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 â 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.
Sweet Home Alabama
Jewel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the Southland
Miss my Alabama once again
And I think its a sin, yeah
I heard Mister Young sing about her
I heard ole Neil put her down
I hope Neil Young will remember
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
In Birmingham they love the governor
Now we all did what we could do
Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you?
Now tell the truth
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
You don't gotta be from down here to get along just fine,
being southern is a state of mind
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Sweet home Alabama
Oh so sweet
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Oh, just singin' so sweet
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Oh I'm coming home
The lyrics to Jewel's cover of the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic, Sweet Home Alabama, reflect on the love and pride for Alabama and the South as a whole, while also taking a shot at Neil Young and his song, "Southern Man," which portrayed a negative perception of the South. The lyrics begin with "Big wheels keep on turning, carry me home to see my kin," suggesting a longing to return home and see family. The song then speaks to the beauty of the South and how it is lyrically rich, with "singing songs about the Southland." However, the line, "and I think it's a sin" seems to allude to the idea that the beauty of the South is also marred with racism and hate.
Jewel then sings about Neil Young and his song, "Southern Man," which portrayed the South in a negative light. She sings "I hope Neil Young will remember, a Southern man don't need him around anyhow," suggesting a disdain for Young's portrayal of the South. The song then transitions to speaking about politics, contrasting Watergate and the love for the governor in Birmingham. The song ends with a reiteration of the love for Sweet Home Alabama and the line "you don't gotta be from down here to get along just fine, being southern is a state of mind."
Line by Line Meaning
Big wheels keep on turning
Life keeps moving forward and I'm trying to keep up
Carry me home to see my kin
I miss my family and my childhood home
Singing songs about the Southland
I love the culture and music of the South
Miss my Alabama once again
I feel a strong sense of nostalgia for my home state
And I think its a sin, yeah
It hurts me to be away from home for so long
I heard Mister Young sing about her
I heard Neil Young's song criticizing Alabama
I heard ole Neil put her down
I heard Neil Young insult Alabama's people and values
I hope Neil Young will remember
I hope Neil Young realizes the error of his ways
A Southern man don't need him around anyhow
A true southern man doesn't need someone like Neil Young around if they can't show respect
Sweet home Alabama
Alabama is my home and it's the best place to be
Where the skies are so blue
I love the clear blue skies of Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
I can't wait to return to Alabama
In Birmingham they love the governor
The people of Birmingham are supportive of their governor
Now we all did what we could do
We did our part to help and support the governor
Watergate does not bother me
I'm not worried about the Watergate scandal affecting me personally
Does your conscience bother you?
Do you feel guilty for supporting the wrong people or actions?
Now tell the truth
Be honest with yourself and others
You don't gotta be from down here to get along just fine,
You don't have to be from the South to fit in or feel welcome
being southern is a state of mind
Southern culture and values are about attitude and perspective, not just geography
Oh so sweet
Alabama is so wonderful
Oh, just singin' so sweet
I can't help but express my love for Alabama through song
Oh I'm coming home
I'm eagerly anticipating my return to Alabama
Lyrics Š Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Robert Rossington, Edward C. King
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nokyoongisapeacock2739
Big wheels keep on turning
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the south-land
I miss 'ole' 'bamy once again and I think it's a sin
Well I heard Mister Young sing about her
Well I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A southern man don't need him around anyhow
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
In Birmingham they love the Gov'nor, boo-hoo-hoo
Now we all did what we could do
Now Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you, tell the truth
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you, here I come
Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
And they've been known to pick a song or two (yes they do)
Lord they get me off so much
They pick me up when I'm feeling blue, now how bout you?
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Sweet home Alabama, oh sweet home
Where the skies are so blue and the governor's true
Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
@richardroyster2749
Thank you ! Iâm from Alabama . I live in Texas now. But Alabama home!
@aubsarg0222
Jewel did amazing!!!
@marvemarge9624
Beautiful song of cover of lyn skyn and beautiful woman â¤đĽšđ¤ rock on
@botifigus
Being Southern is a birthright! Transcends the state of mind!
@scottesk4078
They don't rise to the level of excellence of Lynyrd Skynyrd, but done well enough...
@annieparker5212
Love this
@junioroliveira47
Best version ever!
@laurapoulsen276
She did a wonderful job but for sure not better than Lynard Skynard. Never say anyone is better than Lynard Skynard đ
@user-cn1yp3gv4q
NO!!!! but it is very good......
@chrissparks8560
I think Ronnie would be proud of this version...He probably was dancin at the pearly gates.