Jewel: Better Than Ever or a Sell Out?

[Bang A Gong]

Do you all remember Jewel back in the day? When "Pieces of You" had just been released and we got a taste of the sweet looking girl who loved singing her own songs and playing her little guitar? She sang simple, yet beautiful, songs with lyrics about standing in the rain and discussions on philosophy.

Then she disappeared.

And then she came back. With a new image. And a new sound. The lady in the casual tank top and jeans was now running around in halter tops and mini skirts, all hair and make up. The guitar was gone and studio produced techno bull**** flooded her music. That damn "Intuition" song? That's not Jewel. It didn't sound like her. The video was horrible. I remember in the "You Were Meant For Me" video she was just lying down on the floor in a long skirt, playing her guitar, and it was nice because it was so simple and there was nothing flashy about it. But then in "Intuition", she's dancing around in skimpy little outfits and shaking her ass with equally scantily clad women dancing around her and big flashing lights in the background.

What the hell happened? Why did she do this? She was so original and talented and her music was amazing, but then she conformed. Before, all she cared about was the music on the CD. Now, all she cares about is the face on the front cover of the CD. It's about the money and the image now, not the music. And that's sad. She used to be so incredible.

Another one bites the dust.

[AllIWantIsYourClutch]

I miss Jewel. :( She used to be great. Her new image is crap. You're right..It's not her.

[Rhiannon]

She's definately sold out. I want the old Jewel back!

[Dean Winchester]

I'm tired of people bashing the 0304 album. Intuition doesn't define the entire album. The majority of the songs on the album were songs Jewel normally sang, but with a different beat to it.

Jewel's 0304 was one of the few really good POP albums to come out last year, and I don't see how songs like Haunted, 2 Find U or Stand were that much different than the songs she did when it was just her and a guitar.

As a fan of POP MUSIC who realizes there's not much POP MUSIC out there for people over 21 nowadays (it's either hip hop, hard rock, or pop-punk out now for people who are over 21, but under 45), I thought Jewel's album was a nice breath of fresh air, I have all 4 albums and 0304 certainly has been the most played album. Intuition doesn't define an entire album. There's a few Tori Amos-ish songs on there, a few that resemble No Doubt, a few that sound like Sheryl Crow. I loved the "new Jewel". I like dance music, so I also liked that she made her music a tad more "club friendly" as well.

0304 rocked and I think people gave it an unfair beating because they hated Intuition, when over half of the album were songs Jewel would've sang on her previous albums.

[Bang A Gong]

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
I'm tired of people bashing the 0304 album. Intuition doesn't define the entire album. The majority of the songs on the album were songs Jewel normally sang, but with a different beat to it.

Jewel's 0304 was one of the few really good POP albums to come out last year, and I don't see how songs like Haunted, 2 Find U or Stand were that much different than the songs she did when it was just her and a guitar.

As a fan of POP MUSIC who realizes there's not much POP MUSIC out there for people over 21 nowadays (it's either hip hop, hard rock, or pop-punk out now for people who are over 21, but under 45), I thought Jewel's album was a nice breath of fresh air, I have all 4 albums and 0304 certainly has been the most played album. Intuition doesn't define an entire album. There's a few Tori Amos-ish songs on there, a few that resemble No Doubt, a few that sound like Sheryl Crow. I loved the "new Jewel". I like dance music, so I also liked that she made her music a tad more "club friendly" as well.

0304 rocked and I think people gave it an unfair beating because they hated Intuition, when over half of the album were songs Jewel would've sang on her previous albums.
It's not just based on "Intuition" though. A lot of the other songs are very poppy and way too upbeat. Jewel has such a beautiful voice, but it's difficult to hear it when all of those loud dance beats in the background are drowning it out. Where's that guitar? I'm sure it's there, but you can't even hear it. And titles like, "2 Find U"? Please, those are abbrevations people use while talking on AOL Instant Messenger. She used to sing things like, "Poverty stole your golden shoes/ But it didn't steal your laughter /And heartache came to visit me/But I knew it wasn't ever after" but now she sings things like, "Hey U/Do not walk away /Let's choose love, come on/What do u say?" That is not Jewel. Some of the lyrics on the new album are old school Jewel, but some aren't and those electric beats just ruin them.

