Raised in Syracuse, New York, she found success in the 70s as a model, working in New York and Paris (where she shared an apartment with Jerry Hall and Jessica Lange), before rising to public prominence as a singer and personality.
Jones secured a record deal with Island Records, which resulted in a string of club hits. The three disco albums she recorded - Portfolio (1977), Fame (1978), and Muse (1979) - generated dance singles such as Sorry That's The Trouble, I Need A Man, and a classic cover of La Vie En Rose. During this period, she also became a muse to Andy Warhol, appearing in his portraits and accompanying him to Studio 54 on many occasions.
As the 70s drew to a close, Jones adapted the emerging New Wave music to suit a different style, a significant departure from her previous output that resulted in some of her strongest work. Still with Island, and now working with producers Alex Sadkin and Chris Blackwell at Compass Point Studios, and with the considerable talents of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (Sly & Robbie) behind her, she released the acclaimed Warm Leatherette (1980) and Nightclubbing (1981). These included re-imaginings of songs by Sting, Iggy Pop, The Pretenders, Roxy Music, Flash And The Pan, The Normal, and Tom Petty, as well as originals like the innuendo-filled Pull Up To The Bumper and the haunting I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango). Parallel to her musical shift was an equally dramatic visual departure; Jones - working heavily with style artist Jean-Paul Goude - adopted a severe, androgynous look that enhanced her already striking presence, the iconic cover of Nightclubbing exemplifying this new identity. Her collaboration with Sadkin and Blackwell continued with the dub reggae-influenced album Living My Life, which featured Nipple To The Bottle, The Apple Stretching, and the Jones-penned and much-sampled My Jamaican Guy.
Later in the 80s, she worked with Trevor Horn for the conceptual musical collage Slave to the Rhythm (1985), and with Nile Rodgers for Inside Story (1986) - her first album away from the Island label. Inside Story produced her last US Hot 100 hit to date, I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You), while Bulletproof Heart in 1989 produced the #1 US club hit Love on Top of Love - Killer Kiss, produced by C+C Music Factory's David Cole and Robert Clivilles. Though a chart regular in the UK Grace Jones never achieved mainstream musical success in the US, but most of her singles became huge hits in the dance underground.
Jones' strong visual presence was extended to her stage work. Her performances were unique spectacles as she adopted various personas and wore outlandish costumes throughout, particularly during her years with Goude. Her most memorable performances include the Paradise Garage in 1985, wherein she collaborated with legendary visual artist Keith Haring for her costume and the extraordinary One Man Show filmed in Drury Lane Theatre London and in New York and released on video in 1982 (it is yet to be re-released).
In 2008 she returned with the album "Hurricane".
Art Groupie
Grace Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's nothing in my book,
The only way you see me an Art Groupie,
I'm hooked.
Some people like to be used,
I've been used and amused,
But that's the way I see me,
Love me in a picture,
Kiss me in a cast,
Touch me in a sculpture,
Whisper in my mask.
Don't ask me any questions,
My personal life is a bore,
Admire me in glory,
An Art Groupie. That's all.
Love me in a picture,
Kiss me in a cast,
Touch me in a sculpture,
Whisper in my mask.
I'll never write my memoirs,
There's nothing in my book,
The only way you see me an Art Groupie,
I'm hooked.
The song 'Art Groupie' by Grace Jones is about her relationship with the art world. Grace Jones was a model, actress, and musician known for her eccentric persona, and her love for art was an important part of her aesthetic. The song's lyrics express her fascination with art and her willingness to be used by artists to create their work. She sees herself as an Art Groupie, someone who admires and engages with art not just as a viewer but as a part of the creative process.
The lines "Love me in a picture, Kiss me in a cast, Touch me in a sculpture, Whisper in my mask" evoke an image of Grace Jones as a living work of art, someone who is willing to participate in unconventional forms of expression. She asks not to be questioned about her personal life and instead invites admiration as an Art Groupie, someone who is firmly rooted in the art world.
The repetition of the line "I'll never write my memoirs, There's nothing in my book" suggests that Grace Jones sees her life as one that is better captured in art than in words. She sees herself as a work of art, and her experiences are better expressed through the artists and art pieces she has been a part of. 'Art Groupie' is an ode to the transformative power of art and a celebration of being a part of its world.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll never write my memoirs,
I won't be sharing my life story.
There's nothing in my book,
I don't have much to offer.
The only way you see me an Art Groupie,
I'm only interested in art-related relationships.
I'm hooked.
I'm addicted to this type of relationship.
Some people like to be used,
There are those who like to be taken advantage of.
I've been used and amused,
I have been used and still find it amusing.
But that's the way I see me,
That's how I choose to see myself.
My Art Groupie look.
My appearance and persona as an Art Groupie.
Love me in a picture,
Express your affection in a photograph.
Kiss me in a cast,
Show your love when I'm immobile or vulnerable.
Touch me in a sculpture,
Let me feel your touch through art.
Whisper in my mask.
Speak to me while concealing your identity.
Don't ask me any questions,
I don't want to talk about myself.
My personal life is a bore,
My life outside of art is uneventful.
Admire me in glory,
Appreciate me in my finest moments.
An Art Groupie. That's all.
That's what I am and that's all I want to be.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BARRY REYNOLDS (GB), GRACE JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@basswashere
I'll never write my memoirs
There's nothing in my book
The only way you see me an Art Groupie
I'm hooked
Some people like to be used
I've been used and amused
But that's the way I see me
My Art Groupie look
Love me in a picture
Kiss me in a cast
Touch me in a sculpture
Whisper in my mask
Don't ask me any questions
My personal life is a bore
Admire me in glory
An Art Groupie. That's all
Love me in a picture
Kiss me in a cast
Touch me in a sculpture
Whisper in my mask
I'll never write my memoirs
There's nothing in my book
The only way you see me an Art Groupie
I'm hooked
@justinhumphreys8407
The sounds she creates are so colourful!!! It's more than music, it's art!!!
@tonynegron1927
🤔 From GJ's best album "NIGHTCLUBBING",1981
@justintime4692
Classic 🏆✔️
@gr8tastesforya799
Amazing album and great memories of the eighties!
@eternaldoorman5228
She's a genius! My God! ❤️
@dariofinley4867
you probably dont give a shit but does anybody know of a way to get back into an Instagram account..?
I stupidly lost the account password. I would love any help you can give me.
@mohammedconor7141
@Dario Finley instablaster :)
@dariofinley4867
@Mohammed Conor i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im in the hacking process now.
Looks like it's gonna take a while so I will get back to you later with my results.
@dariofinley4867
@Mohammed Conor it did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. Im so happy!
Thank you so much you saved my account!
@primadonna4535
Whisper in my mask 😷