and, not surprisingly, none of that answers the question at all.

no, somebody asked what about Madonna is bigger than U2, and I answered it.

Madonna and Michael Jackson are in a league of their own when it comes to pop stars from the past 25 years. Especially for people who grew up in time for the advent of MTV, those two are the biggest stars we will ever see in our lifetimes considering we were too young to enjoy/live through Elvis or Beatlemania. For an entire generation of people from their early 20's to mid/late 30's, Madonna IS Elvis. U2 have never ever ever ever ever been anywhere on the pop culture zeitgeist as Madonna was for the longest time.

U2 are certainly an iconic band, but you're crazy if you think Bono ever was the larger than life pop culture icon that Madonna became. Madonna is probably the biggest female celebrity of all time, and trust me, she wanted it that way.

I think Elvis just rolled over in his grave.

Also, Oprah? Hepburns? Princess Di? Paris Hilton? Rachael Ray? All bigger than Madonna.

Why would Elvis roll over in his grave over it? If anything, I bet Elvis would be proud of what she accomplished because in many ways, their early years parallel each other (plus both of them are villified by many r&b fans for "stealing our music" and making it white), but unlike Elvis, Madonna never had a svengali who seriously crippled and limited her career because of pure greed. They both lost their mother at a young age and it had a lot of impact on their work, and the fact that Elvis died on Madonna's birthday is seen by a lot of people as "passing the torch".

It's obvious you just hate Madonna. I mean, come on, Paris Hilton and Rachael Ray are bigger than her? On what planet. You hate Madonna yet think Paris has talent? WTF!!!!! Princess Di was bigger than Madonna I'll give you, but you forgot the word "CELEBRITY". Di wasn't a celebrity. A celebrity is a singer/actor, she's an icon but she wasn't a celebrity.

It's pretty obvious I'm arguing with someone who hates Madonna, as opposed to just a "she isn't rock", I mean, come on... you think she's untalented and yet you like Paris freaking Hilton? Come on, there is a vast difference between not thinking Madonna belongs in a ROCK AND ROLL Hall Of Fame and someone who seriously thinks the likes of Hilton and Spears have more to offer.

The poster above you never said that he/she likes Paris Hilton nor did they say that Paris Hilton has talent.

celebrity

noun
1. a widely known person; "he was a baseball celebrity"
2. the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed [syn: fame] [ant: infamy]


Just stop. Madonna couldn't hold Elvis' jock. Period.

Also, yes. I hate Madonna. I'm sorry.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Madonna too. She has the "advantage" of being a single artist vs. a Band. Elvis, MJ and Madonna are all single names so they seem to be in there own league.

However U2 is a "bigger" name. When was the last time Madonna met the pope, most of the living Presidents, and been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize? Madonna has not launched a worldwide charity that top corporate companies belong to. Madonna hasn't done a huge World Tour in years like U2, or the Stones do.

No doubt Madonna belongs in the Rock Hall. I posted that list a few pages back as a reminder that MANY bands that do deserve it, aren't in. Nothing more.

Madonna doesn't do full scale tours because she is the type of person who tires easily and wants to move on to something new. Plus, with the kids, she will only tour in the summer when they're out of school. I do think it's a little selfish on her behalf because if Cher can do a 2 1/2 year long tour and play practically every city on the face of the earth (I use Cher because she's another huge female artist who is more than just a singer, but yet when she finds it in her to go on tour, she tours her butt off), Madonna could do more than 3 months at a time, but I'm just saying... Madonna doesn't really want to go all out and do a year-long trek like The Stones, U2, Paul McCartney or someone else in that vein does, she wants to be a mother first. Although it sucks for those of us who don't live in the big cities, so we're used to being passed by every time she goes out on the road.

While Madonna has spoken up for charities she believes in and wants to put money into, I don't think she's ever wanted to be this huge spokesperson the way Bono has become. I think Bono is a fantastic humanitarian who wants to be remembered as something more than the lead singer of U2, but all in all, it's his choice. I think that is why he gets all the humanitatian awards and meets world leaders, because of all of his charity work, not because of U2.

