Neil Young vs. Prince

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got the idea for this thread last week when Beauty Pill's twitter was riffing about parallels between them, then realized that ILM had already kinda done it: TS: Prince's 80s vs. Neil Young's 70s

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Neil Young 37
Prince 35


kind of trill and very self-righteous (some dude), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 13:34 (fifteen years ago)

TS: Neil's "Cinnamon Girl" versus Prince's.

Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 13:38 (fifteen years ago)

TS: Prince's "Scarlet Pussy" vs. Neil's

rim this, fuck that (Eric H.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 13:38 (fifteen years ago)

That other thread missed a golden opportunity -

My name is Neil
And I am Shakey

EZ Snappin, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 13:52 (fifteen years ago)

tough call for me since I consider Prince a better guitarist than Neil & probably a better, certainly a more versatile songwriter but my #1 songwriter deal is jams that make me cry and "Sometimes it Snows In April" is great & all but Neil can break out three dread-of-living-with-all-this-grief tunes before lunch & still have time to shred a wicked solo

les yeux sans aerosmith (underrated aerosmith albums I have loved), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 13:54 (fifteen years ago)

My name is Neil
And I am Shakey
I did not come to fuck around
Til I get yo weed I won't leave this town

Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 13:54 (fifteen years ago)

I'm pretty sure Neil can perform an awesome, awesome version of "Purple Rain."

Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 13:55 (fifteen years ago)

and I can hear Prince doing a desolate version of "Pardon My Heart."

Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 13:55 (fifteen years ago)

man I just got wet thinking of Prince covering the entirety of Zuma.

Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 13:56 (fifteen years ago)

I want songs that make me want to cry and dance at the same time, so prince, prince, prince.

peacocks, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 13:57 (fifteen years ago)

There's a quite a few NY songs about dancing

Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 13:59 (fifteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKXHdqJXtSY&feature=related

Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 13:59 (fifteen years ago)

There's a quite a few NY songs about dancing

yeah but if I were at a club dancing and somebody tried to play some Neil Young I would locate the DJ and beat his ass whereas if he plays Prince, he will get a generous tip

les yeux sans aerosmith (underrated aerosmith albums I have loved), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:01 (fifteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftfNzAeO4eY

strong boy burger (KMS), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:02 (fifteen years ago)

Also "Dance Dance Dance"

Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:05 (fifteen years ago)

about dancing is not the same thing as dancing. These songs do not convince me.

peacocks, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:09 (fifteen years ago)

yeah, hope you don't break anything dancing to neil young

(e_3) (Edward III), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:10 (fifteen years ago)

I could dance to "Sample and Hold."

Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:11 (fifteen years ago)

yeah, hope you don't break anything dancing to neil young

Only Love Can Break Your Heart

Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:13 (fifteen years ago)

Wondering what would be Prince's most Neil Young-esque song?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCC9HVx7Ba0

strong boy burger (KMS), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:14 (fifteen years ago)

Eric Weisbard said that one's closer to eighties Lou Reed, and I agree.

Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:15 (fifteen years ago)

Yeah, I was getting a Doug Yule era VU vibe while I was relistening to it.

strong boy burger (KMS), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:18 (fifteen years ago)

prince's most neil young song "purple rain"

or maybe "batdance"

(e_3) (Edward III), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:20 (fifteen years ago)

Yeah, I was getting a Doug Yule era VU vibe while I was relistening to it.

Nothing Compares 2 Yule

Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:22 (fifteen years ago)

The greatest pop musician of the last 30 years versus some old rock & roll fogey - not a hard choice.

Tuomas, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 15:52 (fifteen years ago)

Don't think Prince would appreciate you calling him a fogey.

Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 15:52 (fifteen years ago)

Neil Young 1990 to present versus Prince 1990 to present might get different poll results than this one

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:01 (fifteen years ago)

TBH the only Neil Young songs I know are "Piece of Crap" and "Knocking on Heaven's Door", but they're about as good as lesser Prince B sides.

Tuomas, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:06 (fifteen years ago)

You know "Piece of Crap"? Cool.

Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:07 (fifteen years ago)

knockin on heaven's door is definitely one of his best

tylerw, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:09 (fifteen years ago)

They used to play the music video a lot on Finnish TV when it was a hit, it kinda stuck to my head.

