This Week in 90′s Nostalgia: Jewel

By Sebastian DiNatale

Hello, and welcome all to our newest section of the Forum: This Week in 90′s Nostalgia, where every week we will showcase a familiar singer, television show, product, etc., reminding you that your life as a child was amazing, and that you can never go back to the comforts of the “mellow 90′s”.

We will be starting this wonderful thread with a personal favorite: Jewel.

Jewel Kilcher, born May 25, 1974, was born in Utah. She was a lonely child. That’s about all you need to know about this goddess of melodies past, as it is her song-style and lyrics that necessitate focusing upon.

Yodeling is a gift not many personages possess; in fact, over 90% of registered yodelers go unnoticed in life. But one person brought yodeling to the forefront, and I’m not talking about Principal Bone from Doug (a later installment, I’m sure). I speak, of course, about Jewel. Ever since she was a child she was gifted with the ability to fluctuate her vocal chords in such a way that would continually and easily switch between her head voice and chest voice to produce high-quality tones in either. When she exploded onto the stage in 1993 with this unique ability, Switzerland would finally be put on the map, contributing a singing style that had remained untapped since the band Focus. She soon rose to fame after “meeting” Michael Balzary or Flea, bassist for The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and accomplished actor, in her trailer home. They immediately hit it off. It was no where but up for this shy white girl. But it would be her story, no, her struggle, that would escalate Jewel above her artistic rivals of the day, such as Everclear, Pantera, and Blur.

One can immediately connect with her debut single, “Who Will Save your Soul,” as she struggles to cope with the helplessness of the human psyche in her memorable lines:

“Who will save your soul, when it comes to the flower/Who will save your soul after the lies that you, boy/Who will save your soul if you won’t save your own? “

Not only do these words resonate within the confines of the mind, they also send a stalwart message of peace, love, and forgiveness.

Next comes her heart wrenching song about a love lost, or rather, remembered, as we glimpse into the crystallized heart of Jewel when she sings, You were meant for me. One can only wonder what kind of person would do such a deplorable thing to such an innocent girl. If you don’t cry by the end of this song, well, you are numero uno on my list of suspects.

So next time you see Jewel on VH1, don’t cry, but enjoy, as her soft, sensual, unadulterated voice smoothly swims into your heart, and bathes in your soul.