Grace Jones, St James & Jackfruit

Wednesday, April 11, 2012


Grace Jones: actress, vocalist, songwriter and model, was born in Jamaica in 1963. Her family migrated to New York in 1965, where she studied theatre at Syracuse University. Ms. Jones started out as a model and began her musical career with a deal from Island Records in 1977. She’s had hit singles, including Pull up to the Bumper and I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You. (My favourite is My Jamaican Guy) Jones has a unique singing voice (contralto), which covers just over two ranges. An aside here: Grace Jones/Tina Turner--when I grow up, I wanna be just like these ladies! Kick-ass and don't care! And just for kicks, a link to her performance with Pavarotti.

Jones...in all her spray-painted wonder.
She became famous for her unique look—severe, square haircut and outrageous, boxy-looking clothing. She has appeared in more than twenty films, including Conan the Destroyer, Wolf Girl and A View to a Kill. Jones has been nominated for several awards, including the Saturn Award, a Grammy award, an MTV Video Music Award, the Razzie Award and she won the Q Awards (UK Annual Music award). She has the distinction of having ranked 82nd on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll. 

St James: is located at the northern end of Jamaica, and Montego Bay, Jamaica’s second city is part of this parish. The parish was named  in honour of King James II by Sir Thomas Modyford, the island's first English Governor. When the English conquered the Spanish, the parish had no towns. Few people were in residence and business was non-existent, barring the export of lard from wild hogs. 

Source
After a treaty was signed with the Maroons in 1739, St James became one of the most important producers of sugar. Over time, the parish grew as merchants and planters built homes. Today, St. James is one of the fastest growing parishes in Jamaica, mostly because of Montego Bay, which is seen as Jamaica’s tourism mecca. Over 500,000 tourists visit St James annually, providing one-third of the revenue generated by tourism across the island. Apart from its fabulous hotels, St. James is known for its beaches—these include Aquasol (Theme Park), Cornwall Beach and Doctor's Cave Beach—golf courses and night life.
Jackfruit

Jackfruit: is a malodorous monster of a fruit that came to Jamaica from Southern Aisa. It’s fleshy and sweet and best eaten at home as it carries a pungent odor and a sticky substance that glues lips together. In other cultures, the seeds are roasted and eaten and some curry the fruit as a meal. As bad as it smell, it’s something that I enjoy! 



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39 comments:

  1. Love Grace Jones. She was quite wild on the set of Conan The Destroyer, putting, I think, more than one person in the hospital during the fight scenes with the staff that she fought with. Go Grace!

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  2. Yeah, Grace was/is amazingly unique. She's one of those people you just want to stare at, she's so beautiful.

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  3. Ooo, I remember Grace. She was really something else!

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  4. Wendy, that woman is extraordinary. :)

    Richard, I'm not famous yet, but one day I'd like to be!

    L.G. I agree, grace is way out of the ordinary.

    Donna, yep, she's something else all right.

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  5. I've always thought Grace Jones was a fascinating personal. Love her voice. Okay, you have me all kinds of curious about the jackfruit. Especially the lips sticking together part. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Good luck on your travels from A to Z.

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    1. The sap in the Jackfruit is what causes the lips to stick together. Wishing you the best in your A-Z journey too.

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  6. I meant person not personal for G.J. Although she's personally interesting to me.

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  7. I've always liked Grace Jones. Not sure I'd like jackfruit, though.

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  8. I've never eaten Jack Fruit but I want to give it a try. At home.

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    1. I don't know a lot of people who chance eating it anywhere else but home. :)

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  9. Aw... I love Grace Jones. :)

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  10. I don't think I could eat anything that smelled bad. My nose and my stomach are too connected. Perhaps jackfruit is an acquired taste.

    Interesting combo-post for your J day. I like learning about Jamaica itself, so thanks for throwing in the history spots!

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    1. D.G., For sure, the Jackfruit is not for everybody. The heavy smell alone is enough to turn off some people.

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  11. Hi JL!

    Great post on Grace Jones.

    I make jack fruit curry all the time. There's a way you peel and cut it while holding under water stream so you don't get the sticky stuff on your hands and knife! Actually mu hubby cuts it and chops in small curry pieces!

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    1. Thanks for that tip Nas! I've never had curried jackfruit. I might have to ask you for a recipe.

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  12. I did not know Grace Jones was born in Jamaica, nor am I familiar with jackfruit!

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    1. Hmmm...glad to share something you didn't know, Bish. :)

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  13. Hi, Joy. I enjoyed getting to know you better over at Denise Covey's.

    Thanks to you, I learned about a new very interesting looking fruit. Nas Dean's comment above is interesting, too, as to how to peel it so your hands don't get sticky. And I also enjoyed learning about Grace Jones and St. James. Love the pictures!
    Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs

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    1. Ann, glad to see you here. Yes, Nas' comment is interesting and it's something I'll definitely try. Happy to share information on Jamaica anytime!

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  14. Joy, I never knew either that Grace was from Jamaica, will check out the link you gave. St James, where my father was born, and a lot of my family still live there. Thanks for such an enjoyable post....love Jack Fruit! Blessings, Amanda


    Amanda - Realityarts-Creativity
    Art Blog

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    1. Glad to bring back some memories for you, Amanda.

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  15. I haven't heard about Grace in a long time. Thanks for all the information.

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  16. Grace Jones was the coolest! I liked that she was a tough women in that Bond movie.

    I've never heard of jackfruit.

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    1. That's typical Grace Jones for ya. Could be you haven't heard of Jackfruit as it grows in tropical climate. You may find it in warmer places like Miami.

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  17. We listened to Grace Jones ALL of the time in the mid-eighties. She was the dance club queen in NYC! Wow, brings back memories.

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    1. Hi, Catherine, it did bring back memories listening to the songs I selected for this post.

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  18. Grace Jones is an inspiring woman.

    Oh, and yeah...I've smelled jack fruit lol ;) Some things are worth getting past the smell though.

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    1. Rula, I agree with you. In the case of the jackfruit, its sweetness is worth dealing with the smell.

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  19. MY GRACE JONES, let me tell you. I met her years ago of course while in Chicago, Ebony magazine did a story on her. SHE is a MESS. I introduced her to both cornbread and Creole dressing. I'm chuckling now because she is a HOT MESS!! her expressions and boldness is not far from a few of the characters she portrayed.
    Pull up to the Bumper Baby! (her song) what is amazing, is she sung with Pavoarotti in 2002 and it was stunning!!

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    1. Sidne, she's one of those people who is just way out there. Unique and outrageous are two words that come to mind when I think of her. I included the link to the performance with Pavarotti above.

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  20. Grace Jones is a brilliant performer. I love her confidence.

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    1. I admire people who can let themselves go and not give a hoot what others think.

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  21. I'd be open to trying jack fruit. Grace Jones is an interesting character. She did a great job in marketing herself and thus, launching a career.

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    1. Hi, Mike. I think she had help from Andy Warhol, if my memory of the research I did serves me right. He was the photographer who did lots of shots of her.

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  22. I adore jackfruit---didn't know you had them in Jamaica :)

    Hope you’re enjoying the challenge so far!
    --Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2012

    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge

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  23. Damyanti, Jackfruit is in season now, but I haven't had any yet. :(

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