I'm a Bami girl!

June 29, 2023 5:56 AM

Happy Pride Month! Grace Jones [Wikipedia] is still going strong. A queer icon since her first appearance in at Studio 54 in the Seventies [Pitchfork], she recently played NYC Hammerstein Ballroom [1h30m, decent audience recording] just after her 75th birthday. Grace Jones Electrifies New York With Eye-Popping — and Hilarious — Show [Variety] She sat with Jimmy Fallon in 2021 [7m20s] for a brief conversation.
posted by hippybear (8 comments total)

She also makes a brief appearance on Janelle Monae's new album.
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 6:57 AM on June 29, 2023

Sure were some great sounds in the late 70s-early 80s. I favor the echo-y 12" mix of her Walking in the Rain.
posted by Rash at 7:48 AM on June 29, 2023

You speak of Zula the Darfarian???

Grace still looks like an animated goddess statue. As Zula she apparently beat the hell out of Wilt Chamberlain during stunt filming for the cult classic Conan the Destroyer. I'm using classic really loosely there.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 9:52 AM on June 29, 2023 [2 favorites]

I have long maintained that Grace Jones is the coolest person on earth. Given this new information, I see no reason to alter that claim.
posted by Dr. Wu at 10:31 AM on June 29, 2023 [4 favorites]

Grace Jone is pretty amazing. Here she is at a pride event from this year, performing Slave to the Rhythm for almost 10 mins -- while flawlessly hula hooping the whole time.
posted by cubby at 11:26 AM on June 29, 2023 [4 favorites]

Her memoir is interesting. Very tough childhood. Her career has had it's share of ups and downs.
posted by ovvl at 1:52 PM on June 29, 2023 [1 favorite]

One of the fun things about following Jones' career in the eighties is realizing that the tall, striking fellow that she was sometimes seen clubbing with was, in fact, Dolph Lundgren. (If you do a GIS for them--and why wouldn't you?--be warned that they did a pictorial for Playboy that's a bit NSFW.)
posted by Halloween Jack at 2:31 PM on June 29, 2023 [1 favorite]

I recently rewatched A View to a Kill. She plays a smaller role, but she lights up the screen.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 3:53 PM on June 29, 2023