There are very few female artists left who are still all about the music. Sarah McLachlan and Tori amos are two women who I absolutely love and they have remained true to themselves. They never conformed. They have been around for so long and they are still making amazing music and they haven't sold out. Many of the women rockers who did Lilith Fair have either disappeared or sold out. Jewel being one of them, and then there is Liz Phair. Another incredible artist who sold out. And where the hell is Paula Cole and Shawn Colvin? They vanished. Bring back the good music.

I miss the old folky Jewel. I am listening to "Foolish Games" right now. Ahh, the nostalgia...

[MandieR1980]

I never really liked her the only song I could tolerate is "You Were Meant For Me" but even that got old

[Dean Winchester]

Originally posted by Sourbabie
It's not just based on "Intuition" though. A lot of the other songs are very poppy and way too upbeat. Jewel has such a beautiful voice, but it's difficult to hear it when all of those loud dance beats in the background are drowning it out. Where's that guitar? I'm sure it's there, but you can't even hear it. And titles like, "2 Find U"? Please, those are abbrevations people use while talking on AOL Instant Messenger. She used to sing things like, "Poverty stole your golden shoes/ But it didn't steal your laughter /And heartache came to visit me/But I knew it wasn't ever after" but now she sings things like, "Hey U/Do not walk away /Let's choose love, come on/What do u say?" That is not Jewel. Some of the lyrics on the new album are old school Jewel, but some aren't and those electric beats just ruin them.

There are very few female artists left who are still all about the music. Sarah McLachlan and Tori amos are two women who I absolutely love and they have remained true to themselves. They never conformed.

frankly I've never been fond of either of them. I like a few Tori songs, but not enough to consider myself a fan of. And Sarah just doesn't do it for me. I've always preferred Bjork to those 2 (since I know Bjork, Sarah and Tori share a lot of mutual fans). I prefer upbeat music to downbeat music personally. I'm glad there wasn't a "wrist-slashing" ballad along the lines of Adrien on this album.

I love electronic music, I have enjoyed Jewel since she first came out, but when I heard Intuition, I never could've been more excited. In an era where every artist is calling up rappers (Mariah, Beyonce, J. Lo, etc..), I was kinda glad to see a "sellout" that was selling out to a genre of music I actually like.

I can see why people dislike it, but would you have rather had "Jewel featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris"? I like electronic/dance music, so I'm glad there's finally a Jewel cd that I loved from start to finish without getting bored with it.

[Bang A Gong]

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
frankly I've never been fond of either of them. I like a few Tori songs, but not enough to consider myself a fan of. And Sarah just doesn't do it for me. I've always preferred Bjork to those 2 (since I know Bjork, Sarah and Tori share a lot of mutual fans). I prefer upbeat music to downbeat music personally. I'm glad there wasn't a "wrist-slashing" ballad along the lines of Adrien on this album.

I love electronic music, I have enjoyed Jewel since she first came out, but when I heard Intuition, I never could've been more excited. In an era where every artist is calling up rappers (Mariah, Beyonce, J. Lo, etc..), I was kinda glad to see a "sellout" that was selling out to a genre of music I actually like.

I can see why people dislike it, but would you have rather had "Jewel featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris"? I like electronic/dance music, so I'm glad there's finally a Jewel cd that I loved from start to finish without getting bored with it.

Fair enough. I guess it all comes down to your taste in music. I'm one of those chicks who loves folky, hippie type music sung by women who love nature. ;)

You say you're a fan of dance music, so I understand why you enjoy her album. And Jewel featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris? Ha! That's a crazy thought. She's not quite Britney or Christina or Beyonce yet and I hope she doesn't turn into carbon copies of them.