From: owner-jewel-digest@smoe.org (jewel-digest) To: jewel-digest@smoe.org Subject: jewel-digest V4 #83 Reply-To: jewel@smoe.org Sender: owner-jewel-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-jewel-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk jewel-digest Tuesday, February 23 1999 Volume 04 : Number 083 * If you ever wish to unsubscribe, send an email to * jewel-digest-request@smoe.org with ONLY the word * unsubscribe in the body of the email * . * For the latest information on Jewel tour dates, go to: * http://jewel.zoonation.com and click on "TOUR" * OR * go to the OFFICIAL Jewel home page at http://www.jeweljk.com * and go to the "What, When, Where" section * . * PLEASE :) when you reply to this digest to send a post TO the list, * change the subject to reflect what your post is about. A subject * of Re: jewel-digest V4 #xxx or the like gives readers no clue * as to what your message is about. Today's Subjects: ----------------- "New" Jewel Debate ["Rebecca Smith" ] Hey Guys [Keky11@aol.com] "Jupiter"-my interpretations OR jewel's music is very straight [] an addendum to my letter (from Linda) [BenderGrrl@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 17:04:42 PST From: "Rebecca Smith" Subject: "New" Jewel Debate Hello to all, I finally decided to de-lurk and post my thoughts about the debate that keeps on giving (hm, better than a Sports Illustrated subscription). :) My thoughts on the matter (as with everything else) are continually evolving, but here are my latest thoughts. When I first heard Pieces of You, I got so excited! It was so different than anything out there. The sort of stream-of-consciousness lyrics and liner poetry were much more similar to my own writings and thoughts than the bland, rhymey sawdust played continually on the radio, and more heartfelt and raw. I was inspired! I wrote and wrote and wrote like a madwoman! I was the king of the world! :) (oh no wait, that was that leo dude). Anyway, I was rocked by the power of her stuff, and also amazed to find out that she was just a regular, down-to-earth gal from rural Alaska. She didn't have famous people in her family tree, and she didn't have a lot of money to get her music heard, in fact (gasp) she lived in her van! Wowzers! So maybe that impossible dream really isn't so impossible after all! My point is this: I'm thinking that along with the powerful music and lyrics of POY, part of the allure was that we felt she was someone we could identify with, someone we could maybe be friends with, someone a bit more approachable than other mega-starts. And someone who made our dreams seem a little closer, more attainable. But now that POY has sold umpteen-millions and she's in some magazine or on some television show almost every day, and doing movies and books and has released a new cd, she seems more out of reach. Her old cd sounded more rough, something that made us think, "hey, I might be able to do that!" Her new cd sounds polished and produced, not really something most people are going to hear and think, "hey, I could do that too!" about. Because it took more work, money, manpower, production to record and produce, and the sound has less nooks and crannies and is more smooth. Jewel just doesn't seem as approachable as she did before. Not that most of us had opportunities to hang out with her before, or see her perform in a nice cozy coffeeshop (although some lucky EDAs have, the majority have not), but now that seems way less likely to happen. I think that, subconsciously, some of us might not like the new cd as much because it seems less friendly, less encouraging of our own creative hopes. While it is a solid cd musically and lyrically, it doesn't have that same homespun quality we could identify so closely with on POY. The more of a mega-star Jewel becomes, and the more she fits in with that image and exposure, the less us regular people can identify with her. Just my thoughts, sorry for the length; I hope I made sense. Blessed Be Rebecca :) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 20:06:27 EST From: Keky11@aol.com Subject: Hey Guys Hey I know everybody is talking about this now in the list and I usually don't post I like to read your opinions better than to write mines, but I've been thinking about telling you my opinion about Jewel's new CD. I like better POY because it's like you can listen to Jewel and her guitar, the aplauses after the songs...etc..., it's a CD where almost all her songs are live performed. I like how she played her guitar and I think the songs on POY were more different from each other. In spirit I love the lyrics but the rythm is almost the same in most of the songs and there is just like 2 that are not slow....they are not like Who Will Save Your Soul or like Little Sister.... and I do think she's changing, she's becoming another popular singer. Before, she was different. But I still love her music althought I like to listen to