Jewel is the daughter of Nedra Carroll, an artist and personal manager, and Atz Kilcher, an elementary school music teacher, folk singer and social worker. Her mother of Irish descent and her father is of Swiss-German origin. She is the cousin of actress Q'Orianka Kilcher. She spent most of her young life in Homer, Alaska, United States, living with her father. The home she grew up in did not have indoor plumbing; it had a simple outhouse instead. She and her father sometimes earned a living by singing in bars and taverns. It was from these experiences she learned to yodel, a quality demonstrated in many of her songs. Her father was a Mormon, but they stopped attending the church shortly before she turned eight. Yule Kilcher, her grandfather, was a state senator involved in drafting Alaska's constitution for its admission into a state from a territory in 1959.
During high school, Jewel was known to spell her name "Jule" or "Juel," but she attributes this to simply playing with her name.
Jewel learned to play the guitar while at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan, United States where she majored in operatic voice. She started writing songs at the age of seventeen.
For a time, she was poverty-stricken and lived in her van while traveling about the country doing street performances and small gigs. She gained some recognition by singing at the Innerchange Coffeehouse and Java Joe's in San Diego, California, United States. Her friend Steve Poltz's band, The Rugburns, played at the same venues. Jewel later collaborated with Poltz on some of her songs, including "You Were Meant For Me" (He also appeared in the second, best-known, video for this song). The Rugburns opened for Jewel on her Tiny Lights tour in 1997. Poltz appeared in Jewel's band on the Spirit World Tour 1999 playing guitar.
In 1993, Michael Balzary (better known by the stage name – Flea) of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers met Jewel after he saw her perform at a local cafe. He went back to her van where she was living, where she sang a few of her songs to him. He described her singing voice as being "beautiful" and "breathtaking".
Jewel was discovered by Inga Vainshtein in August 1993, when a musician from a local San Diego band, Rust, whom Vainshtein was managing at the time, called to tell her about a girl surfer who sang at a local coffee shop on Thursdays. Vainshtein drove to Innerchange coffee shop with a rep from Atlantic Records, and after the show they called Danny Goldberg, the head of Atlantic Records west coast operations, and asked him to pay for Jewel's demo. Vainshtein eventually became Jewel's manager, and was instrumental in creating a major bidding war, which led to Jewel's deal with Atlantic Records. She cut her debut album, Pieces of You, when she was nineteen and it was released in 1995. Jewel recorded "Pieces of You" in a studio on Neil Young's ranch, and was backed by his band, The Stray Gators, who played on Neil Young's "Harvest" and "Harvest Moon" albums. Part of the album was cut live at the Innerchange Coffeehouse in San Diego where she had risen to local fame. The album stayed on the Billboard 200 for an impressive two years, reaching number four at its peak. The album spawned the Top 10 hits "You Were Meant for Me", "Who Will Save Your Soul" and "Foolish Games". The album was a huge success and eventually sold over 12 million copies in the United States. alone, more than all of her subsequent albums put together.
Due to her successes, she was chosen to sing the American national anthem at the opening of the Super Bowl in January 1998 in San Diego. She was introduced as "San Diego's own Jewel!" However, she was criticized for lip-syncing the anthem to a pre-recording. This was especially noticeable due to her missing her cue and not mouthing the first words.
In November 1998, Jewel released her second album, Spirit. The album peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 4 million copies in the United States. The songs "Hands" and "Down So Long" hit the Top 10. Other singles followed, a new version of "Jupiter (Swallow The Moon)", "What's Simple Is True", the theme song to her upcoming movie, and the charity single "Life Uncommon".
A year later, In November 1999, Jewel released Joy: A Holiday Collection. The album sold over a million copies and peaked at #32 on the Billboard 200. She released a cover of "Joy to the World" from the album.
In November 2001, the album This Way was released. The album peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 1 million copies in the United States, standing as her most critically acclaimed album to date. Jewel hit the Top 10 with the song "Standing Still" and the Top 40 with the song "Break Me". Other singles released were "This Way" and "Serve The Ego", the latter giving Jewel her first number one club hit.
