sugarysunflower Posted Thursday at 02:24 PM Posted Thursday at 02:24 PM (edited) Without a doubt these two powerhouse talented ladies undeniably had the biggest peaks for females in all of pop music that people will be able to experience. In the respective peaks they were able to shift ~70 million physical music records, deliver mammoth record-breaking and barrier-breaking projects in music, videos, film and business standards as well as being able to deliver career and industry-defining tours. They changed societies perceptions of women in music, they experimented successfully with new technologies at the time and had further global reach than anyone prior and ultimately rewrote the rulebook for what a female entertainer could to be limited to or defined as. Breaking the ceiling to which anyone has not matched since. For any users who grew up during 1989-1994, who had the bigger peak worldwide? Or in your respective region, eg. USA, Europe, Australia, LATAM, Asia. Edit 1: I accidentally selected poll but then no poll option came up. Edit 2: I didn't include Celine in the end because the societal and industry impact, consequences and celebrity power of these two felt stronger and more noted. But the sales are there as people rightfully stated. Edited yesterday at 10:56 AM by sugarysunflower 1
ChooseyLover Posted Thursday at 02:32 PM Posted Thursday at 02:32 PM I wasn't born yet, but I remember my grandma telling me when I was a baby that Whitney Houston was the greatest vocalist there ever was. And she only listened to Spanish music, so there's that. 5 1
Mariya Takeuchi Posted Thursday at 02:42 PM Posted Thursday at 02:42 PM Whitney with the biggest selling soundtrack of all time Nobody i grew up with or in my family really gaf about Madge in the 90s until ROL. she didn't even feel that present to me until Evita but that's probably because I've never been more than a casual fan of hers. 2
Princess Aurora Posted Thursday at 02:45 PM Posted Thursday at 02:45 PM (edited) Whitney 1992-1994. People were still talking about The Bodyguard in 1999 Edited Thursday at 02:45 PM by Princess Aurora 3
Doctor Dick Posted Thursday at 02:45 PM Posted Thursday at 02:45 PM I didn't experience those peaks but Whitney broke the record for the biggest female song of all time AND the biggest female album of all time during the same album cycle. It has to go to her. Madonna's peak was based on numerous projects. If we only counted one she'd be behind Whitney. 1
The Music Industry Posted Thursday at 02:46 PM Posted Thursday at 02:46 PM 19 minutes ago, sugarysunflower said: Without a doubt these two powerhouse talented ladies undeniably had the biggest peaks for females in all of pop music that people will be able to experience. I'd argue Celine 1995-1997 is bigger than both tbh 1995 - Released the best-selling French album of all time 1996 - Falling Into You - 43.2M units 1997 - Let's Talk About Love - 47.3M units 1997 - Titanic OST - 35M+ units 11
Riverbank Posted Thursday at 02:51 PM Posted Thursday at 02:51 PM Whitney's was massive and far more global 2
DonnaSpring Posted Thursday at 03:02 PM Posted Thursday at 03:02 PM Madonna's peak started with Live to Tell and ended with Erocia Whitney Peak started from Dubut to Bodygaurd 2
collin Posted Thursday at 03:13 PM Posted Thursday at 03:13 PM (edited) Probably Whitney's because this peak excludes the True Blue era. If you had said 1986-1991 Madonna it'd be different I think Edited Thursday at 03:14 PM by collin 2
Blackout2006 Posted Thursday at 03:16 PM Posted Thursday at 03:16 PM 28 minutes ago, The Music Industry said: I'd argue Celine 1995-1997 is bigger than both tbh 1995 - Released the best-selling French album of all time 1996 - Falling Into You - 43.2M units 1997 - Let's Talk About Love - 47.3M units 1997 - Titanic OST - 35M+ units Celine's peak is so underrated. Not even thee Michael Jackson sold 35+ million units with three albums back-to-back 4
naval23 Posted Thursday at 03:16 PM Posted Thursday at 03:16 PM Whitney's peak was MONSTROUS Imagine having the biggest female single and album of all time at 30 years old This was after having 2 Diamond albums in the 80s and she was slaying film as well at that time 2
naval23 Posted Thursday at 03:16 PM Posted Thursday at 03:16 PM 30 minutes ago, The Music Industry said: I'd argue Celine 1995-1997 is bigger than both tbh 1995 - Released the best-selling French album of all time 1996 - Falling Into You - 43.2M units 1997 - Let's Talk About Love - 47.3M units 1997 - Titanic OST - 35M+ units And her greatest hits compilation sold over 20M+ worldwide she had an insane album run from 1994-2000 6
Blackout2006 Posted Thursday at 03:17 PM Posted Thursday at 03:17 PM I think in the US, it'd be Whitney (1992-1994) and internationally, it would be Madonna (1989-1991) from my observations and previous research 1
