Icons don’t come any more decadent than '80s musical heroine Grace Jones. The Jamaican-born model, actress and singer honoured us with the live performance of a lifetime at Pacha, hosted by the club's flagship Saturday night Flower Power.
Emerging from New York's notorious Studio 54 disco scene in the '70s, it was the decade of the '80s that Grace Jones came into her own. Unfiltered, outspoken and always daringly dressed, Grace Jones is the epitome of a Pop Diva.
However, Grace Jones' innovative pop culture influence runs deeper than her glam celeb persona. Her androgynous style turned heads and posed questions around gender norms of the time, which Jones shut down with poise and sass, contributing to a wider societal shift of the time.
Without further ado, and spoken in her own words…here’s Grace!
Tracks performed by Grace Jones at Flower Power
Nightclubbing (1981)
Grace Jones arrives on stage fashionably late (we wouldn’t have it any other way!) and the show opener seems to nod to the iconic club she is about to command.
Putting a spin on the lyrics to sing “nightclubbing at Pacha” evokes excited cheers from the dancefloor who, like myself, have become feverishly starstruck.
Jamming out her best moves with a glass of red in hand and wearing a silk black blazer and killer high heels, this is the first in a number of costume changes to come from Grace Jones.
Private Life (1980)
Originally written by Christie Hyde, lead singer of The Pretenders, it's said that even the song's creator crowned Grace Jones' version of Private Life the fulfiller of its true potential.
Ushering in tones of Reggae and New Wave with rocking guitar licks combined with the red mood lighting and swaying crowd, the song felt as though we had been transported back to the 1980s.
My Jamaican Guy (1982)
Another golden record from the archive, Grace Jones gives all as such struts the stage with attitude and empowering confidence, making moments of eye-contact with the audience.
After the initial hype of such a big artist announcement, there can sometimes be reservations when choosing to see a music artist of such legacy. Will they compare to the high regards we hold them in? Can they still perform with the passion we hope to see as fans?
In moments like this, Grace Jones put a middle finger up to all of the above. .
I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango) (1981)
A moody downtown, downtempo Disco number with a Reggae undertone. Depicting Parisian nightlife in the charming lyrics, hailed as one of Jones' greatest works.
Ms Jones also steps out in her next costume, wearing her signature black hooded outfit, showing off her low vocal tones and sexy French lingo.
Pull Up To The Bumper (1981)
Now flying in sounds of New York's golden age to the Pacha dancefloor, Grace Jones offers up a Disco infusion with this classic number.
Getting a grooving reaction from the crowd she dons an ever-fabulous cabaret style costume, with red bouffant hip-piece and sparkling silver bowler hat and encourages even the shyest of partygoers to sing back the famous hook.
Slave To The Rhythm (1985)
The grand finale to what has been a bucket list night, and as soon as I see Grace Jones reach for the hula hoop and playfully announce herself back to the stage teasing “peek-a-boo!, there’s no doubt in my mind Slave To The Rhythm is our curtain closer.
Showing off some impressive hip action, Grace Jones hulas for the entirety of the song, never missing a beat or slipping on a vocal. Seriously, how does she do it? A goddess in every sense of the word.
In fact, the only track to fall outside of her '80s agenda, was 2008's Williams Blood. Bowing out to a sea of clapping hands, Grace Jones left the stage exclaiming her love for Ibiza and the night we’d shared together. I only hope she continued to party just like the good old days.
Resident DJ Bora Uzer then jumped on the decks and kept the party energy going with a recordbox of classic dance remixes from throughout the decades.
Entering 2024 with a complete musical overhaul is proving a pay-off move from free-spirited Ibizan party Flower Power.
One-off live PAs, such as Grace Jones, and a vibrant mix of upcoming and veteran DJs in House and Disco seems to be putting Flower Power on the radar of a new generation. If this was a piece of you, then Róisín Murphy performs at the penultimate date on 28 September.
Flower Power’s bountiful summer bloom continues every Saturday with pick-of-the crop of musical talent booked weekly from now until early October. Take your pick of stand-out weekly line-ups and find tickets below.
PHOTOGRAPHY | by Raul Sanchez
