OpinionPrince, Bowie, Jackson – the idols of my youth who helped me find my way

Three names invariably top lists of the most influential classical music composers of all time: Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart. I wonder whether, in their day, they were as weird and freaky as the rock and pop trio who dominated the years of my teens and 20s: David Bowie, Michael Jackson and Prince?

Certainly, for creativity, they were a match on every count. But could Mozart dance like Michael, was Beethoven considered as funky as Prince, did Brahms have the glam of David? Centuries from now, will these icons of my youthful years even still be listened to?

When Prince played Hong Kong: memories of a funk-filled night beside Victoria Harbour

They are all gone now, Bowie and Prince this year within four months of each other. They died too young, but their creative high points had passed a generation ago.

Their legacy is in dozens of albums and scores of songs that can be listened to over and over, making us feel good, contemplative or just nostalgic. With Prince’s passing last Thursday, debate has started as to which was the bigger musical genius; my vote is for Bowie, my sons’ choice is Jackson, but it all depends on definition.

Jackson outstrips all in sales, making him the undisputed king of pop. An argument goes that he also had the greatest cultural impact through his dance and videos. But he was not as ever-changing or creative in his music as either Bowie or Prince.

Without doubt, Prince was the most prolific – he is believed to have left a vault of more than 1,000 unreleased tracks.

Research shows that, for the majority of us, musical tastes are formed in the early teens. By our 20s, the playlist of our life has been all but set in stone and there it will stay, a favourite to our dying day.