Tag Archives: Grace Jones

WHICH IS BETTER?: Private Life

I’m taking it back to the old Hard Candy days and reviving the “Which Is Better” track comparison series, worth doing even if its just for this track! The song in question today is Private Life. It was written by Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders and included on their 1979 debut album, the following year it was covered by Grace Jones for the Warm Leatherette album.

For me its a very close call between Grace and Chrissie, but if I were forced to choose I’d probably pick Grace Jones’ version. The song is just so fitting for her voice and the way she delivers the track is so gloriously haunting.

Included in the liners notes of the Grace Jones compilation album The Compass Sessions are these thoughts on the cover from Chrissie herself…

“Like all the other London punks, I wanted to do reggae, and I wrote “Private Life”. When I first heard Grace’s version I thought ‘Now that’s how it’s supposed to sound!’ In fact it was one of the highpoints of my career – what with Sly and Robbie being the masters, and Grace Jones with her scorching delivery. Someone told me it was Chris Blackwell’s idea – thanks Chris!”

Which do you like better?

DOWNLOAD
Grace Jones – Private Life
Pretenders – Private Life

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xpVTUy4zDc

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh2CqXswoYI

Happy Birthday Grace Jones!

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Woohooo! the fabulous Grace Jones turns 62 today (not that you’d ever know it!) I was reminded by her birthday by Seth a wonderful Hard Candy fan who also put together this little video below to mark the occasion. It’s a wonderful look at all the looks Grace has rocked over the years and the use of the audio from the movie Boomerang (in which Grace stared) kills me!

While you’re in the mood for a bit of Grace also check out this hilarious clip of her smacking host Russell Harty live on British TV and the brilliant Libertango video below!

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztkQ5S1sAJw&feature=related

Libertango

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpWo15Jc2JQ

Don’t Mess With Grace!

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUToKtITL0Q

Happy Birthday Grace!

GRACE JONES: Love You To Life (Video Premiere)

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I wish I could have traded NYC for a day to hop over to London to check out the new Chris Levine Grace Jones exhibition which Matt posted about the other week (I’m crossing fingers the exhibition makes it here!) At the launch of the exhbition the new Grace Jones video for Love You To Life premiered – and now its made it online right in time for the single release tomorrow! (The mixes are amazing!)

I am totally enamored with this video! The lighting effects are similar to those used on her tour (I’ll never forget that light beaming off her hat while she’s singing Love You To Life – what a great moment!) The editing is great – the videos cuts in and out of close ups of Grace mouthing the words along – this woman’s presence alone is enough to make for an interesting video the interesting use of lighting sweetens the deal further!

*link removed on request*

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GRACE JONES: Chris Levine 3D Showcase + Hurricane ‘Dub’ album!

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Super talented 3d artist Chris Levine was responsible for the amazing Love is the Drug performance with laser lights beaming off Grace Jones‘ sparkly silver hat. Levine will produce Jones’ Love You To Life video which is a progression from this installation. Video below, shot by Camille herself!

‘Stillness at the Speed of Light‘ will be on display at The Vinyl Factory in London from April 30th – May 14th. On the official website for the project, you can roll over the images to see what they look like in ‘animation’. Could you imagine seeing Grace’s iconic face like that in person? An interivew via MuuMuse with Levine about the project and his past work with Grace on the Hurricane tour is a must read!

In other exciting news, Hurricane producer Ivor Guest is currently working on a ‘dub’ version of the album which sounds amazing!- Matt

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkdFHJ_HCjc

PinExt GRACE JONES: Chris Levine 3D Showcase + Hurricane Dub album!

GRACE JONES: Independent Interview – Thoughts On Lady Gaga

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You know i’m obsessed with Grace Jones and I’ve always wondered what she thought of Lady Gaga . Well never one to mince words her comments given to The Guardian clears up any doubt on her opinion! Read the whole interview here

Any number of artists have asked to collaborate with her. Was Lady Gaga one of them?

