Not a big fan of either, but I remember Elvis's death because it was one of those days you never forget. I was down on the strip. There was a spontaneous parade of sorts on Cumberland, because cars were honking and people we yelling about how the King was dead. I'm sure that occurred in places for MJ, but I think the Elvis response was more widespread for its time. Music and other culture has become a lot more global since, though, so a vote for MJ gets that advantage.

MJ was a mega pop star. Elvis, though he did derive his music as cafkia notes, was as close as it gets to a living legend, a description that is way overused and usually makes little sense. The legend of MJ was not deep, though he had incredible talent. His talent was probably so obvious, though, that he was a much safer bet for his promoters in his rise to stardom. Elvis had a weirder, risky sound that just resonated to the top.

Elvis. I think it's almost sacrilegious for asking that (or answering it for that matter). And I don't care what color Michael Jackson is, or was....(Gee, I hope it doesn't make me a racist for saying that - internalized, externalized or side ways, Beanster.)

in the east and the far west Jackson...

Deepnds on your age and the region of the country you are from...

Jackson did more I think from an artisitic viewpoint but did more stupid stuff that damaged his career and reputation...

Elvis,The Beatles & Michael Jackson

I.Epics on the Silver Screen
or in Videos.

A.Elvis

In 1957, Elvis released EP soundtracks
of his movies; Loving You & Jailhouse Rock.

Two songs from those EPs were number ones.

Jailhouse Rock
Teddy Bear

B.The Beatles

In 1964,The Beatles,in the US,on United Artist,
released the soundtrack album of their movie..
A Hard Days Night.

Two songs from that album were number ones.

Hard Days Night
Can't Buy Me Love

C.Michael Jackson

In 1982,Michael Jackson released the album Thriller.

Of the videos released from the album two songs were
number ones.

Billie Jean
Beat It

II.Love,The Dream & We are the World..on TEE-VEE.

A.The Beatles..1967

The first performance of All You Need Is Love is on
world wide television.

B.Elvis..1968

On the television special..ELVIS:starring Elvis Presley.
The special was the most watched TV show of 1968.

The last song is the first performance of If I Can Dream.
A tribute to Martin Luther King.

C.Michael Jackson..1985

At Live Aid the first performance of We Are The World
,on world wide television, closes the US concert.

What a CD to burn

Jailhouse Rock
Teddy Bear
Hard Days Night
Cant Buy Me Love
All You Need Is Love
If I Can Dream
Billie Jean
Beat It
We Are the World

As indicated by the reference to the Egyptian experience noted above. When Elvis died there were plenty of places in the world where if you mentioned his passing, the overwhelming majority of the citizens would say "who?". Jackson OTOH, is far more widely known than Elvis could have even dreamed of. MJ was/is famous in places that do not appear to have the capacity for the widespread playing of recordings. Elvis pretty much took over the record buying world in his prime. MJ expanded exponentially the record buying world in his prime. MJ may not have had the percentage of the market that Elvis had but in sheer numbers MJ wins easily.

Now for my controversial opinion. Elvis' entire body of work was directly and clearly derivative of Black/gospel performers if not an outright copy of them. Hound dog was copied note-for-note from Big Mama Thornton and other works got the same treatment. MJ's work was either original or much less clearly derivative. I know of no MJ piece that I think of as copied directly from some earlier artist. Yes, his moonwalk dance move was copied but he changed/improved on it enough that it is easily distinguishable from the original.

It takes waaaaay more energy to raise the temperature of Norris lake two degrees than it does to bring your hot tub to a boil. However, the boiling water in your hot tub will probably get your attention a lot faster. MJ was bigger worldwide but here, Elvis was probably better known.

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It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.
  - William G. McAdoo

Lets define megastar. Otherwise this discussion is nothing but a generational identifier.

Sugarfatpie (AKA Alex Pulsipher)

"X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin

McCartney is still bigger than either.

MJ was a bigger star than Elvis because the pop music world hadn't invented its wall-of-hype methods when the King was big. The King of Pop then reaped the benefits on the business side of the music.

Liberty and justice for all.

My home

Elvis and Michael had a lot in common. Elvis wanted to be black (or at least perform like a black man) and Michael wanted to be white. Although Elvis was notoriously gluttonous and Jackson an anorexic, they were both talented freaks who lived weird lifestyles and hastened their own deaths.

I do not believe Michael's following is as large as Elvis's was when Elvis died. And even though Elvis had gotten some really bad publicity, he hadn't, at the time he died, become the national joke that Michael has -- although dying on the crapper isn't a very dignified way to go.

I haven't heard anybody claiming that Michael didn't really die yet.

Just an observation. Elvis had his Graceland. It is still there making money every day for the estate. Michael lost his Neverland, several years ago I believe.

Lets see Elvis has been dead for 30+ years. I was just a youngster but remember it very clearly. I predict that Michael's post death revenues will surpass the Elvis' revenues in half the time and Elvis will hold the crown for postage stamp sells. I was at the Kumba event and the vendors already had t-shirts and other items picturing M. Jackson for sale.

I'm trying to remember Michael Jackson starring in 30+ movies, and I can't think of any. I'm trying to remember an instance where Michael ever picked up an instrument... and I can't think of any. Frankly, Quincy Jones deserves more credit than Jackson does for his one decent album (Thriller).

He's Madonna league (which is perfectly fine on a pop-phenom scale), but nothing close to Elvis or the Beatles.

RIP.

Elvis from '56-'59,The Beatles from '64-'66 &
Michael from '82-'84 were the biggest rock & roll
phenomena of my lifetime.

Lip curling,mop tops & a glove.

Jailhouse Rock,Hard Days Night,Thriller.

Heartbreak Hotel,I Wanna Hold Your Hand,Billie Jean.

Ed Sullivan for Elvis & The Beatles.
Motown 25 for Michael.

Only Paul & Ringo are left from the trinity
of rock & roll frenzy.

When I was in Egypt a couple of years ago I asked everyone I met if they knew who Elvis was. No one had ever heard of him until I met a student who was attending the American Univerity in Cairo. I didn't ask about Michael Jackson.

A related question, I was wondering which was wondering which is the bigger news event: Elvis' or Jackson's death?

I don't really remember the former. I was young. My sense is that it was a bit more unexpected because it wasn't preceded by a 15+ year freak show.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

You polled about Mega-star status.
Jackson wins.
More albums sold.
More global appeal.

-Sugarfatpie (AKA Alex Pulsipher)

"X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin

Elvis changed everything. Jacko just changed his skin color.