Ever since I was a little kid I’ve always been fascinated by Grace Jones — which, looking back, was weird, a Montana tween in equal parts of awe and fear of a hard-edged New York punk/disco pioneer — but she’s never quite returned the favor. In fact, she’s the only musical act on MySpace who ever denied my friend request. (I took it very personally.)

She’s a bit of an icon — the photo by Jean-Paul Goude (above) that appeared on her “Island Life” album cover has spawned a few imitators, as you can see.

The one at left is titled “Grace Jones,” a 2002 piece photographed by Dag Nordbrenden. The one at right was a flyer for a theme night at a bar in Shoreditch, England. (Hmm … I’m thinking Christmas card photo!)

Three more reasons I love Grace Jones:

(1) Songs “I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect for You),” “Private Life” and “Pull Up to the Bumper,” and her reggae cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.”

(2) Her appearance on “Pee-Wee’s Christmas Special,” on which she emerged from a giant packing crate dressed like a regal plasticine-and-fur alien (right-click on thumbnail at left to see full-size photo) and sang “The Little Drummer Boy” (clip on YouTube here).

(3) Her character Helen Strangé should have had her own spinoff from the movie “Boomerang.”

Anyway, I read on OMG Blog that she’ll release her first album of new material in almost 20 years, “Hurricane,” this year. I’m kind of excited. (The video for the first single, “Corporate Cannibal,” is already online. It’s deliciously creepy, and the photo at the top of this post is a screen grab from it.) I think tonight I’ll pull an all-Grace soundtrack in honor of the news.

Before “Project Runway” and “Shear Genius,” of course.

And P.S.: My friend CJ sent me a link to this pair of Cesare Paciotti “Jelly Plateau” shoes — which I almost used as this week’s Shoe Hot or Not contenders. (Right-click on the thumbnail to bring up the full-size photo.) I decided not to because I figured most people would hate them while I love them — the website even refers to a “unique powdery fragrance”! — and I couldn’t bear to have my heart broken when a majority of people declared them “not hot.” We decided these shoes are what Grace Jones would wear instead of Crocs.

ammit

WHAT SAM WORE: 7/23/08
The shirt: Slim-cut cotton polo (Last Chance)
The pants: “Relaxed khakis by Chip & Pepper (Last Chance)
The shoes: Flip-flops by Quiksilver (Last Chance)
The scent: Honey & Lemon sweet sugar scrub by L’Occitane
Listening to: “In My Arms (Bronleewe & Bose Radio Edit)” by Plumb

sammit

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