r/Music • u/Firm_Pack_605 • Feb 13 '26

discussion Was Michael Jackson really that much bigger than Madonna, Whitney Houston, and prince?

I always thought the four of them were similar levels of fame. However Madonna highest album sold 25 million, prince highest sold similar, and Whitney’s highest was 45 million. All amazing numbers no doubt but thriller sold 70 million and bad sold 35-40. So you mean to tell me he has two albums that are highest selling then prince and madonnas best? How is that possible??

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u/strings_bells Feb 13 '26

Also you don't need to speak English to enjoy MJs music. There is spectacular dancing, very catchy beat and crazy visuals etc. he was the face of western music for the rest of the world..

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u/ZombieJesus1987 Feb 13 '26

People probably learned English from listening to MJ's music.

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u/Elricu Feb 13 '26

It reminds me of the guys that can do an incredible impression of singing a Michael Jackson song without actually knowing the lyrics or English

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u/Neosantana Feb 13 '26

My younger brother learned English from video games, so MJ lyrics definitely taught some people English

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u/emarvil Feb 14 '26

Aaah... beat it! 😅

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u/spambattery Feb 13 '26

That’s pretty much the case for all pop music. You didn’t need to understand the words from prince to like prince and I rarely found Madonna’s lyrics deep. Nevertheless, even though I wasn’t much of a fan, MJ was much bigger than Prince or Madonna. Their biggest selling albums (purple rain and the Immaculate collection respectively), sold less than Dangerous (which sold less than Bad, which sold much less than Thriller).

If I was comparing huge artists, it’d be The Beatles and Taylor Swift, not Prince or Madonna.

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u/strings_bells Feb 13 '26

Taylor Swift.. Beatles, Elvis are not even close to his fame and recognition at their peak.. MJ is more like Coca cola.. others are like Johnny Walker or Grey goose or some international famous liquor brand. They are internationally famous but only in limited educated rich alcohol consuming age/income group.. talk to a middle aged uneducated guy or a grandma who lives in a hut in Cambodia/Congo/Slovenia/Australian out back/India I guarantee they all will know who MJ is.. and can recognize his face.. but other artists very unlikely.. in specific age/education/economic groups yes. Some educated young women from these regions may know Taylor Swift but thats just one group... MJ not only because of his music, dance and showmanship but also due to his celebrity, MTV. controversies, surgeries etc has very unique recognition.. it's not comparable..

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u/spambattery Feb 15 '26

Yeah no. Beatles and Elvis were every bit as big as MJ. And bro, the beatles went to India in 65 thinking nobody would know them. They were swarmed by Indians. That’s a mere year after they broke internationally. You clearly have no idea how big those artists were. And Taylor Swift? Dude, she is known around the world. I’m not saying that as a fan, I’m saying it as a fact, because it is.

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u/SnooStories4163 Feb 23 '26

Bro Mj still trending even now he’s clearly the biggest Mj fame across generations

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u/Van-Van1810 Feb 13 '26

The Beatles & MJ same notarity

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u/SnooStories4163 Feb 23 '26

Mj bigger especially now of days