ok,I agree,they are great and influential and their music is good,I said you can compare them to MJ only in this things,but he surpassed them concerning success and superstardom,he’s according to Guinness THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON IN THE WORLD
on 21 Sep 2009 at 8:36 pm 98.GOLU said …
and MJ didn’t need to play all the instruments to compose,he composed using BEATBOXING technic,the man was very talented and original
on 21 Sep 2009 at 9:39 pm 99.The Mighty Quinn said …
Global Chart Report
a new ‘Beatlemania’ rolls over the world
Friday, September 18, 2009
by Fred Chuchel, Dresden
After 4 years of meticulous work, the complete Beatles-catalog has been remastered. The result is a spectacular success: in the first days after the re-release all 14 albums sold nearly 2,7 million units
together! A few weeks after Michael Jackson set new records, the Beatles set another new levels: for the first time ever an act placed 14 albums at the same time on the global top 40, for the first time ever all spots between no.1 and no.14 are new-entries, for the first time ever we have 22 new-entries on the entire top 40 list. ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ from 1967 leads the Beatles-chart with 258.000 copies, following by ‘Abbey Road’ (243.000 copies), ‘The White Album’ (230.000), ‘Rubber Soul’ (228.000), ‘Revolver’ (216.000), ‘Help!’ (196.000), ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ (184.000), ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ (184.000), ‘Please Please Me’ (178.000), ‘With The Beatles’ (172.000), ‘Beatles For Sale’ (170.000), ‘Let It Be’ (154.000), ‘Past Masters, Volume 1 & 2′ (153.000) and ‘Yellow Submarine’ (121.000). By the way, the sales of the stereo & mono box-set were counted to the individual albums. Only one album outsold each of all these reissues, it’s rapper Jay-Z’s new effort ‘Blueprint 3′,
I also don’t want to devalue Michael Jackson but you have nothing on the Beatles.
The BEATLES:
The Beatles = Best Selling Music Act of the 20th Century (1900-1999) = 106 Million Albums sold thru DECEMBER 1999.
The Beatles = Best Selling Music Act of ALL-TIME = 170 Million Albums sold Certified by RIAA.
The Beatles = 2nd Best Selling Music Act of the Decade…so far (2000-2009) = 27.5 Million Albums sold thru MAY 2009.
2nd only to EMINEM 31.1 Million Albums sold thru MAY 2009.
The Beatles = 2nd Best Selling Music Act of the SoundScan ERA (May 1991-PRESENT) = 57.6 Million Albums sold thru JULY 2009.
2nd only to Garth Brooks 68.1 Million Albums sold thru JANUARY 2009.
The Beatles 1 = Best Selling Album of the 21st Century/Decade (2000-PRESENT) = 11.4 Million Copies sold thru MAY 2009
on 21 Sep 2009 at 10:01 pm 100.Zeke said …
The Beatles not only had more #1’s and Top 40’s than MJ, they had more Top 10’s than MJ had Top 40’s, so did Sinatra and Elvis. After The Beatles, Paul had more top 40’s than MJ.
on 21 Sep 2009 at 11:00 pm 101.GOLU said …
Jackson’s record sales increased dramatically in the hours and days following his death, eighty-fold according to HMV. Bill Carr, Amazon’s vice president for music and video, said the website sold out of all Jackson’s CDs, and those of The Jackson 5 within minutes of the news breaking and Jackson’s music demand since his death has surpassed those of Elvis Presley and John Lennon after their sudden deaths.
The demand placed enormous pressure on CD manufacturing plants. Sales of his music topped the leading online music sellers, iTunes, Amazon and Zune Marketplace, taking over most of the top twenty spots. His album Thriller climbed to number one on the American iTunes music chart, soon to be replaced by The Essential Michael Jackson, while another nineteen albums made it into the top 40. A total of 13 countries pushed Number Ones to the number one spot on their iTunes chart. In Japan, six of his albums made SoundScan Japan’s Top 200 Albums chart,[108] and in Poland, Thriller 25 topped the national album chart and was replaced by King of Pop the following week. In Australia, 15 of his albums occupied the ARIA top 100 as of July 5, four of them in the top 10, with 3 occupying the top 3 spots. He had 34 singles in the top 100 singles chart, including 4 in the top 10. Album sales were 62,015 for the previous week; singles tallied 107,821 units. In the second week, album sales rose from the previous week and tallied 88,650 copies. On July 12, four albums were in the top 10 with 3 occupying the top 3 spots. As of July 19, album sales rose once again from previous weeks and tallied 95,513 copies . In New Zealand, Thriller 25 topped the chart. In Germany, King of Pop topped the album chart, and from June 28 to July 4, 9 of his albums occupied the Top 20 of CAPIF in Argentina. In Billboard’s European Top 100 Albums, he made history with eight of his albums in the top 10 positions. As of August 3, King of Pop has spent 4 weeks atop Billboard’s European Top 100 Albums chart. The Collection also spent 2 weeks atop the same chart.
In the UK, on the Sunday following his death, his albums occupied 14 of the top 20 places on the Amazon.co.uk sales chart, with Off the Wall at the top. Number Ones reached the top of the UK Album Chart, and his studio albums occupied number 2 to number 8 on the iTunes Music Store top albums. 6 of his songs charted in the top 40: “Man in the Mirror” (11), “Thriller” (23), “Billie Jean” (25), “Smooth Criminal” (28)”, “Beat It” (30), and “Earth Song” (38). The following Sunday, 13 of Jackson’s songs charted in the top 40, including “Man In the Mirror”, which landed the number 2 spot. He broke Ruth Murray’s 1955 record of 5 songs in the top 30. The Essential Michael Jackson topped the album chart, giving Jackson a second number 1 album in as many weeks. He had 5 of the top 10 albums in the album chart. In third week sales, The Essential Michael Jackson retained the number one position and Jackson held 3 other positions within the top 5. By August 3, Jackson had sold 2 million records and spent six consecutive weeks atop the album chart.[129][136] He retained the top spot on the album chart for a seventh consecutive week.
In the U.S., Jackson broke 3 chart records on the first Billboard issue date that followed his death. The entire top 9 positions on Billboard’s Top Pop Catalog Albums featured titles related to him. By the third week it would be the entire top 12 positions. Number Ones was the best-selling album of the week and topped the catalog chart with sales of 108,000, an increase of 2,340 %. The Essential Michael Jackson (2) and Thriller (3) also sold over 100,000 units. The other titles on the chart are Off the Wall (4), Jackson Five’s Ultimate Collection (5), Bad (6), Dangerous (7), HIStory: Past, Present and Future – Volume 1 (8) and Jackson’s Ultimate Collection (9). Collectively, his solo albums sold 422,000 copies in the week following his death, 800,000 copies in the first full week, and 1.1 million copies in the following week of his memorial service. He also broke a record on the Top Digital Albums chart, with 6 of the top 10 slots, including the entire top 5. On the Hot Digital Songs chart he placed a record of 25 songs on the 75-position list. In the U.S., Jackson became the first artist to sell over one million downloads in a week, with 2.6 million sales. By August 5, Jackson had sold nearly 3.8 million albums and 7.6 million tracks in the U.S.. Number Ones was the best selling album in five of the six weeks that followed his death. The following week was the album’s sixth non-consecutive week as the country’s top selling album.
on 21 Sep 2009 at 11:04 pm 102.GOLU said …
I SAID IN SALES AND RECORDS , THEY CAN’T COMPETE ,HE SOLD 25 MILLIONS OF ALBUMS JUST AFTER HIS DEATH TO NOW,WAY BETTER THAN THE SCORES AFTER ELVIS AND LENNON’S DEATHS
on 21 Sep 2009 at 11:06 pm 103.GOLU said …
I GAVE STATS CONCERNING WORLWIDE SALES,DON’T TRY TO COMPARE THE BEATLES WITH HIM I HAVE MORE TO SAY
on 21 Sep 2009 at 11:18 pm 104.GOLU said …
MJ WAS AN ALBUM SELLER BECAUSE ALL THE SONGS IN THIS ALBUMS WERE GOOD?BUT THE BEATLES WERE ONLY SINGLES SELLERS CAUSE EACH ALBUM CONTAINS JUST 3 OR 4 GOOD TRACKS
on 22 Sep 2009 at 8:34 am 105.Zeke said …
The Beatles have sold more albums. They have more #1 songs and more #1 albums. The Beatles are great all over the world, not just in Britain and USA. The Beatles have sold more albums than anyone, not singles, records, tapes but ALBUMS! Just look what The Beatles 1 album did. The Beatles produced a lot more great songs than MJ did.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 8:45 am 106.Zeke said …
Before he died nobody and i mean nobody gave a shit about MJ. The only reason now is because he died. The Beatles have? sold more albums, they have more #1 songs, more #1 albums, more top 10 albums then MJ. I wont even throw in there solo work, its just not fair.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 9:00 am 107.Zeke said …
According to Soundscan during the period 1991-2008 The Beatles? sold 57 million albums in the US, compared to 30 million for Elvis and 19 million for Michael Jackson.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 9:09 am 108.Zeke said …
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industries in 2006, The Beatles are the biggest popular music act of all time, with over 1 billion? records sold.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 10:56 am 109.GMan said …
2:38 | Tuesday September 22, 2009
By Paul Williams
EMI has revealed the extent of the success of The Beatles remastered campaign by stating that more than 2.25m albums were sold in North America, Japan and the UK during the opening five days of business.
The major says the tally, which takes in both the individual remastered albums and the stereo and mono boxed sets, underlines the band’s timeless appeal and unique status in music.
In the States EMI notes that more than 1m remastered titles were bought in the first five days since the September 9 release date, helping the band to achieve a new record by an act of simultaneously having 18 albums on Billboard’s Comprehensive Albums chart. Five of these were in the chart’s Top 10, led by Abbey Road. On the catalogue chart they filled nine of the Top 10 positions.
In the UK they occupied four of the Top 10 in the week after release, while in Japan all 14 remastered titles and the two boxed sets made the top 25 of the international chart, adding up to 840,000 sales across three days.
The remastered albums have achieved huge success across the world with other highlights including:
. 15 of the Top 20 catalogue titles in Canada
. a record three albums in the French Top 10
. a record 13 albums in the Spanish chart
. 14 albums in the Australian chart
. filling seven of the Top 10 in Argentina
on 22 Sep 2009 at 12:06 pm 110.GOLU said …
OK,The Beatles sold more singles but Michael Jackson sold more albums worlwide,it’s a fact:he has 5 albums that sold more than 20 millions,The Beatles just 2
UK’s 20 BEST SELLING ALBUMS OF ALL TIME
1# “Greatest Hits (Volume One)” – Queen (1981) (5.4 million copies)
2# “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” – The Beatles (1967) (4.8 million copies)
3# “ABBA Gold Greatest Hits” – ABBA (1992) (4.5 million)
4# “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory” – Oasis (1995) (4.3 million)
5# “Brothers In Arms” – Dire Straits (1985) (4.0 million)
6# “The Dark Side Of The Moon” – Pink Floyd (1973) (3.8 million)
7# “Greatest Hits Vol.II” – Queen (1991) (3.6 million)
8# “Thriller” – Michael Jackson (1982) (3.6 million)
9# “Bad” – Michael Jackson (1987) (3.6 million)
10# “The Immaculate Collection” – Madonna (1990) (3.4 million)
11# “Stars” – Simply Red (1991) (3.4 million)
12# “Come On Over” – Shania Twain (2000) (3.3 million)
13# “Rumours” – Fleetwood Mac (1977) (3.1 million)
14# “Urban Hymns” – The Verve (1997) (3.1 million)
15# “No Angel” – Dido (2002) (3.0 million)
16# “Bridge Over Troubled Water” – Simon & Garfunkel (1970) (3.0 million)
17# “Talk On Corners” – The Corrs (1999) (2.9 million)
18# “Spice” – The Spice Girls (1996) (2.9 million)
19# “Back To Bedlam” – James Blunt (2005) (2.9 million)
20# “White Ladder” – David Gray (2002) (2.9 million)
MICHAEL JACKSON 2 ALBUMS
THE BEATLES 1 ALBUM
10 BEST SELLING ALBUMS IN THE US
1)Eagles – Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)(29 million copies sold in US)
2)Michael Jackson – Thriller(27 million copies sold in US)
3)Pink Floyd – The Wall(23 million copies sold in US)
4)Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV(23 million copies sold in US)
5)AC/DC – Back In Black(21 million copies sold in US)
6)Billy Joel – Greatest Hits Vols. 1 & 2(21 million copies sold in US)
7)Shania Twain – Come on Over(20 million copies sold in US)
8)Garth Brooks – Double Live(20 million copies sold in US)
9)The Beatles – The Beatles (The White Album)(19 million copies sold in US)
10) Fleetwood Mac – Rumours(19 million copies sold in US)
MICHAEL JACKSON 1 ALBUM(27 MILLIONS)
THE BEATLES 1 ALBUMS(19 MILLIONS)
on 22 Sep 2009 at 12:11 pm 111.GOLU said …
THE BEATLES SOLDING 1 BILLION is ridicusly exagereted,they can’t simply cause the sales of THRILLER alone(110 MILLIONS WORLWIDE)surpass the sales of THE WHITE ALBUM,SGT PEPPERS,REVOLVER,RUBBER SOUL and ABBEY ROAD combined
on 22 Sep 2009 at 12:34 pm 112.GOLU said …
THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON IN THE WORLD
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ENTERTAINER
THE BEST SELLING ALBUM EVER
THE BIGGEST TOUR EVER
on 22 Sep 2009 at 1:30 pm 113.carlos said …
hey man, the beatles sold more album worldwide. On th eother hand you cant compare beatles times with mj times.
Beatles dindt have the techonlogy mj had to promote his albums, there were millions of more people, the music industry size was nearly 1000 times bigger in mj times etc, and even like that beatles sold more, i have to remember you that since 1991 the beatles are the second best selling artist and mj didnt apppear in the top 10 (soundscan).
I dont know how people dare to compare beatles with mj, mj was good and talented but that wasnt enough, the beatles are beyond that.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 1:33 pm 114.carlos said …
by 1972 beatles had sold 550 millions, soruce: BILLBOARD MAGAZINE.
All information came out once mj died and SONY state that mj sold 350 millions wolrdwide.
If u dont believe it ask to SONY.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 2:20 pm 115.GOLU said …
correct your informations,SONY said MJ sold 1BILLION(and I don’t believe it)
The sales of The Beatles are important just cause their albums wren’t avaible in CD format in the 60’s,the CD format appeared till 1986
Michael Jackson’s US chart records and achievements
* Jackson’s Thriller remained at number one for thirty-seven weeks, the longest-ever stay by a non-soundtrack album and second only to West Side Story.[1]
* Thriller spent a record 80 consecutive weeks, more than a year and a half, in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. It was the first of only three albums that have remained in the Top 10 for more than a year (along with Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill and Celine Dion’s Falling into You).
* Thriller is the only album in the United States to have sold more copies than any other in two separate years, topping the sales charts in 1983 and 1984.
* Four of Jackson’s albums, Bad, Dangerous, HIStory, and Invincible, debuted at number one in the United States.
* Jackson was the first artist to have four Top 10 singles from one album (Off the Wall).
* Jackson was the first artist to have seven Top 10 singles from one album (Thriller), a feat matched only by his sister Janet and Bruce Springsteen.
* Jackson is the only artist to have 5 number 1 hits from one LP, Bad (“Bad”, “The Way You Make Me Feel”, “Man in the Mirror”, “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”, and “Dirty Diana”).
* Jackson was the first artist to simultaneously have the number 1 album and number 1 single on Billboard’s Pop Charts and Black Charts.
* Jackson had 9 number one singles in the 1980s, more than any other artist during the decade.
* Following changes in Billboard’s methodology, Jackson became the first artist to have a song debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 (“You Are Not Alone”).
* Jackson’s album Bad remained in the top five of the Billboard 200 for 38 weeks, longer than any other album to date.
* Jackson has had 13 #1 singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart, trailing only The Beatles (20), Mariah Carey (18) and Elvis Presley (18 or 17, depending on source). This total does not include “We Are the World”, co-written by Jackson and credited to USA for Africa, or the 4 #1 singles by The Jackson 5.
* Jackson had 29 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, tying with The Beatles (29), and trailing Elvis Presley (36) and Madonna (37).
on 22 Sep 2009 at 2:23 pm 116.GOLU said …
UK chart records and achievements
* With 11.5 million sales, Michael Jackson is one of only eight musical acts that have sold more than 10 million singles in Britain.
* Jackson had the most Top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart in one year, 19 in 2006.
* Jackson had 40 Top 10 hits in the UK Singles Chart.
* Jackson’s Thriller and Bad are the 8th- and 9th-highest-selling albums in UK history. Besides Jackson, only Queen, with the 1st- and 7th-best-selling albums, has multiple entries in the top twenty.[4]
* Jackson had 13 songs in the UK top 40 and 5 albums (including the #1 seller) in the UK top 10 on 5 July 2009.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 2:24 pm 117.GOLU said …
French chart records and achievements
* Invincible, released in 2001, had the highest first week of sales for a foreign album in France, selling 166,000 copies.
* Jackson had 4 diamond albums in France. They are Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, and HIStory.
* Jackson had 22 top ten hits on the French Top 100 Singles charts.
* Jackson had 36 top 40 hits on the Top 100 Singles charts.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 2:26 pm 118.GOLU said …
German chart records and achievements
* Jackson had 5 albums in Germany that reached platinum status: Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, HIStory, and Invincible.
* Jackson had 16 top 10 hits on the German Top 100 singles charts.
* Jackson had 29 top 40 hits on the Top 100 singles charts.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 2:27 pm 119.GOLU said …
Spanish chart records and achievements
* Jackson had 35 top 20 hits on the Top 20 Singles charts.
* Jackson had 29 top ten hits on the Top 20 Singles charts.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 2:29 pm 120.GOLU said …
Canadian chart records and achievements
* Jackson had four number one albums in Canada: Thriller, Bad, HIStory and Number Ones.
* Jackson had three singles that earned at least one platinum certification in Canada: “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and “Say Say Say.”
* Jackson had 29 top 20 hits on the Top 50 Singles charts.
* Jackson had 20 top ten hits on the Top 50 Singles charts.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 2:30 pm 121.GOLU said …
Australian chart records and achievements
* Jackson had 8 albums in Australia that earned platinum or multi-platinum certifications: Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, HIStory, Invincible, Number Ones, and The Essential Michael Jackson.
* Jackson had 27 top 20 hits on the Top 100 Singles charts.
* Jackson had 20 top ten hits on the Top 100 Singles charts.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 2:32 pm 122.GOLU said …
Norwegian chart records and achievements
* Jackson had 3 singles that earned a gold certification in Norway: “Earth Song,” “They Don’t Care About Us,” and “You Rock My World.”
* Jackson had 21 top 10 hits on the Top 20 Singles charts.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 2:33 pm 123.GOLU said …
Swiss chart records and achievements
* Jackson had 24 top ten hits on the Top 100 Singles charts.
* Jackson had 21 top ten hits on the Top 20 Singles charts.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 2:36 pm 124.GOLU said …
New Zealand chart records and achievements
* Jackson had 24 top ten hits on the Top 100 Singles charts.
Irish chart records and achievements
* Jackson had 70 chart entries on the Top 100 Singles charts.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 2:42 pm 125.GOLU said …
Other records and achievements
* Jackson has been credited with supporting more charities than any other artist – 39 charitable organizations, either with monetary donations through sponsorships of their projects or participation in their activities.
* David O. Selznick’s 1940 Best Film Oscar for Gone with the Wind (USA, 1939) was bought by Jackson for $1,542,000 on June 12, 1999, at Sotheby’s, New York City. The Academy Awards no longer permits such sales, all but ensuring that it will remain the most expensive Oscar.
* Jackson holds the record for the most expensive music video (“Scream” in 1995 with sister Janet Jackson). The clip reportedly cost over US$7 million.
* On November 14, 1991, Michael Jackson’s music video, Black or White was broadcast simultaneously in 27 countries with an estimated audience of 500 million people. It is the largest audience ever to view a music video.
* In March 1991, Jackson signed a new record-breaking US$890 million contract by Sony. It is still the largest recording contract of all time.
* In 1986 Jackson signed a $15 million deal with Pepsi, at the time the largest ever promotional endorsement.
* Jackson has 9 platinum singles, the second most by any male artist in the U.S. (second only to Elvis).
* Jackson has 13 # 1 singles in United States, making him the second most by a male solo artist, second only to Elvis.
* Jackson has the two best-selling VHS music videos ever released: “Moonwalker” (1988), and “The Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller” (1984).
* Jackson jointly holds the record for most Grammy Awards won in a single year. He won 8 awards at the 1984 ceremony. This was equaled by Carlos Santana in 2001.
* Jackson jointly holds the record for most American Music Awards won in a single year, winning eight awards at the 1984 ceremony. This was equaled by Whitney Houston in 1994.
* Jackson has won the most World Music Awards by a male artist,15.
* Jackson has won the most World Music Awards in a single year, 5 in 1996 (tying Whitney Houston’s 1994 total).
* Jackson has won the most Billboard awards by a male artist,26.
* Jackson won the most Billboard awards in one year, 13 in 1983.
* Named “Best Selling Male Artist of the Millennium” at the World Music Awards ceremony in 2000.
* Named “Artist Of The Century” at the American Music Awards ceremony in 2002.
* Named “Most Successful Entertainer Of All Time” by the Guinness World Records in 2006.
* Awarded “Chopard Diamond award” at the World Music Awards in 2006, with record sales of over 750 million records.
* Jackson’s “Bad World Tour” (1987–1989) was the highest-grossing tour ever at the time, with over $125 million earned. This record was later broken by the “Dangerous World Tour” (1992-1993) and later broken again by the “HIStory World Tour” (1996-1997), which is still the biggest tour ever in terms of international attendance (4.4 million tickets outside of USA).
* Michael Jackson is the only foreign artist to have sold more than 1,500,000 units in Turkey. Bad is the best-selling foreign album in Turkey with the sales of 560,000 units.
* Jackson’s album “Thriller” (1982) is the best selling album of all time with more than 110 million copies. The album currently holds the record for being the first and only album in the United States to top the sales charts for two separate years. Being the best selling album in 1983 and 1984.
* Jackson’s album “Bad” (1987) at one point for a few years was the second biggest selling album of all time, with 28 million sold at the time and over 33 million sold to date. But that has since then been surpassed.
* Jackson’s album “Dangerous” (1991) is the biggest selling New Jack Swing album of all time with over 30 million copies sold worldwide. And for a period in time it was close to being the third best selling album of all time.
* 700,000 tickets were sold in about four hours for the cancelled “This Is It” concert series in 2009.
* At one stage, Michael Jackson was one of the wealthiest entertainers in the world, with a fortune of more than $750 million.
* Jackson has been given 197 recognized awards, which was promoted as being the most for an artist.
* Following his death, Jackson became the first artist to sell 2 million+ downloads in a week.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 2:47 pm 126.GOLU said …
Ok,THE BEATLES WERE SUCCESSFUL BUT COMPARING TO HIS ACHIEVEMENTS THEY ARE NOTHING,TRY TO COMPARE THEM IN OTHER ANGLES(MUSIC,INFLUENCE OR WHAT YOU WANT),BUT IN SUCCESS AND SUPERSTARDOM HE DESTROYED THEM
on 22 Sep 2009 at 4:27 pm 127.GMan said …
* During the week of 4 April 1964, The Beatles held twelve positions on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, including the top five positions. Neither feat has been matched by any other artist to date. The songs were “Can’t Buy Me Love” (Capitol Records), “Twist and Shout” (Tollie Records), “She Loves You” (Swan Records), “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (Capitol), and “Please Please Me” (Vee-Jay).[1] In addition, seven other singles occupied lower places on the chart: “I Saw Her Standing There” (Capitol), “You Can’t Do That” (Capitol), “All My Loving” (Capitol of Canada), “Roll Over Beethoven” (Capitol of Canada), “From Me To You” (Vee-Jay), “Do You Want To Know A Secret” (Vee-Jay) and “Thank You Girl” (Vee-Jay).[1] Furthermore, two Beatles tribute records appeared on the chart: “We Love You Beatles” by The Carefrees (at #42), and “A Letter to the Beatles” by The Four Preps (#85).[1] The 21 March 1964, Billboard Hot 100 singles chart included two additional Beatles tribute records: “My Boyfriend Got A Beatle Haircut”, by Donna Lynn (at #83); and “The Boy With The Beatle Hair”, by The Swans (#85).
* In 1964, the Beatles had the never-matched total of 15 American million – selling records (9 singles and 6 LP’s), representing US sales of over 25 million in 1964 alone.
* “I Want To Hold Your Hand” sold nearly 5 million records in the US by 1968, making it the best selling single of the 1960s (from a Capitol Records Press release, September 9, 1968).
* “Can’t Buy Me Love” sold 940,225 copies in the US the day it was released (March 16, 1964), shattering all previous sales records. The single went on to sell over 3 million by the end of the year (Spizer, Bruce, 2000: The Beatles’ Story on Capitol Records, Part One: Beatlemania & The Singles, p. 36).
* The motion picture soundtrack “A Hard Day’s Night” sold 1 million copies in the first four days of its US release making it one of the fastest selling LPs of the 1960s (Billboard article, July 11, 1964).
* By August 1964, the Beatles had sold approximately 80 million records globally (Variety 235, August 12, 1964).
* By February 1965, their global sales had moved over 100 million records (Variety 237, February 3, 1965).
* Rubber Soul sold 1.2 million copies in the US during the first nine days of release (Billboard article, January 1, 1966).
* By August 1966, the Beatles had sold 150 million records worldwide (Variety 243, August 3, 1966).
* By May 1967, the Beatles’ global gross stood at $98 million, equivalent to over $616.6 million in 2007 (Variety 246, May 19, 1967).
* The “Hey Jude” single had sold over 3 million copies in America in its first 2 months of release, and 3.7 million by mid-January 1969. It eventually sold over 4 million copies and was the fourth best-selling single of the 1960s (Spizer, Bruce, 2003: The Beatles on Apple Records, p. 32).
* Although it carried a list price of $11.79 (a single album was selling for $3.98), their double album The Beatles sold 1.1 million units during its first two weeks on sale; a record for any double album up to that point in time (Spizer, Bruce, 2003: The Beatles on Apple Records, p. 102).
* “Abbey Road” sold over 3 million copies in the US in a little over a month, making it one of the best-selling LPs of the 1960s despite having been on sale for only the last three months of the decade (Spizer, Bruce, 2003: The Beatles on Apple Records, p. 164).
* According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Beatles had topped worldwide sales of 300 million units by 1969.
* The “Let It Be” LP reportedly shipped 3.2 million copies in 13 days representing a gross retail value of nearly $26 million (Billboard article, June 6, 1970).
* By October 1972, the Beatles’ worldwide sales total stood at 545 million units. To date The Beatles record sales are over 1 billion units worldwide.
Britain
* Most no. 1 albums in the British albums chart (15 no. 1s).
o Please Please Me (1963, 30 weeks), With the Beatles (1963, 21 weeks), A Hard Day’s Night (1964, 21 weeks), Beatles for Sale (1964, 10 weeks), Help! (1965, 9 weeks), Rubber Soul (1965, 9 weeks), Revolver (1966, 7 weeks), Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967, 27 weeks), The Beatles (The White Album) (1968, 8 weeks), Abbey Road (1969, 17 weeks), Let It Be (1970, 3 weeks), The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl (1977, 1 week), Live at the BBC (1994, 1 week), Anthology 2 (1996, 1 week), 1 (2000, 9 weeks)
* Group with most no. 1 hits in the British singles chart (17 no. 1s).
o “From Me to You” (1963, 7 weeks), “She Loves You” (1963, 6 weeks), “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (1963, 5 weeks), “Can’t Buy Me Love” (1964, 3 weeks), “A Hard Day’s Night” (1964, 3 weeks), “I Feel Fine” (1964, 5 weeks), “Ticket to Ride” (1965, 3 weeks), “Help!” (1965, 3 weeks), “We Can Work It Out”/”Day Tripper” (1965, 5 weeks), “Paperback Writer” (1966, 2 weeks), “Yellow Submarine”/”Eleanor Rigby” (1966, 4 weeks), “All You Need Is Love” (1967, 3 weeks), “Hello, Goodbye” (1967, 7 weeks), “Lady Madonna” (1968, 2 weeks), “Hey Jude” (1968, 2 weeks), “Get Back” (1969, 6 weeks), “The Ballad of John and Yoko” (1969, 2 weeks).
o (Consider that these 17 no. 1 hits were achieved in the UK official charts from Record Retailer. New Musical Express listed The Beatles with 18 no. 1 hits, as “Please Please Me” was no. 1 for 2 weeks. Also consider that “Penny Lane”/”Strawberry Fields Forever” was no. 1 in Melody Maker.)
* Group with most weeks in the British singles chart (456 weeks).
* Group with most weeks at no. 1 in the British singles chart (69 weeks).
* Group with most top 10 hits in the British singles chart (28 top 10 hits).
o “Please Please Me” (1963, #2), “Penny Lane”/”Strawberry Fields Forever” (1967, #2), Magical Mystery Tour EP (1967, #2), “Something”/”Come Together” (1969, #4), “Let It Be” (1970, #2), “Yesterday” (1976, #8), “The Beatles Movie Medley” (1982, #10), “Love Me Do” [re-entry] (1982, #4), “Baby It’s You” (1995, #7), “Free as a Bird” (1995, #2), “Real Love” (1996, #4)
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the British albums chart (174 weeks at no. 1).
* Most consecutive weeks spent at no. 1 in the UK albums chart (51 weeks from May 11, 1963 to May 2, 1964 – this excludes soundtrack albums).
* Most consecutive no. 1 hits in the British singles chart (11 consecutive no. 1 hits, excludes re-issues of old singles).
* Most consecutive top 5 hits in the British singles chart (22 consecutive top 5 hits from 1963 to 1970).
* Most complete ever domination of the British charts by occupying the first two positions in the singles chart and the albums chart as well as the top 3 positions in the EP chart (Extended Play) from December 12 to December 26, 1963.
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the British albums chart within a calendar year (40 weeks at no. 1, 1964).
* Most no. 1 albums in the British albums chart within a calendar year (3 no. 1 albums, 1965).
* Most simultaneous weeks at no. 1 in the British singles and albums chart (45 weeks).
* First act to replace itself at the no. 1 position in the British singles charts (December 12, 1963).
* First act to replace itself at the no. 1 position in the British albums chart (December 7, 1963).
* The Beatles’ Please Please Me album spent more weeks at no. 1 in the British album charts than any other album by a group (30 weeks at no. 1, this excludes albums by duos and soundtracks).
* Most debuts at no. 1 in the British albums chart (8 no. 1 debuts, record shared with David Bowie)
* Group with the most consecutive weeks inside the British singles chart (105 consecutive weeks, from October 11, 1962 to October 15, 1964).
* Group with most single hits charted in the British singles chart simultaneously (6 hits on April 17, 1976).
* Biggest ever jump within the British albums chart (94 positions jumped by Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band from no. 97 to no. 3 in 1987) (record surpassed in 2008 by Leona Lewis’s Spirit album.)
* Most consecutive weeks inside the top 10 of the British albums chart (171 consecutive weeks from 1963 to 1966).
* Most consecutive Christmas number one singles (3), (shared with The Spice Girls).
