Grace Jones
Grace Jones
Grace Jonesis a Jamaican singer, songwriter, lyricist, supermodel, record producer, and actress. She was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica and raised by her grandparents. At 13 she moved with her siblings to their parents' home in Syracuse, New York. Jones started out as a model, initially in New York state, then in Paris, working for Yves St. Laurent, Claude Montana, and Kenzo Takada, and appearing on the covers of Elle, Vogue, and Stern working with Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin, and...
ProfessionPop Singer
Date of Birth19 May 1948
CitySpanish Town, Jamaica
I like to isolate myself when I work because I end up losing my voice by doing interviews all day.
Women and men grow up with both sexes. Our mothers and fathers mean a lot to us, so it's just a question of finding a balance between their influences. I've found mine. And it tends to be more on the male side. I mean male side the way we understand it in the West.
My husband used to shout at my mother, 'What is wrong with your daughter? I'm married to a man.'
I loved all those classic figures from the '30s and '40s... Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Humphrey Bogart, Rita Hayworth. They had such glamour and style. I loved the movies of those times too - so much attention paid to details, lights, clothing, the way the studios would develop talent.
I go feminine, I go masculine. I am both, actually. I think the male side is a bit stronger in me, and I have to tone it down sometimes. I'm not like a normal woman, that's for sure.
That's what they do in Argentina. Have a little wine and talk. Then have some coffee and talk. Then, go back to the wine.
I didn't think I had a voice at all, and I still think of myself as an interpreter of songs more than a singer. I thought it was too deep; people thought I was a man. I had a very strong Jamaican accent, too; the accent really messed me up for auditions.
I came from a very strict background, and didn't hear any Jamaican music when I was growing up.
I don't take the English press seriously at all because all they want is dirt... I hate them.
You can't expect your children to be perfect.
When you become such a strong personality in music, it's hard for people to accept you as a different character.
When I perform on stage I become those male bullies, those dominators from my childhood. That's probably why it's so scary, because they scared me.
I can look at a fur and tell if it's good or not.
I wear my furs all the time. I wear like three different ones in a day.