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Thread started 09/09/15 9:50pm

HAPPYPERSON

Grace Jones Criticizes "Middle of the Road" Pop Stars Beyoncé, Rihanna, Nicki, Miley in Memoir Excerpt

One of music’s most original thinkers throws a whole load of shade at copycats, clones and fake divas as she reveals how she fought for her fame

© Adrian Boot
Grace Jones

I come from the underground. I am never comfortable in the middle of the stream, flowing in the same direction as everyone else. I think people assume that’s where I want to be, famous for being famous, because as part of what I do there is a high level of showing off. But my instinct is always to resist the pull of the obvious. It’s not easy.

Trends come along and people say, ‘Follow that trend’. There’s a lot of that around at the moment: ‘Be like Sasha Fierce. Be like Miley Cyrus. Be like Rihanna. Be like Lady Gaga. Be like Rita Ora and Sia. Be like Madonna.’ I cannot be like them – except to the extent that they are already being like me.

I have been so copied by those people who have made fortunes that people assume I am that rich. But I did things for the excitement, the dare, the fact that it was new, not for the money, and too many times I was the first, not the beneficiary.

Rihanna… she does the body-painting thing I did with Keith Haring, but where he painted directly on my body, she wears a painted bodysuit. That’s the difference. Mine is on skin; she puts a barrier between the paint and her skin. I don’t even know if she knows that what she’s doing comes from me, but I bet you the people styling her know. They know the history.

‘If the fuck don’t feel right, don’t fuck it’

Grace Jones © Adrian BootGrace Jones © Adrian Boot

I remember when one of the singers on the list of those who came after me first said that she wanted to work with me. Everyone around me is going: ‘You have to do it, it will be so good for you, it will introduce you to a whole new audience, you will make a lot of money’. No! It will be good for her; she will draw from everything I have built and add it to her brand, and I will get nothing back except for a little temporary attention. No one could believe that I said no, but I am okay on my own. I am okay not worrying about a new audience. If the fuck don’t feel right, don’t fuck it.

With this one, who I will call Doris, I thought she was trying on other people’s outfits: she’s a baby in a closet full of other people’s clothes, a little girl playing dress-up, putting on shoes that don’t fit. I could see what she wanted to be when I watched her doing something when she started out that was starker and purer. Deep down, she doesn’t want to do all the dressing-up nonsense; she loses herself inside all the play-acting.

‘You have to fight the system to keep being the outsider’

Grace Jones © Aurelien GuichardGrace Jones © Aurelien Guichard

The problem with the Dorises and the Nicki Minajes and Mileys is that they reach their goal very quickly. There is no long-term vision, and they forget that once you get into that whirlpool then you have to fight the system that solidifies around you in order to keep being the outsider you claim you represent. There will always be a replacement coming along very soon – a newer version, a crazier version, a louder version. So if you haven’t got a long-term plan, then you are merely a passing phase, the latest trend, yesterday’s event.

They dress up as though they are challenging the status quo, but by now, wearing those clothes, pulling those faces, revealing those tattoos and breasts, singing to those fractured, spastic, melting beats – that is the status quo. You are not off the beaten track, pushing through the thorny undergrowth, finding treasure no one has come across before. You are in the middle of the road. You are really in Vegas wearing the sparkly full-length gown singing to people who are paying to see you but are not really paying attention. If that is what you want, fine, but it’s a road to nowhere.

‘I am not a diva. I am a Jones’

Grace Jones © Adrian BootGrace Jones © Adrian Boot

I look at Doris and I think: Does she look happy? She looks lost, like she is desperately trying to find the person she was when she started. She looks like really she knows she is in Vegas, now that Vegas is the whole entertainment world filtered through the internet, through impatient social media. I don’t mind her dressing up, but when she started to dance like Madonna, almost immediately, copying someone else, it was like she had forgotten what it was about her that could be unique. Ultimately, it is all about prettiness and comfort, however much they pretend they are being provocative.

Kate Moss often says to me that I am the only performer around at the moment who deserves to be called a diva.That gets us arguing, seemingly a little too serious if anyone hears us. I hate that word diva. It’s been so abused! Every singer given a makeover or a few weeks on a talent show seems to be called a diva these days! Christ almighty. Where’s the exclusivity? It’s so commercial now. For me, a diva is like the great opera singer, the great film star – out of reach, in their own world, with a real gift for invention, attention-demanding performance artists with a flamboyant, compelling sense of their own importance, so special and inimitable it verges on the alien. And of course the word is usually used to describe an apparently erratic female whose temperamental qualities, survival instincts, and dedication to perfection are seen as weaknesses, as self-indulgent, not a strength. So, Kate, I am not a diva. I am a Jones!

‘You have become only your fame, and left behind most of who you were’

Grace Jones © Lawrence WatsonGrace Jones © Lawrence Watson

This is what I would say to my pupil: you have become only your fame, and left behind most of who you were. How are you going to deal with that? Will you lose that person forever? Have you become someone else, without really knowing it? Do you always have to stay in character for people to like you? Do you know that you are in character?