[edit] America
* Most no. 1 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 charts (20 no.1s).
o “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (1964, 7 weeks), “She Loves You” (1964, 2 weeks), “Can’t Buy Me Love” (1964, 5 weeks), “Love Me Do” (1964, 1 week), “A Hard Day’s Night” (1964, 2 weeks), “I Feel Fine” (1964, 3 weeks), “Eight Days a Week” (1965, 2 weeks), “Ticket to Ride” (1965, 1 week), “Help!” (1965, 3 weeks), “Yesterday” (1965, 4 weeks), “We Can Work It Out” (1965, 3 weeks), “Paperback Writer” (1966, 2 weeks), “Penny Lane” (1967, 1 week), “All You Need Is Love” (1967, 1 week), “Hello, Goodbye” (1967, 3 weeks), “Hey Jude” (1968, 9 weeks), “Get Back” (1969, 5 weeks), “Come Together” (1969, 1 week), “Let It Be” (1970, 2 weeks), “The Long and Winding Road” (1970, 2 weeks)
* Most no. 1 albums in the Billboard Top 200 albums charts (19 no.1 albums).
o Meet the Beatles! (1964, 11 weeks), The Beatles’ Second Album (1964, 5 weeks), A Hard Day’s Night (1964, 14 weeks), Beatles ‘65 (1965, 9 weeks), Beatles VI (1965, 6 weeks), Help! (1965, 9 weeks), Rubber Soul (1965, 6 weeks), Yesterday…and Today (1966, 5 weeks), Revolver (1966, 6 weeks), Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967, 15 weeks), Magical Mystery Tour (1967, 8 weeks), The Beatles (The White Album) (1969, 9 weeks), Abbey Road (1969, 11 weeks), Let It Be (1970, 4 weeks), 1967-1970 (The Blue Album) (1973, 1 week), Anthology 1 (1995, 3 weeks), Anthology 2 (1996, 1 week), Anthology 3 (1996, 1 week), 1 (2000, 8 weeks)
* Most 2-sided charted singles in the Billboard Hot 100 charts (26 singles, including two double-sided #1 hits, although “For You Blue” (B-side of “The Long And Winding Road”) accompanied its A-side and did not chart on its own)
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Billboard albums chart (132 weeks at no. 1).
* Group with most weeks in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (609 weeks).
* Group with most weeks at no. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (59 weeks at no. 1).
* Most songs inside the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time (14 songs on April 11, 1964).
* Most songs inside the Billboard Top 40 at the same time (7 songs on April 11 and 25, 1964).
* Most songs in the Billboard Top 10 at the same time (5 songs on April 4, 1964).
* Most songs in the Billboard Top 5 at the same time (5 songs on April 4, 1964).
* Most chart entries in the Billboard Hot 100 within a calendar year (30 charted songs in 1964)
* The only group to replace themselves at no. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 twice (March 21 and April 4, 1964). It would be forty years later when Usher would tie the record.
* Most complete ever domination of the Billboard Hot 100 singles and albums chart by occupying the first 5 positions in the Hot 100 as well as the first two in the albums chart simultaneously (April 4, 1964).
* Most consecutive no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart (8 consecutive no. 1 albums from 1965 to 1968).
* Most consecutive top 5 albums in the Billboard albums chart (16 consecutive top 5 albums from 1965 to 1977).
* Group with the longest span of no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart (36 years and 51 weeks, 1964 to 2001).
* Group with most consecutive no. 1 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 (6 consecutive no. 1 hits, record shared with the Bee Gees).
* Most no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart in a calendar year (3 no. 1 albums in 1964, repeated in 1965 and 1966).
* Most no. 1 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 in a calendar year (6 no. 1 singles in 1964)
* The only act to have held the no. 1 and no. 2 position in the Billboard albums chart for 9 straight weeks on two separate occasions (March 2 to April 27 and August 29 to October 24, 1964).
* Most top 3 albums in the Billboard albums chart (27 top 3 albums).
* Most transatlantic no. 1 hit singles (13 songs reached no. 1 in both the U.S. and Britain).
o “She Loves You,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “I Feel Fine,” “Ticket to Ride,” “Help!,” “We Can Work It Out,” “Paperback Writer,” “All You Need Is Love,” “Hello, Goodbye,” “Hey Jude,” “Get Back”
* Group with most consecutive top 5 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (17 consecutive top 5 hits from 1964 to 1969).
* Group with most consecutive top 10 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (24 consecutive top 10 hits from 1964 to 1976).
* Group with most consecutive top 20 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (27 consecutive top 20 hits from 1964 to 1976).
* On April 4, 1964, the Beatles occupied the first 5 positions in the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the top 2 in the Billboard albums chart, the no. 1 position in the British singles chart, the first two positions in the British albums chart and the no. 1 position in the British EP chart, making this the most complete ever domination of the British and American charts in history.
* Most no. 1 singles in the Cash Box Top 100 charts (22 no.1s).
* Most no. 1 albums in the Cash Box albums charts (15 no.1 albums).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Cash Box albums chart (127 weeks at no. 1).
* Longest span of Top Ten singles in “Cash Box” history (“I Want To Hold Your Hand” – January 25, 1964 to “Real Love” – March 30, 1996 – 32 years, 2 months, 5 days.)
* Group with most weeks in the Cash Box albums chart (722 weeks up to 1974).
* Group with most weeks in the Cash Box singles chart (601 weeks up to 1986).
* Group with most weeks in the Record World albums chart (849 weeks up to 1982).
* Group with most weeks in the Record World singles chart (520 weeks up to 1980).
* Most no. 1 singles in the Record World Top 100 charts (23 no.1s).
* Most no. 1 albums in the Record World albums charts (17 no.1 albums).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Record World albums chart (123 weeks at no. 1).
[edit] Other countries
* Most no. 1 hits in the German singles chart (12 no. 1s).
o “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (1964), “Paperback Writer” (1966), “Yellow Submarine”/”Eleanor Rigby” (1966), “Penny Lane”/”Strawberry Fields Forever” (1967), “All You Need Is Love” (1967), “Hello, Goodbye” (1967), “Hey Jude” (1968), “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” (1969), “Get Back” (1969), “The Ballad of John and Yoko” (1969), “Something”/”Come Together” (1969), “Let It Be” (1970)
* Most no. 1 hits in the Australian singles chart (23 no. 1s).
o “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (1963), “I Saw Her Standing There” (1964), All My Loving EP (1964), “Can’t Buy Me Love” (1964), “A Hard Day’s Night” (1964), “I Should Have Known Better” (1964), “I Feel Fine” (1964), “Rock and Roll Music” (1965), “Ticket to Ride” (1965), “Help!” (1965), “Day Tripper”/”We Can Work It Out” (1965), “Nowhere Man” (1966), “Yellow Submarine”/”Eleanor Rigby” (1966), “Penny Lane”/”Strawberry Fields Forever” (1967), “All You Need Is Love” (1967), “Hello, Goodbye” (1967), “Lady Madonna” (1968), “Hey Jude” (1968), “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” (1969), “Get Back” (1969), “The Ballad of John and Yoko” (1969), “Something”/”Come Together” (1969), “Let It Be” (1970) [1]
* Most no. 1 hits in the Dutch singles chart (21 no. 1s).
o “I Want to Hold Your Hand’ (1964), “Can’t Buy Me Love” (1964), Long Tall Sally EP (1964), “A Hard Day’s Night” (1964), “I Should Have Known Better” (1964), “I Feel Fine” (1964), “Rock and Roll Music” (1965), “Ticket to Ride” (1965), “Help!” (1965), “Yesterday” (1965), “We Can Work It Out/Day Tripper” (1965), “Michelle” (1966), “Paperback Writer” (1966), “Yellow Submarine”/”Eleanor Rigby” (1966), “Penny Lane”/”Strawberry Fields Forever” (1967), “All You Need Is Love” (1967), “Hello, Goodbye” (1967), “Hey Jude” (1968), “Get Back” (1969), “The Ballad of John and Yoko” (1969), “Let It Be” (1970)
* Most no. 1 hits in the Swedish singles chart (18 no. 1s).
* Most no. 1 hits in the Canadian singles chart (22 no. 1s, CHUM chart).
* Most no. 1 hits in the Norwegian singles chart (21 no. 1s).
* Most hits in the German singles chart within a calendar year (16 hits, 1964).
* Most consecutive top 10 hits in the German singles chart (17, from 1965 to 1970).
* Most no. 1 hits in the German singles chart within a calendar year (4 no. 1 hits in 1969, record shared with ABBA).
* Group with most top 10 hits in the German singles chart (29 top 10 hits).
* Group with most weeks in the German singles chart (589 weeks).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the German albums chart (113 weeks at no. 1).
* Group with most weeks in the German albums chart (1,180 weeks up to 2000).
* Group with most no. 1 albums in the German albums chart (11 no. 1 albums).
* The double album The Beatles/1962-1966 spent more weeks in the German album charts top 10 than any other artist album (124 weeks, only beaten by soundtracks My Fair Lady and West Side Story).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the German albums chart within a calendar year (36 weeks at no. 1 in 1964, excludes soundtracks).
* Group with most albums in the German albums chart within a calendar year (6 albums in 1964).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Dutch singles chart (67 weeks at no. 1).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Dutch singles chart within a calendar year (29 weeks, 1965).
* Most top 10 hits in the Dutch singles chart (35 top 10 hits).
* Most consecutive no. 1 hits in the Dutch singles chart (6 consecutive no. 1 hits).
* Group with most weeks in the Dutch singles chart (523 weeks).
* Only act to debut at no. 1 in the Dutch singles chart (3 times).
* Most no. 1 albums in the Norwegian albums chart (12 no. 1 albums).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Norwegian singles chart (97 weeks at no. 1).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Norwegian albums chart (182 weeks at no. 1).
* With The Beatles spent more weeks at no. 1 in the Norwegian albums chart than any other artist album (31 weeks at no. 1, second only to soundtrack The Sound of Music).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Norwegian singles chart within a calendar year (25 weeks at no. 1 in 1966).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Norwegian albums chart within a calendar year (48 weeks at no. 1 in 1964).
* Most consecutive no. 1 singles in the Norwegian singles chart (8 consecutive no. 1 singles from 1965 to 1967).
* Most hit singles within a calendar year in the Norwegian singles chart (10 hit singles in 1964).
* Most no. 1 hit singles within a calendar year in the Norwegian singles chart (6 no. 1 hits in 1964).
* Most consecutive no. 1 hits in the Swiss singles chart (5 consecutive no. 1 hits from 1968 to 1970, chart only started in 1968).
* Group with most weeks in the Australian singles chart (604 weeks).
* Group with most weeks in the Finnish singles chart (437 weeks).
* Group with most top 10 hits in the Austrian singles chart (25 top 10 hits).
* Group with most top 10 hits in the Danish singles chart (33 top 10 hits).
* 26 no. 1 hits in Australia (130 weeks at no. 1). (David Kent)
* 23 no. 1 hits in Australia (101 weeks at no. 1). (Top 40 Research)
* 22 no. 1 hits in Canada (74 weeks at no. 1). (Chum)
* 22 no. 1 hits in Sweden (95 weeks at no. 1). (Kvallstoppen)
* 18 no. 1 hits in Sweden (69 weeks at no. 1). (Tio i Topp)
* 21 no. 1 hits in The Netherlands (95 weeks at no. 1).
* 21 no. 1 hits in Norway (97 weeks at no. 1). (VG)
* 20 no. 1 hits in America (59 weeks at no. 1). (Billboard)
* 18 no. 1 hits in Denmark (104 weeks at no. 1). (Billboard & Musikmarkt & NME)
* 18 no. 1 hits in Germany (88 weeks at no. 1). (Bravo)
* 12 no. 1 hits in Germany (40 weeks at no. 1). (Hit Bilanz)
* 12 no. 1 hits in Germany (43 weeks at no. 1). (Amtage & Muller)
* 17 no. 1 hits in Britain (69 weeks at no. 1). (Record Retailer
* 16 no. 1 hits in Hong Kong (67 weeks at no 1). (Billboard)
* 15 no. 1 hits in New Zealand (35 weeks at no. 1). (The Listener 1966 onwards)
* 13 no. 1 hits in Ireland (47 weeks at no. 1).
* 13 no. 1 hits in Malaysia. (Billboard)
* 9 no. 1 hits in Spain (17 weeks at no. 1).
* 8 no. 1 hits in Zimbabwe (29 weeks at no. 1).
* 8 no. 1 hits in Switzerland (37 weeks at no. 1).
* 6 no. 1 hits in Austria (38 weeks at no. 1).
* 6 no. 1 hits in Belgium (22 weeks at no. 1).
* 5 no. 1 hits in Finland.
* 4 no. 1 hits in Italy (18 weeks at no. 1).
* 2 no. 1 hits in Ethiopia (98 weeks at no. 1)
on 22 Sep 2009 at 4:35 pm 128.GMan said …
The Beatles 20 #1 songs, Micheal Jackson 12.
The Beatles 19 #1 albums, Michael Jackson 6.
The Beatles 1.3 billion+ records sold, Michael Jackson 350 million+.
The Beatles 45 Gold, Michael Jackson 27.
The Beatles 39 platinum, Michael Jackson 17.
The Beatles 24 multi platinum, Michael Jackson 7.
The Beatles 6 Diamond, Michael Jackson 1.
I think you need to rethink who the most successful is.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 5:26 pm 129.GMan said …
Charity has nothing to do with his musical talent, and again, the Beatles kick his ass in sales numbers, and they have two albums in the top 20 bestselling albums of all time, along with 20 #1 songs, 19 #1 albums and 35 Top Ten Hits.
The Beatles were way more sophisticated artists. MJ was great, but he never made? as much of an impact on Music as the Beatles did.
Paul McCartney has the record for most successful songwriter/composer. Numbers support the argument against you? since The Beatles pretty much own all of the important statistics.
Not only are The Beatles more talented and successful than Michael Jackson, they are also more popular even 40 years after their breakup. A recent Pew Research survey discovered that The Beatles are as popular as ever. This is really no surprise.
Survey Results: Top 4
#1. The Beatles
#2. Eagles
#3.? Johnny Cash
#4. Michael Jackson
The Beatles lead in total sales of any musical artist.? They also are the second most selling musical artist of the decade, behind only Eminem. And radio is way more advanced now, I know they had it but if you compare the two, radio back then was shit compared to now.
Guinness book of world records 2008-2009 edition. Sir Paul McCartney became the Most Successful Songwriter who has written/co written 188 charted records, of which 91? reached the Top 10 and 33 made it to No.1 totaling 1,662 weeks on the chart (up to the beginning of 2008) 91 top 10 songs. He also enjoys the status of Billionaire, the only musician in history to accomplish this financial feat.
The Beatles win easily. The Beatles fingerprints are all over pop music. The Beatles influenced songwriting, albums as a collective unit, using the studio as an instrument, videos, album covers, stadium tours, and global telecasts. The Beatles have the most influential album in Sgt Pepper and maybe the most influential song in Tomorrow Never Knows which it has the drum beat, sampling, and looping that is now common in hip-hop. Michael Jackson should? be compared to Elvis, not the Beatles.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 7:48 pm 130.GOLU said …
THE BEATLES can’t compare to MJ in SUPERSTARDOM(A SURVEY ACKNOWLEDGED BY GUINESS COMFIRM THAT MICHAEL JACKSON IS THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON IN THE WORLD)search 100 facts about Michael Jackson in guiness site and you will discover what I’m talking about.
“and they have two albums in the top 20 bestselling albums of all time,”
please this is avery poor performance comparing to DANGEROUS,BAD,and THRILLER,and I said that The Beatles has only 2 albums which sold more than 20 millions worlwide,MJ has 5 man
all your stats concern USA only,but the entire world knows only MJ
THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON IN THE WORLD
and MJ has still the greatest fan base while the ACCUSATIONS,I wanna see if McCartney was accused for child molestation,he would disappear in a day
and all your stats are meaninless against
THE MOST FAMOUS PESON IN THE WORLD
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ENTERTAINER OF ALL TIME
THE BIGGEST WORLD TOUR
THE MOST AWARDED ARTIST IN HISTORY
THE BEST SELLING ALBUM OF ALL TIME
on 22 Sep 2009 at 8:42 pm 131.GMan said …
APPARENTLY YOU CAN’T READ!
* 26 no. 1 hits in Australia (130 weeks at no. 1). (David Kent)
* 23 no. 1 hits in Australia (101 weeks at no. 1). (Top 40 Research)
* 22 no. 1 hits in Canada (74 weeks at no. 1). (Chum)
* 22 no. 1 hits in Sweden (95 weeks at no. 1). (Kvallstoppen)
* 18 no. 1 hits in Sweden (69 weeks at no. 1). (Tio i Topp)
* 21 no. 1 hits in The Netherlands (95 weeks at no. 1).
* 21 no. 1 hits in Norway (97 weeks at no. 1). (VG)
* 20 no. 1 hits in America (59 weeks at no. 1). (Billboard)
* 18 no. 1 hits in Denmark (104 weeks at no. 1). (Billboard & Musikmarkt & NME)
* 18 no. 1 hits in Germany (88 weeks at no. 1). (Bravo)
* 12 no. 1 hits in Germany (40 weeks at no. 1). (Hit Bilanz)
* 12 no. 1 hits in Germany (43 weeks at no. 1). (Amtage & Muller)
* 17 no. 1 hits in Britain (69 weeks at no. 1). (Record Retailer
* 16 no. 1 hits in Hong Kong (67 weeks at no 1). (Billboard)
* 15 no. 1 hits in New Zealand (35 weeks at no. 1). (The Listener 1966 onwards)
* 13 no. 1 hits in Ireland (47 weeks at no. 1).
* 13 no. 1 hits in Malaysia. (Billboard)
* 9 no. 1 hits in Spain (17 weeks at no. 1).
* 8 no. 1 hits in Zimbabwe (29 weeks at no. 1).
* 8 no. 1 hits in Switzerland (37 weeks at no. 1).
* 6 no. 1 hits in Austria (38 weeks at no. 1).
* 6 no. 1 hits in Belgium (22 weeks at no. 1).
* 5 no. 1 hits in Finland.
* 4 no. 1 hits in Italy (18 weeks at no. 1).
* 2 no. 1 hits in Ethiopia (98 weeks at no. 1)
on 22 Sep 2009 at 8:52 pm 132.GMan said …
You are letting your biased opinion get in the way of reality.
Pew Research performed a survey in August and discovered that The Beatles are still very popular. The Survey Results listed The Beatles at #1 and Michael Jackson at #4. This indicates that The Beatles are still more popular than Michael Jackson, even 40 years after they broke up. Paul McCartney is not going to get accused of child molestation, because he isn’t a pervert, so no problem there.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 9:06 pm 133.GMan said …
That status is not relevant in the world of music. What is relevant, is #1’s, Top 10’s, Top 40’s, Music Sold, Songwriting Ability, Airplay, Influence, Innovation and Quality of Instrumentalist. The Beatles dominate in each of these categories, hands down.
on 22 Sep 2009 at 9:12 pm 134.GMan said …
These are also relevant to the music industry.
The Beatles 20 #1 songs, Micheal Jackson 12.
The Beatles 19 #1 albums, Michael Jackson 6.
The Beatles 1.3 billion+ records sold, Michael Jackson 350 million+.
The Beatles 45 Gold, Michael Jackson 27.
The Beatles 39 platinum, Michael Jackson 17.
The Beatles 24 multi platinum, Michael Jackson 7.
The Beatles 6 Diamond, Michael Jackson 1.
Airplay
Over 8 Million Times
Yesterday – The Beatles
Over 6 Million Times
Michelle – The Beatles
Over 5 Million Times
Imagine – John Lennon
Something – The Beatles
Over 4 Million Times
Let It Be – The Beatles
Over 3 Million Times
Hey Jude – The Beatles
Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
Penny Lane – The Beatles
And I Love Her – The Beatles
The Long and Winding Road – The Beatles
on 22 Sep 2009 at 9:29 pm 135.GMan said …
UNITED WORLD CHARTS
Top Achievements / Albums
1. Beatles – Apple / Odeon / Capitol
2. Elvis Presley – RCA
3. Michael Jackson – Motown / Epic
4. Pink Floyd – Harvest / Columbia
5. Madonna – Sire / Maverick / Warner Bros.
6. Elton John – Rocket / MCA
7. Led Zeppelin – Atlantic / Swan Song
8. Rolling Stones – Decca / London / Rolling Stones / Virgin
9. U2 – Island
10. Queen – Elektra / EMI
on 22 Sep 2009 at 9:46 pm 136.GMan said …
UNITED WORLD CHARTS
The Official Global Hitlist
Alltime Track Chart – Top 100
Based on estimated global sales figures, chart
evaluations, airplay, various inquiries and the
personal intention from experts and reviewers.
Out of 100 – The Beatles had 16 songs on the list, George Harrison had 1 and John Lennon had 1. Michael Jackson had 2.
4. I Want To Hold Your Hand – Beatles
Parlophone / Capitol – 1963
5. Hey Jude – Beatles
Apple – 1968
11. Let It Be – Beatles
Apple – 1970
13. My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
Apple – 1970
23. Imagine – John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band
Apple – 1971
30. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
Epic – 1983
36. Penny Lane – Beatles
Parlophone / Capitol – 1966
37. Can’t Buy Me Love – Beatles
Parlophone / Capitol – 1963
39. Yesterday – Beatles
Parlophone / Capitol – 1965
41. We Can Work It Out – Beatles
Parlophone / Capitol – 1965
52. Get Back – Beatles
Apple – 1969
53. I Feel Fine – Beatles
Parlophone / Capitol – 1964
56. Help! – Beatles
Parlophone / Capitol – 1965
60. She Love’s You – Beatles
Parlophone / Capitol – 1963
65. All You Need Is Love – Beatles
Parlophone / Capitol – 1967
67. Come Together – Beatles
Apple – 1970
68. Hello Goodbye – Beatles
Parlophone / Capitol – 1967
72. Beat It – Michael Jackson
Epic – 1983
84. A Hard Day’s Night – Beatles
Parlophone / Capitol – 1964
86. Yellow Submarine – Beatles
Parlophone / Capitol – 1966
on 22 Sep 2009 at 10:06 pm 137.GOLU said …
1) History World Tour – Michael Jackson
2) Confessions Tour – Madonna
3) Bad World Tour – Michael Jackson
4) Dangerous World Tour – Michael Jackson
5) Victory Tour – Michael Jackson
6) Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour – Janet Jackson
7) Blond Ambition Tour – Madonna
9) The Onyx Hotel Tour – Britney Spears
10) Kiss Reunion Tour – Kiss
11) U2 Zoo TV Tour – U2
Pink Floyd 12) Dark Side of The Moon Tour – Pink Floyd
13) The Circus – Britney Spears
15) Taking Chances Tour -Celine Dion
16) Somewhere Back In Time Tour – Iron Maiden
My Chemical Romance 17) The Black Parade Is Dead – My Chemical Romance
18) Stripped And Justified Tour- Christina Aguilera And Justin Timberlake
19) 1984 World Tour – Van Halen
20) Pink – Funhouse Tour
on 22 Sep 2009 at 10:09 pm 138.GOLU said …
WHERE’S THE BEATLES??????????????????????????IF PEOPLE LOVED THEM WHY THEY DIDN4T GO TO SEE THEM LIVE?????????????
AND MJ IS THE BIGGEST SUPERSTAR OF OUR ERA HE HAS 4 TOURS IN THE TOP5 MAN
OH AND THIS THE LIST OF THE BIGGEST TOURS OF ALL TIME(IN TERMS OF AUDIENCE)
on 22 Sep 2009 at 11:45 pm 139.GMan said …
You see, that is what’s so great about The Beatles, they didn’t need to tour to promote their music. Their music sold itself mostly from airplay. They did put on concerts though as I will show you.
Michael Jackson was a very talented performer, but if there had been no MTV, Concerts or VH1, he would not have been seen around the world. A person had to watch Michael Jackson in order to appreciate his talent. So if you could have only listened to him on a radio, he wouldn’t have been as popular as he was. The Beatles were world famous just by people listening to them over the radio. They are still popular today and their songs are still being played and recorded by others.
