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Do or Die (Grace Jones song)

1978 single by Grace Jones From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Do or Die" is a single by Grace Jones, released in 1978, promoting her album Fame.

B-side"Comme un oiseau qui s'envole"
Released1978
StudioSigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[1]
Quick facts Single by Grace Jones, from the album Fame ...
"Do or Die"
Single by Grace Jones
from the album Fame
B-side"Comme un oiseau qui s'envole"
Released1978
StudioSigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[1]
GenreDisco
Length6:47
LabelIsland
ComposerJames Bolden
LyricistJack Robinson
ProducerTom Moulton
Grace Jones singles chronology
"La Vie en rose"
(1977)
"Do or Die"
(1978)
"On Your Knees"
(1979)
European single sleeve
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Background

"Do or Die" was the first and in most parts of the world the only single release from Jones' Fame, her second disco album. On Fame it made up the first part of the A-side non-stop medley "Do or Die"/"Pride"/"Fame". The 7" single featured a heavily edited version (3:22) with the French-language non-album track "Comme un oiseau qui s'envole" as the B-side, included as a bonus track on the Canadian edition of the Fame album. The 12" single featured a slightly shorter mix of the album version with a cold end, and the B-side an extended mix of "Comme un oiseau qui s'envole". "Do or Die" reached number 3 on the US Billboard dance chart.

In 1985 the 7" edit of "Do or Die" was included as one of three disco tracks on the career retrospective Island Life, the other being the album versions of "I Need a Man" and "La Vie en rose" (1977).

Music video

A music video was shot as a part of an Italian TV show Stryx, for which Jones made several more clips. It uses the Stryx studio set and sees Jones dancing with a surreal scenography in the background.[2]

Reception

Billboard magazine commented "this is mainstream disco featuring the distinctive vocals of the reigning queen of disco. The punchy horn and string arrangements are complemented by captivating breaks that spotlight the driving percussion."[3]

Track listing

  • 7" single
A. "Do or Die" – 3:22
B. "Comme un oiseau qui s'envole" – 3:10
A. "Do or Die" – 6:15
B. "Comme un oiseau qui s'envole" – 4:30

Charts

More information Chart (1978), Peak position ...
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Cover versions

Eartha Kitt recorded a cover of the song for her 1989 album I'm Still Here.

Release history

More information Region, Date ...
Release dates and formats for "Do or Die"
Region Date Label(s) Format(s) Cat. No. Ref.
United States June 1978 Island Records
  • 7-inch
  • 12-inch
  • IS 102
  • IS 1008
United Kingdom August 1978
  • WIP 6450
  • 12WIP 6450
[9]
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References

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