Doris, I would say fame is all well and good if you want to take it to another level. If you have some greater purpose. Me, I am just a singer, on one sort of stage or another, who likes to have an audience, but not all the time. Listen to my advice; I have some experience. In a way, it is me being a teacher, which is what I wanted to be. I still feel I could go into teaching. What is teaching but passing on your knowledge to those who are at the beginning? Some people are born with that gift. With me, the teaching side morphed into the performing side. It’s in there. And these are my pupils – Gaga, Madonna, Annie Lennox, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Miley, Kanye West, FKA Twigs and... Doris.

I’ll Never Write My Memoirs’ by Grace Jones is published by Simon and Schuster on September 24.

http://www.timeout.com/london/music/grace-jones-autobiography-extract-rihanna-miley-gaga-kanye


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Reply #1 posted 09/09/15 10:01pm

SoulAlive

hmmm who do you think "Doris" is? Lady Gaga??

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Reply #2 posted 09/10/15 3:45am

getxxxx

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Doris is Beyonce or Britney

[Edited 9/10/15 3:50am]

Nick Ashford was someone I greatly admired, had the honor of knowing, and was the real-life inspiration for Cowboy Curtis' hair. RIP Nick. - Pee Wee Herman
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Reply #3 posted 09/10/15 4:48am

missfee

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Doris is clearly Beyonce. lol

I will forever love and miss you...my sweet Prince.
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Reply #4 posted 09/10/15 5:40am

Musicslave

Great excerpt! lol Love her. Hopefully whoever Doris is, she will take heed to the wisdom.

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Reply #5 posted 09/10/15 6:45am

kitbradley

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I'm 99% positive that "Doris" is Beyonce. Grace knows better than to mention her by name. It could ruin the chances of her book selling halfway decently. The beehive will be out in full force, protesting the book. Can you imagine the protests and rallies around bookstores once the book is released? And there's no telling what Beyonce and her PR folks would do to sabatoge Grace. I wouldn't put anything past them.

"It's not nice to fuck with K.B.! All you haters will see!" - Kitbradley
"The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing." - Socrates
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Reply #6 posted 09/10/15 6:50am

getxxxx

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Yeah I'm sure it Beyonce too but she said Vegas where Britney is,currently and with the Madonna refence
Nick Ashford was someone I greatly admired, had the honor of knowing, and was the real-life inspiration for Cowboy Curtis' hair. RIP Nick. - Pee Wee Herman
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Reply #7 posted 09/10/15 6:51am

getxxxx

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I got the book,on hold at the library
Nick Ashford was someone I greatly admired, had the honor of knowing, and was the real-life inspiration for Cowboy Curtis' hair. RIP Nick. - Pee Wee Herman
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Reply #8 posted 09/10/15 7:21am

purplethunder3
121

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getxxxx said:

I got the book,on hold at the library

lol

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato

https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0
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Reply #9 posted 09/10/15 7:43am

BlackCat1985

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If Doris is Beyonce....why not just say her name. Grace has always been bold. I hate how people in the industry are so afraid to speak ill of Beyonce. She is no different from any other artist. And the Beyhive is so damn annoying. People are allowed to have opinions on Beyonce. Just like any other artist. She ain't no different.
BlackCat1985
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Reply #10 posted 09/10/15 1:19pm

SoulAlive

I'm gonna have to get a copy of this book.I bet there are some scandalous,juicy stories lol

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Reply #11 posted 09/10/15 1:46pm

Graycap23

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Love this woman.

FOOLS multiply when WISE Men & Women are silent.
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Reply #12 posted 09/10/15 2:02pm

daingermouz202
0

Ahhhh the amazing Grace telling it like it is.
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Reply #13 posted 09/10/15 2:16pm

KoolEaze

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But how can Doris be Beyonce when she mentions Sasha Fierce? There´s no need to use an alias like Doris if Grace Jones isn´t scared to mention Sasha Fierce, aka Beyonce.

" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #14 posted 09/10/15 2:23pm

Cinny

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hmmm

music

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Reply #15 posted 09/10/15 2:31pm

KoolEaze

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" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #16 posted 09/10/15 2:42pm

purplethunder3
121

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"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato

https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0
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Reply #17 posted 09/10/15 3:11pm

CynicKill

I figure it's Gaga.

I like these excerpts. It's why I think people will be following this one's trends in 20-30 years...

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Reply #18 posted 09/10/15 3:19pm

mjscarousal

BlackCat1985 said:

If Doris is Beyonce....why not just say her name. Grace has always been bold. I hate how people in the industry are so afraid to speak ill of Beyonce. She is no different from any other artist. And the Beyhive is so damn annoying. People are allowed to have opinions on Beyonce. Just like any other artist. She ain't no different.

