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Thread started 12/30/06 9:36pm

CoolTarik1

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Better vocalist? Michael Jackson Vs Stevie Wonder

Hi all, just wanted to spark up this debate; who do you think is a better vocalist/ creative vocalist, Stevie or Mike. They both have very similar vocal stylings, thanks to their Motown upbringing, and even Mike borrowed the "hee hee" from Stevie (Check Maybe Your Baby for that) Personally, I think Michael has a slight techincal advantage over Stevie, but Stevie is more creative/expressive with his vocals. Thoughts?
At this point in history, we have a choice to make
To either, walk the path of love, or be crippled by our hate
-Stevie Wonder
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Reply #1 posted 12/30/06 9:43pm

silverchild

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I would say Mike, but Stevie has way more balance and powerhouse in his vocals, so Stevie wins for me (and for proof, take a listen to the Innervisions album and the "Ribbon In The Sky" tune). Mike has some good vocal skills too, but sometimes it seems kinda forced on some of his work. I Can't Help It from his 1979 album, Off The Wall, is hands down his best vocal performance, though.
[Edited 12/30/06 21:46pm]
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Reply #2 posted 12/30/06 10:07pm

GangstaFam

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cool
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Reply #3 posted 12/30/06 10:20pm

TommyRoss

Stevie definitely enunciates better.
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Reply #4 posted 12/30/06 11:22pm

DarlingDiana

Definately Michael Jackson. He layers better than any other singer, he probably has the best range out of any male singer and his vocal coach puts his range up against Pavarotti. He has a very nice timbre. He's probably the most pitch-perfect pop singer ever.
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Reply #5 posted 12/30/06 11:46pm

Icicle

My choice is Michael Jackson, especially the early years.

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Reply #6 posted 12/31/06 1:50am

PricelessHo

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Is it me or is the comparison out of place?

Stevie is Stevie & Jacko is Jacko

each is doing his own thing.
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Reply #7 posted 12/31/06 4:47am

AlexdeParis

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They're both excellent, but I'd have to give the slight edge to Stevie. Stevie's vocal peak (the '70s to early '80s) was longer than Michael's (little Michael).

Stevie's restrained vocals on "Power Flower" are downright hypnotic. mushy
"Whitney was purely and simply one of a kind." ~ Clive Davis
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Reply #8 posted 12/31/06 5:10am

DarlingDiana

why does everyone say MJ's vocal peak was the 70s (little Michael)? He was better from 1978-1984 than he was as a kid, and he is better now (2000-now) than he was from 1978-1984. His biggest vocal peak is right now. His second biggest was the early 80s, and then I'd even say his late 80s and 90s vocals were better than his 70s "little Michael" vocals.
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Reply #9 posted 12/31/06 5:15am

kanamit

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DarlingDiana said:

why does everyone say MJ's vocal peak was the 70s (little Michael)? He was better from 1978-1984 than he was as a kid, and he is better now (2000-now) than he was from 1978-1984. His biggest vocal peak is right now. His second biggest was the early 80s, and then I'd even say his late 80s and 90s vocals were better than his 70s "little Michael" vocals.


What do u mean his vocal peak is now....he hasn't sung anything in 5 years....aren't u a little bit obsessed by the man?
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Reply #10 posted 12/31/06 5:17am

VoicesCarry

Stevie.
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Reply #11 posted 12/31/06 5:22am

DarlingDiana

kanamit said:

DarlingDiana said:

why does everyone say MJ's vocal peak was the 70s (little Michael)? He was better from 1978-1984 than he was as a kid, and he is better now (2000-now) than he was from 1978-1984. His biggest vocal peak is right now. His second biggest was the early 80s, and then I'd even say his late 80s and 90s vocals were better than his 70s "little Michael" vocals.


What do u mean his vocal peak is now....he hasn't sung anything in 5 years....aren't u a little bit obsessed by the man?

