Customer Reviews

One Man Show [VHS]

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a house music kid from back in the day, we were inspired by artist such as Grace Jones. She is a music, fashion and social icon. Grace has helped influenced everything from the faded flat top to the let it be fashions of the early 80s. Her video "a one man show" exposes you to just how remarkable and true she is as an artist and entertainer. Shes takes it to the edge and shows no fear...a modern version of Ertha Kitt and Josephen Baker combined. She is simply ahead of the game and if you had to judge by todays music video standards, you'd see that they are just catching up. The visuals are so in flow with the music (thanks to a incredible team) that it creates a perfect balance of expression. If you love diversity and freedom in visual art and music then check out this beautiful piece inspired by a beautiful women.

A beautiful period piece of Grace Jones in elaborate costumes and masks performing songs from her debut and 3 popular early 80s albums in a riot of colour and movement. The sole representative of her early disco phase, La Vie En Rose, is a romantic highlight in soft pink lighting. Directed by Jean Paul Goude, the track listing is Warm Leatherette, Walking In The Rain, Feel Up, La Vie En Rose, Demolition Man, Pull Up To The Bumper, Private Life, My Jamaican Guy, Living My Life, Libertango.

I purchased this video from a vendor here on Amazon. The video I purchased is from 1982, since this was the only copyright date I could find. This video is a must-have for any Grace Jones fan. Let's start with the good:

1) Warm Leatherette: Taken from the album, Warm Leatherette, Grace performs a very mechanical, industrial performance of a song originally performed by The Normal. In my opinion, Grace's version is better.

2) Walking in the Rain: Another excellent performance. She shouts a little too loud when she gets to the lyric "trip the light fantastic." You can hear the distortion in the microphone.

3) Feel Up: Another Grace Jones hit from the album Nightclubbing. In my opinion, this rendition is much better when performed live than on the original album.

4) La Vie En Rose: A variation of speak/singing, this is one of the best performances on this video. If you look carefully, the speaking appears to be live and the sections of singing are lipped synced. Not that shocking for a 1980s performance.

5) Demolition Man: Another hit from the album, Nightclubbing. This particular performace is a significant contrast from typical female performances. There are several Grace Jones imposters in the video marching across the screen, some men and some women. This is an example of how Grace Jones (and Jean-Paul Goude) were challenging the typical depiction of women in musical numbers, who would usually wear much more elaborate costumes to separate themselves from the background performers.

6) Pull Up to the Bumper: This is probably Grace's number one hit but the video editor messed up big here. The first clips of Grace walking across the stage are poorly edited and appear to be from three different sources. The actually singing begins with Grace singing the chorus, not the beginning of the song. Grace is also very flat throughout the performance. Her pseudo moon walking at the beginning was awesome.

7) Private Life: An excellent performance. Very original.

8) My Jamaican Guy: Not one of my favorite songs and not a very creative performance.

9) Living My Life: A strange video with Grace spinning around in a neon colored costume.

10) Libertango/I've Seen that Face Before: Another brilliant song with great close-ups on Grace. There is a lot of Goude influence in this video with the cutting of the facial attatchments at the beginning of the performance.

So what was bad? The video is old with a natural amount of deterioration of audio and video, but that's not a big deal. I'm disappointed with the poor editing in Pull Up to the Bumper and some of the other editing glitches between the individual songs. This video MUST be released on DVD and needs to include Love is the Drug and Slave to the Rhythm on the bonus features. I'm hoping for full restoration and commentary on the upcoming DVD.

The brilliance demonstrated in this video collection extends over musical, theatrical, cultural and temporal boundaries. Grace Jones and Jean-Paul Goude conceived and put forth a fiercely original and inspired set of performances that continue to dazzle and astonish viewers twenty years on. But the true test must remain in the music. Grace Jones' collaboration with reggae music heavyweights Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, and augmented with Barry Reynolds and others, was a marriage made in musical heaven. Grace clearly and confidently holds her own through a number of songs from her work with them in the early 80's, and in the process, affirms her talent and versatility. The one hold over from her earlier period, "La Vie en Rose", is given a thorough reworking a la the artist's iconoclastic style, which makes Edith Piaf's classic song riveting. Live performances are interspersed with wildly imaginative video segments that are truly among some of the most memorable in the music video genre. This should be remastered for DVD as the videotape format just doesn't do these performances justice; but then neither do my words; this really has to be seen to be believed. Highly recommended.

In the 1980's Grace Jones was the first to radical fashion and place in the music business where it belongs. This video shows a remarkable artist Grace Jones is. She's not afraid of going overboard and does it tastefully. For those who love fashion, art, and music this is a must for your collection.

This is why I admire Grace Jones. The name of the video and the picture on the cover of the video speaks volumes about her. She couldn't be molded. She broke the mold. She's in a class of her own. Grace is visually stunning as is this video compilation. Watching these videos and performances leaves me wanting more. Be prepared to be taken on a mind trip.

One of my favorite video shows ever!!! Its NEEDS To have the DVD released with extras.... PLEASE!!

WOW!
This must be remastered onto DVD form!!! Even if you would not care for Grace, you must admit that this performance is incredibly unique. I care though, and think she has put an amazingly creative piece of art together. Get it while it is still around! I want it on DVD though...

I certainly hope this vhs video of Grace will be restored and remastered on DVD! The video , the music are all great and to have this on DVD would be a dream!!
How about it guys at Island?

This video is perhaps the best music video I have seen. Grace Jones is the bomb. I once saw her perform Her One Man Show in the 90s and her energy is true perfection. The video reflects her raw energy like a razor. My friend said she recently saw Grace Jones running nude on the beach in Mexico against the waves with just thigh high boots. I would have paid the $$$$ big money $$$$ to see any Grace experience. Why can't this be on DVD??????????