List of The Beatles Concerts and Live Shows
1961
January
* Thursday 5th – Town Hall, Litherland, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Friday 6th – St. John’s Hall, Bootle, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Saturday 7th – Aintree Institute, Longmoor Lane, Aintree, Liverpool and Lathom Hall, Seaforth, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Friday 17th – Aintree Institute, Aintree, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Saturday 14th – Aintree Institute, Aintree, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Sunday 15th – The Casbah Coffee Club, West Derby, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Wednesday 18th – Aintree Institute, Aintree, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Thursday 19th – Alexandra Hall, College Rd, Crosby, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Friday 20th – Lathom Hall, Seaforth, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Saturday 21st – Lathom Hall, Seaforth, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Wednesday 25th – Hambleton Hall, Huyton, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Thursday 26th – Town Hall, Litherland, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Friday 27th – Aintree Institute, Aintree, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Saturday 28th – Lathom Hall, Seaforth, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Sunday 29th – Casbah Coffee Club, West Derby, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Monday 30th – Lathom Hall, Seaforth, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
February
* Wednesday 1st – Hambleton Hall, Huyton, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Thursday 2nd – Town Hall, Litherland, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Friday 3rd – St John’s Hall, Bootle (with Pete Best)
* Saturday 4th – Lathom Hall, Seaforth, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Sunday 5th – Blair Hall, Walton Rd, Walton, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Monday 6th – Lathom Hall, Seaforth, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Tuesday 7th – Merseyside Civil Service Club, Lower Castle Street, Liverpool (with Pete Best)
* Wednesday 8th – Aintree Institute, Aintree, Liverpool and Hambleton Hall, Huyton, Liverpool
* Thursday 9th – Cavern Club, Mathew Street, Liverpool
1963
TOUR OF SCOTLAND, 1963
3 January Two Red Shoes, Elgin
4 January Town Hall, Dingwall
5 January Museum Hall, Bridge of Allan
6 January Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen
UK DATES, January 1963
10 January Grafton Rooms, Liverpool
11 January Cavern Club, Liverpool
11 January Plaza Ballroom, Old Hill
12 January Invicta Ballroom, Chatham
14 January Civic Hall, Wirral
17 January Cavern Club, Liverpool
17 January Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead
18 January Floral Hall, Morecambe
19 January Town Hall, Whitchurch
20 January Cavern Club, Liverpool
23 January Cavern Club, Liverpool
24 January Assembly Hall, Flintshire
25 January Co-operative Hall, Darwen
26 January El Rio Club, Macclesfield
26 January King’s Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
27 January Three Coins Club, Manchester
28 January Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
30 January Cavern Club, Liverpool
1 February Assembly Rooms, Tamworth
1 February Maney Hall, Sutton Coldfield
HELEN SHAPIRO TOUR PART 1, 1963
2 February Gaumont, Bradford
BREAK IN TOUR
3 February Cavern Club, Liverpool
4 February Cavern Club, Liverpool
RESUME TOUR
5 February Gaumont, Doncaster
6 February Granada, Bedford
7 February Regal, Kirkgate
8 February ABC, Carlisle
9 February Empire, Sunderland
BREAK IN TOUR
12 February Astoria Ballroom, Oldham
13 February Majestic Ballroom, Hull
14 February Locarno Ballroom, Liverpool
15 February Ritz, Birmingham
16 February Carfax Assembly, Oxford
18 February Queen’s Hall, Widnes
19 February Cavern Club, Liverpool
20 February Swimming Baths, Doncaster
21 February Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead
22 February Oasis Club, Manchester
HELEN SHAPIRO TOUR PART 2
23 February Granada, Mansfield
24 February Coventry Theatre, Coventry
26 February Gaumont, Taunton
27 February Rialto, York
28 February Granada, Shrewsbury
1 March Odeon, Southport
2 March City Hall, Sheffield
3 March Gaurnont, Hanley
UK DATES, March 1963
4 March Plaza Ballroom, St. Helens
7 March Elizabethan Ballroom, Nottingham
8 March The Royal Hall, Harrogate
TOMMY ROE/CHRIS MONTEZ TOUR, 1963
9 March Granada, East Ham
10 March Hippodrome, Birmingham
12 March Granada, Bedford
13 March Rialto, York
14 March Gaumont, Wolverhampton
15 March Colston Hall, Bristol
16 March City Hall, Sheffield
17 March Embassy, Peterborough
18 March Regal, Gloucester
19 March Regal, Cambridge
20 March ABC, Romford
21 March ABC, Croydon
22 March Gaumont, Doncaster
23 March City Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
24 March Empire, Liverpool
26 March Granada, Mansfield
27 March ABC, Northampton
28 March ABC, Exeter
29 March Odeon, Lewisham
30 March Guildhall, Portsmouth
31 March De Montfort Hall, Leicester
UK DATES, Spring 1963
2 April Azena Ballroom, Sheffield
4 April Roxburgh Hall, Stowe
5 April Swimming Baths, Leyton, London
6 April Pavilion Gardens, Buxton
7 April Savoy Ballroom, Portsmouth
9 April Gaumont State Cinema, Kilburn, London
10 April Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead
11 April Co-operative Hall, Middleton
12 April Cavern Club, Liverpool
15 April Riverside Dancing Club, Tenbury Wells
17 April Majestic Ballroom, Luton
18 April Swimming Sound ’63, Royal Albert Hall, London
19 April King’s Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
20 April Mersey View Pleasure Grounds, Warrington
21 April NME Poll Winners Concert, Empire Pool, Wembley
21 April Pigalle Club, Piccadilly, London
23 April Floral Hall, Southport
24 April Majestic Ballroom, Finsbury Park, London
25 April Fairfield Hall, Croydon
26 April Music Hall, Shrewsbury
27 April Memorial Hall, Northwich
11 May Imperial Ballroom, Nelson
14 May Rink Ballroom, Sunderland
15 May Royalty Theatre, Chester
17 May Grosvenor Rooms, Norwich
ROY ORBISON/BEATLES TOUR, 1963
18 May Adelphi, Slough
19 May Gaumont, Hanley
20 May Gaumont, Southampton
22 May Gaumont, Ipswich
23 May Odeon, Nottingham
24 May Granada, Walthamstow
25 May City Hall, Sheffield
26 May Empire, Liverpool
27 May Capitol, Cardiff
28 May Gaumont, Worcester
29 May Rialto, York
30 May Odeon, Manchester
31 May Odeon, Southend-on-Sea
1 June Granada, Tooting
2 June Hippodrome, Brighton
3 June Granada, Woolwich
4 June Town Hall, Birmingham
5 June Odeon, Leeds
7 June Odeon, Glasgow
8 June City Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
9 June King George’s Hall, Blackburn
UK DATES, Summer 1963
10 June Pavilion, Bath
12 June Grafton Rooms, Liverpool
13 June Palace Theatre Club, Cheshire
13 June Southern Sporting Club, Manchester
14 June Tower Ballroom, New Brighton
15 June City Hall, Salisbury
16 June Odeon Cinema, Romford
21 June Odeon Cinema, Guildford
22 June Town Hall, Monmouthshire
25 June Astoria Ballroom, Middlesbrough
26 June Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
28 June Queen’s Hall, Leeds
30 June ABC Cinema, Great Yarmouth
5 July Plaza Ballroom, Old Hill
6 July Memorial Hall, Northwich
7 July ABC Theatre, Blackpool
8-13 July Winter Gardens, Margate
14 July ABC Theatre, Blackpool
19-20 July Ritz Ballroom, Flintshire
21 July Queen’s Theatre, Blackpool
22-27 July Odeon Theatre, Weston-super-Mare
28 July ABC Cinema, Great Yarmouth
31 July Imperial Ballroom, Nelson
2 August Grafton Rooms, Liverpool
3 August Cavern Club, Liverpool
4 August Queen’s Theatre, Blackpool
5 August Abbotsfield Park, Urmston
6-7 August The Springfield Ballroom, Jersey, Channel Islands
8 August Candie Gardens, Guernsey, Channel Islands
9-10 August The Springfield Ballroom, Jersey, Channel Islands
11 August ABC Theatre, Blackpool
12-17 August Odeon Cinema, Caernarvonshire
18 August Princess Theatre Torquay
19-24 August Gaumont Cinema, Bournemouth
25 August ABC Theatre, Blackpool
26-31 August Odeon Cinema, Southport
4 September Gaumont Cinema, Worcester
5 September Gaumont Cinema, Taunton
6 September Odeon Cinema, Luton
7 September Fairfield Hall, Croydon
8 September ABC Theatre, Blackpool
13 September Public Hall, Preston
14 September Memorial Hall, Northwich
15 September Great Pop Prom, Royal Albert Hall, London
BEATLES MINI-TOUR OF SCOTLAND, 1963
5 October Concert Hall, Glasgow
6 October Carlton, Kirkcaldy
7 October Caird Hall, Dundee
UK DATES, October 1963
11 October Trentham Gardens, Trentham
13 October London Palladium, London
15 October Floral Hall, Southport
19 October Pavilion Gardens Ballroom, Buxton
BEATLES TOUR OF SWEDEN, 1963
25 October Sundsta-aulan, Karlstad
26 October Kungliga Hallen, Stockholm
27 October Cirkus, Gothenburg
28 October Boråshallen, Borås
29 October Sporthallen, Eskilstuna
BEATLES AUTUMN TOUR, 1963
1 November Odeon, Cheltenham
2 November City Hall, Sheffield
3 November Odeon, Leeds
BREAK IN TOUR
4 November Royal Variety Show, Prince of Wales Theatre, London
RESUME TOUR
5 November Adelphi, Slough
6 November ABC, Northampton
7 November Adelphi, Dublin
8 November Ritz, Belfast
9 November Granada, East Ham
10 November Hippodrome, Birmingham
13 November ABC, Plymouth
14 November ABC, Exeter
15 November Colston Hall, Bristol
16 November Winter Gardens, Bournemouth
17 November Coventry Theatre, Coventry
19 November Gaumont, Wolverhampton
20 November ABC, Ardwick
21 November ABC, Carlisle
22 November Globe, Stockton-on-Tees
23 November City Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
24 November ABC, Hull
26 November Regal, Cambridge
27 November Rialto, York
28 November ABC, Lincoln
29 November ABC, Huddersfield
30 November Empire, Sunderland
1 December De Montfort Hall, Leicester
BREAK IN TOUR
2 December Grosvenor House Hotel, London
RESUME TOUR
3 December Guildhall, Portsmouth
BREAK IN TOUR
7 December Empire Theatre, Liverpool
RESUME TOUR
7 December Odeon, Liverpool
8 December Odeon, Lewisham
9 December Odeon, Southend-on-Sea
10 December Gaumont, Doncaster
11 December Futurist Theatre, Scarborough
12 December Odeon, Nottingham
13 December Gaumont, Southampton
END OF TOUR
14 December Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, London
THE BEATLES CHRISTMAS SHOW, 1963
21 December Christmas Show Preview, Gaumont Cinema, Bradford
22 December Christmas Show Preview, Empire Theatre, Liverpool
24 December The Beatles Christmas Show, Astoria Cinema, London
26-28 December The Beatles Christmas Show, Astoria Cinema, London
30-31 December The Beatles Christmas Show, Astoria Cinema, London
1964
1-4 January The Beatles Christmas Show, Astoria Cinema, London
5-11 January The Beatles Christmas Show, Astoria Cinema, London
END SHOW
12 January London Palladium, London
VISIT TO FRANCE, 1964
15 January Cinema Cyrano, Versailles
16 January – 4 February Olympia Theatre, Paris
[edit] Visit to the United States
09 February Ed Sullivan Show, CBS Television Studios, New York City
11 February Washington Coliseum, Washington DC
12 February Carnegie Hall, New York City
16 February Ed Sullivan Show, Deauville Hotel, Miami
RETURN TO UK, 1964
26 April NME Poll Winners Concert, Empire Pool, Wembley
29 April ABC Cinema, Midlothian
30 April Odeon Cinema, Glasgow
31 May Prince of Wales Theatre, London
THE WORLD TOUR, 1964
4 June K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark (With Jimmy Nicoll)
6 June Veilinghal, Blokker, The Netherlands
10 June Princess Theatre, Kowloon, Hong Kong
12-13 June Centennial Hall, Adelaide, Australia
15-17 June Festival Hall, Melbourne, Australia
18-20 June Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia
22-23 June Town Hall, Wellington, New Zealand
24-25 June Town Hall, Auckland, New Zealand
26 June Town Hall, Dunedin, New Zealand
27 June Majestic Theatre, Christchurch, New Zealand
29-30 June Festival Hall, Brisbane, Australia
UK & Sweden, Summer 1964
12 July Hippodrome Theatre, Brighton
19 July ABC Theatre, Blackpool
23 July The Night of a Hundred Stars, London Palladium, London
26 July Opera House, Blackpool
28-29 July Johanneshovs Isstadion, Stockholm
2 August Gaumont Cinema, Bournemouth
9 August Futurist Theatre, Scarborough
16 August Opera House, Blackpool
THE BEATLES’ FIRST US TOUR, 1964
19 August Cow Palace, San Francisco
20 August Convention Hall, Las Vegas
21 August Coliseum, Seattle
22 August Empire Stadium, Vancouver
23 August Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
26 August Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver
27 August The Gardens, Cincinnati
28-29 August Forest Hills Stadium, New York
30 August Convention Hall, Atlantic City
2 September Convention Hall, Philadelphia
3 September State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis
4 September Arena, Milwaukee
5 September International Amphitheatre, Chicago
6 September Olympia Stadium, Detroit
7 September Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto
8 September Forum, Montreal
11 September Gator Bowl Stadium, Jacksonville
12 September Boston Garden, Boston
13 September Civic Center, Baltimore
14 September Civic Arena, Pittsburgh
15 September Public Auditorium, Cleveland
16 September City Park Stadium, New Orleans
17 September Municipal Stadium, Kansas City
18 September Memorial Coliseum, Dallas
20 September Paramount Theater, New York
TOUR OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, Fall 1964
9 October Gaumont, Bradford
10 October De Montfort Hall, Leicester
11 October Odeon, Birmingham
13 October ABC, Wigan
14 October ABC, Manchester
15 October Globe, Stockton-on-Tees
16 October ABC, Hull
19 October ABC, Edinburgh
20 October Caird Hall, Dundee
21 October Odeon, Glasgow
22 October Odeon, Leeds
23 October Gaumont State Cinema, Kilburn
24 October Granada, Walthamstow
25 October Hippodrome, Brighton
28 October ABC, Exeter
29 October ABC, Plymouth
30 October Gaumont, Bournemouth
31 October Gaumont, Ipswich
1 November Astoria, Finsbury Park
2 November King’s Hall, Belfast
4 November Ritz, Luton
5 November Odeon, Nottingham
6 November Gaumont, Southampton
7 November Capitol, Cardiff
8 November Empire, Liverpool
9 November City Hall, Sheffield
10 November Colston Hall, Bristol
END OF TOUR
ANOTHER BEATLES CHRISTMAS SHOW, 1964
24 December Another Beatles Christmas Show, Odeon Cinema, London
25-26 December Another Beatles Christmas Show, Odeon Cinema, London
28-31 December Another Beatles Christmas Show, Odeon Cinema, London
[edit] 1965
1-2 January Another Beatles Christmas Show, Odeon Cinema, London
4-9 January Another Beatles Christmas Show, Odeon Cinema, London
11-16 January Another Beatles Christmas Show, Odeon Cinema, London
END SHOW
11 April NME Poll Winners Concert, Empire Pool, Wembley
[edit] 1965 tour of Europe
Main article: The Beatles 1965 European Tour
20 June Palais De Sports, Paris
22 June Palais d’Hiver, Lyon
24 June Velodromo, Milan
25 June Palazzo dello Sport, Genoa
27-28 June Teatro Adriano, Rome
30 June Palais des Fetes, Nice
2 July Plaza de Toros Las Ventas de Madrid, Madrid
3 July Plaza de Toros Monumental, Barcelona
END OF TOUR
1 August ABC Theatre, Blackpool
[edit] 1965 tour of the United States
Main article: The Beatles’ 1965 USA Tour
August 15 Shea Stadium, New York City
August 17 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto
August 18 Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta
August 19 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston
August 20 Comiskey Park, Chicago
August 21 Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington
August 22 Memorial Coliseum, Portland
August 28 Balboa Stadium, San Diego
August 29 Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
August 30 Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
August 31 Cow Palace, San Francisco
[edit] 1965 UK Tour
3 December Odeon, Glasgow
4 December City Hall, Newcastle
5 December Empire, Liverpool
7 December Apollo, Ardwick, Manchester
8 December City Hall, Sheffield
9 December Odeon, Birmingham
10 December Odeon Hammersmith
11 December Astoria, Finsbury Park
12 December Capitol, Cardiff
[edit] 1966
1 May NME Poll-Winners All-Stars Concert, Empire Pool, Wembley
TOUR OF GERMANY, JAPAN, and the PHILIPPINES, 1966
24 June Circus-Krone-Bau, Munich, Germany
25 June Grugahalle, Essen, Germany
26 June Ernst Merck Halle, Hamburg, Germany
30 June – 2 July Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan
4 July Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, Manila, Philippines
TOUR OF NORTH AMERICA, 1966
12 August International Amphitheatre, Chicago
13 August Olympia Stadium, Detroit
14 August Municipal Stadium, Cleveland
15 August D.C. Stadium, Washington DC
16 August Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia
17 August Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto
18 August Suffolk Downs Racetrack, Boston
19 August Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis
21 August Crosley Field, Cincinnati
21 August Busch Stadium, St Louis
23 August Shea Stadium, New York
25 August Seattle Coliseum, Seattle
28 August Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
29 August Candlestick Park, San Francisco
on 23 Sep 2009 at 7:35 pm 140.Jim said …
Golu….WOW!! What a fighter….heres a new press release for you from billboard. Whats amazing is the boxsets count as one unit….not 1 for each cd in them. If they were counted worldwide sales for just initial days would be over 4 million. Nobody died here. Just a band that hasn’t had a cup of coffe together in over 40 years. By the way…..who said the Beatles weren’t big worldwide. They just became (different release) the biggest selling pop/rock act in Korean history. Some of these records (acouple ) were recent ones made by MJ and now broken by the beatles.
BEATLES SHATTER GLOBAL SALES RECORDS & CHART HISTORY
Call it a hunch, but somehow we knew these newly remastered Beatles CDs would be a big deal.
Now the first week sales figures are in, and they’re a doozy. According to a press release from EMI, the band’s reissue campaign has smashed all previous global sales records. In the first five days of availability, Beatles fans snatched up 2.25 million CDs (both as individual discs, and multiple-disc box sets) in the U.S., England and Japan alone.
Here’s how the figures break down globally.
US: During the first five days of release, consumers purchased more than one million copies of re-mastered Beatles titles, and the individual CD and boxed sets debuted strongly across multiple Billboard charts.
Advertisement
On Billboard’s Comprehensive Albums chart, which lists the most popular album releases in the US, including current and catalogue titles, The Beatles set a new record for the most simultaneous titles by a single artist (18), including five of the top 10 and nine of the top 20.
On the Pop Catalog chart, The Beatles achieved another new Billboard chart first for the most simultaneous titles in the top 50 (16), a record they previously set themselves with 12 titles in December 1995. The Beatles have nine of the chart’s top 10 titles, and all 14 re-mastered CDs are in the top 20, led by ‘Abbey Road’ at number one and ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ at number two.
On the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, ‘The Beatles’ stereo boxed set debuted at number 15, and ‘The Beatles in Mono’ limited edition boxed set debuted at number 40.
UK: In last week’s chart, The Beatles had four titles in the top 10, seven in the top 40 and 16 in the top 75, including both the stereo and mono boxes, as well as 2000’s ‘Beatles 1’ compilation. This set a new record for the most simultaneous albums in the UK charts according to the UK Official Charts Company. In this week’s UK chart, The Beatles have 13 albums in the top 75. A further 84,000 CDs were sold last week, bringing their total sales of the remasters to more than 354,000 in 11 days and their total UK sales this decade to 6,755,000.
Japan: All 14 re-mastered titles and boxed sets debuted in the top 25 of the international chart, including seven of the top 10, led by the stereo boxed set at number two, the mono boxed set at number three, ‘Abbey Road’ at four and ‘Let It Be’ at six. Across all titles and box sets, more than 840,000 albums were purchased by consumers in Japan in the first three days of sales.
Canada: The Beatles have 15 of the top 20 catalogue titles including all of the top 11. The stereo boxed set is a new entry in the current albums chart at number four, the highest debut for a boxed set in Canada since Nielsen SoundScan started tracking sales. Cumulative sales across all titles were just under 160,000 over the counter.
France: All 14 of the re-mastered titles and boxed sets entered the latest album chart, including three in the top 10, led by ‘Abbey Road’ at number four, a new record for the most original studio albums in the French album chart in one week.
Italy: The Beatles have 17 titles in the current chart – all 14 re-mastered titles, the two boxed sets, plus the ‘1’ compilation, a record for the most simultaneous entries in the album chart.
Belgium: With 17 entries in the current chart – the 14 re-mastered titles, two boxed sets and ‘1’ compilation – The Beatles have set a new record for the most simultaneous albums in the Belgian chart as confirmed by chart compiler Ultrapop.
Sweden: The Beatles have 16 titles simultaneously in the top 60, led by ‘Abbey Road’ at number six. Local industry body IFPI have confirmed that this is a record for the Swedish charts.
Argentina: Seven of the current top 10 albums are Beatles re-masters, led by ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band at number two, ‘Abbey Road’ at number three and ‘The Beatles’ (The White Album) at number four. All 14 re-mastered titles are in the top 20 and the boxed sets are at numbers 73 and 74 in the chart.
Spain: 13 Beatles albums plus both boxed sets debuted in the latest chart, a record for a single artist. The combined sales of the boxed sets places them at number four in the chart.
Poland: All 14 re-mastered albums and two boxed sets debuted in the current top 100, led by ‘Abbey Road’ at six. This is a record for the highest number of simultaneous entries in the Polish chart.
Switzerland: 14 Beatles titles, including the stereo boxed set, debuted in the most recent album chart, a record for the most simultaneous titles in the album chart.
Denmark: The latest album chart includes 15 re-mastered Beatles titles, plus the ‘1’ compilation, including four of the top 20.
Australia: The Beatles have 14 titles in the current chart, including the ‘1’ compilation.
Germany: The combined sales of the stereo and mono boxed sets, with one boxed set counted as one unit sale, places them as the number three best seller in the latest chart.
Austria: The current top 75 contains 12 re-mastered titles plus the stereo boxed set.
Portugal: The re-mastered titles occupy 11 places in the current top 30 album chart, including three of the top 10.
Norway: The combined stereo and mono boxed sets debut at number three with a further 12 re-mastered titles in the top 100.
Colombia: Half of the current top 10 albums are Beatles re-masters titles.
Korea: During the first sales week The Beatles occupied 16 of the top 17 spots in Korea’s Hottracks album chart.
on 23 Sep 2009 at 7:47 pm 141.GOLU said …
Your stats confirm only that THE BEATLES WERE JUST SINGLES SELLERS,
MICHAEL JACKSON HAD QUALITY AND 5 OF HIS ALBUMS SOLD MORE THAN 20 MILLIONS WORLWIDE,
THE BEATLES HAD JUST 2 WHICH SOLD MORE THAN 20 MILLIONS WORLWIDE
ELVIS AND THE BEATLES WRE BOTH JUST SINGLES SELLERS NOT ALBUMS SELLERS
THE BEATLES COULDN’T PERFORM THAT’S WHY THEY DIDN’T MAKE A WORLD TOUR,GEORGE HARRISON WERE MEDIOCRE GUITARIST AND COULD ONLY PLAY IN STUDIO,HE ALSO COULD’T MAKE PHENOMENAL SOLOS LIKE JIMI PAGE OR DAVID GILMOUR,THE BEATLES ALSO COULDN’t SING,THEY MADE GOOD MUSIC BUT THEY WERE VERY LIMITED REGARDING TALENT
on 23 Sep 2009 at 8:52 pm 142.Jim said …
Golu…………you are in la la land…….you obviousely didnt read the entry above your last, a press article from TODAY. And once again your wrong. The Beatles hated single’s, thought they were a ripp off……and they could have released many many more………and had even more number ones but choose not to. They liked the LP, some of which had no singles from them. The Beatles stopped performing because of Beatlemania, because of the crowds no one could hear them when they played, they couldn’t hear themselves. They were writers & musicians….in the 2 years, yes just two years after they stopped endlessly touring, they released the 3 albums in which historically most rock critics agree changed rock/popular music forever. They were Revolver, Rubber Soul and Sgt. Pepper. (Not bad for “limited talent”) The Beatles, unlike most recording artists constantly got better, their last album many believe, Abbey Road, was their best. I can tell by what you say, you know very little about rock and roll and pre- MJ era. Its to bad, it was an era like no other.
you say “THE BEATLES ALSO COULDN’t SING,THEY MADE GOOD MUSIC BUT THEY WERE VERY LIMITED REGARDING TALENT”
Well thank god MJ owned part of those “limited talent” guys catalog. It kept him off the streets…literally.
Amazing how such untalented guys could create, write and record…in just a little over 6 years the most valuable sought after catolog of music ever made. Whacha think about that, put that in yer pipe and smoke it.
on 24 Sep 2009 at 2:56 am 143.carlos said …
im sorry but you are just another ignorant, how can u say that george was a mediocre guitarrist and he only played good in a studio!
that’s not true and that show me that you are just a simple and ignorant mj fan.
i can say that mj was a mediocre singer because his voices wasnt the same in studio an in concert! (listening the few concerts where he sang live and wasnt lipsynched)
on 24 Sep 2009 at 4:54 pm 144.Jeff said …
GMAN, where are you getting those bogus beatles stats from? There is no way you or anyone can confirm that the beatles has sold 1.3 billion albums…thats jokes, beatles have sold 1.3 billion and MJ has sold 350 mil? Haha Might as well say the beatles has sold a gajillion zillion albums like how dr. evil says it in Austin Powers…you honestly think the equivalent of 1 in every 5 people have bought a beatles album? If you believe that then you cant tell your one dumba**
Both the Bealtes and MJ were influential but I give the edge to MJ because of Ive seen beatles, elvis and MJ concerts and let me tell ya no musician have i seen more people in shock then MJ’s, the fans used to faint in dozens just to be in his present during his concerts
on 24 Sep 2009 at 9:20 pm 145.Jim said …
I think the 1.3 billion is excessive to. However, what jeff says just simply reaffirms what becomes obvious after talking to many MJ fans. They know very little about the Beatles, their history and worldwide popularity. Then again, how could they, many weren’t even born yet or way to youn to have any memory about them.
Jeff says “i seen more people in shock then MJ’s, the fans used to faint in dozens just to be in his present during his concerts”
Jeff must of missed something…same thing with beatles. Ambulances, cops catching people hitting the ground, fainting, histerics – that was “Beatlemania” it was infact why the Beatles stopped touring, it became impossible to play.
By the way…cultural effect has nothing to do with record sales or fainting. Bob dylan has had a massive cultural effect – and has so so sales and no hysteria at concerts. MJ has had a huge cultural effect on Dance. As for the Beatles – near EVERY major university including harvard, yale, penn state and others hav classes specifically on the cultural effect and musical style of the Beatles. Yes “specifically” on the Beatles – am aware of none on MJ…….that may say something.
on 24 Sep 2009 at 9:21 pm 146.GOLU said …
Carlos,sorry but the ignorant is you,MJ had incredible range,even in the concerts,you should watch more videos from BAD WORLD TOUR and DANGEROUS WORLD TOUR to increase your musical knowledge,he was THE GREATEST AND MOST POPULAR PERFORMER OF ALL TIME(referring to stats),and maybe if you watched 2 or 3 MJ’s videos where his voice weren’t that incredible,it’s just cause he made a long series of concerts and then he tired,that’s it
MICHAEL JACKSON IS THE GREATEST AND COOLEST LEGEND EVER LIVED
RIP KING OF POP
on 24 Sep 2009 at 9:26 pm 147.GOLU said …
the album SGT PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND IS THE MOST OVERRATED ALBUM IN HISTORY OF MUSIC,it always tops lists of most overrated albums ever,GOOGLE THE MOST OVERRATED ALBUMS OF ALL TIME,and you will see what I’m talking about
on 25 Sep 2009 at 3:06 am 148.carlos said …
just one word for you, IGNORANT.
on 25 Sep 2009 at 3:14 am 149.carlos said …
you are crazy man, but HE IS NOT THE BEST OR GREATEST PERFORMER ALL TIME.
If u want to see a great performer just see some videos of freddie mercury or elvis presley, mj ofcourse was a great performer but he depended much of technology to make his concerts and dancers backed him up all time.
mj is known too to be THE KING OF LIPSYNCH, and he did that in most of his concerts.
you ares just a fan man, the facts say that mj was great but NOT THE GREATEST.
THE GREATEST ARTIST EVER LIVE ON THIS EARTH WERE THE BEATLES AND STILL ARE, no one could, can or will be able to do and achive what they did.
on 25 Sep 2009 at 3:24 am 150.carlos said …
thank you for teaching me something new about the beatles.
on 25 Sep 2009 at 3:53 am 151.carlos said …
by 1972 the beatles had sold 550 millions of records ( source: BILLBOARD MAGAZINE)
It was 1972, 37 years ago so by 2009 they easy have more than a billion of records sold.
SONY state that mj just sold 350 millions records worldwide. once he died everything came out to light.
on 25 Sep 2009 at 1:01 pm 152.GOLU said …
man,your stats are wrong they can’t sell more than him,The Beatles never sold 1 billion and it’s clearly exagereted
and SONY said that MJ sold 1 billion(exagereted too)not 350 millions
the credible stats:
MJ:more than 750 millions
The Beatles:more than 600 millions
on 25 Sep 2009 at 3:15 pm 153.tommy said …
Golu are you smoking crack? you must be if you think MJ has sold more than the Beatles. you lost all credibility when you started believing any website that claims sgt. peppers overrated. you haven’t provided any credible stats only made up numbers. the latest RIAA numbers (7/04/09) – which are for the U.S. only and the only official tally of record sales in the U.S. – list the Beatles on top with 170 million, 2. Garth Brooks 128 million 3. Elvis Presley 119, 4. Led Zeppelin 111.5 million and 5. The Eagles 100 million.
a strong argument can be made that the performer with the highest number of sales is Paul McCartney – add 170 million certified for the Beatles + 15 million solo + 16 million with Wings and you get 201 million certified for the U.S.
on 25 Sep 2009 at 4:14 pm 154.carlos said …
you are funny,
the beatles sold by 1972 nearly 550 millions and the source is BILLBOARD MAGAZINE.
Did you know where that inflated 750 millions come from?
that famous and overblown 750 millions came from mj publisher in 2006 when he told in a letter to mj’s fan club that he had exceeded the 750 millions, BUT THAT’S IS TOTALLY FALSE.
Now that hi is dead many information came out to light and we know that he just sold 350 millions LESS THAN ABBA.
on 26 Sep 2009 at 1:08 am 155.GOLU said …
1)RIAA concerns US only,he destroyed them worlwide
2)Carlos you became crazy saying ABBA outsold him,this can’t be possible,
3)The Beatles can’t outsell MJ cause only Thriller sold more than Sgt Pepper’s,Abbey Road,The White Album,Rubber Soul and Revolver combined
4)Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia,so it isn’t 100% a credible reference
5)MJ had 5 albums that sold more than 20 millions(Thriller,Dangerous,Bad,Off The Wall and History),The Beatles just 2(Abbey Road and Sgt Pepper’s),so you can’t understand that logicly they didn’t outsell him.
6)He has 4 tours in the 20 biggest tours ever,The Beatles 0
on 26 Sep 2009 at 2:36 am 156.carlos said …
well tell to RIAA, soundscan and other companies that state that beatles have sold more than any other artist, YOU CANT CHANGE IT, and worldwide beatles beat mj by far, where mj is not even in the second place.
wikipedia updates constantly and is a 99.9% accurate, if u say that it is free and anybody can put information there why you dont put the information you have!!! YOU CANT BECAUSE WHEN THAT INFORMATION IS CHECKED IT’S GONNA BE REJECTED.
who cares about the tours, the beatles without that are most succesful, sold much more and are known around the globe too.
YOU CANT CHANGE THE HISTORY.
on 26 Sep 2009 at 1:42 pm 157.Jeff said …
Jim,
Correction 1: I actually do know enough about both the Beatles and MJ to make a comment but I dont think you know much or care about MJ, here look at this clip , I didnt say the Beatles or Elvis didn’t have that type of hysteria and screaming from their fans but it doesnt compare to MJs concerts, the way people just dropped down in dozens as soon as he come on stage, just look at this clip it was like he was a god in human form to his fans, ive never seen a beatles concert with this type of fan hysteria, prove me wrong:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhKhGDqCeVg
Correction 2: the Bealtles didnt stop touring only because of screaming fans, they stopped for a few reasons including hate and death threats from fans because of “bigger than Jesus” comment and “Yoko Ono”
on 26 Sep 2009 at 3:30 pm 158.carlos said …
This is the only reason some mj fans write some silly things: IGNORANCE.
Jim, there are videos on youtube where u can see the hysteria, people faiting etc with beatles, so just look it up and you will see.
Any big star provoque hysteria, i see videos of Metallica provoquing Hyteria in his concerts (see on youtube), so what u wrote is not true.
The beatles provoqued something called BEATLEMANIA something that mj or any other artist have never tasted and is something more than a simple hyteria in a concert.
see these videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPJmoVzSMfw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyrs5uR-nwc&feature=PlayList&p=C8315A6A27ADAB55&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=24
TELL ME IF MJ OR ANY OTHER ARTIST WAS CAPABLE TO PROVOQUE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
The answer is: NO ONE
on 26 Sep 2009 at 7:49 pm 159.tommy said …
do you have a credible source to back up this claim? Or did you get this information from the same crackhead sites that golu visits?
Quote from George Martin:
“Sgt. Pepper started because of their being fed up with touring and they wanted to spend more time in the recording studio.”
The Beatles last concert was on August 29, 1966 in San Francisco. Lennon met Yoko on November 9, 1966, so Yoko was not a factor. Try Again.
on 27 Sep 2009 at 2:16 am 160.carlos said …
People fainted, cry and do many crazy things with big stars, i sow hysteria in a concert of Metallica, rolling stone and others artist, people fainting etc, but what Beatles provoqued was Betlemania that is bigger that a simpe hysteria and earther mj or others artists have never experienced.
Tell me if mj or other artists provoqued something like these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPJmoVzSMfw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyrs5uR-nwc&feature=PlayList&p=C8315A6A27ADAB55&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=24
THE ANSWER IS: NO ONE
on 28 Sep 2009 at 7:46 am 161.GOLU said …
Carlos,are you crazy???hhhhhhhhhhh,The Beatles the best live ever???you’re really ridiculous,and MJ didn’t use lypsinch all the time,in the Bad World Tour he didn’t lypsynch,and in Dangerous World Tour he used lypsinch in few of his songs
Michael Jackson is The Greatest Legend Of Our Era
on 01 Oct 2009 at 2:11 am 162.Ashwini said …
GOLU, what in God’s name is wrong with you?
What the hell is your age?
And what the 4k is your problem?
I’ll bet you were born after 1980(and before you can knock me on my age, let me tell you I was born in 1987).
I’ll bet you’re one of those people who’ve jumped on MJ’s bandwagon after he died.
Switch your damn TV and PC off.
Put Thriller and any one of The Beatles’ albums on your CD player, STFU, close your eyes and LISTEN! You’re heart will take you home. The Beatles are, quite simply, the greatest EVER.
(I’ll make it easier for you, listen to While My Guitar Gently Weeps and compare it with any MJ song.)
And for God’s sake don’t start with excuses like only White people or people in the US and UK like The Beatles.
I’m Indian and I’ve been listening to The Beatles for only the last 1 year. I was a huge MJ fan from 1994 and remember going nuts when he came here in 1995 or 1996. But even then, I realised that it was his incredible dancing skills that attracted such a mad fan following. That he was a lip-syncer was blindingly obvious.
I had the same attitude towards The Beatles before I heard them. Now I KNOW that they’re the greatest ever. Use your pea-brain and digest this-The Beatles are going to be the highest selling act in the 1st decade of the 21st century (2001-2010) and that is even after the mass hype and hysteria generated after MJ’s death that lead to sales of his album. He was basically a forgotten star before he died(God rest his soul) and will be completely forgotten by June 25th 2010.
on 01 Oct 2009 at 1:15 pm 163.jake said …
ashwini,
“MJ will be completely forgotten by June 25th 2010″
is that so? you think the greatest entertainer of all time
will be just “forgotten” in 2 years??? your trying to correct someone else buy saying BS like this? let me tell ya something , you speak nothing but non sense…
why do you use your opinion to convince others that thats what it is?
if you like a certain beatles song you think everyone should like it more than any other MJ song, how far do you think you can go with that? you have your own taste in music and others have their own! damn you kids are so f in stupid.
on 10 Oct 2009 at 3:04 pm 164.______________ said …
@Dylan –
Dylan, just because Michael Jackson wasn’t a musician didn’t make him musically competent. I hate to use an archetypal MJ song as an example, but Billie Jean has one of the greatest Bass riffs of all time. And it was ALL Michael, he didn’t need to play bass to come up with a riff like that. To say his dancing was used to elevate his songs is idiotic. When people bought his records in the stores there weren’t dancing holograms that shot out the covers screaming “buy my music”. His dancing (not to mention his genius and creativity when it came to stage organization and overall concert production) DID help make him one of the greatest, if not THE greatest live performer of all time. And what’s the point of pulling Rolling Stone magazine lists out your ass. Rolling Stones magazine is one of the most biased magazines when it comes to lists like the ones they have. Although I’m extremely pleased that The Beatles dominate both the greatest albums and greatest songs list, it’s hard to deny they aren’t biased. Look at their greatest singers of all time list! They put BOB DYLAN ahead of Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Little Richard, Robert Plant, Freddie Mercury and dozens of other singers who’s voices whip Dylan’s any day. So to bring up any of their lists in any argument is a waste of time. Michael Jackson has written many songs by himself, with producers, and his brothers. Plus what some are saying hundreds he wrote by himself that he recorded, but never released. Bringing up random stats doesn’t prove shit. Michael wrote 9 of 11 tracks on Bad, while Lennon/McCartney penned 8 of 14 on both Please Please Me and Beatles for Sale. What does that prove, that on that one particular album Michael wrote alot, and on those two particular albums The Beatles did quite a few covers. AND???? Michael didn’t HAVE to perform to promote his music, and to imply that he did his ignorant or your part. Michael was blessed to be a performer in the 80s when the overall aspect of touring was much more advanced than when The Beatles did. Michael had up to date equipment, he never had a plane crash scare, security was much more beefed up for artists of the 80s than in the 60s, etc, etc. The fact that they didn’t have to tour to promote their music IS a testament to how great The Beatles are. But that doesn’t in ANY way prove Michael HAD to tour. As for the people each artist influenced, what can I say. You made the great point in saying The Beatles influenced a great deal of artists that followed them. That’s 1000000% true. As it is for Michael. Michael came out in the 80s, so who did he have left to influence, all the crap artists now. If Michael had been an artist of 60s he would’ve had the chance to influence the great artists of the 60s and the 70s. The point was that Michael influenced alot of artists of 80s, 90s, and present day. No matter how crappy the majority of them are. That being said, I’ll get off my soap box.
