I'll say one thing for M. Jackson: while he changed his appearance...

[Deep13]

...he did not change his name dozens of times.

[Shell Beau]

1. Nope. He's pretty much remained Michael Jackson.

Maybe he went by Mike once or twice! Does that count? :P

[rebel with a cause]

2. Lets see.

He changed his skin color, his facial features, lessened his masculinity but he didn't change his name and that makes him better than anyone that has? Many of us have changed our names sometimes in our life time through marriage, nicknames and etc, and few if any of us have got to the identity altering that MJ did. JMO

[Deep13]

3. "...and that makes him better than anyone that has..."

You inferred all that from two sentences? I did not say any of that.

[rebel with a cause]

9. I took your statement to imply this

without you coming out and saying it fully. In my opinion the implication is there whether you meant for it to be so or not. No ill will, but I am kind of tired of the whole Jackson idealization thing being done by so many. Not saying you are doing this, only that some are.

[Deep13]

11. I was reaching trying to find SOMETHING positive to say about him.

Instead of the usual, "Noseless alien from the planet Pedophile." It occurred to me that he had a very ordinary name.

I don't think there can be an implication if no one implies it. One is free to draw inferences from anywhere. My thinking is extremely literal and I get into trouble by not seeing what inferences others may draw. Sorry.

[Pharlo]

4. It was a brilliant PR move by Prince.

As a result of a legal battle with his recording company, he lost rights to the use of the name 'Prince' for a specific length of time. Once that period was over, he changed it back.

By going to that symbol which was pronounced 'The Artist Formerly Known as Prince', the public still knew who he was, he got a LOT of free publicity, and it pretty much neutralized the recording company in this instance.

[Deep13]

5. I don't blame showmen for being showmen.

I never begrudged Liberace his outfits.

[Sanity Claws]

6. People don't understand that the name change was a way to break the contract

If I recall properly, he changed his name to something unpronouncable so that no one could say his name for a certain number of years. If his name was not mentioned for that number of years, his contract would be void.

So as soon as the contract was void, he adopted his prior name.
Smart cookie.

[Sanity Claws]

7. Mellencamp never liked the name Cougar

Some PR person or agent did it. He wanted his real name and with more clout, he resumed it.

[Deep13]

8. Yeah, I know.

Someone gave an explanation for Prince in another response. Still wondering about Sean "Puffy" Combs.

[KG]

10. prince pretty much kicked mj's ass musically. plus he's still alive.

[Deep13]

12. I agree with the first sentence.

I never liked MJ as a musician. Here's a talented dancer, but since my car radio does not play videos, it is a bit lost on me.

[Frank Cannon]

13. Agree completely. I never, ever could get into Michael Jackson's music.

Try as I may.

But Prince, or the Artist, or whatever is all kinds of talented and mightily excels at everything he does, musically.