Agree. There are way more legendary and popular artists that did not get this cake walk like she is getting. She can pretty much say and do anything and no one will criticize her. I think it is actually kinda scary. Why are celebrities afraid to criticize her?

Great interview from a legend!

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Reply #19 posted 09/10/15 3:20pm

getxxxx

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if she does a book signing im purchasing the book

edit.... New York! Whatever you are doing on October 1, 2015 – cancel it! The legendary Grace Jones will be signing copies of her autobiography, “I’ll Never Write My Memoirs” at Barnes & Noble in Union Square. Be there or have regrets forever for not attending. More details can be found...al website.

[Edited 9/10/15 15:21pm]

Nick Ashford was someone I greatly admired, had the honor of knowing, and was the real-life inspiration for Cowboy Curtis' hair. RIP Nick. - Pee Wee Herman
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Reply #20 posted 09/10/15 3:40pm

purplethunder3
121

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I wish we still had a Barnes & Noble for authors to sign books in. mad Can they sign e-books? razz

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato

https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0
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Reply #21 posted 09/11/15 7:41am

Cinny

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It would seem silly on a thread like this to NOT mention the stylist, Maripol, who worked with Grace Jones AND Madonna AND Debbie Harry. Sometimes people get lost in comparing artists with similar LOOKS when their audible material is nothing alike.

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Reply #22 posted 09/11/15 7:57am

TD3

avatar

Cinny said:

It would seem silly on a thread like this to NOT mention the stylist, Maripol, who worked with Grace Jones AND Madonna AND Debbie Harry. Sometimes people get lost in comparing artists with similar LOOKS when their audible material is nothing alike.

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Reply #23 posted 09/11/15 11:42am

2freaky4church
1

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Better watch it, Questlove loves Grace.

All you others say Hell Yea!! woot!
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Reply #24 posted 09/11/15 1:57pm

bobzilla77

I could imagine Gaga wanting to work with Grace Jones way, way easier than Beyonce.

But right on for her. Compared to Grace Jones, almost everybody is in the middle of the road. Keep it weird, Grace!

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Reply #25 posted 09/11/15 3:29pm

lastdecember

avatar

mjscarousal said:

BlackCat1985 said:

If Doris is Beyonce....why not just say her name. Grace has always been bold. I hate how people in the industry are so afraid to speak ill of Beyonce. She is no different from any other artist. And the Beyhive is so damn annoying. People are allowed to have opinions on Beyonce. Just like any other artist. She ain't no different.

Agree. There are way more legendary and popular artists that did not get this cake walk like she is getting. She can pretty much say and do anything and no one will criticize her. I think it is actually kinda scary. Why are celebrities afraid to criticize her?

Great interview from a legend!

My only thing is that when Grace Jones or someone the org loves to death, says this about "current mainstream" they are preaching gospel that needs to be unheard, but if say Elton John or Phil Collins or Lionel comment on the state of music or American Idol than they are "old guys" not getting with the times? Not sure why there is a HUGE double standard, but there is. Now don't get me wrong Grace is right, but so are all the others.


"We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F
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Reply #26 posted 09/11/15 3:35pm

CynicKill

lastdecember said:

mjscarousal said:

Agree. There are way more legendary and popular artists that did not get this cake walk like she is getting. She can pretty much say and do anything and no one will criticize her. I think it is actually kinda scary. Why are celebrities afraid to criticize her?

Great interview from a legend!

My only thing is that when Grace Jones or someone the org loves to death, says this about "current mainstream" they are preaching gospel that needs to be unheard, but if say Elton John or Phil Collins or Lionel comment on the state of music or American Idol than they are "old guys" not getting with the times? Not sure why there is a HUGE double standard, but there is. Now don't get me wrong Grace is right, but so are all the others.

>

Yeah I've noticed that too.

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Reply #27 posted 09/15/15 8:19pm

Wintermute1

BlackCat1985 said:

If Doris is Beyonce....why not just say her name. Grace has always been bold. I hate how people in the industry are so afraid to speak ill of Beyonce. She is no different from any other artist. And the Beyhive is so damn annoying. People are allowed to have opinions on Beyonce. Just like any other artist. She ain't no different.

She has no interest in being sued or losing sales for criticizing her directly.

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Reply #28 posted 09/15/15 9:29pm

babynoz

Graycap23 said:

Love this woman.



I'm in the minority but I don't get her at all.

Prince, in you I found a kindred spirit...Rest In Paradise.
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Reply #29 posted 09/16/15 2:03am

Chancellor

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I didnt know Grace had a son long ago..Paulo Goude is 36, has a daughter and he's a member of Grace's band...He's the son of Grace's former French Photographer....If a Studio is brave enough to buy the rights to her Bio the perfect actress for the leading role is Lupita Nyong'o. She would have to become Grace in order to pull it off and she's got the talent to pull it off...

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Forums > Music: Non-Prince > Grace Jones Criticizes "Middle of the Road" Pop Stars Beyoncé, Rihanna, Nicki, Miley in Memoir Excerpt