Comparing Usher to Marvin Gaye? That seems kinda ridiculous if your familiar with Marvin Gaye's music. Marvin Gaye had something to say with his music, being political or concerning society in general. He also had the knack for writing about love, sex, and all the good things that go along with the relationship between a man and a woman. Songs like Trouble Man and Inner City Blues are just a few of his classics to mention, not to be compared with anyone in my opinion.

in all due fairness, only two or three albums dealt with that

the majoirty of Gaye's output is pure pop

So, your suggesting that Gaye was just an average pop star, and nothing more? No more than Usher is anyway.

I thought we already discussed this...Usher is this generations Bob Dylan!

or was that Akon? Yeah, it might have been Akon.

I just ask, because two or three albums seems like a lot of material for an artist to have, in the first place.

I can go with Akon.

Oh you agree? that Akon is this generations Bob Dylan?

i mean come on The Temptations under Whitfield had at least 10 albums dealing with society

Stevie Wonder had at least 5

and Gaye's best known song (arguably Sexual Healing) had lyrics that weren't written by him

his other well-known song (I Heard it Through the Grapevine was a better cover by Gladys Knight or CCR

Gaye in marginally better than an average pop star, but not by much

Akon is this generation's Lennon and McCartney

That's all blasphemy in the face of Marvin Gaye :D (I always thought that Marvin Gaye lived and died the kind of life he would sometimes sing about in his music). Creating more argument for the sake of arguing will not change my views (which may be a little bias). Even though I don't agree with you, I can respect an opinion. ;)

I agree with this completely. Marvin Gaye was just an amazing vocalist with a vision. Whats Going On, is an amazing take on society of the day and completely blew me away with its insight and overall stellar vocals.

Usher is pop fodder. He does what he does well and people love to dance to his stuff in the clubs, but he will never have the vision or ability to sing that sets Gaye apart from him. Also Marvin Gaye's version of the star spangled banner at the nba all star game was pretty riveting and touching.

The Temptations were also very much a pop act such as you descirbed Gaye. Gayes best known song is What Going On and that song is exactly what Vocals was describing.

Gladys Knight and CCR can't touch Gayes version of Heard It Through, not even sorta kinda, i couldn't disagree more. Although i like all three versions.

Gaye was an exceptionally talented vocalist and i put him on a par with all the motown greats including Stevie Wonder.