Icon vs Legend (subjective or objective terms?) Which one is more enduring?

Urban Hat€monger ? · 11-29-2014, 01:46 AM

OK I'm going to give this one more chance

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulflower

The reason why I said your argument was snobbish was because you insisted that since you did not know any Janet Jackson songs that meant that she was not an Icon just because you personally don't listen to her music.

And that IS snobbish

See this is where I think you are getting the wrong end of the stick.

I'm not saying Janet Jackson isn't an icon because I don't like her, what I am saying is I think she isn't an icon because when I say I can't name one of her songs I'm not saying that to be snobbish, that's the genuine truth.
All I know about her is she had an album called Rhythm Nation and she released a duet with her brother in the 90s.
That's pretty much all I know.

Now take that in comparison someone who I also don't listen to either but DO consider iconic like Bob Marley. I know a lot of his most well known songs and I also know he was a hugely important figurehead in Jamaican politics. Therefore I would class him as an icon despite not having an interest in him musically.

Putting aside your own feelings towards either artist surely you can see what I am getting at now, even if you don't agree with it. I don't even want you to agree with it, I just want you to see where I'm coming from here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulflower

The way you present your arguments in discussions at times imply that they are superior and as if they are a fact. Even after someone pointed out to you that Janet is one of the biggest selling artists of all time with actual evidence you insisted that it was not true BUT yet I ALWAYS see you cite Wikipedia in other discussions to prove a point but since this is Janet Jackson Wikipedia is suddenly unreliable? Her sells are certified by RIAA and Soundscan which Wikipedia also uses for the top selling artist page.

So how is it not true?

Another thing I think you have got the wrong end of the stick on.
I wasn't disputing she wasn't one of the biggest selling artists, I wasn't disputing that she's sold 50 million units, of which came from RIAA & Soundscan sources.

What I was disputing was this
There is a CLAIM on there she has sold 100 million units. It even says it's a claim on wikipedia.
The source of this claim of 100 million sales comes from a regional website from her home state in a 'Local Girl Does Good' type article which has no basis and has nothing to do with RIAA and Soundscan.
THAT is the part I was disputing.

I've no doubt a lot of the other artists on there have similarly shaky ground for their own 100 million sales totals that are listed on that page but they weren't the ones being discussed, Janet Jackson was.

Also I pointed out that a Unit sale can be an album, single or video and me saying that I think Bob Dylan who's type of music is much more album based has probably sold more albums than Janet Jackson who is more singles based music was pure speculation on my part and I never pretended it was anything otherwise.

Also I would like to point out only use Wikipedia for mundane things like album release dates, band members and chart positions and if I did need to prove anything more substantial would go to much more reliable sites.