Jewel's voice still a marvel

R*Philippines · 01-25-2009, 02:48 PM

Jewel's voice still a marvel

Ted Shaw, Windsor Star

Published: Saturday, January 24, 2009
After various versions of Jewel, the one who turned up Friday at Caesars Windsor was the singer-songwriter.
It's back to her roots, if what she did a mere 15 years or so ago can be called her roots.
Jewel performed a solo acoustic show in the cavernous Colosseum, music that was designed with a much smaller venue in mind.

VETERAN SINGER: Jewel performs Friday at the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor. Jeff Foxworthy is there tonight for two shows

Jewel Kilcher was one of the first "emo" -- short for emotional -- singers to emerge in the 1990s, inspired by the folk traditions of Joni Mitchell and the rock of Stevie Nicks.
Her first album, Pieces of You, in 1994 featured mostly solo acoustic songs, some of which were recorded live in a nightclub.
It was a smash hit and multimillion seller on the strength of songs like Who Will Save Your Soul, Foolish Games, and You Were Meant for Me.
But as her audience declined, she took on different guises musically and otherwise. She has been an artist in search of an identity, trying dance music, rock, acting, poetry and lately, country music.
Never a critic's favourite -- maybe she's too blond to be trusted -- Jewel has seldom been given her due as a songwriter and performer.
Now, touring solo with her impressive catalogue of heart-on-her-sleeve songs, Jewel seems to have found her niche.
It was always there, of course. She started out singing in clubs and her show Friday on the Colosseum's dwarfing stage -- where she looked and sometimes sounded oh-so vulnerable -- still managed to shrink the place to the size of an intimate folk bar.
Jewel's songs are about small moments in people's lives, but her voice is as big as the Alaskan sky of her youth. And she's an adept guitarist, never pretending to be anything more.
The voice is a marvel, a combination country wail and soul shout. But she can be whispery alluring, too.
She opened with an a cappella version of Over the Rainbow, singing it with a brooding sensitivity that made sense of every word and turned the song into an ode of longing.
Dance Hall Rodeo followed a couple of songs later, drawn from her life as a teenager singing underage in Alaskan bars.
The song Hands, which got a welcome round of ovation from the nearly-capacity audience, was another reflection on her life. It was written, she said, while she was down-and-out in San Diego before her music career took off.
The big hits came later in the program. Jewel is a relaxed and charming performer, even in the stark, unforgiving glare of single spotlight.
An artist in search of an identity she may still be. But the songs and her magical way of singing them will keep her going until she finds it.
Tonight, the Colosseum goes from the sublime to the ridiculous, hosting redneck comic Jeff Foxworthy for two shows. Tickets are still available.
tshaw@thestar.canwest.com
ONLINE: windsorstar.com
Check out our website for a photo gallery of Jewel performing at the Colosseum.

Lara · 01-25-2009, 02:58 PM

She is still searching for her idenitity? this guy doesn't know what he's talking about...

R*Philippines · 01-25-2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lara

She is still searching for her idenitity? this guy doesn't know what he's talking about...

Lara, I don't see anything wrong when the writer wrote about Jewel's searching for her identity, I thought he was positive about it. The article was very good publicity for Jewel, in my opinion.

01-25-2009, 02:48 PM	#1
R*Philippines I jewel everyday. Join Date: May 2005 Location: MANILA,PHILIPPINES Posts: 900 Rep Power: 0	Jewel's voice still a marvel Jewel's voice still a marvel Ted Shaw, Windsor Star Published: Saturday, January 24, 2009 After various versions of Jewel, the one who turned up Friday at Caesars Windsor was the singer-songwriter. It's back to her roots, if what she did a mere 15 years or so ago can be called her roots. Jewel performed a solo acoustic show in the cavernous Colosseum, music that was designed with a much smaller venue in mind. VETERAN SINGER: Jewel performs Friday at the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor. Jeff Foxworthy is there tonight for two shows Jewel Kilcher was one of the first "emo" -- short for emotional -- singers to emerge in the 1990s, inspired by the folk traditions of Joni Mitchell and the rock of Stevie Nicks. Her first album, Pieces of You, in 1994 featured mostly solo acoustic songs, some of which were recorded live in a nightclub. It was a smash hit and multimillion seller on the strength of songs like Who Will Save Your Soul, Foolish Games, and You Were Meant for Me. But as her audience declined, she took on different guises musically and otherwise. She has been an artist in search of an identity, trying dance music, rock, acting, poetry and lately, country music. Never a critic's favourite -- maybe she's too blond to be trusted -- Jewel has seldom been given her due as a songwriter and performer. Now, touring solo with her impressive catalogue of heart-on-her-sleeve songs, Jewel seems to have found her niche. It was always there, of course. She started out singing in clubs and her show Friday on the Colosseum's dwarfing stage -- where she looked and sometimes sounded oh-so vulnerable -- still managed to shrink the place to the size of an intimate folk bar. Jewel's songs are about small moments in people's lives, but her voice is as big as the Alaskan sky of her youth. And she's an adept guitarist, never pretending to be anything more. The voice is a marvel, a combination country wail and soul shout. But she can be whispery alluring, too. She opened with an a cappella version of Over the Rainbow, singing it with a brooding sensitivity that made sense of every word and turned the song into an ode of longing. Dance Hall Rodeo followed a couple of songs later, drawn from her life as a teenager singing underage in Alaskan bars. The song Hands, which got a welcome round of ovation from the nearly-capacity audience, was another reflection on her life. It was written, she said, while she was down-and-out in San Diego before her music career took off. The big hits came later in the program. Jewel is a relaxed and charming performer, even in the stark, unforgiving glare of single spotlight. An artist in search of an identity she may still be. But the songs and her magical way of singing them will keep her going until she finds it. Tonight, the Colosseum goes from the sublime to the ridiculous, hosting redneck comic Jeff Foxworthy for two shows. Tickets are still available. tshaw@thestar.canwest.com ONLINE: windsorstar.com Check out our website for a photo gallery of Jewel performing at the Colosseum. __________________ Stay COOL !!! RY

01-25-2009, 02:58 PM	#2
Lara JK Fan n°1 in Croatia Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Europe, Croatia Posts: 289 Rep Power: 0	She is still searching for her idenitity? this guy doesn't know what he's talking about... __________________ Time knows nothing, we'll never grow old...