MJ is above the other two in just about every aspect, I know it, you know it, the GP knows it, its not rocket science

Thriller is the best selling video of all time. It made Michael the most influential pop star. Why are Madonna fans bringing in their stale opinions like if it matters

So is Madonna and Prince. Deal with it.

I know they are...I stan for innovative artists as per my signature.

There are few who would disagree that the Thriller video was hugely innovative, but it sounds like you are suggesting that nothing that has come since can therefore be regarded as innovative?

Sis that's all opinions.... what set is set. Let it go. That's from like 30 years ago and you're over here trying to to use the "some people would disagree" formula like if that's gonna change anything. Its the issue with you fans that you can't stay on topic and have to have alternative topics to find a constructive argument. Michael innovative the music video but overall all three artists are innovative in their right.

Of course not, there have been many things Michael, Madonna, Prince and others have done with the platform since 1984 that are vastly innovative. But to say they trump the video that made this platform exist in its current form is pretty off base, don't you think?

Because what was Prince and Madonna doing before thriller video wise?

All 3 are innovative so it doesnt matter at the end of the day. Madonna however pushed so many boundaries, musically she wasnt much of an innovater but in the realms of performance, fashion and image few can hold a candle to Madonna at her prime. She also spearheaded all aspects of her professional life which was rare for women at the time she also was one of the first truly business savvy female entertainers. Madonna gets alot of heat today, particularly since shes a mere shadow of a musician in comparison today and tries way too hard but she was something else in her day, shes queen for a reason.

Maybe if you were capable of forming constructive and factual arguments, then we wouldn't need to go 'off-topic' as you call it! That is your opinion and I accept it. My opinion is that Madonna has the most innovative videography.

That's fine as your opinion but the industry recognizes Michael has the most successful music video artist. Ask the Grammys and the Guinness world records.

Prince KISS video tho. Slays our faves.

Ok I see the issue here.... Yes, Thriller is certainly a contender for the MOST innovative video (perhaps of all time), but I think what I and some others are saying is that Madonna's videography as a whole is the most innovative...

We are not the Guiness world records commisars tho. The op is asking for our opinions and we are offering them. Its all about respecting each others point of view, which may differ. No need to argue, they are all innovative legends and I think that we have already all agreed on this

But does that make sense? You can argue she's more artistic, more envelope pushing, etc. but innovation is the pioneering a something new, which, outside of the content, leaves all others short of Thriller since it is the first video to successfully emerge from the shackles of promo advertisement and enter artform.

For example, I think Smooth Criminal was innovative, same with November Rain, Bedtime Stories, Paparazzi and others. But they're all products of Thriller's innovation.

I think this is what you misunderstood. Innovation is not only pioneering something (and its not like MJ pioneered music vids), but also developping, shaping and helping to evolve something, and both MJ and Madonna did that to music videos, both will always remain among the most important visual artists of all time, its part of their legacy.

Basically what Briseis just said. Also Kate Bush for example had several videos before Thriller (Army Dreamers, Breathing...) that were conceptual and 'artistic' and far from being mere promo advertisements. Obviously those videos didn't have the sort of budget or mass appeal we are talking about regarding Thriller, but they were innovative and pioneering nonetheless...

I don't want to go in circles. Confusion of artistry and even risk-taking with innovation keeps happening. Michael Jackson's Thriller is the most innovative thing to happen to the music video genre. People making great videos post-1984 is great, but the spectrum in which they lie was created by Thriller. /subthread.

Back to the overall thread: MJ in general, though Prince was certainly more innovative musically.