From: owner-jewel-digest@smoe.org (jewel-digest) To: jewel-digest@smoe.org Subject: jewel-digest V12 #250 Reply-To: jewel@smoe.org Sender: owner-jewel-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-jewel-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk jewel-digest Friday, February 1 2008 Volume 12 : Number 250 * 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 V12 #___ gives fellow list readers * no clue as to what your message is about. Today's Subjects: ----------------- [EDA] jewel discussion [Theresa Bolger Gubrud ] [EDA] Billboard review of "Stronger Woman" ["Scott Evans" Subject: [EDA] jewel discussion Wow... interesting discussion! I agree with what everyone has said to some degree, so as others have said in Jewel's defense: we KNOW she's never been too good on the computer (until now obviously), blogging & my space makes a huge difference in her ability to communicate with us, there's no way after POY she could have had the same kind of time she had before it to communicate and create that intimacy with her fans, but I believe she tried -- don't forget about somewhat more recent private fan shows such as Nashville or walking in on Poltz's shows to sing with him (Hotel Cafe LA, CA in as late as 2003) in other words she's still been around and trying to do "special" things for us, she had to finish her contract with Atlantic (which she's said had a lot to say about what she could do) and if you take 0304 out of the mix, this country album isn't that much of a stretch from the rest of her albums. Personally, in a lot of ways This Way album especially, has country elements I think -- LMJLMA especially sounds country rock to me -- one of the genres I was raised on. 0304: That was the odd album for me, the stretch, the "this is not the Jewel I know & love".... and is by far my least favorite album of hers. I don't anticipate this country album being that way out different than the others. People who listen to folk, country rock, country, rock -- those genres can blur for many people. 0304 pop was not as easy for me to go to. Except when she did them acoustic live. And likewise, 0304 seemed to be the only album she put out that some people liked. My kids have grown up on Jewel (my boys think that's unfortunate for them -- my daughter likes her and has been to shows with me) but 0304 was the first Jewel album their friends knew about and/or owned. Some of them even thought it was her first album period. And when I tried to turn them on to POY and the rest, they weren't impressed and some didn't even believe those were really Jewel albums. But on the other hand, she has a right to try what she wants to try to do with her music. Also, GAIW (the song): I think she might have been a lot hurt and a bit pissed at us for a while, which may be why we don't feel she's been as accessible. I've said this before on this list, but I really think that song referred to us more than it did to the industry itself. I really believe the "you" in that song is us -- the hardcore fans. Even in the video, the way it's shot -- the intimacy and non- production quality of it, close up face, mostly looking directly into the camera -- especially when she sings "I thought you had to love me, but you did not" she gets closer to the camera and looks directly at us, and same with "you forged my love like a weapon, & turned it against me like a knife, etc....." look at the expression on her face and in her eyes. The whole video is just different than her other videos -- no "story" to it -- like the song IS the only story she wants us to get. The first time I saw it, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. And if she was hurt and pissed, she had every right to be. Some of the things said about her MAKING 0304, so many negative comments (on this list even -- "she's selling out," etc.), some were pretty nasty. Also, I think it's interesting too that Long Slow Slide (which she has said is one of the most autobiographical songs she's ever written) is right before GAIW on that album and Good Day is right after it. Almost like the personal decline, reflection and resolution. I know I'm probably reading a lot into it (I read too much into everything!!), but regardless, I think she had ideas about "hardcore fans" that she may have had to redefine after 0304. Maybe she needed to lay low from us for a while, take a step back. Studies in Love '95, Cowboy Waltz (Angel) '99, Rosy & Mick '01, Anybody But You '99, Til We Run Out of Road '01, Happy Endings '02, So Close to Heaven '99, etc., etc., etc., all those songs and many more sound country in varying degrees to me, blur the lines between genres and she's been doing them forever -- and even referred to a lot of them as country songs in shows. And remember all the other genres she's experimented with -- and sung to us at what was "suppose to be" a folk, rock or pop show: Life Uncommon was sung gospel at the Christmas show, she's still doing Cole Porter, musical classics like Somewhere Over the Rainbow, American/Alaskan folk like You Are My Sunshine and Chime Bells, Jazz standards like The Other Woman & Love Me or Leave Me and opera like Per La Gloria D'adorarvi and Lasciateme Morirre. Even on POY -- labeled folk or not, the songs are all so different -- that's what's so great about that album, I think. Anyway, I don't think she's ever stuck to any particular genre, so it makes sense to me that she'd be doing different things. And country seems more logical than a lot of the above (if you don't know her background anyway). I think her motives for this country album are pure; I don't believe she's switching only to make a comeback or revive her career. I mean if it does, that's the icing. But I don't think that's why. She's been talking about doing it for years at her shows. And I think we're hearing more from her now cause she started blogging -- it's direct. No one has to issue a statement, call a webmaster or whatever the hell she had to do before to get news out to us. She even said she was going to treat the blog almost like a journal -- like she just discovered she could use it that way. One thing I do agree with though -- I have lots of copies of lots of her songs and I don't like it when she takes songs I know inside and out and puts them on an album. I tend to like them stripped in the first place so I rarely like the mixed album versions better (LMJLMA is about the only one I like better on the album than earlier live versions). I get used to them the way I know them, and most of all, I wait for a new album to hear songs I've never heard before. I wish she wouldn't do that. And I am getting a little tired of love songs. Well, goodnight! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:26:17 -0500 From: "Scott Evans" Subject: [EDA] Billboard review of "Stronger Woman" Not raving, but positive nonetheless: "The notion of Jewel crossing to country is as organic as a bale of hay. Her music, lifestyle and live shows have always been tinted with more than a twinge of twang. And with adult top 40 leaning ever younger and more rock-based, mainstream radio's loss is country's privileged gain. "Stronger Woman" is by no means a departure vocally or lyrically; it simply adorns steel guitar and other Nashville-friendly production elements into the mix. The message, admittedly, is target-marketed: "I'm gonna love myself more than anyone else, believe in me, even if someone can't see/ There's a stronger woman in me." Then, to ensure added female-friendly punch, she adds, "The kind of woman I want my daughter to be." With the format already ushering in the Eagles, Huey Lewis and Miley Cyrus while top 40 remains mired in age-old rap novelties country is becoming the new melodic mainstream. With female superstars in short supply, Jewel is a precious gem in the country crown. Chuck Taylor" - -- Scott Anthony Evans scott@scottanthony.org http://www.scottanthony.org ------------------------------ End of jewel-digest V12 #250 ****************************