Affirmation III vs. Andy Warhol

Song:  Affirmation III
Album:  Art Official Age
Year:  2014

He has clearly taken his time on these tracks, and avoided any pre-listen.

I'm reading the majority of reviews considering it a filler or throwaway, Really??

The strings, the chords, the weird thrashing sounds, the keys and the stunning vocals. I love it.

These are the words of one Prince fan, not me.  I personally think this track would be better situated in a cut scene to some futuristic video game than on a Prince album.  I suppose it works as part of the overall context but as a stand-alone it's just word jazz (a concept that I find about as unappealing as 99% of acapella music), and it's not even good word jazz at that.  I'll bump it up a half star because Lianne La Havas has a lovely voice.  That's her above . . . I couldn't find a video of this track that either wasn't silent or wasn't reversed.

Verdict:  1.5/5 stars

Would I sing it at karaoke?  Please!

Song:  Andy Warhol
Album:  Hunky Dory
Year:  1971

Dress my friends up just for show.  See them as they really are.

These are (close to) the opening lines of this song and ones that sing true to me.  I love it when friends can express their quirks, their odd fixations, their utter uncoolness . . . examples of which might include a fondness for the Zelda videogame franchise or the shared male bonding experience of drunkenly and unashamedly singing "Easy" while on a guys night out in Detroit.  This is what Warhol (at least in part) was doing with his Factory and this is echoed with the musicianship on this track.

The track opens with some studio banter and electronic noise.  It transforms into a nice song featuring dual acoustic guitar, vocals and what appears to be percussion created by someone's tap shoes (with a tap shoe solo at the end!)  It's a catchy tune, minimalist, well-done and it appears that Bowie and friends are having fun.

Verdict:  4/5 stars

Would I sing it at karaoke?  Yes!  I'm surprised I haven't thought of it until now!!

Winner:  Andy Warhol

Running Score:  Bowie 18, Prince 10


Postscript
I am continually delighted by the Spotify suggestions that arise from my combined Bowie/Prince playlist.  Today's surprise was Who Is She (And What Is She to You) by Gladys Knight & The Pips from their 1971 album Neither One of Us.  It's a funky jam and worth your ear time, whether you've heard it before or not.  You may think you know Gladys Knight . . . think again.