Customer Reviews

Jewel - A Life Uncommon [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What is this video lacking? Interviews with the girl herself, Jewel Kilcher!

The video is semi-interesting, talking about Jewel's background and such, but it is obvious that it was produced by Jewel's mother, considering she is the one who seems to have the most interview time. The song "Little Bird," which she sang as the extra track on Jewel's CD "Spirit" (with harmonies by Jewel) opens the video. This just seems a little ego-trippy to me.

Time is spent talking to Jewel's two brothers, but they really don't have a whole lot to contribute. The basic idea seems to be, "Yeah, we were forced to practice yodeling when we were kids and I lived in Alaska so I was just amazed when I reconnected with American popular culture and realized my sister was a rock star." There is also a "What was THAT?" moment where one of Jewel's brothers bribes a little boy (presumably, Jewel's nephew) to be quiet so they can give their interviews. Why was this included? Only Lenedra (Jewel's mom, if you didn't know her name) knows. Maybe she just thinks her grandson is so gosh darn cute that we just had to see him in one context or another.

Only four live performances are included--"Barcelona" and "Deep Water" from Jewel's "Spirit" CD, "Love Me Just Leave Me Alone" from "This Way" (although a much different version), and "Down," which remains unreleased. There are also bits and pieces of some earlier live performances of Jewel; unfortunately, these are superseded by someone talking over the footage. The high points of the video are definitely the two moments where Jewel explains the difference between Swiss and German yodeling, then makes up a cowboy yodeling song on the spot, and the time when she is figuring out a song and has a "Eureka!" moment. Unfortunately, these are the only two times that Jewel is interacting with the camera at all.

If you want to hear Jewel's stories and some background for songs, see her live. We can only hope that, although her image has changed, the power of her life performances has not.

Hello Jewel fans. Fact: I am a huge fan of Jewel's music, everything included, guitar, voice, imagery. I listen to Jewel to take the edge off a stressful day.
Opinion: I think the makers of the DVD achieved what they set out to do, present Jewel's semi-private life to the fans.
More Opinion: I was looking for pristine performances of her best songs, and I think this DVD came up way short. Don't buy this DVD if you are looking for a video version of the CD. I was, and it was a bad purchase for me. Fair Warning.

If you want to take a peek into the world of an extremely talented singer/songwriter performer, then get this. It's fun just to watch Jewel yodle! She's so talented. It's also nice to see interviews with her family, a very unique family who lived in the harsh existence of Alaska, but that unusual environment certainly helped to shape Jewel. Thank goodness for her wise mother who guides her to follow her true self, amazing woman. You will really enjoy this concert footage and the story of the early beginnings.

This is Jewel's first home video and it is a GOOD one. The video is a lot of fun to watch. You get a lot of behind the scenes footage. There is old and new songs,you see her past and present. You see her driving in her car and she 'teaches' you to yodel,you see her in a hotel room trying to finish writing a song, you see her on stage being ignored,you see 4 live peformances from a recent benifit concert. This is a very well done piece and you see sides of Jewel you usually won't see. So if your a fan of Jewel or know someone who is this is a must have ! You'll soon see what I mean :-)

I love Jewel, I love TV documentaries of stars and the such, but I really was wanting to listen to the songs! Everytime she is singing on this DVD it is either unclear or someone is talking over it! How frustrating. I understand that its an insight into her life, but the dvd cover even has stickers on it saying which songs are included and really sells itself as a visual copy of the cd's, which it *IS NOT*. This DVD should have been labeled more clearly as a documentary, then if I purchased it I would have been pleased instead of ripped off.

A Life Uncommon DVD is a great DVD. It starts off with her early days and has interview with her brothers, mother, Steve Poltz and record company executives inbetween the live performances and video clips from the road. The story of her life is very well told although not as detailed as you would get in a book of course, this DVD only touches the surface but it's absolutely worth buying if you're a Jewel fan.

This is a really great video release. I got it for Christmas, I've been watching it every night since I watched it for the first time. It chokes me up and I've become addicted to it. A nice warm touch with up close and personal documented home videos of Jewel, interviews with family and friends, footage from performances, etc. and 4 full-length performances from the 1999 Spirit World Tour, opening with an awesome live version of "Love Me Just Leave Me Alone". It tells sort of an out-of-order story of growing up in Alaska as a child, to the Innerchange Coffeehouse in San Diego to the 1997 success of Pieces Of You and so on. A Life Uncommon really shows that Jewel is not only talented and beautiful, but friendly, has a sense of humor, and is down-to-earth. I thought it was hilarious watching the documentary of the making of the Spirit album and rehearsal LOL. What I like best about A Life Uncommon is that it features really good non-LP songs that are new to me including her performance of "Down" (It rocks!), "Building A Summer Home" (lovely song), "Here When Gone" (beautiful song), "Race Car Driver" (this one rocks too!) , "Million Miles Away" (nice tune demonstrated by Steve Poltz), "Old Lovers House", (cute duet with Steve Poltz) and "Last Dance Rodeo", which I already saw her perform on Unplugged, another really pretty song. These are all really good songs and need to be recorded at once! I HAVE to listen to them wherever I go. Oh by the way, Jewel and Steve should date each other, they'd make a cute couple. I liked listening to and watching live versions of "Who Will Save Your Soul" (my favorite Jewel song!) that I really like. I thought it was disturbing watching her struggle to promote her album in Europe in '97, the people there were so damn rude, but she somehow managed to cope. Now she's popular overseas. Buy this on DVD or VHS, you'll fall in love with Jewel instantly!

I liked this DVD because it reminds me of the intimacy of a Jewel concert. She is so much better in concert than on CD. You have to experience her honesty in concert to appreciate the CD's. The DVD is pretty raw and I liked that better than a finely produced DVD. It has a lot of footage and is fast paced. Could her brothers' look any more different than her???

This DVD is not a slick, polished performance -- it's not supposed to be. But if you appreciate the talent and enchanting qualities of Jewel -- you'll be more than happy to have this DVD. It's top-notch in its own way. It is real Jewel, and a jewel worth having.

a moderately fascinating overview of the gradual establishment of a star. DVDs have come so far since this was released that the viewer is left wanting more: more live songs and more of her actually being interviewed. I would recommend buying the recent live DVD instead and only getting this one if you must have everything by or about her.