Grace Jones was before them all and yet she is still going! - The next Jamaican Superstar
The artist that is known as Rihanna still courts column inches via various style magazines, music magazines, and gossip magazines these days.
From what she wearing, to the latest hairstyle that she is sporting, to her latest music release, and now to the news that is pregnant.
She is the first true, Barbados musical superstar, and probably the biggest star of late from the Caribbean,
However, we have to go back to the year 1981 on the island of Jamaica where we witnessed the Death of the legendary Frontman, Songwriter, and Vocalist that was Bob Marley..
He was the Caribbean's first global musical superstar (Bob Marley).
However today it is Rihanna without question.
However, it must be said that before there was even Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Nicky Minaj, Maralyn Manson, Boy George, and Madonna even.
There was Grace Jones.
Grace Jonescreated the notion of reinventing herself within the media well before all the other artists mentioned above. Probably the only other persons that maybe can match her in regards to reinventing themselves or themselves on this level would be England's David Bowie or Iggy Pop.
Gracehas been an iconic figure within the world of music and fashion ever since her former partner and French Photographer, Jean-Paul Goude.
He helped to transform her from a tall normal-looking human into an androgynous-looking figure, topped with a flat top hairstyle, matched with the 1980s styled shoulder pads to go with the look at well.
Grace Jones was born on the Island of Jamaica in the year 1948,( via the area called Spanish Town) in Kingston, Jamaica.
Jones and her siblings were raised by her Grand Parents and were rumored to have bought up children via a strict religious code.
On both sides of her family, there were many bishops in her family, including her grandfather, stepfather, and Noel, her brother.
As a child, Jones was shy had only one school friend, and was teased by classmates for her "skinny frame", but she excelled at sports and found solace in the nature of Jamaica The Guardian Newspaper article on Oct 12, 2008, about Grace Jones - and (*Sawyer, Miranda (11 October 2008) -State of Grace: Miranda Sawyer meets Grace Jones. London: The Observer. Retrieved 24 May 2013)
When she reached the age of 13, she and her family moved to Syracuse, New York.
Jonescontinued her schooling and after she graduated, enrolled at Syracuse University (New York) in where she majored in Spanish.
It was during her term at college that, Jones was approached by a drama professor. He proposed that she work with him in a play he was putting on in Philadelphia, USA.
Jones took his lead and left with him. When she came back to New York at the age of 18 years old. She then signed on as a model with Wilhelmina Modelling Agency. (* Jones the Exotic May Day - Newspaper article.
The Afro-American. 8 June 1985. Retrieved 26th May 2013.)
After this, she moved to Paris, France in 1970. The Parisian fashion scene lapped up Jones' unusual androgynous, bold, dark-skinned look.
Fashion giants such as Yves St. Laurent, Claude Montana, and Kenzo Montanahired her for runway modeling, and she appeared on the covers of Elle, Vogue, and Stern working with Helmet Newton, Guy Bourdin, and Hans Feurer. (*Kershaw, Miriam (1997). "Performance Art".Art Journal 56 (Performance Art): 19–25 - The Performance Art of Grace Jones)
Whilst modeling in Paris, she shared an apartment with Jerry Hall and Jessica Lange. Hall and Jones frequented Club Sept, one of Paris's most popular gay clubs of the 1970s and '80s, and socialized with Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld. (*. Fashion Insider: Supermodels Encyclopedia. Retrieved 5th May 2013.)
However, there is one music single from her that I absolutely adore. And I'm sure you do too! It was released in the year 1981, and released from the album called “Nightclubbing”.
The single which I am talking about is simply called “Pull Up to the Bumper”.
The song was co-written by herself, Kookoo Banyo, and Dana Mano.
However, after further investigation the original music was created by Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (Jamaican session musicians) during sessions with Grace Jones as early as 1980; via the album, she working on at the time called “Warm Leatherette” - Song facts website and article about pull up to the bumper
However, from how we know it today the single that was supposed to be the user for the album was/is called “Warm Leatherette” and it was not to be the same Funk/Rnb single that we recognized Pull up to the Bumper to be today.
In fact, the single never made the album as label chief Chris Blackwell decided it would not fit with the other songs that were already lined up to appear on the album.
