Feature Song: “Pull Up to the Bumper”
Grace Beverly Jones (1948) is a Jamaican-American singer, songwriter, model, and actress. After being born in Jamaica, she moved to Syracuse, New York when she was in her teens. She began her modelling career in New York state, then in Paris, where she worked for fashion houses like Yves St. Laurent and Kenza. She has appeared on the covers of magazines such as Elle and Vogue. She became known for her androgynous appearance and “bold” features. It was at the beginning of 1977 when she embarked on her music career, securing a record deal with Island Records, at first focusing on the disco scene, especially at Studio 54. It was in the early 80s when she drifted towards a “new wave” style that drew on reggae, funk, post-punk, and pop music.
My feature song, “Pull up to the Bumper,” was the third single released from her fifth studio album, Nightclubbing (1981). It is an up-tempo song combining electro-disco, post-punk, dance-pop, and reggae-disco, along with “dub” production, pulsing drums, and elements of funk and R&B music. In short, there is a whole lot going on in this song, and we haven’t even gotten to the lyrics yet! These were written by Jones alone, while she, along with Kookoo Baya and Dana Manno, are credited as its composers. The track eventually became one of Jones’ signature tunes and her first transatlantic hit. Speaking of the lyrics, the song sparked a great deal of controversy for its sexually suggestive lyrics, with some radio stations refusing to broadcast it. In a 2008 interview, Jones suggested that the “lyrics were not necessarily (emphasis added) meant to be interpreted as a metaphor for anal sex.” To be honest, I am not entirely sure what else one could take away from, “Pull up to the bumper baby/In your long black limousine/Pull up to the bumper baby/Drive it in between/Grease it/Spray it/Let me lubricate it…” Do I need to go on? As they say: “People gonna hear what they wanna hear.”
I chose this particular cover for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it is, I feel, very well done and it definitely takes the song in a different route while still paying tribute to the original. Secondly, she is a Jamaican artist. Dorothy Smith, better known by her stage name, Patra (1972), is a Jamaican reggae/dancehall singer. She got her start in the late 80s using the stage name Lady Patra as a female dancehall deejay. Her first impression on the US charts was as a featured singer on the Shabba Ranks song, “Family Affair” (1993), not to be confused with the earlier offering of this title by Sly and the Family Stone (1971), or the later version by Mary J. Blige (2001). Also in 1993, Patra released her debut album, Queen of the Pack, led by the single, “Think (About It).” There were two other singles from that album that performed well on the charts, “Worker Man,” and “Romantic Call,” which was a collaboration with emcee Yo-Yo. It was in 1995 that Patra released her Grace Jones remake of “Pull up to the Bumper.” This was followed by her second album, Scent of Attraction (1995), which included the feature song.
Grace Jones. “Pull up to the Bumper” 1981.
Patra. “Pull up to the Bumper” cover 1995.
And, just because I can, here is “Family Affair” by Shabba Ranks, featuring Patra, Terri & Monica 1993.
Los Angeles 2024
While I’m well aware of Grace Jones, the only song I can name is “Slave to the Rhythm”. “Pull Up to the Bumper” didn’t ring a bell, though per Wikipedia, the song peaked at no. 26 on the German charts – not as high as “Slave to the Rhythm,” which climbed all the way to no. 4. While the song isn’t so much my cup of tea, Patra did a good job with her cover, as well as her rendition of “Family Affair.”
Grace Jones was certainly one of a kind, and it’s hard to believe she’s now 76! (but then, I can’t believe I just turned 70!) Patra’s cover sounds a lot sexier and, dare I say nasty, than Jones’ original.
Firstly, welcome to the club! Heading to Canada in November to help my brother celebrate his 70ieth. There seems to be a lot of that going around!
Grace Jones was certainly that, and yes, it’s hard to believe she’s 76, but hey at least someone is older than I am… just. Patra’s cover is definitely a little nastier.