“I just don’t play with other acts as a rule,” she says, with rare discretion.

What does she think of her?

“I really don’t think of her at all. I go about my business.”

Has she copied her?

“Well, you know, I’ve seen some things she’s worn that I’ve worn, and that does kind of piss me off.”

Is she talented?

“I wouldn’t go to see her.”

So, did she ask to play with her?

“Yes, she did, but I said no. I’d just prefer to work with someone who is more original and someone who is not copying me, actually.”

My Two Cents….

I love her comments and it’s so interesting to me that Grace did this all years ago – the outrageous outfits – but as part of the underground NYC scene. Cut to 2010 Gaga comes along and somehow takes it all mainstream. Do I agree with Grace that she’s copying her? well clearly – there are references everywhere and as we all know Gaga herself has named her as a source of ‘inspiration.’

The difference between them is that Grace Jones is authentic in her eccentricity. Take the clothes for example – Grace didn’t sit around in her bedroom in NYC thinking ‘that will keep me in the headlines’ when she picked out an outfit, she simply picked something up threw it on and walked out the door into the night – she was not courting press. Eccentricity seeps out of Grace’s pores and her wacky clothes have always been simply an extension of the weird and wonderful force of nature that she is. She is a product of the underground scene that she came up in – Downtown New York, Warhol, Studio 54, Keith Haring – I could go on. The fact is, Grace Jones lives it Gaga is simply trying it on for size. – Camille

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhMA6attV0Y

My Jamaican Guy

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GRACE JONES: Love You To Life Release!

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The next single to be released from Grace Jones‘s impeccable Hurricane album is Love You To Life coming on May 3rd! Beyond excited for this – the more Grace the better! Now she just needs to come back to the city and do another show!

Thanks to Muumuse by way of Grace Jones News!

Hot off the heels of her forthcoming Royal Albert Hall Show on April 26th and Stillness at the Speed Of Light exhibition with visionary light artist Chris Levine, Grace Jones releases new single, Love You To Life on May 3rd, taken from her iconic record, Hurricane.

Levine, who also directs the video to Love You To Life, brings his unique sensory visions, to Grace’s sonic utopia. With remixes by Mala/Digital Mystikiz, the most forward thinking dubstep outfit at present, Brighton based Caged Baby and Guy Williams (who as a duo collaborate as Paradise 45), the track is already getting strong heat. London born Pitron and Italian born Sanna also bring their slice of interpretation to the track with their euphoric remix. A dub mix is also included, put together by Grace’s album producer, Ivor Guest.

Additionally in support of Recordstore Day on April 17th, the Mala / Digital Mystikz Remix will be available as a limited edition one-sided 12” vinyl.

Grace Jones Love You To Life – Track Listing:

1. Radio Edit
2. Mala / Digital Mystikz Remix
3. Cagedbaby & Guy Williams Paradise 45 Rework
4. Pitron & Sanna Remix
5. Dub

Grace Jones ‘Love You To Life’ Paradise 45 Rework Snippet by Guy Williams

(This sounds pretty immense!)

P.S I love the British accent in this performance of the track on Jools Holland! LOL

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-acbUWbUlc8

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GRACE JONES: Viktor & Rolf Show + Elton John Oscar’s Party Pictures

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Matt made my day today by linking me to the wonderful Grace Jones News site on which there are pictures of Grace at Elton John’s Oscars party where she took the stage. This one of her with Chaka Khan kills me shes totally humping her LOL. In the other picture she is with Ru Paul and her hot son! (who also plays the drums in the video below)

I was praying to scroll down and find video from the night, alas not to be, but I did find some from a few nights ago where Grace performed Happy Birthday, La Vie En Rose and Pull Up To The Bumper at the Viktor and Rolf party celebrating the 5th anniversary of their fragrance Flowerbomb. I squealed with delight when I saw that Grace was sporting her old 80′s wedge haircut! Grace STILL in your face at 60 something – unbelievable!