From: owner-jewel-digest@smoe.org (jewel-digest) To: jewel-digest@smoe.org Subject: jewel-digest V10 #188 Reply-To: jewel@smoe.org Sender: owner-jewel-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-jewel-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk jewel-digest Saturday, August 6 2005 Volume 10 : Number 188 * If you ever wish to unsubscribe from this digest, send an email to * jewel-digest-request@smoe.org with ONLY the word * unsubscribe in the BODY of the email * . * For the latest news on what Jewel is up to, go to * the OFFICIAL Jewel web site at http://www.jeweljk.com * and click on "calendar" * . * 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 V9 #___ gives fellow list readers * no clue as to what your message is about. Today's Subjects: ----------------- [EDA] Jill Sobule on Jewel [C O ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 22:00:47 -0400 From: C O Subject: [EDA] Jill Sobule on Jewel I've recently become a big fan of Jill Sobule when I saw her openingfor Martin Sexton a couple of months back, both really greatsinger/songwriters. Check them out if they play near your, it was agreat show.Anyway, I was looking through Jill's website where she posts andonline journal and found this entry about Jewel back in the earlydays... The Story Behind the Song - 10/24/04 (Originally written for Performing Songwriter magazine) I could slip, I could fall In that mean and awful hall With the other jealous bitches And the bitter grumbling men I could sneer, I could glare Say that life is so unfair And the one who made it Made it cuz her breasts were really big. - -- Bitter (Sobule/Barone) Everyone thought that I wrote that first verse about Jewel. I honestlydidn't. I really have no beef with her. She's talented, has a nicevoice, and can yodel. But I do have a story. I was at SXSW (a music industry showcase in Austin). I had just beensigned to Atlantic Records and was about to play one of those horribleshows for chatty catty record company posers -- I did not have thisattitude fully developed back then. Anyway, it was a double bill withan unknown female singer/songwriter also debuting on Atlantic namedJewel. Jewel, at that time, was this cute, slightly chubby hippie girl whosang folk songs and lived in a van (that was the story). She performedbefore me, as I had put out a CD on another label earlier and had moreof a name (which was not saying much). As she got on stage, the jadedaudience maybe looked up once, and then talked through her entire set.After her 5th song, she left in tears. I felt so bad for her, and knew exactly how she felt. I wentbackstage, gave her a hug, and gave her some big sisterly advice: "Itwasn't you. You were great, and they are just big assholes." I thoughtto myself, this poor girl is going to be so eaten up by this world ofbroken promises and heartache (something like that). As bad as I felt for her, I was determined to kick some ass. I openedup with my "when it's a hostile crowd" opening number, Don't Fuck WithMe. It has worked opening up Paul Weller's lager-swilling fans, DonHenley's ex hippie now Republican crowd, and even did magic with thesemi-goth frat boy Godsmack show. And yes, this cheap trick worked inAustin. They shut up. I knew right then and there that I was going tobe Atlantic Record's new diva. "I was gonna be a star" (said in a kindof 1930's NY Broadway manager way). Zoom 7 months later: I was playing the Lillith Fair. This was big,this was huge. Except for the fact that I was on the second stagescheduled at 4:00. And the tickets said the show started at 4:30. Myaudience consisted mostly of volunteers putting out the foldingchairs. On the main stage at 8:00 was... yes, Jewel. Things had not turned out the way I had imagined. I just want to say again, and I know I am being redundant, that I amnot bitter and am happy for Jewel's success. This is not a zero sumgame. I was so grateful to be at Lillith. But dang, what about me?Jewel was in a cool rock van with two lounges and a satellite dish. Iwas in a rented Ford Probe with my friend David. Jewel was probably atthe Ritz. I was in the junkie/whore motel. Most whores do not looklike Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Zoom... 2 days later: Sorta bummed. I woke up with a terrible sorethroat. I called the promoter, and she said there was a doctor set upin a trailer behind Stage three. As I walked in, the doctor said,"when I heard you were coming, I was so excited. I have to tell youthat my two daughters adore you. They know every lyric you sing." I was starting to already feel better. I just needed a little love. Ineeded to know that there were smart girls out there that appreciategood music and are not sucked in by all the crap. I needed to knowthat someone looked beyond I Kissed a Girl and was moved by my melodicsense and lyrical prowess. I needed someone to buy my CD. This was asign. I could start hoping again. As I skipped out the door, the doctor rushed out and asked if Iwouldn't mind signing an autograph for his daughters. I eagerly did,while making an extra flourish on the J. As I walked out for thesecond time, he said, "thank you so much, Jewel." I don't want to get bitter. I don't want to turn cruel. I don't want to get old before I have to. I don't want to get jaded Petrified and weighted. I don't want to get bitter like you Like you with the darts in your eyes You with disdain for mankind I was charmed, now I wonder So, I'll smile with the rest Wishing everyone the best And know the one who made it, Made it cause she Was actually pretty good Oh, I have another little story relating to my song Bitter. Bitter wasgoing to be the big single off my 3rd CD, Happy Town, but the labelwas worried that it had the word "bitch" in it (and this was waybefore the FCC got out of hand). They wanted me to replace "bitch"with something that Wal-Mart would be okay with. I went back in thestudio and replaced the offending word with... "cunt." I thought it was funny. They didn't. ------------------------------ End of jewel-digest V10 #188 ****************************