Elvis Presley or David Bowie - Greatest singer born on Jan 8th. You Decide

[LynneSin]

Sure, Elvis is the King but Bowie gets my vote. I think his music was just as revolutionary as what Elvis Presley has done and honestly, I enjoy Bowie way more than Elvis.

But you decide - who was the best singer born on this day?



or

[HopeHoops]

1. Did you know that David Bowie's real name is "David Jones"?

He couldn't use that because Davey Jones of the Monkey's was still on the scene so he picked a new last name - his favorite brand of knife.

John Denver's real name was John Deuchendorf (spelling?). I guess they didn't think that would go over so well. Same thing happened to John Cougar (Mellencamp).

And then there's ol' Norma Jean.

[LynneSin]

3. I knew about his name

I'm a fan, we know these details

[tonekat]

6. I guess we should be glad he didn't prefer Henckel knives....

David Henckels....just wouldn't work, maybe he'd have a following in Germany.

David Laguiole...he'd only be popular in France

David Gerber...naw

David Forschner...see Henckels

David Wusthof...see Forschner, Henckels

David Schrade...that's not it either

David Leatherman...too butch, besides there's this guy with a morning show out in Indiana...(back then)

David Beretta...never work, that's getting into John Cougar territory

[Kingofalldems]

2. The pre-1960 Elvis would win hands down

He went steadily downhill after that.

[tonysam]

8. Bull.

His voice got BETTER as he got older, and his vocal range was much superior.

He STILL had it at the end of his life. If I were you I would quit reading Rolling Stone magazine and other such bullshit reviewers who claim Elvis went "downhill" after his Sun Records stint or after he got out of the military.

[Kingofalldems]

11. Well since I was around during that time and heard all

his records, I think I can decide for myself. His voice actually seemed to get higher as he aged. BTW, since I have never read Rolling Stone, the article you mentioned could not have influenced me. I stand by my opinion.

[mochajava666]

4. Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

is as solid an album that I have ever heard. Every track is outstanding.

Born in '61, so I was a little too young for Elvis. Plus, I like the Beatles, so I can't like Elvis (according to Quentin Tarantino).

[mitchum]

5. The Thin White Duke beats out the Memphis Flash

[tonysam]

9. I am glad you aren't the public. n/t

[mitchum]

10. So am I

:)

[tonysam]

7. You HAVE to be kidding about David Bowie.

Elvis far, far, far exceeds him in singing ability.

[LynneSin]

13. But it should be more than just singing ability

I mean both men had impact on the music industry. Elvis's only perk was he did it first. Rock & Roll existed when Bowie came into the scene but he too revolutionized it with his every changing persona's.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

45. but, according to your own words It should be about singing ability:

Greatest singer born on Jan 8th. You Decide.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

23. No he didn't.

I'd say they're actually pretty close, to be honest.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. I love to listen to them both. So for the tie-breaker I will go with the one whose

movies I enjoy the most. That would be David in "Labyrinth," hands down.

(Although when I was a really little girl I loved watching Elvis movies. In fact, when I grew up I wanted to be Marilyn and marry Elvis. LOL)

[jobycom]

15. Did you ever see "Into the Night?"

John Landis directed it, starred Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Pfeiffer. Bowie had a minor role in it as a hit man, and in one scene he battles another hit man played by Carl Perkins. :)

My favorite Bowie movie. Never got into Labyrinth much, but that wasn't Bowie's fault.

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. I think I did, many years ago.

[jobycom]

14. Elvis was a way better singer, more revolutionary performer, and more original.

He changed culture in a way that Bowie never did.

On the other hand, Bowie wrote his own stuff, had much better lyrics ("Changes" is one of the better lyrical songs of the rock era), and had his own identity going at a time when it was getting harder to be original in the rock scene, and he has his own coolness about him. He created a niche in rock that is still influencing acts like Lady Gaga.

