Song: Another Lonely Christmas
Album: The Hits / The B-Sides
Year: 1984
This one was originally released as the B-Side to I Would Die 4 U. I recall feeling like I had a flawed piece of vinyl as the audio always sounded tinny. I now realize that the production, high on treble and reverb, is actually the culprit. This one kind of hurts to listen to.
The song itself is both a celebration of simple relationship memories and an elegy for a deceased lover. In the sense that you don't hear many morbid Christmas tunes I guess this is Prince's "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" More likely it's some method of having a song that references Christmas while remaining true to whatever beliefs he held at the time as a Jehovah's Witness. For what it is it's a decent song. The reverb works, oddly, but I'd still like to see it remixed to mute some of the high end treble.
Verdict: 3/5 stars
Would I sing it at karaoke? I certainly hope I never have the opportunity to do so
Song: Fill Your Heart
Album: Hunky Dory
Year: 1971
The users on songmeanings.com can't seem to agree as to whether this song is or is not based on Aleister Crowley's primary precept in his Book of Law (Do what thou wilt). They also cannot agree on whether Bowie is embracing the teachings of Thelema (a spiritual philosophy developed by Crowley in the early 1900s) or whether he is singing the lyrics ironically or in earnest. Some off the vocal intonations suggest irony, though given Bowie's flair for the theatrical I am inclined to just accept the song at it's face value and assume he is simply adding vocal embellishments as artistic touches to an otherwise simple concept. Whatever the case, it's a pleasant ditty that I can picture being sung by a dapper gentleman in some late night 1920s gin joint. Hunky Dory was in heavy rotation for a while in college so I know this song and the entire album quite well, leaving me to appreciate this cut perhaps more than I otherwise would.
Verdict: 4/5 stars
Would I sing it at karaoke? Yes, but it would have to be a pretty eclectic evening to fit in
Winner: Fill Your Heart
Running Score: Bowie 5, Prince 2
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