In 2003, Jewel released the album 0304. She writes in the liner notes, "I wanted to make a record that was a modern interpretation of big band music. A record that was lyric driven, like Cole Porter, that also had a lot of swing. And a lot of it is thanks to Lester, because when I told him I wanted to make a record that combined dance, urban, and folk music, he didn't look at me like I was crazy." While some fans considered 0304 an innovative album that held to the tradition of her previous albums, others felt that it was too much of a departure from the style of her previous albums. Following the limited success of "Serve the Ego", Jewel moved to a more pop-oriented sound with the release of the single "Intuition". The song, which strays from her usual folk style with simple guitar instrumentation, starts off with a French accordion and experiments with pop beats using synthesizers. The song was successful, reaching #5 on the Billboard Adult Top 40. However, a number of Jewel's fans criticized her for abandoning her traditional folk style in exchange for a new pop sound. Accusations of "selling out" for personal gain, among other things, were made. Despite the different sound style, the song is lyrically similar to her previous work. It has a number of references to culture, including mentioning celebrities such as pop star Jennifer Lopez, model Kate Moss, magazines, film culture and commercialism.
On May 2, 2006, Jewel released her sixth album, Goodbye Alice In Wonderland. The album received mixed reviews, but still managed to debut at #8 on the Billboard Albums Chart. The album sold 82,000 copies in its first week out. The lead single "Again and Again" has had moderate success on Adult Top 40 Radio, peaking at #16. The second single, "Good Day", was released to radio in late June but failed to gain any traction on the radio airplay charts. Later, a video for "Stephenville, TX", her next single, has been seen on Yahoo! Launch.
As of December 2006, the album barely sold 270,000 copies. It is notable in that it is the only Jewel album not to achieve Gold certification, even though it has been hailed as arguably one of her best albums. As one music critic, Timothy Duggan, notes: "This album showcases Jewel's unique talent as a lyricist, alongside a definite growth in her musicianship. It is what 'Pieces of You' might have been had Jewel had the musical knowledge then that she has now. A very satisfying work, all in all". Rolling Stone however, called the album "overdone and undercooked" with a rating of 2 stars out of 5.
In early February 2007, Jewel recorded a duet with Jason Michael Carroll, "No Good in Goodbye (With Jewel)", that was featured on Carroll's debut CD, "Waitin' in the Country". She also made a promotional appearance on the T in Boston for the Verizon Yellow Pages, playing songs on a moving subway car and then doing an hour-long acoustic concert in South Station for a large crowd of adoring fans. In an interview with the Boston Globe, Jewel confirmed that she is no longer affiliated with a record label, confirming rumors that Atlantic Records failed to renew her contract after the lackluster sales of her then-latest album. She also hinted that she would like to do a country album next. She is working with John Rich of Big & Rich fame. He says that she is "probably one of the greatest American singer-songwriters we have had". He also said that "every label in Nashville" is talking to her now.
In November 2007, Jewel was signed to Valory Records, a newly formed division of the independent Big Machine Records label. Her first country album, Perfectly Clear, is currently scheduled for release on June 3, 2008; its lead single, Stronger Woman was released to country radio on January 17, 2008, and has entered the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. As of the April 26, 2008 country charts, the single was #13 on the charts, which is its peak position thus far.
She will tour with Brad Paisley, Chuck Wicks, and Julianne Hough on Paisley's 2008 tour.
Official site: www.jeweljk.com
2. Jewel is also japanese heavy metal band. Activity (1984-1989, 2000-2001).
3. Jewel is also a raw black metal band from Canada.
A Boy Needs a Bike
Jewel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mom's on the phone and she's kind of irate
Sally's doing sommersaults on the lawn
Pop slams open the front screen door
Just to scare mom
She says, what the hell did you do that for?
He washes his dirty hands in the sink
And things around the table are kind of rough
Pa says, the times are just tough
And me and sally don't say much of nothing at all
The garage door light brightens up the night
Pa always works on cars when he gets in a fight
As though he could figure out that woman by working on that
Old car
He said a car can cure any problem at all
'Cause of looking at all them parts makes a fight look so small
But I wish he'd just put me and sally in the backseat and
Drive us away
That's when he sits me down
He says he's gonna teach me about life
He said, "a man needs a car and a boy needs a bike"
I got my first taste of freedom beneath the light of the moon
But if it were me
I'd have the guts to put to test those bolts and nuts
And I'd ride away so fast, so far
Ride away, so fast, so far
Put away our tools
We go back inside
Mom feels left out and now she's starting to cry
I wonder if all girls are crazy this way
I wish pops would just get a spine
I said I know it's kind of small but you can borrow mine
He just smiled and said, "your mom means well son"
Most times are good it's just some that are lean
But it's love that makes up for those times in beteween
He got a tear in his eye as he took mamma's hand
Said one day I'd understand
But if it were me
I'd have the guts to put to test those bolts and nuts
And I'd ride away so far, so fast
Ride away so fast so far
Ride away
Jewel's song "A Boy Needs a Bike" is a poignant and heartfelt narrative of a young boy growing up in a working-class family. The lyrics take the listener through the boy's daily life, where his father works in a shop until late and his mother is always on the phone. Throughout the song, the boy longs for freedom and escape, dreaming of riding away on his bike. However, as he reflects on his parents' struggle to provide for their family, he learns that love is what truly makes up for the hard times.