But, Bowie went through that 80s phase with songs like "China Girl" that would make Miley Cyrus cringe. Even he admits he sold out just to make a buck, and that his music sucked.

I love them both, but it's no contest. Elvis beat Bowie in every way except diet. :) Oh yeah, and acting--Bowie is a decent actor.

[LynneSin]

18. But Bowie is still having influence, he has never become irrelevant

Ok yea, I agree with that 80s stuff but as schlockie as it was I remember seeing "Let's Dance" and "China Girl" on MTV all the time which helped make he more mainstream to so many people. Perhaps he was doing it for the money but I was a teenager when those albums came out and alot of new people discovered Bowie because of that phase.

And sorry, even on David Bowie's absolutely worst musical day he's still 200000000% better than Miley Cyrus.

Of course alot of this is based on the fact that Elvis never made it past the age of 42 so we'll never know what would have become of really old Elvis Presley. There comes a point in the career of a musician when he's too old to the crazy stuff they did in their younger years but could cross a line that they become obsolete. To me that is the biggest issue I have with Aerosmith and Rolling Stones - they have not done anything relevant except putting out bad albums.

[jobycom]

20. I'd take Miley Cyrus over "Let's Dance" any day.

Actually, it sounds like something she'd do. :rofl:

Elvis is still relevant. Everything rock does is a commentary on him. Bowie was a commentary on him--not just musically, but culturally, too. I remember reading an interview with an African American rocker--Fats Domino or BB King or someone like that--who said everyone now claims Elvis just ripped off black music and black stage moves, but that they were all stealing moves and music from him, too. (He was also making a point that Elvis wasn't just imitating black muisic, but really understood it and was part of it. At the same time, he was lamenting that white Elvis got all the fame while black performers didn't).

I'm not really an Elvis fanatic, but in terms of rock history and western pop culture, he was a tremendous force. Bowie was a strong performer and presence, and had his own cultural impact, but it was still within what Elvis had created.

[cbdo2007]

39. Are you claiming that Elvis doesn't still have influence and is irrelevant??

That be crazy man! While in your group of favorites, Bowie may be the bigger influence, in all of the music industry as a whole still Elvis is one of maybe a handful of artists who will never be touched as far as their influence.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

48. You got that, right.

well said.

[lukasahero]

16. Cute how so many are saying Elvis wins hands down but

the poll shows otherwise...

Cast my vote for the Thin White Duke.

[LynneSin]

19. Same people who 'rec/unrec' a thread but never tell us why

:rofl:

[jobycom]

49. Voting for Bowie is easy

Backing up that vote is a bit more difficult. :)

[mitchum]

21. Bowie originally offered "Golden Years" to Elvis, but Elvis declined to...

record it.
Elvis never wrote a song for Bowie,but apparently Elvis was incapable of even writing a song for himself.

[Captain Hilts]

33. The OP is about singers, not song writers. Sinatra and Ella didn't write music either. nt

[old mark]

22. E. nt

[jakefrep]

24. I voted for Elvis.

I'm not a big fan of either, but I enjoyed Elvis's music more.

[joeybee12]

25. How the hell is that minor talent Bowie winning?

You can barely call him a musician, but a musician who can't carry a tune.

[Sebastian Doyle]

26. Both were great in their own ways, but in the end I gotta go with Bowie

because he writes his own material. Elvis was a great singer, but it's all someone else's stuff. Bowie's cover album PinUps had some great stuff on it, but at least all of his albums weren't that way. The King was all covers all the time.

[Soylent Brice]

27. Bowie, hands down.

[johnnie]

28. Elvis hands down

Bowie was/is good, there is no doubt about that, but he can't touch what Elvis brought to the table and I would think that Bowie would agree.

Although I do like Bowie's voice, Elvis had a much better range and his tone is unreal. I know many don't like Elvis and most of it come from the 70s jumpsuit stuff, but putting that all aside and really listening to what he did with his voice really is impressive.

