Style, Image and Voice
In 1980, Jones adapted the emerging New Wave music style and adopted a stern, austere look, created in partnership with stylist Jean-Paul Goude. She would also exemplify the so-called "flat top" hairstyle in many of her concerts in the 1980s, which would become very popular, especially amongst black men. Her first album cover to feature this hairstyle was 1980's Warm Leatherette. Her strong visual presence was an advantage for her music videos and concert tours. In her concert performances, she adopted various personas and wore outlandish costumes, particularly during her years with Goude. One such performance was at the Paradise Garage in 1985, for which she collaborated with visual artist Keith Haring for her costume. Haring painted her body in tribal patterns and fitted her with wire armour. The muralist also painted her body for the video to "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)" and the 1986 vampire film Vamp.
Grace Jones's striking appearance, height (5'9" or 1.75 m, some sources claim 5'8"), and manner influenced the cross-dressing movement of the 1980s. To this day, she is known for her unique look at least as much as she is for her music and has been an inspiration for numerous other artists, including Annie Lennox, Lady Gaga and Rihanna. Jones commented on Lady Gaga: "I've seen some of the things she's worn that I've worn and that kind of pisses me off". American model Amber Rose's 2010 photo shoot was inspired by Grace Jones and saw Rose posing like Grace Jones in her most famous pictures. Jones remains an inspiration also for male celebrities.
Jones has a contralto vocal range. Although her image became equally as notable as her voice, she is a highly stylised vocalist. She sings in two modes: either in her monotone speak-sing voice as in songs such as "Private Life", "Walking in the Rain" and "The Apple Stretching", or in an almost-soprano mode in songs such as "La Vie en rose", "Slave to the Rhythm", and "Victor Should Have Been a Jazz Musician". Jones' voice spans two and a half octaves.
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And all that famous harmony of leaves,
Had blotted out man’s image and his cry.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
“We are little airy creatures,
All of different voice and features:
One of us in glass is set,
One of us you’ll find in jet,
T’other you may see in tin,
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—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745)