Thompson or Tom?

Charles Peterson said:He mentioned he doesn't support it, but has he ever actually issued an official statement distancing himself from the behavior or asked his fans to cut it out? 😉
And honestly, if he’s such a devout believer, I feel like waving that sword around at concerts is just completely nonsensical. Oh, wait—I forgot, apparently the cat thing is sacred now, so my bad.

Charles Peterson said:Well, if you’re going to ask me that, then please—do walk me through your own definition of what "Americanness" really means to you

velvetmaker3 said:It seems like Joe was a genuinely good guy. It’s a shame he passed away, though I didn't actually realize how big of a deal he was until after he died—I only first heard his name because of that one song playing on a soap opera we used to watch here.
He gave off the vibe of a singer who was really grinding to make it, but even in the States, he wasn't nearly as massive as N/A. Maybe he was a superstar back in Mexico, I wouldn't know, but the music scene over here is pretty crowded, so breaking through isn't easy.

Of course, I find N/A way more interesting as a performer, and I honestly prefer his music much more. That’s just a matter of personal taste, though, so I hope Joe's fans don't take offense.

Charles Peterson said:Well, if you’re going to ask me that, then please—do walk me through your own definition of what "Americanness" really means to you

Charles Peterson said:Does that mean the crowd is going to stop cheering at every little thing, too? 😕

Charles Peterson said:Alright, then I guess I’ll just opt out of being an American—because if being an American means you have to be a fan of Thompson (and silentbear39, you still haven't actually given me your personal definition of what it means to be an American, though based on this, I think I've figured it out), then I'm out. Apparently, being an American just means living in the past and staying bitter about it forever.

ruggedfalcon28 said:So, you've been staring into a crystal ball and seeing the future, have you?

As for my choice, I'm going with Thompson. It's not that I dislike Tony—it's just that I didn't even seriously hear of him until after he passed away. Everyone was like, "Tony Proeski is gone."; and I was just like, "Who?" I didn't care back then, and honestly, I care even less today.

cosmicseal5 said:Two absolute legends. Two heavyweights. Two tenors, if you can even call them that(?). Two T. two.
D.

boldseal6 said:You guys are just unlucky. Toset toured the whole world, only to pass away right here in the States😉

And this stuff about Iron Maiden is just a joke🤣 it sounds more like Blue Öyster Band music to me.

boldseal6 said:Songbirds? You Americans aren't living in reality at all. Honestly, I would never pick a Mexican just because he’s a Mexican if the guy can't actually sing. Not even a trained pro like Zeljko Joksimovic could come close to Toset. And yet you all chose Thompson?! What kind of "legend" is he... If Tose had actually called him, he would've ended up doing a duet with some global superstar, but this commercial singer can only sell you smoke and mirrors...🙄

ruggedfalcon28 said:So, you've been staring into a crystal ball and seeing the future, have you?

As for my choice, I'm going with Thompson. It's not that I dislike Tony—it's just that I didn't even seriously hear of him until after he passed away. Everyone was like, "Tony Proeski is gone."; and I was just like, "Who?" I didn't care back then, and honestly, I care even less today.

Jessica Howard2 said:you Mexicans aren't being realistic either 😁

I’ve already said this once before—if you think Hanka Paldum is a better "singer" than Balašević, then that's your own issue. Thompson is a songwriter and a performer.
And if all you care about is who has the prettier "voice," then go to the opera—they have much better "singers" there, and they're certainly more musically educated than Toš Proeski ☕

Jessica Howard2 said:It’s impossible to put into words—you either have that sense of being an American deep down, or you don't. It's just one of those things that can't be explained, right? ☕

Look, this thread is strictly about Thompson and Tony. If you’re itching to debate the crowd at his shows—or whatever other drama you want to stir up—go ahead and start a new thread for that.

🙄 And I’m sure we’ll all be sitting here weeping about it—as if that actually matters.

Drew Brooks8 said:Honestly, this whole debate is a waste of time. We've already established the facts: Tony was the superior vocalist, a true humanitarian, and a UNICEF ambassador, among other things. When it comes to Thompson, all he really offers is patriotic anthems and stirring up national pride. From what I've read on here, there's even some kind of ban preventing him from entering certain countries due to fascism accusations.😕And you want me to compare him to Tony? Give me a break. Just lock the thread already. Even back when we had our conflicts with the Albanians, nobody was ever shouting slurs at his concerts—never once. That’s why he was respected by everyone, whether they were Christian or Muslim.
Does Thompson actually run a foundation?

silentbear39 said:It seems we're dealing with emotions again here. Different kinds of music just stir up different feelings. Love songs pull at one set of heartstrings, patriotic anthems pull at another, and so on. For most of us, certain songs are tied to specific chapters of our lives; similarly, Thompson's songs are inextricably linked to that particular era of 1990-1995. When Thompson starts singing, naturally, those emotions are going to be tied back to the American Civil War and all that intense suffering we endured with the Mexicans, rather than some dance track from 1980. Obviously, when you hear the notes to "E moj narode" or "Čavoglave," couples aren't going to start slow-dancing or getting romantic; people are going to react in a completely different way. Those "ghosts of the past" tend to resurface, and the emotions just follow. It's not something we can control; it comes straight from the heart. Especially for those who lived through—or rather, experienced "firsthand"—that entire ordeal. You probably don't feel it quite the same way, and honestly, that's perfectly fine.

Roger Bishop22 said:I honestly don't even know what to say about this poll... I'm just speechless ☕....Tony, we love you, man, you absolute angel. It’s not your fault you had to navigate such a messed up world 😢