I think the other thing is, many of us weren't there for the beginning of the Elvis thing so we can't fully appreciate the impact he had and what he did for "rock and roll".

[Captain Hilts]

32. Elvis was a BEAST of a singer. I equate how he sings as a male Fitzgerald. Both

you really surround a note and had great range and power.

[Forkboy]

29. I like both, though much prefer Bowie.

I still say Elvis was a far bigger influence on music though.

[joeybee12]

30. You would!!! n/t

[Forkboy]

35. Bowie as Ziggy Stardust was one of the first shows I saw.

Music meant everything to me, even at the age of eight or nine, so to see something that cool musically and theatrically blew me away and made an impact.

On the other hand, Elvis Live in Hawaii was one of the first albums I owned by choice, so it's a close call even now. :)

[Captain Hilts]

31. If it's "singer," there's no question it's Elvis. He could have made it in any era or genre.

I know it's not cool to say so, but Elvis was a beast of a singer.

[JVS]

34. Elvis sings better. Bowie is the better concept artist.

[edbermac]

36. Presley was a magnificent talent, Bowie a great talent.

But Elvis got hooked on pills and pissed it all away.

[Orrex]

37. Bowie was a better drug abuser

[Tuesday Afternoon]

44. she asked about singing, though.

try to keep up.;)

[Orrex]

47. Touche!

But I still submit that Bowie's work since 1977 has been greatly superior to Presley's.

[blogslut]

38. I refuse to choose

You asked which on is the better singer and by that standard, I refuse to choose. Both men can/could sing like muthafuckas.

[cbdo2007]

40. The ONLY way Bowie wins this is that he writes his own material and Elvis

was just the performer.

Elvis is easily the better singer/performer and will be remembered long after Bowie is forgotten.

Watch the 1968 comeback special. Nobody touches his voice, his performing, his eccentricities (ok, maybe Michael Jackson). You gotta love Elvis thoug still, I'll give Bowie his props for his songwriting and song/idea conceptualization.

Go listen to the album Elvis: Heart & Soul. I could go on and on...

[OhioBlue]

41. Elvis. no question, no second thought at all in my mind.

What in the world is going on when the poll is 2:1 in favor of David Bowie? Seriously? We are talking ELVIS!

I'm confused... I've totally crossed into bizzaro world or something.

Take a long bath - light some candles and put on an Elvis CD, shut your eyes and enjoy. (find a greatest hits that has "Kentucky Rain", "In the Ghetto", "Suspicious Minds"...)

Sorry - I'm an 80's girl but never got into Bowie. Can't even understand the comparison.

[EastTennesseeDem]

42. I chose the right answer.

nfm

[Tuesday Afternoon]

43. even David Bowie would vote for Elvis.

duh.

[proteus_lives]

46. Gotta go with the King.

[jobycom]

50. He taught Racquel Welch about sex, was Paul McCartney's idol, and David Bowie's hero.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art23161.asp
You have to read some of these.

2."Describe Elvis Presley? He was the greatest who ever was, is or ever will be."
-- Chuck Berry

4."Elvis was a major hero of mine. I was probably stupid enough to believe that having the same birthday as him actually meant something."
-- David Bowie

12."When I first heard Elvis' voice I just knew that I wasn't going to work for anybody; and nobody was going to be my boss...Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail."
-- Bob Dylan

13."The highlight of my career? That's easy, Elvis recording one of my songs."
-- Bob Dylan

41."I'm just a singer, Elvis was the embodiment of the whole American culture."
-- Frank Sinatra

44."Elvis is my religion. But for him, I'd be selling encyclopedias right now."
-- Bruce Springsteen

51."When I was 13, I saw him perform live and I suddenly understood what sex is all about. I was screaming at the top of my lungs."
-- Raquel Welch

[jberryhill]

51. Why Choose

Bowie and Elvis perform Golden Years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmjWXMxeUl8

[Capn Sunshine]

52. Elvis was a SINGER. Bowie is a stylist.

Big difference.