The song's opening lines set the stage for the boy's world, as he describes his father working late and his mother's irate phone conversations. He observes his sister playing on the lawn, but the tense atmosphere inside their home hangs heavy. The boy's father comes home, slamming the door to scare his wife, and washes his hands in the sink. The tension around the table is palpable, and the boy senses that times are tough. Through these descriptions, Jewel creates a vivid sense of the family's daily struggle, and the boy's wish to escape it.
However, the boy also recognizes that his parents love him and his sister deeply. When his father takes him aside and tells him that "a man needs a car and a boy needs a bike," he is imparting more than just practical advice. He wants his son to understand that while times may be tough, the family's love for each other will carry them through. The boy's desire to ride away on his bike takes on a deeper meaning as he realizes that it is not escape that he truly wants, but a way to carry love with him wherever he goes.
Overall, "A Boy Needs a Bike" is a touching tribute to the bonds of family and the power of love. Jewel's lyrics paint a vivid picture of a boy's world and the struggles of his parents, while also illuminating the resilience and strength that come from love.
Line by Line Meaning
Pop works in the shop til eight
The singer's father works long hours in the shop.
Mom's on the phone and she's kind of irate
The singer's mother is angry on the phone which is causing tension at home.
Sally's doing sommersaults on the lawn
The singer's sister is playing on the lawn.
Pop slams open the front screen door / Just to scare mom / She says, what the hell did you do that for?
The father slams the screen door to startle his wife and they bicker as a result.
He washes his dirty hands in the sink / And things around the table are kind of rough / Mom says it's pa / Pa says, the times are just tough
The father washes his hands while the family argues about their financial struggles.
And me and sally don't say much of nothing at all
The singer and their sister are quiet during the argument.
The garage door light brightens up the night / Pa always works on cars when he gets in a fight / As though he could figure out that woman by working on that / Old car
The father works on cars in the garage when he's upset with his wife, hoping to find some clarity in the process.
He said a car can cure any problem at all / 'Cause of looking at all them parts makes a fight look so small
The father believes that working on cars is therapeutic and can alleviate any problem, including his marital issues.
But I wish he'd just put me and sally in the backseat and / Drive us away
The artist wishes their father would take them away from the tumultuous household, even for a little while.
That's when he sits me down / He says he's gonna teach me about life / He said, "a man needs a car and a boy needs a bike"
The father shares his perspective on needs, saying that a man needs a car and a boy needs a bike in order to learn and grow.
I got my first taste of freedom beneath the light of the moon / But if it were me / I'd have the guts to put to test those bolts and nuts / And I'd ride away so fast, so far / Ride away, so fast, so far
The singer experiences freedom for the first time riding their bike but wishes to take it to even greater distances, testing their mechanical knowledge and ability.
Put away our tools / We go back inside / Mom feels left out and now she's starting to cry
After working on the car, the family goes back inside where the mother feels left out and starts to cry.
I wonder if all girls are crazy this way / I wish pops would just get a spine / I said I know it's kind of small but you can borrow mine / He just smiled and said, "your mom means well son"
The singer thinks their mother is acting irrationally and wishes their father would stand up to her, offering his own support instead.
Most times are good it's just some that are lean / But it's love that makes up for those times in beteween / He got a tear in his eye as he took mamma's hand / Said one day I'd understand
The father acknowledges that times are tough but love makes it all worthwhile, getting emotional and holding his wife's hand while telling their child that they'll understand when they're older.
But if it were me / I'd have the guts to put to test those bolts and nuts / And I'd ride away so far, so fast / Ride away so fast so far / Ride away
The singer repeats their desire to test their mechanical skills and ride away to freedom.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: JEWEL KILCHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind