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".
Fame
Grace Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fame, trading love for a name, and there's no one to blame but me
You were the one [who can never to] love me
I, ? take your place
You were the one that I needed
But stars don't need love, their so far above
Just screaming ?
Can't you hear me singing for you baby?
Where are you?
Come on back, I need you, won't you save me?
Fame, burning bright as a flame, but it drove you away from me
Fame, whats the use of this game, if I can't have you back with me
Making the big time, making the money, somehow it don't seem to take the place of
Never alone but I'm lonely, I search through the crowd and I never see your face
Where are you?
Can't you hear me singing for you baby?
Where are you?
Come on back, I need you, won't you save me?
Where are you?
Can't you hear me singing for you baby?
Where are you?
Come on back, I need you, won't you save me?
Fame, gonna drive me insane, like it drove you away from me
Fame, so alone with my name, even that don't belong to me
Running away won't help me forget you
I ? to find you and end this race so..,
Life on the road is so lonely
? one night stands that never take your place
Where are you?
Can't you hear me singing for you baby?
Where are you?
Come on back, I need you, won't you save me?
Fame, whats the use of this game if I can't have you back with me?
Fame, so alone with my name, even that don't belong to me
Fame, tried to make me a name, and there's no one to blame but me
Fame, gonna drive me insane, like it drove you away from me
Fame, tried to make me a name, I've got no one to blame but me
In "Fame," Grace Jones sings about the pursuit of fame and how it can come at a cost. The song is an introspective look at the price one pays for the pursuit of celebrity status. She sings about the desire to make a name for herself and the sacrifices made in the process. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who has become successful but is still searching for something more.
The chorus of the song is a plea for a lost love to return. Jones sings, "Where are you? Can't you hear me singing for you baby? Come on back, I need you, won't you save me?" Despite the success and fame she has gained, there is still a sense of loneliness and emptiness that she's unable to fill without her lost love. Fame has driven her away from what truly matters, and now she's paying the price.
Overall, "Fame" is a cautionary tale about the price one pays to gain fame and success. It's a powerful reminder that no matter how successful one becomes, love and human connection are essential to finding true happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Fame, like to make me a name, nothing less than the best for me
My desire for fame is so strong that nothing less than being the very best will satisfy me
Fame, trading love for a name, and there's no one to blame but me
I willingly gave up love in exchange for fame and I have nobody to blame but myself
You were the one [who can never to] love me
You were the one who could never truly love me
I, ? take your place
I want to replace you
You were the one that I needed
You were the one that I needed in my life
But stars don't need love, their so far above
Famous people don't need love as they feel that they are above it all
Just screaming ?
Just screaming for you
Where are you?
I'm searching for you
Can't you hear me singing for you baby?
Can't you hear me singing and calling out for you?
Come on back, I need you, won't you save me?
Please come back to me as I need you to save me
Fame, burning bright as a flame, but it drove you away from me
Fame may burn bright, but it drove you away from me
Fame, whats the use of this game, if I can't have you back with me
What is the use of all this fame if I can't have you back with me?
Making the big time, making the money, somehow it don't seem to take the place of
Even though I'm making it big and making lots of money, it doesn't seem to take the place of
Never alone but I'm lonely, I search through the crowd and I never see your face
I'm never alone, but I'm still lonely and I keep searching through crowds, but I never see your face
Running away won't help me forget you
Running away won't help me forget you
I ? to find you and end this race so..,
I need to find you and end this race so that I can move on
Life on the road is so lonely
Life on the road is so lonely
? one night stands that never take your place
Having meaningless one night stands will never take your place
Fame, gonna drive me insane, like it drove you away from me
Fame is going to drive me insane, just like it drove you away from me
Fame, so alone with my name, even that don't belong to me
Even though I have fame, I still feel all alone and not even my own name belongs to me
Fame, tried to make me a name, and there's no one to blame but me
I tried to make a name for myself with fame and there's nobody else to blame but myself
Fame, tried to make me a name, I've got no one to blame but me
I tried to make a name for myself with fame and I can only blame myself for the consequences
Lyrics © NEXT DECADE ENTERTAINMENT,INC.
Written by: Jack Robinson, Gil Slavin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind