And M.I.A.'s bitter party of one has now grown to a bitter party of two. In an article with the UK press, where all mudslinging of Gaga seems to happen lately, Grace Jones was asked some pointed questions about Lady Gaga. The outspoken singer dropped some sour grapes in response.
“I really don’t think of her at all. I go about my business,” said Grace Jones. “Yes, she did [ask to collaborate], 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 is taking a decidedly contrarian path from her peers Elton John and Madonna, both of whom Lady Gaga has cited as inspirations of hers as well. Elton openly embraced the singer by duetting with her at the Grammys. He even switched the lyrics up to his hit "Your Song" to say that the world is better with Gaga in the world. Elton must've really loved "Poker Face."
And Madonna, who is fond of latching onto her young followers, has also developed a relationship with Gaga, even appearing in an SNL skit with the young star. In fact, the polite and common thing to do when an up and coming singer cites you as an inspiration is to embrace them with open arms. James Brown did it for Prince and Michael Jackson and Michael Jackson did it for Usher and Justin Timberlake.
But Grace will have none of it. Nurturing is probably not her forte anyway. The truth of the matter is, Grace doesn't really care what the public thinks about her so she can afford to be grouchy and rude, pretending as if she invented geometric shapes and abstract art herself. Grace has never had wild success as a singer, but then again that's hardly a slight since she never made music that sought that kind of commercial success in the first place.
The "so and so copied me" cries are typical of artists with an inflated sense of entitlement and an unappreciation for the concept of passing on the torch. These artists, who usually happen to be older musicians picking on the artists coming up behind them, would rather the world shower and laud them with all accolades all the time, even if their time has clearly passed. The way some of these older artists gripe, you'd think they themselves were never once upstarts in a hostile entertainment industry. Like ragged, insatiable wolves, they pride themselves on sinking their teeth into the spry, fresh sheep in the industry. Take that, you whipper snappers!
But just like when Etta James unleashed an acerbic tirade against Beyonce for covering "At Last" (a song she neither wrote, produced or even performed first), Grace's petty dismissal of Gaga is unlikely to slow the Gaga machine down one bit. It will, however, turn off a whole new generation of young fans who might've delved into the under appreciated art that Grace worked on all her life. Oh well. As Jay-Z says, on to the next one.