Tuomas, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:09 (fifteen years ago)

(x-post)

Tuomas, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:09 (fifteen years ago)

'piece of crap' is a song i dimly remember from the radio, but i've spent 16 years thinking it was frank black

schooled

frap your hands say yeah yeah yeah (history mayne), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:10 (fifteen years ago)

Wait Tuomas you don't know 'Keep On Rockin' In The Free World'?!

Matt DC, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:11 (fifteen years ago)

lol Tuomas

has arlen specter never heard clarence thomas's laugh? (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:11 (fifteen years ago)

but "Piece of Crap" is a Hootie & the Blowfish cover!

Euler, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:11 (fifteen years ago)

Neil was better for longer (and probably still has some interesting music in him, whereas I've written off Prince). But I dunno this is a tough call

has arlen specter never heard clarence thomas's laugh? (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:11 (fifteen years ago)

Thread needs Lex to claim to have only heard "Surfer Joe and Moe the Sleaze" or sumhtin'

Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:12 (fifteen years ago)

Wait Tuomas you don't know 'Keep On Rockin' In The Free World'?!

Oh yeah, that's the one I meant! I always mix it up with "Knocking on Heaven's Door" (which I guess isn't a Neal Young song at all).

Tuomas, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:13 (fifteen years ago)

Neil Young found that when using a vocoder when communicating to his son (who was born with cerebral palsy), he was able to elicit a better response.[citation needed] The emotional power of this experiment shows in the lyrics, particularly in the track "Transformer Man" with the lines "So many things still left to do / But we haven't made it yet."[original research?]

the food has a top snake of 1 (ulillillia), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:13 (fifteen years ago)

which I guess isn't a Neal Young song at all

LOL, Neale Jung

Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:14 (fifteen years ago)

Neil did do a great version of "Knockin' Boots", though.

Euler, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:15 (fifteen years ago)

Neil covered "Gett Off" during one of his last Farm Aid appearances.

Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:16 (fifteen years ago)

Neil Young found that when using a vocoder when communicating to his son (who was born with cerebral palsy), he was able to elicit a better response.[citation needed] The emotional power of this experiment shows in the lyrics, particularly in the track "Transformer Man" with the lines "So many things still left to do / But we haven't made it yet."[original research?]

"Every morning when I look in your eyes
I feel electrified by you"

Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:16 (fifteen years ago)

could kinda boil this down to Rockin in the Free World vs. Sign o' the Times

has arlen specter never heard clarence thomas's laugh? (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:16 (fifteen years ago)

When Hawks & Doves Cry

tylerw, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:17 (fifteen years ago)

young. find me a prince performance where he looks as *truly* lost in the moment as young at glasto a few years back. plus youngs current band is much better than princes band who should prob be playing at someones wedding.

titchy (titchyschneiderMk2), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:18 (fifteen years ago)

find me a prince performance where he looks as *truly* lost in the moment as young at glasto a few years back. plus youngs current band is much better than princes band who should prob be playing at someones wedding.

these are pretty arcane criteria man

frap your hands say yeah yeah yeah (history mayne), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:19 (fifteen years ago)

didn't Prince cover Neil Young's "Mr. Tambourine Man" on one of his 80s albums, the one with the cover of that Hindu Love Gods song?

Euler, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:19 (fifteen years ago)

I'd vote for Neil over Abraham Lincoln, Jackie Robinson, Joan of Arc, Groucho Marx, etc. But, dispassionately, I'll concede there's a case for Prince.

clemenza, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 16:19 (fifteen years ago)

Another thing they share: big ol' rockabilly streaks.

Mexico, camp, horns, Zappa, Mr. Bungle (Matos W.K.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 17:45 (fifteen years ago)

Are you confusing "Shy" with "Endorphinmachine" or something?

emo WINNER! (HI DERE), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 17:45 (fifteen years ago)

oh wau @ at Neil Young covering "Endorphinmachine."

Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 17:47 (fifteen years ago)

Would pay money to hear Neil do "Peach," specifically the line about "when her titties bounced." Bet NY would lean into that one.

