Jewel
Biography
A contemporary folkie renowned for her expressive, crystalline voice, singer/songwriter Jewel was among the most successful female performers to dominate the pop charts throughout the 1990s. Born Jewel Kilcher on May 23, 1974, in Payson, UT, she was raised in remote Homer, AK, and began her music career at the age of six, regularly performing alongside her singer/songwriter parents in local Eskimo villages and tourist attractions. After her parents' divorce, she remained with her father, touring with him for the next seven years.
While attending Michigan's Interlochen Fine Arts Academy, Jewel began writing her first songs; upon graduating, she joined her mother in San Diego, suffering through a series of short-lived day jobs before deciding to flee the nine-to-five world for good, at which time she moved into her van and began focusing on a career in music. Her first regular gig was at the Innerchange, a coffeehouse in Pacific Beach; word quickly spread, and by 1993 she was the subject of a rabid local cult following.
After signing to Atlantic, Jewel issued her debut LP, Pieces of You, in early 1995. The record was a slow starter, not even breaking into the Billboard pop charts until some 14 months after its release; however, the single "Who Will Save Your Soul" eventually became a major hit, and soon the album was a best-seller as well. Two other high-charting singles, "You Were Meant for Me" and "Foolish Games," followed. Pieces of You eventually sold more than 12 million copies, making it one of the highest-selling debut albums of all time. Jewel responded to such unexpected success by releasing 1998's Night Without Armor, a collection of her own spoken word poetry, before unveiling her hotly anticipated second album, Spirit. The record yielded another Top Ten hit, "Hands," and enjoyed multi-platinum sales. A seasonal album entitled Joy: A Holiday Collection followed in late 1999, while Chasing Down the Dawn -- a spoken word album featuring unabridged selections from the book of the same name -- was issued in fall 2000.
This Way appeared one year later and featured such standout singles as "Standing Still;" it also hinted at Jewel's growing fondness for dance music, as a remixed version of "Serve the Ego" wound up topping the American dance/club charts in 2002. Even so, fans and critics were shocked when the singer's next release, 0304, turned out to be a slick dance-pop album. Just as unexpected was Jewel's decision to allow the Schick company to use her album's hit single, "Intuition," for an advertising campaign introducing a new razor. Her new image didn't last long, however, and Goodbye Alice in Wonderland -- released in May 2006 -- marked a return to the warm sound of the singer's earlier work. Although it debuted in the Billboard Top Ten, the album failed to go platinum and marked the end of Jewel's association with Atlantic Records. Working with producer John Rich of Big & Rich, Jewel subsequently refashioned herself as a country singer for 2008's Perfectly Clear, which debuted atop the country albums charts. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Selected Discography

Perfectly Clear
2008

Goodbye Alice In Wonderland
2006

Only One Too (Club Mixes)
2006

0304
2003

This Way
2001
I worked for her folks back in 1982 when Jewel was just a kid yodeling on stage. She had a great voice and even better disposition. . . a peach of a girl...I don't expect that's changed any...but I have to agree...she' s not country.
|
||
I get welled up every time I think about all the hardships she has had to endure.
|
||
funny, I have a friend named jewel, whose singing sounds very similar,
|
||
I heard a unpublished song she sang at a concert. ( I've no idea where ). But it reminded me of my deceased 1st girlfriend. I would like to see her sing it or bring it out on one of her next works.. Violet Eyes.
|
||
whiny voice. She's terrible.
|
||
Love Jewel. She's my favorite artist. I have been listening to her for years.
|
||
okay so who thinks Ty has a big wong? dont they make the cutest couple
the tooth thing is funny |
||
@coraleej - "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is on her latest CD, titled "Lullaby". It was released in May 2009.
|
||
Looking for the song " Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Jewel....Any o n e know where to find it ?
|
||
"Only One Too" Lenny B. Club Mix, great song! I think she's been in the wrong genre, she should be singing dance music, period.
|
||
What's wrong with Kermit the Frog? He's a prolific celebrity - he sings, acts, and directs.
|
||
I love country music, but I also like other styles of music and I don't think Jewel should have crossed into the country world. She may live on a ranch with a cowboy...but her music still sounds the same, it just is not country. Don't get me wrong, I love Jewel and own a few of her records and have been to a few concerts...B e f o r e we know it country music will not have its own definition if people like Jewel and Jessica Simpson keep crossing over! Before you know it Chris Brown will be country;)
|
||
Leave Brittney alone....... . o o o p s I mean Leave Jewel alone
|
||
"Its not easy being green." Kermit the frog? What are you talking about! Listen to "Standing Still" to clear up any concerns about her voice (on the main track or on the backup). This girl is the read deal. Except for occasional strolls down "POP-py lane," (which is how to earn the big bucks - who could blame her? I like cash too!), she is rock solid. She is one of those who will be performing good stuff for the next four decades.
|
||
Jewel has a great voice. But, sad to say, a couple songs she sounded like Kermit the Frog! Sorry, had to say it, but I do love her songs and Voice.
|
||
SHe is great. her music is so touching I don't like her new music but her old music is so real and true like her first album is fantastic. She has so many great songs I love her.
|
||
Jewel definitely has the right to experiment, but it doesn’t feel like a real interest with her. She reminds me of Bowie, always looking for the next hit, always checking the breeze for the latest trend.
Contrast with Loreena McKennitt or Chris Whitley or Dylan, who experiment and don’t give a damn if it sells or not. |
||
Spook:
I agree! 0304 is sell-outy. HOWEVER, I love 0304. It was hearing 0304 that made me look into her work. I love cheesy euro-pop (Cascada, 0304, Tatu, etc). Her other work is multi-facete d , I like that too. Just remember because an artist does new work that you hate, it doesn't discount previous work. Take George Lucas: new Star Wars movies suck; that doesn't make the old ones less great. People trying to argue that 0304 isn't sell-out or the new Star Wars movies are good, are in denial. |
||
I love the way people CANNOT take ANY criticism of Jewel. Her voice is beautiful, early work is very inspiring & heartfelt, but I still think she sold out when she did 0304. She has way too much real talent to go the mainstream, cookie-cutte r route. And this IS a real discussion, Kjersti.
|
||
| report abuse |



