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".
Below The Belt
Grace Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got to take my big chance, got to go the distance, got to prove it
I'll accept all challenges you set
One thing you cannot hit,
Below the Belt
I can go the time distance with you
Not Below the Belt
[Chorus]
Below the Belt, all pain is felt
From right to left,
Just watch my legs melt
As I hit the ground
Lose the last round
Please stick around
Its not over yet,
No cheating, that’s what I said
No hitting below the belt
I trained hard for this night, I trained hard for this fight, not to lose it
You are stronger than I, no need to tell a lie, just to prove it
Now one rematch is all you have to pay
For damages you made,
Below the Belt
I don't want your macho attitude
I didn't make all the rules,
Below the Belt
[Chorus]
Got to go to the distance , got to take my big chance, got to do it
Got to go the distance, got to take my big chance, got to prove it
Got to go the distance , got to take my big chance, got to do it
Got to take my big chance, got to go the distance, got to do it
I've trained hard for this night, I've trained hard for this fight, not to lose it
You were stronger than I, no need to tell a lie, just to prove it
Got to go to the distance, got to take my big chance, got to do it
(Fade out)
The lyrics of Grace Jones's song "Below the Belt" are a bold declaration of a boxer's resilience and determination to win, even in the face of challenges. The song begins with the repetition of the lines "Got to go to the distance, got to take my big chance, got to do it" which emphasizes the idea that the singer is taking an enormous risk and that they must do whatever it takes to be successful. The singer accepts all challenges that are presented to them but warns that the opponent should not hit "below the belt". This phrase implies that the opponent should not use any unfair tactics to gain an advantage.
The chorus "Below the Belt, all pain is felt, from right to left, just watch my legs melt as I hit the ground, lose the last round, please stick around, it's not over yet, no cheating, that's what I said, no hitting below the belt” communicates the message that the boxer is ready for whatever pain or loss may come their way as long as unethical moves or cheating is not involved. Furthermore, the boxer confidently assures the opponent that any attack below the belt will not cause any lasting pain.
Overall, the song is all about how the singer never gives up and persistently fights for what they believe in, no matter what obstacles come their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Got to go to the distance , got to take my big chance, got to do it
I need to put in my all and take this opportunity
Got to take my big chance, got to go the distance, got to prove it
I need to win and show everyone what I'm capable of
I'll accept all challenges you set
I'll face any opponent you bring to me
One thing you cannot hit, Below the Belt
You can't use any dirty tactics or cheat to beat me
I can go the time distance with you
I can last as long as it takes to win
Just remember the rules, Not Below the Belt
Don't forget to play fair and follow the rules
Below the Belt, all pain is felt From right to left, Just watch my legs melt As I hit the ground, Lose the last round Please stick around Its not over yet, No cheating, that’s what I said
If you cheat and hit me below the belt, you'll cause me a lot of pain and I may even lose the round or fall down, but I'm not out of the fight yet and I won't tolerate cheating
I trained hard for this night, I trained hard for this fight, not to lose it
I put in a lot of effort to prepare for this fight and I'm not going to let it go to waste by losing
You are stronger than I, no need to tell a lie, just to prove it
I can acknowledge when my opponent is stronger than me without feeling the need to lie about it
Now one rematch is all you have to pay For damages you made, Below the Belt
If you use dirty tactics and hit me below the belt, I'll demand a rematch from you and you'll have to pay for any physical harm you caused
I don't want your macho attitude I didn't make all the rules, Below the Belt
I don't appreciate your tough guy attitude and I remind you that hitting below the belt is against the rules
Got to go to the distance , got to take my big chance, got to do it
Once again emphasizing the importance of giving my all to win
I've trained hard for this night, I've trained hard for this fight, not to lose it
Reiterating my motivation to win and not let my efforts go to waste
You were stronger than I, no need to tell a lie, just to prove it
Acknowledging the strength of my opponent without lying about it
Got to go to the distance, got to take my big chance, got to do it
Once again emphasizing the importance of giving my all to win
Contributed by Max A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.