Category — Grace Jones

I have been feeling so, so proud of my favorite ladies lately: Album launches, recording sessions, live performances, photoshoots, general fierceness, etc. Why not take a stroll ’round the world and see what everyone’s up to?

Grace Jones, showing us all how to walk the walk at the Serpentine Gallery Summer Party in London on July 8. Honestly, this bitch could make a hairnet look fierce. Oh, wait…she already did that.

Janet Jackson, performing at the Essence Music Festival on July 2. Did you check out her performance of “Discipline” from the night? It makes her previous performances of “Rope Burn” look tame. Got DAMN.

Nicki Minaj, posing on the set of her new video for current smash single, “Your Love,” which is due out soon. Have you heard her verse on the latest track she’s lent her lip service to (Trey Songz‘ “Bottoms Up”)? Vicious and delicious.

Madonna, posing for the Fall/Winter 2010 collection for Dolce & Gabbana (and looking like a million euros). Not sure who the bitch standing up in the photo is, but she’s completely stealing the shot. Must be an outtake.

Kylie Minogue, being fierce and mighty while performing for G-A-Y at Heaven Nightclub in London on July 11. The epitome of elegance, non?

Christina Aguilera, posing with her husband Jordan at the opening reception for Jonathan Yeo’s Gallery in Beverly Hills on July 8. Gorgeous–and the video for “You Lost Me” is shaping up quite nicely. Loving the new hair!

Lady Gaga, staying in for the night with a nice cup of tea on July 13. In case you didn’t hear, she tore the house down in her hometown last week at Madison Square Garden.

Britney Spears, being the fucking iconic LEGEND that she is while posing for the August issue of Cosmopolitan (which just hit newsstands). Snag it immediately.

Now wasn’t it nice to celebrate all of our pop divas at once? No feuds. No criticism. A little bit of positivity in pop goes a long way!

I hope this post made someone smile.

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve gushed about my love for Rated R campaign, which is why the video for “Rockstar 101″ has provided the perfect platform to go gaga for RiRi all over again.

Though this song should never, ever, ever have been released as a single (does anything aside from “G4L” play more like an album track on Rated R than “Rockstar 101″?), it truly bodes well for a ferocious video clip.

As usual, Rihanna gives us fierce again and again (The outfits! The poses! The faces!), at times evoking the animalistic roar and deadly ‘tude of Miss Grace Jones, and perhaps even a trace of Like A Prayer-era Madonna with the vague religious/demonic undertones. (Possibly a stretch comparison?)

Yet I think what I like most about this whole scenario is the sheer audacity of Rihanna–one of the leading mainstream pop stars in the industry–grabbing onto a guitar and writhing around singing “I’m a rock star.” It’s a big, irreverent middle finger given to everything that the pretentious little shits of hipster/indie culture hold as holy, and I’m kind of in love with her and her people for doing it.

The rock star of 2010 is the pop star. Get with it.

As you well know by now, MuuMuse is big on the RiRi.

Above is the official Rihanna tour widget, containing news, videos, and tweets. Keep checking it for updates as the tour progresses! (Although it doesn’t have this.)

The singer is currently touring Europe for her Last Girl on Earth Tour, of which the videos are absolutely killing me. I mean…“Rude Boy” live. And the dancers-on-robot-stilts for “Disturbia.” And “Rockstar 101,” in which she goes full-on Jones to the Rhythm.

But the greatest moment may be “Shut Up and Drive.” (Trying to keep the spoilers at a minimum here…)

Incredible. I can’t wait until she comes ’round these parts!

If you were fortunate enough to catch Grace Jones on the incredible Hurricane Tour over the past two years, you might have caught a performance of “Love is the Drug,” where a single green laser is refracted into dozens of tiny beams of light atop Jones’ head.

