The real problem is that Vanilla Ice never acknowledged he "borrowed" from the Queen/David Bowie song. I couldn't find the interview, but I remember seeing him years ago saying that the two tracks are completely different. Sure, in some parallel universe.

When you can't own up to the influences in your music, and you pretend that they are not the same because you assume your audience is so stupid that they will (1) not notice and (2) believe you when you say there is no similarity then you do a disservice to everyone involved.

My answer then is Queen (classic and enduring) because Vanilla Ice (tall white guy who tried to do rap) is an intellectual property thief and a hack.

However, that being said, this newer interview with him seems to show that he has come a long way from the egomaniac he once was or seemed to be. He admits in the video accepting millions of dollars to change his image to attract a slightly different audience. (And as he also says, who wouldn't?). I am floored at how popular the tune was and how many of the tune stealing cds were sold. It's either because his audience didn't listen to Queen or they knew and really didn't care. I suspect the first rather than the second.

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