‘JoJo’s Bizarre Musical Adventure’: This is Cult Jam, Lisa Lisa

In order to defeat the Pillar Men, Joseph and Caesar head to Air Supplena Island to train under the Caesar’s Ripple Master — Lisa Lisa.

This is Cult Jam

But what about me?

What about my name?

Lisa Lisa

Lisa Lisa’s namesake comes from American singer Lisa Velz’s stage name Lisa Lisa and the band that she was a part of, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam.

“I guess they had the type of idea like, okay, [the U.T.F.O. hit] ‘Roxanne, Roxanne’ worked, why not Lisa Lisa? I thought it was cute because I knew it would cause controversy, talk,” was how the original Lisa Lisa decided on her name.

Like Lisa Velez, the Lisa Lisa in the JoJo’s Bizarre universe is also a moniker. For Elizabeth Joestar.

Joseph Joestar’s mother.

The orphaned baby Elizabeth, who along with Erina Joestar was a survivor of the ship that sunk following Dio and Jonathan’s fierce final battle. Adopted by Strazio and raised in the way of the Ripple, Elizabeth grows up to become a formidable Ripple Master herself. Strazio entrusts her with the Red Stone of Aja, which she wore on her person at all times. Elizabeth goes on to marry Erina’s and Jonathan’s son, George Joestar II.

All alone on a Sunday morning

Outside I see the rain is falling

Inside I’m slowly dying

Tragedy strikes soon after Joseph is born. George is killed by one of Dio’s leftover zombie minions who was disguised as a high-ranking military official. Overcome with rage, Elizabeth storms off to avenge her husband. Branded a murderer for killing an officer, Elizabeth entrusts her son to Erina and goes into hiding.

When Joseph meets Lisa Lisa, he has no idea of her original identity. She introduces herself as Caesar’s mentor and subjects them both to a grueling training regimen in order to stand a chance against the Pillar Men.

Being one of the most powerful Ripple users in Battle Tendency, Lisa Lisa boasts three times the power of her son Joseph. She survives her one-on-one fight with the Pillar Man Kars despite sustaining a near-fatal injury. She doesn’t even break a sweat in her fight against the newly turned vampire Wired Beck (a nod to Jeff Beck’s album Wired). This isn’t the first time that Jeff Beck has been referenced in JJBA, Part One had a minor character named Jeff Beck as well.

The eyes

Can’t hide the pain

But can tell you lies

For I will not let you see me cry

Cause in this life all I have is my pride

Lisa Lisa is one of the most stoic characters in JJBA. Despite whatever hardships she finds herself in, she’s always in total control of her emotions save for three occasions; her husband’s death, Caesar’s death and Joseph’s death (which turns out to be a false alarm). She never displays fear or uncertainty in or out of battle and is always confident of her abilities. She’s a no-nonsense person with very little patience for Joseph’s escapades. As the leader of the Ripple users, she maintains the stance that duty comes before anything else.

Along with Lisa Lisa, there were three others who were on Air Supplena Island. Two of them were the Ripple users Loggins and Messina. These two Ripple masters trained Joseph and Caesar to enhance their Ripple technique for twenty days in order to be ready to face off against the Pillar Men.

The original Loggins and Messina were pop-rock duo Kenny Loggins (of the famous foot tapping Footloose) and Jim Messina (founding member of Buffalo Springfield). Initially Messina was only going to lend his name to Loggins’ debut album as the producer when Columbia with Messina’s assistance signed Loggins to a six-album contract. But when the album was complete, Messina’s contribution was much more than just production that the band Loggins and Messina was formed.  

The third person on Air Supplena Island was Suzi Q. Best described as Lisa Lisa’s lady-in-waiting Suzi Q. While being a side character, Suzi Q also appears in Part Three of JJBA and is mentioned in Part Four. Her introduction happens when she’s possessed by the Pillar Man Esidisi in order to steal the Red Stone of Aja. While Joseph and Caesar end up saving Suzi Q, the Red Stone of Aja is stolen.

Suzi Q’s name has two references — Suzi Quatro, the musician, and the Dale Hawkins’s song Susie Q (covered famously by Creedence Clearwater Revival). Though Suzi Q of JJBA certainly fits the swamp rock beat of the CCR version more than the rockabilly original.

When Joseph sees Suzi Q, he quite easily falls for her at first sight. If the lyrics are any indication, he liked the way she talked and he liked the way she walked. He asks her to wait for him until he gets back from saving the world from the Pillar Men.

It’s actually Suzi Q who is responsible for making everyone believe that Joseph was dead, because she was the one who forgot to send the telegram that he survived his battle with the Pillar Man Kars. She ends up marrying Joseph when the curtains fall on Part Two.

Suzi Q returns in Part Three, blissfully kept in the dark of the threat that DIO poses to her family. She has full faith that Joseph and her grandson Jotaro will take care of whatever problem may arise.

That faith appears to be shattered in Part Four, as her grandson Jotaro remarks. While Joseph asked her all the way back in Part Two:

Well, say that you’ll be true and never leave me blue

Suzie Q

He never said he’ll be true. Part Four kicks into play when we’re introduced to Joseph’s illegitimate son.

Well, that’s a story for another day.

Lisa Lisa’s Discography

“This is Cult Jam” (Artists: Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Album: Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam with Full Force, 1985)

“All Cried Out” (Artists: Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Album: Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam with Full Force, 1985)

“Behind My Eyes” (Artists: Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Album: Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam with Full Force, 1985)

Wired Beck’s Discography

“Led Boots” (Artists: Jeff Beck, Album: Wired, 1976)

“Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” (Artists: Jeff Beck, Album: Wired, 1976)

“Play with Me” (Artists: Jeff Beck, Album: Wired, 1976)

Loggins and Messina’s Discography

“Good Friend” (Artists: Loggins and Messina, Album: Loggins and Messina, 1972)

“Golden Ribbons” (Artists: Loggins and Messina, Album: Loggins and Messina, 1972)

“Angry Eyes” (Artists: Loggins and Messina, Album: Loggins and Messina, 1972)

Suzi Q’s Discography

“I’ve Never Been in Love” (Artist: Suzi Quatro, Album: Suzi… and Other Four Letter Words, 1979)

“If You Can’t Give Me Love” (Artist: Suzi Quatro, Album: If You Knew Suzi…, 1978)

“Susie Q” (Artist: Dale Hawkins, 1957)

“Susie Q” (Artist: Creedence Clearwater Revival, Album: Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1968)