Comparing The Beatles and Michael Jackson is in no way ever going to be done on an unbiased viewpoint. Just like comparing The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson and Prince, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, John Bonham and Keith Moon, James Jamerson and John Entwhistle, Elton John and Billy Joel, The Ramones and The Clash, The Who and The Doors, Bob Dylan and Neil Young, Barry White and Teddy Pendegrass, James Brown and Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke, etc. Unless you can take people who’ve honestly never heard of either artist to judge them, nobody can present a valid decision as to which artist is better. The Beatles have influenced countless artists and will continue to influence, just as Michael has influenced countless artists and will continue to influence. But let the record show that they have influenced artists in different ways. Michael Jackson is a very capable songwriter, as it has been mentioned: He’s not in the songwriters hall of fame for nothing. But push comes to shove, John and Paul WERE the better songwriters, Michael wouldn’t have denied that. So when it comes to influencing future songwriters, The Beatles will take the lead. On the other hand, The Beatles were phenomenal showmen, and entertained their audiences into a frenzy. But push comes to shove, Michael Jackson was the consumate entertainer. It should be noted that YES Michael performed in a much more technologically advanced day and age than The Beatles, but look at Paul’s concerts. YES he’s great, but not in the way Michael was. For crying out loud during the Dangerous Tour he did Magic tricks and optical illusions on stage! That might not be your kind of thing, but for the people there watching it, it was breathtaking. So in the future, Michael will perform more people when in comes to performing. So unless you have time to pick apart the millions of ways an artist can be influenced, it’s obvious that it’s more of a tie. If ANYONE thinks there’s an OBVIOUS winner, they’re biased. And you can’t and shouldn’t trust a biased opinion, because biased opinions don’t tell the whole story. Because I have such a strong love and appreciation (or obsession) for both The Beatles and Michael Jackson, I couldn’t choose one over the other without feeling as if I neglected the other. And that’s my own, (long and angry) opinion.
on 12 Oct 2009 at 4:49 pm 165.carlos said …
well in the 80’s there was a rumor about that bass, and the rumor said that mj copied that bass from the song “i cant go for that” of daryl hall.
the bass part of those two songs are very very similar but the song of daryl hall came out 2 years prior to billy jean.
on 12 Oct 2009 at 8:22 pm 166.Riley said …
The Beatles have been dead for forty years and are still this decade second highest selling act. Let’s see after 5-10 what happens to Michael Jackson staying power. Then M.J fans can have something to say. Right now just mourn and celebrate Michael with class. The Beatles already have proved their worth and have nothing to prove. Musically it’s not even debatable the Beatles even had an influence on jazz music with their songs and sometimes full albums done by jazz musicians. No rock or pop artist can even say that.
The Beatles at first influenced an entire generation to add glorious and sometimes unorthodox harmonies into rock. Of course this influenced the start of the British Invasion and folkies like the Byrds and the Grateful Dead.
The Beatles in general were an influence on metal and on all late’-60s and early-’70s rock styles, and you could say the same for virtually all the classic ’60s rock groups. Draw a line from Cream to the Moody Blues to King Crimson…and so forth. Progressive Rock came out and the Beatles was a decisive factor in the evolution, whose post-’Rubber Soul work was certainly trying to advance rock’s sonic vocab. The Rolling Stones were at one point were always behind the Beatles at this point. But that’s not to say the Rolling Stones did not influence the Beatles.
Heavy Metal came out of the idea that rock had to be progressive, and if the heavy British and American blues-rock of the late ’60s came from that I’d say “Helter Skelter” and “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” was an influence. What’s amazing is that kind of heavy rock was not really the Beatles strong point.
on 18 Oct 2009 at 10:52 am 167.Granted said …
There is no doubt that the beatles are and will continue to be the most influential act in the history of rock music. As one very young record salesman said to me the other day that their music is great to listen to and to sing along with. Their music encompasas all forms and styles as they progressed in developing their musical repetroire.
on 21 Oct 2009 at 10:21 pm 168.Rich said …
To say that Michael Jackson did what he did alone is simply idiotic. He had a ridiculous number of people working with him to make his music as successful as it became. Who did the Beatles have? Pretty much just each other. I also think The Beatles will end up killing Michael Jackson in long term appeal and I agree the fact that they are still popular forty years after their break up is huge. I doubt Michael Jackson will be as popular forty years from now as The Beatles are today.
on 27 Oct 2009 at 12:17 am 169.Jebus said …
I don’t know why this argument always goes into album sales, but if album sales were a true measure of how great and influential an artist was that would mean that Eminem and Garth Brooks are some of the two most influential American artists of all time. This isnt’ true by ANY means.
Both are highly influential and both are pretty damn good. Michael did have the ultimate crossover appeal where the Beatles didn’t though. No matter how much you try to argue this down, you can not. It’s very rare that you hear The Beatles influences in rap, hip-hop, soul, funk, dance, and R&B. This is where Michael BEATS THEM, b/c Michael has also influenced a lot of rock and pop acts as well. Not only his music, but his dancing/performances/music videos. He will be remembered for all that. Saying that he will be ‘forgotten’ by next year is highly underestimating his 40+ year imprint on pop culture.
Anyone who can sell out 50+ shows in 4 hours w/o having released an album in almost 10 years or have performed in 10+ years isn’t just ‘one hit wonder’ or just going to forgotten in like one year. That’s stupid and the person who claimed that is an idiot.
on 03 Nov 2009 at 6:17 pm 170.scorp said …
If John or Paul were so good they would have flourished as a solo artists after the break up instead it was the opposite. Michael Jackson was so talented that he became a star when he was a child! not a teenager but a child!, and single-handedly carried his band the Jackson5 to stardom as a black child in the 1960’s, and as a solo artist the rest is history. Just to drop this bit of information on you guys Michaels 1st number one single I Want You Back at age 11 was originally written for Gladys Knight & the Pips and latter Diana Ross think about that one as well.
on 03 Nov 2009 at 6:22 pm 171.scorp said …
Michael has been popular since 1969 so what are you talking about.
on 04 Nov 2009 at 10:24 am 172.tommy said …
You should do more research and quit exposing your ignorance.
Paul McCartney Achievements
* Appears in the Guinness Book of Records several times.
o Sir Paul McCartney became the Most Successful Songwriter who has written/co written 188 charted records, of which 91 reached the Top 10 and 33 made it to No.1 totaling 1,662 weeks on the chart (up to the beginning of 2008)
91 top 10 songs.
o “Yesterday” listed as the most covered song in history with over 3000 existing versions
o The most successful popular-music composer and recording artist ever with sales of 100 million singles and 60 gold discs
o The largest stadium audience in history when 184,000 paid to see him perform at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro in April 1990
o The fastest ticket sales in history, which took place in 1993 when 20,000 tickets for 2 shows in Sydney, Australia sold out in eight minutes
* The only artist to have UK number one singles as a soloist (“Pipes of Peace”), and part of a duo (“Ebony and Ivory” with Stevie Wonder), trio (“Mull of Kintyre” with Wings), quartet (“She Loves You”, among many others, with The Beatles), quintet (“Get Back” The Beatles with Billy Preston) and sextet (“Let It Be” Ferry Aid). He was also a member of charity ensemble Band Aid which had a UK number one with Do They Know It’s Christmas?
* “Yesterday” was confirmed as world’s most popular song with over 6,000,000 airplays in the USA alone.
* Received an honorary Doctorate of Music from the University of Sussex.
* The first rock musician ever to receive Chile’s Order of Merit for “services to music, peace, and human understanding”.
* First recipient of the Swedish Polar Music Prize (“Nobel prize for music”).
* Between his work with the Beatles and as a solo artist and leader of Wings, McCartney has written or co-written more than 50 Top Ten singles. When combined with the Beatles’ 49 Top 40 U.S. singles, it is a matter of statistical fact that Paul McCartney is the most successful pop-music composer ever and the second greatest hitmaker, behind Elvis Presley.
* Is the richest rockstar in the world, with a personal fortune of £762 million pounds in 2004.
John Lennon Achievements
Lennon had a short solo career which produced 8 studio albums of which 3 were #1, 5 Gold, 1 2x Platinum, 1 3x Platinum. He took 5 years off to raise his son, returned in 1980 and wrote Double Fantasy in 2 weeks, which went to #1. He was on his way back to the top before his life was cut short.
on 11 Nov 2009 at 4:16 pm 173.Tom Vjestica said …
MJ all the way!
He was the complete package, he had it all and did it all! His influence is seen even today! New acts all inspired and influenced by him!
Pop music would not be the same if it wasnt for Michael Jacksons innovative and pioneering influence
on 11 Nov 2009 at 4:24 pm 174.romi said …
This poll is NOT WHO is the Most famous, its Who was MORE influential! And For me its MICHAEL JACKSON HANDS DOWN!
He BROKE,
1) the line BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE with HIS MUSIC!
2) He Broke ALL THE RECORDS EVEN SET BY The Beatles…(SOLD OVER 100 MILLION) One ONLY ONE ALBUM! The Betles have 35 Albums…Mike ONLY Has 6 ALBUMS!!!
3)HE WAS THE GOD OF DANCING! He influenced NOT ONLY Singers, But ALSO DANCERS (If you dont believe me, watch This is it-concert movie) All the dancers on there and others who auditioned were INFLUENCED BY HIM!
4) and If you wanna play the FAMOUS Card, HE IS THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON ON EARTH AND UNIVERSE! Go to Africa or a place with no Electricty and Ask Who The Beatles are…THEY WONT KONW THem…
But if you say the word MICHAEL JACKSON, THey’ll know it instantly!
5) And Be fair, Michael is only one person, while the Beatles are 4.
SO I REST MY CASE!!! MICHAEL JACKSON IS THE WINNER
on 11 Nov 2009 at 4:39 pm 175.Travis said …
@mike –
Haha not true, You Rock My World went to #10 in 2001 (8 years ago), and while Jackson has not had a top 10 hit in a while, neither have the Beatles. If you are arguing musical longevity then MJ would win. The Beatles had all their hits in 1 decade. MJ had his first Top 10 hit in 1969 ( I Want You Back) and his last in 2001 (You Rock My World). Thats a span of 32 years! MJ has affected so many artists in today’s generation and they all admit it. From Celine Deon to Beyonce to Justin Timberlake, MJ’s influence is staggering. He influenced fashion, music video, music, and so much more.
on 11 Nov 2009 at 7:51 pm 176.Minomi said …
They should not be compared for many reasons..But I am going with MJ, because his music touched the whole world…By experience I know that even the most remote countries know who Michael Jackson is, where Beatles are known in only the biggest countries…Anyone knows who MJ is and What he did…So far as the influence is concerned it has to be MJ considering the entire universe…It’s an obviious fact…
Children in every corner of the orld are doing the moonwalk atleast tryin to do it like MJ…
on 11 Nov 2009 at 7:52 pm 177.Minomi said …
Plus, there was only ONE Michael Jackson, and there were four Beatles..so they shouldn’t be compared..
on 11 Nov 2009 at 10:09 pm 178.shortrini said …
what the hell are you talking about
on 11 Nov 2009 at 10:22 pm 179.Tina said …
If the Beatles are more popular it’s because of Micheals named being dragged through the mud by certain people that wanted what he had. It really doesn’t matter because wasn’t Michael smart enough to buy the Beatles catalogue and so he made money from them so it’s good they were popular.
on 12 Nov 2009 at 7:53 am 180.Christina said …
the beatles is more popular than Michael jackson? all I can say is LOL!
only the old generation knows who the beatles are. But EVERYBODY knows who Michael jackson is. ’nuff said.
on 12 Nov 2009 at 2:18 pm 181.ASIS said …
LOL i just love how all the beatles fanboys are all over the place dissing MJ and then the poll shows entirely different results.
To say MJ was a mere “entertainer”, to say he had “average songs”, to say he didn’t even come close to the beatles is pure ignorance. Beatles have sold more albums, because they have DOUBLE the amount of Jackson’s albums! His 1991 album dangerous is more successful than ANY beatles album ever composed, and it’s not even his most successful one!
MJ was a pioneer when it came to dancing and preforming. To even have the audacity to shove them aside is mind boggling to me. His music is just as memorable as the beatles. Smooth criminal? Beat it? Billie jean? Black or white? Earth Song? Thriller? I could go on and on about his music and i know every single one here knows what I’m talking about.
I’m not saying beatles aren’t grand, they are. They revolutionized many musical genres. But MJ did it all.
It’s funny that the most successful rock single of all time is arguably black and white. And it’s not even MJ’s field.
on 12 Nov 2009 at 2:26 pm 182.ASIS said …
oh and on a side note. MJ and Beatles sold as much albums last year. Go figure!
on 12 Nov 2009 at 9:49 pm 183.Jen Smith xxx said …
No question… MICHAEL JACKSON, long live the KING of POP!
on 13 Nov 2009 at 10:50 pm 184.Diana Gutiérrez said …
Of course Michael Jackson, the best enterteiner of the world. He had and amazing voice, beatles wasn’t. He was a wonderful dancer, an incredible composer, a great person, a good actor and painter, etc. He is better than the Beatles in so many aspects. And if you want to compare records, he is the most sucessful artist of all the time (Records Guiness), best selling album, etc
on 14 Nov 2009 at 12:02 am 185.Mimarin said …
Michael Jackson is far more influencial than Beatles. In Japan and China MJ is the biggest artist of them all.
The Beatles are YESTERDAY
Michael Jackson is FOREVER!
PS
Michael Jackson won this poll did ‘nt he.
on 14 Nov 2009 at 5:58 am 186.romi said …
@Mimarin –
Indeed he WON the poll…Its mind boggling 2 me how They compare 4 men to ONE AMAZING MAN! Mike had the voice, dancing, creativity….and sooo many things more. the beatles ONLY Sung…NEVER Danced or tried to raise money for 3rd world countries. MIKE DID THAT!
So beatles fans, 1st get the info of Mike and see how his list is longer than the Beatles!
L.O.V.E.
R.
on 14 Nov 2009 at 6:40 am 187.simone said …
The Beatles wrote classics.
So did Michael Jackson (countless by the way).
The Beatles could not sing.
Michael Jackson could.
The Beatles could not dance.
Michael Jackson could.
The Beatles could not play an audience/ make a great performance.
Michael Jackson could.
The Beatles could not entertain.
Michael Jackson could.
The Beatles did not innovate film.
Michael Jackson did.
The Beatles were never charged with false allegations.
Michael Jackson was.
The Beatles never saw themselves faced with attempts to smear their reputation and image.
Michael Jackson did.
Go and listen to Michael Jackson’s album HIStory.
He was the greatest composer of all time and an artist in the truest sense.
The Beatles in the end are a very lame band with lame singing, lame shows and nice songs.
During his lifetime people tried hard to undermine Michael Jackson’s achievements but they stand for themselves and outshine EVERYTHING ever done by ANY musician.
Any Beatles fan who would witness Michael Jackson, Paul MacCartney and John Lennon together in a recording studio would CRINGE at the pure and obvious genius of Michael Jackson.
You would cry your eyes out and fall on your knees begging for forgiveness.
on 14 Nov 2009 at 6:40 am 188.Gugu said …
Cmon Michael broke all music records there are, he has numerous Guiness world records… He will be here forever and the Beatles I respect them but their time is over now
on 14 Nov 2009 at 6:50 am 189.simone said …
Oh, I forgot.
Michael Jackson was sexy as hell and sooooooooo handsome!!!
This certainly cannot be said of any of the Beatles…
Michael Jackson was PERFECT!!!!
on 14 Nov 2009 at 11:21 am 190.Carefreedo said …
Vote says it all. Michael Jackson by a million miles AND although many people try and make out the Beatles sold more records its utter crap. People estimate Michael Jackson sold well over a billion and then stopped counting. But whats important is whos goin to sell more in the future.
MJ THE TRUE KING
on 15 Nov 2009 at 1:43 am 191.susy said …
MJ’s music are sounds from heaven He’s the TRUE king!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bwahahahahah..
on 15 Nov 2009 at 3:28 pm 192.romi said …
DUDE! THE BEATLES SOLD MORE ALBUMS CUZ THEY GOT 35 ALBUMS…MICHAEL HAS 6-7 (SOLO) ALBUMS!!! BUT THE BEATLES NEVER SOLD OVER $100MILLON ON 1 ALBUM…MIKE WINS FOR THIS ONE Y’ALL…NO COMPETITION!!!
on 15 Nov 2009 at 4:48 pm 193.julie said …
in my opinion its michael jackson.
the way he’s influenced right about all musicians we have today, his style, his moves, musicvideos, his voice, everything! you can spot jackson in all of these new artists.
i have nothing against the beatles, they were in my opinion the greatest band ever. but michael wins this one
on 16 Nov 2009 at 4:08 am 194.Sarlott said …
Michael, He is King.They tries the same. He is unique .By influenced more.To me what he could, so many people try but he could.Michael is the number one and always will be. No one will ever be the same on.He is simply unique. ”This is born of the 1st century or 1 000 years, such as he is born only once“ Love you so much ? MIchael =)*
on 17 Nov 2009 at 1:06 am 195.MJKICKBEATLES said …
Here we go again..haha
Im sure some Beatles Fan only created this poll to degrade MJ’s legacy.Beatles weren’t tht influential and still today they are not.You go to any corner of this earth,you will find some Michael Jackson influence.I have seen Beatles Live and I have seen Michael Jackson Live,if anybody wanna see the difference between these two acts just buy few dvds of both MJ and Beatles and decide it by yourself.I can now understand why we have been bombarded with fact that Elvis is the King and Beatles were the greatest musical act of all time,it’s just cuz some racist retards in media don’t want any Black artist to be called the greatest of all time.I know many Beatles fans says that it has nothing to do about race but the reality is something else.Michael Jackson’s achievements are ignored both by media and critics cuz in their estimation only WHITE color of skin can produce greatest things in this world.Michael’s music is the main thing,thats the reason why people were always interested in The Man.He wasnt famous cuz of any controversies or allegations,it was his music that comes in the first place.And really he opened doors for all the U.S and U.K musicians to be heard overseas,I didnt know anybody before Michael Jackson.I love music cuz of Michael Jackson and there are millions out there who would say the same thing.
Beatles and Elvis fans there is a world outside USA and U.K,so if you dont know then go to the market and buy a world map.It might help you and your brain.Michael captured everyone,from general public of metro cities to general public in small village.Mike is known everywhere but I dont even hear anything about BEatles or Elvis.
And thats the reason why he is more influential,he proved how magical music can be..How much emotion could go into music and at that age of 11.Thats just miracle people,I dont even see that kind of talent in Paul,even if you compare him to little Michael.He is Artist at soul,nothing artificial just simple pur music with so much longetivity.
I hope form now on these Beatles fans will stop making these kind of stupid polls..And we can see double standards here also,if Michael wins then Beatles fans says these kind of polls means nothing but if BEatles wins then they will keep it as a record.Now for those kind of people these 3 words were made “TWO FACED SNAKES”
All Hail to THE REAL KING!!!!
on 17 Nov 2009 at 2:05 am 196.Str8 G said …
@MJKICKBEATLES –
Um, yeah. Clearly you haven’t looked at the rest of the blog. If you did, you wouldn’t have assumed that I was a Beatles fan. Either way, I’m not sure how you got that from the poll.
Good points though,
Str8 G
on 17 Nov 2009 at 9:48 am 197.tommy said …
Comparing Michael Jackson to The Beatles, knowing the quantity of quality songs The Beatles produced in only 7 years compared to what MJ did in his whole career is just plain silly. What is amazing, is the influence and effect The Beatles had on people around the world with just their music and no videos. Michael Jackson HAD to accompany every album with an elaborate and expensive display of showmanship in music videos, tours etc. because if had to rely on airplay alone, he wouldn’t have been nearly as successful.
I can fill this page and more with great songs that The Beatles produced in just 7 years, you can’t say the same for MJ. The Beatles have sold more albums. They have more #1 songs and more #1 albums. What is relevant, is #1s, Top 10s, Top 40s, Music Sold, Songwriting Ability, Airplay, Influence, Innovation and Instrumentalist Abilities. The Beatles dominate in each of these categories, hands down.
The Beatles are great all over the world, not just in Britain and USA.
26 no. 1 hits in Australia (130 weeks at no. 1). (David Kent)
22 no. 1 hits in Sweden (95 weeks at no. 1). (Kvallstoppen)
18 no. 1 hits in Sweden (69 weeks at no. 1). (Tio i Topp)
21 no. 1 hits in The Netherlands (95 weeks at no. 1).
21 no. 1 hits in Norway (97 weeks at no. 1). (VG)
20 no. 1 hits in America (59 weeks at no. 1). (Billboard)
17 no. 1 hits in Britain (69 weeks at no. 1). (Record Retailer
16 no. 1 hits in Hong Kong (67 weeks at no 1). (Billboard)
15 no. 1 hits in New Zealand (35 weeks at no. 1). (The Listener 1966 onwards)
13 no. 1 hits in Ireland (47 weeks at no. 1).
13 no. 1 hits in Malaysia. (Billboard)
9 no. 1 hits in Spain (17 weeks at no. 1).
8 no. 1 hits in Zimbabwe (29 weeks at no. 1).
8 no. 1 hits in Switzerland (37 weeks at no. 1).
6 no. 1 hits in Austria (38 weeks at no. 1).
6 no. 1 hits in Belgium (22 weeks at no. 1).
5 no. 1 hits in Finland.
4 no. 1 hits in Italy (18 weeks at no. 1).
2 no. 1 hits in Ethiopia (98 weeks at no. 1)
on 17 Nov 2009 at 10:12 am 198.RJ said …
Michael Jackson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JUST LOOK HOW MUCH MJ COPYCATS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY TODAY!
on 17 Nov 2009 at 11:00 am 199.beilimj said …
I’m chinese,
in china ,80% of people know MJ, 20%people know THE BEATLES
in china ,10% of people are MJ fans, 0.001% of people are THE BEATLES
fans
OVER…..
on 17 Nov 2009 at 11:13 am 200.Candlehisoka said …
the vote itself is meaningless, why not compare Picaso and Vinci?simply compare the two most infulencial musicians in late 20th centries is silly. however, I have to say the host is a hardcore Beatles fan and try to upgrade your idol to upmatch the greatest entertainer of alltime, Michael Jackson?Beatles achievements can be spotted in country and rock, and MJ’s influence is in every single category, from blue to pop, from vocal to b-box, not mention his contribution to the music video, the milestone of the music new mediation.
the people who state “The Beatles are great all over the world”, just simply blanking out Asia. even in Europe, where MJ is undermined, the fans sites are more than Beatles, check the facebook, mate.
on 17 Nov 2009 at 12:15 pm 201.Jing said …
I think that the MJ music has affected my lifetime! Make I see it truns out that music can such. His all have affected me , have shaken me?
MJ is tied in wedlock consummately with all instrument , tonality! Listen to his music, I can forget everything! He be like that outstanding forever! He this estate pushes music to another peak! !
He holds dance with music film , him, he melting being able to think of with everything has entered the music lining entering him , he has been a all-powerful versatile person , I had never seen a such people , can not have forever also hereafter! !
He has created unique Michael Jackon music for voices in a Chinese opera! ! His sound be to be rich in creativeness like that! ! Change-over being be like that consummate! !
I think that he has shaken music deeply! ! I love MJ forever! !
Say a mention in passing: MJ is turned over have sung B4 one “Come togeter ” I think that MJ deduces much better!
on 17 Nov 2009 at 1:10 pm 202.Gertu said …
First of all excuse me my poor english, as it’s not my mother language, but I think the best way to look at this is this way: to whom will the younger generations from the 90’s and the ones yet to born look up to, dance to, sing to? Yeah, Michael Jackson
on 17 Nov 2009 at 10:00 pm 203.?? said …
?????????????
on 17 Nov 2009 at 10:01 pm 204.angle said …
love michael?all the time?
on 17 Nov 2009 at 10:02 pm 205.mik said …
michael,i love you. we miss you .the king of pop .R.I.P.
on 17 Nov 2009 at 10:33 pm 206.Zeke said …
The Beatles are the band against which every other band or artist is measured. The fact that we are? still talking about The Beatles 40 years after they broke up is a tribute to how great they truly were. End of story.
on 17 Nov 2009 at 10:35 pm 207.Jane said …
I dont like such voting.because i dont really know anything about B4, but i turely vote for my idol MJ, I love michael , for he IS always influencing my life so strongly …his music ,his songs ,his dance,his smile,his love ,his telent,…oh, so much…
god bless u , michael !
on 17 Nov 2009 at 10:42 pm 208.Stinger said …
The Beatles are currently kicking MJ’s ass in sales for the decade (2000-2009). So apparently he’s being outsold by a group that broke up about 10 years before his peak even? if you only count the 2000’s.
on 17 Nov 2009 at 10:46 pm 209.tommy said …
The one indisputable fact whether you like it or not is, in only 7 years the Beatles accomplished and set more records in recorded music. Not Elvis not MJ, no one has ever matched their accomplishments. The Beatles didn’t need an elaborate stage show. The music, which? is still the best selling even today, did all the talking.
on 17 Nov 2009 at 10:48 pm 210.Zeke said …
When it comes to #1s, Top 10s, Top 40s, Music Sold, Songwriting Ability, Airplay, Influence, Innovation and Instrumentalist Abilities, The Beatles dominate. No contest.
on 17 Nov 2009 at 10:52 pm 211.Zeke said …
Bottom line is, The Beatles were the most influential, and most successful, popular music group of the rock era. No artists of any sort, in any era, have achieved The Beatles’ combination of popular success, critical acclaim and broad cultural influence. It’s nice that people have their opinions, but your opinions don’t? change history.
on 17 Nov 2009 at 11:41 pm 212.Poll says it all said …
Always MICHAEL JACKSON.
MJ has a global influence, from USA to China. Beatles dont (I’m Chinese)
MJ is like a god in music even though he had never been to China before.
We know Beatles is a great band, but not as influential as MJ.
on 17 Nov 2009 at 11:51 pm 213.taeki said …
Beatles change Michael and Western world, Michael change the whole world.
They are also great! But I love Michael more~
on 18 Nov 2009 at 12:07 am 214.echo said …
who’s the greatest artist in the last 100years??Michael Jackson of course!!!!!!!!!may he will be the greatest artist forever and never!!!!!there’s 4 guys that create Beatles?but ,that michael create not only MICHAEL JACKSON .the super star ,what he create is a legend of music,a great legend of human nature!!!!!!michael . I know u never gone,u live forever .love live forever !!!michael . u free now,there will never any sorrow ?but love still with u forever!!!!!!!!!!!!
on 18 Nov 2009 at 12:19 am 215.love mj said …
MJ is the best !!!
on 18 Nov 2009 at 1:56 am 216.lucky said …
I just say???mj is unique???no one could compare with him
on 18 Nov 2009 at 4:24 am 217.lydia pan said …
so many people would compare MJ to Beatles, they think both of them are two greatest in music industry. but the concept of a great entertainer has changed a lot. Beatles’s achievements are undeniable but they just paved the way in terms of music ,which MJ also did. but when comes to dancing and performing, MJ is abosolutely greater than Beatles, let alone his amazing voice and contribution to MTV industry. they both did write so many great songs, but as far as i’m concerned , MJ’s songs can reach to people’s deep souls more than Beatles.
on 18 Nov 2009 at 4:26 am 218.KL said …
OF COURSE——MJ !!!!!!!!!!!
on 18 Nov 2009 at 4:58 am 219.wendilv said …
mj is an angel.u can understand what is love when u r listening his songs. Michael touched me so deeply with his understanding and loving LRC. He really reached my soul.
on 18 Nov 2009 at 5:04 am 220.susy said …
who are the beetles?
on 18 Nov 2009 at 6:11 am 221.Patrick.Wayne said …
I acknowledge that Beatles are great.
But Michael Jackson Rules!!!
He is the King.
on 18 Nov 2009 at 8:54 am 222.meesha said …
who is micheal jackson?
on 18 Nov 2009 at 9:42 am 223.victor said …
The Beatles were musicians, songwriters, singers, one of the foundations of virtually everthing rock, as well as a major influence on the cultural, musical, sexual, artistic, moral and societal revolutions that my generation, and all generations since, for good or bad, have experienced. And will continue to experience.
Michael Jackson was a puppet, a song and dance “man”, known more for the fact his entire existence was a freak show. He wasn’t an untalented performer, but his music was lightweight pop crap without one iota of soul, feeling, or emotion. Jacko was product, nothing else. If he wasn’t such a freak, he’d have been nothing but a minor league Sammy Davis Jr. (at best) or Donny Osmond (at worst). MTV is what made Jacko a superstar, not his middling talent. Using the visuals to sell music. His sales plummeted with each album, he was yesterday’s news. The Beatles’ music will continue to be listened to, bought, enjoyed, dissected and written about long after we’re all gone. It’s timeless.
on 18 Nov 2009 at 9:50 am 224.jose said …
The Beatles really had more of an impact on the world. Jackson did a great job of breaking down racial barriers, but The Beatles accomplished more in seven years than virtually any other artist in a lifetime. Jackson had some great tunes, but nothing of his really tops “In My Life,” “A Day in the Life,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “Something,” “Hey Jude,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Dear Prudence,” “Nowhere Man,” and “Yesterday” in the sheer songcraft category. Jackson was/is a pop-culture icon. The Beatles were/are too, and have the better songs, pound for pound.
on 18 Nov 2009 at 7:51 pm 225.Sophie said …
GOLU, I like SOOOOO agree with you.
I’m a MJ fan and my boyfriend is a Beatles fan and we keep having discussions on that subject and I totally won the debate
MJ’s the best, not only in my opinion, THAT’S A FACT.
Let me tell you people, you’ll have to accept it, even if you love the Beatles. And also, Michael Jackson was BLACK. That changes a lot of things because he was born in the years where the blacks weren’t still very accpeted by society, but STILL, he succeeded
LONG LIVE THE KING OF POP
1958-FOREVER
on 18 Nov 2009 at 7:57 pm 226.Sophie said …
AND MJ had powerful messages in his songs.
Listen to man in the mirror, people that’ve seen him singing that song live literally lost conscience, THAT’S INCREDIBLE ! The lyrics of his songs are more deep than the Beatles’ lyrics, that’s for sure. Simply listen to ”You are not alone”, ”Man in the mirror”, ”I just can’t stop loving you” or ”She’s out of my life”. Each time I listen to those songs I practically shiver. The intensity in his voice is way way way more present than the Beatles in their songs. I’m not telling the Beatles are not good, I love them too, I think the Beatles are on of the greatest bands ever, but MJ IS and WILL ALWAYS BE (8) THE BEST OF TIMESSSSS!
on 18 Nov 2009 at 8:32 pm 227.Erica said …
The Beatles were much more creative and had a much wider range of styles than MJ did. He has some good songs, but really I say the only albums of his worth buying is Thriller or a greatest hits collection. Other than that there is really nothing that special there. As with the Beatles you could pick anything from there last 4 years together, which is about 5 albums, and put into the list? of greatest albums of all time. No comparison really.
on 18 Nov 2009 at 8:49 pm 228.GMan said …
The Beatles easily. The Beatles fingerprints are all over pop music. The Beatles influenced songwriting, albums as a collective unit, using the studio as an instrument, videos, album? covers, stadium tours, and global telecasts. The Beatles have the most influential album in Sgt Pepper and maybe the most influential song in Tomorrow Never Knows which it has the drum beat, sampling, and looping that is now common in hip-hop. Michael Jackson should be compared to Elvis, not the Beatles.
on 25 Nov 2009 at 9:01 pm 229.Leonardo said …
Michael Jackson is on a long line of people who were influenced by the Beatles. In fact many view the Beatles as the most influential musicians/songwriters in the last 50 years.
1.their influence on pop culture is still being felt even today;for more on that read this link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles…
2.they changed the way that bands use the recording studio to make music,for more details check out this link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles…
3.one of the 1st rock groups to treat an album as a work of art in its own right instead of just a collection of singles
4.they unofficially halted the practice of artists making foreign language versions of their hit singles,thus unofficially making english the official language of rock and roll and all its sub-genres.klaus meine of the scorpions said that when they started,that the only way they would really make it big was to record in english.i attribute this to the beatles influence
5.they made it fashionable for men to grow their hair long
6.they pioneered the big world tours as we know them today,i think the beatles were actually the first band to go on a world tour
7.they were the first band to actually express their true feelings on major world issues of the day instead of keeping quiet(as brian epstein wanted them too)
8.they were the ones who brought the music and instrumentation of india to the west(first western rock band to use indian instruments on record)
9.they were the 1st rock group to actually make money from their record sales and have record sales in the millions.let’s put things in perspective,before the beatles record companies used singles and albums to promote the live show of whatever artist it was because the live shows where were the real money was.it wasn’t expected for an artist to actually make any money from their singles or albums.in fact before the beatles you could sell 200,000 copies of your latest record and have a hit(nowadays,you sell that much its considered a flop).at 1 point during i want to hold your hand’s run on the charts,it sold over 1.5 million copies in 5 days,that’s 300,000 copies a day,in 1964 this was unheard of.no artist back then was expected to sell that many copies of anything.in fact the next single can’t buy me love had so many advance orders(over 1.5 million)it actually debuted at number 1 on the singles charts.nowadays,with soundscan and all that acts debuting at number 1 is old news,but in 1964 it was news because no one had ever done it before in america.
10.1st rock group to take a stand against segregation:when a rumor went out that the audiences at a beatles concert at the gator bowl were going to be segregated,the beatles and their manager sent a letter to the venue owners stating if they were going to do that,then they could have their money back and that the beatles weren’t going to do the show.now there were never plans to do that,but it says a lot about the beatles to take that type of a stand.
11.one of the 1st rock groups to start their own record label.
12.one of the first bands(if not the first)to have the drummer as a featured singer thus paving the way for bands lke genesis and the eagles who have the drummer as their lead singer(or 1 of their lead singers)
13.have massive popularity worldwide,not just in the us or uk,read this link to get an idea:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The…
14.they also influenced songwriters by departing from the standard 3 chord pop song with the standard verse-chorus-verse-middle eight and why because the beatles had no formal musical training and this gave them the freedom to ignore the conventional rules of pop music and of song-writing in general.in fact the beatles never allowed themselves to be bound by the conventional rules of pop and rock,they were always constantly pushing the boundaries of modern music.look at the single of hey jude in 1968,at the time no pop single was more than 3 minutes long and why?that was one of the traditions of the time,but the beatles went against the tradition and it paid off
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on 05 Dec 2009 at 2:30 pm 230.sam said …
* Thriller becomes the largest selling album of all time from 1983-2009
* Thriller sells 15 million copies every year
* History becomes the largest sold dual disc album of all time from 1996-2009
* Michael Jackson beats Mariah Carey to the largest number of number one singles in the BillBoard hot 100
* Michael Jackson becomes the largest earning dead artist of all time with THIS IS IT
* Michael Jackson was a billionaire at 18
* Michael Jackson’s Victory Tour (1983) becomes the most watched TV show in history after Elvis Prestley’s SUMMER OF 69 Tour and ELVIS FUNERAL
* Michael Jacksons singular performance of BILLIE JEAN at the MOTOWN yesterday, today and forever concert attracted a crowd viewership of 2 billion people surpassing his own VICTORY TOUR
* Michael Jackson’s WORLD THRILLER TOUR is attended by 40 million people worldwide
* Michael Jackson’s BAD has all its singles debuting at NUMBER 1 in the billboard 100
* MICHAEL JACKSONS BAD WORLD TOUR makes it the highest earned concert of all time with 75 concerts and gaining him $200 million USD
* MICHAEL JACKSONS BLACK OR WHITE single gets the Guinness record for being the largest watched music video ever after thriller breaking the record held by BEATLES in 1992
* MICHAEL JACKSONS EARNS A RECORD 7 Grammys for thriller
* MICHAEL RECEIVES THE best composer award Grammy for LIBERIAN GIRL and SMOOTH CRIMINAL of BAD
* MICHAEL RECEIVES BAMBY music award from 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002
* MICHAEL is nick named THE KING OF POP by Elizabeth Taylor, Sir Paul McCartney (The Beatles) and by LISA
MARIE PRESLEY (ex wife of MJ and daughter of ELVIS)
* MICHAELS HISTORY HAS 6 singles opening at number 1 at the BILLBOARD 100
* MICHAELS MOONWALKER gets the Best Children’s Picture Award at the International Film Awards
* MICHAELS MOONWALKER nets $100 million USD and continues its record run for 3 years
* MICHAEL JACKSON donates his rhinestone studded violet glove for the 2006 tsunami victims that nets around $600,355 million USD
* MICHAEL ADOPTS 1000 families to NeverLand
* MICHAEL SPONSORS THE EDUCATION OF 10000 kids through the HEAL THE WORLD FOUNDATION
* MICAHEL JACKSONS WE ARE THE WORLD helps the African Famine victims which net around $150 million USD
* MICHAEL honored by President Regan with the Highest Civil Award in America
* As a compensation paid to Michael for the hair fire accident by Pepsi, Michael Jackson donated the entire amount to open Hospitals “MJ Burn center” for Victims of fire to be treated. A reported $200 million was paid by Pepsi as a respect to MJ
* Michael Jackson’s DANGEROUS albums HEAL THE WORLD becomes the world Peace anthem in 1992 as adopted by the UN
* Michael Jacksons THRILLER becomes the anthem of POP in 2009 after his death
* Michael’s THEY DONT CARE ABOUT US becomes the hardest hitting and most controversial song addressing social ills in world history
* Michael Jackson is inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Twice (previously held by Beatles and Elvis Presley- who was inducted 4 times)
* MICHAEL JACKSONS Smooth Criminal Becomes the anthem Of FUNK and JAZZ in 1997
* Michael Jacksons THIS IS IT that was opened only for 2 weeks became the Highest grosser of the year 2009
* Michael Jacksons Dangerous World Tour is attended by 65 million people across 4 continents and around 50 countries netting a total worth of $300 million
* Michael Jacksons HISTORY beats the DANGEROUS WORLD TOUR and has 80 million people watching MJ perform live netting a total worth of $400 million that spanned 5 continents and 75 countries
* MJ’s statue laying event in HISTORY ON FILM was declared the BEST VIDEO OF THE DECADE
* THRILLER DECALRED THE BEST AWARD OF THE CENTURY
* MJS BILLIE JEAN becomes the anthem OF BASS MUSIC
* MJ’s BEAT IT becomes the anthem of HARD ROCK music
* MJS funeral becomes the largest viewed event in world history with a viewership of 35 billion people worldwide
* MJ enters the Guinness records for the 5th time for the THIS IS IT that became the largest sold and fastest selling ticket concert in world history
* MJ enters the Guinness record for the 4th time for the anti-gravity shoe he developed for Smooth Criminal
* MJs moonwalk declared the SINGLE BEST CELEBRITY BODY LANGUAGE by the Rock and Roll Association
* MJ awarded the life time achievement music award BAMBY awards in 2002 ( lastly presented to the Beatles Elvis, Eagles, Stevie Wonder )
* MJ nets a record 22 Grammys in his career
* MJ completes a record 1 billion album sales world wide edging past the BEATLES and EAGLES and ELVIS
* MJ’s VOCAL HICCUPS in his songs declared the BEST VOCAL STYLE OF THE DECADE by the Rock and Roll Association
* MJ’s THRILLER 25 sells 50 million copies worldwide
* MJ’s Off the Wall gets certified platinum 10 times by the recording industry
* MJ’s THRILLER gets certified platinum 30 times by the recording industry
* MJ’s BAD gets certified platinum 20 times by the recording industry
* MJ’s DANGEROUS gets certified platinum 20 times by the recording industry
* MJ’s HISTORY gets certified platinum 15 times by the recording industry
* MJ’s INVINCIBLE gets certified platinum 5 times by the recording industry
* MJ’s MOTOWN years, Forever Michael, Music and Me, Ben, Abc, Soul Bubble Gum, Ill Be There and Dancing Machine gets certified platinum 3 times by the recording industry
* THIS IS IT continues its number 1 run for the 7th consecutive week
* MJS BLOOD ON DANCE FLOOR sells 75 million copies worldwide to become the LARGEST SOLD REMIX ALBUM OF ALL TIME
* Billboard Charts
* Michael Jackson is the first person in the 50 year history of the Billboard chart to enter straight in at No1, with his single “Thriller”, “Smooth Criminal”, “Dangerous”,
“Black or white”, “History” “You Are Not Alone”.
* The previous record “Earth Song” which had debuted at No2 and also Michael Jacksons.
* Greatest Audience – Guinness Book of World Records
The highest-ever viewership for SUPERBOWL was 133.4 million viewers watching the NBC transmission of Super Bowl XXVII on June 31, 1993. Michael was spotlighted during the half-time performance.
* Jacksons THRILLER, SMOOTH CRIMINAL, HEAL THE WORLD, YOU ROCK MY WORLD, THEY DONT CARE ABOUT US, YOUR NOT ALONE, spend 100 weeks in the billboard 100. A feat which no artist including ELVIS and Beatles have done
* Jacksons THRILLER, HEAL THE WORLD,SMOOTH CRIMINAL ,THEY DONT CARE ABOUT US, YOU ROCK MY WORLD, BLACK OR WHITE spend 100 weeks at top 10 of billboard hot 100
* Jacksons SMOOTH CRIMINAL, THRILLER, Black or White, THEY DONT CARE ABOUT US spend 100 weeks at number 1 at billboard 100
* Jackson remained at 1 in US from 1977-2002
* Jackson remained at 1-5 in 1977-2002 at German, UK, Europe, French, Spain, Italy, Rome and Japan pop and metal charts
* Jackson is the only artist to have sold 500 million records + outside US
* Honored by President George H. W. Bush
* Invincible declared THE MOST TECHNICALLY ACCOMPLISHED AND BEAUTIFULLY MIXED STUDIO ALBUM of ALL TIME
* President George H. W. Bush commended Jackson for his achievements and presented him with the White House’s special “Artist of the Decade” award in recognition of his musical influence during the 1970s-1990s.
* President Obama awarded Jackson with the speech “The day the music died” during a press release and conferred the ARTISTS OF THE CENTURY award on Michael Jackson, Elvis and Beatles.
* Guinness Record for Support of Charities
Jackson was listed in the 2000 book of Guinness World Records for his support more charities than any other entertainer or personality.
Jackson supported 39 charities through cash donations and sponsorships.
* Jackson becomes the “MOST SEARCHED” celeb of 2009
* Jackson’s death crashes google, wiki, youtube, yahoo, msn
* Jackson released his first autobiography, Moon Walk, in 1988. The book took four years to write and detailed alleged abuse Jackson suffered as a child and his plastic surgeries. The book topped the New York Times best seller’s list of 10 all time best sellers.
* Also in June 1999, Jackson organized a series of benefit concerts in Germany and Korea. He recruited Slash, The Scorpions, Boyz II Men, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, A. R. Rahman, Prabhu Deva Sundaram, Shobana Chandrakumar, Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti for the Michael Jackson and Friends concerts. The proceeds were donated to the “Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund”, the Red Cross and UNESCO.
* MJ and ARR join to perform EKAM SATYAM in 1996 at Mumbai that still holds the largest concert ever in Indian soil with a record 25 lakh participants
* Jackson and Pavarottii teamed up for a benefit concert in Modena, Italy in June 1999.
The concert was focused on support of the non-profit organization Warchild. The artists raised a million dollars for the refugees of Kosovo and also donated money to help the children of Guatemala.
* When Ryan White, a hemophiliac teen from Indiana was kicked out of school in 1985 because he contracted HIV from a contaminated blood treatment, Jackson became one of his advocates. After White’s death in 1990, Jackson pleaded with the Clinton Administration at Bill Clinton’s Inaugural Gala for more funding for HIV/AIDS charities and research.
* MJs earth song declared the WORLD EVNIRONMENT DAY song
* Jackson started the Dangerous World Tour on June 27, 1992 and completed it on November 11, 1993, after entertaining 35 million people at 67 concerts. All of the profits from the concerts were donated to the Heal the World Foundation.
* Jackson founded the “Heal the World Foundation” in 1992. The charity organization brought underprivileged children to Jackson’s Neverland ranch to ride theme park rides the singer had built on the property. Heal the World also gave millions of dollars to help children around the world who were threatened by war and illnesses.
* From 1985 to 1990, Jackson donated $500,000 to the United Negro College Fund.
* Jackson donated 100 percent of the profits from him single “Man in the Mirror” to charity.
* MJs MAN IN THE MIRROR becomes the “MOST POWERFUL VOCALS song of the century for his vocal hiccups”
* During the Bad World Tour, Michael Jackson played to sold out crowds and smashed Guinness World records when 504,000 fans packed Wembley Stadium for each of the seven sold out shows and the tour grossed $125 million. During all of this, Jackson invited underprivileged children to the shows and donated to hospitals, orphanages and other charities.
* THRILLER and SMOOTH CRIMINAL declared the “MOST IRRESTIBLE DANCE MUSIC of all time” by the USA DJ association
* THE JACKSON 5 becomes the only band in world history to have its first 6 single top the charts in debut in 1971-1995
* MUSIC and ME by MJ at the age of 5 enters the Guinness records for the best performance as a child artist to get a platinum record
* THIS IS IT was to be the first 3D concert in world history
* MJ was instrumental in introducing AKON, 50 cents, Will.i.am and Black eyed Peas
* MJ was instrumental in setting Britney’s career to the “princess of pop” by performing with her for THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL all across US during her debut period
* MJ was instrumental in MADONA becoming the “queen of pop” recording for her hard candy
* MJs Neverland is the largest piece of estate owned by any celebrity in world history measuring 3600 acres.
* MJ wrote 100 songs and sifted through 700 songs for selecting the 9 tracks of thriller.
* Since 1983-1999 MJ never wrote a song and kept referring to the 100 songs list he had prepared for thriller which took shape in the form of BAD, DANGEROUS and HISTORY
* Invincible by MJ had a new group of song writers and has been the only new material done by him since 1999
* Half of Bads tracks were sung during thriller but released only in 1985-89 for BAD
* Half of Dangerous tracks were sung during BAD but released only in 1991-94 for DANGEROUS
* Half of HISTORY tracks were sung during DANGEROUS but released only in 1996-1999 for HISTORY
* MJ decided the beat of his songs according to the dance unlike artists who write and compose or compose and write, MJ dances and composes
* MJ records the lyrics into a recorder and sings it from memory than putting it down on paper
* SMOOTH CRIMINAL was declared to be the FASRTEST COMPOSED SONG IN HISTORY – in less than an hour MJ coordinated the whole vocal and orchestra arrangement and sung the song
* MJ earns the highest royalty rate in the industry from 1977-2001
* MJ buys 50% stake of the BEATLES, SHAKIRA, EMINEM and ELVIS (till the end MJ held on to the BEATLES BACK CATALOGUE)
* MJs MUSIC CATALOGUE IS WORTH 25 BILLION TODAY!!
* With THRILLER AND BAD, MJ played an instrumental role in establishing the position of MTV and SONY entertainment the way it is today
* As of 2009, Thriller completed 700 million copies sales all over the world.
* As of 2009 HISTORY completed 250 million copies sales worldwide
* As of 2009 BAD completed 350 million sales copies worldwide
* As of 2009 DANGEROUS completed 300 million copies sales worldwide
* As of 2009 INVINCIBLE completed 100 million copies sales worldwide
* MJ awarded the “SUPREME ENTERTAINER OF ALL TIME” by the ROCK AND ROLL ARTISTs Association.
on 05 Dec 2009 at 2:33 pm 231.me said …
THE BEATLES CANNOT BE BEATEN EVER THEY ARE THE BEST BAND/SINGERS IN THE UNIVERSE EVER!!!!!!!! HOW DARE YOU SAY MJ IS BETTER!!
on 08 Dec 2009 at 8:55 pm 232.jose said …
You must be on crack. It’s statements like these that invalidates your entire post.
Epic Fail.
on 09 Dec 2009 at 11:46 am 233.Nelson said …
The Beatles are another story. Lennon & McCartney are arguably the most prominent songwriters in the history of popular music, having pretty much changed the face of pop and rock as the world knows it today. What started as a charming, upbeat British Invasion band with infectiously catchy songs (Love Me Do, Please Please Me, etc.) evolved into something different entirely. Under the tutelage of and collaboration with George Martin, they integrated classical composition, complex harmony and other musical components previously unknown in popular music, and by exploring all sorts of new lyrical themes and topics (She’s Leaving Home, Revolution, etc.) they created a new face for pop and rock music.
on 09 Dec 2009 at 6:44 pm 234.Andrew said …
ok its simple yes the beatles are white so more sales for them instantly as racism was huge back then but michael jackson has one of the most versatile voices ever one of the best dancer and entertainers ever fantastic songwriter humanitarian been awarded by two different presidents at the age of 11 could sing better than all 4 of the beatles put together rebelled against motown and berry gordy at the age of 14 as he wanted to write his own songs michael is known all over the world at the superbowl the half time ratings went up as he was playing this has never happened the beatles are good for one thing they were the first of there kind and wrote good songs and they should have left it at that let someone else do the singing and the rolling stones are biased as no way are john lennon and paul mcartney better singers than michael jackson no wayyyyyy the mans voice range is unbelievable paul mcartney and john lennon would squeal trying to reach the notes michael got to and he could also go very low
so michael jackson you are simply the best raw talent not talent that had to be developed he was noticed at the age of 4 by his dad and was the main singer and lets face it he was the jackson 5
on 11 Dec 2009 at 2:16 am 235.No you guys said …
MJ was a fan of the Beatles and likely to have been inspired by them, but to say that if there was no Beatles that there would be no MJ is highly ignorant. If there was no MOTOWN, then there would be a higher chance of there not being any MJ as who would have signed the Jackson 5? Also, MJ admitted his biggest influences were the likes of James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and many other artists from the great Motown era.
To say that the Beatles broke down racial barriers is also retarded. If anything, the Beatles succeeded in separating rock music from its roots and dividing its audiences. Michael did what the Beatles couldn’t do, especially in the US. Michael’s music attracts people of all races, creeds, and so on. This includes Black Americans in which the Beatles music rarely has had an influence on, if any at all. This is where MJ proves that he had a bigger influence on music than that the of the Beatles. Something in which the Beatles fanboys always like to ignore.
on 14 Dec 2009 at 12:35 pm 236.Nelson said …
Geez it’s not like black people were not popular before Michael Jackson. Have you fan-boys heard of Jimi Hendrix and the Supremes had one number one hit after another in 1960’s even rivalling the Beatles at one point. Michael Jackson fan-boys keep forgettting that black artists have constantly covered Beatles songs. Things like looping and sampling that are popular concpepts in hip-hop were first popularized by the Beatles in pop music.
When Michael Jackson is the second highest selling act forty years his death then you start the comparison. The Beatles broke up forty years ago and are the second highest selling act this decade and also the 90’s also. Musically speaking it’s not even that close. Many of today’s recording techniques were influenced by the Beatles. They succeded in styles like Avant? music and Indian compostion that western musicians never succeded at the time. When a poll was conducted by musicians who was the greatest music artists the Beatles were number and Michael was not the top 30.
on 14 Dec 2009 at 4:21 pm 237.GOLU said …
all the musicians can’t give credit to MJ simply cause they’re jealous that MJ surpassed them all,the only credible way to judje how great is an artist is his impact on people,and MJ beats everyone here.
on 14 Dec 2009 at 8:33 pm 238.Erin said …
Im BLACK and i love MICHEAL JACKSON AND THE BEATLES. IN my dictionary the color of the skin doesnt even matter to me MJ lives in all of our hearts. YOU SIMPLY CANT COMPARE THE TWO. IN THE BEATLES ERA THERE WERE THE BIGGEST BAND UNTIL THEY BROKE UP. BUT MJ SHOULD ALWAYS BE REMEBERED FOR HIS MUSICAL TALENT ESPECIALLY HIS SINGING. BEATLES WERE AN AMAZING BRITISH POP BAND I LOVE THEIR MUSIC. MJ WAS MORE THAT YOU CAN DANCE TO. BEATLES WAS THE CALMING MUSIC THE KIND OF MUSIC THAT INFLUENCED MANY PEOPLE. THEY BOTH INFLUENCED MANY ARTISTS. BOTH WERE AND STILL ARE AMAZING. SO WHY DONT WE ALL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT AND LISTEN AND ENJOY BOTH OF THEIR MUSIC. AND IF YOU DONT LIKE MJ OR THE BEATLES GIVE THEIR MUSIC A TRY. HERE ARE 2 SONGS FROM BOTH ARTISTS THAT I RECOMMEND: BEATLES- DEAR PRUDENCE, SOMETHING, MJ- GET ON THE FLOOR, EARTH SONG. LUV AND PEACE: xD BYE remeber both artists we influencial and great
on 14 Dec 2009 at 8:41 pm 239.Erin said …
@jose – your funny “epic fail” lol Beatles and MJ 4 ever
on 14 Dec 2009 at 8:46 pm 240.Erin said …
@romi – Why cant i love both of them and ps im black and i love the beatles 2 not saying their better or on any level or aspect that Mj is worse but to me MJ is of course influential but plz dont bash the Beatles they still worked hard on their albums. Go MJ and Beatles ok
on 14 Dec 2009 at 8:50 pm 241.Erin said …
@simone – no ones perfect but he was close enough
on 14 Dec 2009 at 8:56 pm 242.Erin said …
im tired of people bashing the beatles and MJ come on you need to listen to the beatles songs before you bash them and their songs. and sure the beatles werent even close to MJ’s voice but they honestly tried andlisten plz listen to some of their songs: i recommend that you listen to the long and winding road a beautiful song written by lennon/mccartney or Here comes the sun by harrison or come together covered by MJ but song amazingly yep MJ is the best but so were the beatles. seriously go to youtube or something and listen good cuz they were awsome no bashing please.
on 14 Dec 2009 at 8:57 pm 243.Erin said …
yes the beatles made come together
on 16 Dec 2009 at 10:58 am 244.jose said …
You might want to post this nonsense on a conspiracy theory forum.
on 17 Dec 2009 at 12:34 pm 245.Oliver said …
if you put things in context by adjusting the the decades ie Beatles and Michael existing alongside, Beatles were more popular even in third world countries.
on 17 Dec 2009 at 12:36 pm 246.Oliver said …
it’s not fair to say that the voices of John, Paul and George are average, coz while l love Michael’s, The Beatles really do it for me a lot better.
on 17 Dec 2009 at 12:45 pm 247.Oliver said …
Michael is indeed worthy of comparison -definatley someone to be reconed with. But his fame, popularity etc. fails to touch that of the Beatles. Michael’s genius and briliance is like one eight that of the Beatles. You are well versed on the impact Michael has had on the world and it’s no exaggeration, but the impact of the Beatles were like 8 times greater than that of Michael’s which you may not have lived through.
on 17 Dec 2009 at 12:48 pm 248.Oliver said …
I love Michael and the Beatles but I can dance better to a Beatle song than Michael’s.
on 17 Dec 2009 at 12:52 pm 249.Oliver said …
Again I say I love both Michael and the Beatles, but interesting to note, that the Beatles were sort of forced out of public performances as no venue could hold them. They were just too BIG. there were even times when they had to be transported in steel cages to avoid the mobing. You’ve seen the crowds go wild when there is a Michael Jackson concert with fans even fainting -the fans of the Beatles were even wilder!!!
on 17 Dec 2009 at 1:02 pm 250.Oliver said …
I am a Beatle Fan as well as a Michael fan, but forget about the Bealtes as a band for a moment, I think as soloist it would take 3 Michael Jacksons to take on 1 John Lennon and 2 Michael Jacksons to take on 1 Paul McCartney. -and only 1 Michael to take on 1 George Harrison to which I think Michael may win the last due to Popularity. For those of you who don’t know and did not live through the impact that the Beatles had on the world and not just on music, then just take the impact that Michael has had on you all this while and especially now, then multiply that by at least 8 times -now you know the impact the Beatles have had. they are both extreamly great, but the Beatles are by far Greater!
on 17 Dec 2009 at 1:22 pm 251.Oliver said …
I am a huge fan of Both Michaels and The Beatles, however I have to say I like John, Paul and George’s personality better. I like to also point out that Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney helped Michael with the “Off the Wall” album and because of the success they had with it, the 3 of them got together again and worked on “Thriller”. On “Off the Wall” Paul contributes the song “Girl Friend” and Michael in appreciation writes “The Girl is Mine” for himself and Paul for the “Triller” ablum. I LOVE the “Thriller” album, but I must admit I bought it more for the fact that Paul McCartney features on it. I wonder howmany more people bought the “Triller” album more because it has Paul on it. -If they all came forward and admited it, I wonder what that would mean. -definately something to thing about. “The Girl is Mine” is not really featured on any of the McCartney albums -however “Pipes of Peace” actually features “Say, Say, Say” which is an even better song by both Michael and Paul. -both Geniuses in their own write!
on 18 Dec 2009 at 3:22 am 252.Oliver said …
@Alice –
I love watching Michael in Concert -it’s awesome! but when I watch the Beatles in concert, my hairs stand on end! -even to this day it is just out of this world!
on 18 Dec 2009 at 3:45 am 253.Oliver said …
@funso –
Michael is indeed a Superstar! -but the Beatles are Megastars!
as early as 1979 Guinness Book of Records awarded Paul McCartney a Rodium Disc for album sales in excess of 100 million copies and singles salese in excess of 100 million copies. -the only artist to get a Rodium Disc. -this was McCartney’s achievement as a soloist and with Wings (seperate from the success shared with the Beatles). This is why Michael Jackson kept trying to get in contact with Paul and eventually the 2 of them colaberated with Stevie wonder as well to work on “Off the Wall” and again with the “Triller” album. If you are not a Beatles fan, that’s quite okay, but if you want to understand the impact they had with influence on music, society etc. then just take everything Michael means to you and multiply it by at least 8 times. Most artist dont come close to the Beatles, but I would say Michael comes the closest! Lennon’s death was more impacting on the world -yes! Michael’s death only had beter coverage like you would expect for this day and age. Michael’s death has uped his album sales but I dont think that he will out sell the Beatles even in the next ten years. Michael may at best out sell Lennon as a solist or so. According to some sources, Michael still hasn’t outsold McCartney as a solist but that could change in time. Lennon was semi retired when Paul got the award and remarked that the 80s will see the best of his music -had Lennon lived on, I do believe he would have out done both Paul and Michael.
on 18 Dec 2009 at 4:09 am 254.Oliver said …
@zak –
I am a serious fan of both! -but I think we should stick to facts and not just opions. -when you work every accomplisment and every record broken from all angles as well as adjust the pros and the cons of today vs the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s you will find that while the Beatles and Michael overlap on eachothers laurels, the Beatles come up on Top of it all. I listen to Michael and the Beatles but find myself thirsting more for the Beatles. the Beatles were more versatile which most people dont realize coz they are probably only fimiliar with maybe 60 Beatles songs or so. But the Beatles covered or invented just about everything else. Michael may have got his dancing influence from James Brown, but his number 1 idols were the Beatles. -he has admited this. -this is why there is so much of Beatles influence on 75 percent of Michaels songs. -in some of his songs you can hear how he has copied actual drum beats etc onto his own songs -he owns the Beatles catalogue so I suppose this is why there is no issue of copyright infringment. We often only look to the US and UK charts but if you look at just about every other country, you will find that the Beatles stil have more number 1s in other countries than any one else, and it doesnt stop there…! No disrespect to MJ -he is indeed a genius and briliant at what he does.
on 18 Dec 2009 at 4:28 am 255.Oliver said …
@Gman is missing the big picture –
well said but not entirely acurate. George Harrison was by far more charitable and more recognised for a humanitarian. what he did for the Concert for Bangladesh hasn’t really been out done and continues to encourage similar endevors. even influenced Band Aid and USA for Africa.
on 18 Dec 2009 at 4:33 am 256.Oliver said …
@mo –
Michael was a 5 year old and 10 year old black boy respectively who idiolized the Beatles more than anyone else. You saw the coverage that Michaels Memorial Service got and how the world was taking bout him and his passing away, so why do you think that Lennon’s was any less? if anything, I remember them both and I would say Lennon’s death was by far more impacting! -I am disheartened that Michael has died, but I am heart sore that Lennon died -still finding it hard to come to terms with.
on 18 Dec 2009 at 4:45 am 257.Oliver said …
@laura –
how many people you know were those 3 qarter pants and the glove? -iconic sure enough but not so influencial. when the Beatles grew their hair, in just 6 months the whole world grew their hair -even in countries where English was the first language and they couldnt understand the meaning of the songs, they grew their hair instead coz they were influenced to the core.
on 18 Dec 2009 at 4:55 am 258.Oliver said …
@Giovanni –
exactly! It could even very well be said that they pioneered Rap Music!
if you are not satisfied that “Come Together” justifies that, then Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” could very well have been seen as the first Rap Song ever. way before the Sugar Hills Band in 1979.
on 18 Dec 2009 at 5:08 am 259.Oliver said …
@charles –
even as a MJ fan I would have to say that the Beatles were by far the greatest. The Beatles are the biggest celebrities on the planet! -you don’t get bigger than that! -If MJ became bigger, we would have recognised him as such, but let him become bigger first!
on 18 Dec 2009 at 5:21 am 260.Oliver said …
@mo –
love them both! but i have to say again that i bought the “Thriller” ablum more for McCartney than for Jackson. So maybe some of the album sales here should be credited to McCartney? plus it is also McCartney genius on the Album as well as Stevie Wonders. -the 3 of them worked on both “Off the Wall” and “Thriller”
on 18 Dec 2009 at 5:28 am 261.Oliver said …
@uhmmm hello? –
again no comparison! -the Beatles first attracted pre-teens. 5year olds could sing quite a lot of Beatles songs as if they were taught them in school. -Beatles songs are not for old people, we just grew older with them. just as much as i have grown older with MJ songs as well.
on 20 Dec 2009 at 1:38 pm 262.Tom Vjestica said …
Michael Jackson end of! The Beatles were global, But Michael Jackson is UNIVERSAL!
Look at the reaction to his death. NO other single person could get that much love and attention! Kids today will grow up with Michaels music, The Beatles are legends and classics, much like Mozart etc, great music but no longer relevant. MJ however IS and always will be. His influence on modern pop culture is even more clear to see after his death!
on 20 Dec 2009 at 2:02 pm 263.JJ said …
Michael Jackson was a pedophile whose music in time will only be realized as the crap it is. He was a joke, a kid star who grew up to be an 80’s sensation and then a wax looking child pedophile, and you’re going to compare that to the single biggest force that ever hit the music world, The Beatles. The Beatles changed music more than anyone in history and 40 years after breaking up they show no sign of going out of style. Jackson was a joke, he will fade away, while Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr will always have a place in popular music.
on 20 Dec 2009 at 8:50 pm 264.Dave said …
@Alice – What! what disrespect to John Lennon,he got shot.didnt take too many pills like whacko Jacko,who in my opinion is overated,when Paul Mcartney dies,then we can see the stats
on 29 Dec 2009 at 6:29 am 265.Kane said …
I just want to say every Chinese know MJ, but not Beatles.