Dante Silva Posted Thursday at 03:32 PM Posted Thursday at 03:32 PM (edited) "The Bodyguard" was a big movie and Whitney was celebrated for turning this in to this. She was always a renowned vocalist but she never fleshed the movie soundtrack out with her own recordings (despite playing a successful singer in the movie she starred in). Whitney's third proper studio album had been released in 1990 and her fourth in 1998. On a professional level the success of her recording of "I Will Always Love You" - is what bridged the gap between her third and fourth studio albums. It is bizarre to think Michelle Visage (of all people) was one of the other recording artists who fleshed out the track-list of "The Bodyguard" soundtrack with this. Madonna's fourth album "Like A Prayer" (1989) - was seen as the beginning of her gravitational shift from bubblegum pop in to something that went deeper, spiritually. It was Madonna who tackled bigotry head on, in her "Like A Prayer" video depicting the burning crosses of the Ku Klux Clan, which was hugely uncomfortable for middle America to be confronted with as that was where most Ku Klux Clan burnings had taken place. Madonna had signed up to a "Pepsi" promotion shortly before the drop of her video (and had kept its controversial imagery quiet from "Pepsi", who only saw the video the same time the public did). Shortly before the video drop, Madonna filmed this commercial for "Pepsi" which led to them dropping her due to the controversy attached to her music video and the fact "Pepsi" did not want to be embroiled in a narrative involving America being unexpectedly forced to confront the negative side of its past. "Vogue" was massive - not as massive as Whitney's rendition of "I Will Always Love You" a couple of years later, but it became a signature hit that shone a light on gay ballroom culture, much later dramatised in the TV show "Pose". 1990's "Dick Tracy" did okay at the box office, it is certainly better regarded than some of Madonna's other movies. For many years "The Immaculate Collection" (1990) - was Madonna's signature Greatest Hits collection. However "The Bodyguard" Soundtrack is regarded as one of the best selling movie soundtrack albums of all time. Commercially - Whitney won in the 1992 - 1994 time period compared to Madonna in the 1989 - 1991 time period. It should not be forgotten this was due to the public being blown away by Whitney's rendition of IWALY. Artistically - Madonna won as she forced America to confront a part of itself and its history that it simply never wanted to face. Edited Thursday at 03:39 PM by Dante Silva 1
Rino Posted Thursday at 03:36 PM Posted Thursday at 03:36 PM (edited) I grew up in Russia. I first heard a Madonna song in middle school, but I already knew I Will Always Love You's melody by heart in kindergarden. that's why to me Whitney's peak felt much much bigger. Edited Thursday at 04:55 PM by Rino 3
HïFidelity Posted Thursday at 03:46 PM Posted Thursday at 03:46 PM As someone who lived through it, Whitney's success was almost unspeakable. Just a disgusting display (positively) of main pop girl domination. Couple that with her sending Madonna into a panic and giving her nightmares (literally), this isn't even a close call. 2
byzantium Posted Thursday at 03:47 PM Posted Thursday at 03:47 PM Whitney. She probably had the biggest MPG peak outside of Celine Dion. 1
Wildcat Posted Thursday at 03:57 PM Posted Thursday at 03:57 PM Madonna. One iconic moment after another. Like A Prayer single Pepsi controversy Like A Prayer album Express Yourself Cherish Vogue 1990 VMA performance Dick Tracy movie I'm Breathless album Blond Ambition Tour Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra The Immaculate Collection Justify My Love controversy 1991 Oscar performance Truth Or Dare 3
stevyy Posted Thursday at 04:03 PM Posted Thursday at 04:03 PM 42 minutes ago, Blackout2006 said: Celine's peak is so underrated. Not even thee Michael Jackson sold 35+ million units with three albums back-to-back U reacted to Chartsmasters' CSPC total... then do it for Michael as well: CSPC MJ: 32,9m - Off The Wall 122,9m - Thriller 66,4m - Bad 47,4m - Dangerous 33,1m - History ... and if you're alluding to pure sales, then Céline doesn't have back to back 35+ million sales with her albums... 29,8m - LTAL 28,1m - FIY 11,9m - TAST 1
Solaria Posted Thursday at 04:06 PM Posted Thursday at 04:06 PM Whitney had the bigger album but Madonna had album, touring, singles and critical acclaim. Madonna wins. 1
UseYourIllusion2002 Posted Thursday at 04:07 PM Posted Thursday at 04:07 PM Most successful? Whitney. Most legendary? Madonna. I wasn't alive then so I don't really know how it felt at the time. I'll go with Whitney. 1
Blackout2006 Posted Thursday at 04:07 PM Posted Thursday at 04:07 PM (edited) 4 minutes ago, stevyy said: U reacted to Chartsmasters' CSPC total... then do it for Michael as well: CSPC MJ: 32,9m - Off The Wall 122,9m - Thriller 66,4m - Bad 47,4m - Dangerous 33,1m - History ... and if you're alluding to pure sales, then Céline doesn't have back to back 35+ million sales with her albums... 29,8m - LTAL 28,1m - FIY 11,9m - TAST oops, mb Edited Thursday at 04:08 PM by Blackout2006
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