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Published on March 13, 2018
Comments 27

“Why would you try to scam Grace Jones?”

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Iconic album cover of iconic singer Grace Jones #popsinger #gracejones #documentary

Iconic album cover of iconic singer Grace Jones #popsinger #gracejones #documentary

Last Friday evening, two girlfriends and I went to see the new documentary release about singer Grace Jones, which was followed by a live Q & A from Norway with the Director.

Called Bloodlight and Bami, filmed and edited over 5 years by Sophie Fiennes, it was certainly different. Non-linear, following Grace on a visit home to confront family skeletons in Jamaica, interspersed with incredible live concert footage, and viewed from a ‘fly on the wall’ perspective, it was fascinating.

Plus a bit annoying.

Sometimes the sound was too muffled, or I just wanted someone to sit down facing the camera directly, keep still, and tell me exactly what was going on.

But that’s not Grace is it? Nor the way she lived/lives her life; this 1-minute film trailer gives you a taste of the docos style.

One of the first albums I ever bought in 1982 #gracejones #livingmylife #nostalgia #memories #over50

One of the first albums I ever bought in 1982 #gracejones #livingmylife #nostalgia #memories #over50

I absolutely loved Grace Jones as I grew up in England, with her background of reggae and punk combining with in-yer-face attitude and androgynous daring: such a contrast to my quiet, small, skinny, serious white girl reality.

I knew some of her troubles, but not the full extent, and this film made me want to read the accompanying biography. I saw her live in Sydney many years ago at a big New Year’s Eve party at Hordern Pavilion; she came on stage 2 hours late, clearly off her brain somehow, and writhed around on a huge black leather chair for 20 minutes before stalking off never to be seen again… the documentary gave me some insight into perhaps why.

She’s going to be 70 in May, and the film was shot between 2005 and 2009; she looks AMAZING. And fierce! One long scene shot inside an expensive hotel bathroom shows her ongoing struggle against tour operators/producers, and gave me the perfect quote for the title of this post, as we 3 drove home in the tropical rain, reflecting on her tale.

Why indeed?

In gratitude for iconic music and music makers, even if some of them don’t answer their phone or turn up at the recording sessions till late, G xO 

27 Comments

  1. Matt Berger says

    I’ve always liked Grace Jones from a distance–her cover of The Police’s “Demolition Man” is epic…but this may prod me to learn more.

    Rock and roll!

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  2. Peter says

    Thanks for the heads-up on the documentary!
    We saw her last month at the Adelaide Festival. She was a mild (for a diva) 45 minutes late on stage and played a great show, strutting around that stage playing new and old stuff, wearing mainly a lick of body paint, elaborate head-dresses, and at the end a corset to help with hula-hooping. She is, as you mentioned, 69.

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    • bone&silver says

      You’re welcome Peter. I wish I’d seen her; she deserves every success. Her book sounds like it’s worth a read too. Thanks for reading and commenting : ) xO

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  4. Jad says

    I went to see Grace Jones live last week at the Adelaide fringe…It was the most amazing concert ever!! I left there absolutely in AWE of that woman!! I have always like her but OMG seeing her live was an incredible experience.

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  6. ForgivingConnects says

    Wow, really interesting Gabrielle. I don’t know much about Grace. Thanks! Bet it was educational. Many blessings and have a great week – I’m about to go see my partner he just returned from Sydney 🙂 Debbie

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. Diana says

    I think I wore her album out with constant playing, and I loved the image, statuesque and other worldly and (scary) sexy beyond belief … 🙂 Thanks for posting!

    Liked by 1 person

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      • Diana says

        I will definitely keep an eye out for it …. speaking of eyes, just had a divine twenty minutes checking her out on YouTube. And old Johny Carson interview, James Bond clips, “I’ve see that face before” music vid …. boy how I loved that song (mad Francophile here). Thanks for inspiring my evening entertainment! 🙂

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