MJ’s inflence is universal.In music eare,he is the king of pop. It is Michael Jackson who created MV–he invented the model we still enjoy today.He is also the first talent who combines danciing and singing so perfectly. His music always touch the bottom of people’s heart,how could he be forgotten?You could say many artists’ music is moving, but you also have to admit only MJ take advantage of his power,his super influence to influence others, to make the world a better place.It is his big contribution to the charity makes him so special.Michael Jackson is so unique,so pure,so precious.But how did the world treat him,damm it, the tabloid!He is proud of his race,and his music broke the limit of race in US–the United Kingdom of America,democracy,justice……haven’t punished the murder!His influence is abusolutely great.He never die, the world need him to heal,his music lives generation to generation.MJ lives forever
on 29 Dec 2009 at 6:31 am 266.Kane said …
on 29 Dec 2009 at 7:13 pm 267.ilovemichael said …
michael, you are the best, the best man inside and outside!!!
on 29 Dec 2009 at 9:04 pm 268.Yeats said …
I love Michael Jackson, love him for ever!
on 30 Dec 2009 at 12:43 am 269.Ashley said …
I am a MJ fan, to me, I think MJ had more influence to the music, coz he could pass the magic of music to the world. The Beatles is also Great, I respect them all. MJ is a Genius, had so much talent. so I agree that MJ is the greatest, but it does not mean that The Beatles is not Great.
on 01 Jan 2010 at 10:58 am 270.jose said …
When Michael Jackson is the second highest selling act forty years after his death then you start the comparison. The Beatles broke up forty years ago and are the second highest selling act this decade and also the 90’s also. Musically speaking it’s not even that close. Many of today’s recording techniques were influenced by the Beatles. They succeeded in styles like Avant music and Indian composition that western musicians never succeeded at the time. When a poll was conducted by musicians who was the greatest music artists the Beatles were number and Michael was not the top 30.
on 02 Jan 2010 at 5:06 pm 271.RPJ said …
Why are you saying that MJ is the most successful artist of all time?? that is just a straight up LIE… Paul McCartney is the most successful musical artist of all time and if you dont believe me LOOK IT UP.
and oh yea that Paul McCartney guy was 1 of the Beatles, if not the best one!
on 03 Jan 2010 at 2:55 pm 272.james said …
@Ranvir – they had BELOW AVERAGE voices!?!?! have you even LISTENED to hey jude, a day in the life, or let it be? just a FEW of their AMAZINg VOCALS? sure, george and ringo werent great, but they were the lead guitarist and DRUMMER. JOHN AND PAUL KKICK MICHAEL JACKSONS ASS!!!
on 03 Jan 2010 at 3:17 pm 273.james said …
and btw you can hate me ALL YOU WANT but mj DIDNT break any racial barriers because…
1. mj had older siblings in the jackson 5, who already paved the way so he could just “plop” right into the role of the “amazing” FIVE YEAR OLD. if you think about it, its really quite ridiculous.
2. Jimi hendrix, YEAH, ever heard of him? was he black?! OH! I think he WAS! WASNT HE! oooooooooooooooooooh yes michael jackson broke down SO many racial barriers.
a. jimi hendrix was a star during the same time as the beatles, rivaling them once during the mid 60’s.
b. if you somehow dont think that jimi was black and you STILL think that mj broke all those racial barriers, you have some serious issues.
If you don’t like the beatles, just go on youtube, type in “beatles top songs” and just listen to some of them. they really are good.
on 03 Jan 2010 at 10:35 pm 274.robert said …
This is funny, mj had more impact on music than beatles??? oh please, it is obvious that many of the voters are just mj fans, i wont say IGNORANTS because they are just fans and as a fans they support mj, but sadly for them MJ NEVER HAD THE IMPACT ON MUSIC THAT BEATLES HAD.
I dont know how people dare to compare them, mj was great but the beatles did it all and are much more important than mj in the music world.
on 03 Jan 2010 at 11:05 pm 275.joe laginestra said …
I will leave this debate with this thought people. Just wait and see what Michael Jackson’s popularity will be like 50 years from now. The Beatles by then will have replaced the four faces at Mount Rushmore. Thank you John, Paul, George and Ringo for saving our world.
“To dislike the Beatles is less a matter of opinion and more to do with a personality disorder.”
Alot of people are playing the race card and that is so sad. The Beatles were loved by all races and loved all races back you Blue Meanies.. Alot of the crap flying back and forth is about personal likes not the real facts. People like an artist for different attributes like age, style, personal records but the main thing here is how much influence has the artist had on the culture of the world. I’ll let the massses ponder that thought.
All You Need Is Love !
on 07 Jan 2010 at 6:57 am 276.rzi said …
influence in music..well the the Beatles definitely have a heavy hand ..but MJ reached more people. i know people who cannot even speak English and they say Michael Jackson perfectly. his quality as a performer and an entertainer surpasses The Beatles. they are BOTH huge cultural icons and both helped changed the face of music. Beatles more than MJ . STILL maintain MJ reached more people cause I’ve had first hand experience. ..people who know Beatles know Michael Jackson…but people who know Michael Jackson may not know the Beatles…
on 09 Jan 2010 at 11:52 am 277.Nelson said …
I think go here at and look at this site and see how many followers the Beatles have compared to Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley. Then we can end this debate.
music.aol.com/artist/the-beatles/biography/1003061
on 10 Jan 2010 at 5:57 pm 278.andy said …
@Ranvir – you have got to be kidding! bad voices? and do you listen to rap?
on 14 Jan 2010 at 1:41 pm 279.All aboard the rage train! said …
Some idiot named ‘James’ posted: “and btw you can hate me ALL YOU WANT but mj DIDNT break any racial barriers because…”
I can assume that the person who typed this nonsense was not American and has a complete lack of understanding of how racism works in America. If it weren’t for the racial barriers that MJ broke back in the 80s no one would have heard of him now, or modern day artists such as Beyonce and the whatnot. He paved the way for the way for the generations after him AND paved the way for American music in many other places around the world.
Pleaseget a clue and learn to do a little research before you start sounding like an ignorant idiot.
If you are American though, then do us a favor and go read a book on your history.
Sincerely,
The Educated
on 14 Jan 2010 at 10:06 pm 280.tommy said …
People who make comments on this site about MJ crossing all racial divides need to check their history and see that the Beatles were friends with, played music with and socialized with a very diverse group of cultures including black people before it was hip, and to this day out sell MJ in all markets worldwide, MJ had talent but he ain’t no Beatle and never? will be, get over it.
on 16 Jan 2010 at 5:54 pm 281.saladin said …
@tommy: “and to this day out sell MJ in all markets worldwide”
Michael Jackson is the best selling artist of 2009 with 25 million albums sold. Biggest selling in the US, UK, Europe, Japan and worldwide. Beatles nr 2 with 11 million albums worldwide…
on 16 Jan 2010 at 7:12 pm 282.Stinger said …
The Beatles music is far superior to the artificial noise put out by MJ, The? Beatles musically are just out and out much better than MJ look at the facts. The Beatles influence on modern music is far greater than that of MJ. Look up the facts, The Beatles are the #2 selling recording act from 2000-2009 2nd only to Eminem they have the #1 album in that time. All of this 40 years after they break up, amazing to say the least.
You MJ fanboys need to come to grips with? reality and stop posting bullshit based on your emotions and biased opinions.
on 16 Jan 2010 at 7:50 pm 283.saladin said …
@Stinger
Whose music is best is a subjective opinion based on personal taste. Why is MJs music “artificial” and what facts? Those figures are US figures only. There is no secret that Beatles are more popular than MJ in the US, at least until his untimely passing.
on 17 Jan 2010 at 9:19 am 284.victor said …
When Michael Jackson is the second highest selling act forty years after his death then you start the comparison. The Beatles broke up forty years ago and are the second highest selling act this decade and also the 90s also. Musically speaking its not even that close. Many of todays recording techniques were influenced by the Beatles. When a poll was conducted by MUSICIANS who was? the greatest music artists The Beatles were number 1 and Michael Jackson was not in the top 30.
on 17 Jan 2010 at 10:37 am 285.saladin said …
You can start the comparison now, because MJ sales are comparable to the Beatles, as well as legacy and influence.
So, lets talk about now. Beatles is the 2nd best selling artist this decade, but just when you look at US sales figures. If you look at world sales figures it is MJ which is at nr 2, behind Eminem (75 millions) with sales of around 65 millions.
“When a poll was conducted by MUSICIANS who was? the greatest music artists The Beatles were number 1 and Michael Jackson was not in the top 30.”
This “poll” you are refering to and others like Rolling Stone, is very biased toward the 60s and 70s and the Rock genre, so I`m not surprised by this and dont really give it credit. Even though they are musicians doesnt mean they holds on to the truth, and I doesnt see them as credible when they dont rank someone who actually wrote, composed and arranged their own music (MJ), below to someone who only sang songs (Elvis), in the top 30. But thats just my opinion…
on 17 Jan 2010 at 4:49 pm 286.victor said …
No, you start the comparison after 40 years and see if MJ matches up to The Beatles. He won’t. He doesn’t even come close now.
Comparing Michael Jackson to The Beatles, knowing the quantity of quality songs The Beatles produced in only 7 years compared to what MJ did in his whole career is just plain silly.
How convenient of you not to like polls that don’t support your biased and emotion filled opinion. These musicians that were polled are a lot more credible than an internet posting MJ fanboy.
The Beatles 20 #1 songs, MJ 13.
The Beatles 19 #1 albums, MJ 6.
The Beatles 45 Gold, MJ 27.
The Beatles 39 platinum, MJ 17.
The Beatles 24 multi platinum, MJ 7.
The Beatles 6 Diamond, MJ 1.
BTW Elvis beats MJ in every category too except diamond awards.
ALL of the 20 #1 songs and 35 top 10 hits were written by Lennon/McCartney/Harrison. ALL of there solo stuff was written by themselves (this is why 3 of them are in the hall of fame as solo artists). MJ only wrote 8 out of 13 of his #1 hits.
What is relevant, is #1s, Top 10s, Top 40s, Music Sold, Songwriting Ability, Airplay, Influence, Innovation and Instrumentalist Abilities. The Beatles dominate in each of these categories, hands down.
I can fill this page and more with great songs that The Beatles produced in just 7 years, you can’t say the same for MJ.
The Beatles influenced songwriting, albums as a collective unit, using the studio as an instrument, videos, album covers, stadium tours, and global telecasts. The Beatles have the most influential album in Sgt Pepper and maybe the most influential song in Tomorrow Never Knows which it has the drum beat, sampling, and looping that is now common in hip-hop. Michael Jackson should be compared to Elvis, not the Beatles.
You are just unable to be honest with facts and reality. Your opinion blinds you and narrows your view of facts.
on 17 Jan 2010 at 9:46 pm 287.saladin said …
If I start making comparisons between those two, in 40 years, it would be unfair, as MJ would be far ahead of the Beatles in terms of overall unit sales worldwide, and would have broken even more records than he already has. MJ has more than 500 songs that he has never released and I`m pretty sure that most of these future albums is going to sell at least 15 millions each.
Quantity of quality songs is of personal taste. In my estimation MJ has lots more of quality songs then the Beatles, which say quite a lot as I also like many Beatles songs, so thats a subjective argument.
Its not that I totally disregard these pools, but frankly, any musician who claim that MJ is not among the 30 greatest musicians of the 20th century doesnt have a clue okay. I dont think you need to be a MJ fan to say that.
“The Beatles 20 #1 songs, MJ 13.
The Beatles 19 #1 albums, MJ 6.
The Beatles 45 Gold, MJ 27.
The Beatles 39 platinum, MJ 17.
The Beatles 24 multi platinum, MJ 7.
The Beatles 6 Diamond, MJ 1.
BTW Elvis beats MJ in every category too except diamond awards.”
These figures includes US only. I know Beatles has sold more than MJ in the US, but if you look at worldwide sales, MJ has sold more units (in total) than the Beatles and it will just increase in the future.
In my opinion, MJ is a better songwriter than both Lennon and McCartney. I would claim MJ is both more influential and innovative, than Beatles. As with for example Leonardo da Vinci, it takes time before the average person appreciates the work of a true talented genius. I can inform you that MJ had instrumental abilities. He could play guitar, piano, drums, keyboard and percussion. He could even beat box.. He didnt play any on stage or in his music videos, as he focused on dancing, narrative, visual effects.., in short the entertainment aspect.
“I can fill this page and more with great songs that The Beatles produced in just 7 years, you can’t say the same for MJ.”
I can definitely say that about MJ. If you listen to some of the music he has done, except from the usual hits, you will find out exactly why he is referred to as the “King of Pop”. He merges all different kinds of musical styles and makes it “Pop”. By listening to many songs, is how I found out that Beatles music is great, maybe you should try it.
MJ showed people that you could merge R&B and Rock. After Thriller, artists started to focus on album sales rather than single sales. Thriller became the text book for how you want to make a succesful album. Billie Jean is one of the revolutionary and influential songs ever. MJ used rap elements in his Thriller song, 20 years before it became mainstream. The same with Beat It, as it was unheard of, for a R&B artist to make a rock song. Thriller music video widely considered “the greatest mv of all time”. Artists of the last 25 years have followed in the footsteps of MJ. From Prince and Madonna in the 80s, Celine Dion and Mariah Carey in the 90s to Beyonce and Usher in the 00s. MJ wrote and composed “We are the World” which is seen as politically significant as it affected the global conscience of what happened in Africa.
The only artist that challenges MJs musical genius in the 20th century, is the Beatles, in my opinion. Certainly not Elvis.
I am not more blind, biased or narrow than you are, just because I am on the other side of the fence…
on 17 Jan 2010 at 11:11 pm 288.victor said …
saladin, you are kidding right? The Beatles have out sold MJ worldwide by a long shot, anybody with any sense knows that. The Beatles have had more hits in the US AND worldwide than MJ. I can post facts, can you? No you can’t because all you are posting is your opinion.
Here’s a little bit from the Guinness book of world records 2008-2009 edition. Sir Paul McCartney became the Most Successful Songwriter who has written/co written 188 charted records, of which 91 reached the Top 10 and 33 made it to No.1 totaling 1,662 weeks on the chart (up to the beginning of 2008)
91 top 10 songs.
In terms of charting positions, Lennon and McCartney are the most successful songwriters in history, with 32 number one singles in the U.S. for McCartney, and 26 for Lennon (23 of which were written together). Lennon was responsible for 29 number one singles in the U.K., and McCartney was responsible for 28 (25 of which were written together).
MJ is not in the same league as McCartney/Lennon as a song writer, and anybody that thinks so is just a MJ fanboy.
MJ is an amateur compared to The Beatles as an instrumentalist also, unless you count him playing with himself.
McCartney is the first solo album by Paul McCartney and was released in 1970. It is notable for the fact that McCartney, a multi-instrumentalist, performed the entire album (all instruments and voices) by himself, except for some backing vocals from his first wife, Linda McCartney. McCartney stated that he played “bass, drums, acoustic guitar, lead guitar, piano, Mellotron, organ, toy xylophone, and bow and arrow” on the album.
John Lennon played various guitars with The Beatles and during his solo career, including the Epiphone Casino, Rickenbacker (and four variants thereof), and various models of Gibson and Fender guitars. He also played several other instruments to a professionally acceptable standard. He composed several songs on the piano. During the 60s and 70s he frequently played harmonica and guitar in the same song. He also played various percussion instruments and flute in studio and live performances.
Instruments George played, Guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, mandolin, sitar, tambura, sarod, keyboards, swarmandal.
MJ can’t compare in any form or fashion. Anybody with any musical knowledge knows this.
on 17 Jan 2010 at 11:18 pm 289.victor said …
WORLDWIDE STATS
26 no. 1 hits in Australia (130 weeks at no. 1). (David Kent) MJ – 5
22 no. 1 hits in Sweden (95 weeks at no. 1). (Kvallstoppen)
18 no. 1 hits in Sweden (69 weeks at no. 1). (Tio i Topp)
21 no. 1 hits in The Netherlands (95 weeks at no. 1). MJ – 6
21 no. 1 hits in Norway (97 weeks at no. 1). (VG) MJ – 3
20 no. 1 hits in America (59 weeks at no. 1). (Billboard) MJ – 12
17 no. 1 hits in Britain (69 weeks at no. 1). (Record Retailer) MJ – 7
16 no. 1 hits in Hong Kong (67 weeks at no 1). (Billboard)
15 no. 1 hits in New Zealand (35 weeks at no. 1). (The Listener 1966 onwards) MJ – 8
13 no. 1 hits in Ireland (47 weeks at no. 1). MJ – 10
13 no. 1 hits in Malaysia. (Billboard)
9 no. 1 hits in Spain (17 weeks at no. 1). MJ – 15
8 no. 1 hits in Zimbabwe (29 weeks at no. 1).
8 no. 1 hits in Switzerland (37 weeks at no. 1). MJ – 5
6 no. 1 hits in Austria (38 weeks at no. 1). MJ – 0
6 no. 1 hits in Belgium (22 weeks at no. 1). MJ – 1
5 no. 1 hits in Finland.
4 no. 1 hits in Italy (18 weeks at no. 1). MJ – 6
2 no. 1 hits in Ethiopia (98 weeks at no. 1)
Group with most weeks in the British singles chart (456 weeks).
Group with most weeks at no. 1 in the British singles chart (69 weeks).
Group with most top 10 hits in the British singles chart (28 top 10 hits).
Group with most weeks in the Australian singles chart (604 weeks).
Group with most weeks in the Finnish singles chart (437 weeks).
Group with most top 10 hits in the Austrian singles chart (25 top 10 hits).
Group with most top 10 hits in the Danish singles chart (33 top 10 hits).
Most consecutive no. 1 hits in the British singles chart (11 consecutive no. 1 hits, excludes re-issues of old singles).
Most consecutive top 5 hits in the British singles chart (22 consecutive top 5 hits from 1963 to 1970).
Most weeks at no. 1 in the British albums chart within a calendar year (40 weeks at no. 1, 1964).
Most no. 1 albums in the British albums chart within a calendar year (3 no. 1 albums, 1965).
Most no. 1 singles in the Record World Top 100 charts (23 no.1s).
Most no. 1 albums in the Record World albums chart (17 no.1 albums).
Most weeks at no. 1 in the Record World albums chart (123 weeks at no. 1).
The Beatles are the best selling musical group of all time, estimated by EMI to be over one billion discs and tapes sold worldwide.
on 17 Jan 2010 at 11:20 pm 290.victor said …
“I can definitely say that about MJ.”
Really?? Please list what MJ did in 7 years compared to what The Beatles did in 7 years. I’m waiting………………….
on 18 Jan 2010 at 6:33 am 291.GOLU said …
Jackson’s record sales increased dramatically in the hours and days following his death, eighty-fold according to HMV. Bill Carr, Amazon’s vice president for music and video, said the website sold out of all Jackson’s CDs, and those of The Jackson 5 within minutes of the news breaking and Jackson’s music demand since his death has surpassed those of Elvis Presley and John Lennon after their sudden deaths.
The demand placed enormous pressure on CD manufacturing plants. Sales of his music topped the leading online music sellers, iTunes, Amazon and Zune Marketplace, taking over most of the top twenty spots. His album Thriller climbed to number one on the American iTunes music chart, soon to be replaced by The Essential Michael Jackson, while another nineteen albums made it into the top 40. A total of 13 countries pushed Number Ones to the number one spot on their iTunes chart. In Japan, six of his albums made SoundScan Japan’s Top 200 Albums chart, and in Poland, Thriller 25 topped the national album chart and was replaced by King of Pop the following week. In Australia, 15 of his albums occupied the ARIA top 100 as of July 5, four of them in the top 10, with 3 occupying the top 3 spots. He had 34 singles in the top 100 singles chart, including 4 in the top 10. Album sales were 62,015 for the previous week; singles tallied 107,821 units. In the second week, album sales rose from the previous week and tallied 88,650 copies. On July 12, four albums were in the top 10 with 3 occupying the top 3 spots. As of July 19, album sales rose once again from previous weeks and tallied 95,513 copies . In New Zealand, Thriller 25 topped the chart. In Germany, King of Pop topped the album chart, and from June 28 to July 4, 9 of his albums occupied the Top 20 of CAPIF in Argentina. In Billboard’s European Top 100 Albums, he made history with eight of his albums in the top 10 positions. As of August 3, King of Pop has spent 4 weeks atop Billboard’s European Top 100 Albums chart.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 6:33 am 292.GOLU said …
opies in the following week of his memorial service. He also broke a record on the Top Digital Albums chart, with 6 of the top 10 slots, including the entire top 5. On the Hot Digital Songs chart he placed a record of 25 songs on the 75-position list. In the U.S., Jackson became the first artist to sell over one million downloads in a week, with 2.6 million sales. By August 5, Jackson had sold nearly 3.8 million albums and 7.6 million tracks in the U.S.. Number Ones was the best selling album in five of the six weeks that followed his death. The following week was the album’s sixth non-consecutive week as the country’s top selling album.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 6:35 am 293.GOLU said …
On November 14, 1991, Michael Jackson’s music video, Black or White was broadcast simultaneously in 27 countries with an estimated audience of 500 million people. It is the largest audience ever to view a music video.
* In March 1991, Jackson signed a new record-breaking US$890 million contract by Sony. It is still the largest recording contract of all time.
* In 1986 Jackson signed a $15 million deal with Pepsi, at the time the largest ever promotional endorsement.
* Jackson has 9 platinum singles, the second most by any male artist in the U.S. (second only to Elvis).
* Jackson has 13 # 1 singles in United States, making him the second most by a male solo artist, second only to Elvis.
* Jackson has the two best-selling VHS music videos ever released: “Moonwalker” (1988), and “The Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller” (1984).
* Jackson jointly holds the record for most Grammy Awards won in a single year. He won 8 awards at the 1984 ceremony. This was equaled by Carlos Santana in 2001.
* Jackson jointly holds the record for most American Music Awards won in a single year, winning eight awards at the 1984 ceremony. This was equaled by Whitney Houston in 1994.
* Jackson has won the most World Music Awards by a male artist,15.
* Jackson has won the most World Music Awards in a single year, 5 in 1996 (tying Whitney Houston’s 1994 total).
* Jackson has won the most Billboard awards by a male artist,26.
* Jackson won the most Billboard awards in one year, 13 in 1983.
* Named “Best Selling Male Artist of the Millennium” at the World Music Awards ceremony in 2000.
* Named “Artist Of The Century” at the American Music Awards ceremony in 2002.
* Named “Most Successful Entertainer Of All Time” by the Guinness World Records in 2006.
* Awarded “Chopard Diamond award” at the World Music Awards in 2006, with record sales of over 750 million records.
* Jackson’s “Bad World Tour” (1987–1989) was the highest-grossing tour ever at the time, with over $125 million earned.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 6:36 am 294.GOLU said …
Michael Jackson is the only foreign artist to have sold more than 1,500,000 units in Turkey. Bad is the best-selling foreign album in Turkey with the sales of 560,000 units.
* Jackson’s album “Thriller” (1982) is the best selling album of all time with more than 110 million copies. The album currently holds the record for being the first and only album in the United States to top the sales charts for two separate years. Being the best selling album in 1983 and 1984.
* Jackson’s album “Bad” (1987) at one point for a few years was the second biggest selling album of all time, with 28 million sold at the time and over 33 million sold to date. But that has since then been surpassed.
* Jackson’s album “Dangerous” (1991) is the biggest selling New Jack Swing album of all time with over 30 million copies sold worldwide. And for a period in time it was close to being the third best selling album of all time.
* 700,000 tickets were sold in about four hours for the cancelled “This Is It” concert series in 2009.
* At one stage, Michael Jackson was one of the wealthiest entertainers in the world, with a fortune of more than $750 million.
* Jackson has been given 197 recognized awards, which was promoted as being the most for an artist.
* Following his death, Jackson became the first artist to sell 2 million+ downloads in a week.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 6:39 am 295.GOLU said …
Michael Jackson’s US chart records and achievements
* Jackson’s Thriller remained at number one for thirty-seven weeks, the longest-ever stay by a non-soundtrack album and second only to West Side Story.[1]
* Thriller spent a record 80 consecutive weeks, more than a year and a half, in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. It was the first of only three albums that have remained in the Top 10 for more than a year (along with Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill and Celine Dion’s Falling into You).
* Thriller is the only album in the United States to have sold more copies than any other in two separate years, topping the sales charts in 1983 and 1984.
* Four of Jackson’s albums, Bad, Dangerous, HIStory, and Invincible, debuted at number one in the United States.
* Jackson was the first artist to have four Top 10 singles from one album (Off the Wall).
* Jackson was the first artist to have seven Top 10 singles from one album (Thriller), a feat matched only by his sister Janet and Bruce Springsteen.
* Jackson is the only artist to have 5 number 1 hits from one LP, Bad (”Bad”, “The Way You Make Me Feel”, “Man in the Mirror”, “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”, and “Dirty Diana”).
* Jackson was the first artist to simultaneously have the number 1 album and number 1 single on Billboard’s Pop Charts and Black Charts.
* Jackson had 9 number one singles in the 1980s, more than any other artist during the decade.
* Following changes in Billboard’s methodology, Jackson became the first artist to have a song debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 (”You Are Not Alone”).
* Jackson’s album Bad remained in the top five of the Billboard 200 for 38 weeks, longer than any other album to date.
* Jackson has had 13 #1 singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart, trailing only The Beatles (20), Mariah Carey (18) and Elvis Presley (18 or 17, depending on the sources)
on 18 Jan 2010 at 6:40 am 296.GOLU said …
Jackson had 29 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, tying with The Beatles (29), and trailing Elvis Presley (36) and Madonna (37).
on 18 Jan 2010 at 6:40 am 297.GOLU said …
UK chart records and achievements
* With 11.5 million sales, Michael Jackson is one of only eight musical acts that have sold more than 10 million singles in Britain.
* Jackson had the most Top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart in one year, 19 in 2006.
* Jackson had 40 Top 10 hits in the UK Singles Chart.
* Jackson’s Thriller and Bad are the 8th- and 9th-highest-selling albums in UK history. Besides Jackson, only Queen, with the 1st- and 7th-best-selling albums, has multiple entries in the top twenty.[4]
* Jackson had 13 songs in the UK top 40 and 5 albums (including the #1 seller) in the UK top 10 on 5 July 2009.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 6:41 am 298.GOLU said …
French chart records and achievements
* Invincible, released in 2001, had the highest first week of sales for a foreign album in France, selling 166,000 copies.
* Jackson had 4 diamond albums in France. They are Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, and HIStory.
* Jackson had 22 top ten hits on the French Top 100 Singles charts.
* Jackson had 36 top 40 hits on the Top 100 Singles charts.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 6:41 am 299.GOLU said …
German chart records and achievements
* Jackson had 5 albums in Germany that reached platinum status: Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, HIStory, and Invincible.
* Jackson had 16 top 10 hits on the German Top 100 singles charts.
* Jackson had 29 top 40 hits on the Top 100 singles charts
on 18 Jan 2010 at 6:43 am 300.GOLU said …
1)MJ did with the album Thriller what the majority of the artists in this list did in their whole career(Biggest selling album with over 100 millions copies,7 TOP10 hits from 1 album,Billie Jean and Beat It are,reffering to WORLD UNITED CHART,ranked in the TOP100 biggest selling singles ever,8 grammy awaeds,awarded by the Pdt of US in 1984,the album is still a great influence for many musicians today)
2)Michael Jackson is the most popular performer ever(over 18 millions of concert tickets sold),and reffering to Guinness Book,he’s THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ENTERTAINER OF ALL TIME(ELVIS was also an entertainer but he isn’t THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
)
3)Michael Jackson is the most INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN ARTIST EVER(the only who sold over 200 millions albums outside the US)
4)Michael Jackson was dubbed THE KING OF POP for the first time by Sir Paul McCartney(The Beatles)
5)Double inductee in the Rock’n'Roll Hall Of Fame and inductee in The Songwriters Hall Of Fame
6)Off The Wall(22 millions copies sold)is The FIRST album containing 4 TOP10 hits,and Bad(30 copies sold)is THE ONLY album containing 5 #1 hits.
7)MJ has 4 WORLD TOURS in the TOP5 biggest tours ever
HISTORY WORLD TOUR #1
BAD WORLD TOUR #3
DANGEROUS WORLD TOUR #4
VICTORY TOUR #5
8)Black Or White is the Biggest Rock Hit of the 90’s
9)MJ was a singer-songwriter,record producer,arranger,drummer,bassist,guitarist,beatboxer,choregrapher and dancer at the same time.
10)Smooth Criminal is the fastest composed song in history,MJ composed,,produced it,and sung in it in less than one hour.
11)The Highest Grossing Carrer with over 5 billion $ of benefits.
12)MJ has 5 albums in THE TOP 100 BEST SELLING ALBUMS OF ALL TIME and 2 in the TOP 20(Thriller and Dangerous)
13)his vocal style unfluenced hundreds of pop,rock and r’n'b artists.
14)Michael Jackson became the largest earning dead artist in the history 5 months after his tragic death(more than Elvis,Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon)
15)Number Ones is the Best Selling Album in the US for 2009
16)Michael Jackson is the best selling artist of the 80’s decade and also the 90’s decade.
17) President George H. W. Bush commended Jackson for his achievements and presented him with the White House’s special “Artist of the Decade” award in recognition of his musical influence during the 1970s-1990s.
17) President Obama awarded Jackson with the speech “The day the music died” during a press release and conferred the ARTISTS OF THE CENTURY award on Michael Jackson, Elvis and Beatles.
18) THRILLER and SMOOTH CRIMINAL declared the “MOST IRRESTIBLE DANCE MUSIC of all time” by the USA DJ association
19)MJ wrote 100 songs and sifted through 700 songs for selecting the 9 tracks of Thriller.
20)With Thriller and Bad, MJ played an instrumental role in establishing the position of MTV and Sony Entertainment the way it is today
on 18 Jan 2010 at 8:28 am 301.saladin said …
I`m not talking about amount of hits and charts worldwide, but SALES. The one billion tag their record label EMI, claims they have sold, cannot be proven and verified by them or others, as there is no officially recognized company which tracks worldwide sales. These are just estimations and in essence, guessing. Thrilles alone has sold more than, “1″, “St Pepper” and “Abbey Road” combined. This is not my opinion, but facts.
Why are Lennon/McCartney better songwriters? That is based on OPINION. Most of MJs biggest hits have been written by himself. He has written on broad amount of different themes, which connects with the listener. He has also many songs written by himself, which covers humanitarian and issues of society.
I didnt say that the instrumental abilities of MJ was up to Beatles standards, but he could still play instruments at a good level.
“Really?? Please list what MJ did in 7 years compared to what The Beatles did in 7 years. I’m waiting………………….”
Dont stop till you get enough, Working day and night, Billie Jean, Beat It, Wanna be starting something, 9 of eleven songs on Bad was written by MJ among others. 1979-1987: Off the wall, 20 millions, Thriller 110 millions, Bad, 30 millions… These are VERIFIED figures. Broke racial barriers, put black artists back into mainstream music again, popularized MTV, introduced moonwalk into pop culture, revolutionized music videos and future artists used mv as important promotional tool, We are the world (written and composed by MJ) is one of the best selling singles of all time, more than any Beatles singles. After Thriller, artists started shifting focus away from singles and more into the albums, Thriller has become (to this day) a text book for how to make a succesful album. These are just few of the achievements he accomplished during this period.
“MJ is not in the same league as McCartney/Lennon as a song writer, and anybody that thinks so is just a MJ fanboy.”