Madonna has sold in excess of 200 million albums worldwide( Source: Billboard). She outpaces U2 there and in overall impact. They are both in a league of their own( no pun intended). Though she takes it to another level. IMO

OK now you're being assinine. Are you going to derail this discussion with nonsense? If you hate her, fine. Just be factual as much as possible.

If anything, Madonna has more credibility than Elvis, who never wrote his songs, was controlled in every way. It kinda chaps my ass when someone gets in the Hall who isn't a songwriter as well. I do have to remind myself that personalities do matter so someone like Elvis, whose impact was enormous, must get in.

Haha, I just ran across this on Youtube when I googled Madonna concerts ( I need to study up on her since I lost track a bit since the early 00's). I have never seen this performance. Dayum. I mean, DAYUM! I have never seen her belt a song quite like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTMM4x7fyUs

Its not her fault though. The HOF is a joke in that it is controlled and certain members have a grudge against certain bands/people and it isn't right in the least. We have to acknowledge and celebrate when a deserving person does get in because they would have to stop allowing newly eligible people in and just stick to allowing the past eligible people in. That would take years. That isn't fair to those that are deserving at their 25 year anniversary. Let's keep fighting for those others getting in!

Link?


This is subjective. I tried to at least provide some facts behind my reasoning.

Even Billboard admits they don't have accurate info pre-1991: (this is regarding Madonna vs Mariah Carey)

EDITED TO ADD: Looking around it DOES appear that Madonna has sold more records than U2. I would still argue, the "Whole other level" thing. They are both superstars, and both deserve first year inductions.

But I feel U2 will ALWAYS be held in higher regard as they have been critical darlings as well as having a huge fan base.

Excuses, excuses...


Hey, We're all prone to a little hyperbole arent we? "Madonna is the biggest female celebrity in the world." "Paris Hilton and Rachael Ray are bigger than Madonna." I'm just using the precedent already set in this thread. But since it's the other way around it's not cool. Have it your way.

Also, it's hilarious that you attack me for not being factually accurate and then you go on to say that Elvis never wrote anything...Elvis has writing credits on the following hits:

Don't Be Cruel
Love Me Tender
Heartbreak Hotel
All Shook Up

Not to mention his work as an arranger and producer....But I would honestly like you to name 4 Madonna-written songs that can hold a candle to the above Elvis songs.

Let me just make it clear to you who are persuing this Madonna/Elvis comparison: Madonna would never be any better than a boil on Fat Elvis' ass.

Oh well of course. U2 and particularly Bono are megastars. As for U2 being critical darlings, well, yes but rock bands have always had an easier time of it( when they are good) becoming critical darlings than a pop/rock performer. They deserve every bit of it and then some. U2 level fame/influence will likely not ever be achieved by another band again( given the lackluster state of music at the moment). They are the template for super-bands to follow. I am afraid those days of grande entertainers/musicians are long dead. The likes of U2 or Madonna will not likely ever be seen again.

I have yet to see them in concert( I know I know). It just pains me that I missed out because of my self imposed exile from attending due to prices, which, haha, were a bargain compared to NOW!

I wasn't even going to respond to you because A) you seem irrational and hellbent on hating Madonna and I am not going to try and change your opinion and B) I am not the person to defend Madonna since I am not an expert on her but.......

It seems your claims on Elvis might not be wholly accurate: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Presley-E...ongwriting.htm

Seems he was given songwriting credit for business reasons( at Parkers request) but did have a hand in arranging songs, putting his signature on them. It was common back in the day, artists getting songwriting credit for songs they did not write. The secret is in the publishing of the songs. THAT is where, if you know where to look, you can find out who really wrote the songs and who didn't.

Not that I think you can use record sales, concert tickets, awards etc. to determine which is bigger, I think that singles are included in the above figures, so I can see Madonna selling more.