Yes he has. He recorded "One More Chance", "Beautiful Girl", "The Way You Love Me", "We've Had Enough" and done some vocals on rap tracks for Shaq ("We Be Ballin") and Tempamental ("Gangsta"). All superb vocal performance. All of them a cut above anything he's ever done vocally. He sounded so fresh and matured on OMC, he was just beautiful (no other word to describe it) on "Beautiful Girl", and I don't think he's ever delivered as well as he did on WHE. He also did superb jobs on the couple of rap tracks he sung for, expecially "Gangsta".

Will.I.Am who is working with Michael at the moment said his voice is the best it's ever been, and that seems very probable to me. He's released a few songs over the last few years where his voice is stunning and it just seems to be getting better and better everytime we hear a new vocal performance from him. He's definately better now that he was as a kid.
[Edited 12/31/06 5:31am]
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Reply #12 posted 12/31/06 5:25am

lilgish

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Little Michael beats liitle Stevie.
Adult Stevie beats Adult Michael.

They both sound mediocre nowadays, even Stevie on wax sounds mediocre.
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Reply #13 posted 12/31/06 5:25am

Mong

Michael Jackson's vocal timbre isn't pleasant to listen to, unless you like a thin nasal sound akin to him being raped by an elephant. But then Stevie's voice has been sounding thin recently. But around the early 70's, the man's voice was superb. And Michael was a MUCH better singer in the Jackson 5 days.
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Reply #14 posted 12/31/06 5:41am

kanamit

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DarlingDiana said:

kanamit said:



What do u mean his vocal peak is now....he hasn't sung anything in 5 years....aren't u a little bit obsessed by the man?

Yes he has. He recorded "One More Chance", "Beautiful Girl", "The Way You Love Me", "We've Had Enough" and done some vocals on rap tracks for Shaq ("We Be Ballin") and Tempamental ("Gangsta"). All superb vocal performance. All of them a cut above anything he's ever done vocally. He sounded so fresh and matured on OMC, he was just beautiful (no other word to describe it) on "Beautiful Girl", and I don't think he's ever delivered as well as he did on WHE. He also did superb jobs on the couple of rap tracks he sung for, expecially "Gangsta".

Will.I.Am who is working with Michael at the moment said his voice is the best it's ever been, and that seems very probable to me. He's released a few songs over the last few years where his voice is stunning and it just seems to be getting better and better everytime we hear a new vocal performance from him. He's definately better now that he was as a kid.
[Edited 12/31/06 5:31am]

[Edited 12/31/06 5:58am]
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Reply #15 posted 12/31/06 5:58am

mistermcgee

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They're both artists who's voices work for the tunes they've released from childhood to adulthood. I thought Tevin Campbell's voice, as a child, was one of the best to come along since Michael.
We can talk all we want to but the world still goes around and 'round.
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Reply #16 posted 12/31/06 6:25am

rushing07

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Need I Say More? cool
I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at the dirt.
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Reply #17 posted 12/31/06 6:52am

FunkyBrotha

michael jacksons peak was around 93-98, i remember when he mimed earth song at the world music awards in 96 but kept singing accappella for about a minute after the song finished and he actually sang it better than the recorded version. A lot of people were stunned at the end. Also listen to his performance of Gone too Soon at the Clinton inauguration, STUNNING! his vocals esp on Is it Scary and Morphine were amazing. Also, listen to "BUTTERFLIES" which has to be one of the greatest vocal performances of the decade, why he didnt win a Grammy for that is beyond me.

