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.
I Won't Walk Away
Jewel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm out on the street walking home
A small pale blur
Leaving trails like a snail
I move so slow
Time can bruise
Violent indigo
Rush home to your arms
[Chorus]
Wrong or right
Be mine tonight
Harsh world be damned
We'll make a stand
Love can bind
But mine is blind
Others stray but I won't
Walk away
Walk away
The clubs are full
Of couples resisting being one
They wear their youth
Like badges that tarnish all too soon
We'll be a team
Our two will be one
Love will be our fortress
When all else comes undone
[Chorus]
Sometimes the world don't make sense
Small children filled with violence
Let our light shine through the night
The lyrics of Jewel's song "I Won't Walk Away" evoke a sense of loneliness, vulnerability, and perseverance in the face of the harsh world. In the first verse, the imagery of a lonely street lamp and a small pale blur leaving trails like a snail sets a melancholic tone. The singer moves so slow, perhaps feeling burdened by the weight of the world. Time can bruise, suggesting that life's challenges can leave lasting scars. And yet, there is hope in the bright color of "violent indigo," signaling a fierce determination to keep going.
The chorus asserts the singer's commitment to love, despite its difficulties. Whether right or wrong, they want to be with their beloved tonight and make a stand against the harsh world. While love can bind, the singer's love is blind, meaning they are willing to overlook flaws or obstacles because their love is so strong. Others may stray, but they won't walk away, emphasizing the importance of loyalty and commitment in a relationship.
The second verse contrasts the singer's relationship with others in the clubs, who are merely resisting being one. They wear their youth like badges that tarnish all too soon, suggesting that superficiality and vanity are fleeting. But the singer and their beloved will be a team, with love as their fortress when all else comes undone.
In the final lines, the singer acknowledges the senselessness of the world's violence, particularly against innocent children. However, they choose to let their light shine through the night, perhaps meaning that they will continue to love and spread positivity despite the darkness around them.
Line by Line Meaning
A lonely street lamp
I’m walking home alone at night and the only light I have is from a street lamp
I'm out on the street walking home
I'm walking back home after being outside
A small pale blur
I feel invisible in this big world
Leaving trails like a snail
I'm moving slowly and leaving a trail behind me, just like a snail
I move so slow
I'm moving at a slow pace, feeling weary and tired
Time can bruise
Life can be tough and it can leave you with emotional bruises
Violent indigo
Emotional pain can be so intense that it feels like a bruise, turning dark like the color indigo
Rush home to your arms
I can't wait to get home to feel safe in your embrace
You soothe my weary soul
Being with you eases the pain and tiredness I feel
[Chorus]
A declaration of love and loyalty
Wrong or right
No matter what, I choose to be with you tonight
Be mine tonight
I want to be with you and express my love tonight
Harsh world be damned
No matter how difficult the world may be, I'm holding on to this moment with you
We'll make a stand
Together, we will defy the odds
Love can bind
Love brings two people together and makes them strong
But mine is blind
Despite any flaws or issues, I'm devoted to your love
Others stray but I won't
Some people may become unfaithful, but I will remain loyal
Walk away
I won't give up on our love, even if times get tough
The clubs are full
People are out and about, looking for companionship and love
Of couples resisting being one
Despite being together, some couples struggle with being one unit
They wear their youth
While some people focus on staying young, I cherish the time we have together
Like badges that tarnish all too soon
People's focus on youth doesn't last forever and can sometimes fade quickly
We'll be a team
We will face the world together
Our two will be one
Despite our differences, we will be united
Love will be our fortress
Love will protect us from the harsh outside world
When all else comes undone
Even in tough times, love will remain strong
[Chorus]
A declaration of love and loyalty
Sometimes the world don't make sense
The world can be chaotic and confusing
Small children filled with violence
Innocent children are often affected by violence and negativity in the world
Let our light shine through the night
Our love can be a source of light during difficult times
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: JEWEL KILCHER, RICK NOWELS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Abdul Halim
Hear her sings like it's a gentle flowing stream and listen to her soft breath like a fresh sea breeze....a beautiful song and an amazing singer-songwriter .
Raghavendra Ramachandrappa
Claaasestt performance ! Flawless !! One & only JK 🙏
brian brenton
No one else sounds like she does, or sings how she does.
Clint Walker
My wife Kathy Ann walker ❤️ s her and when i think of my wife jewels music revives our love through the song, lyrics,vibe, and sweet melody of being loved by the most beautiful woman to me in the world and thru out our universe
Steve Pettersen
Fan forever!
Anne Cox
❤️
Sharrice Barnes
She looks the same age as she did in 1999
Adam Ensley
I ❤ u
Christine Klutts
WHAT !!! She’s got out NEW MUSIC?? ❤
Clint Walker
Kathy walker ❤️ you more than I could ever feel and love.i hope and have faith that you will see that I will love you till the end and always have loved you...may God bless you my love mrs tigress walker