Product Details

• Actors: Jewel
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Atlantic / Wea
• VHS Release Date: November 30, 1999
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00003ES2W
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #112,875 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Jewel is precious. Not just a lame pun, but an accurate enough description of the Jewel Kilcher presented in this hourlong 1999 program, which mixes concert material with interviews, older performance footage, biographical material, etc. (plus three bonus songs from the same '99 show). Problem is, while Jewel's Alaska upbringing and rise to stardom may be uncommon, the same can't be said for her music. She has a fine voice, one that projects power and purity both solo and backed by a rockin' band, but her songs are on the pedestrian side, laced with earnest but sophomoric aphorisms (e.g., "What's Simple Is True") better suited to a college coffee house than the concert stage. And all in all, the disc is more promo than documentary, what with glowing testimonials from her mother, record company chief, agent, and tour manager. Jewel fans will be delighted, but don't look for A Life Uncommon to gain her many converts. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Think twice before buying it, February 14, 2002

By	James F Jacobs Jr (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jewel - A Life Uncommon (DVD)

Being a fan of Jewel and watching a few of her performances, I was pretty excited when I found out she had a DVD available. That is , until I viewed it! It is a phenomenal story- a girl who sings in a coffee house where she is a waitress becomes a rockstar- but man oh man, this DVD ended up like a trip to the dentist. Thank goodness Jewel has talent because the producers of this DVD do not. Why in the world do I want to hear in depth interviews about how "great" jewel is from her 2 brothers, mother, and hear how talented she is from her "agent"...Everytime she gets into a song you want to hear, her agent/mgr/relative is talking about what a great person she is, etc....Jewel is known for her songwriting- I'd much rather see the inspirational process, and how she writes and why she wrote certain songs rather than hear jibberish from her PR crew....Save your $20- don't buy this DVD because you'll feel cheated..Jewel if you're reading this, maybe the next bet is just some videos/in concert performances with vignettes on how you wrote the songs and their meanings.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Lacking something, June 16, 2003

By	S.R.W. Phillips "StevieRae5" (Lexington, Kentucky USA) - See all my reviews

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.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed., December 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Jewel - A Life Uncommon (DVD)

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.