In saying that Stevie had mind blowing vocals throughout the 70s but he doesnt have that extra bite that mj has. Michael has the ability to end a world war with that singing voice, i just wish he'd continue using it.
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Reply #18 posted 12/31/06 6:56am

FunkJam

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Michael! Although anyone who says he has a better voice now than in the late 70's, 80's or large part of the 90's IS just wrong!
[Edited 12/31/06 6:56am]
"Man, the living creature, the creating individual, is always more important than any established style or system" - Bruce Lee
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Reply #19 posted 12/31/06 7:01am

emmi

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lilgish said:

Little Michael beats liitle Stevie.
Adult Stevie beats Adult Michael.


nod
pull your cell phone out and call your next of kin; we're about to get funky
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Reply #20 posted 12/31/06 8:00am

dag

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Can´t speak technically, cause I am not a singer, but I prefer Mike´s voice.
"When Michael Jackson is just singing and dancing, you just think this is an astonishing talent. And he has had this astounding talent all his life, but we want him to be floored as well. We really don´t like the idea that he could have it all."
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Reply #21 posted 12/31/06 8:05am

Ronnuz

Can´t speak technically, cause I am not a singer, but I prefer Mike´s voice.


I agree. Michael's voice has got something special. I love Stevie too, so.. very hard to choose but I prefer Michael.
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Reply #22 posted 12/31/06 8:35am

dreamfactory31
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Its impossible for me to choose.
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Reply #23 posted 12/31/06 10:37am

CoolTarik1

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lilgish said:

Little Michael beats liitle Stevie.
Adult Stevie beats Adult Michael.

They both sound mediocre nowadays, even Stevie on wax sounds mediocre.


Really? Have you heard "Please Don't Hurt My Baby" from A Time 2 Love?
At this point in history, we have a choice to make
To either, walk the path of love, or be crippled by our hate
-Stevie Wonder
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Reply #24 posted 12/31/06 10:39am

CoolTarik1

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silverchild said:

I would say Mike, but Stevie has way more balance and powerhouse in his vocals, so Stevie wins for me (and for proof, take a listen to the Innervisions album and the "Ribbon In The Sky" tune). Mike has some good vocal skills too, but sometimes it seems kinda forced on some of his work. I Can't Help It from his 1979 album, Off The Wall, is hands down his best vocal performance, though.
[Edited 12/30/06 21:46pm]


Agreed- and he still delivers without having to sing high either; just look on Moon Blue. I agree that Michael is probably the best male singer vocally, but Stevie knows how to sing different styles I think.
At this point in history, we have a choice to make
To either, walk the path of love, or be crippled by our hate
-Stevie Wonder
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Reply #25 posted 12/31/06 10:43am

CoolTarik1

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http://youtube.com/watch?v=mCXMl4Hs2Oo

Check out this recent vocal performance from Stevie- Not album perfect, but pretty amazing
At this point in history, we have a choice to make
To either, walk the path of love, or be crippled by our hate
-Stevie Wonder
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Reply #26 posted 12/31/06 11:26am

thedribbler

CoolTarik1 said:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mCXMl4Hs2Oo

Check out this recent vocal performance from Stevie- Not album perfect, but pretty amazing

thanks for the tip!
I think stevie as an adult is better. MJ is 1 helluvasinga but it's very rare that he sings a whole song from start to finish, live.
How is stevies most recent album, Prince is said to have been involved?
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Reply #27 posted 12/31/06 11:37am

kash

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They both are very good but Michael Jackson wins it for me.
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Reply #28 posted 12/31/06 12:22pm

CoolTarik1

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thedribbler said:

CoolTarik1 said:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mCXMl4Hs2Oo

Check out this recent vocal performance from Stevie- Not album perfect, but pretty amazing

thanks for the tip!
I think stevie as an adult is better. MJ is 1 helluvasinga but it's very rare that he sings a whole song from start to finish, live.
How is stevies most recent album, Prince is said to have been involved?


Its pretty enjoyable- the best cuts are Sweetest Somebody I Know, Moon Blue, Please Dont Hurt My Baby, Tell My Heart I Love You and Prince plays guitar on a funky So What The Fuss. The rest of the album is pretty good too, but those are my favs
At this point in history, we have a choice to make
To either, walk the path of love, or be crippled by our hate
-Stevie Wonder
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Reply #29 posted 12/31/06 7:04pm

tonyat

I prefer Stevie!! Mike was better as a kid! But he still has a nice voice though!!
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Forums > Music: Non-Prince > Better vocalist? Michael Jackson Vs Stevie Wonder