Chris Levine is the artist responsible for that installation, as well as several other lighting designs for Jones’ stage work. Having just shot a series of holographic photographs with the superstar, as well as the video for her upcoming single “Love You to Life,” the renowned 3D artist is now preparing to showcase his work with Grace Jones in “Stillness at the Speed of Light,” an exhibition at The Vinyl Factory in Soho, London that begins on April 30.

As he prepares for his showing, Levine was kind enough to take the time to answer some of my questions regarding his collaborative work with Grace Jones, both on stage and in his own media. Please read on to see the full interview!

Read the interview.

Yes, she did, but I said no. I’d just prefer to work with someone who is more original and someone who is not copying me, actually.

Grace Jones on the question of whether Lady Gaga ever contacted her for a collaboration, printed on April 17 in her interview with The Guardian.

Rejoice–the single has been confirmed!

The official press release, courtesy of The Outside Organisation:

Hot off the heels of her forthcoming Royal Albert Hall Show on April 26th and Stillness at the Speed Of Light exhibition with visionary light artist Chris Levine, Grace Jones releases new single, Love You To Life on May 3rd, taken from her iconic record, Hurricane.

Levine, who also directs the video to Love You To Life, brings his unique sensory visions, to Grace’s sonic utopia. With remixes by Mala/Digital Mystikiz, the most forward thinking dubstep outfit at present, Brighton based Caged Baby and Guy Williams (who as a duo collaborate as Paradise 45), the track is already getting strong heat. London born Pitron and Italian born Sanna also bring their slice of interpretation to the track with their euphoric remix. A dub mix is also included, put together by Grace’s album producer, Ivor Guest.

Additionally in support of Recordstore Day on April 17th, the Mala / Digital Mystikz Remix will be available as a limited edition one-sided 12” vinyl.

Grace Jones Love You To Life – Track Listing:

1. Radio Edit
2. Mala / Digital Mystikz Remix
3. Cagedbaby & Guy Williams Paradise 45 Rework
4. Pitron & Sanna Remix
5. Dub

This means we’ll be getting five new cuts of the original track (as well as a super exclusive vinyl on Record Store Day!)

I am pleased.

Thanks to Grace Jones News for the heads up.

“People say we’re similar, that we both mix all these things in the pot and spit them out differently, but she spits it out exactly the same. None of her music’s reflective of how weird she wants to be or thinks she is. She models herself on Grace Jones and Madonna, but the music sounds like 20-year-old Ibiza disco, you know? She’s not progressive, but she’s a good mimic. She sounds more like me than I fucking do!”

Quote courtesy of MTV UK‘s preview of the article.

Eat your heart out, Iamamiwhoami: There’s a better forest nymph in town!

The future is about to go tribal style with Kelis‘ upcoming video for her new single, “Acapella.” Oh my Grace–it’s positively ferocious!

The video will be posted in full on Monday on her official website. Can’t wait to see it in full!

On April 29, the Vinyl Factory in Soho, London will be premiering Stillness at the Speed of Light, an exhibition created by Chris Levine.

The showing will center around Levine’s first collaboration with the legendary Miss Grace Jones, who employed the lighting artist’s work on her recent Hurricane tour. Their work together then lead to a series of 3D portraits taken for this exhibition, including the one pictured above.

The show will also mark the official premiere of Jones’ new video for “Love You to Life,” directed by Chris Levine.

For more information on the collaboration, click here to visit the artist’s website.

This Sunday, Grace Jones will be pulling up to the bumper with Elton John.

According to a report from BizBash Los Angeles, the living legend will be performing for John and his guests during the 18th annual AIDS Foundation Party held on Oscar Sunday.

From the article:

“Grace Jones is not only an amazing performer, but a dear friend and a fellow activist in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” John said in an announcement. “Without a doubt, Grace will put on a show for our guests that will have them talking for years to come. It is an absolute honor to have Grace as part of this evening that means so much to the foundation.”

I absolutely cannot wait for the videos and pictures to pour in from the performance. I hope she wears this again.