I think U2 is bigger merely because more people are aware of what is going on with them and care. I would be hard pressed to find someone that is aware of much that Madonna has done in the last 15 years other than write the theme song for a Bond movie, kiss Britney onstage, and appear with Borat in a music video. I don't know anyone who has any Madonna material other than maybe her first compilation. Sure, maybe those who still watch MTV and follow dance and pop music keep up with Madonna, but I do not think her fan base is nearly as widespread. Just about every person I know under 50, regardless of their musical taste, still follows U2 and buys their stuff. They are much less polarizing and seem to have a wider audience demographic.

Basically, I think that U2 is by far the biggest and most well-known musical artist of the last 25 years. I don't really think anyone comes close.

I can't think of two worse people to have a penis-measuring contest than Madonna and U2, well Bono.

Dude, in the last 15 years???? Are you kidding? I would say the last 5 no one has followed her that closely but then again, in the hip/hop era, no one other than a rap artist is followed closely that includes U2. If you are under 40( I'm 32) you generally don't give a fig about anyone besides those in the hip/hop genre. Other than the diehards, no one follows an artist that closely that was around before the mid-90's. No one under 30 gives a sh*t about U2 because Bono ain't 50 Cent. Key words here are "artists that were around before the mid-90's".

It's the sorry state of music. If you are over the age of 24, this generation( and even some GenXers) don't care.

But to say no one has followed, knows or cares what she has done in the last 15 years is an incredible statement. Sheesh, she has been everywhere for nearly her entire run so far! Just about everyone knows what she is up to, at least up until the early 00's and still hearing about her tours. I mean, christ, I heard all about her tours and I wasn't even living near a city she went to.

I'm 21 and all my favorite music is generally 50s to 70s music.

That is rare. I love the Eagles. Aside from Soundgarden, they are my favorite band. I listen to all decades except most 50's stuff. I am an anomoly to my friends. Most of them, ranging in age from 25-42, love all the hip/hop crap.

Eagles are easily my favorite band above everything else.

oh, no wonder you're so quick to bash on Madonna, you're too young to remember what an impact she made in the day. People you're age are conditioned to think Britney Spears is the greatest female pop star ever born. I was listening to her first two albums before you were even BORN, I lived through the 80's and 90's, and yes, Madonna was a huge icon. A bigger icon than Parasite Hilton will ever be

No, I'm so quick to bash Madonna because she is hugely overrated with her gigantic following of MTV worshipping lemmings.

Wow we have something in common, The Eagles! I think I have their greatest hits on a continuous loop. I never stop playing them!

IMO, you are just dead wrong about Madonna. Overrated? Not by a mile. She has made 2 albums considered masterpieces by 'most' critics ( and when I say 'most' I mean MOST). They would be Like A Prayer and Ray Of Light. They routinely make the "Best Of" lists from any and all music pubs/mags/tv/critics. I also posted an Oscar performance from 1991 that is just mindblowing.

As for Mtv, does anyone watch it still? I only know of "The Hills" and last I checked, that wasn't a music video. lol

well, you tried to discredit me earlier by saying that for children of the 1980's, Madonna is a true icon. All this time, I figured you were somebody who just hated her when she first hit and never "forgave" her for Like A Virgin or jumped ship and gave up on her after Erotica thinking she was a nympho, only to find out you weren't even around to remember it. You can't say Madonna is not an icon when you weren't alive to remember the impact and popularity Material Girl and Like A Virgin, you were too young to remember the nuclear bombs that the Like A Prayer and Justify My Love videos launched. If you remembered the 80's and early 90's, you would understand why it's preposterous to put Parasite Hilton in the same sentence as her.

I hate MTV btw, I loved it as a kid but I can't say I've purposely watched it for more than a half hour without changing the channels since the late 90's. I loved MTV in the 80's and early 90's but then they stopped playing music and became a hellhole and it's gotten worse with time.

BTW, I happen to like Elvis and a lot of the 50's-70's legends you love too. But Madonna's career came up alongside my childhood and I've been following her since 1984/85, and I do believe she is one of the biggest icons I've ever experienced in my lifetime. If you weren't there to remember Madonna's heyday of power or didn't have a parent or older sibling who was into it, you'll never truly grasp how larger than life Madonna was from practically 1985-1995. It was a level of fame and iconness that Hilton, Britney, Beyonce, or any other famous female out today has yet to come close to.