Instead, it came out as an instrumental B-side single which was to be called “Peanut Butter” to the A-side of Junior Tucker's 1981 single called “The Kick (Rock on).
According to Sly Dunbar whilst being interviewed by the Magazine known as Mojo magazine (December 2008) Sly Dunbar stated “Grace heard Steven Stanley playing the rhythm track one day within the Studio", and she said
“A my riddim that!” Then she started crying, “I want back me riddim!
Make we call Chris and tell him that I want me Riddim”.
So they gave her back the tracks and she and this girl Dana Mano came up with the lyrics”
The song got banned in some parts of the US, and the world due to risqué lyrics concerning the subject of Sexual Intercourse.
However, during later interviews, she laughed off the suggestion that this was the case.
Jones, 60, explained that "I don't think it's necessarily about [sex].
I think it means whatever you want it to”. Grace Jones Laughs off - Pull up to the Bumper sex myth
When it was released in 1981, for the first time it did not reach the Top 40.
However, it got a re-release during the year 1985 to co-inside a compilation album that was to be put out in regard to Grace Jones's 9 years of musical work within the music industry.
That album was to be called "Island Life"
.
Upon its release, it reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, as well as charting at number 5 on the US Rnb chart as well.
In the Uk, in early 1986 it reached number 12 in the Uk Pop chart.
It has since become one of the signature tunes.
Please click on the link below to hear the classic song. -
Grace Jones - Pull up to the Bumper -1985
Grace Jones is also known to the world for attacking a UK TV PRESENTER LIVE ON AIR.
The incident that you can all see for yourself happened on a BBC CHAT SHOW PROGRAM hosted by - Russell Harty in - November 1980 on his talk show called "Harty".
Grace slapped Russell a number of times as she thought that he was ignoring her.
This was because it appeared that Russell had turned her back on her
Grace Jones features on the Tv show called "Harty", in November 1980
It seems as if Grace has not slowed down at all as she has gotten older.
First of all, we learn that the BBC is to release and create a documentary film about her life.
The film department of the BBC announced on the 25th of March 2015 - that its own Film department has reached its 25th Anniversary.
It has since then been commissioned by Sophie Fiennes to direct a documentary about the life and times of Grace Jones.
It is to be called "The Musical of my Life". The film is to be funded by the BFI and the Irish Film board.
James Wilson and Katie Holly, who is also co-producing the film. State that it will be a:
"Cinematic journey into the private and public worlds of Grace Jones, mixing intimate personal footage with unique staged musical sequences".
Due to Sophie Fiennes's pregnancy, Grace Jones had other musical and fashion appointments at the time. The documentary was shelved to give them more time to do this properly.
Between Grace and Sophie's talks were rediscussed what should be included in this documentary?
Even the name of what the show should be called was up for grabs
This documentary was held back and then made into a Film.
Eventually, all the loose ties were made, and it was announced to the World that Grace Jones and Sophie Fiennes were to release - Bloodline and Bami - in 2017.
Please see the Official Trailer below for the film.
Bloodline and Bami - in 2017 - The Official Trailer
Please see a Question and Answer session given by Grace Jones and Sophie Finnes to the Worlds media about the movie, How it came about. Why it took so long in the making and more.
Grace Jones and director Sophie Fiennes discuss Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, the USA moderated by Piotr Orlov - in 2017.
Now that the film is out. It brought worldwide attention to Grace Jones once again, who doesn't know how to slow down.
We (or you!) are going to be able to see her perform once again via a few Festival appearances.
In fact, she was recently seen performing in London, England.
Please watch the YouTube video below to see her in action.
A recent Live Concert with Grace Jones.
Grace Jones - Meltdown Festival - Royal Festival Hall, London. 10th June 2022
Did any of you go to this show/festival? If you did please let us know. Tell us about it - email us
And for those that love her in Interviews have a listen to this one.
This one will make you smile.
The Johnathan Ross Show featuring Grace Jones - 2019
There seems to be no slowing down for this musical icon that is Grace Jones. And we all thought that she had retired???? She fooled us all!!
Well, that's all folks for me now anyway.
Please
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