POY more than I like to listen to Spirit. I think changes are good, we don't truly know if she actually likes this change in her music. But I read somewhere that she didn't like the fact that POY was all live performed and that she felt Spirit was a better CD in lots of ways. But there's nothing that can actually tell us if this is what she thinks or not. I would like her to give us another CD ( may be the next one ) with some songs played by her with her guitar and just her lovely voice... Thank You Guys for reading this, it's just one more opinion. Lots of Love, Ali "The Little And CRaZY angel" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 21:06:19 -0600 (CST) From: Subject: "Jupiter"-my interpretations OR jewel's music is very straight Umm..well..I know this is gonna be short and sweet but I have one thing to say about the song jupiter...You know the tori amos song, hey jupiter? I think they're talking about two different jupiters..obviously..but the contrast is so odd. The way i see the tori amos song..well..I have am very close to that song. and I used to be to the jewel song. And then "something" happened. And I realized how horribly horribly straight, heterosexual simplistic women to man love her songs are , especially on spirit. It's not that its a bad thing but her music..its purity, its innocence makes her love songs so very ambigous, and yet so very pointed. Very very very straight. That's all I can see in "Jupiter" anymore, and although its still a sweet song, it just made me realize how simple jewel's love songs are ...and i'm not saying she should go and be gay or bi or ..anything like that. I'm just saying I realized how everything's just a little easier when you're straight and you're surronded by cute, straight guys. And jewels brutal simplicity is what makes it really hard for me to listen to her anymore. The end. * Saaaaaaaaaaaab * ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 14:30:16 +1100 From: Dave Wang Subject: Jewel Melbourne Gig G'day from downunder, Firstly, sorry that I haven't individually replied to many people yet from a long time ago (you know who you are) but I have been very busy finishing off university. It's been a while since I posted last (ISP went down for a few months....etc,etc). Anyway, I was posting to say that I am going to the first Jewel concert in Melbourne on the 25th Feb *AND* the third concert on 4th March at the Palais (two days away!). If there are any other Melbourne people going then drop me an email. Is it true that the Melbourne Feb 25th concert is the *first* gig on the Spirit Tour (minus promos, etc)? On the web site it says "SPIRIT TOUR Begins" and underneath says "25th Feb - Palais, Melbourne". If is is then it will be kind of exciting.... Also, saw the Letterman performance here a few days ago too - it was quite enjoyable and gave me a taste of things to come for the next few days. Can't wait for it, will tell you all about it. Until then, take care, Dave - the Aussie Angel. PS Contrary to popular belief, we do NOT 'throw shrimps on the barbie' here....... ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 22:26:59 EST From: BenderGrrl@aol.com Subject: an addendum to my letter (from Linda) I know most of you have read the letter I wrote.. I just want to point out some things i wasn't clear on. I do like some of the songs on the new album even though they're mostly the older ones (though I like Jupiter a lot). I want to stress that i will not abandon Jewel's music... I guess when I re- evaluated my fandom it was mostly just the extreme extent of it. i used to be a big fanatic but now I'm afraid Jewel is not on my frequent playing list (which happens to be mostly ani difranco, tori amos based and soon to include sleater-kinney's new "the hot rock"). Though i am still a fan,... i have a whole wall in my room with framed photos and magazine clippings as well as that 8 dollar glow in the dark "miracles" poster from the "Angel Clan" i bought at a show. Hey I even have a few Bush posters in my room.. they haven't had a new album in ages.. or a new song even.. I don't like to abandon the music i fall in love with.. and I won't. I hope nobody else will either. Even if people call it "trendy" or something because I know that's a problem... stick to your music.. if nobody even likes it.. stick to it.. My brother's discredit Jewel and so do a lot of people i used to work with (as i'm in between jobs now) and when i used to talk about how her new album was coming out they really didn't care but i was excited. and i bought it. and i own lots of angelfood and even some bootleg cd's i bought down at seaside.. i like her music.. i style my singing after her at times in fact i use the Wiltern theatre show from 96 i believe as a warm up tape.. I hope this clears up anything i left foggy.. take care all, Linda the lovable angel ------------------------------ End of jewel-digest V4 #83 **************************