I could call you a Beatles fanboy, but I wont go down to your cheap, childish level.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 8:41 am 302.saladin said …
Also, worldwide, VERIFIED sales by MJ is at least 420 millions (Jackson 5/Jacksons, not included). Thats just albums and singles counted…
If Lennon and McCartney are such talented musicians, why were their solo career so bleak compared to MJs?
on 18 Jan 2010 at 12:14 pm 303.victor said …
“The one billion tag their record label EMI, claims they have sold, cannot be proven and verified by them or others, as there is no officially recognized company which tracks worldwide sales. These are just estimations and in essence, guessing.”
So now it’s guessing. If it’s guessing, then you can’t make the claim that MJ sold more worldwide, can you?? The guesses and estimations have The Beatles as selling the most worldwide with Elvis a close 2nd. That leaves us with US sales.
Thriller hasn’t sold 100 million – maybe half that. The latest RIAA numbers (7/04/09) – which are for the U.S. only and the only official tally of record sales in the U.S. – list:
1. The Beatles on top with 170 million
2. Garth Brooks 128 million
3. Elvis Presley 119
4. Led Zeppelin 111.5 million
5. The Eagles 100 million.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 12:30 pm 304.victor said …
“as there is no officially recognized company which tracks worldwide sales.”
“Also, worldwide, VERIFIED sales by MJ is at least 420 millions (Jackson 5/Jacksons, not included). Thats just albums and singles counted”
You can’t have it both ways. You are contradicting yourself. Try again.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 12:34 pm 305.victor said …
2000’s
Best-selling artists, albums and songs of the 00’s.
Em sold more than 32.2 million albums in the 2000s, edging out the Beatles to claim the title of top-selling artist. The Beatles ended up with the decade’s best-selling album (they sold nearly 11.5 million copies of 2000’s greatest-hits comp 1).
Nielsen Soundscan created the decade lists using data collected from January 1, 2000-November 1, 2009, and though figures might rise through December 31, they won’t alter the rankings.
Top Selling Albums of the Decade
1. The Beatles, 1, – 11,499,000 units sold
2. ‘NSYNC, No Strings Attached, 11,112,000 units sold
3. Norah Jones, Come Away With Me, 10, 546,000 units sold
4. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP, 10,204,000 units sold
5. Eminem, The Eminem Show, 9,799,000 units sold
6. Usher, Confessions, 9,712,000 units sold
7. Linkin Park, Hybrid Theory, 9,663,000 units sold
8. Creed, Human Clay, 9,491,000 units sold
9. Britney Spears, Oops! … I Did It Again, 9,185,000 units sold
10. Nelly, Country Grammar, 8,461,000 units sold
40 years after The Beatles break up and they are still kicking ass.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 1:10 pm 306.victor said …
20 Reasons the Beatles are the Greatest Band Ever
1. During the week of April 4, 1964, The Beatles occupied the first five positions on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart (12 in the Hot 100), the top 2 positions on the albums chart, the no. 1 position in the British singles chart, the first two positions in the British albums chart and the no. 1 position in the British EP chart, – the most complete domination of the British and American charts in history. Nowadays, you’re lucky to have one top 10 album and single at the same time.
2. To date, the Beatles have sold over 1 billion records. That’s billion, with a B.
3. They have the most no. 1 albums in the British album charts (15), and 17 No. 1 hits.
4. They hold the record for the group with the longest span between no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart (36 years and 51 weeks, 1964 to 2001). In 2000 – 20 years after John Lennon was killed, their greatest hits compilation, 1, spent eight weeks at no. 1 and sold 13 million copies in its first month of release.
5. They boast 20 No. 1 hits in the United States, (19 No. 1 albums), with 24 consecutive Top 10 hits from 1964 to 1976 (six years after they broke up), a record for a group. They also have 12 no. 1 hits in Germany, 23 in Australia, 21 in the Netherlands, 22 in Canada, and 13 in Malaysia.
6. According to the United World Chart, the Beatles have 16 of the 100 most successful tracks of all time, and also 7 of the 100 most successful albums in history.
7. The Beatles recorded four of the Top 10 Greatest Albums of All Time, according to Rolling Stone magazine, and three of the Top Five. (I will ignore the fact that Abbey Road was only No. 14. Blasphemy.)
8. They were ground-breaking pioneers almost from the beginning, being the first group ever to employ feedback in 1964’s “I Feel Fine.” One of their first hits, “A Hard Day’s Night,” features an opening chord so revolutionary that people are still trying to figure out. 1965’s Rubber Soul saw more innovation, from the use of a sitar in “Norwegian Wood” and tape loops in “Tomorrow Never Knows.” Then there are the backwards vocals in “Rain” (a first) and a Moog synthesizer on several songs on 1969’s Abbey Road.
9. Sergeant Pepper is arguably the greatest album ever made (indeed, it topped Rolling Stone’s list). While it doesn’t have the strongest material, the album was a landmark in recording. It popularized the concept album – something that would serve as inspiration to The Who and Pink Floyd.
10. “A Day in the Life” from Sgt. Pepper may have been the crowning achievement of the group – a five and a half minute song composed of two suites – one by Lennon, one by Paul McCartney – that are totally different in sound and texture, yet complement each other perfectly. The song features two cacophonous crescendos from an orchestra, the final one climaxing in a single E major piano chord that lasts 42 seconds.
11. One may not like songs such as “Yesterday” and “Hey Jude,” but they are unrivaled in their popularity, and the melodies are unforgettable.
12. Paul McCartney actually dreamed the tune to “Yesterday.”
13. “Helter Skelter” and “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” are considered two of the first heavy metal songs.
14. They have 23 of the Top 500 songs of all time, again according to Rolling Stone – the most of any artist.
15. Their iconic No. 1 singles notwithstanding (“Love Me Do”, “From Me to You”, “She Loves You”, “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, “Can’t Buy Me Love”, “A Hard Day’s Night”, “I Feel Fine”, “Eight Days a Week”, “Ticket to Ride”, “Help!”, “Yesterday”, “Day Tripper”, “We Can Work It Out”, “Paperback Writer”, “Yellow Submarine”, “Eleanor Rigby”, “Penny Lane”, “All You Need Is Love”, “Hello, Goodbye”, “Lady Madonna”, “Hey Jude”, “Get Back”, “The Ballad of John and Yoko”, “Something”, “Come Together”, “Let It Be” and “The Long and Winding Road”), some of their best songs weren’t even on any singles or B-sides: “I Should Have Known Better,” “You Won’t See Me,” “Rain,” “For No One,” “Across the Universe,” “Two of Us,” “Dear Prudence,” and “Because” are all just album filler.
16. They revolutionized the science of recording, using multiple tracks instead of playing live. Producer George Martin used varying tape speeds to make Lennon’s voice sound high (“Tomorrow Never Knows”) and slow (“Strawberry Fields Forever”); he also brought in string musicians to accompany certain songs (“Yesterday”). In another session, McCartney utilized bass drums halfway down a corridor to achieve a staccato sound in “Mother Nature’s Son.”
17. In an age where other people wrote songs for the flavor of the day – think the Brill Building songwriters doing all the work for the Shangri-Las and the Dixie Cups – The Beatles surprised everyone by penning their own hits from the beginning. As a result, they helped usher the singer-songwriter movement that popularized the late 1960s.
18. Their ability to cross over from media and teen idols to musical innovators is one-of-a-kind. Their chart success is unparalleled; but despite their popularity, they managed to continue to improve throughout their career.
19. Their place in popular culture is unrivaled – Their movies, their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show (in which they played to 74 million people), the “bigger than Jesus” comment, the refusal to play in concert after 1966, the Maharishi, the painstaking production work, the beginnings of the drug culture and LSD fad, “Helter Skelter” and Charles Manson, the “Paul is Dead” phenomenon, Yoko Ono, the rooftop concert, the cover of Abbey Road, the subsequent solo years, and the hit singles created from rough demos of the late Lennon.
20. Oh, yeah; they accomplished all this in seven years.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 1:38 pm 307.saladin said …
Again, I dont doubt that Beatles has more US sales than MJ (even though RIAA are not 100% accurate). Look, if you can give a reliable, accurate figures of Beatles sales worldwide which is higher than MJs than I wouldnt have any problems acknoweldging that. But these are estimations, probably inflated by EMI, for marketing and commercial purposes. I am not totally dismissing that Beatles has sold more than MJ worldwide, but according to album/single sales I`ve looked at, 1 billion units seems highly unlikely.
The 420 million figure, was a figure I got from a website which has gone through all his singles and albums, which was based on known certifications worldwide. As the technology has improved from the Beatles era to the MJ era, there are more accurate figures of MJ sales, than Beatles sales worldwide, so I`m not contradicting myself. But this was not a compiled figures from an international, independent body.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 1:48 pm 308.saladin said …
Thriller has sold at least 30 million copies just in the US, probably closer to 35 millions now. In many countries it has sold at least a 1 million copies. This indicates that it has that it is much closer (if not surpassed) the 100 million mark than 50 millions (which is what the most conservative bodies estimates).
“Top Selling Albums of the Decade
1. The Beatles, 1, – 11,499,000 units sold
2. ‘NSYNC, No Strings Attached, 11,112,000 units sold
3. Norah Jones, Come Away With Me, 10, 546,000 units sold
4. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP, 10,204,000 units sold
5. Eminem, The Eminem Show, 9,799,000 units sold
6. Usher, Confessions, 9,712,000 units sold
7. Linkin Park, Hybrid Theory, 9,663,000 units sold
8. Creed, Human Clay, 9,491,000 units sold
9. Britney Spears, Oops! … I Did It Again, 9,185,000 units sold
10. Nelly, Country Grammar, 8,461,000 units sold”
AGAIN, your coming up with US figures. Maybe its because you know MJ dominates worldwide sales..?
on 18 Jan 2010 at 2:38 pm 309.saladin said …
“2. To date, the Beatles have sold over 1 billion records. That’s billion, with a B.”
Some Elvis fans claims that he has passed 1,8 billion sales. Is that anymore reliable?
“12. Paul McCartney actually dreamed the tune to “Yesterday.””
Is this a reason? MJ says that his music comes directly from God, and that he is just the messenger of his music (I`m not saying I believe this).
I have no doubt that Beatles has done a lot for music and revolutionized it, in many ways. And they have been given their credit due. This does not apply to MJ, especially in the US and UK (for obvious reasons). Sometimes it takes time to recognize true genius and with time his musical legacy will be restored and credited to its rightful place; as one of the musics all time greats.
“Oh, God! That boy moves in a very exceptional way. That’s the greatest dancer of the century”. – Fred Astaire
“I didn’t want to leave this world without knowing who my descendant was. Thank you Michael!”- Fred Astaire (shortly before his death)
“The only male singer who I’ve seen besides myself and who’s better than me – that is Michael Jackson.” – Frank Sinatra
I think its about time that Paul McCartney admits that the greatest songwriter ever, is the most succesful entertainer ever (Guiness World Records).
on 18 Jan 2010 at 2:48 pm 310.saladin said …
“20 Reasons the Beatles are the Greatest Band Ever”
We can agree on that:)
on 18 Jan 2010 at 3:37 pm 311.Zeke said …
The Beatles were much more creative and had a much wider range of styles than MJ did. He has some good songs, but really I say the only albums of his worth buying is Thriller or a greatest hits collection. Other than that there is really nothing that special there. As with the Beatles you could pick anything from there last 4 years together, which is about 5 albums, and put into the list of greatest albums of all time. No comparison really.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 3:43 pm 312.Zeke said …
Researches have been conducting interviews with all of the generations including those from the 50’s, 60’s 70’s 80’s & 90’s. What they have found is that while still a gap, it is much more closed than it used to be. The researchers conclude that this may be the result of the music of the Beatles. They are the only performer to to place in the top 4 of loved music by each of the generations. MJ appeared in just one group in the top 4 and overall was fourth with the Beatles being the most beloved music of all generations at number 1. One again a testament to their longevity and massive cultural effect. Pew research is considered to be one of the finest research firms in the country. google generationgap.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 3:46 pm 313.Zeke said …
The music in the Beatles catalog is now well over 40 years old. It remains (MJ Fans know this) the most valuable catalog in the history of music. The Beatles songs are the most played songs in musical history. Yes, today included. Thats why “today” it remains the most valuable catalog in popular music. Thats why MJ wanted it so so badly.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 3:47 pm 314.Zeke said …
MJ fans somehow think the Beatles were not a “worldwide event”. And were limited…..they refuse to get it. There was a reason why MJ “had to own” the rights to the most valuable musical catalog in history”. It is the most valuable and prestigious because it has endured to this day. It is the single biggest item which near “everyone” agrees was the smartest thing MJ ever did (buy it). Its all because the music was in fact “that good”. It is music that truly changed “forever” the worlds culture. Its “today’s” relevancy that makes a catalog valuable.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 6:48 pm 315.saladin said …
Range of styles, MJ covered: pop, rock, hard rock, r&b, soul, jazz, classical, dance, disco, funk, new jack swing, urban, rap, hip-hop, industrial, electronic,adult contemporary…
I think there is a misconception that “Pop” music is one style, but it can be many different styles. As long as its “Pop” (popular), any types of music can be pop.
If MJ wasnt creative, how could he write and compose more than 200 songs (few from Jacksons included)?
“He has some good songs, but really I say the only albums of his worth buying is Thriller or a greatest hits collection. Other than that there is really nothing that special there. As with the Beatles you could pick anything from there last 4 years together, which is about 5 albums, and put into the list of greatest albums of all time. No comparison really.”
Whats “special” is of personal opininon. If you look at the sales of MJs last 6 albums compared to the Beatles last 6 albums, there is more people who finds MJs albums “more special” than Beatles. Have you listened to any of his songs, except from his biggest hits. Maybe Beatles fans should dip into the world of MJ music, instead of listening to what other people say about it, than you could make a fairer judgement of his music.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 7:07 pm 316.saladin said …
“Researches have been conducting interviews with all of the generations including those from the 50’s, 60’s 70’s 80’s & 90’s. What they have found is that while still a gap, it is much more closed than it used to be. The researchers conclude that this may be the result of the music of the Beatles. They are the only performer to to place in the top 4 of loved music by each of the generations. MJ appeared in just one group in the top 4 and overall was fourth with the Beatles being the most beloved music of all generations at number 1. One again a testament to their longevity and massive cultural effect. Pew research is considered to be one of the finest research firms in the country. google generationgap.”
Is this research been conducted in the US or UK?
True quality will always cross the generation gap, in music and in other art forms. This applies to Beatles, but also to MJ. In time, his legacy in the music will increase and be recognized for what he has done. Its a bit weird thing to say for the most decorated artist ever, but nonetheless true.
on 18 Jan 2010 at 7:23 pm 317.saladin said …
Its true that MJ admired Beatles music. He recognized greatness when he saw it (which is probably why he never paid any attention to Elvis music). He was also a shrewd businessman, and he knew the potential income he would get from owning it, would be huge. Thats why he saw the value of buying the catalog. But thats not the only reason; he also wanted to bring justice back to the black artists, because they never got real money for what they did in their careers, including Little Richard. Thats why he gave back their songs for free.
Its true that Beatles had huge influence on Western culture, but the Western culture is not the world…
on 18 Jan 2010 at 7:31 pm 318.saladin said …
MJ also sang perfectly in Spanish and French.
on 19 Jan 2010 at 5:48 am 319.saladin said …
“Range of styles, MJ covered: pop, rock, hard rock, r&b, soul, jazz, classical, dance, disco, funk, new jack swing, urban, rap, hip-hop, industrial, electronic,adult contemporary…”
I can also mention blues, gospel, reggae, opera, electro-rock, ballad.
on 19 Jan 2010 at 7:39 am 320.meesha said …
The Beatles are better than Michael Jackson, no question about it. You can make an argument for either one, but The Beatles wrote songs that changed music forever, created albums loved all over the world, and inspired a generation of artists (including MJ) years to come. The Beatles are on? the same level of creative genius as Bach, Mozart or Beethoven.
on 19 Jan 2010 at 8:10 am 321.victor said …
Bottom line is, The Beatles were the most influential, and most successful, popular music group of the rock era, with more global and US sales than any other artist or artists in history. No artists of any sort, in any? era, have achieved The Beatles’ combination of popular success, critical acclaim and broad cultural influence. It’s nice that people have their opinions, but your opinions don’t change history.
When you don’t have the talent to continuously write great songs like The Beatles did, you come up with gimmicks like? dancing, moonwalking, grabbing your crotch and extravagant stage shows to keep your album sales up.
If Michael Jackson was the musical genius he? and his fans claim he was, then why couldn’t he just sit down, write his own songs (without relying on several hip producers), play his own instruments, and launch an album without the desperate amount of self-produced hype he usually put forward? Dont get me wrong: Michael Jackson was an entertainment phenomenon during the 1980s. However, his relevance and success considerably dwindled after the early nineties.
The Greatest Album all time:
The list was based on the votes of 273 rock musicians, critics and industry figures,? each of whom submitted a weighted list of 50 albums. Various music genres were featured in the list, including pop rock punk heavy metal soul blues folk jazz hip hop and combinations thereof. The firm Ernst & Young devised a point system to weigh votes for 1,600 submitted titles.
TOP 5 ALBUMS
1 SGT PEPPER’S
2 PET SOUNDS
3 REVOLVER
4 HWY 61
5 RUBBER SOUL
READ AGAIN!! Show me where MJ matches this. I’m waiting…
Heres a little bit from the Guinness book of world records 2008-2009 edition. Sir Paul McCartney became the Most Successful Songwriter who? has written/co written 188 charted records, of which 91 reached the Top 10 and 33 made it to No.1 totaling 1,662 weeks on the chart (up to the beginning of 2008)
91 top 10 songs.
The movie “Across the Universe” that was released in 2007 incorporated 33 compositions originally written by members of The Beatles. So you see, they are still relevant even 40 years later. MJ can’t compare to The Beatles when you talk about MUSIC and the quantity of quality songs written, but then again, nobody can. MJ could dance? better, I will give him that.
The Beatles are still relevant whether you like it or not. The Beatles album “1″ released in 2000 set numerous records. It sold 3.6 million units in its first week and more than 12 million in three weeks worldwide, reaching #1 in over 35 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. It became the fastest-selling album of all time and the highest-selling of 2000 and of? the decade so far.
The Beatles accomplished more in seven years than MJ did in his lifetime. Jackson had some good tunes, but nothing of his really comes close to “In My Life,” “A Day in the Life,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “Something,” “Hey Jude,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Dear Prudence,” “Nowhere Man,” and “Yesterday” in the sheer songcraft? category.
The Beatles were musicians, songwriters, singers, one of the foundations of virtually everthing rock, as well as a major influence on the cultural, musical, sexual, artistic, moral and societal revolutions that my generation, and all generations since, for good or bad, have experienced. And will continue to experience. The Beatles’ music will continue to be listened to, bought, enjoyed, dissected and written about long after we’re? all gone. It’s timeless.
on 19 Jan 2010 at 8:45 am 322.saladin said …
“You can make an argument for either one, but The Beatles wrote songs that changed music forever, created albums loved all over the world, and inspired a generation of artists (including MJ) years to come.”
I could make the EXACT same sentence with “MJ” susbtituting “The Beatles”.
“The Beatles are on? the same level of creative genius as Bach, Mozart or Beethoven.”
So is MJ..
“Beethoven and Beatles, Mozart and Michael Jackson, Paganini and Prince – I like them all.” Internationally known British pop and classical musician, Vanessa Mae
on 19 Jan 2010 at 9:08 am 323.saladin said …
“TOP 5 ALBUMS
1 SGT PEPPER’S
2 PET SOUNDS
3 REVOLVER
4 HWY 61
5 RUBBER SOUL
READ AGAIN!! Show me where MJ matches this. I’m waiting…”
Rolling Stone again…. Rolling Stone also claims that all of 500 greatest songs (except one) ever, is sung in English. That there are only two female guitarists of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time” Dont you think they are a little bit biased?
“When you don’t have the talent to continuously write great songs like The Beatles did, you come up with gimmicks like? dancing, moonwalking, grabbing your crotch and extravagant stage shows to keep your album sales up.”
Is it MJs fault that he was a great entertainer as well as a great musician? Those “gimmicks” is what MJ did to entertain his crowd, not to sell more albums. His MANY great songs sold the albums by itself, accompanied by music videos and tours. But thats what a modern artist does. Even 60s musicians lik Dylan and the Stones does music videos and tours. That doenst make them less of a musician. If the Beatles had the entertainment talent as MJ did, I`m sure they would have done the same thing, but of course they didnt have that talent.
on 19 Jan 2010 at 10:16 am 324.saladin said …
victor, instead of coming up with FACTS, you`re just repeating yourself and making stuff up. Check your facts! MJ didnt rely on others to write and compose his songs. True, he had producers helping him with making his albums, as good as possible. But it was he controlled the direction of his albums and how he wanted it to be. Didnt Beatles have a certain producer themselves? I`m sure you know of George Martin.
Most of Paul McCartneys songwriting success comes from being a part of Beatles. As a solo artist MJ is a more successful songwriter by far. MJ among countless of hits, wrote and composed “We are the World”, one of the biggest selling singles ever released. He DID play instruments on some of his songs; keyboard, percussion, drum, guitar, string. The reason for playing instuments on just some songs, is maybe because he wrote, arranged, composed, produced and performed ALL of the songs he wrote, which was many. You also have to take into account that he wrote over a 100 songs for each album, so you cant blame him for dividing the workload:) But it may also be true that he wasnt an expert in playing instruments, so he left it to others who was better than him on instuments. But I`m sure that if he wanted to, he could perfectionized his instrumental skills and played the instruments as well, but he was a perfectionist so he didnt do that.
“Dont get me wrong: Michael Jackson was an entertainment phenomenon during the 1980s. However, his relevance and success considerably dwindled after the early nineties.”
Dangerous: best selling new jack swing album ever
HIStory: best selling double disc album ever
Blood on the Dancefloor: best selling remix album ever
ALL in the 90s
2000s: 2nd best selling artist of the decade (WORLDWIDE, not the US)
2009: best selling artist of the year in; UK, Europe, Japan, worldwide AND the US)
Not so relevant and successful? I rest my case!
on 19 Jan 2010 at 10:43 am 325.saladin said …
“Jackson had some good tunes, but nothing of his really comes close to “In My Life,” “A Day in the Life,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “Something,” “Hey Jude,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Dear Prudence,” “Nowhere Man,” and “Yesterday” in the sheer songcraft? category.”
Try this: I cant help it, Human nature, Who is it, Little Susie, Man in the mirror, The lost children, Scared of the moon, Whatever happens, Leave me alone and Dont walk away.
MJ was THE foundation for todays mainstream music, R&B and pop..
“as well as a major influence on the cultural, musical, sexual, artistic, moral and societal revolutions that my generation, and all generations since, for good or bad, have experienced.”
MJ was a major influence in bringing down the iron curtain and as a consequence ending the cold war.. ENOUGH SAID!!
on 19 Jan 2010 at 4:27 pm 326.victor said …
“MJ was a major influence in bringing down the iron curtain and as a consequence ending the cold war.. ENOUGH SAID!!”
LMFAO…Oh please, now you are really grasping for straws.
on 19 Jan 2010 at 4:49 pm 327.victor said …
“Human nature, Who is it, Little Susie, Man in the mirror, The lost children, Scared of the moon, Whatever happens, Leave me alone and Dont walk away.”
These songs did nothing on the charts. Not many people cared for them obviously. Hit’s, sales, airplay, etc. are measurable facts, not your opinion. The Beatles dominate in these areas WORLDWIDE! Any LEGITIMATE website you go to has The Beatles out selling MJ in the US and WORLDWIDE, get over it.
MJ only wrote 8 out of 13 of his #1 songs….pathetic compared to The Beatles who wrote all of their 20 #1 songs and 35 top 10 hits in just 7 years. No comparison.
Documented Fact:
Paul McCartney – The Most Successful Songwriter who has written/co written 188 charted records, of which 91 reached the Top 10 and 33 made it to No.1 totaling 1,662 weeks on the chart (up to the beginning of 2008) 91 top 10 songs.
MJ can’t compare, don’t even try.
on 19 Jan 2010 at 4:51 pm 328.victor said …
‘If the Beatles had the entertainment talent as MJ did, I`m sure they would have done the same thing, but of course they didnt have that talent.”
History says different and so do people that have a clue about music. You don’t have a clue, you’re just a MJ fanboy that refuses to remove his blinders.
on 19 Jan 2010 at 7:07 pm 329.saladin said …
MJs music, entertainment package and his sheer star-power, in the 80s, was the main symbol of Western entertainment, commercialism and capitalism, which the population under Soviet control craved for, even the Russians. Jackson first visited Moscow in September 1993, just two years after the fall of the Soviet Union. Until then, it had been illegal even to purchase his songs. CNN tells…
“(CNN) — Michael Jackson’s fame truly knew no borders: He was even the first international popstar to perform in post-Soviet-era Russia.
The historic concert sparked scenes of near-hysteria among young Russians who embraced him as a symbol of all things American.
Their devotion was all the more extraordinary as few of them had seen images of what he looked like: Russian television didn’t show his videos or play his music in the 1980s.
According to pop music historian Dmitry Babich, “Video culture was not very developed in Russia, there were very few VCRs. Michael Jackson became a legend without people seeing him a lot.
“So when Russian television became liberalized, young kids of 17, 18, 19 years of age wanted to watch only him.
“The concert of 1993 was really a major event, not only in terms of pop culture but history in general. It was the first big concert of a world star in Russia,” Babich told the Russian News & Information Agency.”
“For people in Russia it was something extraordinary,” Ivanenko continued. “Everyone was excited that Michael Jackson was in Russia. The quality of the show and sound was shocking for people. He put on quite a show for them. It was incomparable to anything they had ever seen.”
Ivanenko said: “For Russians, America was like another planet and Michael Jackson was the king of that planet … (He) was seen as the face of the crazy American life.”
See… He WAS a major contributer for the glasnost movement (peoples movement) and the subsequent fall of Soviet.
on 19 Jan 2010 at 7:45 pm 330.saladin said …
The 7 years Beatles accomplished their records is impressive, but not relevant. If MJ just focused on his music in a similar time-period, he would have accomplished at least the same success as the Beatles. But he did a lot of other stuff, which kept him away from focussing on just his music. For example several music videos for each album, large world tours, commercials/movies so forth. Also, because he was a perfectionist, these things were time-consuming. Thats the reason for why the time-span between each of his albums is big. Remember, after 66, Beatle stopped touring, and even before that, their shows was purely based on them playing music, no effects, dancing (“gimmicks” as you like to call it) whatsoever, so they didnt need to spend a lot of energy doing concerts. So thats not a factor which favors the Beatles.
“These songs did nothing on the charts. Not many people cared for them obviously. Hit’s, sales, airplay, etc. are measurable facts, not your opinion.
First of: Man in the mirror #1 US
I hate to mention this, but you`re bringing up the charts all the time, so I guess I have no choice: There are REASONS for why MJ did poorly on the charts (for his standards) in the 90s till his death; Child molestation accusations and continously negative publicity from the medias side in the UK and US contributed to this. If this had happened to the Beatles, I dont think they would have so many top 10 hits. This goes for airplay as well.
An indicator is this: If you go on Youtube, there a lot more hits (viewers) of MJ than on Beatles. Beatles hit numbers are more comparable to J5.
The Beatles dominate in these areas WORLDWIDE! Any LEGITIMATE website you go to has The Beatles out selling MJ in the US and WORLDWIDE, get over it. ”
Their are NO website who has accurate total sale numbers worldwide of either MJ or Beatles, just ESTIMATIONS, no matter how legitimate they are. THAT IS A FACT!!
on 19 Jan 2010 at 8:07 pm 331.saladin said …
“MJ only wrote 8 out of 13 of his #1 songs….pathetic compared to The Beatles who wrote all of their 20 #1 songs and 35 top 10 hits in just 7 years. No comparison.”
These are US charts, so I`m not getting into that.
“Paul McCartney – The Most Successful Songwriter who has written/co written 188 charted records, of which 91 reached the Top 10 and 33 made it to No.1 totaling 1,662 weeks on the chart (up to the beginning of 2008) 91 top 10 songs.”
I`m repeating myself now..: This is if you INCLUDE the Beatles songs. As a solo artist MJ IS a more succesful songwriter than McCartney. So MJ CAN compare, hate to tell ya..
“History says different and so do people that have a clue about music. You don’t have a clue, you’re just a MJ fanboy that refuses to remove his blinders. ”
And you`re just a Beatles fanboy, who refuse to acknowledge that their are someone, for once, who beats Beatles, musically speaking.
on 19 Jan 2010 at 11:43 pm 332.victor said …
“As a solo artist MJ IS a more succesful songwriter than McCartney.”
No he isn’t. If you are going to make a claim, then back it up with a source, otherwise it’s just your opinion. Let me give you an example of FACTS.
Guinness Book of World Records 2008/2009 Edition: Sir Paul McCartney – The Most Successful Songwriter who has written/co written 188 charted records, of which 91 reached the Top 10 and 33 made it to No.1 totaling 1,662 weeks on the chart (up to the beginning of 2008) 91 top 10 songs.
MJ can’t compare to this. Either post facts disputing this (not your opinion) or concede the argument.
on 19 Jan 2010 at 11:48 pm 333.victor said …
“These are US charts, so I`m not getting into that.”
These are WORLD charts (FACTS), I’m sure you don’t want to get into that either.
26 no. 1 hits in Australia (130 weeks at no. 1). (David Kent) MJ – 5
22 no. 1 hits in Sweden (95 weeks at no. 1). (Kvallstoppen)
18 no. 1 hits in Sweden (69 weeks at no. 1). (Tio i Topp)
21 no. 1 hits in The Netherlands (95 weeks at no. 1). MJ – 6
21 no. 1 hits in Norway (97 weeks at no. 1). (VG) MJ – 3
20 no. 1 hits in America (59 weeks at no. 1). (Billboard) MJ – 12
17 no. 1 hits in Britain (69 weeks at no. 1). (Record Retailer) MJ – 7
16 no. 1 hits in Hong Kong (67 weeks at no 1). (Billboard)
15 no. 1 hits in New Zealand (35 weeks at no. 1). (The Listener 1966 onwards) MJ – 8
13 no. 1 hits in Ireland (47 weeks at no. 1). MJ – 10
13 no. 1 hits in Malaysia. (Billboard)
9 no. 1 hits in Spain (17 weeks at no. 1). MJ – 15
8 no. 1 hits in Zimbabwe (29 weeks at no. 1).
8 no. 1 hits in Switzerland (37 weeks at no. 1). MJ – 5
6 no. 1 hits in Austria (38 weeks at no. 1). MJ – 0
6 no. 1 hits in Belgium (22 weeks at no. 1). MJ – 1
5 no. 1 hits in Finland.
4 no. 1 hits in Italy (18 weeks at no. 1). MJ – 6
2 no. 1 hits in Ethiopia (98 weeks at no. 1)
FACTS, get the idea?
on 19 Jan 2010 at 11:57 pm 334.victor said …
“If MJ just focused on his music in a similar time-period, he would have accomplished at least the same success as the Beatles.”
Once again you are posting your OPINION based on might have, could have, should have, if, maybe, etc….. Bottom line is, he DIDN’T!
on 20 Jan 2010 at 12:05 am 335.victor said …
“If you go on Youtube, there a lot more hits (viewers) of MJ than on Beatles. Beatles hit numbers are more comparable to J5.”
Youtube is not accepted by the music industry or anybody else as an indicator of an artists success, you are grasping for straws now. What is an indicator is, #1s, Top 10s, Top 40s, Music Sold, Songwriting Ability, Airplay, Influence, Innovation and Instrumentalist Abilities. The Beatles dominate.
on 20 Jan 2010 at 12:09 am 336.victor said …
Since you are infatuated with Worldwide, here are just a few for you to cherish.
The Beatles – FACTS:
Most no. 1 singles in the Record World Top 100 charts (23 no.1s).
Most no. 1 albums in the Record World albums charts (17 no.1 albums).
Most weeks at no. 1 in the Record World albums chart (123 weeks at no. 1).
on 20 Jan 2010 at 1:58 am 337.Rêésë said …
Top 10 money makers in music for the decade
The Ultimate Top 10 of the Decade
1. Celine Dion, $747.9 million
Dion pulled in $522.2 million in concert-ticket sales for the decade. Adding $225.7 million worth of album sales during those same 10 years, she trumped all comers.
2. Kenny Chesney, $742 million
Close behind Dion was this road warrior, who toured hard and promoted records the old-fashioned way year in and year out. His total includes $455.6 million in concert ticket sales and $286.4 million in album revenue.
3. Dave Matthews Band, $737.4 million
Matthews’ decade concert total of $529.1 million put him first on the list of top North American live music attractions of the decade, as calculated by the concert-tracking publication Pollstar. The band posted $208.3 million in album sales.
4. The Beatles, $627.3 million
Although the quartet disbanded 30 years before the decade began, the Beatles still managed to generate $392.3 million from sales of 30.2 million albums (using an average of $13 per album). The Fab Four also logged the single best-selling album of the decade, the “1″ hits collection, with 11.5 million copies. And counting.
5. U2, $609.7 million
The Irish quartet brought in $391 million at the box office and $218.7 million in album sales.
6. Toby Keith, $591.9 million
The second of three country acts in the Top 10, the Oklahoma singer-songwriter logged $273.8 million on the concert trail, $318.1 million from album sales.
7. Bruce Springsteen, $588.3 million
On the road, both with the E Street Band and his various non-E Street tours, the Boss brought in $444.3 million. His album take: $144 million.
8. The Rolling Stones, $569.6 million
The Stones also benefited heavily from touring, earning $426.9 million at the box office in addition to $142.7 million in album sales.
9. Tim McGraw, $550.7 million
Strictly as a solo act, the country singer-songwriter ranks No. 14 on the list. But he toured several times with his wife, Faith Hill, during the decade. California being a community property state, we are awarding him half the revenue those outings generated. So his total includes $322 million in album sales, $133.7 million from his own tours and $95 million for his half of the McGraw-Hill shows.
10. Britney Spears, $494.3 million
on 20 Jan 2010 at 8:22 am 338.saladin said …
MJ has 8 self-written #1 in the US and 5 #1 in the UK as a solo artist. McCartney one #1 in each country as a solo artist. Worldwide chart comparison would just be unfair. In terms of sales, I only need to mention “We are the World” and “Billie Jean”. 30+ millions worldwide, both written and composed by MJ. You dont need to look further than Wikipedia, for this information..
The Guinness World Records you`re referring to, includes the songs he wrote while in the Beatles. I never tried to hide that McCartney is more succesful overall, but NOT as a solo artist. YOU need to concede THAT.
By the way.. Just because I dont write down the source for every sentence I make (neither do you), doesnt make it my opinion. I assume all the charts posted on this page (yours included) are accurate (not peoples opinion). I dont go screaming “HEY, GIVE ME THE SOURCE”, like you do. If you dont believe me, check it for yourself.
on 20 Jan 2010 at 9:08 am 339.saladin said …
I see you have a fetish for charts, probably because thats the only area where Beatles beats MJ. But charts doesnt give a true indicator of popularity, sales, talent so forth. If you look at all-time Billboard Top Artists, Janet Jackson is in front of MJ, Mariah Carey has more #1 than Elvis, and Mariah Carey has spent 20 weeks more on the #1 spot, than the Beatles. So I dont give much weight on charts, but rather worldwide; sales, popularity, influence so forth.
“Youtube is not accepted by the music industry or anybody else as an indicator of an artists success, you are grasping for straws now. What is an indicator is, #1s, Top 10s, Top 40s, Music Sold, Songwriting Ability, Airplay, Influence, Innovation and Instrumentalist Abilities. The Beatles dominate.”
Well, the music industry cant even inform for sure, whos the all-time biggest seller worldwide. Charts is a contextual measurement, based on an artists present popularity, reputation, image so forth, NOT on pure talent. Remember, MJs reputation was smeared in the 90s, so did his chart perfomance subsequently. I dont know about airplay and Beatles probably beats MJ on instrumental abilities, but all the other criterias you`re mentioning is of subjective opinion. But I do know this; MJs danceable tunes is far more popular for a younger audience, than Beatles tunes. MJs music truly transcends; musical genre audiences (from soul to heavy metal listeners), age, ethnicity, nationality, you name it. Just like what he wanted.
Youtube is among the worlds most popular websites, so Youtube IS an indicator of an artists success, popularity and especially longevity as it has accurate figures of hits (views) and it tracks the most popular searches for extended periods of time. Also, it can be reached for free, for anyone who has internet access. So it is actually a more reliable indicator then charts, logically.
on 20 Jan 2010 at 9:26 am 340.saladin said …
Top-Earning Dead Celebrities 2009 (Forbes):
1 Yves Saint Laurent
2 Rodgers & Hammerstein
3 Michael Jackson
4 Elvis Presley
5 J.R.R. Tolken
6 Charles Schultz
7 John Lennon
8 Dr. Suess
9 Albert Einstein
10 Michael Crichton
11 Aaron Spelling
“One reason: Folks like newcomer Yves Saint Laurent or returnees Rodgers & Hammerstein have benefited from lucrative one-off events, which can include estate sales, posthumous releases and lawsuit resolutions. As a result, both YSL and Rodgers & Hammerstein aren’t likely to earn enough to garner a spot on next year’s list.
Jackson, on the other hand, will likely make tens of millions of dollar every year from sales of his back catalog, merchandise and memorabilia as well as royalties from his stake in the Sony ATV catalog of songs, which includes music by a range of artists like the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Taylor Swift.”
on 20 Jan 2010 at 3:37 pm 341.victor said …
“MJ has 8 self-written #1 in the US and 5 #1 in the UK as a solo artist. McCartney one #1 in each country as a solo artist.”
Please try to stay on topic, if you go to the top of the page it says Michael Jackson vs The Beatles.
McCartney’s songwriting career didn’t start after he left The Beatles or when YOU want it to. He wrote many of The Beatles songs by himself and hit songs for other artists. This is why he is in the Guinness Book Of World Records for the most prolific
songwriter, EVER.
In the post-Beatles era McCartney has cracked the Top Forty 35 times. It is a matter of statistical fact that Paul McCartney is the most successful pop-music composer ever and the second greatest hitmaker, behind Elvis Presley.
Paul McCartney is a better songwriter than Michael Jackson period. Everybody knows this but YOU.
on 20 Jan 2010 at 3:38 pm 342.victor said …
“I dont go screaming “HEY, GIVE ME THE SOURCE”, like you do. If you dont believe me, check it for yourself.”
Translation = I don’t have a source
on 20 Jan 2010 at 3:51 pm 343.victor said …
“Youtube IS an indicator of an artists success, popularity and especially longevity as it has accurate figures of hits (views) and it tracks the most popular searches for extended periods of time.”
So, Avril Lavigne is more successful than Michael Jackson? She has 130,474,877 views just on Girlfriend alone.
Youtube is only an indicator to YOU.
EPIC FAIL!
on 20 Jan 2010 at 3:56 pm 344.victor said …
“Top-Earning Dead Celebrities 2009 (Forbes):”
Not relevant.
The Beatles aren’t dead, and none of them died in 2009. Remember, we are comparing MJ to The Beatles.
on 20 Jan 2010 at 3:59 pm 345.victor said …
“Remember, MJs reputation was smeared in the 90s, so did his chart perfomance subsequently.”
Tough shit, he shouldn’t have been sleeping with little boys. He smeared his own reputation.
on 20 Jan 2010 at 4:05 pm 346.victor said …
“But charts doesnt give a true indicator of popularity, sales, talent so forth.”
Hit’s, sales, airplay, etc. equals popularity whether you like it or not. Hit’s, sales, airplay, etc. are measurable facts. Just because a lot of people have seen you or heard you doesn’t make you popular, you have to be liked in order to be popular. The Beatles having 8 no. 1 hits in Zimbabwe and 2 no. 1 hits in Ethiopia says a lot. You also have to take into account the age of the fan base. Though MJ’s popularity covered a fairly wide range of age groups, The Beatles popularity covered much more as demonstrated by a recent Pew Research Center Poll, which was done in the US but it gives you an idea of what I’m talking about. MJ’s career was also negatively impacted by his own actions.
Source: pewsocialtrends.org/pubs/739/woodstock-gentler-generation-gap-music-by-age
on 20 Jan 2010 at 5:27 pm 347.saladin said …
“Please try to stay on topic, if you go to the top of the page it says Michael Jackson vs The Beatles.”
Hey, it was you singled out McCartney first, not me. So maybe you sould go tell that to yourself.
McCartney wrote great and influential songs WITH the Beatles, and those statistics reflect that. After the split there`s not really much to talk about, no matter how many top 40s he “cracked”.
“Paul McCartney is a better songwriter than Michael Jackson period. Everybody knows this but YOU.”
Opinion…
“Translation = I don’t have a source”
Do you need every sentence in your mouth with a spoon, so you can taste it? I dont
“So, Avril Lavigne is more successful than Michael Jackson? She has 130,474,877 views just on Girlfriend alone.”
I was talking about TOTAL hits. In total, MJ videos reigns supreme above Beatles videos (AND Avril Lavigne, if that wasnt obvious).
on 20 Jan 2010 at 8:36 pm 348.Kelsey said …
@ saladin
i hope you realize that youtube is not used by anyone in music industry to measure succes. there is software that can manipulate number of hits on youtube videos. you know that huh? videos are deleted all the time. it is unreliable at best.
on 20 Jan 2010 at 10:15 pm 349.victor said …
You don’t like charts (US or Worldwide) because they don’t support your argument or opinion.
Charts are facts, Charts are accepted, acknowledged and recognized by the music industry ( Youtube is not) and others as an indicator of popularity and success. Charts are part of history.
Kelsey is correct, Youtube can be manipulated and hacked, it’s only for entertainment anyway.
on 20 Jan 2010 at 10:29 pm 350.victor said …
“I dont know about airplay”
I do.
Most Played Songs on the Radio
Over 8 Million Times
* Yesterday – The Beatles
Over 6 Million Times
* Michelle – The Beatles
Over 5 Million Times
* Something – The Beatles
Over 4 Million Times
* Let It Be – The Beatles
Over 3 Million Times
* Hey Jude – The Beatles
* Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
* Penny Lane – The Beatles
* And I Love Her – The Beatles
* The Long and Winding Road – The Beatles
Michael Jackson didn’t make the list.
on 21 Jan 2010 at 8:56 am 351.Single Girl said …
I think that this argument definetely depends on who you are and I won’t even get into that.
I believe that MJ’s has more influence that the Beatles, at this current moment. MJ’s untimely death is going to truly transform his legacy. For our current time we cannot deny by an statistics that he has forever changed music. However…
As a fan of the Beatles, I can’t deny the effect that they have had on music as well. Their music and innovation as artists have deniably changed our music world. However I think its a little difficult to provide a direct comparison with a pop group to a pop artist. And I might add that if we are going to do it, MJ is probabaly the only artist that can go against a group and hold his own.
Both groups have music and writing skills that speak for themselves. However, the reaction to MJ’s death was amazing. I think its obvious based on that and his musical success that his influence is more relevant in this day and age. While the Beatles will be forever remembered Michael’s legacy is more vivid in the minds of people right now.
Blessings!
on 21 Jan 2010 at 4:38 pm 352.saladin said …
“i hope you realize that youtube is not used by anyone in music industry to measure succes. there is software that can manipulate number of hits on youtube videos. you know that huh? videos are deleted all the time. it is unreliable at best.”
I did know that Youtube wasnt used as a measure of success by anybody in the music industry, but I wasnt aware that you could manipulate number of hits on the videos. The 130 millions hits on the Avril Lavigne video did look suspicious. That said, I`m 100% positive that MJ has more hits than Beatles on Youtube. I was only pointing out that Youtube was an INDICATOR of popularity and longevity of an artist.
@victor
Was this list made before or after MJ died? My guess would be, before.
To this day, “Billie Jean” is still in heavy rotation; it is played on over 90% of the world’s radios and receives more than 250,000 spins per week in clubs around the world. JUST BILLIE JEAN!!
@Single Girl
I agree with you on everything you said. I only have problems with Beatles fans who refuse to acknowledge that MJ is on equal terms with the Beatles musically. It seems like some of them take it as an insult, but its rather a compliment towards the Beatles, because MJ fans (most I presume) sees the Beatles as repesenting the highest standard of quality music and achievement of success. I enjoy the music of both artists and really think its of personal taste who you have as your favorite.
on 21 Jan 2010 at 8:38 pm 353.victor said …
“That said, I`m 100% positive that MJ has more hits than Beatles on Youtube.”
And I’m 100% positive that Michael Jackson’s or The Beatles videos aren’t immune to hacking and manipulation. So take their numbers with a grain of salt.
“I was only pointing out that Youtube was an INDICATOR of popularity and longevity of an artist.”
Again, not a very good indicator for the very reason that a lot of the older age group aren’t computer literate, and so many people don’t know what Youtube is or really care. In other words, not accessible to everyone. Once again, Hits, sales, charts, airplay…etc. are the only reliable sources to determine success and popularity.
on 22 Jan 2010 at 6:23 am 354.saladin said …
Well, sales figures arent 100% reliable either, especially if you go back in time. Hits and charts are affected by contextual factors. So is airplay. For example; after the 2nd child abuse allegations against MJ, his new single “One More Chance” was effectively cancelled from radio airplay, worldwide. So are you gonna remove these “reliable sources” as factors of success and popularity. I didnt think so. So then we can agree, that even though Youtube arent 100% reliable either, it should be considered an indicator of popularity and longevity.
on 22 Jan 2010 at 11:22 am 355.victor said …
Hits and charts are affected by popularity. So is airplay. Charts, Hits and Airplay are 100% reliable and can’t be hacked and manipulated by some nerd in his Daddy’s basement, Youtube can, so it can’t be considered credible or reliable.
If you are going to acknowledge MJ’s increased popularity after his death then you have to acknowledge his decreased popularity during the child abuse allegations. His actions or alleged actions affected his popularity.
on 22 Jan 2010 at 1:02 pm 356.saladin said …
Youtubes reliability is relative. There are some searches which are highly inflated others are not. I very much doubt that MJ and Beatles searches are inflated. You cant put everything in shoe, and call it unreliable, its relative. Since you didn mention sales, I can do it for you. How reliable is EMI, when they say Beatles has sold 1 billion units, a very unrealistic and inflated figure.
I havent denied that MJs popularity decreased after the child abuse allegations. In fact I have pointed it out as a factor of his lower; sales, charts, hits and airplay, especially in the US, but also in Europe. So it is unfair to compare MJs charts with the Beatles, considering these factors as it doesnt reflect the qualities of songs he made during this period. Now that he is dead, his image, popularity and legacy will hopefully be restored to its rightful place.
on 22 Jan 2010 at 5:54 pm 357.victor said …
“Youtubes reliability is relative.”
No it isn’t. Youtube is not reliable and it’s not relative. It’s only relative to you because Hits, Charts, Airplay and Sales doesn’t support your argument in a positive way. The music industry or mainstream media doesn’t use Youtube to determine an artists or bands success or popularity, because they know just like I do that Youtube is not a reliable indicator, and yes, sales are a lot more reliable than Youtube.
“There are some searches which are highly inflated others are not. I very much doubt that MJ and Beatles searches are inflated.”
But you have no way of knowing which ones are or aren’t. I’m sure you would like to think that The Beatles or MJ’s weren’t inflated, but it’s only wishful thinking on your part because you don’t know.
on 22 Jan 2010 at 7:19 pm 358.Carolyn-D said …
There is an excellent thorough book called, The Beatles Recording Sessions by Mark Lewisohn which is a detailed music diary of The Beatles remarkable 8 year recording career. In this book their recording engineers Geoff Emerick, Norman Smith who went on to work with Pink Floyd, Ken Scott who went on to work with David Bowie, and Alan Parsons, who was a highly impressed Beatles fan and one of their engineers on their last two albums, Abbey Road and Let it Be, all describe in details how truly innovative, creative and inventive especially John and Paul were in the recording studio.
There are also many music professors teaching courses on The Beatles at good universities. One of them is award winning music professor and composer Dr.Glen Gass at Indiana University. He’s been teaching a course on rock music and The Beatles since 1982. On his site for his course it says the main purpose of this course is to get students to have a better appreciation for this amazing group and their extraordinary recordings. Dr.Gary Kendal’s Beatles course is the most requested at North Western University, and University of California has a course on Beatles albums. A music professor with the last name of Heinonen at JYVASKYLA in Finland also teaches a Beatles course. the Beatles are the greatest ever
on 23 Jan 2010 at 3:35 pm 359.saladin said …
“sales are a lot more reliable than Youtube.”
HA! Thats why EMI claims that Beatles has sold 1 billion units, while the more realistic figures puts them on less than 500 millions sold. There are NO reliable figures which puts Beatles sales worldwide, above MJ sales worldwide. Its just inflated figures, to make it seem that Beatles (and Elvis) are bigger than they really are.
on 23 Jan 2010 at 5:08 pm 360.victor said …
“There are NO reliable figures which puts Beatles sales worldwide, above MJ sales worldwide.”
All available sources have The Beatles and Elvis selling way more than MJ, and YOU can’t prove otherwise, so just get over it.
“Its just inflated figures, to make it seem that Beatles (and Elvis) are bigger than they really are.”
You wish. They are no more inflated than MJ’s, and YOU can’t prove otherwise, so just get over it.
on 24 Jan 2010 at 1:23 am 361.FEI said …
CHINA LOVES YOU
??????
on 24 Jan 2010 at 8:45 am 362.Goodol said …
it’s not fair to say the Beatles are more inventive because they came there first.
MJ once said he liked the Beatles music too. Besides, he listened to a lot of music, like those from Motown in an older time or classic music. but we cannot simply say they are all more influential or more inventive than MJ because they inspired MJ.
MJ created a lot things which were never so big or so beatiful than before. though we can divide his career into several periods, i think generally MJ is extremely inventive.
additionally, because the industry is a lot bigger than before, and MJ has a lot more audience over the globe, MJ supposdely has bigger impact than the Beatles.
on 24 Jan 2010 at 2:09 pm 363.Abyss said …
The Beatles are the highest selling musicians of all time, and not just in Rock music, and their songs at least in rock are the most covered of all times. The Beatles went from I Want to Hold Your Hand to Tomorrow Never Knows in two and half years and still remained on top. Who else in rock has transformed their sound that much and remain on top? Nobody. The Beatles contributed to Mersey Beat, The British Invasion, Power Pop, their use folk with rock convinced the Byrd’s to go electric, arena rock, Raga Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Progressive Rock with Revolver and Sgt Pepper’s, Art rock with their use of tape loops and avant garde and one of the first heavy metal songs with Helter Skelter. The Beatles are most responsible for classic rock radio and album orientated radio. The Beatles are the biggest reason that rock and roll went to rock.
The Beatles had more influence on the world than Elvis or anyone else. Music today would not be the same, or even be as big of a part of our culture if it weren’t for The Beatles. It’s amazing what a drastic change The Beatles went through, as the years went by, from songs as light as Please Please Me, to tracks as intense as Helter Skelter, or carefree songs like I Want To Hold Your Hand to meaningful and moving songs like Let It Be. The Beatles did something for music and the world for that matter that no one can compete with.
on 24 Jan 2010 at 6:12 pm 364.saladin said …
“All available sources have The Beatles and Elvis selling way more than MJ, and YOU can’t prove otherwise, so just get over it.”
All these available sources doesnt have the tinniest clue of how much Beatles and Elvis have actually sold worldwide, no matter how many sources there is. So there is in NO WAY proven that neither has sold more than MJ. So you cant say they have sold more then him. That would be just your opinion.
Biggest selling record:
MJ: Thriller – 100+ million
Beatles: St. Pepper – 32 million
Elvis: Its now or never – 25 million
Beatles and Elvis have sold 1 billion and MJ 750 millions? Something is very wrong here…
on 24 Jan 2010 at 6:44 pm 365.victor said …
“Beatles and Elvis have sold 1 billion and MJ 750 millions? Something is very wrong here…”
It’s very wrong because you don’t like it and it don’t support your opinion.
“All these available sources doesnt have the tinniest clue of how much Beatles and Elvis have actually sold worldwide, no matter how many sources there is.”
They obviously have more of a clue than you do.
The Beatles:
?Studio albums – 27
?Live albums – 2
?Compilation albums – 43
?Extended plays – 17
?Singles - 55
Elvis:
?Studio albums – 23
?Live albums 7
?Compilation albums 11
?Extended plays 30
?Singles 102
Michael Jackson:
?Studio albums – 10
?Live albums – 1
?Compilation albums – 89
The Beatles and Elvis have more albums and have had more time to sell them, so it’s not very hard to believe that they have sold more. On top of that, The Beatles and Elvis had more hits and airplay and The Beatles did much better than MJ on the charts in the US and Worldwide proving their immense popularity. And what’s really amazing, is that The Beatles did it in just 7 years. Even 40 years after their breakup they still kick ass. Nobody and I mean nobody can compare to that, not even your beloved MJ.
on 24 Jan 2010 at 6:47 pm 366.saladin said …
Music and music videos of the 90s and 00s were the legacy of MJs visionary, groundbreaking album, Thriller. He mainstreamed the fusion of rock, rap, R&B and pop into one album. An invention no one else could think of. Music videos became important promotional tool for the albums. All artists, after Thriller, shifted focus from singles sales toward album sales. His music transcended culture, nationality, race and age like no other artist in the history of music. Even in countries like Soviet, MJ became a legend, without people ever even seeing him. Listeners of heavy metal, to rap, to soul, even though they didnt like pop music, they “all” liked MJ music. MJ-written-and-composed “We are the world”, started what is today common among contemporary artists, charities and philanthropies. MJ music is played in dance clubs all around the world.
MJ had more influence on the world than Elvis or anyone else. Music today would not be the same, or even be as big of a part of our culture if it weren’t for MJ.
on 24 Jan 2010 at 7:11 pm 367.saladin said …
“Michael Jackson:
?Studio albums – 10
?Live albums – 1
?Compilation albums – 89″
89 compilation albums? Where did you get that…
“Even 40 years after their breakup they still kick ass. Nobody and I mean nobody can compare to that, not even your beloved MJ.”
Well, MJ hasnt been dead for 40 years, so your right, that cant be compared. But I can tell you this: Best selling artist 2009: 1. MJ 2. Beatles
PS MJ has released 84 singles and 15 compilation albums
on 24 Jan 2010 at 8:08 pm 368.saladin said …
“The Beatles and Elvis have more albums and have had more time to sell them, so it’s not very hard to believe that they have sold more.”
Wait a minute, lets put something straight first. MJ has sold more albums than Elvis. Thats a fact (check Wikipedia). Secondly, even though there are high number of albums released from both, the sales could have been low, so thats not a good enough argument, unless you have the sale figures of it.
on 24 Jan 2010 at 8:45 pm 369.victor said …
“MJ has sold more albums than Elvis. Thats a fact (check Wikipedia).”
Ok, I checked “Wikipedia”. Results listed below. The Beatles and Elvis have both sold more. US and Worldwide.
Artist Genre Total certified sales
(From available markets) [Notes] Claimed sales
The Beatles United Kingdom 1960–1970 Rock, pop
Estimated Sales: 1 billion[12] 600 million[13][14]
Total available certified sales: 230.3 million
Elvis Presley United States 1954–1977 Rock and Roll, pop, country
Estimated Sales: 1 billion[18][19] 600 million[20][21]
Total available certified sales: 189.2 million
Michael Jackson United States 1964–2009 Pop, rock,
Estimated Sales: 750 million[28] 350 million[29] 300 million[30]
Total available certified sales: 146.8 million
And since you like “Wikipedia” so much here are the top eleven US sales:
1 The Beatles U.K. 60s-70s 170 Million
2 Garth Brooks U.S. 80s-00s 128 Million
3 Elvis Presley U.S. 50s-70s 120 Million
4 Led Zeppelin UK 60s-80s 111.5 Million
5 Eagles U.S. 70s-00s 100 Million
6 Billy Joel U.S. 60s-00s 79.5 Million
7 Pink Floyd UK 60s-90s 74.5 Million
8 Barbra Streisand U.S. 60s-00s 71.5 Million
9 AC/DC AUS 70s-00s 71 Million
10 Elton John UK 60s-00s 70 Million
11 Michael Jackson U.S. 60s-00s 69.5 Million
on 24 Jan 2010 at 9:16 pm 370.victor said …
“89 compilation albums? Where did you get that…”
Wikipedia and other sites as well. On wiki they list all of the albums.
“Well, MJ hasnt been dead for 40 years, so your right, that cant be compared. But I can tell you this: Best selling artist 2009: 1. MJ 2. Beatles”
The Beatles being #2 40 years after their breakup says a lot about their popularity and the relevance of their music still today. Nobody can compare to that. MJ’s sales certainly were nothing to write home about before his untimely death.
on 25 Jan 2010 at 2:32 pm 371.saladin said …
Those figures includes singles as well as albums. I meant JUST albums. If you check “biggest selling album artists”, MJ is above Elvis.
And the top US sales… If you go to “biggest selling artists”, it says that MJ has 89.3 million certified US sales. So which one is supposed to be believed?
on 25 Jan 2010 at 8:40 pm 372.victor said …
“Those figures includes singles as well as albums. I meant JUST albums.”
lol…now you are cherry picking the parts that support your opinion. YOU don’t get to decide what is counted and what is not counted.
“And the top US sales… If you go to “biggest selling artists”, it says that MJ has 89.3 million certified US sales. So which one is supposed to be believed?”
And they all have The Beatles and Elvis selling more than Michael Jackson.
on 26 Jan 2010 at 12:26 am 373.saladin said …
When your making a comment, you need to be accurate. I cant go like “MJ is the best selling artist” – “no I meant in 2009″. There is a difference between albums and units. Again… no proof that neither have sold more than MJ, just guessing and deliberate inflation. You cant determine whos the best selling artist ever, when you dont have proof. Its as simple as that.
on 26 Jan 2010 at 5:01 am 374.victor said …
“You cant determine whos the best selling artist ever, when you dont have proof.”
I don’t have to determine who is the best selling artist, that’s already been done. The US sales are pretty accurate and it’s not even close. All available sources estimate that The Beatles have outsold MJ worldwide, so there’s not much doubt in my mind that The Beatles outsold MJ, it only makes sense.
on 26 Jan 2010 at 8:48 am 375.saladin said …
“I don’t have to determine who is the best selling artist, that’s already been done.”
Oh yeah? Who is it then, Elvis or Beatles? It hasnt been done because each side are still arguing. HENCE, IT HASNT BEEN DONE.
RIAA only certify “85% of legitimate recorded music produced and sold in the United States”, as they put it. Not to mention, that they have also changed the criteria , in 1975.
I concede that both Elvis and Beatles has sold more in the US, than MJ. But thats just one country. We all know that MJ was more popular outside US (than in US), before he died. This isnt a way to pin point, as to who has the highest worldwide sales.
It doesnt make sense because there is no proof of how much they have actually sold, so you cant just assume that Beatles has sold more, just because “all available souces have estimated it”. Thats not an objective way of thinking, but a subjective one.
on 26 Jan 2010 at 10:00 am 376.victor said …
“It hasnt been done because each side are still arguing. HENCE, IT HASNT BEEN DONE.”
The estimation to determine who has sold more HAS been done. The majority of sources have The Beatles outselling MJ worldwide. If you don’t believe these sources then prove them wrong.
“We all know that MJ was more popular outside US (than in US), before he died.”
The Beatles were also very popular around the world which is one of the reasons why they had so many hits in so many countries, many more than MJ.
“so you cant just assume that Beatles has sold more, just because “all available souces have estimated it”
Yes I can, until you can prove otherwise.
Total Available Certified Sales Worldwide From Available Markets:
This is from Wikipedia
The Beatles: 230.3 million
Elvis: 189.2 million
Michael Jackson: 146.8 million
on 27 Jan 2010 at 8:07 am 377.saladin said …
If you exclude the US from the calculations, this would be the figures: MJ – 57,5 millions, Beatles – 33,7 millions, Elvis – 12,7 millions
So it is the US sales which hugely flatters Elvis and Beatles.
A verified conclusion hasnt been done as to determine whos the best selling arist. An estimation, isnt scientific, its just an “educated guessing”. The Beatles and the Elvis camp have come up with their own “estimations”, then to determine that their artist “is in fact the best selling artist ever”. The MJ camp could also play this game, but there is no point, because you just cant back it up with proof.
“If you don’t believe these sources then prove them wrong.”
These sources cant prove me wrong and I cant prove them wrong. Result: DRAW
on 27 Jan 2010 at 10:04 am 378.victor said …
“If you exclude the US from the calculations”
With worldwide sales there are no exclusions, that’s why it’s called worldwide.
“An estimation, isnt scientific, its just an “educated guessing”.”
Estimations by definition is approximate. Certified sales isn’t an estimation.
Total Available Certified Sales Worldwide From Available Markets:
This is from Wikipedia
The Beatles: 230.3 million
Elvis: 189.2 million
Michael Jackson: 146.8 million
“The MJ camp could also play this game”
They have, hence the 750 million albums sold claim.
“These sources cant prove me wrong and I cant prove them wrong. Result: DRAW”
These sources don’t have to prove you’re wrong. They don’t know who you are nor do they care. These estimations have been posted on many websites including Wikipedia with sources. Until you or anyone else proves otherwise, the estimations stand.
Result: The Beatles have more worldwide sales than Michael Jackson.
on 27 Jan 2010 at 2:03 pm 379.saladin said …
“With worldwide sales there are no exclusions, that’s why it’s called worldwide.”
My point was that, IF the Beatles has sold more than MJ worldwide, its only because of his US sales were relatively “poor” (for his standards). And that was because his image (and subsequently musical career) were thrown into the mud, for the last 20 years or so, of his life. This needs to be put into the context.
I never said certified sales are estimations (read again). I acknowledge the certified sales. I dont have an problem with that. But I do have a problem with the estimations. These estimations ARE NOT verified. Therefore its not a fact (even if you have a milion of sources), END OF STORY!!
“Result: The Beatles have more worldwide sales than Michael Jackson.”
Prove it… and estimations arent proof. if you havent got that by now.
on 27 Jan 2010 at 4:27 pm 380.victor said …
“My point was that, IF the Beatles has sold more than MJ worldwide, its only because of his US sales were relatively “poor” (for his standards).”
“I never said certified sales are estimations (read again). I acknowledge the certified sales.”
So, you acknowledge that according to Certified Sales Worldwide, The Beatles have more worldwide sales than Michael Jackson. Thank you!
MJ’s reputation was directly affected by his own actions, he had nobody to blame but himself even though I think his actions were completely innocent, given that he was just a really nice person that never had a real childhood.
“But I do have a problem with the estimations. These estimations ARE NOT verified.”
Then you also must have a problem with the estimations on MJ’s sales also, huh?
And since you have a problem with estimations, then that only leaves Certified Worldwide Sales, which ARE verified. The Beatles have outsold MJ worldwide. END OF STORY!!