On June 27, 1998 Jody Watley “If I’m Not In Love” The Remixes were released and would eventually reach the 2 spot on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Chart. Dance music has always been a part of the Jody Watley music journey and discography. The original recording was a very melancholy ballad from the album “Flower” very much fumbled by Atlantic Records at the time. The remixes of “Off The Hook” would also be a Billboard Dance Club Play topping the chart at Number 1.
June 27- 11 years prior was also significant in that the subsequent Jody Watley classic “Still A Thrill” would peak at 3 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1987.
Jody Watley – “Still A Thrill” Goes Top 5 Billboard R&B, Watley’s 2 single from multi-platinum debut.
The gears below the Paris Opera House (Le Palais Garnier)
Being the first artist or entity at all to be allowed to film a video in the then called Opera de Paris (Palais Garnier) in Paris, France for my video “Still A Thrill” in 1989 is something that was quietly monumental at the time – and probably beyond my devoted fans few know this. When most “urban” artists were primarily relegated to basic in studio videos. I thought about the significance as Beyonce made headlines with her video filmed at the prestigious Louvre museum another landmark in Paris. As one of my fans noted..”if you released this today, you would have broken the internet..it was ahead of the times.” I agree.
Directed by Brian Grant, the 2nd of 3 videos we filmed together – I sashayed all over the streets of Paris (thank you to my former label for supporting my vision) – I worked the historic setting with no choreography or rehearsals. There’s also a scene in one of the night shots on the streets of Paris where graffiti notes “Gay Color, Say Cool Say What?” that makes it’s own statement and my support of the LGBTQ community without batting a cat-eyed eyelash that I’ve never been asked about.
This included the basement so to speak working the gears with Tyrone “The Bone” Procter, former ST alum like me – freestyle, waacking, just making it up as we went along. I styled myself (a bit of Jean Paul Gaultier mixed in) as well as Tyrone (in a Jean Paul Gaultier T-shirt). It was about the edgy style against the opulent setting and getting in the music. Creating art outside the box especially for a black girl at the time dealing with industry politics among other things – quietly opening doors and raising the bar for myself and others to follow has always been important to me – before social media.
You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing-that’s usually how artists make a mark.
Classic.
Paris By Night was the theme and concept of the video – totally enjoyed collaborating and working with Brian Grant.
In the past, an artist would send out tons of copies of promotional discs to have their album reviewed. We have not done that. This collection is all about the love, the word of mouth, the appreciators of artistry, the fans – it’s in the music! The QHBlend is one of my favorite music blogs with Quentin Harrison always shining as a true music writer who knows his subjects objectively really examining and listening to the music and covering those elements. Quentin understands music pop culture, artistic growth and never holding commercial peaks and valleys against or for his subjects – as it should be. Read his observations about “PARADISE”: Here
The name Jody Watley has been an integral part of music for over three decades, and it seems the Grammy award winning R&B/Dance music diva isn’t slowing down any time soon…Click HERE to read full review.