Mexico, camp, horns, Zappa, Mr. Bungle (Matos W.K.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 17:49 (fifteen years ago)

*shudders*

I am an old guy, and I prefer the late 90s. (Matt P), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 17:49 (fifteen years ago)

Actually maybe Tuomas meant "Dolphin"? (btw LOL @ Neil Young covering "Dolphin")

emo WINNER! (HI DERE), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 17:50 (fifteen years ago)

Neil Young could have written "Dolphin"! Of course! Why didn't I think of that?

Both of them also have mile-wide nature-imagery streaks obv.

Mexico, camp, horns, Zappa, Mr. Bungle (Matos W.K.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 17:50 (fifteen years ago)

can someone make an animated neil gif so we can compare it to prince-sex-stare.gif back-to-back?

I am an old guy, and I prefer the late 90s. (Matt P), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 17:52 (fifteen years ago)

and Prince could have done a fantastic job with "Danger Bird."

Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 17:52 (fifteen years ago)

"Like a Hurricane" vs. "Purple Rain" obv.

Mexico, camp, horns, Zappa, Mr. Bungle (Matos W.K.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 17:53 (fifteen years ago)

"energetic rock arrangement"? What planet are you on?

Sorry, I actually mixed up "Shy" and "Shhh" from The Gold Experience. My post was supposed to be about "Shhh".

Tuomas, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 17:54 (fifteen years ago)

You mean "Shhh" the languid R&B slow jam? Or something else altogether?

Mexico, camp, horns, Zappa, Mr. Bungle (Matos W.K.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 17:55 (fifteen years ago)

Yeah "Shh", it has there really pointless drum rolls and rock guitar breaks, the remix gets rid of them and makes it better.

Tuomas, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 18:12 (fifteen years ago)

the tevin campbell one is still better.

titchy (titchyschneiderMk2), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 18:59 (fifteen years ago)

two of my favorite musicians ever -- probably like neil's classic material better than prince's these days, and neil's new material by a million miles over prince's new material, so ill go for neil, but prince certainly shouldn't hang his head about this one.

btw, irrespective of my overall preference, i always thought prince's gtr playing to be way overrated ("the cross" being a notable exception that rules pretty hard) and neil's to be way underrated.

69, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 19:10 (fifteen years ago)

Given that pretty much every time I've ever seen Neil Young's guitar playing mentioned by anyone who isn't a prog-head it's been discussed with real agog, I can't quite grok the idea that he's an underrated guitarist.

Mexico, camp, horns, Zappa, Mr. Bungle (Matos W.K.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 20:14 (fifteen years ago)

Yeah "Shh", it has there really pointless drum rolls and rock guitar breaks, the remix gets rid of them and makes it better.

I'll try to hear that remix but if you think his quiet-storm arrangement (w/drums and guitars, gosh) is "energetic rock" I'm going to continue thinking you're living on Mars.

Mexico, camp, horns, Zappa, Mr. Bungle (Matos W.K.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 20:15 (fifteen years ago)

No, no, Matos --69 meant Neil TENNANT's guitar playing.

Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 20:16 (fifteen years ago)

i can see that some people might underrate neil (young that is) on a technical level. He plays that big, Crazy Horse style a lot of the time, but on some non crazy horse stuff you can hear that he's pretty accomplished.

tylerw, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 20:24 (fifteen years ago)

haha "accomplished" (the lols are for the idea itself, not tylerw for bringing it up); NY's best playing is usually his sloppiest

Mexico, camp, horns, Zappa, Mr. Bungle (Matos W.K.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 20:27 (fifteen years ago)

When I tried to think of a Young song with "subtle" playing or picking I thought of "Pardon My Heart," "Thrasher," some of the other softer moments from On the Beach and ATGR; but then I realized I was confusing the delectable melodies for great playing.

Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 20:31 (fifteen years ago)

NY's best playing is usually his sloppiest

good news if you wear cargo shorts (contenderizer), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 20:33 (fifteen years ago)

oh yeah, i agree that the neil young "sound" -- that huge monstrous distorto fuzz -- is the best, for the most part. but there are live bootlegs where you realize that he's capable of doing a lot more. I mean, he's not Steve Vai or anything ... and thank god.

tylerw, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 20:39 (fifteen years ago)

what i mean is, people who think neil young's "sloppy" playing is not underrated have overrated taste

69, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 20:55 (fifteen years ago)

i think we should lock titchy and tuomas in a room feeding each other misinformed opinion and poor research until someone's head pulls a scanners.

strongohulkingtonsghost, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 21:08 (fifteen years ago)

http://www.scifi-universe.com/upload/galeries/images_film/the_thing_with_two_heads/the_thing_with_two_heads_img1.jpg

has arlen specter never heard clarence thomas's laugh? (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 21:13 (fifteen years ago)

^^^l-r: titchy, tuomas after ILM-mandated surgical procedure

has arlen specter never heard clarence thomas's laugh? (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 21:14 (fifteen years ago)

leave room there for geir

mookinho (mookieproof), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 21:15 (fifteen years ago)

i think we should lock titchy and tuomas in a room feeding each other misinformed opinion and poor research until someone's head pulls a scanners.

You think people actually do "research" for threads like this?

Tuomas, Wednesday, 7 July 2010 05:48 (fifteen years ago)

everything i write has been tested for accuracy.

titchy (titchyschneiderMk2), Wednesday, 7 July 2010 10:21 (fifteen years ago)

I rely only on the most trustworthy of sources, i.e. my ass.

Tuomas, Wednesday, 7 July 2010 10:31 (fifteen years ago)

i dont even like neil young as much as prince, but it was obvious how this thread was going to go so i felt it necessary to root for young. plus prince has been shit for so many years i dont really have the fanboy love for him that i used to.

titchy (titchyschneiderMk2), Wednesday, 7 July 2010 10:37 (fifteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Sunday, 11 July 2010 23:01 (fifteen years ago)

Prince,tho i flipped a coin to decide

iago g., Monday, 12 July 2010 22:51 (fifteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Monday, 12 July 2010 23:01 (fifteen years ago)

sign o the times

balls, Monday, 12 July 2010 23:01 (fifteen years ago)

whoa....squeaker. there are no losers in this poll

iago g., Monday, 12 July 2010 23:14 (fifteen years ago)

er guess I shoulda put neil young in the canon tournament

iatee, Tuesday, 13 July 2010 01:26 (fifteen years ago)

I like to assume Prince died sometime in the 90s, but c'mon ... he should've won by a mile.

untrue pitch, Tuesday, 13 July 2010 01:33 (fifteen years ago)

i would've voted Prince.

The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall, Tuesday, 13 July 2010 01:34 (fifteen years ago)

surprised at this

karl...arlk...rlka...lkar..., Tuesday, 13 July 2010 01:36 (fifteen years ago)

I voted ny but only because I thought it was gonna be 3-1 prince

iatee, Tuesday, 13 July 2010 01:37 (fifteen years ago)

i don't remember if i voted or not. would've gone w/prince easily.

karl...arlk...rlka...lkar..., Tuesday, 13 July 2010 01:38 (fifteen years ago)

not to dis neil young but...

karl...arlk...rlka...lkar..., Tuesday, 13 July 2010 01:39 (fifteen years ago)

forgot to vote, but would've voted neil.

tylerw, Tuesday, 13 July 2010 02:20 (fifteen years ago)

mile-wide nature-imagery streaks: I love "Be the Rain" (still would've voted Prince had I noticed this)

Pete Scholtes, Tuesday, 13 July 2010 03:28 (fifteen years ago)

Argh, would have voted Prince and just came back to, but I was not logged in and at work when I saw it yesterday.

Popture, Tuesday, 13 July 2010 04:14 (fifteen years ago)

this is a classic example* of why "oh [x] is going to win by a landslide so I'll vote [y] to make it close" is not the best way to approach a poll

* btw, lol

Fee Fie Fo, FUNFNFUINFLFF! (HI DERE), Tuesday, 13 July 2010 14:37 (fifteen years ago)

ya, i don't understand that. nobody's feelings are going to get hurt one way or the other!

The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall, Tuesday, 13 July 2010 15:33 (fifteen years ago)

totally okay with these poll results myself, dudes are basically a tie in my book

gordon lishification (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 13 July 2010 15:36 (fifteen years ago)


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